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G20 meet will help shape future climate talks: Experts

The G20 summit will play a crucial role for future climate discussions and help shore up action required from both developed and developing countries, experts said on Thursday as they stressed on the key issues of climate finance and loss and damage fund during the HT G20 Agenda on green development; climate finance and LiFE (lifestyle for environment). Stressing on the need for swift action against the climate crisis, the experts cited the latest World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report that has warned against a likely breach of the 1.5°C temperature threshold, at least temporarily, within the next five years. “It’s a very important time for us — for the Indian Government to make sure that the issue of climate action is given the highest priority for the future. G20 is the opportunity to put forward a very clear statement that we take the issue of climate change and mitigation very seriously, at a time when countries appear to be missing their 2030 targets,” said Sunita Narain, director general (DG) at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), who was a panellist at the G20 Agenda discussion. Across the world, she added, countries are still reliant on oil and gas, and fossil fuels. “I think it’s important for G20, under the leadership of India, to make sure that there are very clear statements about both the need for action, the need for equity and climate justice, without which one will not get an effective climate agreement for the future.” Another panellist, Arunabha Ghosh, CEO at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), said it was important for the G20 to recognise that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue. “It is at the heart of a far bigger existential problem that will impact our economic prospects, human development, the resilience of our natural ecosystems and the prospects for future generations,” he said. The loss and damage fund, a key proposal during COP27 climate talks in Sharm El-Sheikh last year, aims to compensate the most vulnerable countries facing the adverse effects of climate change. It also featured in Thursday’s discussion. Experts also raised the need to have a clearly defined mechanism for the distribution of funds and eligibility of countries that can be compensated for the losses. “Apart from the G20, there is also a financing summit that president (Emmanuel) Macron is hosting next month. India is co-chairing the steering committee and one of the things we are exploring is how we can explore innovative financing mechanisms that can raise a lot more capital particularly to address the vulnerability issue. While mitigation financing gets a lot more investment from the private sector, adaptation and particularly resilience will require a lot more innovative thinking,” Ghosh said. On whether India, as a developing nation, contributed to this loss and damage fund, Narain said that the Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992, was quite clear on this. It was a rule-based system. “The biggest question out there is, who should pay for the loss and damage fund? Should India pay for it? Now our position has been absolutely no and this is where we go back to the root of the problem of climate negotiations. In the 1992 framework, it was said that there are a group of countries which have created the problem and they need to reduce emissions. The remaining world will also add to emissions as they grow and they need the right to develop, but they must develop differently, and for that, they need finance and technology. India has not contributed to the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, either in the past or even up to 2030 and it should not be part of the conversation...” Narain added, asserting that it was simply a “distraction” to delay framing this global negotiation. Ugo Astuto, ambassador of the delegation of European Union (EU) to India, who was also part of the discussion, clarified that the EU was already demonstrating its commitment in respect of the last edition of the COP summit. “In the last few days, there was the controversy whether a loss and damage fund be created or not, but then the EU clearly came out in favour of its creation and together, we are working with India for a positive conclusion. The EU today is already the largest provider of public funds when it comes to climate change and the largest provider worldwide of development aid. In the EU, we also have a target now of cutting carbon emissions by 55% by 2030. This is enshrined in law and not a vague aspiration, meaning all EU member states will have to follow this.” he said, stating that the G20 summit can be instrumental, as collectively, the G20 countries were a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. “Therefore, the countries have a particular responsibility too. It is a forum where collective decisions can be taken and agenda can be shaped,” he added.

Telangana: More sunny days means higher PM2.5

HYDERABAD: While air pollution is a prevalent issue during winter months, the increasing number of sunny days brings its own challenges for air quality. Heatwaves, characterised by extreme heat and stagnant air, not only contribute to higher levels of ozone pollution but also particulate pollution, say reports. According to a study titled “Spread and Scale of Summer Air Pollution in India 2022” conducted by Urban Lab - Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Hyderabad was found to be the most polluted city in south India among 39 cities in the region. Between March 1 and May 31, 2022, Hyderabad recorded an average PM2.5 level of 47 µg/m³ during the summer, with a peak value of 77 µg/m³ for a 24-hour period. Although the summer average increased by 10 per cent, the peak level was seven per cent lower. However, on a specific day this summer, the average PM2.5 level at Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad was recorded at 103 µg/m³, with the highest value reaching 184 µg/m³ at 2 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Dr KV George, Chief Scientist and Head of the Air Pollution Control Division at the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) told TNIE that while air pollution levels in summer are relatively lower compared to winter due to natural processes, changes in wind direction can bring pollutants to specific regions. Dry conditions and high temperatures also contribute to forest fires, and inadequate solid waste management in dumping yards can lead to fires and increased air pollution, he added. He added that the demand for power during summer impacts the need for energy sources. Additionally, urban pollutants from industrial activities, construction, and vehicle emissions remain persistent in Hyderabad.

