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Cse In News

Some hits, a few misses for state in sustainable development goals

Kolkata: Bengal has achieved mixed success in meeting sustainable development goals (SDG). While the state has made some strides in the journey to achieving 10 SDGs in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20, it has slipped on five critical goals, revealed the State of India’s Environment Report, 2023, an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment on progress made by Indian states in achieving SDGs. SDGs are important markers for a balanced, earth-friendly progress of provinces and nations set by the United Nations. The deadline for fulfilling all 16 targets is 2030. It is not only Bengal that has faltered. India’s rank has also slipped because of failures in 11 goals, including SDG 11 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well being), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities). India, in fact, ranks below four south Asian countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. While the ranks of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka have improved over the years, India continues to slip. Bengal slipped in some critical goals, like SDG 6 (clean water, sanitation), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 15 (life on land). In fact, in SDG 15, the score was -35, on the scale of ‘below -30 to above +30.’ At the same time, Bengal did well in SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), in SDG 12 (responsible consumption), and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). In most other 10 SDGs, scores vary between +3 and +7. Bengal ranks 11 in SDGs, Kerala tops the list and Bihar is at the bottom. Unveiling the Down to Earth (DTE) annual, CSE director general Sunita Narain said, “We are outraged at how pollution is affecting our health or climate change is devastating our future. But we are not acting at the scale of devastation we see around us.” DTE editor Richard Mahapatra said, “India has many mutinies on the environmental front, but as many warriors waging a battle to win.” Narain said: “The two big trends this year (2022-23) have been the reversal of gains when it comes to energy transition and the overwhelming impact of climate change. In the face of these two trends, we are seeing the worst manifestation of human behaviour — the global community and its leaders have resorted to accentuating the differences, not the common objectives to work towards a secure future.”

Support independent critical media.SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT Environment: We are not Acting at the Scale of Devastation Around us, Says CSE Report

Pointing out the ‘good news’ that the environment is now "mainstream", a new report has also pointed out the ‘bad news’ that the scale of ecological devastation was affecting human health and the future of the planet. Calling for “more deliberate steps to reverse the damage”, the Annual State of the Environment Report, brought out by the Centre of Science and Environment, was released here on Thursday. The report called for a global common minimum programme to combat the environmental challenges and stressed the need for involvement of people at all levels. Sunita Narain, CSE Director General, in her opening remarks, stressed the need for inclusivity and equality and highlighted issues, such as migration, poverty, and the lives of the homeless in metropolitan cities, that are often missing from the discourse. “Environment and development are the two sides of the same coin. They are both about survival and the ability to sustain. What requires effort is understanding the challenges and also understanding new approaches towards the environment,” said Narain, adding that “If solutions are not affordable for a large number of people, it won't be sustainable in India.” Narain spoke about the condition of farmers in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar due to the recent hailstorm. According to the official estimates from the agriculture department, talking Maharashtra alone, a total of more than 1,500 hectares (ha) — including 860 ha in Dhule, 565 ha in Jalgaon, 119 ha in Nashik, and the balance in Nandurbar and surrounding districts — have sustained losses. Weather predictions suggest that Telangana is likely to have similar hailstorms, while Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka are all expected to experience rain and thunderstorms. The situation has deeply worsened in the past years. “The condition is such that the weather-related displacements have increased more than the conflict-related displacement. The crisis of migration, whether about the impact it has had on cities or as an external hot potato, has left an irreparable mark,” she said. Pollution deterrence is another major aspect of the report. It highlighted how the system of Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEMS) had no quality checks. It is not being used to check pollution and polluters. The report also mentioned how the system of environmental and forest clearance was already weak and was being further chipped away, adversely affecting communities and environment. The report acknowledges the remarkable attempts made in terms of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and what change it has brought. Back then, there was a clear mandate given by the apex judicial body of the country to bring in a specific target of CNG vehicles within a certain deadline. “It was a battle fought for a long time and eventually won. However, can the same be done in the case of electric vehicles?” asked Anumita Roychowdhury of CSE. She also spoke about the slow pace at which e-vehicles were growing despite the incentives. Summarising what the report said, Narain said: “The two big trends this year (2022-23) have been the reversal of gains when it comes to energy transition on one hand, and the overwhelming impact of climate change, which is a real threat staring at us. In the face of these two trends, we are seeing the worst manifestation of human behaviour – the global community and its leaders have resorted to accentuating the differences, not the common objectives to work towards a secure future."

