Listen to Vineet from @CSEINDIA talk about the challenges of transitioning from chemical to organic farming at the #NaturalFarmingRoundtable, held in Delhi last month. IndiaSpend is set to host next Roundtable in Mumbai, fostering discussions on sustainable agriculture
GURGAON: The city's air quality index (AQI) remained in the 'poor' category for the second day. On Sunday, the AQI was 242, marginally better than the 258 logged a day ago as wind speed picked up to 7kmph, flushing pollutants a little faster. According to the CPCB's 24-hour average, the monitoring station in Sector 51 recorded the worst AQI of 348, while it hovered in the lower level of the 'poor' category at Gwal Pahari (245), Teri Gram at 215 and Vikas Sadan (205). Both PM2.5 and 10 levels were also recorded above the permissible limit, indicating pollutants from local sources, including vehicular emissions and dust. The PM2.5 level was highest in Sector 51 (315 g/m³), followed by Gwalpahari (276 g/m³), 256 g/m³ in Teri Gram, and 213 g/m³ in Vikas Sadan, as per the CPCB data. Air ‘poor’ for 2 days in a row, may worsen as wind slows down The level of PM10 was the highest at Sector 51 (308 g/m³), followed by Teri Gram (254 g/m³) and Gwalpahari (232 g/m³). Vikas Sadan doesn't record PM10 data. According to the CPCB, the annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 60g/m³ and 100 g/m³, respectively. The central government's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar) said AQI could slip back to the 'very poor' category as wind speed was unlikely to improve till December 6 - blowing from the northwest direction at 6 to 8 kmph. It was, however, unlikely to plummet further. "This is a yearly phenomenon. Every year, during winter, the region witnesses slow dispersion of pollutants that leads to their accumulation close to the earth's surface," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. While Delhi's air quality saw a marginal dip, reading 314 against 353 a day earlier, the neighbouring areas saw 'poor' air quality - the AQI in Ghaziabad was 240, Greater Noida was 298, Noida was 277 and Faridabad was 295. While Delhi clocked "very poor" air quality index, the neighbouring areas saw "poor" air quality. The AQI in Faridabad was 295, Ghaziabad was 240, Greater Noida was 298, Noida was 277 and Gurgaon was 242. No significant change is expected in Delhi's air quality for the next few days. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the quality is likely to remain "very poor" till December 6. The outlook for the subsequent six days from then on is that the air quality is likely to remain in the "very poor" category.
Deep fissures have emerged between developing countries still dependent on coal and rich nations that have pledged to move away from new coal but are silent on abandoning other fossil fuels. Negotiators at the UN Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai are grappling with contentious issues around phasing out coal, other fossil fuels, and climate finance. There is little clarity on the final text of the agreement at this stage. Observers are concerned about the lack of funding for climate action, with rich countries relying on the private sector rather than public finance. Deep fissures have emerged between developing countries still highly dependent on coal to power their economies and rich nations that have pledged to move away from new coal but are silent on abandoning other fossil fuels such as oil and gas that run their economies, threatening to further delay consensus on core aspects of the world’s efforts to fight the climate crisis. Observers and experts aware of discussions said that while this year’s UN Climate Conference (COP28) being held in Dubai began with big ticket announcements, negotiators are now back to contentious issues around phasing out coal and other fossil fuels, and climate finance. “Overall on the narrative on the forward-looking aspects of the GST (global stocktake), the Global North sees it heavily focusing on mitigation while the Global South sees more mandates for scaled up finance as necessary. There is little clarity on what the final text will incorporate at this stage,” said Tamanna Sengupta, programme officer, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment. COP28 began on November 30 with a landmark operationalising of the Loss and Damage Fund, which will help nations most vulnerable to climate calamities cope with the consequences of the crisis. On Saturday, 118 countries signed a pledge to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. But negotiators from around the world, including those representing nations with varied interests and obligations, are now working on developing consensus, including on the global stocktake — a process that will assess the progress made by countries on slashing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience to climate impacts, securing finance, and identifying areas where further action is needed. A second expert said that “despite numerous declarations and statements from world leaders, we remain starkly distant from the crucial hundreds of billions in funding needed for climate action”. “This includes assisting developing countries in reducing emissions and strengthening adaptation efforts through a robust global framework. The push by rich countries to rely on the private sector, which has demonstrated insufficient commitment to mitigation and scant interest in adaptation, is not a viable solution,” said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International. “Public finance is paramount; it is the cornerstone that enables and catalyses the trillions necessary to address the pressing climate crisis effectively,” Singh added. Climate financing is meant to cover efforts to address the climate crisis, both in terms of mitigating its impact (reducing emissions) and adapting to its effects (building resilience). Such financing is meant to help developing countries transition to a low-carbon economy and includes the Loss and Damage Fund. The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) which was launched by UK and Canada at COP23 in 2017, posted on X on Sunday that the US and nine other countries have joined the PPCA and France has launched a new initiative to support the global move from coal to renewables. “Alongside the announcement of new members of the PPCA, there were two other important developments on coal phase-out: the launch of a new initiative called the “Coal Transition Accelerator” by France and the adoption of the Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency by 118 countries, which committed them to tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency, as well as emphasised the need to stop investments in new coal power plants,” the PPCA said in a statement. These moves are adding to the growing momentum toward a global agreement on no new coal exploration and a coal phase-out in Dubai, the negotiators said. But such moves made countries like India and Indonesia wary. This is also one of the reasons India did not sign the pledge on tripling renewable global energy capacity on Saturday. “We have to first gather what this means before endorsing. That is what we are doing. We will see how these issues are addressed in the negotiations. These pledges are outside the UN process of negotiations. India has led the way with the tripling of renewable energy pledge under its G20 Presidency in September,” said a senior official aware of the position India has taken at the talks. The divisions became starkly clear when on Sunday, COP28 host United Arab Emirates’ climate envoy, Sultan Al Jaber, who also heads state oil joint ADNOC, said there was no science to show that phasing out fossil fuels would achieve the world’s climate goals, reports by The Guardian and Centre for Climate Reporting said. The 50-year-old added that removing fossil fuels would take the world “back into caves”. “I am factual and I respect the science, and there is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuels is what’s going to achieve 1.5.” The issue captures how oil economies such as the UAE and its neighbours, as well as developing countries like India and China, have a different position from Western nations. Negotiators from the US and EU have said they are agreeable to phase-out of “unabated” fossil fuels — with the words phase-out and unabated being key. Petro-rich states are expectedly not agreeable to language on fossil fuels, the observers added, referring to language first agreed upon by the G7, a grouping of wealthy nations, earlier this year. A key reason for this divide is that wealthier nations have largely been able to adopt renewables and non-fossil sources at an easier pace and lower cost to their economies than poorer nations, which have repeatedly sought to draw on the historical responsibility of rich nations to urge them to do more. The Third World Network, a non-profit international research and advocacy group said in their briefing on December 1 that developing countries led by the G77 and China called on developed countries “who bear the greatest responsibility for the modification of the global climate system” to reverse course, “in their accelerated consumption of the remaining carbon space”. The BASIC group (Brazil, China, India and South Africa) expressed concern that “there has been a significant increase in the production and consumption of fossil fuels by developed countries in recent years and encouraged developed countries to take the lead in phasing-out their own fossil fuel production and consumption, in an accelerated manner”. COP28 is scheduled to go on till December 12, by when negotiators must agree on final text of the outcome.