India pushes for fair and inclusive roadmap for green energy journey

A three-day session of the Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) under India’s G20 presidency brought experts from the UN, International Energy Agency and World Bank to Mumbai. 'Just' roadmap Delhi said the event aimed to promote best practices ... that can support a just and inclusive energy transition and the goal were to develop a collective roadmap for achieving sustainable and equitable growth. It was the third annual chapter of ETWG talks, which has brought India, China and South Africa up against attempts to set out draconian deadlines by richer nations to cut carbon emissions. Britain and Canada of the smaller G7 group of industrialised nations have proposed to phase out coal-fired power stations by 2030. Last year, the G20 in a declaration in Bali urged members to explore options for generating clean power while accelerating efforts for a coal phase down. “India's G20 presidency is committed to build upon the efforts and outcomes of previous presidencies underlining the continuity and collective pursuit of global cooperation in clean energy transition,” India’s power ministry said. Capital cost India’s offer to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2070 and meet its electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030 has earned applause but experts warn “barriers” must go to rake in 14.7 trillion euros for the clean energy saga. “It is not all that simple,” renewable energy expert Binit Das told RFI. “Since it is a costly technology, developing countries like India would need a huge chunk of investment to convert the entire power generation echo-system if we shift towards the green sources of generation,” said Das from the Centre for Science and Environment think tank. Harsha Bangari, managing director of Axis Bank, hoped India will unveil a robust roadmap of technology transfers that will help locate the precious funds. “In emerging markets the cost of funding renewable projects is almost seven times the cost of capital in developed countries and that is the gap we are looking at filling in,” Bangari said in the conclave sidelines. The Asian Development Bank called for ways to tackle ageing power plants such as in India which accounts for about 523 million tons Co2 emissions. “We have a problem with our existing fossil assets, these are long lived and a lot of them operate in power purchase agreements,” added ADB’s clean energy advisor Pradesp Tharakan. “So, can we now find ways to re-finance such assets and accelerate the closure of these power plants,” Tharakan said. Coal-less India, which is the world's second largest producer and consumer of coal after China, has mined 778 million tons since the 18th century to keep its economy afloat at six percent in the 21st century. Pramod Agarwal, chairman of state-run Coal India Ltd, said the country was on a shoestring in terms of energy consumption. "If someone talks about decreasing consumption in the country, perhaps it will be difficult as half the country is living at the level where the reduction of energy is impossible, Agarwal said. In Bihar [state] we are consuming just 330 units per annum, per capita which is sufficient to light just one lamp in a day and so when we are talking about a 'just transition' the 'just' word becomes equally important. "In the Indian context, what will happen if coal production is stopped or the thermal power stations are closed," he told the international gathering. "We have to plan right now what we will do in the future."

तेलंगाना: ज्यादा धूप वाले दिनों का मतलब पीएम2.5 का ज्यादा होना है

जबकि वायु प्रदूषण सर्दियों के महीनों के दौरान एक प्रचलित मुद्दा है, धूप के दिनों की बढ़ती संख्या वायु की गुणवत्ता के लिए अपनी चुनौतियां लेकर आती है। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि हीटवेव, अत्यधिक गर्मी और स्थिर हवा की विशेषता है, न केवल ओजोन प्रदूषण के उच्च स्तर में योगदान करती है बल्कि प्रदूषण को भी कण करती है। अर्बन लैब - सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE), हैदराबाद द्वारा आयोजित "स्प्रेड एंड स्केल ऑफ समर एयर पॉल्यूशन इन इंडिया 2022" शीर्षक वाले एक अध्ययन के अनुसार, इस क्षेत्र के 39 शहरों में हैदराबाद को दक्षिण भारत का सबसे प्रदूषित शहर पाया गया। 1 मार्च से 31 मई, 2022 के बीच, हैदराबाद ने गर्मियों के दौरान पीएम2.5 का औसत स्तर 47 µg/m³ दर्ज किया, जिसमें 24 घंटे की अवधि के लिए अधिकतम मान 77 µg/m³ था। हालांकि ग्रीष्म औसत में 10 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि हुई, शिखर स्तर सात प्रतिशत कम था। हालांकि, इस गर्मी में एक विशेष दिन, हैदराबाद के नेहरू जूलॉजिकल पार्क में पीएम 2.5 का औसत स्तर 103 माइक्रोग्राम/घन मीटर दर्ज किया गया था, केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक, उच्चतम मूल्य 184 माइक्रोग्राम/घन मीटर सुबह 2 बजे तक पहुंच गया था। बोर्ड (सीपीसीबी)।

