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Voluntary carbon market is not benefitting people or planet, might in fact be leading to more emissions: CSE investigation

While the world is expected to discuss the issue relating to regulating the carbon market at COP28 at Dubai later this year, a new investigation by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has blown the lid off this extremely furtive, cloaked-in-secrecy world of voluntary trade in carbon credits. Buying and selling of carbon credits is seen as an important way to combat climate change. In this, credits are assigned to projects that can reduce greenhouse gases. These credits, measured in tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e), are then priced and traded. People and businesses that wish to offset the emissions generated by their activities can buy these credits and ‘neutralise’ their carbon footprints. So, you could take a flight that is carbon neutral or buy a luxury bag, where the emissions to manufacture it have been offset; or you could travel for your company or produce oil and show that it has been ‘offset’ – all through the purchase of these credits. But the world does not have an official carbon market yet – in fact, this is up for discussion at the UN’s 28th Conference of Parties to be held in Dubai. In the absence of an official mechanism, a voluntary carbon market has blossomed. Steeped in secrecy, beset by flaws, it is this market that CSE and Down To Earth’s six-month long rigorous analysis has focused on and exposed. Releasing the CSE investigative report on Thursday, CSE director general Sunita Narain said: “Carbon markets have the potential to unlock billions of dollars for countries in the Global South that need money to move to a low-carbon energy system and to ensure socio-economic development of their communities. But is today’s voluntary carbon market working for people and the planet? Our investigation shows that it is not.” “The purpose of this market seems to be to serve the interests of project developers, auditors and others who make a profit out of the lucrative carbon business. The carbon market as it exists today is not designed to mitigate emissions – in fact it might actually be increasing emissions across the world. Buyers could continue to emit and increase their emissions, all the while claiming that they have bought credits and are hence, carbon neutral!” adds Narain. “Our investigation clearly shows the double jeopardy we are in – these credits are either over-estimated or do not lead to the change that has been claimed,” says Narain. The CSE-Down To Earth investigation states the world has two leading carbon registries, together they have registered 6,481 projects across the world; till May 2023, they has issued 1.4 billion carbon credits, says Avantika Goswami, programme manager, climate change, CSE. India, says the CSE team, is the world’s second largest supplier of carbon offsets and is at the forefront of carbon investment. India’s voluntary carbon market is worth over US $1.2 billion, and the country has 1,451 projects listed with the two registries. In 2022, three Indian project developers were among the top 15 in the world in generating carbon credits. Indian entities have already earned about US $652 million from carbon credits used to offset emissions. Says Narain: “We wanted to find out if this market was working to benefit people and the planet. What we found was there is much that needs to be done.” “CSE and Down To Earth researchers travelled to 40 villages and towns across India to understand how the market works. At every location, we found that communities, their lands and their labour were central to the business – but community members were almost never aware that they were working to generate carbon credits, but had no rights of their own over those credits. The projects also raised fundamental concerns about the accounting practices of these transactions and the companies behind them,” says Goswami. “Our findings came despite the discouragement that we faced from project developers, who demanded that we sign non-disclosure agreements or simply did not permit us to visit the project areas,” say Rohini and Trishant. “The carbon market should be a real market, and not a secret pact between buyer and seller,” says Narain. The investigative team puts forward the recommendations: Ensure transparency: The first step is to ensure transparency in the market. Details of projects should be listed; there should be infor­mation about the price that each credit has earned. Pay for real change: 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 5 per cent of the costs of a renewable energy project or even a biogas project. The poor are literally subsidising the rich emitters in this market. Share the proceeds: Currently, the market only seems to work in the interest of the project developers, consultants and auditors. The communities get virtually nothing from the proceeds, and this means that they also have no stake in the emis­sion reduction programme. Carbon market must be required to share the proceeds annually with communities in a verifiable manner. Keep it simple: There is widespread overestimation of emission re­ductions by project developers. One lesson that must be learnt is to keep the project design simple and not to trust the army of consult­ants and profiteers in this business. It means keeping their role minimal and to keep the control of the projects with public institutions and people. Countries must account: The voluntary carbon market must work within the confines of the govern­ment’s NDCs. The only exportable credits have to be those that are ex­pensive for the country to do—where there is an advantage for the country as it can transform its emission trajectory.

CSE to Release Inaugural “State of Africa’s Environment Report 2023”

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and its fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth, in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), will release “Africa’s Environment Report 2023” next week in Nairobi, Kenya. Published by the New Delhi-based Down To Earth, this report will be an annual feature from now on, CSE pointed out in a statement. The release function will be followed by a two-day media briefing on some of the key aspects that the report covers.” CSE, a think-tank based in New Delhi, India, which works on some of the key issues and concerns of environment and development in the Global South. Down To Earth is also a fortnightly English magazine that the Centre has been helping publish since the 1990s. A number of writers, subject experts and journalists from Africa regularly contribute articles and opinions in this magazine. One of India’s environmental thinkers and writer Sunita Narain who is also the head of CSE and a member of the COP28 UAE Advisory Committee will preside the inaugural book release event. Free e-copies of the report will be available to African journalists on request from October 1, it was indicated.

India’s Air Quality Crisis: Why Isn’t the CPCB Revising Its Air Quality Standards?