Global stocktake, loss and damage, mitigation, carbon markets, decarbonisation and climate finance. Here is what can happen at COP28 This roundtable discussion features Centre for Science & Environment and Down To Earth experts who will be attending the COP28 this year. Each expert will give a detailed analysis of topics ranging from Global stocktake, loss and damage, mitigation, carbon markets, decarbonisation and climate finance. The panel will discuss in detail each topic, the past development and what to expect from this year’s COP. 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. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/video/climate-change/cse-dte-roundtable-what-to-expect-from-cop28-93121
Would world leaders' presence at the climate summit be enough to limit the damage from climate change already evident across an Earth ravaged by increasing heat waves, flooding, droughts, landslides and crop failures, from California to Australia to India? On November 30, following the opening of the world’s most important annual Climate Summit, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties 28 (CoP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on X "Landed in Dubai to take part in the COP28 Summit. Looking forward to the proceedings of the Summit, which are aimed at creating a better planet.” Modi was joined in the UAE by other world leaders including United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres, possibly the world’s most outspoken figure on the climate crisis; John Kerry, special climate envoy to the US President and signatory to the Paris Agreement on behalf of the United States of America; King Charles III of the United Kingdom, a passionate and lifelong advocate for protecting the environment; and others. President of CoP28, who is also Head of the UAE’s national oil company, Adnoc, Sultan Al Jaber promised to bring a “business mindset” to the deliberations. The focus on business is apparent amidst the UAE’s extravagant infrastructure built with oil riches: Fantastical high-rises and man-made islands built with sand imported from Australia; artificial gardens and lavish lifestyles to be watered by icebergs proposed to be towed from the Antarctica. Meanwhile back home in India, the focus of media attention barely had time to shift away from one of the largest rescue operations in Indian history: One day before CoP 28 began, 41 miners were rescued from the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in the ecologically fragile Himalayan State of Uttarakhand. The miners were lucky: They were found miraculously alive after 17 days of highly publicised search and rescue. The focus on their rescue, however, downplayed the message of 20 previous collapses at the same location: It’s the fragile Himalayan area where they were trapped that faces existential decline. The process of its decline constitutes clear and present danger to those who live and work there and to its irreplaceable biodiversity and species. The Silkyara tunnel collapse was the latest in a series of tragedies in the Himalayas where climate change has caused glaciers to melt at an unprecedented rate. In this increasingly unstable area, the risk of flooding, landslides and shifting of land is further aggravated by development activities which do not adequately safeguard against long-term environmental impact. A man-made dam burst in February 2021 and washed away the village of Reini. Unchecked sand mining of the Ganga river worsened the effects of the consequent floods, killing at least 31 persons, causing 164 missing and damage to over 4,000 built structures. In January 2023, the town of Joshimath had to be evacuated when its houses shifted and cracked following the expansion of a road nearby. Anjal Prakash, clinical associate professor (research) at Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB), told me over a phone call, “Coming to the events that are happening in India, I think we need to re-visit and re-vamp those projects which were conceptualised when climate change was not that stark. At this moment when climate change is almost striking us day in and day out we must re-evaluate the ways in which we are developing, especially in the Himalayas.” Would CoP 28 prevent recurrence of other tragedies like the Silkyara tragedy and the many others afflicting the Himalayas recently? Would world leaders’ presence at CoP28 be enough to limit the damage from climate change already evident across an Earth ravaged by increasing heat waves, flooding, droughts, landslides and crop failures, from California to Australia to India? On December 12, 2015, 196 countries of the world committed to the Paris Agreement which came into force as legally binding on November 4, 2016. It’s stated aim is to “substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to hold global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognising that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.” Six years later, the political importance of the CoP meetings was escalated when several Heads of State attended CoP26 in Glasgow, billed as the last chance to control global warming, pointed out Anjal Prakash, who is an author for IPCC’s sixth assessment report and has observed the CoP meetings for almost a decade. By then, the biggest UN poll ever, in January 2021 revealed that two thirds of the world’s population believed that the climate crisis was a global emergency and that Climate was playing an increasing role in political outcomes of elections. The UN agreed that global warming constituted an emergency. “Code Red” said Guterres at CoP26. In the intervening two years since then, the world sweltered under increasingly hot summers and an unprecedented heatwave in July 2023 across US, Africa, Asia and Europe. Guterres re-assessed our situation and escalated his warning “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.” Those who suffered most included the most vulnerable sections of society, including women, children, forest and island dwellers, many of whom face severe disruption to their lives including displacement and death. “The UN Refugee Agency warned that more than half of all displaced people, a staggering 32.6 million, were displaced in 2022 because of climate disasters, even with the Ukraine war raging,” says Laika Abdulali, PhD Candidate, University of California, Berkeley Law School. Unsurprisingly, among the most vulnerable are island nations who are among the most vocal for effective action against climate change at CoP 28. “Island dwellers are especially at risk of being displaced. 20 percent of Dominica’s citizens left the Caribbean island following Hurricane Maria (2017),” Ama Francis, climate director at the International Refugee Assistance Project, USA, told me. India too contains vulnerable islands including the Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. “The UN Refugee Agency flagged that India saw almost five million people become internally displaced in 2021, because of climate disasters,” adds Laika These vulnerable people know little of how the deliberations in far-away UAE would affect their daily lives. More immediate problems are those of disrupted weather patterns: Crop failures, droughts and flooding, illnesses due to air, water and noise pollution and displacement. The Shompen tribes, who depend on the eco-sensitive coral island of the Greater Nicobar for their ancient lifestyle will be displaced, along with their sacred river, hunting and foraging grounds when a Rs 72,000 crore development project named ‘Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island at Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ commences. The 17 year-long pleas of the Nicobarese Tribes who lived alongside the Shompen on the Greater Nicobar, but were displaced by a tsunami in 2004 and forced to live in ‘temporary’ settlements, have come to naught. They are now faced with permanent exile as the Government proceeds with its plans. Not only the tribal people who live in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands face displacement. Its unique biodiversity is threatened too. In 2013, the UNESCO included 130 sq. kms of Greater Nicobar’s primary forest in their Man and Biosphere Program. As we watch, an airport, power plant, and township are set to replace it along with the mangroves and coral reefs which once formed the Galathea Wildlife Sanctuary but will be replaced with a mega-port. Though crucially important to biodiversity, India’s islands form only a small part of its 7,516-long coastline dotted with some of the densest mangrove forests in the world. In Maharashtra, a Bombay high court order helped to strengthen weak enforcement mechanisms of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification and Environment Protection Act to effectively protect mangroves. N Vasudevan, former head of Maharashtra’s Mangrove Cell, explains “Under direction of the Bombay high court, the Maharashtra government brought mangroves under the ambit of the Indian Forest Act and therefore the Forest Department could enforce mangrove protection in a very effective way, using its ground level machinery.” The State Government also created the Mangrove Cell and the Mangrove Foundation under Vasudevan’s leadership to monitor and research mangrove areas, providing budgetary support, “which enabled the creation of a corpus of over Rs600 crore and encouraged the participation of coastal communities in mangrove conservation through several successful livelihood programmes.” The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) of the Government of India urges all the coastal States to create ‘Coastal Ecosystem Cells’, essentially to replicate this model to conserve mangroves. “Unfortunately, this has yet to happen in any other State,” Vasudevan concludes. Other laws to safeguard environment which are not enforced and some of which have even been amended recently to promote “ease of business” at the cost of environment include the Forest Conservation Act, the Forest Rights Act, the National Biodiversity Act and the very CRZ Notification which protects mangroves. These actions appear at variance with India’s position at CoP28 and as leader of the G20 until September. At CoP26, Guterres had emphasised that “G20 countries have particular responsibility as they represent around 80 per cent of emissions.” Modi’s visit to CoP28 followed closely on India’s prestigious, year-long leadership of the G20 which ended in September 2023. The website of the G20 asserts “By leveraging its presidency, India is fostering collaborative solutions that not only benefit its own population but contribute to the broader global well-being, reinforcing its spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or the ‘World is One Family’. ‘Climate resilience’ is named as an important component of this global well-being; it’s importance is further underscored by a report released at CoP28 that 10 percent of Indian hospitals would have to shut down or relocate by 2100 because of climate events. However, when Mumbai’s AQI hit ‘very poor” (308 µ/m3.) immediately before the G-20 meetings held in Mumbai, on December 9, 2022, instead of taking effective action to curb pollution, larger than life cutouts of political leaders and welcome messages disguised the polluting construction equipment barely hidden behind flimsy barriers caked with dust. The G20 events included a live musical performance at the Kanheri Caves within the core zone of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, where loudspeaker use is banned to protect wildlife, since noise impacts all species. Even caterpillars’ heart beats accelerate with loud noise, lead to ‘road rage’, aggression and changes in migratory patterns according to a study. ‘Beautification’ for the G20 also included multi-coloured LED lights placed along roads and lighted billboards in the sea, now a permanent fixture. Light pollution, which, like noise, has potential to disrupt migratory and breeding patterns of birds and animals also can cause adverse health effects to humans. Excessive lights fuel an escalating need for power. India uses coal to produce 49 percent of its installed generation capacity of 4.2 lakh gigawatt. Phasing down coal was a major goal of CoP 26 in 2021. Though India pledged net-zero by 2070, it did not agree to phase-out coal. In line with its policy not to be “pressured” into cutting coal, India also did not sign a pledge on the sidelines of CoP28’s third day to triple renewable energy, signed by 116 countries, even though the the G20 Summit in New Delhi agreed on this very declaration during its Indian leadership just two months before. Apart from the commitments made, the CoP meetings offer a valuable opportunity to evaluate international climate commitments. On December 1, when Modi addressed the Opening session of CoP28, he said that India had set an example by striking a perfect balance between ecology and economy. India also actively supported discussions on the global financial package named the ‘Loss and Damage’ Fund which aims to make reparations to countries of the Global South for the effects of climate change. “Unprecedented that the first day of CoP Loss and Damage has been approved by the countries. Despite some discontent [on the quantum of reparation] at least the Fund is up and running which is very important for countries of the Global South,” said Anjal Prakash. “India is committed to UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028,” said Modi in his speech at CoP28. The CoP events are traditionally hosted in winter, the season when Delhi has suffered the worst air pollution in the world for years. Two days after Modi’s speech at CoP28, on November 3, real-time AQI in Delhi recorded 640 µ/m3, or ‘hazardous’ as it topped the list of world’s most polluted cities. Via message from CoP28 in the UAE, Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, says “Within the time that is available we need to scale up multi-sector action not only in Delhi but across the entire region to meet the clean air benchmark. Air quality has to improve to protect public health round the year. This should not be an episodic exercise built around mega events.” Through the haze which envelops it, India’s push to host CoP33 offers a glimmer of hope to Delhi and to other polluted Indian cities which frequently figure in the worldwide top-ten: That residents will demand political and administrative accountability for an effective CoP 33, one which will require Delhi to boast a pollution-free environment in November 2028.
