Cse In News

Sustainable Mobility

A mobility roadmap for circular economy

The automotive industry has seen rapid introduction of new materials and electronics, all of which can potentially help a vehicle achieve greater levels of sustainability. There is an opportunity today to leverage the scrappage policy to create a new business model and extend the auto ecosystem. The scrappage policy also provides an opportunity for the sector to transition into a circular economy, whereby the value embedded in ELVs’ (end-of-life vehicles) components and materials is recaptured through reuse, recycling and recovery. A well-established treatment route can help maximise the preservation of material quality and make automotive OEMs/suppliers rethink the ways vehicles and their materials are designed, constructed, used and handled at the end of life. Governments around the world are looking to provide support to their automotive industries in response to the slowdown brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Stimulus packages that support decarbonisation of the vehicle fleet through increased efficiency and electrification can aid in these economic recovery efforts. In this context, several governments have been considering the implementation of a new generation of incentives and scrappage programmes to boost the local automotive value chain through vehicle sales, while increasing fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions from road transport. Internationally, 85-95% of the vehicle is recovered with vehicle designs being well suited for easy dismantling and disposal. As per the Directive on End-of Life Vehicle 2000/53/EC and Japan Automotive Recyclers Alliance, 2010, Europe and Japan have led the way and mandated 90-95% of vehicle recovery from 2015. India can learn from other nations and adopt a path that focuses on multidimensional aspects of recycling and remanufacturing components. According to the Centre for Science & Environment 2020 report, air pollution from older vehicles requires urgent attention in India. A quick review of the emissions factors for different generation of vehicle technologies shows that there is a significant difference in emissions rates between old and new vehicles. For instance, old heavy-duty diesel trucks meeting BS1 norms can spew 36 times more particulate matter (PM) compared to BS6-compliant trucks. Replacement of old commercial vehicles having better performance will result in reduction of fuel bills. Reduction in oil imports is estimated to be `9,550 crore (2025). Currently, the scrapping market in India is extremely unorganised and a reliable collection of scrap vehicles while also preventing illegal dumping becomes paramount. This risk can be reduced if organised players enter the ecosystem with a centralised management system for scrap vehicles (similar to VAHAN for vehicle sales). While there is a lot more work to be done in the future, the scrappage policy does bring to the table many positives. It should lead to reduction in emissions, act as a catalyst for vehicle sales, save on imported raw materials, and expand the overall automotive ecosystem including fitness centres, new aspects of supply chain, scrapping centres and automation.

Sustainable Food Systems

Junk foods must carry a ‘warning’ label: CSE

Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) latest analysis on food labelling has called for a law on front-of-pack labelling that can inform the Indian consumer about unhealthy packaged junk foods in a simple and effective way. The analysis has been published in the latest issue of Down To Earth. “Countries are working to find ways to nudge consumers into healthy food choices and to contain the growing crisis of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments. It is a crisis that increasingly impacts children and also worsens the Covid-19 symptoms,” says Sunita Narain, director general, CSE and editor of Down To Earth. “Front-of-pack labelling is definitely an effective tool in this effort. The current nutrition information on the food pack only helps the industry to keep consumers confused and does not let them know about how bad their food is,” adds Narain. The analysis systematically presents how after seven years, four committees and two draft regulations, India still does not have the much-needed front-of pack labelling law to ‘warn’ consumers about harmful levels of fat, salt and sugar hiding in ultra-processed junk foods. “CSE was part of the FSSAI-constituted committee that first proposed front-of-pack labelling in India in 2014. Ever since, the packaged junk food industry is pushing hard to delay it and make it weak,” says Amit Khurana, director, food safety and toxins programme at CSE and lead author of the analysis. “While the lobbying by powerful industry is not surprising, the real concern is that the FSSAI has been hesitant to take a strong stand to protect the interest of consumers and public health,” adds Khurana. The authors of the analysis, who were also part of the 2021 stakeholder consultations organised by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), have also elaborated on how these consultations have not made meaningful progress and instead have opened possibilities for front-of-pack labelling options, which are weak, regressive and preferred by industry. Another study is now proposed by FSSAI to analyse major front-of-pack labelling models to identify ease of understanding and behavioural change of Indian consumers. The analysis clearly enumerates how the draft thresholds (limits above which a product could be marked unhealthy) proposed by the FSSAI-constituted working group have suited the packaged food industry, as they were much relaxed than those proposed by FSSAI in its earlier labelling drafts of 2018 and 2019 as well as those adopted by countries with best practices. The draft proposed thresholds have now been put on hold; most consumer organisations had opposed them. This working group was formed to look into the issue of thresholds following a CSE study (December 2019) which said that most popular packaged junk foods have salt and fat content several times higher than the thresholds proposed by FSSAI in its labelling drafts of 2018 and 2019; therefore, they would have been marked ‘red’ as per the proposed law at that time. “We also opposed the last-minute FSSAI proposal of including ‘positive nutrients’ in the label. We are certain that it will only give industry a chance to claim its bad food as good food and mislead the consumer. These recent consultations were like one-step forward and two-steps backwards. We are far behind where we were in 2018 and we do not know which way it will go,” said Khurana. The analysis outlines different types of front-of-pack labelling systems adopted in several countries and their limitations and effectiveness to inform consumers and change towards healthier food choices. In particular, it presents characteristics of ‘warning’ labels and how based on evidence they have been the choice of several countries in the last five years. It also recommends what should be done in the case of India. For example, nutrient specific and symbol-based ‘warning’ labels should be adopted. Israel’s ‘warning’ label, which is symbol-based. is better than that of Chile that only has text. It will help transcend the barriers of language and illiteracy. “If the government is serious to fight obesity and diet-related NCD epidemic, then it should soon make a law to make front-of-pack labelling mandatory. It should opt for symbol-based ‘warning’ label. FSSAI has experience of logos that depict vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and is aware how successful and effective such a label can be,” says Narain. The CSE analysis recommends that in addition to calories, nutrients which are most useful for consumers to know should be displayed. These include salt, total sugar and total fat (in addition to saturated fat, if not instead of them). The thresholds proposed by FSSAI in its 2018 draft should be adopted and if new thresholds are developed, they should be in line with best practices from the world. These limits should be set in the interest of consumers and not as per convenience of the industry.