How architectural solutions can help in achieving carbon neutrality

As we were preparing for winter sown crops, peninsular India in mid-march saw unusually high temperatures. The impending heat waves aside, the northwest region of India experienced almost twice as much warming as the rest of the country, according to a report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). But in all of this, how do cities and architecture come in? As the tenth warmest year in the 143 years of our records occurred after 2010, there is much more to talk about and be concerned of rather than just temperatures. To benchmark this crisis and understand its impact across spheres we have planetary boundaries, allowing humans to prosper without causing harm to ecosystems is the goal. They are climate change, oceans, ozone layer, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle, water, land, biodiversity, aerosols in atmosphere, and chemical pollution. Where out of nine planetary boundaries, we have already crossed six. Cities themselves are major contributors to this disruption with construction and the energy required to keep buildings operational accounting for roughly 50 per cent of the country’s carbon emissions. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India has experienced a localised climate disaster nearly every day in the first nine months of 2022. We experienced extreme weather events on 241 out of 273 days until 1 October, resulting in 2,755 deaths, damage to 1.8 million hectares of crops, destruction of 416,667 houses, and the deaths of 69,007 livestock. Climate Change isn’t only affecting humans and our infrastructure; the impact of severe cold episodes has caused many crops to fail. Events such as climate change-induced cyclonic storms have destroyed 95,066 hectares of cropland this year, even when the capacity to accurately forecast cyclones has saved many lives. But there is a definite rising trend in extreme rainfall events and temperatures around the globe, which have been further pronounced by the occurrence of “disasters”. Since there is no “quick fix” to the crisis’s numerous issues, it falls on every citizen in both a personal and professional role, to apply our abilities and actions in addressing the significant pressures on the natural environment. From our consumer patterns to our notions of just what sustainability means, we can collectively start with questions and push for answers. With “climate change” and “circularity” being the buzzwords of the decade, there is more that cities need to take care of to survive. Architecture itself is inextricably tied to material flows and energy where 36 per cent of global energy goes into construction. Cement alone accounts for 8 per cent of global emissions for GHGs. While vernacular architecture and traditional modes of living have been the go-tos for consumerism solutions, they are undoubtedly the answer to construction. With the proven use of local materials like mud, locally sourced timber, bamboo etc to be more climate-friendly as well as comfortable in these harsh weathers to dwell in – do we really need so much concrete? With Indian Architecture studios pioneering computational models with reuptake of materials, we are moving towards buildings and products which require less carbon to make and operate. From 3D-printed homes out of recycled waste to mud bunkers lined with trees and greenery, architecture has always innovated solutions for the masses. Solutions in Architecture have pushed from carbon-neutral to carbon-negative buildings! As we as people embrace “rewilding” – so have our designers and soon will our cities. As global warming causes more moisture to be concentrated in the atmosphere, it can lead to more intense monsoons in the summer and colder seasons in the winter. The frequency of these extreme events has been increasing over the years, which is a result of climate change. These sudden changes in temperature can also increase the risk of climate disasters like the Chamoli disaster. Localized action, ideas and solutions Have you wondered why you felt calmer surrounded by nature and bare architecture? Well, that could also be the large-scale solution for urban systems! Taking the shape of expanding and preserving urban green spaces and water bodies, implementing architectural design guidelines to reduce the heat load on and from buildings, using recycled and local materials, and limiting the concretization of surface areas in cities in order to reduce the heat island effect, which occurs when urban areas are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the concentration of heat-absorbing surfaces and the lack of cooling vegetation. We end up with beautiful architectural solutions – buildings that have existed around us for centuries. Everyone involved in the planning of structures and cities, including architects, urbanists, policymakers, and everyday citizens, have a major duty to examine the implications of climate change and make plans accordingly in order to reduce the impact of climate change and global warming. Vulnerable communities continue fighting against the loss of their livelihoods in exchange for “global growth”, concretization and deforestation head-on. Globally, the Pacific Islands continue to demand action from world leaders on climate change as they deal with rising sea levels and more severe weather. For them, this is a matter of life and death. As young people, we aren’t only affected by climate change but are also important actors in the fight against it. As youth groups collect more voices from all over the world, it’s clear we can do a lot together. There has never been a more crucial time to demand action from our leaders. It’s high time to not only change our consumption patterns but to stop sponsoring large polluters. Join your local action groups, advocate for an inclusive future, and do the smallest bit you can towards the world – it’s your (our) lives on the line.