अब यहां से वे फरवरी में ही लौटेंगे, जब पॉल्यूशन अपने निचले स्तर पर आ जाएगा। वहीं युवा अविकल सोमवंशी सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) में विश्लेषक हैं और प्रोग्राम मैनेजर के पद पर हैं। उन्हें भी पॉल्यूशन का स्तर बढ़ने में दिक्कत हो जाती है। ऐसे में अक्टूबर से ही वह बेंगलुरु में निवास कर रहे हैं।
Five states went to polls over the last month: Rajasthan, Telangana, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh. All five states have several environmental concerns that affect both people and ecosystems in these areas. The Wire analysed some of the main environmental issues in the five states that have gone to polls, the results of which – across 679 seats in all – are to be announced on December 3. (Except for Mizoram, where, as per a recent order, vote counting will be conducted only on December 4.) The Wire also analysed some of the parties’ election manifestos: are leaders, politicians and citizens across these states talking about these concerns as an election issue? Chattisgarh Tribal communities form a significant part of the population in Chhattisgarh. The predominantly tribal Bastar region in southwestern will be crucial in this year’s election too, reports say. Tribal communities depend heavily on the extraction of non-timber forest produce (or NTFP). According to DC, the Congress campaign in Bastar this year has focused on the development of ‘devgudis’ (tribal village temples) and ‘ghotuls’ ( socio-culture centers of tribals). The Congress-led Bhupesh Baghel government over the last five years, has developed around 2,400 devgudis and ghotuls, DC reported. IndiaSpend reported that the state’s public relations department on September 3 shared a news report stating that Chhattisgarh showcases the best enactment of the Forest Rights Act across the country: it had recognised rights for 5,00,000 families under the Individual Forest Rights (IFR) provision of the Act, and the rights of 46,000 villages under the Community Forest Rights (CFR), “which is the highest in the country”, the report said. But on the ground, according to IndiaSpend, there are numerous stumbling blocks in the FRA’s implementation. Clearly, there’s more work that needs to be done. Apart from tribal welfare, several other environmental challenges are at play in this area. Mining is a crucial income generator for the state – but it has also meant the diversion of huge tracts of forestland. According to one estimate by the Forest Department, 25,000 hectares of forest have been diverted for developmental projects between 2001 and 2022. Of this, 13,925 hectares have been diverted for mining. Tribal communities have been consistently agitating against the opening of new coal mines in the region. Of pertinence here is the agitation in the Hasdeo Aranya forests in the state, which have been in the limelight recently. The state government put three mining projects here on hold indefinitely in June 2022. Chattisgarh went to polls on November 7 and 17, in two phases. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress and its allies are the main parties contesting in the elections this year. Currently, the Congress holds all 12 seats in the Bastar area. Surguja, another tribal belt in the state too, is dominated by the Congress. The Sarva Adiwasi Samaj, a young political party floated by tribal communities is also in the fray this year, under the new name of “Hamar Raj”. Rajasthan The BJP and the INC+ (along with its ally the Rashtriya Lok Dal) are contesting in all 199 seats that went to polls on November 25. The Bahujan Samaj Party is contesting in 184 seats and the RLP+ (consisting of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and the Azad Samaj Party) in 126. The AAP is contesting in 85 seats. The INC’s manifesto listed out seven “guarantees”, one of which is enacting a law that ensures minimum support prices (MSP) to farmers following the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations. As climate change alters weather patterns, farming is fast becoming an unviable option for many. Minimum support prices are crucial for farmers in such scenarios. Incidentally, the opposing BJP’s manifesto – released on November 16 – promises to provide ₹2,700 per quintal as wheat bonus to farmers, over and above the MSP announced by the central government. It also includes a scheme to protect Aravallis mountain range. The scrub and dry forests of the Aravallis in Rajasthan – which comprises around 90% of the state’s forest cover – are an ecosystem that is increasingly under threat due to degradation, encroachment and developmental projects. However, threats to the environment and wildlife in the state don’t stop with the Aravallis alone. The state of Rajasthan is one of the last strongholds of the great Indian bustard, a large grassland-dwelling bird that very narrowly missed being crowned the national bird several decades ago. Of the estimated 150 birds left in India, around 120 are found in Rajasthan. Being the state bird of Rajasthan hasn’t helped the bustard much: it is threatened by habitat loss, as the patches of grassland and scrub forest and farmland that it dwells in are being converted to large solar farms in India’s push for more renewable energy. Solar farms also mean that high power transmission lines abound in the area. Bustards, being heavy birds, fly low – and many have died due to collisions with power lines meant to transport solar power to other locations. Though the Supreme Court had ordered that power lines be replaced underground, this hasn’t been implemented yet. Telangana In June this year, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) ranked the state first in overall environmental performance in its annual report. But over the last 15 years, around 19,000 hectares of forestland have been diverted in Telangana for non-forestry use, the union environment minister said in Parliament in August. Clearly, forest loss is an issue in the state: as per Global Forest Watch, the state lost 135 hectares of natural forest, equivalent to 101 kt of CO₂ emissions, in 2022. Forest fragmentation is also a concern, according to one study. Per the Congress manifesto’s Chevella SC ST Declaration released during the current election campaign, the Forest Rights Act (FRA) “will be strictly implemented to provide pattas for Podu lands to all the eligible beneficiaries.” The implementation of the FRA has been a bone of contention in many states, including Telangana. The Wire reported on November 30 about how the Haritha Haaram, an afforestation project rolled out by the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi government, has displaced small-scale farmers and tribal communities in its wake. The Congress manifesto also mentions that drains in Hyderabad will be modernized to make it a “flood-free” city. It promises to “formulate a robust policy for flood,disaster management and heat wave action management” as well as take steps to build a “sustainable ecosystem”, though it doesn’t say how exactly it proposes to do so. Flooding in the capital city has been a problem, with around 95% of its area being identified as being at “moderate risk” of floods. Rainwater pits in new houses and industrial constructions will be made compulsory, and people will be identified as “voluntary volunteers” in villages to protect the trees. These volunteers will be paid an honorarium to protect trees, per the manifesto. The Congress if it comes into power will implement “all measures for sustained environment protection” and control the use of plastic, and encourage the manufacture of jute and coir bags. Per the manifesto, the state Pollution Control Board (PCB) will be modernized and a Pollution Control Ward established to “provide better services in the prevention of air pollution”. Madhya Pradesh In the currently BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, several environmental issues abound. The BJP-ruled union government has pushed forward the Ken-Betwa river linking project in Madhya Pradesh. In December 2021, the Union cabinet approved the Rs. 44,605 crore Ken-Betwa river interlinking project, apparently intended to address water scarcity of the Bundelkhand region across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The project aims to connect the Ken and Betwa rivers and transfer water from the former to the latter to irrigate agricultural tracts of and supply drinking water to the water-starved Bundelkhand region. However, the project entails the loss of 23 lakh trees. It will also submerge around 9,000 hectares of land – 5,803 of which lie within the core area of the Panna tiger reserve. Experts told The Wire that Bundelkhand “will suffer for decades to come” if this project is implemented. Read why here, and in this six-part series by The Wire on the project.
