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India Saw Extreme Weather Events Almost Daily In First 9 Months This Year: Report

India experienced extreme weather events almost every day in the first nine months of this year which led to nearly 3,000 deaths, according to a report released today. Published by the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the report said the climate-vulnerable country had extreme weather on 86 per cent of days from January to September 2023. The CSE said 2,923 people died, almost two million hectares of crops were ruined, 80,000 homes were destroyed and more than 92,000 animals were killed. But these numbers might be even higher because not all the data is collected, it said. 'India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events' attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in the country. As this assessment clearly shows, what the country has witnessed so far in 2023 is the new 'abnormal' in a warming world," said the CSE director general Sunita Narain. 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). Punjab recorded the highest number of animal deaths while Himachal Pradesh reported the most damaged houses due to extreme weather events. In the southern region, Kerala saw the highest count of extreme weather days (67) and deaths (60). Telangana suffered maximum effect on crop area (over 62,000 hectares). The state also witnessed high animal casualties (645). Karnataka faced severe destruction, with over 11,000 houses demolished.

India saw extreme weather disaster almost every day in first 9 months this year: CSE

New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS): India has witnessed an extreme weather disaster almost every day of the first nine months of this year -- from heat and cold waves, cyclones and lightning to heavy rain, floods and landslides, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. Between January 1 and September 30, such events hit the country with tenacious and frightening regularity and impact on 86 per cent of the days. These disasters have claimed 2,923 human lives; impacted 1.84 million hectare (mha) of crop area; destroyed over 80,000 houses; and killed more than 92,000 livestock. What's more alarming is that in all probability, these calculations could be an underestimation -- because data for each event is not collated nor are losses of public property or agriculture calculated. These statistics are part of CSE's and Down To Earth magazine's new pre-COP28 assessment of extreme weather events in India in 2023, which was released here in an online media briefing on Tuesday. "India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in the country. As this assessment clearly shows, what the country has witnessed so far in 2023 is the new 'abnormal' in a warming world," said CSE director general Sunita Narain while releasing the assessment report. What does the report say? India experienced extreme weather events on 235 of the 273 days -- a little over 86 per cent of the days -- from January 1 to September 30. Madhya Pradesh was the state with the highest number of such events -- 138. But the maximum number of people killed were in Bihar -- 642 -- followed by Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh: 365 and 341, respectively. Punjab witnessed the maximum number of animal deaths, while Himachal Pradesh had the highest number of damaged houses. In the southern region, Kerala recorded the maximum number of extreme weather days (67) and deaths (60). Telangana recorded the biggest affected crop area: over 62,000 hectare (ha); the state also had high animal deaths in this region (645). With over 11,000 houses destroyed, Karnataka suffered the most on this score. In India's northwest, Uttar Pradesh had the most extreme weather days at 113. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan all fared badly as well. In the east and northeast, 102 events put Assam at the top of the table; the state also lost 159 livestock and over 48,000 ha of its crop area was devastated. In Nagaland, over 1,900 houses were destroyed. While January remained slightly warmer than average, February exceeded all previous records to become the warmest in 122 years. India also experienced its sixth driest February and its driest August in 122 years. Kiran Pandey, programme director, environmental resources unit, CSE, and one of the writers of this report says: "The report has a section on comparative analysis, which indicates that 2023 has seen more devastation compared to 2022. For instance, the impact of extreme weather events has been worse and been felt across the whole country in 2023 -- all 36 states and Union territories have been affected this year, compared to 34 last year. The extent of cropped area that has suffered damages has widened -- it was limited to 15 states last year; this year, 20 states are affected."

