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Cse In News

Andhra Pradesh records 45 days of intense weather events

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh witnessed 45 days of extreme weather events in a period of 273 days between January 1 and September 30, the Centre for Science and Environment’s report titled ‘Climate India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events’ revealed. The adverse weather conditions resulted in 45 human casualties during this period. Additionally, the impact extended to agricultural activities, with reported damage to a crop area of 9,015 hectares. Residential structures were also affected with 14 houses sustaining either full or partial damage. Notably, the data presented in the report did not indicate any recorded animal deaths during these incidents. On the other hand, India experienced extreme weather events on 235 days, accounting for a little over 86% of the 273 days. These events claimed 2,923 human lives, affected 1.84 million hectares of crop area, damaged 80,563 houses and killed over 92,519 animals. The report indicated that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense worldwide due to climate change, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. The State recorded 10 days of lightning and storms, resulting in the loss of six human lives. Further, on 13 out of the 273 days, Andhra Pradesh experienced heavy rains, floods, and landslides, claiming 39 human lives. The report distinguished between very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events, considering heavy rainfall events only when they resulted in damages. Additionally, heatwave conditions were reported for 22 days. The report defined heatwaves as a specific rise in temperature at a given location concerning the normal climatological value. It considered both heatwaves (a departure of 4.5 to 6.4 °C from the maximum temperature from normal) and severe heatwaves (a departure of more than 6.4 °C). The report also provided insights into the number of days with extreme weather events in both 2022 and 2023. Notably, Andhra Pradesh reported extreme weather events for 45 days each in both years, underscoring the recurrent challenges posed by various weather phenomena and the need for continued efforts to mitigate their impact on the State’s population and infrastructure. Besides stressing on the urgent need for action to address the escalating climate crisis, the report also called for strengthening early warning systems. While acknowledging India’s strides towards a cleaner energy future, the report emphasised on the need to invest in renewable energy, enhance energy efficiency, and adopt sustainable practices to reduce the country’s carbon footprint. “Strengthening early warning systems and building resilience to extreme weather events are essential for protecting communities and livelihoods. India’s experience with extreme weather events serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching impacts of climate change. Addressing this global challenge requires a concerted global effort. By transitioning to a low-carbon economy and building resilient communities, India can play a leading role in shaping a more sustainable future for all,” the report stated.

The Green Revolution: Sustainability in Electric Vehicle Charging

New Delhi: India’s e-mobility sector is growing rapidly due to cleaner transportation demands; however, environmental and social risks pose a significant challenge to India’s sustainability goals. India faces severe pollution, with New Delhi being the most polluted city globally. Air pollution causes an annual death toll of 2 million people. The Centre for Science and Environment reports that over half of particulate pollutants in the air come from emissions from two, three, and four-wheeled vehicles. This has led to a demand for cleaner transport, with battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) emerging as the primary solution. EVs are hailed as clean vehicles that transform mobility and reduce environmental impact, making them a growing focus in India. To address environmental sustainability issues, the Indian government has implemented various policies like Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME II) to boost EV adoption. This has boosted investor confidence and led to a surge in start-ups in the electric mobility sector. It is predicted that India’s EV industry will surpass 10 million units by 2030, with over 30 per cent adoption across different vehicle classes. Experts also project India to be among the top 10 EV markets globally by 2030, a significant step towards net-zero emissions by 2070. India plans to establish an EV value chain to reduce dependence on imports, particularly in battery manufacturing. This is crucial due to geopolitical tensions and the high concentration of resources in select countries. In 2021, India discovered its first lithium reserve of 1,600 tons in Karnataka and plans to set up a lithium refinery in Gujarat to process battery-grade material. The country also has significant reserves of manganese and graphite. The Indian government has announced a production-linked scheme (PLI) for advanced chemistry cell battery storage manufacturing to boost domestic EV battery manufacturing. Small players in the sector are already building cells for EVs, while large companies plan to establish manufacturing facilities. The battery value chain in India starts at module and pack integration, making it the most accessible entry point. The EV manufacturing space is well established with multiple OEMs and new entrants, particularly in the electric two and three-wheeler market. Notably, India’s current charging station ratio is significantly lower than the global ratio, potentially causing a 40 per cent delay in its EV 30@30 vision. To address this, the government has implemented policies and incentives affecting all stakeholders in the EV ecosystem, aiming to increase the number of charging stations. A robust nationwide charging network is crucial for India’s electric vehicle adoption, as it facilitates quick and convenient charging for EV owners and eliminates drivers’ concerns about running out of charge, which remains a major deterrent to EV adoption. The major reasons why India’s EV infrastructure is currently unable to flourish include inadequate power grid, lack of public charging infrastructure and geographical diversity. India’s power demand is expected to rise by 9-12 per cent by the end of 2023, putting the power grid under strain. Adding electric vehicles (EVs) could exacerbate this, leading to frequent power cuts, particularly in rural areas. Despite government push, retail stores, small businesses, and RWAs may hesitate to provide public charging stations due to capital requirements and lack of awareness, while EV owners remain anxious about range. Moreover, India’s diverse terrains and population density make charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) challenging. Water logging and the lack of EVs in rural areas make it difficult to maintain charging stations. Innovative solutions, such as renewable energy sources and fast charging technology, are needed to address these challenges. The most prominent ways to revolutionise EV charging in India include initiatives to increase public charging infrastructure, integrate renewable energy, develop fast charging technology, and incentivise private sector investments. India’s transition to electric mobility relies on a robust charging infrastructure. Despite challenges, the government is increasing public EV charging stations, incentivizing private investment, and integrating renewable energy sources. This could make India a leader in sustainable transportation and clean energy. Developing EV charging infrastructure can create new job opportunities, boost economic growth, and improve public health and quality of life. If India succeeds in this mission, it could inspire other countries towards a more sustainable and greener future.

Kolkata flagged at ongoing global climate summit COP28

The city’s climate vulnerability came into focus alongside a demand for loss and damage funding for climate impact on its urban poor at a meeting of South Asian cities at the ongoing global climate summit COP28 in Dubai last week. This was the first time such a demand came up on an international platform. The meeting, titled Adaptation, loss and damage finance frameworks ensuring transformation of South Asian cities towards net zero, was convened by Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), a platform of over 250 green organisations across south Asia, and others. “Climate change impact is not only a physical threat but also a development deterrent. Our people are already suffering. I am happy that the loss and damage fund has been operationalised in this COP. I request you to see how the same can be facilitated for the climate-impacted people in Calcutta,” said Debasish Kumar, the mayoral council member in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC), at the Dubai discussion. The loss and damage finance facility, a mechanism to support climate-affected population, was operationalised at COP28. “It is necessary to assess how climate risk to urban infrastructure and the massive losses associated with it can be addressed under these funds. Urban centres also have the agenda of migration of climate displaced people,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, from the Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment, and a panellist at the session. “Countering climate change impacts on the city, particularly on its poor, is a priority for me. We already have the component in our climate plan and the details are being worked out by a committee of experts. We will try to find out how finances can be generated to implement the plans,” said mayor Firhad Hakim from Calcutta. Experts from Europe and Asia were also on the panel. “We are working with the CMC on cutting fossil fuel and the preparation of the Kolkata Climate Action Plan. We will be happy to explore the city’s opportunity to access funds,” said Sanjay Vashist, director, CANSA. “Money is only one part, Calcutta’s vulnerable community should be supported with appropriate case studies and technology to counter their climate-inflicted loss and damage,” said Harjeet Singh, a member of the UN transitional committee on climate change. Nilanjan Ghosh, an economist and a member of the committee preparing the city's climate action plan, said: “Losses in the Sunderbans, hardly 100km from Calcutta, result in permanent losses in various supporting and provisioning services for the urban centre. Hence it should be a claimant for loss and damage finances.”

