BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI Original Application No. 108/2024 1. This original application is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item titled "Sand Mining: 20 arrested 40 big boats seized in Bihar Police operation on Sone river" appearing in www.downtoearth.org dated 22.12.2023.
Environment is no more a luxury, and climate change is right in our faces, said noted environmentalist Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment Mumbai, Feb 06: Environment is no more a luxury, and climate change is right in our faces, said noted environmentalist Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment. Delivering the second annual Daryl d’Monte memorial lecture on Saturday, February 3, Narain pointed out that air is a great equaliser as rich and poor both breathe the same air. “We have to focus on clean air and drastically cut down emissions,” Narain, who also edits a fortnightly magazine Down to Earth, said. The event, titled Remembering the Environmental Challenge, was organised by Mumbai Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Participatory Urban Design & Development Initiative, Sanctuary Nature Foundation and Vanashakti, apart from the family of the pioneering environmentalist D’Monte. Author, editor and environmentalist D’Monte strived throughout his life for the cause of protecting and conserving nature. Narain said all cities must adopt the mandate that Delhi had and speedily convert all public transport vehicles into CNG for fuel for healthy air. Also, governments should focus on developing convenient mass rapid transport and luxury electric vehicles to encourage decreased dependence on cars. Narain said the time had come to make hard decisions as there was one extreme weather event a day now. In this context, she suggested a timeframe for switching over to electric buses.
Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Central government has failed to double farmers’ income, increase employment and control inflation. Speaking after the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, Badal said: “Even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019.” The Shiromani Akali Dal leader said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. “As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment,” she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the state incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, she said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. “Despite a clear cut undertaking by the Central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done,” the former Union Minister said. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She said how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the ‘girdawari’. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the state. “A demographic disaster is taking place but the Central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border,” she added.
Speaking on the President’s address in Parliament, Harsimrat said, “Even though the President stressed that improving the situation for farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Former Union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Centre has failed to double farmers’ income, increase employment, control inflation and improve the lot of the poor and downtrodden. Speaking on the President’s address in Parliament, Harsimrat said, “Even though the President stressed that improving the situation for farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from ₹8,000 per month in 2015 to only ₹10,000 per month in 2019.” She said in stark contrast, the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58% in the same period,” she said adding that 10,880 farmers also ended their life in 2021 as per the centre for science and environment.
Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said the union government had failed to double farmer income, increase employment, control inflation and improve the lot of the poor and downtrodden. Speaking on the President’s Address in parliament, Mrs Harsimrat Badal said “even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the union government, the same has not been supported with data”. Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the union government had promised to double farmer income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO) the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019”. She said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. “As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment”, she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the State incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, Mrs Badal said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. “Despite a clear cut undertaking by the central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done”. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She also disclosed how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its chief minister – Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the girdawari. Speaking about the state of the youth, the former union minister said as per the World Bank Data the unemployment rate was 23 per cent in India. She said 43,000 professionals were recorded to have committed suicide even as there was a 68 per cent increase in the rate of students going abroad. She said in Punjab itself, the enrolment of youth in higher education courses had reduced by 50 per cent due to massive frauds in the SC Scholarship scheme during the tenure of the previous Congress government. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Mrs Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the State. “A demographic disaster is taking place but the central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border”. Speaking about the state of the poor, Mrs Badal said as per data as many as 74 per cent of Indians were not able to afford healthy food. She said correspondingly since 2012 there had been a 40 per cent increase in petrol prices, 60 per cent increase in diesel prices, 70 per cent increase in pulses and a 77 per cent increase in milk prices. She also disclosed how the RBI had disclosed that there had been a 5.1 per decrease in annual household savings in 2023 even as the annual financial liabilities of households increased by 5.8 per cent of GDP during the same period. “This is surely not acche din”, Mrs Badal added. The Bathinda MP also spoke on how the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) had disclosed that there was a ten per cent increase in crime against women in 2023. She also asked when the women reservation law would be implemented, saying this was the need of the hour.
