Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

दिल्ली में पिछले छह वर्षों में नवंबर-दिसंबर 2023 में वायु गुणवत्ता सबसे खराब रहीः सीएसई

नयी दिल्ली, चार जनवरी (भाषा) दिल्ली-राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (एनसीआर) में पिछले छह वर्ष में नवंबर और दिसंबर 2023 में ‘बहुत खराब’ या बदतर वायु गुणवत्ता का सबसे लंबा दौर और ‘स्मॉग एपिसोड’ की स्थिति रही। एक नये विश्लेषण में यह जानकारी सामने आई है। ‘स्मॉग एपिसोड’ की स्थिति वह होती है जब कम से कम तीन या अधिक दिन तक लगातार वायु गुणवत्ता ‘गंभीर’ श्रेणी में होती है। दिल्ली-एनसीआर के प्रदूषण आंकड़े का विश्लेषण करने वाले एक स्वतंत्र थिंक-टैंक ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट’ (सीएसई) ने कहा कि 2015-17 के बाद से पीएम 2.5 के वार्षिक स्तरों में क्रमिक दीर्घकालिक सुधार 2023 में रुक गया।

Improvement in Delhi's annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17 halted in 2023 says CSE report

Delhi-NCR recorded the longest spell of 'very poor' or worse air quality and the maximum number of smog episodes in November and December 2023 in the last six years, according to a new analysis. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent think-tank that analysed pollution data for Delhi-NCR, said the gradual long-term improvement in annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17 halted in 2023. This occurred despite cleaner-than-usual summer and monsoon seasons and significantly reduced intrusion of smoke from farm fires in northern states. However, this winter witnessed unusually low surface wind speeds, trapping high levels of local pollution. Due to the impact of unusual winter levels, the overall annual levels have plateaued and worsened, reversing the gains of the long-term downward trend, the CSE said. Despite a decrease in stubble burning contributing to Delhi's pollution this year, coupled with increased rainfall in November and milder winter conditions, the annual level should have improved. Instead, adverse meteorological conditions, specifically lower wind speeds, exacerbated the situation due to persistently high local pollution, it added. Delhi had been experiencing a consistent decline in its annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17, with 2020 being the only outlier due to pandemic lockdowns. However, this downward trend halted in 2023. Delhi's PM2.5 annual average for 2023 (as of December 29) stood at 100.9 micrograms per cubic metre, marking a 2 per cent increase against 2022 and 6 per cent higher than the remarkably clean 2020. The average annual PM2.5 concentrations were 115.8 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2018, 109.2 in 2019, 95.1 in 2020, 106.2 in 2021, 98.6 in 2022, and 100.9 in 2023, according to the data. The analysis revealed that while summers are becoming cleaner, winters are becoming more polluted. In 2023, the summer months (March to June) were significantly less polluted (14-36 per cent) than in 2022. Conversely, the winter months of January, November and December were much more polluted in 2023 (12-34 per cent) compared to the same months in 2022, the CSE said. It said the maximum number of smog episodes occurred in November-December 2023, surpassing the last six years' corresponding periods. A smog episode is defined as at least three or more consecutive days with air quality in the 'severe' category. "Delhi typically experiences two smog episodes in November and December. In 2023, by December 24, there were three episodes, and on December 30, Delhi was witnessing its third continuous day of 'severe' air quality, marking the city's fourth smog episode," the CSE said. "Overall, November-December 2023 seems to have had the most consistently poor air compared to the last six winters, with minimal fluctuations in daily PM2.5 levels. The data indicates it was the longest spell of 'very poor' or worse air in the last six years," it said.

Improvement in Delhi's PM2.5 levels since 2015-17 halted in 2023: CSE

Delhi-NCR recorded the longest spell of 'very poor' or worse air quality and the maximum number of smog episodes in November and December 2023 in the last six years, according to a new analysis. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent think-tank that analysed pollution data for Delhi-NCR, said the gradual long-term improvement in annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17 halted in 2023. This occurred despite cleaner-than-usual summer and monsoon seasons and significantly reduced intrusion of smoke from farm fires in northern states. However, this winter witnessed unusually low surface wind speeds, trapping high levels of local pollution. Due to the impact of unusual winter levels, the overall annual levels have plateaued and worsened, reversing the gains of the long-term downward trend, the CSE said. Despite a decrease in stubble burning contributing to Delhi's pollution this year, coupled with increased rainfall in November and milder winter conditions, the annual level should have improved. Instead, adverse meteorological conditions, specifically lower wind speeds, exacerbated the situation due to persistently high local pollution, it added. Delhi had been experiencing a consistent decline in its annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17, with 2020 being the only outlier due to pandemic lockdowns. However, this downward trend halted in 2023. Delhi's PM2.5 annual average for 2023 (as of December 29) stood at 100.9 micrograms per cubic metre, marking a 2 per cent increase against 2022 and 6 per cent higher than the remarkably clean 2020. The average annual PM2.5 concentrations were 115.8 microgrammes per cubic metre in 2018, 109.2 in 2019, 95.1 in 2020, 106.2 in 2021, 98.6 in 2022, and 100.9 in 2023, according to the data. The analysis revealed that while summers are becoming cleaner, winters are becoming more polluted. In 2023, the summer months (March to June) were significantly less polluted (14-36 per cent) than in 2022. Conversely, the winter months of January, November and December were much more polluted in 2023 (12-34 per cent) compared to the same months in 2022, the CSE said. It said the maximum number of smog episodes occurred in November-December 2023, surpassing the last six years' corresponding periods.

