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Centre for Science and Environment releases annual compendium of data 'The State of India’s Environment 2023: In figures'

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth released its annual e-publication, "The State of India’s Environment 2023: In Figures" on Sunday on the eve of World Environment Day. "State of India’s Environment, a data based chronicling of the various parameters tells about India’s environmental performance: where it has faltered, where it has managed to move towards a sustainable existence, and where are the gaps in data,” said Sunita Narain, director general CSE, while releasing the e-publication. In this year’s report for the first time it has analysed and ranked the performance of India’s states on four key parameters. Down To Earth managing editor Richard Mahapatra says “Three key things emerge out of this ranking of states. One, we have found that in each theme, even the top-ranked states are struggling in some of the crucial indicators. Two, none of the states perform well across all four themes that are critical for sustainable development. And three, small states like Goa and Sikkim seem to be performing well.” On illegal use of plastic: In July 2022, when India banned single-use plastics, the Central Pollution Control Board had rolled out a mobile application called SUP-CPCB that allows citizens to complain about illegal plastic sale and use. A dismal redressal rate has meant a declining number of complaints. On management of municipal solid waste: In 2020-21, India generated over 160,000 tonne of municipal solid waste a day – 32 per cent of this remained accounted for. This unaccounted waste usually ends up choking drains or is burnt illegally. On the brighter side, the country’ waste treatment and monitoring improved. On air pollution and health: The average life expectancy of an Indian is likely to have shortened by four years and 11 months due to air pollution in 2020. People in rural areas are likely to have been the worst hit, with their average life expectancy cut short by five years and two months. The life expectancy of their urban counterparts is nine months longer. On climate disasters and extreme weather: In 2022, India experienced extreme weather events on 314 of the 365 days – leading to a loss of over 3,026 lives and damage to 1.96 million hectare of crop area. While heatwaves were common in the first part of 2022, hailstorms became the predominant extreme weather phenomena in 2023. On internal displacement and migration: In 2022, the world saw over 60 million newly displaced people due to the Ukraine war and the La Nina weather phenomenon. In India, climate-induced disasters accounted for almost 100 per cent of the 2.51 million new displacements. Says Kiran Pandey, programme director, environment resources unit, CSE: “We have sourced all the data from government and official documents and sources. For ranking the states, we have looked at 32 indicators under four themes for 29 states. The report’s first chapter clearly lays down the methodology used.” Rajit Sengupta, associate editor, Down To Earth, adds: “We identified and compiled the data, and then standardised the numbers to make them comparable. Differential weightages were assigned to the indicators, and the final scores and rankings were computed thereafter.” In terms of overall environmental performance, the report has ranked Telangana at the top for its progress in increasing its forest cover and in municipal waste treatment. However, the state has performed below average in parameters such as share of water bodies not in use, stage of groundwater extraction and change in number of polluted river stretches. The bottom-ranked 10 states include six from the northeast, including Assam. In agriculture, Madhya Pradesh takes the top slot for the highest share of net value added, and its jump in foodgrain production. However, almost half the crop area in the state remains un-insured. Delhi leads in public health – it has allocated the highest share of its budget to health and boasts of a robust network of healthcare facilities. It, however, has a low immunisation rate. In public infrastructure and human development, Gujarat leads the rankings – it makes the cut for its performance in providing employment and tap water connections. The state, however, ranks comparatively low in sex ratio and has a high proportion of rural households using unclean cooking fuels.

170 nations take first step to end plastic pollution

Currently, only 9% of the annual global plastic waste of 353 million tons is recycled while 19% is incinerated As the world gears up to mark the 50th World Environment Day on Monday with a focus on solutions to plastic pollution, nearly 170 countries have agreed to prepare a draft text called zero draft of an international treaty by November to end plastic pollution through multiple measures in a time-bound manner. The decision on preparing the ‘zero draft' was taken at the UNEP's second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), which ended in Paris on Friday. It was decided that the ‘zero draft' will be put forth by UNEP at the third session of the INC at Nairobi (Kenya) in November. It will become the basis for member-countries to enter into subsequent negotiations to finalize the global treaty, which will also cover the marine environment. At the second INC session in Paris, India is learnt to have advocated for a “consensus-based approach” for taking decisions in the Committee even as some of the developed countries, including few EU nations, wanted it to be decided through majority vote as their representatives argued that the consensus-based approach will block progress and delay the final treaty. Developing countries' representatives, on the other hand, argued that consensus-based approach will ensure inclusivity and this is how any global agreement is agreed upon at the UN forums. Experts from the New Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), who participated in the INC in Paris said India has also rejected phasing down polymer production, one of the suggestions presented in the options paper. In its intervention during the meeting, India pointed out that plastic as a material was not a problem the problem was plastic litter.