Sustainable Food Systems

CSE calls for law on front-of-pack labelling on packaged junk foods

To help India fight obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) epidemic, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has called for a law on front-of-pack labelling to inform the consumers about the unhealthy packaged junk foods, enabling them to make informed decisions about what they intake. "Countries are working to find ways to nudge the consumers into healthy food choices and to contain the growing crisis of obesity and diet-related NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments. It is a crisis that increasingly impacts children and also worsens the Covid-19 symptoms," said Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE, and editor of 'Down To Earth' that carried the analysis. The analysis underlined how even after seven years, four committees and two draft regulations, India still does not have the much-needed front-of-pack labelling law to warn the consumers about the harmful levels of fat, salt and sugar hiding in ultra-processed junk foods. "The CSE was part of the FSSAI-constituted committee that first proposed front-of-pack labelling in India in 2014. Ever since, the packaged junk food industry is pushing hard to delay it and make it weak," said Amit Khurana, Director, food safety and toxins programme at the CSE, and the lead author of the analysis. Also the part of the 2021 stakeholder consultations organised by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), the authors have elaborated on how these consultations have not made meaningful progress and instead have opened possibilities for front-of-pack labelling options preferred by the industry. The analysis clearly enumerates how the draft thresholds - limits above which a product could be marked unhealthy - proposed by the FSSAI-constituted working group have suited the packaged food industry, as they were much relaxed than those proposed by the FSSAI in its earlier labelling drafts of 2018 and 2019 as well as those adopted by countries with best practices. The proposed thresholds have now been put on hold after most consumer organisations opposed them. This working group was formed to look into the issue of thresholds following a CSE study in December 2019, which said that most popular packaged junk foods have salt and fat content several times higher than the thresholds proposed by the FSSAI in its labelling drafts of 2018 and 2019. Therefore, they would have been marked 'red' as per the proposed law at that time. "We also opposed the last-minute FSSAI proposal of including 'positive nutrients' in the label. We are certain that it will only give the industry a chance to claim its bad food as good food and mislead the consumer. These recent consultations were like one-step forward and two-steps backwards. We are far behind than where we were in 2018 and we do not know which way it will go," said Khurana.

Sustainable Food Systems

CSE calls for law on front-of-pack labelling on packaged junk foods

Climate Change and Green Economy

Opinion: Climate Change Is A Healthcare Emergency

Injuries and deaths due to extreme weather events are likely to increase manifolds as a result of climate change Climate change is the most severe existential threat of our time, with impacts affecting public health, economic prosperity, and social harmony. The last decade was hotter than any period in the past 1,25,000 years. The global ocean has warmed faster than it has in 11,000 years and sea-level rise has tripled compared to 1901-1971. These findings from the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published in August, point to a future where heat waves, heavy rainfall, and droughts, become increasingly more severe and more frequent. Climate-induced disasters have taken lives and have been burdening healthcare systems for many decades in the Global South; and now increasingly in the Global North as well. The recent floods in Germany and Belgium, which were intensified 3-19 per cent by climate change according to scientists, caused about 200 deaths. The unprecedented heat wave in Canada claimed almost 700 lives, and was deemed “virtually impossible without human-caused climate change” Injuries and deaths due to extreme heat, flooding, and food and water shortages; health impacts due to air pollution; and disease and deaths due to migration when a region is rendered unlivable due to floods or desertification – these are some of the ways in which human health is affected. Climate change is also increasing exposure to infectious disease agents – rising temperatures are expanding the areas where mosquitoes can survive, leading to more cases of malaria. Destruction of natural habitats due to floods, snowmelt or landslides is increasing exposure to animals than can transmit other zoonotic diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 2,50,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone. And the brunt will be borne mainly by the fragile and the poor. Of the former, the very young, the elderly and those with chronic conditions are the most vulnerable to heat and humidity stress, says Jeff Schlegelmilch of Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, referring to the recent North American heat wave. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, between 2000 and 2019, 4,75,000 deaths occurred directly due to more than 11,000 extreme weather events. Eight out of 10 countries most affected in 2019, belonged to the low-income category; half of them are Least Developed Countries (LDCs). India ranked 7th. Other than the obvious need for rapid reduction of carbon emissions and protection of biodiversity, we need greater investments in healthcare infrastructure, particularly socialized healthcare, to prepare for the impacts that will inevitably occur in the next few decades, even as we attempt to rein in global warming. And yet, as the frequency of climate disasters rises, healthcare has continued to be reduced as a public sector offering and sold to private players. Through the COVID-19 crisis, Pfizer’s profits were 44 per cent higher in the first quarter of 2021, than they were a year ago, even though the vaccine development process was funded primarily by public sector funds – a phenomenon termed socializing the risk and privatizing the profits. This, while dozens of low-income countries continue to lack adequate access to vaccines due to punishing patents. Investments in healthcare have also declined. India’s healthcare spending as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined from 4.03 per cent in 2000 to 3.54 per cent in 2018, a startling 12 per cent drop, shows the WHO’s Health Expenditure database. COVID-19 laid bare these inadequacies – Oxfam found that states that have had higher GDP expenditure on health, such as Assam, Bihar, and Goa, have seen higher recovery rates of COVID-19 cases. Inequalities exist across borders as well: for OECD countries, healthcare expenditure comprised 12.45 per cent of their GDP in 2018, while LDCs spent a mere 4.02 per cent. In fact, about 64 lower income countries, many of whom are categorized as LDCs, currently spend more on external debt payments than they spend on healthcare, according to the Jubilee Debt Campaign in an analysis published last year. Depleting social safety nets and cross-border public health crises like vaccine apartheid foreshadow a fatal future for the survival of the poor as the climate crisis intensifies. The challenges are intertwined in ways obvious to many, but not to the neoliberal policymakers bent on framing climate change as a technical issue to be solved solely by disruptive technology, and with inadequate consideration of the links to socioeconomic infrastructure. The editors of over 200 medical journals published a joint statement in the British Medical Journal this month where they have called upon global leaders to do more to tackle the climate emergency and protect public health, since current country commitments to reduce emissions are inadequate. They believe that governments must intervene and support the redesign of transport, food, and health systems rather than leave it to the markets, citing the example of ‘unprecedented funding’ that was mobilized for COVID-19. They warn against a return to ‘damaging austerity policies or the continuation of the large inequalities of wealth and power within and between countries’ and urge wealthy countries to provide more funding to help developing countries. The question remains if centers of power recognize these interlinkages and take steps to address the multiple overlapping crises. (Avantika Goswami is a Deputy Program Manager, Climate Change and Renewable Energy at Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi)

