The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India conducted a workshop cum training programme to strengthen the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in Sri Lanka. The first workshop was conducted in Colombo from 17 – 18 July 2023 at the CEA Auditorium. The second was held in Kandy from 20 to 21 July 2023.
मूसलाधार बारिश के कारण देश के कई हिस्सों में हालात खराब हैं और प्रभावित लोगों को तत्काल मदद की जरूरत है. दिल्ली में यमुना का जलस्तर एक बार फिर बढ़ रहा है तो वहीं गुजरात के दक्षिणी और सौराष्ट्र क्षेत्र में भारी मानसूनी बारिश ने कहर बरपाया हुआ है. इस बीच केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह (Home Minister Amit Shah) ने रविवार को गुजरात के मुख्यमंत्री भूपेन्द्र पटेल (Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel) और दिल्ली के उपराज्यपाल वीके सक्सेना से बात कर दोनों राज्यों में ताजा हालात और राहत एवं बचाव इंतजामों की जानकारी ली. गुजरात में शनिवार को दक्षिणी और सौराष्ट्र क्षेत्र के कई जिलों में भारी से बहुत भारी बारिश हुई, जिससे शहरी इलाकों में बाढ़ और जलभराव की स्थिति बन गई और कई गांव अलग-थलग पड़ गए. बांधों और नदियों में जल स्तर खतरनाक स्तर तक बढ़ गया है, जिससे प्रभावित समुदायों की सहायता के लिए तत्काल हस्तक्षेप की आवश्यकता है. केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह ने गुजरात के कुछ इलाकों में बाढ़ जैसी स्थिति पर चर्चा करने के लिए मुख्यमंत्री भूपेन्द्र पटेल से टेलीफोन पर बातचीत की. किस कारण से बन रही है मौसम की चरम स्थिति मुख्यमंत्री ने उन्हें वर्तमान स्थिति और हाल की भारी वर्षा के कारण राज्य के सामने आने वाली चुनौतियों से अवगत कराया. जवाब में, अमित शाह ने जरूरतमंद लोगों की सहायता के लिए पर्याप्त संख्या में राज्य आपदा प्रतिक्रिया बल (एसडीआरएफ) और राष्ट्रीय आपदा प्रतिक्रिया बल (एनडीआरएफ) टीमों की उपलब्धता का आश्वासन दिया है. भारत के कुछ हिस्सों में मौसम की चरम स्थिति का सामना करना पड़ रहा है, एक नजर इस बात पर है कि इसके क्या कारण हो सकते हैं. यमुना में फिर बढ़ा जलस्तर, दिल्ली में बाढ़ की संभावना इधर, दिल्ली में यमुना नदी में जल स्तर में वृद्धि देखी गई है, जो रविवार को एक बार फिर खतरे के निशान को पार कर गया. उत्तराखंड और हिमाचल प्रदेश के कुछ हिस्सों में भारी बारिश के कारण हथिनीकुंड बैराज से डिस्चार्ज में वृद्धि ने राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में बाढ़ की स्थिति को लेकर चिंताएं बढ़ा दी हैं. यमुना नदी में जल स्तर में संभावित वृद्धि से बाढ़ से प्रभावित निचले इलाकों में चल रहे राहत और पुनर्वास प्रयासों में बाधा आ सकती है. गृहमंत्री अमित शाह ने की एलजी वीके सक्सेना से चर्चा केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह ने यमुना नदी में जल स्तर की स्थिति का आकलन करने के लिए दिल्ली के उपराज्यपाल वीके सक्सेना के साथ चर्चा की. इसका उद्देश्य बढ़ते जल स्तर से उत्पन्न संभावित चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए रणनीति बनाना और पर्याप्त उपाय सुनिश्चित करना था. इसके अलावा, यह ध्यान दिया जाना चाहिए कि देश के कई अन्य क्षेत्रों में भी इस मौसम में मूसलाधार बारिश हो रही है. अभूतपूर्व बारिश के कारण कई क्षेत्रों में बाढ़ आ गई है, जिससे सामान्य जनजीवन बाधित हो गया है और संपत्ति और बुनियादी ढांचे को काफी नुकसान हुआ है. भारत में अत्यधिक बारिश का कारण क्या है? 10 जुलाई को आउटलुक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, उत्तर भारत ने दो सक्रिय मौसम प्रणालियों के प्रभाव का अनुभव किया है. ,इससे क्षेत्र में मौसम की महत्वपूर्ण घटनाएं हुईं हैं. भारतीय मौसम विज्ञान विभाग (IMD) के प्रमुख मृत्युंजय महापात्रा के अनुसार, एक मौसम प्रणाली राजस्थान से उत्तरी अरब सागर तक फैली एक ट्रफ थी, जो पश्चिमी विक्षोभ से जुड़ी थी. समवर्ती रूप से, मजबूत मानसून की स्थिति ने बंगाल की खाड़ी से उत्तर की ओर हवाएंं ला दीं. इन दोनों प्रणालियों का संगम जम्मू-कश्मीर और हिमाचल प्रदेश के आसपास हुआ. परिणामस्वरूप, इन क्षेत्रों को अरब सागर और बंगाल की खाड़ी दोनों से प्रचुर मात्रा में नमी प्राप्त हुई, जिससे असाधारण रूप से भारी वर्षा हुई. केदारनाथ में विनाशकारी बादल फटना जैसी घटना मृत्युंजय महापात्रा ने कहा कि दो मौसम प्रणालियों के बीच इस तरह की घटना असामान्य नहीं है और अक्सर चरम मौसम की घटनाओं से जुड़ी होती है. उन्होंने कहा कि ऐसा खासकर उत्तर पश्चिम भारत के पहाड़ी क्षेत्रों में होता रहता है. उन्होंने जून 2013 के मध्य में हुई एक पुरानी घटना का उदाहरण का हवाला दिया, जहां एक पश्चिमी विक्षोभ ने बंगाल की खाड़ी में कम दबाव प्रणाली से उत्तर की ओर नमी खींची थी. इसके कारण मानसून पूरे देश में रिकॉर्ड गति से (16 जून तक) पहुंच गया और इसके परिणामस्वरूप विनाशकारी बारिश हुई, जिसमें उत्तराखंड के केदारनाथ में विनाशकारी बादल फटना भी शामिल था. मृत्युंजय महापात्रा ने बताया कि पर्वतीय क्षेत्र विशेष रूप से ऐसे संगमों के दौरान भारी वर्षा के लिए अतिसंवेदनशील होते हैं क्योंकि हवाएँ पहाड़ियों से टकराती हैं और ऊपर उठने के लिए मजबूर होती हैं, जिससे तीव्र वर्षा होती है. ऐसी चरम मौसमी घटनाओं की बढ़ने की संभावना यूके में यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ रीडिंग के कीरन एम आर हंट, जिन्होंने भारत में एक रिसर्च स्टडी का नेतृत्व का किया. मृत्युंजय महापात्रा ने बताया गर्म होती दुनिया में इन संगमों के कारण होने वाली वर्षा की तीव्रता बढ़ सकती है. हालांकि इन अंतःक्रियाओं की आवृत्ति स्पष्ट प्रवृत्ति नहीं दिखा सकती है, किरन एम आर हंट ने बताया कि जब वे घटित होते हैं, तो उनके अत्यधिक वर्षा और बाढ़ से जुड़े होने की संभावना बढ़ जाती है. ऐसा माना जा सकता है कि दो सक्रिय मौसम प्रणालियों के अभिसरण से प्रभावित उत्तर भारत में हालिया मौसम पैटर्न के परिणामस्वरूप क्षेत्र में भारी वर्षा और महत्वपूर्ण मौसम घटनाएं हुई हैं. भविष्य में गर्म होती जलवायु में ऐसी चरम मौसमी घटनाओं की संभावना बढ़ सकती है. जलवायु परिवर्तन – चरम मौसम की घटनाएं होंगी बार- बार सीएनएन की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, वैज्ञानिकों ने सख्त चेतावनी जारी की है कि मानवीय गतिविधियों के कारण बढ़ते जलवायु संकट के कारण चरम मौसम की घटनाएं अधिक बार और तीव्र हो जाएंगी. विश्व मौसम विज्ञान संगठन के वार्षिक जलवायु अपडेट ने अगले 5 वर्षों के भीतर एक महत्वपूर्ण जलवायु सीमा को पार करने की संभावना पर प्रकाश डाला क्योंकि वैश्विक तापमान पूर्व-औद्योगिक स्तरों से ऊपर बढ़ना जारी है. एशिया जलवायु परिवर्तन के परिणामों के प्रति अत्यधिक संवेदनशील रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि लगभग 4.4 अरब लोगों की विशाल आबादी वाला एशिया जलवायु परिवर्तन के परिणामों के प्रति अत्यधिक संवेदनशील है. क्षेत्र में चरम मौसम की हालिया घटनाओं के परिणामस्वरूप पानी की कमी, फसल की विफलता और आर्थिक असफलताएँ हुई हैं. पाकिस्तान में पिछले साल विनाशकारी बाढ़ आई, जिसमें 1,700 से अधिक लोगों की जान चली गई और लाखों लोग विस्थापित हुए. देश इस समय दशकों के सबसे खराब आर्थिक संकट से जूझ रहा है, जो पिछले साल की फसल के नष्ट होने से उत्पन्न मुद्रास्फीति के कारण और भी बदतर हो गया है. भारत भी जलवायु संकट से प्रभावित इंटरगवर्नमेंटल पैनल ऑन क्लाइमेट चेंज (आईपीसीसी) के अनुसार, भारत जलवायु संकट से गंभीर रूप से प्रभावित होने वाले देशों में से एक है, जिससे देशभर में 1.4 अरब लोग प्रभावित हो सकते हैं. देश को हाल ही में कुछ क्षेत्रों में भीषण गर्मी और अन्य में भीषण बाढ़ का सामना करना पड़ा है, जिससे महत्वपूर्ण व्यवधान पैदा हुए और लोगों को अपने घरों से भागने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ा. वार्षिक गंभीर बाढ़ और भूस्खलन से लाखों लोग पलायन को मजबूर रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि मानसून के मौसम के दौरान ऐसी चरम स्थितियों के प्रति भारत की संवेदनशीलता स्पष्ट होती है, जो वार्षिक गंभीर बाढ़ और भूस्खलन लाती है. असम जैसे राज्य, जहां की आबादी 31 मिलियन से अधिक है, इन घटनाओं के दौरान अत्यधिक पीड़ित होते हैं. बाढ़ के पानी ने सैकड़ों-हजारों लोगों को प्रभावित किया है, जिससे पलायन हुआ है और जीवन की दुखद हानि हुई है. जलवायु परिवर्तन के सबसे कमजोर शिकार है गरीब लोग भारत में चरम मौसम की घटनाओं का प्रतिकूल प्रभाव विशेष रूप से देश के गरीबों द्वारा महसूस किया जाता है, जिसमें शहरी मलिन बस्तियों में रहने वाले लगभग 472 मिलियन लोग भी शामिल हैं, जैसा कि विश्व बैंक ने रेखांकित किया है. प्रसिद्ध भारतीय पर्यावरणविद् सुनीता नारायण ने इस बात पर जोर दिया कि गरीब, हालांकि जलवायु समस्या पैदा करने के लिए जिम्मेदार नहीं हैं, लेकिन जलवायु परिवर्तन के सबसे कमजोर शिकार हैं.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in national capital region and adjoining areas (CAQM) has fixed deadlines for NCR states to ensure that buses shift to cleaner fuels to reduce vehicular pollution. From November 1 this year, all buses originating from NCR districts in the respective states and plying to Delhi should be EV or CNG mode or diesel VI vehicle.Track the pollution level in your city The CAQM's July 19 order says that governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh must target to achieve that all buses originating or terminating in NCR to run only on CNG or EV mode by June 30, 2026. The CAQM also directed them to plan for substantial number of buses originating or terminating in NCR in EV mode by June 30, 2028. According to source apportionment study carried out by The Energy and Resources Institute and Automotive Research Association of India in 2018, the contribution of transport to PM2.5 in Delhi's air is 39% and NCR's air is 13%, and 19% to Delhi's and 7% to NCR's PM10, respectively. "Transport sector's high contribution to the overall air pollution load in the entire NCR... needs no emphasis. Efficient and cleaner inter-city and intra-city public transport within NCR would help to abate air pollution from this sector," said the CAQM in its order. For reducing vehicular pollution, the CAQM had conducted meeting with the officials of Delhi and NCR states for developing detailed action plan for shifting to cleaner bus services. Following this, governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and UP have formulated their respective action plans to replace or relocate BS-III and BS-IV diesel operated buses in a phased manner. "Haryana plans to procure 1313 new BS-VI diesel buses during 2023-24 for replacement of old buses identified for condemnation and as replacement of older BS-III/IV buses, which are planned to be relocated to the non-NCR bus depots. Rajasthan informed about the RSRTC's plan to procure 590 new BS-VI buses during the year besides outsourcing the services of 440 BS-VI category buses to transform the entire bus fleet running in the NCR to cleaner mobility options," said the CAQM order. It added that UP government plans to induct 955 new BS-VI diesel buses in next 3-4 years to replace BS-III/IV diesel buses, prioritising those operating in NCR. Delhi has also informed that procurement of CNG buses and EVs is underway as per its EV Policy, said the order. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "While CNG programme is already underway, it is important to give an enforceable target for rapid electrification of the bus fleet to make urban commuting near zero emission in the region. This needs to be further supported by strategies to increase bus ridership to maximise air quality gains."
