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Why your car will be tested for emission to avert air pollution

Across Africa, Kenya is number 14 of a high number of vehicles and first in East Africa with 30 out of 1,000 Kenyans owning a vehicle. According to United Nations Environment Programme, 85 per cent of vehicles in Kenya are second‐hand imported which is among the highest in the continent. With the world reeling from the effect of extreme weather conditions caused by climate change, Kenya will join a league of other countries to regulate vehicle emissions to be able to control air pollution. The Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) Mamo Boru Mamo said from January or February of next year, all vehicles in Kenya will undergo emission testing. The country has in place the air pollution regulation which was put in place in 2014 but the inspection could not be implemented because there were no guidelines on vehicular emission. “Kenyans who comply will be given stickers from Nema and we will put in place measures to ensure all vehicles are compliant,” he said. Mamo said there will be 19 emission testing centers already mapped out, but agreed that like other policies the implementation may be hard. “There are still challenges of implementing policies but at both county and national level our staffs have performance contracts which have made our work easier,” he said. He spoke at a Nairobi hotel on Wednesday during the launch of State of Africa's Environment Report 2023, commissioned by Center for Science and Environment, an India-based organization. “Air pollution – in general and vehicular in particular – is emerging as a major public health challenge in Africa,” the report said. It said air quality monitoring is extremely limited in the continent but Kenya is placed number 25, but first in the East Africa region. In 2021, the World Health Organization (Who) estimated that 19,000 people die each year in Kenya due to air pollution. Some 70 per cent of pollution levels are recorded in the capital city with 9 out of 10 people in Kenya’s major cities and key towns exposed to air pollution beyond the global health standards set by Who, the report added. Anumita Roychowdhury, a researcher at the Centre for Science and Environment said in Kenya transport emissions account for the highest share at 67 per cent with 97 per cent of that coming from road use. “Air pollution not only affects adults but also unborn children in the womb which shows we are sitting on a time bomb as a continent and more needs to be done,” she said. Scientists say apart from controlling emissions in the entire transport sector, an age limit on imported vehicles and tax incentives effective in addition to the electrification of motor engines is key. Across Africa, Kenya is number 14 with a high number of vehicles and first in East Africa with 30 out of 1,000 Kenyans owning a vehicle. According to United Nations Environment Programme, 85 per cent of vehicles in Kenya are second‐hand imported which is among the highest in the continent. “But Kenya's control of eight years restriction of imported vehicle and these emission regulations will help reverse the trend,” she said. If the law on emission is passed, Kenya will join about 40 governments in the work to have implemented some form of carbon tax. “ In Africa, only South Africa has a similar programme. The country charges R46 (Sh362) for every tonne of carbon emitted. Ethiopia, like Kenya, is planning a similar programme to fight against air pollution,” the report said. Across the continent, the top ten air-polluted countries are—Niger, Nigeria, Egypt, Mauritania, Cameroon, Mali, Senegal, Chad, Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire. The Who standard for clean air stands at PM2.5 annual average measured on microgrammes per cubic metre, a size smaller than the width of human air against the human population size. Gases being tested in the air include sulfates, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water mostly emitted from smoke.

Green War Room To Combat Air Pollution In Delhi

The Delhi government has launched a ‘green war room’ to combat air pollution for 24×7 monitoring and implementation of the Winter Action Plan. National Capital’s battle with air pollution is long standing and takes a particular hit in the winters. Though Delhi’s fight for clean air started in the 1990s. The capital’s captive air pollution from vehicles, industry, construction activities, etc is already very high, according to New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Recently a report released by Respirer Living revealed that- A list of the 10 most polluted cities in the last year shows that Delhi and other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) still dominate air pollution rankings Delhi’s air quality improved marginally, yet it was the most polluted city between 1 October 2022 and 30 September 2023, with a PM2.5 concentration of 100.1 micrograms/cubic metre (μg/m3).This is more than thrice the government’s ‘good’ level and 20 times the WHO’s safe limit. Numerous reforms have been initiated over the years including shifting to cleaner fuels and enhanced fuel efficiency norms. Due to these reforms overall-the number of days with good air quality in Delhi has increased while the number of days with poor to extremely severe air quality has decreased. According to CSE Currently, Delhi enjoys nearly 151 days of good air quality up from about 81 six years ago. But Delhi’s air quality needs to improve substantially to meet the health standards. But as winters approach, Delhi’s air quality takes a dip. Among the Seven cities in the top 10 are in Delhi-NCR. When Punjab and Haryana farmers start burning rice stubble in the beginning of the winter season, the smoke from their fields add to the captive pollution of Delhi. This increases air pollution in Delhi taking it beyond the severe level. The war room is able to see how much pollution is there in which area of Delhi. Earlier, there were just nine teams allocated, now it has been increased to 17 teams. Nandita Moitra has been made in charge of the same.

Maiden ‘State of Africa’s Environment’ report launched

A new report examining the state of Africa’s environment has been launched in Nairobi, Kenya, amid calls for proactive action to protect the continent from further environmental devastation. The State of the Environment (SOE)) of Africa, launched on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, reveals how the continent’s progress is being held back by a confluence of factors that include poor leadership, bad governance and unethical practices by big business interests. The Indian research and advocacy organization, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), produced the report which gives a snapshot of the state of the environment and how it is affecting livelihoods of the continent’s population. It details the environmental situation in the context of climate change, energy access, air pollution, biodiversity, land and agriculture, mobility, water and waste management, among other development issues on the continent. According to the report, Africa continues to bear the brunt of the repercussions of climate change even though African countries contribute less to the triggers of the phenomenon. The report also examines Africa’s potential to feed itself and the role poor governance policies play in frustrating efforts towards food security. Despite having 65 percent of arable land, for instance, Africa still imports foods, the authors of the report note. SOE Africa is a collaborative work between CSE and Africa-based journalists, under the auspices of the Kenya-based Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA). The document was launched at a press briefing at Nairobi’s Ngong Hills Hotel, attended by about 30 science journalists from across the continent. The authors and other environmental experts hail the report as a blueprint to solve many, if not all, of Africa’s development issues. CSE’s Director General, veteran environmental activist Sunita Narain, presided over the event that was graced by the head of Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). Ms Narain said the report has the potential to stir discussions toward an inclusive and prosperous future for Africa and the rest of the world, through advancing climate action and green growth, among others. “It is a report which puts together the state of the environment. It is a report that helps to build that larger picture of what is happening,” she said. Narain lamented the role of powerful economies in creating a global crisis like climate change while failing to take responsibility for their actions. “There is no doubt that climate change is an existential threat today. The African continent is the least responsible for emissions that have forced temperatures to rise… But it is also true that the African continent, along with countries like India, are going to be worst affected,” she said. Mamo Bor Mamo, Director General of the National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya, said the document is important for Africa’s development aspirations, noting that it would add value to the discussions. Mr Mamo also said the report being launched on the backdrop of CoP28, the annual United Nations conference on climate change, has the potential to strengthen Africa’s position at the global event slated for next month in Dubai, UAE. “The issues raised here are very pertinent. Those are key environmental issues in our country and on the continent,” he said. The SOE was published through CSE’s fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth. The organization says it intends to publish the report annually.