India’s air quality remains a pressing concern. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised its air quality guidelines, making them stricter. These revisions came in the wake of growing scientific evidence about the damaging effects of air pollution. In fact, the new WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs), following its last global update in 2005, are aimed at providing a clearer framework for countries to combat and reduce the adverse health impacts of air pollution. While many countries have gone ahead and revised their air quality standards as per WHO guidelines, India has been lagging and still follows the old National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) guidelines which was last revised in 2009. India’s air quality has become a focal point of concern, especially when viewed in the context of global health standards. The revised WHO guidelines are not merely an academic exercise. They have the potential to save millions of lives across the globe. Air pollution is insidious. Its effects permeate across age groups, aggravating respiratory ailments, affecting cardiovascular health, and posing an undeniable threat to global public health. While several countries swiftly aligned their national air quality standards with the updated WHO guidelines, India’s silence on the matter is disconcerting. Over a decade has passed since the NAAQS standards were updated, and the landscape of air pollution and its associated challenges has shifted significantly during this period in India. As one of the most populous nations with several cities repeatedly featuring in lists of the world’s most polluted, the stakes for India are particularly high. The outdated standards do not just represent numbers on paper; they translate to real-world consequences for the health of millions of citizens. “We have been advocating for this revision for the past two years. The responsibility to do so lies with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Air pollution is not just an environmental concern; it’s a public health crisis that’s affecting our lives, economy, and well-being. The CPCB entered into an agreement with IIT Kanpur, with the latter expected to deliver their review of the NAAQS by December 2022. It’s been over eight months, and yet there’s been no progress. Such delays pose a huge risk to public health and India’s air quality is going from bad to worse,” states Avinash Kumar Chanchal, Campaign Manager at Greenpeace. In its updation in 2021, the WHO set more stringent standards for six key pollutants: particulate matter (PM2.5 & PM10), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO). Studies have revealed that addressing these primary pollutants indirectly mitigates the effects of other harmful contaminants in the air. Of note in these revised guidelines is the adjustment to recommended levels for particulate matter. The WHO now advises that the annual average concentration of PM2.5 (tiny particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) should not exceed 5 µg/m³. As for PM10 (particles measuring up to 10 micrometres), the recommended annual average is capped at 15 µg/m³. These revised figures mark a significant decrease from prior levels and highlight the understanding that even minimal concentrations can be detrimental to health. Last year, over 10,000 citizens along with Greenpeace India wrote an open letter to the CPCB seeking revisions of India’s air quality standards. According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, 35 of the 50 most polluted cities are in India. However, not only has India not updated its air quality standards, but there’s also a pressing issue of lacking the means to measure air pollution accurately. “Across India, not just in Delhi, there’s a noticeable lack of air quality monitoring stations. We still lack the necessary devices to accurately gauge the quality of the air we breathe. Without this essential data, how can we begin to address and remedy the situation? To tackle this, we need both large monitoring stations and low-cost monitoring devices in various localities. In Delhi, according to the CPCB, there are around 40 monitoring stations that provide real-time air quality data. However, given the vast expanse of Delhi, 40 is a severely limited number,” adds Chanchal. The conversation doesn’t end with the availability of monitoring equipment. The underlying standards that dictate action in the realm of India’s air quality are equally vital. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment says, “The CPCB has set up a committee to revise the standards. Standard-making is a process that zeroes in on key pollutants and defines threshold levels to mitigate public health risks. The WHO guidelines are important but nowhere in the world are countries able to meet those standards, but the fact is that the WHO has also proposed interim levels as a path forward”. Roychowdhury provides a comparative analysis of India’s position vis-à-vis WHO’s guidelines. “For pollutants like PM, our standards are more lenient than what the WHO prescribes. Yet, for carbon monoxide, we’ve set a bar higher than WHO’s. Particulate matter pollution is particularly alarming in India. We must tighten our standards and then draft action plans to meet them. Tightening standards isn’t the end. Action plans to meet those standards are crucial. Some states are closer to the benchmark, while others lag behind. Our focus should be ensuring all states strive to achieve these standards.” Last year, over 10,000 citizens along with Greenpeace India wrote an open letter to the CPCB seeking revisions of India’s air quality standards. According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, 35 of the 50 most polluted cities are in India. However, not only has India not updated its air quality standards, but there’s also a pressing issue of lacking the means to measure air pollution accurately. “Across India, not just in Delhi, there’s a noticeable lack of air quality monitoring stations. We still lack the necessary devices to accurately gauge the quality of the air we breathe. Without this essential data, how can we begin to address and remedy the situation? To tackle this, we need both large monitoring stations and low-cost monitoring devices in various localities. In Delhi, according to the CPCB, there are around 40 monitoring stations that provide real-time air quality data. However, given the vast expanse of Delhi, 40 is a severely limited number,” adds Chanchal. The conversation doesn’t end with the availability of monitoring equipment. The underlying standards that dictate action in the realm of India’s air quality are equally vital. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment says, “The CPCB has set up a committee to revise the standards. Standard-making is a process that zeroes in on key pollutants and defines threshold levels to mitigate public health risks. The WHO guidelines are important but nowhere in the world are countries able to meet those standards, but the fact is that the WHO has also proposed interim levels as a path forward”. Roychowdhury provides a comparative analysis of India’s position vis-à-vis WHO’s guidelines. “For pollutants like PM, our standards are more lenient than what the WHO prescribes. Yet, for carbon monoxide, we’ve set a bar higher than WHO’s. Particulate matter pollution is particularly alarming in India. We must tighten our standards and then draft action plans to meet them. Tightening standards isn’t the end. Action plans to meet those standards are crucial. Some states are closer to the benchmark, while others lag behind. Our focus should be ensuring all states strive to achieve these standards.”

Voluntary carbon market is not benefitting people or planet, might in fact be leading to more emissions – says new CSE investigation