जी20 बैठक भविष्य की जलवायु वार्ताओं को आकार देने में मदद करेगी : विशेषज्ञ

विशेषज्ञों ने गुरुवार को कहा कि जी20 शिखर सम्मेलन भविष्य की जलवायु चर्चाओं के लिए एक महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाएगा और विकसित और विकासशील दोनों देशों से आवश्यक कार्रवाई में मदद करेगा। हरित विकास; जलवायु वित्त और LiFE (पर्यावरण के लिए जीवन शैली)। जलवायु संकट के खिलाफ तेजी से कार्रवाई की आवश्यकता पर जोर देते हुए, विशेषज्ञों ने नवीनतम विश्व मौसम विज्ञान संगठन (डब्ल्यूएमओ) की रिपोर्ट का हवाला दिया, जिसमें अगले पांच वर्षों के भीतर कम से कम अस्थायी रूप से 1.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस तापमान सीमा के संभावित उल्लंघन के खिलाफ चेतावनी दी गई है। “यह हमारे लिए एक बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण समय है – भारत सरकार के लिए यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए कि जलवायु कार्रवाई के मुद्दे को भविष्य के लिए सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता दी जाए। केंद्र में महानिदेशक (डीजी) सुनीता नारायण ने कहा, जी20 एक बहुत स्पष्ट बयान सामने रखने का अवसर है कि हम जलवायु परिवर्तन और शमन के मुद्दे को बहुत गंभीरता से लेते हैं, ऐसे समय में जब देश अपने 2030 के लक्ष्यों को चूकते दिख रहे हैं। विज्ञान और पर्यावरण (CSE) के लिए, जो G20 एजेंडा चर्चा में एक पैनलिस्ट थे। उन्होंने कहा कि दुनिया भर के देश अभी भी तेल और गैस और जीवाश्म ईंधन पर निर्भर हैं। “मुझे लगता है कि भारत के नेतृत्व में G20 के लिए यह सुनिश्चित करना महत्वपूर्ण है कि कार्रवाई की आवश्यकता, समानता और जलवायु न्याय की आवश्यकता दोनों के बारे में बहुत स्पष्ट बयान हैं, जिसके बिना किसी को भी जलवायु परिवर्तन के लिए एक प्रभावी जलवायु समझौता नहीं मिलेगा। भविष्य।” एक अन्य पैनलिस्ट, ऊर्जा, पर्यावरण और जल परिषद (CEEW) के सीईओ अरुणाभ घोष ने कहा कि G20 के लिए यह पहचानना महत्वपूर्ण है कि जलवायु संकट केवल एक पर्यावरणीय मुद्दा नहीं है। “यह एक बहुत बड़ी अस्तित्वगत समस्या के केंद्र में है जो हमारी आर्थिक संभावनाओं, मानव विकास, हमारे प्राकृतिक पारिस्थितिक तंत्र के लचीलेपन और भविष्य की पीढ़ियों के लिए संभावनाओं को प्रभावित करेगी,” उन्होंने कहा। हानि और क्षति कोष, पिछले साल शर्म अल-शेख में COP27 जलवायु वार्ता के दौरान एक प्रमुख प्रस्ताव, जिसका उद्देश्य जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रतिकूल प्रभावों का सामना करने वाले सबसे कमजोर देशों को मुआवजा देना है। गुरुवार की चर्चा में यह भी रहा। विशेषज्ञों ने धन के वितरण और देशों की पात्रता के लिए एक स्पष्ट रूप से परिभाषित तंत्र की आवश्यकता को भी उठाया, जिससे नुकसान की भरपाई की जा सके। “G20 के अलावा, एक वित्तीय शिखर सम्मेलन भी है जिसे राष्ट्रपति (इमैनुएल) मैक्रॉन अगले महीने आयोजित कर रहे हैं। भारत संचालन समिति की सह-अध्यक्षता कर रहा है और हम जिन चीजों की खोज कर रहे हैं उनमें से एक यह है कि हम कैसे नवीन वित्तपोषण तंत्रों का पता लगा सकते हैं जो विशेष रूप से भेद्यता के मुद्दे को हल करने के लिए बहुत अधिक पूंजी जुटा सकते हैं। जबकि शमन वित्तपोषण से निजी क्षेत्र से बहुत अधिक निवेश प्राप्त होता है, अनुकूलन और विशेष रूप से लचीलेपन के लिए बहुत अधिक नवीन सोच की आवश्यकता होगी,” घोष ने कहा। यह पूछे जाने पर कि क्या एक विकासशील राष्ट्र के रूप में भारत ने इस नुकसान और क्षति कोष में योगदान दिया है, नारायण ने कहा कि जलवायु परिवर्तन पर फ्रेमवर्क कन्वेंशन, 1992 इस पर काफी स्पष्ट था। यह एक नियम आधारित प्रणाली थी। “सबसे बड़ा सवाल यह है कि नुकसान और क्षति कोष के लिए किसे भुगतान करना चाहिए? क्या भारत को इसकी कीमत चुकानी चाहिए? अब हमारी स्थिति बिल्कुल नहीं रही है और यहीं पर हम जलवायु वार्ताओं की समस्या की जड़ में वापस जाते हैं। 