Telangana tops in overall environmental performance, Delhi ranked no 1 in public health, as per CSE 2023 report

The bottom ranked states in terms of environmental performance are Rajasthan, Nagaland and Bihar. On World Environment day, Centre for Science and Environment CSE and Down to Earth has released The State of India’s Environment 2023. As per the report, in terms of overall environmental performance Telangana is at the top. Its rank is based on its progress in enhancing the forest cover and also done well in municipal waste treatment. The bottom ranked states in terms of environmental performance are Rajasthan, Nagaland and Bihar. In agriculture, Madhya Pradesh takes the top slot for a big jump in foodgrain production. Unfortunately, though about 50 per cent of the cropped area in the state remains uninsured. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh feature on the second, third and fourth spots while at the bottom of the ranking in agriculture is Delhi, Goa and Meghalaya. In public health, Delhi is ranked number one. The national capital has allocated the highest share of its budget to health. It boasts of a robust network of healthcare facilities. However, it has a low immunisation rate. Delhi is followed by Sikkim, Goa and Mizoram. Madhya Pradesh, which is at the bottom, has a high incidence of maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate. Chhattisgarh, Assam and Uttar Pradesh also range in the bottom-half. In public infrastructure and human development, Gujarat leads the rankings. It makes the cut for its performance in providing employment and tap water connections. The state, however, ranks comparatively low in sex-ratio and has a high proportion of rural households using unclean cooking fuels. However, Jharkhand occupies the bottom spot, and is preceded by Nagaland, Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh. Kiran Pandey, programme director, environment resources unit, CSE and one of the lead analysts behind this report says, “We have sourced all the data from government and official documents and sources. For ranking the states, we have looked at 32 indicators under four themes for 29 states.”

CSE ranks Telangana top in environmental performance

Hyderabad, June 4 (UNI) Telangana, which has been topping national charts in various parameters, proved yet again that it is a role model to the country. On the eve of World Environment Day, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a prominent public interest research and advocacy organisation, released its annual compendium of data in which Telangana was ranked in the top in terms of overall environmental performance. The progress achieved in increasing forest cover and in municipal waste treatment were considered for the ranking. IT and Industries Minister K T. Rama Rao who lauded the ranking, said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s brainchild ‘Haritha Haaram’ and other environmentally friendly programmes secured this rare honour. On the occasion, the Minister recalled the State government’s pioneering initiatives which led to remarkable increase in the green cover in both rural and urban areas, the social benefits and national, international recognition achieved because of them, waste-to-energy programmes and other aspects. He said that the Chief Minister undertook the Haritha Haaram program to reverse the damage caused to the environment in the State. The Minister said that the State government implemented the programme, with the cooperation of people, to increase the green cover from 22 per cent to 33 per cent. KTR said that various orgaisations have recognised the positive impacts the programme had. About 273 crores of saplings were planted in the last nine years, which led to an increase in the forest cover in the State from 19,854 square kilometers in 2015-16 to 26,969 square kilometers in 2023. A remarkable 24.06 per cent of geographical area in the State is covered with forests. KTR cited the Forest Survey of India’s report, which stated that the Haritha Haaram programme increased the green cover in the State by 7.70 per cent. The Minister said that along with social forestry, parks were developed in both urban and rural areas. KTR said that the green budget is allotted under the Panchayat Raj Act and Municipal Act, which is a first of its kind. Now, he said, about 15,000 nurseries, nearly 19,400 Palle Prakruthi Vanams, and 2,725 large Palle Prakruthi Vanams were developed. The Minister said that Rs 700 crores was spent to develop urban forest parks in cities. He said that Hyderabad was recognised as the Tree City of the World. The Minister said that the State government implemented best practices in sanitation management too. He said that the process of biomining, to ensure scientific disposal of waste, was started in municipal corporations and municipalities. KTR said that 24 Megawatts (MW) were produced through waste-to-energy in Hyderabad. The State also stood as leader in generating electricity through alternative sources. The Minister said that while only 74 MW was produced through solar energy when the State was formed in 2014, it surged to 5,865 MW now. He said that it is a matter of pride that the small State stood in second position in the country in terms of generating power through solar energy and that it is a testament of the State’s commitment. KTR said that the national and international level recognitions to the State government’s efforts gives further inspiration. He recalled policy think tank NITI Aayog’s appreciation that Prakurthi Vanam concept is a role model to the country. He said that this is a recognition of the State government's comprehensive and balanced environmental policies and Chief Minister KCR's commitment to the environment. The Minister affirmed that the State government is deeply committed to ensuring an

केटीआर का कहना है कि तेलंगाना अब पर्यावरण प्रदर्शन में भी एक मॉडल

हैदराबाद: आईटी और उद्योग मंत्री के अनुसार, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट और डाउन टू अर्थ की 'द स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज एनवायरनमेंट 2023: इन फिगर्स' रिपोर्ट ने समग्र पर्यावरणीय प्रदर्शन, विशेष रूप से वन क्षेत्र में वृद्धि और नगरपालिका अपशिष्ट उपचार में तेलंगाना की उत्कृष्टता की पुष्टि की है। के टी रामा राव सीएसई मान्यता के लिए राज्य के लोगों को बधाई देते हुए मंत्री ने कहा कि तेलंगाना अब देश के लिए एक रोल मॉडल है। उन्होंने रविवार को यहां एक बयान में कहा कि जैसा कि राज्य के दशवार्षिक समारोह चल रहे थे, यह मान्यता पर्यावरण को बचाने के प्रति तेलंगाना सरकार की प्रतिबद्धता को दर्शाती है। मुख्यमंत्री के चंद्रशेखर राव ने अपनी दूरदर्शिता के साथ पर्यावरण की रक्षा को सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता दी और राज्य में हरित आवरण को 24 प्रतिशत से बढ़ाकर 33 प्रतिशत करने के लिए हरित हरम कार्यक्रम शुरू किया। उन्होंने कहा कि पौधों के जीवित रहने को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए प्रभावी कार्यान्वयन और प्रतिबद्धता ने हरित आवरण में पर्याप्त वृद्धि की है। पिछले नौ वर्षों में 230 करोड़ पौधे लगाने के लक्ष्य के मुकाबले 273 करोड़ पौधे रोपे गए। 2015-16 के दौरान, राज्य में वन क्षेत्र 19,854 वर्ग किमी था और यह 2023 तक बढ़कर 26,969 वर्ग किमी हो गया था। भारतीय वन सर्वेक्षण 2021 के अनुसार, तेलंगाना में हरित आवरण में 7.7 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि हुई थी, उन्होंने कहा।