Will COP28 finally ditch fossil fuels? Doesn’t look like it

Even so, any language on fossil fuels is a sensitive issue at COP28 and UN reports have indicated that top emitters globally are heavily invested in oil and gas The language on phasing out or phasing down of planet- warming fossil fuels the global community ends up using is likely to be among the most contentious issues at the upcoming UN climate summit in Dubai, something that no party wishes to address. With the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the two-week summit set to begin on November 30, the United Arab Emirates, which holds the presidency this year, is facing allegations of using the climate talks as an opportunity to strike oil and gas deals. The COP28 team of the UAE had plans to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations, the Centre for Climate Reporting and BBC reported on Sunday, based on briefing documents seen by them. “The documents referred to in the BBC article are inaccurate and were not used by COP28 in meetings,” a COP28 spokesperson said on Tuesday. “It is extremely disappointing to see the BBC use unverified documents in their reporting.” Even so, any language on fossil fuels is a sensitive issue at COP28 and UN reports have indicated that top emitters globally are heavily invested in oil and gas. The challenge of getting top emitters on board was also revealed by COP28 director-general Majid Al Suwaidi, who said fossil fuels are a “complicated” issue for all parties, referring to the participating nations. “We know that this is a complicated issue for all parties. We have said from the beginning that this is a party driven process, our job is to get parties together to discuss and find consensus and we will see how that is addressed. It’s not our job to see what the COP should or shouldn’t be,” Suwaidi said on November 17. “What’s also important to think about is how we are addressing the issue of keeping global temperature rise under 1.5 degrees Celsius and the 22 GT (giga tonnes) emission-reductions needed, how do we get to where we want to be in a practical, realistic, honest and equitable way.” It is expected that the agreement at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi will also be reflected in the COP28 cover text, which covers all decisions taken during the conference. The New Delhi Declaration in September committed to achieving global net- zero emissions by or around mid-century, while taking into account the latest scientific developments and in line with different national circumstances. It also committed to tripling renewable energy capacity globally “through existing targets and policies, as well as demonstrating similar ambition with respect to other zero and low-emission technologies, including abatement and removal technologies, in line with national circumstances by 2030.” Expectedly, the declaration was silent on phasing out or phasing down of fossil fuels. “You can see the influence of countries highly dependent on oil and gas in the text. Their concerns have been addressed. Low carbon options could mean biofuels or green hydrogen for us or others; it could also mean clean petrol or gas to others,” a former climate negotiator said on condition of anonymity, referring to the G20 text. “We should also note that the declaration refers to nuclear energy. There had been no focus on nuclear so far because of safety concerns. And there is a clear reference to enhancing carbon capture and storage technologies.” The US and the European Union EU have suggested support for language on “phasing out unabated fossil fuels”, according to a statement by the European Council on October 16 and the US’ submission on the global stocktake to the UNFCCC. But both have pushed for immediately ceasing permits to new coal power generation. The latest developments should also be seen in the light of two reports, “Planet Wreckers” by OilChange International and the Production Gap Report 2023 by United Nations Environment Programme and Stockholm Environment Institute, experts said. Only 20 countries could be responsible for nearly 90% of the carbon dioxide pollution from new oil and gas fields and fracking wells planned between 2023 and 2050, the Oil Change International report. “Among these 20 countries, five global north governments stand out as the biggest climate hypocrites and most egregious Planet Wreckers: the United States, Canada, Australia, Norway, and the United Kingdom,” said the report by Oil Change International, an advocacy group. These five countries account for a majority (51%) of planned expansion from new oil and gas fields through 2050. If all 20 governments said no to their planned new oil and gas production, as the UN secretary general has been urging them to, 173 billion tonnes of carbon pollution would be kept in the ground, the report projected. National governments still plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, the Production Gap Report 2023 said. Major producer countries have pledged to achieve net- zero emissions, but none have committed to reduce coal, oil, and gas production in line with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, it said. “For over a century, energy from fossil fuels has helped to deliver jobs, revenue, and economic growth around the world,” the UN report said. “Consequently, most governments view coal, oil, and gas as sources of geopolitical power, energy security, and development.” For example, the US continues to be the top oil and gas producer in the world, and was fourth in coal production In 2021. The US government spent over $90 million on fossil fuel production abroad via the US Export-Import Bank and a further $25 million in 2022. During the 2021 climate summit, the US and 39 other countries signed the Glasgow Statement, pledging to halt public financing for unabated fossil fuel energy projects abroad by the end of 2022 and spend on clean energy instead. But EXIM has since approved $99.7 million for a refinery expansion in Indonesia. For India, coal production is on an increasing trajectory till 2030, but there is no data for oil and gas. For Russia, all three are on the rise. In the US, coal is on a decline, but oil and gas production is expected to increase. In China, coal is on a decline but gas production is increasing. In Canada, both oil and gas are increasing. In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both oil and gas are expected to increase in production until at least 2030, the UN report said. Sunita Narain, director general of Centre for Science and Environment and member of COP28 Advisory Committee, said, “It’s very interesting for me to see how the western media jumps on to the question of fossil fuels in our part of the world. I saw a report on Saudi Arabia having a deal with South Africa on oil and gas. But the fact is that oil and gas has increased in the US. UK is talking of new drilling in the North Sea. We are talking of massive exploration happening in the developed part of the world. US is the largest producer of oil and gas in the world. Its making deals with post the Ukraine war with several countries to sell their oil and gas. We need a phase-out of oil and gas but we need to see it first in the developed world.”

From the India Today archives (2015) | When the world fell short in efforts to save the Earth

