• Down To Earth

India 'Missing' 25.87 Million Hectares Of Forests: Here's What CSE Analysis Said

India is "missing" 25.87 million hectares of forests, a new analysis of Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) said. The total area combined together would be equivalent to the state of Uttar Pradesh. This is a result of the difference between recorded forest and the forest cover as per official data, according to the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) analysis. This analysis had its basis on the India State of Forest Report 2021 (ISFR2021) that was published some weeks back. What the analysis said? "The State of the Forest Report does not explain what is the state of this forest land that India is 'missing' - as massive as 25.87 million Ha. This is the difference between what is 'recorded' as forest area and the actual forest cover on that recorded area. The recorded forest area is 77.53 million Ha but the forest cover on these lands is 51.66 million Ha. Which clearly means that as much as 34 per cent of the area classified as forests is missing in the assessment," said CSE Director General Sunita Narain. forests Deccan Herald Off the record, she said that a very senior forest official told her that 11 million Ha is accounted for, including 3 million Ha is encroached, 1 million Ha is inside villages and 2 million Ha is diverted. "But all this does not figure in the report," she added. "Of the total RFA, as much as 51.66 million Ha is forest cover (15.7% of India's geographical area), which leaves out 25.87 million Ha unexplained," she went on to say when she addressed the annual media conclave, Anil Agrawal Dialogue 2022. forests Deccan Herald Before 2015 forest boundaries were not digitised and there was a chance for such a miscalculation. But now the Forest Department has exact digital coordinates of the forest land. This established the fact that 28% of the forest cover in India lies on lands outside the department's control. "This missing 25.87 million ha - must be regenerated. While it is great that forests are growing outside because people are planting trees, even plantations on their lands, it is time to talk about what is happening inside the lands held by the forest department and classified as forests," she continued.

• Down To Earth

Global food system, food practices account for 21-37 per cent of world's annual greenhouse gas emissions

A new report suggests that the food practices of 7.8 billion people account for 21-37 per cent of the greenhouse gases emitted every year in the world due to all human activities. It means our food systems (the complete process ranging from food production and consumption to its distribution and disposal) emit more than transportation (14 per cent of global GHG emissions) and energy use in buildings (16 per cent), and almost as much as the industry (21 per cent) and electricity production (25 per cent). In fact, in a scenario where emissions from all other sources are halted, emissions from the global food system alone will contribute enough GHGs to heat up the planet above the 1.5°C target. These statistics and projections feature in the latest Annual State of India's Environment report, released at the 2022 Anil Agarwal Dialogue, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)'s annual media conclave, by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. These statistics, put together recently by a group of researchers from the UK and the US, may come as a surprise to many who think of plants as carbon sinks. Vibha Varshney, associate editor, 'Down To Earth', said: "While it is true that plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, they also release large amounts of the gas when decomposing. Food systems also contribute to emissions through other direct and indirect ways. For example, cutting trees to make way for farms and pasture removes a major carbon sink. Operation of farm machinery using fossil fuels, or manufacture of agrochemicals and fertilisers too emit GHGs." "So what is the world doing about it? The EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet and Health, a gathering of 37 scientists from 16 nations, has set global targets for food systems that are environmentally sustainable and benefit human health. The commission has proposed a Planetary Health Diet that could reduce urban emissions by 60 per cent in 10 years," she added. The CSE-'Down To Earth' report refers to a September 2020 assessment by UNEP which says reducing land-use change and conversion of natural habitat alone could lower emissions by 4.6 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e). Varshney added: "A dramatic transformation of dietary practices is recommended to decarbonise the food sector. But it is easier said than done. The pathways to achieve that goal are not as clear as they are for, say, the generation of electricity. Carbon emissions are integral to the biological system. Besides, one cannot stop eating." "There are also financial considerations at play. The most affordable of the EAT-Lancet Commission's 'planetary health diet' exceeds the household per capita income of 1.58 billion people," says Richard Mahapatra, managing editor of Down To Earth. Additionally, business interests that have played a role in shaping modern industrial food can make the transition difficult as well. There are also fears that this focus on plant-based diets might prompt other emitters to shirk responsibility and put the onus of reducing emissions on the individual. Says the Annual State of India's Environment report: "The 26th Conference of Parties... in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021 saw discussions on lowering the agriculture sector's contribution to global warming. It remains to be seen how this affects food systems."

• Down To Earth

आंकड़ों में बढ़कर जमीन पर घट रहा दिल्ली-यूपी समेत देश के कई राज्यों का वन क्षेत्र

