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Cse In News

No coal expansion, renewable capacity to dominate in India by 2031-32

India will not add any new coal capacity in the next five years, except for the plants already at various planning stages. The latest National Electricity Plan for 2022-32 (NEP) was released May 31 by Union Ministry of Power (MoP). The MoP revisits the NEP every five years to forecast the country’s power generation, transmission and demand trajectory for the coming decade. The NEP announced plans to increase the overall contribution of non-fossil power generation. Its capacity will be hiked to 68.4 per cent from 40 per cent at present by 2031-32. The NEP considered four scenarios for energy generation in the country. In them, coal capacity continues to grow till 2031-32, albeit by a small margin compared to the growth in renewable installed capacity. Coal-based power capacity will vary from 19.1 gigawatt to about 27.1 GW across various scenarios. On the other hand, renewable energy capacity is expected to double the current levels and surpass coal capacity by 2031-32. The capacity additions forecasts considered the impact of factors like energy efficiency, penetration of electric vehicles and production of green hydrogen on peak and energy demands. CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS The NEP projected the total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power sector in a decade will increase by 10 million tonnes (MT) from the CO2 emissions in 2021-22. One of the ways the NEP proposed to reduce emissions from the power sector is by improving the efficiency of plants. The NEP suggested the establishment of the Indian Carbon Market to help the country reach the nationally determined contribution goal of reducing emissions intensity of the gross domestic product by 45 per cent by 2030 against the 2005 level. It is evident that the ICM is being framed similarly to the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, according to discussions between New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) officials. PAT is a regulatory instrument to reduce specific energy consumption in energy-intensive industries. Coal-based thermal power plants under the PAT scheme had reduced only 1-2 per cent of their overall CO2 emissions, a 2021 study by CSE established. The report pinned the reasons for this underachievement on non-transparency, loose targets and overlooked deadlines. A penalty of Rs 10 lakh was to be levied on violation of the PAT targets, the report added. However, it has been 10 years and BEE has, to date, not collected any fines from any of the defaulters. Read more: World freed from toxic leaded petrol: A global win A good example is the Gujarat Emissions Trading Scheme penalty mechanism, which may be adopted by the central government to keep a check on compliance by the power plants. The scheme has a penalty mechanism of insisting industry / any organisation deposit an initial amount and upon non-compliance, regulators would deduct the amount automatically from the industries’ account. COAL CAPACITY FOR RETIRING Apart from adding more renewable capacity and increasing the efficiency of the coal-based power plants, the MoP has also identified 1,817.5 MW capacity that is likely to retire during 2022-32. The capacity to be decommissioned has also been compiled based on non-compliance with the emission norms. However, 16 per cent of the capacity planned to be retired due to non-compliance with emission norms was actually shut-down during 2017-2022. COAL REQUIREMENT FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION During 2022-23, the country faced a shortfall of 25 million tonnes of domestic coal, according to the NEP. The domestic coal requirement for power generation for 2026-27 is projected to be 866.4 MT and 1025.8 MT for 2031-32. Read more: The vulnerable points in South Africa’s fuel supply chain A roadmap has been prepared by the coal entity Coal India Ltd to avoid any shortfall in coal availability and reduce dependency on imported coal for power generation. Several other steps have also been taken by the government, such as allowing commercial coal mining and using captive coal blocks of power utilities to supplement the supply gap for domestic coal to power utilities. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/environment-ministry-finalises-coal-thermal-power-plant-categories-what-does-it-say-about-emission-norms-compliance-80795

10 Environmentalists To Watch Out In 2023

- Sunita Narain, Editor, Down To Earth and Environmentalist Sunita Narain is one of the foremost environmentalists in India who has had a significant impact on environmental discourse and played a pivotal role in shaping environmental policies and regulations. She is the Director General of Centre for Science and Environment and the Director of Society for Environmental Communications. She has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable development practices, advocating for environmental justice, and raising awareness about pressing environmental issues such as water management and air pollution control. She is the recipient of many accolades, including the Padma Shri, for her environmental work.

