Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

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.

Warm February, Foggy May: How Delhi-NCR Weather Reflects Dangers of Climate Change

Delhi-NCR witnessed a weather roller coaster in May, which is normally the hottest month of the year in India’s capital. At the start of the month, an untimely rare climate phenomenon occurred as a thick layer of fog enveloped certain areas of the city, a characteristic usually observed during winter. The temperature plunged to 15.8°C on May 4, marking the coldest May morning in the capital in 41 years. The lowest temperature ever recorded in May was 15.1°C on May 2, 1969. The often dry month of May also recorded 111 mm rainfall, which was a remarkable 262% above the normal average of 30.7 mm for the month, according to the data supplied by the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) for Delhi’s Safdarjung weather observatory, which provides a marker for the national capital. A total of 11 wet days was recorded in the month gone by, which was much higher than the average 2.7 number of rainy days in the capital. “Typically, Delhi-NCR and parts of North India experience rainfall during the winter months, but this did not occur this time, possibly due to a shift in the weather pattern,” explained Dr. Uday Pratap Shahi, Associate Professor at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut, attributing the weather swing to series of western disturbances. These weather anomalies in May are not exclusive to this region of India. A more detailed analysis of meteorological data reveals that we are witnessing what experts refer to as a climate change phenomenon. Glaciers are melting at a pace unseen in recorded human history besides sea levels are rising. Countries are experiencing more numbers of droughts, extreme heat waves, floods, storms and hurricanes, torrential unseasonal rainfalls among other extreme weather events hurting livelihoods and infrastructure as well as health, food, energy and water security. India witnessed its hottest February since 1901 this year, with maximum temperatures touching 29.54 degrees Celsius (monthly national average). The five warmest Februaries in India have all been in the last 14 years, according to a Hindustan Times report, indicating the impact of the climate crisis. March was equally challenging, as large portions of the country encountered hailstorms and heavy unseasonal rain, resulting in significant damage to standing crops in various regions. The standing wheat crop was worst impacted, along with other Rabi crops (winter sown), including potato and mustard. The mangoes, which started flowering during the time, also bore the brunt of the adverse weather conditions. Even during April, according to IMD, the actual rainfall in Delhi was 23% above normal than the long period average for the month. “There has been an observed change in the timing of weather in recent years. This time around there were fewer colder days in December and January, and the temperature remained low only for a few days in February,” Dr Shahi said. He further explained the phenomenon, stating, “Even within the seasons, the duration of specific weather patterns shows significant fluctuations. The even distribution of rainfall, heat, or cold during their respective seasons is undergoing rapid changes, with increased intensity disrupting their regular seasonal frequency.” Using the example of rainfall, he illustrated that there can be occurrences of exceptionally heavy precipitation on certain days, alongside stretches of consecutive rainless days. Nevertheless, when calculating the overall rainfall at the end of the season, it falls within the expected range for that particular season. Dr. Shahi concluded, “So, as the season comes to a close, we observe a normal volume of rain with a reduced number of rainy days.” Heavy precipitation also leads to flooding and crop damage besides loss of soil fertility. The recurring urban floods in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and other metros have been attributed to unprecedented heavy rainfall. According to experts, climate change has been linked to various extreme events in India, including the increase in heat waves, intensified cyclones, and reduction in diurnal temperature fluctuations, all of which have negative effects on human health. India experienced extreme weather events on 314 out of 365 days in 2022, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth. These events resulted in unfortunate loss of 3,026 lives, impacted 1.96 million hectares of crop area and destroyed 423,249 houses. In the first 59 days of this year, the country experienced extreme weather events on 28 days, according to the CSE’s weather disaster database. These events claimed eight lives and affected 0.39 million hectares (ha) of crop area. “There are reports of increased incidence, intensity, and length of heat waves in India due to climate change. Even a spatio-temporal (space and time) shift in the heat wave influenced region is seen from the eastern part of Gangetic plain towards north-west, central, and south-central regions of India,” explains Tirthankar Banerjee, assistant professor at the Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). According to the United Nations, the world is currently experiencing a faster rate of warming than any other recorded period in history. This sustained increase in temperatures is causing alterations in weather patterns and disrupting the longstanding balance of nature. Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, play a predominant role in global climate change, responsible for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. “Alongside the unprecedented pace of industrialisation, cutting of forests and changes in lifestyle are also influencing weather patterns,” said Shahi. “In the past, air-conditioners were unheard of in villages, but that is no longer the case.” These climatic changes are taking place at such a rapid pace that even scientists did not foresee what would come next. “Climate science is a highly uncertain subject as a number of variables regulate the climate of a region. The science behind the interactions between these variables and how they collectively influence the overall climate is extremely complex,” explained Banerjee. Illustrating this complexity, he stated, “To classify it as climate change rather than climate variability, a sufficiently large dataset of required duration (say 30 years) is necessary." However, with the gradual progress in scientific knowledge in climate change science and continuous improvements in sensing technology, especially in satellite-based measurements and climate models, scientists are developing a better understanding of the complex climatic interactions. “As researchers gain access to improved climate datasets, encompassing both observations and modelling studies, it has become apparent how the climate is changing over a region,” Banerjee said. The government and scientific community are actively working to mitigate and alleviate the impact of climate change. The government is actively promoting crop diversification as a means to reduce the risk of complete crop failure. Furthermore, climate-smart crops such as millets are being promoted to combat environmental stress and ensure the resilience of agroecosystems. A new and improved variety of wheat is currently being developed as the crop is one of the worst affected by climate change. “The months of February and March are critical for wheat cultivation as the size of the grains depends on temperature and moisture. Higher than normal temperatures shrink the size of wheat, impacting both the quantity and quality of the produce,” explains Shahi whose areas of specialisation include soil fertility, micronutrient, and soil pollution. Despite the significant increases in climate action at both the multilateral and individual country levels, experts believe there might be something that is being overlooked.