New research raises fresh doubts about India’s river linking plans

In October this year, the Indian forest department gave final clearance for a project to transfer water from the Ken river as it flows through the state of Madhya Pradesh to the nearby Betwa river. The Ken-Betwa river interlink, which would involve damming the Ken and laying a canal to the Betwa, is supposed to be the first of 30 proposed river interlinks which would fundamentally transform India’s river systems. The original idea was conceptualised in the 19th century by Arthur Cotton, a British general and irrigation engineer. Cotton suggested connecting all of India’s major rivers to enable better irrigation and navigation, and to capitalise on what was seen as the paradoxical phenomenon of having floods in one part of the country while other areas faced drought. Post independence, despite official enthusiasm for large infrastructure projects, including hydropower dams, this particular approach did not gain any significant traction. In 1980 the Ministry of Irrigation (now subsumed under the Ministry of Jal Shakti) prepared a National Perspective Plan (NPP) “for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins”, but no further government action followed. In 2002, however, APJ Abdul Kalam, who was the President of India at the time, made a speech mentioning the subject. Using the speech, Ranjit Lal, a senior lawyer to the Supreme Court, filed a public interest litigation in September 2002, and the court pronounced a judgement soon after asking for the project to be accelerated. Decisions made based on secret data In 2012, the Supreme Court came back to the subject and declared in its judgement that that “these projects are in the national interest, as is the unanimous view of all experts, most State Governments and particularly, the Central Government”. But environmental experts who were consulted on the project as members of an expert committee set up as part of the Supreme Court judgements have regularly raised concerns. The project was based on detailed hydrological and simulation studies duly accounting [for] the upstream/downstream needs, environmental flows, etc, in the Ken basin. Bhopal Singh, director general, National Water Development Agency Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, a network of activists working in the water sector, was a member of the Ministry of Water Resources’ expert committee on river interlinking from 2009 to 2011. He told The Third Pole that while most of the committee members were government appointees who agreed with the project, independent experts like him, water management pioneer Rajendra Singh and watershed conservationist Vijay Paranjape often dissented. One of the major issues for Thakkar was the use of secret hydrological data. “When I asked for the data as a member of the expert committee, I was told that the Ken is part of the Ganges basin, an international basin, and [since] hydrology figures of international basins are a state secret, these cannot be made available [even to the committee members],” he said. “The hydrology data pertaining to the Ken basin and the Betwa basin is neither in the public domain nor has it ever undergone any independent public scrutiny. In fact, the rainfall data of districts the Ken and the Betwa pass through, in the previous four years (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020), is not appreciably different. So why has the Ken basin been categorised as having surplus water?” Bhopal Singh, director general of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) which is entrusted with the river linking project, disputes this. He told The Third Pole: “the project was based on detailed hydrological and simulation studies duly accounting [for] the upstream/downstream needs, environmental flows, etc., in the Ken basin.” “The hydrological studies were done by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, and examined and reviewed by the Central Water Commission,” Singh added. The NWDA website carries a detailed project report based on a NIH study conducted in 2003-04, but the study itself is not included. Singh told The Third Pole that “the entire modelling cannot be shared”. New science may upturn old models Another urgent issue is that science has moved a far pace from Cotton’s time, and the impact of interlinking rivers may be much more complicated than was appreciated in the 19th century. Subimal Ghosh, institute chair professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay’s Department of Civil Engineering and convener of the Interdisciplinary Program in Climate Studies, explained that atmospheric water has traditionally not been factored into consideration of water cycles. A recent study which Ghosh co-authored found that adjacent river basins do not exist in isolation, and moving water from one to another may have additional impact due to atmospheric water. The study builds on the fact that towards the end of the Indian summer monsoon, when the soil is saturated and evapotranspiration (the supply of moisture from the land to the atmosphere) is fairly high, recycled precipitation contributes to about 25 per cent of monsoon rainfall. If water from one basin were to be used to irrigate another basin, the combination of increased evapotranspiration and wind could reduce the late monsoonal rain by 12 per cent in some arid regions of the country, and increase rainfall up to 10 per cent in other parts. “Now we know for certain that altering the terrestrial water cycle can impact atmospheric processes,” said Ghosh. He argued that there is “an urgent need to include rigorous model-guided evaluation of hydro-meteorological consequences” for projects like river interlinking. In response, Singh of the NWDA said that they could not comment on a hypothetical study. “Considering the scale of meteorological and hydrological cycles in the country, these inter-basin water transfers to water-short areas are minor in nature … As far as the Ken-Betwa link is concerned, the majority of harnessed flood water shall be utilised in the Ken basin itself and some water shall be utilised to fulfil the water needs of other regions including recharge of existing tanks in the Bundelkhand region,” he added. The illusion of water surplus A deeper problem, according to Thakkar, may be that the river basins classified as having a water surplus are only regarded as such because they are less developed. He pointed out that districts in the upper Ken basin are largely devoid of water-intensive agriculture, and with few dams built for storage. In contrast, the lower Betwa runs through agricultural districts where water-intensive crops are grown, with a fair number of dams. The surplus, he said, is only an illusion created by the different levels of water utilisation in different geographies. “Now dams are sought to be built in the upper Betwa region, which will create a shortfall in the existing lower Betwa basin dams,” said Thakkar. “That shortfall is proposed to be rectified by water from the Ken basin.” In response, Singh said that the Ken-Betwa link is not only about the inter-basin transfer of water – the central premise of river interlinking from Cotton’s time to the Supreme Court decisions – but also about conserving flood water. Most rainfall occurs in a few days during the monsoon, and “there are hardly any flows in the Ken during the non-monsoon period,” said Singh. “The region is also not very rich in groundwater due to hard rock and marginal alluvium terrain. We expect this project to stabilise the availability of water and improve water management in the region particularly during drought years.” Major downstream impacts of river interlinking Singh’s vision of the total utilisation of water raises its own issues, according to Depinder Kapur, director of the water programme at the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi. “The more river waters we use for agriculture and irrigation and urban consumption, the less will be left to enter the sea, especially in peninsular India where rivers aren’t fed by Himalayan waters,” said Kapur. According to a 2018 study, if all 30 proposed river interlinking projects in the country are fully implemented, the average annual discharge by the affected basins will reduce by 73 per cent. While the study focused on impacts to wetlands and estuaries, which would be deprived of key sources of water, there would also be major ramifications for the ocean. A significant fall in the flow of fresh river water into the sea would disrupt the upper layer of water in the Bay of Bengal, which is made up of low-salinity and low-density water that helps maintain a sea surface temperature higher than 28 degrees Celsius. This high surface temperature in turn creates low-pressure areas and intensifies monsoon activity, explained Mihir Shah, distinguished professor at Shiv Nadar University and former chair of a new National Water Policy drafting committee set up by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2019. “Rainfall over much of the [Indian] subcontinent is effectively controlled by this layer of low-salinity water. A disruption in this layer because of the massive damming proposed by the river interlinks … could have serious long-term consequences for climate and rainfall in the subcontinent, endangering the livelihoods of a vast population.” Rivers carry more than water, and sediment would also be held back by new dams built for river interlinking. This is a critical concern for the deltas of the Ganga–Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri basins, home to more than 160 million people who would be deeply impacted by sea level rise due to climate change. A new study of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta found that the approximately 1 billion tonnes of sediment that rivers currently carry each year would increase by 34-60 per cent in the 21st century because of more monsoon rainfall. More sediment in the delta would help to offset sea level rise and naturally sustain the delta. But, as the 2018 study pointed out, if all dams involved in the proposed river interlinking projects are built, this sediment load would fall by 87 per cent. Singh of the NWDA responded by saying that sediment trapping by reservoirs and their impact on deltas was “always exaggerated without proper scientific study”. While suggesting that such impacts would be “nominal”, he told The Third Pole that the NWDA had “already initiated system studies of the proposed link projects to study the likely impact of climate change on hydrology and water availability, demand patterns, surface and ground water interactions”. Looking ahead, with the Bharatiya Janata Party having returned to power in Madhya Pradesh in the November 2023 elections, and with river interlinking having been featured in the party’s 2019 general election manifesto, it seems likely that work on the Ken-Betwa link will be prioritised as evidence of the plan making progress.