नई दिल्ली/ अलवार, राज्य ब्यूरो। पढ़-सुनकर हैरानी भले ही हो, लेकिन सच यही है आंकड़ों में बढ़कर जमीन पर देश का वन क्षेत्र लगतार घट रहा है। आलम यह है कि 34 प्रतिशत वन क्षेत्र गायब हो चुका है, जबकि इसकी किसी को सुध ही नहीं है। राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर 34 प्रतिशत के इस आंकड़े में उत्तर प्रदेश, दिल्ली, झारखंड, छत्तीसगढ़, उत्तराखंड, हिमाचल प्रदेश, चंडीगढ़, पंजाब और हरियाणा सहित कमोबेश सभी राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों का हिस्सा शामिल है। यह जानकारी नीमली (अलवर) स्थित अनिल अग्रवाल पर्यावरण प्रशिक्षण संस्थान मेें चल रहे 'महामारी और जलवायु परिवर्तन की दोहरी चुनौती' विषयक चार दिवसीय कांक्लेव के तीसरे दिन सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट (सीएसई) के एक प्रेजेंटेशन में सामने आई। यह प्रेजेंटेशन भी बृहस्पतिवार को सीएसई की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने स्वयं दिया। प्रेजेंटेशन का आधार इंडिया स्टेट आफ फारेस्ट रिपोर्ट 2021 ही है। इस प्रेजेंटेशन के मुताबिक भारत का कुल भौगोलिक क्षेत्रफल 32.874 करोड़ हेक्टेयर है। इसमें से 23.5 प्रतिशत यानी 7.753 करोड़ हेक्टेयर जमीन को देश का कुल वन क्षेत्र बताया गया है। इसमें भी 4.422 करोड़ हेक्टेयर क्षेत्र आरक्षित वन, 2.122 करोड़ हेक्टेयर संरक्षित वन जबकि 1.207 अवर्गित वन क्षेत्र है। लेकिन आंकड़ों से अलग हकीकत यह है कि 5.166 करोड़ हेक्टेयर जमीन पर तो वन क्षेत्र है मगर बाकी 2.587 करोड़ हेक्टेयर क्षेत्र में कोई वन ही नहीं है। प्रेजेंटेशन के मुताबिक इंडिया स्टेट आफ फारेस्ट रिपोर्ट 2021 में साफ तौर 5.166 करोड़ हेक्टेयर यानी कुल वन क्षेत्र की 66 प्रतिशत जमीन पर ही वन आवरण बताया गया है। शेष 2.587 यानी 34 प्रतिशत क्षेत्र की स्क्रब अर्थात झाड़ियों में भी वर्गीकृत नहीं किया गया है। हैरत की बात यह भी कि 2019 और 2021 के बीच देश के वन क्षेत्र में सिर्फ 0.2 प्रतिशत यानी 1.6 लाख हेक्टेयर की ही वृद्धि हुई है जबकि घोशित वन क्षेत्र से बाहर की जमीन पर महज 0.76 प्रतिशत का इजाफा हुआ है। सुनीता नारायण (महानिदेशक, सीएसई) के मुताबिक,देश में वन क्षेत्र साल दर साल कम हो रहा है। हैदराबाद स्थित राष्ट्रीय रिमोट सेंसिंग एजेंसी द्वारा करीब चार दशक पहले सैटेलाइट तस्वीरों के माध्यम से एक रिपोर्ट तैयार कर 1975 से 1982 के दौरान हर साल 13 लाख हेक्टेयर वन क्षेत्र कम होने की बात कही थी। इसके बाद वृद्धि का आंकड़ा तो साझा किया जाता है लेकिन कम होते वन क्षेत्र का नहीं। लेकिन इंडिया स्टेट आफ फारेस्ट रिपोर्ट 2021 में केवल 5.166 करोड़ हेक्टेयर यानी कुल वन क्षेत्र की 66 प्रतिशत जमीन पर ही वन आवरण बताकर शेष 2.587 यानी 34 प्रतिशत क्षेत्र पर सवालिया निशान लगा दिया गया है। निश्चित तौर पर यह क्षेत्र अतिक्रमण या अवैध कब्जों की जद में है।

• Down To Earth

State ranks 7th in 'Sustainable Dev Goal 3': Centre's report

OLKATA: West Bengal is showing the path to other states when it comes to sustainable development goals. According to the State of India's Environment Report 2022 collated by the Centre for Science and Environment, Bengal has done exceedingly well in four key sectors. Bengal has performed admirably well in Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health & Well Being), ranking seventh with a score of 76, which is above the national average of 74. The state's performance in SDG 3 has been distinguishably better compared to the past two years, with scores of 70 and 66 in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Bengal also bagged the crown in Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy) by scoring 98 and ranking second among all states. Similarly, in Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production), Bengal has ranked seventh with a score of 82. The state now has time till 2030 to realise all its Sustainable Development Goals. While the state has improved its ranking to 11th from 13th in 2020, it has done way better in 2019 when it ranked eighth. The State of India's Environment Report was released by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav at Rajasthan's Alwar on Tuesday. These rankings are based on the performance of 28 states in 15 Sustainable Development Goals. CSE director-general Sunita Narain said: "In the last two years, the world has seen disruption at a scale not seen before." Narain added: "Both Covid-19 and climate change are the result of our 'dystopian' relationship with nature. We can call this the revenge of nature."