What to expect at the upcoming Bonn climate conference

Countries will gather in Bonn, Germany from June 5-15 for the United Nation’s mid-year climate conference, also known as the meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB58). The conference will be led by two bodies within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). It will lay the groundwork for the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC in December. COP27, hosted by Egypt last year, precipitated the establishment of a loss and damage fund, which had been negotiated upon and delayed for over three decades. On finance, the Parties called for the reform of multilateral development banks and other global financial institutions. For adaptation to the impacts of ongoing extreme weather events and slow onset events due to climate change, the Parties agreed on the establishment of a framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation, which would allow them to generate ambition and track progress under the global stock take process. While the proposed goal of phasing down fossil fuels did not achieve consensus, COP27 reiterated previous calls “towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” and called for a just transition to renewable energy. “2023 is a crucial year to drive equitable climate ambition. Countries in the Global North, which have already appropriated a giant share of the carbon budget should not be given a free pass on the continued use of natural gas, a significant contributor to warming. The global energy transition pathway has to be for all fossil fuels,” said Sunita Narain, director-general of Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment. “We also need a global deal on renewable energy for energy access for the poorest and most vulnerable in the world,” she added. Since COP27, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has published its Synthesis Report from the Sixth Assessment Cycle, which reiterated the urgency of halving emissions by 2030 if we are to stand a chance of achieving the goal laid out in the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius. Elsewhere, the Russia-Ukraine war is yet to see an end, and energy security continues to dominate the priorities of countries. Wealthy countries have doubled down on their attachment to natural gas, particularly LNG, as evidenced by the G7 announcement at Hiroshima, Japan last month. They are also eager to capture the green supply chains of the future by unveiling large green subsidies, and trade-restricting carbon border taxes. Large, emerging economies have been at the centre of the discussion on energy transition, with experts at CSE and beyond calling for the transition to be equitable so that the development goals of these countries are not compromised. Most importantly, the conversation on finance has elevated this year. The question of much-needed reforms to the global financial architecture that is disadvantageous to developing countries in many ways has become a central priority for the climate community. So, what will countries discuss at the mid-year climate conference in Bonn? Global Stocktake (GST): 2023 is the year that GST — the report card on the Paris Agreement’s goals — culminates. It provides an opportunity to “correct the course we are on”, according to UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. In Bonn this month, the third meeting of the Technical Dialogue will be held, and thereafter, the information collection and technical assessment phase of GST will conclude, leading to the final political phase. The GST process, once completed, must act as a “ratchet mechanism” to create more ambition for climate change mitigation, adaptation, finance and technological support in line with equity. Loss and damage: The second Glasgow Dialogue will take forward discussions held in the two meetings and a workshop of the transitional committee (TC) on Loss and Damage. The TC was established with 24 members (14 from developing countries and 10 from developed countries) to decide upon the sources of finance for the loss and damage fund (LDF), established at COP 27, and its functioning and governance. Bonn will be a good opportunity for Parties to correct course and make LDF fully operational by COP 28, as divergent views about the scale and scope of the fund have emerged in the two meetings of the TC. Mitigation: The Mitigation Work Programme will take discussions to the next level in Bonn with a Global Dialogue planned, followed by an Investment-Focused Event. The co-facilitators have set the tone by choosing “accelerating just energy transition” as the theme for discussions in 2023. This Work Programme has the potential to offer a constructive space for developing countries to lay out their financing and technological needs to drive more climate ambition. Adaptation: The 6th workshop of the Glasgow Sharm El-Sheikh Work Programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) will be held in Bonn, June 4-5. At this workshop Parties will take forward the discussions from the 5th workshop held in March that discussed transformational adaptation taking into account the knowledge of indigenous communities around the world, various cross-cutting issues and changing mindsets. The theme of the 6th workshop would be discussions around metrics, indicators and methodologies for establishing the framework for GGA. This would pave the way for the 7th and 8th workshops. Finance: While the $100 billion climate finance goal may be met this year, discussions on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance will continue at Bonn. The Sixth Technical Expert Dialogue will deliberate on the “quantum” of money for the new goal as well as “mobilisation and provision of financial sources”. Article 6: Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the SBSTA will further the work on the development of the necessary rules and procedures to implement the cooperative approaches outlined in Article 6.2. Regarding Article 6.4, the body will work to shape the responsibilities of the supervisory body and the participating parties in the mechanism. Additionally, the body will consider matters such as the appropriateness of including emission avoidance and conservation enhancement activities under Article 6.4. For our collective progress to line up with considerations of equity, this year, above all, is about money. “For countries of the Global South, the focus should be on the lack of concessional finance to drive the energy transition. And we need to find ways to ensure that countries come up with sectoral trajectories for decarbonisation, and that these pathways list the financial gaps for which funding should be secured,” said Narain. The spotlight must be on finance in various concrete forms — filling up a loss and damage fund, concessional finance for the energy transition and decarbonisation in developing countries, more financing for adaptation and progress on the NCQG towards an ambitious new goal reflective of the true needs of the developing world. The United Arab Emirate’s COP 28 tenure is being headed by the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, who is also the chairperson of Masdar, UAE’s renewable energy developer. Pressure has mounted from groups citing concerns about clashing interests — how can an oil baron lead the world on efforts to cut greenhouse emissions? Of course, wishing away conflicting interests does not make them disappear, and it will be the challenge this year for civil society and UNFCCC multilateral process to push through equitable climate ambition. We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.