Some 3,000 years later, in Paris, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande jointly released a book titled Ecology of Our Worlds at the Climate Change Summit on November 30, the two leaders must have appreciated the wisdom of our forefathers when they read this verse. Hours earlier, at the inauguration of the summit that saw the largest gathering of world leaders, Hollande sounded the alarm saying, “Never have the stakes of an international meeting been so high, since what is at stake is the future of the planet, the future of life itself.” In Paris, leaders were confronted with the Unthinkable Truth. There is little doubt that human beings, as a collective, have ignored the warning of the ancients and pierced the very heart of the earth through over-exploitation of its resources. The effects of an overheated globe are already being felt across the world as the earth’s climate shows signs of catastrophic and irreversible change. Freak and extreme weather strikes with metronomic regularity causing devastating cyclones, tidal waves, blizzards and droughts. Already the past 14 years have seen global temperatures rise to the hottest the world has recorded, and 2015 was the hottest year ever. Modi urged the gathering, “We want the world to act with urgency. We want a comprehensive, equitable and durable agreement in Paris, which must lead us to restore the balance between humanity and nature and between what we have inherited and what we will leave behind.” The time for action was now-leaders had to seize the moment. Rarely have so many people placed their trust in the hands of so few. Sadly, they would fail us. Paris, which marked the 21st round of climate change negotiations, saw no great departure from the past-the combatants and the zero-sum games. There was the global South vs North. Warmists vs Denialists. Conservatives vs Progressives. There were many who continued to believe that Green was the new Red. There was Big Government vs Big Corporation. Giant Green vs Gigantic Business. Band-Aid vs Drastic Surgery. There were the NIMBYs (not in my back yard) vs POOLs (please on our land). And it was soon clear that Trade would trump the Planet, as it did in the past. The imperatives were there at the outset. Experts at the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific body tasked to study climate change, had deduced that the tipping point for irreversible climate change was if global temperatures were to rise by more than 2 degrees Celsius in the coming years. Greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere have been rising sharply since the unbridled exploitation of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum for industrialisation in the past 150 years. The rise in temperatures has seen the polar ice caps, the world’s climate regulators, melt rapidly, leading to a dangerous rise in ocean levels and upsetting weather patterns. The Paris Climate Change Summit was to be the turning point. Nations, particularly developed ones, had to come up with commitments to reduce their carbon footprints. But as the summit got underway and torrents of commitments to cut emissions poured in, it was clear that these were not going to be enough to reverse the tide. The UN Climate Change Secretariat estimated that all the pledges of nations put together in Paris are capable of limiting the rise of global temperatures to only about a 2.7 degrees Celsius rise-way above the danger mark. Some experts say it may even rise by 3.6 degrees Celsius. Worse, even if all the nations implemented their plans, they would use up three-quarters of the carbon budget available by 2030. They would then have to commit to even deeper cuts in their GHG emissions in the next 15 years to avoid devastating climate impacts. British Prime Minister David Cameron asked the right question at the summit: “Not what we need to succeed-we all know that-but what we would have to say to our grandchildren if we failed. We would have to say, it was all too difficult. They would reply, what was it that was so difficult when the earth was in peril? When the sea levels were rising in 2015, when crops were failing, when deserts were expanding, what was it that was so difficult?” So what is it that is so difficult? Why do nations, particularly the prosperous ones, baulk from taking the challenge head-on even as doomsday looms? In climate change, history has a habit of repeating itself. And since we don’t learn from it, we are condemned to repeat it. Twenty-three years after the world first acknowledged the problem at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) became an international treaty, there is not much progress to show. In 1997, when leaders realised that emission reduction targets were insufficient, they agreed to what is now known as the Kyoto Protocol, that placed legally binding emission reduction targets on developed countries. The onus was on them because the protocol recognised that they were mainly responsible for the current high level of GHG emissions in the atmosphere caused by their past industrial development. Developing nations such as India and China successfully pushed through the “polluters must pay” approach apart from the central principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” for implementing the protocol. But it took several rounds of torturous negotiations and a complex ratification for it to come into force in 2005. The protocol laid a stringent target of 5 per cent emission reduction compared to 1990 levels over a five-year period (2008 to 2012) as part of the first commitment. Another commitment period began in 2013 and ends in 2020. Experts admit that the protocol has largely been a failure because the US, the world’s second-largest GHG emitter, pulled out on the pretext that it doesn’t bind developing countries such as India and China to commit to cuts in their emissions. Following the US lead, many developed nations including Canada, Japan and Russia also pulled out whilst others worked to dilute the stringent provisions. Developed nations then pushed for voluntary and self-regulatory cuts. That move firmed up into a plan for every nation to declare its “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” or INDCs to reduce its carbon emissions. At the Paris summit, the stringent Kyoto Protocol is to be given a quiet burial by developed nations after it expires in 2020 and will be replaced by an agreement with non-binding, voluntary targets with only a weak pledge to do a “stock-taking” review after five years. Developed nations have steadily reneged on two other major commitments to developing countries that had been agreed under the UNFCCC: to provide adequate finance and transfer technology. These were to help poor countries adapt to climate