Sustainable Food Systems

CSE demands front-of-pack labelling to junk food

The packaged Junk food industry has been delaying the proposal To help India fight the obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) epidemic, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has called for a law on front-of-pack labelling to inform consumers about unhealthy packaged junk foods, enabling them to make informed decisions about what they intake. "Countries are working to find ways to nudge the consumers into healthy food choices and to contain the growing crisis of obesity and diet-related NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments. It is a crisis that increasingly impacts children and also worsens the Covid-19 symptoms," said Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE, and editor of 'Down To Earth' that carried the analysis. CSE first proposed in 2014 The analysis underlined how even after seven years, four committees and two draft regulations, India still does not have the much-needed front-of-pack labelling law to warn the consumers about the harmful levels of fat, salt and sugar hiding in ultra-processed junk foods. "The CSE was part of the FSSAI-constituted committee that first proposed front-of-pack labelling in India in 2014. Ever since the packaged junk food industry is pushing hard to delay it and make it weak," said Amit Khurana, Director, food safety and toxins programme at the CSE, and the lead author of the analysis. Also the part of the 2021 stakeholder consultations organised by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), the authors have elaborated on how these consultations have not made meaningful progress and instead have opened possibilities for front-of-pack labelling options preferred by the industry. CSE studies in the past The analysis clearly enumerates how the draft thresholds - limits above which a product could be marked unhealthy - proposed by the FSSAI-constituted working group have suited the packaged food industry, as they were much relaxed than those proposed by the FSSAI in its earlier labelling drafts of 2018 and 2019 as well as those adopted by countries with best practices. The proposed thresholds have now been put on hold after most consumer organisations opposed them. This working group was formed to look into the issue of thresholds following a CSE study in December 2019, which said that most popular packaged junk foods have salt and fat content several times higher than the thresholds proposed by the FSSAI in its labelling drafts of 2018 and 2019. Therefore, they would have been marked 'red' as per the proposed law at that time. "We also opposed the last-minute FSSAI proposal of including 'positive nutrients' in the label. We are certain that it will only give the industry a chance to claim its bad food as good food and mislead the consumer. These recent consultations were like one step forward and two steps backwards. We are far behind than where we were in 2018 and we do not know which way it will go," said Khurana.

Sustainable Food Systems

Junk food must carry ‘warning’ label: Centre for Science and Environment – India Today

Atmosphere assume tank Centre for Science and Atmosphere’s newest evaluation on meals labelling has referred to as for a regulation on front-of-pack labelling that may inform Indian shoppers about unhealthy packaged junk meals in a easy and efficient method. The CSE has demanded that junk meals should carry a warning label. “International locations are working to search out methods to nudge shoppers into wholesome meals selections and to include the rising disaster of weight problems and diet-related non-communicable illnesses resembling diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart illnesses. It’s a disaster that more and more impacts youngsters and likewise worsens the Covid-19 signs,” mentioned Sunita Narain, CSE director normal. She added that “Entrance-of-pack labelling is certainly an efficient software on this effort. The present diet info on the meals pack solely helps the business to maintain shoppers confused and doesn’t allow them to learn about how unhealthy their meals is.” The evaluation states that even after seven years, 4 committees and two draft rules, India doesn’t have the much-needed front-of-pack labelling regulation to ‘warn’ shoppers about dangerous ranges of fats, salt and sugar hiding in ultra-processed junk meals. Amit Khurana, director, meals security and toxins programme at CSE, mentioned that CSE was a part of the FSSAI-constituted committee that first proposed front-of-pack labelling in India in 2014. “Ever since, the packaged junk meals business is pushing onerous to delay it and make it weak,” he added. A working group was shaped to look into the problem of thresholds following a CSE examine (December 2019) which mentioned that hottest packaged junk meals have salt and fats content material a number of occasions larger than the thresholds proposed by Meals Security and Requirements Authority of India (FSSAI) in its labelling drafts of 2018 and 2019; due to this fact, they’d have been marked ‘crimson’ as per the proposed regulation at the moment. “We additionally opposed the last-minute FSSAI proposal of together with constructive vitamins within the label. We’re sure that it’s going to solely give business an opportunity to say its unhealthy meals nearly as good meals and mislead the buyer. These latest consultations have been like one step ahead and two steps backwards. We’re far behind the place we have been in 2018 and we have no idea which method it should go,” mentioned Amit Khurana. The CSE evaluation additionally recommends what needs to be accomplished within the case of India. For instance, nutrient-specific and symbol-based ‘warning’ labels needs to be adopted. Israel’s ‘warning’ label, which is symbol-based, is healthier than that of Chile, which solely has textual content. It would assist transcend the obstacles of language and illiteracy, an announcement issued by the CSE added. Along with energy, vitamins that are most helpful for shoppers to know needs to be displayed. These embrace salt, whole sugar and whole fats (along with saturated fats, if not as a substitute of them). The thresholds proposed by FSSAI in its 2018 draft needs to be adopted and if new thresholds are developed, they need to be consistent with greatest practices of the world. These limits needs to be set within the curiosity of shoppers and never as per the comfort of the business, an announcement issued by the CSE mentioned.

