• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

NDMC extends doubling of parking fees to privately managed sites

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has extended the doubling of the parking fees to the privately managed sites days after the civic body announced the move citing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)’s directions in November for mitigating the pollution sources. On November 13, the council said it was doubling the fees at the parking sites it directly manages in the New Delhi region until January 31. The four-wheelers were charged ₹20 hourly with a maximum of ₹100 daily and two-wheelers ₹10 per hour. In the case of multilevel parking sites, the charges were ₹10 for up to four hours for cars and ₹5 for two-wheelers. The rates were doubled from November 28. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which manages over 96% of Delhi’s geographical area, has not enforced the parking fee increase. The parking rates were increased four times in November 2017 as part of efforts to check pollution. Centre for Science and Environment executive director (research and advocacy) Anumita Roychowdhury said only increasing parking rates in selected commercial areas will not be effective. “Parking needs to happen only in legally demarcated parking areas of a ward with stringent penalties on illegal parking. Only this can reduce demand for parking, usage of personal vehicles and reduce emissions.”

• Down To Earth

प्राकृतिक आपदा ने झारखण्ड में ली 464 लोगों की जान

• Industrial Pollution

COP28 side-event on carbon capture technologies in cement sector highlights key barriers and successes

Electricity demand, CO2 leakage risks to drinking water and high costs among key issues Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is one of the biggest pathways that big industries and energy sector are relying on to reduce their emissions in the race to become net-zero. CCUS involves the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2), generally from large point sources such as power plants and industries using fossil-fuels. Capturing is done through a wide range of technologies, like various pre-combustion technologies, oxy-fuel technology, direct separation technology and others. The captured CO2 is either stored in underground geological formations or utilised in a wide range of applications, including industrial processes, fuel manufacturing and concrete curing. CCUS is particularly important for the cement sector, where there is less scope for emission reduction from other pathways in the long run. The Global Cement and Concrete Association’s (GCCA) roadmap to net-zero suggested that CCUS is expected to contribute around 36 per cent of net emission reduction in the sector by 2050. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop CCUS projects in the sector. But the deployment of the technology is difficult and faces several economic, technological and ecological barriers. International Energy Agency (IEA) credible pathways to 1.5 degrees Celsius point out that even in a low overshoot scenario, carbon capture plants of around 1.2 Gigatonnes (Gt) CO2 capacity need to be implemented in hard-to-abate sectors by 2030, against the roughly 0.3 Gt CO2 capacity currently planned. A side-event on CCUS technology in the cement sector at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has put the spotlight on key challenges and progress of carbon capture projects for developing and developed countries. Some of the key challenges discussed during the event are discussed further. LONG IMPLEMENTATION TIME A speaker from Canadian think-tank CCS Knowledge Centre highlighted that implementation of a commercial-scale carbon capture technology, from feasibility studies to development and final construction and risk assessment, can typically take more than six-years to complete. Additionally, storage or utilisation solutions also need to be in place, without which capturing is of no value. Although there are number of CCUS projects in cement plants globally, all of them are in development stages. To put this into perspective, there are 41 CCS facilities in operation globally, 26 under construction and 325 in development, according to Global CCS Institute’s facility database. Of the 41 operational facilities, none of them is from the cement industry. Heidelberg Materials’s plant in Brevik Norway is set to be fully operational by 2024, which will make it the world’s first operational carbon capture facility at a cement plant. The facility will capture 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. The company’s Canada plant in Edmonton, which is projected to start commercial capture of CO2 by 2026, is set to be the world’s first carbon neutral cement plant. Support from the federal and provincial government has been key in the success of the project, Beth-Hardy Valiaho, vice-president