• Down To Earth

Most lives lost to lightning in 2021: IMD chief

Alwar (Rajasthan): There has been a marked increase in lightning and thunderstorms in the year 2021 and they have become deadlier too. Sharing the details of casualties arising out of extreme weather events in 2021, director general of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said out of 1,750 deaths occurring due to different extreme weather events, lightning accounted for 45% casualties corresponding to 787, far above than the casualties caused by cyclonic storms (172), which is otherwise considered more dreadful. Deaths due to flood, heavy rain and landslide accounted for 43% (759) casualties. Lightning events causing deaths have mostly been reported from the eastern part of the country — Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. Mohapatra was addressing journalists in a symposium organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on the topic Code Red on Climate: What Science Is Telling Us, here on Wednesday. “Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have been the worst-hit states in terms of casualties due to extreme weather events,” he said. Jharkhand, which has remained a thunder hotspot for several years, had all the casualties due to extreme weather events linked to lightning while Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal had the biggest chunk of casualties linked to lightning. Akshit Sangomla of CSE said lightning and thunderstorm-related events are among the most under-reported category of extreme weather events. Throwing light on the possible reasons for increasing extreme weather events, particularly lightning and sudden rainfall, climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, Roxy Mathew Koll, linked it to marine heat wave. Koll, who has been pioneering research in marine heatwaves, said though the field in terms of research is new, it had huge potential to impact extreme weather events. “Marie heatwaves are a known phenomena of the Bay of Bengal but this year, western Indian Ocean experienced four-fold and northern Bay of Bengal two-three fold rise in numer of marine heatwaves,” he said. Koll linked marine heatwaves to sudden rise in moisture-laden warm winds which often results in heavy rainfall and thunder. “Chances are there that the marine heatwaves have triggered thunder close to Bay of Bengal and neighouring Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and MP,” he said. The marine heatwaves, most of which is recorded through satellite imagery, have pointed that the average sea surface temperature, which is around 27-28 degrees Celsius, have often touched 30-31 degrees Celsius. “One buoy deployed at the Bay of Bengal captured temperature as high as 34 degrees Celsius, indicating that the oceans are acting as the heat sink of global warming and eventually resulting in extreme weather conditions in the coastal regions and neighbourhood,” Koll said. IMD also pointed to other anomalies in weather events recorded last year. Mohapatra said 2021 was the 5th warmest year on record since 1901. “The mean annual average temperature increased by 0.44 degrees Celsius and we have noticed that the mean temperature in most parts of the country has increased,” he said, adding that the anomalies could be directly linked to climate change.

• Water Programme

Delhi: जलायशों के गायब होने के मामले में NHRC ने लिया संज्ञान, दिल्ली सरकार और DDA को जारी किया नोटिस

राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग (NHRC) ने यह भी पाया है कि 23 अप्रैल 2019 को आर्द्रभूमि के संरक्षण और प्रबंधन के लिए दिल्ली में मुख्य सचिव की अध्यक्षता में आर्द्रभूमि प्राधिकरण का गठन किया गया था. राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग (NHRC) ने दिल्ली में संबंधित विभागों के अधिकारियों के कथित लापरवाही मामले में स्वत: संज्ञान लिया है. कथित तौर पर अनियोजित विकास और लापरवाही की वजह ले दिल्ली (Delhi) में जल निकायों के गायब होने के मामले पर NHRC ने एक मीडिया रिपोर्ट का स्वत: संज्ञान लिया है. NHRC ने इस मामले में दिल्ली सरकार के मुख्य सचिव और दिल्ली विकास प्राधिकरण के उपाध्यक्ष को नोटिस जारी किया है. सभी से 6 हफ्ते के भीतर मामले में विस्तृत रिपोर्ट तलब की गई है. राष्ट्रीय मानव अधिकार आयोग का कहना है कि मीडिया रिपोर्ट (Media Reports) में उठाया गया मुद्दा चिंता का विषय है. आयोग का कहना है कि पर्यावरण (Environment) के ऐसे महत्वपूर्ण घटकों की सुरक्षा के लिए कानून और दिशानिर्देश मौजूद हैं. NHRC का कहना है कि अधिकारियों द्वारा कथित लापरवाही मानवाधिकारों का उल्लंघन है. उन्होंने कहा कि जल निकाय और आर्द्रभूमि जल विज्ञान चक्र का एक महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा हैं, जो समृद्ध जैव विविधता और पारिस्थितिक तंत्र जैसे जल भंडारण, जल शोधन, बाढ़ नियंत्रण, कटाव नियंत्रण और सेवाओं की एक विस्तृत श्रृंखला प्रदान करते है. साथ ही माइक्रॉक्लाइमेट विनियमन आदि का समर्थन करते हैं. ये शहरी बाढ़ (Flood) को कम करने में भी मदद करता है. राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग का संज्ञान राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग ने यह भी पाया है कि 23 अप्रैल 2019 को आर्द्रभूमि के संरक्षण और प्रबंधन के लिए दिल्ली में मुख्य सचिव की अध्यक्षता में आर्द्रभूमि प्राधिकरण का गठन किया गया था. 3 मार्च 2022 को जारी मीडिया रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक ये जल निकाय, जो इस क्षेत्र में पारिस्थितिक संतुलन बनाए रखने में एक प्रमुख भूमिका निभाते हैं, या तो कंक्रीट पर अतिक्रमण कर लिया गया है या सीवेज से प्रदूषित कर दिया गया है. दिल्ली में कथित तौर पर विभिन्न प्राधिकरणों से संबंधित 1,043 जल निकायों की पहचान की गई है. आधिकारिक आंकड़ों के मुताबिक उनमें से 169 का या तो उल्लंघन किया गया है या उन्हें नष्ट कर दिया गया है. 1997 के बाद घटी जलाशयों की संख्या मीडिया रिपोर्ट में खिचड़ीपुर क्षेत्र में एक जलाशय का उदाहरण दिया गया है. हालांकि इस जलाशय को सालों से आधिकारिक रिकॉर्ड में शामिल किया गया है, लेकिन इसे अभी तक पुनः प्राप्त या फिर से जीवंत भी नहीं किया गया है. मीडिया रिपोर्ट्स के मुताबिक इन 169 अतिक्रमित जलाशयों में से कुल 103 दिल्ली विकास प्राधिकरण के थे. जब कि DDA के पास कथित तौर पर 836 जल निकाय हैं,जो सबसे ज्यादा शहर में हैं. राजस्व विभाग के दायरे में कुल 131 जलाशय हैं. इसके अलावा, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के हवाले से मीडिया रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि 1997 के एक सर्वेक्षण के मुताबिक दिल्ली में 1,000 जलाशय थे, लेकिन फिलहाल 700 से भी कम रह गए हैं.