Bengal fourth from last in green study

7 parameters analysed by Delhi-based journal Down to Earth, which focuses on environment matters Bengal has ranked 26th out of 29 states in environmental performance in a recent analysis by the Delhi-based magazine Down to Earth, which focuses on environment matters. Seven parameters were considered for the analysis — change of forest cover, share of municipal waste treated, share of total sewage treated, change in installed grid renewable power, percentage change in number of polluted river stretches, groundwater extraction status and status of water body violation. In the study, Bengal scored only 37 per cent, or 3.7 out of 10, and was just above Bihar, Nagaland and Rajasthan. The analysis, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, was done on the basis of the available Union government data from 2020-22. A researcher associated with the report said key parameters like air pollution were missing from the study. According to the report, Bengal did very poorly in municipal waste management, scoring less than 5 per cent. In sewage treatment and renewable energy, it scored 8 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. The score in forest cover maintenance was around 30 per cent. Bengal scored well in the water sectors — groundwater extraction (about 70 per cent), prevention of water body violation (about 80 per cent) and reducing pollution in rivers (89 per cent). “While ranking the states on environmental performance, our effort was to build a robust system based on key indicators. Since data is as credible as the source, how it is collected and collated, we used the latest data from government sources,” said Sunita Narain, editor, Down to Earth. Telangana topped the list with 72 per cent, followed by Gujarat and Goa with 66 and 64 per cent, respectively. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have done well in reducing river pollution. Bengal environment minister Manas Bhuniya told The Telegraph on Tuesday: “I took charge only nine months ago. I can’t comment on what happened before. Since taking charge, under the chief minister’s directions, we have been working seriously to improve key aspects of the environment.... We expect to improve our performance in the next report.” “Most of the poorly performing sectors are not under the environment department or the PCB, like municipal waste or sewage,” said an official of the state environment department.

Bonn Climate Change Conference: Mid-Year Meet To Lay The Groundwork For COP28

Countries have started gathering in Bonn, Germany from 5 June for the United Nation’s mid-year climate conference, also known as the meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB58). Led by two bodies within the UNFCCC, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), the conference will lay the groundwork for the 28th UN Conference of Parties (COP28) in December this year. The large emerging economies have been at the centre of discussions on the energy ... Setting the context, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Director Sunita Narain..

Plastic bans created awareness but stricter enforcement needed

From milk pouches to car dashboards, plastics have become indispensable in recent years, but they have also created the problem of toxic waste that’s an environmental hazard as well. On its part, the government has tried to curb plastic waste through various rules. Almost a year ago, from July 1, 2022, it banned some single-use plastic (SUP) articles, and from December 31, 2022, it prohibited the manufacturing, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags thinner than 120 microns (one micron is a thousandth part of a millimetre). Have these rules worked? Experts say they have certainly created awareness and produced some results. Nonetheless, half of India’s plastic waste remains unprocessed every year, leading to soil and water pollution. Lax enforcement is partly to blame, but the absence of alternatives for certain types of plastics and incentives for waste processing are also responsible. “While many SUP items were included in the phase-out list, multilayered plastics (MLPs) were kept out of it as there is no viable way to recycle them,” says Suneel Pandey, director of the environment and waste management division at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Cookie wrappers that look like plastic on the outside and metallic foil on the inside are a type of MLP. However, in this year’s amended Plastic Waste Management Rules, “MLPs were included as a category of waste that has to be collected and used in road making, as co-processing fuel in cement kilns, or processed through pyrolysis,” Pandey adds. In February 2022, the environment ministry had also notified ‘extended producer responsibility’ (EPR) to streamline the collection and recycling of plastic waste. EPR makes producers, importers and brand owners responsible for managing products in an environmentally sound manner. Now, waste generators who manage plastic waste efficiently can earn credits that can be bought and sold. While most large businesses have shifted to non-SUP alternatives, “the problem persists with smaller vendors who find them costly compared with plastic,” says Pandey, adding that intense awareness drives, stricter monitoring and an incentive system will help the smaller vendors give up SUPs. Ultimately, the ban’s success depends on enforcement onthe ground, but many of the agencies responsible for this have been ineffective, says Siddharth G Singh, programme manager at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). “The ban has become a paper tiger” due to poor enforcement by the likes of state pollution control boards and the local authorities, he says. For example, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had introduced a monitoring mechanismfor the ban. It launched an app for citizens to report the sale of banned SUP items. However, CSE’s analysis shows a steady decline in the number of items reported and the complaints redressed. This is mostly due to lack of awareness about the ban among citizens and businesses. For example, while people mainly report plastic cutlery, CSE’s own survey showed almost a third of all the banned items reported were carry bags of less than120-micron thickness.

