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Artificial rains key to reduce pollution

Pollution levels in Delhi usually peak between the end of October and the first half of November. The time, signifying the arrival of winter, is accompanied by a drop in temperature, which also aids the accumulation of pollutants in the atmosphere. On September 12, the Delhi government held an environmental expert meet with experts from 32 organisations and other stakeholders to discuss the winter action plan to fight air pollution. The meeting saw participation from Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), UNEP, Centre for Science & Environment (CSE), IIT -Kanpur, Clean Air Asia and the Environment department among others. Following the meeting, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai announced that the Delhi government is considering using cloud seeding technology to create artificial rains in an effort to reduce air pollution in the Capital during winter. The idea of using artificial rain to mitigate air pollution was put forward by a team of experts from IIT-Kanpur. Concept of cloud seeding “Cloud seeding refers to the process of spreading either dry ice or more commonly, silver iodide aerosols, into the upper part of clouds to stimulate the precipitation process and form rain,” explained Manindra Agrawal, professor of IIT-Kanpur, who headed the team which conducted the experiment to check the feasibility of cloud seeding. In an exclusive interview to Patriot, Agrawal said, “If clouds are present and have the required moisture content, artificial rain through the process of cloud seeding is feasible.” Delhi has the required weather conditions during winters, he added. The idea of artificial rain is still in its infancy and requires flight clearance from DGCA and other authorities for security purposes. The estimated cost for such artificial rain would be around Rs 1 lakh per square km, he added. Feasibility of artificial rain If implemented, this would be the first such step in India to combat air pollution. “Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka have experimented with cloud seeding earlier. But those were to deal with droughts. This would be the first case of cloud seeding in India to fight air pollution,” Agrawal said. Cloud seeding was among the many suggestions put forward by experts to combat air pollution. During the meet, 13 hotspots were also identified. The pollution hotspots in Delhi are Anand Vihar, Wazirabad, Vivek Vihar, Wazirpur, Ashok Vihar, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Rohini, Bawana, Narela, Mundka, Punjabi Bagh, RK Puram and Okhla Phase 2. All the departments concerned have been asked to submit a separate Winter Action Plan for these 13 hotspots by September 25, 2023. Improved air quality Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has time and again claimed how air pollution has reduced in Delhi in recent years.

Single-use plastic thriving in market despite ban

“I have a plastic bag made of sugarcane but it is not very durable. That’s why I use this [polythene bag],” says Rajesh while pulling out a white coloured bag, stamped with a green biodegradable mark. “We stopped using polythene for a while. It got a bit expensive, but the bag was back in the market a few months later,” he adds. He has been selling vegetables in Noida, Uttar Pradesh for over four years. He remembers, last year around the same time, some officials fined him for selling vegetables in a single-use plastic polythene. He now keeps both kinds of bags, the biodegradable one in case officials return and the other one for business. Around a year ago, on July 1, 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) banned 19 identified single-use plastic items. These included carry bags (with thickness less than 120 mm), straws/stirrers and cutlery among others. Following the ban, the market was flooded with alternatives to these single-use plastic products. However, plastic returned to the shelf soon. A year after the ban, Patriot visited markets in Delhi-NCR to understand the effectiveness of the ban. When asked about the continued use of polythene bags despite the ban, Rajesh said, “The consumer asks for these. The ones made from sugarcane are not durable. I have to give them the plastic one, otherwise my business would get impacted.” He is not alone; a shopowner, who owns a sweets shop in Noida, faced a similar dilemma. The paper straw costs me more. Still, I am ready to use it instead of a plastic one. But most sellers are using the plastic straw ever since the it has returned to the market.” He says that a normal plastic straw packet costs Rs 30. It has 150-200 straws. The paper one costs Rs 1 for each straw. “The government puts a ban, officials fine us for using these, but no one questions the big traders and manufacturers,” he said while mentioning Delhi’s Kondli and Sadar Bazaar. As per industry estimates, India produced over 20 million tonnes of plastic in 2021– 22. In the last 30 years, India’s plastic consumption has increased by over 23 times. The ban imposed by the government in July 2022, received praise but a recent report by Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi based environment think tank, highlighted the continued use of single-use plastic. The survey revealed that carry bags were reported more than any other banned single-use plastic item. More than a third of the SUP items reported were carry bags (35.53%), almost a fourth were plastic straws (22.38%), and cutlery was the third-highest reported banned SUP items (18.42%). Patriot visited Kondli, one of the big plastic markets of Delhi. Though the market had alternatives like paper and wooden products but banned single-use plastic could be seen over the shelf of most of the sellers. One such seller, who wished to remain anonymous, told Patriot, “We are selling these because there is still demand for plastic products. Why can’t the government hold those who are responsible for manufacturing these?” He explains that the demand for plastic alternatives has increased manyfold. But a few buyers still demand plastic carry bags, straws and other products. Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials fine, but they choose to remain silent over the illegal factories manufacturing these in Narela (North Delhi). The CSE report concurs, stating, “The ban on single-use plastics in India is half-hearted and 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 (SPCBs) to penalise manufacturers.” Moreover, there is no data on the number of manufacturers and/or producers who were fined either by the SPCB/PCC or by CPCB. The enforcement campaign, non-compliance with the ban on identified single-use plastics was found in commercial establishments, including small shops in local markets. Most of the updates from the authorities revolve around the inspections done in local markets and among street vendors. Enough has not been done — or at least reported — to stop the production of single-use plastics at the source. As per available information, the penalty levied during the enforcement campaigns was approximately Rs 5,81,78,001 (Rs 5.82 lakh approx.), and 7,75,577 kg of material was seized. Siddarth Ghanshyam Singh, Programme Manager at the Solid Waste management team, CSE, said, “India has banned just 19 single-use plastic items. The banned items collectively make for just 2-3% of the entire single-use plastic in India.” Thus, to say that India has banned single-use plastic would be “inaccurate” and “misinformed”. Calling the ban “favourable” to big corporates and Fast Moving Commercial Goods (FMCGs), he further highlighted how many low utility items had comparatively high environmental impact. One such example highlighted in the report is of cigarette filters, which despite being one of most littered items, was not included in the list of banned items. Instead, items like cigarette overwrap film were included. Commenting on the issue of less availability of plastic alternatives, he added, “Stoppage in using is not really the solution. One has to put an end to it at the supply side which absolutely is not happening.” We need more awareness and have to make these alternatives more affordable.

The Ballot Box Power: Sonam Wangchuk’s Message of Hope for India’s Climate Action

