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G20: Delhi had cleanest air day of the year on second day of summit

The second and concluding day of G20 summit in Indian national capital ended with Delhi experiencing its cleanest air day of the day. September 10 was the first 'good air' day since October last year. The improved air quality is being attributed to the incessant rainfall and various restrictions imposed during the G20 summit. Delhi Air Quality: When air got cleared for G20 The average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 45, falling within the 'good' category, which was the best recorded since October 10, 2022. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board indicates that Delhi only experiences 'good air' days when there's significant rainfall or a substantial reduction in emissions, often due to lockdowns. This Sunday witnessed both factors at play. "The AQI improved to 'good' category on Sunday due to a combination of rain, the special drive to clean up, closure of offices and enterprises, and restrictions on traffic due to the summit. Rain further helped in settling down pollutants," Anumita Roychowdhury from the Centre for Science and Environment was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Delhi's very few 'good air' days: Record from recent years In previous years, 'good air' days were rare occurrences in Delhi, with none reported in 2015, 2016, and 2018. However, 2017 saw two such days during the monsoon in July. In 2019, there were two 'good' air days with an AQI of 49 in August. In 2020, there were five 'good' air quality days, including one in March during the Covid lockdown and four in August during the monsoon. In 2021, there was just one 'good' air day on October 18, thanks to continuous rainfall. Last year, three 'good' air days were recorded in September and October, primarily due to rain improving air quality. But the air quality is expected to decline to the 'satisfactory' category on Monday, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, a forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences. This 'satisfactory' air quality is expected to persist from Monday to Wednesday.

Rain, traffic curbs help Delhi log year’s first good air day

Delhi’s air quality improved to its best levels in 11 months on Sunday, as a strong spell of overnight rain and sparse vehicular traffic due to G20-related restrictions combined to give the national capital unusually low pollution levels. The Capital’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) dipped to 45 at 4pm on Sunday, the city’s first “good” air day this year. Pollution levels on Sunday were the lowest since October 10 last year, when Delhi clocked an AQI of just 44. Delhi also got 38.6mm rain in the 24 hours till 8.30am on Sunday, with another 1.3mm till 5.30pm. Sunday’s air quality improved from 54 a day ago, which was the year’s lowest so far. The AQI was 83 on Friday and 104 on Thursday. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies an AQI of 50 or lower as ‘good’, between 51 and 100 as ‘satisfactory’, between 101 and 200 as ‘moderate’, between 201 and 300 as ‘poor’, between 301 and 400 as ‘very poor’ and over 400 as ‘severe’. The vastly improved air coincided with the G20 Summit, during which vehicular movement was disallowed and public spaces shut in the central Delhi region. Officials said clean-up drives and sprinklers used consistently in the run-up to the global event helped wash Delhi’s characteristically polluted air. Last year, at the same time, Delhi’s AQI was 141on September 9 and 110— both in the moderate category —the day after. Strong winds that accompanied the rain also helped wipe the air of pollutants, said officials and experts. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the improvement in air quality was due to a combination of various factors including meteorological conditions and reduced emissions on account of G20 curbs. “There were several restrictions due to the G20 summit, including offices and institutes being shut, and much lower traffic volumes. Efforts such as clean-up drives were also taken to keep pollution in check. Moreover, we saw intense rain on Saturday. All these factors together played a role in the current spell of good air,” said Roychowdhury. On Sunday, the Safdarjung observatory, Delhi’s base weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 28.3°C, five degrees below normal. The minimum temperature, meanwhile, was 23.5°C, two below normal. According to CPCB data, 2022 saw three good air days all year. In 2021, Delhi clocked just a single such day. In 2020, however, when the city was under Covid-19 curbs for much of the year, Delhi clocked five “good” air days. Other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) also recorded relatively better air quality as the AQI was 34 in the ‘good’ category in Ghaziabad, 70 in Gurugram, 51 in Greater Noida, 62 in Faridabad, and 32 in Noida.