String of disasters in Himalayas should prompt urgent reconsideration of big infrastructure projects

The development strategy for the Himalayas should take into consideration the vulnerability of the region and the need for environment protection. Despite repeated warning from geologists and environmentalists about the fragile status of the Himalayas and the need for utmost caution while constructing dams, roads, power plants or tunnels, haphazard construction for energy, increased revenue from tourism and pilgrimages continues unabated. The collapse of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel on the Brahmkhal-Yamunotri highway in Uttarakhand is the latest in the chain of disasters that almost killed 41 workers who were trapped in it for 17 days from November 12. Were geologists or engineers overseeing the construction of the tunnel? Manish Khalko, the managing director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, said the falling of the debris in the under-construction tunnel was a recurring feature but no one expected it would be severe enough to trap the workers inside. While it is true that the rescue of the workers was a Herculean task deserving all praise, the questions to be asked are: Why did the tunnel collapse? Was the fragility of the mountain system kept in mind while digging the long tunnel through the heart of the mountainous region? Was it preventable? Ticking time bomb In fact, with the steady decimation of forests, torrential rains and landslides becoming chronic, the government needs to relook at all its projects in the Himalayas and this includes the Char Dham Yatra route, the power projects and road widening for increased traffic. Eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil and environmental activist Sunita Narain of the Centre for Science and Environment had warned a decade ago about over-development as a ticking time bomb. Gadgil, in his autobiographical book, A Walk Up The Hill, highlights the tremendous environmental destruction taking place across the country. He refers to the degradation of forests of Uttarakhand and the habitat of the goral and other wildlife, triggering the landslide of Chamoli in 2021 and the death of 204 people. Way back in July 2013, Narain, in a column, pointed out that extreme rain events have become frequent. On June 16, 2013, it rained without a break and some 200 mm came down within hours in a few places like Kedarnath. It brought down the mighty Himalayas. Villages were wiped out, property destroyed, roads washed away and hydro power projects damaged in Uttarakhand. “The mountains are bleeding and its people have been left battered, bruised and dead,” she wrote. Experts have repeatedly raised concern about the carrying capacity of this terrain and the slope cutting activities defying geological wisdom. The development strategy for the Himalayas should take into consideration the vulnerability of the region and the need for environment protection. Sinking Joshimath The 1976 government-appointed MC Mishra (Collector of Garhwal) Commission report as well as the 2006 report of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology had warned against construction activity in the Himalayan region and more so in and around Joshimath. Mishra’s report pointed out that Joshimath was on a deposit of sand and stone and not rock and the rivers Alaknanda and Dhauli Ganga could trigger landslides. Yet, tunnels are being blasted in the seismic zone, putting the town in great danger. Roads and other infrastructure are being proposed and dams have been built upstream. It is clear that this region cannot take anymore. So, on January 6 this year when news broke of Joshimath sinking, it shocked the world but not the people of Joshimath or the experts who had been warning of the fragility of the region. As the cracks in buildings and hotels became larger, there was an exodus. Some 4000 people had to abandon their homes and seek shelter in relief camps and negotiate for compensation. Reports of land subsidence poured in from other hill towns such as Karnaprayag, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi, Rishikesh, Nainital and Mussoorie. The number of visitors to the holy town of Joshimath are said to have doubled from 2.4 lakh in 2017 to 4.9 lakh in 2019. The pilgrim pressure to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri seeking inner peace has put stress on the carrying capacity of the region. The Char Dam Yatra Project of 2016 is one of largest road widening projects of the region and seeks to convert the 889 km road linking the four holy cities from 5 metres to 10 metres. Simultaneously housing facilities were to be increased to accommodate the pilgrims. A yatra that was once undertaken on foot is now a highway pilgrimage. In addition, the bursting of an underground aquifer during the construction of a tunnel of the 520 mw Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project added to the stress of Joshimath. Satellite images released by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre showed that the town sank by 5.4 centimetres between December 27, 2022 and January 8, 2023. In February 2023, Ravi Chopra, who headed a committee formed by the Supreme Court to examine the concerns raised on the Char Dham project, resigned disappointed on the court ignoring the panel’s advice not to increase the road width. The year 2023 has been a year of natural disasters galore in the Himalayas. In Himachal Pradesh due to excessive rainfall from April to July (in July it was over 70 percent above the average rainfall) the State Disaster Management Committee said there were 72 flash floods, 163 landslides and 110 deaths. Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Kangra and Solan were all affected. Seismologist Sunil Dhar said super saturation due to prolonged rainfall had caused massive earth movements across the region. The Himachal government is consulting experts for geological surveys, but will it abide by their advice? Teesta dam saga Take again the case of the 1200 MW dam on the Teesta River in Sikkim that got washed away on October 4 this year. Here again, civil society and activists had warned as early as 2005 that glacial lake flood was a possibility, but the project got clearance in 2006. A public hearing was held on the Sikkim floods and researcher Neeraj Vagholikar narrated the saga of the doomed dam and the floods. The river had been dammed beyond limits, ignoring the repeated warnings about the fragile eco-system of the Himalayas, the seismic sensitivity of the region and global warming leading to melting of glaciers. From 2006 to 2016 the cost of the dam had soared from Rs. 5705 crores to Rs. 13,965 crores.

