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Countdown To COP28 UAE: The UAE Ambassador Brings Together Key Stakeholders To Build Collaboration For Climate Action

New Delhi – In the run-up to the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held at Expo City, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UAE Ambassador to India, H.E. Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali hosted a roundtable discussion with senior civil society and think tank leaders in New Delhi. The roundtable, which deliberated upon critical climate action strategies, highlighted the role of constructive dialogue in support of COP28 UAE outcomes, bringing together dignitaries from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI); the International Solar Alliance (ISA); Centre for Science and Environment (CSE); Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW); Rockefeller Foundation and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), among others. The roundtable underlined the UAE COP Presidency’s four-pillar strategy to accelerate global climate action, by fast-tracking the energy transition, transforming climate finance, focusing on lives and livelihoods, and full inclusivity of the COP process. As a milestone COP, the Presidency will work to ensure that the world moves forward from COP28 with a clear, collective, collaborative, and inclusive plan of action that leaves no one behind. Underlining this spirit of inclusion and collaboration, roundtable participants emphasised the scale of global climate change and its impact on communities around the world, highlighting the need for whole-of-society solutions. They highlighted the importance of working together post the G20 summit to ensure the implementation of climate financing and opportunities for climate action, commitments on mitigation, and adaptation. Reinforcing the importance of collective action, international cooperation, and shared responsibility in addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change, H.E. Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, the UAE Ambassador to India, stated, “The UAE is fully committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing climate action and fostering collaboration among nations as we head towards the first global evaluation of Paris COP21. India has been a valued partner to the UAE Presidency’s vision for COP, and today’s roundtable is a testament to our collective dedication to creating a resilient future for all by enabling an inclusive and solutions-oriented COP28.” The roundtable discussions reaffirmed the COP28 UAE’s aim to disrupt business-as-usual climate approaches, unite around decisive action, and achieve game-changing results in an inclusive manner, bolstering the UAE’s call to the world to Unite. Act. Deliver. The COP28 roundtable in New Delhi was held as a precursor to COP28, which will be held from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

Triple jeopardy in health

We now know that antibiotics — medicines that we take in times of grave health dangers — are getting increasingly ineffective in killing the microbes that make us ill. This silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is caused by overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which has made pathogens mutate and build defence mechanisms against these drugs. Today, AMR is taking lives. Estimates say that the inability of life-saving medicines to work led to some five million deaths in 2019. This is not all. Not only are we not conserving the existing stock of medicines, the drug pipeline for new antibiotics is drying up, or has done so already. Major pharmaceutical companies in the business of research, development, and discoveries are opting out of this line of medicine. It would mean that in the years to come we are in for triple jeopardy. One, the antibiotics we know today would be increasingly ineffective; two, there would be no new antibiotics available; and, three, there would be a critical need for access to these medicines for all. This is a dire health emergency — perhaps more serious than anything we have seen to date. In the 1940s, after the Second World War, there was mass production of penicillin — the first antibiotic, discovered in 1928 — and the world’s dependence on this line of medicines grew substantially. More discoveries were made in the decades that followed. But all this stopped by the 1980s. What then happened was not discovery of novel classes of antimicrobials, but reformulation of the same classes of drugs against which bacteria can develop resistance easily. The problem is compounded because there are, what the World Health Organization (WHO) calls, “priority pathogens”. Most of these priority pathogens are Gram-negative bacteria that have complex cell walls and cause some of the worst infections in the world, including pneumonia. We need new classes of antibiotics to address these priority pathogens and we need them to be accessible to people across the world, even those who do not have the ability to pay the high cost of new drugs. The WHO’s annual review of antimicrobial agents in different stages of drug development reveals that in the past five years, only two of the 12 antibiotics approved can be considered novel; and of these, only one is targeting a “critical” priority pathogen. (The WHO’s priority pathogens are sub-categorised into “critical”, “high”, and “medium”). What’s worse is that the drug pipeline is drying up, and fast. For the past few years, only one or two antibiotics have made it to the stage of new drug application. The future is even bleaker. There are just nine new drug candidates in phase 3 of clinical trials — the point before a drug can make it to the approval stage — and most of them do not target critical priority pathogens. The real irony is that this does not mean there is no research on novel antibiotics. The pre-clinical basket has over 217 antimicrobial possibilities. However, these are being developed not by large pharmaceutical firms but in the backrooms of universities and small businesses. According to the WHO, 80 per cent of the pre-clinical novel drug finds are in businesses with less than 50 employees. But as the drug moves up the ladder, the costs of development increase, and innovation falls through the cracks. So, why is Big Pharma not investing in R&D, or not even taking the innovation from the small businesses to big markets, or not using it to make big finds? Worse, why is Big Pharma getting out of the antibiotic business, when, as my colleagues in their analysis ask, they are making humongous profits through other drugs? The reasons are both economic and moral. Pharmaceutical companies say the cost of development is high; there are risks and so on. But the real reason is that there is much more profit in drugs that are used for treating diseases like cancer or diabetes. There is even more profit in doing research and bringing to the market drugs that are made for what are called orphan diseases — rare diseases that may afflict only a few million, but for which medicines are necessary and high-end. The moral issue is that the companies are exiting the critical antibiotic business when they are making record profits. This desperate health emergency calls for game-changing solutions. This class of medicines is defined by two imperatives. One, their usage has to be limited — misuse and overuse is what is creating the problem of AMR. These life-saving drugs must be conserved, which means careful, restricted use, even if less money is made in sales. Two, access to these medicines is to be ensured — this means that drugs will have to be affordable, which also limits the profit interests of pharmaceutical firms. So, it is time to look at antibiotics as a global public good. This would perhaps mean new taxes — on profits of pharmaceutical firms — and creating conditions that ensure public research is used for the common good. We cannot fail even if the markets fail.