World Environment Day 2023: Six documentaries to watch on June 5

From tackling e-waste to what’s plaguing our marine life, these award-winning documentaries give an insight into issues concerning our environment. ndian documentary The Elephant Whisperers that won us the Best Documentary Short Film at the recent 95th Academy Awards, helped showcase the bond between a baby elephant and an Adivasi couple in Tamil Nadu who are entrusted with its care, with focus on animal and environment conservation. The Oscar-nominated documentary feature All That Breathes showed two brothers tending to injured black kites in Delhi. In recent years, many critically-acclaimed documentaries such as Seaspiracy (2021), My Octopus Teacher (2020), Extinction: The Fact (2020), and Catching the Sun (2015), among others, have helped raise awareness about many issues plaguing our nature and environment. Before The Flood (2016) on Disney+ Hotstar Actor and a United Nations Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio produced, hosted and narrated this documentary on climate change. The one-and-a-half-hour-long documentary made in association with National Geographic sees DiCaprio meeting several world leaders and thinkers including Barack Obama, Elon Musk, Pope Francis and John Kerry, and closer home, with Indian environmentalist Sunita Narain, to discuss the impact of rising sea levels and deforestation among other situations impacting global warming. Directed by Fisher Stevens, the documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016 before its theatrical release.

Environmental crusader Manoj Misra dies, Jairam Ramesh hails ‘indefatigable environmentalist’

Efforts of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, spearheaded by Misra, led to National Green Tribunal calling for the phased rejuvenation of the river in 2015 Renowned environmental activist and former Indian Forest Service officer Manoj Misra breathed his last at 12.40 pm on Sunday, leaving behind a legacy of battles fought to safeguard precious forests and rivers. He was 68. Misra, who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 8, was undergoing treatment since April 10. The conservation community, including members of the Indian Forest Service fraternity, mourned his passing and hailed his tireless efforts to safeguard forests and rivers. Born in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Misra’s early life was shaped by his love for nature and the environment. He pursued his education from Pant Nagar University in Uttarakhand and later at Allahabad University. In 1979, he joined the Indian Forest Service, joining the Madhya Pradesh cadre. He served in various capacities in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh before opting for voluntary retirement in 2001. In 2007, he founded the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a movement dedicated to the revival of the river. While pollution in the Yamuna had become a national concern in 1994, it was Misra’s leadership that brought environmental flow and the river’s floodplains into the spotlight. Known for his humility, Misra actively fought against deforestation, illegal mining and pollution using legal avenues to protect natural resources. His legal battles to save forests and rivers gained widespread recognition. Misra fought numerous legal battles to protect the Yamuna and its floodplains, taking a stand against the construction of a metro depot (2007), a Millennium Bus depot (2011), dumping of construction debris (2012), covering of stormwater drains (2013), pollution in the Hindon river (2014), construction of an elevated road without environmental study (2015) and a cultural festival organised by the Art of Living (March 2016). The efforts of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, spearheaded by Misra, led to the National Green Tribunal calling for the phased rejuvenation of the river in 2015. Until his hospitalisation, Misra continued to fight for the preservation of the Yamuna and its floodplains. In April, he wrote to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, seeking action against an illegal cricket ground and academy operating on the floodplains near the DND flyway. Misra’s relentless efforts to protect the river and its floodplains have had a profound impact. According to Sudha, a member of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, “Had it not been for sir (Misra), the floodplain that we are seeing today in Delhi would not exist. Concrete infrastructure, including helipads and five-star hotels, would have come up on the site.” Misra’s passing leaves a void in the environmental conservation movement as he was regarded as a one-man army in the fight to safeguard the Yamuna river. His dedication and unwavering commitment to the cause serve as an inspiration to all who strive for a greener and more sustainable future, she added. His death came on a day a large number of people gathered along the Yamuna riverbank to form a human chain under a citizen-centric initiative to save the river from heavy pollution. Under the ‘Yamuna Sansad’ initiative, people formed human chains at many places to demand the revival of the river overburdened by sewage and industrial waste. As news of his passing spread, tributes poured in from environmentalists, colleagues and admirers, acknowledging the significant contributions Misra made throughout his life. “His unwavering determination to protect the environment and his instrumental role in preserving the Yamuna river and its floodplains will be remembered as a lasting legacy. He took me under his fold. He was like my father. I am saddened that he could not see a ‘nirmal’ Yamuna during his lifetime,” said Bhim Singh, a member of the South Asia Network on Rivers, Dams and People—an informal network working on issues related to rivers, communities and large-scale water infrastructure such as dams. Congress leader and former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh expressed sadness at Misra’s death and said, “Deeply distressed to learn of the passing away of Manoj Misra, an indefatigable environmentalist. He was particularly passionate about the protection of rivers and spent much of his time on the revival of the Yamuna. “He helped me in the drafting of the first set of rules for River Regulation Zone, much along the lines of the Coastal Regulation Zone rules. Sadly, we still dont have enforceable RRZ rules.” Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena, who heads the the National Green Tribunal’s high-level committee set up recently to monitor works to rejuvenate the Yamuna, also expressed his shock and pain at Misra’s “untimely demise”. “He remained a warrior for the cause of environment and a son of river Yamuna, consistently striving for her revival. His passing away leaves us bereft of a valuable fellow traveler on path of rejuvenating Yamuna,” Saxena said on Twitter. Environmentalist Sunita Narain said on Twitter, “What sad news. Remarkable fighter for rivers and all things right. Huge loss. This world environment day will be much poorer without Manoj.” World Environment Day, which is observed on June 5, encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment.