Year's first 'good air' day, thanks to rain, G20 curbs

Delhiites breathed the cleanest air of the year on Sunday as the city witnessed the first 'good air' day since October last year, thanks to rain and various restrictions imposed due to the G20 summit. The average Air Quality Index was 45 - values of 50 and below fall in the 'good' category - the best since an AQI of 44 was recorded on October 10, 2022, reports Priyangi Agarwal. Track the pollution level in your city Experts pointed out that the AQI on Sunday again demonstrated that, apart from weather conditions playing a major role, the air quality can be improved by reducing the intensity of pollution sources such as vehicular emissions. PM2.5 lowest in eight years from Sept 8-9 Data from the Central Pollution Control Board, which started measuring the Air Quality Index (AQI) since April 2015, shows that 'good air' days have been recorded in Delhi only when there has been intense rain or a drastic reduction in vehicular and other emissions due to lockdowns. Sunday saw both taking place. "The AQI improved to 'good' category on Sunday due to a combination of rain, the special drive to clean up, closure of offices and enterprises, and restrictions on traffic due to the summit. Rain further helped in settling down pollutants," said Anumita Roychowdhury from the Centre for Science and Environment. "Traffic was considerably reduced during the past three days. In Delhi, vehicular pollution is among the major contributors to air pollution," she added. Not a single 'good air' day was reported in 2015, 2016 and 2018, but Delhi witnessed two such days in 2017 during the monsoon months, on July 30 and 31. Similarly, two 'good' air days were registered in 2019 when AQI touched 49 on two days - August 18 and 19. In 2020, Delhi saw five 'good' air quality days - one in March during the Covid lockdown and four in August during the monsoon period. The capital saw only one 'good' air day in 2021, on October 18 when AQI dipped to 46 due to incessant rain recorded in the region. Three such days were recorded last year in the months of September and October with rain again playing a crucial role in cleaning up the air. Tanushree Ganguly, programme lead, Council on Energy, Environment, and Water, said, "The revival in the monsoon after a prolonged break coupled with the measures taken by the authorities to ensure cleaner air for the G20 summit has helped in recording the first 'good air' day of the year. The average PM 2.5 concentration on September 8 and 9 was about 15 g/m3 which is the lowest in the past eight years." She added, "Concentrated efforts helped in reducing pollution even in the high pollution regions of the capital with dedicated teams being deployed to identify and mitigate the pollution sources in the 13 hotspots. It is imperative that authorities maintain their commitment to air quality management as we approach winter when meteorological conditions may not be so favorable." However, the air quality is predicted to deteriorate to 'satisfactory' on Monday. According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences, the air quality is likely to remain in the 'satisfactory' category from Monday to Wednesday.

Year's first 'good air' day, thanks to rain & G20 curbs

NEW DELHI: Delhiites breathed the cleanest air of the year on Sunday as the city witnessed the first 'good air' day since October last year, thanks to rain and various restrictions imposed due to the G20 summit. The average Air Quality Index was 45 - values of 50 and below fall in the 'good' category - the best since an AQI of 44 was recorded on October 10, 2022. Experts pointed out that the AQI on Sunday again demonstrated that, apart from weather conditions playing a major role, the air quality can be improved by reducing the intensity of pollution sources such as vehicular emissions. PM2.5 lowest in eight years from Sept 8-9 Data from the Central Pollution Control Board, which started measuring the Air Quality Index (AQI) since April 2015, shows that 'good air' days have been recorded in Delhi only when there has been intense rain or a drastic reduction in vehicular and other emissions due to lockdowns. Sunday saw both taking place. "The AQI improved to 'good' category on Sunday due to a combination of rain, the special drive to clean up, closure of offices and enterprises, and restrictions on traffic due to the summit. Rain further helped in settling down pollutants," said Anumita Roychowdhury from the Centre for Science and Environment. "Traffic was considerably reduced during the past three days. In Delhi, vehicular pollution is among the major contributors to air pollution," she added. Not a single 'good air' day was reported in 2015, 2016 and 2018, but Delhi witnessed two such days in 2017 during the monsoon months, on July 30 and 31. Similarly, two 'good' air days were registered in 2019 when AQI touched 49 on two days - August 18 and 19. In 2020, Delhi saw five 'good' air quality days - one in March during the Covid lockdown and four in August during the monsoon period. The capital saw only one 'good' air day in 2021, on October 18 when AQI dipped to 46 due to incessant rain recorded in the region. Three such days were recorded last year in the months of September and October with rain again playing a crucial role in cleaning up the air. Tanushree Ganguly, programme lead, Council on Energy, Environment, and Water, said, "The revival in the monsoon after a prolonged break coupled with the measures taken by the authorities to ensure cleaner air for the G20 summit has helped in recording the first 'good air' day of the year. The average PM 2.5 concentration on September 8 and 9 was about 15 g/m3 which is the lowest in the past eight years." She added, "Concentrated efforts helped in reducing pollution even in the high pollution regions of the capital with dedicated teams being deployed to identify and mitigate the pollution sources in the 13 hotspots. It is imperative that authorities maintain their commitment to air quality management as we approach winter when meteorological conditions may not be so favorable." However, the air quality is predicted to deteriorate to 'satisfactory' on Monday. According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences, the air quality is likely to remain in the 'satisfactory' category from Monday to Wednesday.

Clean air survey : Ludhiana gets rank 26 among 47 cities

LUDHIANA: Ludhiana fared badly on the recent Swacch Vayu Survekshan report, which placed it at rank 26 among 47 cities with more than 10 lakh population. The survekshan (Clean Air Survery-2023) was conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).The Swachh Vayu Survekshan is an initiative of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF&CC) to rank cities on the basis of implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in 131 non-attainment cities (which have fallen short of national ambient air quality standards for over five years) under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The Union government launched the NCAP in 2019 with a target of reducing particulate pollution by up to 30% by 2024, with 2017 as base year. According to the survey, in the first category (over 10 lakh population), Ludhiana was ranked 26 among 40 cities of the country. Among 47 cities with more than 10 lakh population, Indore was ranked first followed by Agra and Thane. The survey suggests that among other such cities in the region, Chandigarh was ranked 22, four places above Ludhiana. However, Amritsar secured a lower rank than Ludhiana, at 36. The report suggests that among cities in the third category (population less than 3 lakh), Khanna was ranked 27 among 40 cities. Parwanoo secured the first rank, followed by Kala Amb and Angul. In the second category, (cities with population between 3 and 10 lakh), Amravati was ranked first, followed by Moradabad and Guntur. Among cities of Punjab, Patiala was ranked 15 among 44 cities whereas Jalandhar was ranked 36. As Ludhiana secured the 26th rank among cities with more than 10 lakh population, experts said that the city could do more to check air pollution. Shambhavi Shukla, project manager, Clean Air Programme at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) suggested that 26 rank among 47 cities meant that there was considerable scope for improvement. She added that the problem of industrial pollution in Ludhiana could be handled by either improving technology or using clean fuel. The CSE project manager said that vehicular pollution could be addressed by having adequate public transport system in Ludhiana and scaling up EV coverage, especially EV buses. She flagged the problem of waste burning in Punjab and said that it could be addressed by putting a proper waste management system in place. Residents also support the cause of a clean and green Ludhiana. City resident Keemti Rawal said that the government should ensure strict measures to check air pollution and asked people to do their bit. He added that efforts by residents would improve their health.