Delhi govt on course to remove mountains of garbage: CM Kejriwal

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inspected the Bhalswa landfill in north Delhi on Saturday and said over 4.5 million tonne of garbage will be removed from the site by May 15, 2024. Kejriwal said that nearly 35 acres of land will subsequently be reclaimed, adding that the work was progressing at a fast pace. “We promised the people of Delhi that we would remove the garbage hills in Delhi. The target was set to remove 1.4 million tonne of garbage from Bhalswa by September 30. The agency has already removed more than 1.8 million tonne. With this speed, it is expected that by May 15, 2024, instead of the designated target of 3 million tonne, 4.5 million tonne of garbage will be removed,” Kejriwal said. Delhi is sitting on around 27 million tonne of waste across three landfills at Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla. Clearing Delhi’s garbage mountains was the first of the 10 “guarantees” that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made in the run-up to the civic polls in December 2022. After winning the elections, the AAP-led MCD on March 3 this year announced that the project has been expedited, with a target to clear Okhla by December 2023, Bhalswa by March 2024, and Ghazipur by December 2024. The erstwhile three municipal corporations in July 2019 began an ambitious project to clear the three landfills in Delhi through the process of biomining after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered that the Capital’s legacy waste dumps be cleared within a year. HT had reported on September 24 that four years on, since the AAP came to power, the process to clear these “garbage mountains” at Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur has made little headway — the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s latest progress report dated July 31 this year noted that the civic body has been able to clear 8,999,000 tonne of legacy waste — less than a third of the original 28,000,000 tonne of legacy waste. Kejriwal said the work at Bhalswa began in November last year and the goal was to remove approximately 3 million tonne within the next 18 months. By September 30, 2023, the target was to remove around 1.4 million tonne. “It is reported that approximately 6 to 6.5 million tonne of garbage are at the Bhalswa landfill site. In addition to this, the site receives about 2,000 tonne of new garbage daily. The process of hiring another agency is underway so that both agencies can work together to completely clear the site,” Kejriwal said. Earlier, an MCD officer associated with the landfill projects had said that over the last year, from July 2022 to July 2023, 3,553,000 tonne of waste was biomined from the three landfills, but around 2,226,000 tonne of fresh waste was dumped there in the same period, making for slow progress. Another senior MCD official had said the Okhla and Bhalswa deadlines were unrealistic. “The progress of biomining operations further slowed down due to the rainy season,” the official said. Biomining is a process through which various components of legacy waste, such as plastic, paper, cloth, sand, and bricks are separated by passing them through trommel machines, which act as cylindrical rotating sieves. The chief minister also said that a second agency will be hired to remove the remaining garbage after the 4.5 million tonne is removed. “We are waiting for the Supreme Court’s order regarding this after which elections for the standing committee will be held. Tenders cannot be issued without the recommendation of the standing committee, so this is stuck in a legal process,” Kejriwal said. The CM has planned to visit the other two landfill sites as well. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva visited the Ghazipur landfill site and claimed that the work on waste disposal was progressing at a snail’s pace. The Ghazipur landfill is the largest among the three landfill sites. “When BJP was in power in MCD, around 4,500 tonne of garbage was processed every day, now under AAP only around 1,300 tonne is processed out of the 2,450 tonne dumped daily. It is leading to the creation of a new mountain of waste at the landfill site,” Sachdeva said. Sachdeva claimed that the work at Ghazipur has stopped for the past eight months, adding that less than 10,000 metric tonne of garbage is disposed of daily from Ghazipur. He said that about 2,500 MT of garbage was being added to the Ghazipur landfill every day, resulting in a new garbage mountain. Meanwhile, experts said that the disposal of fresh municipal solid waste at dumps was still a matter of grave concern. “While it’s good that efforts are underway, there is a pressing need to develop comprehensive strategies to manage fresh waste. Unfortunately, Delhi has lagged behind in this regard, with questionable collection coverage and a lack of recycling and treatment facilities,” said Richa Singh, programme manager, solid waste management and circular economy, Centre for Science and Environment.

All you need to know about ban on large diesel generators in Delhi-NCR

Ahead of the upcoming winter season known for increased pollution levels, the ban on diesel generators is scheduled to take effect on October 1. As per the directives of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), after September 30, the use of diesel generators will be prohibited throughout the National Capital Region (NCR). However, on Friday CAQM offered a partial exemption, allowing the use of diesel generators for essential services in the NCR up to December 31. All you need to know about ban on large diesel generators What CAQM has specified Starting in October, diesel generator sets with a capacity ranging from 19kW to 125kW will be required to operate in dual fuel mode. However, these devices can only be utilised for a maximum of two hours a day when the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions are in effect. Diesel generator sets with a power capacity of 125kW to 800kW must operate in dual fuel mode and also need to be retrofitted with Emission Control Devices (ECDs). Generator sets exceeding 800kW must be retrofitted with either dual fuel kits or ECDs, but they can also be operated for up to two hours a day if GRAP measures are in place. Resistance from residential clusters and industries Many industries and residential clusters have expressed concerns about their inability to either transition from diesel generators to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) or use dual fuel due to the substantial costs involved. They have also emphasized the necessity of uninterrupted power supply to industries from distribution companies (discoms). Who does this apply to? All residential, commercial, and industrial establishments are required to switch to modified generators that emit relatively fewer pollutants compared to their diesel counterparts. This includes hospitals, residential societies, offices, and factories. Pollution from diesel generators Diesel generator sets are known to be highly polluting devices. An analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that, on average, a 250kVA DG set emits 3kg of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 1.5kg of carbon monoxide (CO), and 0.183kg of PM10 pollutants if it operates for three hours a day. Expert opinions A consistent supply of electricity to all households, industries, hospitals, etc., would eliminate the need for reliance on diesel generator sets. In addition to air pollution, diesel emissions pose a carcinogenic risk to individuals with prolonged exposure to fumes from DG sets. Patial Relief | Permission for essential services until the year end Extension for essential services CAQM has extended three months permission for the use of diesel generator sets for essential services purely to avoid disruptions in emergency services and to provide more time for the implementation of emission control measures. CAQM had previously stated that the ban on diesel generators, enforced annually during winter to combat air pollution, would also encompass essential services. The one-time exception applies to nine categories, including - Commercial and residential complexes employing elevators, escalators, and travelators. (Subject to the DG set operation being purely limited to operation of elevators / escalators / travelators etc. and not for any other activities of commercial entities / residential societies.) - Medical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes using critical medical equipment. - Railway services / Railway stations - Metro Rail & MRTS Services, including trains and stations - Airports and Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) - Sewage treatment plants - Water pumping stations - Projects of national significance related to national security - Services related to telecommunications, information technology, and data management

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal unveils 15-point winter action plan

NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a 15-point winter action plan on Friday and stressed the cooperation of NCR states to make the season less harsh on everyone. "Pollution knows no boundaries. The air from Haryana comes to Delhi, and Delhi's air goes to Uttar Pradesh," he said. Hotspot-specific action plans, monitoring of open-waste burning, and alternative routes on 90 roads are part of the action plan. Track the pollution level in your city CM: Use Green Delhi app to report polluting activities Data from the Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31% of pollution in Delhi is due to internal sources, while 69% is from external sources. We appeal to neighbouring states to allow CNG-based vehicles to enter Delhi, their industries don't use polluting fuel, brick kilns use zig-zag technology. There should be 24-hour electricity supply to avoid the need for generators. There should be a complete ban on firecrackers in the NCR," said Kejriwal. Stating that the pollution level in the city has declined in Delhi by 30% over the past few years, the CM said that multiple teams have been constituted to check dust pollution, 385 teams to check PUC certificate and keep old vehicles from plying, 600 teams to check open burning and 67 teams to check industrial pollution. "There will be strict monitoring of construction sites, anti-dust machines will be used, and efforts made to reduce vehicular pollution. Additionally, there will be a ban on open-waste burning. If pollution levels rise, Graded Response will be implemented rigorously, and collaborative efforts with neighboring states will continue," said Kejriwal. The 15-point action plan includes identification of 13 hotspots with specific action plan; spraying bio-decomposer to discourage stubble burning; controlling dust pollution at construction sites, mechanical road sweeping; curbing vehicular pollution; ban on open-waste burning; ensuring that 1727 Industrial units in Delhi don't use unauthorised fuel; establishing green war room; and encouraging people to use Green Delhi App. "Green Delhi App launched 3 years ago, has become quite popular among the public. The app has received more than 70,470 complaints so far. Out of these, 63,344 complaints have been resolved, which is 90%. We appeal to all residents of Delhi to download the Green Delhi App on their mobile phones and report any pollution-related activities anywhere in Delhi. We will take action based on those reports," said Kejriwal. The CM said a 'Real-Time Source Apportionment Study' is being conducted in collaboration with IIT Delhi and Delhi Pollution Control Committee for which a super site has been established at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya on Rouse Avenue Road. "The data from this study will be used to take focused actions in various areas," said Kejriwal. As part of efforts to increase green cover, he said, more than 1 crore new saplings will be planted, out of which the Delhi government will plant 52 lakh saplings.