at the CCS Knowledge Centre, noted at the side-event. The Edmonton facility is aiming to capture over 1 million tonne CO2 per year. Other CCUS plants that plan to start operation in the next few years are CEMEX plant in Rudersdorf, Germany (2026) and Holcim Olympus project in Milaki, Greece (2028). It is interesting to note that most of these projects are located in the Global North. While China and India, who are the top producers of cement globally, have only a few projects in early stages of development. According to Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment’s Decarbonizing India: Cement sector report, CCUS could be one of the recommended pathways for reducing emissions in Indian cement sector in the long run but not by 2030, especially after witnessing the slow progress on CCUS in the Indian cement sector. Dalmia Cement is the only one known for announcing a large-scale carbon capture demonstration plant in 2019 which is still awaited. RISKS WITH STORAGE Studies on the impacts of CO2 leakage in geological storages mentioned during the event emphasise potential risks in CO2 storage related to groundwater contamination. A researcher from the University of Texas, Katherine Romanack, working on CO2 storage explained that while CO2 will be stored at depths greater than 800 metres, which is below underground water, there are potential risks to human health and marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the form of CO2 or brine migration into water. She further added that CO2 leakage can decrease the pH of water, making it acidic. These studies highlighted various impacts of CO2 leakage/migration — leakage in aquifers can mobilise heavy metals, such as iron and manganese, in water, which can make it harmful for human health. Moreover, the environmental impacts of leakage seem to cover small surface areas under the seabed, not affecting the majority of seabed, but if the gas leaks into aquifer, seawater or atmosphere, it can disperse and affect a much larger area than below ground/seabed. However, Romanack pointed out that such leakages are rare and CO2 is not likely to reach groundwater. She added that if, in an unlikely event, it does, the impact will be transient and localised. FINANCING CCS CCS is one of the biggest mitigation measures that is being banked upon, but it is also one of the most expensive. Examples of projects that have been implemented in Europe, the United States or Canada all have government support as a common factor. There is a lot of operational cost that goes into piloting CCS projects that makes it difficult for cement plants to effectively implement projects. Jonas Helseth from Bellona Foundation pointed out the financial barriers to commissioning CCS projects. He underlined that storage infrastructure needs a lot of investment and these projects are unpopular because public money is being spent for industrial benefit in most of the countries. While the US already has storage infrastructure, most of the world does not. Therefore, there is a need for a better model like creating demand for low-carbon cement and concrete, through which these projects can be funded, said Helseth. Another panellist at the event, Claude Lorea, director from GCCA, also highlighted key finance requirements in form of grants and low interest rate loans should be provided to these projects. HIGH DEMAND OF ELECTRICITY Carbon capture part of CCUS is the most energy intensive process, it was further highlighted at teh evenmt. The process can almost double the electricity demand of the cement plant, highlighted Lorea. For countries like India, which are planning to increase coal consumption to meet rising energy demand, this is a big challenge. Moreover, plants need to look at renewable sources to meet this electricity demand to effectively reduce their fossil fuel dependence. MAJOR CCUS DEPLOYMENT BY 2050 NEEDED There is a need to increase the capture capacity of CO2 by 2050. Global CO2 capture in IEA net-zero scenario should increase from 1.6 Gt in 2030 to 7.6 Gt in 2050, underlining that CCUS is particularly important for the cement sector. On the bright side, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) synthesis report, the global geological storage capacity for CO2 storage is estimated to be around 1,000 GtCO2, which is more than the storage requirements till year 2100 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and given that the storage sites are appropriately selected and managed, CO2 can be permanently isolated from the atmosphere. The report added that currently, global rates of CCS deployment are far below those in modelled pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C to 2°C. Enabling conditions such as policy instruments, greater public support and technological innovation could reduce these barriers. 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.