India News | Telangana Ranks Top on Environmental Performance in CSE's Annual Ranking: Minister

Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. On the eve of World Environment Day, non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released its annual compendium of data in which Telangana was ranked in the top in terms of overall environmental performance. On the eve of World Environment Day, non-profit Centre for S .. Read more at: https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/india-news-telangana-ranks-top-on-environmental-performance-in-cses-annual-ranking-minister-5177299.html

Only 67 countries offer submissions on a proposed global treaty on ending plastic pollution. “Lows of the meeting were deeper than the highs”: CSE team

Even as the world gets ready to mark the World Environment Day (June 5) with the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, an important global meet on ending plastic pollution came to an end in Paris today with a whimper. The second meeting of the UN’s intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) was being held in Paris (France) from May 29-June 2. The INC is a body of 193 UN member countries which will be negotiating a legally binding instrument, with a timeline to develop the final draft and open it for ratification by 2025. The agenda for INC-2 was to discuss possible options and develop a zero draft for the international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution throughout the life cycle of plastic. Speaking in New Delhi, CSE director general Sunita Narain drew attention to the problem of plastics in the environment: “Plastic is an all pervading essential substance in our lives. Its use has become so important for us because it is long-lasting and can be used for almost everything we do, from piping water to packing milk or chips. But it is this very characteristic of this substance that has now become a bane for our environment. Plastic waste has become the sign of the Anthropocene – you can say that humans live here because you will find plastic waste in the environment. Worse, massive quantities of plastic litter is now polluting oceans, and also entering the food chain through fish that we eat. It is not good news.” While there is global acknowledgement of the scale of the plastic problem, collaborative action – as seen in the proceedings and outcome of the INC-2 – has been missing. Says Atin Biswas, programme director, solid waste management and circular economy, CSE: “The basis of discussions at INC-2 was an options paper released by the INC secretariat before the INC-2 meeting. This paper was prepared on the basis of written submissions received from member states on what should be considered for an ideal global plastic treaty. Only 67 member states put in their submissions. It should be noted that the lows of the meeting were clearly deeper than the highs”. India is advocating a consensus-based approach for taking decisions in the INC. This approach will certainly ensure inclusivity, but it may make the process of decision-making slower. India has also rejected phasing down polymer production, one of the suggestions presented in the options paper. In its intervention during the Meeting, India pointed out that plastic as a material was not a problem – the problem was plastic litter. Says Siddharth G Singh, programme manager, solid waste management and circular economy, CSE: “This indicates that India is focusing on downstream measures to tackle plastic pollution, though Indian legislation talks about mid-stream approaches like re-design and re-use.” The INC-2 meet ended with the informal discussions reporting back to the committee. The meet was expected to arrive at a zero draft text, but “due to delays in the negotiation processes, especially on the ‘provisional rules of procedure’ with reference to Rule 37 on voting rights, and Rule 38(1) on the adoption of decisions, the zero draft could not be arrived at in this meeting,” says Singh, who, along with Biswas, represented CSE in the negotiations. All member states, however, have unanimously agreed that the INC secretariat should work on a zero draft and present it to the member states. This will become the basis of discussions in INC-3, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2023. Says Biswas: “All eyes are, therefore, now on Nairobi for developing a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.”