Delhi CM unveils 15-point winter pollution plan

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced a 15-point ‘winter action plan’ to deal with air pollution in the national capital during winter, with the same points announced as part of a similar plan last year. Pointing out that the issue of pollution is not just Delhi’s, Kejriwal appealed to the states in the NCR to ensure that electricity is supplied round-the-clock to prevent use of generator sets. He also added that a meeting would have to be called, either by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) or the Union government, so that a joint plan can be made. “The issue is not just of Delhi. People of Punjab, Haryana and UP also need to get clean air,” he said at a press conference. Addressing the issue of stubble burning in Punjab, Kejriwal said: “Last year, stubble burning had fallen by 30% compared to the previous year. This year, the Punjab government has taken steps, which include diversification of crops, that is growing crops other than paddy, to which there has been a good response. Another step is varieties of paddy – focus on short-term varieties that generate less stubble and leave more time to dispose of stubble. There has been a good response to this too. For ex-situ management of stubble, some companies have come forward and adopted districts. In those districts, these companies will transport the stubble and will convert it into energy or fertilizer. It will be difficult to say how much stubble burning will be reduced this year, but there should be an improvement.” Paddy stubble burning events in Punjab have seen a marginal uptick recently, with 68 burning events being recorded on Friday, as per IARI data from satellites. This is up from 33 on Thursday, 21 on Wednesday and three on Tuesday. A combination of factors — low wind speeds, cold temperatures, smoke from stubble burning in other parts of northwest India, emissions from other sources like vehicles and industries — keep the NCR’s air polluted in winter. An analysis of air pollution in the NCR last winter by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had said that Delhi’s average PM2.5 levels from October 1 to January 31 was highest among 27 NCR towns and cities, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. Measures that city will be taking this year are similar to those taken last year – checking construction sites for enforcement of dust pollution norms, anti-smog guns, mechanised sweeping, checking of PUC certificates, a war room for monitoring, and focused action at the city’s 13 air pollution hotspots, which includes Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram and Punjabi Bagh. Kejriwal also pointed out measures that have been taken so far, including shutting off the two coal-based power plants in the city, purchasing new buses including 800 electric ones, Delhi’s Electric Vehicle Policy, and industrial units being made to shift to PNG use. He added that there has been a reduction in pollution, though the situation is not yet “ideal.”

UAE roundtable in Delhi to build collaboration for climate action

In the build-up to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which will be held in Dubai later this year, the UAE Ambassador to India Dr Abdulnasser Alshaali had a detailed discourse with civil society and think-tank leaders in Delhi. They deliberated upon critical climate action strategies, highlighted the role of constructive dialogue in support of COP28 UAE outcomes. It brought together dignitaries from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Rockfeller Foundation and Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). Said Dr Alshaali, "The UAE is fully committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing climate action and fostering collaboration among nations as we head towards the first global evaluation of Paris COP21. India has been a valued partner to the UAE presidency's vision for COP, and today's roundtable is a testament to our collective dedication to creating a resilient future for all enabling an inclusive and solutions-oriented COP28." The roundtable reaffirmed UAE's aim to interrupt business-as-usual climate approaches, bond around decisive action, and achieve game-changing results in toto. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier assured India's support for UAE's COP28 presidency, which will be held at the Expo City in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.

क्या है पॉल्यूशन का परमानेंट सॉल्यूशन? जानिए CSE की एग्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर की राय

Pollution News: जिलाधीश एवं डीसी निशान्त कुमार यादव ने बढ़ते प्रदूषण पर नियंत्रण के लिए गुरुग्राम जिला में पटाखों के भंडारण, बिक्री व इस्तेमाल (ग्रीन पटाखों को छोड़कर) पर रोक लगाने के आदेश जारी किए है. जारी आदेशों में फ्लिपकार्ट, अमेज़न आदि ई- कॉमर्स कम्पनियां पटाखों के किसी भी ऑनलाइन ऑर्डर को स्वीकार नहीं करने की मनाही की गई है. दिल्ली एनसीआर में प्रदूषण एक बेहद परेशान करने वाला समस्या है, जिसे लेकर आज ज़ी मीडिया ने 'विज्ञान और पर्यावरण केंद्र' यानी Centre for Science and Environment की एग्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी से बातचीत की. जानिए उन्होंने क्या कहा?