2023 ended on a high pollution note, says latest CSE analysis of winter air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR January 4, 2024 by dindiaadmin

PM2.5 level 2 per cent higher in 2023 compared to 2022; 6 per cent higher compared to 2020 Winter undid the gains of summer and monsoon months — summer months of 2023 significantly less polluted (14-36 per cent) than those of 2022. But winter months more polluted (12-34 per cent Slow wind speed spiked winter concentration — November average surface wind speed in Delhi was 9.8 m/s, the lowest in last six years Despite the worsening, 2023 still had the highest number of days meeting national ambient air quality standard for 24 hours Highest number of smog episodes in 2023 winter in last six years Delhi needs deeper cuts in emissions from vehicles, industry, waste, solid fuels, and construction to meet air quality standard and prevent winter spikes due to adverse meteorological factors New Delhi, January 4, 2024: The year 2023’s winter months were a period when the region of Delhi-NCR slipped back into the abyss of high pollution levels – despite having seen a gradual long-term improvement in annual PM2.5 concentrations since 2015-17. The forward march towards cleaner air and clearer skies came to a grinding halt in 2023, says a new analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), partly due to meteorological factors. The region witnessed cleaner-than-usual summer and monsoon seasons, and much lower ingress of smoke from farm stubble fires in the northern states. But unusually low surface wind speed in winter meant that local pollution, which was already quite high, was trapped. This led to the spike in pollution levels. Says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE: “Due to the impact of the unusual winter levels, the overall annual concentrations plateaued and even worsened, undoing the gains of the long-term downward trend. With the contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s pollution going down this year, with more rains in November and less severe cold winter conditions, the annual level should have improved further. Instead, the worsening of meteorological conditions — lowering of wind speed — tilted the scale adversely simply because the local pollution was still very high. Delhi needs more aggressive emissions reduction steps to meet the national ambient air quality standard.” Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE points out: “Interestingly, the summer and monsoon months in 2023 were unusually cleaner compared to the months in the previous years. But winter levels turned out to be one of the worst due to very slow surface wind speed. This impeded the dispersal of pollution and led to higher levels. This trapping of local pollution from all sides made this winter exceptionally bad despite lesser smoke from farm fires. The meteorology also explains lower pollution peaks and relatively uniform bad air quality with minimal fluctuations in the PM2.5 concentration throughout the season.” The winter pollution analysis was carried out by CSE’s Urban Lab. The objective, says Somvanshi, has been “to understand the trend and the starting line of the onset of the winter pollution season in this region”. Key highlights of the CSE analysis 2023’s annual average PM2.5 levels worse than that of 2022 – but not as high as it used to be: Delhi has been witnessing a gradual yet consistent decline in its annual PM2.5 levels since 2015-17, with 2020 being the only outlier due to massive disruption caused by pandemic lockdowns. But this downward movement stopped in 2023. Delhi’s PM2.5 annual average for 2023 (up till December 29, 2023) stood at 100.9 microgramme per cubic metre (µg/m3). This was an increase of 2 per cent compared to the 2022 annual level, and was 6 per cent higher than an exceptionally clean 2020. However, the levels were not as high as they used to be earlier – the average of 2018-22 winters is higher than that of the winter of 2023. The long-term three-year average trend among the five oldest CAAQMS stations of the city (ITO, IHBAS, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh and RK Puram) also shows a similar pattern. This 2021-23 average has settled almost 3 per cent higher than its 2020-22 counterpart. Winter condition has affected the 2023 trend — summer is getting progressively cleaner: In 2023, about 151 days met the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This was similar to the 2021 trend and second only to 2020 (a lockdown year) when 174 days had met the standards. In 2022, only 117 days met the standard. Almost all of these cleaner days were observed during summer and monsoon seasons. There was a significant fall in the number of ‘good’ air quality days (when levels are 50 per cent below the standard) in 2023; this stood at 24 days compared to 41 in 2022. Meanwhile, in 2023, the number of days with PM2.5 concentration in the ‘very poor’ or ‘worse’ categories (as per the air quality index classification) stood at 107 days, including 24 with ‘severe’ levels (until December 30, 2023). In 2022, there were 106 ‘very poor’ or ‘worse’ days, but ‘severe’ days were just nine in number – this was less than half of that of 2023. Summer is cleaner, while winter is becoming worse: In 2023, the summer months (from March to June) were significantly less polluted (14-36 per cent) than the corresponding months in 2022. But the winter months of January, November and December were much more polluted in 2023 (12-34 per cent) compared to the months in 2022 (see corresponding graph in the complete report). The transition period including February, July, September and October does not show much change, which might be due to the fact that the monsoon months were already very clean. What went wrong in the winter of 2023? Though the number of days with ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ PM2.5 concentration increased, peak pollution was down: Between October 1 and December 29, there were only three days of ‘satisfactory’ air quality and zero days of ‘good’ air quality. There were more days of these categories in the same period in the previous two years. The number of ‘severe+’ days was the same as in the winters of 2019, 2020 and 2021, but the peak intensity was lower. The peak in 2023 was 349 µg/m3 and happened on November 13 (the day after Diwali). This is much lower than the peaks recorded in the previous years: in 2022, the peak was 401 µg/m3, while in 2019 it went up to 546 µg/m3. Highest number of smog episodes observed this season in last six winters: Delhi usually experiences two smog episodes (a smog episode is defined as at least three or more minimum continuous days with air quality in the ‘severe’ category) in the months of November and December. In 2023, there were three episodes by December 24; on December 30, Delhi was reeling under its third day of continuous ‘severe’ air quality, which was turning into the city’s fourth smog episode. This was the highest number of smog episodes observed in a season in last six winters. Overall, 2023 winter seems to have had the most consistently bad air compared to the last six winters, with minimal fluctuations in daily PM2.5 levels. Data indicates that it was the longest spell of ‘very poor’ or ‘worse’ air in last six years. Slow surface winds seem to be the main contributory factor to the winter trend: Farm stubble fire smoke is generally perceived to be the main contributor to heightened PM2.5 levels during the first half of the winter season. But in 2023, the number of fires in Punjab and Haryana were nearly identical to 2022’s number of incidences. Data from both MODIS and VIIRS satellites shows that there was no significant difference between fire instances of 2023 and 2022 ((see corresponding graph in the complete report)). The contribution of fires to PM2.5 in November 2023 only adds up to 1.48 tonne (calculated on the basis of SAFAR’s Decision Support System estimates) – the lowest in the last six years; 2023 winter also recorded the maximum rainfall in the last six years, and the cold conditions were less severe than usual. Says Somvanshi: “All these factors should have led to a cleaner winter. But this was undone by the lack of surface winds.” In November 2023, the average surface wind speed in Delhi was 9.8 m/s, which was the lowest in the last six years. It was 21 per cent less than the wind speed in November of 2022. Somvanshi explains: “Low wind speed means that local pollution dispersion is horizontally restricted, while vertical dispersion is already restricted because of the winter inversion phenomenon. This trapping of local pollution from all sides has made this winter exceptionally bad despite lesser smoke from farm stubble fires. This also explains low peaks and relatively uniform bad air quality with minimal fluctuations in PM2.5 concentration throughout the season. It must also be noted that heavy rains in November had insignificant impact on air quality.” What should be the way ahead? Says Roychowdhury: “This winter is a lasting reminder of the fact that Delhi, despite succeeding to bend the long-term pollution curve downward over the last few years, has not achieved deeper cuts in emissions to sustain a more aggressive reduction for meeting air quality standards and prevent winter spikes.” Roychowdhury and Somvanshi point out that this requires sustained action: Towards significant reduction in emissions from vehicles, with a massive scaling up of the zero-emission electric vehicle programme and an efficient public transport strategy Towards clean fuel transition in all segments of industries, with stringent compliance with emissions targets and replacement of solid fuels in households and eateries Towards elimination of waste burning, with a comprehensive waste management system ensuring 100 per cent segregated collection, material recovery and remediation of legacy waste Towards stringent measures in the construction sector