Half of Delhi’s illegal colonies not part of sewage network

The Delhi government plans to increase its sewage treatment capacity to 814mgd by the end of the year, but many unauthorised colonies are not connected to treatment plants, leaving the Yamuna vulnerable to pollution. The government aims to connect 573 unauthorised colonies to the sewer network, but work is yet to commence due to pending construction or permissions. Local vendors often dump septage from these colonies in forests or subsidiary drains, further polluting the river. The government is also setting up decentralised treatment plants and cracking down on illegal sewage dumping. The Delhi government has pledged that it will increase its total sewage treatment capacity, from the current 632 million gallons per day (mgd) to 814mgd by the end of this year. This figure is beyond the estimated daily sewage generation mark of 792mgd, and the government plans to add new sewage treatment plants (STPs) to the sewage network, as well as upgrade the capacity of the existing plants. However, a large chunk of sewage does not reach STPs in the first place, leaving the Yamuna vulnerable to pollution. Of the Capital’s 1,799 unauthorised colonies, 823 — around 46% of the total — either don’t have a sewer network, or are not connected to STPs, meaning they are almost solely reliant on septic tanks, data presented by agencies in the latest high-level committee (HLC) meeting on the Yamuna shows. The HLC was formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) through an order dated January 9, and consists of Delhi Jal Board (DJB), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Delhi government’s forest and irrigation and flood control departments. The panel, headed by the Delhi chief secretary, has so far held six meetings to address pollution-related issues linked to the Yamuna. DJB, which handles a large chunk of Delhi’s sewerage network and also manages the Capital’s STPs, informed the panel in its latest meeting on August 10 about its plans to connect 573 unauthorised colonies to its network of drains. Work is yet to commence though, with either construction work pending, or permissions still awaited in most cases. The minutes of the August meeting say, “The chief secretary has directed DJB to expedite the work of providing sewerage system in unauthorised colonies and other concerned departments (forest, DDA and urban development) to issue NOC at the earliest. DJB to find out the number of people living in unauthorised colonies in which providing sewerage system is not feasible, so as to provide some other alternative solutions.” At the meeting, several agencies pointed out that in most cases, septage from unauthorised colonies is collected by local vendors, who often end up dumping the waste in forests, or in a subsidiary drain that pollutes the Yamuna. In other cases, the pipelines laid down do not connect to DJB’s sewerage network or an STP, meaning the waste pollutes local ponds, or even the groundwater. A Delhi government official, part of the HLC meeting, said in 318 colonies, decentralised STPs are to be set up to manage waste locally. In another 161 colonies — all located near the Yamuna, near monuments or Delhi’s Ridge, there are hurdles like delay in receiving a no objection certificate (NOC). “In 161 of these cases, the NOC was still awaited from the forest department, Archaeological Survey of India, or a local body. Around 114 of these cases pertain to the forest department alone, since these colonies are located next to forest areas, and the pipelines have to be laid down through a protected or notified forest,” said the official, requesting anonymity. However, both the forest department and ASI have put the blame on DJB for the delays. A forest department official said in most cases, DJB was yet to provide a detailed alignment map of the sewerage network, based on which they could determine whether or not to issue an NOC. “This may possibly involve felling of trees too. A majority of these unauthorised colonies fall in Chhatarpur, Sangam Vihar and in Mehrauli,” the official said. Similarly, ASI has informed DJB that while it issues an NOC for connecting an unauthorised colony in Mehrauli to the sewerage network, it could not give permission for another colony in Tughalaqabad, which was located near the Tughalaqabad Fort. DJB itself, meanwhile, said it found it unfeasible to lay down pipelines in 12 colonies. The existing capacity of Delhi’s STPs is just 632mgd, and several plants are not functioning at full capacity, which means that their operational capacity is only 547mgd — translating to gap of 245mgd sewage that ends up in the Yamuna without treatment. Currently, three new STPs – Okhla, Sonia Vihar and Delhi Gate — are being constructed with a combined capacity of 47mgd. At the same time, 18 existing STPs are being upgraded to add a treatment capacity of 123mgd, and the government is in the process of setting up 40 decentralised STPs with a combined capacity of 90mgd. However, experts note Delhi is still missing the last link of connection. “What we require is proper planning, as unauthorised colonies, unlike planned colonies, do not have a proper drainage or sewerage network. A key reason behind Yamuna’s pollution is this fact,” said Yamuna activist Bhim Singh Rawat, who is a member of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP). Rawat said STPs and their expansion can only be planned once a proper sewerage network is laid out, which includes unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters. “We are upgrading plants and then thinking how we can connect the colonies. By the time that happens, more colonies have sprung up and the sewerage quantum has increased,” Rawat added, stating a focus towards decentralised STPs was more welcome, as it allows localised plants to be set up, without requiring a detailed network of pipes. Depinder Kapur, director of Water Programme at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said it is easy to connect a small unauthorised colony to the main sewerage network, but for the larger colonies, it may take several years. “For Sangam Vihar, the process to lay down sewage lines has been going on for almost four years now and it is yet to be completed. Most unauthorised colonies have a sewage pipeline near it, as there are authorised residential colonies in proximity, so this needs to be tackled smartly. If land is available, DSTPs are a great option, but in dense areas, particularly east Delhi, it is simply not possible to set up one,” he said. An environment department official said that over the last two years, around 400 colonies have been provided a sewage network. “The figure was 571 colonies in March 2021. This has increased to 747 colonies as of January 1, 2023. Till August, work has been completed across another 229 colonies,” the official said. To crack another avenue of this sewage ending up from septic tanks to the Yamuna, DPCC through an order on March 27 said that it will impose a penalty of ₹50,000 on any vendor found discharging septage in undesignated areas across Delhi, or directly into drains or sewers. The order said the anti-pollution body will also confiscate the vehicles of such offenders. The order added that any individual using the services of such unlicensed vendors will be fined ₹10,000, in a bid to crack down on illegal dumping of sewage. A DPCC official said action can be taken by any officer not lower than the rank of naib tehsildar in the district magistrate office, sub-inspector in the Delhi Police, sanitary inspector in MCD, and junior engineers in DJB or the irrigation and flood control department. “We have also asked for monthly action-taken reports to be submitted by these agencies each month” the official said.

ropped 11 October 2023: Amazon dolphin deaths; EU agri round-up; ‘Exploitative’ carbon offsets