Kejriwal launches 15-point plan to keep air breathable in Delhi winter

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday unveiled a 15-point winter action plan to kick in from October 1, when teams from various agencies will fan out across the city to intensify vehicle checks, curb sources of dust and industrial pollution, stop crop burning, and carry out regular cleaning of roads in an effort to stave off the annual pre-winter air quality crisis. The CM also urged other National Capital Region (NCR) states to assist in the efforts, especially on curbing farm fires and the use of firecrackers during Diwali, a day after Gurugram announced it would allow the bursting of green firecrackers in a two-hour window for the festival. Experts doubt green firecrackers are any better than conventional ones. “We have identified thirteen hot spots where pollution is high and an action plan has been made for each hot spot and a war room has been made too. Thirteen special teams have been also formed. Last year, we used bio-decomposer to control stubble burning in 4,400 acres, this year it will be used in 5,000 acres,” the CM said. The government has formed 591 teams to monitor construction sites, a big source of dust, Kejriwal added. The plan, which involves 28 departments including environment, transport, traffic police, municipal bodies, and other agencies to check pollution, has been prepared based on reports and suggestions from these departments. A joint meeting regarding this was held on September 14. Every winter, Delhi and NCR experience a huge spike in air pollution due to a combination of local, external and meteorological factors. Chief among them is the practice of setting afire paddy remnants after harvesting, which is rampant in parts of Punjab and Haryana. These emissions then combine with smoke from burning of garbage, road dust and tailpipe gases, creating a toxic cocktail that settles in on the region for days on end as low temperatures and weak winds prevent them from blowing away. Smoke from firecrackers used during Diwali invariably worsens this crisis. For at least seven years now, the Capital’s air has plunged into the severely polluted category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing past 400 and even 450. The concentration of ultra fine PM2.5 particles, which can reach deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, shoots up to levels unfit for breathing, and has forced the administration to close schools and ask the elderly and children to stay indoors. To be sure, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government unveiled 15 action points to tackle pollution last year as well and this is a yearly affair. The party is also in power in Punjab, where a bulk of the farm fires take place. Punjab has pledged to reduce the number of such fires by 50%. On Friday, Kejriwal said the AAP took multiple steps in six months and claimed a 30% reduction in stubble burning in Punjab, according to government data. “Multiple steps have been taken this year by Mann government such as diversification of crops which will reduce usage of water and stubble burning, use of short term varieties of paddy which produces less stubble and also afford long period for disposal of stubble,” he said. The CM also said that the Delhi government has put in consistent efforts through the years to curb pollution in the city, and added that in the last seven years, Delhi had witnessed a 30% reduction in pollution. “In 2014, the (average) PM2.5 was 149 which reduced to 103 in 2023. In 2014, PM10 was 324 (on average) has come down to 223 in 2023. In 2016, Delhi had 109 good air days which has increased to 163 days in 2023,” Kejriwal said. Underlining the role of public transport in checking air pollution, he said the government has purchased buses on a large scale, especially e-buses. “Currently, 7,135 public buses are on the streets of Delhi, including 800 electric buses and 17% of total vehicles being purchased in the Capital are e-vehicles,” Kejriwal said. Stating that the menace of air pollution does not follow the boundaries between Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, Kejriwal said the state government will make coordinated efforts with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) as well as other NCR states. “The data of the Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31% of pollution in Delhi is caused by internal sources and 69% due to external (outside Delhi) sources. We appeal to nearby states to ensure that vehicles entering Delhi from nearby states are converted to CNG vehicles,” Kejriwal said. Experts say the success of the action plan will depend on its implementation. Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE’s executive director (research and advocacy) said: “The effectiveness will depend on the scale and speed of implementation of the strategies identified. At the same time the ongoing action targeting all key sources of pollution needs to gather momentum for more sustained changes.”

दिल्ली : राजधानी में विंटर एक्शन प्लान का एलान, हवा जहां जैसी होगी ‘बीमार’, वहां वैसा ‘इलाज’

राजधानी में सर्दी के मौसम में होने वाले वायु प्रदूषण की रोकथाम के लिए दिल्ली सरकार सख्त हो गई है। जिस इलाके की हवा में जैसे प्रदूषक होंगे, वैसे ही इसे खत्म करने के इंतजाम किए जाएंगे। मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल ने शुक्रवार को प्रदूषण के खिलाफ 15 सूत्रीय विंटर एक्शन प्लान की घोषणा की है। इसके तहत 13 हॉटस्पॉट के लिए अलग-अलग एक्शन प्लान बनाए गए हैं। केजरीवाल ने बताया कि इस बार पांच हजार एकड़ से अधिक खेतों में बॉयो डी-कंपोजर का निशुल्क छिड़काव किया जाएगा। वहीं, निर्माण साइटों पर कड़ी नजर रखी जाएगी और एंटी डस्ट मशीनों का इस्तेमाल किया जाएगा। वाहन प्रदूषण को कम करने के साथ खुले में कूड़ा जलाने पर भी रोक रहेगी। इसके अलावा प्रदूषण बढ़ने पर सख्ती से ग्रेडेड रिस्पांस एक्शन प्लान (ग्रैप) को लागू किया जाएगा। दिल्ली सचिवालय में प्रेसवार्ता में केजरीवाल ने कहा कि पिछले कुछ सालों में प्रदूषण के स्तर में करीब 30% की कमी आई है। प्रदूषण के खिलाफ इस जंग में इस बार फिर से दिल्ली तैयार है। उन्होंने कहा कि दूसरे राज्यों में विकास की गतिविधियां बढ़ने के साथ प्रदूषण भी बढ़ा है, लेकिन दिल्ली में कमी आई है। सरकारी एजेंसी और केंद्र सरकार के साथ मिलकर बहुत सारे कदम उठाए गए हैं। जिसकी वजह से दिल्ली में पिछले 8 सालों में प्रदूषण में काफी कमी आई है। वर्ष 2016 में अच्छी हवा 109 दिन थी, अब यह 163 दिन हो गई है और सीवियर पॉल्यूशन 26 दिन होते थे, जो घटकर 6 दिन रह गए हैं। केजरीवाल ने आंकड़ों के जरिये बताया कि 2014 में दिल्ली में पीएम-2.5 149 होता था, जबकि अब ये 103 है। इसी तरह 2014 में पीएम-10 324 होता था, अब ये 223 है। इस दिशा में पिछले कई सालों से युद्ध प्रदूषण के विरुद्ध कैंपेन चलाया है। दिल्ली सरकार का 15 सूत्रीय विंटर एक्शन प्लान केजरीवाल ने कहा कि दिल्ली में 13 हॉटस्पॉट चिह्नित किए गए हैं। इनमें रोहिणी, विवेक विहार, आरके पुरम, नरेला, पंजाबी बाग, ओखला, मुंडका, वजीरपुर, जहांगीरपुरी, द्वारका, अशोक विहार, बवाना व आनंद विहार शामिल हैं। इन हॉटस्पॉट के लिए अलग-अलग एक्शन प्लान बनाया गया है। इस साल 5000 एकड़ से अधिक बासमती और गैर-बासमती कृषि भूमि पर मुफ्त में बायो-डीकंपोजर का छिड़काव किया जाएगा। आईआईटी दिल्ली और डीपीसीसी के साथ रियल टाइम सोर्स अपोरशंमेंट स्टडी की जा रही है। इसके लिए रॉउस एवेन्यू रोड पर स्थित सर्वोदय बाल विद्यालय में एक सुपर साइट बनाई गई है। निर्माण साइट्स पर निगरानी रखने के लिए कई टीमें बनाई गई हैं। 500 वर्गमीटर से ज्यादा वाले निर्माण साइट को डस्ट कंट्रोल करने के लिए वेब पोर्टल पर पंजीकृत करना होगा। 5 हजार वर्ग मीटर से ज्यादा वाले निर्माण साइट पर एंटी स्मॉग गन लगाना अनिवार्य होगा। सड़कों पर सफाई के दौरान उड़ने वाली धूल को रोकने के लिए 82 मैकेनिकल रोड स्वीपिंग मशीन लगाई गई हैं। वाहन से होने वाले प्रदूषण को रोकने के लिए पीयूसी सर्टिफिकेट की जांच की जाएगी। साथ ही 10 साल पुराने डीजल और 15 साल पुराने पेट्रोल वाहन के प्रतिबंध को सख्ती से लागू करने के लिए 385 टीमें गठित की गई हैं। इसके तहत अत्यधिक ट्रैफिक वाली 90 सड़कों की पहचान की गई हैं। प्रदूषण कोई बाउंड्री नहीं देखता है। हरियाणा की हवा दिल्ली आती है, दिल्ली की हवा यूपी जाती है। केजरीवाल ने कहा कि कोशिश है कि आसपास के राज्यों के साथ मिलकर प्रदूषण को कम करें। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट का डेटा बताता है कि दिल्ली में 31 फीसदी प्रदूषण दिल्ली के आंतरिक स्रोतों की वजह से होता है, जबकि 69 फीसदी बाहरी स्रोतों की वजह से है। 1727 औद्योगिक इंडस्ट्रीज अब पीएनजी से संचालित होती हैं। इसकी निगरानी के लिए 66 टीमों का गठन किया गया है। ये टीमें सुनिश्चित करेंगी कि ये इकाई किसी भी अनधिकृत और प्रदूषणकारी ईंधन का उपयोग तो नहीं कर रही हैं। एक ग्रीन वार रूम बनाया गया है, जिसके जरिये 24 घंटे निगरानी की जाएगी। यहां सभी एजेंसियों द्वारा हर दिन की गई कार्रवाई की रिपोर्ट का विश्लेषण करेगी और अगले दिन की योजना बनाएगी। खुले में कूड़ा जलाने पर रोक : दिल्ली के अंदर खुले में कूड़ा जलाने पर पूरी तरह से प्रतिबंध है। इसकी निगरानी के लिए 611 टीमों टीमों का गठन किया गया है। ग्रीन दिल्ली एप : एप पर अभी तक 70,470 से अधिक शिकायतें आईं हैं। इसमें से 63,344 शिकायतों का समाधान किया जा चुका है। पटाखों पर प्रतिबंध : इस साल भी पटाखों के उत्पादन, भंडारण और किसी भी प्रकार की बिक्री या खरीद पर पूरी तरह प्रतिबंध रहेगा। हरित क्षेत्र को बढ़ाना : दिल्ली में ग्रीन कवर बढ़ाने के लिए एक करोड़ से ज्यादा पौधे लगाए जाएंगे, जिसमें से 52 लाख पौधे दिल्ली सरकार लगाएगी। इको ई-वेस्ट पार्क : होलंबी कलां में एक ई-वेस्ट पार्क बनाया जा रहा है। जन जागरूकता अभियान : प्रदूषण के प्रति जागरूकता बढ़ाने के लिए विभिन्न जन जागरूकता अभियान चलाए जाएंगे। ग्रैप का क्रियान्वयन : दिल्ली में ग्रैप को सख्ती के साथ लागू किया जाएगा।