Game changer

With climate change reshaping our landscapes and intensifying natural disasters, India is taking a bold step toward harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to bolster its weather forecasting capabilities. The recent initiative by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to test AI-driven climate models represents a significant leap forward, as the country grapples with the escalating frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events. As the most populous nation on Earth, with 1.4 billion people, India faces unique challenges in managing the impact of weather-related disasters, especially considering that a substantial portion of its population is impoverished. The agricultural sector, which is a cornerstone of the Indian economy and a lifeline for millions, is particularly vulnerable. With AI, the IMD aims to revolutionise its forecasting methods, offering a glimpse into a future where technology becomes a linchpin in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. At the heart of this endeavour is the recognition that traditional forecasting models, reliant on supercomputers and mathematical algorithms, may not be equipped to handle the growing complexity of India’s weather patterns. Global warming has given rise to more erratic clashes between weather systems, necessitating a paradigm shift in how we approach meteorological predictions. AI, with its ability to process vast amounts of data swiftly, emerges as a game-changer. The IMD’s pursuit of AI-driven climate models is not merely a technological dalliance. It is a strategic move to save lives and protect vital sectors of the economy. The Centre for Science and Environment estimates that nearly 3,000 lives have been lost in India this year alone due to extreme weather events ~ a stark reminder of the human toll exacted by unpredictable climatic conditions. By integrating AI into its forecasting arsenal, the IMD aims to provide more accurate and timely information, enabling authorities and communities to prepare and respond effectively. One of the key advantages of AI in weather forecasting lies in its potential to reduce costs. Unlike traditional methods that rely on supercomputers, AI models can operate on standard desktops ~ a significant advantage for a country striving to optimise resources. However, as with any technological leap, challenges abound. The need for high-resolution data is paramount for AI models to reach their full potential. India’s decision to embrace AI in weather forecasting is a testament to the nation’s resilience and adaptability. It reflects a forward-looking approach to confront the realities of a changing climate head-on. As the government establishes a centre dedicated to exploring the synergy between AI and traditional models, India positions itself not just as a beneficiary but as a trailblazer in the quest for more reliable and efficient weather predictions. The integration of AI into the meteorological landscape may well be the silver lining that ensures India’s preparedness in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Delhi: This December most polluted in 5 years

NEW DELHI: This year was more polluted than the one before, recording an average daily PM2.5 concentration of 100 micrograms per cubic metre against 98 in 2022. With an average AQI of 348, December 2023 was the most polluted in the past five years. In December 2018, a higher AQI of 360 was recorded. Though the first half of the year was cleaner than earlier years, winter in 2023 saw higher pollution levels. The PM2.5 concentration in 2023 was 2.5 times higher than the annual national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and 20 times higher than the annual WHO safe limit. This year saw the average daily PM10 level of 205 micrograms per cubic metre, making it the second lowest concentration since 2018 after the Covid year of 2020. However, PM10 levels in 2023 were still 3.41 times higher than the annual NAAQS and 13.66 times higher than WHO's annual safe limit. This December saw three severe days with AQI in the very poor category on most days. November was the worst polluted ever. The penultimate month of 2023 witnessed 17 days when the AQI was 390 or above. The air quality in October was the most polluted in the past three years. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said: "This winter, we have seen higher pollution levels. This is the result of the combination of more adverse meteorological conditions and trapping of high pollution in local and surrounding regions. This is a reminder of the need for more stringent action on key pollution sources." Sunil Dahiya, an analyst for the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said: "Due to Covid, industrial and economical activities had slowed down. However, the consumption of fossil fuels increased in 2023 as the industrial and economical activities were back in full swing. The PM2.5 concentration rose more in 2023 than the previous year as significant action to decrease pollution at source levels was not taken." In terms of average AQI, 2023 saw the second lowest AQI of 204 after 2020 when it was 185, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM). Barring 2020, 2023 witnessed four months (March, April, June and July) with best ever daily average AQI. Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, said: "In 2024, it will be five years of the National Clean Air Programme having been implemented. Such marginal and short-lived improvements show that we need a science-based, well-planned and comprehensive action plan."

