Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

CSE Study: Delhi’s Air Worsens After Farm Fires End: What the Data Shows

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply in December even as farm fires disappeared, contradicting the common belief that stubble burning drives the capital’s winter pollution crisis. A new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment released Wednesday shows pollution levels jumped 29 percent in December compared to October and November, when thousands of farm fires burned across northern states. During the same period, farm fire contribution to Delhi’s pollution plummeted from 4.2 percent to just 0.2 percent. The findings challenge the narrative that seasonal farm fires are the main culprit behind Delhi’s toxic winter air. Instead, the study points to year-round sources like vehicles, industries, and household fuels as the primary drivers of the region’s smog. “These findings reveal a concerning reality: Delhi’s winter pollution does not dissipate once stubble burning ends; instead, it intensifies. Despite the farm-fire contribution to PM2.5 levels dropping sharply in December, the average PM2.5 levels have actually increased,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director-Research and Advocacy at CSE. What Changed Between October, December? The numbers tell a stark story. During October and November, when farm fires burned across northern states, average PM2.5 levels stood at 163 micrograms per cubic meter. Farm fires contributed about 4.2 percent to the total pollution during this period. In December, after the farm fires ended, the picture changed dramatically. Average PM2.5 concentration rose to 210 micrograms per cubic meter. This represents a 29 percent increase over the previous period. Yet farm fire contribution dropped to just 0.2 percent. Delhi recorded three severe air quality days during the stubble burning phase. The worst day saw the Air Quality Index reach 428 on November 11. In December, the city experienced five severe air quality days. On December 14, the AQI surged to 461, the season’s worst reading. Who Else Is Affected? The pollution crisis extends beyond Delhi. Cities across the NCR recorded sharp increases in PM2.5 levels during December. Noida saw the steepest surge with a 38 percent increase. Ballabhgarh recorded a 32 percent rise. Baghpat experienced a 31 percent increase. Delhi itself saw pollution levels climb by 29 percent. “The build-up of pollution was felt across various urban centres in the NCR. While some towns saw marginal declines, most cities recorded a sharp rise in PM2.5 levels,” said Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager at Urban Lab, CSE. During a severe smog episode between December 12 and 15, Noida recorded the highest PM2.5 concentration at 352 micrograms per cubic meter. Delhi followed with 343 micrograms per cubic meter over three days. Even smaller towns like Baghpat remained engulfed in dense smog with levels averaging 312 micrograms per cubic meter. Where Does Pollution Come From? The study used data from the Decision Support System developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. The findings reveal a complex picture of pollution sources. “During this period, local sources within Delhi accounted for only about 35 percent of the total PM2.5. The remaining 65 percent originated from neighbouring NCR districts and regions further away,” said Shambhavi Shukla, programme manager at the Clean Air programme, CSE. Within Delhi’s local contribution, vehicles emerge as the dominant source. Transport accounts for nearly half of all local emissions at 46 percent. Industries contribute 22 percent. Household-level emissions from cooking and heating account for 11 percent. Construction, waste burning, and road dust make up the remaining share. Why Don’t Pollutants Disperse? Winter weather conditions trap pollutants close to the ground. Stagnant meteorology prevents the dispersion of emissions. Low temperatures, weak winds, and shallow mixing heights all contribute to this problem. “This regional spike is driven by local emission sources and exacerbated by stagnant winter meteorology, which prevents the dispersion of pollutants,” Sharanjeet Kaur explained. The study also highlights the role of secondary particles. These form when gases from vehicles, industries, and other sources react in the atmosphere. They do not come directly from any single source. Data shows that directly emitted primary particles account for only 39 percent of pollution. The remaining 61 percent consists of secondary particles formed through atmospheric chemical reactions. These particles form when precursor gases like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds react in the air. Winter conditions accelerate these reactions. Gases convert into particles up to 1.6 times faster than primary particles are emitted. These secondary particles are typically finer and more persistent. They penetrate deeper into the lungs and pose greater health risks. What About Long-Term Trends? The analysis reveals mixed progress on air quality. On an annual average basis, PM2.5 concentrations declined by about seven percent in 2025 compared to 2024. Levels fell from 105 micrograms per cubic meter to 97 micrograms per cubic meter. Month-wise analysis shows PM2.5 levels declined in most months. However, three months recorded increases. April saw a 10 percent rise. August recorded a 13 percent increase. December experienced a 24 percent jump. The most significant improvements came during May, June, July, and September. Excessive and prolonged rainfall during monsoon and pre-monsoon periods helped clean the atmosphere. Rain washed away suspended particles and limited dust resuspension. What Needs to Happen Now? Roychowdhury stressed the need for comprehensive action. “While managing farm fires is important, air quality goals cannot be met without aggressive, year-round action against urban and regional emission sources for a zero emissions transition.” The study proposes several key measures. These include meeting electrification targets for all vehicle segments. Cities need to scrap and replace older vehicles. Public transport must be scaled up with better last-mile connectivity and infrastructure for walking and cycling. Personal vehicle use needs restraint through parking caps, pricing mechanisms, and congestion taxes. Industries must switch to cleaner fuels with stringent emissions control. Power plants must meet emission standards. Waste management requires a complete overhaul. Cities must segregate waste, remediate legacy waste, and promote recycling to stop open burning. Construction waste needs recycling with strict dust control measures. Households need access to clean fuels for cooking and heating. Farm fires must be eliminated by decomposing or ploughing straw back into soil. Bio-methanation of straw can provide fuel while increasing farmer incomes. “The smog is sustained by a combination of local emissions, regional inflows, and secondary aerosol formation, requiring coordinated airshed-level action alongside aggressive control of local sources,” Roychowdhury said. The analysis is based on real-time data from air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR. Farm fire contribution estimates come from the Ministry of Earth Science’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research. The Decision Support System developed by IITM provided source contribution and chemical composition data.

Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0 Promotes Student Action For Clean Air

Hawa Badlo, India’s nationwide movement dedicated to improving air quality through awareness and collective action, successfully concluded the launch of Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0, its flagship student-led environmental campaign. The launch event marked another milestone in the movement’s efforts to empower young citizens to take ownership of India’s clean-air future. The initiative was launched in the presence of Mr. Praveer Kumar Agarwal, Executive Director – Training, GAIL (India) Limited, whose leadership and continued institutional support have played a significant role in strengthening the campaign’s scale and impact. With the sustained backing of GAIL (India) Limited, the campaign once again reinforced the importance of industry participation in nurturing environmental awareness and youth leadership. Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0 invites students from schools across the country to actively engage with issues of air pollution, sustainability, and responsible environmental behaviour. Through essays, illustrations, videos, innovations, and other creative formats, students are encouraged to share ideas and solutions that promote clean air. The campaign positions children not just as learners, but as changemakers who can influence their families, schools, and communities. At its core, the School Warrior initiative continues to serve as a powerful platform for youth empowerment. While young people may not yet directly shape policy, the campaign recognises their critical role in influencing mindsets, everyday behaviours, and future norms. By encouraging meaningful engagement with environmental challenges, Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0 aims to nurture a generation that sees clean air as a fundamental right and a shared responsibility. The launch event also featured an insightful panel discussion that brought together experts, educators, policymakers, and youth voices to reflect on the future of environmental leadership in India. Moderated by Mr. Ajay Pandey, Co-founder, Think Through Consulting, the panel included: Ms. Taru Mehta, Associate Director – Environment Education & Awareness, TERI Ms. Anumita Roychowdhary, Executive Director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Ms. Zainab Bie, Climate, Energy & Philanthropy Strategist, United Nations A school student and environment enthusiast, representing youth perspectives The discussion emphasised that environmental education must go beyond textbooks and translate into small, meaningful actions in everyday life. Panelists highlighted that today’s children will shape tomorrow’s world, and early engagement can help India move towards a greener and healthier future. Speakers also shared inspiring examples of young students and entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions for environmental protection, underlining the importance of platforms like Hawa Badlo School Warrior in fostering awareness, creativity, and responsibility from a young age. While creativity and expression remain central to School Warrior 3.0, the campaign also draws attention to the urgency of India’s air-pollution crisis, particularly in urban centres where health risks continue to grow. By engaging students early, Hawa Badlo aims to instil long-term environmental thinking and accountability. Though student-centred, the impact of Hawa Badlo School Warrior 3.0 extends beyond classrooms to teachers, parents, and local communities. The campaign continues to position School Warrior as a bridge between awareness and action, reinforcing the belief that meaningful change begins with dialogue, and that dialogue often starts with young voices.