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal unveils winter action plan, seeks firecracker ban in NCR

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday unveiled a 15-point winter action plan to curb air pollution in the national Capital. Seeking the support of NCR states, Kejriwal appealed for a complete ban on the use of firecrackers in those areas urging them to take necessary measures such as checking stubble burning and eliminating dependence on diesel generators for electricity during power cuts. “Pollution does not follow boundaries between Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Our effort is to check pollution in coordination with nearby states and CAQM. The data of the Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31% of pollution in Delhi is caused by internal sources and 69% due to external (outside Delhi) sources”, he said. “We appeal to nearby states to ensure that vehicles entering Delhi from nearby states are converted to CNG vehicles, ensuring industries using polluting fuel are shifted to clean fuel, brick kilns use the zigzag technique which is less polluting, 24x7 power supply be provided in NCR so that dependence on diesel generators is eliminated, firecrackers should be completely banned in NCR areas,” Kejriwal added. The winter action plan is a multi-pronged initiative involving 28 departments including departments of environment, transport, traffic police, municipal bodies, and agencies working in the national Capital that take steps to check pollution. “A 15-point winter action plan has been prepared. 13 pollution hotspots have been identified and a special action plan has been made for each of the pollution hotspots and special focus will be provided to the pollution hotspots. A war room will also be made for these pollution hotspots,” Kejriwal said at the Delhi secretariat addressing media persons. The details of the 13 hotspots were not immediately available. The winter action plan has been prepared on the basis of reports and suggestions obtained from 28 different departments and agencies. A joint meeting regarding framing of the plan was held on September 14 with these departments, and different responsibilities were assigned to them. The departments and agencies involved in framing the plan include the environment, development, transport, and revenue departments, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Police, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), and the Public Works Department (PWD), among others. Kejriwal claimed that in the last seven years, Delhi has witnessed a 30% reduction in pollution. “In 2014, the PM2.5 was 149 which has reduced to 103 in 2023; in 2014, PM10 was 324 which has come down to 223 in 2023. In 2016, Delhi had 109 good air days which has increased to 163 days in 2023; in 2016, Delhi had 26 severe air pollution days which has come down 6 severe air pollution days in 2023,” Kejriwal said attributing it to several sustained campaigns run by the Delhi government. Kejriwal also underlined the role of public transport in checking air pollution. “In 15 years, no public buses were purchased in Delhi which led to the deterioration of public transport and people shifted to private transport. We have purchased buses on a large scale, especially e-buses. Currently, 7135 public buses are on Delhi streets including 800 electric buses,” said Kejriwal. “17% of total vehicles being purchased in the national Capital are e-vehicles,” Kejriwal said. The CM also added that two coal-based thermal plants have been shut and Delhi is the only city without coal-based thermal power plants. “1727 registered industrial units using polluting fuel have been shifted to PNG,” said Kejriwal. The CM said the Delhi government used bio-decomposer solution on 4,400 acres of land last year to manage stubble and check their burning, and this year the solution will be used on 5,000 acres of land. “For checking dust pollution at construction sites, 591 teams have been formed; construction sites spread over 5,000 square meter areas will have to use anti-smog gun to manage dust pollution. 82 mechanical road sweeping machines and 258 anti-smog guns will be used in winter in the national Capital,” Kejriwal said. The CM said 385 teams have been formed to check vehicular pollution. They will be checking PUC (pollution under control) status of vehicles besides cracking down on the use of over 10 years old diesel vehicles and over 15 years old petrol vehicles in Delhi, and the government has identified 90 roads that report high congestion; ways to decongest these roads will be explored, and people will be suggested to use alternate ways. The CM further said teams have been formed to check open burning of waste; a green war room has been set up for 24-hour monitoring of the overall situation; the use of firecrackers has been banned. Kejriwal said GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) will be implemented with all seriousness. On the role of stubble burning in Punjab in air pollution in Delhi, Kejriwal said the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) came to power in March last year and took multiple steps in six months which resulted in 30% reduction in stubble burning in Punjab according to government data. “Multiple steps have been taken this year by Bhagwant Mann government such as diversification of crops which will reduce usage of water and stubble burning, use of short term varieties of paddy which produces less stubble and also afford long period for disposal of stubble, many people have used this method, some companies have come forward for in-situ management of stubble and conversion of stubble into manure and electricity. We do not have data to say how much less stubble will be burnt this year, but I hope the stubble burning will be less this year,” Kejriwal said. Kejriwal said the Delhi government will talk to the CAQM to reduce air pollution. “We will talk to CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) as well. The CAQM’s mandate is to motivate the nearby states to take steps to check pollution. Our effort is to check pollution by working together with nearby states. The people of UP, Haryana, and Punjab should get clean air. The issue is not restricted to Delhi, everyone should work together on checking pollution,” Kejriwal said.