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Tripura tops in responsible consumption in SDG index

Agartala: Tripura topped in responsible consumption and production index in the country towards sustainable development goals (SDG), while it topped among northeastern states in no-poverty index, according to the findings of the State of India’s Environment 2022 study released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). According to the report, Tripura scored 99 in terms of per capita fossil fuel consumption, use of nitrogenous fertiliser, generation of hazardous waste and plastic waste and treatment of bio-medical waste followed by Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim of the region but above the national average. The ranking looked at the progress made by the state in promoting resource efficiency, green economics and sustainable infrastructure. The assessment also focused on reducing degradation, pollution and minimising waste by efficient management of shared natural resources, it explained. Tripura also topped among the NE states for the initiative of eradicating poverty — not only in monetary terms but in all forms and dimensions by 2030, which involved increasing basic resources and services and supporting communities affected by the conflict and climate-related disaster.

• Down To Earth

IMD: Average temperature rising across seasons since 1991

The temperature rising trend is more evenly pronounced during monsoon (June to September) and post-monsoon (October to December) seasons. New Delhi: Average temperatures across seasons have seen a sharp upward trend in the country since 1991, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The trend is in comparison to the average surface air temperature baseline recorded between 1981 and 2010. “The excess heat is increasing the moisture holding capacity of atmosphere during these seasons, leading to a spike in heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events,” M Mohapatra, director general of IMD, said on Wednesday. The temperature rising trend is more evenly pronounced during monsoon (June to September) and post-monsoon (October to December) seasons. “There is also a rising trend in both minimum and maximum temperatures, but the rise is significant in case of the latter,” according to IMD data shared by Mohapatra during the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022, organised by the Centre for Science and Environment. “There is a rise of 0.26 degree C in average minimum temperatures over the country 1901 onwards, but a rise of 0.99 degree C in average maximum temperatures over the same period,” the data suggest. Heat waves associated with abnormally high temperatures over certain areas, which could also be fatal to both humans and animals, are also on a rise across the country, while there is a declining trend in the occurrence of cold waves. “With global warming, we are seeing a significant rising trend in heat waves over west central India, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and some parts of eastern India like Jharkhand, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal and parts of Uttar Pradesh,” Mohapatra said during a session on climate change. “There is a decreasing trend of cold wave occurrences over northwest India, Indo Gangetic plains and a rising trend of cold waves over some parts of Peninsular India. Variability in weather patterns is also increasing,” he added. Rainfall in the winter season has gone down gradually but no overall trend as such has been witnessed during the monsoon months in the past few decades. “In day-to-day variation, heavy rainfall days are increasing,” he said. Rainstorm events associated with floods are also increasing. “Our data shows the frequency of floods and droughts, especially the aerial extent of drought, is showing a rising trend,” he added. Mohapatra said though the frequency of cyclones has not increased globally, the number of severe cyclones is going up. “In India, too, there is an increase in frequency of extremely severe cyclonic storms over Arabian Sea but no such trend is seen over Bay of Bengal,” he said. Landfall of category 3, 4 and 5 cyclones (118 kmph to over 200 kmph wind speed) has increased globally while there is a downward trend in the speed of cyclones crossing a coast (low translation speed). “More cyclones form over Bay of Bengal, which is also seeing a decrease in translation speed. This can have a more damaging impact on the coast because if the intensity is not high the cyclone moves slowly,” Mohapatra said, adding that the life span of Arabian Sea cyclones is increasing and so is the accumulated cyclone energy over the north Indian Ocean. At least half of the world’s population lives in regions vulnerable to the climate crisis, which has become complex, with several interacting factors likely to increase food prices, reduce household incomes, and lead to malnutrition and climate-related deaths, especially in tropical regions, according the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report that was released on Monday. “South Asia, including India, is among the most vulnerable, with the Ganga basin likely to face severe water shortage by 2050, Mumbai at high risk from flooding and sea-level rise, and Ahmedabad at danger from the so-called urban heat island effect,” the report has warned. Deaths related to circulatory, respiratory, diabetic and infectious diseases, as well as infant mortality are on the rise in Asia with high temperatures, the Asia factsheet of the report said. A spike in heavy rain events and temperature will increase the risk of diarrheal diseases, dengue fever and malaria in tropical and sub-tropical Asia. More frequent hot days and intense heat-waves will also increase heat-related deaths in Asia, it added. Experts, meanwhile, pointed at the need for an immediate, integrated, and transformational climate action to reduce the risks. “During the last two years, Covid-19 was a deterrent in terms of climate action and adaptation across the globe and in India. Now, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war could be another diversion that slows down climate action. South Asia, particularly India, is highly vulnerable to climate change, and we need immediate, integrated, and transformational climate action to reduce the risks since our adaptive capacity is now pushed beyond its limits,” said Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. “We will need a transformational climate action that cuts across sectors and regions to reduce huge economic losses and damage to lives and biodiversity. A transformational climate action would require political will and administrative implementation at all levels, from panchayats, districts to state and national levels,” Koll added.

