Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

After clean spell, air quality set to plummet in India's capital

NEW DELHI, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Favourable weather conditions led to a rare drop in pollution in India's capital New Delhi, with residents last month breathing the cleanest air in at least four years but the authorities are warning that air quality is set to drop sharply in November. A delayed end to the monsoon, intermittent rains and a sharp pick-up in wind speeds ensured that the concentration of hazardous, small airborne particles known as PM2.5 in a cubic metre of air averaged 72 in October when air quality typically takes a turn for the worse. That was sharply down from an average concentration of 126 recorded in October 2020 - 25 times over the World Health Organization's safe limit - according to data gathered by the state-run Central Pollution Control Board. But a confluence of factors, including falling temperatures, a drop-off in winter wind speed and farmers preparing to torch farm waste of the previous rice crop to ready the field for planting the wheat crop, is likely to turn the air hazardous. "Because of frequent rains, most farmers didn't get to burn crop stubble, and now they have an even shorter window to dispose of crop waste," said Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment think tank. "As rains ebb, more and more farmers will rush to burn rice stubble, and that will happen when broader weather patterns will allow pollutants to hang in the air, resulting in a thick smog," Roychowdhury said. Poor air quality over the capital is a reminder of the challenges India faces in reducing pollution as world leaders meet at the United Nations COP26 summit in Scotland to agree on strategies to fight global warming. read more Adding to the concerns, the Diwali festival of lights falls on Thursday when Indians will set off firecrackers as part of an ancient Hindu tradition. Delhi has banned the sale of firecrackers, but authorities rarely get to enforce such curbs. read more "The October air was clean, but we're really worried about November," said a senior government official involved in framing policies to curb air pollution. "Stubble burning could peak right after Diwali." Crop waste burning accounts for about a quarter of air pollution in October and November.

Delhi may see its first 'very poor' day around Diwali

NEW DELHI: The city’s air quality, which has been hovering in the poor category for the past six days, is likely to turn very poor around Diwali, which will be celebrated on November 4. Experts said the air quality was likely to start deteriorating on the Diwali day due to stubble burning and winter inversion and, if banned firecrackers were burnt, it might get badly impacted. Data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which has been measuring the air quality index (AQI) since 2015, showed 2016 had the most polluted Diwali with a reading of 431 and 445 on the day after. Delhi’s 2020 Diwali was the worst since 2016 as the festival was observed in mid-November with unfavourable meteorological conditions. AQI, which was severe at 414 on Diwali, increased to 435 the next day. In 2019, an AQI of 337 — very poor — was recorded on Diwali, which stayed in the same category at 368 the next day. A bigger spike was seen in 2018 when AQI rose from 281 — poor — on Diwali to 390 — very poor — the next day mainly due to firecrackers. Similarly, AQI deteriorated from very poor to severe in 2017, despite the festival falling in October. Experts said Delhi had not recorded a very poor air day this winter, but the air quality might turn worse during Diwali. SAFAR’s founder project director, Gufran Beig, said, “The wind direction is likely to change from easterly to northwesterly on November 4, making it favourable for transportation of pollutants released by stubble burning in neighbouring states to Delhi. High local wind speed is currently allowing dispersion of pollutants, but calm wind conditions are expected from that evening.” The Diwali pollution blows up when the bursting of firecrackers, calm wind and colder nights are combined with stubble burning, he added. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said, “There is an additional concern this time that stubble burning may get concentrated within a shorter time frame and contribute to the first smog episode during Diwali.” Dipankar Saha, former head at CPCB’s air laboratory, said AQI might reach around 350 on Diwali. “The other triggering factor is the atmospheric thermal boundary layer, which is generally low due to short day.”

Prime Minister Modi in Glasgow: Running the talk or headline management?