1992 के ढांचे में, यह कहा गया था कि देशों का एक समूह है जिसने समस्या पैदा की है और उन्हें उत्सर्जन को कम करने की आवश्यकता है। शेष दुनिया भी बढ़ने के साथ उत्सर्जन में वृद्धि करेगी और उन्हें विकास के अधिकार की आवश्यकता होगी, लेकिन उन्हें अलग तरह से विकसित होना चाहिए, और इसके लिए उन्हें वित्त और प्रौद्योगिकी की आवश्यकता है। भारत ने अतीत में या 2030 तक भी वातावरण में ग्रीनहाउस गैसों के भंडार में योगदान नहीं दिया है और इसे बातचीत का हिस्सा नहीं होना चाहिए…” नारायण ने कहा, यह कहते हुए कि यह देरी करने के लिए बस एक “विचलित करने वाला” था इस वैश्विक वार्ता को तैयार करना। भारत में यूरोपीय संघ (ईयू) के प्रतिनिधिमंडल के राजदूत उगो एस्टुटो, जो चर्चा का हिस्सा भी थे, ने स्पष्ट किया कि यूरोपीय संघ पहले से ही सीओपी शिखर सम्मेलन के पिछले संस्करण के संबंध में अपनी प्रतिबद्धता का प्रदर्शन कर रहा था। “पिछले कुछ दिनों में, नुकसान और क्षति कोष बनाया जाना चाहिए या नहीं, इस पर विवाद था, लेकिन तब यूरोपीय संघ स्पष्ट रूप से इसके निर्माण के पक्ष में आया और साथ में, हम एक सकारात्मक निष्कर्ष के लिए भारत के साथ काम कर रहे हैं। जब जलवायु परिवर्तन की बात आती है तो यूरोपीय संघ आज पहले से ही सार्वजनिक धन का सबसे बड़ा प्रदाता है और दुनिया भर में विकास सहायता का सबसे बड़ा प्रदाता है। यूरोपीय संघ में, हमारे पास 2030 तक कार्बन उत्सर्जन में 55% की कटौती का भी लक्ष्य है। यह कानून में निहित है और अस्पष्ट आकांक्षा नहीं है, जिसका अर्थ है कि सभी यूरोपीय संघ के सदस्य राज्यों को इसका पालन करना होगा। उन्होंने कहा, यह कहते हुए कि G20 शिखर सम्मेलन महत्वपूर्ण हो सकता है, सामूहिक रूप से, G20 देश वैश्विक ग्रीनहाउस गैस उत्सर्जन में महत्वपूर्ण योगदानकर्ता थे। “इसलिए, देशों की एक विशेष जिम्मेदारी भी है। यह एक ऐसा मंच है जहां सामूहिक निर्णय लिए जा सकते हैं और एजेंडा को आकार दिया जा सकता है। चर्चा के दौरान नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा में परिवर्तन का मुद्दा भी उठाया गया, जिसमें विशेषज्ञों ने जीवाश्म ईंधन से नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा में एक सुचारु परिवर्तन का आह्वान किया, बिना विकासशील देशों को महत्वपूर्ण रूप से प्रभावित किए। ReNew के संस्थापक, सीईओ और अध्यक्ष सुमंत सिन्हा ने कहा कि देश 2030 तक गैर-जीवाश्म ईंधन द्वारा अपनी ऊर्जा आवश्यकताओं का 50% पूरा करने के पेरिस समझौते के तहत अपने राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर निर्धारित योगदान (NDC) को पूरा करने की राह पर है। “इस लक्ष्य को पूरा करने के मामले में, मुझे लगता है कि हम इसे हासिल करने में सक्षम होंगे, क्योंकि अभी हम पहले से ही 40% पर हैं। 50% तक पहुंचने का मतलब है कि अगर हम अक्षय ऊर्जा में अगला 50-60 GW जोड़ते हैं, तो हम वहां होंगे और यह अगले तीन से चार वर्षों में होगा। हालांकि, उन्होंने कहा कि कुछ बाधाएं भी हैं, जो प्रक्रिया को धीमा कर रही हैं। “नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा के लिए क्षमता जोड़ना इतना आसान नहीं है, क्योंकि कुछ निष्पादन मुद्दे हैं जिनसे हम निपट रहे हैं और जो हमें एक निश्चित गति से जाने से रोक रहे हैं। हमें इस परिवर्तन की योजना बहुत सावधानी से बनानी होगी, क्योंकि यदि हम जीवाश्म ईंधन को बहुत तेजी से समाप्त करते हैं और नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा पर्याप्त तेजी से चरणबद्ध नहीं हो पाती है, तो यह एक मूलभूत समस्या होगी। नारायण ने कहा कि जबकि कोयले को उन देशों द्वारा समाप्त कर दिया गया था, जिन्होंने वर्तमान में ग्रीनहाउस गैस उत्सर्जन में सबसे अधिक योगदान दिया है, अब अचानक दुनिया के शेष 70% पर ऐसा करने का दायित्व है, जो उन्हें लगता है कि अनुचित है। “अनिवार्य रूप से, इसका मतलब है कि दुनिया का 70 प्रतिशत जिसने ग्रीनहाउस गैसों के भंडार में योगदान नहीं दिया है – जो अपनी वर्तमान ऊर्जा सुरक्षा से बाहर निकलने में कम से कम सक्षम है, जो कोयले पर आधारित है, परिवर्तन का दायित्व है उन्हें। गैस और कोयले को एक साथ देखने की दिशा में आगे बढ़ने की जरूरत है। उच्च प्रदूषण स्तर के कारण दिल्ली ने 100 किमी के दायरे में कोयले पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया है। हम चाहते हैं कि उद्योग गैस की ओर बढ़ें, लेकिन आज गैस की कीमतें इतनी अधिक हैं, इसका मुख्य कारण यह है कि आज दुनिया की सारी गैस अधिक भुगतान करने को तैयार देशों की ओर जा रही है। उसने कहा।