In a world plagued by the relentless march of climate change, it is no longer enough to sit idly by and hope for a miraculous solution. Sonam Wangchuk, the renowned engineer, innovator, education reformist, passionate conservationist, and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of citizen action in addressing climate change. His message is clear: citizens can be formidable agents of climate action, wielding the power of the ballot to drive change. As the impacts of climate change intensify in India, it becomes imperative for every citizen to heed this call to action and be part of the solution. Sonam Wangchuk emphasized in an interview with Forbes India that citizens hold the power to combat climate change through their votes. He urged people to vote for leaders who are dedicated to taking action and have a clear plan to address the issue. His message has deeply resonated with individuals from all walks of life in India. During this podcast, Wangchuk stated that climate change is currently the most significant global challenge, which requires a collective effort to solve. He further emphasized that citizens can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change by voting for candidates who prioritize the issue. Wangchuk also emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in addressing climate change. He said we all have a role in reducing our carbon footprint and making sustainable choices. He suggested that individuals can make a difference by: Reducing their energy consumption Switching to renewable energy sources Eating less meat and more plant-based foods Driving less and walking, biking, or taking public transportation more often Reducing their waste and recycling whenever possible He also highlighted the importance of education in the fight against climate change. He said that we need to educate people about the causes and consequences of climate change so that they can make informed decisions about their lives and the leaders they elect. Indians Taking Initiatives towards Climate Change There are several Indians who are taking initiatives towards climate change. Here are a few examples: Sunita Narain: Narain is the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment, India’s leading environmental research and policy advocacy organization. She has worked on climate change for over 30 years and is a vocal advocate for strong climate action. Ajay Mathur: Mathur is the director general of the International Solar Alliance, a global coalition of over 120 countries promoting solar energy. He has been instrumental in India’s rapid growth in solar capacity in recent years. Anil Agarwal: Agarwal founded the Centre for Science and Environment. He pioneered the environmental movement in India and worked tirelessly to promote sustainable development. In addition to the individuals mentioned above, several organizations in India are working on climate change. These organizations include: International Solar Alliance: The International Solar Alliance is a global coalition of over 120 countries promoting solar energy. It was founded by India and France in 2015. WWF-India: WWF-India is a branch of the World Wildlife Fund, a global conservation organization. It works to protect India’s wildlife and natural habitats. The Role of Citizens in Climate Change Mitigation The complexity of climate change necessitates comprehensive action from all segments of society. Herein lies the pivotal role of citizens, expressed through their ballots, in holding governments accountable for addressing this crisis. To make climate change a priority in upcoming elections, Indian citizens can take several essential steps: Education: Equip themselves with knowledge about climate change and its impacts on India. Informed choices during elections are crucial. Candidate Assessment: Question candidates about their stance on climate change. Seek details about their policies and strategies for addressing climate change’s impacts on vulnerable communities. Support Environmental Advocates: Extend support to candidates with strong environmental track records, sending a clear signal that climate change is a pivotal concern for voters. Exercise the Right to Vote: Ultimately, voting is the most potent tool in the hands of citizens. It empowers them to demand government action on climate change. How citizens can become climate action change agents through the ballot There are many ways that citizens can become climate action change agents through the ballot. Here are a few tips: Vote for leaders with clear climate plans. Hold elected officials accountable for promises. Join climate campaigns for awareness and advocacy. In the face of the climate crisis, we can’t be complacent. Our power to shape the future is through voting and personal actions. Elect leaders who prioritize climate and commit to sustainable living. The urgency is apparent; we must collaborate. Let’s be the change agents our world needs. The ballot’s power, coupled with our actions, can make a difference. Will we rise to the occasion and be remembered as the generation that stood up for our planet? Our choices today will shape our world for generations.

Rise In Nitrogen Dioxide Emission Levels, A Growing Concern For South Asian Countries: Report

The Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emission levels, a gaseous pollutant classified under the highly reactive nitrogen oxides (NOx) is a ‘pollutant of concern’ for the South Asian countries, according to the State of Global Air (SOGA) South Asia Regional Snapshot on Air Quality. The report released on September 12, highlighted that India stood second after Bangladesh, in 2019, to have the second highest NO2 emission levels, with 40 parts per million, surpassing the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 10 parts per million. The other two countries with high NO2 emission levels included Nepal and Pakistan. The report stated that NO2 continues to be an important environmental health risk for these countries. Causes of High Nitrogen Dioxide Emission Levels Talking about the report, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy in Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and report reviewer, Ms Roychowdhury, said, Conventionally, we have been focusing on the particulate matter (PM2.5 levels) in our cities, which is very important. But what we have been beginning to understand is to focus on the gaseous emissions that give rise to the PM2.5 levels, especially Nitrogen Dioxide. Gases like NO2, once they are out in the air, they go through atmospheric changes, and form secondary particles. It further reacts with other gases and forms nitrate particles. With the formation of nitrate particles, the same gas is adding to the particulate pollution load and increasing the PM2.5 levels. The major rise in the NO2 emissions is fuelled by an increase in vehicle ownership, Ms Roychowdhury said. NO2 gets in the air from the burning of fuel, and it forms from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants, and off-road equipment. NO2 is often used as a marker for traffic-related air pollution, which is turning out to be one of the highest in the Indian cities, she said. She further said, So, more vehicles mean high NO2 emissions, hence, increase in the PM2.5 levels. Apart from NO2, rapid energy production, industrialisation, population growth, increase in transportational activities, and agricultural waste burning are also the reason behind the rise in the PM2.5 levels, she added. Dr Sarath Guttikunda, founder and Director of Urban Emissions, said that NO2 catalyses reactions between different gases in the air that further forms an ozone layer. Talking about significance of mitigating NO2 emission levels, Dr Guttikunda further added, If you compare the overall NO2 levels of India or other South Asian countries with other regions of the world, the levels are still lower. But the rate of increase is higher in the country because the number of vehicle ownership is growing in the absence of technology to control the NO2 emissions. If this is not taken care of, NO2 will not only have a health impact, but also add to the particulate pollution and increase the ozone pollution. Health Impacts of Nitrogen Dioxide High levels of NO2 give rise to the production of particulate matter (PM) and ozone, another gaseous pollutant harmful to health. It can lead to chronic respiratory illnesses, severe asthma symptoms, and impaired lung development among adults and children, the report stated. Ms Roychowdhury said that NO2 can also lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and is also responsible for sudden death syndrome among children. How Can Countries Reduce The Gaseous Pollutant NO2? Highlighting the efforts made by India, Ms Roychowdhury said that India has a policy of emission standards in place – Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BS Norms), which focuses on reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions by vehicles, but it has not reached the desirable levels. Under Bharat Stage Emission Standards Norms, we have leapfrogged from Bharat Stage IV (Euro IV equivalent) to Bharat Stage VI (Euro VI equivalent) that aims at reducing the nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and hydrocarbons (HC), but there is a long way to go. We need better monitoring systems. The report has emphasised the need for countries to drive more attention towards reducing NO2 emissions and introduce stringent policy programmes addressing transportation emissions, clean energy, and the burning of agricultural waste, among others.

Satellite images show farm fires in Punjab and Haryana

Farm fires have begun to appear on NASA’s satellite imagery of northern India’s plains, with six fire events recorded in Punjab and two each in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh since September 15, data compiled by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) shows. Every year, crop residue burning is monitored from September 15 till November 30, and data compiled by the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS) — a centre under IARI — reveals that between September 15 and 18, Punjab recorded six fires – all of which occurred on September 16. This figure is lower than previous years — in the same period last year, Punjab had recorded 22 fires, while the count was 11 in 2021. Haryana meanwhile has recorded a farm fire each on September 15 and 16, with no fire recorded on September 17 or 18. In comparison, Haryana recorded only one farm fire in all of September last year – on September 18. Uttar Pradesh’s count of two fires came on September 16 this year. In comparison, the state recorded its first farm fire count last year on September 30. VK Sehgal, professor and principal scientist at IARI, who is a part of CREAMS, said a clear trend will begin to emerge from October, when the monsoon has withdrawn and harvesting will generally begin. “What we tend to observe in September are isolated fires, generally occurring in Amritsar or Tarn Taran in Punjab, since they primarily grow potato and that has a different harvesting cycle in comparison to paddy. Despite lack of rains in August, Punjab is still likely to see a bumper crop this year, which again means more efforts are required on the ground to control fires,” he said. Every year, Delhi faces a public health crisis with the emanation of farm fires in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. This causes a smog jacket to form over northern India, particularly Delhi. This year, however, sowing has been impacted by an abnormal monsoon pattern. Stubble burning generally starts impacting Delhi’s air quality from October onwards, when the wind direction becomes northwesterly, following the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon in late September. This year, sowing has also been impacted by an abnormal monsoon pattern, which saw a rain deficit of 10% across the country. This was followed by above normal rainfall in July, which saw northwest India record an excess of 59% and flooding in parts of Punjab, Haryana and even Uttar Pradesh. Over the last week, northwest India is also recording rain, which can push residue burning to October, experts say. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says September is generally the ideal period for state governments to identify problems on the ground and intervene. “We generally start to see sporadic fires from September 15 onwards and till the end of the month, the state governments have time to reach out to farmers on the ground and use early data to ensure there are adequate machines deployed. Wherever a machine cannot be distributed, it is important to ensure there is a tie-up for collection of the residue,” she said, stating last year’s trend of a dip in fire numbers was encouraging. With rains, we can generally see no farm fires and as soon as the rains stop, there can be a spike. Last year was similar, as rains in September pushed residue burning to October,” she added.

