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Cse In News

CSE recognizes top 20 Green schools across India for environmental excellence

The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has given the Green School Award to 20 schools in India, including those in Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Delhi-NCR. These schools have done a great job in protecting the environment and teaching students about it. CSE also named 199 other schools as ‘Green Schools’. Every year, CSE’s Green School Program (GSP) gives awards to schools that do a great job with the environment. They’ve been doing this for 19 years. CSE Director General Sunita Narayan says the Green School program is like a learning lab. It teaches young people by letting them do things themselves. They learn about sustainability by practicing it. She says we learn by doing things and then setting goals for what to do next. That’s what the Green School Programme is all about. This year, more than 5,300 schools from all over the country joined in. The top 20 schools got awards. Most of the schools that joined in (93%) were government schools. Six percent were private schools and one percent were government aided schools. CSE’s Green School Program encourages students and teachers to make their schools more eco-friendly. The program helps schools become greener and checks how well they use resources like water and electricity. The Green Schools Program Award goes to schools that do the best job of managing their natural resources. The program started in 2003 after the Supreme Court of India said all schools had to teach about the environment. The first award was given in 2006 to schools that cared about the environment. Now, more than 7000 schools across the country are part of this program.

CSE’s Green Schools Programme honours 199 ‘greenest’ schools in India

One hundred ninety-nine schools from across India were certified ‘green’ at Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) annual Green Schools Awards here today, with 20 of them topping their respective categories for their outstanding efforts in making their campuses environment-friendly and their students, environment-conscious. These awards are conferred every year by CSE’s Green Schools Programme, a 19-year-old initiative that helps schools and their students conduct a rigorous in-campus environmental audit to measure the efficacy of resource management and green practices in the school. Schools take ownership of their green journey through self-conducted audits with CSE’s guidance. Speaking on the occasion, CSE director general Sunita Narain said: “CSE’s Green School Programme is a laboratory of practice. The objective is to educate the young through their actions – they walk the talk to understand sustainability. We believe that we learn best when we implement our ideas; when we measure what we have done and we set goals for what needs to be done next. This is what the Green Schools Programme is about.” Among those who handed out the awards – besides Narain – were Sanjay Kumar, secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Union Ministry of Education; Julia Marton-Lefevre, former Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); and Joyce Poan, Programme Specialist and Chief of Education, UNESCO-India. Over 5,300 schools from 29 states and Union territories vied for the honours; 20 of these received the top awards, and 199 were tagged as ‘green’. Of all the schools that participated in the audit, government schools held the crown with 93 per cent submissions, followed by private schools at 6 per cent and government-aided schools at 1 per cent. Apart from the schools, awards were also conferred on the most proactive teachers. Punjab won the “best state” and “best district” prizes for its leadership in fostering a culture of environmental consciousness. GSP helps schools assess their use of resources and map their consumption and wastage across six key subject areas — air, energy, food, land, water and waste. Says Tushita Rawat, programme manager, environment education, CSE: “The Programme uses an analytics platform to track the environmental performance of schools. Over 600 data points are collected, which provide quantifiable environmental impacts within and around the school campus.” *Says Souparno Banerjee, senior director, environment education, CSE: “The unique aspect of this programme is the opportunity that it affords schools to measure their progress year on year and improve their ranking.”* THE 2023-24 AWARDS Best State and District: Punjab bagged the award for the Best State by setting the bar with the highest audit registrations and report submissions. 4734 schools from the state submitted their audit reports – 70 were rated ‘green’. Sangrur in Punjab bagged the Best District Award with 503 submissions. Changemaker Awards: The Changemaker Awards are given to schools which improve their sustainability rating to green by monitoring and improving their practices over the year. The two awardees in this category are: 1. PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1 Ordnance Factory Katni, Madhya Pradesh 2. Satya Bharti School Lakhowal, Ludhiana, Punjab Sterling Schools Awards: Schools that have been rated ‘green’ for five or more consecutive years: Ashok Memorial Public School, Faridabad, Haryana Bal Bharati Public School, IMT Manesar, Haryana Bal Bharati Public School, Noida, Uttar Pradesh DAV International School, Amritsar, Punjab East Point School, Vasundhara Enclave, New Delhi Indirapuram Public School, Pratap Vihar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh Mahindra World School, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai, Sonipat, Haryana Sachdeva Global School, South West Delhi, New Delhi Sacred Heart School, Kalyan, Maharashtra Salwan Public School, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh St Edmund’s School, Jaipur, Rajasthan Best Newcomer: Schools that have recently registered to be a part of the programme and have demonstrated considerable potential in managing their natural resources. Toc H Public School, Kochi, Kerala Best in Section: Schools that have performed exceptionally in specific sections. GSP Waste Warrior Award: B. K. Birla Public School, Kalyan, Thane, Maharashtra GSP Land Manager Award: Zila Parishad high school, Gandaboyana Palli, Annamayya, Andhra Pradesh GSP Water Wise Award: Lake Montfort School, Bengaluru, Karnataka GSP Air Action Award: PM SHRI KV AFS Akkulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala GSP Energy Manager Award: Government Model Boys Senior Secondary School Nalagarh (Solan), Himachal Pradesh What it means to be a Green School? A Green School is a resource-efficient school that meets the following criteria: Window to floor ratio (WFR) of more than 5 per cent to allow adequate daylight and ventilation Majority of the population uses sustainable modes of transport (public transport, e-rickshaws, etc) or non-polluting modes of transport (cycling, walking, etc) Maximum use of energy-efficient lighting to conserve energy and use of alternative sources of energy. GSP Audit encourages schools to minimize use of conventional lights without compromising sufficient lighting for students Maintain a high green cover inside and around school campus along with greater biodiversity by planting native species of plants Serve only cooked meals (avoid packaged foods that are high in fats, sugar and salt) to ensure healthy food consumption Harvest rainwater through rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems and reuse treated wastewater. Pre- and post-monsoon cleaning of RWH systems is important Segregate waste at source efficiently and dispose of responsibly. Recycling at least 90 per cent of the waste is recommended Wet waste to be composted Waste not to be burned