While Modi’s announcements at Glasgow have been hailed widely, the response at home has been more guarded. PM sprang a surprise that seems to have caught his own ministers and officials off guard Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at COP26 in Glasgow has elicited mixed reactions at home. Environmentalist and Director of Centre for Science & Environment Sunita Narayan tweeted that India had posed a challenge to the world by enhancing its targets for emission control and clean energy. “This is running the talk”, she tweeted, and not just walking the talk. Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is however sceptical. Before the Glasgow summit, he had said that he expected Prime Minister Modi to go more for headlines in Glasgow than deadlines. And the PM’s announcements have indeed made headlines as India announced ambitious plans to achieve ‘Net Zero’ emission by 2070 and reducing thermal power generation to 50% by 2030 from the current level of 70%. But a sceptical Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Mega announcements by the PM at Glasgow is one thing. What matter are actions at home. ALL environmental & forest laws are being diluted, standards are being relaxed, and enforcement bodies are being weakened. This is THE reality—not some tall promise for a very distant 2070.” There is good reason for the scepticism as the announcemeny by the PM is at variance with what Indian officials and even union minister Piyush Goyal had been saying in Glasgow. There does not seem to have been much of a discussion among the Indian delegation before the PM, as is his wont, sprung a surprise. Typically, the unilateral announcements were designed to dazzle and startle the audience and observers were duly impressed. But at home the enthusiasm is muted because of the PM’s own past record on delivery of promises. Jairam Ramesh could barely suppress his amusement while commenting on the PM’s address. “Need climate change in syllabi to educate children, says PM in Glasgow. Wow! This from a man who said on TV to school children that climate has not changed, humans have!!” while attaching a video clip in which the Indian PM can be heard telling schoolchildren that the climate was not changing but people are getting older. Ramesh also told Deccan Herald in an interview that unlike during the UPA years, this time there was no consultation with the opposition and no representation from the opposition either at Glasgow. Before the Cancun summit, there were two discussions in parliament on climate change, and two after the summit. He as Environment Minister had written to the Lok Sabha Speaker to nominate MPs for attending the conference. But no such course was followed for Glasgow. More importantly, while the PM walks the talk globally and says the right things, he said, at home the Modi Government has been doing the opposite. The Forest Conservation Act, the Environment Protection Act, Environment Impact Assessment regulations, the Coastal Regulation Zone regulations were all being amended and diluted, he alleged. Even pollution norms for thermal plants have been ‘loosened’, he said. Beyond rhetoric, grandstanding and moralizing, he expected realistic goals set in Glasgow and international accountability fixed. Even six years after the Paris summit in 2015, even the rules had not been finalized, he pointed out. In 2009, he pointed out, solar power cost Rs 15 per unit in India but it has plunged now to Rs three per unit. The dramatic fall was anticipated and India rightly pushed for more solar energy. But India would have to significantly increase the share of nuclear energy from the current 3.3% to 10% and beyond to reduce the country’s dependence on coal. “An even more ambitious goal than Net Zero emission etc. could have been to declare that by 2045 there will be no petrol or diesel vehicle,” the former Union Minister said.

Delhi: At 3,971, single-day farm fires touch season's peak

NEW DELHI: At 3,971, the season's highest single-day stubble burning fire count was recorded in neighbouring states on Monday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences. Before this, the highest fire count in a single day this season was 1,826 fires on Saturday, SAFAR data shows. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was 281 in the 'poor' category on Monday. Though the count of farm fires rose from 1,734 on Sunday to 3,971 on Monday, the impact of stubble burning to Delhi's air was less. The share of stubble burning to Delhi's PM2.5 was just 7% on Monday due to unfavourable wind direction and speed. The farm fires mostly remained low in October this year as compared with the same month in 2020, but experts said the fire count is likely to witness peak in November. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "Due to frequent rains and delayed withdrawal of monsoon, stubble burning, which usually picks up in October, got deferred this year. Farm fires can spike soon as farmers will be in a rush to dispose of the stubble. The agencies concerned should be prepared with an emergency action plan to control fire and smog." In 2020, the highest number of single-day farm fires was recorded at 4,528 on November 6. Experts said during peak stubble burning window, the fire count is expected to go up to 3,000-4,000 a day. SAFAR, in its bulletin on Monday, said, "The air quality of Delhi is likely to remain in upper end of poor category for the next two days due to prevailing winds coming from west/south-west direction, reducing transport of emissions from stubble burning. Prevailing shallow mixing layer height reduces dispersion of pollutants."