मौसम की मार, एयर पॉल्यूशन और गार्बेज संकट... क्लाइमेट क्राइसिस कैसे हम इंडियंस की जिंदगी बदल रहा?

भारत बदल रहा है. हमारा जीवन भी. इसे बदल रहा है मौसम, कचरा और वायु प्रदूषण. बेहद बुरी तरह से हो रहा है बदलाव. ये खतरनाक है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) की सालाना रिपोर्ट 'स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज़ एनवायरमेंट' तो यही कह रही है. रिपोर्ट में बताया गया है कि कैसे हमारा जीवन हम ही खराब कर रहे हैं.... बेका र कचरा प्रबंधन. बढ़ता वा यु प्रदूषण और लगा ता र आ रही घनघो र प्रा कृति क आपदा एं.एं ये हमा रे देश का हुलि या और हमा रा जी वन सब बदल रहे हैं. वो भी खतरना क तरी के से. भा रत में पि छले सा ल या नी 2022 में 1 जनवरी से लेकर 31 अक्टूबर तक 304 दि न हो ते हैं. इनमें से 271 दि न मौ सम खरा ब ही रहा है. वो भी एक्सट्री म लेवल पर. इस एक्सट्री म वेदर इवेंट्स (Extreme Weather Events) की वजह 2952 लो गों की जा न चली गई. 18.1 ला ख हेक्टेयर जमी न पर लगी फसल बर्बा द हो गई. एक्सट्री म वेदर इवेंट्स या नी मौ सम संबंधी भया नक घटना एं या आपदा एं.एं सि र्फ भा रत ही नहीं पूरी दुनि या में इंसा नों द्वा रा फैला ए जा रहे प्रदूषण और उत्सर्जन की वजह से जलवा यु संकट आया है. इससे 2003 से 2022 के बी च वि श्व में 504 भया नक एक्सट्री म वेदर इवेंट्स हुए हैं. इन 504 इवेंट्स में 71 फी सदी इंसा नों की वजह से पैदा की गई कंडि शन से हो रहा है.है अब आप ही बता इए कि आप मौ सम की दुहा ई देते हैं. प्रदूषण पर बो लते हैं. लेकि न इन्हें सुधा रने का प्रया स नहीं करते. सि र्फ यही नहीं . अगर सि र्फ पि छले सा ल की बा त करें तो 2022 में 107 देशों में 298 एक्सट्री व वेदर इवेंट्स हुए हैं. इनकी वजह से 11,786 लो गों की जा न गई है. अब सि र्फ भा रत की बा त करते हैं.