ECOFEMINISM: Women and Nature Bonding for a Greener World

Recognizing the invaluable role of women in shaping sustainable futures and preserving our planet The role of women in conserving the environment is essential, as they play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability and preservation of natural resources. Women are often at the helm of managing natural resources such as water, land, and forests, and they have a unique understanding of the environment and its importance for their families and communities. Women are frequently involved in agricultural activities and small-scale farming, where they make significant contributions to sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation. Serving as caretakers of their families, women play a vital role in promoting environmental education and awareness. The history of women in environmental cases can be traced back to the early 20th century when women began to organize and advocate for environmental and conservation causes. In the 1960s and 1970s, women became increasingly involved in environmental activism, participating in protests, lobbying for environmental regulations, and leading conservation organizations. One of the earliest pioneers in this movement was Rachel Carson, whose groundbreaking book “Silent Spring” in 1962 raised awareness about the harmful effects of pesticides and chemical pollution on the environment. Women like Lois Gibbs, who organized the community effort against the Love Canal toxic waste site, and Wangari Maathai, who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, were instrumental in raising awareness about environmental issues and advocating for change. Similarly, women like Jane Goodall, Sylvia Earle, and Vandana Shiva – primatologist, environmentalist, and activist, Erin Brockovich, Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Berta Cáceres, Marina Silva, and Sylvia Alice Earle are known internationally for their conservation efforts, and advocacy for protecting the world’s environment while opposing the environmental destruction. Similarly in India, women had been the primary caregivers for the land and its resources, and they had a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between human beings and nature. This knowledge has been passed down through generations, and women have been responsible for the sustainable management of water, agrarian activities, and the conservation of biodiversity. A few renowned women conservationists who played a brave role in environmental conservation in India are Vandana Shiva – An environmental activist and founder of Navdanya, a network of seed keepers and organic producers in India. Medha Patkar – Social activist known for her work on environmental and social issues, particularly on the Narmada River and its surrounding communities. Gauri Devi, Sunita Narain, Priya Shyamsundar, Asha Devi, and Saalumarada Thimmakka all are known for conservation and sustainable developmental practices in the Indian Himalayas and many more. Women have been at the forefront of indigenous and environmental justice movements, advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and the protection of natural resources, and this has led to the evolution of a term known as “Ecofeminism,” a feminist movement and theoretical framework that seeks to address the connections between the exploitation of the environment and the subjugation of women. It highlights how women have often been at the forefront of environmental activism, and advocates for the inclusion of feminist perspectives in environmental decision-making processes. Ecofeminism has aimed to create a more sustainable and equitable world by recognizing and addressing the interconnectedness of gender and environmental issues. Women have also led movements against deforestation, land degradation, and water scarcity, through which they have been instrumental in promoting sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and the use of renewable energy sources. Women have not only been involved in environmental policymaking and advocacy at both the local and national levels but also have taken leadership roles in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and civil society groups to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development by working as scientists, lawyers, policymakers, and community organizers to address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and other pressing environmental challenges. In conclusion, the role of women in conserving the environment is a story of resilience, leadership, and advocacy. Despite facing challenges, women all across the globe have remained at the forefront of environmental conversation, drawing from their traditional knowledge and practices while also embracing modern innovations and technologies. Their tireless efforts to protect the communities by safeguarding the environment have been instrumental in raising public awareness, inspiring future generations, and shaping environmental policies. Women have made an indispensable contribution to building a sustainable future for our world, creating a safe haven for future generations to flourish. The writer is a researcher and can be reached atsabhainam@gmail.com