जयपुर। महिला अधिकारिता निदेशालय द्वारा राजस्थान प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एनवायरनमेंट, नई दिल्ली के संयुक्त तत्वाधान और यूएनएफपीए के सहयोग से गुरुवार को वानिकी प्रशिक्षण संस्थान में सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्यस्तरीय नीति के ड्राफ्ट को अंतिम रूप दिये जाने हेतु कार्यशाला का आयोजन किया गया। कार्यशाला में महिला एवं बाल विकास सचिव जीतेंद्र उपाध्याय ने कहा कि कार्यशाला का मुख्य उद्देश्य महिलाओं और किशोरियों द्वारा प्रयुक्त सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण और सुझावों पर विभिन्न तरीकों और स्थितिओ पर चर्चा करना है। इसी क्रम में सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण पर बने हुए प्रारूप पर चर्चा कर राज्य स्तरीय नीति बनाई जाएगी। उन्होंने कहा कि आई एम शक्ति उड़ान योजना के तहत सैनेटरी नैपकिन के पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण करने हेतु कारगर उपाय खोजना एक चुनौती है जिसके समाधान के लिए महिला एवं बाल विकास विभाग कार्य कर रहा है। आयुक्त महिला अधिकारिता रेणु जयपाल ने बताया कि सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और वातावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण करने के उपायों पर मंथन करने के लिये विभाग विषेषज्ञों के साथ कार्यशालाओं का आयोजन करता है। उन्होने बताया कि इस कार्यशाला से पूर्व भी कई कार्यशालाएं आयोजित की जा चुकी हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि इस कार्यशाला का मुख्य उद्देष्य माहवारी स्वास्थ्य और स्वच्छता प्रबंधन परियोजना के तहत सेनेटरी नैपकिन के वितरण और जागरूकता के घटक को मजबूत करना तथा सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्यस्तरीय नीति के ड्राफ्ट को अंतिम रूप दिये जाना है। कार्यशाला में प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल के वरिष्ठ पर्यावरण अभियंता शशि गुप्ता और भानुप्रिया ने कहा कि सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्यस्तरीय नीति में प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल के दिशा निर्देशों की पालना की जाए। उन्होंने कहा कि आवश्यकता पड़ने पर प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल की ओर से इस हेतु अलग से गाइडलाइन जारी की जाएगी। सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और वातावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्य स्तरीय नीति की रूपरेखा पर तृषा पारीक, यूथ एण्ड जेण्डर स्पेषलिस्ट यूएनएफपीए तथा अंतरा त्रिवेदी कंसलटेंट यूएनएफपीए तथा सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और वातावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्य स्तरीय नीति के प्रारूप पर डॉ. अतिन बिस्वास प्रोग्राम निदेषक, सेन्टर फॉर साइंस एनवायरनमेंट, न्यू दिल्ली ने प्रस्तुतिकरण दिया। वहीं सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण के प्रचलित तरिके पर किरण सिन्हा, प्रोजेक्ट को-ऑर्डिनेटर, सेन्टर फॉर एडवोकेसी रिसर्च तथा सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण के इनोवेटिव तरीके पर मनीष माथुर, फाउन्डर ब्लू मैंगों टेक्नोलॉजीज प्राइवेट लिमिटेड तथा संजीव पांडे, निदेषक, ब्लू मैंगों टेक्नोलॉजीज प्राइवेट लिमिटेड ने प्रस्तुतिकरण दिया। सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण के इनोवेटिव तरीके पर प्रवीण कुमार शुक्ला, सहायक महाप्रबंधक, टेलीकम्युनिकेषन कंसलटेंट इंडिया लिमिटेड द्वारा संबोधित किया गया।
Jaipur: A policy for safe and environment-friendly disposal of sanitary napkins will be ready by next month, said officials from the women and child department on Thursday after a state level workshop to discuss the draft. The workshop was conducted by the directorate of women empowerment along with Rajasthan Pollution Control Board (RPCB), Center for Science and Environment, New Delhi and UNFPA. Jitendra Upadhyay, secretary for women and child development said, “The main objective of the workshop is to discuss various methods and conditions on the safe disposal and suggestions of sanitary napkins used by women and adolescent girls. A state level policy will be made after discussing the draft. Finding an effective solution for eco-friendly disposal of sanitary napkins under the IM Shakti Udaan scheme is a challenge for which the department is working.” This was the fourth workshop organised by the department to discuss the policy and officials said that with all the suggestions received, the policy will now be finalised. Renu Jaipal, commissioner women empowerment department said, “The main objective of this workshop is to strengthen the distribution and awareness component of sanitary napkins under the menstrual health and hygiene management project and to finalize the draft state level policy for safe and eco-friendly disposal of sanitary napkins.”
India’s potential to produce bioenergy from surplus crop residue is lower than previously estimated, claims a study. It suggests a potential of 1313 petajoules (PJ) (1 PJ= 277778 MWh) of bioenergy annually, lower than earlier estimates ranging from 1738 to 4150 PJ. However, the study provides valuable insights into the district and crop-specific bioenergy potential, which can help the country better plan and utilise the available resource. The study conducted across India and supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), noted prevalent burning of crop residue, which is the material left behind after harvest, of crops such as rice, wheat, sugarcane, maize, millets, groundnut, oilseed, cotton and banana. Crop residue burning is an easy, low-cost way to dispose of residue. However, crop residue burning leads to pollutant emissions and can instead be targeted as a bioenergy resource, indicates the study. Sixteen institutes, including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and others, collaborated on this study where researchers used the bottom-up approach (starting with a ground survey) of country-wide surveys to estimate the quantity of surplus crop residue being burned on the field. They used primary survey data from over 43 representative districts and secondary data related to cattle numbers, socio-economic variables, and satellite-derived information. Based on the finding, researchers created a model to extrapolate it to all 735 districts of India, reflecting both location-specific variability and seasonal availability. The paper claims that the research findings are important for effectively utilising surplus biomass towards producing bio-energy while also controlling stubble burning to prevent air pollution. The study estimates large bioenergy potentials from surplus residues in the districts of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, central/western regions of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. As per the study, rice (28%) and wheat (29%) are the largest contributors to surplus energy potential, followed by sugarcane (13%). The study indicates the months when bioenergy becomes available in each state. Most of the residue availability coincides with the rabi (March-May) and kharif (October–November) harvest periods. Some residues (such as sugarcane and banana) are available between December and February. Bioenergy availability is low in the country’s monsoon months (June–September). Information on location, season and crop-specific biomass availability, provided by the study, could help overcome bottlenecks in the use of crop residue as a bioenergy resource in India. Unlocking the potential Biomass, a renewable energy source, is carbon neutral and has the potential to provide significant employment in rural areas, notes the study. The use of crop residue as a bio-energy resource helps achieve emission reduction targets which in turn improves air quality. Bioenergy can be harnessed in various forms, such as co firing in coal power plants, independent thermal power plants (TPPs), combustion in cogeneration in sugar industries, biogas and bioethanol. Despite the multiple benefits of biomass utilisation and the multitude of policy interventions, incidents of stubble burning have not been reduced significantly. Although the government reported around a 30% decline in stubble-burning incidents during the kharif season, experts questioned the use of satellite data alone to give a clear picture of the change on the ground compared to last year. Speaking to Mongabay India, Taveen S. Kapoor from IIT-Bombay, one of the lead authors of the study, said that farmers burn crop residue due to lack of utilisation, high expenses in removing the residue and transportation. There is presently no monetary value attached to the residues, which makes residue collection and transportation for using crop residue as a bioenergy resource, expensive. A separate study conducted by the New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) underlines the low usage of agro-residue (crop residue) and finds that not even 1% of the coal consumed yearly has been replaced with agro-residue in the eleven coal-based thermal power plants in the National Capital Region (NCR). The Ministry of Power (MoP) mandates thermal power plants to use 7% biomass pellets (densified form of farm stubble) along with coal. This is when surplus residue is sufficient to meet the present mandate. “Our study shows that the present surplus can provide approximately 8% of the energy needs in the power plants. This will compel the system to find innovative solutions for the collection and transportation problems to reduce costs,” says Kapoor. The research also suggests that the surplus use of biomass for co firing in TPPs is presently limited because of high transportation costs, highlighting the importance of setting up plants for other technologies, such as biogas and bioethanol, closer to crop residue sources. Kapoor believes that using the surplus crop residue in situ or near the generation of biogas/biofuel production plants is likely the best bet. Biogas/biofuel production plants can be set up to take residues from a cluster of villages. The produced fuels can be consumed within the villages, especially the biogas that can replace biomass-based cooking. Both ethanol and biogas can be blended with petrol and CNG, respectively. To ensure that TPPs use the mandatory blending of biomass pellets, the MoEFCC, on July 14, issued a notification to enforce penalties on power plants that do not adhere to the mandatory blending rule. Addressing the gap In the last decade, the union government has developed several policies to effectively utilise surplus biomass, especially to control stubble burning. In November 2014, the Ministry of Agriculture came up with the National Policy for Management for Crop Residue (NPMCR). In January 2019, the MoEFCC launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem nationwide. The NCAP identified agriculture crop residue burning in the Indo-Gangetic Plains as one major reason for air pollution. On October 8, 2021, the MoP issued the revised biomass policy mandating all TPPs in the country to use 5-7% of biomass pellets to cofire with coal. Apart from the MoP, the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also directed TPPs located within 300 km of Delhi to initiate cofiring biomass-based pellets to curb air pollution from burning paddy straw. However, these efforts have not been able to push the usage of biomass. Responding to the slow progress, Aggarwal further explains that the supply chain of agri-biomass is extremely tricky and difficult to scale up. All stakeholders (MOP, CAAQM, MoEFCC) are working together and came up with the SAMARTH (Sustainable Agrarian Mission on Use of Agri-Residue in Thermal Power Plants) portal in 2021. But there is a lack of coordination among authorities. TPPs and pellet manufacturers have their own stories to tell and blame each other. Several factors affect the utilisation of surplus crop residue – seasonal availability, quality issues, logistics, a gap in demand and supply of biomass pellets, and the price of biomass pellets almost double domestic coal. Recognising the multiple issues stakeholders face, MoP revised the Biomass Cofiring Policy in June 2023 to enable the purchase of biomass pellets by Power Plants at benchmark prices. The decision would encourage farmers, entrepreneurs, and thermal power utilities to strive to establish a sustainable biomass supply chain. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in its notification dated June 28, also introduced biomass-based production of green hydrogen target of 40,000 MT/annum under the incentive scheme of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Anubha Aggarwal, Programme Officer at the Industrial Pollution Unit at CSE, says it makes sense to use surplus biomass instead of coal, as the calorific value of biomass pellets is comparable to coal (when used in TPPs). It can also replace coal in other states, like the Delhi-NCR region, where a lot of industry has shifted to biomass fuel in different forms. Aggarwal sees biomass not being quantified for multiple uses, such as TPPs, bio-CNG, bioethanol, and hydrogen, as one major bottleneck. “We are rampantly increasing our capacity for manufacturing pellets, bio-CNG, and bioethanol, without a clear idea of demand and surplus biomass availability in a region,” she says. Regarding the latest research from IIT and other institutes, Kapoor further informs that better planning of crop residue management will also generate employment for the village residents and organic fertilisers as a by-product for local farms. Biogas plants can also use other materials such as cow dung, municipal solid waste, and food processing waste, which ensures a steady supply of raw material.
My friend and professional colleague, Danielle Nierenberg of Food Tank, wrote in to share the following set of books with us. You surely will find them useful, what with the recent declaration of state of emergency on food security by Mr. President: Dear Siaka, Four times a year, we will be handpicking a selection of books (mostly newer editions, but several oldies) that have recently educated, inspired, and informed Food Tank. Below are Food Tank’s “must read” for those who are passionate about a more sustainable food system! From practical tips on sustainable agriculture on a warming planet to insight on how to make jam, these reads will provide plenty of food for thought. These books are listed in alphabetical order: 1. 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World by Howard G Buffett with Howard W. Buffett and Forward by Warren E. Buffett Howard G. Buffett, son of business tycoon, Warren Buffett, primarily identifies as a farmer. In 2006, given the opportunity to head his own philanthropic foundation, Howard G. Buffett embarked on a battle to fight food scarcity in the U.S., along with worldwide hunger. His book contains 40 stories from around the globe highlighting his endeavors to help those who lack food security. A 66 square foot terrace in Brooklyn may not seem like a lot, but Marie Viljoen has drawn enough inspiration from her tiny rooftop garden to create a popular blog and compose a heartfelt book about it. Complete with astounding garden photography and delicious recipes, this book is sure to inspire anyone interested in seasonal eating and growing their own food. 3. Blessing the Hands that Feed Us: What Eating Closer to Home Can Teach Us About Food, Community, and Our Place on Earth by Vicki Robin Vicki Robin chronicles her month-long endeavor to eat food solely from within ten miles of her Whidbey Island, Washington home. Reflecting upon her experiment of living as a locavore, the book features lessons on food and farming–interspersed with recipes and tips on how to lead a more sustainable life. 4. Cows Save the Planet: And Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth by Judith Schwartz with Forward by Gretel Ehrlich Cows Save the Planet takes a “soil’s-eye view” of the problems currently facing the environment. Using soil as her springboard, Schwartz argues that for all the dire issues facing the planet, there is still hope for a bright future. This book is sure to uplift even those most despondent over global warming and the diminishing health of the planet. 5. Eat Drink Vote: An Illustrated Guide to Food Politics by Marion Nestle Eat Drink Vote presents over 250 cartoons illustrating the complex connections between politics and food choice. Nestle collaborates with The Cartoonist Group to use humorous illustrations to simply explain the complicated intricacies of the food system. 6. First Food: A Taste of India’s Biodiversity by Sunita Narain and Vibha Varshney The Centre for Science and the Environment’s Sunita Narain and Vibha Varshney come together to present a delicious look at India’s indigenous food. Food First is a cookbook featuring 100 recipes that showcase the immense biodiversity found throughout India. 7. Food DIY: How to Make Your Own Everything: Sausages to Smoked Salmon, Sourdough to Sloe Gin, Bacon to Buns by Tim Hayward For anyone who has ever wondered about how to make his or her own bacon, Tim Hayward shows the way. Simple instructions paired with stunning photographs and illustrations make this an indispensable do-it-yourself guide for those with an interest in learning to make their own food. 8. Food Policy in the United States: An Introduction by Parke Wilde Food Policy in the United States is a textbook for anyone interested in increasing his or her knowledge within the complex field of U.S. food policy. Agricultural economist Parke Wilde discusses the essential topics from international agricultural trade to food labeling. 9. From the Ground Up: A Food Grower’s Education in Life, Love, and the Movement That’s Changing the Nation by Jeanne Nolan with Forward by Alice Waters Jeanne Nolan’s book presents her astounding memoir paired with a practical guide to organic farming. From the Ground Up demonstrates the benefits of sustainable agriculture for people, communities and the planet. Anyone interested in the food movement or just keen on growing their own food will delight in Nolan’s exhilarating adventure creating edible gardens across Chicago. 10. Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers’ Markets, Local Food and Saving the Family Farm by Forest Pritchard with Forward by Joel Salatin Forest Pritchard’s memoir about saving his family farm highlights the real cost of industrial farming. The tale brings the reader along a hilariously moving path toward the future of family farming, illustrating the importance of sustainable agriculture along the way.