• Director General Office

COP 28: Changing the narrative

As I sit down to write this, COP28 — the latest climate conference being held in Dubai this year — has entered its second week. The conference is being held when the world is more fractured and fissured than ever before — divided over the two wars and horrendous human toll — and at the same time being brought to its knees because of extreme weather events that are ravaging the poor. It also comes at a time when the world — particularly, the already rich and industrialised world — has little political appetite for real emission reduction. They have switched fuels, from coal to natural gas in most cases, which has brought down carbon dioxide levels to an extent, but now when the going gets tough, public opinion is wavering on the costs of the transition. It is important to note that natural gas is a fossil fuel and has a climate footprint. Action is now tough, so it is easy to pass the buck to the rest of the world, where economic growth is a necessity. Against this grim backdrop, it is good news that the world has come together to agree on the loss and damage fund and even put money into it. It is another matter that the funds are still nowhere near the amounts needed to pay for the damages that climate change is bringing to the poorest in the world. It is also another matter that the rules of this fund must come without new conditionalities and not push the already vulnerable further into debt or development that makes no sense. But still let’s take a moment to exhale. There are two other developments that I would like you to take note of; not because they are earth-shattering but because they are game changers — that is, if we can get them right. The first is the issue of finance; it is a make-or-break issue in climate negotiations. The reason is that many countries need the right to development. But when the world has literally exhausted its carbon budget — the amount of carbon dioxide that the world can emit to keep temperatures below 1.5°C rise — the only way ahead for these countries is to develop differently; to move away from coal to renewables; and to electric vehicles before they start building cities for private cars. They cannot afford the transition even with the decreasing costs of renewable energy. The question of finance is not about charity but about payment for this transformation to keep the world safe. At every COP, discussions stall because of this question of money. Then, the world gets busy counting how much is needed and how huge the gap is. But at COP28, the discussion on finance has taken a step forward — not because new money at the scale needed has been put forward but the need to discuss the quality of finance is now on the table. The COP28 president, Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, raised the question of finance to be accessible and affordable to countries. In the draft document of the Global Stocktake (GST), which is expected to be the major outcome of COP28, it is mentioned that countries need finance that does not add to their debt burden. Currently, even if you accept the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) accounts of climate finance, which says that the world is close to reaching $100 billion annually — a promise made a decade ago — the bulk of this money comes as loans, which would then put further strain on the already stressed economies. So, this change in narrative is important, but needs a future road map. The second issue is of fossil fuels; it is as intrinsic as it is controversial. For too long, the western discourse has been simplistic: Phase out fossil fuels and then, almost as if it is synonymous, phase out coal. This discourse has gone nowhere. The fact is that the production and use of fossil fuel is increasing, and not just in our world. The US, today, is the world’s largest exporter of natural gas, beating Qatar. The US is also producing more oil per day than ever seen in history; 13.5 million barrels a day, which beats Saudi Arabia. But it is easy to paper over this fact when coal becomes the whipping-boy. There is no question that coal is bad; but it is also the fuel used in the world that has not yet moved to somewhat cleaner gas. Targeting coal means shifting the burden of the transition to countries that cannot afford even dirty energy to meet the needs of their people. At COP28 this issue needs to be out into the open. It is time we discussed the science behind the phaseout of fossil fuels; by when and which fuel. Then the logical question would be which fuels the world will get to use and who gets to use the remaining quota of oil, gas, or coal that the world has time to burn. This, then, is the zillion-dollar question in future climate negotiations. The writer is at the Centre for Science and Environment sunita@cseindia.org, X: @sunitanar

• Climate Change and Green Economy

Why India opted not to sign COP28 declaration on climate and health

The second week of the annual UN climate change summit or COP has begun. Among other things, negotiations on fossil fuel generation are ongoing. For the first time in the history of COPs, Samoa, a Polynesian island country, called for an end to new investment in fossil fuel infrastructure, on behalf of all small island states. Smaller island states are responsible for very little greenhouse gas emissions but bear the brunt of climate emergencies. But, the first week of the two-week conference was more than just photo ops with world leaders. The Loss and Damage Fund was operationalised, 134 countries signed the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action and 124 countries came together and signed the ‘Declaration on Climate and Health’. December 3 was even celebrated as World Health Day. India did not sign the Declaration or participate in official activities on World Health Day. "That is because we need to balance our COP goals with SDG goals," said Harish Hande from SELCO Foundation. In its unofficial bid to lead the vulnerable countries against climate change, it is standing strong on protecting its agriculture and health sectors. The non-binding declaration calls for nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in the health sector “swiftly, sustainably, and substantially.” It’s not practical for India to curb greenhouse gases for cooling in the health sector, according to PTI, because vaccines, drugs etc require cold storage rooms. “We need cold storages for storing vaccines and medicines and these are linked to making our healthcare systems resilient,” Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests told The Hindu, “However, suggestions that using these are contributing to climate emissions and that we must choose some fuels over the other are not acceptable.” “If anything, we need to make health action central to climate action”, said Anumita Roy Chowdhary, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment. For a country like India, we need to acknowledge the ill impacts of climate change on the population, she said. “We need to change the way we do urban planning, change the way we travel etc,” she said, adding that those need to be our priority. Health sector experts at the COP were also quick to point out that since India is a huge exporter of generic medicines, moving towards decarbonising the sector can impact not only 1.4 billion Indians but also several populations across the world, not to mention the impact on livelihoods of those who work in the health sector. "Health tech caters mostly to those who can afford it, while the poor wait for long hours to access it," said Hande. (Raksha Kumar is a media fellow, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development)