‘Poor’ start to year: Jan AQI gives no relief from pollution

Gurgaon: The year started on a ‘poor’ note with the average air quality index in Jan at 252. This was only marginally better than last Jan’s level of 268. According to experts, the region witnessed a rise in wind speed and weaker western disturbances, which led to better dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere this Jan. No ‘satisfactory’ or ‘good’ air days, however, were reported — there were six ‘very poor’ air days, 21 ‘poor’ days and five ‘moderate’ days. In contrast, the city reported one ‘satisfactory’ air day in Jan 2022 and two each in the month in 2021 and 2020. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. According to CPCB, when the AQI is ‘poor’, breathing discomfort can be felt by most people on prolonged exposure. Meanwhile, the city’s overall AQI deteriorated to 320 (very poor), from 247 (poor) the day before, due to dense fog. The AQI was the highest at Teri Gram (354), followed by Gwalpahari (351), Sector 51 (339) and Vikas Sadan (246). “We can’t say the city’s air quality has become better just because the average AQI has improved. The gains that we are witnessing are because of meteorological factors. The sources of emissions have remained the same throughout the year, though the concentration varies with the season. The city’s air was ‘poor’ for most of Jan, which is far from calling it better,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. Health experts said air pollution poses serious health risks as it affects every part of the body. Dr Pratibha Dogra, senior consultant (pulmonology) at Marengo Asia Hospital, said: “There has been a rise in respiratory ailments in recent years. More people are experiencing frequent bouts of cold and cough and irritation in the eyes, apart from respiratory issues. PM2.5 particles can easily enter the body and lodge in the lungs, resulting in serious health concerns. This might result in asthma attacks and increase the risk of both heart attacks and stroke.” Dogra further said air pollution can also stunt lung development in growing children, reducing their lung function as adults. “Prolonged exposure to air pollution can make breathing harder for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Severe symptoms can lead to hospitalisation and even death.” Meanwhile, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials said the suspension of road dust due to vehicular traffic as well as dust from rampant construction are a special concern in the city. “Air pollution is a long-term issue and we have been taking mitigating measures,” said a HSPCB officer.

ग्रीन स्कूल अवार्ड्स में पंजाब ने हासिल की नंबर-1 रैंक, संगरूर सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिले में शामिल

चंडीगढ़: सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सी. एस. ई.) द्वारा दिए जाने वाले वार्षिक ग्रीन स्कूल पुरस्कारों में पंजाब ने सर्वश्रेष्ठ रैंक हासिल की है। ग्रीन स्कूल कार्यक्रम का उद्देश्य स्कूल परिसरों को पर्यावरण के अनुकूल बनाना और छात्रों को पर्यावरण के प्रति जागरूक बनाना है। पंजाब के कुल 4,734 स्कूलों ने अपनी ऑडिट रिपोर्ट जमा की, जिसमें 70 स्कूलों ने सम्मानित 'ग्रीन' रेटिंग अर्जित की। पंजाब के संगरूर को सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिला पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया गया, जिसमें अधिकतम 503 प्रस्तुतियां दर्ज की गईं। सीएसई की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने नई दिल्ली में पुरस्कार प्रदान किए। मुख्यमंत्री ने अपने एक्स अकाउंट के जरिए पंजाबियों, खासकर छात्रों और शिक्षकों को बधाई दी और कहा कि जिस दिन से चला हूं मेरी मंजिल पर नजर है, आंखों ने कभी मील का पत्थर नहीं देखा। संगरूर देश में नंबर एक जिला, बधाई। ये पुरस्कार 19 साल पुरानी पहल सीएसई के ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम (जीएसपी) के माध्यम से प्रतिवर्ष प्रदान किए जाते हैं। इस साल पंजाब ने इसमे पहले स्थान हासिल किया है। पंजाब के 70 स्कूल शामिल भारत में कुल 199 स्कूलों को ग्रीन स्कूल पुरस्कार दिए गए। उनमें से 70 स्कूल पंजाब से थे, जो कुल सूची का 35% है। लुधियाना में सबसे अधिक 30 हरित विद्यालय थे, जबकि संगरूर में भट्टीवाल खुर्द गांव में एक सरकारी प्राथमिक स्मार्ट स्कूल था। सत्य भारती स्कूल लखोवाल, लुधियाना को चेंजमेकर पुरस्कार मिला। पंजाब के कुल 4,734 स्कूलों ने अपनी आडिट रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत की थी, जिसमें 70 को हरित रेटिंग दी गई। 503 सबमिशन के साथ संगरूर को सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिले का पुरस्कार मिला। स्कूलों में संसाधन प्रबंधन और हरित प्रथाओं की प्रभावशीलता को मापने के लिए स्कूलों और छात्रों को एक ऑन-कैंपस पर्यावरण ऑडिट करने में मदद करने के लिए पुरस्कार प्रदान किए जाते हैं।

संगरूर ने पाया नंबर-वन रैंक, पर्यावरण चेतना की संस्कृति को बढ़ावा देकर पाई उपलब्धि