change and help them leapfrog into using renewable sources supplies such as solar and wind by transferring advanced technology to harness them. On finance, after much haggling, the developed countries agreed to contribute $100 billion annually to the UN’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) from 2020 onwards. But India and other developing nations argue that for them to take mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change would require 10 times the funds that are being provided. Moreover, as Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar points out, “developed countries’ commitment of $100 billion is obfuscation, double accounting and fudging”, because they have included their existing Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) while the commitment was to provide “new and additional” resources. In Paris, there will be plenty of heartburn as effort will be made to squeeze more out of the developed countries which are unwilling to commit additional finances. Developed countries have also been parsimonious in transferring advanced green technology to developing nations to enable them to lessen their carbon footprint. The US and other developed countries argue that much of their cutting-edge research on green technology is done in private-sector laboratories and there are Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues that they cannot violate. Also, by transferring green technology cheap, they would destroy the market mechanism and dissuade industries from investing in this sector. India has said on IPR issues the royalty can be paid through the GCF coffers and the technology bought could be then subsidised to all developing countries. On this vital demand, again there is unlikely to be a breakthrough. Meanwhile, developed countries have over the years worked to systematically break the unity of developing countries on climate issues. With China emerging as the world’s largest emitter of GHGs, President Xi Jinping smartly collaborated with US President Barack Obama to announce major commitments to reduce its carbon footprint before Paris. With China in the bag, guns are now focused on India, which is seen as recalcitrant and a game-spoiler by developed countries. India points out that its annual per capita energy consumption is one of the lowest-a third of the world average and 20 times less than the US. And while it may be the world’s fourth-largest emitter of GHGs, it contributes only 6 per cent as compared to China’s 25 per cent, the US’s 13 per cent and Europe’s 10 per cent. The big gorilla is not India but the US. It has steadfastly foot-dragged on commitments. Obama admitted as much when he said: “I come here as the leader of the world’s biggest economy and second-biggest emitter to say that America not only acknowledges its role in climate change but embraces doing something about it.” But US commitments are treated with scorn and scepticism. Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) pointed out in a report sarcastically titled ‘Captain America’ that Obama’s announcement that by 2025 the US would reduce its GHG emissions to 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels was a fudge. In reality, this was much lower than its earlier commitments and represented a 13 per cent cut on a 1990 baseline. The US and the rest of the world have been attacking India’s stance and expressed concern that its INDCs have made it clear that it will increase its carbon footprint. Secretary of State John Kerry termed India as “a challenge”. A smarting Javadekar narrates how at lunch at a recent sustainable development summit in New York the delegates were served dishes put together using waste food like ‘Landfill Salad’ and ‘Spent Grain Bread’. But Kerry was served a special chicken dish. Javadekar pulled Kerry’s leg but he continued to tuck into his meal. Using the incident as an analogy, Javadekar remarks, “The US expects us to take on commitments while it does not commit to anything major despite being responsible for much of the world’s GHG emissions.” In Paris, Modi smartly turned the tables on the West by announcing the formation of an International Solar Alliance of 121 countries that are located between the tropics and have abundant sunshine. The ambitious alliance would provide the requisite demand and economies of scale to drive the price of solar technology down and make it competitive with coal-fired thermal plants. When he presented India’s INDCs to the summit, Modi committed that by 2030, 40 per cent of its installed electric power capacity would come from non-fossil-based energy resources. He demanded that the West vacate carbon space it occupies for developing countries such as India as thermal power plants are still the cheapest way to generate electricity. Terming it “climate justice”, he said such plants were needed to supply 300 million people, or a fourth of India’s population, who still have no access to a reliable source of energy. So what will the outcome be at Paris? All the four key pillars-mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology-that a win-win agreement could stand on are weak. With Kerry clear that the US would not agree to a legally binding protocol like Kyoto, the Paris agreement will be feeble and infirm. On providing finance and technology, developed countries will stick to their miserly stand. Watching the whittling away of commitments in Paris, CSE Deputy Director General Chandra Bhushan predicts, “Currently, it’s a zero-sum game. We will be back in five years negotiating another protocol.” Such band-aid efforts would only push the world faster towards disaster. As Prince Charles, who spoke at the summit, said: “We don’t have a Plan B to save the earth.” Away from the Le Bourget airfield, where the summit was being held in modified hangars, Paris was still in mourning after the recent terror attacks. The fear had not abated and the country was in a state of emergency. Protesters who were a norm for such climate change events were confined to the picturesque Place de la République and were not allowed to spill onto the streets. It was apparent that the world was facing two of its greatest challenges-growing terror and rapid climate change. As Hollande put it: “I can’t separate the fight with terrorism and the fight against global warming. These are two big global challenges we have to face up to, because we have to leave our children more than a world free of terror, we also owe them a planet protected from catastrophes.” Neither of these twin threats is being handled with any degree of comfort. Asked about the outcome of the Paris summit, Ashok Lavasa, Union environment secretary, and India’s chief negotiator at the summit, prefers to quote from a Matthew Arnold poem:

Dalmia Cement Plans To Use Wind Power For Its Tamil Nadu Plants

Dalmia Cement is India’s fourth-largest cement manufacturer by installed capacity. The cement industry globally and in the country is considered one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters and a hard-to-abate sector. As per an estimate from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India’s top five cement companies– Ultratech Cement, ACC, Ambuja Cement, Shree Cement and Dalmia Cement together contributed around 51% of the carbon dioxide emissions from the sector in India during 2019-20

Bài học từ vụ sập đường hầm ở Ấn Độ

ANTD.VN - Vụ sập Đường hầm Silkyara ở miền Bắc Ấn Độ mở ra chiến dịch cứu hộ quy mô lớn nhằm tiếp cận 41 công nhân xây dựng đang mắc kẹt tại đây sau sự cố xảy ra ngày 12-11 vừa qua. Chính phủ Ấn Độ cũng đang thực hiện các bước nhằm tránh những sự cố tương tự trong tương lai. Rà soát toàn bộ các công trình đường hầm Cơ quan Đường cao tốc Quốc gia Ấn Độ (NHAI) đã được lệnh kiểm tra tất cả các dự án xây dựng đường hầm trên toàn quốc. “Để đảm bảo an toàn và tuân thủ các tiêu chuẩn chất lượng cao nhất trong quá trình xây dựng, NHAI sẽ thực hiện kiểm tra an toàn đối với tất cả 29 đường hầm đang được xây dựng trên toàn quốc”, thông báo mới đây của cơ quan này cho biết. Được biết, cơ quan chức năng sẽ xem xét 12 đường hầm ở bang Himachal Pradesh thuộc dãy Himalaya và 6 đường hầm ở khu vực Jammu và Kashmir đang gặp khó khăn. Họ cũng sẽ kiểm tra các dự án ở Uttarakhand, bang phía Bắc Himalaya nơi Đường hầm Silkyara bị sập và các bang khác của Ấn Độ. Xét về mặt an toàn, rõ ràng có một số khía cạnh trong xây dựng đường hầm ở Ấn Độ cần được cải thiện. Ví dụ, Đường hầm Silkyara dường như không có lối thoát hiểm, điều này đặt ra thách thức cho lực lượng cứu hộ khi phải vật lộn với máy móc bị hỏng và địa hình có thể không ổn định. Tuy nhiên, nhiều người cho rằng, vụ sập hầm này là dấu hiệu của một vấn đề rắc rối lớn hơn khi các công trình xây dựng ở dãy Himalaya có quy hoạch kém, dẫn đến tần suất và cường độ của các sự cố, thậm chí thảm kịch tăng lên. Bang Uttarakhand thường xuyên bị ảnh hưởng bởi lở đất, động đất và lũ lụt. Một số chuyên gia và người dân đã cảnh báo rằng, những ngọn núi ở đó không ổn định về mặt địa chất. Vụ sập hầm khiến hơn 40 công nhân Ấn Độ bị mắc kẹt ở dãy Himalaya cho thấy sự cần thiết phải đảm bảo yếu tố an toàn trong xây dựng nhưng cũng báo hiệu cần phải tôn trọng hơn đối với môi trường mong manh của khu vực. Lo ngại sự cố nếu vấn đề môi trường không được quan tâm Đường hầm Silkyara dài 4,5km nằm trên tuyến đường hành hương Char Dham, hiện là một trong những dự án đầy tham vọng của Thủ tướng Ấn Độ Narendra Modi. Dự án nhằm mục đích liên kết 4 địa điểm quan trọng của đạo Hindu ở miền Bắc Ấn Độ gồm Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath và Kedarnath bằng con đường 2 làn, dài 890km, chi phí dự tính 1,5 tỷ USD. Tuy nhiên, các nhà môi trường và giới chuyên gia cho rằng, các dự án phát triển tràn lan tại khu vực này đã khiến hệ sinh thái địa phương càng dễ bị tổn thương hơn trước biến đổi khí hậu. Hậu quả của nhiều năm xây dựng không kiểm soát, phát triển thủy điện và thiếu hệ thống thoát nước phù hợp đã khiến cuộc khủng hoảng trở nên trầm trọng hơn. Chỉ riêng trong năm nay, khu vực Himalaya đã trải qua một số thảm họa như vụ chìm thị trấn Joshimath ở Uttarakhand; lũ lụt và lở đất ở Himachal Pradesh; vụ dâng ngập hồ băng ở Sikkim vào tháng 10-2023 và vụ sập đường hầm tháng 11-2023. Nhà môi trường học Shekhar Pathak cho rằng, đường hầm Silkyara được khởi công trước khi thực hiện khảo sát địa chất kỹ lưỡng. Theo ông Pathak, người ta không nhớ bài học cảnh báo về trận lũ lụt năm 2021 ở thung lũng Rishi Ganga và Dhauli, cướp đi sinh mạng của hơn 200 người, bao gồm cả nhiều người bị mắc kẹt bên trong đường hầm của Nhà máy thủy điện Tapovan Vishnugad. Ông Pathak, đồng thời là người sáng lập tổ chức phi lợi nhuận Hiệp hội nhân dân nghiên cứu khu vực Himalaya, cho biết các biện pháp an toàn tiên tiến cho đường hầm ngay từ đầu đã thiếu, việc thực hiện sơ tán khẩn cấp đã không được tính toán kỹ lưỡng. Cùng với đó, ông Sunita Narain, Giám đốc Trung tâm nghiên cứu Khoa học và Môi trường ở Thủ đô Ấn Độ, cảnh báo rằng biến đổi khí hậu khiến các hiện tượng như mưa trái mùa và cực đoan xuất hiện thường xuyên hơn. Nhiều nghiên cứu khác nhau đã phát hiện ra rằng, các sông băng ở dãy Himalaya đang tan chảy đáng kể, có khả năng làm tăng nguy cơ lũ lụt và lở đất. Năm 2019, Tòa án Tối cao Ấn Độ đã chỉ định một ủy ban cấp cao để đánh giá thiệt hại tiềm tàng về môi trường và xã hội của dự án và đề xuất các biện pháp giảm thiểu tác động. Nhà môi trường kỳ cựu Ravi Chopra được bổ nhiệm làm Chủ tịch Ủy ban nhưng đã từ chức vào năm 2022, cho rằng các khuyến nghị của họ chưa được thực hiện. Các chuyên gia cũng cho rằng, quy trình đánh giá tác động môi trường bắt buộc đối với các dự án dài hơn 100km đã bị bỏ qua. Thực tế, cả công trình được chia thành 53 dự án nhỏ, đó là lý do tại sao nó có thể được tiến hành chỉ sau một đợt đánh giá môi trường mang tính hình thức. Ông RaviChopra nhấn mạnh, sẽ còn nhiều sự cố hơn như sập đường hầm chừng nào vấn đề môi trường bị gạt sang một bên. Phát triển bền vững đòi hỏi những cách tiếp cận phù hợp cả về mặt địa chất và sinh thái.