Delhi faces key pollution fight as fires rise, mercury drops

The city recorded its lowest temperature of the season at 13.6°C on Monday morning – cold conditions cause winds to die down, trapping pollutants – and the number of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana crossed 3,000 on Sunday. The Capital breathes its most polluted air between November 1 and November 15.(Sanchit Khanna/HT file photo) The cleanest October in years is likely to be followed by heavy air pollution days in November, weather experts have predicted, as the Capital faces its most crucial bad air challenge over the next two weeks with winter conditions setting in ahead of Diwali, and farm fire starting to surge in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. The air quality index (AQI) on Monday was 281, in the same range as the 289 the day before. The city recorded its lowest temperature of the season at 13.6°C on Monday morning – cold conditions cause winds to die down, trapping pollutants – and the number of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana crossed 3,000 on Sunday. The Capital breathes its most polluted air between November 1 and November 15, when the smoke from stubble fires and illegal firecrackers plunge the city into a health emergency, a Delhi government analysis of average PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometres) levels over the last five years showed. Though firecrackers are banned in the Capital, their illegal use during the festival (November 4 this year) leads to a peak in pollution levels, with people breathing poisonous air amid a thick blanket of smog. Experts also warned that, till now, Delhi has benefitted from south-easterly winds not typical for this time of the year but that could change around Diwali when toxic emissions form firecrackers is also expected to linger in the air. Temperatures have dropped and this was the coldest morning of the season so far, but a change in wind direction has helped as emissions from stubble burning are not reaching Delhi completely. The minimum is expected to be around 15 degrees Celsius for the next couple of days and wind directions will primarily stay easterly and south-easterly,” said a meteorological department official, asking not to be named. The change to north-westerly winds is likely around November 4. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), a body under the ministry of earth sciences, the contribution of stubble burning in Delhi’s overall PM 2.5 concentration was just 7% on Monday, down from 8% on Sunday and 12% on Saturday. According to Safar’s estimates, there were 3,971 farm fires in and around NCR – in Punjab and Haryana, according to data accessed by HT, Nasa satellites recorded 3,140 farm fires. Fires in these areas particularly impact Delhi since they lie upwind when the direction of north-westerly. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says more farm fires are expected in November now, as farmers will get a shorter window to clear their fields and plant the next crop. “Rains which have continued till late October have disrupted the burning pattern too and it is possible we may record incredibly high farm fire counts in a short period,” she said. Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 31.2°C on Monday – one degree above normal, while the minimum was of 13.6°C, two notches below normal. Ayanagar was the coldest location across Delhi, recording a minimum of 13 degrees. Another forecasting system – the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi meanwhile predicted air quality is expected to deteriorate slightly in the next 48 hours, with a possibility of touching the ‘very poor’ category. “Air quality over Delhi is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ category on Monday and be between ‘poor’ and the lower end of the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday and Wednesday. For the subsequent five days, air quality is expected to deteriorate by November 5 and 6 and may reach upper end of the ‘very poor’ category, with PM 2.5 to be the pre-dominant pollutant,” it said. Grap, a set of emergency measures approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, kicks in from October 15 and continues to be in force till March 31 depending on the air quality of the region. It lists out a set of institutionalised measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates and reaches a certain level.

Air quality set to plummet in India's capital after clean spell

But a confluence of factors, including falling temperatures, a drop-off in winter wind speed and farmers preparing to torch farm waste of the previous rice crop to ready the field for planting the wheat crop, is likely to turn the air hazardous. "Because of frequent rains, most farmers didn't get to burn crop stubble, and now they have an even shorter window to dispose of crop waste," said Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment think tank. Favorable weather conditions led to a rare drop in pollution in India's capital New Delhi, with residents last month breathing the cleanest air in at least four years but the authorities are warning that air quality is set to drop sharply in November. A delayed end to the monsoon, intermittent rains, and a sharp pick-up in wind speeds ensured that the concentration of hazardous, small airborne particles known as PM2.5 in a cubic meter of air averaged 72 in October when air quality typically takes a turn for the worse. That was sharply down from an average concentration of 126 recorded in October 2020 - 25 times over the World Health Organization's safe limit - according to data gathered by the state-run Central Pollution Control Board. But a confluence of factors, including falling temperatures, a drop-off in winter wind speed, and farmers preparing to torch farm waste of the previous rice crop to ready the field for planting the wheat crop, is likely to turn the air hazardous. "Because of frequent rains, most farmers didn't get to burn crop stubble, and now they have an even shorter window to dispose of crop waste," said Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment think tank. "As rains ebb, more and more farmers will rush to burn rice stubble, and that will happen when broader weather patterns will allow pollutants to hang in the air, resulting in a thick smog," Roychowdhury said. Poor air quality over the capital is a reminder of the challenges India faces in reducing pollution as world leaders meet at the United Nations COP26 summit in Scotland to agree on strategies to fight global warming. Adding to the concerns, the Diwali festival of lights falls on Thursday when Indians will set off firecrackers as part of an ancient Hindu tradition. Delhi has banned the sale of firecrackers, but authorities rarely get to enforce such curbs. "The October air was clean, but we're really worried about November," said a senior government official involved in framing policies to curb air pollution. "Stubble burning could peak right after Diwali." Crop waste burning accounts for about a quarter of air pollution in October and November. Since 2018, India has been giving individual farmers a 50% subsidy and farm cooperatives 80% subsidy to buy machines that dispose of rice paddy stubble left out in the field by mechanized harvesters. Despite government subsidies, the machines that collect crop stubble and turn them into mulch are too expensive to buy. Farmers also complain that they need to pay upfront and then claim subsidies later - a process that takes about 10 months. "The Punjab and Haryana governments are responsible for implementing the subsidy program, and their implementation may be flawed to some extent, but every year more and more farmers are using this equipment to get rid of crop stubble," the government official said, referring to India's two breadbasket states. In October this year, crop waste burning came down by 52% against the same month last year, government data showed. In Pakistan's Lahore city, not far from the border with India, the air quality index rose to 341, the worst in the world on Monday, according to IQ Air. On Tuesday, air quality in Pakistan's second-most populous city was 162. In the winter months, industrial and vehicular emissions, smoke from brick kilns, and crop fires lead to a sharp spike in air pollution in Lahore, just like in India.