• Director General Office

COP 28—what to expect as UNFCCC annual climate meet enters final lap

As negotiations at COP 28 at Dubai enter the final lap, the fact of the matter is that “nothing major” has emerged, so far, from the UNFCCC annual meet and “nothing much major really” can be expected, as per observers. Though the summit began on a positive note with countries agreeing to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund in the opening plenary, the controversy regarding a “leaked” letter by OPEC asking members to “reject any language on fossil fuels”, set the narrative. According to reports, countries, or parties as they are called, continue to be at loggerheads over the critical issue regarding the phase-out of fossil fuels, thereby putting a question mark over whether any commitment was possible at all through global warming talks. Apparently, several countries felt that the conference should focus only on reducing climate pollution and not target fossil fuels while many others, including the European Union and climate-vulnerable nations, want COP28 to end with a clear deal on the end of fossil fuel use. Fossil fuel phase-out, how feasible Is the issue regarding phasing out fossil fuels so simple? Observers say putting the blame for global failure to curb fossil fuel use on developing countries like India and China is “unfair and simplistic”. According to noted environmentalist Sunita Narain, the fossil fuels issue is “as intrinsic as it is controversial” and making coal the “whipping boy” is not the answer. “It is time we discussed the science behind the phase-out of fossil fuels; by when and which fuel. Then the logical question would be which fuels the world will get to use and who gets to use the remaining quota of oil, gas or coal that the world has time to burn,” she adds. According to Narain, for too long, the western discourse has been “simplistic, phase out fossil fuels and then, almost as if it is synonymous, phase out coal. This discourse has gone nowhere. The fact is that the production and use of fossil fuel is increasing, and not just in our world.” The fact is the US is the world’s largest exporter of natural gas, beating Qatar, “producing more oil per day than ever seen in history, 13.5 million barrels a day”, she says. “But it is easy to paper over this fact when coal becomes the whipping boy. There is no question that coal is bad; but it is also the fuel used in the world that has not yet moved to somewhat cleaner gas. Targeting coal means shifting the burden of the transition to countries that cannot afford even dirty energy to meet the needs of their people,” Narain asserts. Loss and Damage Finance Facility Notably, the biggest headline from COP27 last year was the much-anticipated agreement to set up a Loss and Damage Finance Facility (LDFF) meant for supporting developing countries, primarily the least developed ones, impacted by climate change, in time to launch at COP28. Narain says the world has come together to agree on LDFF and even put money into it but funds are still nowhere near the amounts needed to pay for damages that climate change is bringing to the poorest in the world. “It is also another matter that the rules of this fund must come without new conditions and not push the already vulnerable further into debt or development that makes no sense,” she adds. The money promised so far by developed nations – about $700 million – represents a small fraction of what is needed every year. The nature and the timing of the pledged amount remains uncertain and there are fears that a major chunk of the finances will come as loans, adding to the burdens of the already hard-hit. The corporate angle and the ‘leaked letter’ Amid the ensuing debate around fossil fuels and renewables in the text, observers say non-state entities like corporates, regions and institutions will play a role in whatever eventuates. The “leaked letter” by the Secretary General of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries asking members to scuttle any deal/reject any language on fossil fuels elimination use created much tension in negotiating rooms. The letter from Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais to all 13 OPEC members and some other fossil-fuel-dependent economies asked them to reject any formulation that is focused on fossil fuels instead of the emissions that it leads to. It is a line that has been taken by Saudi Arabia, the most influential member of OPEC, at the COP28 negotiations on fossil fuels, as per the reports. COPs are convened under the UNFCCC—a multilateral treaty adopted in 1992. India India’s stance, including on climate finance and mitigation, is well documented. India’s long-term goal is to move towards a system that doesn’t lead to irreversible damage to the environment. At the same time, its growth story also has to be protected in mind the fundamentals of the common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR). India believes that not all countries can be held responsible for the state of climate in the world today; therefore, action, including on the controversial issue of fossil fuels, has to be taken on the basis of individual national responsibilities and capabilities.