Amazon feels the heat DOLPHIN DEATHS: More than 150 endangered pink river dolphins have washed up in recent days in the Brazilian Amazon, the Washington Post reported. It said: “The cause is unknown, but scientists say the likeliest culprit is extreme heat and drought, possibly linked to climate change and the El Niño phenomenon.” Water temperatures in a lake in the Amazonas state reached 39C recently, possibly leaving dolphins “disoriented”, a scientist told the publication. “The loss of oxygen triggers an increase in their cell metabolism, and they die of asphyxia [complete loss of oxygen],” it added. CLIMATE’S ROLE: The deaths come during an extended period of unusual heat across several South American countries. A new analysis from climate scientists at the World Weather Attribution group released this week found that extreme September temperatures in Brazil and Paraguay were made at least 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change. It added that the temperatures were 1.4-4.3C hotter than they would have been in a world without global warming. Meanwhile, Carbon Brief covered new research finding that recent drying over the Amazon could be the “first warning signal” that the rainforest is approaching a tipping point. RAINFOREST ROAD: Climate Home News reported that Brazilian government officials are considering using the Amazon Fund, a major source of international finance aimed at protecting the rainforest, to pay for a “controversial road project”. According to the publication, officials have a plan for “a road that cuts through the Amazon forest and connects two major cities in the north of Brazil – Manaus and Porto Velho”. Environmentalists and scientists in Brazil told Climate Home News that they disagreed with using the Amazon Fund for such a project. One of the fund’s creators, forest scientist Tasso Azevedo, told the publication: “I don’t think it makes any sense. This project does not fit into any of the fund’s planned support lines.” EU agri round-up LOBBY MEET-UPS: Agricultural lobby groups and six “influential” European politicians held “an average of over two meetings a week” in recent years, according to DeSmog. The outlet found that between January 2020 and July 2023, more than 400 meetings took place between six members of the European parliament (MEPs) and agri-industry representatives. The lawmakers met industry-linked groups “eight times as often as [they met] non-governmental groups representing public interests”, the outlet said. The politicians are all members of the centre-right European People’s Party, which was at the heart of climate and nature policy controversies earlier this year (see previous editions of Cropped). One of the MEPs said he does not take orders from industry groups, and the other five politicians involved did not respond to DeSmog’s request for comment. TILLAGE V DAIRY: “Unbridled support” of the Irish dairy sector has “pushed tillage [crop farming] aside and left it struggling to survive”, according to Noteworthy. The Irish investigative outlet looked at high rental costs and other issues affecting grain growers across the country who say they feel “squeezed out”. In a separate piece, Noteworthy analysis found that around 50m tonnes of animal feed – largely maize and soya – have been imported to Ireland since 2012. The country has “never produced enough cereals – wheat, barley and oats – to meet livestock needs”, the piece added, with imports “only going in one direction – up”. Also in Ireland, the government announced a €3bn “war chest” for climate action and nature regeneration as part of the country’s annual budget, the Irish Independent reported. OILY ISSUES: Meanwhile, the Guardian said that Europe has “almost run out of local olive oil supplies and is set for more shortages”. Extreme weather has “damaged harvests” for the second year in a row in key producer countries such as Spain, leaving Europe to import supplies from South America to meet demand, the outlet said. Rafa Guzmán, an olive grower in Jaén, “the cradle of Spain’s olive production”, told the Guardian: “It’s just awful for people down here. There’s always been the odd bad harvest, like last year. But two bad harvests in a row? I can’t remember any – and I’m 50 and have been working the trees with my dad since I was a kid.” Spotlight Offsets or exploitation? In the fortnight since Carbon Brief’s week-long special, carbon-offset projects have come under further scrutiny. Bloomberg reported that Dubai-based Blue Carbon signed a deal to generate carbon credits from about a fifth of Zimbabwe’s landmass. Separately, a joint Climate Home News and Unearthed investigation found that projects in Cambodia and Brazil were “selling carbon offsets…despite an uptick in deforestation”. India is the world’s second-largest source of carbon credits in the voluntary carbon market (VCM). For a new report, magazine outlet Down to Earth and India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysed hundreds of offset projects and visited 40 project sites in India – from afforestation projects to paddy fields and villages enlisted in clean cookstove schemes. Carbon Brief spoke to CSE’s Trishant Dev and Avantika Goswami about their findings. CARBON BRIEF: Perhaps the most worrying takeaway from your report is on farmers rights, especially in afforestation projects in the Araku coffee belt that you say companies such as Evian are using to claim carbon-neutrality. Did Indigenous farmers know what they were signing over? What did they get for their services, other than coffee earnings? TRISHANT DEV: Just saplings and training [on how to care for them]. This is something that the developer also says: they will not give back incentives from offsetting to communities. When we spoke to farmers, they did not know what a carbon credit is or what rights they have given up…They only know they have signed a document through which they will be given something. AVANTIKA GOSWAMI: Even if [developers] say they have ownership of the carbon stored in the trees, how you manage those trees and what trees you plant will determine how much carbon is stored in them. So, effectively, developers are controlling their farming methods and their practices by simply controlling the carbon in them. On what grounds does a foreign entity get to have this say over Indigenous communities in India? The additionality question or the climate benefit was always suspect and we found that in our research. But the bigger finding is about financial benefit-sharing. You have tribal farmers putting in the labour, but earning none of the millions. You have rural households paying for an improved cookstove, which is also generating carbon credits and also earning revenue in the VCM, but the households do not earn that revenue. Our conclusion is that the poor are essentially subsidising or labouring for the emission reductions of the rich. CB: You mention that all the projects you investigated were “cloaked in secrecy”. How open or transparent were developers in letting you visit sites and verify their claims? How do we know these credits will not be counted twice? TD: First, we were not allowed to visit the project sites. We were told: “We have non-disclosure agreements with our clients, so we cannot take you [there].” Then we were told: “We cannot disclose the price [of credits] because we have competitors in the market.” Some developers even asked us to sign non-disclosure agreements with their clients, which we didn’t. The whole ecosystem is like a black box. AG: If companies abroad are claiming the carbon sequestration from the Araku Valley’s coffee forests, what happens to [India’s carbon sink target] in its [Paris Agreement pledge]? Are these forests getting double-counted? Secondly, the VCM functions on a least-cost principle. So as a result, the cheaper mitigation options are essentially being sold off to foreign entities and we are left with the tougher, more expensive options. [India] cannot claim the cheaper methods – transitioning from biomass to include cookstoves or more afforestation – because, technically, if you want to avoid double counting, you have to exclude that from your own balance sheet, while rich countries continue to pollute and have taken our cheaper emission options. News and views PLANTATION THREAT: Writing in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, ecologists warned that monoculture tree-planting projects “are threatening tropical biodiversity while only offering modest climate benefit”, the Guardian reported. The popularity of carbon-offsetting plantations is having consequences such as “drying out native ecosystems, acidifying soils, crowding out native plants and turbocharging wildfires”, the story added. The University of Oxford researchers warned against “using carbon as the sole metric for a forest ecosystem’s importance” and argued that afforestation projects “need to encompass ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation”, Inside Climate News reported. Political scientist Dr Arun Agrawal, who was not involved in the paper, told the outlet: “Forests do many things, so to focus on any single metric is really to replicate how colonial governments saw forests, which is just as a source of timber.” SMOG WARS: Indonesia’s firefighters “are rushing to extinguish” fires in southern Sumatra, Jambi and Central Kalimantan, Bloomberg reported. With no recent rainfall, national authorities warned that the fires are likely to persist, while the government is implementing “cloud seeding to induce rain that can keep the peat wet and fill reservoirs”, it added. According to Bloomberg, Malaysia blamed the fires in Indonesia for worsening air quality in its western cities, but Indonesia’s environment minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, denied the claims. More than 267,900 hectares of forest have burned so far this year – an area bigger than the area burned in all of 2022, Reuters reported. The haze has now hit Singapore, Reuters reported in another story. BEDBUGS TAKE PARIS: Reports of a “plague of bedbugs” in Paris and other French cities have provoked “panic” and “insectophobia”, according to BBC News. The number of bedbug sightings have increased in recent weeks, but the upward trend dates back “several years”, the broadcaster said. The broadcaster said climate change “can be ruled out” as a contributing factor, but Prof James Logan from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told Vice: “Most insects breed better when it’s warmer, so if there are more months of the year that are warmer, then there’s more chance of insects breeding quicker.” BIDEN’S BORDER WALLS: In “a marked departure from…efforts to be seen as a climate champion”, the Biden administration waived environmental, health and cultural protections to build 20 new miles of a border wall in Texas, the Guardian reported. The wall will cut through fields where “the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe and other tribes source peyote for sacramental use”. The wall threatens to “set back the recovery” of endangered species and has “enraged environmentalists and Indigenous leaders in the Rio Grande valley”, who liken it in the story to “being stabbed in the back”. When asked if he thought the border wall was effective, President Biden responded “no” and pointed to how funds for the wall were allocated during the Trump regime, but hadn’t been cancelled by Congress, the Hill reported. SYCAMORE STUMP: The Sycamore Gap tree, a hugely popular landmark in England sited next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, has been cut down – sparking an unusual police investigation, BBC News said. Forensic officers were sent to the site after the tree – once a place for weddings, funerals and the scattering of ashes – was felled on 28 September, BBC News reported, with one remarking: “In 31 years of forensics I’ve never examined a tree.” A 16-year-old boy and a man in his 60s were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage, but the investigation is still ongoing, according to the outlet. Watch, read, listen REVOLUTION RETROSPECTIVE: A new piece by environmental anthropologist Prof Glenn Davis Stone in the Conversation examined the legacy of Asia’s Green Revolution and the cautionary lessons it holds for Africa. SAINATH ON SWAMINATHAN: In the Wire, P Sainath looked back on the legacy of MS Swaminathan – the “father” of the Green Revolution in India – and why he will be remembered “in the hearts of millions of peasants”. LIVING WITH RATS: Can rats, long vilified as plague-spreaders and invasives, co-exist with humans and other species? This longread by JB MacKinnon in Hakai Magazine weighed the evidence, with illustrations by Sarah Gilman. FOOD LOCALISM: In a new episode of BBC’s The Food Programme, host Sheila Dillon spoke to small farmers, economists and campaigners about what is needed to strengthen local food networks.