À quarta edição, o Prémio Gulbenkian para a Humanidade distinguiu três projetos distintos, que têm em comum o ativismo ambiental. Os vencedores foram conhecidos esta quarta-feira, em cerimónia presidida por Angela Merkel No Bornéu, a comunidade Dayak Iban acredita que a terra é mãe, a floresta pai e a água o sangue de homens e animais. Bandi "Apai Janggut", líder tradicional da comunidade indígena Dayak Iban Sungai Utik Long House, situada na floresta tropical de Kalimantan, explica assim aos jornalistas portugueses o porquê de ser conhecido como o "guardião" da floresta de Sungai Utik. Um trabalho que, nos últimos 40 anos, o tem levado a combater o desmatamento ilegal, a produção de óleo de palma e os interesses corporativos envolvidos nestas e noutras indústrias que primam pelas más práticas contra o ambiente e a qualidade de vida das populações. Bandi é um dos três vencedores da quarta edição do Prémio Gulbenkian para a Humanidade, anunciados esta 4ª feira na sede da Fundação pela antiga chanceler alemã, Angela Merkel, na qualidade de presidente do júri que atribuiu estas distinções. As outras premiadas são Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet, oriunda dos Camarões, que, ao longo dos últimos 30 anos, tem vindo a apostar na igualdade de género e no direito das comunidades à floresta e aos seus recursos naturais, e a brasileira Lélia Wanick Salgado, ambientalista, designer e cenógrafa brasileira, que, ao lado do marido, o fotógrafo mundialmente conhecido Sebastião Salgado, criou o Instituto Terra e centra a sua atividade de recuperação ambiental na região do Estado de Minas Gerais. Na cerimónia de anúncio e entrega dos prémios, em que participaram, entre outras individualidades, o Presidente da República, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, e o primeiro ministro, António Costa, Ângela Merkel, pela segunda vez presidente do júri deste Prémio, admitiu "estar positivamente impressionada com a diversidade de candidaturas submetidas", que atingiu o maior número de sempre: 143, de 55 países. Para a antiga chanceler alemã é também de saudar o facto da maior parte dessas candidaturas serem originárias do Sul global, "o que é um sinal encorajador, já que esta é a região do mundo mais afetada pelas alterações climáticas e também a que contribuiu menos para esta situação, "sofrendo alterações dramáticas nas condições de vida das populações, nomeadamente das mais carenciadas". Para Merkel "importa encorajar esta atitude de não conformismo. Estas pessoas são exemplo e inspiração para muitas outras em todo o mundo." Também Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, que considerou o Prémio Gulbenkian um prémio cheio de "visão de futuro", sublinhou a importância de premiar "projetos oriundos do hemisfério sul e de três continentes diferentes". Em nome da Gulbenkian, António Feijó, seu presidente, aproveitou a ocasião para reafirmar a intenção institucional de apostar cada vez mais em "projetos de envolvimento das populações com a preservação ambiental e dos oceanos", dizendo que, dado o ponto crítico a que chegámos, importa "assumir a obrigação moral de ser inteligente." Para Bandi "Apai Janggut" o Prémio Gulbenkian marca o reconhecimento internacional de quase meio século de luta, que, em 2020, conseguiu que o governo indonésio concedesse finalmente o direito de propriedade de 9 500 hectares de terra à comunidade Dayak Iban, que, nos últimos anos, foi também reconhecida como protetora do ambiente com o Equator Prize das Nações Unidas. Em declarações aos jornalistas, o premiado explicou a relevância da sua causa: "Estamos a preservar algo que já nos foi dado pelos nossos antepassados e que queremos legar tão bem quanto possível aos nossos descendentes. A Terra é fonte de vida mas o respeito por ela faz também parte da nossa cultura. Honrá-la é como honrar os nossos pais." Não se trata apenas de belas palavras. Bandi acredita que a chave para o futuro está na educação e na formação para a sustentabilidade: "O valor deste prémio será investido na capacitação de recursos humanos para esta missão de preservar a natureza. Temos o projeto de investir no Eco-turismo, mas de forma equilibrada e sustentável que se harmonize com o nosso ecossistema." Esta visão está próxima da da brasileira Lélia Wanick Salgado, para quem o interesse pela Arte e pela Fotografia em particular (como curadora, editora e cenógrafa) foi sempre acompanhado pelo ativismo ambiental. No final dos anos 1990, Lélia e Sebastião Salgado criaram o Instituto Terra, uma organização não governamental dedicada à reflorestação, conservação e educação ambiental no Vale do Rio Doce, em Minas Gerais. Entre outras "missões", esta instituição, localizada na floresta tropical da Mata Atlântica, já plantou quase três milhões de árvores e tornou-se uma referência mundial em termos de restauro dos ecossistemas e de recuperação e preservação ambientais. Em conversa com o DN, Lélia explica como tudo começou: "Foi numa fazenda que é do meu marido, na fronteira com o Espírito Santo, no vale Rio Doce. Este é um vale enorme, quase do tamanho de Portugal. Está muito degradado, a tal ponto que o rio Doce é o mais açoreado do Brasil. O terreno à volta, que é muito montanhoso, foi desmatado e, quando chove, as terras deslizam livremente para os riachos, enchendo-os de todo o tipo de detritos." Se a isto acrescentarmos o facto deste vale ser também um grande produtor de aço e minério de ferro, então compreenderemos o nível de poluição a que se chegou. A esta triste realidade, o Instituto Terra opõe o investimento na reflorestação. Em menos de 25 anos de atividade, conta Lélia, "já plantámos quase três milhões de plantas, de 300 espécies representativas da mata atlântica. Nós temos aquilo a que eu chamo uma floresta criança. Os animais estão a voltar, o que significa que a cadeia alimentar está a ser reposta, o que é um ótimo sinal." No âmbito deste trabalho, está também a ser desenvolvido um laboratório de plantas e um grande viveiro com capacidade para 500 mil espécies." Agora estamos a fazer o enriquecimento com espécies perenes.", conta Lélia. Complementar do investimento na reflorestação é o projeto de recuperação das nascentes de água: "Já recuperámos as da nossa fazenda, agora vamos recuperar as que estão em redor. No Instituto temos um programa em que os proprietários rurais se inscrevem e nós mandamos pessoas e material para os ajudar. Para o conseguirmos fazer temos que cercar a área da nascente para o gado não pisar e não comer as plantinhas novas." Aos inscritos neste programa, também são fornecidos meios para tratar as águas domésticas de modo a que elas não contaminem as nascentes. O prémio Gulbenkian, afirma a ativista, vai juntar-se ao fundo que o Instituto Terra tem vindo a criar, quer graças ao apoio do Ministério alemão para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento, quer com leilões de obras de arte doadas por amigos do projeto, na Sotheby's de Nova Iorque. No outro lado do Atlântico, nos Camarões, está outra premiada desta edição de 2023, Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet, que assim vê reconhecidos os seus esforços pela igualdade de género e o direito das comunidades à floresta e aos seus recursos naturais. A sua atuação tem vindo a conduzir ao restauro de mais de 600 hectares de terra em estado de degradação. Em 2021, integrou o Conselho Consultivo da UN Decade on Ecossystem Restauration. Em 2022, foi considerada Champion of the Earth for Inspiration and Action pelo Programa das Nações Unidas para o Ambiente e recebeu o prémio Wangari Maathai Forest Champions do Collaborative Partnership of Forests. Em simultâneo, tem liderado os esforços para influenciar políticas de igualdade de género na gestão das florestas em 20 países africanos. É também membro ativo da UN Women Major Group e uma reconhecida advogada para o direito das mulheres à terra em várias redes globais. O seu trabalho inclui a mobilização das mulheres que, em zonas rurais, se dedicam ao restauro dos mangais, ao longo da costa dos Camarões. "O nosso principal desafio - conta-nos - é influenciar as políticas relacionadas com direitos das mulheres, ao mesmo tempo que procuramos mostrar aos deputados quão grande é ainda o gap entre as políticas oficiais, a legislação e a realidade dos comportamentos que ainda existem nas comunidades". Céline tem, pois, de diversificar a ação consoante os destinatários sejam nacionais ou locais, interpelando também famílias e chefes de aldeia. "Se estamos a falar de racionalizar o uso dos recursos naturais, então as mulheres são interlocutores chave neste processo. Basta pensarmos que, em 80% dos casos, são elas que tratam de fornecer alimentação às suas famílias. É na educação delas que temos de investir antes de mais." Céline está ciente, no entanto, dos obstáculos colocados por uma sociedade persistentemente patriarcal: "O futuro dos recursos naturais passa sobretudo pelas práticas das mulheres mas elas não têm acesso a qualquer financiamento para desenvolver ideias ou medidas. Nem sequer têm acesso à Educação em igualdade de circunstâncias com os homens." O Prémio Gulbenkian para a Humanidade, no valor de um milhão de euros, distingue pessoas ou organizações que contribuem com a sua liderança para enfrentar os grandes desafios atuais da humanidade: as alterações climáticas e a perda de biodiversidade. Presidido pela ex-chanceler alemã, Angela Merkel, o júri que escolheu os premiados deste ano foi composto pelo português Miguel Bastos Araújo, professor Investigador no Museu Nacional de Ciências Naturais, em Madrid e Catedrático de Biogeografia na Universidade de Évora (vice-presidente), Miguel Arias Cañete, antigo Comissário Europeu para a Energia e a Ação Climática,, Sandra Diaz, especialista em Biodiversidade, Runa Khan, fundadora da ONG Friedship, Rik Leemans, líder do grupo de Análise de Sistemas Ambientais, Sunita Narain, escritora e ambientalista, Johan Rockström, diretor do Instituto de Investigação sobre o Impacto Climático de Potsdam e Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, fundador e diretor emérito do Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
Data safety and Environmental Awareness are keywords that the young modern consumer looks for in any company they choose to associate with. In the space of e-commerce, with giants like Amazon, eBay and even Shopify being accused of data leaks, the e-commerce space has made online shoppers wary of what information they choose to disclose. In this environment of distrust and misuse of data, Your Design Store stands strong in data neutrality. The YDS website does not collect any cookies or save any browsing data. They also don’t insist or even request that you connect to any social media. In fact, the only data collected is that which is relevant to making deliveries happen- Name & Address, Phone Number, Email ID. Let’s take a look at carbon footprints in e-commerce. According to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board, India generates over 25,000 tons of plastic waste every day, and a significant portion of this comes from packaging materials used in e-commerce. Furthermore, a report by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi estimates that the packaging material used in e-commerce in India is responsible for generating around 9,406 metric tons of plastic waste per day, including plastic bags, bubble wrap, and other packaging materials. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), delivery vehicles in India account for approximately 10-12% of total vehicular emissions in urban areas. In order to do its bit for the cause, YDS has taken certain measures to reduce the overall carbon footprint in their entire order cycle. Shedding the erstwhile plastic tamper-proof delivery bags, Your Design initially shifted to biodegradable plastic bags for delivery and has now settled on eco-printed heavy GSM-sealed brown paper bags. These are not only sturdy and environmentally conscious but also look great and provide all the protection required for the products it contains. In cases of fragile products, thermocol and bubble wrap are still a requirement, although the company aims to phase these out in exchange for paper-based packaging solutions in the near future. All of YDS’s local deliveries are handled by the logistics team, who used to operate through Porter, Dunzo and various other delivery partners. The entire local logistics team has now shifted to electric vehicles powered by Log9. With a fleet of electric 2-wheelers and one electronic 3-wheeler for larger deliveries, the local logistics team at YDS have almost completely eliminated the need for carbon-emitting vehicles.