How The Disposable Company helps brands meet recycling goals every month

An average day for Mukesh involves wearing a safety suit and gloves and getting his hands dirty collecting plastic waste from one of the several heaps at the landfill in Ghazipur, Delhi. “For the last two years on somedays I collect waste and sell it independently in markets and on other days we are asked by the company to collect a certain amount of plastic waste from the landfill. In exchange we get money from the recyclers and additional incentives from the company,” he tells SocialStory. As many as 100 such ragpickers are presently working with the Mumbai-based startup— The Disposable Company. The company—founded by Bhagyashree Bhansali in 2020—helps brands neutralise plastic waste by recycling an equal amount from the Ghazipur landfill. According to the data shared by the Centre for Science and Environment and experts, landfills receive almost 3,000 metric tonnes of waste from the national capital every day. TDC collaborates with rag pickers and waste segregators to retrieve plastic waste from the landfill. For their safety, they are provided with proper safety gear, gloves, and more. It has generated 500 jobs in NCR through this process.

Where the Sun Pays the Bills: How a Village in India Is Testing the Limits of Solar Power

Around 80 kilometers from Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, Modhera went from being a little-known tourist spot to becoming India’s first fully solar-powered village in October last year. In Modhera, no one pays for electricity any more. Instead, villagers look at their electricity bills every month to see how much money they’ve earned from selling solar-generated electricity to the main grid. As part of a large-scale solar electrification project funded by the government, over 1,300 of the 1,700 houses in the village were installed with 1kW rooftop solar panels last year. Connected to a 15 mW-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located in the neighboring Sajjanpura, this system generates more than enough electricity to fulfill Modhera’s power needs. Over 1,500 households are now almost entirely reliant on solar energy, cutting down conventional energy use from 60% to 100%, but experts have cast doubts on the replicability, financial viability and socioeconomic impact of this project. Nonetheless, the immediate impact is clearly positive. The around 6,500 residents of Modhera are mainly potters, artisans, tailors, shoemakers and farmers – and freed from large electricity bills, they have been able to as much as double the amount of the shoes, clothes, and earthenware they produce. They have also been able to use the money saved in electricity bills: on improved education, more nutritious food, and to invest in their livelihoods. Solar Energy Lights Up Modhera Residents of Modhera have used the money they save on electricity bills to buy an electric sewing machine, an air conditioner, an electric pottery wheel, and more. Without high electricity bills to contend with, many of the villagers are able to afford more nutritious diets, spend more on education, and use electrical tools to sew, make earthenware, and produce handicrafts. Land prices around Modhera have also skyrocketed, and many large land-owners have been able to sell off their land to builders for crores of rupees. While the immediate economic impact is obvious, it is unclear whether this will have longer term benefits for Modhera, or will just be a temporary economic boost as the villagers get used to paying less for electricity. Dr. Niti Mehta, a rural economics researcher and Acting Director at Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research in Gujarat, told Unbias The News that it is too early to comment on the impact of this project. She pointed out the importance of conducting a socio-economic impact assessment before embarking on large-scale projects of this kind. An expensive solution The solar energy installation has 3 elements – a 6 mW ground-mounted solar power plant, a 15mW storage system, and 1,300 rooftop photovoltaic panels that have been installed on most of the houses in the village. The system generates about 6,332 kWh of power a day, of which about 6,000 kWh is used by Modhera, and the rest goes back to the grid, making the village a net energy-generator, the first of its kind in India. But India’s first and only fully solar-powered village has come at a steep price – both figuratively and literally. The solar electrification project, a joint effort by the central and state government of Gujarat, cost taxpayers a massive Rs. 80 crores ($9.7 million). It also took away prime grazing land from the nearby Sajjanpura, and has impacted the livelihoods of pastoralists in the area. India’s entire budget for off-grid solar projects in 2023-24 is Rs. 361.50 crores. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has a total budget of Rs 10,222 crore in 2023-24. Using up the entire MNRE budget would only solar-electrify 127 Modhera-like villages. “This project caters to the energy needs of just one village. There are more than 650,000 villages in India,” said Jaychand Shiv, Programme Director – Renewable Energy, at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi. “I would not say there is significant environmental impact,” Shiv told Unbias The News. “[In the grand scheme of things], this is a very minuscule project,” he said, adding that it could still have teachings for the world. “This is a one-off model project but it can have teachings for the entire world, especially for Global South countries which still have a hard time providing energy to villages. It can show us how a renewable energy project should be designed and developed in a rural set-up.” Jaychand Shiv Another concern is the question of who will foot the subsequent maintenance bills associated with this solar installation? Thousands of mini solar grids in India are already lying defunct for want of maintenance funds. India’s rush to develop new solar projects may mean existing grids end up neglected and unused. Although the solar electrification of Modhera has improved the lives of residents by providing an economic boost and improved livelihood opportunities – given the capital and land outlay, it seems unreasonable to expect similar initiatives elsewhere in India. Experts are questioning whether installing solar panels in just one village moves the needle on meeting global emissions goals at all. Greener Pastures… for Some Additionally, the socio-economic impact hasn’t been positive all around. While residents of Modhera are rejoicing at the prospect of free electricity and increased land rates, less than 6 km away, pastoralists in Sajjanpura, a nearby village, feel shortchanged. The energy storage system connected to the solar panels in Modhera has been constructed in Sajjanapura, occupying 12 hectares of what was previously prime grazing land. The loss of pastoral land means that most of Sajjanapura’s residents are now struggling with increased cattle feed costs. Many villagers are distraught at the loss of grazing land, and some have had to sell part of the cattle that make up their livelihood. A field investigation supported by Thomson Reuters revealed that many villagers ended up selling cattle to cope with the increased cost of feeding them. This includes farm laborer and pastoralist Sunil Singh, who sold 2 of his 9 bovines. Another resident, who owns 10 buffaloes, reported that the cost of buying hay to feed his cattle is as high as Rs. 60,000 a month – and selling the milk they produce only brings in Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 a month. Sajjanapura is home to about 1,000 villagers, most of whom belong to the Bakshi Panch community and are considered part of OBC (Other Backward Classes), an official categorization referring to traditionally lowered castes, protected by law. Cattle pastoralism is the main occupation and source of income, and landholding is low. Energy Transition: Green, But Not Always Just India generates the second most coal-fired electricity in the world, behind China – and any proposed shift to cleaner forms of energy, however small, is good for the environment and global climate goals. But often, these shifts to cleaner energy come at a cost – and that cost may be too high for most developing nations, holding them back economically and pushing the most financially vulnerable people into poverty. Reducing coal use, for instance, will impact the 3.6 million people who are directly or indirectly employed in the coal mining and power sectors in the country.