Farm fires subside but Delhi still choked, says CSE report

Delhi’s winter smog has intensified even after farm fires subsided, with new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showing that average PM2.5 levels this December rose by nearly 30 per cent compared to months which saw stubble burning. This overturns the common perception that stubble burning is the sole driver of Delhi’s toxic air. While farm fire contributions fell to negligible levels in December, the city continued to choke under “Very Poor” to “Severe” air quality, with daily PM2.5 concentrations fluctuating between 107 and 393 µg/m³, and AQI levels frequently crossing 300 and touching even 450. December 14 saw the season’s worst air, when AQI surged to 461, higher than the peak observed during the stubble burning phase. The study underlined that Delhi’s pollution is sustained by a combination of local emissions, regional inflows, and secondary aerosol formation. It cited data from the IITM’s Decision Support System that revealed that local sources within Delhi accounted for about 35 per cent of total PM2.5 in early December, with vehicles alone contributing nearly half. Industry, household fuels, construction dust, and waste burning added smaller, but persistent loads. The remaining 65 per cent was transported from NCR towns and beyond, underscoring the regional nature of the crisis.

CSE flags deeper pollution crisis as NCR smog peaks after farm fires

Bathinda: A new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), released on the last day of 2025, sheds light on the shifting air quality trends in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The study compares the early winter months of Oct and Nov — a period heavily influenced by farm fires — with the post-farm fire period of Dec, when the impact of stubble burning becomes negligible. This post-stubble phase experienced intense, widespread smog across the NCR — more severe than the crop residue burning period. The persistence of pollution beyond farm fires is strongly evident in this analysis. During the stubble-burning phase (Oct 1–Nov 30), Delhi recorded three ‘severe' AQI days, with the highest AQI reaching 428 on Nov 11. In contrast, the post-stubble period (Dec 1–29) saw five ‘severe' AQI days, with the season's worst air quality recorded on Dec 14, when AQI surged to 461, much higher than the peak observed during the stubble-burning period. PM2.5 concentrations ranged between 107 and 393, keeping Delhi firmly in the ‘very poor' to ‘severe' range on most days. "These findings reveal a concerning reality that Delhi's winter pollution does not dissipate once stubble burning ends; instead, it intensifies. Despite the farm-fire contribution to PM2.5 levels dropping to zero in Dec, the average PM2.5 levels actually increased. The stark contrast between declining fire influence and rising pollution levels indicates the dominance of local and regional sources — vehicles, industry, waste burning, and solid fuels for domestic cooking and heating. While managing farm fires is important, air quality goals cannot be met without aggressive, year-round action against urban and regional emission sources for a zero-emissions transition. The smog is sustained by a combination of local emissions, regional inflows, and secondary aerosol formation, requiring coordinated airshed-level action alongside aggressive control of local sources," says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy at CSE. "The build-up of pollution was felt across various urban centres in the NCR. While some towns saw marginal declines, most cities recorded a sharp rise in PM2.5 levels, with Noida at 38% increase; Ballabhgarh at 32% increase; Baghpat at 31% increase; and Delhi at 29% increase. This regional spike is driven by local emission sources and exacerbated by stagnant winter meteorology, which prevents the dispersion of pollutants," says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. "Moreover, data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for Dec 1–15 highlights the complexity of the problem. During this period, local sources within Delhi accounted for only about 35% of total PM2.5. The remaining 65% originated from neighbouring NCR districts and regions further away. Within Delhi's local contribution, vehicles are the dominant primary source, accounting for nearly half of all local emissions," says Shambhavi Shukla, programme manager, Clean Air programme at CSE. This analysis is based on the real-time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR. The estimate of the contribution of farm stubble fire smoke to Delhi's air quality is sourced from the ministry of earth science's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Real-time source contribution and chemical composition data is taken from the DSS developed by IITM. Key highlights: Stubble burning not sole cause: Daily PM2.5 trends show winter pollution in Delhi persists beyond farm fires, indicating a clear shift in air quality dynamics between the two phases. Stubble-burning period (Oct 1–Nov 30): During this phase, average PM2.5 levels stood at 163 µg/m³. Farm fires contributed approximately 4.2% to the total on average, peaking briefly at over 22% in mid-Nov. Post-stubble burning period (Dec 1–28): The average concentration rose sharply to 210 µg/m³, representing a 29% increase over the previous period. This surge occurred even as the contribution from farm fires plummeted to just 0.2%. The daily PM2.5 concentrations fluctuated between 107 µg/m³ and 393 µg/m³. Crisis far beyond Delhi: Data indicates a region-wide escalation of winter pollution. At the regional level, average PM2.5 concentrations increased by 28% in the post-stubble burning phase compared to the active burning period. This upward trend was observed across major urban centres, as Noida recorded the steepest surge, with PM2.5 levels jumping by 38%. Delhi experienced a 29% increase. Greater Noida registered a 28% rise. Gurugram and Faridabad saw a pronounced increase of 27% each. Shift in pollution profile: Analysis of DSS data for the stubble-burning (Nov 6–20) and post-stubble burning period (Dec 1–15) highlights a critical shift in Delhi's pollution profile. Transport biggest PM2.5 source: Transport, or vehicles, remains the single largest contributor, accounting for 46% of Delhi's local 2.5 load during this period. The industrial sector contributed 22% to the local pollution profile. Household-level emissions accounted for 11%. Other sectors, including construction, energy use, waste burning, and road dust, contributed smaller but persistent shares.