Africa Environment Report launched

The inaugural report analysing the state of Africa’s environment and how the continent now suffers disproportionate stress due to climate change has been published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine, in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA). The State of Africa’s Environment Report 2023 was released here on Wednesday with experts hailing the report as a valuable tool that provided insights into the challenges and opportunities that face the continent. Environmental activist and writer Sunita Narain, who heads CSE and is a member of the COP28 UAE Advisory Committee, said: “The State of Africa’s Environment 2023 Report is about understanding the possibilities of change. lt’s about learning what is working, why and what we need to do. lt’s about the inter-connections, and all that teaches us that we need to build an inclusive future together.” This report is expected to stimulate valuable dialogue and debate about ways and means of advancing climate action and green growth on the continent. Ms Narain said the report was an important resource for global south climate actors ahead of the 28th annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties, COP 28, in Dubai next month. The report highlights the environmental challenges facing the African continent, presenting comprehensive data, analysis, and recommendations that will contribute to informed decision-making in the region at the climate change conference. African countries are looking for strategies to advance their climate agendas and push for stronger global action on climate change. “A report like this means a lot for us,” said Ms Narain. “We do not understand the bigger picture: how is this happening across the continent, what does it mean for us. A report such as this one helps us understand different aspects of the state of environment in Africa and how they are connected and interrelated.” This inaugural report, she said, would help build environmental consciousness on the continent. “We need to understand what we need to do to fix the problems we are facing. This is a collaborative project and we are honoured that it involves many researchers and journalists from across the continent.” Speaking at the same event, Mamo Bor Mamo, director general of Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority, said issues raised in the report were pertinent to the challenges facing Africa as a whole. “lssues raised in this report are very pertinent to our environment here in Africa. Everyone of us has a duty to enhance the quality of our environment. We have a collective responsibility to manage our environment well. We must desist from the ‘throw away’ mentality.” He said there was need for people on the continent to embrace a positive attitude and reduce environmental degradation. “This report will give us direction on the position we will take during COP Published by the New Delhi-based fortnightly, Down To Earth, this report will be an annual feature from now into the future. More than 100 researchers and journalists from across the continent contributed to development of the report which covers various topical issues such as climate, biodiversity, land and agriculture, mobility, energy, health, water and waste. The “State of Africa’s Environment Report 2023” promises to be a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and journalists interested in the environment and sustainability. The UAE will host the 28th United Nations global climate talks from 30 November to 12 December 2023

प्रदूषित हवा को लेकर किया मंथन

खनिज संपदा से समृद्ध उदयपुर में कई खनिज और पत्थर आधारित उद्योग हैं। इनमें से कुछ ऐसे हैं जो वायु प्रदूषण के प्रमुख कारण हैं। इसको लेकर पर्यावरण एवं वन मंत्रालय ने 2019 में ‘राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम’ के तहत उदयपुर शहर को गैर-प्राप्ति शहरों में सूचीबद्ध किया था। इसके लिए तैयार प्लान पर काम नहीं किया गया। इसको लेकर उदयपुर के एक होटल में कार्यशाला हुई। नई दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एण्ड एनवायरमेंट के आंकलन ने इन उद्योगों से होने वाले फ्यूजिटिव उत्सर्जन और सड़क की धूल को जिले में वायु प्रदूषण के प्रमुख कारकों के रूप में चिन्हित किया। इसके लिए सीएसई ने उदयपुर की हवा को साफ करने के लिए एक रोडमैप की पेशकश की है। इस रोडमैप को तैयार करने के लिए सीएसई और राजस्थान राज्य प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड की ओर से आयोजित कार्यशाला में उदयपुर में वायु प्रदूषण कम करने पर चर्चा की। सीएसई के औद्योगिक प्रदूषण विभाग के कार्यक्रम निदेशक निवित यादव ने कहा कि पर्यावरण प्रदूषण को कम करने की दिशा में कार्यक्रम किए जाने की जरूरत है। आरएसपीसीबी क्षेत्रीय अधिकारी शरद सक्सेना ने कहा कि पर्यावरण प्रदूषण से निजात पाने के लिए मजबूत मानसिकता का निर्माण करना होगा। इस मौके पर सीएसई की औद्योगिक प्रशिक्षण इकाई की उप कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक श्रेया वर्मा ने कहा कि उद्योगों के सतत विकास के लिए व्यक्तिगत स्तर पर प्रदूषण नियंत्रण को अपनाएं। इस दौरान वक्ताओं ने वायु प्रदूषण कम करने के सुझाव भी दिए।

Hunger crisis in Africa shows no signs of abating, optimism steadily diminishing – Report