India's Pledge To Go Carbon Neutral By 2070 Is Real Climate Action: Experts

PM Modi, in his address at the ongoing COP26, announced a bold pledge on Monday that India will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070. Environment experts have said India is doing more than most countries, including China, to reduce emissions and its pledge at COP26 to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070 is "real climate action". Lauding the big promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his national statement on Monday at the 26th international climate conference in Glasgow, they said by making the pledge, India has put the ball in the court of developed nations to fulfil the promise $1 trillion of climate finance. Climate change activist and director general of Centre for Science and Environment Sunita Narain said India has laid out its roadmap, and targets of non-fossil fuel, renewable energy (RE) and reduction of carbon intensity are all pathways to get one billion tonnes carbon emission reduction by 2030. "RE target of 50 per cent, non-fossil fuel 500 GW; carbon intensity of 45 per cent are all pathways to get to 1 billion tonnes carbon emission reduction by 2030. India has laid out its roadmap; this is more than OECD and certainly what China has done. India enhanced NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) is a challenge to the world to step up," she tweeted. We will reduce 1 billion tonnes by 2030; per capita will be 2.31 tonnes/as against US 9.4 t/per capita and China 9 t/per capita. No question that this is running the talk," Ms Narain tweeted. She, however, said to limit the 1.5-degree temperature rise, the world will have to go net zero by 2050. "For the world to go net zero by 2050, China should go by 2040 and OECD countries by 2030. This is why net zero is inequitable and makes combatting climate change unambitious and ineffective. We deserve better," Ms Narain tweeted. Founder of Council on Energy, Environment, and Water Arunabha Ghosh said, "I want to congratulate PM Modi and India for making a bold statement for low-carbon development. India has clearly put the ball in the court of the developed world. This is real climate action." "Now, India demands $1 trillion of climate finance as soon as possible and will monitor not just climate action but deliver climate finance. Most importantly, India has called, once again, for a change in lifestyles. If we cannot fix how we live, we cannot fix the planet on which we live," Mr Ghosh said. In a similar response, Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends, said, "By announcing a commitment for achieving net zero targets by 2070, India has responded positively to the global call and it was the best climate action in Glasgow today." "The commitment of 500GW of renewable energy by 2030, which is more than twice the installed capacity of coal currently, should set the stage for a quick transformation of the energy sector, the kind of which hasn't been witnessed so far. Ensuring that the new energy regime doesn't bring the pitfalls of the current regime will be fundamental. Solar and wind are poised to emerge as the future in the net zero world," she said. PM Modi, in his address at the ongoing COP26, announced a bold pledge on Monday that India will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070 and asserted that it is the only country that is delivering in "letter and spirit" the commitments on tackling climate change under the Paris Agreement. He also raised the NDC of achieving 450 GW non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, among other commitments, including reducing carbon emissions. Ajay Mathur, director general, International Solar Alliance, said reducing one billion tonnes of emissions by 2030 and expanding non-fossils capacity to 500 GW are enormous and transformative steps. "PM Modi cut through the rhetoric and delivered a big promise of climate action from India. Reducing 1 billion tonnes of emissions by 2030 and expanding non-fossils capacity to 500 GW are enormous and transformative steps. Fifty per cent of electricity generation from renewable energy sources speaks to India's leadership and commitment to climate action. The Prime Minister has made bold announcements and led India from the front at the onset of the Glasgow meeting," he said. Congratulating the PM for the bold announcements, Chandra Bhushan, CEO, iForest, said these steps will go a long way in solving the climate crisis. "India's announcement of an ambitious 2030 target and a net zero target is a big step for climate collaboration. I congratulate the PM for announcing this bold step which will go a long way in greening the Indian economy and solving the climate crisis," he said. Sharing a similar view, Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, CEEW, said that by announcing the net zero year, the PM has also accorded a red carpet to foreign and domestic investors who want to invest in research and development, manufacturing, and deployment of green technologies in India. Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF India termed India's five key commitments made the COP 26 as "bold stand" which is a pathway towards low carbon development. "PM Modi has taken a bold stand in spelling out India's commitments and global leadership at CoP26. Together, the five commitments highlighted by the PM indicate India's position and pathway in moving towards low carbon development and reducing climate vulnerability for its people," he said. PM Modi has announced India's updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) at the COP 26, first time since 2015. In 2015, India had committed to achieving 40 per cent of all installed electricity generation capacity to be from non-fossil energy sources by 2030. As per the new NDC, 50 per cent of electricity generation will come from renewable energy sources by 2030 and the target of achieving 450 GW non-fossil energy capacity has been increased to 500 GW by 2030. Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com For the first time India announced the target of achieving net zero emission by 2070 and that it will reduce carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030. These were not a part of the 2015 NDCs.