From extreme heat to the spread of infectious diseases and vector-borne illness like dengue and Zika, global food security to air pollution causing respiratory ailments like asthma, climate change is gradually spreading its tentacles, affecting our health and health system on multiple fronts. In fact, the extreme weather events around the world in recent months offer a terrifying glimpse of what lies ahead in a rapidly heating world including India. This has been evidenced in two reports released back-to -back recently by the Lancet and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a think tank which have raised serious red flags on health scenario in India. The CSE report 'India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events' points out that India experienced extreme weather events almost every day in the first nine months this year, claiming 2,923 human lives with maximum mortalities reported from Bihar. Extreme weathers affected 1.84 million hectares (ha) of crop area, damaged 80,563 houses, and killed over 92,519 animals. It underscores the need for immediate actions to curb the escalating environmental crisis as it said that “But these numbers might be even higher because not all the data is collected.” The experts have long argued that the climate crisis is a health crisis and that considerations of health impacts should be central to climate negotiations. Increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods and heatwaves, will also strain healthcare infrastructure. For instance, Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of extreme weather events at 138. However, the largest number of deaths occurred in Bihar (642), followed by Himachal Pradesh (365) and Uttar Pradesh (341). As per the report, Punjab recorded the highest number of animal deaths while Himachal Pradesh reported the most damaged houses due to extreme weather events. Southern region too was impacted by the abnormal weather. For instance, Kerala witnessed the highest count of extreme weather days (67) and deaths (60) while Telangana suffered maximum effect on crop area (over 62,000 hectares) and high animal casualties (645). Karnataka faced severe destruction, with over 11,000 houses demolished. In northwest India, the most populated State, Uttar Pradesh had the most extreme weather days at 113. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan were also significantly affected. Also, as the climate crisis jeopardizes lives and livelihoods, global food systems struggle to sustain a growing population, and compromised water sources compound the challenges. In parallel, climate change is catalyzing a surge in infectious diseases like dengue and cholera, endangering millions and putting pressure on the already dismal health infrastructure The report further notes that in the eastern and northeastern regions, Assam registered maximum extreme weather events (102), with the state losing 159 livestock and over 48,000 hectares of crops devastated. Nagaland saw over 1,900 houses destroyed. “ January was slightly warmer than average, while February broke records, becoming the warmest in 122 years. India had its sixth driest February and the driest August in 122 years.” It said lightning and storms were the most common disasters, occurring on 176 out of 273 days and claiming 711 lives while the most significant devastation came from heavy rains, floods, and landslides, causing over 1,900 deaths. The reported impact of extreme weather events in India is indeed alarming. The statistics provided underscore the human, agricultural, and environmental toll of climate-related incidents. The details of the report highlight the vulnerability of different regions in India to these extreme events, with Bihar being particularly affected. This underscores the need for upgrading key interventions such as vector control, epidemiological surveillance, and access to safe water and sanitation. To reduce the negative impact on health, the health community stresses the importance of reducing and stopping emissions. Another report by the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, is equally alarming. It highlights concerning trends in heat and health, indicating a rise in exposure to high temperatures that jeopardise livelihoods and endangers public health in India. The report reveals a 43% increase in the total number of heatwave days experienced by children under the age of one from 2013-2022 compared to the 1986-2005 period. Adults over 65 saw a staggering 216% increase in heatwave days during the same timeframe. These alarming statistics underline the immediate impact on health and the urgency of mitigation and adaptation actions. The economic toll of heat exposure is substantial, with 191 billion potential labor hours lost in 2022 alone, a 54% increase from 1991-2000. This loss amounted to a potential income loss of USD219 billion in 2022, equivalent to 6.3% of the country's GDP. Agricultural workers bore the brunt, experiencing 64% of potential hours lost and 55% of potential income losses. The projected scenario, where temperatures exceed a 2°C increase, indicates a nearly 5-fold rise in heatwave exposure for individuals over 65 by mid-century, underscoring the dire consequences if mitigation efforts are not implemented urgently. The report has also raised concerns regarding the health impacts of air pollution, attributing increasing deaths to small particulate matter (PM2.5) generated from human activities. Transitioning to renewable energy sources is identified as a crucial step to mitigate air pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote universal, affordable, and clean energy. As India participates in the Dubai Climate Summit, these findings should serve as eyeopener and add a sense of urgency among the developed nations to discussions around climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies to tackle the shared challenges posed by a changing climate. With the health sector grappling with unprecedented challenges, it is imperative to address the glaring disparity in financial support. In fact, the current allocation of a mere 0.5% of global climate financing to the health sector is inadequate to meet the demands and complexities of the health challenges posed by climate change. A substantial increase in resources for the health sector is not only warranted but deemed essential. Adequate funding is crucial for the development and implementation of strategies to address climate-related health impacts, including extreme weather events, infectious diseases, and other health crises. The ongoing global health crisis, likely exacerbated by climate change, underscores the interconnectedness of health and environmental issues. A robust and well-funded health sector is crucial for effectively responding to both the immediate health crisis and the long-term impacts of climate change on public health. EXPERTS SPEAK Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General: Prioritizing health is not just a choice; it is the foundation of resilient societies. We must change the conversation and demonstrate the massive benefits of bolder climate action on our health and well-being. Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Health Minister: The effects of climate change is the biggest threat that humanity is currently facing and it is having an immense impact on health systems...We commit to prioritising climate-resilient health systems... Sunita Narain, CSE Director General: Our recent report attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in the country. This assessment clearly shows, what the country has witnessed so far in 2023 is the new 'abnormal' in a warming world. Dr Vikramjeet Singh, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Aakash Healthcare, Delhi: The evolving landscape of climate change significantly raises concerns about its direct and indirect impacts on respiratory health. Rise in temperatures contributes to the proliferation of air pollutants, such as particulate matter and ground-level ozone causing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increased heat can also lead to the intensification of allergenic pollen production, triggering allergic respiratory responses.Dehydration and heat stress too can cause respiratory distress, placing an additional burden on healthcare system. Colloborative efforts are essential to address adaptation measures to meet the health challenges linked with changing climate Dr Kavita Singh, DNDi: Climate change is altering patterns for dengue fever and other diseases. Before, we didn’t have as many cases, or as many deaths…More R&D and investment is needed to combat these diseases so as to benefit the entire world, not just the countries that currently suffer from them. The writer is Associate Editor, The Pioneer
The Q2 GDP growth at 7.6 percent during FY24 going beyond the street expectations and RBI estimates reflects the increasing buoyancy in the economy. It grew at 6.2 percent in Q2 of FY23 affirming its incremental improvement. It grew a tad better at 7.8 percent in Q1 of FY24. The GVA during Q2 worked out to 7.4 percent in Q2 as against 7.8 percent in Q1. RBI in its recent dispensation hinted at the economy doing better than expected. It is noteworthy that the Indian economy rebounded strongly from the COVID-induced contraction of 5.8 percent in 2020-21 to a growth of 9.1 percent in 2021-22 and 7.2 percent in 2022-23. India’s real GDP is expected to grow by 6.5 percent in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 retaining its tag as one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world amid the burgeoning geopolitical risks. RBI states that according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India will become the third-largest economy before 2030, with its GDP projected to surpass both Japan and Germany by 2026 and 2027, respectively. India is already the third largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) (with a share of 7 percent of global GDP) after China and the USA. Looking at the positive headwinds of the economy, the OECD raised its outlook on GDP growth to 6.3 percent in FY24, 6.1 percent in FY25, and 6.5 in FY26. S & P Ratings raised its forecast for GDP to grow at 6.4 percent during FY24 up from the 6 percent estimated earlier while at the same time, it lowered its forecast for FY25 down to 6.4 percent from the 6.9 percent forecast earlier. World Bank Forecast for FY24 stands at 6.3 percent while the IMF forecast of GDP is at 6.3 percent for FY24. ADB is too bullish to put the GDP forecast at 6.7 percent for FY24. There is near unanimity in raising India’s GDP outlook in the light of visible trends in the economy. 1. Sectoral growth trends: The significant revival in manufacturing from 4.7 percent growth in Q1 to 13.9 percent in Q2 and the construction sector going up from 7.9 percent to 13.3, mining and quarrying from 5.8 percent to 10 percent during the period. However, some weaknesses could be seen in the farm sector growth going down from 2.4 percent in Q1 to 1.2 percent in Q2. According to the independent think tank, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India is a climate-vulnerable country and witnessed extreme weather events in 86 percent of days in the first 9 months of 2023. If serious attention is not drawn toward climate risks, it could jeopardize the stable growth trajectory. The climate risks – rampant urbanization, construction, rising sea temperature with its debilitating impact on marine life, melting of glaciers, emission of greenhouse gases, untreated industrial waste, the release of toxic gases from factories, threats to biodiversity, deforestation, rampant vehicular pollution, and many more could further increase the vulnerability hitting farm sector, life, and livelihood. During Q2, the manufacturing sector saw an uptick with its growth increasing from 4.7 in Q1 to 13.9 during the quarter. The 8 core industries -Coal, Crude oil, Natural gas, Refinery Products, Fertilisers, Steel, Cement, and electricity- have increased their output by 12. 