Environment: Approach has to change, all pollution sources need to be tackled

This winter, despite anti-pollution curbs being in place and a dip in farm fires — lowest in five years — the air quality index in Delhi-NCR repeatedly slipped into the ‘Very Poor’ and ‘Severe’ categories. The year saw the most visible public outcry in the recent past over the pollution crisis. Starting from the November protest at the India Gate, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta being met with “AQI, AQI” chants at an event hosting the football player Lionel Messi to the mounting petitions landing up in the Supreme Court seeking that the crisis be declared as a national public health emergency. Even when the source apportionment study that the Capital relies on is seven years old and requires updation, studies have underlined that the air pollution crisis is not limited to winter. Residents of Delhi-NCR are exposed to a mix of emissions from traffic, industry, waste burning and household fuels, along with dust from roads and construction sites. The challenge for 2026 is whether the region can move beyond short, winter-heavy emergency responses to year-round, measurable reductions across sectors. WAY FORWARD Under the National Clean Air Programme, certain cities, including Delhi, are expected to achieve a 40% reduction in PM10 levels by 2026. However, an assessment by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has found that Delhi reduced PM10 by only about 12% over six years since the programme’s launch. A World Bank assessment released this year on pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain has pointed out why progress has been slow. Transport contributes between 10% and 40% of PM2.5 pollution and is the single largest source in cities like Delhi. The report links this to ageing vehicle fleets, rising private vehicle use and gaps in public transport. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director (Research and Advocacy) at the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “We cannot talk about air quality management in isolation without understanding how it is impacting people’s health. The approach to air quality management has to alter fundamentally.” She added that there is a need to fix the fundamental systems across all key sectors of pollution. “We have a clear idea of the sources, so each and every sector requires a target. Delhi requires another 60% reduction to meet the national clean air standard for PM2.5. There is a real need to leapfrog and build solutions…”