How a good transportation system could enhance life in urban India?

Considerable literature establishes the positive link between infrastructure development and an increase in output, productivity, growth, and employment. Studies on similar lines attribute high growth in eastern and central Chinese cities to transport connectivity. The lack of proper connectivity also explains the high income disparity in multiple Chinese provinces. We have seen earlier in this book in the section on urban history how key historical urban centres, including in India, prospered due to transport connectivity. Venice, New York, London, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Singapore, Beijing, and San Francisco were all on major trade routes. Inland cities fared well, as road and later rail networks developed. Now, air connectivity is considered essential for any city to grow at a robust pace and sustain that momentum. Even in rural India, one of the most successful schemes has been the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana – a village road-building scheme started by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The scheme has continued despite the changing fortunes of leading national and regional parties in every state. I have personally interviewed hundreds of people in villages impacted by it and asked them why they rated this scheme as the best. The simplicity of their answers holds boundless lessons for policymakers. They told me that this scheme connected their villages to nearby urban centres and thus provided them year-round connectivity to better livelihoods and healthcare services. They said they could manage the other challenges on their own, but connectivity to better wage and livelihood opportunities in urban areas had transformed their lives. Transport plays an instrumental role in creating agglomeration economies, one of the defining features of cities and the key reason behind the success of cities. When combined with the tools of planning and urban land, transport can yield exponential gains. In the simplest terms, it can reduce commuter trips and commuting time, make it easier to do business, enhance functionality of labour markets and increase access to all services including employment Thus, it reduces transaction costs and makes cities everything that we can imagine – growth engines, equitable, sustainable, liveable, and resilient. If cities can be considered as living beings, transport is the blood that keeps our cities running. If it takes too much effort, cities may feel fatigued. If it clots, cities go into shock. A good city-wide transportation system is critical to achieving the agglomeration economies that come with urbanisation. An efficient transport system reduces transaction costs at all levels and becomes a facilitator for the economic growth and liveability of a city. It is the lynchpin that connects people to people, people to markets, people to places and people to services. If the transport system of a city is choked and congested, it renders the city inefficient and less productive. This is evident in many of the emerging cities in developing economies including India where citizens are spending hours daily commuting on congested roads and inhaling toxic air due to increased vehicular emissions. Innovative thinking on urban transportation can unlock many benefits. Jaimie Lerner was the young mayor of Curitiba, in Brazil. He went at breakneck speed to convert some major areas such as the Rua Quinze de Novembro, one of the major streets of the city, into pedestrianised zones. He believed the area should not be deserted when shops downed their shutters and cars parked away. In manoeuvring to implement his plan, he outwitted the shopkeepers, who were initially against it. Next, he introduced new lanes for buses, which was against the global tide in favour of subways. He made a telling remark about urban works, “If you want creativity, cut one zero from the budget. If you want sustainability, cut two zeros!” As the bus movement succeeded, he found new areas to unlock the growth of bus transport – elevated platforms through which passengers could move into buses, longer buses, and prepayment for tickets. Now, 85 per cent of the city uses the Bus Rapid Transit or BRT system and more than 300 cities globally are experimenting with it. If not done right, the costs of mismanaged and overlooked urban transport could be huge and far-reaching. The heightened urbanisation levels and even higher acceleration in motorisation levels does not bode well for urban transport in Indian cities. From 1951 to 2011, India’s population grew at an annual rate of 3.8 per cent. In the same period, the number of registered motor vehicles went from about 0.3 million in 1951 to nearly 142 million in 2011 – a double-digit growth rate. As per the Centre for Science and Environment, private vehicle ownership increased by 700 times, from 0.3 million in 1951 to 210 million in 2015. Half of this was added over a period of 57 years from 1951 to 2008, the remaining was added over the next six years. Between 1981 and 2011, the total number of registered vehicles grew at an average rate of 11.5 per cent. This trend looks set to continue at the hands of a growing urban population with increasing purchasing power. If unchecked, this trend could cause urban transport to become a serious handicap for efficient urbanisation. It could lead to choked road networks and further deteriorating air quality with serious public health implications. The issue of urban transport becomes more complex because Indian cities have failed to address basic issues. Commute options and corresponding costs significantly vary for different citizens when they step out for work or leisure. An upper middle-income household prefers a different mode of transport compared to someone from the lower middle-income group, or a poor migrant. The preferred choice of conveyance is mostly an owned vehicle, with little predilection for public transport – unless one’s means do not leave much to choose. Thereafter, congestion and pollution remain constant adverse companions throughout the commute. Commute time and costs are not the only trade-offs. In our failure to integrate land-use planning and transportation we have exponentially lessened the quality of life in our cities. Given the convoluted and institutional fragmentation in city transport, if we attempt to reform urban transport, we fail to locate where the actual responsibility lies. Some major obstacles to unleashing the benefits of a robust and efficient transport system in Indian cities are the lack of substantial focus on demand side management, little focus on non-motorised transport, a declining share of public transport and the inability to raise finances Notably, BRT failed in Delhi. But that shouldn’t stop other cities from championing it. Each city is different. While the BRT project failed to take off in Delhi, it has done remarkably well in the cities of Ahmedabad, which spurred adoption in other cities across India – Rajkot, Indore, Surat, the twin cities of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, and the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad. Curitiba, at the same time as it was pushing BRT, was championing waste recycling and providing as much as 50 sq mt of green space per person. Not surprisingly, Lerner became a three-time mayor of the city. Similarly, in Delhi, the metro rail services succeeded when the Central leadership, the state leadership under Sheila Dikshit, and the managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, E Sreedharan, came together. The success of Delhi Metro is so immense that cities all over India are now undertaking metro rail projects, even where it doesn’t make financial sense