1 percent in October is another good development. The uptick in manufacturing should have a multidimensional impact on interconnected sectors. The growth of trade, hotels, transport, communication, and services related to broadcasting went down from 9.2 percent to 4.3 percent while financial, real estate, and professional services slowed down from 12.2 to 6 percent during the same period. The S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) increased a tad to 56 in November from 55.5 in October 2023 and continues to be on an uptrend. The PMI of the service sector moderated to 58.4 in October from 61 in September but its trends are good. The composite is at 58.4 in October down from 61 in September. 2. External sector risks: The abating trends of inflation in the Western world and the near peaking of interest rates in most economies can bring down upside risks to the financial markets. With inflation still a distance away from targets, the interest rate cycles may not swing downwards too soon but the chances of interest rates going up are remote. The inflation and interest rates are expected to stay elevated until Central Banks can bring it within their targeted range. The global economy is adjusting to the ongoing geopolitical risks – the lingering war between Russia and Ukraine, the Israel – Hamas conflict, and OPEC + production cuts with its impact on the oil supply and its cost implications on the economy. The slowing economy and elevated inflation in many parts of the World may bring down consumption appetite leading to a fall in global trade. Hence exports could dip and restless reshuffling of foreign portfolio investments (FDI) in emerging market economies in the current uncertain and volatile conditions could exert stress on exchange rate management. On the exchange rate front, the Indian rupee (INR) has exhibited low volatility and orderly movements relative to peers despite elevated US treasury yields and a stronger US dollar.4 Movements in the INR are consistent with the strength of the underlying macro-fundamentals and the reassuring availability of buffers. As of November 20, 2023, the INR had depreciated (on a calendar year basis) by 0.7 percent against the dollar, performing well when compared to its EME peers including the Chinese yuan, the Thailand baht, the Vietnamese dong, the Argentine peso and the Malaysian ringgit. It had appreciated by 12.4 percent against the Japanese yen, while it depreciated by 2.7 percent against the Euro and by 3.7 percent against the UK pound. With forex reserves at US $ 590 billion and FPIs returning to Indian markets, the external sector risks are set to come down. 3. Challenges for growth: The inflation in October was 4.87 percent and is within the RBI band. However, the volatility in food and fuel prices always increases threats to its trajectory. The supply side management and control of sensitive items will pose some risks to the growth. RBI is keen to maintain inflation at its targeted midpoint of 4 percent on a durable basis. Therefore, interest rates are expected to remain at the current elevated level during FY24. The controlled inflation range maintained now may not prompt any rise in repo rates in the forthcoming monetary policy review. At the same time, unleashing the full potentiality of growth may require a change of the interest rate cycle towards a downward curve – that has to wait. Though the bank credit growth was 15.3 percent in October, out of which its flow to industry is tepid at 5.4 percent. The paucity of funds – loans and bonds to industry may be disruptive to its nascent recovery impulse. The slowdown in the farm sector growth could be another challenge. All stakeholders must combine to bolster the economy and unleash its inherent potency to stay ahead in the growth curve.
Several countries across the world have faced economic loss worth billions due to extreme weather conditions and climate change over the years. In a bid to help developing and poor countries cope with climate crisis, the COP28 climate summit hit its "first major milestone" on November 30, by operationalising the "Loss and Damage" fund. What is ‘loss and damage’? The "loss and damage" refers to the estimated economic, non-economic and ecological losses caused due to ongoing and future impacts of climate change. "This includes losses and damages due to rapid onset extreme weather events such as floods and tropical cyclones and slow onset changes such as sea level rise and drought," the Centre for Science and Environment explains. What is the estimated global economic loss from climate crisis? "The world is estimated to be $1.5 trillion poorer than it would have been without climate change," according to a report titled 'Loss and Damage Today: How climate change is impacting output and capital'. This report was released by the University of Delaware. According to the report, "Low and middle-income countries have experienced $2.1 trillion in produced capital losses due to climate change."
Indian children who were under the age of one between the years 2013 and 2022 experienced 43% more heatwave days annually as compared to children in the same age group during 1986-2005. Similarly, adults over the age of 65 saw a 216% increase across the same timeframe. As the global climate conference under way in Dubai is set to observe a Health Day for the first time to discuss impacts of climate change on health, the effects are already visible and starkly so. In 2023, the world experienced the hottest global temperatures in over 100,000 years, and heat records were broken on every continent. The year is on track to be the warmest year on record. Heat-related deaths in people aged over 65 increased by 85% globally in 2013-2022 compared to 1991-2000, substantially above the 38% increase expected had temperatures not changed. In fact, a new Call to Action by the World Health Organization (WHO) says that harm due to climate catastrophes can begin even in the womb, leading to pregnancy-related complications, preterm birth, low birthweight and stillbirth. For children, consequences can last a lifetime, affecting the development of their bodies and brains as they grow. Global leaders have convened in Dubai for the 28th annual climate conference, known as the Conference of Parties (COP28), and millions of health professionals from around the world have already written an open letter to them to accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, deliver on $100 billion in climate finance and spend it on saving lives and improving health of the most vulnerable. But completely phasing out all fossil fuels remains the most contentious issue at these conferences for the past few years. The India numbers Even as winter is just setting in in many parts of India, one might recall that this year saw its hottest February and driest August in 122 years. In just the first nine months of this year, India has witnessed an extreme weather disaster almost every day of the first nine months--from heat and cold waves, cyclones and lightning to heavy rain, floods and landslides. These disasters have claimed 2,923 human lives, impacted 1.84 million hectare of crop area, destroyed over 80,000 houses and killed more than 92,000 livestock, a new report by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment showed. Following a rainfall deficit, states like Maharashtra have already declared drought in several districts. But is 2023 just an anomaly? No, because the impact of climate change on the increase in the frequency and intensity of disasters like these is well established now. A look at the big picture shows that apart from disasters that need immediate attention, slow onset events such as drought are also on the rise. From 2013-2022, an average of 29% of India’s land area experienced over three months of extreme drought per year. The amount of land experiencing at least one month of extreme drought per year has increased 138% from 1951-1960 to 2013-2022. Each of these extreme weather events have a direct effect on people’s lives and health. For example, exposure to high temperatures threatens people’s lives, health, and wellbeing, leading to heat-related disease, deaths and increasing healthcare demand during heatwave episodes. Older people, socio-economically deprived communities, very young children, pregnant women, and those with underlying health problems are particularly at risk. Pregnant women are one of the groups most susceptible to extreme temperatures, which is caused by climate change. “Preterm births are linked to heat stress. Heat increases the chances of infection, which causes early labour. In particular, dehydration due to heat can cause urinary tract infections,” said Kiran Coelho, a gynaecologist at Lilavati hospital in Mumbai. At more than 250,000, India has the highest number of preterm births in the world, according to a WHO report. Climate change is one of the causes of preterm birth, which is the leading cause of death among children under the age of five, as per the WHO. Warmer temperatures exacerbate the risk of preterm births in low and low-middle income countries, as per this April 2017 paper by researchers from Kaiser Permanente (a care provider consortium) and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Are other countries doing better? It is not just India which is suffering from the worst health impacts of climate change. World over, people experienced 86 days of health-threatening high temperatures on average in 2022, over 60% of which were more than twice as likely to occur because of man-made climate change. Yearly heat-related deaths are projected to increase by 370% by mid-century, More frequent heatwaves and droughts were responsible for 127 million more people experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity in 122 countries in 2021, than annually between 1981 and 2010. Similarly, changing weather patterns are accelerating the spread of life-threatening infectious diseases. For example, warmer seas have increased the area of the world’s coastline suitable for the spread of Vibrio bacteria that can cause illness and death in humans, putting a record 1.4 billion people at risk of diarrhoeal disease, severe wound infections, and sepsis. It is keeping these facts in mind that a day dedicated to health is to be observed on December 3 to drive home the point that the climate crisis is, unequivocally, a health crisis. On this day, world leaders will see the announcement of new health-climate finance and discuss proactive risk management for disasters, clean air solutions, water security, mental health and many more subjects. “Leaders must deliver in Dubai, providing the strong health outcomes their peoples expect and their economies urgently need. We must change the conversation and demonstrate the massive benefits of bolder climate action on our health and well-being,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General stated earlier this week. Health professionals from across the world have also written an open letter to COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber. “For COP28 to truly be a ‘health COP’, it must address the root cause of the climate crisis: the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels including coal, oil and gas. We call on the COP28 Presidency and the leaders of all countries to commit to an accelerated, just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels as the decisive path to health for all. Ending our dangerous dependency on fossil fuels will improve the health prospects of future generations and will save lives,” the letter demanded. In fact, there is evidence that taking steps in the right direction will have immediate positive impacts. A new analysis quantified health benefits from different climate mitigation actions and the resulting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. They estimated that in India, at least 150 life years were gained per 100,000 population per year by decarbonising electricity generation--that is, by generating electricity through renewables instead of coal. Switching to clean cookstoves in India also resulted in large health benefits from reduced household air pollution, estimated at around 1,250 life years gained per 100,000 population per year.