Delhi maps all 13 pollution hotspots: What are major sources of pollution and what are you smoking

NEW DELHI: Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has mapped and prepared an inventory of all major and minor pollution sources, along with their geo-coordinates, at all 13 hotspots in the city. Based on this, the winter action plans for each hotspot will be released on Friday. A senior official, not wishing to be named, said, "Last winter, we found that AQI was consistently high at the Anand Vihar hotspot. We mapped 470 major and minor pollution sources there, which helped improve the air quality as compared to the previous winter of 2021. Adopting the same model, we have now identified pollution sources at all 13 hotspots." Track the pollution level in your city The inventory of all sources has been shared with the agencies concerned for resolving the issues at these hotspots. For instance, 12 major sources of pollution have been identified at Jahangirpuri, the most polluted hotspot during the last winter season (October 2022-January 2023) with an average PM2.5 concentration of 201 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m³). The major sources include heavy traffic flow on the main road (NH-44) and Jahangirpuri-Azadpur stretch; the Bhalswa landfill and dust on the stretch connecting it to the main road; and a C&D waste recycling facility. DPCC also listed potholes among the pollution sources. An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment last winter had stated that hotspots in north and east Delhi were the most polluted in the city and Jahangirpuri was the 'most polluted' official hotspot. Other most polluted hotspots were Anand Vihar (196 g/m³), Wazirpur (185 g/m³), Mundka (185 g/m³), Rohini (182 g/m³) and Bawana (179 g/m³). Except R K Puram, all hotspots showed an improvement compared to average pollution levels recorded over the previous three winters, said CSE. R K Puram registered a 1% increase during the last winter season (October 2022-January 2023). Wazirpur (5%), Narela (3%) and Mayapuri (3%) registered improvements during the same period. According to Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, concrete local actions are needed to manage hotspots as these areas witness pollution levels higher than the city average. "If these hotspots are managed well, the intensity of smog episodes and exposures can be lessened during the winter season. Some actions related to combustion sources like industry and vehicles will require city-wide interventions. These cannot be dealt at the hotspot-level alone. As winter pollution builds up due to meteorological conditions, local gross polluting activities need to be controlled," she said.

Waste to wealth

India has approximately 1,469 sewage treatment plants (STP) and more than 500 faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTP). An estimate suggested that these 1,460 STPs generate 104,210 tonnes of sludge per day and FSTPs generate more than 250 tonnes of biosolids every day. Biosolids generated by these plants are rich sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium — the three essential nutrients for crop production across the world. India relies on imports to meet its demand for phosphorus and potassium, the reserves of which are increasingly becoming limited and depleting. Treated sewage sludge from STPs can substitute 4,531 tonnes per day of urea used in agricultural activities in the country, estimates showed. The reuse of biosolids also aligns with the principles of the circular economy and supports the achievement of United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals. Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently evaluated the quality of biosolids from 47 FSTPs and 14 co-treatment plants across India. The report with the findings represents the first-of-its-kind assessment done at this scale in India as well as globally. Here is what the report showed: ✼ FSTPs demonstrate comparable effectiveness to STPs in terms of reducing biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand. Both FSTPs and STPs face challenges in reducing chemical oxygen demand and pathogens; ✼ Harvested biosolids, whether from FSTPs or STPs, are nutrient-rich, but also carry a high pathogen load and potential heavy metal content; ✼ Currently, there are no prescribed standards for reusing these harvested biosolids; ✼ Harvested biosolids do not meet the compost standards outlined in the Fertilizer Control Order due to failure to meet the carbon / nitrogen ratio requirement. To explore the ways to reuse bio-solids and carry forward the learnings of the CSE report, the organisation, in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUDD), Government of Odisha, conducted a workshop on “Reusing Bio-Solids Harvested from Septage and Sewage” on September 15, 2023 in Bhubaneswar. Odisha is a pioneer in the sanitation journey and has constructed 118 FSTPs and STPs across 115 urban local bodies (ULB), G Mathi Vathanan, principal secretary, HUDD said in his inaugural speech. The state-wide rollout of convergence of rural and urban sanitation, he added, will further help in the treatment of more volume of faecal sludge and septage and, as a result, the amount of biosolids will be generated more. Therefore it is pertinent to have a solution for this issue. The main barrier in reuse of harvested bio-solids from septage and sewage is its non-conformity with the Fertilizer Control Order of 2022, for meeting compost standards for organic waste and presence of pathogens and heavy metals, said Vinod Vijayan, deputy laboratory head at CSE. He stressed upon the quality of dried biosolids focusing on the carbon-nitrogen ratio and heavy metals. Accelerated drying through innovative means such as solar greenhouse can aid in 40 per cent faster sludge drying and helminths inactivation. The windrow method of co-composting treated faecal sludge with municipal wet waste eliminates pathogen contamination and helps in maintaining proper nutrient balance, if done scientifically. As per a study conducted by CDD India, a Bengaluru-based non-profit, the final matured compost meets most of the Fertilizer Control Order standards and is free from pathogen contamination. Besides the technical aspects of the reuse of biosolids in India, another important aspect is their market or appropriate business model. An aggregator-based business model was presented by Finish Service Management Company Pvt Ltd. In this model, under a memorandum of understanding, the ULB bears the liability of providing raw materials — biosolids and organic waste, space for co-composting, labour and cost for lab tests. The aggregator is to provide technical and handholding support, product development support and marketing support. The revenue generated by the sale of the product is shared between the ULB and the aggregator. This model provides a simple solution for reuse of biosolids, additional revenue source for ULBs, reduces soil and water contamination, reduces CO2 emissions, provides a substitute for chemical fertilisers and also livelihood creation as production and marketing is done by local people. This sets an excellent example of a public-private partnership. The Toilet Board Coalition, working on applicable business models for reuse of biosolids, also suggested three models for enabling their reuse. One is from FSTPs to aggregators then to the end consumer. Second is the online sale by ULBs by the permission of the state mission director and the third is engaging the small and medium entrepreneurs for the co-composting process. But all these models require an enabling environment to work effectively. Ashok K Patra, Emeritus Scientist & Former Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, emphasised on the reuse of the biosolids in agriculture. According to The State of Biofertilizers and Organic Fertilizers in India, about 85 per cent of the soil is deficient in organic carbon; 97 per cent in available nitrogen; 83 per cent in phosphorus; and 71 per cent in potassium. The application of biosolids on land will not only help replenish macronutrients but also micronutrients. Through SWOT analysis, Patra showed the advantages and disadvantages of reuse of biosolids in agriculture but with proper safety measures and barriers, the biosolids application in agriculture can bring positive impacts on soil. While the potential of biosolids reuse is immense, several challenges need to be addressed for its effective implementation in India: ✼ Clear regulations and guidelines are necessary to ensure the safe application of biosolids. The current FCO standards are for the compost derived from solid waste or municipal waste; ✼ Technology and Infrastructure: Technology and process play an important role in ensuring the quality of biosolids generated; ✼ Awareness and acceptance: Creating awareness among farmers, policymakers, and the public about the benefits and safety of biosolids reuse is essential; ✼ Collaboration and partnerships: Successful implementation requires collaboration between government agencies, water utilities, agricultural organizations, research institutions, and the private sector. Partnerships can facilitate knowledge exchange, research and development, and financial support for biosolids reuse projects. The National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance along with the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation is working towards this. The reuse of biosolids from sewage and septage treatment plants in India presents a remarkable opportunity to transform waste into a valuable resource. Government missions and programmes such as Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, Waste to Wealth Mission, National Mission for Clean Ganga also promote a circular economy. By adopting sustainable practices and embracing biosolids reuse in agriculture, we can address multiple challenges simultaneously — improving soil health, conserving water resources, reducing pollution and enhancing food security. It is time for India to recognise the potential of biosolids and take the necessary steps to promote their safe and efficient reuse. By doing so, we can pave the way for a sustainable and resilient future, where biosolids are not seen as a burden but as a valuable resource to be harnessed. DTE Views expressed are personal