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

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. 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 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 overall 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. "To give an example, in the net metering, initially the consumers were allowed 1 MW. This came down to 10 KW, which was nothing. Now, the 2020 amendment of the Electricity (Rights of Consumer) Rules, minimum is set at 500 KW, with states given the right to decide what is best for them. This can be very confusing to people," he added. Kumar summed up the webinar stating that before going for energy sustainability, the country needs to work on a sustainable policy first. "And the government should do what it can to encourage people, as the return on investment in this sector can be achieved only in 10 to 12 years. For instance, there is a lot of talk on giving some kind of special privileges to people who have signed up for both electric vehicles and solar photovoltaics in Tamil Nadu. This can be a game changer here," the solar energy firm owner said.

India's sweltering heat waves cause unbearable suffering

Blistering heat has taken a toll on people's lives in large parts of India as temperatures went as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent weeks. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heat wave alert for some states across the South Asian nation this month. The agency warned that sizzling temperatures will continue until rains bring some relief. The southwest monsoon was slightly delayed this year and is expected to hit in the first week of June, causing temperatures to stay high longer than usual, it said. "Yes, the temperatures in some places have crossed the threshold limit in parts of the county," D S Pai, a scientist at the IMD, told DW. Who are the most affected? The searing heat forced many people to seek refuge indoors. But the poor and daily-wage laborers employed in outdoor work such as in the construction sector have been the worst-hit. They usually have no choice but to continue toiling in the sweltering heat to make ends meet and also lack access to cooling solutions like fans and air conditioners. "A large proportion of our population is highly vulnerable to heat waves due to the possession of fewer household amenities as well as lower rates of literacy and access to water and sanitation," Sunita Narain, director of the Center for Science and Environment in Delhi, told DW. The extreme weather conditions can also cause health issues and even deaths. In April, 13 people died from heatstroke and over 12 others suffered from heat-related illnesses in the western state of Maharashtra after attending a public event organized by the state government. A 2021 study by the country's top meteorologists found that heat waves have claimed more than 17,000 lives in 50 years in India. How is climate change impacting the heat? The main summer months — from April to June — are always hot in most parts of India. But temperatures have become more intense in the past decade. South Asia as a whole is considered among the most vulnerable to climate change in the world. A study published earlier this month by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines the source of extreme heat, found that heat waves in the region were made at least 30 times more likely by climate change. Scientists say temperatures are at least 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) hotter in South Asia than in pre-industrial times because of climate change. What happens if current trends continue? If current warming trends continue, temperatures will rise so high that the human body's ability to maintain a stable internal temperature and expel excess heat through sweating could be significantly compromised, said experts like Krishna AchutaRao, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology's center for atmospheric sciences in New Delhi. This will lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion and even life-threatening conditions like heatstroke, they added. "This heat wave has been deadly and studies have shown that climate change exacerbated it not only in terms of temperature but also in terms of the increased humidity — with the heat index 2 degrees Celsius warmer than without climate change," AchutaRao pointed out. He warned that India would face more frequent and intense heat waves in future, affecting everything from jobs and power production to water and food supply. Abinash Mohanty, sector head of climate change and sustainability at IPE-Global, an international development organization, said the latest heat wave in India was a "classic example" of how climate change is negatively affecting the lives and livelihoods of people. "India is going to lose 34 million jobs by 2030 only because of heat waves. Agricultural productivity is going to reduce. It will make a dent in food security, the supply cold chain and the economic sector," he underlined. "The time has come to strengthen local climate action across heat stress districts and cities" with strong government policies, Mohanty said. "The heat action (HAP) plans are a good start, but they need to be backed by policy and financial support to make India heat- wave-ready," he added.