Devastating Extreme Weather Events Grip India, Claiming Thousands of Lives and Damaging Croplands

India continues to grapple with a relentless onslaught of extreme weather events, with alarming consequences for human lives and agricultural productivity. According to data from India’s database on weather disasters, a staggering 314 out of the 365 days in 2022 witnessed severe weather phenomena, resulting in the loss of 3,026 lives and extensive damage to 1.96 million hectares of cropland. A concerning trend in the frequency of extreme weather events from 2022 to 2023 has been revealed by the India Meteorological Department. Experts emphasize the erratic nature of these events by pointing out that hailstorms have already surpassed heatwaves as the most frequent occurrence as of 2023. Hailstorms caused substantial destruction throughout 32 states and Union Territories on 58 of the 84 days with extreme weather events that were reported during this time period. “There is rising evidence that rising global temperatures due to climate change are exacerbating these events,” explains Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager in the Climate Change Programme at Centre for Science and Environment, “For example, last year’s early heatwave was made 30 times more likely due to climate change.” The central region of India has struggled with an alarming frequency of such events, surpassing all other regions in the country. Out of the 365 days in a year, this region experienced these severe occurrences on a staggering 218 days. Madhya Pradesh saw the most intense weather events, enduring them for 144 days. Tragically, 938 people have died as a result of these catastrophic events and 136,781 hectares of farmland have suffered significant damage. The winter months of January and February 2022 also experienced a significant number of extreme weather events, spanning 21 states and UTs. Uttar Pradesh, with events reported on 25 days, faced the highest frequency, followed closely by Madhya Pradesh (24 days) and Punjab (15 days). Notably, despite being the third wettest January since 1951, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala recorded rainfall deficits, highlighting the unpredictability of weather patterns. The monsoon season, spanning June to September, proved to be the most challenging, with all 122 days characterized by extreme weather events across 34 states and UTs. Assam was the hardest hit, facing extreme events on a staggering 95 days, followed by Madhya Pradesh (85 days) and Maharashtra (80 days). Despite the overall monsoon being classified as normal, rainfall fluctuated between deficit and excess throughout the season. By the season’s end, 188 districts, comprising 27% of the country’s total, received deficit rainfall, with seven districts experiencing large deficit rainfall. Sengupta expresses concerns about the monsoon’s sudden surge in rainfall and emphasizes the changing nature of the monsoon in India. He notes that it has become extremely erratic, no longer following a uniform pattern, which is leading to damage of crops and affecting human populations. He brings attention to the changing nature of the monsoon, emphasizing that extreme weather events, once considered rare or once-in-a-lifetime occurrences, are now happening more frequently. This signifies a notable shift in climate patterns, presenting a greater challenge for communities and ecosystems to adapt and cope with the increased frequency of these extreme events. There is growing concern over a significant 36% reduction in the budget allocated to states and Union Territories to address natural calamities in the fiscal year 2022-23 compared to the previous year, 2021-22. This reduction in funding raises important questions about the preparedness and availability of resources to effectively respond to and manage the increasing impact of these extreme weather events. These alarming statistics, published by DownTo Earth for their report; State of India’s Environment in Figures, 2023, paint a stark picture of the immense challenges India faces due to extreme weather events. The loss of thousands of human lives, extensive damage to vast croplands, and unpredictable rainfall patterns underscore the urgent need for action to address the impacts of climate change and build resilience to mitigate future disasters. Experts emphasize the importance of incorporating the latest scientific findings, establishing reliable methods to assess losses and damages resulting from these events, and formulating sector-specific preparedness and action plans. She highlights the urgent need to strengthen our cities, enabling them to withstand various climate impacts, including extreme rainfall, flooding events, and extreme heat.