India's targets announced by PM at COP26 immensely challenging to achieve: CSE

PM Modi announced ‘enhanced’ targets that India will increase its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 giga watt, meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable sources, reduce its total projected carbon emissions by 1 bn tonnes from now, and bring down the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45%. And by 2070, India will achieve its target of net zero NEW DELHI : The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Tuesday said India's targets announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the global climate summit COP 26 are bold and ambitious but will be immensely challenging to achieve. In a statement, the research and advocacy organisation said by announcing these targets, India is not just walking the talk, but "running the talk". At the ongoing COP 26 in Glasgow, Modi announced "enhanced" targets for India to combat climate change - by 2030, India will increase its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 giga watt, meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable sources, reduce its total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now, and bring down the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45%. And by 2070, India will achieve its target of net zero. India's national targets, announced by its Prime Minister, are bold and ambitious, but they will be immensely challenging as well to achieve. In fact, by announcing these targets, India is not only walking its talk, it is literally running the talk - and recognising the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change," said CSE director general Sunita Narain. The organisation said that these ambitious pledges are a challenge to the developed world to step up their action. "Going by our comparatively low contribution to global emissions, coupled with the fact that our economy needs to grow and meet the energy needs of millions of poor citizens, we did not need to make such an ambitious pledge - but these are a challenge to the already rich world to step up - the time for procrastination and prevarication is over," it said. The CSE observed that India has committed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 1 billion tonnes - roughly 22% from the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and "this means that per capita emissions in 2030 will be lower than all industrialised countries of the world, including China". "It also means that we have committed to a transformation of our energy system and this when we still have the challenge of reaching affordable energy to millions in the country," it said. The CSE further said that as far as the net-zero 2070 is concerned, India's target matches the commitment of the already industrialised. "The fact is that the world must reach net-zero by 2050, which means that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries should get there by 2030 and China by 2040. The net zero target is not equitable or ambitious," it said. The CSE also decoded each of the targets announced by Modi. On the bold step to become net zero by 2070, it said that according to the IPCC, global emissions must become half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. "Given the enormous inequity in emissions in the world, the OECD countries must then reach net zero by 2030, China by 2040 and India and the rest of the world by 2050. However, the targets for net zero are both inequitable and unambitious. As per this, OECD countries have declared a net zero target for 2050 and China for 2060," said Narain. Therefore, India's net zero target of 2070 is an extension of this and cannot be argued against, the CSE said, adding that this combined net zero goal will not keep the world below 1.5 degree Celsius temperature rise and it means that OECD countries must frontload their emission reductions by 2030. Most importantly, China which will occupy 33% of the remaining budget and must be asked to reduce its emissions drastically in this decade -- China alone will add 126 Gt in this decade," it said.

India’s targets announced by PM at COP 26 immensely challenging to achieve: CSE

In a statement, the research and advocacy organisation said by announcing these targets, India is not just walking the talk, but "running the talk". The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Tuesday said India’s targets announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the global climate summit COP 26 are bold and ambitious but will be immensely challenging to achieve. In a statement, the research and advocacy organisation said by announcing these targets, India is not just walking the talk, but “running the talk”. At the ongoing COP 26 in Glasgow, Modi announced “enhanced” targets for India to combat climate change – by 2030, India will increase its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 giga watt, meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable sources, reduce its total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now, and bring down the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 per cent. And by 2070, India will achieve its target of net zero. “India’s national targets, announced by its Prime Minister, are bold and ambitious, but they will be immensely challenging as well to achieve. In fact, by announcing these targets, India is not only walking its talk, it is literally running the talk – and recognising the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change,” said CSE director general Sunita Narain. The organisation said that these ambitious pledges are a challenge to the developed world to step up their action. “Going by our comparatively low contribution to global emissions, coupled with the fact that our economy needs to grow and meet the energy needs of millions of poor citizens, we did not need to make such an ambitious pledge – but these are a challenge to the already rich world to step up – the time for procrastination and prevarication is over,” it said. The CSE observed that India has committed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 1 billion tonnes – roughly 22 per cent from the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and “this means that per capita emissions in 2030 will be lower than all industrialised countries of the world, including China”. “It also means that we have committed to a transformation of our energy system and this when we still have the challenge of reaching affordable energy to millions in the country,” it said. The CSE further said that as far as the net-zero 2070 is concerned, India’s target matches the commitment of the already industrialised. “The fact is that the world must reach net-zero by 2050, which means that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries should get there by 2030 and China by 2040. The net zero target is not equitable or ambitious,” it said. The CSE also decoded each of the targets announced by Modi. On the bold step to become net zero by 2070, it said that according to the IPCC, global emissions must become half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. “Given the enormous inequity in emissions in the world, the OECD countries must then reach net zero by 2030, China by 2040 and India and the rest of the world by 2050. However, the targets for net zero are both inequitable and unambitious. As per this, OECD countries have declared a net zero target for 2050 and China for 2060,” said Narain. Therefore, India’s net zero target of 2070 is an extension of this and cannot be argued against, the CSE said, adding that this combined net zero goal will not keep the world below 1.5 degree Celsius temperature rise and it means that OECD countries must frontload their emission reductions by 2030. “Most importantly, China which will occupy 33 per cent of the remaining budget and must be asked to reduce its emissions drastically in this decade — China alone will add 126 Gt in this decade,” it said.

