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New State Of Africa’s Environment 2023 Report Warns Of Growing Environmental Challenges

The 2023 State of Africa’s Environment Report by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) highlights the growing challenges facing the continent. The report, released by the Indian-based think tank, emphasizes the centralization of environmental well-being in Africa’s overall sustainable development, offering authentic insights into the current conditions and opportunities in African countries. The report points out that nearly half of the world’s population currently depends on degraded resources such as land and forests for their livelihoods. However, these resources may not be able to sustain productive livelihoods in the future. Africa’s natural capital was estimated at $6.2 trillion in 2018, nearly three times the size of the entire continental economy. Over 80% of Africa’s population directly relies on natural resources, such as land and forests. The continent is highly vulnerable to climate change and has been experiencing the negative effects of drought, flooding, cyclones, and other climate change-related events. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 2022 report highlighted the existential threat of the climate crisis, impacting millions of people who have been enduring the wrath of nature for years. The CSE report underscores the importance of renewable natural assets, such as land and ecosystems, for low-income countries. These assets make up around 23% of their total wealth, representing the highest proportion of total wealth derived from renewable natural capital among all income groups. The report warns that African countries could face a 10% drop in GDP by 2030, and by 2050, approximately 1.2 billion Africans could face higher water pollution, 1.5 billion could experience increased food insecurity, and millions will be at risk of coastal erosion. Furthermore, scientists estimate that nearly half of the world’s population currently depends on degraded resources for their livelihoods. In the future, these resources may no longer be able to support productive livelihoods. The report also highlights the recent unprecedented destruction of planetary health, a resurgence of populism and social unrest, escalating inequalities in health, skills, and opportunities, and a growing dissatisfaction with democracy. ADVERTISEMENT. SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported in January 2023 that around 22 million people in the Horn of Africa, spanning from southern Ethiopia to northern Kenya and Somalia, are at risk of hunger due to the worst drought in four decades. In East Africa, the region experienced five consecutive deficit rainy seasons by the end of 2022, with the rainy season from March to May 2022 being the driest in over 70 years for Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, emphasized that the report creates links between environmental aspects and development through comprehensive analysis and scientific-based evidence. Director General of Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Mamo Bor Mamo, noted that the report will guide Kenya’s approach during the COP28 summit and emphasized the collective responsibility for addressing environmental issues in Africa. Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor of Down To Earth, mentioned that the CSE report involved over 100 researchers and journalists from across the continent, providing country-wise assessments for a continental perspective. The report covers climate change, wildlife and biodiversity, agriculture and land degradation, water and hygiene situations, and emerging waste management issues. Africa hosts nine of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots and is home to over 1,500 endemic plant species that have lost at least 70% of their primary native vegetation. The Congo Basin, considered the world’s second-largest green lung, absorbs 4% of global carbon emissions annually and supports the livelihoods of 80 million people. In terms of land and agriculture, over 80-90% of the landmass in many Horn of Africa countries is arid or semi-arid and not suitable for agriculture, particularly in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan. The region has been affected by the worst drought in 40 years. The report also highlights air pollution and mobility, indicating a significant variation in air pollution-related deaths across Africa, ranging from 36 deaths in Seychelles to 0.197 million deaths in Nigeria, the highest recorded.

Delhi's air quality in 'poor' category, minimum temperature at 15.8 degree Celsius

On Saturday, the air quality in Delhi deteriorated and slipped into the 'poor' category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 219 around 9 am. The minimum temperature in Delhi, meanwhile, settled at 15.8 degree Celsius on Saturday, three notches below the season's average. This comes two days after the city recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature. The relative humidity at 8:30 am was recorded at 83 per cent, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather department has predicted mainly clear skies during the day. The maximum temperature in the national capital is likely to settle at 32 degrees Celsius. Delhi on Thursday had recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature at 15.9 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal, IMD said. Separately, in a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region (NCR). 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states, according to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Delhi's air quality slips to 'poor' category, minimum temperature at 15.8°C