• Down To Earth

Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh suffered most from extreme weather in 2021: IMD chief

Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh suffered the most from extreme weather events last year, India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. He also said that heavy rainfall and flood-related incidents last year had claimed over 750 lives across the country, with Maharashtra recording the highest number of fatalities, followed by Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Nearly 350 deaths took place in Maharashtra, most due to floods and heavy rains. The others were related to incidents of lightning, thunderstorms and cyclonic storms, data shared by Mohapatra at the virtual national conclave 'Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022' showed. In Odisha, which had close to 250 deaths, most were due to lightning and thunderstorms, it stated. Mohapatra also said that the largest number of districts affected from extreme weather events were in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. The director general of meteorology was speaking on the second day of the conclave, which was organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and inaugurated by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who released the 'State of India's Environment 2022' report. Speaking at a session on extreme weather events and climate change, Akshit Sangomla, a senior journalist with Down To Earth, pointed out that 2021 was a very significant year and a year of extremes. "It was one of the seven warmest years ever recorded. India ranked third in the world in experiencing climate change disasters. And, lightning and thunderstorms accounted for the maximum number of climate-change related deaths," he said. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment report, the earth's average surface temperature rise will cross 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 20 years, and two degrees Celsius by the middle of the century, if there is no drastic reduction in green house gas (GHG) emissions. A P Dimri, professor of environmental sciences at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, echoed the dire warnings. "Glaciers are depleting and increasing the flow of rivers in north India. The northern sides of the country will receive more rain compared to the eastern side. Cloudburst is becoming common, and we have found that in case of a cloudburst along the foothills of the Himalayas, the precipitation goes up by 14 per cent," he said. Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, focused on the relatively lesser known phenomenon of marine heat waves. Ads by According to him, the Indian Ocean is the fastest warming ocean basins in the world, and this will have serious impacts on the South Asian region. Marine heat waves are leading to a decline in phytoplankton populations, and affecting the ocean fisheries. Delhi weather: Temperature settles at 25.3Delhi weather: Temperature settles at 25.3 "About 93 per cent of the heat from global warming goes into the oceans. Warm waters are an energy source for cyclones - the frequency, intensity, rapidity and duration increases with rising temperatures. "The Indian Ocean, our research shows, will become conducive to cyclones as warming rises. Marine heatwaves also lead to marine habitat destruction due to coral bleaching, seagrass destruction and loss of kelp forests, affecting the fisheries sector adversely," said Mathew Koll.

• Down To Earth

Maharashtra, MP, Odisha suffered most from extreme weather in 2021: IMD chief at CSE event

Marine heat waves are leading to a decline in phytoplankton populations, and affecting the ocean fisheries. Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh suffered the most from extreme weather events last year, India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. He also said that heavy rainfall and flood-related incidents last year had claimed over 750 lives across the country, with Maharashtra recording the highest number of fatalities, followed by Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Nearly 350 deaths took place in Maharashtra, most due to floods and heavy rains. The others were related to incidents of lightning, thunderstorms and cyclonic storms, data shared by Mohapatra at the virtual national conclave ‘Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022’ showed. In Odisha, which had close to 250 deaths, most were due to lightning and thunderstorms, it stated. Mohapatra also said that the largest number of districts affected from extreme weather events were in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. The director general of meteorology was speaking on the second day of the conclave, which was organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and inaugurated by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who released the ‘State of India’s Environment 2022’ report. Speaking at a session on extreme weather events and climate change, Akshit Sangomla, a senior journalist with Down To Earth, pointed out that 2021 was a very significant year and a year of extremes. “It was one of the seven warmest years ever recorded. India ranked third in the world in experiencing climate change disasters. And, lightning and thunderstorms accounted for the maximum number of climate-change related deaths,” he said. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment report, the earth’s average surface temperature rise will cross 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 20 years, and two degrees Celsius by the middle of the century, if there is no drastic reduction in green house gas (GHG) emissions. A P Dimri, professor of environmental sciences at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, echoed the dire warnings. “Glaciers are depleting and increasing the flow of rivers in north India. The northern sides of the country will receive more rain compared to the eastern side. Cloudburst is becoming common, and we have found that in case of a cloudburst along the foothills of the Himalayas, the precipitation goes up by 14 per cent,” he said. Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, focused on the relatively lesser known phenomenon of marine heat waves. According to him, the Indian Ocean is the fastest warming ocean basins in the world, and this will have serious impacts on the South Asian region. Marine heat waves are leading to a decline in phytoplankton populations, and affecting the ocean fisheries. “About 93 per cent of the heat from global warming goes into the oceans. Warm waters are an energy source for cyclones – the frequency, intensity, rapidity and duration increases with rising temperatures. “The Indian Ocean, our research shows, will become conducive to cyclones as warming rises. Marine heatwaves also lead to marine habitat destruction due to coral bleaching, seagrass destruction and loss of kelp forests, affecting the fisheries sector adversely,” said Mathew Koll.