A new leaked report suggests the Biden administration is undermining efforts to set standards for a global carbon market. Coupled with Joe Biden’s absence at the global climate summit this week, patience with the US's lack of action is wearing thin. The United States and the European Union (EU) are usually close allies at the world’s annual climate negotiations — but according to internal documents obtained by the Lever, tensions have arisen between the two blocs in the run-up to this year’s summit. As world leaders head to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this week, the United States is undermining efforts to set stringent standards for a new global carbon market that would allow polluters to help fund carbon-reduction efforts to compensate for their emissions. According to the November 8 background paper, written by an executive working group in the Council of the European Union, the United States is backing a largely unregulated, voluntary system of trading emission offsets, even though such voluntary schemes have been plagued by questionable climate benefits, harms to indigenous communities, and outright corruption. The authors write, “In our view, accepting a standard based on the [voluntary carbon market] may hinder the independence and trust that compliance carbon markets need to contribute towards the achievement of international climate goals.” Experts say the United States is going this route, rather than backing a more stringent United Nations (UN)–regulated carbon market favored by the EU and other stakeholders, because the Biden administration is hoping private sector climate solutions and corporate responsibility will help gloss over the fact that the country is continuing to break records for fossil fuel production and is the biggest laggard in terms of paying its fair share of finance for the emissions it has wrought on the world. “The U.S. government has trouble delivering climate finance and now basically sees private investment, including [through] carbon markets, as an opportunity to showcase that they are delivering climate finance,” said Sven Harmeling, international climate policy coordinator for the nonprofit coalition Climate Action Network Europe. “But we know that [money via carbon markets] is not climate finance. Climate finance means public funding.” For the first time in his presidency, President Joe Biden will not be attending the annual climate summit. In response to a request for comment, the US delegation to the summit declined to answer questions on the record. An Emissions Reduction Strategy “That Risks Backfiring” In 1992, countries around the world signed the UN’s first climate change treaty to coordinate global action to tackle the climate crisis. In 2015, after two decades without meaningful action, 195 participating countries signed the Paris Agreement, further hashing out details of climate action and the necessity to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees. At this year’s annual climate talks from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, known by the acronym COP28, negotiations are focused on a handful of core themes like the clean energy transition, slashing carbon emissions, climate finance from rich countries to support climate action in poorer countries, and assessing the progress of global climate action efforts so far. Another key task is to establish an international carbon market governed by the UN. In recent months, the UN’s supervisory body has been setting guidelines to ensure such an international carbon market “benefits the environment, host countries, and buyers alike.” Their recommendations are intended to govern the market and will be discussed at COP28. Carbon markets allow companies, individuals, and countries to buy credits associated with carbon-reduction efforts to compensate for their emissions. For example, highly polluting companies in the manufacturing sector or the aviation industry can invest in forest conservation and use the credits from this investment — with prices set per ton — to offset their emissions. Countries can do this, too: Switzerland has signed bilateral deals with Ghana and Vanuatu to purchase carbon credits to meet its international emission reduction goals. There are two types of carbon markets: voluntary markets, in which companies and organizations negotiate deals, and compliance markets that are government mandated. California’s cap-and-trade program, a compliance market framework, sets a limit on industries’ greenhouse gas emissions, but allows them to trade in case they exceed the limit. Neither market is ideally regulated at present (concerns have been raised, for example, about the efficacy of California’s program). One overarching worry is that carbon credits are often made through compensatory carbon-sink projects like reforestation projects that can rob agency from the people who live there. But voluntary markets are considered by many to be especially inadequate, since they rely on corporate responsibility to decarbonize their industries. Existing standards for the voluntary market are currently designed by self-appointed bodies like the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative. These standards are “full of loopholes,” said Avantika Goswami, program manager of climate change projects at India’s Centre for Science and Environment. She explained that the voluntary carbon market needs “regulation, a public and independently managed registry, and high scrutiny of projects to determine integrity and benefit-sharing with communities on the ground.” A recent investigation by the Centre for Science and Environment found that voluntary markets in India failed on two counts: Emission reduction outcomes were either inflated or almost nonexistent and revenue from the sale of carbon credits wasn’t shared with local communities. Researchers also found that many of the carbon-offset projects lacked transparency, and that some community members who were involved in these projects had no clue what carbon credits were. Two months ago, research from University of California, Berkeley on voluntary markets raised additional concerns about inflated credit values and the potential marginalization of forest-dependent communities. Reporting has found that the voluntary market’s largest firm sold millions of credits for carbon reductions that didn’t exist. Meanwhile, private demand for these voluntary credits has declined, and the credit price has plummeted. Despite its shortcomings, the unregulated carbon market boomed to a value of $2 billion per year in 2021. Gilles Dufrasne, policy lead on global carbon markets at Belgium-based nonprofit research organization Carbon Market Watch, said carbon credits could be a way for companies to finance climate action beyond their own production processes, but shouldn’t be a substitute for internal emission reductions. “Allowing loose rules that will incentivize the purchase of carbon credits at any cost is a strategy that risks backfiring, when companies end up investing a lot of money in credits that do not deliver real emission reductions, while failing to decarbonize their own activities.” Internal Divisions The new international carbon market that world leaders are negotiating at COP28 is a compliance framework with legally mandated limits. The finalization of these rules and their full implementation is “imperative for COP28,” said Trishant Dev, program officer of climate change projects at the Centre for Science and Environment and the lead author of the study that exposed loopholes in the way voluntary carbon markets are currently functioning in India. But instead of seeking guardrails for a global carbon market, the United States seems to be moving in the opposite direction. According to the November 8 memo obtained by the Lever, the Council of the European Union, one of the EU’s two main legislative bodies, warned that at COP28, the United States was set to advocate for building on existing voluntary carbon market standards for the international carbon market, as opposed to establishing a new robust framework with stringent standards. According to the authors, the EU Council had concerns that such weaker carbon market standards could lead to “over-crediting, disadvantaging host countries and deviating from the pathway necessary to reach the Paris Agreement long-term goals.” They added that the United States is promoting the usage of carbon credits without clarifying the accounting rules that could ensure their integrity and transparency, and “pressing hard for a prompt finalization of the guidance, without much concerns for quality/robustness but driving a lot of attention and time to solve their very specific concerns.” Dufrasne at Carbon Market Watch said the different approaches on a global carbon market reflect how the EU has historically been more active on climate action than the US. According to Dufrasne, the European public is putting more pressure on companies to act, compared to the American public. The memo hints at another potential reason that the United States is pushing for weaker carbon market regulations: the matter of climate finance, or funding that rich countries pay to poorer countries to help finance climate action, to account for the former’s historically high emissions. In the last few months, US climate envoy John Kerry, who will be attending the Dubai summit, has said climate action “takes trillions and no government that I know of is ready to put trillions into this on an annual basis.” (Nevermind that billions in US public funding has gone to support foreign military aid in Ukraine alone, or that the effects of climate inaction could cost trillions of dollars per year.) Simultaneously, Kerry has repeatedly emphasized the private sector’s role in the clean energy transition. A voluntary carbon market could, at least in theory, make it easy to channel money from the American business sector to climate action initiatives by funding projects like forest conservation or development of renewable energy capacity. But as research has demonstrated, the voluntary market suffers from serious integrity and transparency issues. The voluntary market is “unregulated, fraudulent, and open to ebbs and flows,” said Goswami at the Centre for Science and Environment. “Committing [to] this market as the tool for [an] energy transition, which requires investment in public goods like renewable energy and transmission infrastructure in developing countries, is like leaving the clean-energy future of the Global South to the whims of an unreliable market.” Goswami added, “The U.S. cannot let the private sector dictate the scrutiny and oversight in these markets — it must be determined by the multilateral process [at climate negotiations like COP28].”