While the world waits to discuss – at the Dubai UN climate conference later this year — the issue of regulating the carbon market, a new investigation by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has blown the lid off this extremely furtive, cloaked-in-secrecy world of voluntary trade in carbon credits. The new report, titled Discredited: The voluntary carbon market in India, was released at a webinar today . Buying and selling of carbon credits is seen as an important way to combat climate change. In this, credits are assigned to projects that can reduce greenhouse gases. These credits, measured in tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e), are then priced and traded. People and businesses that wish to offset the emissions generated by their activities can buy these credits and ‘neutralise’ their carbon footprints. So, you could take a flight that is carbon neutral or buy a luxury bag, where the emissions to manufacture it have been offset; or you could travel for your company or produce oil and show that it has been ’offset’ – all through the purchase of these credits. But the world does not have an official carbon market yet – in fact, this is up for discussion at the UN’s 28th Conference of Parties to be held in Dubai. In the absence of an official mechanism, a voluntary carbon market has blossomed. Steeped in secrecy, beset by flaws, it is this market that CSE and Down To Earth’s six-month long rigorous analysis has focused on and exposed. Releasing the CSE investigative report in the webinar, CSE director general Sunita Narain said: “Carbon markets have the potential to unlock billions of dollars for countries in the Global South that need money to move to a low-carbon energy system and to ensure socio-economic development of their communities. But is today’s voluntary carbon market working for people and the planet? Our investigation shows that it is not.” “The purpose of this market seems to be to serve the interests of project developers, auditors and others who make a profit out of the lucrative carbon business. The carbon market as it exists today is not designed to mitigate emissions – in fact, it might actually be increasing emissions across the world. Buyers could continue to emit and increase their emissions, all the while claiming that they have bought credits and are hence, carbon-neutral!” adds Narain. “Our investigation clearly shows the double jeopardy we are in – these credits are either over-estimated or do not lead to the change that has been claimed,” says Narain. “Our climate-risked world does not need this shady secretive world of creative carbon accounting.” The CSE-Down To Earth investigation The world has two leading carbon registries – Verra and Global Standard. Together, they have registered 6,481 projects across the world; till May 2023, they has issued 1.4 billion carbon credits, says Avantika Goswami, programme manager, climate change, CSE. India, says the CSE team, is the world’s second largest supplier of carbon offsets and is “at the forefront of carbon investment”. India’s voluntary carbon market is worth over US $1.2 billion, and the country has 1,451 projects listed with the two registries named above. In 2022, three Indian project developers were among the top 15 in the world in generating carbon credits. Indian entities have already earned about US $652 million from carbon credits used to offset emissions. Says Narain: “We wanted to find out if this market was working to benefit people and the planet. What we found was there is much that needs to be done.” “CSE and Down To Earth researchers travelled to 40 villages and towns across India to understand how the market works. At every location, we found that communities, their lands and their labour were central to the business – but community members were almost never aware that they were working to generate carbon credits, but had no rights of their own over those credits. The projects also raised fundamental concerns about the accounting practices of these transactions and the companies behind them,” says Goswami. For instance, visits to Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka villages where EKI-Energy Services and Greenway Grameen Infra Pvt Ltd had distributed improved cookstoves,7 found a serious problem of overestimation of emissions. Similarly, visits to Araku Valley found that tribals had “signed” away the rights to carbon credit through a local NGO intermediary, Naandi Foundation, acting on behalf of Danone, which were then transferred to the Paris-based Livelihood Fund. Danone’s popular luxury water brand, Evian, then took credits for this sequestration to claim it was carbon-neutral. Michelin Group used it to ‘offset’ emission of its employees’ travel. But as ground reports by Rohini Krishnamurthy and Trishant Dev found in all these cases and many more, local people had no benefits from this business. “Our findings came despite the discouragement that we faced from project developers, who demanded that we sign non-disclosure agreements or simply did not permit us to visit the project areas,” say Rohini and Trishant. What is the way ahead? “The carbon market should be a real market, and not a secret pact between buyer and seller,” says Narain. The CSE-Down To Earth investigative team puts forward the following recommendations: Ensure transparency: The first step is to ensure transparency in the market. Details of projects should be listed; there should be infor­mation about the price that each credit has earned. CSE-DTE researchers met with stiff resistence when they asked for information; even being told of sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) before visits to project sites; or being told (by Paris-based investor company) that travel in Indian villages was dangerous; or by one of the leading players, EKI Energy Services that the “company is in a silent period”. Pay for real change: 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 5 per cent of the costs of a renewable energy project or even a biogas project. The poor are literally subsidising the rich emitters in this market. Share the proceeds: Currently, the market only seems to work in the interest of the project developers, consultants and auditors. The communities get virtually nothing from the proceeds, and this means that they also have no stake in the emis­sion reduction programme. Carbon market must be required to share the proceeds annually with communities in a verifiable manner. Keep it simple: There is widespread overestimation of emission re­ductions by project developers. One lesson that must be learnt is to keep the project design simple and not to trust the army of consult­ants and profiteers in this business. It means keeping their role minimal and to keep the control of the projects with public institutions and people. Countries must account: The voluntary carbon market must work within the confines of the govern­ment’s NDCs. The only “exportable” credits have to be those that are ex­pensive for the country to do—where there is an advantage for the country as it can transform its emission trajectory. The fact is that the current voluntary carbon market is based on cheap options and this means that 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 will only mean that countries will not be able to afford to make investments in the hard-to-abate options; and these will contribute to emissions and jeopardise our common future.

India emerges as a voice of Global South

India has tried to use consistently the forum of the United Nations not only in pursuing its foreign policy goals effectively but also in projecting itself as the advocate of the Global South. India’s leadership quality was demonstrated in the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment which made it possible for the Stockholm Declaration to embody several principles that protect the interests of the global south. The legacy of Stockholm carries even today when India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised the issue of climate change, mobilising resources for sustainable development goals and reforming multilateral development banks at the 78th session of the UN on 29 September 2023. This has to be seen in the context of the New Delhi Declaration of G20. The declaration set the direction of future negotiations on important economic issues including climate financing which has for the first time put a $5.9 trillion figure to green financing requirements for developing countries, reforms in multilateral development banks, international taxation and sustainable development. Although this new green financing requirement does not generate legal obligations for the developed north, it amounts to underlining very clearly that in the context of urgency of restricting global average temperature below 1.5 degrees as compared to-industrial level, financial needs will have to enhance over and above 100 billion dollar mark. The requirement of mobilising 100 billion dollars per year by 2020 is the obligation on the part of the developed north. India as an Advocate in the Context of Climate Change. One agenda item that India has used to position itself as the advocate of the global south is the issue of climate change. The latter is not only a serious environmental challenge but is also a serious economic and developmental concern, which also directly impinges upon realizing the goals of sustainable development. India’s contribution is least in the creation of climate change but it is placed to bear the brunt likewise of many developing countries more. India used its coalitional reach of the global south that the developed countries are historically responsible for climate change and their per capita emissions of greenhouse gases are very high as compared to developing countries. In addition, the developed north is financially and technologically capable of playing a lead role in dealing with the challenge of climate change. India’s arguments relating to climate change galvanized adequate support of the global south in enshrining a regime of differentiation in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The idea of differentiation expressed through the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR) has been held responsible for warding off pressure by the developed north that the developing countries should also bear greenhouse gas mitigation obligations. The formulation of the principle of CBDR is being interpreted as an Indian formula that corresponds between the northern advocates of common responsibilities and southern proponents of a main responsibility of the developed north. Although the regime of differentiation has changed as it is reflected in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change 2015, it still guides many aspects of climate change and the environment, especially the transfer of finance and technology from the developed north to the developing south. Mr Jaishankar touched upon lifestyle for the environment in his speech at the UN, which is not rhetoric but is grounded in a reasoned argument. This is an affirmation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s introduction of the mission of “LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment)” at the Conference of the Parties meeting of the UNFCCC. The lifestyle for the environment is aimed at engaging individuals in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. In other words, it is also about developing long-term environment-friendly habits. India’s lifestyle for environment argument is aimed at curbing and underlining the overconsumption lifestyle more found in the North than in the South. This argument is very close to the argument developed by noted environmentalists Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain in their research titled Global Warming in an Unequal World. They argued in their work, which constitutes a centrepiece of the argument taken by the global south quite often during climate change negotiations, that there is a need to distinguish between “survival” emissions of developing countries and “luxury” emissions in developed countries. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) shows that lower capita GHG emissions in India are not due to poverty alone, but also to more sustainable lifestyles than in developed countries. For example, CO2 emissions from the agricultural sector- from the field to the table- are about 0.1 tons CO2/million calories in India against 1.7-2.2 tons in developed countries, inter alia due to a less meat-based diet. CO2 emissions from transportation per passenger kilometre are 16 grams in India against 118 and 193 grams in the European Union (EU) and the US respectively. This is an era when agriculture systems worldwide are in search of sustainable cropping to deal with existing issues of malnutrition, food insecurity, resource depletion, climate-resilient crops, and environmental problems associated with agriculture, millet is a new tool for India which fits in well with India’s efforts in strengthening its narrative of lifestyle for environment. (The author is a senior Assistant Professor in International Environmental Law at the Indian Society of International Law, New Delhi; views expressed are personal)