India's Electric Mobility Dream: Is 2030 Achievable? Exploring Challenges Of EV Industry And The Solutions

India aims to have 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030 to reduce carbon emission and move towards a greener future. Experts tell ABP Live what more needs to be done to accelerate the pace. India has set an ambitious dream of cutting its carbon emission to 30 percent by 2030, and electric vehicles are supposed to play a major role in achieving this goal. It is believed the electric mobility industry can bring the transformation India needs towards a sustainable environment to make the country cleaner and greener. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had in March this year said more than 2.78 lakh electric vehicles (EVs) have been registered in the country in the 2023 calendar year until then. The minister said that according to the data on the Vahan portal, the registration of EVs in India rose to 10,20,679 in 2022 from 3,29,808 in 2021. Till March 19 this year, a total of 2,78,976 registrations for electric vehicles were made, Gadakri informed. As per the Economic Survey 2023, India's domestic EV market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49 percent between 2022 and 2030, and is expected to see 1 crore units in annual sales by 2030. As per the Government of India’s Vahan portal, 999,949 EVs were sold in 2022. This suggests the growing demand and understanding of consumers as far as EVs are concerned. But the question that is raised here is if the 2030 dream is achievable. Are we doing enough? If not, what more can be done? Where exactly are we lacking? Speaking to ABP Live, several experts shared their views on how India’s ‘electric mobility’ dream is progressing, and their understanding of the current and future picture of the Indian EV industry. Need For Manufacturers, Machinery And Technology There are many components that go into the making of an electric vehicle. The battery is the most important of it all — not only because it is a performance-defining part, but also because it captures the largest share of the total cost of the vehicle. Expressing her view on this, Moushumi Mohanty, Senior Programme Manager, Electric Mobility Programme, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said India does not make EV batteries and since they are imported, they become costly. To manufacture EV batteries, she said, it needs to be reviewed what kind of battery chemistries are being used in the country. Instead of materials such as nickel and cobalt, which are sourced from other countries, there are options such as lithium iron phosphate and lithium titanium oxide (LFP-LTO) that could offer a more sustainable solution. “We need a supply chain. We need tie-ups with material suppliers and medium to long-term contracts to ensure supply security. We also need machinery. There are very few companies in the world that manufacture electrodes and other component-making machinery,” Mohanty said. “Since there are few machinery and equipment manufacturers, there are huge delays in supply. “The order pipelines of these companies have been very long. As a result, a few entities in India are working on manufacturing R&D to build them here in India.” She admitted that it would be a long-term project, though added that this could be done with a funding programme.

Juggling Delhi’s junk to conjure art from waste

Eyes covered with black protective goggles, hands stained with gypsum, 35-year-old artist Kahar Mrunal scavenges through the heap of scrap looking for parts of an automotive engine that has been rusting for years. Returning from the carefully gathered metal fragments at a scrapyard, which doubles as a workshop, he also picks up old pipes. Mrunal is recreating a Colt Model 1903 pocket pistol -- the gun that was used by Indian revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad -- which will be a part of a life-sized metal sculpture of the freedom fighter. Atin Biswas, a waste management expert and programme director of municipal solid waste sector in Centre for Science and Environment, argues that more...