India’s environment ministry has proposed a Green Credit Programme under which individuals, organisations and industries can earn and sell credits for certain environment-friendly activities, which can then be traded. With the aim to incentivise sustainability and environmental protection, India’s environment ministry has proposed a programme to enable individuals, organisations and industry generate “green credits” for voluntary activities deemed beneficial for the environment. But without proper oversight or strong regulatory mechanisms, the scheme could open the door to greenwashing or double counting, experts warn. The draft Green Credit Programme Implementation Rules, released on June 27 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), propose awarding individuals and other entities with credits for undertaking eight “environmental interventions.” These credits can then be “made available for trading on a domestic market platform,” says the draft of the programme. India has dabbled with similar mechanisms to drive down energy consumption and is now wading into the trade of carbon credits while setting up its domestic carbon market. But unlike a carbon market – which prices a standard unit of per tonne carbon emitted – the Green Credit Programme (GCP) doesn’t yet have a standard unit of measurement for the benefits accrued across various activities, which range from tree plantations to sustainable infrastructure. The GCP is envisioned to function as a separate market mechanism but may overlap with the carbon market if the “green credit” also results in the reduction of carbon emissions, notes the programme draft. “Even tracking carbon credits, which focuses on just one gas, is a complex exercise that is challenging to regulate. Extending that same method to other ecosystems and pollution areas creates a strong risk of greenwashing,” Avantika Goswami, programme manager for climate change at the Centre for Science and Environment, told Mongabay India. “It also raises serious questions about how rigorous the monitoring will be and who should take responsibility for pollution reduction and biodiversity savings.” Trupti Mishra, a professor at the Interdisciplinary Programme in Climate Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, states, “I believe any programme, regardless mandatory or voluntary, needs robust process, involving technical support, good measurement tools and more importantly proper monitoring at the source level. Since green credit or for that matter carbon market are new programmes for Indian companies, these would work well with process support involving awareness to monitoring.” The programme aims to propagate the ‘Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Movement’ spearheaded by the government, which aims to promote healthy and sustainable living. The LiFE concept was given a boost at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, where it featured in the cover decision text that influences global climate action. The draft programme comes at a time when India is hosting the G20 Presidency and will have to walk the talk on its international climate commitments, which include achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. India has also committed, in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to creating a carbon sink capable of absorbing 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide through additional forest and tree cover. Who gets the green credits and how? A wide cross-section of society can participate in the GCP, notes the draft notification. This includes individuals, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, forestry and sustainable agriculture enterprises, urban and rural local bodies, private sectors, industries and organisations of different kinds. The eight activities that can generate credits include planting trees; harvesting and saving water; treating wastewater; promoting natural and regenerative agricultural practices; improving waste management, segregation and collection; reducing air pollution; conserving and restoring mangroves; obtaining an Eco Mark label for manufacturing and constructing buildings, which is a label that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) gives to environment-friendly products. “Overall, this is a great initiative. But it will be challenging to implement and requires the establishment of a scientific committee with activity-specific experts, who can frame the requirements for receiving green credits,” said Easwaran J. Narassimhan, an associate professor at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), a Delhi based think tank. “The administrator must ensure that every credit generated under different categories are not ‘hot-air credits’ (unsubstantial or lacking real value) and are additional to what is already happening anyway,” Narassimhan added. The administrative body tasked with implementing the GCP is the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), a research and capacity-building organisation that doesn’t typically deal with implementation. As part of the GCP, it will be in charge of granting credits and maintaining a registry of green credits, among other responsibilities. Guiding the ICFRE will be a Steering Committee, which will formulate guidelines for implementation and verification, make recommendations for which sectors should be included in the programme, and review and monitor it. The central government may empanel auditors to audit the entire system from time to time, says the draft. Areas of uncertainty India’s experience with such market mechanisms has been with mixed results. The Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme (PAT) launched in 2012 encourages 13 carbon-intensive industries to reduce their energy consumption. Energy saved is certified and can be sold to entities that did not meet their targets. The second cycle of the PAT scheme, which ended in 2019, resulted in emissions reductions worth around 68 million tonnes. A 2021 study by the Centre for Science and Environment, however, found that for the thermal power sector, a major emitter, energy reductions were only 3 per cent compared to the sector’s total energy consumption. “This highlights the fact that the target given to TPPs is very less compared to the overall emission reduction from the sector,” the study said. “Having the option of acquiring energy saving certificates for compliance makes it far less expensive for thermal power plants to demonstrate compliance by installing energy saving measures,” the study found, adding that thermal power plants that didn’t comply weren’t always penalised. Similarly, another market-based instrument, the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC), allows electricity distribution companies (discoms) and other entities to buy these certificates from generators if they are unable to meet their renewable purchase obligations (RPOs). A 2021 report by Intellecap, an advisory service, found an over-supply of RECs due to poor enforcement of penalties among non-conforming discoms. It also found that demand was overwhelmingly driven by obligated entities with little voluntary participation. The GCP is ambitious because it covers various activities under several different sectors. But it could also lead to problems when being implemented, say experts. “The liquidity of these credits for trading in the market is another concern. Are credits generated for specific activities tradable within the activities? If not, there needs to be clarity on how credits generated in different activities are comparable,” said Narassimhan from CPR. The question of how the credits will be calculated is ambiguous in the draft notification, which says a value will be arrived at after considering “the equivalence of resource requirement (for a project), parity of scale, scope, size, and other relevant parameters.” Measuring the benefit of certain activities should be done carefully, experts say. For example, rewarding a waste-to-energy plant with a green credit might be counterproductive if it processes mixed waste, leading to higher emissions. While Mishra from IIT-Bombay acknowledges that double counting is not an issue with green credits and carbon credits programmes, she does express concerns about the potential for greenwashing, which is <the practice of making products, activities, or policies seem more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than they actually are. She explains, “Green credits are supposed to complement the action of companies. Only buying credits and no internal action is a sign of greenwashing. It may be an easier way for the companies to park it under sustainability activities and action for SDG goals. There are possibilities that companies can greenwash by falsely communicating or overhyping their credits, buying unreliable credits and buying credits unrelated to companies’ sectoral activity.” The draft notification also makes no mention of what will happen if credits are found to be fraudulent. The GCP also proposes to link with the Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA) scheme under the Forest Conservation Rules (2022), which allows private and public entities to grow plantations on non-forest land and sell them to project proponents looking to “compensate” for the forest diverted to their projects. While the ICFRE will administer the GCP, the ACA scheme is administered by state and district forest departments. They also fall under two different laws – the former under the Environment Protection Act and the latter under the Forest (Conservation) Act. “While both these reforms are being pursued under different laws, they have to be understood as a series of reforms that the government has to undertake to reconcile global commitments and national policy requirements. The monitoring, however, is likely to be complex as it will not just be done by different institutions, the compliance will be subject to the legal standards of two different laws. It will be a challenge to reconcile the data generated under both these processes, as there are risks of double counting and other related gaps,” said Kanchi Kohli, an independent legal and policy researcher.