Wages of mining: Neyveli turns ‘ashtray’, leaving famers with broken promises and uncertain future

A sense of deja vu overcame P Adithyan as he sat on the thinnai — or raised porch — of his century-old brick house at Aadhandarkolli village in Tamil Nadu’s Neyveli. The house stands testimony to a once-thriving farming village that existed long before each gust of wind brought with it copious amounts of fly ash. The odour is a reminder of uncertainty — a feeling of emptiness — that has been eating the minds of farmers like 29-year-old Adithyan. Still, Adityan sat on the thinnai, hiring hands to harvest his 2.5 acres of pearl millet (bajra) farm next month. He looked like hope personified, as he gambled once again with adverse conditions brought in by the exploitation of natural resources. For the farmers of Neyveli, the gamble is not as simple as rolling dice on a board for fun. It is a matter of life — and perhaps death. Rice is not for consumption Adithyan is mighty worried that he might incur losses like he did when he cultivated paddy. He had cultivated paddy on two acres, spending ₹33,400. When harvested, he got just 21 sacks (of 75 kg each) and more bales of hay. He sold the entire paddy for ₹27,234 at the government-regulated National Agricultural Market in Virudhachalam, incurring a loss of ₹6,166. The young farmer had sown pearl millet two years ago, and pumped in money, hoping for a good harvest. “We did not harvest as the yield was visibly poor,” he told South First with a deadpan expression. A turbulent, worried mind hid behind his nonchalance. He left the land barren for two years, before trying his luck once more this time, knowing well that it would be a gamble once again. A decade ago, Adithyan’s family used to harvest more than 35 sacks of paddy from two acres. Bold, translucent, first-grade grains harvested in Neyveli had such a demand that the wholesale traders used to flock to the village to purchase the yield straight from the farmers. That was before the wind that made waves on paddy fields smelled like fly ash. Today, paddy from Neyveli town is infamous for its poor quality and most of it is marked as second and third grades. The farmers know it too. “We don’t eat the rice that we grow. The cooked rice goes stale in five hours,” S Paneerselvam, Adithyan’s father, let out a secret. Wages of mining Neyveli Power Station-1 (expansion) project is around two km from Adithyan’s fields. The Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) of India Limited supplies water to the agriculture fields, including that of Adithyan. Set up in 1956 after acquiring agricultural lands from the villagers, NLC operates three opencast lignite mines and four thermal power stations in Neyveli. The untreated hot water from the power station and fly ash contaminated water irrigate Adithyan’s land. Farmers, scientists and even government bodies have blamed fly ash for the degradation of land and reduced yields. The entire Cuddalore district, where Neyveli town is located, has been identified and declared as a mine-affected area by the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT), Cuddalore, Union Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi informed the Rajya Sabha in 2022. Adithyan’s family had sold 20 acres to NLC on three occasions in the past 50 years for less than ₹10,000. The NLC, however, did not keep its promise of employing one of the family members. Economic fallout Adithyan’s plight highlights two important issues faced by the farmers in Neyveli town: Poor yield and declining quality of the agricultural produce. Farming flourished in these villages which were once blessed with abundant oothu thanni — or springs. But with agriculture not bringing profits and the NLC not providing employment benefits, farmers are faced with an uphill task. Five farming families in Aadhandarkollai, Akilandagangapuram, Vadakuvellur and Ammeri told South First that the soil has become unfit to cultivate any crop due to contaminated water sources. Earlier, they used to cultivate paddy, pearl millet, sugarcane, sesame, and groundnut. Tamil Nadu-based environmental organisation Poovulagin Nanbargal, and Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, a centre set up to research, analyse and monitor water and energy issues from the perspective of sustainable development, conducted a questionnaire-based survey, interviewing 101 individuals in seven villages. They had also conducted village-level focus group discussions in all these villages. The respondents raised concerns over worsening water quality over the years, groundwater depletion and fly ash polluting the water sources. They released a detailed report in August, titled, ‘POWERing Pollution: The Environmental Impacts of Mining Operations and Thermal Power Stations in Neyveli and Parangipettai’. Fly ash has visibly blanketed the agricultural lands. Streams and canals in the villages are contaminated with effluents from the NLC. Depleting yield Punitha S, 45, a farmer from Ammeri village, said she harvested 15 sacks (of 100 kg each) of pearl millet from her 2.5 acres last season. “I have been cultivating pearl millet for 30 years now. The quantity has come down drastically from 20 sacks to less than 10 sacks an acre,” she told South First. Ammeri village had changed three locations in the past 50 years after NLC evicted the villagers to establish thermal power stations. Showing the deposits of fly ash on his fields, Ramachandiran A, a 40-year-old farmer from Thoppalikuppam village, said that he barely harvests 10 sacks of pearl millet from one acre. “Two decades ago, we used to get more than 15 sacks an acre,” he rued. Ramachandiran’s family sold two acres to NLC for ₹90,000 and a promise of employment to one of the family members. Ramachandiran who underwent training in 2006, never got the promised job. On the downside, the once fertile land is now covered with fly ash, resulting in reduced yield of crops, pushing the family down the economic ladder. Defying environmental norms The indiscriminate dumping of fly ash in public places is a blatant violation of environmental rules. Fly ash, a pollutant with significant levels of mercury and arsenic among other chemicals, can be a resource material in brick and cement industries. According to a gazette notification, 1999, all thermal power plants should ensure 100 percent utilisation of fly ash in an eco-friendly manner. Reiterating it in December 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued another notification, saying non-compliant power plants will be imposed with an environmental compensation of ₹1,000 per tonne on unutilised ash. “The industry should strictly comply with the conditions made in the environmental clearance and make sure even a small quantiy of fly ash is not disposed of outside the plant,” Nivit Yadav, Director, Industrial Pollution Unit, Centre for Science and Environment, said. NLC authorities were not available for comment. NLC claims to be utilising 100 percent of fly ash in brick and cement manufacturing industries for the past five years. “Even if we take NLC at its face value, it has not cleared the legacy ash from ash ponds and this can potentially lead to runoff to agricultural lands during rains,” Shripad Dharmadhikary of Manthan Adyayan Kendra, said. “Seepage from ash ponds into groundwater, and air-borne ash that lands on water bodies are other ways of contaminating soil and groundwater. Apart from fly ash, effluents from power plants and mine discharges released directly into water bodies are also responsible for water contamination in the area” Dharmadhikary, who co-authored the ‘POWERing Pollution’ report, said. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials could not be reached despite repeated attempts. Fly ash: The visible pollutant The survey by Poovulagin Nanbargal and Manthan Adhyayan Kendra also established a direct connection between fly ash and poor agricultural yield. The organisations undertook two rounds of water and soil sample tests this year. Samples were collected from surface water, groundwater, piped water and soil samples were collected from agricultural fields and fly ash. “Several drinking water sources were found to be seriously contaminated with high levels of mercury, selenium and fluoride. In the first round of tests, out of 20 locations, samples from nine locations were found to be seriously contaminated and nine significantly contaminated,” the study stated.