हैंकि स मौ सम में कि तने एक्सट्री म वेदर इवेंट्स आए, और उनसे क्या असर हुआ, कि तने लो गों की मौ त हुई. कि तनी फसलें खरा ब हुईं. कि स रा ज्य की हा लत पस्त रही है. मध्य भा रत में 937 मौ तें, मध्यप्रदेश सबसे ज्या दा प्रभा वि त भा रत के मध्य इला के में या नी गुजरा त, मध्यप्रदेश, महा रा ष्ट्र, छत्ती सगढ़ और ओडि शा में 1 जनवरी से 31 अक्टूबर 2022 के बी च 198 दि नों तक खतरना क मौ सम था . मध्यप्रदेश सबसे ज्या दा प्रभा वि त रा ज्य रहा . कुल मि ला कर इन इला कों में 937 लो गों की मौ त हुई. 1.36 ला ख हेक्टेयर से ज्या दा जमी न पर लगी फसलें खरा ब हो गईं. पूर्वी और उत्तर-पूर्वी रा ज्यों में 191 दि नों तक एक्सट्री म वेदर इवेंट्स हो ते रहे. या नी खरा ब मौ सम का सा मना करते रहे. यहां बि हा र, झा रखंड, सि क्कि म, पश्चि म बंगा ल, असम, अरुणा चल प्रदेश, नगा लैंड, मणि पुर, मि जो रम, त्रि पुरा और मेघा लय हैं. खरा ब मौ सम की वजह से 799 लो गों की मौ त हुई. 2.85 ला ख हेक्टेयर से ज्या दा जमी न पर लगी फसलें खरा ब हुईं. सबसे बुरी हा लत असम की रही . इन रा ज्यों ने सबसे ज्या दा दि न कि या खरा ब मौ सम का सा मना उत्तर और उत्तर-पश्चि म रा ज्यों या नी जम्मू-कश्मी र, पंजा ब, हि मा चल प्रदेश, उत्तरा खंड, हरि या णा , दि ल्ली , उत्तर प्रदेश और रा जस्था न ने सबसे ज्या दा 216 दि नों तक खरा ब मौ सम का सा मना कि या है. इनमें सबसे ज्या दा बुरी हा लत उत्तर प्रदेश की रही . यहां पर खरा ब मौ सम और आपदा ओं की वजह से 849 लो गों की मौ त हुई. 3.11 ला ख हेक्टेयर जमी न पर लगी फसलें खरा ब हो गईं. बेका र कचरा प्रबंधन... 53% कचरे का ट्री टमेंट ही नहीं हो ता हमा रे देश में कचरा प्रबंधन (Waste Management) की स्थि ति भी बहुत खरा ब है.है भा रत में नि कल रहा 53 फी सदी कचरे का ट्री टमेंट नहीं हो ता . देश में हर दि न 1.5 ला ख टन सॉ लि ड कचरा नि कलता है. इसमें से आधे से ज्या दा कचरे का ट्री टमेंट ही नहीं हो पा ता . इन्हें डंप कर दि या जा ता है. अगर मा त्रा की बा त करें तो इसे बां ट सकते हैं. 53 फी सदी में से 23 फी सदी कचरा ट्री ट नहीं हो ता . 27 फी सदी को डंप कर दि या जा ता है. 3 फी सदी कचरा तो उठा या ही नहीं जा ता . या नी जहां पड़ा है, वहीं पड़ा रहेगा .

