• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

What WHO’s new air quality guidelines say, and what it means for India

WHO's latest global air quality norms indicate that air pollutants are harmful to health at much lower levels than what was understood in 2005. After a gap of 15 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) released an updated version of the Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) which outlines the recommended air quality levels to protect the health of populations based on the latest scientific evidence from across the world. Since WHO’s last update in 2005, there has been a marked increase of evidence that shows how air pollution affects different aspects of health and makes continued exposure to it as deadly as other major global health risks such as unhealthy diet and tobacco smoking. Every year, exposure to air pollution is estimated to cause 7 million premature deaths globally. WHO’s new guidelines recommend air quality levels for six pollutants — particulate matter (PM), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) — that are not just health hazards but they also give rise to other damaging pollutants. The health risks associated with particulate matter equal to or smaller than 10 and 2.5 micrometers in diameter — known as PM 10 and PM 2.5 respectively — are of particular concern. These can penetrate deep into the lungs. PM 2.5 can even enter the bloodstream, leading to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The 2021 guideline stipulates that the annual average for PM 10 should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic metre of air, while the 24-hour average should not exceed 45 micrograms per cubic metre. Compared to this, the earlier limit was 20 micrograms per cubic metre annually and 50 micrograms per cubic metre in a day. Similarly, the recommendation for PM 2.5 is that the annual average should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic metre, or 15 micrograms per cubic metre in a day. The earlier limit was 10 micrograms per cubic metre annually and 25 micrograms per cubic metre in a day. Other recommendations say the ozone levels average should not exceed 100 micrograms per cubic metre over a 24-hour period, nitrogen oxide should not exceed 25 micrograms per cubic metre, sulphur dioxide should remain below 40 micrograms per cubic metre and carbon monoxide levels should not exceed more than 4 micrograms per cubic metre over the same time period. Urgent need to improve air quality Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, said the key consideration in these guidelines was the effect on health and not the feasibility of achieving these levels. “What scientific evidence is now showing is that these air pollutants are harmful to the health at much lower levels than what was understood in 2005,” she told ThePrint. Going by these standards, most Indians breathe unacceptable levels of pollutants. To put these numbers in context, Roychowdhury pointed out that the average annual PM 2.5 levels in Delhi in 2020 was 98 µg/m3. “This was after Delhi has made huge improvements in its air quality levels over the last three years. But we need to continue to incrementally improve the air quality,” she added. Other Indian cities, which feature in the list of the world’s most polluted cities, have PM 2.5 levels much higher than the 2005 recommendations. This includes Ghaziabad, where the annual average for PM 2.5 levels was over 110 microgram per cubic metre in 2019. Noida and Gurgaon’s annual averages were 97 and 93 microgram per cubic metre respectively. In children, pollutants may reduce lung growth and function, cause respiratory infections and aggravated asthma. In adults, heart diseases and stroke are the most common causes of premature death, attributable to outdoor air pollution, and evidence is also emerging of other effects such as diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions. “WHO’s new Air Quality Guidelines are an evidence-based and practical tool for improving the quality of the air on which all life depends. I urge all countries and all those fighting to protect our environment to put them to use to reduce suffering and save lives,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