Delhi has enjoyed a spell of clean air for 12 consecutive days, perhaps the only bright spot amid the spell of rain that was followed by the flooding of the Yamuna. From July 5-17, the air quality was "satisfactory", which means the air quality index was between 50 and 100 on a scale of 500. This month was AQI-wise the cleanest in four years. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows that the AQI on July 5 was 96. Between July 5 and 17, the lowest AQI recorded was 64 on July 9. The highest was reported at 100 on July 15. However, the streak was broken on July 18 when the AQI crept into the "moderate" category with a reading of 113. "Rain in Delhi and its adjoining areas caused the pollutants to settle. As the city has been receiving rain regularly, it has helped in cleaning air quality," a Met official said. The IMD's data shows that Safdarjung, the city's base station, has logged 330.6mm of rainfall in July so far. This means Delhi has received 206% of excess rain. The CPCB data shows that in July 2022, Delhi saw a streak of "satisfactory" AQI days from July 10-19. The average AQI in July this year from 1 to 17 was 82. In the same period, the average AQI was 93 in 2022, 135 in 2021 and 92 in 2020. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said: "Prolonged and intense rain is responsible for this long spell of 'satisfactory' air quality days. We need to utilise the off-peak seasons to speed up action to prevent peaking of pollution during winter." The CPCB classifies an AQI between 0 and 50 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 above 400 as severe.
From Africa to Antarctica, all seven of Earth’s continents have experienced extraordinary extreme weather events this month. The start of July saw Earth experience its hottest week on record. Extreme weather events across the globe this month have already featured on more than 114 frontpages in at least 84 newspapers, published across 32 countries, Carbon Brief analysis shows. Many nations are grappling with extreme heat, with China setting a provisional new national temperature record of 52.2C, Antarctica sea ice at record low levels amid unusual winter heat and Africa experiencing its hottest night ever. Other regions are facing deadly floods. More than 100 people have been killed in deluges in India and at least a dozen people have died in floods in South Korea. Below, Carbon Brief’s global team of journalists analyse how national and international media have covered the deadly extremes affecting Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica. The ‘Cerberus’ heatwave in Europe A high-pressure system named Cerberus, after the three-headed dog of Greek mythology, has caused temperatures across Europe to surge to near record levels, according to the Conversation. Temperatures over the past week have surged across southern and eastern Europe, including France, Spain, Poland and Greece. The extreme conditions in Europe made the frontpages of French newspaper Le Monde, the UK’s Daily Mail and Gulf News, an English-language newspaper published from Dubai, among many other publications. A second “heat storm” dubbed Charon, after the ferryman that carries souls over the river Styx in Hades, is set to push temperatures even further across the coming week, according to the Daily Telegraph. Temperatures well above 45C are forecast in parts of Italy, Spain and Greece, the Independent reported, and could get as high as 48C in Italy’s Sardinia. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe was 48.8C in Sicily in 2021. Described as a “tongue of fire” by the Il Messaggero newspaper in Rome, the intense heat has also reached Italy. Major cities such as Rome, Bologna and Florence are among the 10 in Italy now under red alert due to the intense heat, according to BBC News. In Rome, temperatures are expected to beat the previous record high of 40.7C, set in 2007, with 42-43C forecast as “infernal days” hit main cities, reported Italian newspaper La Repubblica. While Italy is experiencing much of the worst of the heatwave, national papers have not led with the story, noted the Guardian. In many places, the bufera – or storm – that has been caused by deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini’s call for amnesty for tax evaders has taken centre stage. Health warnings have been issued throughout the country, Metronews reported. Both BBC News and the Guardian reported that many people have collapsed in Rome and Milan due to a lack of water and dehydration. From Thursday, temperatures are expected to cool, particularly across the northern regions of Italy, as thunderstorms arrive, according to 3bmeteo. In Greece, the Acropolis was shut from noon until 5pm on 14 July in the name of “protecting” visitors from the sun, according to the Guardian. Temperatures hit 45C in Syntagma Square in Athens – which due to its altitude and lack of shade is typically a few degrees warmer than the wider city – and are likely to have matched this on the rocky outcrop of the Acropolis, the Guardian said. Its article continued: “Up at the Acropolis, the realities of the climate emergency were on full display as it becomes ever more evident that the future will be fraught with difficulty as humans and urban environments attempt to adapt to temperatures accelerating with a speed few had envisaged.” It remained closed during the hottest hours over Saturday and Sunday, according to the Daily Telegraph, as several tourists were still sent to the hospital in the Greek capital. The closure of the Acropolis due to extreme heat made the frontpage of newspapers around the world including La Vanguardia, a Spanish daily newspaper, as well as the Wall Street Journal in the US, the Malta Independent and the Rheinische Post in Germany. Elsewhere, at least 46 forest fires broke out around Greece over Sunday, according to the Times, although all are now under control. Two “raged uncontrolled” through coastal towns near Athens on Monday, prompting evacuations as at least five homes were destroyed, reported Reuters. On the Spanish island of La Parma, more than 4,000 residents were evacuated as a wildfire spread, according to the Independent. The fire began in the early hours of Saturday morning in El Pinar de Puntagorda and had affected around 4,500 hectares (11,120 acres) of land and destroyed at least 12 homes by the early afternoon, according to Reuters. Elsewhere, on Tenerife, another of Spain’s eight Canary Islands, a forest fire broke out, leading to 50 people being evacuated, according to the Daily Telegraph. Temperatures are set to reach above 40C in the Canary Islands as well as the southern Andalusian region of Spain over the coming week, the article noted. The evacuation of people away from forest fires in Tenerife made the frontpage of the Portuguese daily newspaper Jornal de Notícias. In Croatia, a bushfire near the Adriatic town of Sibenik raged on Thursday, according to CNBC. In total, 56 firefighters with 20 vehicles and three aircraft were brought in to fight the blaze. Much of the Balkans were hit by the heatwave last week, according to Reuters, with meteorologists and doctors in Montenegro, Bosnia and Serbia calling for people to stay indoors where possible and drink plenty of liquids if they venture out. In Northern Europe, Cerberus made frontpages, with Die Presse in Austria warning of the risks of record heat, De Telegraaf in the Netherlands highlighting “heat alarm” and Dagbladet in Norway stating that researchers have warned there could soon be 40C temperatures in the country. On Sunday, Agora in Poland ran with the headline: “It will be like hell: Saudi Arabia recorded 48C, Spain 44C, and Poland will soon be flooded by 35C heat.” In Turkey, the Milliyet daily newspaper called on people to not be “heartbroken in this weather” as the Hatay province fought flames. The Oksijen newspaper, meanwhile, warned: “It’s hot…it’s going to be even hotter.” Korkusuz stated: “Turkey is burning.” And a separate Milliyet piece asked: “Record hot! But what will they [earthquake victims] do?” Deadly floods in India and Pakistan After a delayed start to this year’s monsoon that brought another deadly, early summer to an end, South Asia was once again hit by record-breaking monsoon rains that wrought devastation in north India and Pakistan. News coverage of flash floods and landslides peaked in the week starting 10 July, after videos of Himalayan rivers flooding towns and sweeping bridges away went viral on social media. On 10 July, estimates of fatalities from the floods on that day differed: the Times of India reported 22 deaths, while the New York Times said 49. The Guardian reported that Delhi received 153mm of rain, “the highest precipitation in a single day in July in 40 years”, while the mountain-state of Himachal Pradesh “received a month’s rainfall in a day”. The cold desert region of Ladakh – previously in the state of Jammu and Kashmir – received more than 10,000% of its normal rain on 8-9 July, according to Down to Earth. The flash floods and landslides made the frontpages of the Times of India, Hindu, Hindustan Times, Asian Age and Pakistan’s National Herald Tribune, among other outlets. Overseas outlets, including the Straits Times in Singapore, Daily Trust in Nigeria and Arab News in Saudi Arabia, also covered the floods, but reporting in developed countries was limited. In an explainer in the Hindustan Times, India’s meteorological authorities and climate experts both pointed to major changes in the amount of rainfall, from a deficient June to a 2% nationwide excess in July, driven by a “surge over the west coast and parts of northern India in the past week”. While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief quoted in the piece attributed the heavy rainfall to “an interaction between a western disturbance and the monsoon”, his quote did not mention climate change. In contrast, India’s former earth sciences secretary M Rajeevan is quoted saying “one of the important impacts of climate change on monsoon: it rains fewer hours, but when it rains, it rains very heavily”. “This is a clear climate change signal,” climate scientist and IPCC author Dr Roxy Matthew Koll told the Daily Telegraph, while highlighting how the hills are “particularly susceptible to heavy rains and landslides” and that flash floods and cloudbursts are “hard to predict”. The story quoted Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) lead author on water, Dr Aditi Mukherji, who said the floods were also “partly a result of development models that did not factor in the caution while building in ecologically fragile zones”. Mahesh Palawat at the private weather agency Skymet told the Independent: “There has been a constant rise in both land and