प्रदूषण से चार साल घट रही उम्र : रिपोर्ट

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) की रिपोर्ट में दावा किया गया है कि प्रदूषण की वजह से हर भारतीय की औसत उम्र करीब 4 साल कम हो रही है। वहीं, ग्रामीण इलाकों में रहने वाले लोगों की उम्र प्रदूषण से 5.2 साल कम हो रही है। स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज एनवायरमेंट-2023 रिपोर्ट में दावा किया गया कि ग्रामीण इलाकों में रहने वाले 25% लोग 7 साल कम जी रहे हैं तो वहीं, शहरी इलाकों में रहने वाले 11% लोगों की जिंदगी 7 साल से ज्यादा कम हो रही है।

‘India 4th worst-hit by natural disasters in 2021, 49L displaced’: CSE report urges urgent environment action

Over-400 page report, released Thursday, highlights effect of changing climate on livestock, seasonal variations, and potential to decarbonise sectors such as aviation & steel. New Delhi: India was the fourth worst-hit by natural disasters in 2021, and saw internal displacement of 49 lakh people the same year, according to the 2023 State of India’s Environment report. The report was released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Thursday. The over-400 page report covers a range of issues affecting India’s sustainable development in relation to the environment. This year’s edition highlights the effect of a changing climate on livestock, seasonal variations, and the potential to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, steel and shipping, among others. “There is news to cheer. Environment is now mainstream – we are all outraged at how pollution is affecting our health or climate change is devastating our future. But the bad news is that we are not acting (given the) scale of the devastation that we see around us. We need to take more deliberate steps to reverse the damage,” said CSE director Sunita Narain at the launch of the report. India was worst-hit by natural disasters after China, the Philippines, and Ethiopia, the report said, citing data from the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. According to CSE’s own data, India was hit with an extreme weather event nearly every single day from January to October in 2022, resulting in the deaths of 2,900 people. ThePrint looks at the other key aspects of the report. Livestock Fodder can be sourced from crop residue, cultivated fodder and forage, and grazing lands. But “in the upcoming years, productivity improvements and a transition to semi-intensive or commercial production techniques for livestock will be the main factors driving greater feed and fodder requirements,” the report says. To meet the demand, the report says, the relationship between climate change and livestock farming should be better understood, to close any adaptation gaps that might exist. The government should also “envisage a comprehensive national fodder and pasture management policy which has the provisions for a clear-cut demarcation of pasture and grazing land,” so they are not diverted for other purposes. The Himalayas A study by the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science Technology and Environment found that between 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, the snow cover in Himachal Pradesh reduced from 23,542 sq km to 19,183 sq km. Most river basins in the state also experienced a loss, with the maximum borne by the Sutlej basin which covers 45 per cent of the total geographical area. The ice-covered area of the Sutlej has reduced from 11,823.1 sq km to 9,045 sq km during the same period, according to the report. “The impact is equally evident in the cold deserts of Ladakh, where the temperatures are consistently rising and the warm weather now lingers on much longer. Precipitation in the form of rain and snowfall is also on the decline,” it adds. Forests and biodiversity The report analysed the India State of Forest Report, released by the Forest Survey of India last year, and found that though forest cover had increased by 0.5 per cent between 2017 and 2021, “the bulk of the increase has taken place in the open forest category, which includes commercial plantations. This has happened at the cost of moderately dense forest, which is normally the area closest to human habitations. At the same time, very dense forests, which absorb maximum carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, occupy just 3% of total forest cover.” It found that forest cover reduced in 244 of the 638 districts assessed in 27 states and five Union Territories. It also highlighted that, by 2030, 45 per cent of India’s forest and tree cover will emerge as “climate hotspots,” making them vulnerable to temperature rise and erratic rainfall. Decarbonisation of iron, steel The report notes that there are “huge opportunities to bend the greenhouse gas emission curve from the iron and steel sector in India by 2030″. India has pledged to reduce its emissions intensity of GDP, the volume of emissions per unit of GDP, by 45 per cent by 2030, and the iron and steel sectors account for five per cent of India’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to the CSE’s projections, greenhouse gas emissions will grow by nearly 2.5 times — to 659.19 million tonnes annually by 2030 — compared to current levels if business continues as usual, and there are no policy changes or interventions. The report recommends switching to natural gas-based synthetic gas injections in the blast furnaces to achieve up to 28 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This, combined with other measures such as installing carbon capture and storage techniques, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 229.65 million tonnes — less than the current emissions of 272.7 million tonnes.