Mirzapur News: 25 निकायों के प्रतिनिधियों ने किया मल एवं गाद शोधन संयंत्र का निरीक्षण

अमृत योजना एवं सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की तरफ से आए प्रदेश के 25 नगर निकायों के प्रतिनिधियों ने बृहस्पतिवार को नगर क्षेत्र में नमामि गंगे के तहत बनाए गए मल एवं गाद शोधन प्लांट का भ्रमण किया। प्रतिनिधियों से सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट के कार्यक्रम अधिकारी मनीष मिश्रा ने प्लांट के संबंध में जरूरी जानकारी व तकनीकी साझा की। सीनियर कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक सुब्रत चक्रवर्ती ने प्लांट के अन्य पहलुओं पर प्रकाश डालते हुए आगंतुकों को उनके निकाय में मल एवं गाद प्रबंधन के लिए अन्य जानकारी दी। इस एक्सपोजर विजिट में संबंधित संस्था के उप कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक हरि प्रकाश हैहयवंशी, कार्यक्रम अधिकारी हर्ष यादव एवं सारिम अंसारी मौजूद रहे। चुनार नगर पालिका परिषद के अधिशासी अधिकारी राजपति बैस ने चुनार में मल एवं गाद प्रबंधन में आने वाले कठिनाइयों के बारे में जानकारी दी। साथ ही मल एवं गाद प्रबंधन प्लांट को सुचारु रूप से चलाने के लिए अपना अनुभव साझा किया। इस दौरान सफाई निरीक्षक लालमणि यादव, अवर अभियंता सौरभ प्रकाश सिंह आदि मौजूद रहे।

'Phase out waste from dumpsites'

Bengaluru: India should conduct a nationwide study to accurately estimate methane emissions from legacy waste dumpsites and organic waste processing facilities, and urgently phase out biodegradable waste disposal in landfills, a new report by the Centre for Science and Environment has recommended. The independent think tank's report, titled "Methane Emissions from Open Dumpsites in India: Estimation and Mitigation Strategies", also stresses the importance of creating robust markets for reduced-emission products generated from organic waste processing and promoting carbon credits for biomining projects. A key concern raised in the report is the unreliability and inconsistency of data related to municipal solid waste and methane emissions. To address this issue, the report suggests using the first-order decay (FOD) method, which relies on field data and primary research to more precisely estimate methane emissions from landfill sites. A pan-India study needs to be conducted on estimation of methane and other GHGs (greenhouse gases) from each of the legacy waste dumpsites and organic waste processing facilities, experts have suggested. There is a lack of data on the quantity of methane originating from the dumpsites and other waste management-related activities they added. Creating a system of comprehensive methane measurement and monitoring strategies will enable policymakers and regulators to develop data-driven, science-based targets to reduce methane emissions from the waste sector, especially from dumpsites. In its report, the environmental think tank has emphasised the need to phase out the disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills and advocated for robust policies to incentivise waste diversion through source separation and the development of critical infrastructure for biodegradable waste treatment. Large-scale anaerobic digestion facilities are highlighted as a necessity to keep biodegradable waste out of landfills, reducing the burden on downstream mitigation technologies. The report also highlights the need to promote carbon credits for biomining projects and mandates estimating methane potential from capped landfills and dumpsites. Currently, there is a lack of monitoring of methane flux from existing landfill facilities and fugitive gas emissions from bio-digesters and biogas storage balloons in biomethanation plants. The report has also advocated for afforestation on reclaimed bioremediated land, emphasising its role as a carbon sequester to mitigate emissions. The green cover developed on the reclaimed land will act as a carbon sequester. According to BUR-3 (third biennial update report) submitted by the Government of India, forest and tree cover sequestered 331 million tonnes of CO2 in 2016, which is around 15 per cent of the total CO2 emissions in the country. Methane is a potent GHG with a much higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide (CO2). Its atmospheric concentration has more than doubled over the last two centuries primarily due to anthropogenic activities. It has a relatively short lifespan — of approximately 12 years — in the atmosphere. However, its global warming potential (GWP) — the ability of the gas to trap heat in the atmosphere — is 25 times more than CO2 and it has been second only to CO2 in causing climate change during the industrial era. Landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions globally, after oil and gas systems and agriculture. Landfill waste management worldwide accounted for an estimated 1.6 billion tonnes of CO2e (CO2 equivalent) in 2016. According to a report by the World Bank, this number is expected to reach 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2e by 2050. As per India's third biennial update report (BUR), the country's methane emissions in 2016 (excluding land use and landuse change and forestry) stood at 409 million tonnes CO2e. Of this, 73.96 per cent came from the agriculture sector, 14.46 per cent from the waste sector, 10.62 per cent from the energy sector and 0.96 per cent from the industrial processes and product use sector.