New norms for DG sets in Delhi-NCR to come into effect from Oct 1

Starting October 1, diesel generator (DG) sets churning out more than 19kW will only be allowed to function in the National Capital Region (NCR) if they have been retrofitted with emission control devices (ECDs) or with dual fuel kits, according to a tweak in regulations announced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Environmentalists and resident welfare associations (RWAs) in Delhi have largely welcomed the move, but residents of Gurugram and Noida — two cities that face frequent power outages — said the decision will cause many hardships, and pointed to the high cost of converting DG sets to a dual fuel setup, which can be as high as ₹10 lakh for a 600kW DG set, according to some RWAs. Under new regulations, which were first announced on June 8, industries, commercial buildings, and residential setups have time till September 30 to finish retrofitting their DG sets. The rules state that there will be no exceptions under Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) — a set of emergency measures that kick in on October 1 every year to tackle air pollution. In previous years, DG sets were allowed as power backup for essential and emergency services such as lifts, transport hubs, healthcare facilities, Metro stations, sewage treatment plants, or telecommunication and data service institutes. The CAQM regulations state that DG sets below 19 kW in power, or generator sets running on LPG, natural gas, biogas, propane or butane, do not require retrofitting, and will also not be restricted during the Grap period. DG sets between 19-125 kW will be required to run on a dual fuel mode of natural gas and diesel. CAQM said for such DG sets, there will be no restrictions on their use, except during Grap, when they will be permitted to run for a maximum of two hours. For DG sets with a power capacity of 125-800 kW, CAQM said they will be required to be run both on a dual fuel mode and will have to be retrofitted with ECDs. However, there will be no restrictions on such DG sets, even during Grap. For DG sets with a capacity of over 800kW, operators will either have to retrofit them with dual fuel kits or with ECDs, with such sets again facing restrictions only during Grap, where they will be allowed to run for a maximum of two hours. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the move to phase out DG sets is important to improve air quality across NCR. “Emissions from DG sets are a sustained source, which over time leads to toxic exposure, particularly to those working around or near them. In addition to comprehensive guidelines for the retrofitting of ECDs and monitoring, we also need to ensure uninterrupted power supply through NCR and for that, CAQM needs to work with discoms,” she said. Atul Goyal, president of the United Residents Joint Action (Urja) — a consortium of more than 2,500 RWAs in Delhi — said the Capital’s power supply during the winter months is largely uninterrupted. “Most of Delhi will be unaffected, as power supply issues and a reliance on DG sets is greater in Noida and Gurugram. However, in societies across Patparganj, Dwarka, Rohini, we may see an issue when it comes to power back-ups,” he said.

M S Swaminathan leaves behind legacy of innovation, dedication to sustainable farming, say scientists

The death of renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan is a profound loss to the scientific community but his legacy endures and will continue to guide the world towards sustainable food security and agricultural innovation, scientists say. Dr Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, the 'Father of the Green Revolution' who dedicated his life to revolutionising agriculture and ensuring food security for all, passed away in his Chennai home on Thursday. He was 98. "All of us have benefited immensely, directly or indirectly, from his vast contributions over the years. Without the Green Revolution in India, which he spearheaded, we would not have achieved food security," agriculturist Ranjitha Puskar, country representative for India and research at the Manila-headquartered International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), told PTI. She said his death was a tremendous loss to the scientific community in general and the agriculture fraternity in particular. "He was the director general of IRRI and his legacy has guided the organization and its researchers to this day... His mental agility and intellectual curiosity were as high as ever in the last few years and still provided great guidance, even though he was physically frail. Our deepest condolences to the agricultural sector worldwide on this loss!'' Puskar said. Swaminathan, who dedicated his life to revolutionising agriculture and ensuring food security for all, leaves behind a legacy of innovation and dedication to sustainable farming, experts said. They are unanimous in their sentiment that his contribution to the field will serve as an enduring beacon, guiding the world towards sustainable food security and pioneering agricultural innovations. In food researcher Mamata Pradhan's words, Swaminathan was a visionary, an inspiration, and a role model. "I was really fortunate to have worked with him very closely from 2007 to 2014 when we formed a coalition for food and nutrition security...'' Pradhan, research coordinator, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) South Asia region, told PTI. "He truly revolutionised Indian agriculture, worked towards self-sufficiency in food production when India was grappling with the threat of food insecurity and transformed India from a net importer of food grains to being a lead exporter to the global food basket. He was always looking for solutions for sustainable farming and improving the lives of the farmers," Pradhan added. Swaminathan was born in Kumbakonam on August 7, 1925. His father's involvement in the freedom movement and Mahatma Gandhi's influence inspired his passion for agricultural science. He worked closely with former prime ministers of India, playing a pivotal role in the success of the Green Revolution, catapulting India from being a net food importer to a leading exporter and ensuring a ''Hunger-free India & World", according to his foundation. Describing him "the greatest agricultural scientist the world has ever seen", J Justin Mohan, former secretary of the National Biodiversity Authority, said Swaminathan's contribution to designing agricultural policies and schemes helped not only India but other countries as well. "I had the opportunity to work with him during my tenure in Sri Lanka after the end of the armed conflict to assist the farmers of Sri Lanka and also had an opportunity to implement the Kuttanad Package, a wetland development project, in Kerala which was conceived by him," Mohan, chief conservator of forests, Kerala, told PTI. "His ideas were far ahead of his times, very practical, result oriented have helped to improve the production and productivity of cereals, pulses, millets, fruits, and vegetables. For example, the idea of issuing Soil Health Cards to farmers was first recommended by him in 2008 as part of the Kuttanad Project, which was later implemented across the country as the Central Soil Health Card Scheme during 2014 -15," he said. A Soil Health Card is used to assess the current status of soil health and, when used over time, to determine changes in soil health that are affected by land management. The tributes poured in. Environmentalist Sunita Narain took to 'X' (formerly Twitter) to thank Swaminathan for his vast contribution to the world. ''RIP #ProfessorMSSwaminathan. We will greatly miss your leadership, your insights, and your support. As chairperson of #CSE , you gave us strength and you taught us the value of humility and humanism. Thank you for all you did for us and for the world," Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) New Delhi, said in a post. T Jayaraman, senior fellow - climate change, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, remembered the many contributions of its founder and mentor. "Prof. M. S. Swaminathan's many awards included the most prized one of all, the respect and affection of millions of Indian farmers, in his lifetime, for bringing his science to their service and welfare and that of farmers all over the world,'' Jayaraman tweeted on Thursday. As the founder chairman and chief mentor of the Foundation in Chennai, Swaminathan championed sustainable agriculture and the transition from the 'green' to an 'evergreen revolution' to secure food and nutrition security globally, the foundation said in a statement. Swaminathan's leadership extended to roles such as chairman of the government of India's National Commission on Farmers, president of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and Rajya Sabha MP. His contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the first World Food Prize, Padma Vibhushan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Swaminathan's influence transcended borders, as he collaborated closely with Nobel Laureate and American agronomist Norman Borlaug on developing high-yielding wheat varieties. Swaminathan is survived by his three daughters - Soumya Swaminathan, Madhura Swaminathan, and Nitya Rao. His wife, Mina Swaminathan, predeceased him.