India braces itself for intense heat waves

India has already been witnessing above-average temperatures this winter season, with its hottest February in well over a century and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting an "enhanced probability" of heat waves between March and May. Summer seems to come earlier every year in India, with the average daytime temperature as much as 3.4 degrees Celsius above the norm, while central India recorded its second warmest February with the average maximum temperature more than 2 degrees Celsius higher than normal. "Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of northeast India, east and central India and some parts of northwest India from March to May," the IMD said in a statement. Experts predict tougher times with an increased heat wave probability during the upcoming summer season. The main problem is the threat of crop damage. The maximum temperature in some wheat-growing areas such as Rajasthan soared above 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) earlier this month, nearly 7 C (12.6 F) above normal, according to IMD data. Last year, for instance, India recorded its hottest March, which triggered an early onslaught of heat waves, engulfing several states across northern, central and eastern regions for two months. The country then reported 280 heat wave days between March 11 and May 18. 'A disaster in the making' Experts are highlighting La Nina as a cause for the heat, which refers to the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific that affects global weather patterns. "The summer of 2023 is a disaster in the making that will feature an unprecedented heat wave due to a weak western disturbance and the prevailing La Nina condition," Abinash Mohanty, sector head of climate change and sustainability at IPE-Global, an international development organization, told DW. Mohanty pointed out that climatological and meteorological conditions coupled with unsustainable anthropocentric activities are causing harsher heat waves that will severely affect food chains. Earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) launched its synthesis report on the climate crisis, saying that despite progress in policies and legislation around climate mitigation since the previous such report in 2014, it is "likely that warming will exceed 1.5 C during the 21st century." "This year has already witnessed anomalies in February, and an enhanced probability prediction by IMD suggests that the situation is going to be tougher in the coming months," said Mohanty. Akshay Deoras, a meteorologist at the UK's National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the Department of Meteorology, said early heat waves do not necessarily mean more frequent and intense heat waves. "While the official forecast suggests an enhanced probability of heat waves over central and northwestern parts of India during March to May, some models disagree," Deoras told DW. Extreme weather events becoming the norm "Given models have a varying prediction skill, we cannot be sure right now about the enhanced probability of heat waves this season. It is important to remember that the frequency, intensity, and duration of potential individual heat waves in a season cannot be predicted," added Deoras. Scientists and meteorologists assert that changes in temperature and rainfall in India will add to the current water stress in the country. More importantly, premature rains could damage winter-sown crops — such as wheat, rapeseed and chickpeas — just before harvesting begins. According to a study by the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT), the frequency of severe heat waves in India will increase 30-fold by 2100. Under a business-as-usual scenario, heat wave frequency might increase 75-fold. "If temperatures continue to rise and monsoon rainfall patterns continue to change, the country could see a GDP loss of 2.8%, depressing the living standards of nearly half its population by 2050," according to a World Bank report in 2018. Sounding a dire warning, the report said almost half of South Asia's population, including India, now lives in vulnerable areas and will suffer from declining living standards that could be attributed to falling agricultural yields, lower labor productivity or related health impacts. Based in New Delhi, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy non-profit organization, said that localized climate disasters — on 241 of 273 days until October last year — had claimed at least 2,755 lives, while affecting some 1.8 million hectares of crop area, killing more than 69,000 livestock and destroying 416,667 houses. "Feeding and powering a heat-stressed India calls for impact-based heat-wave early warning, promoting ways and means to restore the fissured landscapes through nature-based solutions. This can make agri-food systems heat stress ready, followed by a fast-tracked renewable energy deployment across the heat-wave hotspots," stressed Mohanty from IPE-Global. Heat waves are termed the "silent disaster" as heat-related deaths are often undercounted around the world, according to the World Weather Attribution Network. Judging by recent years, it is increasingly clear that India is among the most vulnerable countries when it comes to climate change. Experts argue that the country's early warning system needs to become more robust.

‘A Ticking Time Bomb’: ‘Final Warning’ For Climate Action

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the 6th edition of its report on 20 March 2023. Scientists issued a “final warning” to limit the rising global warming to 1.5°c–the threshold for climate breakdown. Article 14 spoke to climate researcher Avantika Goswami about how rising temperatures would not only usher in a climate catastrophe, but also irreversibly change vital ecosystems.