पंजाब के संगरूर को ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम (जीएसपी) के तहत देश में सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिले के रूप में सम्मानित किया गया है। मंगलवार को घोषित सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के वार्षिक ग्रीन स्कूल अवाड्र्स में पर्यावरण चेतना की संस्कृति को बढ़ावा देने में अपने नेतृत्व के लिए पंजाब ने सर्वश्रेष्ठ राज्य और संगरूर ने सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिला का पुरस्कार जीता। ग्रीन स्कूल कार्यक्रम का उद्देश्य स्कूल परिसरों को पर्यावरण के अनुकूल बनाना और छात्रों को पर्यावरण के प्रति जागरूक बनाना है। पंजाब ने उच्चतम ऑडिट पंजीकरण और रिपोर्ट सबमिशन के साथ मानक स्थापित करके सर्वश्रेष्ठ राज्य का पुरस्कार जीता। राज्य के कुल 4,734 स्कूलों ने अपनी ऑडिट रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत की थी, जिसमें 70 को हरित रेटिंग दी गई। 503 सबमिशन के साथ संगरूर को सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिले का पुरस्कार मिला। स्कूलों में संसाधन प्रबंधन और हरित प्रथाओं की प्रभावशीलता को मापने के लिए स्कूलों और छात्रों को एक ऑन-कैंपस पर्यावरण ऑडिट करने में मदद करने के लिए पुरस्कार प्रदान किए जाते हैं। जीएसपी स्कूलों को संसाधनों के उपयोग का आकलन करने और छह प्रमुख विषय क्षेत्रों वायु, ऊर्जा, भोजन, भूमि, पानी और अपशिष्ट में उनकी खपत और बर्बादी को मैप करने में मदद करता है। सत्य भारती स्कूल लाखोवाल, लुधियाना, पंजाब, चेंजमेकर पुरस्कारों के विजेताओं में से एक था, जो उन स्कूलों को दिया जाता है, जो वर्षों से अपनी हरिऐ प्रथाओं की निगरानी और सुधार करके अपनी रेटिंग को सुधारते हैं। मुख्यमंत्री भगवंत मान ने अपने एक्स अकाउंट के जरिए पंजाबियों, खासकर छात्रों और शिक्षकों को बधाई दी।

मुख्यमंत्री मान के नेतृत्व में संगरूर ने पूरे देश में ग्रीन स्कूल कार्यक्रम के तहत नंबर-1 रैंक प्राप्त किया

मुख्यमंत्री भगवंत सिंह मान के नेतृत्व में संगरूर को ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम (जीएसपी) के तहत देश में सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिले के रूप में सम्मानित किया गया है। मंगलवार को घोषित सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के वार्षिक ग्रीन स्कूल अवार्ड्स में पर्यावरण चेतना की संस्कृति को बढ़ावा देने में अपने नेतृत्व के लिए पंजाब ने 'सर्वश्रेष्ठ राज्य' और संगरूर ने 'सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिला' का पुरस्कार जीता। ग्रीन स्कूल कार्यक्रम का उद्देश्य स्कूल परिसरों को पर्यावरण के अनुकूल बनाना और छात्रों को पर्यावरण के प्रति जागरूक बनाना है। पंजाब ने उच्चतम ऑडिट पंजीकरण और रिपोर्ट सबमिशन के साथ मानक स्थापित करके सर्वश्रेष्ठ राज्य का पुरस्कार जीता। राज्य के कुल 4,734 स्कूलों ने अपनी ऑडिट रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत की थी, जिसमें 70 को 'हरित' रेटिंग दी गई। 503 सबमिशन के साथ संगरूर को सर्वश्रेष्ठ जिले का पुरस्कार मिला। स्कूलों में संसाधन प्रबंधन और हरित प्रथाओं की प्रभावशीलता को मापने के लिए स्कूलों और छात्रों को एक ऑन-कैंपस पर्यावरण ऑडिट करने में मदद करने के लिए पुरस्कार प्रदान किए जाते हैं। जीएसपी स्कूलों को संसाधनों के उपयोग का आकलन करने और छह प्रमुख विषय क्षेत्रों - वायु, ऊर्जा, भोजन, भूमि, पानी और अपशिष्ट में उनकी खपत और बर्बादी को मैप करने में मदद करता है। सत्य भारती स्कूल लाखोवाल, लुधियाना, पंजाब, चेंजमेकर पुरस्कारों के विजेताओं में से एक था, जो उन स्कूलों को दिया जाता है जो वर्षों से अपनी हरिऐ प्रथाओं की निगरानी और सुधार करके अपनी रेटिंग को सुधारते हैं। मुख्यमंत्री भगवंत मान ने अपने एक्स अकाउंट के जरिए पंजाबियों, खासकर छात्रों और शिक्षकों को बधाई दी और कहा कि 'जिस दिन से चला हूं मेरी मंजिल पर नजर है, आंखों ने कभी मील का पत्थर नहीं देखा..संगरूर देश में नंबर एक जिला, बधाई!" इस खबर पर प्रतिक्रिया देते हुए आम आदमी पार्टी (आप) ने कहा कि यह पंजाब के लिए गौरव का क्षण है। सीएम भगवंत मान के नेतृत्व वाली आप सरकार न केवल पंजाब के हर वर्ग को मुफ्त और विश्व स्तरीय शिक्षा प्रदान करने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है, बल्कि अपने छात्रों को सिद्धांतों और पाठ्यपुस्तकों से परे भी शिक्षित करने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है। पंजाब के सरकारी स्कूल व्यावहारिक और विचारोत्तेजक गतिविधियों के माध्यम से छात्रों को पर्यावरण के प्रति संवेदनशील बनाने का काम कर रही है।