Dust haze over Delhi-NCR raises PM10 levels up to 10-­fold in 5 hours

Delhi-NCR woke up to a thick dust haze over the region on Tuesday, leading to drastically reduced visibility and an up to 10-fold increase in PM10 concentrations in the air within a span of five hours. Delhi-NCR pollution level The weather office said the haze was caused by gusty westerly winds that kicked up dust under hot and dry conditions. Officials said visibility fell sharply over the past 24 hours, from 4000m to a minimum of 800m at Safdarjung and 700m at Palam between 9.30am to 10.30am. TimesView On Tuesday, the dust seemed to invade every pore of the city. Employing sprinklers and anti-smog guns are welcome, but they are, at best, piecemeal measures. Far stronger initiatives are required to make a real impact. “Strong dust-raising winds blew over Delhi-NCR since 6am. Wind speeds had touched 46-48kmph late Monday night, which moderated to 15-16 kmph by Tuesday morning,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist, IMD. Track the pollution level in your city The city’s air quality index fell sharply from 162 (moderate) on Monday to 254 (poor). By 7pm on Tuesday, the AQI had fallen further to 294. The warm westerly winds also raised the minimum temperature to 27.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, up nearly 8 degrees in four days from 19.3 degrees C last Friday — making nights characteristically warm for this time of the year. Central Pollution Control Board’s data shows that the air quality started deteriorating from 6am and the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 reached its peak at 10 am. PM10 levels at 4am was 140 micrograms per cubic metre and it rose to 940.5 micrograms per cubic metre at 10am in Delhi. The national ambient air quality standard for PM10 concentration is 100 micrograms per cubic metre. At Jahangirpuri, the PM10 levels shot up from 379 micrograms per cubic metre at 9pm Monday to 3,826 micrograms per cubic metre on Tuesday at 9am. The dust concentration affected visibility. At Safdarjung, considered the city’s base station, visibility was recorded at 800 metres around 9.30am and increased slightly to 1,800m by 3.30pm and to 2,500m by 5.30pm. Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist and head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, India Meteorological Department said winds, which peaked to 48 kmph at 4 am, led to a rise in dust particles which remained suspended in the air. “The dust-raising winds were caused by intense heating, with temperatures mostly above 40 degrees Celsius over the region and dry soil due to very less rainfall activity in the region for the past five days. Strong gusty winds blew over the area since midnight,” he added. Winds are likely to remain strong on Wednesday. “The air quality is expected to show gradual improvement and it may remain in the ‘poor’ category on Thursday. The AQI may show further improvement on Friday,” said V K Soni, head, environment and research centre, IMD. The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) reviewed the air quality scenario of Delhi-NCR and noted this to be an “exceptional episodic event which has led to continual dispersion of dust in the ambient air over entire Delhi-NCR and is likely to improve in one or two days, with rain also expected on Thursday.” Experts said dust is one of the major sources of pollution during summer. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “Dust laden winds and dust storms influence summer air quality substantially. Rising heat, dry weather, resuspension of crustal soil and the regional weather systems combine to contribute to this trend. It is challenging to control such a phenomenon. This requires massive greening efforts at local and regional scale, stabilisation of loose soil and strategies to combat desertification.” According to the weather department there are chances of very light rain to drizzle on Thursday due to a fresh western disturbance approaching the region. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 39.9 degree Celsius, a notch below normal against 41.3 degrees C a day earlier. At 41.6 degrees C, Najafgarh was the warmest spot in the city. Tuesday was also drier than Monday. The humidity on Monday oscillated between 27 and 50%, dropping to 30-48% on Tuesday. According to the weather department, the maximum and minimum temperatures on Wednesday are likely to hover around 41 and 27 degrees C.

बढ़ते तापमान का टेंशन, पेरिस समझौते का क्यों नहीं हो रहा पालन?

विश्व का तापमान लगातार बढ रहा है. दुनिया 1.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस की सीमा को पार करने के मुहाने पर है. बीबीसी में छपी एक रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक पांच सालों के अंदर ही दुनिया तापमान के इस दहली ज को पार कर जाएगी. लेकिन पेरिस समझौते का पालन नहीं हो रहा है. देखिए पूरा रिपोर्ट..

Delhi air quality: Dust winds increase pollution levels, cut visibility

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that strong winds blasted over Delhi on Tuesday morning (May16), producing dust, impacting air quality, and lowering visibility to 1,000 metres. Meteorologists blame the dusty conditions on a combination of extreme temperatures in northwest India over the last five days, dry land owing to a lack of rain, and strong winds that have lasted since midnight. In the early hours, the wind was blowing at 30-35 kmph. It will rain during the day, allowing the dust to settle," according to Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, who spoke to PTI. "Dust concentration has gone up multiple times. The PM10 concentration rose from 140 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am to 775 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 am. It is mainly because of strong gusty winds prevailing over the area. Dust will settle down soon," said V K Soni, the head of the IMD's Environment Monitoring and Research Centre, who spoke to PTI. Maximum temperatures in Delhi have risen beyond 40 degrees Celsius in the last four days, exacerbating the scorching weather. According to the IMD, a partly overcast sky and light showers in the evening may give limited relief. The high temperature is expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius by Sunday. Crucial conference on source apportionment study held in Delhi The Delhi government said on Monday that a roundtable discussion was convened to review the findings of a real-time source apportionment research on air pollution and to devise a strategy to enhance air quality in the city and the National Capital Region. On Monday, representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, The Energy and Resources Institute, and NCR states attended the "Save Environment Roundtable Conference" at the Delhi Secretariat. “We shared the data collected during the source apportionment study over the past six months with the participants, sought their suggestions and prepared a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR,” Rai said. "The ultimate goal is to devise policies at local and regional levels to enhance the air quality in Delhi," he said. Real-time source apportionment (RTSA) studies assist in identifying variables responsible for an increase in air pollution at any location, such as cars, dust, biomass burning, and industrial emissions, so that appropriate preventative actions can be implemented. Rai stated that orders have been issued to establish mobile air quality monitoring vans in 13 Delhi air pollution hotspots to determine the contribution of various pollution sources in real time.