World Stage Highlights Australia's Fossil Fuel Duplicity

The open letter, published in The New York Times, has been signed by leading climate scientists including Professor Michael Mann, Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Professor Jing-Jia Luo, Dr Peter Kalmus and Dr Joelle Gergis. Eminent experts include Farhana Sultana, Bill McKibben, Sunita Narain and Nobel Laureates JM Coetzee and Laureate Professor Peter Doherty. The letter urges Australia to follow the advice of the United Nations, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and prevent any further new fossil fuel developments. The intervention from the world's scientific community comes as the Environment Minister, joined by two coal mining companies, defends the decision not to take climate change into account when approving fossil fuel projects. "Even though the IEA, UNFCCC and UN Secretary-General have all declared that new fossil fuel projects are incompatible with keeping global temperatures below 1.5 degrees, the new Australian Government has already approved four new coal mines and there are 110 more gas and coal mines in the pipeline. If Australia succeeds in its fossil fuel expansion plans, the other nations of the world will fail in their efforts to prevent dangerous climate change," said Polly Hemming, Climate & Energy Program Director at the Australia Institute. "Australia is already the world's third largest fossil fuel exporter, behind only Saudi Arabia and Russia. But despite the dire warnings from the world's scientists and the clear language from the UN Secretary-General, the Australian Government is not only approving new fossil fuel projects, it is subsidising them and fighting in court to smooth their path." The United Nations Climate Ambition Summit will take place on 20 September 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. /Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.

AKQA Bloom and Planetary Guardians Announce New Partnership

Planetary Guardians has selected AKQA Bloom as its partner to develop a compelling brand identity and establish a strong visual presence for this emerging non-profit initiative. The Planetary Guardians, uniting leaders from across the globe and across generations with a mission to elevate the Planetary Boundaries science, launches at UNGA week in New York City. In collaboration with Virgin Unite and a number of leading partners, Planetary Guardians is committed to sparking global awareness and inspiring decisive action to secure the future of humanity. AKQA Bloom ingeniously crafted a strategic positioning that harmoniously aligns with Planetary Guardian's distinctive purpose. At the heart of AKQA Bloom's mission is a relentless commitment to safeguarding our planet, nurturing open-mindedness, and enriching lives through profound partnerships with kindred organizations. The design language created by AKQA Bloom in partnership with Aza Raskin’s Earth Species Project, uses machine learning to turn sounds emitted by species and ecosystems into 3D shapes that will be Planetary Guardians’ hero logos. So far, the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon Rainforest and the Arctic Tern are being featured, but this is just the beginning. The brand will keep evolving, just as our planet does. Situated at the crossroads of culture and purpose, AKQA Bloom aspires to artfully balance the cultivation of love and trust within every facet of their work. Their partnership with Planetary Guardians and its supporters, like Virgin Unite and the Avatar Alliance Foundation, to bring Planetary Guardians to fruition exemplifies their dedication to this mission, collaborating hand-in-hand with Earth Species Project. Planetary Guardians is calling on the UN, multilaterals, and governments to use the Planetary Boundaries science as a measurement framework for collective global action to safeguard Earth after it was revealed six of the nine Planetary Boundaries that regulate the health of our planet have been breached, increasing the risk of irreversible damage to the Earth system that keeps us alive. This initiative seeks to emphasise the concept of Planetary Boundaries and actively assess the overall health of the Earth's system. UNGA Week itself is a gathering that brings leaders from diverse sectors, including government, business, academia, and civil society together to engage in discussions and advocate for solutions to combat climate change. The Planetary Guardians include Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, and Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia. They are joined by a growing number of leaders, including Sunita Narain, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Ayisha Siddiqa, Dr. Ralph Chami, Farwiza Farhan, Dr. Naoko Ishii, Xiye Bastida, Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, Dr. David Suzuki, Hiro Mizuno, and Robert Redford. This diverse and global collective is committed to listening to the science, the wisdom of Indigenous peoples, and the planet to learn how to thrive in partnership with each other and the natural systems that keep us alive. AKQA Bloom founders and executive creative directors, Jean Zamprogno and Fernando Pellizzaro said: “We were deeply inspired by the insight that our planet doesn’t need a voice; it already has one, and we just need to listen to it. This creative synergy brought to life a living branding that reacts to the biomes we aim to protect. ArchBishop Desmond Tutu taught us that listening is a healing”. Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, Virgin Unite and Advisory Council member for Planetary Guardians, said, “The need for action has never been more pressing. That is why I am so honoured that Virgin Unite has worked with amazing partners, scientists, and leaders to launch the Planetary Guardians. By working together, we can leave the planet in a better place for our children and grandchildren.” The Planetary Guardians aim to elevate science that can help reverse the deadly consequences we are already facing, and will continue to get worse if we do not act. The Guardians believe in a bright future where we can live in a healthy partnership with the planet. They believe that we have everything we need to get there; we now just need the right level of global coordination and willingness so that everyone, everywhere becomes a planetary guardian.

द‍िल्‍ली पर आने वाला है संकट! लग सकता है सांसों का आपातकाल, जल्‍द व‍िदा हो सकती है साफ हवा, जानें मौसम का पूरा समीकरण

राष्ट्रीय राजधानी द‍िल्‍ली में में मंगलवार सुबह न्यूनतम तापमान 26.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया, जो सामान्य से दो डिग्री कम है. मौसम विभाग के अनुसार, दिल्ली में सुबह साढ़े आठ बजे सापेक्षिक आर्द्रता 82 प्रतिशत रही. वहीं द‍िल्‍ली की हवा अभी साफ है और हर कोई आराम से सांस ले रहा है पर यह हालात ज्‍यादा द‍िनों तक अच्‍छे नहीं रहने वाले हैं. बताया जा रहा है क‍ि यह राहत वाली हवा जल्‍दी की हवा हो जाएगी. इसकी वजह है पराली को जलाने के मामले शुरू हो गए है और बीते तीन द‍िनों में पंजाब, हर‍ियाणा और उत्‍तर प्रदेश में 10 मामले सामाने आ चुके हैं. मौसम व‍िभाग के अनुसार, पराली का असर अभी द‍िल्‍ली में इसल‍िए ज्‍यादा नहीं पड़ रहा है क्‍योंक‍ि अभी हवा की द‍िशा पूर्वी और जैसे ही यह पश्‍च‍िम से बहेगी तो पराली का धुआं द‍िल्‍लीवास‍ियों का दम घोंटेगा. भारतीय कृषि अनुसंधान संस्थान (आईएआरआई) दिल्ली और एनसीआर में वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन के लिए वायु गुणवत्ता पर्यवेक्षक आयोग द्वारा अधिसूचित मानक प्रोटोकॉल 2021 का पालन करता है. पंजाब के अमृतसर में फसल अवशेष (पराली) जलाने की छह घटनाएं सामने आईं, जबकि हरियाणा के सोनीपत और रोहतक में दो घटनाएं सामने आईं. 15 और 16 सितंबर को उत्तर प्रदेश के देवरिया में दो घटनाएं सामने आईं. आईएआरआई की स्पेस लेबोरेटरी के कंसोर्टियम फॉर रिसर्च ऑन एग्रोइकोसिस्टम मॉनिटरिंग एंड मॉडलिंग के प्रमुख वैज्ञानिक और प्रभारी प्रोफेसर विनय सहगल ने कहा क‍ि बारिश के बाद बादल छाए रहने के कारण उपग्रहों को रविवार और सोमवार को पराली जलने के मामलों का पता नहीं चल सका. आईएआरआई के आंकड़ों से पता चलता है कि पिछले साल 15 से 18 सितंबर के बीच उपग्रहों ने पड़ोसी राज्यों में 23 पराली चलाने के मामलों का पता लगाया था. इसी वक्‍त में अगर वर्ष 2021 और 2020 की बात कें तो 12 और 34 मामले सामने आए थे. विशेषज्ञों ने कहा कि दिल्ली की वायु गुणवत्ता पर पराली जलाने का प्रभाव उत्तर-पश्चिम भारत से मानसून जाने के बाद दिखाई देगा. बहुत कुछ हवा की दिशा और हवा की गति पर भी निर्भर करता है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा कि पराली जलाने के शुरुआती संकेतों के कारण इस सर्दी में ऐसी आग पर काबू पाने के लिए रणनीति के तत्काल कार्यान्वयन की आवश्यकता है. उन्होंने कहा क‍ि खेतों से पराली को हटाने के ल‍िए जरूरी मशीनों को किसानों तक पहुंचाने से इसमें सुधार क‍िया जा सकता है. औद्योगिक ईंधन के रूप में बायोमास का उपयोग करने या फसल अवशेषों से बायो सीएनजी का उत्पादन करने जैसे ऑफ-फार्म अनुप्रयोगों को बढ़ाएं. यह किसानों के लिए एक आर्थिक प्रोत्साहन हो सकता है, लेकिन भूसे के संग्रह और भंडारण के लिए बुनियादी ढांचे को मजबूत करने की जरूरत है. इसके लिए गहन संचार और आउटरीच रणनीतियों की भी आवश्यकता है. वहीं विभाग ने दिन में शहर के आसमान में मुख्यत: बादल छाए रहने और हल्की बारिश या बूंदाबांदी होने का पूर्वानुमान जताया है. मौसम विभाग के मुताबिक, मंगलवार को दिल्ली में अधिकतम तापमान 34 डिग्री सेल्सियस के आसपास रह सकता है.