युवाओं की नींद उड़ा रहीं एनर्जी ड्रिंक, कैफीन और अमीनो एसिड से भरे पेय पदार्थ पहुंचा रहे नुकसान

लोकप्रिय पेय पदार्थों में शुमार एनर्जी ड्रिंक युवाओं की नींद उड़ा रही हैं। साथ ही अनिद्रा की समस्या भी पैदा कर रहा है। हाल में हुए अध्ययन में जो युवा महीने में केवल एक से तीन बार एनर्जी ड्रिंक का सेवन करते हैं, उनमें भी नींद से जुड़ी समस्याओं में इजाफा देखा गया। अध्ययन के नतीजे ओपन एक्सेस जर्नल बीएमजे ओपन में प्रकाशित हुए हैं। शोधकर्ताओं के अनुसार, इन एनर्जी ड्रिंक्स में आमतौर पर प्रति लीटर करीब 150 मिलीग्राम कैफीन होता है। साथ ही इसमें चीनी, विटामिन, खनिज और अमीनो एसिड भी अलग-अलग मात्रा में होते हैं। इन ड्रिंक्स को ऐसे दर्शाया जाता है कि यह मानसिक और शारीरिक शक्ति को बढ़ा सकते हैं। जबकि स्वास्थ्य विशेषज्ञों का तर्क है कि इन्हें एनर्जी ड्रिंक्स बताना भ्रामक है क्योंकि चीनी को छोड़कर अन्य तत्व ऊर्जा प्रदान नहीं करते। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने भी अपने अध्ययन में खुलासा किया है कि एनर्जी ड्रिंक्स में अतिरिक्त कैफीन होता है। भारत की शीर्ष खाद्य नियामक संस्था-भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक प्राधिकरण (एफएसएसएआई) इन एनर्जी ड्रिंक्स को गैर-अल्कोहल युक्त पेय पदार्थों के रूप में परिभाषित करती है। हालांकि, इनमें कैफीन, ग्वाराना, टॉरिन और जिनसेंग जैसे उत्तेजक पदार्थ होते हैं। जितना ज्यादा सेवन, उतनी अधिक समस्याएं अध्ययन में शोधकर्ताओं ने नॉर्वे के 18 से 35 वर्ष की आयु के 53,266 युवाओं के आंकड़ों की समीक्षा की। जो छात्र और छात्राएं प्रतिदिन एनर्जी ड्रिंक पीते थे वे उन लोगों की तुलना में करीब एक घंटे कम सोते थे जो कभी-कभार या बिल्कुल भी नहीं पीते थे। इसका प्रभाव इस बात में भी देखा गया कि वे रात में कितनी बार जगे और उन्हें सोने में कितना समय लगा। जैसे-जैसे उन्होंने एनर्जी ड्रिंक की मात्रा बढ़ाई उनके रात में सोने और जागने का समय बढ़ गया। इसका सीधा सा तात्पर्य यह है कि उनकी नींद में लगातार खलल पड़ा। इसी तरह जो लड़के प्रति दिन एनर्जी ड्रिंक पीते थे उनके हर रात छह घंटे से भी कम सोने की संभावना उनकी तुलना में दोगुनी से भी अधिक थी, जो कभी-कभार इनका सेवन करते थे।

Punjab bags ‘best state’ award at CSE event

Bathinda: Punjab has won the ‘best state’ and ‘best district’ prizes for its leadership in fostering a culture of environmental consciousness at Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) annual Green Schools Awards announced on Tuesday. Green School Programme is aimed at making school campuses environment-friendly and students conscious about environment. Punjab bagged the award for the best state by setting the bar with the highest audit registrations and report submissions. A total of 4,734 schools from the state submitted their audit reports – 70 were rated ‘green’. Sangrur bagged the best district award with 503 submissions. A total of 199 schools from across the country were certified ‘green’. The awards are conferred to help schools and students conduct a rigorous on-campus environmental audit to measure efficacy of resource management and green practices in schools. Over 5,300 schools from 29 states and UTs vied for the honours; 20 of these received the top awards, and 199 were tagged as ‘green’. Of all the schools that participated in the audit, government schools held the crown with 93 per cent submissions, followed by private schools at 6 per cent and government-aided schools at 1 per cent. Apart from the schools, awards were also conferred on the most proactive teachers. GSP helps schools assess their use of resources and map their consumption and wastage across six key subject areas - air, energy, food, land, water and waste. Satya Bharti School Lakhowal, Ludhiana, Punjab, was one of the winners of the Changemaker Awards, given to schools which improve their sustainability rating to green by monitoring and improving their practices over the years. We also published the following articles recently Punjab bags the Best Green State Award in CSE Green Schools ProgrammePunjab wins best state and district prizes for environmental consciousness at CSE's Green Schools Awards. GSP aims to make school campuses environment-friendly and students environment-conscious. Punjab awarded Best State for highest audit registrations and report submissions; Sangrur wins Best District with 503 submissions. 199 schools across the country certified green at CSE's annual GSP.107268774 Meritorious School student ends lifeA 16-year-old student of Meritorious School, Ghabdan, in Sangrur allegedly committed suicide due to stress after obtaining less marks in Class XII pre-board exams. The police are conducting a post-mortem and recording statements from the student's parents, including father Suresh Kumar.107246620