In a sobering revelation, the inaugural edition of the State of Africa's Environment 2023 report, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA-Kenya), has exposed the grim reality of Africa's ongoing hunger crisis. With little hope for rainfall during the January to March dry season and forecasts suggesting below-average rainfall in the coming months, the report paints a bleak picture of a continent in distress. “There is no end in sight for the hunger crisis and hope is slowly fizzling out as families enter the January to March dry season with little hope for rainfall. Estimates show that the March to May 2023 rainfall will also be below average, leading to a dramatic increase in the number of people in need of emergency food aid,” State of Africa’s Environment report has revealed. The report, unveiled at a media briefing in Nairobi, highlights the devastating impact of climate change on Africa, where extreme weather events, droughts, and flooding have taken a disproportionate toll on its vulnerable population. Startling statistics from the report reveal that every third death caused by extreme weather or climate-related issues over the last 50 years occurred in Africa, accounting for a staggering 35 percent of global fatalities. The climate crisis is not just a looming threat; it's already a harsh reality for millions of Africans. The "Provisional State of the Global Climate 2022" report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), cited in the document, emphasizes the severe impact of contrasting and deadly weather events across the continent. The climate crisis has become an existential threat, especially for those who have endured the wrath of nature for years without respite. Agriculture-dependent nations like Ghana, Chad, and Mauritania are feeling the brunt of climate change as they witness the close connection between agricultural production and its impact on the environment. The report warns that the continent's youth is deeply concerned about the future of agriculture, while in Europe, climate change often remains an issue ignored until its repercussions are felt elsewhere. One of the most alarming findings in the report is the significant increase in temperature across all five African regions. The rise in temperature is projected to worsen in the coming decades, exacerbating the decline in precipitation and further increasing food insecurity. Desertification, affecting between 30 percent of land in western countries like Ghana and Nigeria to a staggering 80 percent in eastern nations like Ethiopia and Kenya, poses a significant threat to the continent's natural resources and food supply. “Weather and climate extremes and their induced impacts are also exacerbated by rising global surface and sea temperatures. In East Africa, rainfall has been below average for four consecutive wet seasons, the longest sequence in 40 years. Across the region, under the effects of the drought and other shocks, an estimated 18.4-19.3 million people were facing acute food insecurity.” Despite having 65 percent of the world's arable land left uncultivated, Africa imports a shocking 85 percent of its food from outside the continent. This trade imbalance further exposes the vulnerability of the continent's food security. Air pollution is another major concern, with 1.1 million people in Africa dying annually due to its effects. Developed economies are contributing to this problem by using the continent as a dumping ground for used vehicles, worsening the air quality in African cities. The report does offer some glimmers of hope, noting that Africa is making strides in the transition to renewable energy, with enormous untapped potential for generating clean energy. It also highlights the urgent need for providing clean cooking fuels to some 130 million Africans, as 0.7 million people lost their lives in 2019 due to the lack of access to clean cooking fuels. Mamo Bor Mamo, Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Kenya, emphasized the collective responsibility to manage the environment properly and underscored the report's importance in guiding Africa's position in future climate negotiations. “We have a collective responsibility to manage our environment well. The report will give us direction on the position we will take during COP28.” Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, reiterated the significance of the report, stating, the report will enable the continent to understand the different aspects of the environment by putting together a comprehensive picture that makes the links clearer between environment and development. “Environment and development are two sides of the same coin,” she said. The report, compiled by over 100 researchers and journalists from across the African continent, offers a comprehensive view of Africa's environmental challenges and emphasizes the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. As millions of Africans grapple with hunger, displacement, and despair, the report stands as a crucial call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals to address the continent's pressing environmental issues.

CSE’s first State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report officially released in Nairobi

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 inaugural edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report here yesterday at a media briefing attended by about 50 journalists from Kenya and some other countries from Africa. The report has been put together by India-based science, development and environment fortnightly Down To Earth, with contributions from a large number of African journalists, researchers and environmental experts. Mamo Bor Mamo, Director General, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya released the report along with Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE. Explaining the rationale behind the report, Narain said: “We can read and get the immediate story today, but often we do not get the big picture. The report will help us get that big picture. It will enable us to understand the different aspects of environment by putting together a comprehensive picture that makes the links clearer between environment and development. Environment and development are two sides of the same coin.” Speaking at the inaugural, Mamo Bor Mamo said: “Issues raised in this report are important and pertinent to our environment in Africa. We have a collective responsibility to manage our environment well. The report will give us direction on the position we will take during COP28.” Said Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor, Down To Earth and head of the Editorial Board behind the report: “A team of over 100 researchers and journalists from across the continent have brought in country-wise assessments, which have been analysed to get a continental perspective. The report covers climate change, wildlife and biodiversity, agriculture and land degradation, water and hygiene situations and emerging waste management issues.” Some key highlights from the report The inaugural edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report emphasises on the “centrality of environmental well-being in the overall sustainable development of the continent”. Africa’s prosperity and economy is deeply linked to its enormously rich natural resources endowment, or its natural capital. Africa’s natural capital is estimated at US $6.2 trillion in 2018, thus making the continent richest in term of resources. This is nearly three times the economy of the entire continent. If natural capital degrades, development in future will not be sustainable – more people will have to fight for limited resources. Per capita natural capital is declining in Africa: from US $4,374 in 1995 to US $2,877 in 2018. Various estimates suggest that African countries could see a 10 per cent drop in GDP by 2030 and by 2050, and some 1.2 billion Africans could face higher water pollution; 1.5 billion people could face increased food insecurity, while millions would be exposed to coastal erosion risks. Climate change has been more rapid in Africa than the rest of the world. Says Narain: “This is a disproportionate impact given that Africa hardly contributes to global warming.” Over the past 15 years, several studies have warned of climate change and environmental stressors intensifying and aggravating regional, ethnic and resources-driven conflicts. However, African countries, in terms of committing to reduce emission and on steps to fight the global crisis are ahead of most of the countries in the world. The world’s second largest and second most populous continent hosts a quarter of the planet’s animal and plant species. But the species extinction rate in the continent is higher than the rest of the world. Here as well, African countries have some of the pioneering conservation models that put community at the centre. If Africa protects its biodiversity, the world gains from it. Protected areas in Africa if sustainably used can eradicate poverty and bring peace. Africa imported about 85 per cent of its food from outside the continent. This is when it has 65 per cent of the world’s arable lands that are yet to be cultivated. Desertification affects 45 per cent of the continent. Nevertheless, the continent’s joint efforts to restore degradation and build up natural capital are examples of modern time planetary efforts to save it. Air pollution kills 1.1 million people annually in the continent. Developed economies treat the continent as their dump yard for used vehicles adding to the woes of air pollution. Some countries are already taking policy initiatives that have potential for curbing this menace. Every year, some 130 million Africans have to be provided clean cooking fuels to meet the universal access target in 2030. This is the biggest development challenge as some 0.7 million people died in 2019 due to lack of clean cooking fuels. But Africa is leaping to the renewable energy world. It has a renewable energy potential of 9,000 GW with about 60 per cent of it concentrated in the Sub-Saharan region. Life expectancy in Africa has increased to 56 years in 2019 from 64 years in 2000. In Africa, 47 countries have already eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease. There are signs of progress in the continent meeting its health goals but challenges remain. Due to climate change, in eastern and southern Africa, an additional 75.9 million people will be at risk from 10-12 months’ exposure to malaria by 2080. How Africa manages its water resources will define how water-secure the world would be. Africa’s aquifers hold 0.66 million KM3 of water. This is more than 100 times the annual renewable freshwater resources stored in dams and rivers. Waste generation in Sub-Saharan Africa will increase 300 per cent by the year 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa manages to collect only 55 per cent of the waste it generates. Of this, only 19 per cent is managed in controlled facilities.