किसानों की आत्महत्या

सरकार की कोशिशों और दावों के बावजूद किसानों की आत्महत्या का सिलसिला रुक नहीं रहा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार आत्महत्या करने वाले किसानों की संख्या बढ़ रही है। 2021 में कृषि क्षेत्र से जुड़े 10,881 लोगों ने आत्महत्या की। देश में औसतन हर रोज 30 किसान व खेतिहर मजदूर (कृषि श्रमिक) आत्महत्या कर रहे हैं, जो पिछले पांच वर्षों में सबसे अधिक हैं। महाराष्ट्र में सबसे ज्यादा 4,064 आत्महत्याएं दर्ज की गईं, उसके बाद कर्नाटक (2,169) और मध्य प्रदेश (671) का नंबर आता है। पंजाब में 270 कृषि संबंधी मौतें इस वर्ष देखी गईं। जबकि हरियाणा में 226, राजस्थान में 141 और हिमाचल प्रदेश में 24 मौतेें हुई। 2020 की तुलना में 2021 में नौ राज्यों में आत्महत्या में वृद्धि देखी गई। अकेले असम में लगभग 13 गुना वृद्धि देखी गई। सवाल है कि सरकारी दावों के मुताबिक यदि किसान की हालत में सुधार हुआ है तो वे आत्महत्या क्यों कर रहे हैं। केंद्र सरकार ने किसानों को विश्वास में लेने के लिए आय को दुगनी करने का वायदा किया था, उसका क्या हुआ? नि:संदेह खेती किसानों के लिए घाटे का सौदा साबित हो रही है। किसानों को आत्महत्या की दशा तक पहुंचा देने के मुख्य कारणों में खेती का आर्थिक दृष्टि से नुकसान दायक होना है। किसान घाटे को पूरा करने के लिए अकसर ऋण लेते हैं और फिर कर्ज के जाल में फंसकर रह जाते हैं। बिचौलियों से मिले अपमान व हताशा के बीच उन्हें आत्महत्या ही वैकल्पिक रास्ता लगता है। ऐसे में देश की प्रगति और विकास के तमाम दावे बेमानी साबित हो रहे हैं। सरकारों की सारी उपलब्धियां अर्थहीन हैं। जलवायु परिवर्तन से मौसम में बदलाव की वजह से भी उपज प्रभावित होती है और किसान को नुकसान उठाना पड़ता है। साथ ही बंपर फसल होने पर उसे बाजार में उचित दाम नहीं मिलता। इससे उबरने के लिए किसानों की हर स्तर पर मदद की जानी चाहिए। कुछ ऐसे प्रयास हों जिससे किसानों का मनोबल ऊंचा हो। साथ ही मौसम के अतिरेक से फसलों को बचाने और उत्पादन बढ़ाने के लिए फसलों का विविधीकरण करने की जरूरत है। फसलों की सिंचाई के लिए किसानों को मुफ्त बिजली व पानी नहीं,बल्कि बिजली की निर्बाध आपूर्ति चाहिए। किसान की आय बढ़ाने के लिए सरकारों ने जिन नीतियों की घोषणा की थी, उनका जमीनी स्तर पर मूल्यांकन किया जाना चाहिए कि वास्तव में उसका लाभ किसानों को क्यों नहीं मिल रहा है? सरकारों को किसानों की आत्महत्या रोकने के लिए युद्धस्तर पर प्रयत्न करने की आवश्यकता है।

तेलंगाना की औद्योगिक नीति के बारे में सुनकर अमेरिकी उद्योगपति हैरान किये

आईटी और उद्योग मंत्री केटीआर ने कहा कि अमेरिकी उद्योगपति तेलंगाना की औद्योगिक नीति के बारे में सुनकर हैरान हैं और उनका कहना है कि उनके देश में ऐसी कोई अद्भुत नीति नहीं है. उन्होंने कहा कि उनका लक्ष्य विकास में दुनिया के लिए एक बेंचमार्क के रूप में खड़ा होना है। उन्होंने कहा कि तेलंगाना आज व्यापक, एकीकृत, समावेशी और संतुलित विकास का वाहक बन गया है। उन्होंने कहा कि कृषि से आईटी, गांव से शहर तक प्रगति चल रही है। तेलंगाना राज्य की 10वीं वर्षगांठ समारोह के तहत टीएसआईआईसी और टीआईएफ ने मंगलवार को दंडुमलकापुर के एमएसएमई ग्रीन इंडस्ट्रियल पार्क में एक औद्योगिक प्रगति समारोह का आयोजन किया। उद्योगों को शुरू करने के साथ ही 106 एकड़ में बनने वाले टॉय पार्क का भी शिलान्यास किया. बाद में केटीआर ने बैठक में कहा कि तेलंगाना राज्य सभी क्षेत्रों में व्यापक विकास कर रहा है। उन्होंने कहा कि भारत पर्यावरण और उद्योग के क्षेत्र में शीर्ष पर है। उन्होंने कहा कि तेलंगाना जैसा व्यापक, एकीकृत, एकीकृत और संतुलित विकास देश में दुर्लभ है। पर्यावरण दिवस के मौके पर सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने कहा कि तेलंगाना ने विभिन्न राज्यों को दी गई रैंक में शीर्ष स्थान हासिल किया है. यह याद किया गया कि ईज ऑफ डूइंग बिजनेस रैंकिंग में यह उद्योगों के लिए तेजी से मंजूरी के मामले में पहले स्थान पर है।