‘From voices of the marginal to voiceless species, G20 can help to forge environmental justice’

Mahesh Rangarajan is professor of history and environmental studies at Ashoka University. Speaking to Times Evoke, he discusses the evolution of climate justice — and the G20’s potential: The G20 Summit brings the notion of environmental justice to the fore. The environment itself came onto the international agenda formally in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference. There were agreements before, such as the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963, motivated by concerns about what radioactive fallout would do to Earth. A notion of ecological safety and the future had begun. But the first global conference on the environment was in 1972. One of the strongest fissures then was between communist and capitalist countries or the Soviet and US-led blocs. The other was between the global North and South. Even though broad agreement emerged that the environment should be protected, there was disagreement on who’d pick up the bill for this. Many developed countries said ecological problems were due to population, looking askance at Asia, Africa and Latin America. 4 (1) Developing countries argued the historical trajectory of imperialism and industrialisation was crucial and development could not be denied to latecomers — if environmental costs were to be controlled, technology and finance would have to be shared. In 1992, the UN Environment Conference met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. By then, as much scientific climate work had come into public prominence, concerns about global warming had grown more central. Yet, divisions had also become sharper. It was clear now that greenhouse gases would be global in their impacts, encompassing everything from precipitation to oceans, crops to human health. But this was a post-Cold War world where the US saw economic growth as the major driver of solutions. A strong critique of this was made in ‘Global Warming in an Unequal World’, authored by Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain, who used a car park analogy where a small number of people had taken a great deal of space and others couldn’t even park a bicycle. They questioned how the global atmosphere could be apportioned now — would it be as per histories of growth, country size or per capita? Today, a lot has developed, including agreement on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. The Sharm El-Sheikh COP in 2022 also saw concerns about global warming exceeding a safe margin. The issue of climate justice is now posed in a very stark form — all governments agree that something must be done. But the question remains — who will pick up the costs? One difference is that today, partly because of international cooperation stemming from globalisation, there is an idea of involving the private sector, mobilising capital and making technology accessible to more countries than possible earlier. Climate justice is now also about those who would like modern development while minimising environmental harm — this applies to both developing and industrialised economies. The notion of climate justice is also important because different nations have different relationships to the world order which took shape after World War II. This gave great weightage to the countries which led the Allied coalition. But the world today is politically and economically different — hence, it must be environmentally different as well. The global ecological agenda needs to reflect shared concerns with different viewpoints. That includes costs, technology and choices about livelihoods and lifestyles. There is a recognition that humanity must reduce its collective environmental footprint without overburdening those who contributed the least to this.