The air quality in Delhi deteriorated and slipped into the 'poor' category on Saturday. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 224, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Meanwhile, the minimum temperature settled at 15.8 degrees Celsius, two days after the city recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature. Delhi on Thursday had recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature at 15.9 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Meanwhile, in a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region (NCR). According to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Earlier this month, a study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed the top 10 most-polluted cities, with Delhi being the most polluted city in India. Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Meerut in NCR took the top five spots on the list, followed by Patna and Muzaffarpur in Bihar. According to the AQI scale, the air quality check between 0 and 50 are considered "good", 51 and 100 are "satisfactory", 101 and 200 are "moderate", 201 and 300 are "poor", 301 and 400 are "very poor", and 401 and 450 are "severe" and "severe" when AQI exceeds 450.

Delhi Air Quality: AQI Drops To 'Poor' Category, Season's Lowest Minimum Temperature Recorded At 15.8°C

The air quality in national capital city Delhi has reportedly exacerbated and slipped into the 'poor' category on Saturday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 224. Moreover, the city also recorded the lowest minimum temperature of the season which settled at 15.8 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Delhi government convenes meeting The Delhi governmnet conevened a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday where they urged the Union Environment Ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region (NCR). This move comes following the publication of a report by an independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which suggested that 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Earlier this month, a study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed the top 10 most-polluted cities, with Delhi being the most polluted city in India. Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Meerut in NCR took the top five spots on the list, followed by Patna and Muzaffarpur in Bihar.

Kolkata air takes a knock as festive season starts

The first casualty of the festival season has been Kolkata’s air. Several parts of the city reported a downslide in air quality, according to figures from the seven automatic air quality monitoring stations across Kolkata. Three out of the seven monitoring stations reported “moderate” air quality on Thursday. The rest recorded “good” or “satisfactory” air. The day before, five stations reported “moderate” air quality and the rest “good” or “satisfactory”. During the monsoon and summer, the stations consistently recorded “good” or “satisfactory” air. Air of moderate quality can cause “breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases”, the Central Pollution Control Board has said. A combination of factors is at play. Scientists said a drop in temperature and wind speed traps pollutants — released by vehicles and other anthropogenic activities — closer to the ground. A large number of vehicles plying till late at night during the Puja adds pollutants to the air. Stronger winds during the summer months blow away the pollutants. Higher temperatures also helps the process. As the air warms up, it rises up and takes away the pollutants. This dispersal slows down with a drop in temperature as winter approaches. “This is the time when a build-up of pollutants closer to the ground starts and it worsens as winter approaches. This will become far worse in December and January,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, an air quality management specialist. “The drop in temperature and the slowing down of the wind speed traps pollutants closer to the ground. This increases the exposure level of people to poor air,” said Roy Chowdhury, executive director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a research and advocacy organisation. A police officer who was managing the Puja crowd said he could feel a chill in the late evening air. “I started wearing full-sleeve shirts from Friday because it feels a little uncomfortable as the night progresses. There is also a haze,” he said. The air quality report for Thursday, available on the website of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), showed that the concentration of PM2.5 in Kolkata’s air was 83.09 microgram per cubic metre. The concentration of PM10 was 153.42 microgram per cubic metre. Roy Chowdhury said the concentration of both these pollutants was more than the national standards. According to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the 24-hour average limit for PM2.5 and PM10 are 60 and 100 microgram per cubic metre. PM2.5 — particulates that are 2.5 micron or less in size — can enter the deepest crevices of the lungs and trigger a host of critical ailments, such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. The gradual dip in air quality needs a host of measures to be implemented. Every year the civic authorities issue a host of guidelines for under-construction buildings to prevent dispersion of dust from their sites. A study published in 2019 showed that the transport sector contributed more than 20 per cent of PM2.5 present in Kolkata’s air. More than half of that was emitted by goods vehicles. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had done the study for the state pollution control board.