New WHO standards for air quality: Delhi needs to accelerate action, say experts

Experts say that the revised guidelines emphasize the need to accelerate action to deal with pollutants considering that Delhi’s air pollution levels are far from the National Air Quality Standards. The World Health Organisation (WHO) released its revised air quality guidelines on Wednesday, lowering the the recommended levels of pollutants from the existing guidelines that were framed in 2005. What do these revised guidelines mean for Delhi? Experts say that the revised guidelines emphasize the need to accelerate action to deal with pollutants considering that Delhi’s air pollution levels are far from the National Air Quality Standards. “In 2020, annual average PM2.5 levels for Delhi was roughly 98. We are way off the health-based target that WHO is talking about. If we have to make public health central to air pollution mitigation, we need aggressive strategies to reduce emissions at source,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director for Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. For PM2.5, the 24-hour average amount has been reduced from 25 micrograms per cubic metre to 15 micrograms per cubic metre. The amount for nitrogen dioxide has been reduced from 40 micrograms per cubic metre as an annual average to 10 micrograms per cubic metre. In India, the PM2.5 guideline for a 24-hour average is 40 micrograms per cubic metre, and 60 micrograms per cubic metre as an annual average. Similarly, for nitrogen dioxide, the Central Pollution Control Board’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards set 40 micrograms per cubic metre as an annual average and 80 micrograms per cubic metre as a 24-hour average. The guidelines set thresholds for air pollutants depending on their impact on health. The WHO said in a statement on Wednesday that almost all air quality guideline levels have been adjusted downwards, and warned that exceeding the new levels is associated with significant risks to health. “While we need to strengthen local action, we also need to scale that up across the region. Delhi has special challenges of location and climatic conditions – we’re landlocked, there’s winter inversion because of the cold. We have so much more to do. We are not even meeting our own National Air Quality Standard, which is an intermediate standard – a step towards the WHO guidelines. Stringent action will have to be taken on waste management, transport vehicles to cut down local sources of pollution,” Roy Chowdhury said. Sagnik Dey, Associate Professor, Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, IIT Delhi, said, “We are far away even from our own standards. Action will have to be accelerated to reduce air pollution because most north Indian States are way above the national standards. The first step is to achieve the interim target set by the National Clean Air Programme, which is a 20% to 30% decrease in pollutants, and then try to achieve the national standard, which is at 40 for PM2.5,” he said.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