In early days of farm fires, Haryana sees sharp jump from last 2 years

GURGAON: It's still early weeks of the paddy harvesting season, and farm fires in Haryana have crossed the previous two years’ count between September 15 and October 4. Satellite data from Nasa, collated by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, recorded 29 instances of farm fires in Haryana on Wednesday. The state’s total since mid-September touched 166, multiple folds higher than the 24 recorded in the same period in 2022 and 21 in 2021. Experts said on Wednesday this hike in numbers is because stubble burning began early this year as rains did not linger till September, unlike the previous two years when showers went on till the second week of October. “Last two years, rains continued till the second week of October, as a result of which farm fires started later. It isn’t the case this year. But, if this is an overall increase or not can only be decided after the season is over and we get the entire data,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Of the total, most instances of farm fires were recorded in Kurukshetra – at 36 — followed by Ambala (34), Yamunanagar (22), Sonipat (20), Karnal (14), Fatehabad (10), Jind (9), Kaithal (7), Palwal (5), Panipat (4), Hisar (3) and one each in Rohtak and Jhajjar. The number of fires is likely to go up over the next few weeks as farms across northwest India’s agricultural belt clear their fields to prepare for the next round of crops. Asked what needs to be done to reduce stubble burning, which contributes to the peak winter pollution season that sees skies across Delhi-NCR coated in toxic haze, Rowchowdhury said Haryana has a “good track record”. “We have been seeing a year-on-year decline in Haryana. The government needs to focus on sending machinery to farmers on time and strengthen the process of paddy straw management,” she said. The state government has appointed 7,000 nodal officers, set up dedicated call centre teams and distributed 16,000 machines to farmers for in-situ paddy straw management this year. “This year, Haryana has taken several measures, from setting up control rooms and enforcement teams to announcing incentives such as Rs 1,000 per acre for adopting alternatives to stubble burning, Rs 500 per acre for transporting stubble to gaushalas and a price of Rs 2,500 per tonne for purchasing paddy crop residue from farmers… While this approach is a welcome move, it is important to assess how these measures are translating to a reduction in farm fires. For the current season, state authorities must ensure the optimal use of the 80 thousand straw management machines deployed. Alongside, they should leverage digital platforms to spread awareness,” said LS Kurinji, programme associate at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). According to data, 989 farm fires have been recorded across Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh between September 15 and October 4. Of these, the majority – 656 – were in Punjab. In Haryana, paddy is grown on approximately 36.5 lakh acres of area every year and this is likely to generate 7.3 lakh MT of straw. Of this, the government expects 2.4 lakh MT to be managed as fodder and 3.1 lakh MT in in-situ management and 1.7 lakh MT in ex-situ management. “We are providing machinery to farmers at the earliest. We have also prepared for a staggered harvesting schedule for paddy. Gram panchayats in the red and yellow zones will be awarded Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 for achieving zero-burning targets,” said Darshan Singh, technical assistant, Haryana agriculture department.

दिल्ली सरकार ने वायु प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए ‘ग्रीन वॉर रूम’ लॉन्च किया

दिल्ली सरकार ने 3 अक्टूबर, 2023 को ‘ग्रीन वॉर रूम’ लॉन्च करके वायु प्रदूषण के खिलाफ लड़ाई में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाया है। इस सक्रिय उपाय का उद्देश्य वायु प्रदूषण से निपटना है, जिसने लंबे समय से राष्ट्रीय राजधानी को परेशान किया है, खासकर सर्दियों के महीनों के दौरान। दिल्ली की वायु प्रदूषण की समस्या दिल्ली वाहनों, उद्योग और निर्माण सहित विभिन्न स्रोतों से होने वाले उच्च स्तर के वायु प्रदूषण से जूझ रही है। पड़ोसी पंजाब और हरियाणा में किसानों द्वारा पराली जलाने से प्रदूषण का स्तर बढ़ जाता है, खासकर सर्दियों में। ग्रीन वार रूम दिल्ली के पर्यावरण मंत्री गोपाल राय ने वायु प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए ‘ग्रीन वॉर रूम’ का उद्घाटन किया। वॉर रूम को ग्रीन दिल्ली ऐप नामक मोबाइल एप्लिकेशन के साथ सहजता से एकीकृत किया गया है। ‘ग्रीन वॉर रूम’ का प्रबंधन वैज्ञानिकों और इंजीनियरों की 17 सदस्यीय टीम द्वारा किया जाता है। यह एक एकीकृत मंच के रूप में कार्य करता है, जो 28 सरकारी विभागों को जोड़ता है, और नागरिकों को ग्रीन दिल्ली ऐप के माध्यम से प्रदूषण से संबंधित शिकायतों की रिपोर्ट करने की अनुमति देता है। ऐप पर प्राप्त शिकायतों की समीक्षा केंद्र सरकार, दिल्ली सरकार और दिल्ली नगर निगम (MCD) सहित सभी संबंधित विभागों द्वारा संयुक्त रूप से की जाती है। शीतकालीन कार्य योजना मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल ने सर्दियों के मौसम के दौरान वायु प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए 29 सितंबर, 2023 को एक व्यापक 15-सूत्रीय शीतकालीन कार्य योजना का अनावरण किया। इस योजना के हिस्से के रूप में, 5 अक्टूबर, 2023 को एक धूल विरोधी अभियान शुरू करने की तैयारी है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) से अंतर्दृष्टि सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की एक रिपोर्ट बताती है कि 31% प्रदूषण स्रोत आंतरिक (दिल्ली के भीतर) हैं, जबकि 69% बाहरी (आसपास के राज्यों से) हैं। वाहनों को एक प्रमुख वास्तविक समय प्रदूषण स्रोत के रूप में पहचाना गया है, जो विशेष रूप से दिल्ली में कण प्रदूषण में योगदान देता है। रिपोर्ट में बताया गया है कि 2022 की सर्दियों में वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर अपेक्षाकृत कम होने के बावजूद, दिल्ली राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र के पांच प्रमुख शहरों में सबसे अधिक प्रदूषित रही। 2018 में दिल्ली में बड़े पैमाने पर वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी शुरू हुई, जिससे वायु गुणवत्ता पर बहुमूल्य डेटा उपलब्ध हुआ। सार्वजनिक जुड़ाव और संकल्प ग्रीन दिल्ली ऐप पर 70,684 से अधिक शिकायतें दर्ज की गई हैं, जिनमें से 90% का सफलतापूर्वक समाधान किया गया है। इनमें से कई शिकायतें दिल्ली नगर निगम (MCD) के कामकाज से संबंधित थीं। वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (AQI) 3 अक्टूबर, 2023 को दिल्ली का वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (AQI) 155 था, जो इसे ‘मध्यम’ के रूप में वर्गीकृत करता है। AQI श्रेणियां ‘अच्छे’ से लेकर ‘गंभीर’ तक होती हैं, जो विभिन्न प्रदूषण स्तरों को दर्शाती हैं।