Richest 1% emitted as much as poorest 66%, enough to cause 1.3 million heat deaths: Oxfam report

Annual global emissions of the super-rich 1% was cancelling out the carbon savings from almost a million onshore wind turbines, it shows The richest one per cent of the world’s people emitted as much carbon as the poorest five billion who make up 66 per cent of the global population, according to a new report. The volume of their emissions in that year are enough to cause 1.3 million deaths due to heat, Oxfam noted in the report. Annual global emissions of the super-rich 1 per cent was cancelling out the carbon savings from almost a million onshore wind turbines, the authors of Climate equality: A planet for the 99% said. Understanding the role of “super-rich and rich people”, who are just 1 per cent of the world’s total population in climate breakdown, is important to stabalise the planet and ensure a “good life” for all, noted OXFAM in the report. The super rich are key to the climate story due to the carbon they emit in their daily lives, from their consumption and lifestyles to their investments and shareholdings in heavily polluting industries. In addition, they hold an undue influence over the media, the economy, politics and policymaking, the authors of the report pointed out. “The emissions of the 1 per cent are set to be over 22 times more than the safe limit (the emissions allowed if we are to stay below 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming) in 2030,” they added. Governments can tackle the twin crises of inequality and climate change by targeting the excessive emissions of the super-rich, investing in public services and meeting climate goals. Taxes on the wealth and income of the riches could cut carbon pollution and raise over $9 trillion a year to invest in a green, equal future for all, according to the report. “A tax of 60 per cent on the incomes of the super-rich 1 per cent of earners globally would cut the carbon equivalent of more than the total emissions of the United Kingdom and raise $6.4 trillion to fund renewable energy and a transition away from fossil fuels,” the authors noted. Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International interim executive-director, said, “for years, we’ve fought to end an era of fossil fuels to save millions of lives and our planet. It’s clearer than ever this will be impossible until we also end an era of extreme wealth”. UNEQUAL IMPACT The countries that are least responsible for global warming, the low-emitting nations, are suffering the worst consequences of climate crisis and also the least able to respond and recover. The most vulnerable countries in the world are located in Africa, South Asia, Central and South America, Small Island Developing States and the Arctic. Africa’s emissions were less than four per cent, despite the continent being home to 17 per cent of the world’s populations. More than 91 per cent of climate related disasters of the past 50 years occurred in developing countries. The death toll from floods is seven times higher in the most unequal countries as compared to more equal countries. Women and other groups experiencing discrimination, especially those with fewer economic resources tend to have less access to relief assistance and lower survival rates following a climate-related disaster. A joint research report by the Stockholm Environment Institute and Oxfam, September 2020 examined the different contributions of different income groups to carbon emissions from 1990 to 2015. During this period, carbon dioxide emissions rose by roughly 60 per cent (13.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide). Nearly half of the total growth in absolute emissions was due to the richest 10 per cent, with the richest 5 per cent alone contributing over a third (37 per cent). The impact of the poorest half of the world’s population was practically negligible. Sunita Narain, director-general of the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “climate finance can no longer be the money that goes to only increase the indebtedness of countries and makes them even more vulnerable to the next disaster”. We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.

The peaks and troughs of India's quest for clean air

Only 15 of 131 cities meet the national air quality safety standards, according to data presented in the Parliament. Here's an on-ground assessment Data and documents tabled in the recently concluded winter session of the Parliament by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) paint a mixed picture of the crucial battle against the climate crisis. A series of documents on air quality control were put forward, offering a comprehensive evaluation of cities that fell short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, assessed in 2023 against the base year 2017. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said a detailed report on city-wise air quality performance was ...

Environment Sustenance: Few lessons that were and weren't learnt by India in 2023

NEW DELHI: In the face of escalating global warming and climate change challenges, India has been both a participant and observer in the battle against climate change throughout 2023. Many countries have started recognising the threat and started taking measures to mitigate it. India also recognised the need for an eco-friendly transformation and took a few major steps. The lessons learnt With COP28, the issue of environment protection was in the forefront for all the participating countries. Here's how India recognised the problem and the deficiencies in the policies and worked towards making the environment better in 2023. National Electricity plan (NEP) 2023: This plan is a systematic planning structure to forecast electricity demand and capacity. According to the Ministry of Power, NEP anticipates that the proportion of non-fossil-based capacity will rise to 57.4% by the conclusion of 2026-27 and is expected to further climb to 68.4% by the conclusion of 2031-32, up from approximately 42.5% as of April 2023. National Green Hydrogen Mission: As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the mission was approved on January 4, 2023 with an outlay of Rs 19744 crore starting FY 2023-24 to FY 2029-30. The primary goal of the Mission is to position India as a worldwide centre for the production, utilisation, and export of Green Hydrogen and its by-products. The mission facilitates clean and green energy while being self reliant. It also aims at exports and building strategic partnerships for mutual benefits. G20 summit: India added a feather to its cap when it gave the G20 presidency for 2023. During the summit, several countries under the leadership of India committed to increasing renewable energy capacity by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality (the amount of co2 released being equal to the amount removed from the environment) by 2050. It also led to the New Delhi declaration which involves global cooperation in various aspects including sustainable development and managing greenhouse emissions. The Green Credits Programme (GCP): The programme was launched in October 2023. Green Credit can be seen as an incentive provided for activities that have impacted the environment in a positive manner. The green credits that can be earned for activities that were done apart from legal obligations could later be traded on a domestic platform. This is similar to the Carbon credits but inclusive of other environmental activities like clean air, water conservation etc. Environment (Protection) Sixth Amendment Rules, 2023: This amendment mainly focuses on industrial boilers and the different types fuels used in them and to find a more eco-friendly substitute. Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023: This amendment was proposed and passed by Lok Sabha in July 2023 considering the aim of attaining carbon neutrality, eliminate the ambiguities and bring clarity about the applicability of the Act in various aspects including forest land, plantation in other non-forest areas etc and more involvement of the central government to protect the green cover of the country. COP28: At the 28th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28), India remained committed to climate action and work on adopting renewable energy sources. The lessons remained unlearnt Despite recognising some problems, India still has a long way to go in certain areas to be considered as environment-friendly. While it took some major steps in 2023, it still needs to do more in accepting some problems. Dependence on fossil fuels: India is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels for energy and while it has started transforming to shift towards renewable sources but the pace and the intensity with no defined deadline raises questions for many. COP28 pledge: India chose not to sign the triple energy declaration at the COP28 summit. The declaration aimed at tripling the global installed capacity of renewable energy and thus increasing energy efficiency. Pollution: Delhi pollution in November 2023 became a topic of international discussion with concerns being raised at global level. In November, the national capital was covered in a thick blanket of smog for multiple days. While measures were taken at the time both by the centre and the state, many have asked for permanent measures saying that closing schools and raising awareness for a few days is not enough. Water crisis: The conditions of the rivers in India has been a major concern for the past few years. The 2019 Chennai water crisis when the whole city was almost out of water is also something that people can’t let go with warnings of a bigger water crisis looming. Extreme weather conditions: While many enjoy the rain and the pleasant weather, pouring at the wrong time of the year can cause problems especially in the agriculture sector with many crops being damaged or destroyed after getting water in the wrong amount at the wrong time. Similarly, extreme winter and the other extreme of rising temperatures every coming year is a major concern that needs to be addressed. According to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report, all states and UTs of India experienced extreme weather conditions. Also, 86% of the days in the first nine months of the year were affected by the extreme weather. 2,923 human lives have been lost, 1.84 million hectares of crop area have been affected, over 80,563 houses have been destroyed, and nearly 92,519 livestock have perished in the wake of these disasters owing to unpredictable weather phenomena, according to the report. The garbage disposal problem: The problem of garbage collection and garbage disposal is also a concern in the country. With many landfills operating in over-capacity, recycling infrastructure, garbage if finding ways to pollute the natural resources. According to multiple reports, India produces at least 62 million tonnes of waste in a year. Thus, Climate change is a looming threat that is affecting the world and causing damage. While some nations are rising up to the challenge, some struggle to accept the harsh reality. India is also gradually taking up the challenge of environment sustenance and development, many are calling out the leaders for more robust and definitive action.