CAQM invites ideas, projects for air pollution control in NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas is inviting research and development (R&D) ideas and pilot projects for air pollution control in NCR, awarding a grant of ₹15 lakhs for projects lasting one year and up to ₹25 lakhs for projects lasting two years, officials said. CAQM, through a “call for project proposal” has asked scientists, researchers, academic institutions, individuals and NGOs to come forward to demonstrate projects that can help in prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in the region. “Section 12(2)(vi) and 12(6)(c)(iii) of the CAQM Act, empowers and mandates the Commission to carry out R&D on air pollution. Under this scheme CAQM will provide financial assistance to Scientists, researchers, academic institutions, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), CBOs, consortia and individuals towards demonstrable projects for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution,” said the call for proposal, issued dated May 26. CAQM says the proposals can be submitted till June 30, after which a technically committee will evaluate each idea, technology or project. “The proposals shall be evaluated by a Committee constituted for this purpose by-the CAQM. The proponents are encouraged to publish the outcome of their project work including R&D elements, if any, in national and International journals,” the notice adds. CAQM says it is looking to find solutions in the sectors of vehicular pollution, Industrial pollution, dust from construction and demolition (C&D) activities, dust from roads and open areas, biomass burning, agricultural stubble burning, municipal solid waste (MSW) burning and air Pollution from dispersed sources including pollution hotspots, an official said. “The idea is to put some of these projects in use by the upcoming winter,” said an official. CAQM added that it will review and monitor their proposed projects at different stages, with action also possible against the project proponent, if progress is not up to the mark. Delhi NCR is one of the most polluted sub-regions in the world, with cities part of NCR regularly emerging in the list of the most polluted cities in the world. Delhi was ranked the fourth most polluted city in the world in 2022 with average annual PM 2.5 levels of 92.6 micrograms per cubic metre, as per the ‘World Air Quality Report’ 2022 released by the Swiss firm IQAir in March this year. Bhiwadi in Rajasthan was ranked third overall, with an average concentration of 92.7. Pollution levels in winters in particular are known to touch ‘severe’ air quality levels, translating to PM 2.5 readings that are over 300 micrograms per cubic metre. The safe standard for PM 2.5 annually is 40 micrograms per cubic metre and 60 micrograms per cubic metre in a 24-hour period. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says while it is okay to bring forward new research and pilot innovations, however it was important to ensure they aligned with the long-term targets of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). “The goal should be emission reduction and the ideas should be scalable and replicable. We also don’t want cosmetic fixes like smog towers, which only influence a very limited area and also do not target the source,” she said.

Agenda For World Environment Day 2023: Our Planet Is Choking On Plastic, It’s Time For A Change

This year, on June 5, world will mark World Environment Day with the theme Beat Plastic Pollution, a look at why the theme holds so much importance Every year, June 5 is marked as World Environment Day. This year marks the 15th iteration of the annual celebration of the planet and will be focusing on the plastic pollution crisis, once again. The reason? According to United Nations Environment Programme, humans produce more than 430 million tonnes of plastic annually. It further states that overall, 46 per cent of plastic waste is landfilled, while 22 per cent is mismanaged and becomes litter. The problem with plastic is that it is everywhere and unlike other materials, it does not biodegrade. As a result, it chokes marine wildlife, damages soil and poisons groundwater, and can cause serious health impacts. To bring back the focus on solutions to plastic pollution, this year World Environment Day will be marked with the theme #BeatPlasticPollution. The day is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, the day has grown to be the largest global environmental programme, which is celebrated by millions of people across the world. This year, World Environment Day 2023 is hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and supported by the Netherlands. The Worrying Trends Did you know, since the 1970s, the rate of plastic production has grown faster than that of any other material? Globally, the world produces seven billion tonnes of plastic waste annually, and, so far, less than 10 per cent has been recycled. UNEP states that if this growth trends continue, global production of plastic will reach 1,100 million tonnes by 2050. UNEP also adds that as per global estimates, around 75 to 199 million tonnes of plastic is currently found in our oceans and it is estimated that 1,000 rivers are accountable for nearly 80% of global annual riverine plastic emissions into the ocean, which range between 0.8 and 2.7 million tonnes per year. India’s Scenario According to Plastics, The Potential and Possibilities report prepared in association with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Praxis Global Alliance, India generates around 3.4 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually and only 30 per cent of it is recycled. Talking about the concern of growing plastic waste and how it is becoming a threat in Himalayan regions as well, Environment Scientist Dr Suresh Kumar Atri told ANI that the littering of plastic is becoming a serious threat. He said, We are receiving 200 tons of plastic in the forest of the Himalayas. If the Himalayan region is not preserved the entire downstream area will get affected, which means that it will affect more than 700 million people as dumping plastic in soil decreases its fertility. Last year in July, India banned the use of ‘single-use plastic’ on items like balloon sticks; cigarette packs; cutlery items including plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, trays; earbuds; sweet boxes to name a few. But on ground the reality has not changed much as these items are still available and are being sold in the market. When the ban took place last year, team Banega Swasth India spoke with Atin Biswas, Pragramme Director – Municipal Solid Waste from Centre For Science and Environment (CSE) to know why these bans are not effective in the country and what should authorities focus on, he said, There have been plastic bans in the past as well. As many as 25 states had banned plastic previously with some form of state notification within their own jurisdictions. But all these bans had a very limited impact on ground. This ban was notified last year in August, so ample time has been given. Currently also we have banned only 10% or 20% of plastic items and we still haven’t touched packaging material and that is the big problem.