India faced extreme weather events nearly daily in 1st 9 months of this year

Centre for Science and Environment researchers said the losses and damages could be higher as data for each event was not collated nor were the losses of public property or crops calculated India faced extreme weather events nearly daily in the first nine months this year claiming an estimated 2,923 human lives, affecting 1.84 million hectares (ha) of crop area, destroying over 80,563 houses, and killing nearly 92,519 livestock, a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysis has found. CSE researchers said the losses and damages could be higher as data for each event was not collated nor were the losses of public property or crops calculated. The analysis is based on the compilation of heat waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods, and landslide data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s daily bulletins and the home ministry’s situation report on flood/heavy rainfall. “While a realistic estimate can be made about the number of days the country recorded extreme weather events from IMD releases, major gaps remain when it comes to loss and damage assessment. [Home ministry’s] DMD [Disaster Management Division] provides data as received by the states and this is mainly for the monsoon season. It does not include all extreme events as defined by IMD,” the analysis said. India recorded extreme weather events on 235 of the 273 days (86%) from January 1 to September 30 in different parts of the country. Record-breaking temperatures were reported for months. Regions across the country were also deluged because of very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall. Extreme weather events were reported on 241 days during the same period last year. But this time, all 36 states and Union Territories were affected, compared to 34 last year “This is the watermark of climate change. It is not about the single event but about the increased frequency of the events—an extreme event we saw once every 100 years has now begun to occur every five years or less. Worse, it is now all coming together—each month is breaking a new record. This, in turn, is breaking the backs of the poorest, who are worst impacted and are fast losing their capacities to cope with these recurring and frequent events,” the analysis said. Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of days with extreme weather events—every second day. Bihar suffered the highest number of human losses at 642, followed by Himachal Pradesh (365) and Uttar Pradesh (341). Himachal Pradesh reported the highest number of damaged houses (15,407) and Punjab had the largest number of animal deaths (63,649). Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather events on 138 days since the beginning of 2023 even as official records indicate no crop area damage. Media reports suggest that at least 45,000 ha of crop area were affected, CSE said. February exceeded previous records to become the warmest in 122 years. Northwest India was particularly hit with an average temperature of around 2.78°C above normal (1981-2010). March was modestly warmer but the average minimum temperature in northwest India was 1.34°C above the long-term norm. June was the sixth warmest on record with the south Peninsula reporting its warmest June on record. In July, the country recorded the second-highest minimum temperature in 122 years. August and September were again the warmest ever. India recorded its sixth driest February and its driest ever August in 122 years. The analysis called for moving beyond the management of the disaster to reducing risks and improving resilience. “This is why we need more than words to improve the systems for flood management—deliberately building drainage and water recharge systems on the one hand and investing in green spaces and forests so that these sponges of water can be revitalised for the coming storms. This also speaks of the need to demand reparations for the damage from the countries that have contributed to the emissions in the atmosphere and are responsible for this damage.” The analysis said the models that explain the impacts of climate change are clear that extreme weather events will increase in frequency and intensity. HT on November 21 reported that global temperatures may have temporarily breached the 2°C threshold on November 17 and November 18, which scientists believe could cause irreversible damage if it persists for longer periods. The average global daily temperature was around 2°C warmer than the 1850-1900 average for the first time in history on the two days, according to estimates. The Paris Agreement of 2015 set the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C and possibly not more than 1.5°C.

India saw extreme weather events almost every day in first 9 months this year: Report

India experienced extreme weather events almost every day in the first nine months of this year which led to nearly 3,000 deaths, according to a report released on November 29. Published by the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the report said the climate-vulnerable country had extreme weather on 86% of days from January to September 2023. The CSE said 2,923 people died, almost two million hectares of crops were ruined, 80,000 homes were destroyed and more than 92,000 animals were killed. But these numbers might be even higher because not all the data is collected, it said. "'India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events' attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in the country. As this assessment clearly shows, what the country has witnessed so far in 2023 is the new 'abnormal' in a warming world," said the CSE director general Sunita Narain. 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). Punjab recorded the highest number of animal deaths while Himachal Pradesh reported the most damaged houses due to extreme weather events. In the southern region, Kerala saw the highest count of extreme weather days (67) and deaths (60). Telangana suffered maximum effect on crop area (over 62,000 hectares). The State also witnessed high animal casualties (645). Karnataka faced severe destruction, with over 11,000 houses demolished. In northwest India, Uttar Pradesh had the most extreme weather days at 113. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan were also significantly affected. 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. The CSE said 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. Most of these deaths occurred in Bihar. However, the most significant devastation came from heavy rains, floods, and landslides, causing over 1,900 casualties. According to research conducted by a different think tank, more than 80% of Indians live in districts vulnerable to climate risks.

India Witnessed Extreme Weather Almost Every Day Between January and September This Year: Pre-COP28 Report

India has experienced an extreme weather disaster almost every day of the first nine months of this year, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). From heat and cold waves, cyclones and lightning to heavy rain, floods and landslides, such events hit the country with an alarming frequency, affecting 86% of the days between January 1 and September 30. These disasters have caused significant damage, including 2,923 human fatalities, destruction of over 80,000 houses, and the loss of more than 92,000 livestock. The impact on the country's agriculture has also been severe, with 1.84 million hectares (mha) of crop area being impacted. However, these figures may underestimate the scale of the damage, as data for each event is not collated, and losses of public property or agriculture are not calculated. CSE's and Down To Earth magazine's new pre-COP28 assessment of extreme weather events in India in 2023 reveals that these statistics are part of a worrying trend. The report, titled "India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events," attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of such events in the country. According to the report, India experienced extreme weather events on 235 of the 273 days between January 1 and September 30, which is a little over 86% of the days. Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of such events (138), but the maximum number of people killed was in Bihar (642), followed by Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh with 365 and 341 fatalities, respectively. In the southern region, Kerala recorded the maximum number of extreme weather days (67) and deaths (60). Telangana recorded the biggest affected crop area, with over 62,000 hectares (ha) impacted, and also had a high number of animal deaths (645). With over 11,000 houses destroyed, Karnataka suffered the most on this score. In India's northwest, Uttar Pradesh had the most extreme weather days at 113. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan all fared badly as well. In the east and northeast, 102 events put Assam at the top of the table; the state also lost 159 livestock and over 48,000 ha of its crop area was devastated. In Nagaland, over 1,900 houses were destroyed. The report also highlights that 2023 has seen more devastation than 2022, with a significant increase in the impact of extreme weather events across the whole country. This year, all 36 states and Union territories have been affected, compared to 34 last year. The extent of cropped area that has suffered damages has also widened, affecting 20 states this year, compared to 15 last year. The report's authors warn that the impact of extreme weather events is the new 'abnormal' in a warming world, and urgent action is needed to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Rain, wind to rescue: AQI ‘moderate’ again