• Down To Earth

500 GW from renewable energy by 2030, says Union min

Bathinda: Union minister of environment, forests and climate change Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday released Down to Earth’s annual State of India’ Environment Report 2022 at an annual conclave organised by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) at Nimli in Rajasthan. Speaking on the occasion, he said that reducing consumption and forming a self-restrained society is the only way that we can live with nature harmoniously. The four days conclave, Anil Agarwal Dialogue, is back in its physical form after a pandemic and lockdown induced hiatus of almost two years. As many as 60 journalists are participating from across India at Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI). Speaking at the conclave, CSE director general Sunita Narain said: “In the last two years, the world has seen disruption at a scale not seen before. Both Covid-19 and climate change are the result of our ‘dystopian’ relationship with nature. Covid-19 is because we are breaking the barrier between the wild habitats/humans and the way we produce our food. And climate change is the result of emissions needed for economic growth – fossil fuels are unsustainable; our lifestyle is the problem.” Both are also linked, and are being exacerbated because of our mismanagement of health systems and the environment, she added. Yadav highlighted three extremely critical issues that confronts the nation today — climate change, desertification, and the sustainability-affordability linkage. He said: “We can change people’s lives by linking affordability with sustainability. We have to link traditional knowledge with scientific temperament; we sometimes are so proud of traditional knowledge that we forget logic. But we have to think of logic and affordability along with tradition to make it work.” Referring to India’s efforts to achieve net zero by 2070, Yadav pointed out that since emissions from the energy sector were the highest, the government was putting more emphasis on it. He said: “By 2030, we plan to have 500 GW from renewable energy. Railways will be electrified by 2030 -- that will reduce 80 billion tonne of emissions. We also plan to employ LED bulbs at a large scale, which can reduce 40 billion tonne of emissions. We are also focussing on hydrogen. If we can make hydrogen sustainable and affordable, we can bring big changes in the world.” Talking of global climate negotiations and India’s position, the minister said that environmental negotiations “is not about give and take – it is about saving humanity. The developed nations must take historic responsibility and consider what their ancestors have done in the past.” Narain said: “India needs to act in its own self-interest. Our climate change strategy has to be based on the principle of co-benefits – we will do something for climate change because it is good for the world, but also because it is good for us. We need a low-carbon strategy for every sector; we must also ask the developed world to pay for and give us the high-cost options so that we can leapfrog.”

• Down To Earth

Extreme weather events in 2021 caused maximum deaths in Maharashtra, Odisha, MP: IMD data

Nimli (Rajasthan): In 2021, extreme weather events accounted for maximum deaths in central part of India, from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General, Meteorology, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. Apart from lightning that registered the highest number of deaths, it was flooding that was responsible for maximum deaths in the country. “In the year 2021, the extreme weather events accounted for the maximum number of deaths in Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh and the largest number of districts that were affected were in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh,” Mohapatra said here during his virtual presentation at a media conclave, the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022, organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The number of very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events in the month of June and July were higher in 2021 compared to previous year. In June, there were 277 incidences of very heavy rainfall (between 115.6 mm and 204.5 mm) in 2021 compared to 262 in 2020 and 211 in 2019 while there were 35 incidences of extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.5 mm) in 2021 compared to 36 in 2020 and 52 in 2019. Similarly, in July, there were 121 incidents of extremely heavy rainfall in 2021 compared to 90 in 2020 and 161 in 2019, the IMD data showed. Western Ghats were especially vulnerable in the entire country when it came to receiving heavy and extremely heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall and flood-related incidents reportedly claimed 750 lives, he said, adding, however, lightning and thunderstorms took 780 lives. At a session on the subject of extreme weather events and climate change, Down to Earth’s Akshit Sangomla pointed out salient points from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report released two days ago. The Earth’s average surface temperature rise will cross 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 20 years, and 2 degrees Celsius by the middle of the century if there is no drastic reduction in GHG emissions. “Even if emissions are brought to net-zero by the middle of the 21st century, there will be an ‘overshoot’ of the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit by 0.1 degrees Celsius. A scary forecast is that the Arctic is likely to become sea-ice free in September — the peak summer month — at least once before 2050,” he pointed out. Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, A.P. Dimri echoed the dire warnings. “Glaciers are depleting and increasing the flow of rivers in north India. The northern sides of the country will receive more rain compared to the eastern side. Cloudburst is becoming common, and we have found that in case of a cloudburst along the foothills of the Himalayas, the precipitation goes up by 14 per cent.” Before the session, CSE Director General, Sunita Narain had rung the alarm bell too. “The latest IPCC report has made it clear that the world has a small window to act to reverse the damage — climate change impacts are devastating; half the world’s population is highly vulnerable to the catastrophic changes; and this will get worse, much worse.”