Delhi Government to run month-long campaign to curb industrial pollution: Rai

The Delhi government will run a month-long campaign to curb industrial pollution starting October 20. According to environment minister Gopal Rai, 66 teams have been set up to keep an eye on the fuels being used in over 1,700 industrial units in the capital. "Though these units have shifted to natural gas, we will ensure that there's no laxity on their part," said Rai directing officials to ensure regular lifting and proper scientific disposal of industrial waste from industrial areas. The environment minister further said 1753 registered industrial units of Delhi have been converted into PNG and any industrial unit that violates environmental regulations will face severe and appropriate repercussions from the relevant authorities.” “Under the Industrial Pollution Campaign, it has been decided to deploy patrolling teams to monitor the dumping of industrial waste in the whole of Delhi. Periodic reports will be submitted to the Environment Department based on their findings. The DPCC team has been instructed to take strict actions against any violation of environmental regulations by industrial units,” he added. Taking a dig at Rai, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said except for holding press conferences every day, this government has done nothing to tackle pollution. Rai had on Tuesday demanded that the Centre impose a complete ban on firecrackers and allow the movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region in a bid to curb air pollution. Rai, in a letter to Bhupender Yadav, his counterpart at the Centre, said the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season. "But these steps will not be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region," he said. A report by independent environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the national capital while 69 per cent is from sources in NCR states, he said. Rai demanded that the Centre convene an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the factors contributing to air pollution in the national capital. The states in the National Capital Region (NCR) should impose a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning in the entire region and allow only CNG and electric vehicles, the Delhi minister said.

Delhi urges firecracker ban in entire NCR in meeting with Centre

In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told reporters here that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. During this meeting, Delhi suggested several measures to curb pollution in the entire NCR region, he said. Earlier, Rai had requested the Centre to convene a meeting of all NCR states to collaboratively develop an action plan to combat pollution during the winter season. In a letter to Yadav, Rai had said that the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season but these steps won't be effective unless Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh address the sources of pollution in the NCR region. According to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Rai stressed that the states in the NCR should enforce a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning across the region and only permit CNG and electric vehicles to ply. Many industrial units in NCR states still use polluting fuels. They should be swiftly converted to piped natural gas. The highly polluting brick kilns operating in NCR states should be required to adopt zig-zag technology to mitigate pollution, he said. Also, electricity should be made available to all housing societies in NCR states to reduce reliance on diesel generators. The concerned state governments should also redirect non-destined vehicles from their point of origin on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, he added. Meanwhile, the Delhi government organised a run on Friday to raise awareness about the effects of air pollution and to seek public support in improving the city's air quality. Rai said officials from various Delhi government departments participated in the 'Run Against Pollution' event and pledged to use public transport, turn off vehicle engines when the traffic signal turns red and maintain clean surroundings. The government plans to relaunch the 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' campaign to combat vehicular pollution in the city. Another public awareness campaign, 'Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao,' will be reintroduced to discourage the burning of firecrackers.