The environment is no long era luxury and climate change is right in our faces, said noted environmentalist Sunita Narain, Director General of Centre for Science and Environment. Delivering the second annual Darryl d’Monte Memorial lecture on Saturday, Narain pointed out that air is a great equaliser as rich and poor both breathe the same air. “We have to focus on clean air and drastically cut down emissions,” Narain, who also edits the fortnightly magazine Down to Earth, said. The event, titled Remembering the Environmental Challenge, was organised by Mumbai Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Participatory Urban Design & Development Initiative, Sanctuary Nature Foundation and Vanashakti, apart from the family of the pioneering environmentalist D’Monte. Narain said all the governments should focus on developing convenient mass rapid transport and luxury electric vehicles to encourage de-creased dependence on cars.She regretted that water re-sources are also being grossly neglected. The Yamuna has been officially declared dead as its oxygen level has been reduced to zero, she re-marked.She stressed that infra-structure progress must be balanced with environmental care. “This is where the governments should take local communities into confidence,” she said.
Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Central government has failed to double farmers' income, increase employment and control inflation. Speaking after the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, Badal said: "Even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data." Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers' income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. ADVERTISEMENT "As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019." The Shiromani Akali Dal leader said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. "As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment," she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the state incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, she said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. "Despite a clear cut undertaking by the Central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done," the former Union Minister said. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She said how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the 'girdawari'. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the state. "A demographic disaster is taking place but the Central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border," she added.
Former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said the Central government has failed to double farmers’ income, increase employment and control inflation. Speaking after the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, Badal said: “Even though the President had stressed that improving the lot of farmers, poor and youth was the focus of the Union government, the same has not been supported with data.” Asserting that the data was to the contrary, the Bathinda MP said even though the Union government had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022, this promise remained elusive. “As per the data of the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average income of agriculture households increased from Rs 8,000 per month in 2015 to only Rs 10,000 per month in 2019.” The Shiromani Akali Dal leader said in stark contrast the NSO data revealed that the average debt of farmers had increased by 58 per cent in the same period. “As many as 10,880 farmers also committed suicide in 2021 as per the Centre for Science and Environment,” she added. Stating that farmers were most indebted in Punjab with small farmers in the state incurring a debt of Rs 3 lakh per farmer, she said the issues of farmers were also not being addressed. “Despite a clear cut undertaking by the Central government that a sub-committee would be formed to make minimum support price (MSP) a legal right of farmers, the same was not done,” the former Union Minister said. She said even as there was an 80 per cent increase in agriculture inputs, the increase in the MSP was increased by 30 per cent only. She said how there was a 26 per cent decrease in the Kisan Samman Nidhi beneficiaries in Punjab which was contributing the most to the national food kitty. She said similarly even though crop insurance companies had earned Rs 57,000 crore, farmers in Punjab did not get any compensation for successive crop losses even though its Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised to release compensation for crop losses even before the conduct of the ‘girdawari’. Talking about the menace of drugs in the country, Badal said the situation was precarious in Punjab with drones from Pakistan flying in drugs into the state. “A demographic disaster is taking place but the Central government is yet to come out with a concrete policy to stop the influx of drugs into Punjab from across the border,” she added.
Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment, spoke at the Darryl D'Monte memorial lecture about the need for a balance between development and the environment. She highlighted the importance of reducing carbon emissions, ensuring clean air, and adopting cleaner modes of mobility. Narain also called for a switch to practices that are friendlier to the environment and criticized the government's lack of action in promoting cleaner fuel. The lecture was held in memory of Darryl D'Monte, an environmental journalist who raised concerns about the environment ahead of his time. Mumbai: Speaking at the second Darryl D’Monte memorial lecture on Saturday, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Sunita Narain reminisced about the 1980s, when D’Monte and CSE founder Anil Agarwal were discussing if and how a balance could be struck between development and the environment.