Himalayan plunder: 3 million Indians live in areas that can be swept by glacial lake floods, says study

Three million Indians live in areas where a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) can happen at any time, the first global assessment of such areas has found. Together with two million Pakistanis, they form a third of the total number of people worldwide facing such a risk. Globally, 90 million people across 30 countries live in 1,089 basins containing glacial lakes. Of these, 15 million (16.6 per cent) live within 50 kilometres of a glacial lake, said the new study published in Nature Communications February 7, 2023. The majority of the globally exposed population amounting to 9.3 million (62 per cent) are located in the region of high mountain Asia (HMA). Just four highly populous countries accounted for more than 50 per cent of the globally exposed population: India, Pakistan, Peru and China. The population exposed to GLOFs increases with distance from a glacial lake. Almost half (48 per cent) of exposed populations are globally located between 20 km and 35 km downstream of lakes, said the study by a team of scientists led by Caroline Taylor, Newcastle University. Only two per cent (300,000) of the global population exposed to GLOFs live within five km of one or more glacial lakes, with the majority of these — 66 per cent or 198,000 people found in HMA. Populations in HMA live, on average, closer to glacial lakes than anywhere else, with “one million people living within 10 km downstream of a glacial lake, where any early warning time is likely to be low, and, uncertainty in GLOF magnitude high”, the study noted. The researchers grouped basins into four mountain ranges: HMA, European Alps, Andes and Pacific Northwest (PNW). The remaining 131 (12 per cent) basins outside of these ranges were referred to as ‘High Arctic and Outlying Countries’. Populations across the PNW and High Arctic and Outlying Countries are generally situated further than 35 km downstream from glacial lakes, according to the study. People and glacial lakes ICIMOD or the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre, defines a GLOF as: The sudden release of water from a lake fed by glacier melt that has formed at the side, in front, within, beneath, or on the surface of a glacier. GLOF has the potential to catastrophically threaten people’s lives, livelihoods and regional infrastructure. The researchers found that it was not the size or number of glacial lakes that determined the risk to people. Instead, it was the number of exposed people that greatly elevated the potential impact of GLOFs globally especially across HMA and the Andes. For instance, the island of Greenland has the highest number and area of glacial lakes. However, nobody resides in such areas, giving it a danger score of zero. On the other hand, the most dangerous basins, mainly found across HMA and the Andes do not always host the most, or the largest, glacial lakes. It is the high number of people as well as their reduced capacity to cope with disaster that plays an important role in determining the overall GLOF danger. The most dangerous of the 1,089 glacial basins analysed are found in Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa basin), Peru (Santa basin) and Bolivia (Beni basin) containing 1.2 million, 0.9 million and 0.1 million people respectively who could be exposed to GLOF impacts. The study also noted that glaciers across the Andes have undergone rapid deglaciation over the last 20 years in response to climate changes. This has led to the growth of many large glacial lakes and consequently a growth in overall GLOF lake conditions. The number of glacial lakes across the region increased by 93 per cent, compared to just 37 per cent in HMA across the period. Concurrent with this increase, populations living in close proximity to glacial lakes have grown, increasing the overall exposure to GLOF, the study noted. Since 1941 the population in Huaraz, Peru, alone has increased by 100,000. At the same time, regional vulnerability remains high as a result of deep-rooted corruption and poor standards of living. Closer home, innovator and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for urgent intervention to protect Ladakh. Climate impact is visible in the Himalayas, with 25 glacial lakes and water bodies witnessing an increase in water spread area since 2009. Centre for Science and Environment and Down to Earth’s State of India’s Environment 2022: In Figures found that there has been a 40 per cent increase in water spread area in India, China and Nepal, posing a huge threat to seven Indian states and Union Territories.

Pożary na farmach w północnych Indiach widoczne na satelitarnych obrazach z NASA

Pożary na farmach na północy Indii zaczęły pojawiać się na obrazach satelitarnych NASA, z wieloma zdarzeniami pożarowymi odnotowanymi w Punjabie, Haryanie i Uttar Pradesh od 15 września, zgodnie z danymi opublikowanymi przez Indijski Instytut Rolniczy (IARI). Konsorcjum ds. Monitorowania i Modelowania Agroekosystemów z Kosmosu (CREAMS), centrum należące do IARI, monitoruje spalanie resztek roślinnych w regionie od 15 września do 30 listopada. W dniach od 15 do 18 września, Punjab odnotował sześć pożarów, co jest niższą liczbą niż w poprzednich latach. W tym samym okresie w zeszłym roku w Punjabie odnotowano 22 pożary, natomiast w 2021 roku liczba ta wyniosła 11. Haryana zanotowała po jednym pożarze w dniach 15 i 16 września, w porównaniu do zaledwie jednego pożaru w całym zeszłym miesiącu wrześniu. Uttar Pradesh odnotowało dwa pożary 16 września, podczas gdy pierwszy pożar na farmie w tym stanie miał miejsce 30 września ubiegłego roku. VK Sehgal, profesor i główny naukowiec w IARI, wyjaśnił, że we wrześniu zazwyczaj występują izolowane pożary, głównie w Amritsarze lub Tarn Taran w Punjabie, gdzie zbieranie ziemniaków odbywa się w inny cykl w porównaniu do zbiorów ryżu. Pomimo braku opadów w sierpniu, Punjab prawdopodobnie będzie miał w tym roku obfite plony, co wymaga zwiększonego wysiłku w celu zwalczania pożarów. Pożary na farmach w regionie przyczyniają się do kryzysu zdrowotnego, szczególnie dotykając Delhi, gdy nad północną Indią tworzy się kurtyna smogowa. Wpływ na jakość powietrza w Delhi zwykle jest odczuwalny od października, gdy kierunek wiatru staje się północno-zachodni po zakończeniu południowo-zachodniego monsunu. Zasiewy zostały dotknięte nieprawidłowym wzorcem monsunowym w tym roku, z deficytem 10% opadów na terenie całego kraju oraz powyżej-normalnymi opadami w lipcu. To skłoniło ekspertów do przypuszczenia, że spalanie resztek roślinnych może zostać przesunięte na październik z powodu niedawnych deszczy na północnym-zachodzie Indii. Wrzesień uważany jest za odpowiedni moment dla rządów stanowych, aby zająć się tym problemem. Anumita Roychowdhury, dyrektor wykonawczy ds. badań i obrony w Centrum Nauki i Środowiska (CSE), podkreśliła znaczenie wczesnej interwencji i współpracy z rolnikami w celu zapobieżenia pożarom na farmach. Zeszłoroczny trend spadku liczby pożarów we wrześniu był zachęcający. Monitorowanie pożarów na farmach za pomocą obrazów satelitarnych dostarcza cennych informacji dla decydentów politycznych i władz, aby podjąć odpowiednie działania i złagodzić wpływ na jakość powietrza i zdrowie publiczne.