Inconvenient truths

As the world gears up for COP28, there is a need to thoroughly analyse the pitfalls of the previous carbon markets before exploring newer mechanisms At the next UN climate conference (COP28) in Dubai later this year, the issue of regulation of a carbon market will be discussed. World leaders need to learn from the mistakes of the voluntary carbon market so that this new market mechanism, which is designed for transformation in the world, does not repeat them. Our investigation, published in the magazine (‘Discredited’, October 1-15, 2023) and in the report by the Centre for Science and Environment, has found inconvenient truths, which should lead us to change. We find that the current carbon markets could end up increasing emissions in the world. The buyers of the credit—say an airline that has assured its customers to offset their carbon footprint or a food company that has declared itself net-zero—have continued to emit; they have even increased their emissions saying that they have bought credits. But as these credits are overestimated or do not really exist, the reductions are notional. This is a double jeopardy. This is what the climate-risked world does not need. The first, and the obvious step, is to ensure transparency in the market. My colleagues met with stiff resistance when they asked for information; they were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) before visits to project sites; they were even told (by a Paris-based investor company) that travel in Indian villages was too dangerous and by one of the leading players, EKI Energy Services, that the “company is in a silent period”. The second step is to decide the objectives of the market—voluntary, bilateral or multilateral—and design rules accordingly. If the purpose of the market is to invest in projects that will lead to reduction in emissions in different parts of the world, then the market must be based on paying for the real cost of the projects. Currently, the market pays less than the costs of a renewable energy project or a biogas project. The poor are literally subsidising the rich emitters in this market. Third, the market only seems to work in the interest of project developers, consultants and auditors. The communities get virtually nothing from the proceeds, and this means they also have no stake in the emission reduction programme. The carbon market must be required to share the proceeds annually with communities in a verifiable manner. Take the issue of household devices, in this case, improved cookstoves. This market segment is growing exponentially, and understandably so, as it is lucrative for the project developers. The cost of the stove, which is all that households get in terms of carbon credit benefits, is barely 20 per cent of what the developer would earn over the five to six years of lifespan of the project. In other words, 80 per cent of the carbon revenue is kept as profit, and it is a handsome amount as each such project has thousands of devices to be distributed. And, this is assuming that the devices are supplied for free. At places, as we have found, poor households have actually paid for these cookstoves, against which the developer and its rich offset clients have made a killing. Then of course, there is the obvious question about actual carbon reduction, which has been used by companies to continue to emit. In the case of the household device programme, companies count carbon reduction on the basis of the distribution of stoves. There is little information on its actual usage—our research found that households were using multiple sources for cooking. Therefore, in spite of the army of project developers, verifiers, auditors and registries, there is widespread overestimation of emission reductions by project developers. One lesson that must be learnt is to keep the project design simple and to keep the control of the projects with public institutions and people. The most critical issue is, to whose account should the abated carbon be credited. This is not a hypothetical question, but a real one. To achieve the target of 50 per cent of India’s electric power requirements from non-fossil fuel sources, every megawatt of renewable power, including hydroelectricity, will need to be counted and factored in. Some 675 Indian renewable energy projects are registered under Verra and Gold Standard registries for 268 million carbon credits, of which 148 million have retired (or claimed against offsets). How can these be accounted for in India’s NDC (nationally determined contribution)? Or can they be? Will this not lead to double accounting? The fact is that the current voluntary carbon market is based on cheap options. This means countries have “sold” off the lowest-hanging fruit—the options of emission reductions that they could afford. They would now be in the balance sheet of foreign entities and governments. This only means that countries will not be able to afford to make investments in the hard-to-abate options; this will contribute to emissions and jeopardise our common future. DTE The writer is the Director-General of CSE and editor of DownToEarth. Views expressed are personal

Why construction dust is lethal for all and kids are the most vulnerable

Mega infrastructure projects Mumbai Coastal Road Project, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Road, Mumbai Metro, a sprawling network of bridges, and construction in neighbourhood after neighbourhood — as of last count, a record of more than 2,500 construction permits issued by the BMC last year. All these have draped the city with construction dust at a scale unprecedented in sweep and volume. “The meteorological condition is almost similar across the city; therefore it is local factors like construction, garbage burning and vehicular emission that mostly determine AQI in certain pockets. Places which have higher number of construction works going are more likely to record poorer AQI,” says Gufran Beig, senior scientist and project director of SAFAR.