ZP High School teacher gets national recognition

Tirupati: A biology teacher in Karakambadi ZP High School P Neelakantaiah received national level award for his work in the green school programme on Tuesday. At a programme held at India Habitat centre in New Delhi on Tuesday, Director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Sunitha Agarwal presented the award to him along with seven other teachers in the State. On the occasion, Neelakantaiah said that AP has been showing exemplary performance in the green school programme for the last 12 years. The students are being educated in rainwater harvesting, waste compost, biodiversity, avoiding junk foods among other things.

'Toxic January': Delhi's most polluted first month since 2016

NEW DELHI: This Jan was the most polluted since 2016 with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 354 till Jan 30. The highest average AQI in Jan was recorded in 2016 at 370. Delhi Pollution Central Pollution Control Board’s data shows that this Jan 2024 saw three ‘severe’ AQI days and an intense spell of polluted days with the air quality in the ‘very poor’ category for a majority of days. Only one ‘poor’ air day was reported this Jan. Track the pollution level in your city Experts said the local and regional source of emission remained high and adverse meteorological conditions caused a trapping of pollutants. The unfavourable meteorological conditions included dense fog, low temperatures, calm wind conditions and low mixing layer height that hampered the process of dispersion of pollutants. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said: “This is a combination of high level of regional pollution and adverse meteorology that is keeping the levels elevated. There is very little that we can do about meteorology. But we certainly need to scale up action in the city and across the larger region.” CPCB’s data shows that the average AQI in Jan was 311 in 2023, 279 in 2022, 324 in 2021, 286 in 2020, 328 in 2019 and 2018, and 304 in 2017. The highest number of severe pollution days in Jan were seven, recorded in Jan 2019 and 2016. However, this Jan was dirtier than 2019 as the AQI on the majority of days was above 300. This month, the highest AQI was 447 on Jan 14 while the lowest was 273 on Jan 10. Sunil Dahiya, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said: “The heightened pollution levels in Delhi this Jan underscore two crucial realities. First, stubble burning isn't the primary cause of year-round hazardous air quality in Delhi-NCR, except for a brief period from Oct to mid-Nov. Second, insufficient effort or virtually none has been made to curtail emission load from various sectors in the broader airshed surrounding Delhi.” Dahiya added: “The surge in emissions from NCR towns like Sonipat, Jhajjar, Ghaziabad, along with the unregulated operation of major industries and coal-based power plants lacking efficient emission controls, add to the problem. While significant funds are allocated for ineffective measures like anti-smog guns, non-scientifically operated mechanical sweepers and smog towers, the imperative lies in targeted endeavours to reduce sectoral emission loads across the Delhi-NCR airshed for a comprehensive and systematic reduction in pollution levels."

Roof ownership issues, unaffordable — why 1 crore rooftop solar target is a tough ask for Modi Govt