Year Ender 2023: 10 climate events that made headlines in India in 2023

2023 will be remembered as a year of unprecedented climate extremes and growing urgency for action. From record-breaking heat waves and devastating floods to intensifying wildfires and rising sea levels, the consequences of climate change were felt across the globe, as well as in India, impacting millions of lives. At the same time, it marked a turning point in the fight against climate change, with increasing awareness and growing urgency for action. Here are 10 events that caught everyone’s attention: 1. 2023 declared hottest year on record: Temperatures this year surpassed all previous benchmarks and set alarm bells ringing about the accelerating climate crisis. This scorching reality was confirmed by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. “The extraordinary global November temperatures, including two days warmer than 2C above pre-industrial (levels), mean that 2023 is the warmest year in recorded history,” Samantha Burgess, deputy head of C3S, said in a statement. 2. India saw extreme weather events almost every day from January to September 2023: A report by the Centre for Science and Environment revealed that India experienced extreme weather events on nearly 86 percent of the days between January and September 2023. This translates to 235 out of 273 days marked by intense weather phenomena, ranging from heat waves and floods to cyclones and lightning. The report also estimated that 2,923 lives were lost, nearly 2 million hectares of crops were destroyed and over 80,000 homes were destroyed. It further emphasised that the frequency and intensity of these events are expected to increase in the coming years due to climate change. 3. Ocean surface hits highest-ever recorded temperature: The world’s oceans reached a boiling point. Global average daily sea surface temperatures hit a staggering 20.96 degree Celsius by August, breaking the previous record set in 2016 by 0.01 degrees. Scientists warn that this record-breaking temperature is not an anomaly but rather a harbinger of things to come. Climate models predict that ocean temperatures will continue to rise further. This warming trend poses a multitude of threats to both marine and human ecosystems. 4. India experienced its driest August since 1901: August 2023 marked a grim milestone for India: the driest August on record. With an average rainfall of only 162.7 mm compared to the normal 254.9 mm, India witnessed a staggering rainfall deficit of over 36 percent. This lack of rain was particularly severe in key agricultural states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. Many parts of the country also faced severe drought conditions and water shortages. 5. IMD states that the duration of heat waves in India has increased over the last 30 years: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) painted a grim picture of India: heat waves are intensifying and their duration is increasing. According to their report, the average duration of heat waves in India has increased by 2.5 days over the past 30 years due to global warming. This trend is expected to continue, with projections indicating two additional heat waves and an increase in the duration by 12-18 days by 2060. Northwest India potentially could experience four heat waves per season, lasting for a total of 30 days. 6. Two million species facing extinction, new study says: A new analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE revealed that up to two million plant and animal species worldwide are at risk of extinction, highlighting the severity of the biodiversity crisis. This estimate is double the number previously recognised by the United Nations in 2019. 7. Forest fires intensifying globally, India’s rainforests are affected too: Latest satellite data shows that forest fires are intensifying and spreading at an alarming rate, burning nearly twice as much tree cover globally compared to just 20 years ago. The Boreal forests, spread across Russia, Canada, the US, Finland, Norway, China, and Japan, are the most impacted, followed closely by biodiversity hotspots like the Amazon, and rainforests in Southeast Asia and India. In India, which experiences its peak fire season between mid-February and mid-May, there were a staggering 14,689 VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) fire alerts between August 2022 and August 2023. This is unusually high compared to previous years going back to 2012, as per the data analysed by World Resources Institute. 8. India’s renewable energy capacity touched 172GW in March 2023: Installed renewable energy capacity in the country has increased from 115.94 GW in March 2018 to 172.00 GW in March 2023, Union minister for new and renewable energy RK Singh said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. It marks a 1.48-times increase from March 2018. India has set ambitious goals for the future, aiming to reach 500GW from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. 9. High Seas Treaty adopted: In a step towards protecting the world’s oceans, several countries signed a major global ocean treaty at the United Nations. The treaty establishes procedures to create large-scale marine protected areas on the open seas, helps protect 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030, provides training and technology to help countries protect their oceans, and makes sure activities on the open seas are safe for the environment. 10. India backs the “historic” Global Stocktake outcome: The landmark “UAE Consensus” emerged from COP28, marking a pivotal moment in the global fight against climate change. This agreement calls for a transition away from fossil fuels, emphasising deep and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It sets ambitious targets, including tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, while also encouraging countries to submit economy-wide climate plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It is a clear roadmap for a sustainable future.