Delhi remains most polluted NCR city in 2025, CREA analysis finds

Delhi was the most polluted among NCR cities in 2025, followed by Ghaziabad and Noida, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The annual data, recorded till Dec 30, reveals that while Delhi saw a decline in PM2.5 concentrations this time compared with last year, the polluted-season (Oct to Dec) average in 2025 slightly increased from 2024. PM2.5 levels at all 40 stations in Delhi were at least 1.8 times — nearly twice — the annual standard. The analysis showed that of the 29 NCR cities, only 14 had more than 75% PM2.5 data coverage in 2025. The remaining 15 cities with insufficient monitoring coverage were all located in Haryana -- Bahadurgarh, Sonipat, Dharuhera, Manesar, Rohtak, Jind, Ballabgarh, Charkhi Dadri, Panipat, Karnal, Narnaul, Bhiwani, Faridabad, Mandikhera and Palwal. Across India's megacities, Delhi continued to record the highest annual PM2.5 levels in 2025. While Kolkata and Mumbai remained largely unchanged, Bengaluru showed a marginal decline and Chennai recorded a marginal increase. Delhi recorded an annual PM2.5 concentration of 96 micrograms per cubic metre, as opposed to the annual national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. It was 19.2 times higher than WHO's annual safe guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Delhi's PM2.5 concentrations in April, Aug and Dec were higher in 2025 than in the previous year. The analysis found that except for Bharatpur and Alwar in Rajasthan, all remaining NCR cities exceeded the annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Ghaziabad had the highest number of days exceeding the daily PM2.5 NAAQS. In Delhi, all monitoring stations exceeded the annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Jahangirpuri was the most polluted station in Delhi, with an annual average PM2.5 level of 130 micrograms per cubic metre. It was followed by Wazirpur (124), Bawana (123), Anand Vihar (121) and Rohini (115). Among the 40 stations in Delhi, NSIT Dwarka recorded the lowest annual PM2.5 concentration at 73 micrograms per cubic metre, but it was still 1.8 times the NAAQS and 14.6 times WHO's safe guidelines. "The NCR situation shows that elevated pollution now persists throughout the year rather than being confined to a few months. The lack of improvement highlights the limitations of short-term, reactive measures and highlights the need for sector-specific emission reduction targets that address dominant year-round sources of pollution, including significant transboundary contributions," said CREA analyst Manoj Kumar. According to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the average AQI for 2025 has been the second lowest in seven years, since 2018. The average AQI was 201 this year, against 209 last year. Covid year 2020 recorded the lowest AQI, at 185. Meanwhile, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which analysed the Decision Support System (DSS) data for the post-stubble burning period (Dec 1-15, 2025), stated that only about 35% of Delhi's total PM2.5 originated from local sources within the city. The remaining 65% of pollution was attributed to NCR districts and other regions outside the city limits. "Transport remains the single largest contributor, accounting for nearly half — 46% — of Delhi's local 2.5 load during this period. The industrial sector contributed 22%, household-level emissions accounted for 11%, and sectors like construction, energy use, waste burning and road dust contributed smaller but persistent shares," said CSE.

Delhi Pollution: दिल्ली प्रदूषण पर नई रिपोर्ट का बड़ा खुलासा, पराली नहीं, वाहन उत्सर्जन बना PM2.5 का बड़ा कारण

दिल्ली की खतरनाक वायु गुणवत्ता के लिए अब तक जिस पराली जलाने को सबसे बड़ा दोषी माना जाता रहा है, उस धारणा पर एक नई रिपोर्ट ने सवाल खड़े कर दिए हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की एक ताजा स्टडी के मुताबिक, पराली जलाने का दौर खत्म होने के बाद भी दिल्ली में PM2.5 (पीएम 2.5) का स्तर कम नहीं हुआ, बल्कि दिसंबर महीने में यह और ज्यादा गंभीर हो गया।

Air Cleanest Since 2020. But No Clean Chit

The city breathed its cleanest air since 2020, but before exhaling in relief it would be sobering to know that the concentration of particulate matter that Delhiites inhaled was much higher than the national and WHO safety standards. The average PM2.5 concentration in 2025 — up to Dec 29 — was 98 micrograms per cubic metre. That's 2.45 times the annual national standard of 40 micrograms per cubic metre and 19.6 times higher than the WHO's safety guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Similarly, the annual PM10 concentration in 2025, till Dec 29, was 200 micrograms per cubic metre. It was 3.3 times higher than the annual national average of 60 micrograms per cubic metre and 13.33 times higher than the WHO guideline of 15 micrograms per cubic metre. A favourable combination of several factors gave Delhi the slight leg-up: excess rainfall from May to Oct, an early Diwali, lower stubble fumes and strong winds on most days. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's data, which was analysed by the think tank EnviroCatalysts, the annual average PM2.5 levels were 104 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024, 101 in 2023, 99 in 2022, 107 in 2021, and 98 micrograms per cubic metre in 2020. Delhi witnessed a rise in annual average PM2.5 levels for two years in 2023 and 2024, but it dipped this year. In terms of the PM2.5 levels, Jahagirpuri (130 micrograms per cubic metre), Wazirpur (124), and Anand Vihar (121) were the 3 most polluted locations in 2025. The annual PM10 levels stood at 212 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024, 207 in 2023, 213 in 2022, 215 in 2022, and 190 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst of EnviroCatalysts, said the persistently high pollution levels, more than twice the national standards for PM10 and about 2.5 times for PM2.5, reflect that the emission load across the wider airshed has long exceeded the region's carrying capacity. "While the stagnation of these levels over the past five to six years, despite rising population, consumption and industrial activity, indicates that emission intensity per unit of production may have improved, the overall increase in activity quickly offset those gains. The fragmented nature of emission reduction efforts across sectors further limited progress," Dahiya said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, said that to understand the drivers of this annual trend, "we require detailed reporting on the type and scale of systemic measures within each pollution control sector". "The critical takeaway is that, despite recent stabilisation, harmful PM2.5 levels remain several times higher than national standards. Achieving compliance with both national standards and the more stringent WHO guidelines require accelerated implementation of an ambitious, near-zero emissions roadmap across all key sectors," she said.