दिल्ली की तरह अब कोलकाता से भी वायु प्रदूषण की भयावह खबरें आने लगी हैं। जबकि यहां पराली जलाए जाने से वायु प्रदूषित नहीं हो रही है। यहां हवा में प्रदूषण की मात्रा 175 के आंकड़े पर आ गई है। यह फेफड़ों के लिए बेहद हानिकारक है। 27 सिगरेट पीने से जितना फेफड़ों को नुकसान होता है, उतना ही नुकसान यह प्रदूषण पहुंचा रहा है। एक सिगरेट से 22 माइक्रोन पीएम 2.5 मात्रा के बराबर जहर निकलता है, तब 27 सिगरेट से कितना जहर निकलता होगा। मौसम के करवट लेते ही देश की राजधानी दिल्ली और उसके ईद-गिर्द वायु प्रदूषण लोगों की सांसों पर भारी पड़ने लगता है। चूंकि यहां इस दूषित वायु पर चिंता देश की शीर्ष न्यायालय करने लगती है, इसलिए दिल्ली का प्रदूषण चर्चा में आ जाता है। लेकिन हाल ही में स्विस ग्रुप आईक्यूएयर ने दुनिया के सबसे प्रदूषित नगरों की सूची जारी की है, इसमें तीन नगर भारत के हैं। सूची में शामिल नगरों की वायु अत्यंत खराब है। इस वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर लगातार बढ़कर गंभीर स्तर तक पहुंच गया है। इनमें से सबसे ज्यादा खराब हालात दिल्ली की है। यहां दूषित वायु का स्तर 431 पहुंच गया है। शून्य से 50 तक एक्यूआई का स्तर उत्तम माना जाता है। इसके बाद भारत के प्रदूषित नगरों में कोलकाता है। यहां दूषित वायु का स्तर 175 दर्ज किया गया है। सर्दियों की शुरुआत होते ही दिल्ली की तरह कोलकाता में भी धुंध और धुएं की छाया गहराने लगती है। वायु प्रदूषण के मामले में मुंबई भी पीछे नहीं है। मुंबई में एक्यूआई 173 के स्तर पर है। यहां की हवा भी सांस लेने के लायक नहीं है। देश के अन्य अनेक नगरों में भी प्रदूषण का स्तर बढ़ा हुआ है। धुंध नहीं छंटने के कारण अनेक इलाकों में फेफड़े, दिल और आंखों के रोगियों की संख्या बढ़ रही है। देश की राजधानी दिल्ली में घनी आबादी और वाहनों की संख्या अधिक होने के कारण वायु प्रदूषण चरम पर है। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (सीपीसीबी) द्वारा 9 नबंवर 2023 को लिए गए आंकड़ों के मुताबिक वायु गुणवत्ता तालिका अर्थात् एक्यूआई 431 पर पहुंच गया है। जो सामान्य से करीब पांच गुना अधिक है। नतीजतन दिल्ली समेत राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र में वायु गुणवत्ता अत्यंत खराब स्थिति में बनी हुई है। इस स्थिति को मानव व अन्य जीवों के स्वास्थ्य के लिए अत्यंत खतरनाक माना जाता है। दिल्ली में इस प्रदूषण का दोष हरियाणा और पंजाब में जलाई जाने वाली पराली पर थोप दिया जाता है। जबकि यह प्रदूषण पृथ्वी में मौजूद ओजोन के अतिरिक्त कार्बन, सल्फर और नाइट्रोजन आक्साइड गैसों के कारण भी होता है। धुएं, धुंध और गैसों से निर्मित प्रदूषण के ये कर्ण घातक होने के साथ खुली आंखों से देखना कठिन होता है। 10 से लेकर 2.5 माइक्रोमीटर और इससे भी बारीक इन कणों को पीएम-10 और पीएम-2.5 कहते हैं। पीएम-2.5 कणों का निर्माण मुख्य रूप से डीजल, पेट्रोल और अन्य जीवाषम ईंधनों के धुएं से होता है। पीएम-10 कर्ण पराली और अन्य जलाऊ लकड़ी और धुल से बनते हैं। फसलों के अवशेष के रूप में निकलने वाली पराली, दिल्ली, हरियाणा, पंजाब, राजस्थान व पश्चिमी उत्तरप्रदेश में बड़ी मात्रा में जलाई जाती है। नतीजतन दिल्ली की आवोहवा में धुंध छा जाती है। हर साल अक्टूबर-नबंवर माह में फसल कटने के बाद शेष बचे डंठलों को खेतों में ही जलाया जाता है। इनसे निकलने वाला धुआं वायु को प्रदूषित करता है। सरकारी आंकड़ों से पता चलता है कि देश में हर साल 70 करोड़ टन पराली निकलती है। इसमें से 9 करोड़ टन खेतों में ही छोड़नी पड़ती है। हालांकि 31 प्रतिशत पराली का उपयोग चारे के रूप में, 19 प्रतिशत जैविक ऊर्जा के रूप में और 15 प्रतिशत खाद बनाने के रूप में इस्तेमाल कर ली जाती है। बावजूद 31 प्रतिश्त बची पराली को खेत में ही जलाना पड़ता है, क्योंकि किसानों के पास इसे नष्ट करने के अन्य कोई सरल व सस्ते उपाय नहीं हैं। इसलिए पराली जलाए जाने की समस्या शीर्ष न्यायालय के हस्तक्षेप के बावजूद तीन दशक से दोहराई जाती रही है। यह सही है कि पराली जलाने के कई नुकसान हैं। वायु प्रदूषण तो इतना होता है कि दिल्ली भी उसकी चपेट में आ जाती है। अलबत्ता एक एकड़ धान की पराली से जो आठ किलो नाइट्रोजन, पोटाश, सल्फर और करीब 3 किलो फास्फोरस मिलती है, वह पोशक तत्व जलने से नष्ट हो जाते हैं। आग की वजह से धरती का तापमान बढ़ता है। इस कारण खेती के लिए लाभदायी सूक्ष्म जीव भी मर जाते हैं। इस लिहाज से पराली जलाने का सबसे ज्यादा नुकसान किसान को ही उठाना पड़ता है। अतएव पराली के उपयोग के भरपूर उपाय करना आवश्यक है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट, कोलकाता की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार यहां के लोग सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषित वायु का सेवन करते हैं। यहां की हवा में पिछले छह सालों में नाइट्रोजन आक्साइड की मात्रा 2.7 गुना बढ़ गई है। विशेषज्ञ इसे मोटर-कारों की संख्या बढ़ना बता रहे हैं। कार बाजार में आए उछाल से पहले कोलकाता के लोग एक से दो किलोमीटर की दूरी पैदल चलकर तय करते थे, इससे प्रदूषण कम होता था। किंतु अब आदमी 500 मीटर भी पैदल चलना नहीं चाहता। आईआईटी कानपुर के एक अध्ययन के अनुसार 30 प्रतिशत प्रदूषण देशभर में डीजल पेट्रोल से चलने वाले वाहनों से होता है। इसके बाद 26 प्रतिशत कोयले के कारण हो रहा है। दिवाली पर चलने वाले पटाखों से महज 5 फीसदी ही प्रदूषण होता है। पर्यावरण संरक्षण के लिए काम करने वाली संस्था ग्रीनपीस का मानना है कि 12 लाख भारतीय हर साल वायु प्रदूषण के कारण मरते हैं। वाहनों से निकलते धुएं ने यह स्पष्ट कर दिया है कि कोलकाता में वायु प्रदूषण का कारण बढ़ते वाहन हैं, बावजूद कोशिश यह की जा रही है कि कोलकाता में प्रदूषण का मुख्य कारण वाहन नहीं हैं, बल्कि यहां का भूगोल भी कुछ ऐसी विचित्र संरचना से निर्मित है, जो प्रदूषण को आमंत्रित करता है। कोलकाता भारत के पूर्वी क्षेत्र में 22.82 डिग्री अक्षांश और 88.20 डिग्री देशांतर पर बसा है। यह हुगली नदी के समनांतर बसा है। कोलकाता में बड़े पैमाने पर निम्नतलीय भूमि है, जिस पर एक बड़ी आबादी रहती है।कोलकाता में आज भी झोंपड़पट्टियों और गरीब बस्तियों में कोयले तथा लकड़ी से भोजन पकाया जाता है। यहां के फुटपाथों पर भी बड़ी संख्या में मजदूर इन्हीं साधनों से खाना पकाते हैं। इस कारण भी कोलकाता की हवा में हानिकारक धुआं निरंतर घुलता रहता है। यहां की वायु में धातुओं का संक्रमण जारी है, जो फसलों को नुकसान पहुंचा रहा है। ऐसा यहां के बंदरगाह पर किए जाने वाले कबाड़ को नष्ट करने की वजह से है। यहां अनुपयोगी जहाजों को तोड़कर नष्ट किया जाता है। इन जहाजों में विषाक्त कचरा भी भरा होता है। इनमें ज्यादातर सोडा की राख, एसिड युक्त बैटरियां और तमाम किस्म के घातक रसायन होते हैं। इन घातक तत्वों ने कोलकाता के बंदरगाहों को बाजार में तब्दील कर दिया है। गोया, वायु प्रदूषण का कोई एक कारण न होकर अनेक कारण है।