‘Fossil fuels, finance and inequality profoundly shape climate action. COP28 saw progress here’

Sunita Narain is director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Speaking to Srijana Mitra Das at Times Evoke, she discusses how COP28 has evolved: You are participating at Dubai’s COP28 — what are the most important directions emerging there? Three key things have happened. The first is how parties agreed on the loss and damage fund — there is around half a billion dollars in this now. The fact that the world came together, in what are very divisive and polarised times, to agree on this is positive. The poorest people are the greatest victims of climate change — it’s only fair they get compensation for the losses they are suffering. The second is a change in narrative on climate finance — till a COP ago, we were only counting the money and asking if we’d reached the promised $100 billion or not. The understanding which has now emerged is that it’s not just the quantum of money but also the quality — the $100 billion coming earlier was loans and equity, which meant the Global South, already under huge debt burdens, received a double whammy, facing extreme weather events, rising costs of development and then, climate finance overburdening them in debt. At this COP, I saw a new understanding about concessional, grantbased climate financing and blended finance to lower the risk and high cost of these projects. There were discussions about how special drawing rights (SDRs) need to be provided by rich countries to the IMF to give as low concessional finance. It’s a good start — finance is the make or break part of the climate agreement. The Global South needs development but it wants to grow differently for which money and technology are required. That’s been the biggest stumbling block. Now, for the first time, there is a paragraph in the Global Stocktake draft on the quality of finance. The third is fossil fuels. IPCC science says unabated coal must be phased out by 2050, oil must come down by 60% and gas by 45%. My problem here is the large focus on coal which is used by the developing world as opposed to gas. But, for the moment, let’s sidestep that and agree that the science says fossil fuels are the heart of the climate problem. However, it also says a certain amount can be allowed in oil and gas by 2050 so, who should use that? India or the African continent should have the right to use the remaining quota. Until now, the Western narrative has mostly been a convenient one about phasing down coal — but what happens to developing economies which need energy? We also haven’t talked enough about phasing up renewable energy technologies which can’t happen without climate financing. All these challenging aspects were raised at COP28. Other issues also emerged like how the US is the world’s largest exporter of natural gas producing around 13 million barrels of oil, it even overtakes Saudi Arabia. Yet, we are told the US is on track to meet its climate commitments. In my view, this doesn’t add up and we need to talk about it COP28 was a good start. You emphasise greater transparency in carbon markets — why? The world feels private finance isn’t coming in adequately for climate action and the only way for this is the carbon market where you have a price on carbon which is traded. Governments and companies which are emitting today need to show they have offset their emissions. For that, they buy credits which come from countries like ours by planting trees, investing in renewables, etc. The problem, as our investigation shows, is that the market is not working for people or the planet. Emissions said to be offset are often over accounted for while many reductions aren’t happening. The market must work within certain rules — the first is transparency. If such a project were established in India, the credit claimed will be deducted from India’s account — so, transparency is imperative. At COP28, an understanding was reached for very high integrity markets which will be accountable, equitable and with real and tangible credits, not just creative carbon accounting. Why do you highlight the issue of inequality in climate change? Climate is the one forum which must discuss inequality. Normally, ‘justice’ or ‘fairness’ become wordplay, akin to incidental moral issues. With climate change, there is no choice but to engage with it intensely as this is all about the global commons, the rich polluting in the past and the poor possibly polluting in the future. Without a cooperative agreement with equity, you won’t get ambitious action. One aspect seen worldwide now is extreme weather events breaking the backs of the poorest people. They are often left with no choice but to migrate. Increased migration is becoming one of the toughest global political issues. Data shows natural disaster-related migration globally is more than even migration driven by war and conflict. Such distress will grow this again highlights the responsibility of the rich to address it.