क्या है WHO के नए एअर क्वॉलिटी गाइडलाइंस में, भारत के लिए इसके क्या मायने हैं

डब्ल्यूएचओ के नवीनतम वैश्विक वायु गुणवत्ता मानदंडों (ग्लोबल एअर क्वॉलिटी नॉर्म्स) से यह संकेत मिलता है कि वायु प्रदूषक तत्व मानव स्वास्थ्य के लिए 2005 में तय किए गये स्तर से बहुत निचले स्तर पर भी हानिकारक हैं. 15 वर्षों के अंतराल के बाद विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन ने वैश्विक वायु गुणवत्ता दिशानिर्देशों (ग्लोबल एअर क्वॉलिटी गाइडलाइंस) का एक नया और अद्यतन संस्करण जारी किया, जो पूरे विश्व से इकट्ठा किए गये नवीनतम वैज्ञानिक प्रमाणों के आधार पर इस दुनिया की समूची आबादी के स्वास्थ्य की रक्षा हेतु अनुशंसित वायु गुणवत्ता स्तरों की रूपरेखा तय करता है. इस बारे में डब्ल्यूएचओ द्वारा 2005 में दिए गये आखिरी अपडेट के बाद से इस तरह के सबूतों में उल्लेखनीय वृद्धि हुई है जो यह दर्शाते हैं कि कैसे वायु प्रदूषण स्वास्थ्य के विभिन्न पहलुओं को प्रभावित करता है और कैसे लगातार इसके संपर्क में रहना स्वास्थ्य के अन्य प्रमुख वैश्विक खतरों, जैसे अस्वास्थ्यकर आहार और धूम्रपान के बराबर ही घातक होता है. एक अनुमान के आधार पर हर साल वायु प्रदूषण के संपर्क में आने से वैश्विक स्तर पर 7 मिलियन (70 लाख) लोगों की समय से पहले ही मौत हो जाती है. डब्ल्यूएचओ के ये नए दिशानिर्देश मुख्यतः छह प्रदूषकों- पार्टिकुलेट मैटर (पीएम), ओजोन (O₃), नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड (NO₃) सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड (SO2) और कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड (CO)- जो न केवल अपने आप में स्वास्थ्य के लिए बड़ा खतरा हैं बल्कि अन्य हानिकारक प्रदूषकों की मात्रा में भी वृद्धि करते हैं- के लिए वायु गुणवत्ता के स्तर तय करने की संस्तुति करते हैं. इसके अनुसार 10 और 2.5 माइक्रोमीटर व्यास के बराबर या उससे कम व्यास वाले पार्टिकुलेट मैटर (अभिकणीय पदार्थ)- जिन्हें क्रमशः पीएम 10 और पीएम 2.5 के रूप में जाना जाता है- से जुड़े स्वास्थ्य संबंधी खतरे विशेष तौर पर चिंता का विषय हैं. ये अतिसूक्ष्म कण फेफड़ों में गहराई तक प्रवेश कर सकते हैं और पीएम 2.5 तो रक्तप्रवाह में भी प्रवेश कर सकता है, जिससे हृदय और श्वसन संबंधी बीमारियां हो सकती हैं. 2021 की गाइडलाइन में कहा गया है कि हवा में पीएम 10 का वार्षिक औसत 15 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति क्यूबिक (घन) मीटर से अधिक नहीं होना चाहिए, जबकि 24 घंटे के दरम्यान यह औसत 45 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से अधिक नहीं होना चाहिए. इसकी तुलना में पहले इन की सीमा 20 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर प्रति वर्ष और एक दिन में 50 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर थी. इसी तरह, पीएम 2.5 के लिए की गयी संस्तुति के अनुसार इसका वार्षिक औसत 5 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर या एक दिन में 15 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से अधिक नहीं होना चाहिए. पहले की गाइडलाइन में यह सीमा 10 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर सालाना और एक दिन में 25 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर थी. इस गाइडलाइन की अन्य सिफारिशों में कहा गया है कि 24 घंटे की अवधि के दौरान ओजोन का स्तर का औसत रूप से 100 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से अधिक नहीं होना चाहिए, वहीं नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड 25 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से अधिक नहीं होना चाहिए. सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड के मामले में यह 40 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से नीचे रहना चाहिए और कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड का स्तर इसी समयावधि में 4 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से अधिक नहीं होना चाहिए. वायु की गुणवत्ता में सुधार की तत्काल आवश्यकता सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी का कहना है कि इन दिशानिर्देशों में मुख्य ध्यान इनका स्वास्थ्य पर पड़ने वाला प्रभाव था न कि इन स्तरों को प्राप्त करने की व्यवहार्यता के प्रति. उन्होंने दिप्रिंट को बताया, ‘वैज्ञानिक प्रमाणों से अब जो दिख रहा है वह यह है कि ये वायु प्रदूषक स्वास्थ्य के लिए 2005 की तुलना में बहुत निचले स्तर पर भी हानिकारक हैं. इन मानकों के अनुसार तो अधिकांश भारतीय इन प्रदूषकों के स्वीकार्य ना किया जा सकने वाले स्तरों में ही सांस लेते हैं.’ इन आंकड़ों के संदर्भ को स्पष्ट करने के लिए रॉय चौधरी ने बताया कि साल 2020 में दिल्ली में पीएम 2.5 का स्तर औसत वार्षिक 98 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर था. उन्होने कहा, ‘यह तब था जब कि दिल्ली ने पिछले तीन वर्षों में अपने वायु गुणवत्ता के स्तर में काफी अधिक सुधार किया है. लेकिन हमें हवा की गुणवत्ता में लगातार सुधार जारी रखने की जरूरत है.’ दुनिया के सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों की सूची में शामिल अन्य भारतीय शहरों में पीएम 2.5 का स्तर 2005 में की गई सिफारिशों की तुलना में काफी अधिक है. इसमें गाजियाबाद भी शामिल है, जहां 2019 में पीएम 2.5 के स्तर का वार्षिक औसत 110 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर से अधिक था. इसी तरह नोएडा और गुड़गांव का वार्षिक औसत क्रमशः 97 और 93 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर था. बच्चों के मामले में, ये प्रदूषक तत्व फेफड़ों की वृद्धि और कार्यशीलता को कम कर सकते हैं तथा श्वसन संबंधी संक्रमण और अस्थमा को बढ़ावा दे सकते हैं. वयस्कों में, हृदय रोग और हृदयाघात बाहरी वायु प्रदूषण के कारण होने वाली असामयिक मृत्यु के सबसे आम कारण हैं. साथ ही मधुमेह और न्यूरोडीजेनेरेटिव कंडीशन्स के रूप में इसके अन्य प्रभावों के प्रमाण भी सामने आ रहे हैं. इस बारे में डब्ल्यूएचओ के महानिदेशक टेड्रोस एडनॉम घेब्येयियस ने एक बयान में कहा कि ‘डब्ल्यूएचओ के नए वायु गुणवत्ता दिशानिर्देश हवा की गुणवत्ता में सुधार के लिए एक साक्ष्य-आधारित और व्यावहारिक उपकरण हैं, जिस पर हमारा सारा-का-सारा जन-जीवन निर्भर करता है. मैं सभी देशों और उन सभी लोगों से आग्रह करता हूं जो हमारे पर्यावरण की रक्षा करने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहे हैं कि वे लोगों की पीड़ा को कम करने और मानव जीवन को बचाने के लिए इनका उपयोग करें.’