डीएनए हिंदी: COP28 Summit Dubai Updates- पर्यावरण को नुकसान ना पहुंचाते हुए, औद्योगिक विकास की राह पर आगे बढ़ना ही, पूरे विश्व की समस्या है. औद्योगिक विकास की कीमत, पृथ्वी के जलवायु को चुकानी पड़ रही है, जिसका बुरा असर पूरी दुनिया पर पड़ रहा है. जलवायु परिवर्तन एक ऐसी समस्या है जो धीरे-धीरे महसूस होती है, लेकिन घातक असर दिखा रही है. आपको जानकर हैरानी होगी कि वर्ष 2022 में हमारी पृथ्वी के औसत तापमान में 1.4 डिग्री सेल्सियम की बढ़ोतरी हुई है यानी ये ज्यादा गर्म हुई है. तापमान में बढ़ोतरी की ये संख्या छोटी है, लेकिन इसका भयानक असर, लगभग हर देश पर पड़ा है. हालात ये है बहुत से देश मौसम का चरम रूप देख रहे हैं. गर्मियों के मौसम में भयानक गर्मी और सर्दियों में भयानक ठंड का सामना करना पड़ रहा है. बारिश भी, कई देशों में समस्या पैदा कर रही है. इस तरह के हालात पर चर्चा करना जरूरी है. इसीलिए हर साल संयुक्त राष्ट्र की अगुवाई में COP या Conference Of Parties की बैठक होती है. United Nation में शामिल लगभग सभी देश इसका हिस्सा हैं. जलवायु परिवर्तन पर चर्चा के लिए होने वाली COP की 28वीं बैठक यानी COP 28 इस वर्ष UAE में चल रही हैं, जिसमें इस बार 160 देश शामिल हुए हैं. Center for Science and Environment यानि CSE ने एक रिपोर्ट जारी की है. इस रिपोर्ट का नाम है India 2023 An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events'. CSE की इस रिपोर्ट में जनवरी से लेकर सितंबर तक के मौसम में आए बदलावों और आपदाओं की डिटेल्स हैं. इस तरह की घटनाओं को Extreme Weather Events भी कहा जाता है. रिपोर्ट में इस वर्ष यानि 2023 के शुरूआती 9 महीनों में आई प्राकृतिक आपदाओं का जिक्र है. रिपोर्ट कहती है कि भारत में पिछले 9 महीने में लगभग हर दिन प्राकृतिक आपदाएं आई हैं या खराब मौसम देखा गया. 9 महीने में मौसम में आए बदलावों और आपदाओं की वजह से 2,923 लोगों की जान गई. 1.84 लाख हेक्टेयर की फसल खराब हो गई. 80 हजार से ज्यादा घर गिर गए. 92 हजार से ज्यादा मवेशियों और जानवरों की मौत हो गई. सोचिए, सिर्फ 9 महीने में हमारे देश में आई प्राकृतिक आपदाओं में करीब 2 हजार 923 लोगों की मौत हुई है. ये कोई छोटा आंकड़ा नहीं है. इंसान ने प्रकृति के साथ जो खिलवाड़ किया है अब प्रकृति उसी का बदला ले रही है. CSE की ये रिपोर्ट हम सबके लिए एक खतरे के अलार्म की तरह है. सिर्फ भारत ही नहीं बल्कि पूरी दुनिया में इस तरह की घटनाएं बढ़ रही है. इसकी सबसे बड़ी वजह है जलवायु परिवर्तन.
COP28 is in the spotlight right now. COP28 in Dubai 2023 has sparked a lot of things but the biggest thing it has sparked is “Loss and Damage Funds”. In this article, we are going to learn how much loss and change from climate change cost. It has been reported that the world is estimated to be $1.5 trillion poorer than it has been without any climate change. This has been disclosed after a study released by the University of Delaware. So to know everything about the COP28 discussion regarding loss and damage topic, just read this article without missing any single line. According to the latest reports, at this time a lot of countries in this world are facing economic loss. Those economic losses are worth more billions and it is happening because of the extreme weather conditions and climate change in the past few years. So now to help in developing the poor countries cope with the climate crisis. the COP28 climate summit has come forward. It has now hit the first major milestone on 30th November 2023, Thursday officially as a new fund has been raised which is the “Loss and Damage” fund. Continue reading this article in the next paragraph. The President of COP28, Dr. Sultan AI Jaber has claimed that this fund is going to support billions of individuals. lives, and livelihoods which should be vulnerable to the effects of climate change. First, if we look at what is loss and damage. So the loss and damage refers to the estimated economic, non-economic, and ecological losses which has been caused because of the ongoing and future impacts of climate change. The Centre for Science and Environment has explained that loss and damage happen because of the sudden and rapid onset of extreme weather events for example heavy floods and tropical cyclones and slow onset changes like sea level rise and drought. It has been announced that the world is estimated to be $1.5 trillion poorer and it is despite climate changes. reports have showcased that the low and middle-income countries have experienced around $21. trillion which has produced capital losses because of climate change. The Centre for Science and Environment has related data that has shown that by 2030, the estimates and damage to developing countries are going to be between $290 billion and $580 billion from every single impact of climate change. It has been pledging that countries are going to contribute $400 million for the loss and damage, which UAE alone has offered $100 million.