Vans to monitor bad air at 13 pollution hot spots in Delhi

Delhi’s environment minister, Gopal Rai, on Monday unveiled plans to station mobile vans across the city’s 13 pollution hotspots for a week to pinpoint individual pollution sources for targeted action. Rai announced the move after he held a round-table conference to evaluate a real-time source apportionment study initiated in January, which identified secondary inorganic aerosols and vehicle emissions as the primary pollutants in the Capital. We have issued orders to deploy mobile air quality monitoring stations at Delhi’s 13 pollution hotspots, which will provide real-time data for prompt response to pollution rises,” said Rai. Data from the government’s supersite at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Rouse Avenue, revealed that secondary inorganic aerosols — particles formed in the air because of gases reacting with each other from combustion sources — is the primary source of pollution in the Capital, followed by vehicle emissions. “The real-time study has been instrumental in identifying pollution sources and trends, facilitating swift government response to pollution spikes. In addition, it has enabled more accurate monitoring of PM2.5, NO2, NOx, CO, SO2, ozone, secondary inorganic, and organic aerosols,” said Rai. Seasonal data presented during the conference showed that secondary inorganic aerosols accounted for 33% of Delhi’s total PM 2.5 pollution load from November to January, with biomass burning (24%) and vehicles (17%) following. The same sources remained significant in February and March, contributing 26%, 22%, and 15%, respectively. However, data indicates that these sources shift, with vehicles contributing more pollution during summer months at 23%, followed by secondary inorganic aerosols (18%), and soil, road dust, coal, and fly ash each contributing 15%. This data was collected by a site established in November 2022 by IIT Kanpur in collaboration with IIT Delhi and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and officially inaugurated by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in January. The conference, attended by officials from government departments such as the environment department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and air pollution experts from bodies like TERI, IIT Kanpur, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank , aimed to pool knowledge on using real-time data and enhancing its functionality. “The ultimate goal is to develop local and regional policies to improve Delhi’s air quality, with a second conference planned for next month to further these discussions,” said Rai. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at CSE, noted that while source profiles vary between summer and winter, vehicle emissions are a consistent pollution source. “Vehicles are the second biggest pollutant in the winter months, and they become the lead source in the summer period when aerosol formation is reduced slightly. This shows that we need to prioritise cracking down on vehicular pollution and investigate the increased prominence of coal and fly ash in the summer months,” said Roychowdhury.

Farm stubble burning on rise in Punjab and Haryana, but winds ward off threat in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Stubble burning cases are going up in the neighbouring states as the rabi crop harvest season is underway in the northern plains. Punjab and Haryana have recorded nearly 12,400 and 3,000 wheat stubble burning cases, respectively, so far this year. It is, however, lower than last year because rain delayed harvesting, said experts. The impact of stubble burning on Delhi's air quality is negligible in summer because of the wind speed but experts said stringent action was needed to ensure that farmland fire instances don't increase during winter. TimesView The fresh stubble burning incidents means that much more needs to be done to bring out a behavioural change among the farmers. It also means that in the winter the capital's pollution level would be adversely affected again. The governments of these states and the NCR should try to hammer out a solution as early as possible. Satellite data, analysed by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), has shown that 12,388 farmland fires were seen in Punjab and 2,968 in Haryana between April 16 and May 14 this year. Track the pollution level in your city In the same period, 18,801 and 4,903 stubble burning cases were recorded in Punjab and Haryana in 2022. Punjab saw 9,382 and Haryana witnessed 4,546 farm fires during the same period in 2021. L S Kurinji, a programme associate with CEEW, said: "So far, Punjab and Haryana have recorded nearly 12,400 and 3,000 wheat stubble burning cases, respectively. The states reported lower counts this year compared to the corresponding period last year because of unseasonal rain in March and April and the subsequent delayed harvest." She added that such fires were more in Ferozepur, Moga, Sangrur, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Bathinda in Punjab and Karnal, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Kaithal and Sind in Haryana. Kurinji said while Rabi farm fires pale in comparison to the magnitude of Kharif fires, it is a reminder to act fast for the bigger winter problem. "Within a few weeks, farmers will start growing paddy. As an immediate step, state authorities must prioritise actions that limit residue generation and increase the cropping window. This includes phasing out PUSA 44, promoting early mature varieties like PR 126, switching to direct-seed rice and meeting the crop diversification target by promoting alternative crops," Kurinji said. She added that the wheat residue is highly valued by livestock rearing communities for fodder and biofuel producers due to lower moisture content compared to paddy straw. Therefore, farmers must encash the wheat residue instead of opting for burning. Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said: "The impact of farm fires on Delhi's air quality is expected to be minimal in summer due to high winds and more open natural ventilation. But there seems to be some contribution as is evident from the ongoing real time source apportionment study of the Delhi government." She said: "This shows the combined impact of farm fires and other biomass burning."