Delhi Government Launches ‘Green War Room’ to Combat Air Pollution

The Delhi government has taken a significant step in the fight against air pollution by launching a ‘green war room’ on October 3, 2023. This proactive measure aims to combat air pollution, which has long plagued the national capital, particularly during the winter months. Delhi’s Persistent Air Pollution Problem Delhi grapples with high levels of air pollution caused by various sources, including vehicles, industry, and construction. Stubble burning by farmers in neighboring Punjab and Haryana exacerbates the pollution levels, especially in winter. The Green War Room Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai inaugurated the ‘green war room’ to tackle air pollution head-on. The war room is seamlessly integrated with a mobile application known as the Green Delhi app. The ‘green war room’ is managed by a 17-member team consisting of scientists and engineers. It acts as a unified platform, connecting 28 government departments, and allows citizens to report pollution-related complaints through the Green Delhi app. Complaints received on the app are jointly reviewed by all relevant departments, including those from the central government, Delhi government, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The Winter Action Plan Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a comprehensive 15-point Winter Action Plan on September 29, 2023, to combat air pollution during the winter season. As part of this plan, an anti-dust campaign is set to launch on October 5, 2023. Insights from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) A report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) indicates that 31% of pollution sources are internal (within Delhi), while 69% are external (from surrounding states). Vehicles have been identified as a major real-time pollution source, particularly contributing to particulate pollution in Delhi. The report highlighted that despite relatively low air pollution levels in winter 2022, Delhi remained the most polluted among five major cities in the national capital region. Large-scale air quality monitoring commenced in Delhi in 2018, providing valuable data on air quality. Public Engagement and Resolution Over 70,684 complaints have been registered on the Green Delhi App, with an impressive 90% of them successfully resolved. Many of these complaints were related to the functioning of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Air Quality Index (AQI) The air quality index (AQI) for Delhi stood at 155 on October 3, 2023, categorizing it as ‘moderate.’ AQI categories range from ‘good’ to ‘severe,’ reflecting different pollution levels.

‘It could be a bad year if on-ground steps inadequate’: Nasa expert on farm fires

Farm fires in the agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana this season could follow similar trends as the past, according to assessments of cropping patterns by a remote sensing expert from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), who added that it will now be crucial for on-ground administrations to step in and dissuade the practice. Senior aerosol remote sensing scientist at Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center, Hiren Jethva said that based on the area cultivated in Punjab and Haryana, 2023, if farmers continue “an as usual burning” practice as before, the year could record the fourth highest active fire season after 2021, 2016 and 2020. “Rice harvest in northwest India is approaching soon. My prediction for 2023 seasonal residue fires from Aqua MODIS Sep NDVI (satellite imagery) suggests 16,000 occurrences in Punjab and Haryana under an ‘as usual burning scenario’. Prediction stands (2023) as the fourth most active fire season after 2021, 2016, 2020,” Jethva said. He, however, added that on-ground action by state agencies could significantly reduce the number of farm fires, as it has happened in the past. “Satellite detected 16% less fire activities than predicted in 2022 — an indication of actions on the ground to reduce instances of agricultural fires. Hoping for more momentum and efforts this year too,” he said. Predicting the pre-winter air quality crisis is difficult since there is wide variation in human and atmospheric factors: whether farmers choose to burn the paddy residue is a key determinant, as is the sort of weather that prevails (including wind direction). This year, farmers have also reported using a higher proportion of a new variety of paddy which matures early and leaves shorter remnants, potentially cutting the volumes needed to be burnt closer to the critical October-end, November-beginning period when the weather too is unsuited for blowing the smoke away. Authorities in both states have also said that they are making efforts to distribute and rent out new harvesting and seeding machines that do away with the need to burn paddy stubble. On the other hand, delayed rains also upset sowing schedules, potentially leaving farmers with a shorter window for them to ready their fields for the winter crops --- a crunch that is among the main reasons they take to burning the paddy residue. Data from the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change shows that last year, 49,992 stubble fires were reported from Punjab and 3,549 stubble fires reported from Haryana. In Punjab, 71,304 fires were recorded in 2021 and 82,693 fires were seen in 2020. Government data also showed that in Punjab last year, five districts reported the highest number of fires — Sangrur, Bhatinda, Firozpur, Muktsar and Moga. While local residents in these areas are the first victims of plumes of smoke released from such mass burning, Delhi also bears the brunt of Punjab and Haryana’s unchecked stubble fires every year, as the wind direction during these months carries pollutants to the Capital, setting the tone for the high pollution concentrations recorded in the city during winter months. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that government agencies must increase monitoring and action against early signs of stubble fires. She also said that along with increased monitoring, administration should also ensure that machines to mulch stubble is also readily available to farmers. “The problem requires solution at multiple levels. You have to make machines accessible, provide financial incentives to farmers and also create a functional alternative for straw management. Meanwhile, on-ground monitoring of fires needs to happen more effectively,” said Roychowdhury.