Letter to COP28

Dear COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber, Please see below a letter signed by these signatories. December 8, 2023, Dubai: As we enter the final days of COP28, we are at a tipping point. The world and its people need the strongest possible outcome to keep 1.5 degrees within reach. But delivering on this historic task requires us to act like a team. The signals of transformation and opportunity across sectors and society are all around us. At the same time, the climate emergency is biting harder than ever. It’s up to us to seize this opportunity – because what is achieved here in Dubai must mark a legacy moment which determines the fate of our future generations. We – over 800 CEOs, mayors, governors, investors, Indigenous peoples, health professionals, young people, faith leaders, scientists, athletes and more – stand in courage and resolve with the COP28 President and all Parties in bringing us together behind a rapid response plan to the Global Stocktake. To reach this positive tipping point, we know we need the following: An orderly phase out of all fossil fuels in a just & equitable way, in line with a 1.5C trajectory – whilst ensuring the tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 from 2022 levels and the doubling of energy efficiency The enabling environment to scale up and shift public and private finance, with developed countries taking the lead in action and support; putting a price on carbon and tripling investments for renewable energy The halt and reversal of deforestation and land degradation as well as biodiversity & other ecosystem loss by 2030 and safeguarding the territories of indigenous peoples; ensure resilient food systems and deliver a strong global goal on adaptation. These outcomes must be supported by the implementation and ratcheting of Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans well before COP30 in 2025 which align with 1.5C and incorporate multi-stakeholder efforts within them. Later is too late. Yours, 300+ businesses inc. CEOs Antoine de Saint Affrique, Danone Alistair Phillips-Davies, SSE plc André Hoffmann, Roche Holding AG Andrew Forrest, Fortescue Angela Cretu, Avon Arianna Huffington, Thrive Global Boudewijn Beerkens, COFRA Holding AG Dolf van den Brink, Heineken Ester Baiget, Novozymes Fábio Colletti Barbosa, Natura &Co Geoff van Sonsbeeck, House of Baukjen Greg Jackson, Octopus Energy Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani Joseph D. Kenner, Greyston Jochen Zeitz, Harley-Davidson, Inc. Jesper Brodin, Ingka Group I IKEA José Manuel Entrecanales, Acciona S.A. & Acciona Energía S.A. Marc Benioff, Salesforce Mark Schneider, Nestlé Max Koeune, McCain Foods Paddy Hayes, ESB Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Roy Jakobs, Royal Philips Vincent Clerc, A.P. Moller – Maersk Jon Abrahamsson Ring (Inter IKEA Group) Subnational leaders LaToya Cantrell (Mayor, New Orleans) Sally Capp, (Mayor, Melbourne) Haris Doukas, (Mayor-elect, Athens) Bruce Harrell (Mayor, Seattle) Anne Hidalgo (Mayor, Paris) Sadiq Khan (Mayor, London) Lauren McLean (Mayor, Boise) Yvonne Aki Sawyer (Mayor, Freetown) 34 finance leaders inc. Gunther Thallinger (Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance) Hiro Mizuno (Good Steward Partners, LLC) Mafalda Duarte (Green Climate Fund) Jeroen Rijpkema (Triodos Bank) Juan Carlos Mora Uribe (Bancolombia) Nili Gilbert (David Rockefeller Fund) 20+ global leaders Jacinda Ardern Helen Clark Christiana Figueres Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE Dr Mo Ibrahim Hindou Omarou Ibrahim Van Jones Yolanda Kakabadse Ricardo Lagos Graça Machel Wanjira Mathai Gina McCarthy Pat Mitchell Gonzalo Muñoz Paul Polman Mary Robinson Rebecca Solnit Izabella Teixeira Halla Tómasdóttir Nigel Topping Laurence Tubiana Adair Turner Manuel Pulgar Vidal Philanthropists Andrew Steer (Bezos Earth Fund) Kate Hampton (CIFF) Leslie Johnson (Laudes) 240+ NGOs inc. BSR Bonsucro Business for Nature C40 Cities Ceres CISL-CLG Climate - KIC ClientEarth Club of Rome Destination Zero Instituto Clima e Sociedade Nia Tero NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) Oil Change International ONE.org Project Dandelion SHE Changes Climate Smart Freight Centre Spanish Green Growth Group The Elders The Nature Conservancy UN Global Compact WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) We Are Family Foundation We Mean Business Coalition World Resources Institute 350.org 70+ scientists Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Gail Whiteman Johan Rockström Global Youth Leaders Ayisha Siddiqua Jerome Foster II Joshua Amponsem Luisa Neubauer Vanessa Nakate Xiye Bastida 66 faith leaders inc. Laudato Si Movement GLOBAL LEADERS Amanda Ellis, ASU Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability Bianca Pitt, SHE Changes Climate Christiana Figueres, Global Optimism Dr Mo Ibrahim, Mo Ibrahim Foundation Ellie Goulding, UNEP Ambassador Feike Sijbesma, Co-Chair, Global Center on Adaptation Gina McCarthy, America Is All In Helen Clark, former Prime Minister, New Zealand Ingmar Rentzhog, We Don’t Have Time Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, The Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace Kelena Ole Nchoe, The Maa Council of Elders - Kenya Laurence Tubiana, Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, WWF International Mary Robinson, The Elders Mrs Graça Machel, The Elders Nigel Topping, COP26 Paul Polman, n/a Rachel Kyte, VCMI Rebecca Solnit, [independent writer] Ricardo Lagos, The Elders Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Sharan Burrow, Just Transition Solutions Sir Ian Cheshire, We Mean Business Coalition The Honorable Jacquelyne K. Weatherspoon, Former Member New Hampshire House of Representatives, Individual Yolanda Kakabadse, Charles Darwin Foundation BUSINESS “H2” Harry H. Graves, Global Energy Adair Turner, Adam Oskwarek, Zopeful Climate Addison Mehr, Purpose Media Ventures Aimée Christensen, Christensen Global Alessandro Armillotta, AWorld Alexa Firmenich, Ground Effect family office Alexander Lewis-Jones, Other Way Alexandra von Stosch, Artprojekt Alistair Phillips-Davies, SSE plc Aman Merchant, Radicle Amanda Hirsch, Mighty Forces Amanda Powell-Smith, Forster Communications Amar Inamdar, KawiSafi Ventures Amir BEN YAHMED, Jeune Afrique Media Group André Hoffmann, Roche Holding AG André Rochette, Ecosystem Inc Andrew Everett, A+E Ltd Andrew Mentis, Mentis Group Andy Redfern, Green Heart Collective Angela Cretu, Avon Anita Marambio, Workmate SA Anna Guyer, Greenhouse Anna Triponel, Human Level Annabel Thomas, Nc’nean Distillery Anthony Duckenfield, Beyond Logic Consulting Anthony Utomo, Utomo SolaRUV Arianna Huffington, Thrive Global Auri Jackson, Earth Love Media Bart Paalman, Sabisu Ventures Baz Iyer, Home Energy Foundry Becky Holloway, Jericho Ben Leonard, Life Moments Ben Nelmes, New AutoMotive Benjamin Etherton, Spruce Consulting Benjamin Matias Ayala Raineri, BDO Auditores & Consultores Björn Lindh, Lindhea Holding AB Bob Hinkle, Metrus Energy Boris Garrido Ramos, Caja de Compensación La Araucana Boudewijn Beerkens, COFRA Holding AG Britton Jones, NXT Events Media Group Bruce Douglas, Global Renewables Alliance Carlos Enrique Cavelier, Alquería Dairy Carrie Norton, Green Business BASE CAMP Catherine D’Arcy, Global Spiced Group Catherine McKenna, Principal Celia Francis, Ponterra Brandon Mathews, Stonestep AG Chaani Srivastava, LOCS Online Charles Perry, Sustainability Advisory Charlotte Degot, CO2 AI Charlotte Streck, Climate Focus Chris bannister, Wom Chris Brown, Climatise Chris Valiante, 22 Designs Chrissy Levett, Creative Conscience Christoph Geppert, Grain Sustainability Christoph Wolff, Smart Freight Centre Christopher Loch, CONTEMPL8 T-SHIRTS Claire O’Neill, A Greener Future Clare Montagu, Poppy’s Clay M. Thompson, Creative Creek, LLC Constanza Garcés, Ambipar Environment CRISTIAN ARTURO LARA MILLAQUEO, Reciclapp Cristian Glenz, Conecta Cristian Mosella, EnergyLab Crystal A. Mario, Rivanna Natural Designs, Inc. Daniel Bloor, Livista Energy Daniel Silva Contrucci, Climate Ventures Daniel Vercelli, Manuia Daphne Laan, The Board Whisperers/ Planetir David Cavanagh, Integrated Energy Pty Ltd David Connor, 2030hub David Haines, Upfield David Pickles, Jorro David Roberts, Whitehaven Aviation Consulting David S. Renne, International Solar Energy Society Diana Eggleston, The Hague & Partners Dina Mex, K Sustainable Future SpA Dirkje Jansen, Franck Advisory Divyata Ashiya, Just Transition Capital Dolf van den Brink, Heineken N.V. Dominic Lüdin, Carbonfuture AG Dr Andrew Forrest AO, Fortescue Dr Tara Shine, Change by Degrees Dr. Gunar Hering, ENERTRAG SE Dr. Hannes Junginger-Gestrich, Carbonfuture GmbH Dr Victoria Hurth, Matter Matter Ltd Drake Pusey, Volition Project Eduardo Muñoz Duran, Office for you chile Elena Cruz, Asociación de Truficultores de Chile Elisabeth van Ebbenhorst Tengbergen, Kienbaum Elise Suronen’s, Wyld Within Engin Ayaz, ATOLYE Erik Feig, Picturestart Ernst de Nobel, Ecocoatings Ester Baiget, Novozymes Eugene Aloysious Mayne, TRI STAR TRANSPORT (L.L.C) Evannah Jayne, Terran Industries Fábio Colletti Barbosa, Natura &Co Fadua Gajardo, Instituto de directores de chile Felipe Viveros, Sravana Studios Fiona Howarth, Octopus Electric Vehicles Fleur Heyns, Proof Francois E. Nuyts, Made In Democracy Frank Marrou Adams, Ambipar Environment Perú Frederic Fournier, Open Forest Protocol Frieda Gormley, HOUSE OF HACKNEY Gail Sullivan, Studio G Architects Gareth Hughes, Advanced Bacterial Sciences Ltd Gavin Lendon, Sustainology UK Ltd Ged Heffernan, River Power Pod Limited Geoff van Sonsbeeck, House of Baukjen George Simons, Ruleo Gia Machlin, EcoPlum, Inc. Graham MacVoy, Wake The Tiger Graham Randles, ENVECSO Limited Greg Jackson, Octopus Energy Greg Skinner, Quadrature Capital Limited Gricha Safarian, PGPI Guilherme Leal, Natura &Co Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, ENSO Guy Hacking, Mocoh Gyanesh Chaudhary, Vikram Solar H. Graves, GT Power Hafou Toure, HTS Partners Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani Hanae Bezad, Beehane LLC Hannah Keartland FCA, Keartland & Co Limited Hanns-Christian Mahler, ten23 health Hari Balasubramanian, EcoAdvisors Harry Verhaar, Signify Harsh Suri, The Geostrata Hassan Oropeza, Sarape Social Helmy Abouleish, Sekem Hena Venugopal, GreenearthX Henning Eliasson, EVIA Hermione Taylor, Do Nation Howard Gunstock, Carbon Kapture Ltd Hunter Lovins, Natural Capitalism Solutions Ian David Douglas, Bradgate Business Advisors Illana adamson, Be Better Education Ltd Indira Moudi, Viandes Lafrance Iram Maimuna, E waste social Pvt ltd Irina Spector, Common Practice Sustainability Advisors Isabel Teresa Pinto Buendía, PGIC Ingeniería Isabelle Grosmaitre, Goodness & Co Isabelle Kocher de Leyritz, Blunomy Jaimie Harris, Forjj Consulting James Goodwin, ENSO Jane Dalton, Groundswell Innovation Jay Jasinski, Environmental Media Association Jeff Twentyman, Seefair Limited Jesper Brodin, Ingka Group I IKEA JessAyers, QCF Jessica Wiggins, Impact Coaching Jillian Gibbs, Advertising Production Resources (APR) Jim Lescop, DecarbonEaser Jo Barnard, Morrama Ltd Jo Bucci, Jewish chronicle Joanne Jong, Yulan Sustainability Jocelyn Tasker Wallace, Sync Savings Jochen Zeitz, Harley-Davidson, Inc. Jody R Weiss, Climate Impact John Elkington, Volans John Keen, RKMS Group Ltd Jon Abrahamsson Ring, Inter IKEA Group Jon Fletcher, Big Clean Switch Jon Morgan, IN’n’OUT Autocentres Jonathan Carrier, Allye Energy Jonathan Wragg, Prominate Ltd Jorge lopez-Doriga, AJEGROUP Jose Lehuede, APLE Consultores José Manuel Entrecanales, Acciona S.A. & Acciona Energía S.A. Joseph D Kenner, Greyston Joshua Muller, Embodied Sounds, Inc Juan carlos, Gestión de servicios ambientales sac Juan Jaime Olguín de la Huerta, Fundación Polo Empresarial ODS Cero June Kirkwood, Nutmeg Licensing Ltd Karen Rauschenbach, Sustainable Fashion Brand Katharine Campling, Earthian Zero Waste Shop Kathryn S. Hanson, Hanson Group Kayleigh Nicolaou, Kakadu Creative Kevin Dunckley, HH Global Kevin Gallen, Gallen Engineering Khyati Gupta, ReRack Laura Chappell, Brunel Pension Partnership Ltd Lavinia Warnars, iEarthnl Leo Kirby, Principled Investments Liane Thompson, Aquaai Corporation Livia Giuggioli Firth, Eco-Age Louisa ziane, Toast Brewing Louise Kjellerup Roper, Volans Lubomila Jordanova, Plan A / Greentech Alliance Luc Rémont, EDF Lucy Parkin, KleanDrive Lucy Shea, Futerra Luis Villa del Campo, Independent Advisor Mafalda Duarte, Green Climate Fund Majdi Alnajjar, Majesty Business Utvikling Manju von Rospatt, Eutopya Marc Benioff, Salesforce Marcelo Mena, Global Methane Hub Marcelo Salazar, Mazô Maná Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Global Women Leaders GWLvoices Marina Bradford, Bemari Mark Jankovich, Delphis Eco Mark Schneider, Nestlé Mark T Wasiele, Ninety10 Partners LLC Martijn Tjho, BIYU Martin C. Fredricks IV, Fredricks Communications Martin Mulenga, Green Cosmos Zambia Mary Jo Willmore, Krona Masaya Hasegawa, Shizen Energy Inc Mathias Wikström, Doconomy Matt Hocking, LEAP Matt Hocking, Leap Matthew Letley, Impact for Good Matthias Hartmann, Techem GmbH Max Koeune, McCain Foods Mehemed Bougsea, Think-it Meredith Odgers, BambooWorx Michael Mapes, Trivium Packaging Michael McCormick, Taproot Security Michael W. Grainey, Michael W. Grainey Consulting LLC Michelle Del Valle, FinSat Inc. Michelle Wilson, La Bruguera de Púbol (eco-retreat centre and degrowth living lab)) Miranda Barker, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mohamed Mahmoud Khaled Ibrahim Mahmoud Salem (Mohamed Khaled), NoorNation Monica Schüldt, Klarhet Ledarskap Natalie Deacon, Avon international Nick Mole, Carbonlogical Limited. Nick Spencer, Gordian Advice Ltd Nina Marenzi, The Sustainable Angle Oliver Bolton, Earthly Limited Oliver Courtney, Oli Courtney Consulting Oliver Dauert, Wildya Østervold Tor Mikal, ECOsubsea AS Oula Geoffrey, Ousden AgroAgencies Limited Pablo Reyes, MEMETICA Paddy Hayes, ESB Paddy Loughman, Come Across Pamela Wellner, Amplify Eco Patrick McCool, Proven Build Paul Coverdale, purpose AMPLIFIED Paul H. Selnau, Schadler Selnau Associates Paul Stuart-Smith, JS Global Advisory LLP Pepe Martínez Oyarce, Compás Co. Peter Boyd, Time4Good Peter Hall, Resonance Peter Seligmann, Nia Tero Phil Hails-Smith, Joelson Philip Hargreaves, Carbonbit Piotr Drozd, Leaders for Climate Action Pip Murray, Pip & Nut Prama BHARDWAJ, Mantis World Ramazan Aslan, EOS Climate and Energy Randy B. Hecht, Aphra Communications Ranya Alkadamani, Impact Group International Rebecca Marmot, Unilever Rhona Morrell, iReGen Limited Rich Gilmore, Carbon Growth Partners Richard Boothman, ideostone limited Richard Boullemier, Generate Media Rick Clemenzi, PE, Intelli-Products Inc. Rod Neale, Circular Computing Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, Notpla Rodrigo Morales S, South Andes Consulting Rodrigo Moya, Sinncronia Consultora Ronald Fitzherbert, Blue Gothic Design Studios, LLC Ronald W. Hovsepian, Indigo Ag Rowan Conway, Transformation by Design Ltd Roy Jakobs, Royal Philips Rozina Spinnoy, BIDs Belgium Russ Avery, Avery & Brown Ruud Hendriks, Startupbootcamp Sam Narr, Kibbo Kift Agency Sam Sutaria, WaterBear Network Samantha Auden, Design & Tonic Ltd. Samiullah khan, Saif Air Technologies Sandeep Khanna, Stonetown Capital Sandja Brügmann, The Passion Institute Sarah Whale, Profit Impact Scarlett Nash, Nashability Serge Kremer, Husky International Servane Mouazan, Conscious Innovation Sharon Johnson, Bellwethers Shelley Lawson, Frog Bikes Ltd Simeon Pieterkosky, Aquaai Corporation Simon Carlin, The Lost Coin Financial Planning Ltd Simon Morrish, Xlinks Ltd Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Slavina Dimitrova, Slavina Marketing Solitaire Townsend, Futerra Sophie Marple, Gower Street Stan Chen, United States Stephen Muchiri, EAFF Stephen Murphy, ClimateImpact Stephen Sykes, 2030hub Stephen Vasconcellos, Make a Positive Impact Steve Butterworth, Neighbourly Steve Malkin, Planet Mark Steven Bingler, Concordia: Community Centered Planning and Design Steven van Dijk, Zenergy Green Sumit D Chowdhury, GreenEarthX Inc Suneil Setiya, Quadrature Capital Limited Susan McPherson, McPherson Strategies Syed Feizal Syed Mohammad, MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad Tariq Al-Olaimy, 3BL Associates Thiago Haberli, Sustain Quality Ltd Thoralf Gutierrez, Sirona Technologies Tim Evans, 3Ti, I. Energy Hubs Limited. Toby Radcliffe, ZeroBees Tom Tapper, Nice and Serious Tomasz Halkiewicz, Market Ecology Sweden AB Tracy Weeks, Purplelily Design Veronica Chou, Novel Fashion Holdings Vincent Clerc, A.P. Moller - Maersk Virginia Cinquemani, Green Gorilla Consultants Ltd Will Marshall, Planet Labs PBC Will Richardson, Green Element Group William Travis, ELEVATION BARN Ximena Muñoz Abogabir, Ciluz Yazan AlFaouri, Amarenco Group Yip Thy Diep Ta, J3D.AI Labs Yves HAYAUX DU TILLY, Nader, Hayaux & Goebel Zila Paola Muchari Sosa, Ambipar Environment Perú FINANCE Asif Saleh, BRAC Carey Bohjanen, The Rallying Cry Charlotte O’Leary, Pensions for Purpose Doug Kirkpatrick, AlphaGlider LLC Elizabeth Sheehan, The Valerian Fund Emma Howard Boyd, Green Finance Institute Florian Kemmerich, Bamboo Capital Partners Günther Thallinger, Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance Hannes Shariputra Chopra, RaSa Consulting UG Hiro Mizuno, Good Steward Partners, LLC Isabelle Albert, Climate VC Jennifer Devine, Wiltshire Pension Fund Jeroen Rijpkema, Triodos Bank Jochen Wermuth, Wermuth Asset Management GmbH Johan Frenckner, Longrun Capital Johan Ljungberg, Tagehus Holding AB Juan Carlos Mora, Bancolombia Kathryn Hoffman, Regeneration.VC Luca Zerbini, Una Terra Venture Capital Fund Mariem Mhadhbi, ValueCo Matilda Wickens, Triodos Bank UK Mea Lewis, Datamars Sustainability Foundation Meg Arnold, Seabright Ventures Fund Michael Tracy, Principium Investments Nili Gilbert, David Rockefeller Fund Pepijn Rijvers, Boracay BV Rajiv Joshi, Bridging Ventures Rhian-Mari Thomas, Green Finance Institute Richard Ecclestone, Nadder Community Energy Ltd Ronald Janse, Wire Group Rupesh Madlani, Bankers without Boundaries Sara Bendel, Art Leasing & Invest AG Shaun Stephenson-McGall, Avon Pension Fund Simon Wilcox, Investor Steven Lang, Pollination Steven Schroko, Retired US Finance Executive Tim Day, Ethical Money Valeria Ramundo Orlando, Greensquare Ventures PHILANTHROPY Andrew Steer, Bezos Earth Fund Atalanti Moquette, Giving Women Florence Miller, Environmental Funders Network Julia Davies, We Have The POWER Kate Hampton, CIFF Leslie Anne Johnston, Laudes Foundation Maria Netto, Instituto Clima e Sociedade María Teresa García van Gein, Fundación Gastronomía Social Melanie Maas Geesteranus, Porticus Nancy Conrad, Conrad Foundation Shari Sant, Code Blue Foundation Tariq H. 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COP28: What is global stocktake, why is it important and what's India's position