भारत की 2070 तक शून्य कार्बन उत्सर्जन के लक्ष्य की प्रतिज्ञा वास्तविक जलवायु कार्रवाई : विशेषज्ञ

नयी दिल्ली, दो नवंबर (भाषा) पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों ने कहा है कि भारत, ग्रीन हाउस गैसों का उत्सर्जन कम करने के लिए चीन समेत कई अन्य देशों से बहुत ज्यादा प्रयास कर रहा है और 2070 तक शून्य कार्बन उत्सर्जन का लक्ष्य हासिल करने की सीओपी26 में की गई उसकी प्रतिज्ञा “असल जलवायु कार्रवाई” है। ग्लासगो में 26वें अंतरराष्ट्रीय जलवायु सम्मेलन में सोमवार को अपने वक्तव्य में प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी द्वारा किए गए बड़े वादे की सराहना करते हुए, पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों ने कहा कि प्रतिज्ञा करके, भारत ने एक हजार अरब डॉलर की जलवायु निधि के वादे को पूरा करने के लिए गेंद विकसित देशों के पाले में डाल दी है। जलवायु परिवर्तन कार्यकर्ता एवं ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट’ की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने कहा कि भारत ने अपना खाका तैयार कर लिया है, और गैर-जीवाश्म ईंधन, नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा और कार्बन तीव्रता में कमी के लक्ष्य 2030 तक एक अरब टन कार्बन उत्सर्जन में कटौती करने के रास्ते हैं। उन्होंने ट्वीट किया, “50 प्रतिशत नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा का लक्ष्य, 500 गीगावॉट गैर-जीवाश्म ईंधन, 45 प्रतिशत कार्बन तीव्रता का लक्ष्य सभी 2030 तक कार्बन उत्सर्जन में एक अरब टन कमी को हासिल करने के रास्ते हैं। भारत ने अपना खाका तैयार कर लिया है, यह आर्थिक सहयोग और विकास संगठन (ओईसीडी) से ज्यादा और चीन से निश्चित तौर पर ज्यादा है। भारत का राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर निर्धारित योगदान (एनडीसी) को बढ़ाना विश्व के लिए ज्यादा कार्रवाई करने की चुनौती पेश करता है।” नारायण ने ट्वीट किया, “हम 2030 तक एक अरब टन कार्बन उत्सर्जन कम करेंगे; प्रति व्यक्ति 2.31 टन जो अमेरिका में प्रति व्यक्ति 9.4 टन और चीन के 9 टन/प्रति व्यक्ति के मुकाबले कम होगा। कोई सवाल ही नहीं है कि वह जो कह रहा है वह होगा।” हालांकि, उन्होंने कहा कि वैश्विक तापमान को 1.5 डिग्री से ज्यादा न बढ़ने देने के लिए शून्य उत्सर्जन का लक्ष्य दुनिया को 2050 तक प्राप्त करना होगा। नारायण ने कहा, “दुनिया को 2050 तक शून्य उत्सर्जन के लिए, चीन को 2040 तक और ओईसीडी देशों को 2030 तक उत्सर्जन शून्य करना होगा। यही कारण है कि शून्य उत्सर्जन का लक्ष्य असमान है और जलवायु परिवर्तन से निपटने को अस्पष्ट एवं अप्रभावी बनाता है। हम बेहतर के लायक हैं।” ऊर्जा, पर्यावरण और जल परिषद की संस्थापक अरुणाभा घोष ने कहा, "मैं कम कार्बन उत्सर्जन के संबंध में एक साहसिक बयान देने के लिए प्रधानमंत्री मोदी और भारत को बधाई देना चाहती हूं। भारत ने स्पष्ट रूप से गेंद को विकसित देशों के पाले में डाल दिया है। यह वास्तविक जलवायु कार्रवाई है।" घोष ने कहा, “अब भारत जल्द से जल्द एक हजार अरब डॉलर की जलवायु निधि की मांग करता है और वह न सिर्फ जलवायु कार्रवाई की निगरानी करेगा बल्कि जलवायु वित्त भी मुहैया कराएगा। सबसे अहम यह है कि भारत ने एक बार फिर जीवनशैली में बदलाव का आह्वान किया है। हम कैसे जीते हैं, इसे अगर हमने अभी नहीं बदला तो, हम जिस धरती पर रह रहे हैं उसे ठीक नहीं कर सकते।” इसी तरह की प्रतिक्रिया में, ‘क्लाइमेट ट्रेंड्स’ की निदेशक, आरती खोसला ने कहा, "2070 तक शून्य उत्सर्जन लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने की प्रतिबद्धता की घोषणा करके, भारत ने वैश्विक आह्वान पर सकारात्मक प्रतिक्रिया दी है और यह ग्लासगो में आज की सबसे अच्छी जलवायु कार्रवाई थी।" ‘इंटरनेशनल सोलर अलायंस’’ के महानिदेशक अजय माथुर ने कहा कि 2030 तक कार्बन उत्सर्जन में एक अरब टन की कमी और गैर जीवाश्म क्षमता का 500 गीगा वाट तक विस्तार बहुत ही व्यापक और परिवर्तनकारी कदम हैं।’’ ‘आईफारेस्ट’ के सीईओ चंद्र भूषण ने बड़ी घोषणाओं के लिए प्रधानमंत्री मोदी को बधाई दी और कहा कि जलवायु संकट के समाधान मे ये कदम दूरगामी असर डालेंगे। ‘डब्ल्यूडब्ल्यूएफ इंडिया’ के सीईओ एवं महासचिव रवि सिंह ने कहा ‘‘सीओपी26 में भारत की प्रतिबद्धता और वैश्विक नेतृत्व के जरिये प्रधानमंत्री ने साहसिक कदम उठाया है और उनके द्वारा जाहिर पांच प्रतिबद्धताओं ने कार्बन उत्सर्जन घटाने की दिशा में रास्ते और भारत की स्थिति को रेखांकित किया है।’’