Africa’s Environment 2023 report

CSE’s first State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report officially released in Nairobi India-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA-Kenya), release the inaugural edition of the report NEMA (National Environment Management Authority) Director General Mamo Bor Mamo and CSE Director General Sunita Narain unveil the report at a media briefing Over 100 journalists, researchers and experts from across Africa have contributed to the preparation of this annual publication Nairobi, October 12, 2023: 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 inaugural edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report here yesterday at a media briefing attended by about 50 journalists from Kenya and some other countries from Africa. The report has been put together by India-based science, development and environment fortnightly Down To Earth, with contributions from a large number of African journalists, researchers and environmental experts. Mamo Bor Mamo, Director General, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya released the report along with Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE. Explaining the rationale behind the report, Narain said: “We can read and get the immediate story today, but often we do not get the big picture. The report will help us get that big picture. It will enable us to understand the different aspects of environment by putting together a comprehensive picture that makes the links clearer between environment and development. Environment and development are two sides of the same coin.” Speaking at the inaugural, Mamo Bor Mamo said: “Issues raised in this report are important and pertinent to our environment in Africa. We have a collective responsibility to manage our environment well. The report will give us direction on the position we will take during COP28.” Said Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor, Down To Earth and head of the Editorial Board behind the report: “A team of over 100 researchers and journalists from across the continent have brought in country-wise assessments, which have been analysed to get a continental perspective. The report covers climate change, wildlife and biodiversity, agriculture and land degradation, water and hygiene situations and emerging waste management issues.” Some key highlights from the report The inaugural edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report emphasises on the “centrality of environmental well-being in the overall sustainable development of the continent”. Africa’s prosperity and economy is deeply linked to its enormously rich natural resources endowment, or its natural capital. Africa’s natural capital is estimated at US $6.2 trillion in 2018, thus making the continent richest in term of resources. This is nearly three times the economy of the entire continent. If natural capital degrades, development in future will not be sustainable – more people will have to fight for limited resources. Per capita natural capital is declining in Africa: from US $4,374 in 1995 to US $2,877 in 2018. Various estimates suggest that African countries could see a 10 per cent drop in GDP by 2030 and by 2050, and some 1.2 billion Africans could face higher water pollution; 1.5 billion people could face increased food insecurity, while millions would be exposed to coastal erosion risks. Climate change has been more rapid in Africa than the rest of the world. Says Narain: “This is a disproportionate impact given that Africa hardly contributes to global warming.” Over the past 15 years, several studies have warned of climate change and environmental stressors intensifying and aggravating regional, ethnic and resources-driven conflicts. However, African countries, in terms of committing to reduce emission and on steps to fight the global crisis are ahead of most of the countries in the world. The world’s second largest and second most populous continent hosts a quarter of the planet’s animal and plant species. But the species extinction rate in the continent is higher than the rest of the world. Here as well, African countries have some of the pioneering conservation models that put community at the centre. If Africa protects its biodiversity, the world gains from it. Protected areas in Africa if sustainably used can eradicate poverty and bring peace. Africa imported about 85 per cent of its food from outside the continent. This is when it has 65 per cent of the world’s arable lands that are yet to be cultivated. Desertification affects 45 per cent of the continent. Nevertheless, the continent’s joint efforts to restore degradation and build up natural capital are examples of modern time planetary efforts to save it. Air pollution kills 1.1 million people annually in the continent. Developed economies treat the continent as their dump yard for used vehicles adding to the woes of air pollution. Some countries are already taking policy initiatives that have potential for curbing this menace. Every year, some 130 million Africans have to be provided clean cooking fuels to meet the universal access target in 2030. This is the biggest development challenge as some 0.7 million people died in 2019 due to lack of clean cooking fuels. But Africa is leaping to the renewable energy world. It has a renewable energy potential of 9,000 GW with about 60 per cent of it concentrated in the Sub-Saharan region. Life expectancy in Africa has increased to 56 years in 2019 from 64 years in 2000. In Africa, 47 countries have already eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease. There are signs of progress in the continent meeting its health goals but challenges remain. Due to climate change, in eastern and southern Africa, an additional 75.9 million people will be at risk from 10-12 months’ exposure to malaria by 2080. How Africa manages its water resources will define how water-secure the world would be. Africa’s aquifers hold 0.66 million KM3 of water. This is more than 100 times the annual renewable freshwater resources stored in dams and rivers. Waste generation in Sub-Saharan Africa will increase 300 per cent by the year 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa manages to collect only 55 per cent of the waste it generates. Of this, only 19 per cent is managed in controlled facilities.

CSE, MESHA-Kenya release State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report

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 inaugural edition of the “State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report” in Nairobi on Wednesday, October 11, at a media briefing attended by about 50 journalists from Kenya and some other countries from Africa. The report has been put together by India-based science, development and environment fortnightly Down To Earth, with contributions from a large number of African journalists, researchers and environmental experts. Mamo Bor Mamo, Director General, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya released the report along with Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE. Explaining the rationale behind the report, Narain said: “We can read and get the immediate story today, but often we do not get the big picture. The report will help us get that big picture. It will enable us to understand the different aspects of environment by putting together a comprehensive picture that makes the links clearer between environment and development. Environment and development are two sides of the same coin.” Speaking at the inaugural, Mamo Bor Mamo said: “Issues raised in this report are important and pertinent to our environment in Africa. We have a collective responsibility to manage our environment well. The report will give us direction on the position we will take during COP28.” Said Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor, Down To Earth and head of the Editorial Board behind the report: “A team of over 100 researchers and journalists from across the continent have brought in country-wise assessments, which have been analysed to get a continental perspective. The report covers climate change, wildlife and biodiversity, agriculture and land degradation, water and hygiene situations and emerging waste management issues.” Some key highlights from the report The inaugural edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report emphasises on the “centrality of environmental well-being in the overall sustainable development of the continent”. Africa’s prosperity and economy is deeply linked to its enormously rich natural resources endowment, or its natural capital. Africa’s natural capital is estimated at $6.2 trillion in 2018, thus making the continent richest in term of resources. This is nearly three times the economy of the entire continent. If natural capital degrades, development in future will not be sustainable – more people will have to fight for limited resources. Per capita natural capital is declining in Africa: from $4,374 in 1995 to $2,877 in 2018. Various estimates suggest that African countries could see a 10 per cent drop in GDP by 2030 and by 2050, and some 1.2 billion Africans could face higher water pollution; 1.5 billion people could face increased food insecurity, while millions would be exposed to coastal erosion risks. Climate change has been more rapid in Africa than the rest of the world. Says Narain: “This is a disproportionate impact given that Africa hardly contributes to global warming.” Over the past 15 years, several studies have warned of climate change and environmental stressors intensifying and aggravating regional, ethnic and resources-driven conflicts. However, African countries, in terms of committing to reduce emission and on steps to fight the global crisis are ahead of most of the countries in the world. The world’s second largest and second most populous continent hosts a quarter of the planet’s animal and plant species. But the species extinction rate in the continent is higher than the rest of the world. Here as well, African countries have some of the pioneering conservation models that put community at the centre. If Africa protects its biodiversity, the world gains from it. Protected areas in Africa if sustainably used can eradicate poverty and bring peace. Africa imported about 85 per cent of its food from outside the continent. This is when it has 65 per cent of the world’s arable lands that are yet to be cultivated. Desertification affects 45 per cent of the continent. Nevertheless, the continent’s joint efforts to restore degradation and build up natural capital are examples of modern time planetary efforts to save it. Air pollution kills 1.1 million people annually in the continent. Developed economies treat the continent as their dump yard for used vehicles adding to the woes of air pollution. Some countries are already taking policy initiatives that have potential for curbing this menace. Every year, some 130 million Africans have to be provided clean cooking fuels to meet the universal access target in 2030. This is the biggest development challenge as some 0.7 million people died in 2019 due to lack of clean cooking fuels. But Africa is leaping to the renewable energy world. It has a renewable energy potential of 9,000 GW with about 60 per cent of it concentrated in the Sub-Saharan region. Life expectancy in Africa has increased to 56 years in 2019 from 64 years in 2000. In Africa, 47 countries have already eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease. There are signs of progress in the continent meeting its health goals, but challenges remain. Due to climate change, in eastern and southern Africa, an additional 75.9 million people will be at risk from 10-12 months’ exposure to malaria by 2080. How Africa manages its water resources will define how water-secure the world would be. Africa’s aquifers hold 0.66 million KM3 of water. This is more than 100 times the annual renewable freshwater resources stored in dams and rivers. Waste generation in Sub-Saharan Africa will increase 300 per cent by the year 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa manages to collect only 55 per cent of the waste it generates. Of this, only 19 per cent is managed in controlled facilities.