The first-ever global stocktake is set to conclude at the COP28 climate summit at the end of this year, the United Nations has said. In the first week of COP28, the draft text for Global Stocktake was formed that called for the phasing out of all fossil fuels. It proposed options for the phase-out of unabated coal, and an orderly and just transition away from fossil fuels. This might emerge as a contentious point for India, where "coal is and would remain an important part of India's energy mix". Coal and other fossil fuels are responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases, that, in turn, impact global climate and temperature. What is the global stocktake? The United Nations says the global stocktake is like taking inventory. Meanwhile, the Centre for Science and Environment says it is like a report card on the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal. "It (global stocktake) means looking at everything related to where the world stands on climate action and support, identifying the gaps, and working together to chart a better course forward to accelerate climate action," the UN explains. The global stocktake takes place every five years, with the first-ever stocktake set to conclude at COP28. The goal of the Paris Agreement is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels". It also seeks to pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels". Why is global stocktake important? The process is expected to yield a blueprint for future policy action by governments to try to prevent climate change from escalating to extremes. "It is intended to inform the next round of climate action plans under the Paris Agreement to be put forward by 2025," the UN says. The stocktake can help policymakers and stakeholders strengthen their climate policies and commitments in their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions, or ‘NDCs’, paving the way for accelerated action. NDCs are "ambitious national climate action plans that every country needs to develop and update on a regular basis", the UN Climate Change explains. However, it is not the global stocktake which will bring change. "It’s the global response, the response by countries as Parties to the Paris Agreement, that will make the difference in the form of higher ambition and accelerated action," the UN says. India's position in global stocktake The new draft text gave priority to "phasing-out" over the "phasing-down" strategy proposed by India at last year's climate conference. India had last year proposed to phase down all fossil fuels and not just coal. New Delhi's call was supported by several countries, including the European Union, news agency PTI reported. India even skipped signing the pledge to commit to tripling the global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Over the reduction of greenhouse gases, India also refrained from signing the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health. Why did India refuse? Sources told PTI that curbing greenhouse gas use for cooling in the health sector, which is one of the points in the document, may not be practical or achievable within the country's healthcare infrastructure in the short term. India, representing the BASIC bloc, played a prominent role in advocating for accountability. The nation emphasised the necessity for the Global Stocktake to consider the failures of developed nations. Sources had earlier told PTI that the BASIC grouping of Brazil, South Africa, India and China pushed during annual climate talks in Dubai that the global stocktake should also account for the failures of the developed nations. On December 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India had presented a great example to the world of striking a balance between development and environment conservation. He was addressing the high-level segment for heads of state and governments during the UN climate conference in Dubai. India is one among only a few countries in the world on track to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions or national plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, PM Modi had said.