Gas giants finally comply as Penny Wong confronted in New York on climate action

It’s a shame It was moderately embarrassing for the Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong to be press-ganged by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour as she headed into United Nations headquarters in New York earlier this month, confronted with questions as to Australia’s poor track record on climate action. Despite Australia being the world’s third largest exporter of fossil fuels, and still approving new coal and gas projects hand over fist, there has been little press here about the summit. Indeed, a letter from 220 world scientists – including Michael Mann, Peter Kalmus, Bill Hare, Cathy Whitlock, David Ho, Joelle Gergis, Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Dr. Farhana Sultana, Bill McKibben, Sunita Narain, Richard (Rick) Heede – expressing grave concern about our fossil expansion got almost no airplay, despite making headlines in the South China Morning Post and the UK’s Daily Mail. The scientists called on the Australian Government to “accelerate climate action, not climate annihilation”. It did, to be fair, get a robust run in the ABC with the story: “Australia shamed on climate change in full-page New York Times advert”. So it is that Australia was denied a speaking spot in the keynote session of the Climate Ambition Summit – a session reserved only for countries that could demonstrate leadership and credible action in response to the climate crisis. As The Australia Institute’s climate and energy director Polly Hemming pointed out, “Back in Australia the Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, was in federal court last week defending the government’s right not to consider the climate impact of fossil fuels when approving new projects. Follow the money A good deal of the blame for Australia’s stubborn refusal to stop, even curb, new fossil fuel projects can be sheeted home to powerful lobbying by the oil and gas lobby APPEA. While tenacious in their pursuit of politicians and policymakers, APPEA has been remarkably shy in dealing with journalists who they can’t control. Even to the point of breaking the law by failing to provide public financial statements. After months of pestering the oil and gas peak body for its ‘public’ financial reports, MWM can reveal what the gas lobby has been up to the last couple of years. Why is it a good thing that the federal government released 47,000 sq/k of oil and gas exploration areas just three months after assuming office? Why is it a good thing that the Queensland government has agreed to put its taxpayers on the hook for rehabilitation of fracking land once the foreign corporations have drained the gas? These are a couple of the “Achievements” listed by APPEA, the oil and gas lobby representing major foreign fossil fuel exporters, as detailed in their 2021-2022 financial report. It is little wonder that APPEA (Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association), has been hiding its annual financial statements from the public. They are embarrassing for the governments who are the targets of their lobbying. It is also little wonder that APPEA rebranded earlier this month, stripping the word ‘Petroleum’ from its title to become Australian Energy Producers (AEP). Greenwashing and ‘Ozwashing’ to the enth degree, the AEP membership and board show that this organisation is really is a front for foreign energy giants, not ‘Australian’. Even the three key Australian producers are majority foreign owned: Santos, Origin Energy and Woodside that is. Is AEP bothered whether Labor or Coalition governments are in power? In the words of CEO Samantha McCulloch, “The APPEA team worked tirelessly in the lead up to the Federal Election to ensure bipartisan support for our sector”. Indeed their even handed generosity to both major parties, and that of their corporate members, indicates the answer is no. While Labor has been far more progressive vis-a-vis the expansion of renewable energy, than the Coalition during its 9 years in power, their policies on the expansion of the gas industry, approving new projects, the commitment to fracking in the Northern Territory and elsewhere, makes them just as committed to gas expansion as the Coalition. Business as usual AEP directors are a who’s who of oil and gas executives: They include Frank Calabria, CEO of Origin Energy, Kate Callaghan, former Kevin Rudd advisor and general manager of corporate affairs at Chevron Australia, Khoa Dao, President of ConocoPhillips Australia, Kevin Gallagher, CEO of Santos, Dylan Pugh, Chairman of ExxonMobil Australia and Meg O’Neill CEO of Woodside Energy among others. Despite the power the lobby group wields over both sides of politics, the public has not been allowed a look inside the organisation since 2020. APPEA’s financial statements, the lobby group’s singular most basic duty of disclosure, have been publicly unavailable for the past couple of years. They used to publish them on their website, yet until a month ago they could not be found even with an ASIC search. This was because in November 2020 APPEA informed the corporate regulator ASIC that it was now a small company and not obligated to lodge financial reports. Under the Corporations Act, which even applies to foreign multinationals operating in Australia, a “Company limited by guarantee with annual (or consolidated) revenue of $1 million or more” is required to “prepare a financial report”. Following pressure from MWM however – including revealing that APPEA was in breach of the Corporations Act by not filing public accounts – the financial statements have finally been lodge with the regulator ASIC. They show revenue hovering around $14 million a year for the past two years. That is a lot of financial muscle – on top of the lobbying of the gas players themselves – spent on courting politicians every year. Carbon captured APPEA CEO Samantha McCulloch, who joined the lobby group in 2022 after running the International Energy Agency’s carbon capture unit since 2018, detailed the lobby group’s successes in her Directors Report. According to McCulloch, “We already have more than $20 billion of new investments in supply announced nationally in the past two years and there is more to come if there is policy stability and investment certainty”. Additionally, the industry expects the record $70 billion in LNG exports from 2021-22 to climb to another windfall revenue record of $90 billion in the 2022-23 financial year. This has grown from $30 billion in the 2020-21 financial year. Regarding the lobby group’s greener aspirations, McCulloch believes that “Raising awareness of our industry’s commitment to emissions reduction will only further grow the strong public support for the role of natural gas, capturing community support and building trust and ensuring our social licence to operate.” This, despite uniform calls from the UN that in order to maintain a 1.5 degree limit to the rise in global temperatures, there should be no new oil and gas developments globally. The AEP revenue of almost $14 million in 2022 derives primarily from members’ fees and conferences. The lobby group increased its liquid assets easily accessible assets to almost $9 million, over $3 million of which is cash. Like a charity, and despite being a front for the world’s largest fossil fuel corporations who pay little income tax in Australia themselves, their lobbying front AEP has an exemption from paying tax.