Sustainable Food Systems

CSE calls for law on front-of-pack labelling on packaged junk foods

Sustainable Food Systems

सीएसई : डिब्बाबंद जंक फूड पैकेट पर सामने की तरफ प्रभावी ढंग से ‘चेतावनी’ लगाई जानी चाहिए

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) का कहना है कि स्वास्थ्य के लिए नुकसानदेह डिब्बाबंद जंक फूड पर प्रभावी ढंग से सामने की तरफ ‘चेतावनी’ लगाई जानी चाहिए ताकि उपभोक्ताओं को उनकी सरल और प्रभावी जानकारी मिल सके। अभी नहीं पता लगता वसा, नमक व चीनी का नुकसानदेह स्तर संस्थान ने इन खाद्य पदार्थों के पैक पर सामने की ओर (फ्रंट ऑन पैक) लेबलिंग के लिए जल्द कानून बनाने की मांग भी की है। सीएसई की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण का कहना है, फूड पैकेट पर दी जाने वाली पोषक तत्वों से जुड़ी जानकारी उपभोक्ताओं को भ्रमित रखती हैं। इससे संबंधित खाद्य पदार्थ के नुकसानों के बारे में पता नहीं चलता। लिहाजा, उपभोक्ताओं को नुकसानदेह खाने से बचाने की दिशा में फ्रंट ऑन पैक लेबलिंग एक प्रभावी तरीका है। सात वर्षों में नहीं बन पाया कानून विश्लेषण में बताया गया है, बीते सात वर्षों में चार समितियों और दो मसौदे नियमनों के बावजूद भारत में उपभोक्ताओं को अति-प्रसंस्कृत (अल्ट्रा प्रोसेस्ड) जंक फूड में छिपे वसा, नमक और चीनी के नुकसानदेह स्तर की चेतावनी देने के लिए फ्रंट ऑन पैक लेबलिंग कानून नहीं बन पाया है। कड़ा कदम नहीं उठा रहा एफएसएसएआई सीएसई में खाद्य सुरक्षा व विषाक्त कार्यक्रम के निदेशक अमित खुराना के मुताबिक, 2014 में एफएसएसएआई द्वारा गठित समिति ने सबसे पहले फ्रंट ऑन पैक लेबलिंग का प्रस्ताव दिया था। डिब्बाबंद जंक फूड उद्योग इसे लागू करने में देरी और इसे कमजोर करने के लिए पूरा जोर लगा रहा है। खुद एफएसएसएआई जनस्वास्थ्य और उपभोक्ताओं के हितों को बचाने के लिए कड़ा कदम उठाने से हिचकिचाते रहा है। तमाम देश खान-पान की अच्छी आदतें विकसित करने, मोटापा, मधुमेह, हाइपरटेंशन और हृदय संबंधी बीमारियों को रोकने के तरीके ढूंढ रहे हैं। यह संकट बच्चों पर भी असर डाल रहा है और कोरोना की भयावहता में भी इसका योगदान रहा है।

Director General Office

Delhi Air Pollution 2021: गैस चैंबर में तब्दील नहीं होगी दिल्ली, 15 अक्टूबर से लागू हो जाएगा GRAP

सर्दियों के दौरान जब भी वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर 400 से ऊपर गंभीर स्थिति में जाएगा हवा की दिशा भी पंजाब हरियाणा और राजस्थान की साइड वाली होगी तो एनसीआर के सभी कोयला संयंत्र बंद कर दिए जाएंगे इस बार सर्दियों में राजधानी दिल्ली को गैस चैंबर नहीं बनने देने के लिए केंद्रीय वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन आयोग पुख्ता तैयारी कर रहा है। पहली बार एनसीआर के कोयले से चलने वाले बिजली संयंत्र (थर्मल पावर प्लांट) भी बंद करने का निर्णय लिया गया है। केंद्रीय विद्युत विनियामक आयोग (सीईआरसी) ने जरूरत के अनुसार बिजली वितरण कंपनियों को वैकल्पिक प्रबंध करने का दिया निर्देश भी जारी कर दिया है। गौरतलब है कि अगले महीने 15 अक्टूबर से दिल्ली-एनसीआर में ग्रेडेड रिस्पांस एक्शन प्लान (ग्रेप) लागू हो जाएगा, जो 15 मार्च तक लागू रहेगा। इस दौरान वायु प्रदूषण के विभिन्न चार स्तरों के अनुसार अन्य सभी प्रतिबंध तो अमल में आ ही जाएंगे, पहली बार कोयला संयंत्र भी बंद किए जाएंगे। हालांकि ऐसी व्यवस्था केवल प्रदूषण के गंभीर स्थिति में पहुंचने पर होगी। आयोग के एक वरिष्ठ अधिकारी ने बताया कि सर्दियों के दौरान जब जब भी वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर 400 से ऊपर गंभीर स्थिति में जाएगा, हवा की दिशा भी पंजाब, हरियाणा और राजस्थान की साइड वाली होगी तो एनसीआर के सभी कोयला संयंत्र बंद कर दिए जाएंगे। स्थिति में सुधार होते ही उन्हें पुन: चालू कर दिया जाएगा। इस दौरान बिजली आपूर्ति सुनिश्चित बनाए रखने के लिए अक्षय ऊर्जा का भी सहारा लिया जाएगा। सीईआरसी ने बिजली वितरण कंपनियों के साथ साथ नार्दर्न रिजन लोड डिस्पेच सेंटर (एनआरएलडीसी) और सभी राज्यों के स्टेट लोड डिस्पेच सेंटर (एसएलडीसी) से बात कर ली है। ऐसे करते हैं हवा को प्रदूषित इन संयंत्रों से जो धुआं निकलता है, उसमें सल्फर डाइआक्साइड व नाइट्रोजन डाइआक्साइड जैसी खतरनाक गैसें निकलती हैं। यह गैसें वायुमंडल में समाहित होकर स्वास्थ्य पर नकारात्मक असर डालती हैं। आइआइटी कानपुर ने हाल ही में दिल्ली की हवा का अध्ययन किया। अध्ययन के लिए सल्फर, लेड, सेलेनियम, और आर्सेनिक जैसे तत्वों का चयन किया गया, क्योंकि इनकी मदद से ही इसका सही अनुमान मिल पाता कि पीएम 2.5 में कोयला संचालित ऊर्जा उत्पादन संयंत्रों का योगदान कितना है। अध्ययन में सामने आया कि दिल्ली के पीएम 2.5 में इन संयंत्रों का योगदान आठ फीसद तक है।