10 Environmentalists to watch out in 2023

Sunita Narain, Editor, Down To Earth and Environmentalist Sunita Narain is one of the foremost environmentalists in India who has had a significant impact on environmental discourse and played a pivotal role in shaping environmental policies and regulations. She is the Director General of Centre for Science and Environment and the Director of Society for Environmental Communications. She has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable development practices, advocating for environmental justice, and raising awareness about pressing environmental issues such as water management and air pollution control. She is the recipient of many accolades, including the Padma Shri, for her environmental work

बधाई हो! सोलन को बेस्ट ग्रीन डिस्ट्रिक्ट अवार्ड

शिमला में मुख्यमंत्री सुखविंदर सिंह सुक्खू ने पुरस्कार देकर नवाजा, लगातार चौथे साल हासिल किया खिताब सौरभ शर्मा-सोलन जिला सोलन ने एक बार फिर पर्यावरण व्यवस्था के प्रति बेहतरीन कार्य करते हुए प्रतिष्ठित ‘बेस्ट ग्रीन डिस्ट्रिक्ट’ का प्रदेशस्तरीय खिताब अपने नाम किया है। विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर शिमला के होटल पीटरहॉफ में आयोजित समारोह में प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री सुखविंदर सिंह सुक्खू ने जिला सोलन को इस पुरस्कार से नवाजा। जिला विज्ञान पर्यवेक्षक अमरीश शर्मा ने यह पुरस्कार प्राप्त किया। इसके अतिरिक्त जिला सोलन के स्कूलों को भी अन्य पुरस्कार प्रदान किए गए। गौर रहे कि सोमवार को विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस के मौके पर विशेष समारोह का आयोजन किया गया। समारोह में प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री सुखविंदर सिंह सुक्खू बतौर मुख्यातिथि उपस्थित रहे। उनके अलावा संयुक्त राष्ट्र की पर्यावरण एंबेसेडर व अभिनेत्री दीया मिर्जा, प्रदेश के मुख्य सचिव प्रबोध सक्सेना व निदेशक पर्यावरण विभाग हिमाचल प्रदेश ललित जैन भी विशेष रूप से उपस्थित रहे। इस समारोह में सेंटर फॉर साईंस एंड एनवायरमेंट के ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम के तहत स्कूलों, जिलों व अध्यापकों को पुरस्कृत किया गया। समारोह में एक बार फिर जिला सोलन ने ग्रीन स्कूल प्रोग्राम में अपनी धाक जमाते हुए बेस्ट ग्रीन डिस्ट्रिक्ट का खिताब अपने नाम किया। जिला विज्ञान पर्यवेक्षक अमरीश शर्मा ने यह अवार्ड प्राप्त किया। इसके अतिरिक्त राजकीय वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक विद्यालय बघेरी ने प्रतिष्ठित एनवायरमेंटल लीडरशिप स्कूल कैटेगरी में प्रथम पुरस्कार प्राप्त किया। इतना ही नहीं कसौली इंटरनेशनल स्कूल व ब्वाय स्कूल नालागढ़ ने चेंजमेकर ग्रीन स्कूल का खिताब अपने नाम किया। गौर रहे कि सेंटर फॉर साईंस एंड एनवायरमेंट द्वारा इसी वर्ष फरवरी में दिल्ली में आयोजित समारोह में भी प्रदेश के 9 स्कूलों को ग्रीन सर्टिफाइड स्कूल से सम्मानित किया गया था, जिसमें से 6 स्कूल अकेले सोलन जिला के थे। इनमें रावमापा बोहली, रावमापा छात्र नालागढ़, एमआरए डीएवी सोलन, कसौली इंटरनेशनल स्कूल, दून वैली स्कूल और शिवालिक वैली स्कूल नालागढ़ शामिल थे। -एचडीएम