India’s sweltering heatwaves cause unbearable suffering

Experts call for urgent action to prepare vulnerable communities and protect them from the heat’s disastrous impacts. Blistering heat has taken a toll on people’s lives in large parts of India as temperatures went as high as 45 degrees Celsius in recent weeks. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heat wave alert for some states across the nation in May. The agency warned that sizzling temperatures will continue until rains bring some relief. The southwest monsoon was slightly delayed this year and is expected to hit in the first week of June, causing temperatures to stay high longer than usual, it said. “Yes, the temperatures in some places have crossed the threshold limit in parts of the county,” D S Pai, a scientist at IMD, told DW. Who are the most affected? The searing heat forced many people to seek refuge indoors. But the poor and daily-wage labourers employed in outdoor work such as in the construction sector have been the worst-hit. They usually have no choice but to continue toiling in the sweltering heat to make ends meet and also lack access to cooling solutions like fans and air conditioners. “A large proportion of our population is highly vulnerable to heat waves due to the possession of fewer household amenities as well as lower rates of literacy and access to water and sanitation,” Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, told DW. The extreme weather conditions can also cause health issues and even deaths. In April, 13 people died from heatstroke and over 12 others suffered from heat-related illnesses in Maharashtra after attending a public event organised by the state government. A 2021 study by the country’s top meteorologists found that heat waves have claimed more than 17,000 lives in 50 years in India. How is climate change impacting the heat? The main summer months—from April to June—are always hot in most parts of India. But temperatures have become more intense in the past decade. South Asia as a whole is considered among the most vulnerable to climate change in the world. A study published earlier in May by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines the source of extreme heat, found that heat waves in the region were made at least 30 times more likely by climate change. Scientists say temperatures are at least 2°C hotter in South Asia than in pre-industrial times because of climate change. What happens if current trends continue? If current warming trends continue, temperatures will rise so high that the human body’s ability to maintain a stable internal temperature and expel excess heat through sweating could be significantly compromised, said experts like Krishna AchutaRao, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences in New Delhi. This will lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion and even life-threatening conditions like heatstroke, they added. “This heat wave has been deadly and studies have shown that climate change exacerbated it not only in terms of temperature but also in terms of the increased humidity — with the heat index 2°C warmer than without climate change,” AchutaRao pointed out. He warned that India would face more frequent and intense heat waves in the future, affecting everything from jobs and power production to water and food supply. Abinash Mohanty, sector head of climate change and sustainability at IPE-Global, an international development organisation, said the latest heat wave in India was a “classic example” of how climate change is negatively affecting the lives and livelihoods of people. “India is going to lose 34 million jobs by 2030 only because of heat waves. Agricultural productivity is going to reduce. It will make a dent in food security, the supply cold chain and the economic sector,” he underlined. “The time has come to strengthen local climate action across heat stress districts and cities” with strong government policies, Mohanty said. “The heat action (HAP) plans are a good start, but they need to be backed by policy and financial support to make India heat- wave-ready,” he added. What can India do to cope with extreme heat? Scientists worldwide also say drastic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to control the fast-rising global temperatures. India is currently the third-highest emitter of planet-warming gases. But its per capita carbon footprint is far lower compared to Western industrialised nations. According to the World Bank, India emits on average about two tons of CO2 per person every year, compared to around seven tons per person in the European Union and 15 in the United States. Earth’s surface temperature is currently on track to rise 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Such an increase is expected to push over 2 billion people worldwide well outside the climate comfort zone, researchers warned in a Nature Sustainability report published last week. As many as 600 million of these people will be in India, they said. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said India needed to gather sufficient data to identify the most vulnerable regions and put in place effective policies to deal with the problem. “India needs a long-term vision where we have policies that help us in managing our work hours, public infrastructure, schools, hospitals, workplaces, houses, transportation, and agriculture to cope with the future heat waves.”