In 2024, we must rework trade rules for a different kind of globalisation. This is important both for the economies in Global South and the fight against climate change. Many yesterdays ago, when the world was discussing the possibility of a climate crisis, it was negotiating a new trade agreement. In early 1992, when the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was agreed on at the Rio Summit, the World Trade Organization (WTO) was also set up and global rules to facilitate free trade between nations were signed on. The deal was simple: The cost of manufacturing would come down when goods were produced in countries with lower labour costs and environmental standards. The export-economies would drive prosperity in the still developing world, and, most importantly, in the rich world, where consumers would benefit from cheaper goods and the boom in services. The tectonic shift came in 2001, with the acceptance of China into the WTO. China had a massive workforce; no trade unions; little environmental safeguards; and an authoritarian government. After joining the WTO, China’s share of global carbon-dioxide emission rose from 5 per cent in 1990 to 21 per cent in 2019. Trade boomed but the age of global prosperity did not come, and increased trade meant an increase in carbon-dioxide emission. In 20 years, this idea of globalisation has soured — the proponents of the grand scheme are turning their back on the idea of unfettered global trade, which was designed to be without distortions of subsidy and support by national governments. The question is how these new globalisation rules will take shape in a climate-risked and war-torn world. Today the most hyped issue is the US’s position against China. This is being talked about as the fight against autocratic and undemocratic regimes (which is true). But the real reason is to gain control of resources and technologies needed for the future. This includes the green economy the world so desperately needs. China today dominates the supply chains for batteries; it processes over half of the world’s lithium, cobalt, and graphite; and it is an established leader in solar energy. To fight this “enemy”, the US has decided to give up all its ideological qualms about subsidies; the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is providing finance to companies to manufacture low-carbon products in the US. The European Union has its own version of taxing the entry of goods into the region through the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The issue is if the Western world’s mission to break this stranglehold will lead to higher costs of the green transition and even delay it. Or will it be successful in doing the impossible — securing access to rare minerals and rebuilding its manufacturing industry, despite the higher costs of labour and environmental standards. This could lead to de-globalisation or localisation as more countries decide to maximise their advantage as holders of natural resources, technology, and the knowledge that goes with them. It is also a possibility that there are new breakthroughs in technology, which would make the China-dominated supply-chain redundant. For instance, there is talk about sodium-ion batteries, which could take down the need for lithium batteries. De-globalisation could equally mean that the pace of green transition is disrupted. For instance, the US, through the IRA, is providing support to the local manufacturing of electric vehicles. It has notified that electric vehicles that include Chinese-made battery components will not be eligible for full subsidies. It goes on to say that these vehicles will not qualify for the IRA if they have “significant” ties to the Chinese government or are produced with a licensing agreement with a China-based or -controlled operator. Given the near-complete control of China in the raw mineral and battery-manufacturing segment, this disengagement may delay the electric-vehicle transition or make it more expensive. Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD has overtaken Elon Musk’s Tesla. According to the Financial Times, in the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD sold a record 526,000 battery-only electric vehicles, as compared to Tesla’s 484,000. Therefore, managing the twin objectives of localisation and a speedy green transition in today’s China-dominated world could be a challenge. It is the same in India. We have decided — and rightly so — to invest in local capacity for the solar industry. The Indian government has announced fiscal incentives for solar cell and module manufacture and imposed higher import duties on Chinese products. It is difficult to say, as yet, if this will impede India’s ambitious renewable programme, as domestic production may not be able to keep pace or be cost-competitive. On the other hand, there is an obvious advantage in building our industry. The gradual closing of the free-trade world will also have implications for Indian industry’s exports. All in all, there is a new game in town and we need to see if this time around the rules of trade will work for or against the people and the planet. The writer is at the Centre for Science and Environment sunita@cseindia.org, X: @sunitanar
In a remarkable achievement, Satya Bharti School in Lakhowal, has been honoured with the Changemaker Award at the Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) annual Green Schools Awards, emphasising its commitment to environmental sustainability. The award recognises the schools that have shown exemplary efforts in making their campuses eco-friendly and fostering environmental consciousness among students. Out of the 5,300 schools from 29 states and union territories that participated in the Green Schools Programme, 199 schools from across India were certified ‘green’ at the awards ceremony on January 30. The Changemaker Awards, recognising schools that elevate their sustainability rating to green through continuous monitoring and improvement, were presented to two institutions. Satya Bharti School, Lakhowal, Ludhiana, and PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Ordnance Factory, Katni, Madhya Pradesh, stood out as exemplary achievers in this category. Satya Bharti School in Ludhiana stood out as a “changemaker”, the only one in Punjab, by successfully transitioning to the green category from yellow by implementing sustainable practices over the past year.