• Down To Earth

Environment: Experts Ring Alarm Bells as Extreme Weather Events Rapidly Increasing in India

In 2021, extreme weather events accounted for the maximum number of deaths in the state of Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Nimli (Rajasthan): Extreme weather events have claimed lives across India and are set to affect the livelihood of many people, mainly the poor. It was revealed by experts that extreme weather events are likely to increase in the coming days due to climate change. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of meteorology, India Meteorological Department (IMD), said that in 2021, extreme weather events accounted for the maximum number of deaths in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh; the largest number of districts were affected in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Mohapatra spoke at a four-day Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022, organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). He said that there was a rising trend of heat and cold waves and rainfall. Heavy rainfall and flood-related incidents reportedly claimed over 750 deaths. Similarly, thunderstorms and lightning claimed more than 700 deaths last year, AP Dimri, professor of environmental sciences at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University – who was one of the speakers – echoed the dire warnings. "Glaciers are depleting and increasing the flow of rivers in north India. The northern sides of the country will receive more rain compared to the eastern side. Cloudburst is becoming common, and we have found that in case of a cloudburst along the foothills of the Himalayas, the precipitation goes up by 14%." Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, speaking in the same session, focused on the relatively lesser-known phenomenon of marine heatwaves. According to him, the Indian ocean is the fastest-warming ocean basin globally, severely impacting the South Asian region. Marine heatwaves are leading to a decline in phytoplankton populations and affecting the ocean fisheries. "About 93% of the heat from global warming goes into the oceans. Warm waters are an energy source for cyclones – the frequency, intensity, rapidity, and duration. The Indian ocean, our research shows, will become conducive to cyclones as warming rises. Marine heatwaves also lead to marine habitat destruction due to coral bleaching, seagrass destruction and loss of kelp forests, affecting the fisheries sector adversely," said Koll. Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, rang the alarm bells. "The latest IPCC report has made it clear that the world has a small window to act to reverse the damage -- climate change impacts are devastating; half the world's population is highly vulnerable to the catastrophic changes; and this will get worse, much worse. The report acknowledges that the poor in the world are the worst-hit – they are the victims, they have not contributed to the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. And the report – for the first time – has talked about increasing climate change-related displacement. This will increase insecurity in our world." Akshit Sangomla of Down To Earth said, "2021 was a very significant year, a year of extremes. It was one of the seven warmest years ever recorded. India ranked third in the world in experiencing climate change disasters. And lightning and thunderstorms accounted for the maximum number of climate-change-related deaths." As per the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report, the Earth's average surface temperature rise will cross 1.5°C in the next 20 years and 2°C by the middle of the century if there is no drastic reduction in GHG emissions. Even if emissions are brought to net-zero by the middle of the 21st century, there will be an "overshoot" of the 1.5°C limits by 0.1°C. The threshold of 2°C will be "exceeded during the 21st century" without deep emissions cuts "in the coming decades". "A scary forecast is that the Arctic is likely to become sea-ice free in September -- the peak summer month -- at least once before 2050," Sangomla said. Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022, as the conclave is called, is an annual event. This year, it has brought together about 70 journalists from across the country to discuss some of India's critical environmental challenges. The dialogue was inaugurated on March 1 by the Union minister for environment, forest and climate change, Bhupender Yadav, who also released CSE and Down To Earth magazine's Annual State of India's Environment 2022 report on the occasion.

• Down To Earth

Extreme weather events in 2021 claimed maximum lives in Odisha: IMD

Nimli (Rajasthan): In 2021, extreme weather events accounted for maximum deaths in central part of India, from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General, Meteorology, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. Apart from lightning that registered the highest number of deaths, it was flooding that was responsible for maximum deaths in the country. “In the year 2021, the extreme weather events accounted for the maximum number of deaths in Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh and the largest number of districts that were affected were in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh,” Mohapatra said here during his virtual presentation at a media conclave, the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022, organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The number of very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events in the month of June and July were higher in 2021 compared to previous year. In June, there were 277 incidences of very heavy rainfall (between 115.6 mm and 204.5 mm) in 2021 compared to 262 in 2020 and 211 in 2019 while there were 35 incidences of extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.5 mm) in 2021 compared to 36 in 2020 and 52 in 2019. Similarly, in July, there were 121 incidents of extremely heavy rainfall in 2021 compared to 90 in 2020 and 161 in 2019, the IMD data showed. Western Ghats were especially vulnerable in the entire country when it came to receiving heavy and extremely heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall and flood-related incidents reportedly claimed 750 lives, he said, adding, however, lightning and thunderstorms took 780 lives. At a session on the subject of extreme weather events and climate change, Down to Earth’s Akshit Sangomla pointed out salient points from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report released two days ago. The Earth’s average surface temperature rise will cross 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 20 years, and 2 degrees Celsius by the middle of the century if there is no drastic reduction in GHG emissions. “Even if emissions are brought to net-zero by the middle of the 21st century, there will be an ‘overshoot’ of the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit by 0.1 degrees Celsius. A scary forecast is that the Arctic is likely to become sea-ice free in September — the peak summer month — at least once before 2050,” he pointed out. Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, A.P. Dimri echoed the dire warnings. “Glaciers are depleting and increasing the flow of rivers in north India. The northern sides of the country will receive more rain compared to the eastern side. Cloudburst is becoming common, and we have found that in case of a cloudburst along the foothills of the Himalayas, the precipitation goes up by 14 per cent.” Before the session, CSE Director General, Sunita Narain had rung the alarm bell too. “The latest IPCC report has made it clear that the world has a small window to act to reverse the damage — climate change impacts are devastating; half the world’s population is highly vulnerable to the catastrophic changes; and this will get worse, much worse.”