How China Cleaned Its Filthy Air While India Continues to Choke

India and China have each struggled with throat-searing air pollution blanketing their major cities with the onset of winter. Only one country has succeeded in tackling the problem. India and China have each struggled with throat-searing air pollution blanketing their major cities with the onset of winter. Only one country has succeeded in tackling the problem. China has made strides in scrubbing the once-foul air that had become a fact of life each year in major cities like Beijing and industrial towns across the country. Meanwhile, hug...

Better wind speed to help improve air after weekend

Gurgaon: The city’s air quality index (AQI) remained in the ‘poor’ category for the sixth consecutive day on Thursday at 235, up from 231 on Wednesday. While the wind speed was 8kmph on Thursday, it was 10kmph the previous day. According to the central government’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), AQI is likely to improve after Saturday. “The wind speed is expected to increase to 14kmph-18kmph after Saturday. The maximum air mixing depth (ventilation index) is likely to be 1,000 m2/s and 3,200 m2/s till Friday. The mixing height is likely to be around 6,500 m2/s on Saturday and 7,500 m2/s on Sunday over Delhi-NCR,” it stated. According to CPCB’s 24-hour average data, the air monitoring station in Teri Gram near the Aravalis recorded Thursday’s worst AQI at 257 (poor), followed by Sector 51 (252). Vikas Sadan witnessed ‘moderate’ air at 185. No data was available at the Gwalpahari station on Thursday. Both PM2.5 and 10 levels were much above the permissible limits on Thursday as usual, indicating pollutants from local sources, including vehicular emissions and dust. The PM2.5 level was highest in Teri Gram (276 µg/m³), followed by Sector 51 (216 µg/m³) and Vikas Sadan (202 µg/m³), according to CPCB data. The PM10 level was the highest at Teri Gram (256 µg/m³), followed by Sector 51 (214 µg/m³). Vikas Sadan doesn’t record PM10 data. Meanwhile, experts pointed out the region is dependent on favourable meteorological conditions to tackle the air pollution problem. “We can’t wait for higher wind speeds or rise in mercury to clear pollutants from the atmosphere. A targeted year-long approach is required to improve the region’s air quality,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. We also published the following articles recently Air improves slightly as wind speed picks up, but stays poorGurgaon's air quality index (AQI) remained in the poor category at 224, with slight improvement from Sunday. The city's worst AQI was recorded at 311 in Sector 51, while other stations such as Gwalpahari, Teri Gram, and Vikas Sadan had AQIs of 193, 197, and 156 respectively. PM2.5 and PM10 levels were above the permissible limit, indicating pollution from local sources. The annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 60g/m and 100g/m. The AQI is likely to slip back to a very poor category, according to SAFAR.105740016 Low wind speed set to keep air in poor zoneThe air quality in Noida and Ghaziabad improved somewhat due to rain, but remained poor. Noida recorded an AQI of 243, Greater Noida logged 255, and Ghaziabad 216. The worst AQI in Noida was recorded at Sector 62 with 254, followed by Sector 1 with 249 and Sector 116 with 227. The details of Sector 125 station were not available.105740053 Delhi's air quality index reaches 'very poor' categoryDelhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached the 'very poor' category in multiple areas on Tuesday morning, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The official data recorded at 07.00 am revealed an AQI of 340 in Anand Vihar, 315 in Ashok Vihar, 307 in ITO Delhi, and 332 in Jahangirpuri. The citizens, who have been battling high levels of air pollution, found relief as light rains showered in various areas of Delhi-NCR. Delhi Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, stated last week that GRAP-3 has been lifted in the capital city, but the government is committed to strictly implementing GRAP-1 and 2. The air quality index is measured on a scale of 0 to 500.105741753

What India can learn from China about cleaning up its ‘constant’ filthy air problem

India and China have each struggled with throat-searing air pollution blanketing their major cities with the onset of winter. Only one country has succeeded in tackling the problem. China has made strides in scrubbing the once-foul air that had become a fact of life each year in major cities like Beijing and industrial towns across the country. Meanwhile, huge swathes of northern India continue to choke on clouds of polluted air, peaking during the winter period as temperatures drop, winds disappear and farmers across the region set their fields ablaze. In the 30 days through November 9, levels of hazardous microparticles known as PM2.5 averaged 14 times higher in New Delhi than in Beijing, according to air-quality tracker IQAir. The picture is even more stark outside the two capitals. Last year, 65 of the 100 most polluted cities were in India, while China had just 16, according to IQAir. Previously, it was China that dominated the list: In 2017, about three-quarters of IQAir’s tally of the world’s most polluted cities were in China, while 17 were in India. India’s pollution crisis is conspicuously absent from its climate and environmental ambitions, both on the world stage and at home. It also remains far from the top of the agenda of a coming national election that observers widely expect will sweep Modi into a third term. The pollution epidemic is a problem not just for the health of India’s 1.4 billion residents – the biggest population of any country in the world – but also for its economy, currently the fastest-growing of any major nation. A World Bank report published in June estimated that India’s annual increase in fine particle pollution shaves 0.56 percentage points off its annual GDP growth every year due to reduced worker productivity and capital formation. Air pollution in India also reduces the productivity of a range of business assets – blocking sunlight from solar panels, degrading electronic circuitry and reducing crop yields, according to a 2021 report commissioned by the Clean Air Fund. “This is the biggest challenge that urban India faces today,” said Karthik Ganesan, a fellow and director of research coordination at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a Delhi think tank. “Effectively, it’s turning the demographic dividend into a big bane because I’m left having to care for all these people who in their 50s or 60s are down and out.” A decade ago, China was also confronted with crisis-level air pollution across its major cities, a consequence of breakneck growth and runaway emissions from a combination of vehicles, heavy industry and coal-fired power plants. The issue attracted international attention as the US Embassy in Beijing – one of the few reliable sources of air pollution data in the nation’s capital – broadcast regular crisis-level readings. It also translated into protests that bubbled across the country. China at first pushed back against the outcry and demanded foreign embassies cease publishing air-pollution data. But the government eventually owned up to the problem as pollution levels continued to soar to records. In 2014, President Xi Jinping admitted air pollution was the “most prominent problem” facing Beijing, and the country responded with a national plan to reduce it with a US$270 billion war chest. In the years since, China restricted the number of cars on the road in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, while capacity in China’s emissions-heavy iron and steel industries fell and new coal-fired power plants were banned in some areas, according to the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, or EPIC. Air pollution declined 42.3 per cent between 2013 and 2021, according to the institute, which said China’s efforts were the sole reason behind the modest drop in global pollution levels during that period. In Delhi, meanwhile, heavy air pollution remains a fact of life, especially for the many who work outdoors and lack access to luxury solutions like air purifiers and effective face masks. “It’s just constant,” said Subash Sharma, a 50-year-old rickshaw driver, as he waited for passengers on a recent hazy afternoon in central New Delhi. “When I go home, there’s a layer of dirt on my face.” Sharma has been driving a rickshaw – the three-wheeled, open-door vehicles ubiquitous across India – for more than a decade, often seven days a week. He said the steady dose of air pollution has led him to develop breathing problems and a stubborn black discolouration to his face. But he said he doesn’t think too much about the long-term effects of the constant exposure to toxic air. “We might live five years, 10 years, who knows?” he said. “You don’t know anything about tomorrow, so why think about it.” Such acceptance, not uncommon among New Delhiites, may be one reason why the pollution crisis doesn’t figure heavily in the country’s national politics. As New Delhi’s air quality hit critical levels last month, Brijesh Goyal, the head of the Delhi-based Chamber of Trade and Industry urged Modi to hold an emergency meeting with the governments of several northern Indian to discuss the air crisis. To date, the industry body hasn’t got a response, Goyal said. Instead, issues like unemployment, corruption and Modi and his party’s Hindu nationalist agenda are dominating the political agenda in the lead-up to next year’s election. “What figures in the electoral documents are what people want. If people are asking for clean air, it would figure there,” said Parthaa Bosu, executive director at EPIC India. “However, it seems that we as citizens are not fully committed to this cause.” To be sure, Indian authorities have made some progress in tackling air pollution in recent years. In 2019, the government launched a National Clean Air Programme charged with disbursing funds to cities across the country to help clean the country’s air. In other areas, progress has been at the local level. They include expanded public transport options in New Delhi, regulations requiring city buses use natural gas and restrictions on farm fires that have resulted in a reduction in their number in recent years. According to data collected by the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi research group, the level of PM 2.5 – microscopic, cancer-causing pollutants that travel deep into lungs – averaged 98 during the three years through 2023, down 28 per cent from the three-year period ending in 2017. The pace of improvement, however, has slowed in recent years, and some new measures, like outdoor “smog towers,” do little to clean filthy air. Squeezing further improvements will require more sweeping changes, like taking many drivers off Delhi’s clogged streets or changing the farming patterns of Indian farmers so they don’t have to set their fields ablaze, experts said. “The tragedy is they have done all the things which are relatively easy to do – all those low hanging apples have been plucked,” said Avikal Somvanshi, senior manager at the CSE. “Now what they need to do is much more difficult.