On the global observance of World Wetlands Day, Wetlands International South Asia (NGO) took centre stage at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on Friday, shedding light on the theme 'Wetlands and Human Wellbeing.' The event, graced by Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), provided a platform for experts, environmentalists, and the public to engage in meaningful discussions regarding the crucial role wetlands play in the lives of people and the environment. Dr Ritesh Kumar, Director of Wetlands International South Asia, welcomed the esteemed guests, setting the tone for an insightful gathering. Dr Sidharth Kaul, President of Wetlands International South Asia, introduced the theme for World Wetlands Day 2024, underlining the organization's steadfast commitment to wetlands conservation and sustainable use over the past 26 years. The event featured the release of two significant knowledge and outreach materials. The first was a compelling poster titled "Life Interlaced, Wetlands and People," stressing the intricate connection between wetlands and human wellbeing and underscoring the imperative need for their preservation. The second release was the ninth edition of Wetlands International South Asia's Newsletter 'Sarovar,' with a thematic focus on the 'Ecological Restoration of Wetlands.' Sunita Narain, the Chief Guest urged for a shared responsibility in preserving these ecosystems, transcending environmental concerns to secure a healthier future for all. Ms Narain cited examples of cities such as Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Kerala, which have faced extreme disasters due to the loss of their natural wetlands. She stressed the urgency of integrating wetlands into regional government plans for water security, sewage control, and other vital aspects. A pivotal moment of the event was a panel discussion on 'Wetlands: Nature-based Solutions,' where experts explored the transformative potential of wetlands in addressing pressing environmental challenges. The discussion delved into the multifaceted benefits that wetlands offer, serving as nature-based solutions for issues ranging from climate change mitigation to biodiversity conservation.
विश्व आर्द्रभूमि दिवस के मौके पर दिल्ली में शुक्रवार को कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया गया, जिसमें आर्द्रभूमि (वेटलैंड) को लेकर चर्चा की गई. कार्यक्रम में वेटलैंड के जाने-माने विशेषज्ञों ने हिस्सा लिया. आम भाषा में वेटलैंड उन क्षेत्रों को कहा जाता है, जहां पानी पूरे साल या कम से कम 6 महीने तक रहता है. जैसे तालाब, पोखर, नदी, झील इसके अंतर्गत आते हैं. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के डायरेक्टर जनरल सुनीता नारायण ने बताया कि जिस तरीके से जलवायु परिवर्तन की समस्या सामने आ रही है. उसको देखते हुए वेटलैंड को बचाने की अति आवश्यकता है. दिल्ली में अक्सर बात होती है कि नजफगढ़ झील को बचाएंगे, लेकिन कहने से नहीं होगा इस पर काम करने की जरूरत है. दिल्ली के जितने भी झील, तालाब, नदी है उसको बचाने की जरूरत है. वहीं, डॉ सिद्धार्थ कॉल ने बताया कि वेटलैंड को लेकर जो नियम और कानून बनाए जाते हैं उसका पालन प्रभावी ढंग से होना चाहिए. क्योंकि, खासकर शहरों में देखा जाता है कि वेटलैंड क्षेत्र पर अतिक्रमण होता है और वह प्रभावित लोगों के द्वारा किया जाता है. उन्होंने कहा बीते कुछ वर्षों में दिल्ली के वेटलैंड को लेकर काफी जागरुकता आई है और इस पर काम भी हो रहा है. प्रत्येक वर्ष 2 फरवरी को विश्व आर्द्रभूमि दिवस (वर्ल्ड वेटलैंड डे) के रूप में मनाया जाता है, जिसका मकसद आर्द्रभूमि भूमि को लेकर लोगों को जागरूक करना होता है. क्योंकि आर्द्रभूमि पर्यावरण को बेहतर रखने के लिए अहम योगदान देते हैं. बीते कुछ समय में आधुनिकता के इस दौर में विकास कार्यों की वजह से आर्द्रभूमि क्षेत्र पर ज्यादा जोर नहीं दिया जा सका है. लेकिन अब बीते कुछ वर्षों से आर्द्रभूमि को संरक्षित करने पर सरकारे जोर दे रही है.
