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

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

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

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

Delhi named most polluted megacity in NCR for 2025: Report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Extreme weather battered India almost every day in 2025

India saw extreme weather on 331 out of 334 days this year—a jump from 2024's numbers. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, these events led to over 4,400 deaths, massive crop losses across millions of hectares, and more than 1.8 lakh homes destroyed. Monsoon floods and lightning strikes were among the deadliest, hitting states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand especially hard.

23 schools of Mohali district to get national green school award

As many as 23 schools from Mohali district have been selected for the “National Green School Award” and will be honoured at a ceremony in New Delhi on January 30. The selection is based on the Green School Audit conducted under the environment education programme of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. The audit assessed schools on parameters such as environmental practices, conservation of natural resources, waste management, water and energy use, and adoption of eco-friendly measures. District education officer (Secondary) Ginni Duggal said the selected schools demonstrated sustained efforts by school managements, teachers, students and eco-clubs in promoting environmental awareness. He said the award ceremony will take place at the national level in New Delhi on January 30. Deputy district education officer Angrej Singh shared the list of selected schools from the district. These include Government Senior Secondary School Kurali, Government High School Joula Kalan, Government High School Karala, Government High School Landra, Government High School Mauli Baidwan and others.

Rare Judicial Reset: SC Puts Aravalli Hills Order on Hold to Prevent Destruction

In a dramatic turn of events, on December 29, 2025, the Supreme Court of India took the rare step of staying its own judgment from just over a month earlier, effectively pausing a controversial redefinition of the Aravalli Hills that had ignited widespread protests and environmental alarm. This stay, issued by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, places the November 20, 2025, order in abeyance, halting any new or renewed mining leases without court permission and calling for a fresh high-powered expert committee to reassess the matter. The decision comes amid mounting public outcry, with activists, politicians, and residents fearing that the original ruling would have handed a victory to powerful mining and land mafias, potentially accelerating the degradation of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges. This article delves into the details of yesterday’s judgment, explores how the November verdict appeared tailored to benefit illicit interests, examines the Aravalli’s profound environmental significance across multiple states, and offers a critical analysis of the mafia’s operations under the guise of legal protections—all grounded in verifiable facts and data from recent reports and court documents. To understand yesterday’s stay, we must first revisit the November 20 judgment, which stemmed from a long-running case on defining the Aravalli Hills for conservation purposes. The Supreme Court accepted recommendations from a government-appointed expert committee, establishing a uniform definition across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat: Aravalli hills were limited to landforms rising at least 100 meters above the local relief (plains), including supporting slopes, with ranges defined as clusters where such hills are within 500 meters of each other. This criterion, while presented as a “stricter” scientific benchmark, effectively narrowed protections dramatically. According to a Forest Survey of India (FSI) mapping cited in the judgment, only 1,048 out of 12,081 identified hills in Rajasthan met this height threshold—meaning over 91% of the range’s hills would lose their protected status, opening vast swathes to mining, real estate development, and other exploitative activities. Critics, including environmental groups like the Centre for Science and Environment, argued that this ignored the ecological continuity of lower hills, slopes, and scrublands, which are integral to the range’s function despite not towering 100 meters high. The November ruling was widely perceived as a boon for the land and mining mafias, who have long eyed the Aravalli’s mineral-rich terrain for illegal extraction. By reclassifying most of the range as “non-Aravalli,” the judgment would have stripped legal safeguards under prior notifications, such as the 1992 Environment Ministry ban on mining in ecologically sensitive areas and the 2002 Supreme Court order prohibiting non-forest activities without central approval. In essence, it created a regulatory vacuum where previously off-limits zones could now be legally mined with “sustainable” plans—plans that, in practice, often favour powerful lobbies. The court itself acknowledged in the November order that blanket bans had inadvertently fuelled “illegal mining activities… creation of land/mining mafias and criminalisation,” suggesting regulated mining as a solution. However, this rationale overlooked how mafias thrive on ambiguity, using legal loopholes to formalize operations. For instance, in Haryana and Rajasthan, where mining leases have historically been granted despite bans, the new definition could have legitimized encroachments on over 130,000 square kilometres of the range, according to Down to Earth estimates. Yesterday’s stay addresses these very concerns. The Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognizance, noted “confusion and concern” over the expert report’s implementation, highlighting a “structural paradox” where gaps exceeding 500 meters between hills might exclude ecologically linked areas from protection, enabling unregulated exploitation. The bench emphasized the need for clarifications to prevent “irreversible administrative or ecological actions,” directing the Centre to form an independent committee for a holistic review, including multi-temporal assessments of mining’s environmental impacts. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav welcomed the move, pledging support, while opposition figures like Congress leader Randeep Surjewala hailed it as a reprieve from mafia-driven destruction. Protests in cities like Gurugram and Udaipur, involving thousands from farmers to urban residents, had amplified fears of desertification and pollution spikes in Delhi, underscoring the judgment’s real-world stakes. At the heart of this controversy lies Aravalli’s irreplaceable environmental role. Formed over 1.5 to 2.5 billion years ago during the Precambrian era, the Aravalli is among the planet’s oldest fold mountains, predating the Himalayas by eons and rivalling formations like the Appalachians. Stretching 692 kilometers from Delhi through Haryana, Rajasthan, and into Gujarat, it spans about 147,000 square kilometers, acting as a biogeographic bridge between the Thar Desert and the Indo-Gangetic plains. Its ecological importance cannot be overstated: the range serves as a natural bulwark against the eastward creep of the Thar Desert, slowing sand dune migration and reducing dust storms that would otherwise blanket northern India. In Rajasthan, where 80% of the range lies, it influences monsoon patterns, directing clouds toward the lower Himalayas and ensuring rainfall for agriculture in arid zones. Data from the India Meteorological Department shows that Aravalli ridges enhance precipitation by 10-20% in leeward areas, supporting crops for millions. In Haryana and Delhi, the hills recharge groundwater aquifers critical for urban water supply. A 2023 study by the Central Ground Water Board revealed that Aravalli forests and slopes contribute to 30-40% of recharge in the National Capital Region, mitigating water scarcity amid rapid urbanization. Biodiversity thrives here too: the range hosts over 300 bird species, including endangered vultures, and mammals like leopards and hyenas, per Wildlife Institute of India surveys. In Gujarat, southern extensions regulate microclimates, buffering coastal areas from desert winds and fostering unique thorn forests. Overall, the Aravalli filters air pollution—absorbing up to 2.5 million tons of CO2 annually, according to a 2024 TERI report—and moderates temperatures, cooling summer highs by 2-4°C in adjacent plains. Without it, experts warn, Delhi could see a 20% rise in particulate matter, exacerbating health crises, while Rajasthan’s farmlands face accelerated desertification. Yet, this ancient sentinel is under siege. Conservative estimates indicate that at least 25% of the Aravalli has been degraded or destroyed by now, primarily through illegal mining for stone, sand, and minerals like quartzite and limestone. Between 1975 and 2019, the range lost 5,772 square kilometers of forest cover—about 7.6%—much converted to quarries, as per India Today analysis using satellite data from the Global Forest Watch. In Rajasthan alone, illegal operations have razed hills equivalent to 1,500 square kilometers since 2000, according to a 2022 Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board report. Haryana’s Faridabad and Gurugram districts have seen 40% of their Aravalli cover vanish, with deep craters scarring the landscape and contaminating water tables with silica dust. The mining mafia’s handiwork is evident: blasts shatter rocks, creating ravines that disrupt aquifers and cause flash floods, while dust clouds trigger respiratory illnesses in nearby villages, affecting over 500,000 people annually per health ministry data. Critically analysing the mafia’s operations reveals a symbiotic relationship with legal frameworks like the November verdict. The mining mafia—networks of contractors, politicians, and bureaucrats—has exploited ambiguities in protections for decades. Despite the 2002 Supreme Court ban on mining in Aravalli without environmental clearances, illegal quarries proliferated, often with tacit state approval. In Haryana, for example, a 2024 audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General found 60% of leases violated norms, with mafias using forged documents to operate under the radar. The November judgment’s push for “sustainable mining” in redefined areas would have shifted this from illicit to legal, allowing mafias to secure leases through political influence while claiming compliance. Court documents note that bans created mafias by driving activities underground, but this ignores how lax enforcement—fuelled by corruption—enabled them in the first place. Mafias employ tactics like night-time blasting with gunpowder, overloading trucks to evade checks, and intimidating locals, as detailed in a 2023 Mongabay investigation. Legal protections, meant to curb this, often backfire: the 100-meter rule could have formalized mafia control over 90% of the range, turning protected commons into privatized pits. This interplay highlights a broader failure: judicial interventions, while well-intentioned, risk being co-opted by economic pressures. The November verdict’s emphasis on uniform definition overlooked FSI’s alternative slope-based criteria (over 3 degrees), which would protect more contiguous ecosystems. Yesterday’s stay offers hope, mandating stakeholder consultations and impact studies, but without stringent enforcement, mafias may continue unchecked. As protests swell and data mounts on irreversible losses—like a projected 20% groundwater drop by 2030 if mining escalates—the Aravalli’s fate tests India’s commitment to sustainability. Will this pause lead to genuine preservation, or merely delay the range’s demise? The new committee’s findings, due in coming months, will be pivotal.

Mansa tops Punjab in Green School Programme

In the Green School Programme conducted by the union ministry of environment, Mansa district has topped Punjab with the highest number of 31 green schools located in rural areas. The district has secured the first position in the state for the second consecutive year, an official spokesperson of the Mansa district administration said on Monday. District education officer (elementary) Manju Bala said that photographs and supporting evidence related to classroom ventilation, rainwater harvesting systems, drinking water facilities and waste management practices were uploaded on the programme’s portal. The programme was conducted in collaboration with the Centre for science and environment and the Punjab state council for science and technology. Mansa deputy commissioner, Navjot Kaur, said that out of 218 schools declared green across Punjab, 31 are from Mansa district. She added that the heads of these schools will be honoured in New Delhi on January 30. District education officer (secondary) Neelam Rani said that out of 490 government schools in the district, 352 had applied under the Green School Programme. Last year, Mansa secured the first position with 26 green schools, and this year it improved the tally to 31.