CSE study in 2021 is based on old data, claims MahaGenco

Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco) has claimed that the study titled ‘Water - Insufficient Power - Implementing Water Norms and Zero Discharge in India’s Coal-Power Fleet’ conducted by Centre For Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, is based on old water consumption data. MahaGenco has taken a lot of effective steps to minimise fresh water usage in all its thermal power stations. The report published in The Hitavada on June 1 was based on the CSE study. Its finding stated, “Koradi, Chandrapur and Nashik Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) are the highest fresh water utilising TPPs in Maharashtra. Also, these three power plants are the most non-complying coal-based thermal power plants to curtail fresh water utilisation in the country. Responding to the ‘The Hitavada’ report, MahaGenco admitted, “Although the specific water consumption of Nashik TPP is slightly higher than the norm. It is basically due to older installation of the unit and the poor water quality of Godavari river.” However, Chandrapur TPP will also be using sewage water for power generation ‘shortly’, MahaGenco stated. About Koradi TPP, MahaGenco stated, “Koradi TPP is using around 95% recycled water for power generation which it receives from Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Bhandewadi sewage treatment plant.” It claimed, “This has saved precious Pench river fresh water which is now available for the drinking purpose to the residents of Nagpur city.” It also claimed, “The recycling of water is one of the crucial steps which has curtailed fresh water uses and helped zero water discharge policy. Water uses is reviewed on monthly basis to effectively further reduce fresh water uses.” According to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Nagpur is generating 520 MLD sewage water every day in which the civic body is treating 409 MLD water per day. Among this treated water, MahaGenco is consuming around 330 MLD water every day for its Koradi and Khaperkheda thermal power plants.

Lack of clear policies slowing solar rooftop projects: Experts

Discoms feeling uncomfortable with increas - ing solar footprint, pol - icies governing solar energy sector being unclear, and slow uptake of rooftop solar power systems -- these are some of the issues holding back the growth of solar energy in the country. In a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday to better understand net metering for consumers in India, which is considered crucial for increasing private investments in solar energy, experts discussed the various problems affecting the sector and the way forward. Explaining the concept of net metering while moderating the online discussion, Maitreyi Karthik, deputy programme manager of renewable energy at CSE, said it applies to consumers who have a grid connection with enough rooftop space and load available at a particular location. One of the participants, bureaucrat Manu Srivastava pointed out that power consumers are currently facing a number of problems that has slowed down the growth of solar energy sector in India. "The biggest reason is the resistance shown by discoms. And the way to overcome this is moving away from net metering, which gives all the advantage to the consumers to net billing, which also takes into consideration the interests of discoms. In net billing, the rates are flexible and decided by discoms," said Srivastava, principal secretary, technical education, skill development and employment department of Madhya Pradesh govern - ment. Jay C Shiv, programme director, renewable energy, CSE, said: "Installation of more than 53 gigawatt (GW) of ground-mounted solar PV has been achieved against the target of 60 GW; however, the progress for solar rooftop projects is only 9 GW against the target of 40 GW." A parliamentary panel, in a report in March, attributed low installation of solar rooftop and wind energy projects as key reasons for the shortfall in achieving India's renewable energy capacity target by 2022. However, renewable energy capacity of 120.90 GW has been installed in the country as of December 31, 2022 which is about 69 per cent of the over - all target, the Standing Committee on Energy said in its report. Meanwhile, Tirupur-based solar energy company Mangla Smart Energy Solutions CEO Vimal Kumar, another participant, said the government should look beyond capital subsidy. "I think there should be a stronger, technically sound policy for the entire country," he opined. Kumar also felt that the intentions should be well thought out when framing billing mechanisms. "For instance, in Tamil Nadu there is something called network charges, which is 1.48 paise for a unit generated. This is very high and this charge is also calculated on the expected units – which are mostly more than the actual ones shown on the inverter," Kumar said. He also flagged the lengthy and time-consuming process for approvals of larger capacity rooftop solar setups. Sunit Mathur, general manager of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, agreed that solar energy sector lacks a level playing field. Despite it being clean, green, and sustainable, the solar sector does not have clear-cut policies to support its growth, he added. Besides, Srivastava also chimed in saying that constant changes in policies confuse the consumers. Press Trust of India Bengaluru Discoms feeling uncomfortable with increasing solar footprint, policies governing solar energy sector being unclear, and slow uptake of rooftop solar power systems these are some of the issues holding back the growth of solar energy in the country. In a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday to better understand net metering for consumers in India, which is considered crucial for increasing private investments in solar energy, experts discussed the various problems affecting the sector and the way forward. Explaining the concept of net metering while moderating the online discussion, Maitreyi Karthik, deputy programme manager of renewable energy at CSE, said it applies to consumers who have a grid connection with enough rooftop space and load avail - able at a particular location. One of the participants, bureaucrat Manu Srivastava pointed out that power consumers are currently facing a number of problems that has slowed down the growth of solar energy sector in India. "The biggest reason is the resistance shown by discoms. And the way to overcome this is moving away from net metering, which gives all the advantage to the consumers to net billing, which also takes into consideration the interests of discoms. In net billing, the rates are flexible and decided by discoms," said Srivastava, principal secretary, technical education, skill development and employment department of Madhya Pradesh government. Jay C Shiv, programme director, renewable energy, CSE, said: "Installation of more than 53 gigawatt (GW) of ground-mounted solar PV has been achieved against the target of 60 GW; however, the progress for solar rooftop proj - ects is only 9 GW against the target of 40 GW." A parliamentary panel, in a report in March, attributed low installation of solar rooftop and wind energy projects as key reasons for the shortfall in achieving India's renewable energy capacity target by 2022. However, renewable energy capacity of 120.90 GW has been installed in the country as of December 31, 2022 which is about 69 per cent of the over - all target, the Standing Committee on Energy said in its report. Meanwhile, Tirupur-based solar energy company Mangla Smart Energy Solutions CEO Vimal Kumar, another participant, said the government should look beyond capital subsidy. "I think there should be a stronger, technically sound policy for the entire country," he opined. Kumar also felt that the intentions should be well thought out when framing billing mechanisms. "For instance, in Tamil Nadu there is something called network charges, which is 1.48 paise for a unit generated. This is very high and this charge is also calculated on the expected units – which are mostly more than the actual ones shown on the inverter," Kumar said. He also flagged the lengthy and time-consuming process for approvals of larger capacity rooftop solar setups. Sunit Mathur, general manager of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, agreed that solar energy sector lacks a level playing field. Despite it being clean, green, and sustainable, the solar sector does not have clear-cut policies to support its growth, he added. Besides, Srivastava also chimed in saying that constant changes in policies confuse the consumers.