Will weather aid in Delhi’s pollution fight like last year? Unlikely, say experts

According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, last winter, the average PM 2.5 level in the city was the lowest from 2018-19 onwards. With the paddy harvest and instances of stubble burning having picked up pace in the northern districts of Punjab, and winter around the corner, how is Delhi’s air quality likely to fare this winter? According to experts, the meteorological factors that helped keep Delhi’s air cleaner than usual last winter may not extend into the upcoming winter. Gufran Beig, founder-project director, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said, “Last year, there were natural factors that came to NCR’s rescue. Wind speeds were higher for a majority of the time. But this year, that is unlikely because La Nina conditions are not there. Last year, due to La Nina conditions, winds in the northern part of India were faster, while it was calmer over the southwestern part of the country. That is one of the reasons that in the southwest, in Mumbai and other places, air quality had worsened. But in Delhi it was better relative to the previous year. This is unlikely in an El Nino year. This year, festivals are also around the time when it is colder. Steps will have to be taken.” La Nina refers to abnormally cool sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while El Nino is the phenomenon of warmer waters in the Pacific Ocean. Last year, on the day after Diwali for instance, higher wind speeds had helped disperse pollutants, and Diwali was in October, when colder conditions had not yet set in. According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, last winter, the average PM 2.5 level in the city was the lowest from 2018-19 onwards. In November 2022, the daily peak contribution of stubble burning to PM 2.5 levels in Delhi was also lower than previous years, standing at 34%. This figure was over 40% in 2021, 2020 and 2019. Meanwhile, satellite data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) shows that Punjab has recorded 456 crop residue burning events so far this season, while there have been 120 such instances in Haryana. VK Sehgal, Principal Scientist, IARI, said that in Punjab, the instances are mostly in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. “Harvesting has begun and peak of harvesting would come somewhere around the last week of October and first week of November,” he said. Delhi’s AQI was 146 in the ‘moderate’ category on Monday. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the AQI is likely to remain in the ‘moderate’ category from October 3 to 5. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into effect on October 1, which means that measures under GRAP can begin to be invoked when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300).

Can rooftop solar projects help states achieve their renewable purchase obligation targets?

by Down To Earth Many of the renewable-rich states in India, such as Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, are not able to meet their renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets. RPO is a mechanism in which the obligated entities are mandated to purchase a minimum of their total power consumption from non-conventional energy sources such as solar and wind, according to the Electricity Act, 2003. For 2023, the government has mandated RPO compliance of 24.61 per cent, and for 2024, RPO compliance has been set at 27.08 per cent. Renewable energy service company (RESCO)-based Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic (RTS PV) would help utilities achieve their RPO targets. RESCO is one of the models of RTS PV installation in which the project developer installs the RTS PV on the consumer’s (rented to the project developer) rooftop, and the consumer does not have to pay an upfront cost for installation. In a RESCO model, an energy provider delivers electricity produced by a solar power project to the grid or the consumer whose property in which the project is installed. RTS PV in the RESCO model would help the utilities achieve their RPO targets, reducing the need for renewable energy certificates (REC). In order to bridge the gap in fulfilling the RPO targets, distribution companies (DISCOMs) resort to buying RECs. For 2022-2023, 46 per cent of the country’s total renewable energy supply of 354 billion units (BU) is generated by large hydropower plants, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy statistics. The dependence on solar power has increased significantly recently, with a 29 per cent contribution in the current financial year, followed by wind energy. An analysis carried out by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment recommended RTS PV should be deployed in areas with high transmission and distribution (T&D) losses. DISCOMs can calculate the maximum value of the T&D loss beyond which the RTS PV can be beneficial for them. The per unit savings of the DISCOMs improve as T&D losses in the region increase. The RTS PV penetration level, however, increases the total savings for the DISCOMs. DISCOMs can be useful in many ways, such as lowering the tariff for the end-user, lowering the cross-subsidy charges, lowering the direct subsidy charges and profit sharing with end-users, among others. RTS PV can benefit low-paying end-users by lowering T&D losses in areas that have been difficult for the utility to manage. RTS PV systems facilitate local generation and distribution, incurring fewer losses as compared to the total T&D loss for the DISCOMs. Although there is currently no definitive information on the overall residential rooftop capacity to date, based on the information available in the public domain, residential RTS PV has a very nominal share. Nearly 2 gigawatts account for about 20 per cent of the overall RTS PV capacity. This does not indicate confidence in the residential sector, which is riddled with various challenges. Solar-based generation plays a predominant role in achieving RPO targets. This makes a compelling case for the states to pursue and scale up solar PV, maximising the potential for ground-mounted and rooftop solar PV. DISCOMs in states with strong financial status should work as producers, developers and financiers. The consumer database of the utilities is equipped with the knowledge of the T&D losses and the rooftop availability. They are up to date about the end-users behaviours and manage grid interconnections, metering, inspections, billing cycles and engineering procurement construction services. The solar PV production cost continues to fall, which means the PV market and the end-users will find a way to keep RTS PV moving forward regardless of the role played by the utilities. Given the potential of the residential, commercial and industrial RTS PV developments, it is critical to consider scaling rooftop solar PV in the residential segment to increase the share of clean power generation. This requires experimenting with various models involving multiple stakeholders. Most importantly, distribution companies with access to every grid-connected household/consumer in their respective jurisdiction of power supply can play the leading role in terms of mobilising consumers. Thereby, they can aggregate the potential and demand for rooftop solar PV, which would also augment their reliance on non-conventional energy sources in terms of procurement and supply, especially in rural areas. DISCOMs can partner with multiple stakeholders, such as developers and consumers, to conduct the feasibility analysis of projects, followed by project development through appropriate models such as CAPEX, OPEX (RESCO) and DISCOM-facilitated community projects. Considering the security of a long-term contract, renewable energy service companies (RESCO) have ranked low-paying end-users as ‘low.’ The tariffs on rooftop solar PV power are relatively high compared to the subsidised power that the low-paying end-users receive. Both these scenarios make the RESCO model unappealing for such end-users. The eventual alternative is the DISCOM-based model, but DISCOMs do not want to fund the system inherently. They are debt-ridden, with a weak financial position. One of the challenges faced by the Indian power sector is the compelling issue of aggregate technical and commercial losses (AT&C), which is lowered by RTS PV as generation and consumption are co-located. The places where AT&C losses are high can deploy RTS PV.