Artificial Rain, Track Hotspots: How Delhi Plans To Curb Pollution

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said separate action plans for 13 hotspots will be implemented to reduce pollution and improve air quality. According to Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai, the Delhi government is considering using cloud seeding technology to create artificial rains in an effort to reduce air pollution in the capital during the winter. This comes within the ambit of winter action plan for Delhi which aims at keeping pollution in check during the winter months. Cloud seeding refers to the process of spreading either dry ice or more commonly, silver iodide aerosols, into the upper part of clouds to try to stimulate the precipitation process and form rain. Rai's announcement came after his meeting with 24 environmental experts, last week, to discuss the 'Winter Action Plan' where scientists from IIT-Kanpur gave a presentation on inducing artificial rain in Delhi. What steps is the Delhi government considering to curb pollution? The meeting was attended by the officials from the environment department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, development department, Delhi Cantonment Board, Central Public Works Department, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Police, Delhi Transport Corporation, revenue department, education department, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, transport department, National Highway Authority of India, Delhi Jal Board, etc. At the meeting, suggestions were also taken from members and researchers from the Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), and Environmental Defense Fund, among others. "The experts brainstormed ways to reduce vehicular pollution, dust pollution, biomass burning, and other kinds of pollution," Rai said. As a result of the deliberations, following steps are being mulled over- - Use of cloud seeding technology to induce artificial rains. According to Rai, “IIT-Kanpur will share a detailed presentation on conducting artificial rain in winter season to reduce the number of ‘severe' days in winter." This technique was also proposed in 2018, however, was later dropped as weather conditions like low moisture levels in the city were found unsupportive. - Creation of a separate action plan to curb pollution in 13 identified hotspots. Separate winter action plan will help in tackling the issues comprehensively because they have different causes of pollution, biomass pollution being one of the major causes. The pollution hotspots in Delhi are located at Anand Vihar, Wazirabad, Vivek Vihar, Wazirpur, Ashok Vihar, Dwarka, Jahangirpuri, Rohini, Bawana, Narela, Mundka, Punjabi Bagh, RK Puram and Okhla Phase 2. - To reduce automotive emissions, efforts will be made to encourage behavioural change and the use of public transport. - Combating dust pollution by not only training the construction site managers but also on-site staff. - Appealing to security agencies/companies to limit bonfire burning by security personnel throughout the winter. Delhi's tryst with winter pollution According to Rai, biomass burning is one of the major causes of pollution in the capital city as per a report by Real Time Apportionment Studies. As the stubble burning is scheduled to take place in 15 days, the Delhi government is seeking to coordinate with neighbouring states on this issue. Stubble burning, also known as "parali" burning, is a practice employed to clear paddy crop residues from fields in preparation for sowing wheat, typically carried out from late September to November. This process involves igniting the leftover straw stubble from grain harvesting, such as paddy and wheat, and is commonly utilized in regions where combined harvesting methods leave behind crop residues. Stubble burning by farmers in Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab in north India is considered a major cause of air pollution in Delhi and its adjoining regions. Along with vehicular emissions, this process further adds to deterioration of the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital and NCR. The process of burning releases hazardous pollutants into the air, which include noxious gases such as carbon monoxide, methane and cancer-causing aromatic hydrocarbons. These harmful substances spread in the surrounding, thereby, forming a dense layer of smog and posing health risks to the residents. According to the environmental minister, Delhi has been successfully curtailing down the level of pollution with each passing year. "In the last nine years, the PM 10 levels fell by 42 per cent while the PM 2.5 fell by 46 per cent," he said. The satisfactory and moderate category days during the smog period have increased from 109 to 163 between 2016 and 2022. In addition, the number of days falling into the severe category has declined from 26 in 2016 to 6 in 2022, he said.

Odisha exploring ways to utilise bio-solids generated from waste

The state-wide rollout of convergence of rural and urban sanitation is also in progress which will help in treatment of more volume of such waste. BHUBANESWAR: The Housing and Urban Development Department is exploring ways to reuse bio-solids generated through the treatment of sewage and faecal sludge at sewage treatment plants (STPs) and faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) in cities and towns across the state. A regional workshop on the ‘reuse of bio-solids harvested from septage and sewage’ was organised by the department in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi here. Experts at the workshop said bio-solids produced by transforming sewage, faecal sludge and other such waste can be reused in various applications. They also acknowledged Odisha’s septage infrastructure as one of the best in the country. “There are over 500 FSTPs across India, generating an estimated 250-tonne bio-solids every day. Another 1,04,210 tonne bio-solids are generated from 1,469 STPs that exist in India. Odisha leads the country with its septage treatment infrastructure, covering 115 towns,” said CSE water programme director Depinder Singh Kapur. He said reuse and resource recovery of harvested bio-solids from FSTPs and STPs can be a rich source of fertiliser in the country. CSE experts said the move will also promote the concept of circular economy by recovering resources from waste and reducing environmental impact. H&UD secretary G Mathivathanan said at present the state has constructed 118 FSTPs and STPs across 115 ULBs. The state-wide rollout of convergence of rural and urban sanitation is also in progress which will help in the treatment of more volume of such waste. The urban sanitation, water initiatives and other such programmes will also help find ways to address challenges in the reuse of harvested bio-solids, he said. Mathivathanan said Odisha is known for its pioneering Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM), especially in a decentralised way involving community members. He said Odisha Urban Academy set up by the government is also working to strengthen capacity-building ecosystems in water, sanitation and inclusive urban development space.