• DTE - Web

Mauritius ranks first in Africa in Global Innovation Index 2021

Mauritius, unlike most African countries, has a high human development score. Its economy has grown robustly in the last half a century, especially in financial services, tourism and information technology. It was followed by South Africa (61), Tunisia (71) and Kenya (85) in terms of innovation, according to the 15th edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII 2021) released September 21, 2021. The GII 2021 was published by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in partnership with the Portulans Institute, an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute based in Washington DC. 10 countries improved ranking Kenya and Tanzania are among developing economies that have performed above expectations on innovation relative to their economic development, the index showed. They have retained their position in the top 100 and improved their performance over time. Rwanda (102) regained the first position in the low-income group after ranking second in 2020. It ranked 1st in 2015, 2016 and 2019 and has been consistently in the top three of its income group since 2014. As many as nine other economies in Africa moved up the GII ranks since 2020: Kenya (85), Cape Verde (89), Egypt (94), Namibia (100), Malawi (107), Madagascar (110), Zimbabwe (113), Burkina Faso (115) and Algeria (120). Cape Verde improved its rank considerably from 103 in 2013, the authors of the report noted. The GII ranking is based on performance across seven pillars: Institutions Human capital and research Infrastructure Market sophistication Business sophistication’ Knowledge and technology outputs Creative outputs The sub-Saharan Africa region performed the best in the ‘institutions’ category. This is based on the political, regulatory and business environment for strengthening institutions. Mauritius ranked the highest in the region in the following categories: Institutions (rank 21), infrastructure (65) and creative outputs (31). Namibia came first in ‘human capital and research (57) and South Africa in ‘market sophistication’ (23), ‘business sophistication’ (51) as well as ‘knowledge and technology outputs’ (61). Mauritius also fared well in various categories globally. It stood 21st in ‘institutions’ and 31 in ‘creative outputs’. It needs to work towards improving its performance under ‘business sophistication’ (111) and ‘knowledge and technology outputs’ (93). Angola in Africa ranked lowest in the global ranking Venture capital deals grew The number of venture capital (VC) deals grew by 5.8 per cent globally in 2020, exceeding the indicator’s 10-year average growth rate of 3.6 per cent, said WIPO in the report. Africa too made significant progress last year, with its VC deals growing by 82.7 per cent. “As the world rebuilds after the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is essential to utilise innovation for deepening the transformation of our economies and societies for the good of all,” said Daren Tang, director-general, WIPO. The global change in the ‘innovation landscape’ is slow and not at the desired pace, the authors pointed out.