• Industrial Pollution

Less than 8% of India’s coal power plants can control SO2 emissions, a new analysis finds

Less than eight per cent of India’s coal-based power plants have installed the technology recommended by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to keep sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions in check, an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has found. Flue Gas Desulfurisation (FGD) units are used to remove sulphur compounds from the exhaust emissions of power plants. India is the largest emitter of SO2 in the world, according to a 2019 Greenpeace study. In fact, across India, only a combined capacity of 16.5 Gigawatts (GW) of coal plants have installed FGDs and Circulating Fluidised Bed Combustion (CFBC) boilers equivalent to 5.9 GW. The CREA analysis found that 92 per cent of the country’s coal power plants function without FGDs. Since December 2022, only 3.2 GW capacity has installed SO2 control technologies, the analysis revealed. Eight years ago, the MoEF&CC introduced emission standards in 2015 for regulating SO2, NOx (nitrogen oxides), and Hg (mercury) emissions. The deadline has been extended four times for units in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) and three times for most other units across the country. “Blanket extension of the deadline for all coal power plants without checking on their progress by MoEF&CC and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) played a major role in derailment of emission controls from coal-based electricity generation units,” Sunil Dahiya, South Asia Analyst at CREA said in a statement. In 2021, the MoEF&CC divided the categories of coal-power plants based on geography to enforce deadlines. Category A is demarcated to coal-based power plants within a 10-kilometre radius of the NCR and of cities with a million-plus population. Category B is within a 10 km radius of critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities, and Category C is the remaining plants throughout the country. Interestingly, the majority of the country’s power plants belong to Category C, with the longest deadlines. The deadlines for plants within the city are shorter due to high pollution levels that could harm people. As of October 2023, for power plant units in the 300 km radius of Delhi-NCR, FGD installations have been completed for 2.6 GW installed capacity of the cumulative capacity of 13.4 GW. Bids have been issued for 3.4 GW capacity. WHAT OF NTPC? Of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)’s total 56.3 GW coal capacity monitored by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for FGD installation, only 3.6 GW has been installed with FGDs as of October 2023, the study stated. The NTPC, CEA and Central Pollution Control Board have stipulated a timeline of 18-36 months for installation and synchronisation of FGDs from the bid-award date. For the whole country, by December 2020, 66.5 GW capacity had already been awarded the bids, but most of this capacity had been not commissioned for FGD installation. “NTPC is a clear example that showed ambition and leadership initially by awarding bids for most of its capacity but no progress and no penalisation of others who didn’t move on the pathway to installing FGD and repeated extensions have slowed NTPC down as well,” Dahiya explained in a statement. According to a recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), because of multiple deadline extensions, the plants may not violate the norms. But their emissions, especially for SO2, are much higher than the prescribed limit. As of December 2023, the new deadlines are: ● December 31, 2024, for power plant units within a 10 km radius of Delhi-NCR and million-plus cities. Extended from the earlier date of December 2022; ● December 31, 2025, for power plant units within a 10 km radius of critically polluted cities. Extended from the earlier date of December 31, 2023; ● December 31, 2026, for all other power plant units across the country. Extended from the earlier date of December 31, 2024; Anubha Aggarwal, programme officer, Industrial Pollution, CSE, New Delhi told Down to Earth: “The deadline is always being pushed on flimsy grounds. First, they had regulatory concerns and cost issues, followed by COVID-19 and barriers to import from China. Overall, it shows an unwillingness and reluctance. Adding to this is the lack of transparency in how the deals transpire during and after bidding.” However, even after installing and operationalising the FGD instrument, Delhi’s Dadri thermal power plant SO2 emissions are on the higher side. It means the FGD is not technically compatible with the plant’s capacity or is not running continuously alongside the plant, Aggarwal said. Despite having a mandatory feasibility test before installation, there is the possibility of challenges with efficiency, Aggarwal added. India’s energy generation installed capacity stands at 425 GW. The thermal sector holds a predominant position within the overall installed capacity, encompassing coal (48.6 per cent), gas (5.9 per cent), lignite (1.6 per cent), and a minimal share (<0.2 per cent) from diesel, according to the 2023 CEA report. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/energy/less-than-8-of-india-s-coal-power-plants-can-control-so2-emissions-a-new-analysis-finds-93279

• Down To Earth

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.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

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.

• Climate Change and Green Economy

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.”

• Director General Office

‘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.