Hyderabad environmentalists root for Green Manifestoes in upcoming polls

Hyderabad: Eco-friendly organisations in Hyderabad have urged the political parties to focus on ‘going green’ in their election manifestoes for the upcoming general elections in Telangana State and others On Saturday, members of the Council for Green Revolution (CGR) and the Council for Earth Leadership and Sustainability (CELS), in association with the Press Club of Hyderabad, held a symposium in the city to discuss the possibilities of ‘greening the manifestoes of political parties’, their current role in setting agenda for transition and change towards sustainability in India and the experiences of green parties in other countries. As per the organisers, since India is entering a year of elections, in 2023 and in 2024, it is necessary to make the political parties and political leaders acknowledge the links between the environment, ecology, economy and social conditions by mainstreaming environmental issues in the manifestos. Time right to formulate plans The need for a green manifesto becomes inevitable in the backdrop of several environmental challenges that the country is facing. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in the first nine months of 2022, India experienced almost one extreme weather event per day. “We came up with a general framework to provide orientation to political party manifestoes and efforts to green them, specifically in the next year, in connection with the upcoming general elections and ongoing climate disasters. We are at a defining political moment where the decisions we make today can decide the future of the coming generations and the kind of life they can have. We need transformative policies that are framed by sustainability, equity, and justice and inclusive within the limits of ecology, nature and environment,” said environmentalist KP Reddy A political manifesto – usually released before the elections – is used as a guidance document that informs voters of the actions promised by respective political parties in the elections. “There is competition among political parties in India to promise direct benefits to voters. Also, there is not much variation between the manifestoes of different political parties. India has two options: green political parties or green manifestoes,” said public policy expert, D Narasimha Reddy. Environmental threats The organisers deliberated on climate change, which is threatening Indian agricultural production, forests, water resources and rural economies, among others. These threats have significant implications not just for farmers, agricultural labour, and tribals, but for all Indians. Farmers across India are already feeling the pressures of a changing climate and its effects on weather, with flash floods, unusual rains, increasing pest attacks and yield fluctuations. Livelihoods, lives and property damage apart, economic losses are mounting. The rural economy is in a severe crisis. Rural livelihoods, especially, farmers continue to face structural issues in accessing institutional credit, seeds, fertilisers and markets. Food diversity in villages has drastically changed. The availability of food has also reduced. However, political parties continue to remain oblivious to the troubles of ordinary people, bypassing references to natural disasters and the resultant impacts on food, livelihoods and life in general, said economist Mohan Guruswamy and public policy expert Narasimha Reddy Green Parties in Europe struggling to find power Long ago, ‘green parties’ were considered as one of the options in India. However, it most probably be a distant dream. Europe has a long history of green parties but they are struggling to gain power. In environmentally conscious Scandinavia, Norway’s Green Party got 3.8 per cent of the vote share. The Green Party in Germany had to support a coalition, not able to form its own government but managed to become the country’s third-largest party. In the 2019 Danish elections, the only environmental party, The Alternative, actually lost half of its seats, said Norwegian diplomat Erik Solheim at the meeting. Solheim also said that major economies including India, China, Europe and America should work together to make a positive change in the environmental sector. Among those who took part in the symposium included Prof K Purushotham Reddy, environmentalist; Mohan Guruswamy, economist; R Dileep Reddy, former commissioner (RTI-A); Dr Narasimha Reddy Donthi, public policy expert; Erik Solheim, Norwegian diplomat and former politician; and L Venugopala Naidu, president of Hyderabad Press Club.

The world saw a Modi-fied G20

India emerged as the world’s problem solver with a human centric approach keeping updated with real time geo-political challenges and threats. The recently concluded G20 Summit in Delhi has been a resounding success. The consensus on major contentious issues even such as the Ukraine war was achieved much earlier than one would have ever anticipated. However, the tectonic shift when compared to the previous editions of this summit was, India’s lead in issuing a broad economic plan for the Global South and providing the African Union with the appropriate platform and forum to raise their collective grievances and concerns. For so long what had been a virtue signalling by the world’s most powerful nations coming together on the subject of those primarily left deprived, transcended into concrete reality when Dr Jaishankar paved the way for President Azali Assoumani representing the 55 African Nations to take the permanent seat at the high table of the G20. So much was President Assoumani’s exuberance and delight that when Prime Minister Modi as the chair for this year’s G20, extended his hand for a congratulatory shake, President Assoumani hugged him with emotions bursting of gratitude and affection. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly spoken about structural reforms being the need of the hour to address the plight of the Global South. His mantra during this entire presidency of the G20 has been for re-imagining the globalisation that leaves no one behind, thus making a strong pitch for a “more diversified and a more democratic” re-globalisation. With regards to the opaque debt traps, be it by China or from the institutions from the G7 countries, not enough had been stressed on how low and middle income countries are arm twisted to spend more on repayments against debts than meeting their climate goals for instance. Centre for Science and Environment, just ahead of the Paris summit in 2016 had highlighted how inequalities had made developing countries dependent on imports of food, energy and goods reducing their ability to invest in growth. Figures calculated by the Jubilee Debt Campaign from IMF and World Bank data depicted that 18% of government revenue is being spent by the Global South in debt servicing. Shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic have stretched domestic spending capabilities of developing countries. For gas-dependent developing countries energy crisis driven by the Russian war on Ukraine had left them unable to afford LNG supplies and hindered the industry’s aspiration to switch from coal to gas in countries like India. India within the domain of geopolitics has incrementally emerged with a resilient reputation of a world balancer with an astute and robust foreign policy. The PM Modi-led presidency of the G20 was declared a unanimous success by all leaders attending the summit where consensus building between all nations was carefully calibrated.

Odisha’s Sepatge Infrastrucure Is One Of The Best In The Country : Director CSE

Odisha’s Sepatge Infrastrucure is one of the Best in the Country, opined by experts in a Regional Workshop on reuse of bio-solids harvested from sepatage & sewage organised by Housing & Urban Development department Odisha in collaboration with Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi held yesterday here at Odisha Urban Academy. The Workshop focused on reuse and resource recovery of harvested bio-solids from FSTPs and STPs , these bio-solids can be a rich source of fertilisers in agriculture in India, say CSE reports. Mr. G Mathi Vathanan, Principal Secretary, H&UD, Odisha in his keynote address presented an overview of different Urban Sanitation and water initiatives, missions and programs in Odisha, and the emerging challenges of re-use of harvested bio solids. Odisha is known for its pioneering Faecal Sludge & Sepatge Management (FSSM), especially decentralised community-led inclusive sanitation in the country. The State has built 118 faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs)/sewage treatment plants (STPs) across all 115 ULBs. The State-wide roll-out of convergence of rural & urban sanitation is currently underway, he added. He further highlighted the role of Odisha Urban Academy to strengthen the capacity building ecosystems in water, sanitation and inclusive urban development space. Speaking at the workshop, Depinder Singh Kapur, Director, water programme, CSE, said: “There are over 500 FSTPs all over India, generating an estimated 250 tonne of bio-solids every day. Another 104,210 tonne of bio-solids are generated from the 1,469 STPs that exist in India. Odisha leads the country with its septage treatment infrastructure, covering 115 towns.” Vinod Vijayan, deputy laboratory head at CSE shared the detailed technical findings of CSE study on Bio solids. Sagarika Pattanaik Spl Secretary and Durgesh Nadini Sahoo Additional Secretary had represented H&UD Dept in the workshop .