Director General Office

India can achieve net zero carbon emissions target by 2065-70: Study

India is now the fourth-largest emitter after China, United States and the European Union, and as per IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report released on August 9, it will be among the most severely affected countries India can achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2065-70 as its greenhouse emissions will peak by 2035 and if it caps coal usage in the next 10 years, said a new study co-authored by the former vice-chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia. But he said this will also depend on rich countries doubling climate finance to US $200 billion per year in the next few years. The paper titled ‘Getting Net Zero Approach for India at CoP 26’ strongly advocates that India should declare its ‘net zero’ target year at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference or CoP 26 starting from October 31 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. It said that India’s traditional argument that it has to emit for its own development no more holds “diplomatic ground” as there are viable non-emitting energy alternatives available. Net zero is the state in which a country’s greenhouse emissions are removed from the atmosphere by carbon absorption or sequestration. This is the most hotly debated proposal for CoP 26 as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had said achieving net zero by 2050 was a must to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, to pre-industrial level by the end of 2100. India is now the fourth-largest emitter after China, United States and the European Union, and as per IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report released on August 9, it will be among the most severely affected countries. India has committed to reducing the emission intensity of its gross domestic product by 33-35% by 2030 and having 175 gigawatt renewable energy capacity by 2030 under the Paris Agreement of 2016. There is renewed pressure on India to enhance its renewable commitment under the Paris deal to 450 GW by 2030 and phase out coal. India’s environment minister Bhupendra Yadav, before going for the special UN meeting on climate change on Friday had said that net zero is not enough to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. He said developed countries need to reduce emissions to provide carbon space to developing countries to exercise their right to grow and eradicate poverty. “While public announcements of 2050 as a net zero target date helps to focus public attention on the need to reduce emissions, it is important to recognise that having a common net zero emissions date for all countries is not the best way of tackling global warming,” the paper said. It said net zero target years can be given to countries based on the remaining available carbon budget with the least allocation to G20 (richest) countries, which account for close to three-quarters of global emissions. “A trajectory that gets to net zero by the time committed but exceeds the country’s carbon budget is much worse than following a trajectory which keeps within the budget but reaches net zero later,” the paper written for Centre for Social and Economic Progress said. Based on the above argument, the paper said that China and Indonesia have already announced that they will reach net zero by 2060. “The studies reviewed in this paper suggest that India could reach a peak around 2035 and get to net zero sometime between 2065 and 2070. We could offer something along these lines at CoP 26,” Ahluwalia said in the paper co-authored with Utkarsh Patel, who is an associate fellow at Centre for Social and Economic Progress, an independent public policy think tank. To achieve the net zero target, the paper said, India needs short-term decarbonisation targets along with trajectories for the next three decades. The best short term target, the study said, would be a planned phasing out of coal-based power generation as India has already adopted expanding renewable energy capacity to 450 GW by 2030. However, the Indian government has opposed phasing out coal saying it is needed for the country’s developmental imperatives. The paper outlined several implications for phasing out coal, including huge revenue loss for poorer Indian states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. For states such as Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, close to 15% of the state revenue comes from the mining sector. Further, these states would lose out on employment, the paper said, as new employment in the renewable sector would be created in western and southern India which has better solar and wind resources. India has about 210 GW of coal-based capacity, 39 GW is under construction and another 25 GW is under different stages of approval. If the coal-based power plants have a life of 40 years, India will have the capacity to generate 200 GW thermal power by 2050 and achieving net zero status by 2070 will not be possible. “Reducing life of plants to 25 years can helping in achieving net zero,” Ahluwalia said. The close aide of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in the paper, strongly argued that India should not commit to a net zero target without enhanced international financial support, saying the IPCC’s assessment of $600 billion per year as the amount of additional energy sector investment needed in developing countries should be the starting point. He added that the finance could be divided into internet finance, private flow responding to market conditions, and additional bilateral and multi-lateral inflows. “The additional funding of around $100 billion per year through multi-lateral components should be a good starting point,” Ahluwalia said in the paper. The paper said that another US $ 100 billion can come from the private sector and market-based incentives such as carbon trading. Former special climate envoy Shyam Saran did not agree with Ahluwalia and said he was “pessimistic” that the funds could come from the developed countries to ease energy transition for developing countries. Saran, who has repeatedly advocated the traditional position that India should insist on emission reduction targets for the developing world, said any energy transition for the developing world would be costlier than the developed world as patents of almost all technologies are with the West. “The rich world has absolved itself from its climate responsibilities and passed on the buck to the developing world. Net zero is an example of that,” he said. Sunita Narain, director general of Centre for Science and Environment, said India should reject net zero targets put out by the West since they are flawed and inequitable for developing countries. “The target of 2050 is too far away. We need to keep our focus on 2030, with sharp and real targets. India should seek enhanced emission reduction from the developed world and finance for energy transition,” she said. “We need disruptive action, not disruptive technology.” Navroz Dubash of Centre for Policy Research said various studies have shown why net zero was important for India and it can achieve the target by 2065, which Ahluwalia said was equitable. “The emergence of new economic opportunities and technologies could dramatically change the landscape, and there may be space for an aspirational statement towards net zero. But given the information we have today, it would be gambling with the developmental future of India to lock ourselves into a hard net-zero deadline,” he had said in an article published in HT in March. Ahluwalia admitted that the approach could face resistance and economic gains should be considered. “There will be understandable resistance to making such a major break. However, the issue needs to be examined in the context of the enhanced warnings about the impact of global warming and the technological changes that have taken place which allow for making a shift to renewables, both feasible and economic,” he said.