• Director General Office

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. 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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. Cheema, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists SUBNATIONAL Anne Hidalgo, City of Paris Bruce Harrell, City of Seattle Charlotte van Slagmaat, Coöperatie Haags Opgewekt U.A. Claudio Castro, Municipality of Renca - Chile Guido Beauchez, Groene Regentes, The Hague, Netherlands Hon. James Shaw MP, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Haris Doukas, Municipality of Athens Judith Kraak, City of Almelo Keith A. James, City of West Palm Beach, Florida LaToya Cantrell, City of New Orleans Lauren Nicole Sorkin, Resilient Cities Network Mark Watts, C40 Cities Mayor Lauren McLean, City of Boise Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Freetown and C40 Cities Michael P Cahill, City of Beverly, MA, USA Nicola Armacost, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, Mayor of London and C40 Cities Co-Chair Sally Capp, City of Melbourne Shuuichi Endou, NGO/NPO Tuvalu Overview Tory Whanau, Wellington City Council Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Agency YOUTH Ayisha Siddiqa, Youth Climate Advisor to UNSG Bruno Sirote, Jóvenes por el Clima Argentina Cathy Yitong Li, n/a Clara Tomé Colomer, Global Youth Coalition Daisy Anyula, Indigenous Information Network Dominique Palmer, Climate Justice Activist Elisabetta Rocchi, Youth Eyal Weintraub, Jovenes por el Clima Argentina Finnur Ricart Andrason, The Icelandic Young Environmentalists Helen Watts, Student Energy Helena Gualinga Indigenous youth, the Ecuadorian Amazon Imogen Chloe Butler, Youth Activist Jerome Foster II, Waic Up Jes Vesconte, Climate Justice Activist Joshua Amponsem, Youth Climate Justice Fund Joy Reeves, N/A Juan Pablo Beltrán Viggiano, Earth X and Global Youth Coalition Julie Segal, Environmental Defence Canada Luisa Neubauer, Fridays for Future Germany Marieme Diallo, Young person Mathieu Louis, Youth Max Collett, Australian Youth for International Climate Engagement Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Fridays for Future Philippines Neeshad Shafi, Arab Youth Climate Movement, Arab Youth for COP Nicole Becker, Jóvenes por el Clima Argentina Nyombi Morris, Earth Volunteers Paige Brocidiacono, Spark Climate Solutions Pothunuri Laya, We Are Family Foundation Ramiro Strauss, Tekohá Rickeem Lashley, International National Trusts Organisation Rim hamdi, PACJA Roisin Taylor, UK Youth for Nature Sierra Quitiquit, Time for Better Tafadzwa Kurotwi, She Changes Climate Vanessa Nakate, Fridays for Future Vanessa Veneka, Youth in environmental action Xiye Bastida, Re-Earth Initiative Zhilin Xiao, Drive Agency NGO Aanya Khandelwal, Girl Up UAE Akihiko Takano, Members Co., Ltd. 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Douglas, WaterRising Institute Alon Kelmeszes, Alerta Celsius Anders Wijkman, Club of Rome Andre Raymond, Infinite Energy Resources Andrea San Gil León, Global Network for Popular Transportation Andreas Alfredsson, Opinionsbyrån Andrew Petersen, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia Andrew Watson, Rethinking Capital Andy Young, Achieve Goal 12 Angelica Flores, Citizens Climate International - Chile Anne Therese Gennari, The Climate Optimist Annemiek Hoogenboom, The Orchard Foundation Antoinette Vermilye, Gallifrey Foundation/SHE Changes Climate Anya Dabite Abeh, Conservation Club Aron Cramer, BSR Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Urban Ocean Lab Bárbara Hartz, HARTZ - New Thinking / Comunidade da Inovação Ben Tolhurst, Business Declares Benjamin de la Peña, Shared-Use Mobility Center Birgit M Liodden, The Ocean Opportunity Lab (TOOL) Bodhi Patil, Ocean Uprise Brian O’Donnell, Campaign for Nature Carine de Meyere, Women of the World Carl Wright, Commonwealth Local Government Forum Carlos Alvarez Pereira, UNESCO Carlos De Freitas, FMDV - Global Fund for Cities Development Caroline Mair-Toby, Institute for Small Islands Catarina Abend, Climate Words Catherine Abreu, Destination Zero Celine Semaan, Slow Factory Charles Hedgefünd, The Hindsight Institute Cheng Yi Heng, (Advisory Expert of the Engineering Committee in