sea temperatures, which has increased the capacity of the air to hold moisture for a longer time. [T]he role of climate change in the increasing extreme weather events in India has been strengthening with each passing year.” On 11 July, Bloomberg reported that several hydropower plants in Himachal Pradesh “have suspended operations due to flooding and high silt levels”. Five days later, it reported that some plants were restarting operations even as “yet more rain looms”, adding that “while India sees hydropower as vital to its energy transition, environmental and social challenges have slowed capacity additions and boosted costs”. Across the border in Pakistan, Nikkei Asia reported that up to a million people were affected by “cloudbursts and flash floods in multiple cities”. According to the story, many “fear[ed] a repeat” of last year’s floods attributed to global warming, with water authorities arguing that Pakistan needed “more dams…to use floodwater for our benefit”. Others argued that “bitter rivals” India and Pakistan “have a good starting point to collaborate on early warning systems for floods”. By this time, in India, the spotlight for accountability for the floods had shifted to infrastructure and development choices in affected regions, and a failure to adapt. “More needs to be done for climate adaptation to prevent economic losses and food insecurity,” Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Sunita Narain told Deutsche Welle, pointing out that India needed to “relearn land- and water-management strategies…fast” in a “climate-variable world”. Stories in the Hindustan Times looked at the “mindless concretisation” of the Himalayan region, attributing impacts to forest cover loss, infrastructure development, river-bed mining and tourism. In another piece in the Hindustan Times, ecologist Manshi Asher said: “[B]laming excess rainfall or demonising rivers cannot hide development excesses and faulty planning that eroded local capacity to climate vagaries.” An editorial in the Hindu called on states to end “blame games” and cooperate in the face of the “increased probability of spells of extreme rain, given warming trends”, urging them to develop a “joint strategy on floods” similar to those in place for air pollution.
Asia se confruntă cu valuri de căldură și ploi record, iar guvernele avertizează oamenii că trebuie să se pregătească pentru și mai multe fenomene meteo extreme. În această lună, inundațiile de proporții în Japonia, China, Coreea de Sud și India au dat peste cap viața a milioane de oameni, au provocat alunecări de teren și au lăsat locuințe fără curent electric. Pe de altă parte, temperaturile record au făcut ca problemele de sănătate a multor persoane, în special vârstnice, să se accentueze, scrie CNN. Semnalul privind vulnerabilitatea continentului la aceste fenomene meteo extreme a fost dat anul trecut în Pakistan, care s-a confruntat cu inundații catastrofale, iar acum trece prin cea mai gravă criză economică din ultimele decenii. „Un lucru este foarte clar: ceea ce s-a întâmplat în Pakistan nu va rămâne în Pakistan”, a avertizat premierul Shehbaz Sharif. Sâmbătă, cel puțin 13 persoane din orașul sud-coreean Cheongju au murit după ce un pasaj a fost inundat, iar mai multe mașini, inclusiv un autobuz de transport public, au rămas blocate. Cel puțin 41 de persoane au murit în Coreea de Sud în ultimele zile și alte mii au fost forțate să-și părăsească locuințele și să caute un adăpost temporar, în timp ce ploile torențiale au devastat zonele centrale și de sud ale țării. „Acest tip de fenomen meteorologic extrem va deveni obișnuit – trebuie să acceptăm că schimbările climatice se întâmplă și trebuie să le facem față”, a spus președintele sud-coreean Yoon Suk Yeol, care a susținut că este nevoie ca țara să aibă o altă abordare față de vremea extremă. „Plouă ca niciodată” Au fost inundații devastatoare și în Japonia, unde au fost cel puțin șase morți, iar numeroase persoane au fost date dispărute. „Plouă ca niciodată”, a declarat un purtător de cuvânt al Agenției Meteorologice din Japonia într-o declarație prin care a cerut oamenilor din zonele afectate vigilență maximă. Este un tipar observat în întreaga regiune - din Filipine până în Cambodgia - unde inundațiile de amploare au dus la blocaje ale transportului în marile orașe, inclusiv în capitalele Manila și Phnom Penh. Zeci de oameni au murit și în India, unde au fost ploi record. 10 iulie a fost pentru Delhi cea mai ploioasă zi de iulie din ultimii 40 de ani, potrivit autorităților. Ploile puternice au închis școlile și au lăsat oameni fără adăpost. Citește mai mult la: https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/externe/lumea-e-la-un-pas-sa-treaca-de-punctul-critic-climatic-asia-e-cea-mai-afectata-semnalul-a-venit-din-pakistan-dar-a-fost-ignorat-2429879 Informaţiile publicate pe site-ul Digi24.ro pot fi preluate, în conformitate cu legislația aplicabilă, doar în limita a 120 de caractere. „Plouă ca niciodată” Au fost inundații devastatoare și în Japonia, unde au fost cel puțin șase morți, iar numeroase persoane au fost date dispărute. „Plouă ca niciodată”, a declarat un purtător de cuvânt al Agenției Meteorologice din Japonia într-o declarație prin care a cerut oamenilor din zonele afectate vigilență maximă. Este un tipar observat în întreaga regiune - din Filipine până în Cambodgia - unde inundațiile de amploare au dus la blocaje ale transportului în marile orașe, inclusiv în capitalele Manila și Phnom Penh. Zeci de oameni au murit și în India, unde au fost ploi record. 10 iulie a fost pentru Delhi cea mai ploioasă zi de iulie din ultimii 40 de ani, potrivit autorităților. Ploile puternice au închis școlile și au lăsat oameni fără adăpost. Citește mai mult la: https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/externe/lumea-e-la-un-pas-sa-treaca-de-punctul-critic-climatic-asia-e-cea-mai-afectata-semnalul-a-venit-din-pakistan-dar-a-fost-ignorat-2429879 Informaţiile publicate pe site-ul Digi24.ro pot fi preluate, în conformitate cu legislația aplicabilă, doar în limita a 120 de caractere. De la o extremă la alta În timp ce unele regiuni se confruntă cu ploi catastrofale, altele se confruntă cu arșiță. Luni, o stație meteo din nord-estul Chinei a înregistrat o temperatură record de 52,2 grade Celsius, în timp ce în Japonia au fost temperaturi de 39,7 grade Celsius. Peste cinci stații meteo din China au depășit luni maxime de 50 de grade Celsius. În Beijing, la începutul lunii iulie au fost peste 40 de grade Celsius, ceea ce a dus la avertizări cod roșu pentru două săptămâni. China, unul dintre cei mai mari poluatori ai lumii, s-a confruntat cu evenimente meteo extreme. Valurile de căldură au lovit și unele zone din Japonia. Temperaturile de luni dimineața au urcat la maxime de 39,7 grade Celsius în orașul Kiryu, situat în prefectura Gunma de pe insula Honshu - cea mai mare și mai populată din Japonia - și 39,6 grade Celsius în orașul Hatoyama. situat în Prefectura Saitama. Cazurile de insolație au devenit din ce în ce mai frecvente în rândul vârstnicilor din Japonia, care reprezintă 28% din populație. Temperaturile din capitala Tokyo au crescut la niveluri periculoase în ultimii ani, iar autoritățile au cerut raționalizarea energiei electrice deoarece țara se luptă cu o penurie crescută de energie. O regiune vulnerabilă Oamenii de știință au avertizat că frecvența și intensitatea evenimentelor meteo extreme vor continua să crească pe măsură ce criza climatică provocată de acțiunile umane se accelerează. Organizația Mondială de Meteorologie a declarat că lumea este pe cale să depășească un prag climatic critic în următorii cinci ani, deoarece temperaturile globale continuă să urce peste nivelurile preindustriale. Asia, cu o populație totală estimată la 4,4 miliarde de oameni, este extrem de vulnerabilă la impactul schimbărilor climatice. Vremea extremă a dus la o criză a apei, a distrus culturi și a încetinit dezvoltarea economică. Această vulnerabilitate a fost adusă în atenție anul trecut, când inundațiile catastrofale care au lovit Pakistanul au dus la peste 1.700 de morți și milioane de oameni fără adăpost. Țara din Asia de Sud se confruntă acum cu cea mai gravă criză economică din ultimele decenii, agravată de creșterea inflației din cauza inundațiilor care au distrus recoltele de anul trecut. „Ceea ce s-a întâmplat în Pakistan nu va rămâne în Pakistan” „Un lucru este foarte clar: ceea ce s-a întâmplat în Pakistan nu va rămâne în Pakistan”, le-a spus premierul Shehbaz Sharif liderilor mondiali la Adunarea Generală a Națiunilor Unite în septembrie anul trecut, avertizând că schimbările climatice vor afecta toate țările. El a cerut atunci liderilor lumii un plan de acțiune după o agendă comună. India vecină, cea mai populată națiune din lume, este printre țările care se estimează că vor fi cel mai grav afectate de criza climatică, potrivit Grupului Interguvernamental pentru Schimbări Climatice (IPCC). După ce au suferit de canicula din nord și est, mii de oameni au fost forțați să fugă din calea inundațiilor de amploare. Ploile abundente au devastat satele și au transformat drumurile în râuri. În fiecare an, India este lovită de inundații severe și alunecări de teren în timpul sezonului musonic. Assam, cu o populație de peste 31 de milioane de oameni, este printre cele mai afectate. Peste 495.000 de oameni au fost afectați de inundații și aproximativ 14.000 au fost evacuați în tabere de sinistrați. Imagini difuzate la televiziune i-au arătat pe oameni în apă până la gât încercând să salveze animalele. Alerte cod roșu au fost emise pentru mai multe state din nord, inclusiv Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab și Haryana. De asemenea, au fost emise avertismente de alunecare de teren pentru Uttarakhand și Himachal Pradesh. Cei mai afectați de aceste fenomene meteo sunt cei săraci. Inundațiile au reprezentat un pericol major pentru 35% din populație - aproximativ 472 de milioane de oameni - care trăiesc în mahalale, potrivit Băncii Mondiale. „Ironia este că săracii lumii sunt de fapt victimele schimbărilor climatice”, chiar dacă nu ei sunt cei care „au creat problema”, a declarat Sunita Narain, director general al Centrului pentru Știință și Mediu din India. „Inundațiile, secetele și alte evenimente climatice devastatoare toate ne arată foarte clar cum va fi viitorul”, a adăugat ea. Informaţiile publicate pe site-ul Digi24.ro pot fi preluate, în conformitate cu legislația aplicabilă, doar în limita a 120 de caractere.