Kenya pledges action as report exposes Climate Change realities

Kenya has featured prominently in a report which has painted a grim picture of Africa state of environment. The report titled ‘State of Africa’s Environment Report 2023’ analysed critical areas of environment in the continent, including; Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Agriculture, Mobility, Energy, Health, Water and Waste. The report was released during the 2023 African Science Journalists’ Congress held in Nairobi between October 11 to 13, and hosted by Media for Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA). MESHA is an association of journalists and communicators who are specialized in environmental, agriculture, health, technology and development reporting. According to the report from a study conducted by the India-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth Magazine, Africa remains extremely vulnerable to, and bears the brunt of drought, flooding, cyclones and other climate change-led weather events. The report notes that globally, one in every three deaths from extreme weather, climate or water stress in the last 50 years was in Africa. SOURCE: CSE Long droughts Kenya and its East African partners, according to the report, had by end of 2022 recorded five consecutive deficit rainy seasons. The report pointed out that the exceptional weather situation was attributed to La Niña, a natural large-scale cooling of ocean surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which causes dry weather and high temperatures in East Africa. While many factors continue to influence climate, the report noted that scientists partly blame human activities for having become the dominant force responsible for most of the warming observed over the past 50 years. WILD ANIMALS NOW ROAM HERE FREELY. YOU CAN HARDLY WALK A KILOMETRE BEFORE SEEING ONE OR TWO. I JUST SURVIVED AN ELEPHANT ATTACK A WEEK AGO AND HAVE LOST LIVESTOCK TO WILD ANIMALS David Leiyan As captured in the report, Human-Wildlife Conflicts are reported to have escalated as impacts of Climate Change ravage the area, with Kenya adversely mentioned as a victim. David Leiyan, a 41-year-old local from Samburu East in northern Kenya, is quoted by the report describing the sad state of affairs in the area. “Wild animals now roam here freely. You can hardly walk a kilometre before seeing one or two. I just survived an elephant attack a week ago and have lost livestock to wild animals,” Leiyan is quoted in the report. The report also records that cases of lions or leopards wandering into residential areas in Nairobi and counties around protected areas like Nairobi National Park or Tsavo National Park have become common, with experts citing a lack of enough food and water in the wild for animals courtesy of biting drought. African Perspective Sunita Narain, the CSE Director General noted that the report shares Africa’s perspectives of environment which has been missing in many forums. She noted that African countries have continued to experience extreme weather events such as drought, floods, cold, and pest attacks among others, hindering people’s ability to cope. These phenomena have not only impacted on the lives of people but also biodiversity. “Environment and development are two sides of a coin, and this report links the two,” she said during the launch of the report. “The African climate is a natural incubator of many tropical diseases, such as malaria, cholera, Rift Valley Fever (RVF), meningitis, yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya. These diseases are caused by pathogens that are temperature sensitive. It is predicted that the frequency of these anomalous events will increase as the planet becomes warmer,” read the report. NEMA Director General Mamo Bor Mamo Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) Director General Mamo Bor Mamo who presided over the launch of the report said its content will be domesticated to help the country with strategies to deal with Climate Change. He noted that despite Kenya having a pro-conservation constitution supported by eight other regulations, the biggest challenge to dealing with conservation issues has been enforcement. “This report is very timely and will build into NEMA report and policies,” said Mamo. MESHA CEO Daniel Agan underscored the need for collaboration between stakeholders in the climate sector and the media so as to promote knowledge sharing for maximum impact on the people. “Our collaboration with CSE and other partners have seen improved quality and intensity in the coverage of science-related stories, for example the concepts covered in this report,” he said. Head of Down to Earth Magazine Richard Mahapatra said the report was a contribution of journalists and experts.

50 hotspots mapped in city to curb pollution, checks to be ramped up

Gurgaon: The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway near Ambience mall, area next to the Millennium City metro station, Hero Honda Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, Sohna Road and the Dwarka Expressway – are among the 50 pollution hotspots identified in the city for authorities to keep a close eye on. The assessment was made by Haryana State Pollution Control Board to prepare for winter peak pollution season. After considering five parameters – road dust, solid waste, traffic congestion, industrial emissions, and construction and demolition waste – district administration told agencies in the city to monitor and take measures to ensure pollution is mitigated at these spots. For example, the HSPCB will carry out inspections to ensure cleaner fuels are being used by industries. Municipalities will need to check if the ban on diesel generator sets is being followed. Similarly, traffic police will have to ensure smooth movement of traffic. And MCG will have to monitor storage, collection, transportation and processing of C&D waste. Kuldeep Singh, regional officer (Gurgaon) HSPCB, said, “All agencies and stakeholders are directed to ensure mitigation of air pollution in their respective areas. The agencies will also carry out night patrolling.” NCR states and Delhi have been gearing up for air quality to worsen as the weather turns colder, allowing pollutants to remain suspended in the air. By October-end last year, the region was enveloped in toxic haze as governments and experts advised people to remain indoors. Officials said they have planned continuous interventions for hotspots identified in the city. Some of the other prominent hotspots in the list are -- Genpact Chowk in Sector 54, sector road from 82 to 93, sector road from 58 to 57, Vikas Sadan parking area, Sector 10 Chowk to Gadoli village, Vatika Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk to Basai, Rajeev Chowk, Sector-37, IMT Manesar and Udyog Vihar 1 to 5. According to the board’s assessment, unpaved and damaged roads, traffic and illegal waste dumping and burning are key reasons for high pollution levels at these locations. Along with enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the state pollution board has also readied an action plan to curb air pollution. It includes sprinkling of water, mechanical sweeping of roads, and work to repair roads and drains. “Regular inspections of industries and construction sites are being carried out by our teams. Inspections are being carried out from time to time and challans issued for garbage dumping and burning,” an HSPCB official said. According to experts, keeping a check on air pollution in Gurgaon will be a more complex process. “Major highways cross the district such as NH-8, Dwarka Expressway and Sohna highway. These, and local sources like traffic congestion and C&D waste, are key reasons for air pollution in Gurgaon. Long-range transportation of pollutants from Punjab and dust storms in Thar desert are contributors as well,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, research associate at Amity Centre for Air Pollution Control. For a lasting solution, experts said, the district needs to increase its green cover. “We need to plant more trees to increase the green cover, which can act as a protective barrier. Air quality can improve if we aim to increase dust absorption green patches,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