State of India’s Environment: Where Does It Stand And Who Is Accountable For It?

With unprecedented heatwaves in European cities and severe cold waves in the tropics, the effects of climate change are visible to all of us today. Even 15 years ago, those who took climate change seriously, saw it as something that will happen far away in the future – maybe affecting their grandchildren. But with unprecedented heatwaves in European cities and severe cold waves in the tropics, the effects of climate change are visible to all of us today. India, too, has already been badly impacted by climate change. Average rainfall levels have been falling, while erratic heavy rains are disrupting agricultural seasons and causing floods. This has destroyed the livelihoods of millions of people and forced them to migrate to other places. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has estimated that in 2022 alone, more than 2.5 million Indians were internally displaced because of climate change. The CSE’s report ‘2023 State of India’s Environment in Figures’, released on Sunday, says that there were 314 extreme weather events last year. The states that were worst affected by extreme weather were Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. These extreme weather events not only led to extreme heat, cold and rain but also cost lives. CSE’s report estimates that 3,026 people died as a direct result of extreme weather – over 80 per cent during the monsoon season. More than 60 per cent of these deaths were recorded in the northwestern and central regions. The report estimates that 1.96 million hectares of agricultural land were damaged by extreme weather events in 2022 alone, leading to significant crop losses to farmers. According to the Climate Transparency Report 2022, Indian farmers lost $ 3.75 billion because of crop failure, between 2016-21, because of extreme weather. Climate change-related extreme weather events resulted in a loss of nearly 36 million hectares of cropped area. A study by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) estimates that if average temperatures continue to rise at the present rate, Punjab will see a significant drop in crop yields by 2050. Maize is likely to see a drop of 13 per cent, cotton 11 per cent, 5 per cent in wheat and potato, and paddy yields could drop by one per cent. It is not just agriculture which has been and will be, affected by climate change. According to the Climate Transparency Report 2022, in 2021 alone India lost an equivalent of 5.4 per cent of its GDP due to extreme weather events, across all sectors of the economy. Extreme heatwave conditions caused a loss of 167 billion potential labour hours. The report predicts that if global temperatures rise by another 1.5 degrees Celsius, India’s average labour productivity will drop by 5 per cent, and it will drop by more than 10 per cent if global temperatures rise by 2.5 degrees Celsius. Speaking on the occasion of World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is moving ahead on tackling climate change while balancing its development needs. ‘The theme of this year's World Environment Day is to get rid of single-use plastic, an issue about which the world is talking today but India has been working on it consistently for the last four-five years,’ he said. PM said that while India is committed to helping the poor, it is also focusing on clean and green energy. India launched the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NPACC) 15 years ago, which is designed by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC). It has eight submissions that focus on promoting solar power, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habit, sustainable water supply, protecting and sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem, greening India, promoting sustainable farming, and generating strategic knowledge on climate change. However, environmentalists and activists say that while these are steps in the right direction, the NPACC needs more teeth and accountability as some of the targets are unachievable. For instance, the Modi government had announced in 2015 that India will have 100 GW of installed solar power capacity by 2020, but as per the available data, to date, only 36 GW could be achieved. The government has also been criticised for not providing enough budgetary support to its climate-change management programmes. The good news, however, is that there is a growing awareness among ordinary citizens that climate change has to be tackled on an urgent basis. India Inc is also contributing both financially and in its corporate practices to help control climate change.