Year Ender 2025: दित्वाह, भूकंप से लेकर बाढ़ तक ने मचाई तबाही, इस साल दुनिया में इन आपदाओं ने ढाया कहर

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की क्लाइमेट इंडिया 2025 रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, भारत में जनवरी से लेकर सितंबर तक 99 फीसदी दिन चरम मौसम वाले रहे हैं। ऐसे में यह जानना अहम है कि दुनिया के साथ-साथ भारत में ऐसी कौन सी घटनाएं हुईं, जिनसे भारी तबाही हुई।

Extreme climate incidents on 99 pc of days in nine months in India: CSE

Extreme climate incidents on 99 pc of days in nine months in India: CSE Alarming global costs of climate change, extreme weather in 2025 Environment December 31, 2025 / By Media India Group / New Delhi Extreme climate incidents on 99 pc of days in nine months in India: CSE Climate-related disasters like floods, droughts and landslides caused heavy lives and economic toll In 2025, extreme weather events across the world, notably in India and South Asia, caused near all-time record human and economic losses, with heatwaves, floods, storms, and droughts affecting millions. Rate this post Extreme weather events continued to take a heavy human and economic toll across the world in 2025, with India and parts of Asia among the worst affected regions. According to the UK-based NGO Christian Aid, climate-driven disasters such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and storms caused losses running into over USD 120 billion globally in 2025, amongst the highest-ever. The organisation’s Counting the Cost 2025 report highlights how extreme rainfall and flooding events dominated the list of costliest disasters, particularly in South Asia. The report adds that, storms and flooding across South and Southeast Asia in November caused about USD 25 billion in damage and more than 1,750 deaths in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Malaysia. Flooding and extreme rainfall in China from June to August caused approximately USD 11.7 billion in economic losses and at least 30 deaths. In India and Pakistan, flooding and extreme rainfall caused up to USD 6 billion in economic damage and were linked with more than 1,860 fatalities combined. It also affected more than 7 million people in Pakistan. The report further states that typhoons in the Philippines caused over USD 5 billion in damage and displaced an estimated 1.4 million people. Besides Christian Aid, other organisations have also warned of high costs that India is paying due to extreme weather events, with a sharp rise in casualties, highlighting a worsening climate change. According to the Climate India 2025 report by Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based environment research centre, fatalities due to extreme weather in India increased by 48 pc with 4,064 reported across the country this year. The monsoon season alone accounted for 3,007 of these, making it the deadliest period of the year. It says that over the past four years, the number of lives lost to extreme weather in India has risen by nearly 50 pc. The report, based on nearly 1,500 days of daily monitoring, tracks seasonal trends in extreme weather events in India since 2022. The report also says that the year 2025 also stood out for breaking long-standing climate records in India. January was the fifth driest month since 1901, while February emerged as the warmest in 124 years. September recorded the seventh-highest mean temperature, with minimum temperatures ranking fifth highest on record. According to CSE, extreme weather events were observed on 99 pc of days during the first nine months of the year, including heatwaves, cold waves, lightning, storms, heavy rain, floods and landslides. These events collectively had a severe impact, claiming 4,064 lives, affecting 9.47 million hectares of crops and destroying 99,533 houses.