One year after ban, Delhi poor in junking single-use plastic: Survey

Around 88% of stores and markets in Delhi banned use single use plastic (SUP) items, more than a year after the prohibition came into effect, a survey of five Indian cities has found, making the national capital the worst in terms of the implementation of rules among the assessed cities. Bengaluru, on the other hand, was the best city in terms of compliance, with banned SUPs found in only 55% of the locations surveyed. The other cities surveyed were Gwalior (84%), Mumbai (71%) and Guwahati (77%). The findings, part of the report titled ‘Single Use Plastic Ban in India’, were carried out by a non-governmental organisation Toxics Link, and released on Tuesday. On July 1, 2022, the Centre banned use of 19 SUPs across all Indian states and Union territories owing to the adverse environmental impact of such items. The banned SUP items include ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks made of plastic, thermocol, plastic cutlery, plastic cigarette packs, plastic stirrers and PVC banners less than 100 microns in thickness. Other banned items also include plastic films around invitation cards and plastic- wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes and plastic bags that are less than 120 microns in thickness. The assessment of the prevalence and use of the banned SUP items found that more than 50% of the location surveyed in Delhi were using plastic cups and cutlery. Meanwhile, 100% of the surveyed vegetable shops, wholesale markets and snack shops were found to be using restricted plastic carry bags (less than 120 microns). The report also found that out of the 19 banned items, 16 were found across the capital. The only banned SUP items not found were ice creams with plastic sticks, plastic flags and plastic stirrers. For the study, carried out between February 16 and April 15 this year, a total of 415 different survey points were covered, including vegetable shops, markets, grocery shops, malls, tourist spots, roadside joints, sweet shops, ice cream parlours and party decoration shops. “The survey results indicate that the ban has not been very effective, as most location types in Delhi continue to use and provide these items. Whether it was weekly markets or grocery shops, street food vendors or small restaurants, SUPs are available in all these locations,” said the report, stating that the fact that 100% of the surveyed vegetable shops, wholesale markets and chaat shops were still providing the banned plastic bags was worrying. “Plastic cups, cutlery and plates are commonly available at food stalls, local markets, bus depots and most party decoration shops. The only location type where no SUPs could be observed are malls and ice-cream parlours,” the report added. The survey across Delhi found banned plastic carry bags at 64% of the points, plastic cutlery at 45% points, plastic cups at 54%, plastic plates at 43%, plastic straws at 45%, plastic earbuds at 90%, balloons with plastic sticks at 92% and thermocol for decoration at 100% of the points. The report said over 70% of party decoration shops continue to sell plastic cutlery. The report added that factors like better implementation of the ban, better response from the public and easier availability of alternatives are some of the main reasons that have helped Bengaluru, in comparison to the other cities. “SUPs are the major contributor to the plastic pollution crisis, and the study results indicate huge gaps in the enforcement of the ban in India, especially in the informal economy,” said Priti Banthia Mahesh, Chief Programme Coordinator, Toxics Link, stating these banned items were also being sold openly on e-commerce sites. Atin Biswas, programme director of the municipal solid waste sector at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said that on-ground enforcement of the ban has been weak. “At the same time, the absence of alternatives is another driving factor in the availability of these banned SUP items. What we also need is a blanket ban on carry bags, as it is impossible to judge the thickness of plastic bags and how many microns they are, without having the required machines,” he said.

First State of Africa’s Environment Report launched

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine, in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) have launched an inaugural report analysing the state of Africa’s environment and how the continent now suffers disproportionate stress due to climate change. The State of Africa’s Environment Report 2023 was released here on Wednesday with experts hailing the report as a valuable tool that provided insights into the challenges and opportunities that face the continent. Renowned environmental activist and writer Sunita Narain, who heads CSE and is a member of the COP28 UAE Advisory Committee said: “The State of Africa’s Environment 2023 Report is about understanding the possibilities of change. “lts about learning what is working, why and whay we need to do. This report is expected to stimulate valueable dialogue and debate about ways and means of advancing climate action and green growth on the continent. Narain said the report was an important resource for global south climate actors ahead of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) annual Conference of Parties (COP) 28 in Dubai next month. The report highlights the environmental challenges facing the African continent, presenting comprehensive data, analysis, and recommendations that will contribute to informed decision-making in African countries are looking for strategies to advance their climate agendas and push for stronger global action on climate change. “A report like this means a lot for us,” said Narain. “We do not understand the bigger picture – how is this happening across the continent, what does it mean for us. ” A report such as this one helps us understand different aspects of the state of environment in Africa and how they are connected and interrelated.” This inaugural report, she said, will help build environmental consciousness on the continent. “We need to understand what we need to do to fix the problems we are facing,” Narain said. “This is a collaborative project and we honoured that it involves many researchers and journalists from across the continent.” Speaking at the same event, Mamo Bor Mamo, director general of Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority said issues raised in the report were pertinent to the challenges facing Africa as a whole

Science journalists converge in Nairobi for the release Africa’s Environment Report

African science journalists with support from The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine with the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) converge in Nairobi next week for a conference whose highlight will be launching of the inaugural edition of State of Africa’s Environment Report 2023. The launch is part of The Africa Network Media Cafe, a new initiative under the partnership of MESHA and CSE designed for series of media briefings on some of the most critical and current survival questions that are dogging the Global South. This release event aims to shed light on the environmental challenges facing the African continent, presenting comprehensive data, analysis, and recommendations that will contribute to informed decision-making in the region. “The State of Africa’s Environment is not a report of bad news only — it has a lot of silver lining as well, it provides us with a lot of reasons to celebrate as well,” Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, stated in a press briefing. A cursory look at the report reveals that the first chapter underscores the rapid pace of climate change in Africa, highlighting its consequences on internal displacement, water resources, food security, and the economy. It discusses the issue of mass extinction in Chapter 2 and explores the potential to alleviate poverty through sustainable wildlife trade. The third chapter delves into food insecurity, the impact of global conflicts on food systems, and the spread of desertification. Chapter 4 talks about the growing problem of air pollution, the need to transition to zero-emission electric vehicles, and the role of African countries in adopting such policies. In Chapter 5, the report discusses Africa’s rising energy demand, the gas exploration boom, and the critical importance of renewable energy for future growth. Chapter 6 assesses the complex relationship between climate change and health, addressing neglected tropical diseases, the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and antimicrobial resistance. Chapter 7 notes the challenges of water scarcity and its connection to poverty and disease, brought about by the climate emergency. Lastly, Chapter 8 focuses on the alarming increase in waste generation in Africa and the need for improved waste collection practices. The “State of Africa’s Environment Report 2023” promises to be a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and journalists interested in the environment and sustainability. In his welcome note to the participants, MESHA Chairman, Mr Bozo Jenje said that it is great to have the many journalists from as far as Madagascar, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Zambia join their East African colleagues to discuss the state of our environment just a few weeks to the UN COP28 due in Dubai. MESHA share a long-standing and successful association with Centre for Science and Environment working together to build the capacity and understanding of journalists in Africa on issues of the environment and development. The partnership has resulted in a number of pan-Africa briefings and training programs over the past several years.