Gurgaon: The city’s air quality index (AQI) improved to 196 (moderate) on Tuesday from 311 (very poor) the day before. This was due to drizzle and a rise in wind speed from 6kmph on Monday to 8kmph, which helped pollutants disperse, experts said. Before this, the last time the city witnessed a ‘moderate’ air day was on November 12 (193). Since then, the AQI has been fluctuating between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’. On Tuesday, the AQI was ‘moderate’ at all four stations in the city. It was the highest at Gwalpahari (299), followed by Teri Gram (251), Vikas Sadan (229) and Sector 51 (205). Neighbouring Delhi reported ‘very poor’ AQI at 312, whereas Faridabad (250), Noida (261) and Ghaziabad (250) recorded ‘poor’ air. “Light rain and better wind speed have helped in improving AQI suddenly, but as the pollutants are likely to get trapped due to severe cold, it will again deteriorate,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. According to Safar, weather conditions are likely to be highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants from November 30. “The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from the northeast or southeast with speeds of up to 8kmph. There will also be fog,” it stated. We also published the following articles recently Low wind speed keeps air in 'very poor' zone for 4th dayThe air quality in Noida and Ghaziabad deteriorated marginally on Thursday, remaining 'very poor' for the fourth consecutive day. The air quality index (AQI) in Noida was 353, Greater Noida was 336, and Ghaziabad was 361. Experts attributed the decline to meteorological factors like wind speed, direction, and temperature, as well as local factors like road dust and vehicular emissions. The SAFAR bulletin predicts that the air quality will continue to be 'very poor' on Friday, with a possibility of some improvement on Saturday. The 'very poor' air quality can have adverse effects on respiratory health and allergies.105457505 Delhi Pollution: AQI 'near severe', fifth time in NovemberDelhi's air quality in November worsened to the upper end of the 'very poor' category with an AQI of 395. This is the fifth day this month with 'near severe' levels and the month has seen eight 'severe' days. The wind speed briefly improved the air quality from 'severe' to 'very poor'. The hourly AQI readings fluctuated throughout the day, with the highest at 422 at 11am. Calm wind conditions overnight contributed to the accumulation of pollutants, while strong winds aid dispersion. Stubble burning in neighboring states remains a significant contributor to Delhi's pollution levels.105427280 Delhi pollution: Air quality dips into 'severe category' today, AQI crosses 400The air quality in Delhi worsened from 'very poor' to 'severe category' according to CPCB. Anand Vihar and Jahangirpuri recorded AQI of 405 and 428 respectively. Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and Dwarka Sector 8 had AQI of 404 and 403, all falling into the 'severe category'. On Tuesday, SAFAR-India recorded an AQI of 323. The Commission for Air Quality Management revoked restrictions in Delhi, allowing trucks, buses, and lifting the ban on construction activities.1

A Disaster A Day: Thousands Dead In Extreme Weather Events In India This Year

Nearly 3,000 people have died due to extreme weather events in India this year. The highest number of extreme weather related deaths were reported in Bihar, while the highest number of extreme weather incidents were reported in Madhya Pradesh. Nearly two million acres of crops were destroyed and over 90,000 animals killed Nearly 3,000 people died as India saw at least one extreme weather event almost every day in the first nine months this year, a study says. Between January to September 2023, India saw extreme weather events on 86% days. The study, conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, which calls itself an independent think tank, said 2,923 people died and two million hectares of crops were ruined.

India saw extreme weather events almost every day in first 9 months this year: Report

India experienced extreme weather events almost every day in the first nine months of this year which led to nearly 3,000 deaths, according to a report released on Wednesday. Published by the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the report said the climate-vulnerable country had extreme weather on 86 per cent of days from January to September 2023. The CSE said 2,923 people died, almost two million hectares of crops were ruined, 80,000 homes were destroyed and more than 92,000 animals were killed. But these numbers might be even higher because not all the data is collected, it said. "'India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events' attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in the country. As this assessment clearly shows, what the country has witnessed so far in 2023 is the new 'abnormal' in a warming world," said the CSE director general Sunita Narain. 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). Punjab recorded the highest number of animal deaths while Himachal Pradesh reported the most damaged houses due to extreme weather events. In the southern region, Kerala saw the highest count of extreme weather days (67) and deaths (60). Telangana suffered maximum effect on crop area (over 62,000 hectares). The state also witnessed high animal casualties (645). Karnataka faced severe destruction, with over 11,000 houses demolished. In northwest India, Uttar Pradesh had the most extreme weather days at 113. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan were also significantly affected. 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. The CSE said 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. Most of these deaths occurred in Bihar. However, the most significant devastation came from heavy rains, floods, and landslides, causing over 1,900 casualties. According to research conducted by a different think tank, more than 80 per cent of Indians live in districts vulnerable to climate risks.