Delhi Pollution: Not Stubble Burning, Vehicular Emissions Emerge As Top Cause, Says Report

The fingers that pointed to farm fires and stubble burning for being the primary contributor to Delhi's hazardous air quality may have to shift directions. A study conducted by Centre for Science and Environment or CSE highlighted that the average levels of fine inhalable airborne particles also known as PM2.5 did not go down after the stubble burning ended. On the contrary, the levels intensifie

Delhi named most polluted megacity in NCR for 2025: Report

Delhi was the most polluted megacity in India and within the National Capital Region in 2025, an analysis of PM2.5 data by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed on Wednesday. The report shows that despite a slight decline in its annual average, Delhi’s air pollution levels remain dangerously high and far exceed national and international safety standards. On the same day, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also released its analysis on pollution in Delhi-NCR. The environmental think-tank looked at data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for the post-stubble burning period (December 1-15, 2025), stating that only about 35% of Delhi’s total PM2.5 originated from local sources within the city. The remaining 65% of pollution is attributed to NCR districts and other regions outside the city limits. “Transport or vehicles remains the single largest contributor, accounting for nearly half -- 46% -- of Delhi’s local 2.5 load during this period. The industrial sector contributed 22 per cent to the local pollution profile. Household-level emissions accounted for 11 per cent. Other sectors, including construction, energy use, waste burning, and road dust, contributed smaller but persistent shares,” the analysis said.

Ancient stones meet modern pollutants: How air pollution is eroding India’s heritage monuments

An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment found vehicles contributed between 20 and 41 percent of annual PM2.5 levels in Delhi. Other year-round emission sources include industries, coal-based power generation, construction, and waste generation. The analysis is based on studies by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, The Energy Research Institute, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology among other data sources.

Cloudbursts, flash floods and cyclones: Natural disasters India braved in 2025

The year 2025 saw multiple catastrophic natural disasters that led to large-scale devastation and loss of life across the country. From floods in Punjab that damaged thousands of homes and caused major crop losses to cloudbursts in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district and avalanches in Uttarakhand, the year witnessed massive destruction due to natural disasters. India experienced extreme weather events on over 331 days, according to an analysis by the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth.

Delhi’s pollution levels increase significantly in Dec, despite no farm fires: CSE

A new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday shed light on the shifting air quality trends in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The study compares the “early winter” months of October and November, a period heavily influenced by farm fires, with the “post-farm fire” period of December, when the impact of stubble burning becomes negligible. This post-stubble phase has experienced intense, widespread smog across NCR — more severe than the stubble burning period. The persistence of pollution beyond farm fires is strongly evident in the analysis. “These findings reveal a concerning reality: Delhi’s winter pollution does not dissipate once stubble burning ends; instead, it intensifies. Despite the farm-fire contribution to PM2.5 levels dropping sharply in December, the average PM2.5 levels have actually increased. The stark contrast between declining fire influence and rising pollution levels indicates dominance of local and regional sources — vehicles, industry, waste burning, solid fuels for domestic cooking and heating,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director-Research and Advocacy at CSE. “While managing farm fires is important, air quality goals cannot be met without aggressive, year-round action against urban and regional emission sources for a zero emissions transition. The smog is sustained by a combination of local emissions, regional inflows, and secondary aerosol formation, requiring coordinated airshed-level action alongside aggressive control of local sources.” “The build-up of pollution was felt across various urban centres in the NCR. While some towns saw marginal declines, most cities recorded a sharp rise in PM2.5 levels: Noida: 38 per cent increase; Ballabhgarh: 32 per cent increase; Baghpat: 31 per cent increase and Delhi: 29 per cent increase. This regional spike is driven by local emission sources and exacerbated by stagnant winter meteorology, which prevents the dispersion of pollutants,” said Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. “Moreover, data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for December 1-15 highlights the complexity of the problem. During this period, local sources within Delhi accounted for only about 35 per cent of the total PM2.5. The remaining 65 per cent originated from neighbouring NCR districts and regions further away. Within Delhi’s local contribution, vehicles are the dominant primary source, accounting for nearly half of all local emissions,” said Shambhavi Shukla, programme manager, Clean Air programme at CSE. This analysis is based on the real-time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR. The estimate of the contribution of farm stubble fire smoke to Delhi’s air quality is sourced from the Ministry of Earth Science’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Real-time source contribution and chemical composition data are taken from the Decision Support System (DSS) developed by IITM.