Trong tháng 7 này, những trận mưa xối xả đã gây ngập lụt nhiều khu vực của Nhật Bản, Trung Quốc, Hàn Quốc và Ấn Độ, làm đảo lộn cuộc sống của hàng triệu người cũng như gây ra lũ quét, sạt lở đất và cắt điện. Nhiệt độ cao kỷ lục cũng dẫn đến tình trạng gia tăng các bệnh liên quan, đặc biệt là ở các cộng đồng dễ bị tổn thương như người già. Hôm 15/7, ít nhất 13 người ở thành phố Cheongju, miền Trung Hàn Quốc, đã thiệt mạng do bị mắc kẹt trong một đường hầm ngập nước lũ. Trong một tuần mưa lớn kéo dài, tổng số nạn nhân thiệt mạng ở Hàn Quốc đã lên đến hàng chục người và hàng ngàn người khác phải sơ tán đến nơi an toàn. Để đối phó với những thiệt hại đáng tiếc, Tổng thống Hàn Quốc Yoon Suk Yeol đã kêu gọi xem xét lại cách tiếp cận của đất nước này đối với thời tiết khắc nghiệt. “Thời tiết khắc nghiệt sẽ trở nên phổ biến. Chúng ta phải chấp nhận thực tế rằng biến đổi khí hậu đang diễn ra và hãy đối phó với nó”, Tổng thống Yoon phát biểu ngày 17/7. Ở nước láng giềng Nhật Bản, lượng mưa kỷ lục ở phía tây nam nước này đã dẫn đến ngập lụt kinh hoàng khiến ít nhất 6 người thiệt mạng và nhiều người khác vẫn mất tích. Người phát ngôn của Cơ quan Khí tượng Nhật Bản đã kêu gọi người dân ở các khu vực bị ảnh hưởng cảnh giác cao độ với tuyên bố rằng: “Trời mưa nhiều chưa từng thấy”. Đó là một mô hình thời tiết được quan sát thấy khắp khu vực của châu Á, từ các vùng của Philippines và Campuchia ở phía nam, nơi lũ lụt lan rộng làm gián đoạn giao thông ở các thành phố lớn đến các vùng của Ấn Độ xa hơn về phía bắc, nơi lượng mưa lớn kỷ lục làm tê liệt hoạt động tại một số bang và cướp đi sinh mạng của hàng chục người. Thủ đô Delhi hôm 10/7 đánh dấu ngày tháng 7 ẩm ướt nhất trong hơn 40 năm qua. Theo các nhà chức trách, những trận mưa lớn buộc các trường học phải đóng cửa và khiến nhiều người không có nơi trú ẩn an toàn. Thời tiết cực đoan chồng cực đoan Trong khi một số khu vực đang vật lộn với những trận mưa lớn chết người, những quốc gia châu Á khác đang phải đối mặt với cái nóng như thiêu như đốt. Hôm 17/7, một trạm thời tiết ở đông bắc Trung Quốc ghi nhận nhiệt độ cao kỷ lục 52,2 độ C, trong khi Nhật Bản ghi nhận nhiệt độ tăng lên đến 39,7 độ C. Ít nhất 5 trạm đo khí tượng ở Trung Quốc đã vượt quá mức 50 độ C vào cùng ngày - một trong những mức nóng nhất trong lịch sử. Điều này xảy ra sau khi thủ đô Bắc Kinh trải qua một mùa hè nóng kỷ lục, với nhiệt độ vào đầu tháng 7 tăng vọt lên 40 độ. Giới chức địa phương phải đưa ra cảnh báo đỏ về nhiệt độ trong hai tuần liên tiếp khi khủng hoảng khí hậu toàn cầu gia tăng. Đợt nắng này nóng ập đến trong bối cảnh Đặc phái viên khí hậu Mỹ John Kerry đến Trung Quốc vào ngày 16/7 để đàm phán nhằm nối lại hợp tác giữa Bắc Kinh và Washington trong các cuộc thảo luận về khí hậu. Trung Quốc, một trong những quốc gia gây ô nhiễm lớn nhất thế giới, đã phải hứng chịu nhiều hiện tượng thời tiết cực đoan – với những trận mưa như trút và lũ quét tàn phá. Sóng nhiệt cũng đã tấn công các vùng của Nhật Bản. Nhiệt độ vào sáng 17/7đã tăng lên mức cao 39,7 độ C tại thành phố Kiryu, nằm ở tỉnh Gunma trên đảo Honshu - lớn nhất và đông dân nhất Nhật Bản - và 39,6 độ C tại thị trấn Hatoyama nằm ở tỉnh Saitama. Hiện tượng say nắng ngày càng phổ biến ở nhóm người cao tuổi Nhật Bản, vốn chiếm đến 28% dân số. Nhiệt độ ở thủ đô Tokyo đã tăng vọt đến mức nguy hiểm trong những năm gần đây, khiến các quan chức chính phủ phải kêu gọi phân phối điện do tình trạng thiếu điện ngày càng tăng. Khu vực dễ bị ảnh hưởng Các nhà khoa học đã cảnh báo tần suất và cường độ của các hiện tượng thời tiết cực đoan sẽ tiếp tục gia tăng khi cuộc khủng hoảng khí hậu do con người gây ra ngày càng rõ rệt. Trong bản báo cáo khí hậu hàng năm, Tổ chức Khí tượng Thế giới cho biết thế giới đang trên đà vi phạm ngưỡng khí hậu quan trọng trong 5 năm tới khi nhiệt độ toàn cầu tiếp tục tăng cao hơn mức thời kỳ tiền công nghiệp. Châu Á, với tổng dân số ước tính khoảng 4,4 tỷ người, rất dễ bị tổn thương trước tác động của biến đổi khí hậu. Những đợt thời tiết khắc nghiệt gần đây dẫn đến tình trạng thiếu nước, mất mùa và làm chậm nền kinh tế. Tính dễ bị tổn thương đó đã trở thành tâm điểm chú ý vào năm ngoái khi các đợt lũ lụt thảm khốc tấn công Pakistan giết chết hơn 1.700 người và khiến hàng triệu người mất nhà cửa. Quốc gia Nam Á này đang phải đối phó với cuộc khủng hoảng kinh tế tồi tệ nhất trong nhiều thập kỷ do lạm phát tăng vọt sau khi vụ mùa năm ngoái bị thất thu vì thiên tai. “Có một điều rất rõ ràng: những gì đã xảy ra ở Pakistan sẽ không chỉ tác động đến Pakistan”, Thủ tướng Shehbaz Sharif nói với các nhà lãnh đạo thế giới tại Đại hội đồng Liên hợp quốc vào tháng 9 năm ngoái. Ông cảnh báo rằng biến đổi khí hậu sẽ không loại trừ bất cứ quốc gia nào. Nhà lãnh đạo Pakistan nhấn mạnh: “Toàn bộ định nghĩa về an ninh quốc gia ngày nay đã thay đổi. Và trừ khi các nhà lãnh đạo của thế giới cùng nhau hành động và hành động ngay bây giờ theo một chương trình nghị sự chung đã được thống nhất, nếu không sẽ không còn trái đất để mà chiến tranh với nhau. Thiên nhiên sẽ phản chiến. Và trong cuộc chiến đó, nhân loại không thể là đối thủ”. Theo Ủy ban liên chính phủ về biến đổi khí hậu (IPCC), Ấn Độ - quốc gia đông dân nhất thế giới - nằm trong số những quốc gia được cho là sẽ bị ảnh hưởng nặng nề nhất bởi cuộc khủng hoảng khí hậu, với nguy cơ ảnh hưởng đến 1,4 tỷ người trên toàn quốc. Sau khi hứng chịu những đợt nắng nóng gay gắt gần đây ở phía bắc và phía đông, hàng nghìn người sau đó đã buộc phải chạy trốn lũ lụt nghiêm trọng ở các bang như Himachal Pradesh vào tuần trước, sau khi mưa lớn tàn phá các ngôi làng và biến đường phố thành sông. Hằng năm, Ấn Độ phải hứng chịu lũ lụt và sạt lở đất nghiêm trọng trong mùa mưa kéo dài từ tháng 6 đến tháng 9. Bang Assam với dân số hơn 31 triệu người nằm trong số những nơi bị ảnh hưởng nặng nề nhất. Hơn 495.000 người ở khắp 22 quận đã bị ảnh hưởng bởi tình trạng ngập ứng và khoảng 14.000 người phải sơ tán đến các trại cứu trợ. Các quan chức quản lý thiên tai và chính quyền bang Assam vào cuối tháng 6 đã báo cáo ít nhất 10 người thiệt mạng kể từ khi mùa mưa bắt đầu. Truyền hình địa phương cho thấy dân làng lội nước ngập tới cổ, trong khi gia súc, nhà cửa, cửa hàng và ô tô chìm trong lũ. Báo động đỏ đã được ban hành cho một số bang phía bắc bao gồm Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab và Haryana. Cảnh báo sạt lở đất cũng được ban hành cho Uttarakhand và Himachal Pradesh. Mưa lớn cũng buộc các trường học phải đóng cửa ở một số khu vực bao gồm Uttar Pradesh và thủ đô New Delhi. Tác động của thời tiết cực đoan như vậy là khó thể phủ nhận và người nghèo ở Ấn Độ là một trong những đối tượng dễ bị tổn thương nhất. Theo Ngân hàng Thế giới, lũ lụt đã gây ra mối nguy hiểm đặc biệt đối với 35% dân số - khoảng 472 triệu người - sống tại các khu ổ chuột ở đô thị. Bà Sunita Narain, Tổng giám đốc Trung tâm Khoa học và Môi trường Ấn Độ nhận xét rằng: “Trớ trêu thay, những người nghèo trên thế giới lại thực sự là nạn nhân của biến đổi khí hậu. Lũ lụt, hạn hán và các sự kiện thời tiết tàn khốc khác đang cho chúng ta thấy rõ tương lai sẽ ra sao”.