In India’s overall push for the adoption of renewable energy, one consistent laggard has emerged — rooftop solar. Now, the Modi government seeks to address the issue of why rooftop solar capacity is just one-fourth of its targeted level, with a new scheme announced on 22 January, Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojana (PMSY). The aim of the scheme is to install rooftop solar units on one crore houses, but success will depend largely on the government’s ability to surmount the myriad issues plaguing the sector at present. Residential rooftop solar is plagued by certain logistical issues, such as a lack of clarity over roof ownership, the influence of conventional power distribution companies which stand to lose out with the spread of renewable energy, a lack of awareness about rooftop solar, and affordability issues. On the flip side, experts see the PMSY announcement as a positive move that could emerge as an important step, if enacted effectively. At the moment, however, no timeline has been finalised and officials from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy say specific details are yet to be fleshed out. “Going by the data, there are about 7-8 lakh households with rooftop solar systems,” energy specialist Neeraj Kuldeep, Senior Programme Lead, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), told ThePrint. “One crore will mark a 14-fold increase, which is quite big. We might add about 20-25 GW (of solar energy capacity) if we reach the one crore goal.” In 2019, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had announced the Rooftop Solar Programme, under which 40 GW of energy was supposed to be derived from rooftop solar by 2022, a goal that was then delayed to 2026. According to an answer presented in the Lok Sabha in December 2023, 10.4 GW of rooftop solar has so far been installed. While this is one-fourth of the target, it is still 46 percent higher than the installed capacity in 2019. Rooftop solar can be installed on residential buildings as well as office buildings. In India, residential rooftop solar forms a small share of overall rooftop solar installed capacity. While there are no recent official details pertaining to the installed capacity of residential rooftop solar, experts say the current residential rooftop solar capacity falls at around 2 GW. “The PM’s goal is achievable although it may appear ambitious when looking at past growth,” Manikkan Sangameswaran, Executive Director & CEO, Radiance Renewables, told ThePrint. A household that consumes 200 units of electricity (200 kilowatt hours), typically the case in rural areas, needs a rooftop of about 200 feet, which is by and large available, he explained. A report by CEEW published in November 2023 says residential space in India offers rooftop solar energy potential of 637 GW. However, the residential sector continues to be underutilised, due to questions of rooftop ownership and the problems faced by distribution utility. This is, however, the theoretical potential. The reality falls short of this by a significant margin, the report adds. For example, it found that over 70 percent of households consume less than 100-kilowatt hour of electricity, and that rooftop solar units don’t make economic sense at such low consumption levels. “Within the residential segment, the early adopters (of rooftop solar) so far are the high paying residential consumers and not rural and semi-urban households. While the opportunity exists in rural and semi-urban areas, there is significant inertia to move to rooftop solar due to limited awareness, high upfront costs, lack of financing, low paying capacity, etc,” states the report. Rooftop solar has seen a noticeable uptake in Gujarat, which currently has the highest installed capacity, of 3.174 GW. According to a report published last year by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), only 24 of 36 states and Union territories have been able to reach their rooftop solar targets. Gujarat has “realised 90 percent of its targets” owing to “dynamic and supportive policies”. “Various state governments have also taken initiatives to deploy rooftop solar, such as by enforcing additional subsidies,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, CSE. “But the end users need to understand how it’s going to help them. It helps to lower their electricity bill (as electricity is locally generated) and get compensation for the rooftop space.”

मोतीलाल नेहरू खेल स्कूल राई ने जीता ग्रीन स्कूल स्टर्लिंग अवार्ड

मोतीलाल नेहरू खेलकूद स्कूल राई ने पूरे देश में हुए सर्वे में ग्रीन स्कूल स्टर्लिंग अवार्ड अपने नाम किया। सर्वे में देश भर से करीबन 7000 स्कूलों ने हिस्सा लिया था। देश भर से केवल तीन फीसदी स्कूल इस मापदंड पर खरे उतर पाए। पर्यावरण के क्षेत्र में कार्य करने वाली संस्था सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम (जीएसपी) के तहत खेलकूद स्कूल को पर्यावरण व्यवस्था के आधार पर अलग-अलग वर्ग में सम्मानित किया गया। ग्रीन स्कूल अवार्ड सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की ओर से चलाया गया एक कार्यक्रम है। जिसका उद्देश्य व्यावहारिक और विचारोत्तेजक गतिविधियों के माध्यम से छात्रों को पर्यावरण के प्रति संवेदनशील बनाना है। स्कूल के निदेशक कर्नल अशोक मोर ने बताया कि ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम स्कूलों को संसाधनों के उपयोग का ऑडिट करने और उनके उपभोग और बर्बादी को मैप करने में मदद करता है। स्कूल में बेहतर रेन हार्वेस्टिंग सिस्टम, दूषित पानी को साफ़ करने के लिए एसटीपी, वृक्ष और पक्षियों की कई प्रजातियां हैं। स्कूल में इसी वर्ष बोटेनिकल गार्डन और ईको ब्रिक सिस्टम बनाया गया है जो हमें बाकी सबसे अलग दर्शाता है।

दिल्ली-NCR में ठंड और प्रदूषण का डबल अटैक, आज तो कोहरे से विजिबिलिटी हुई जीरो, जानें मौसम से जुड़े ये अपडेट

राष्ट्रीय राजधानी दिल्ली और सीमावर्ती राज्यों के शहर जबरदस्त शीतलहर की चपेट में हैं। दिल्ली, नोएडा, गाजियाबाद, गुरुग्राम और फरीदाबाद में आज सुबह घना कोहरा छाया रहा। सुबह साढ़े चार बजे से छह बजे के बीच विजिबिलिटी न के बराबर रही। राजधानी दिल्ली के धौला... Read more at: https://panchjanya.com/2024/01/31/316733/bharat/delhi/delhi-ncr-under-grip-of-dense-fog-and-air-bad/