3,000 lives lost in India’s 2023 extreme weather toll

A stark climate study published on Wednesday reveals that nearly 3,000 people have lost their lives due to extreme weather disasters that relentlessly struck India almost every day in the first nine months of this year. The report, “India 2023: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events,” conducted by the climate advocacy group Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine, highlights the relentless nature of weather disasters, ranging from heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods, and landslides. The disasters “hit the country with tenacious and frightening regularity,” according to the report. “These disasters have claimed 2,923 human lives,” said the study, warning that the “more alarming” is the fact that “in all probability, these calculations could be an underestimation.” “Data for each event is not collated, nor are losses of public property or agriculture calculated.” The impact extends beyond the loss of lives, affecting 1.84 million hectares of crop area, destroying over 80,000 houses, and causing the death of more than 92,000 livestock, according to the study. The study claims that its findings provide evidence based on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in the country of 1.4 billion people. “The country has witnessed…the new abnormal in a warming world,” said CSE head Sunita Narain. The report notes that January 2023 was slightly warmer than average, but February set records as the warmest in 122 years. The country experienced its sixth driest February and its driest August this year. “Disaster-wise, lightning and storms were the most frequent. On 176 out of 273 days, they killed 711 people. Most of them died in Bihar. But the maximum havoc was wreaked by a combination of heavy rains, floods, and landslides due to which over 1,900 people lost their lives,” said the report. The report indicates that 2023 was more devastating compared to 2022. “The impact of extreme weather events has been worse and been felt across the country in 2023, compared to” fewer places last year, said Kiran Pandey, one of the authors of the report. Narain said what the report found “is the watermark of climate change.” “It is not about a single event, but about the increased frequency of such events,” she said. “An extreme event that we used to witness once every 100 years, has now begun to occur every five years or even less. This is breaking the back of our poorest, who are the worst affected and fast losing their capacities to cope.”

Eventos meteorológicos extremos golpean a la India con "regularidad tenaz y aterradora"

Eventos meteorológicos extremos como súbitas inundaciones, potentes tormentas eléctricas u olas de calor golpean a la India con una "regularidad tenaz y aterradora" y causaron casi 3.000 muertes en los primeros nueve meses del año, alertó este miércoles el Centro de Ciencia y Medio Ambiente (CSE) del país asiático. La India sufrió algún tipo de fenómeno extremo el 86 % de los días entre enero y septiembre pasados, más que los registrados en el mismo periodo del año anterior, según el CSE. Este organismo y la revista Down To Earth, en un informe que analiza datos oficiales y reportes de los medios de comunicación, concluyeron que "lo que el país ha presenciado hasta ahora en 2023 es la nueva 'anormalidad' en un mundo que se calienta". En concreto, estos desastres meteorológicos provocaron 2.923 muertos y afectaron a 1,84 millones de hectáreas de cultivos, además de destruir decenas de miles de hogares y matar a 92.000 cabezas de ganado, según el documento. Los mayores culpables de la pérdida de vidas humanas son las tormentas acompañadas de relámpagos, con 711 muertes en su mayoría en el estado norteño de Bihar. Solo el pasado lunes, las autoridades del estado occidental de Gujarat informaron del fallecimiento de al menos 20 personas a causa de unas intensas lluvias acompañadas por tormentas eléctricas y granizo. Las inundaciones súbitas y deslizamientos de tierra mataron a más de 1.900 personas, afirmó el informe. Pero los efectos del cambio climático se dejan sentir también en otros ámbitos, con el febrero más caluroso y el agosto más seco en 122 años. Según uno de los expertos del CSE, Kiran Pandey, el informe "indica que 2023 ha sido más devastador que 2022", con un mayor impacto y una mayor extensión de los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos el presente año. La directora general del CSE, Sunita Narain, indicó por su parte que los efectos del cambio climático implican que "un acontecimiento extremo que solíamos presenciar una vez cada 100 años, ahora ha empezado a ocurrir cada cinco años, o incluso menos". La advertencia llega justo antes de que empiece el próximo jueves la COP28, la conferencia sobre el cambio climático de Naciones Unidas que este año tiene lugar en Dubái, en la que la India pretende servir de puente entre los países desarrollados y el sur global para acelerar la acción climática. EFE

India saw extreme weather events almost every day in first 9 months this year: Report

India experienced extreme weather events almost every day in the first nine months of this year which led to nearly 3,000 deaths, according to a report released on Wednesday. Published by the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the report said the climate-vulnerable country had extreme weather on 86 per cent of days from January to September 2023. The CSE said 2,923 people died, almost two million hectares of crops were ruined, 80,000 homes were destroyed and more than 92,000 animals were killed. But these numbers might be even higher because not all the data is collected, it said. "'India 2023: An assessment of extreme weather events' attempts to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in the country. As this assessment clearly shows, what the country has witnessed so far in 2023 is the new 'abnormal' in a warming world," said the CSE director general Sunita Narain. 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). Punjab recorded the highest number of animal deaths while Himachal Pradesh reported the most damaged houses due to extreme weather events. In the southern region, Kerala saw the highest count of extreme weather days (67) and deaths (60). Telangana suffered maximum effect on crop area (over 62,000 hectares). The state also witnessed high animal casualties (645). Karnataka faced severe destruction, with over 11,000 houses demolished. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan were also significantly affected. In northwest India, Uttar Pradesh had the most extreme weather days at 113. 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. The CSE said 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. Most of these deaths occurred in Bihar. However, the most significant devastation came from heavy rains, floods, and landslides, causing over 1,900 casualties. According to research conducted by a different think tank, more than 80 per cent of Indians live in districts vulnerable to climate risks.