El continente más grande y poblado del mundo está enfrentando los efectos mortales del clima extremo del verano, ya que los países soportan olas de calor abrasadoras y lluvias monzónicas récord, y los gobiernos advierten a los residentes que se preparen para más por venir. Este mes, lluvias torrenciales inundaron partes de Japón, China, Corea del Sur e India, alterando la vida de millones y provocando inundaciones repentinas, deslizamientos de tierra y cortes de energía. Las temperaturas récord también provocaron un aumento de las enfermedades relacionadas con el calor, particularmente entre las comunidades vulnerables, como los ancianos. Este sábado, al menos 13 personas en la ciudad de Cheongju, en el centro de Corea del Sur, murieron después de que las aguas de un río desbordado inundaran un paso subterráneo, atrapando vehículos, incluido un autobús público. Al menos 41 personas han muerto en Corea del Sur en los últimos días y miles más se han visto obligadas a evacuar sus hogares y buscar refugio temporal, ya que fuertes aguaceros azotaron las partes central y sur del país. En respuesta a la pérdida de vidas, el presidente de Corea del Sur, Yoon Suk Yeol, pidió una revisión del enfoque del país frente al clima extremo. “Este tipo de fenómeno meteorológico extremo se convertirá en un lugar común; debemos aceptar que el cambio climático está ocurriendo y enfrentarlo”, dijo Yoon este lunes. El clima extremo afecta a regiones en todo el mundo 1:15 En el vecino Japón, lluvias sin precedentes en el suroeste del país provocaron inundaciones devastadoras que dejaron al menos seis muertos y muchos otros siguen desaparecidos. “Está lloviendo como nunca antes”, dijo un portavoz de la Agencia Meteorológica de Japón en un comunicado en el que pidió la máxima vigilancia por parte de los residentes en las áreas afectadas. Es un patrón que se observa en toda la región, desde partes de Filipinas y Camboya en el sur, donde las inundaciones generalizadas han provocado interrupciones en el transporte en las principales ciudades, incluidas las capitales Manila y Phnom Penh, hasta partes de la India más al norte, donde las lluvias récord paralizaron varios estados y cobraron la vida de decenas, según funcionarios. En la capital de la India, Delhi, este 10 de julio fue el día de julio más lluvioso en más de 40 años, según las autoridades. Los fuertes aguaceros forzaron el cierre de escuelas y dejaron a muchos vulnerables sin refugio. De un extremo a otro Mientras que algunas regiones están lidiando con aguaceros mortales, otras enfrentan un calor abrasador. Este lunes, una estación meteorológica en el noreste de China registró una temperatura máxima récord de 52,2 grados centígrados, mientras que en Japón las temperaturas subieron a 39,7 grados centígrados. En total, más de cinco estaciones meteorológicas en China excedieron los máximos de 50 grados centígrados este lunes, entre los más calurosos de la historia. Esto sigue a un verano caluroso récord en la capital, Beijing, en el que las temperaturas a principios de julio superaron los 40 grados centígrados, lo que llevó a los funcionarios a emitir alertas rojas de calor durante dos semanas a medida que se intensifica la crisis climática mundial. La ola de calor golpea en medio de la llegada del enviado climático de EE.UU., John Kerry, a China para las conversaciones entre Beijing y Washington para reanudar la cooperación en las discusiones sobre el clima. China, uno de los mayores contaminadores del mundo, ha estado experimentando su parte de fenómenos meteorológicos extremos, con aguaceros torrenciales e inundaciones que azotan otras partes del país, especialmente en el sur. Las olas de calor también han golpeado partes de Japón. Las temperaturas a partir del lunes por la mañana subieron a máximos de 39,7 grados centígrados en la ciudad de Kiryu, ubicada en la prefectura de Gunma en la isla de Honshu, la más grande y poblada de Japón, que también alberga Kioto y Tokio, y 39,6 grados centígrados en la ciudad de Hatoyama, ubicada en la prefectura de Saitama. Los casos de insolación se han vuelto cada vez más comunes entre los ancianos de Japón, que representan el 28% de la población. Las temperaturas en la capital, Tokio, se han disparado a niveles peligrosos en los últimos años, lo que ha llevado a los funcionarios del gobierno a exigir el racionamiento de la electricidad mientras el país lucha contra la creciente escasez de energía. Una región vulnerable Científicos han advertido que la frecuencia y la intensidad de los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos seguirán aumentando a medida que se acelere la crisis climática provocada por el hombre. En su actualización climática anual, la Organización Meteorológica Mundial dijo que el mundo está en camino de romper un umbral climático crítico en los próximos cinco años a medida que las temperaturas globales continúan subiendo por encima de los niveles preindustriales. Asia, con una población total estimada de 4.400 millones de personas, es extremadamente vulnerable a los impactos del cambio climático, con episodios recientes de clima extremo que resultaron en escasez de agua, malas cosechas y una desaceleración de la economía. Esa vulnerabilidad se puso de manifiesto el año pasado cuando las catastróficas inundaciones azotaron a Pakistán, matando a más de 1.700 personas y dejando a millones sin hogar. El país del sur de Asia ahora está lidiando con su peor crisis económica en décadas, empeorada por la inflación que se disparó debido a las inundaciones que arruinaron las cosechas del año pasado. “Una cosa está muy clara: lo que sucedió en Pakistán no se quedará en Pakistán”, dijo el primer ministro Shehbaz Sharif a los líderes mundiales en la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas en septiembre del año pasado, advirtiendo que el cambio climático no perdonará a los países. “Toda la definición de seguridad nacional ha cambiado hoy. Y a menos que los líderes del mundo se unan para actuar y actúen ahora en una agenda común acordada, no habrá tierra por la cual pelear guerras. La naturaleza se defenderá. Y para eso, la humanidad no es rival en absoluto”. La vecina India, la nación más poblada del mundo, se encuentra entre los países que se espera sean más afectados por la crisis climática, según el Panel Intergubernamental sobre el Cambio Climático (IPCC), que podría afectar a 1.400 millones de personas en todo el país. Después de sufrir recientes olas de calor abrasador en el norte y el este, miles se vieron obligados a huir de las graves inundaciones en estados como Himachal Pradesh la semana pasada después de que las fuertes lluvias azotaran los pueblos y convirtieran las carreteras en ríos. Todos los años, la India se ve afectada por graves inundaciones y deslizamientos de tierra durante la temporada del monzón, que empapa el país de junio a septiembre. Assam, un estado con una población de más de 31 millones de habitantes, se encuentra entre los más afectados. Más de 495.000 personas repartidas en 22 distritos se vieron afectadas por las inundaciones y unas 14.000 fueron evacuadas a campamentos de socorro cuando la lluvia azotó la región. Los funcionarios de gestión de desastres y las autoridades estatales informaron a fines de junio de al menos 10 muertes desde que comenzaron las lluvias. Un video difundido por la televisión local mostraba a los aldeanos vadeando el agua fangosa hasta el cuello con su ganado y casas, tiendas y automóviles sumergidos en las inundaciones. Conoce claves científicas que explican las olas de calor 2:29 Se emitieron alertas rojas, que indican el nivel de amenaza más alto, para varios estados del norte, incluidos Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab y Haryana. También se emitieron advertencias de deslizamientos de tierra para Uttarakhand y Himachal Pradesh. Los fuertes aguaceros también forzaron el cierre de escuelas en varias áreas, incluidas Uttar Pradesh y la capital, Nueva Delhi. Es difícil pasar por alto el impacto de estos fenómenos meteorológicos extremos y los pobres de la India se encuentran entre los más vulnerables. Las inundaciones han representado un peligro particular para el 35% de la población, aproximadamente 472 millones de personas, que viven en barrios marginales urbanos, según el Banco Mundial. “La ironía es que los pobres del mundo son en realidad víctimas del cambio climático”, incluso si no son ellos quienes “crearon el problema”, Sunita Narain, directora general del Centro para la Ciencia y el Medio Ambiente y veterano ambientalista indio, le dijo a CNN el año pasado.
Medical Waste Management is the process of handling, transporting, and disposing of medical waste in a safe and responsible manner. Medical waste includes anything that may be contaminated with blood or other body fluids, including sharps (needles, lancets, etc.), lab samples, and used personal protective equipment (PPE). Medical waste management is an important part of any healthcare facility’s operations. Healthcare facilities must have policies and procedures in place to ensure that medical waste is properly handled and disposed of. The global Medical Waste Management Market was valued at USD 12.7 billion in 2021 and it is anticipated to grow up to USD 25.4 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. Market Trends and Drivers Increasing volume of medical waste globally is expected to accelerate the market statistics Medical waste is usually generated at healthcare facilities including hospitals, dental practices, blood banks, clinics, medical research facilities as well as laboratories. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 85% of waste generated in the healthcare sector is general and non-hazardous waste. The remaining 15% is hazardous waste which may be infectious, radioactive, or chemical that might be harmful to the environment. Similarly, according to the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), biomedical waste in India grew from 559 tonnes per day in 2017 to 619 tonnes per day in 2019. Moreover, the number of hazardous waste generating units in the country increased by 3.5%, leading to a decline of almost 7% in hazardous waste generation. Hence, these attributes will boost the demand for medical waste management proving favorable for the overall market progression.