दिल्ली में प्रदूषण रोकने के लिए पूरे एनसीआर में लगे पटाखे जलाने पर प्रतिबंध, आप सरकार की केंद्र से मांग

केंद्र सरकार की राज्यों सरकारों के साथ शुक्रवार (20 अक्टूबर, 2023) को संयुक्त बैठक हुई. बैठक में दिल्ली सरकार ने केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्रालय से नेशनल कैपिटल रीजन में पटाखे जलाने और डीजल बसों की आवाजाही पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाने का आग्रह किया. दिल्ली के पर्यावरण मंत्री गोपाल राय ने संवाददाताओं से कहा कि केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्री भूपेंद्र यादव ने दिल्ली, पंजाब, हरियाणा, उत्तर प्रदेश और राजस्थान के पर्यावरण मंत्रियों के साथ बैठक की. गोपाल राय ने बताया कि बैठक के दौरान दिल्ली सरकार ने पूरे एनसीआर क्षेत्र में प्रदूषण पर अंकुश लगाने के लिए कई उपाय सुझाए. इससे पहले, गोपाल राय ने केंद्र से सर्दियों के दौरान प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए सहयोगात्मक रूप से एक कार्य योजना विकसित करने के लिए सभी एनसीआर राज्यों की एक बैठक बुलाने का अनुरोध किया था. यादव को लिखे पत्र में राय ने कहा था कि दिल्ली सरकार ने सर्दियों के दौरान वायु प्रदूषण को रोकने के लिए कई कदम उठाए हैं, लेकिन ये कदम तब तक प्रभावी नहीं होंगे जब तक कि हरियाणा, राजस्थान और उत्तर प्रदेश एनसीआर क्षेत्र में प्रदूषण के स्त्रोतों पर ध्यान नहीं देते. गोपाल राय ने कहा, पटाखे और पराली जलाने पर लगे रोक स्वतंत्र पर्यावरण विचारक संस्था 'सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट' (सीएसई) की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, दिल्ली में 31 फीसदी वायू प्रदूषण राष्ट्रीय राजधानी के स्त्रोतों से उत्पन्न होता है, जबकि 69 फीसदी एनसीआर राज्यों के स्त्रोतों से उत्पन्न होता है. गोपाल राय ने इस बात पर जोर दिया कि एनसीआर राज्यों को पूरे क्षेत्र में पटाखों और पराली जलाने पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाना चाहिए और केवल सीएनजी और इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों को चलाने की अनुमति देनी चाहिए. रेड लाइट ऑन गाड़ी ऑफ अभियान फिर शुरू करने की योजना दिल्ली सरकार ने वायु प्रदूषण के प्रभावों के बारे में जागरूकता बढ़ाने और शहर की वायु गुणवत्ता में सुधार के लिए जनता का समर्थन मांगने के लिए शुक्रवार को एक दौड़ का आयोजन किया. राय ने कहा कि दिल्ली सरकार के विभिन्न विभागों के अधिकारियों ने 'रन अगेंस्ट पॉल्यूशन' कार्यक्रम में भाग लिया और सार्वजनिक परिवहन का उपयोग करने, ट्रैफिक सिग्नल लाल होने पर वाहन के इंजन बंद करने और स्वच्छ वातावरण बनाए रखने का संकल्प लिया. सरकार शहर में वाहन प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए 'रेड लाइट ऑन गाड़ी ऑफ' अभियान फिर से शुरू करने की योजना बना रही है.

Delhi calls for firecracker ban in entire NCR in meeting of states with Centre

In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told reporters here that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. During this meeting, Delhi suggested several measures to curb pollution in the entire NCR region, he said. Earlier, Mr. Rai had requested the Centre to convene a meeting of all NCR states to collaboratively develop an action plan to combat pollution during the winter season. In a letter to Mr. Yadav, Mr. Rai had said that the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season but these steps won't be effective unless Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh address the sources of pollution in the NCR region. According to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Mr. Rai stressed that the states in the NCR should enforce a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning across the region and only permit CNG and electric vehicles to ply. Many industrial units in NCR states still use polluting fuels. They should be swiftly converted to piped natural gas. The highly polluting brick kilns operating in NCR states should be required to adopt zig-zag technology to mitigate pollution, he said. Also, electricity should be made available to all housing societies in NCR states to reduce reliance on diesel generators. The concerned state governments should also redirect non-destined vehicles from their point of origin on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, he added. Meanwhile, the Delhi government organised a run on Friday to raise awareness about the effects of air pollution and to seek public support in improving the city's air quality. Mr. Rai said officials from various Delhi government departments participated in the 'Run Against Pollution' event and pledged to use public transport, turn off vehicle engines when the traffic signal turns red and maintain clean surroundings. The government plans to relaunch the 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' campaign to combat vehicular pollution in the city. Another public awareness campaign, 'Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao,' will be reintroduced to discourage the burning of firecrackers. In accordance with the practice of the last three years, Delhi had last month announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale and use of firecrackers within the capital city. The city government also introduced a 15-point action plan to mitigate air pollution in the capital during the winter season, focusing on addressing dust pollution, vehicular emissions, and open burning of garbage. Specific action plans for each of the 13 air pollution hotspots in Delhi have been developed based on real-time air quality data collected from 40 monitoring stations in the capital. There are already ongoing campaigns to combat dust pollution and industrial emissions.