सीओपी26 में प्रधानमंत्री की ओर से घोषित लक्ष्य भारत के लिए बेहद चुनौतीपूर्ण: सीएसई

नयी दिल्ली, दो नवंबर सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) ने मंगलवार को कहा कि ग्लासगो में सीओपी जलवायु शिखर सम्मेलन के दौरान प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी द्वारा भारत के लिए तय लक्ष्य की घोषण साहसी और महत्वाकांक्षी है, हालांकि इसे प्राप्त कर पाना बेहद चुनौतीपूर्ण है।</p><p> ब्रिटेन के ग्लासगो में संयुक्त राष्ट्र सीओपी-26 के राष्ट्राध्यक्ष और शासनाध्यक्ष सम्मेलन में भारत का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हुए प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने कहा है , ‘‘भारत 500 गीगा वाट गैर जीवाश्म ईंधन क्षमता 2030 तक हासिल करेगा। भारत 2030 तक अपनी ऊर्जा जरूरतों का 50 प्रतिशत नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा से प्राप्त करेगा। भारत अब से 2030 के बीच अनुमानित कार्बन उत्सर्जन में एक अरब टन की कटौती करेगा। भारत कार्बन की गहनता में 45 प्रतिशत तक कटौती करेगा और 2070 तक शून्य उत्सर्जन के लक्ष्य को प्राप्त करेगा।

जलवायु परिवर्तन: सहनसक्षम विश्व की ओर

विश्व के जलवायु संकट का मतलब है कि हम ज़्यादा सघन तूफ़ान, समुद्रों का बढ़ता जल स्तर, बढ़ता सूखा, और ज़्यादा इनसानी तकलीफ़ें देख रहे हैं. मगर, एक प्रमुख भारतीय पर्यावरणविद सुनीता नारायण का कहना है कि ज़रूरी नहीं कि हम इसे स्वीकार ही करके बैठ जाएँ. हम जानते हैं कि अपने गाँवों, खेतों, शहरों, रास्तों और घरों को किस तरह सुरक्षित बनाया जाए. हमें इंसाफ़ की ख़ातिर, तत्काल कार्रवाई करनी होगी. जलवायु मुद्दे पर यूएन वीडियो सिरीज़ में अगली कड़ी...