• DTE - Web

Extreme weather events in India made women, children more vulnerable to modern slavery, flags report -Kiran Pandey

Cyclones in India, particularly in the Sundarbans, made locals vulnerable to traffickers and drove them into forced labour, the report flagged Climate change-induced extreme weather events put women, children and minorities at risk of modern slavery and human trafficking. The phenomenon is on the rise in India, among other countries, warned the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Anti-Slavery International in a recent report. Modern slavery — including debt bondage, bonded labour, early / forced marriage and human trafficking — converge with climate change, particularly climate shocks and climate-related forced displacement and migration, the report said.

• 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, "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

• Sustainable Mobility

इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल के 30%@2030 के लक्ष्य से कोसोें दूर है झारखंड, 78.88% CAGR की जरूरत

झारखंड इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल के 2030 तक 30 प्रतिशत हिस्सेदारी के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने से काफी पिछड़ चुका है। जब देश के कई राज्यों ने जीरो कार्बन उत्सर्जन के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने की दिशा में 2023 व 2030 के लिए लक्ष्य निर्धारित कर उस दिशा में बढने की शुरुआत कर दी थी तो झारखंड फिलहाल इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल पॉलिसी के प्रारूप पर ही चर्चा कर रहा है। झारखंड के मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत सोरेन (Hemant Soren) ने पिछले ही महीने नई दिल्ली में आयोजित इनवेस्टर्स मीट में इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल की पॉलिसी की चर्चा की। हालांकि इस प्रस्ताव के प्रारूप को अबतक सार्वजनिक नहीं किया गया है। झारखंड इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल के 2030 तक 30 प्रतिशत हिस्सेदारी के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने से काफी पिछड़ चुका है। जब देश के कई राज्यों ने जीरो कार्बन उत्सर्जन के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने की दिशा में 2023 व 2030 के लिए लक्ष्य निर्धारित कर उस दिशा में बढने की शुरुआत कर दी थी तो झारखंड फिलहाल इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल पॉलिसी के प्रारूप पर ही चर्चा कर रहा है। झारखंड के मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत सोरेन (Hemant Soren) ने पिछले ही महीने नई दिल्ली में आयोजित इनवेस्टर्स मीट में इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल की पॉलिसी की चर्चा की। हालांकि इस प्रस्ताव के प्रारूप को अबतक सार्वजनिक नहीं किया गया है। मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत सोरेन ने 27 अगस्त 2021 को नई दिल्ली में राज्य सरकार की ओर से आयोजित इन्वेस्टर्स मीट में निवेशकों से कहा, प्रस्तावित इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल पॉलिसी आप लोगों के सामने प्रस्तुत है। अगर हम भविष्य की ओर देखें तो मेरा मानना है कि इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल भविष्य का व्हीकलहै, जहां हम जितना चाहें उतना कर सकते हैं। मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत सोरेन ने अगले दिन इस सम्मेलन में कहा कि रिन्यूबल एनर्जी में हम एक बड़ा प्रोजेक्ट लेकर आ रहे हैं। सीएम सोरन इस निवेश सम्मेलन में निवेशकों को आकर्षित करने के लिए नयी निवेश नीति की घोषणा की और उन्होंने व मुख्य सचिव सुखदेव सिंह ने सिंगल विंडो सिस्टम जैसी सुविधाएं देने का वादा किया। हालांकि इस कथन पर दो राय नहीं हो सकती है कि 2050 तक शून्य कार्बन उत्सर्जन के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने के लिए इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल ही भविष्य के वाहन हैं, लेकिन राज्य इस बड़े उद्देश्य को हासिल करने में देश के कई राज्यों से पिछड़ चुका है, जबकि देश खुद इस लक्ष्य को हासिल करने के लिए जो रफ्तार चाहिए उससे काफी धीमी गति से आगे बढ रहा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इनवायरमेंट – CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) ने