Delhi to launch campaign to curb industrial pollution

The minister had on Tuesday demanded that the Centre impose a complete ban on firecrackers and allow the movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region in a bid to curb air pollution. New Delhi: The Delhi government will run a month-long campaign to curb industrial pollution starting October 20, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. He told reporters here that 66 teams have been set up to keep an eye on the fuels being used in over 1,700 industrial units in the capital. "Though these units have shifted to natural gas, we will ensure that The minister had on Tuesday demanded that the Centre impose a complete ban on firecrackers and allow the movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region in a bid to curb air pollution. Rai, in a letter to Bhupender Yadav, his counterpart at the Centre, said the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season. "But these steps will not be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region," he said. A report by independent environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31% of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the national capital while 69% is from sources in NCR states, he said. Rai demanded that the Centre convene an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the factors contributing to air pollution in the national capital. The states in the National Capital Region (NCR) should impose a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning in the entire region and allow only CNG and electric vehicles, the Delhi minister said.

Africa’s environment report gives insight into global warming

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the India-based think tank, in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA-Kenya) released the first edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report recently in Nairobi, Kenya — a valuable tool that provides insights into the disproportionate impact the continent is suffering due global warming. In this report, Sifelani Tsiko (ST), The Herald Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor speaks to Richard Mahapatra (RM), managing editor, CSE Down To Earth and head of the editorial board about this inaugural report. ST: What motivated CSE and MESHA to document the inaugural State of Africa’s Environment 2023 Report? RM: CSE has been working in Africa as a leading think tank focusing on the global south. Down To Earth is a fortnightly magazine that has been reporting the global south with a special focus on Africa. We see this as a first effort to make people aware of many environmental crises the continent is facing and also the solutions the continent is evolving to face those. Africa’s developmental challenges are critical to the world meeting all its challenges. So, the solutions the continent offers are also critical globally. The State of Africa Environment 2023 report aims to document this and thus working as a pan Africa annual report card that policy makers and others can use to design the development charter. It is also to equip us in general with an instrument that will help us change the ways the continent moves. ST: Coming up with such a report is not an easy and cheap. Can you share your experiences on how you collaborated with researchers and journalists in Africa to come up with this comprehensive report? RM: The inaugural edition has been in the making for the last three years. What makes this report unique and thus impactful is that it synthesised reportage and research of over 100 journalists, scientists, economists representing media houses, academic institutions, scientists and global bodies like the UN agencies. Local stories from over 23 countries were processed while experts’ analysis were used to bring out the key messages. One way, this is a report that brings in citizens’ involvement. It is an inclusive statement on the continent’s state of affairs in environment and development. ST: What do you think makes this report unique? What elements make it stand out?