the Chemical Industry Promotion Unit of the Chinese National Productivity Center) Chidi Oti-obihara, Cop26_climate_action_plan Cristina Ljungberg, The Case for Her Daniela Fernandez, Sustainable Ocean Alliance Danielle Morley, Bonsucro Darian Stibbe, The Partnering Initiative David Russell, Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) Deborah McNamara, ClimateVoice, a project of Tides Center Deirdre E. White, Pyxera Global Diamond Spratling, Girl Plus Environment Dr David McNair, The ONE Campaign / Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Dr Richard Unsworth, Associate Professor, Project Seagrass Dr. Gabrielle Walker, CUR8 and Rethinking Removals Dr. Gunhild Stordalen, EAT Dr. Mithika M. J. 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Cipriano, International Council of Nurses Pat Mitchell, Project Dandelion: A Women-led global campaign for Climate Justice Global Campaign Patrick Frick, Global Commons Alliance Patrick Worms, International Union of Agroforestry (IUAF) Paul Lewis, Seismic Paul Thompson, Cool Planet, Paulo Batista, Alicerce Peggy Liu, JUCCCE Peter Bakker, WBCSD Peter Crowhurst, BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MYANMAR Phoebe Barnard, PhD, Stable Planet Alliance Pia Wiche, EcoEd Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action Rachel Jetel, Systems Change Lab Racquel Moses, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator Rascha Nuijten, Future For Nature Reem Mustafa Abdalla Mohamed, PACJA Rhian Sherrington, Women in Sustainabillity Network Richard Giles, Pensions For Purpose Robert Gardner, Rebalance Earth Roberto Marques, We Mean Business Coalition Robin Shaw, Local Allies Rodrigo Alvarez Veliz, SDSN Chile Romina Lopez Diaz, Ambipar Environment Latam Roshani Bhattarai, World Sustainable Development Organisation Ruby Yeh, Alive Networks Rufus Kamran, Society for Peace and Sustainable Development Pakistan Runa Khan, Friendship Sabine stuiver, Hydraloop Sally Ann Ranney, Global Choices Sally Frances Spear, Women’s Adviory Council of UNA-UK Samantha Deane, Kelp Forest Foundation Sana Kapadia, Nour Sanda Ojiambo, United Nations Global Compact Sandra Guzman, Climate Finance Group for Latin America and the Caribbean Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, The Club of Rome Sara Larrain, Chile Sustentable Foundation Sarah Greenfield Clark, The Movements Trust Sarah Perreard, Earth Action Sarah Sutton, Environment and Culture Partners Scott Seydel, Ellen MacArthus Foundation Seyran Khalili, New Women Connectors Sharon Enright, The Nest Climate Campus Sherry Madera, CDP SHUTA MANO, UPDATER, Inc. simon heppner, Net Zero Now Sonia Dunlop, Global Solar Council Sophie Lambin, Kite Insights Søren Stig, Home.Earth Stephen Hale, Climate Catalyst Sterenn Le Roux, CEC Sue Riddlestone OBE, Bioregional Sunil Lalvani, Project Maji Surita Sandosham, Heifer International Susan Hooper, Chapter Zero Susan Phillips, Climate Generation Susan Tamulevich, New London Maritime Society Swadeka Ahsun, Gender, peace & Security Sylvain Vaquer, Mozaic Earth Tanya Steele, WWF-UK Thais corral, Instituto Sinal do Vale Tim Gray, Environmental Defence Canada Tom Cummings, B Lab Europe Tom Skirrow, Tree Aid Traci Lewis, Catalyse Change CIC Valerie Keller, IMAGINE Vanda Witoto, Instituto Witoto Varsha Ramharrack, Global Political Leaders Network Veronique Swinkels, The Undercover Activist Walburga Hemetsberger, SolarPower Europe Wardah Malik, BEworks Gerald Haverkamp, World benchmarking alliance SCIENTISTS & ACADEMICS Amber Carter, University of Edinburgh Ananya Saritha Rao, UNESCO MGIEP Andrew Hoffman, University of Michigan/Harvard Business School Antonio Saraiva, Universidade de São Paulo Ben Carey, Climate Science Breakthrough Callum Roberts, University of Exeter Claudia Correa Soler, Universidad del Desarrollo de Chile Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Center for Climate Justice and Faith at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary Daniel Kammen, University of California, Berkeley David S. 