Environment Education

Campuses are beginning to see green

Sustainability has attained a new urgency in the corporate and academic world as they innovate to cut carbon dioxide emissions While India is pushing for a host of green measures to inch closer to its nationally determined commitments to the Paris Agreement, coaxing institutions to develop sustainable practices could push the envelope further. If office complexes, universities, schools, colleges, convention venues, industrial parks, military cantonments — practically all campuses — scale up best practices to bring down carbon dioxide emissions, half the battle would be won. Though some corporates moved early in developing sustainable systems in their office complexes and secured Leed certifications or a green building rating, others are trying to enhance their sustainability reports. Companies such as Wipro, TCS, Infosys, Suzlon, Capgemini and others now boast facilities that have rooftop solar, wind turbines, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and other customised and innovative environment-friendly measures. Take Capgemini, for example. It aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and become a net-zero business by 2030. It has introduced a slew of measures to reduce carbon emissions at its Indian campuses, including captive solar plants, rooftop solar, solar gazebos, pedestrian walkways, car ports, a solar-powered amphitheatre and solar-powered ‘trees’. The ‘trees’ have solar panels as leaves and a power generator that resembles the trunk. Their shade is bedecked with work tables — an open-air workspace for employees. Viswanathan R, Capgemini’s Senior Director, Corporate Real Estate Services, India, says the group has increased its renewable energy portfolio to 50 per cent in 2020 from 37 per cent in 2019. Other measures include carpooling, rainwater harvesting, offsite green energy procurement for its Bengaluru campus, shifting from diesel to natural gas generators at its Noida campus, and a dual-state electricity feeder to reduce diesel consumption at its Bengaluru EPIP campus. Today Capgemini is exporting surplus green power to electricity boards. Recently it started a global initiative to transition to a fully electric vehicle (EV) fleet by 2030 and reduce commuting emissions per employee by 50 per cent. Its Bengaluru campus is the first corporate campus in India to receive a net-zero energy ‘Platinum’ certification. Apart from corporate houses, other campuses need to step up to achieve results. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is focussing on academic institutions as they “ serve as important incubators” for a new generation of professionals to drive the future change. Timely lessons In 2017, CSE launched its Green Campus Initiative and its “Green Campus Compendium” traces the journey through examples from Gargi College in Delhi, Vivekananda Centenary College in Rahara, West Bengal, and Assam Don Bosco University to Amritsar’s Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU). The 500-acre GNDU, for example, set up a centre to promote sustainability in education, lifestyles and professional practice. It instituted a strict ‘no cars on campus’ policy for students and simultaneously set up a bike sharing programme with docking stations for easy connectivity. The GPS-enabled smart bicycles were available at ₹175 per month, or ₹5 per half-hour. E-rickshaws also plied. Air conditioners were restricted to laboratories, assembly halls and offices of heads of departments to cut energy use. Passive design features allowed natural ventilation and daylight. Rainwater harvesting wells were installed alongside a wastewater treatment facility to treat 2.5 million litres daily. Its 25-acre botanical garden has 200 plant species and there are about 50,000 trees on campus. It segregates 60 per cent of the 200 kg of waste it generates daily and has two vermi-compost units for organic waste. The green campus movement has set a new compliance target for the 993 universities, 39,931 colleges, and 10,725 stand-alone institutions in the country. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has included an environmental sustainability criterion in its rating of educational institutions. The All-India Council for Technical Education has also instituted a ‘Clean and Smart Campus’ award. This carrot-and-stick approach could hasten academic campuses to ‘green’ up their act.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Record rain, clear sky, but no good air day