Lack of clear-cut policies slow down solar rooftop projects, say experts

Explaining the concept of net metering while moderating the online discussion, Maitreyi Karthik, deputy programme manager of renewable energy at CSE, said it applies to consumers who have a grid connection with enough rooftop space and load available at particular location. Bengaluru: Discoms feeling uncomfortable with increasing solar footprint, policies governing solar energy sector being unclear, and slow uptake of rooftop solar power systems -- these are some of the issues holding back the growth of solar energy in the country.In a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday to better understand net metering for consumers in India, which is considered crucial for increasing private investments in solar energy, experts discussed the various problems affecting the sector and the way forward. Explaining the concept of net metering while moderating the online discussion, Maitreyi Karthik, deputy programme manager of renewable energy at CSE, said it applies to consumers who have a grid connection with enough rooftop space and load available at a particular location. power consumers are currently facing a number of problems that has slowed down the growth of solar energy sector in India. "The biggest reason is the resistance shown by discoms. And the way to overcome this is moving away from net metering, which gives all the advantage to the consumers to net billing, which also takes into consideration the interests of discoms. In net billing, the rates are flexible and decided by discoms," said Srivastava, principal secretary, technical education, skill development and employment department of Madhya Pradesh government.

Koradi, Chandrapur, Nashik TPPs in State using highest fresh water for power generation: Study

Koradi, Chandrapur and Nashik Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) top Maharashtra in utilising fresh water for power generation, revealed a study conducted by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organisation. According to the CSE study, these three power plants also top the country in non-complying coal-based thermal power plants standards as notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in December 2015. The findings of the study named ‘Water - Insufficient Power - Implementing Water Norms and Zero Discharge in India’s Coal-Power Fleet’ were released by the CSE in 2021. In its notification, MoEF&CC also mentioned that TPPs installed before 2017 were required to meet a norm of 3.5 cubic metre per megawatt hour (m3/MWh) while those TPPs installed after January 1, 2017 had to meet 2.5 m3/MWh along with zero liquid discharge. As per the study, “Non-complying plants in Maharashtra include older units commissioned before 1997, including Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company Limited’s (MahaGenco’s) Koradi, Chandrapur and Nashik TPP.” In Maharashtra, the CSE conducted the survey at 22.59 GW capacity TPPs including Koradi, Nashik, Paras, Chandrapur, and NTPC Solapur. Among these, 9.6 GW capacity plants are most non-complying to MoEF&CC notification, highest in India. Though the study was conducted in 2021, the water consumption and the status of compliance remain the same as the requirement of water continued to increase day by day for power generation. As per the CSE report, about 48 per cent of existing coal-power fleet is located in water-scarce regions such as Nagpur and Chandrapur in Maharashtra; Raichur in Karnataka; Korba in Chhattisgarh; Barmer and Baran in Rajasthan; Khammam and Kothagudem in Telangana and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu which are already facing the brunt of water scarcity. Power plants in water-scarce areas had to often resort to shutdown or curtail production due to reduced water availability or non-availability of water. With acute water shortage and declining availability of water, such a scenario is expected to become more frequent in the future, the study stated. The crisis is especially aggravated during summers when there is additional demand for power due to increased cooling needs, increasing pressure on coal-based power plants. Monsoon failure and drought also add to the stress, it stated. The study also stated, “The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) monitors the implementation of critical emission control technologies and updates the data in the public domain, quarterly. However, there is no information available in public domain, no transparency is maintained related to water consumption data and compliance status of each plant.” As per the MoEFCC notification of 2015, all freshwater-based once-through plants were required to install cooling tower and achieve the limit of 3.5 m3 per MWh by 2017. In June–July 2019, however, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued directions to these freshwater based once-through plants (about 17 GW capacity) to install cooling towers and comply with the standards by June 30, 2022. The study also revealed that about 20 out of 36 TPPs identified as non-complying to cooling tower-based plants in the surveyed capacity had high Specific Water Consumption (SWC) greater than 4 m3/MWh. However, in Maharashtra, MahaGenco’s Koradi-based TPP, which has the total generation capacity of 2,400 MW, had SWC greater than 4 m3/MWh, the study claimed. Most of the newer units have come up in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. With regard to the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) norm, there is no information on whether these newer plants follow the zero liquid discharge condition laid down in the 2015 water norms. Even Pollution Control Boards are not keeping a track on the ZLD implementation norm as no on-ground monitoring and inspection is carried out to check compliance with respect to zero discharge, it stated.