The Disposable Company: Reducing Plastic Waste Through Recycling

The Disposable Company (TDC) is a Mumbai-based startup founded in 2020 by Bhagyashree Bhansali. The company’s mission is to help brands neutralize plastic waste by recycling an equal amount from the Ghazipur landfill in Delhi. With the help of ragpickers and waste segregators, TDC collects plastic waste from the landfill and provides them with proper safety gear. Since its establishment, TDC has generated 500 jobs in the National Capital Region (NCR) and has collaborated with 65 brands, including mCaffeine, Slurrp Farm, and Bombay Shaving Company. The company recycles an average of 45,000 kilograms of plastic every month. As part of its process, TDC first educates brands on improving their packaging and reducing plastic usage. They then assess the types and quantities of plastic used in each product and calculate the total waste generated by the brand. Collaborating with ragpickers, TDC retrieves the plastic waste from the landfill and sends it to recycling companies. Once converted into granules, these granules are sold to businesses that use them to make various products, effectively recycling the plastic waste. Ragpickers are rewarded with a minimum of Rs 50 per kilogram of waste from the recyclers and receive additional incentives from TDC. This work has provided a source of income for individuals like Mohit, a 21-year-old graduate, who has earned as much as Rs 14,000 per month as a ragpicker. Bhansali, motivated by her personal experiences and a desire to create a cleaner world for future generations, started TDC with a purpose. The company’s efforts not only address the pressing issue of plastic waste but also contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution and the promotion of sustainable practices. Sources: Centre for Science and Environment

How 'half-hearted' ban has failed to check plastic use

NEW DELHI: A report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which conducted a survey from June to December 2020, states that Delhi-NCR has emerged as a major user of banned single-use plastic (SUP) items. In National Capital Region, most complaints related to the violation of the ban had come from Delhi, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Gurgaon. ban plastic use The report, Ban on single-use plastics implementation status: a report, which was released on Thursday, stated that of the total complaints, 35.5% were reported against carry bags, followed by straws at 22.4% and cutleries at 18.4%. The Centre banned 19 single-use plastic products from July 1 last year while a ban on carry bags with less than 120 microns in thickness came into effect from December 31, 2022. According to the data compiled by Delhi Pollution Control Committee, around 1,113.2 tonnes per day (TPD) of plastic waste is generated in Delhi. Calling it a "half-hearted ban", the report said, "The ban is ambiguous. It gives manufacturers of banned single-use plastic items avenues to escape penalties for violations and makes it difficult for state pollution control boards to penalise manufacturers." For instance, it added, thermocol has been banned, but only for decoration. "This means that action cannot be taken against manufacturers who manufacture thermocol for use in packaging, making it difficult for the enforcement agencies to implement the ban," it pointed out. The report added that manufacturers of plastic film couldn't be penalised since the use of film was prohibited in just three applications - greeting cards, sweet boxes and cigarette boxes. "Enforcement agencies do not have control on who buys single-use plastic items after they are manufactured. The ambiguity leaves room for violators to sidestep paying environmental compensation." The report also pointed out that there was no data on the number of manufacturers and producers who were fined over banned SUP items either by the state boards or pollution control committees or Central Pollution Control Board. Carry bags below 120 micron continue to be the most widely circulated banned item, with multiple surveys revealing that almost a third of all banned single-use plastics are carry bags. CSE recommended investment in the alternative market by creating avenues like subsidies and reduced tax rates to let alternatives compete with conventional items. Enforcement is the biggest gap in making India single-use plastic free, it added.

Pure vs adulterated honey: Mixing sugar syrup, extensive processing can lead to health issues

Pure, unadulterated honey is a treasure trove of health benefits, a must-have in any home remedy for stress relief, wound healing and much more. Adulterated honey, on the other hand, is often mixed with sugar syrup, and is bad for your health. Don't fall for misleading food misleading labels and potential contaminants. An essential kitchen staple, honey is a wonderful ingredient that you can use in many ways. Not only does it add sweetness and flavour to your dishes, but it also has healing properties that can help you with various health problems. You can mix honey with other natural remedies and take it orally or apply it on your skin. Honey's versatility, however, depends on its purity. In its natural, unadulterated form, honey is a treasure trove of health benefits, full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Adulterated honey, on the other hand, often undergoes extensive processing and dilution, and can have detrimental effects on your health. Pure, natural honey plays a crucial role in any home remedy for alleviating stress, combating fatigue, addressing insomnia, as well as offering relief for sore throats, promoting wound healing, and supplying a natural energy boost. Needless to say, adulterated honey lacks these beneficial properties. A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) shed light on a concerning practice: mixing sugar syrup into honey. The study revealed that out of 13 tested honey brands, 10 were found to have this adulteration. Understanding the types of honey and their qualities is essential for making informed decisions about its consumption: Pure honey: It is derived from the nectar of flowers and minimally processed, typically involving straining to remove large particles. It contains various beneficial compounds, making it best for soothing sore throats, wound healing, and providing natural energy. Adulterated honey: Unlike pure honey, adulterated honey is often mixed with substances like sugar syrup and undergoes extensive processing, including pasteurisation and filtration, which diminish its natural goodness. Consuming adulterated honey can also pose health risks. Reasons why adulterated honey can have a negative impact on your health: It has high sugar content: If you have diabetes or are dealing with weight issues, then beware of adulterated honey. This type of honey often contains high levels of added sugars, which can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels and contribute to health issues like obesity and diabetes. It lacks necessary nutrients: Honey is made by bees in their natural process. Introducing sugar syrup into it diminishes the innate qualities that make bee-made honey healthy. Adulterated honey, in contrast, lacks the necessary antioxidants and antimicrobial properties present in pure honey, the qualities that make honey good for your health. The labels can be misleading: Many a time adulterated honey is labeled as ‘pure’ or ‘natural’, misleading you into thinking you are purchasing a healthier product. Beware of the potential contaminants: The added ingredients in adulterated honey, such as corn syrup, may not undergo the same quality control standards as pure honey, increasing the risk of contamination.