अपने एक हालिया अध्ययन के आधार पर भारत के इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल पॉलिसी एवं प्रोग्राम को ए केस ऑफ मिस्ड अपरच्यूनिटी (a case of missed opportunities) यानी अवसर गंवा देने का मामला करार दिया है। अपने अध्ययन के आधार पर सीइसी ने कहा है कि भारत को 30%@2030 के लक्ष्य को हासिल करने के लिए 46 प्रतिशत सीएजीआर (Compound Annual Growth Rate – चक्रवृद्धि वार्षिक वृद्धि दर) से आगे बढना होगा। अगर भारत इस दर से आगे बढता है तो वह 2030 तक न्यूनतम लक्ष्य 30 प्रतिशत इलेक्ट्रिक वेहकिल बिक्री को हासिल कर सकेगा, हालांकि यह अलग बात है कि इसका उच्चतम लक्ष्य नीति आयोग ने 70 प्रतिशत व SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) ने 40 प्रतिशत रखा है। अगर झारखंड की इन आंकड़ों से तुलना करें तो इसे अगले नौ साल में न्यूनतम लक्ष्य हासिल करने के लिए 78.88 प्रतिशत की रफ्तार से इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल के क्षेत्र में आगे बढना होगा। यह एक बहुत बड़ा लक्ष्य है और इसे हासिल करने के लिए बेहद ठोस नीति व कार्ययोजना की जरूरत होगी, जिसका अभी राज्य को इंतजार है। राज्य में इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल को लेकर ठोस नीति के अभाव में इस ओर वाहन खरीदारों का रूझान काफी कम है। देश में जहां इस महीने के पूर्वार्द्ध तक कुल वाहनों में 1 प्रतिशत से कुछ कम इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल रजिस्टर्ड हुए हैं, वहीं झारखंड में यह मात्र 0.159 प्रतिशत है। साढे तीन करोड़ की आबादी वाले राज्य झारखंड में प्रति महीने रजिस्टर्ड होने वाले इलेक्ट्रिक वेहकिल के आंकड़े तीन अंकों में सीमित हैं। आंकड़े नीचे देखें : 20 सितंबर 2021 तक के सरकार के उपलब्ध आंकड़ें के अनुसार, झारखंड में जहां 9,49,020 लाख डीजल वाहन व 50,83,240 पेट्रोल वाहन रजिस्टर्ड हैं, वहीं इलेक्ट्रिक(बीओवी) वाहन मात्र 9798 रजिस्टर्ड हैं। सीएनजी संचालित वाहन 1282, डीजल/हाइब्रिड 3711, इथेनॉल के दो, सिर्फ एलपीजी के 17 एवं पेट्रोल/सीएनजी के 4233 व पेट्रोल/हाइब्रिड के 5935 एवं पेट्रोल/एलपीजी के 311 वाहन रजिस्टर्ड हैं। राज्य में कुल रजिस्टर्ड वाहनों की संख्या 61,47489 है। इस साल 20 सितंबर 2021 तक रजिस्टर्ड हुए कुल 3,28,347 वाहनों में इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों की संख्या 1819 है जो आधे प्रतिशत से थोड़ा अधिक यानी 0.55 प्रतिशत है। वहीं, पिछले साल रजिस्टर्ड हुए कुल 4,82,852 वाहनों में इलेक्ट्रिक वेहकिल की संख्या 1516 थी। यानी साल-दर-साल इसमें बेहद मामूली इजाफा आप आंकड़ों को बारीक विश्लेषण करने पर देख सकते हैं, लेकिन यह स्वतः है जो इंगित करती है कि उपभोक्ताओं की इसमें रुचि है, लेकिन ग्राहक व मैन्युफेक्चरर उसके लेकर एक ठोस नीति देखना चाहते हैं। क्या इलेक्ट्रिक वेहकिल आम लोगों के लिए कम भरोसेमंद हैं? भारत में इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल का चलन आरंभिक दौर में है। और, जब किसी नई चीज का चलन आरंभ होता है तो उसकी विश्वसनीयता व टिकाऊपन पर बार-बार सवाल उठाये जाते हैं। हमने सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इनवारमेंट की विशेषज्ञ से यह सवाल पूछा। इस सवाल के जवाब में सीएसइ की सीनियर प्रोग्राम मैनेजर (स्वच्छ हवा और सतत गतिशीलता कार्यक्रम) मौसमी मोहंती स्वच्छ हवा और सतत गतिशीलता कार्यक्रमने कहा, इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन भरोसेमंद हैं और इस पर सवाल नहीं उठाया जा सकता, इनकी तुलना में पेट्रोल-डीजल के वाहन अधिक जटिल होते हैं। वहीं, इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल में जटिलता नहीं होती। मौसमी मोहंती ने कहा, इलेक्ट्रिक व्हीकल में जो कुछ जटिलताएं हैं, वह सॉफ्टवेयर की वजह से हैं। उस पर काम करने की जरूरत है। आगे की राह क्या हो सकती है? सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इनवायरमेंट ने अपने अध्ययन के आधार पर देश के लिए जो प्रमुख सुझाव दिए हैं, उसे झारखंड के संदर्भ में भी देखा जा सकता है। सीएसइ ने कहा है कि जबकि प्रोत्साहन आधारित नीतियां मौजूद हैं, तो शून्य उत्सर्जन वाहन को लेकर स्पष्ट शासनादेश की आवश्यकता है। यह बाजार को एक निश्चितता प्रदान कर सकता है, निवेशकों को प्रोत्साहित कर सकता है। इसके साथ ही कुछ सवालों को एड्रेस करने की आवश्यकता है। इसमें उद्योगों को लचीलापन प्रदान करना, मजबूत आपूर्ति व बड़े मॉडल की उपलब्धता सुनिश्चित करना व विषम लागत महत्वपूर्ण बिंदु हैं।