New Delhi: For the last couple of days, Delhiites have been seeing an azure sky above their heads. And while people have been taking to social media to highlight the fact, Delhi’s air has actually failed to be in the ‘good’ category in recent days to validate the blue skies. Central Pollution Control Board classifies air as ‘good’ when the air quality index (AQI) is at the 50 or lower mark over a 24-hour period. By this reckoning, Delhi has failed to record a single such day this year, despite recording five good air days in 2020, four of which came in rainy August. Carbon monoxide (CO) is primarily generated from vehicles as exhaust emissions, while it is also an indicator of other sources of combustion. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), pointed out that September has seen intense rains this year and while PM2.5 and PM10 have remained low, the emergence of CO indicates the impact of the vehicular sector, which becomes more prominent when rain settles down the pollutants in the air. “Particulate matter settles down, but gases are still prominent in the air,” she said. “CO as the lead pollutant means it is generally due to vehicles, because the major chunk of the gas, 80- 90% comes from vehicles. Ozone is also created in a similar way.” Chowdhury said good air was difficult to achieve unless multiple sources were acted upon. Experts said the high Carbon monoxide concentration could affect the amount of oxygen in the body and. It is known as a ‘silent killer’, especially in closed spaces. Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB’s air laboratory, said CO was generated by poor engine performance and was released due to unburnt fuel. “Unburnt hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are released into the air and it is a dangerous gas. Therefore, it has 1-hour and 8-hour standards, as opposed to PM10 and PM2.5, which are measured over 24 hours,” explained Saha. Meanwhile, O3 is formed by primary pollutants and gases reacting in the presence of sunlight. At the ground level, the gas can be particularly dangerous to those with respiratory problems or asthma. CPCB’s daily bulletin is an indicator. Carbon monoxide (CO) and ground-level ozone (O3) are emerging as the prominent pollutants for the day, other than PM10, or coarse pollutants, and PM2.5, which are micro, respirable particles. While the former features as the prominent pollutant in 16 of the 18 days of this month so far, ozone was a prominent pollutant on three days. Despite recording relatively low AQI — hovering between 60 and 70 — high CO readings, which emerged as the prominent pollutant, may have been the reason the capital’s air quality was unable to touch the ‘good’ range. The lowest AQI recorded so far in September is 60, on September 12, a day when both O3 and CO featured prominently in the readings. Meanwhile, the highest AQI for the month was 122 (moderate), recorded on September 6 when both PM2.5 and PM10 featured as the lead pollutants in the absence of CO and O3.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

दिल्ली: सर्दियों में सांस लेना मुश्किल! राजधानी में इन 11 जगहों पर बेतहाशा बढ़ गई हवा में गंदगी

दिल्ली में सर्दियों के आते ही हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर बढ़ जाता है। राजधानी में 2020-2021 में पिछले दो सर्दियों के मुकाबले हवा में प्रदूषण में बढ़ोतरी देखने को मिली है। पिछले दो सर्दियों के आंकड़ों से पता चलता है कि दिल्ली के 13 हॉटस्पॉट में से 11 में पिछली सर्दियों की तुलना में 2020-21 में प्रदूषण में वृद्धि देखी गई। केवल एक हॉटस्पॉट, वजीरपुर में प्रदूषण की स्थिति में कुछ सुधार दिखाई दिया है। इससे एक बात साफ हो जाती है कि लोकल लेवल पर एयर पॉल्यूशन को कंट्रोल करने के लिए ग्राउंड लेवल पर और अधिक प्रयास करने की जरूरत है। 13 हॉटस्पॉट की हुई थी पहचान 2018 में, दिल्ली प्रदूषण नियंत्रण समिति और केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड ने दिल्ली के 13 सबसे प्रदूषित क्षेत्रों की पहचान की थी। इन जगहों पर PM2.5 का स्तर शहर के औसत से भी अधिक था। सर्वे में स्थान विशेष को लेकर एक्शन लेने की बात कही गई थी। इसके अलावा 2019 में हर एक हॉटस्पॉट के लिए स्थानीय स्तर पर ऐक्शन प्लान का भी जिक्र किया गया था। वजीरपुर और साहिबाबाद में दिखा सुधार हालांकि, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा विश्लेषण किए गए आंकड़े बताते हैं कि पूरे राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (एनसीआर) में केवल वजीरपुर और साहिबाबाद ने पीएम2.5 लेवल के मामले में सुधार दिखा है। द्वारका के आंकड़े तुलना के लिए उपलब्ध नहीं थे। 13 हॉटस्पॉट में रोहिणी, द्वारका, ओखला फेज II, पंजाबी बाग, आनंद विहार, विवेक विहार, वजीरपुर, जहांगीरपुरी, आरके पुरम, बवाना, मुंडका, नरेला और मायापुरी शामिल है। बहादुरगढ़ में 50% बढ़ा पॉल्यूशन इसके अलावा एनसीआर के लिए छह प्रदूषण हॉटस्पॉट की पहचान की गई। इनमें से फरीदाबाद में दो और गुड़गांव, बहादुरगढ़, भिवाड़ी और साहिबाबाद में एक-एक हॉटस्पॉट शामिल था। एनालिसिस में सामने आया कि जहांगीरपुरी का मौसमी औसत 256 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति क्यूबिक मीटर था, जो चिह्नित हॉटस्पॉट्स में सबसे प्रदूषित था। बहादुरगढ़ ने लगभग 50% की छलांग दर्ज की, लेकिन यह अभी भी अन्य हॉटस्पॉट की तुलना में साफ था। जहांगीरपुरी के बाद, विवेक विहार, नरेला, आनंद विहार, बवाना दिल्ली में सबसे अधिक प्रदूषित हॉटस्पॉट रहे। इन सभी स्थानों पर पिछली सर्दियों में प्रदूषण में बढ़ोतरी दिखी। 2019-20 में बाकी एनसीआर की तुलना में साहिबाबाद 200 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर के साथ सबसे अधिक प्रदूषित शहर था। नए हॉटस्पॉट पर ध्यान देने की जरूरत सीएसई ने यह भी बताया कि डेटा से पता चला है कि नए प्रदूषण हॉटस्पॉट भी उभर रहे है। इन जगहों पर भी समान रूप से ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। इनमें दिल्ली के आठ और बाकी एनसीआर में सात जगह शामिल हैं। इन नए हॉटस्पॉट की पहचान मौजूदा हॉटस्पॉट के औसत के साथ उनके वार्षिक औसत की तुलना करके की गई। इन जगहों पर हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर 197 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति क्यूबिक मीटर था। लोकल लेवल पर बढ़ रहा प्रदूषण सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इन्यवॉयरन्मेंट में रिसर्च और एडवोकेसी से जुड़ी कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी ने कहा कि नए प्रदूषण वाली जगहों में दिल्ली में अलीपुर, डीटीयू, आईटीओ, नेहरू नगर, पटपड़गंज, सोनिया विहार, मंदिर मार्ग और अशोक विहार और नोएडा में सेक्टर 1 और 116, गाजियाबाद में लोनी, संजय विहार और इंदिरापुरम, ग्रेटर नोएडा में नॉलेज पार्क V और बुलंदशहर शामिल हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि यह फिर से स्थानीय प्रदूषण के प्रभाव की ओर इशारा करता है। सितंबर के अंत तक विंटर ऐक्शन प्लान दिल्ली सरकार सितंबर के अंत तक विंटर ऐक्शन प्लान जारी करेगी। इसमें 10 महत्वपूर्ण फोकस वाले क्षेत्र में प्रदूषण वाले हॉटस्पॉट पर काम करना और नए स्थानों की पहचान करना भी शामिल है। दिल्ली सरकार के एक अधिकारी का कहना है कि हर साल लगातार प्रयास किए जा रहे हैं, खासकर सर्दियों के दौरान। इसमें प्रदूषण के स्थानीय स्रोतों को नियंत्रित करना शामिल है। अधिकारी ने दावा किया कि प्रत्येक हॉटस्पॉट के लिए वर्कप्लान में तत्काल और साथ ही दीर्घकालिक उपाय शामिल हैं। जल्द ही सुधार दिखाई देगा।