Cuộc cách mạng 90 giây xuất xưởng 1 chiếc xe máy điện

Ấn Độ đang diễn ra một cuộc cách mạng xe 2 bánh và 3 bánh điện, với mục tiêu xe điện sẽ chiếm 1/3 tổng doanh số bán ô tô tư nhân và 80% doanh số bán xe hai và ba bánh vào cuối thập kỷ này. Giới chuyên gia nhận định muốn hiện thực hóa tham vọng trên, Ấn Độ cần khắc phục nhiều trở ngại lớn trong đó có giảm giá và nâng cấp cơ sở hạ tầng. Ảnh: CNN Trong một nhà máy khởi nghiệp tại Hosur, thành phố phía nam Ấn Độ, dây chuyền lắp ráp đang hoạt động với tốc độ chóng mặt; cứ 90 giây lại cho ra đời một chiếc xe máy điện mới. Ông Tarun Mehta, Giám đốc điều hành Ather Energy, một công ty sản xuất xe máy điện cho biết, cách đây 3 năm, mỗi tháng công ty bán được khoảng 200 chiếc. Hiện tại doanh số mỗi tháng dễ dàng đạt 15.000 chiếc. Thậm chí công ty này còn không cần phải xuất khẩu, bởi thị trường trong nước đã quá đủ với họ: “Ngày nay, Ấn Độ là một trong những thị trường xe máy điện hiện đại và tiên tiến nhất so với bất cứ nơi nào trên thế giới”. Ngoại trừ pin phải nhập khẩu, mọi linh kiện tại nhà máy này đều được sản xuất tại Ấn Độ. Thế nhưng việc sản xuất hàng loạt xe từ ban đầu không hề dễ dàng. Ông Swapnil Jain, Đồng sáng lập Ather Energy, chia sẻ: “Chuỗi cung ứng linh kiện lúc đầu không hề có nên chúng tôi phải xây dựng toàn bộ chuỗi cung ứng”. Thị trường phương tiện cá nhân chạy điện Ấn Độ được dự đoán sẽ trở thành ngành công nghiệp trị giá 100 tỉ USD vào năm 2030. Ở quốc gia đông dân nhất thế giới, xe 2 bánh và 3 bánh là trọng tâm chính – vượt xa các phương tiệnkhác, nhiều gấp bốn lần số lượng ô tô.. Đi bộ xuống một con phố ở New Delhi hoặc Bangalore là đủ để chứng minh điều đó. Những chiếc xe máy điện có giá thấp nhất 1.000 USD đang chạy trên những con đường tắc nghẽn. Chúng được các nhà bảo vệ môi trường và chính phủ quảng bá như một cách giảm bớt khí thải gây ô nhiễm. Bà Anumita Roychowdhury, Giám đốc điều hành Trung tâm khoa học và môi trường, nêu ý kiến: “Nếu chúng ta có thể kết hợp cả hai, kết hợp quá trình chuyển đổi xe điện và quá trình khử carbon trong điện, thì đó thực sự là việc đôi bên cùng có lợi và chúng ta sẽ có được lợi ích to lớn về môi trường và sức khỏe”. Lượng đăng ký xe máy điện trong 3 năm qua tăng gấp 10 lần. Tại Ấn Độ, nhiều chiếc xe kéo đầy màu sắc, từng chạy bằng sức người, giờ đây chạy bằng pin để đưa hành khách rong ruổi qua các thị trấn. Giống như nhiều quốc gia khác, Ấn Độ đang nỗ lực xanh hóa với mục tiêu đến cuối thập kỷ này xe điện chiếm 1/3 tổng doanh số ô tô cá nhân cũng như chiếm 80% doanh số xe 2 và 3 bánh. Thế nhưng, giới chuyên gia nhận định muốn hiện thực hóa tham vọng trên, Ấn Độ cần khắc phục nhiều trở ngại lớn trong đó có giảm giá và nâng cấp cơ sở hạ tầng. Chuyên gia Brajesh Chhibber, thuộc công ty tư vấn quản trị toàn cầu McKinsey, cho biết: “Chúng tôi dự đoán tổng thị trường xe 2 bánh đến cuối năm 2030 sẽ vào khoảng 25 triệu chiếc. Và trong số đó, chiếm tới 60 – 70% sẽ là xe điện”. Sở dĩ, thị trường xe điện phát triển như vậy là bởi Ấn Độ đã thông qua chương trình Sản xuất và Sử dụng xe điện nhanh hơn (FAME). Chương trình bắt đầu từ năm 2019, chi hơn 1,2 tỉ USD trợ cấp cho người dùng xe điện cũng như thiết lập hàng nghìn trạm sạc. Việc trợ cấp đóng vai trò to lớn đối với làn sóng xe điện hiện nay. Tuy nhiên, đây mới chỉ là sự khởi đầu. Theo Diễn đàn Kinh tế Thế giới, mặc dù đã đạt được một cột mốc quan trọng nhưng 1 triệu chiếc được bán ra vào năm ngoái chẳng thấm vào đâu so với tổng số 250 triệu chiếc xe 2 và 3 bánh tại Ấn Độ, vì vậy cơ hội tăng trưởng vẫn rất lớn. Mặc dù vậy, các chuyên gia cho rằng, giống như nhiều quốc gia khác, Ấn Độ còn tụt hậu trong cơ sở hạ tầng sạc điện, chưa đáp ứng đủ nhu cầu. Trong một báo cáo vào tháng 11 năm ngoái, Diễn đàn Kinh tế Thế giới ước tính Ấn Độ cần khoảng 285 tỉ USD để điện khí hóa hoàn toàn thị trường xe 2 và 3 bánh. Anmol Singh Jaggi, Giám đốc điều hành BluSmart, một công ty chia sẻ chuyến đi sử dụng đội xe chạy hoàn toàn bằng điện, cho rằng việc thiếu trạm sạc là “trở ngại lớn nhất”. Ông cho biết: “Ngành công nghiệp xe điện là một trong những lĩnh vực lớn nhất trên thế giới. Tôi nghĩ chính phủ cần làm nhiều hơn nữa, không chỉ khuyến khích về tài chính”. Còn tại Việt Nam, trong những năm gần đây, xu hướng sử dụng xe máy điện dần trở nên phổ biến hơn ở các thành phố lớn, đặc biệt là Hà Nội và TP.HCM. Đáng chú ý, khác với dòng xe máy chạy xăng, thị trường xe máy điện có sự tham gia của khá nhiều nhà sản xuất trong nước như VinFast, Pega, Dat Bike, Detech, DKBike… Gần đây, các hãng xe điện tăng cường hợp tác với các đơn vị vận chuyển để sử dụng xe máy điện trong giao hàng, chở khách, như Vingroup đã thành lập Công ty cổ phần Di chuyển xanh và thông minh cung cấp dịch vụ taxi xanh, gần đây đã cung cấp thêm dịch vụ xe ôm xanh. Tuy nhiên, hiện nhiều người dân vẫn e ngại khi quyết định mua xe điện bởi sự hạn chế về cơ sở hạ tầng cũng như giá thành còn cao so với xe chạy bằng xăng. Các chuyên gia cho rằng, để thuyết phục khách hàng mua và sử dụng, các doanh nghiệp sản xuất xe máy điện trong nước cần nghiên cứu phát triển, đưa ra những sản phẩm có thời gian sạc nhanh hơn đồng thời phát triển mạng lưới trạm sạc pin, đổi pin xe rộng khắp để giảm thiểu bất cập của xe máy điện so với xe xăng.