Air quality set to plummet in India's capital after clean spell

Intermittent rain and winds led to a rare drop in pollution in India's capital last month, with residents breathing the cleanest air in at least four years, but authorities warn that air quality is set to drop sharply in November. A delayed end to the monsoon and a sharp pick-up in wind speeds ensured that the concentration of hazardous, small airborne particles known as PM2.5 in a cubic metre of air averaged 72 in October when air quality typically takes a turn for the worse. That was sharply down from an average concentration of 126 recorded in October 2020 - 25 times over the World Health Organization's safe limit - according to data gathered by the state-run Central Pollution Control Board. But factors including falling temperatures, a drop-off in wind speed and farmers torchingcrop stubbleare likely to turn the air hazardous. "Because of frequent rains, most farmers didn't get to burn crop stubble, and now they have an even shorter window to dispose of crop waste," said Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment think tank. New Delhi's air pollution is a reminder of the challenges India faces as world leaders meet at the UN COP26 summit in Scotland to agree on strategies to fight global warming. read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government often invites criticism for not doing enough to curb pollution, on Monday told the COP26 climate summit that India would achieve a net zero carbon emission target by 2070. read more Scientists said India's target is at least two decades late. India, the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the United States, had earlier rejected calls to announce a net zero carbon emissions target, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pressed New Delhi to submit an ambitious emissions reduction target. read more India should actively strive for an earlier date of zero emissions after reassessing the situation in coming years, said Avinash Kumar Chanchal, senior climate campaigner at Greenpeace India. "The next ten years are going to be crucial in achieving the climate target, and the action plan must start reducing emissions at sources, as fast and as much as possible," he said. Adding to concerns over air quality in New Delhi, the Diwali festival of lights falls on Thursday when Indians set off firecrackers as part of an ancient Hindu tradition. Delhi has banned the sale of firecrackers, but authorities rarely enforce such curbs. read more "The October air was clean, but we're really worried about November," said a senior government official involved in framing policies to curb air pollution. "Stubble burning could peak right after Diwali." Since 2018, India has given individual farmers a 50% subsidy and farm cooperatives an 80% subsidy to buy machines that dispose of rice stubble left out in the field by mechanised harvesters. Despite the subsidies, the machines are expensive. Farmers also complain that they need to pay upfront and then claim subsidies later - a process that takes about 10 months. In October, crop waste burning came down by 52% against the same month last year, government data showed. In Lahore in neighbouring Pakistan, not far from the border with India, the air quality index rose to 341, the worst in the world on Monday, according to IQ Air. On Tuesday, air quality in Pakistan's second-most populous city was 162. In the winter months, industrial and vehicular emissions, smoke from brick kilns and crop stubble fires lead to a sharp spike in air pollution in Lahore, just as in India.

Air quality in Noida, Ghaziabad worsens

The air quality is, however, likely to improve over the next two days due to the change in the wind direction from northwesterly -- which carries smoke from stubble burning -- to the cleaner southerly, according to the air pollution monitoring agencies The air quality in Noida worsened on Sunday, but remained in the ‘poor’ category. The air quality is, however, likely to improve over the next two days due to the change in the wind direction from northwesterly -- which carries smoke from stubble burning -- to the cleaner southerly, according to the air pollution monitoring agencies. The festival rush or increase in traffic movement, and dropping temperatures or wind speed, are the reasons behind the spike in the pollution levels over the past 24 hours,” said Shambhavi Shukla, deputy programme manager (air pollution), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) reading, on a scale of zero to 500, for Noida on Sunday was at 292 against 260 a day earlier. The AQI in Ghaziabad was at 342 against 273 on Saturday, and 292 in Greater Noida against 273 a day earlier. An AQI reading between 101 and 200 is considered ‘moderate’, between 201 and 300 ‘poor’, between 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and above 400 ‘severe’. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), the fire count has reduced slightly over the past 24 hours, and the air quality is likely to improve in the coming days. “The air quality is likely to improve to the upper end of the ‘poor’ category in the next two days due to an expected change in the wind direction to westerly or southwesterly, reducing the transport of emissions from stubble burning. Isolated rainfall is likely in the upwind region which would improve the air quality. Share of crop residue burning emissions in PM2.5 is about 8% at present. Prevailing shallow mixing layer height reduces dispersion of pollutants,” according to a statement by the SAFAR on Sunday. According to the Safar, the effective fire count (stubble burning) on Sunday was recorded at 1,734 against 1,826 a day earlier. Meanwhile, the daytime temperatures recorded a slight drop in Noida. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum and minimum temperatures in Noida on Sunday were recorded at 29.2 degrees Celsius and 17.1 degrees Celsius, respectively, against 29.2 degrees Celsius and 14.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, a day earlier. “Maximum and minimum temperatures will hover around 30 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius on Monday,” said an IMD official.