What CSE expects from Global Plastic Treaty negotiations — the issues & politics

Inger Andersen, executive-director of UNEP, addressing the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee during its second session in Paris, France. Photo: @andersen_inger / Twitter Plastic is a non-renewable product and is just another form of fossil fuel, equally responsible for environmental pollution and climate crisis. Every aspect of its life cycle — from extraction to final disposal — has the potential to fuel climate change. For decades, plastic pollution has been misunderstood and underestimated to be a waste mismanagement issue — a problem to be solved through technological interventions. The petroleum and petrochemicals industry argues that it is not a part of this problem, and most of our national legislations have been taken in by this argument. As a result, all our efforts have been directed towards the downstream end of the plastic life cycle. Governments have mobilised funds to ‘manage plastic waste’, while the production has kept on increasing exponentially. We have produced more plastics in the last 10 years than in the last century! The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution is in the process of developing “an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment”. After its first session, the Secretariat of Governing Bodies and Stakeholders had invited written submissions from major groups and stakeholders. Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), being one of the accredited NGOs with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), had made a written submission that was acknowledged by the INC Secretariat and uploaded on the UNEP portal for public information. CSE’S SUBMISSION TO INC SECRETARIAT CSE’s submission focused on the objectives and the core obligations, control measures and voluntary approaches. The submission mentioned the following points: The objective of the instrument (International legally binding instrument, informally known as the Global Plastic Treaty or GPT) should clearly define its scope to end plastic pollution, and plan to reduce (over a period of ‘X’ years) production and consumption of plastics and chemicals used in plastics, especially by businesses It is important to identify and stop the production of non-recyclable (terminologies used in the UNEA options paper are problematic / unnecessary / avoidable) plastics like carry (carrier) bags and multi-layered packaging material Certain priority sectors like packaging have been using an unsustainable quantum of plastics (typically single-use) — they should be regulated and have to be incorporated in the National Action Plans (NAP) and the national reporting system under implementation measures Under core obligations, transparency with respect to production, consumption and import / export of plastic and plastic waste has to be created and nurtured at a global level Control measures have to be focused on differentiating between recycling and disposal (waste-to-energy and co-incineration) technologies. Many countries have expressed that compostable and biodegradable plastics are the solutions to the plastic crisis. However, it should be brought to the knowledge of the member states that bioplastics come with their own set of challenges and do little to tackle the plastic problem at source As the second session of INC is underway, CSE lists out its expectations from the final document: DEMANDS FOR STRONG GLOBAL PLASTIC TREATY (GPT) GPT to end plastic pollution including in the marine environment covers the entire life cycle of plastic, and rightly so. The entire life cycle (upstream, midstream and downstream) of plastic encompasses: Upstream: Extraction of raw materials like crude oil and gas; Refining the crude oil in petrochemical companies; Polymer / plastic industry involved in plastic production Midstream: Businesses using plastics for profits, their distribution channels, including retailers and street vendors Downstream: Waste management with respect to plastic for instance, segregation, collection, storage; Mechanical recycling of plastic; End of life disposal of plastic waste, such as co-processing and waste-to-energy We list some major issues the treaty negotiations should focus on and also raise flags about the politics we should be aware of at all points of time. Upstream What kind of plastic gets manufactured / produced What chemicals are used for production Oil & gas majors and their economic interest in increased production of polymers Plastic-producing majors and their economic interest in unsustainable production of polymers Midstream Plastic products should be designed for reuse and recyclability. This would mean phasing out all the non-recyclable plastics The narrative of “problematic / unnecessary / avoidable” plastics — terminologies used in the options for elements paper by UNEP — should be replaced with “non-recyclable”. This is because the terminologies used by UNEP may be interpreted differently by different stakeholders Disposal (incineration) and mechanical recycling are used interchangeably by the petroleum, petrochemical and the plastic industry. There should be a clear definition of what we mean by recycling and an exclusion of ‘end of life disposal’ technologies like co-processing / co-incineration and waste to energy from the word recycling Opacity in chemicals used by the polymer industry. The same Low density polyethylene that is used to make milk packets is also used to make our shampoo bottles and our multilayered packaging material. The plastic / polymer material remains the same, but exhibits a variety of physical and chemical properties such as flexibility, form, colour, among others. The variation in the properties is a result of the chemicals that are added to the base polymer. Of the 10,000 chemicals that are used by businesses, most of the chemicals are not known. At least 2,500 of the known chemicals are scientifically proven to have adverse health impacts Downstream Reuse and recycling are the technological solutions. Reuse makes more sense as per the waste management hierarchy. However, products are not designed to be recyclable as businesses do not have liability for the plastic they introduce in the market Stay away from compostable and biodegradable plastics. Bureau of Indian Standards in April 2023 issued a statement that warned about any claims of biodegradable plastics made by companies being false, it further said research on biodegradable plastics is ongoing not only in India but across the globe Recycling may not be the ultimate solution to the plastic crisis. For instance as per a Greenpeace report-the USA recycles 5 per cent of its plastic waste. As per a CSE report, India recycles 13 per cent of its plastic waste. It is known that most of the plastic waste generated in the Global North is incinerated and not recycled, and yet claimed to be recycled The so-called recycling symbol on all plastic products (even on non-recyclable plastics). The recycling symbol on every plastic product has nothing to do with recycling The narrative that the plastic crisis is strictly a “waste management problem” needs to change. The problem of plastics is much more complicated. It is a concoction of unsustainable production issues, human health issues, environmental issues and much more 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. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/waste/plastic-free-planet-what-cse-expects-from-global-plastic-treaty-negotiations-the-issues-politics-89625