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Christian Berg, Club of Rome /German Association Club of Rome Ida Kubiszewski, University College London Isabela Tatu, MIT Energy James Dyke, Gobal Systems Institute, University of Exeter Jason Blackstock, How to Change the World Jennifer McMillin, Cleveland State University Jeremy Oppenheim, Systemiq Joanna Dorothy Haigh, Imperial College London Johan Rockstrom, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam. Kahwa Njojo, Anglican University of Congo Karen Talita Tanaka, PhD, IPCC Karenna Gore, Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary Kaya Axelsson, University of Oxford Kelly Levin, Bezos Earth Fund Kristin Vala Ragnarsdottir, University of Iceland Laszlo Zsolnai, Euroepan SPES Institute Laurent Muzellec, Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin Marcos Antonio Simplicio Junior, Universidade de São Paulo Marcos Fernández-Martínez, CREAF Martin Siegert, University of Exeter Mary T Bassett, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rigths, Harvard University Mette Morsing, Oxford Smith School, University of Oxford Michael Matchell, Christian Climate Observers Program Monika Jolanta Barcikowska, PhD, Global Women for Climate Hub Nathalie Seddon, University of Oxford Nicholas Troen, St Paul’s School Paul Shrivastava, Self Paulina Vergara Saavedra, CITRID Program for Reduction of Socionatural disaster University of Chile Peter sherman, Prescott College Priscilla Wehi, Te Pūnana Matatini, NZ national centre of research excellence in complex systems Prof. Dr Jemilah Mahmood, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University Malaysia Prof. Dr. Maja Goepel, Leuphana University Professor Dame EJ Milner-Gulland, University of Oxford Professor Mark Maslin, University College London Professor Tim Lenton, University of Exeter Roger S. Gottlieb, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Rosalind J. Cornforth, The Walker Institute, University of Reading Sanjay Sharma, Grossman School of Business, Univ of Vermont Sir David King, Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) Sonia Seneviratne, ETH Zurich Steven Lade, Australian National University and Stockholm University Sunita Narain, Centre for Science and Environment Susan E Powers, Clarkson University Susana Gómez González, Universidad de Cádiz Terrence McNally, Free Forum with Terrence McNally Thomas Crowther, ETH Zurich Thomas Hale, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford Todd Lane, The University of Melbourne ARTISTS Andres Roberts, The Bio-Leadership Project Andrew Boyd, Climate Clock Danielle Turkov Wilson, Think-Film Impact Production Jakob Trollbäck, The New Division Jamie Roach, We Are Family Foundation Jeffrey Bennett, Big Kid Science Judy Ling Wong, Black Environment Network Kaj Embren, Kaj Embren Kat Haber, TRUST Climate Action Strategists Lars Jesse, Florida Film GmbH lauren bash, @relauren (creator) Linda Evans, Climate Reality Project Maggie Wachsberger, Nine-Muses Matt Golding, Rubber Republic Ltd Oliver Jeffers, Studio of Oliver Jeffers Richard Delevan, Wicked Problems LTD Sabrina Dhowre Elba, n/a Sophia Li, Sophia Li Sorah Park, Climate Words Susannah Eidmann-Hicks, The Climate Chick Thadius Olum, ZWARA ARTS & THEATRE SOCIETY Tiffanie Lanelle Mackey, Tiffanie Lanelle Van Jones, Magic Labs Media Zel Anders, Amendment 28 Films Zoë Red, Creatives for Climate FAITH Archbishop Serafim Kykotis, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa Anka Rick Spencer, Ermita Zen México Belinda Perriman, Convert Well Brian Webb, Christian Climate Observers Organization Bruce Fred Knotts, Trustee Parliament of the World’s Religions Cathleen Bascom, Episcopal Diocese of Kansas Debra Boudreaux, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Dermot Lane, Balally Parish, Dublin 16, Ireland Dr. Larry Rasmussen, Union Theological Seminary, New York City Einar Tjelle, Church of Norway Erin Lothes, Laudato Si Movement Fr. 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• Urban Lab

Delhi में प्रदूषण का अटैक भारी…Pollution को खत्म करने की क्या तैयारी ? ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट

• Climate Change and Green Economy

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.

• Urban Lab

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...

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

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