Editorial: Shattering climate records

Extreme weather events are becoming commonplace, a scenario long predicted by scientists. Cyclone Michaung, which caused widespread damage in Chennai and south coastal Andhra Pradesh, comes as yet another warning of how the climate crisis has accentuated natural disasters. An already creaking urban drainage system is stretched even further, leading to a breakdown, which is what happened in Chennai as well. Across the world, extreme climate events are steeply increasing. The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that what was earlier witnessed once in a century could become an annual event now. This is largely a man-made tragedy. The ongoing international efforts to control the climate crisis are not enough. The goals need to be reframed and redefined in view of the grave implications of climate change. The United Nations Climate Change summit at Dubai— COP28— has just launched the Loss and Damage fund, meant to help vulnerable countries cope with climate crisis disasters. Indian cities too need to be ready for frequent extreme events. From ensuring better upkeep and expansion of public infrastructure to protecting natural drainage systems to putting disaster management plans in place, the task is cut out for urban planners. India saw an intense onslaught of extreme weather events, impacting a staggering 86% of days in the first nine months of this year, as highlighted in a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). In a global context, research points to a surge in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide, primarily linked to climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels. Global warming is causing more droughts, affecting our water supply and food. Also, our oceans are getting warmer, which leads to stronger cyclones with more rain. India, with its long coastline, will face more cyclones, and our inland areas will suffer from more heatwaves. As per the Paris Climate Agreement, the global temperature should not cross 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level. International efforts to stick to this threshold have not been quite successful. Already, the impact of high global mean temperature is evident in the form of extreme climate events including heat, wildfires and floods. There is an urgent need for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and international cooperation in climate finance and policy reform. World leaders are now grappling with the monumental task of phasing out fossil fuels, a central theme at all climate summits. India too needs to move away from coal and invest in renewable energy to achieve the targets under the Paris Agreement. With just a few weeks left for the year to end, 2023 is already hurtling towards a global warming milestone, set to surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, creating what the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) describes as a “deafening cacophony” of shattered climate records.

COP28: Global Stocktake Calls For Just Phase-Out Of Fossil Fuels

The first Global Stocktake (GST), which will end this year's meeting, will probably assess how well nations have done thus far in accomplishing the goals of the Paris Agreement. The proposed draught document suggests ways to triple the world's renewable capacity to 11,000 GW by 2030 when compared to 2022 levels. Additionally, it recommends raising the average annual rate of energy efficiency improvement worldwide to 4.1per cent by 2030 from 2022 levels. There is room for ‘zero and low emission’ technologies to be widely implemented globally. Low-emission technologies include abatement and removal technologies, such as carbon capture, utilisation, storage, and low-carbon hydrogen production, according to experts. Some experts have also pointed out that zero and low-emission technologies are a proxy for natural gas use. The text has options for the orderly and just phaseout of fossil fuels, accelerating efforts towards phasing out unabated fossil fuels and rapidly reducing their service to achieve net-zero CO2 in energy systems by or around mid-century. But, for these, the draft also gives the option of no text. The IPCC recommends a 75 per cent decrease in unabated coal use between 2019 and 2030 as a means of addressing climate change. There is no information available for option two. Other solutions include accelerating the rollout of zero-emission vehicles and gradually removing wasteful fossil fuel subsidies over the medium term. The IPCC's Sixth Assessment report suggests that historical emissions and the use of the world's carbon space are not distributed equitably. Developed countries have emitted more greenhouse gases in the past despite having a smaller share of the global population. Therefore, it is necessary to recognise that equitable mitigation action is guided by historical responsibility, with the developed countries taking the lead in mitigation actions. Acknowledging equity's significance can encourage the global community to establish even more challenging and ambitious climate targets, which will raise the chances of achieving the Paris Agreement's long-term goals. Concerns are raised in the text about 2023 being the warmest year ever recorded. It also notes that the effects of the climate catastrophe are intensifying quickly, highlighting the necessity of taking immediate action to stay below the 1.5°C target. In order to keep global warming to 1.5°C, the draught recognises that global greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025. In order to do this, greenhouse gas emissions must be consistently reduced from 2019 levels by 43 per cent by 2030 and 60 per cent by 2035. By 2050, the ultimate goal is to reach a situation in which the quantity of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere is equal to the quantity that is extracted from it. While COP28 is still in its early days, leaving out scope for consensus to be reached on some of the critical issues, the draft text shows divergent views could derail the negotiations. “The most concerning section is on fossil fuels. There are essentially three key options — phaseout of unabated fossil fuels with a timeline of mid-century, or phaseout of unabated coal (no oil + gas) by 2030, or no text on fossil fuels,” the Centre for Science and Environment said. Governments are encouraged not to use the terms 'abatement' and 'low emissions' technologies because they are sometimes ill-defined and only apply to carbon capture and storage, also known as "blue" hydrogen/ammonia, or the generation of hydrogen and ammonia with carbon capture. Rather, they ought to concentrate on reaching an equitable and just agreement to phase out the production and use of fossil fuels, triple the amount of renewable energy used, and double energy efficiency. It is especially crucial that Dubai's governments take this into account. “Governments need to reject the language on low emission technologies as it would undermine the whole energy package. ‘Abatement’ and ‘low emissions’ technologies are poorly defined and generally refer to carbon capture on storage — alone or in combination with hydrogen or ammonia (‘blue’ hydrogen/ammonia). Governments here in Dubai need to agree on a just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuel production and use, at least a tripling of renewable energy and a doubling of energy efficiency,” said Fuhr. Noting that there were several good news in the initial days of the summit, experts said the text is nearly doing away with pre-2020 commitments. “Overall, there have been positive news in the beginning and the Loss and Damage fund has been operationalised which is important. But the initial GST text has a maximalist position and it is nearly doing away with pre-2020 commitments, action and implementation. That is very concerning. Historic responsibility and differentiated responsibilities are a part of Paris Agreement. Developing countries need to ensure these issues are not diluted,” said Manjeev Singh Puri, former climate negotiator and ambassador. Optional suggestions from country Parties are provided in the second version of the Global Stocktake text, but they are not required to be included. The fact that the phaseout of fossil fuels is indicated as optional, nevertheless, is troubling. It is imperative that an equitable phaseout of all fossil fuels be mandated by the GST. It is inappropriate to ignore the issue or to single out coal in order to get a positive result. With more than 20 bullet points that need to be prioritised and expanded upon for actionable items, the 'way forward’ section is now unclear. The Global Stocktake text has undergone modifications at the US's suggestion, including the removal of any mention of affluent nations' duty to contribute to climate change financing. It has, meanwhile, demanded that additional wealthy nations supply the funding. Many of the recommendations made by the national Parties in the second version of the Global Stocktake text are optional, which has alarmed experts. Rather than focusing only on coal or ignoring the issue completely, they highlight the necessity of a mandate to fairly phase out all fossil fuels. Disconcertingly, the ‘way forward’ section now has over 20 bullet points that need to be prioritised and further elaborated upon for actionable items. The US has suggested changes to the Global Stocktake language, according to the Centre for Science and Environment, that would exclude mention of affluent countries' financial responsibilities and instead ask for more nations to be 'in a position' to give funding. Additionally, the US has proposed eliminating common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) from the section on enhancing financial flows.