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Cold discomfort: Winter pollution worsened in 11 of Delhi hotspots

NEW DELHI: The data from the last two winters reveal that 11 of the 13 hotspots in Delhi witnessed an increase in pollution in 2020-21 as against the previous winter. Only one hotspot, Wazirpur, showed improvement, indicating much more efforts will be required on the ground to control localised air pollution. Track the pollution level in your city In 2018, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Central Pollution Control Board identified Delhi’s 13 most polluted areas where PM2.5 concentration was well above even the city’s average. The survey was carried out to take location-specific action and each hotspot got a localised action plan in 2019. However, the data analysed by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) point out only Wazirpur and Sahibabad in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) have shown actual improvements in terms of PM2.5 concentration. The data for Dwarka weren’t available for comparison. The 13 hotspots are Rohini, Dwarka, Okhla Phase II, Punjabi Bagh, Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Bawana, Mundka, Narela and Mayapuri. Six pollution hotspots were identified for the rest of NCR — two in Faridabad and one each in Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, Bhiwadi and Sahibabad. “Jahangirpuri with a seasonal average of 256 micrograms per cubic metre was the dirtiest among the recognised hotspots. Bahadurgarh recorded an almost 50% jump, but it was still cleaner than other hotspots,” the analysis stated. After Jahangirpuri, Vivek Vihar, Narela, Anand Vihar, Bawana were the most polluted in Delhi, all showing an increase in pollution last winter as compared to 2019-20. For the rest of NCR, Sahibabad was the most polluted with an annual average above 200 micrograms per cubic metre. CSE also pointed out that the data revealed that new pollution hotspots were also emerging, calling for equal attention. These include eight locations in Delhi and seven in the rest of NCR. These new hotspots were identified by comparing their annual average with the mean of the existing hotspots — 197 micrograms per cubic metre. The locations include Alipur, DTU, ITO, Nehru Nagar, Patparganj, Sonia Vihar, Mandir Marg and Ashok Vihar in Delhi and Sector 1 and 116 in Noida, Loni, Sanjay Vihar and Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, Knowledge Park V in Greater Noida and Bulandshahr. “This again points towards the impact of localised pollution and the data show much more efforts are required at these locations to bring them down closer to the city average,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at CSE who analysed the data. Working on pollution hotspots and identifying new locations is one of the 10 key focus areas identified by Delhi government as part of its winter action plan, which will be released by September-end. Constant efforts are being made every year, especially during winters, to control localised sources of pollution, said a government official. “The action plan for each hotspot include immediate as well as long-term measures. Improvement will be visible soon,” the official claimed.

Director General Office

New ways to curb climate migration

Many nations are building better resiliency in places vulnerable to weather disasters, a task as important as curbing carbon emissions. By the Monitor's Editorial Board Extreme weather events, many of which are rooted in climate change, could displace some 216 million people within their own countries by 2050, finds a new study from the World Bank. And that is only in poorer countries. Another study estimates that every additional day each year with an average temperature of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit adds nearly 1% to the number of climate migrants. Added to the tens of millions of people who have fled war or political strife – as witnessed in Afghanistan – solutions to forced migration are more urgent than ever. The World Bank’s new research, titled Groundswell 2.0, offers this suggestion: If governments take quick remedial action they could cut internal migration, and the hardships it brings, by as much as 60% to 80%. The action most needed would be to reduce worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases. A United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is scheduled to be held in early November in Glasgow, Scotland, a follow-up to the Paris climate accords of 2015. As governments struggle to pledge and keep promises to reduce emissions, the World Bank says concurrent steps can be taken to build resiliency and fend off the worst effects of climate migration. These include ways to help people stay in their homes, as well as to help in their movement to and resettlement in new locations. In Egypt, for example, parts of the Nile delta are projected to be places of out-migration. Several cities, including Cairo, should expect to receive these refugees. The report notes that planners could identify places most likely to be hit hardest by climate change and help more climate-resilient areas prepare to take in migrants. Many other ways to help ease climate migration are available. More drought-resistant crops, for example, are being developed that could help keep farmers home. Rooftop water harvesting can be used to irrigate fields. In some villages in India where water harvesting and other water conservation methods are being undertaken, climate migration has been reversed and migrants are returning to their homes, says Sunita Narain, director general of the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi, in a recent interview with The Times of India. “It is essential to invest in building local climate resilience and protecting community economies,” she added. Ways to mitigate climate migration are becoming well known. Even as nations try to curb carbon emissions, they can also put measures in place to solve the rising displacement of people by weather disasters.