Mukesh Ambani Joins COP28 Advisory Committee to Address Climate Crisis

Renowned Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and CEO of Reliance Industries, has been appointed to the Advisory Committee to the President of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Alongside esteemed global leaders, Ambani will play a crucial role in shaping the agenda and providing guidance in addressing the urgent climate crisis. This article highlights the significance of his appointment and the upcoming COP28 conference in Dubai. COP28 and the UNFCCC The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the highest decision-making body of the UNFCCC, established to combat the escalating threat of climate change. COP28 is set to take place in Dubai Expo City from November 30 to December 12, 2023. The host country for this edition is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ambani’s Appointment to COP28 Advisory Committee Mukesh Ambani’s selection to serve on the Advisory Committee to the President of COP28 is a significant milestone. As the only Indian representative alongside Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, Ambani’s expertise will contribute to the committee’s efforts to address climate change challenges. Global Leaders on the COP28 Advisory Council The COP28 Advisory Council comprises esteemed global leaders from diverse backgrounds, including Larry Fink (Chairman and CEO of BlackRock), Olafur Grimsson (Chairman of the Arctic Circle), Laurent Fabius (President of COP21/Paris Agreement, Former Prime Minister of France), Francesco La Camera (Director General of IRENA), and Bob Dudley (Chair of OGCI, Former CEO of BP). COP28 UAE Advisory Committee The COP28 UAE Advisory Committee consists of 31 members representing policy, business, energy, finance, civil society, youth, and humanitarian action. With 65 percent of its members hailing from the Global South, the committee ensures diverse perspectives and expertise from across six continents.