Can anything stop the toxic smog of New Delhi?

A man blows cascades of bubbles near the India Gate in New Delhi, hoping to lure children, or at least their parents, to buy his bubble blowing kits. Visitors usually flock to see the giant arch, a war memorial, that towers over a sweeping pedestrian boulevard in the city center. But on a recent November day, visitors are thin. There's not much to see: The India Gate is a hazy outline in gray, smudgy smog. Bubble blower Gajender Kohli shakes his head. The bad air is bad for business, he says, and it makes him feel rotten. "It makes me sick. It makes the kids sick," he says. Visitor Prateek Dabhi says he can't wait to leave the city. He's on a leg-stretch stopover during a days-long bus trip to the Himalayas. "We're already losing years of our life," he says, because of pollution in his hometown in southeast India. "If we lived in this pollution, we'd lose even more." Air pollution is likely costing residents of New Delhi an average of about 12 years of life compared with their expected lifespan if the region met World Health Organization air quality standards, according to a September report by the Air Quality Life Index at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Situated in the worst-polluted area of South Asia, a sweeping plain straddling northern India and adjacent areas of neighboring Pakistan, New Delhi is considered the world's most polluted megacity. More than a half-billion residents make their homes in the region. New Delhi's air pollution problem becomes acutely visible in cooler months, when the air settles and allows smog to build up. During these months, it is often hazardous to breathe. In November, many schools were shuttered for nearly two weeks so children and teachers could stay home and avoid the outdoors. New Delhi officials have been trying for years to dent pollution levels, from incentivizing electric vehicle purchases to building a sprawling mass transit system. "And yet, it's not enough at all," says clean air advocate Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. Roychowdhury lists some of the efforts the New Delhi government has undertaken over some 20 years, from shuttering four coal power plants surrounding the city to ordering large industrial units to switch to less-polluting natural gas. The public bus fleet, which was switched over to natural gas, is now being swapped out for EVs. To monitor air pollution levels, – and what kind of emissions are contributing to them, — the city has installed more than 40 real-time monitoring stations. Residents get cash back if they buy two- or three-wheeled EVs – scooters and rickshaws, which are the main ways people get around in New Delhi. "As of today, roughly about 12% of the new vehicles sold in Delhi are electric vehicles," Roychowdhury says. "These are not small measures. No other city in India has implemented all of them together like Delhi has." Roychowdhury says all those measures have bent the upward curve – but the city's efforts are "overwhelmed, swamped and undercut simply by the sheer volume and numbers" of growth and new pollution. Within three years, New Delhi's population is expected to reach 39 million people – roughly the population of California, but a fraction of the size. New Delhi's sprawl extends so far that many residents don't actually live within city limits – they technically live in four neighboring states. "The problem is not Delhi's. The problem is a regional problem," says Jasmine Shah of the Aam Aadami Party, which governs New Delhi. But, he adds, "there is no coordinated action plan." Shah blames the rival, ruling federal governing party, the BJP, led by prime minister Narendra Modi. The same party also governs the states around New Delhi. "They seem to be politicking about this matter all the time." BJP state and federal officials declined to comment for this story. Roychowdhury says surrounding state and federal governments are taking action, "but it's not adding up." The federal government has made a series of moves, from strengthening fuel emissions standards and expanding renewable energy to providing incentives for electric vehicle sales. It provides extra cash to cities that reduce their air pollution, with mixed success. In 2021, the government created a commission to help manage air quality in New Delhi and the surrounding regions. It can "direct states to take very specific actions that reduce pollution," says Bhargav Krishna, an expert on air pollution and health. "But it's chosen not to utilize the full range of its powers." Arvind Nautiyal, a member of and spokesman for that commission, says they were employing a "collaborative, consultative" approach but were not sitting idle. For instance, he says the commission helped shut down some 7,800 industrial units that were using dirty fuels for power. He says there had been "year-on-year, quite a significant difference" in pollution levels. Although November had been a particularly bad month, Nautiyal says the New Delhi area has now had 206 days when the air pollution levels were just considered "unhealthy" — an improvement over previous years. "There's a long way to go, a long journey ahead, but there has been consistent improvement," Nautiyal says. Krishna says the tepid support for cleaning up India's deadly air can be explained by the bind the country is in:. India is "a developing country that rapidly needs to pull millions and millions of people out of poverty," he says. "You need to rapidly industrialize ... You need to provide electricity to all of these households." In northern India, that is still done chiefly through coal. "Air pollution is a really inconvenient problem to have,." Krishna says, and for now, "it's seen as an elite issue." New Delhi's experience underscores this perception. It is where elites — activists and the judiciary — have kept pressure on the local government to tackle the problem. Being the capital, it has also received more attention than other cities and regions. Activists say it's harder to mobilize people to pressure the government to do more because the most severe harm from air pollution isn't immediately noticeable. Some of the worst impacts come from the tiny particles in smog, known as PM2.5, about 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. When you breathe them in, "they can go into your bloodstream and all over your body and act as a toxin," says Christa Hasenkopf of the Energy Policy Institute. "It causes strokes and heart attacks. It can cause even things like cognitive decline and certainly issues with fertility," Hasenkopf says. "It's hard to viscerally understand and connect that someone's illness is caused by, or exacerbated by, pollution. I think that's made it very, very difficult to develop policy and enforce policies to get rid of it." So New Delhi's residents keep paying the price. Take the children of Bhavreen Kandhari, a clean air activist: "My children hadn't seen a blue sky," she says, until the pandemic halted industry and kept cars off the road in New Delhi. At New Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, Razia Begum waits for a doctor to see her three children, aged 10 years to 10 months. They've all got chesty coughs, she sighs. "It could be the cold, or the pollution," Begum says. "If the air was cleaner, my children wouldn't get so sick." For now, she says, the pollution keeps her running to the hospitals. On a nearby busy road, 35-year-old Baljeet Singh says he's recently learned that pollution is a danger (many people assume it's a normal winter fog). He's about to get on a motorbike. He wraps a handkerchief around his face to protect him from pollution, which experts say can help but is not sufficient. He laughs and asks: "Do you have a better idea?"