UN summit to call for revised climate action, net-zero goals

Major emitters of planet- warming greenhouse gases are expected to ratchet up climate action and announce new plans at the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit that begins on Monday. The New York Climate Week, organized in partnership with the UN during the general assembly, will be held on September 17-24, bringing together representatives from business, government and civil society. On September 20, heads of states of major emitters are expected to address the UN on their updated climate plans. UN secretary- general Antonio Guterres had sent letters to member states, calling for expression of interest in presenting on how the nations will update their efforts to deal with the climate crisis. “We received over 100 expressions of interest to participate, which contain details and specifics on announcements. Participation in most cases would be at the level of heads of states and governments,” Selwin Hart, special adviser to Guterres on climate, said during a briefing last week. Guterres called on “first movers and doers” to present on updated pre-2030 nationally determined contributions, as agreed to in the Glasgow climate summit in 2021: updated net-zero targets; energy transition plans with commitments to no new coal, oil and gas; fossil fuel phase-out plans; more ambitious renewable energy targets; and pledges to the green climate fund. A chair’s summary on the updated goals will be released at the end of the meeting. The climate ambition summit is important this year because of the global stocktake taking place in December and because temperatures are at a record high due to a combination of the impact of El Nino and climate change. August this year was the planet’s hottest August 174 years since records have been kept. The sizzling month also wrapped up the northern hemisphere’s warmest summer and the southern hemisphere’s warmest winter on record, according to an analysis by scientists from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday. The synthesis report of the first global stocktake by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on September 8 presented some inconvenient but not unknown truths. Global efforts on the climate crisis are falling short of meeting the Paris Agreement goals of keeping global warming under 2 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to keep it under 1.5 degrees. The synthesis report said there is a rapidly narrowing window to raise ambition and implement existing commitments in order to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, HT reported on September 9. “The report of the global stocktake shows we are way behind in climate goals, climate indicators are trending in the wrong direction and emissions are at their highest level and continue to rise. The window to keep global warming under 1.5 degree C is closing,” Hart said. Though the G20 summit held on September 9-10 under India’s presidency agreed to meet Paris Agreement goals. The major economies comprising the grouping, which is responsible for 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions, resolved to achieve net zero emissions by around mid-century through a variety of approaches. It committed to efforts to triple renewable energy capacity from current levels and increase the uptake of other zero or low carbon technologies, including carbon capture and removal technologies. to be sure, there were no clear statements on phasing out or phasing down fossil fuels or references to emissions from fossil fuels. A clear intent on peaking before 2025 was not made either. Those gaps are expected to be addressed at New York beginning Monday. The so-called ambition meeting is expected to raise momentum and push for concrete goals ahead of the UN climate summit in Dubai later this year. On September 22, UN will also hold a meeting on the loss and damage fund, which was decided to be set up during the annual 2022 summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The UN meeting will discuss political outcomes on the loss and damage fund. “The recent global stocktake report shows how wildly off track the world is in meeting the challenge to tackle the climate crisis. The G20 Summit held just after this sobering report showed a tepid political reaction to the everyday reality of climate devastation,” said Avantika Goswami, programme manager, climate change at the Centre for Science and Environment, an advocacy group. “Consensus on a low-ambition declaration that did not balance a renewable energy mention with a matching intent to phase out fossil fuels in an equitable manner was hardly a win,” she said.