Editorial: Apathy in the air

A noxious mix of vapours in New Delhi is shaving off nearly 12 years from a resident’s life expectancy There is a familiar air to the global reports on air pollution. Year after year, ominous signals emanate from these surveys, bracketing Indian cities among the most polluted in the world, but it is again back to business as usual for policymakers. The latest report has warned that a noxious mix of vapours in New Delhi is shaving off nearly 12 years from a resident’s life expectancy. This reflects the pathetic state of affairs. The Air Quality Life Index 2023 report of the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) — which calculated the global loss in life expectancy across 245 countries and territories — found that Delhi, Noida and Gurugram were the worst global performers. In India, the northern plains — home to nearly 40% of the population — were found to be the worst performers with the average resident losing about eight years of life expectancy due to pollution. The deteriorating air quality reflects the failure of the current set of anti-pollution strategies. No country can achieve economic prosperity without taking care of public health. There is an urgent need to step up investments in state-specific air pollution control strategies to improve population health. Vehicles are one of the major sources of air pollution in India, especially in urban areas. According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment, vehicles contribute to 40% of the PM2.5 (Particulate Matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres) emissions in Delhi, 30% in Mumbai, 28% in Kolkata and 20% in Bengaluru. Industries are another major contributor to air pollution in India, especially in the northern and eastern regions. According to a report by Greenpeace India, 139 of the 287 coal-based thermal power plants in India violated the emission norms set by the Ministry of Environment in 2019. These plants emitted sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, lead and mercury. Power plants, factories and households that use coal, oil or natural gas as fuel also contribute to air pollution by emitting greenhouse gasses. According to the World Bank Group, India is the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, after China and the United States. In northern States, air quality is worsened by stubble burning, denuding of the Aravalli ranges and unchecked vehicular emissions. The government needs to take the health hazards of pollution seriously. Some of the major challenges in tackling air pollution in the country are weak enforcement and compliance with existing regulations and standards that can prevent polluting activities, inadequate financing and incentives for clean technologies, lack of proper research and innovation, low public awareness and mushrooming of unregulated small-scale industries without proper environmental permits or controls. There is a need to develop and promote low-carbon technologies such as solar panels, hydrogen fuel cells, wind turbines, biogas plants and electric vehicles that can reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.