2023: A Year of Climate Extremes and Climate Action in India

In a year defined by escalating climate extremes and remarkable strides towards climate action, 2023 has emerged as a stark reminder of the urgency of the climate crisis and the necessity for decisive action. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has dubbed 2023 as the hottest year to date, with temperatures soaring to worrisome levels and two days crossing the ominous 2C mark above pre-industrial levels. India’s Climate Challenges India, in particular, bore the brunt of the climate change impact, with extreme weather conditions prevailing for a staggering 235 days between January and September. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment estimated a heavy toll of 2,923 lives, the annihilation of nearly 2 million hectares of crops, and the decimation of over 80,000 homes due to heatwaves, floods, cyclones, and lightning. The frequency and severity of such events are projected to worsen with the intensifying climate crisis. The Oceanic and Agricultural Impact The world’s oceans recorded their highest ever temperature in August, averaging 20.96 degrees Celsius, a clear warning to marine and human ecosystems. India, on the other hand, grappled with its driest August since 1901, a 36 percent rainfall deficit that severely impacted key agricultural states, triggering drought and water shortages. The India Meteorological Department reported an average increase of 2.5 days in the duration of heatwaves over the past 30 years, a trend likely to exacerbate with climate change. Biodiversity Threat and Global Forest Fires A new study in the PLOS ONE journal indicated that up to two million species are at risk of extinction, doubling the UN’s previous estimates. Satellite data revealed that forest fires have intensified globally, burning twice as much tree cover as 20 years ago. India’s rainforests have not been spared, experiencing a dramatic increase in forest fires. India’s Climate Action Initiatives However, India made significant strides towards climate action in 2023. The country’s renewable energy capacity reached 172GW in March, marking a significant increase from 115.94GW in March 2018. India also proposed to host the UN climate conference in 2028 and launched its Green Credit Initiative to address the challenges of a rapidly warming world. The country submitted its third national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, reducing GDP emission intensity by 33% between 2005 and 2019.

Delhi set to see most polluted December in four years: Here’s why

As Delhi’s air quality stood on the brink of the ‘severe’ category on Saturday, the average AQI for December is set to be the worst from 2019 onwards. The average AQI for the month, till December 30, was 346. On Saturday, the 24-hour average AQI at 4 pm was 400, close to the ‘severe’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The average AQI for the month is worse than it has been in recent years – in 2022, the average for December was 319, while it was 336 in 2021, 332 in 2020, and 337 in 2019. The last time a higher average was recorded was in 2018 – 360. Inversion and slow winds are normal winter phenomena. The volume of activities — vehicles, industrial activities and waste burning in the entire region – all of this is contributing to the trend, showing us that in the coming year, round-the-year action will have to be scaled up significantly to be able to address this issue. As activities increase, action has to keep pace with that change,” Roychowdhury said. Gufran Beig, founder project-director SAFAR, and chair professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, pointed to another factor that could be keeping pollution levels higher – large-scale circulation patterns. “In general, large-scale circulation patterns have reduced the surface wind speed. Last year, these patterns – the La Nina phenomenon – resulted in an increase in wind speed that dispersed pollutants and brought cleaner-than-usual air to Delhi in December,” he said.

Air quality takes a hit as the year comes to a close on a smog-enveloped Kolkata

A study involving scientists from IIT Delhi and the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata (CNCI) shows that around one in every four persons in the city and its peripheral urban areas suffers from ailments in upper respiratory areas like sneezing, coughing and runny nose. As the year comes to a close on a smog-enveloped city, the combination of viruses and surging PM 2.5 is taking a heavy toll, several environment experts told The Telegraph. PM 2.5, the toxic ultra fine particulate pollutant, can enter the deepest crevices of the lungs and trigger a range of diseases. On Christmas evening, a play in a hall in south Kolkata had an unplanned background noise — constant coughing of the spectators. Ditto in several public places. “The study aimed to explore the effect of short and long-term exposure to PM 2.5 on upper and lower respiratory systems in the urban and rural population near Kolkata (Kolkata). A total of 1,155 people of varying ages were surveyed during 2020-22.… We found a strong association between health exposures and long-term exposure…” states the report — Health Effects of Short and Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure — prepared by environmental organisation Climate Trends involving scientists of IIT Delhi and the CNCI. Air pollution experts of IIT Delhi, who are associated with the study, are being engaged by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board to analyse the air pollution in the state and suggest remedial actions. “Overall, around one-fourth of the sampled people were found to be suffering from upper respiratory symptoms. The statistic is highest among teenagers, (31 per cent), followed by adults (25.5 per cent) and aged population (25 per cent),” said a researcher of the project. “In Kolkata, upper respiratory symptoms were more than lower respiratory symptoms, which strongly suggests the impact of air pollutants. While sneezing was found in 45 per cent of the people surveyed, 30 per cent of the people were found with runny nose and coughing,” said Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends. The report stated that “the air of all the survey locations seem to be highly polluted both in terms of long and short-term exposures”. The Central Pollution Control Board’s data show that the city’s average PM 2.5 concentration rose to 91.7 micrograms between December 22 midnight and December 26 midnight this year. The national day level standard of PM 2.5 is 60 micrograms, while the World Health Organisation’s standard is 15 micrograms. “During this time of the year, the particulate level increases mainly due to the inversion phenomenon and hence the exposure becomes higher. These particulates often act as the carriers to several toxic elements, including the viruses that reach our system and trigger a series of respiratory problems,” explained Anumita Roy Chowdhury, an air pollution expert with the environment think tank Center for Science and Environment (CSE). Dhrubajyoti Chatterjee, vice-chancellor of Sister Nivedita University and a scientist, said the virus load increases during winter, making matters worse. “Many viruses are active during this season but particularly the rhinovirus, within a temperature range of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, triggering common cold and associated respiratory problems,” said Chatterjee.