Small Hydro Projects In The Northeast Ignore Environmental Risks, Local Voices

Darjeeling: The Union government has reportedly made a strong push to develop hydro projects of all types and sizes in the northeast, two-thirds of which is blessed with hilly terrains interspersed with valleys and plains crisscrossed by major rivers and their countless tributaries. Proponents of these projects, including the government, say these projects will help develop the region, but local residents say the projects will change their way of life and culture by altering the flow of rivers and by their downstream impacts. Environmentalists highlight the ecological costs of these projects on the region's biodiversity. Small hydropower projects are being particularly pushed in the northeast, and in West Bengal’s Darjeeling, as we reported in the first part of this two-part series on the local opposition to two projects--a 12 megawatt (MW) project on Chhota Rangit and a 6 MW one on Balawas. This second part details why it is easier for small hydel power projects to be approved despite local resistance and why these projects are environmentally fraught. Northeast to be dam(n)ed? According to the Central Electricity Authority’s Reassessment Study, carried out during 1978-87, India’s hydropower potential from projects with a capacity above 25 MW was estimated at 145,320 MW. Of this, the northeastern states make up 58,356 MW--40% of the total capacity. Union Minister for Power and New And Renewable Energy (MNRE) R.K. Singh told the Rajya Sabha in April 2022 that seven large hydel projects with a total capacity of 3,157 MW were being constructed in the northeast. They are part of projects across the country with a yield of 12,663.5 MW that are currently in development. The Union Minister also stated that the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) had approved Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for an additional 29 projects with an aggregate installed capacity of 22,768 MW. However, these projects were yet to be started due to “various reasons”. Seventeen of these projects, with a capacity of 16,715 MW, are located in the northeast. Projects with capacity of 25 MW or below, classified as small hydro, are estimated to have a potential of 21,133 MW from 7,133 sites in India, as found by the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee in its Small Hydro Database of 2016 and cited by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The northeast region’s small hydro potential is estimated at 3,261.49 MW, says the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), a Government of India enterprise, on its website. Of this, 2,064.92 MW would be produced in Arunachal Pradesh alone, the Ministry of Development of North-East Region told Parliament in April 2022. Additionally, there are several large and small hydel projects--operational and proposed--in West Bengal’s Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts that are not part of numbers for the northeast. Of the potential power generation of 3,261.49 MW from small hydel projects in the northeast (excluding West Bengal), just about 338.46 MW of energy capacity had been installed, as of April 2022. Why small hydel power projects are easier to push than large projects Hydro projects under 25 MW enjoy a free hand because it is believed that among the various methods of harnessing water energy, Small Hydropower projects (SHPs) have the least negative impact on the environment. These projects were eligible for subsidies from MNRE till 2017, and the Union government is reportedly planning to launch similar schemes again. “At a local level, small hydro and micro hydel power plants provide power to local village communities located in remote areas where national grid infrastructure is inadequate, such as in the northeast. Access to power in these areas is critical to support socioeconomic development,” says a 2017 MNRE report. The report adds, “at the national level, the two main benefits that accrue from an SHP plant are stable source of clean power and employment. Apart from these, one major positive externality is development of infrastructure such as roads and improved accessibility in remote rural areas.” As we have reported earlier, the Indian government has placed small hydel projects in the ‘White Category’ industrial sector which is “practically non-polluting”. They are looked after by the MNRE and are exempted from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006 and as a result, do not require a legally binding environmental clearance. Additionally, SHPs in India have reportedly been highly successful in obtaining carbon emission reduction credits (CER) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). These credits are then sold to industrialised countries so they can meet a part of their emission reduction target. All these make small hydel projects a lucrative initiative and a part of India’s renewables goals. But small hydropower projects have environmental, human costs Media reports, research and experiences of affected people elsewhere suggest that SHPs can pose significant threats as well. The first issue with these projects in India is the country’s arbitrary limit of 25 MW. In 1989, hydro power plants with capacity up to 3 MW were handed over to MNRE from the Ministry of Power. Later in 1999, MNRE was entrusted with hydro projects of capacity up to 25 MW. The term “small hydro” does not have a universally accepted definition. As per the UNFCCC, the capacity of a “small” hydro power plant typically ranges from 1 MW to 50 MW internationally. Projects with a capacity between 100 kW and 1 MW are sometimes referred to as “mini” hydro, while those with a capacity of less than 100 kW are called “micro” hydro. “Installed capacity, however, is not always a good indicator of the size of a project. For example, a 20 MW, low-head “small” hydro plant is anything but small as low-head projects generally use much larger volumes of water and require larger turbines as compared with high-head projects,” the UNFCCC said in 2001. As a result, without any strict regulation for hydro power plants under 25 MW, the adverse socio-economic, cultural and ecological impacts of such projects are often ignored in India, as is being done in Darjeeling district’s Bijanbari and Pulbaza, as we reported in the first part of this series Further, stakeholder consultation with local communities is a prerequisite for projects registered under CDM, but small hydro developers hardly bother, research shows. A 2017 paper published in AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, which studied SHPs in India’s Western Ghats and surveyed local affected communities, found that public hearings did not take place and locals “were neither informed nor consulted prior to dam construction”. “About 47% of the respondents were unaware that their panchayat had awarded No Objection Certificates for the dams to be built,” the paper found. “Many respondents (31.5%), including four panchayat members, admitted that the process of SHPs seeking panchayat permission was pretence, driven largely by bribes and political pressures, rather than the intent to improve social welfare and livelihoods.” Media reports have also highlighted this issue. The local population in northeastern states has opposed large and small hydel projects alike, citing their impact on local indigenous communities, as well their environmental impacts. Reporting finds that northeast India has been wrecked by large-scale construction of hydel projects, with indigenous riparian and hilly communities suffering the most from the resulting floods, landslides and earthquakes. India’s hydel push in the region has also led to homelessness and migration. Regulated or not, hydro projects have the potential to wreak havoc in the northeast Northeast India is rich in biodiversity and serves as a habitat for a significant population of wildlife such as rhinos, elephants, tigers, Gangetic river dolphins, etc. The region, home to scores of indigenous communities who form a substantial part of the population, falls under the high-risk category of Seismic Zone 5. Darjeeling falls under Zone 4. Classifying the country’s various regions into seismic zones 1-5 is an activity carried out by the National Centre for Seismology, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Zone 5 is the highest classification, delineating those areas that are most at risk from high-intensity earthquakes. In his 2012 paper, Scope, Possibility and Risks in Hydropower Development in the North East Region of India, Sharad K. Jain, former NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited) Chair Professor at IIT Roorkee, argued for improving the living conditions of affected communities in the northeast by equitable distribution of hydel project benefits. He believes if local communities are informed about how hydro projects could help regions grow, such projects would get popular support. “Local and traditional knowledge of communities should be utilised in project planning, construction, and operation,” Jain wrote. To convince local communities who would be potentially affected by development activities to “trade off today’s certainties for tomorrow’s uncertainties”, far-reaching changes would be required “to mobilise their trust and involve the communities as partners in progress,” Jain added. But this has not happened so far. The former NEEPCO Chair Professor at IIT Roorkee says the government has developed several schemes to resolve the livelihood issue, but adds that they are not foolproof and despite best efforts, the authorities fail to satisfy everyone. “In most cases, people ask for jobs,” Jain said. “But there are very few jobs available in a hydro project site where locals could be engaged. To address this crisis, skill development schemes have been initiated where locals who lose their livelihoods for a project are taught different skills so they can find other work.” He says that mismanagement by on-ground officials who are in charge of vocational programmes and distributing compensations is seen in many cases across India, failing the government’s ideas and intentions. The 2017 paper about small hydro projects in the Western Ghats found that most people were not given the opportunity to work at the dam, even though dam developers had promised them jobs. Locals believed that due to their mass agitations demanding employment, and their vigilant behaviour in “reporting illegal activities undertaken by dam authorities”, they were not considered for jobs. The paper said that despite confirming local employment generation in their UNFCCC CDM’s project design document (PDD) form, “non-locals were perceived as preferred employees in working plants by all respondents, even for unskilled labour such as cleaning and maintenance”. A few locals were hired as temporary employees and were greatly underpaid. Shripad Dharmadhikary, an activist and founder of Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, a centre set up to research, analyse and monitor water and energy issues, says that at the sites of development projects such as hydro power initiatives and dams, people depending on common property resources are affected the most. “The government and project authorities provide cash compensation [jobs and resettlement] to those who have lost land and property,” Dharmadhikary says. “They don’t compensate people who depend on common property resources. In case of hydro projects, riparian communities lose access to rivers and are forced to look for alternative livelihood opportunities. “Also, people who receive cash compensation tend to spend it on personal things or on things that may not build any sustainable asset for his/her community. As a result, sites of these projects are reduced to having very little to offer its own people.” A 2010 paper, a chapter of which is available on the Tripura State Pollution Control Board’s website, critiqued the existing impact assessment system of hydro projects in the northeast on similar grounds. “The impact of dams on resources under common use (for example, pasture land), vital to the livelihoods of local communities, is also a major missing link in the impact assessment of projects,” wrote Neeraj Vagholikar, author of the chapter titled ‘Dams and Environmental Governance in Northeast India’. Vagholikar further wrote that mandatory norms require land use restrictions in the reservoir’s catchment area to reduce siltation and increase its lifespan. Additionally, legal mechanisms, such as compensatory afforestation, lead to other areas being taken up by the government and the consequent restriction of local communities to access those lands and resources. “However, in the existing planning and decision-making process, social and environmental impacts over the larger landscape due to various aspects are not assessed,” Vagholikar wrote. “This is therefore not reflected in the decision-making on the overall viability of the project.” He pointed out that the Indian government prioritises the techno-economic issues of a hydro project more. Ecological and cultural concerns As most of the large rivers in India are already dammed, there is an increasing focus on damming tributaries at higher altitudes, found a 2017 study by the Centre for Science and Environment. The critical impacts of small hydro projects are ecological, physical, and human-induced. Ecological impacts include effects on aquatic plants and animals. Physical impacts include changes in water quality, sediment-carrying capacity, erosion, groundwater quality and recharge, climate, soil, and geology. Human-induced impacts, because locals are forced to change their way of life after their land and resources are impacted by hydropower projects, include interference with drinking and agricultural water availability, solid waste generation, and socio-economic factors. The CSE study says that while a single SHP has less impact, the cumulative impact--the combined environmental effects of multiple projects in the same river basin--of multiple SHPs can be dangerous. For instance, the study says, 400 SHPs of 5 MW each can affect more tributaries than one large hydro power project of 2,000 MW. “The cumulative impact of SHP is not confined to the addition of multiple SHP projects in one area; the impact is also cumulative with many other development projects in terms of forest use and linear intrusion from roads and power lines,” the study points out. SHPs have a relative advantage over large hydro projects as they avoid issues such as “changes in landscape, rehabilitation and resettlement of project affected people, soil erosion, groundwater recharge, water quality, sediment transportation resulting from submergence of vast tracts of land and massive deforestation activities,” the CSE report says. But, it adds that deforestation still takes place due to project activities related to small hydropower plants, and that results in “increased soil erosion, disruption of local flora and fauna and disturbance of hill slopes.” The CSE study highlighted that the deposition of rubble, muck, and silt from construction and operations is a concern. Dumping sites are often in pristine forest areas where they should be forbidden. Not returning silt to the river can decrease nutrients downstream, vital for farming and fisheries. “[Small] hydro power turbines, dams and tunnels also have an impact on fish populations as many fish species migrate for spawning; this migration is effectively barred by dam constructions and dry riverbeds,” it says. Apart from the ecological concerns, hydel projects also threaten local cultural and traditional beliefs, says Dharmadhikary. Almost every development initiative in India tends to ignore the traditions and sentiments of indigenous and local communities associated with land, river and trees. “Local communities have very strong social, cultural and identity ties with rivers which get disrupted with the construction of dams and hydropower projects,” Dharmadhikary says.