What Are The Learnings From 2023, The Year India Saw Extreme Weather Events

In the year 2023, India saw most cases of extreme weather events according to a new report by Down to Earth and Centre for Science and Environment, Rajit Sengupta, Associate Editor, Down to Earth, explains the learnings In the year 2023, India recorded extreme weather events on 235 of the 273 days from January 1 to September 30, states the recently released report brought out by Down To Earth (DTE) magazine and the Centre for Science and Environment – Climate India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events. This means that in 86 per cent of the first nine months of this year, India had an extreme weather event breaking in one or more parts of the country. The report also stated that the same year, India also experienced record-breaking temperatures for several months, and regions across the country were deluged because of very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall. This led to floods and the loss of life and livestock. According to the report, the impact and spread of climate change is getting wider. In the year, 2023, climate change affected all 36 states and Union Territories (UTs) compared to 34 last year. All this highlights the increased frequency and intensity of the extreme events that we are seeing in our rapidly warming world. What the country witnessed in the year 2023 is the new abnormal. To understand the learnings of the year 2023, the year India saw extreme weather events and know more about the report, team Banega Swasth India speaks with Rajit Sengupta, Associate Editor, Down to Earth, who also authored this newly launched report. Here’s what we discussed: NDTV: What Is An Extreme Weather Event And Why It Needs An Urgent Discussion? Rajit Sengupta: Extreme weather events are usually the occurrence of unusually strong or unlikely event triggered by climate change. There are broadly seven types of extreme weather events – landslides, floods, heavy rainfalls, cloudbursts, coldwaves and heatwaves. These are usually small period events. Along with this, we have got climate induced extreme events, one of the classic example is drought, which is usually triggered because of a long period dry spell. Another example is forest fires, which are also triggered by a long period of dry spell, followed by an immediate and very heavy rainfall. Talking about, why climate change discussion is the need of the hour – first, climate change for a very long time has been invisible. And that is one of the reasons why the world took a long time to start discussing about it. The conversation started in about 1970s, 80s. And, we started feeling the pinch around 1990s and early 2000. So, extreme weather event is basically events that makes climate change visible. These events are the immediate impact of climate change that we can feel. And now extreme weather events are becoming much more frequent and intense. The spread of these events are also becoming higher. A case in point could be Rajasthan, which is traditionally a desert area. But, now that area is also experiencing something called flash floods, which are basically temporary flooding events. And, what is happening is that these events are becoming highly unpredictable, which means, when it normally should happen, it is not happening. And when it shouldn’t, it is happening. And these are the reasons why we need to start talking more and more about climate change now. NDTV: What are the visible impacts of climate change in the year 2023? Rajit Sengupta: As a part of our report, we found out that India experienced a lot of extreme weather events for the period from January to September. There are 273 days in this time period and out the 273, some parts of the country was an extreme weather event on 235 days. That is roughly 86 percent of the days between January to September. We also found that all the 36 Indian states and UTs experienced at least one day of extreme weather event in the year 2023. This basically shows that every place in our country is vulnerable. We also found that lightning and storms are the kinds of extreme weather events that are more pronounced in India. It occurred on 176 out of these 273 days. And it led to 711 human deaths. What’s worrisome is the fact that overall these extreme weather events led to almost 3, 000 human deaths for 2023 year. Heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides that took place on 132 out of the 273 days between January and September led to maximum human loss – about 1, 903 people died because of these events. The third extreme weather event that we looked at was heatwave, which occurred in 49 days in India and led to around 200 loss of human lives. NDTV: Climate Change – How It Is Affecting The Way We Eat Or Grow Our Food? Rajit Sengupta: The high incidence of hailstorms during the pre-monsoon period led to food inflation that even led the Indian government impose some forms of restrictions in terms of exports of rice and wheat. What triggers such situations? When there is an increase in hailstorms, a lot of the crops get damage. In India, what happened in 2023, the monsoon period, which is also the main period for growing crops, got delayed. And because of the late onset, the sowing period got shifted by seven to eight days. Then, immediately there were heavy rainfalls, and since the rainfall was not uniform through and through, a lot of small and marginal farmers saw complete washout of their crops and farms. And due to that these farmers were not able to grow crops the entire year. And for these farmers, it is next to impossible to take another loan and then start cropping again. All this impacts immediately India’s output in terms of food. According to our findings, around 1.84 million hectares of crop got damage this year due to extreme weather events. Last year, it was 1. 8 million, so it’s marginally higher. However, if you look at the places where the damages have happened are very different. Last year, a lot of these damages happened down at South. This year, it was predominantly the regions of Punjab and Haryana. NDTV: The Race Against Climate Change – Are We Doing Enough? Rajit Sengupta: When we talk about our fight against climate change, there are two things that the world is doing – Climate Mitigation and Climate Adaption. Climate mitigation is basically how we stop our current emissions, which would in turn impact the future generations and how to restrict the temperature rise beyond 1 degree Celsius. India is making a lot of strides in this respect. The Indian policies are much more aggressive, our country’s uptake of renewable energy, which will in turn reduce India’s per capita, India’s greenhouse gas emissions substantially in the years to come is there. The second thing is climate adaptation, which means how do we do fight the impacts of climate change or how do we embrace the impacts of climate change. On that front, India has made some good progress. India has substantially improved its early warning systems, we saw during cyclone Bipojoy as well. Moreover, our data shows that only two or three people died because of a cyclone event in India in 2023. That basically means that India is able to preempt a lot of these extreme weather events and also provide immediate rescue operations. But, there are two places where the country is struggling, which is also true for the rest of the world. One is that once an extreme weather event impacts a region, the data collection in terms of losses and damages is not correct or adequate. Second is reverse development of those particular regions, if they are not developed again properly, then the people living in those areas and that area itself becomes even more vulnerable for the next extreme weather event.

How China cleaned its filthy air whil India continues to choke

northern India continue to choke on clouds of polluted air, peaking during the winter period as temperatures drop, winds disappear and farmers across the region set their fields ablaze. In the 30 days through Nov. 9, levels of hazardous microparticles known as PM2.5 averaged 14 times higher in New Delhi than in Beijing, according to air-quality tracker IQAir. The picture is even more stark outside the two capitals. Last year, 65 of the 100 most polluted cities were in India, while China had just 16, according to IQAir. Previously, it was China that dominated the list: In 2017, about threequarters of IQAir’s tally of the world’s most polluted cities were in China, an estimated 2.18 million Indians per year. The pollution epidemic is a problem not just for the health of India’s 1.4 billion residents — the biggest population of any country in the world — but also for its economy, currently the fastest-growing of any major nation. AWorld Bank report published in June estimated that India’s annual increase in fine particle pollution shaves 0.56 percentage points off its annual GDP growth every year due to reduced worker productivity and capital formation. Air pollution in India also reduces the productivity of a range of business assets — blocking sunlight from solar panels, degrading electronic circuitry and reducing crop yields, according to a 2021 report commissioned by the Clean Air Fund. “This is the biggest challenge that urban India faces today,” said Karthik Ganesan, a fellow and director of research coordination at the Council A decade ago, China was also confronted with crisis-level air pollution across its major cities, a consequence of breakneck growth and runaway emissions from a combination of vehicles, heavy industry and coal-fired power plants. The issue attracted international attention as the US Embassy in Beijing — one of the few reliable sources of air pollution data in the nation’s capital — broadcast regular crisis-level readings. It also translated into protests that bubbled across the country. China at first pushed back against the outcry and demanded foreign embassies cease publishing air-pollution data. But the government eventually owned up to the problem as pollution levels continued to soar to new records. In 2014, President Xi Jinping admitted air pollution was the “most prominent problem” facing Beijing, and the country responded with a national plan to reduce it with a $270 billion war chest. institute, which said China’s efforts were the sole reason behind the modest drop in global pollution levels during that period. In Delhi, meanwhile, heavy air pollution remains a fact of life, especially for the many who work outdoors and lack access to luxury solutions like air purifiers and effective face masks. “It’s just constant,” said Subash Sharma, a 50-year-old rickshaw driver, as he waited for passengers on a recent hazy afternoon in central New Delhi. “When I go home, there’s a layer of dirt on my face.” Sharma has been driving a rickshaw — the three-wheeled, open-door vehicles ubiquitous across India — for more than a decade, often seven days a week. He said the steady dose of air pollution has led him to develop breathing problems and a stubborn black discoloration to his face. But he said he doesn’t think too much about the long-term effects of the constant exposure to toxic air. “We might live five years, 10 years, who knows?” he said. “You don’t know anything about tomorrow, so why think about it.” Such acceptance, not uncommon among New Delhiites, may be one reason why the pollution crisis doesn’t figure heavily in the country’s nationalist agenda are dominating the political agenda in the lead-up to next year’s election. “What figures in the electoral documents are what people want. If people are asking for clean air, it would figure there,” said Parthaa Bosu, executive director at EPIC India. “However, it seems that we as citizens are not fully committed to this cause.” To be sure, Indian authorities have made some progress in tackling air pollution in recent years. In 2019, the government launched a National Clean Air Programme charged with disbursing funds to cities across the country to help clean the country’s air. In other areas, progress has been at the local level. They include expanded public transport options in New Delhi, regulations requiring city buses use natural gas and restrictions on farm fires that have resulted in a reduction in their number in recent years. According to data collected by the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi research group, the level of PM 2.5 — microscopic, cancercausing pollutants that travel deep into lungs — averaged 98 during the three years through 2023, down 28% from the three-year period ending in 2017. “The tragedy is they have done all the things which are relatively easy to do — all those low hanging apples have been plucked,” said Avikal Somvanshi, senior manager at the the CSE. “Now what they need to do is much more difficult.

What India can learn from China about cleaning up its ‘constant’ filthy air problem

India and China have each struggled with throat-searing air pollution blanketing their major cities with the onset of winter. Only one country has succeeded in tackling the problem. China has made strides in scrubbing the once-foul air that had become a fact of life each year in major cities like Beijing and industrial towns across the country. Meanwhile, huge swathes of northern India continue to choke on clouds of polluted air, peaking during the winter period as temperatures drop, winds disappear and farmers across the region set their fields ablaze. In the 30 days through November 9, levels of hazardous microparticles known as PM2.5 averaged 14 times higher in New Delhi than in Beijing, according to air-quality tracker IQAir. The picture is even more stark outside the two capitals. Last year, 65 of the 100 most polluted cities were in India, while China had just 16, according to IQAir. Previously, it was China that dominated the list: In 2017, about three-quarters of IQAir’s tally of the world’s most polluted cities were in China, while 17 were in India. India’s pollution crisis is conspicuously absent from its climate and environmental ambitions, both on the world stage and at home. It also remains far from the top of the agenda of a coming national election that observers widely expect will sweep Modi into a third term. The pollution epidemic is a problem not just for the health of India’s 1.4 billion residents – the biggest population of any country in the world – but also for its economy, currently the fastest-growing of any major nation. A World Bank report published in June estimated that India’s annual increase in fine particle pollution shaves 0.56 percentage points off its annual GDP growth every year due to reduced worker productivity and capital formation.