Discourage importation of used vehicles to reduce carbon emission, says expert

The government has been urged to discourage importation of used vehicles through taxation and standards to reduce carbon emission. United Nations Environmental Programme Africa Focal, Jane Akumu, wants the government to replace the used vehicles with environment friendly electric vehicles. She said the new, cleaner vehicles can be made more available by encouraging local manufacturing, which will also create job opportunities. “Instead of importing oil we have sustainable electricity from renewable sources,” Akumu said. The State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report shows that African countries are becoming scrap yards for old vehicles from advanced economies. The report released last week by the Centre for Science and Environment, said there is an influx of imported old and polluting vehicles in Africa. “Used vehicle import is a rampant and flourishing trade in Africa. While advanced economies have the capacity to deal with the accompanying problems of vehicles changing several hands within their domestic markets, poorer economies do not,” the report said. It said low- and middle-income countries that do not have their own vehicle manufacturing base are the most vulnerable to unregulated and uncontrolled import of used vehicles The report said lack of strong environmental safeguards has contributed highly to the situation. It said lure of cheap vehicles and lack of clean automotive fuels have created conditions and incentives for the trade of used vehicles and uncontrolled dumping. The report said developing countries are beginning to frame regulations to reduce vehicular emissions due to pressure to meet clean air standards. “The scale of dumping from the rich countries to the poor is overwhelming. Back in 2014, it was estimated that globally, about 40 million vehicles a year approach their end-of-life, which is four percent of the total global automobile ownership,” it said. Estimates from the International Energy Agency say a lot of the old vehicles get traded to low and middle-income countries. According to the estimates, the number is expected to explode as global automobile fleet doubles by 2050. A 2014 World Bank estimate says the vehicle ownership rate in Africa, though much lower than the world average, is rapidly increasing across cities. Nairobi's car fleet has doubled between 2012 and 2018. Data from Deloitte Africa Automotive Insights Report, 2016 say vehicle imports in Kenya, Ethiopis and Nigeria are hugely dominated by used vehicles. The share of used vehicles in these countries is 80–90 per cent of the total imported fleet. In Kenya, the share of commercial vehicles in new sales is the highest at 86 per cent. UNEP says several regulations have evolved in Africa and South Asia that include fixing of age to ensure newer fleet is imported. This is in addition to emission-based taxation to import cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles. At least four countries in Africa namely, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Sudan have banned importation of used vehicles. Another 25 countries have imposed age restrictions of between 3-15 years on vehicles. Gabon, Libya, Mozambique, Niger and Tunisia have an age cap of five years and less. Benin and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have capped it at 10 years, while Liberia, Nigeria and Swaziland have capped it at 15 years.

Delhi government's month-long anti-industrial pollution drive from Friday

The Delhi government will launch a month-long drive to check industrial pollution in the national capital starting Friday, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. Rai said as many as 66 teams have been formed to inspect the fuel being used in around 1,700 industrial units in the city. He earlier asked the Centre to ban firecrackers and petrol and diesel-based vehicles. Why does this story matter? IQAir's World Air Quality Report this year ranked Delhi fourth on its list of the world's most polluted cities. With winter and festive season approaching, concerns about worsening air quality have heightened as lower temperatures and foggy conditions worsen the air quality by trapping particulate matter (PM). Huge amounts of smoke due to stubble burning in Delhi's surrounding areas further add to the problem. Completely ban stubble burning: Rai to Centre Rai said although the industrial units have moved to natural gas, the drive will ensure there's no negligence. He wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, demanding a complete ban on stubble burning in neighboring states. Listing out Delhi's precautionary measures, he said, "These steps won't be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region." 5/7 69% of Delhi's pollution from neighboring states: CSE Citing a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent environment think tank, Rai said that 31% of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the city, while 69% is traced to sources falling under the National Capital Region in neighboring states. 6/7 Pollution levels reduced since 2014: Delhi government The Delhi government said last month that industrial units in the city have switched to piped natural gas (PNG) to decrease emissions. It noted a 30% reduction in pollution levels in June. In 2014, PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels were 149 and 324, while now they are 103 and 223, respectively. Diesel generators were banned earlier this month in residential buildings.