• Down To Earth

Extreme weather events in 2021 caused maximum deaths in Maharashtra, Odisha, MP: IMD data

Apart from lightning that registered the highest number of deaths, it was flooding that was responsible for the maximum deaths in the country. In 2021, extreme weather events accounted for maximum deaths in central part of India, from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General, Meteorology, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday (March 2). Apart from lightning that registered the highest number of deaths, it was flooding that was responsible for the maximum deaths in the country. "In the year 2021, the extreme weather events accounted for the maximum number of deaths in Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh and the largest number of districts that were affected were in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh," Mohapatra said here during his virtual presentation at a media conclave, the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2022, organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The number of very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall events in the month of June and July were higher in 2021 compared to previous year. In June, there were 277 incidences of very heavy rainfall (between 115.6 mm and 204.5 mm) in 2021 compared to 262 in 2020 and 211 in 2019 while there were 35 incidences of extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.5 mm) in 2021 compared to 36 in 2020 and 52 in 2019. Similarly, in July, there were 121 incidents of extremely heavy rainfall in 2021 compared to 90 in 2020 and 161 in 2019, the IMD data showed. Western Ghats were especially vulnerable in the entire country when it came to receiving heavy and extremely heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall and flood-related incidents reportedly claimed 750 lives, he said, adding, however, lightning and thunderstorms took 780 lives. At a session on the subject of extreme weather events and climate change, Down to Earth's Akshit Sangomla pointed out salient points from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report released two days ago. The Earth's average surface temperature rise will cross 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 20 years, and 2 degrees Celsius by the middle of the century if there is no drastic reduction in GHG emissions. "Even if emissions are brought to net-zero by the middle of the 21st century, there will be an 'overshoot' of the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit by 0.1 degrees Celsius. A scary forecast is that the Arctic is likely to become sea-ice free in September- the peak summer month- at least once before 2050," he pointed out. Professor of Environmental Sciences at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, AP Dimri echoed the dire warnings. "Glaciers are depleting and increasing the flow of rivers in north India. The northern sides of the country will receive more rain compared to the eastern side. Cloudburst is becoming common, and we have found that in case of a cloudburst along the foothills of the Himalayas, the precipitation goes up by 14 per cent." Before the session, CSE Director General, Sunita Narain had rung the alarm bell too. "The latest IPCC report has made it clear that the world has a small window to act to reverse the damage- climate change impacts are devastating; half the world's population is highly vulnerable to the catastrophic changes; and this will get worse, much worse."

• Water Programme

NHRC issues notices to Delhi govt, DDA on ‘disappearing’ water bodies in national capital

National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Delhi government and DDA over reported disappearance of water bodies in Delhi due to alleged unplanned growth and negligence by authorities, officials said on Thursday. The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report on the issue, which it said was “a matter of concern,” they said. “Notices have been issued to the chief secretary, government of NCT of Delhi and the Vice-Chairman, Delhi Development Authority, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks,” the NHRC said in a statement. There are laws and guidelines to safeguard such vital components of environment. The alleged negligence by the authorities tantamount to “violation of human rights”, as the water bodies and wetlands are a vital part of the hydrological cycle, which supports rich biodiversity and provides a wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification, flood control, erosion control and microclimate regulation etc. It also helps mitigate urban floods, the NHRC added. The Commission has also noted that on April 23, 2019, Wetland Authority was constituted under the chairpersonship of the chief secretary, in Delhi for conservation and management of wetlands. According to the media report, carried Thursday on March 3, 2022, these waterbodies, which play a major role in maintaining ecological balance in the region have either been “encroached upon, concretised, or polluted with sewage,” the statement said. Delhi has reportedly 1,043 identified waterbodies belonging to different authorities and according to the reported official data, 169 of them have been either infringed on or destroyed. Giving example of a waterbody in Khichripur area, the media report says that though it has been included in the official record for years but it is yet to be reclaimed or rejuvenated, it added. It is also mentioned that out of these 169 encroached waterbodies, a total 103 belonged to the Delhi Development Authority. The DDA reportedly owns 836 waterbodies, which is the highest number in the city followed by the Revenue Department, which has a total 131 under its ambit. Further, quoting the Centre for Science and Environment, the media report said that according to a 1997 survey, there were 1,000 waterbodies in Delhi, but at present less than 700 remain. PTI KND RCJ RCJ