• DTE - Web

Extreme weather events in India made women, children more vulnerable to modern slavery, flags report

Source(s) Down To Earth Climate change-induced extreme weather events put women, children and minorities at risk of modern slavery and human trafficking. The phenomenon is on the rise in India, among other countries, warned the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Anti-Slavery International in a recent report. [...] The delta region is characterised by intense, recurrent and sudden onset disasters, as well as slow onset ecological degradation making large areas uninhabitable. Rising sea levels, erratic rainfall, increased frequency of cyclones, tidal surges and floods, mean that millions of people across the Sundarbans are unable to work for most of the year. [...] A case study from Accra in Ghana showed that after drought, the young men and women in northern Ghana were forced to migrate to major cities. The women worked as porters and are at risk of trafficking, sexual exploitation and debt bondage. Several ongoing initiatives — including the Warsaw International Mechanism Task Force on Displacement (WIM TFD), the Sendai Framework, etc — should be coordinated to increase understanding of, and response to, growing risks of climate-induced migration / displacement and exposure to modern slavery.

• Sustainable Food Systems

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

Environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment has demanded that junk food must carry a warning label. Environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment’s latest analysis on food labelling has called for a law on front-of-pack labelling that can inform Indian consumers about unhealthy packaged junk foods in a simple and effective way. The CSE has demanded that junk food must carry a warning label. “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,” said Sunita Narain, CSE director general. She added that “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." The analysis states that even after seven years, four committees and two draft regulations, India 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. Amit Khurana, director, food safety and toxins programme at CSE, said that CSE was part of the FSSAI-constituted committee that first proposed front-of-pack labelling in India in 2014. A 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 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (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 Amit Khurana. The CSE analysis 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, which only has text. It will help transcend the barriers of language and illiteracy, a statement issued by the CSE added. 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 of the world. These limits should be set in the interest of consumers and not as per the convenience of the industry, a statement issued by the CSE said.

• 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

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.

• 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.