दिल्ली-NCR की हवा फिर हुई ‘जहरीली’, मरीजों की संख्या में 30% की बढ़ोतरी, रिसर्च के नतीजे चौंकाने वाले

उत्तर भारत में मौसम का बदलाव हुआ और दिल्ली एनसीआर में बारिश हुई, जिससे प्रदूषण में कमी भी हुई। लेकिन, जहरीली हवा का अटैक बुधवार से फिर शुरू हो गया। माना जाता है कि अक्टूबर से जनवरी तक का महीना प्रदूषण के लिहाज से बेहद संवेदनशील होता है। ऐसे में अस्पताल में मरीजों की संख्या में काफी ज्यादा वृद्धि देखी जा रही है। देश के जाने-माने पल्मोनोलोजिस्ट और पीएसआरई अस्पताल में चाइमन के मुताबिक दिल्ली में पिछले कुछ सप्ताह में ही सांस लेने की परेशानी और खांसी की दिक्कत में 30 फीसदी मरीजों का इजाफा दिख रहा है, जो एक बड़ी समस्या हो सकती है। क्या कहती है सेंटर फॉर क्रॉनिक डिजीज और एम्स की स्टडी एक आकलन के मुताबिक पिछले दो साल की तुलना में इस बार अब तक प्रदूषित दिनों की संख्या बढ़ी है। पूर्वानुमान के अनुसार आने वाले दस दिनों में भी ज्यादातर दिन प्रदूषण बुरे स्तर पर रह सकता है। ऐसे में प्रदूषण के लिए अभी तक जो कदम उठाए जा रहे हैं, उनमें तेजी लाने की जरूरत है। क्योंकि एम्स और सेंटर फॉर क्रॉनिक डिजीस की स्टडी भी चौकने वाली हैं, खासकर के डायबिटीज के मरीजों के लिए। जानकारी के मुताबिक देश में लगभग 11.4 फीसदी लोग डायबिटीज के शिकार हैं, जिसमें अगर दिल्ली की बात की जाए तो 17 फीसदी डायबिटिक यहां हैं। ऐसे में रिसर्च में पाया गया है कि जो लोग डायबिटिक हैं उनके शरीर में इंफ्लामेशन बढ़ने लगा है और जो सीरियस केस में तब्दील होते दिखने लगा है। वहीं, जहां AQI ज्यादा था वहां ग्लूकोस रैंडम और एचबी1एसी भी बढ़े हुए मिले हैं। कहां और किन पर हुई रिसर्च यह रिसर्च देश के दो बड़े शहरों में की गई, जिसमें देश की राजधानी दिल्ली और चेन्नई शामिल है। इन जगहों पर करीब 12000 लोगों को लगातार सात साल तक मॉनिटर किया गया। चेन्नई में PM 2.5 का औसत लेवल 30-40 µg/m3 देखा गया तो, वहीं दिल्ली में औसतन 82-100µg/m3 मिला जो की दुगुना था। जिसकी वजह से डाइबिटीज के साथ-साथ हाइपरटेंशन का खतरा बढ़ता दिख रहा है। ठंड का आगमन और सितंबर में बारिश कम बना प्रदूषण की वजह सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट के एक्सपर्ट के मुताबिक इस बार समय से पहले ठंड ने दस्तक दी है यानी तापमान में अच्छी खासी गिरावट दर्ज की गई है, तो वहीं पराली भी जलने लगी है ऐसे में बीते साल से इस साल प्रदूषण का खतरा अभी से दिखने लगा है। बहरहाल, इस मुसीबत को कम करने की कवायद सरकारें तो कर रही हैं, लेकिन सड़कों पर उड़ती धूल को रोकना भी जरूरी है, क्योंकि ये सिर्फ सर्दियों में ही नहीं बल्कि पूरे साल एयर पल्यूशन बढ़ाने में मददगार बनती हैं, जिसकी वजह से कई तरह की बीमारियां बढ़ रही हैं। बीमारियों का खतरा ज्यादा ना बढ़े इसलिए जरूरी है कि प्रदूषण को लेकर सावधानी बरती जाए।