सेंटर फॉ र साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की महा नि देशक सुनी ता ना रा यण ने कहा है कि जलवा यु परि वर्तन के कुप्रभा वों से बचने के लि ये आर्द्रभूमि को बचाने की जरूरत है और ता ला बों तथा झी लों को नहीं बचाया गया , तो आने वा ले समय में लो गों को इसके परि णा म भुगतने पड़ेंगे। श्रीमती ना रा यण ने यहां वि श्व आर्द्रभूमि दि वस के मौ के पर वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या द्वारा आयो जि त का र्यक्रम में कहा कि स्थि ति भया वह है और इसको लेकर लो गों को जा गरूक हो ने की जरूरत है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेवेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या की पहल की प्रशंसा करते हुये कहा कि आर्द्रभूमि के संरक्षण को लेकर इस तरह के का र्यक्रमों का बड़े पैमा ने पर आयो जि त करने की जरूरत है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेबता या कि पि छले दो-ती न सालों में स्थि ति थोड़ी सुधरी है, लेकि न अभी भी चिं ता जनक है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेकहा कि ता ला बों को नहीं बचायेंगे, तो परि णा म बहुत बुरे हों गेहों गे। उन्हों नेन्हों नेकहा कि पहले हम करते थे कि जल संरक्षण के लि ये ता ला ब जरूरी है, लेकि न अब हम करते हैं कि ता ला बों की क्या जरूरत है। उन्हों नेन्हों नेकहा कि ता ला बों तथा झी लों की जरूरत है क्योंकिक्योंकि यदि हम जल संरक्षण नहीं करेंगे, ता ला बों और झी लों को नहीं बचाएंगे, तो एक ओर बा ढ़ आयेगी और दूसरी ओर सूखा पड़ेगा । उन्हों नेन्हों नेबता या कि पि छले दि नों हम सभी ने देखा था कि बा रि श के का रण रा ष्ट्री य रा जधा नी दि ल्ली की क्या स्थि ति हो गयी थी। गौ रतलब है कि वि श्व वेटलैंड्स दि वस 2024 का वि षय ‘वेटलैंड्स और मा नव कल्या ण’ है। इस अवसर पर वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या के अध्यक्ष डॉ सि द्धा र्थ कौ ल ने वि श्व वेटलैंड्स दि वस 2024 की थीम पेश की और संगठन की ओर से पि छले 26 वर्षों में आर्द्रभूमि क के संरक्षण नि रंतर प्रया सों पर प्रका श डाला । उन्हों नेन्हों नेबता या कि वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या पा रि स्थि ति क संतुलन और मा नव समृद्धि के लि ये आर्द्रभूमि संरक्षण के महत्व पर जो र देने की खा ति र वि शेषज्ञों ,ज्ञों पर्या वरणवि दों और जनता के मा ध्यम से जा गरूकता नि र्मा ण के लि ये कुछ स्वस्थ चर्चाओं के लि ये एक मंच के रूप में का र्य करता है। इस अवसर पर वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या के नि देशक डॉ रि तेश कुमा र ने मेहमा नों का स्वा गत कि या । का र्यक्रम में दो ज्ञा न और आउटरी च सामग्री जा री की गयी । श्री कुमा र ने कहा कि ‘ला इफ इंटरलेस्ड, वेटलैंड्स एंड पी पल’ थीम वा ला एक पो स्टर, वेटलैंड्स और मा नव कल्या ण के बी च अंतर्संबंध के महत्व पर प्रका श डालता है और उनके संरक्षण की आवश्यकता पर जो र देता है। वहीं ,हीं दूसरा प्रका शन वेटलैंड्स इंटरनेशनल साउथ एशि या के न्यूज़लेटर 'सरो वर' का नौ वां संस्करण था, जि सका वि षय 'वेटलैंड्स की पा रि स्थि ति क बहा ली ' था। का र्यक्रम में 'वेटलैंड्स: प्रकृति -आधा रि त समा धा न' पर एक पैनल चर्चा भी आयो जि त की गयी , जि समें वि शेषज्ञों ने पर्या वरणी य चुनौ ति यों से नि पटने में वेटलैंड्स की परि वर्तनका री क्षमता का पता लगा या । उल्लेखनी य है कि वेटलैंड्स कन्वेंशन को रा मसर कन्वेंशन कहा जा ता है। रा मसर सम्मेलन 1971 में संयुक्त रा ष्ट्र शैक्षि क, वैज्ञा नि क एवं सांस्कृति क संगठन (यूनेस्को) द्वारा स्थापि त एक अंतररा ष्ट्री य आर्द्रभूमि संधि है। यह सम्मेलन 1975 में का र्रवा ई में आया । रा मसर ईरा न में स्थि त वह स्थान है, जहाँ 1971 में अंतररा ष्ट्री य आर्द्रभूमि संधि पर हस्ताक्षर कि ये गये थे। संतो ष.श्रव
Ahead of her lecture at a Mumbai venue this weekend, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain, speaks with mid-day on the crises faced by Mumbai, India and potential solutions On Saturday, the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh Auditorium will host a lecture that expands on the work of the late journalist Darryl D’Monte. Known for his untiring crusade for the green spaces of Mumbai, the late editor will be honoured through the second annual Darryl D’Monte Memorial Lecture by Sunita Narain, director general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Ahead of her lecture titled Climate Change in an Increasingly Unequal and Polarized World: The Future Agenda for Action, she speaks to us about her learnings from the recent COP28 in 2023, Mumbai’s falling air quality and public transport. Your talk comes on the back of your recent visit to COP28 in Dubai where you also spoke about the equitable distribution of the energy burden. How does this translate into action going forward? Sunita Narain: This has been a contested issue for many decades since the world agreed upon a framework convention of climate change. Energy is at the core of the transition that is needed. The fact also is that energy is part of the economic growth system of each country. This is why negotiations on an equitable energy transition have been difficult. In Dubai, for the first time, we have the recognition in documents that fossil fuels are a problem. It