Delhi Budget: Efforts to map, combat pollution sources to be intensified

The Delhi government will, over the next financial year, intensify its efforts to identify the city’s pollution sources in real-time, state finance minister Kailash Gahlot said on Wednesday, adding that a mobile van will be stationed in each district to better identify pollutants. Announcing a budget allocation of ₹263 crore for the environment and forest sectors (a marginal decrease from last year’s allocation of ₹266 crore), the minister said the government intents to reduce air pollution levels in the city. The Delhi government started the country’s first real-time source apportionment lab at Pandara Road on January 30 this year. Gahlot said this lab will now be replicated across Delhi’s 11 districts as mobile vans, which will be able to precisely identify the sources of Delhi’s hazardous pollution. Gahlot also said that the government aims to keep 1,400-km of roads under the ambit of the state public works department free of dust by washing them regularly and using mechanised sweepers. During Wednesday’s speech, Gahlot also reiterated the government’s target of planting 5.2 million saplings across the city in 2023-24, a plan that was announced earlier this month.” Air pollution is a year-long bane for the national capital, with the air quality index (AQI) routinely at unsafe levels. The pollution problem is exacerbated after monsoon every year, when smoke from farm fires in upwind states makes its way to the Capital, draping it in a grey haze and rendering the air toxic. The air continues to be unsafe through the winter, when low temperatures trap pollutants close to the ground. Gahlot said that in 2022-23, said the government had deployed 84 mechanised road sweepers, 609 sprinklers, and 639 anti-smog guns to bring down pollution. He also said that Delhi’s forest cover share was brought to 11.6 sq/metre, which, he said, was the highest among other cities, like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. For the current year, 70 mechanical road sweeping machines and 210 water-sprinkler cum anti-smog gun machines will be added. The finance minister also claimed that since the AAP government took to power in 2014, the particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 10 levels in Delhi were coming down each year and had dropped by over 30% since 2014. “The presence of PM 10 in the air of Delhi was 324 parts per million (PPM) in 2014, which came down to 223 PPM in 2022. Similarly, PM 2.5 in Delhi’s air was 149 PPM in 2014, which came down to 103 PPM in 2022. The concentration of both PM 10 and PM 2.5 has reduced by more than 30% in the last eight years, so air pollution in Delhi has reduced by 30%,” said Gehlot. He added the number of days when the Air Quality Index logs in Delhi’s air in the “severe” category (higher than 400) came down to six says in 2022 as compared to 26 days in 2016. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said while the overall allocation to the environment sector was not too high, however, considerable funds were allocated to transport in order to create more EV charging infrastructure and introduce new buses – steps that, according to her, will help Delhi’s air quality. “The next step is to create a strategy that encourages people to use public transport. At the same time, deploying 11 mobile vans is a good move, but it is even more important how this data is utilised,” she said. Experts have noted that pollution in Delhi rises during winters due to stubble burning from neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana coupled with meteorological conditions such as calm winds, low temperatures, and a low mixing height which favour the accumulation of pollutants. However, even with an AAP counterpart in Punjab, it still needs to be seen what measures the two states may take together to curb pollution in the national capital.

Indien: Probleme beim Ausbau von Solar und Wind

Der weitere Ausbau der Solar- und Windkraft in Indien steht vor großen Problemen. Die Sonnenenergie sei in einem „Solarstau“ gefangen, die Windindustrie leide unter gestiegenen Kosten. Das ist das Fazit des Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in seinem Jahresbericht State of the Environment 2023, der am heutigen Donnerstag veröffentlicht wird.

UP lauded for sustainable and inclusive sanitation

Commending Uttar Pradesh for tackling the challenge of providing sustainable and inclusive sanitation, director-general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Sunita Narain said even as the United Nations has launched a global campaign called ‘Be the Change’ to mark the World Water Day, India is already showcasing real action on the ground and it is led by Uttar Pradesh. She was speaking at a national workshop jointly organised by CSE, UP’s Urban Development department, and Swachh Bharat Mission here on Wednesday. On the occasion, CSE released a series of reports based on ground studies on water and sanitation management in Uttar Pradesh. Urban Development Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma said: “World Water Day and our deliberations and discussions on this day are important because we are living today in a time of great crisis in terms of water – a crisis of availability and access, of quality, of lack of sanitation and proper wastewater management, and upsetting of the water cycle due to climate change.” Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, who also addressed the workshop, said: “There is no ‘waste’ water – we only have ‘used’ water. Reduce, reuse and recycle should be the mantra of our life. We need to treat and reuse all the water. Since 2014, India has remained committed and on course to a paradigm change in water and sanitation management. Sanitation is a public movement in our country today.” In Uttar Pradesh, home to 230 million people, 95 per cent of its cities and towns are totally dependent on non-sewered sanitation systems. Only 31 towns out of 734 in the state have partial sewerage systems that manage to treat just 40 per cent of the sewage generated. Depinder Kapur from CSE said this is the reason why sustainable and inclusive scientific management of faecal sludge and septage is a priority for UP. The state’s poor are largely dependent on on-site sanitation systems, therefore, providing an effective and affordable septage management system will generate significant social, environmental and public health outcomes.