Facing mountains of waste & threat of relocation, Agra’s petha industry in a sticky situation

Agra: No trip to Agra is complete without two quintessential experiences — a visit to the Taj Mahal and buying boxes of the city’s iconic sweet, the petha. A translucent confection made from ash gourd, or white pumpkin, petha is a popular delicacy across India and is also exported to other countries. Beyond its culinary allure, the petha industry in Agra is also a significant economic catalyst for the city. As per news reports, this thriving industry serves as a livelihood for thousands of individuals, generating hundreds of crores in revenue each year. According to Amit Goyal, managing director of a popular brand Panchhi Petha, today there are over 1,500 petha-making units in the city which produce an estimated 700-800 tonnes of petha per day. To address the waste issue, the city administration has been in talks with owners of petha businesses to relocate the industry to Kalindi Vihar. Speaking to ThePrint, Agra Divisional Commissioner Amit Gupta said that at the 59th meeting of the Taj Trapezium Zone (TZZ) authority held last week, the issue of relocation had come up, but the industry representatives refused. The TTZ is a defined area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution. According to a study released in December 2021 by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), ‘Petha Waste Management in Agra City’, the city’s petha industry generates around 17,800 kg of solid waste per day, which consists mostly of ash gourd peels, sugar syrup, and water used in the manufacturing process. The waste is often dumped in public spaces, which raises the risk of outbreak of diseases like cholera, malaria, dengue, and diarrhoea, the study adds. “Such unauthorised dumping of petha waste leads to a foul smell in the area and attracts disease-borne vectors that infect nearby residents,” K.K. Pandey, project manager at the Agra Municipal Corporation’s Swachh Bharat Mission unit told ThePrint. Gupta said the administration has taken several steps to address the problem of petha waste. In 2018, the local administration launched a campaign to educate petha producers about the importance of proper waste disposal and even provided financial assistance to help petha manufacturing units in the organised sector to purchase waste-disposal equipment, he said. However, since a large section of the industry falls under the unorganised sector, government benefits don’t extend to them. According to a report by the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), there are over 10 times more petha units in the unorganised sector than in the organised sector. This is not even the first time that the issue has come up during a TTZ authority meeting. According to news reports, the relocation of the petha units in TTZ has been in the works for 10 years, but the proposal has fallen flat each time. The reasons cited include lack of potable water in the proposed locations, lack of a garbage-disposal system, and no proper transportation. “In its latest bid to move the petha industry, the Agra administration wants to shift all the units to Kalindi Vihar across the Yamuna. But the proposed area lacks even basic amenities…The water in Kalindi Vihar is hard and undrinkable, and saltwater alters the taste of petha,” said Goyal of Panchhi Petha. Sunil Kumar Singhal, a petha seller, however, said that the industry has been demanding a ‘Petha Nagri’ behind Sikandra Sabzi Mandi on the Agra-Delhi Highway for a long time. By relocating there, he said, the units will have easy access to all amenities such as transportation, water and power. “The administration should focus on this demand instead of moving the industry to a location where it could not survive,” he said. But since the Agra Development Authority (ADA), the nodal agency overseeing the relocation, has already allocated land for ‘Petha Nagri’ in Kalindi Vihar, their demand remains unfulfilled, he added.

Govt holds round-table meeting to improve Delhi’s air quality

The Delhi Government on Monday said it held a roundtable conference to discuss the findings of a real-time source apportionment study on air pollution and develop a strategy to further improve air quality in the city and the National Capital Region. The “Save Environment Roundtable Conference” took place at the Delhi Secretariat on Monday and was attended by representatives from Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, The Energy and Resources Institute, and NCR states. “We shared the data collected during the source apportionment study over the past six months with the participants, sought their suggestions and prepared a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR,” Rai said. The ultimate goal is to devise policies at local and regional levels to enhance the air quality in Delhi, he said. Real-time source apportionment (RTSA) studies help identify factors responsible for an increase in air pollution at any spot, such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions from industries, so that preventive measures can be taken accordingly. Rai said orders have been issued to install mobile air quality monitoring vans at 13 air pollution hotspots in Delhi to ascertain the contribution of different pollution sources in real time. “Thanks to the RTSA study, air quality can now be assessed and analysed on a daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal basis, enabling the government to promptly address sudden increases in pollution levels. The monitoring of pollutants such as PM2.5, NO2, NOx, CO, SO2, ozone, secondary inorganic and organic aerosols has become more streamlined and precise,” the minister said.

Air pollution: Crucial conference on source apportionment study in Delhi

The Delhi government will hold a roundtable conference on Monday to discuss the findings of a real-time source apportionment study on air pollution and develop a strategy to further improve air quality in Delhi-NCR, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said. The "Save Environment Roundtable Conference" will take place at the Delhi Secretariat, and will be attended by representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, TERI, and NCR (National Capital Region) states. "We will share the report of the source apportionment study with the participants, seek their suggestions, and prepare a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR," Rai said. Real-time source apportionment studies help identify factors responsible for an increase in air pollution at any spot, such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions from industries, so that preventive measures can be taken accordingly. Rai said orders have been issued to install mobile air quality monitoring vans at 13 air pollution hotspots in Delhi to ascertain the contribution of different pollution sources in real-time. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had launched the real-time source apportionment study as a crucial component of the action plan to fight air pollution in the winter season. Delhi is the first state/Union Territory in the country to achieve this feat.