Punjab bags the Best Green State Award in CSE’ Green Schools Programme

BATHINDA: Punjab has won the ‘best state’ and ‘best district’ prizes for its leadership in fostering a culture of environmental consciousness at Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) annual Green Schools Awards, announced on Tuesday. Green School Programme (GSP) is aimed at making the school campuses environment-friendly and students as environment-conscious. Punjab bagged the award for the Best State by setting the bar with the highest audit registrations and report submissions. 4734 schools from the state submitted their audit reports – 70 were rated ‘green’. Sangrur bagged the Best District Award with 503 submissions. The one hundred ninety-nine schools from across the country have been certified ‘green’ at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) annual GSP. The awards are conferred by CSE to help schools and their students conduct a rigorous in-campus environmental audit to measure the efficacy of resource management and green practices in the school. Schools take ownership of their green journey through self-conducted audits. Over 5,300 schools from 29 states and Union territories vied for the honours; 20 of these received the top awards, and 199 were tagged as ‘green’. Of all the schools that participated in the audit, government schools held the crown with 93 per cent submissions, followed by private schools at 6 per cent and government-aided schools at 1 per cent. Apart from the schools, awards were also conferred on the most proactive teachers. GSP helps schools assess their use of resources and map their consumption and wastage across six key subject areas - air, energy, food, land, water and waste. Satya Bharti School Lakhowal, Ludhiana, Punjab was one of the winners of the Changemaker Awards, given to schools which improve their sustainability rating to green by monitoring and improving their practices over the year. The four schools from Punjab and Haryana figured out of total 12 schools which got Sterling School Awards, which are given to schools that have been rated ‘green’ for five or more consecutive years. CSE director general Sunita Narain said “The objective of Green School Programme is to educate the young through their actions – they walk the talk to understand sustainability. We believe that we learn best when we implement our ideas; when we measure what we have done and we set goals for what needs to be done next”. Tushita Rawat, programme manager, environment education, CSE said “The programme uses an analytics platform to track the environmental performance of schools. Over 600 data points are collected, which provide quantifiable environmental impacts within and around the school campus.” Souparno Banerjee, senior director, environment education, CSE said: “The unique aspect of this programme is the opportunity that it affords schools to measure their progress year on year and improve their ranking.” A Green School is a resource-efficient school that meets the criteria of window to floor ratio (WFR) of more than 5 per cent to allow adequate daylight and ventilation. Majority of the population uses sustainable modes of transport (public transport, e-rickshaws) or non-polluting modes of transport (cycling, walking). Maximum use energy-efficient lighting to conserve energy and use alternative sources of energy as GSP audit encourages schools to minimize use of conventional lights without compromising sufficient lighting for students. Maintain a high green cover inside and around school campus along with greater biodiversity by planting native species of plants. Serve only cooked meals (avoid packaged foods that are high in fats, sugar and salt) to ensure healthy food consumption. Harvest rainwater through rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems and reuse treated wastewater. Pre- and post-monsoon cleaning of RWH systems is important. Segregate waste at source efficiently and dispose of responsibly. Recycling at least 90 per cent of the waste is recommended. Compost the wet waste and not burn waste.

41 Per Cent In India Still Rely On Biomass For Cooking, Emitting 340 Mn Tonnes Of CO2 Annually: Report

Forty-one percent of the Indian population still uses wood, cow dung or other biomass as cooking fuel and cumulatively emits around 340 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the environment every year, which is about 13 per cent of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report. The report “India’s Transition to E-cooking” by the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment also said that the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana led to a rapid expansion in access to liquified petroleum gas (LPG) in India, but it has “not guaranteed a sustained transition to clean cooking in households” that benefited from the scheme. Around a third of the world’s population – 2.4 billion people globally (including 500 million people in India) – still lack access to clean cooking solutions. This causes untold damage to the economy, public health and the environment. Approximately three million people globally (including 0.6 million people in India) die prematurely every year because of indoor air pollution. These deaths are mostly caused by wood-based cooking, the report said, citing research conducted in the past. Although the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) claims that the country’s household LPG “coverage” stands at 99.8 per cent, the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019–21 (NFHS-5) shows that 41 per cent of the population still cooks on biomass, it said. The report said, CSE’s own calculations have found that this 41 per cent cumulatively emits — when it cooks on wood, cow dung or other biomass — around 340 million tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the environment every year, which is about 13 per cent of India’s national GHG emissions. A review of India’s last Biennial Update Report (BUR3) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change shows this particular sectoral emission is not counted as part of national emissions. Through PMUY launched in May 2016, more than 100 million households in India received LPG cylinders by the end of March 2023. However, over 50 per cent of the households that received new LPG cylinders under PMUY did not choose to refill it even once, the CSE said. The report further said, This was due to high costs of refill, cultural or behavioural beliefs, and a lack of significant LPG cylinder distribution networks where the beneficiaries lived. As of March 2023, the average cost for a refill of an LPG cylinder (14.2 kg) was approximately Rs 1,100 across India. The average Indian household requires eight such cylinders solely for cooking in a year. That translates to approximately Rs 8,800 spent on cooking fuel alone per year. As per the NITI Aayog’s Tenth Five-Year Plan, the average annual income of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family is capped at Rs 27,000, which means an average BPL family (who are the primary beneficiaries of the PMUY scheme) have to spend one-third of their annual income on cooking fuel alone, the CSE said.