now comes down to the action agenda. For a country like India, it is very clear that, in our best interest, we need to find a way to grow without pollution. For instance, take the issue of mobility. We know that if we were to reduce the number of cars on the road, it would help us reduce emissions and air pollution. But this would mean scaling up public transport and improving last mile connectivity. The right to walk and the right to cycle are all part of the plan ahead and need to be looked at. In this context, Mumbai has been in the limelight for falling air quality, pollutants and rising construction. How does a city balance its need for development with the risk of environmental damage? SN: In Mumbai, it is not just construction. Our data clearly shows that it is a factor of all four pollutants — vehicles on the road, use of coal in industries on the periphery, waste burning and dust from construction. Dust, per se, is not a pollutant, but when it is coated with emissions, it becomes one. Moving ahead, Mumbai needs to strategise accordingly. You cannot tackle [just] one issue to find a solution. Limiting dust from construction is easy through sprinkling of water, barricading and regular monitoring, etc. They are not foolproof, but are mitigating measures. With vehicular emission, the only way is to augment public transport. Mumbai is better than Delhi in its usage of suburban railway networks, but is still growing at a fast rate in terms of vehicle ownership. This is clearly something that the city has to factor in when coming up with a plan. I was happy to note on a recent visit that there are quite a few electric cars and taxis in Mumbai, but there is a need for more; like how Delhi moved its auto rickshaws and buses to CNG. This would require a mandate and massive investment that enables the rickshaw drivers and public transport owners — who are not rich or privileged — to agree to such measures. Then, of course, is the use of coal in the industries on the peripheries of the city. The only alternative is to provide them with affordable gas, but that is not available to India at affordable rates. Essentially, we need to take hard and tough measures, and we are not doing it either in Mumbai, Delhi or around the world. This will be part of my talk ahead. How will these measures fall in place when there is an immediate need for growing infrastructure, that adds to the man-animal conflict, as is witnessed in Mumbai? SN: Many people believe, and rightly so, that infrastructure is a necessity. Faster and smoother connectivity will reduce time and fuel consumption. My argument is that along with these new road infrastructures, we need to plan scaled up systems of transportation through buses and trains rather than cars. The experience around the world teaches us that the more you build, the more cars will fill up the space.
New Delhi: Rain and strong winds helped clean up Delhi's air quality on Thursday when the Air Quality Index (AQI) slid to 177 in the "moderate" range from 392, which was "near severe" on Wednesday.The sudden improvement in air quality, although still not ideal, happened after a gap of over three months. A lower AQI than Thursday's was last seen on Oct 19, 2023, when it was 121. The last "moderate" air quality in Delhi before Thursday was on Oct 20 last year when the AQI was 195. Central Pollution Control Board's data shows that Delhi did not see any "moderate" air quality day in Nov and Dec 2023 or Jan 2024. Experts said there was a drastic improvement in the air quality due to the rain, which helped in washing out pollutants. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said: "This is clearly the wash-out effect of the rain. This has cleared the particulates that were trapped due to extremely calm weather conditions and exacerbated by winter inversion for so many days." The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi (EWS), which is the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences, in its bulletin on Thursday said the predominant winds "were from the northeast or southeast direction with wind speed 6-18 kmph in Delhi on Wednesday". Safdarjung got 26.5 mm of rainfall, Palam 20.1 mm and the Ridge 23.4mm. EWS said the air quality is likely to be "moderate" till Feb 4. This January was the most polluted since 2016 with an average AQI of 354. The lowest daily AQI was 273 on Jan 10. With an average AQI of 348, Dec 2023 was the most polluted in the past five years. The month saw three severe days with AQI hovering in the "very poor" category on most days. Nov last year was the worst polluted ever. Delhi saw 17 Nov days when the AQI was 390 or above. The air quality in Delhi in Oct 2023 was the most polluted in the past three years.