Last-mile fleets are spearheading electrification in India

The world’s most populated country has had enough of pollution, and is now rapidly electrifying its mobility. That means something different in India than it does in Europe, though: the main vector for electrification are two- and three-wheeled light vehicles instead of cars. In August 2022, there were around 5.5 million two-wheelers and 8 million three-wheelers in India, typically powered by high-polluting combustion engines. The pollution they cause is so bad that, according to a 2022 study by CMSR Consultants, 78% of residents in six major cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata) said last-mile delivery vehicles were an important source of pollution, with 67% supporting the idea of switching to EVs. In the pandemic, both pollution and oil prices in India fell to historically low levels. Now they’ve crept up again. Simultaneously, electrification has regained momentum. According to Statista, the demand for electric two-wheelers alone will hit more than 8 million units by 2030. Both the Indian government and the last-mile delivery industry are aiming for even higher figures. In fact, that industry – which has ballooned in size thanks to the proliferation of e-commerce in India – is now spearheading electrification in India, supported by government incentives and international collaboration. However, the path towards electrification in India will be long. A report by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment that examines electric-vehicle sales since 2012 projects no more than 2.05 million units sold by 2030, mainly due to lack of infrastructure improvements. The International Energy Agency is even more pessimistic, predicting no more than 1.9 million EV sales in India by the same year. Electrification examples It’s not just environmental concerns that have kept electrification high on the agenda in India after the pandemic. The switch to EVs also offers considerable economic benefits. A study by Boston Consulting Group finds that total cost of ownership of a high-speed two-wheeler EV is around 35% lower than the same model with a combustion engine. And an electric three-wheeler is 25% cheaper than its diesel counterpart. India’s e-commerce and last-mile delivery industries have been aware of those benefits for a while now, and as a result are now boosting the share of EVs in their fleets. Here are some examples: Last year, the Indian multinational restaurant aggregator and food delivery company Zomato partnered with Jio-bp, a joint venture of Reliance Industries and BP to help it electrify its entire fleet by 2030. As of 2022, the company had around 4,000 riders with EVs. The strategy of Zomato includes increasing awareness among its drivers on EVs across India and partnering with OEMs and leasing companies to electrify its fleet. Also in 2022, Amazon India partnered with TVS Motor, one of the largest two-wheeler manufacturers in the country. This was to enhance EV deployment through electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers for last-mile deliveries. The roadmap of Amazon India is to add 10,000 EVs to its fleet by 2025, following Amazon's global strategy to adopt 100,000 EVs by 2030. Flipkart, the first Indian e-commerce company to introduce EVs to its fleet and join The Climate Group's EV100 initiative, has announced the goal of becoming 100% electric by 2030. Swiggy, India's leading on-demand convenience delivery platform, partnered with Taiwanese battery-swapping company Gogoro last August to switch to electric intelligent scooters. A rival, the online supermarket BigBasket based in Bangalore, aims to electrify 90% of its fleet. In August, Mærsk, a Danish shipping and logistics company, announced that it would deploy an additional 500 EVs to its fleet in 26 cities in India to ramp up electrification in first-, middle- and last-mile delivery in the country. Maersk took the first step in September 2022 by launching electric three-wheelers and four-wheelers in Mumbai, intensifying the importance of EVs in distribution logistics. UK-based Saietta has released a cost-effective Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) specifically for three-wheeled and four-wheeled light electric vehicles (LEVs) in collaboration with HCLTech. Saietta will start manufacturing the VCU in India and deliver over 80,000 units to Indian LEV manufacturers over five years.

Mumbai’s thespian is making climate change conversations more accessible, and how!

This is a theatre performance. A selfish one, to be very honest (sarcasm). The artist is a pessimist and knows that the world is ending. To be very blunt, people will die. And, she is out on a quest to find “Plan B/C/D/E” to save her beloved Mumbai, and everything which she associates with the city. At least, most of it. A theatre performance called “Plan B/C/D/E”, written-improvised-perfomed-(produced) by Meghana T, through her company, “Tafreewale”. Here she is to share our anxieties and come up with some bizarre ways to tackle climate change! All of them to save Mumbai. Meghana, a theatre practitioner from Mumbai. Interestingly, this is an improvised play, in theatre of the oppressed style. Hence, relies on the remarks and insights of the audience. I went for the show at Bangalore Creative Circus (BCC). People joined slightly later than the allotted time due to early morning drizzle, and Bangalore’s infamous traffic. Meghana welcomed them with some heartfelt humour layered with sarcasm. This tonality lingered all throughout the play. Some context The news on extreme weather events is a very common occurrence. As per a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India witnessed these events for more than 300 days in 2022. But, there is a certain feeling of helplessness or pessimism which seeps in when we see the news on heatwaves, sinking cities, droughts, or incessant rainfall leading to floods, or wildfires. We also think, what can we do to save whatever have? Will the bamboo toothbrush help, or carrying a non-plastic bottle change the fate of the climate? Or do we just think as if we’re the only one who has read about sustainable development in the school textbooks? The above-mentioned feeling is mostly described as, “climate anxiety or eco-anxiety”.