PM2.5 levels in air this Dec worst since 2016 in Gurgaon

The city recorded its worst Dec air in nearly a decade this year, with the average PM2.5 concentration reaching 156 µg/m³ in till Dec 27. It was the highest Dec average since 2016, when PM2.5 stood at 226 µg/m³, reversing the decline seen over the past eight years. The rise was sharp. PM2.5 increased from 115 µg/m³ in Dec 2024 to 156 µg/m³ this year — up by 41 µg/m³, or about 36%. Data shows Dec PM2.5 levels generally fell after 2016. Concentrations stayed between 140 and 153 µg/m³ from 2017 to 2022, then dropped to 125 µg/m³ in 2023 and 115 µg/m³ in 2024, the cleanest Dec of the past decade. This year's spike erased much of the improvement made over the last two winters. PM2.5 are ultra-fine particles that can lodge deep in lungs and enter the bloodstream, and prolonged exposure is linked to respiratory and cardiac illness. Health advisories remain in place for children, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions. Manoj Kumar of Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said winter pollution cannot be attributed to a single cause. "It is a combination of both year-round emissions and meteorology," he said. He noted that background pollution from traffic, industry, and construction remains high through the year, while winter conditions trap pollutants near the surface. "When dispersion is poor and emissions continue unchecked, concentrations rise sharply." Officials and experts cited familiar winter drivers: stagnant weather, vehicle emissions, construction and road dust, and seasonal smoke from crop-residue burning in neighbouring states. Full-month averages will be assessed once Dec 2025 data is complete. Each winter, air quality across Delhi-NCR deteriorates to hazardous levels as the airshed fills with toxic haze, driven by a mix of pollutants, fog, weak winds, and other meteorological factors. Farm fires in north India's agricultural belt, used to clear fields for the next sowing cycle after the paddy harvest, intensify the problem when combined with local emissions. "Even with the long-term plateau we have seen, this Dec has been unusual. Calm winds and low mixing height meant whatever was emitted from traffic, construction and household sources simply stayed trapped near the ground. So PM2.5 built up over days instead of dispersing. It shows that when weather turns stagnant, even routine emissions can push the city's air back into the danger zone, which is why sustained year-round control is critical," an HSPCB official said. Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, "It's worrying that the city is not included under National Clean Air Programme. Also, data like source apportionment, carrying capacity assessments and regional airshed action plans — are still incomplete. You can see the gap on the ground. Funds are being pushed into a limited set of measures instead of a strategy guided by evidence on all major pollution sources in each city. If that data had been available, budgets could have been aligned . Instead, we see funds going into dust mitigation and even questionable solutions like smog towers." According to the 2021 World Air Quality Report, 11 Haryana cities ranked among the world's 50 most polluted cities. The list includes Hisar , Faridabad , Rohtak , Jind , Gurgaon , Dharuhera , Charkhi Dadri , Yamunanagar, Sonipat, Kurukshetra and Ambala.

CSE सम्मेलन में पर्यावरण प्रेमी जगत नारायण होंगे शामिल:राजस्थान के अलवर में होगा आयोजन, सिंगरौली के पर्यावरणीय समस्याओं पर करेंगे चर्चा

सोनभद्र में म्योरपुर के गोविंदपुर स्थित बनवासी सेवा आश्रम से जुड़े पर्यावरण कार्यकर्ता जगत नारायण विश्वकर्मा को दिल्ली के प्रतिष्ठित संस्थान सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) ने अपने वार्षिक सम्मेलन ‘अनिल अग्रवाल डायलॉग’ के लिए आमंत्रित किया है। यह सम्मेलन 24 से 26 फरवरी तक राजस्थान के अलवर के पास निमली गांव स्थित अनिल अग्रवाल एनवायरनमेंट ट्रेनिंग इंस्टीट्यूट में आयोजित होगा। सम्मेलन में देश की वर्तमान पर्यावरणीय स्थिति, अरावली पर्वत श्रृंखला पर मंडराते खतरे और इसके अन्य राज्यों पर पड़ने वाले प्रभावों पर गहन चर्चा की जाएगी। बता दें कि सम्मेलन के दौरान पर्यावरण पत्रिका ‘डाउन टू अर्थ’ की वार्षिक रिपोर्ट ‘स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज़ एनवायरनमेंट’ भी जारी की जाएगी। कार्यक्रम का उद्देश्य भारत और दुनिया के सामने मौजूद पर्यावरण और विकास से जुड़े मुद्दों व चुनौतियों पर विचार-विमर्श करना है। साथ ही संभावित स्टोरी आइडियाज़ पर मंथन और भविष्य के लिए रोडमैप तैयार किया जाएगा। वहीं, जगत नारायण विश्वकर्मा ने बताया कि वे इस राष्ट्रीय मंच पर सिंगरौली परिक्षेत्र की गंभीर पर्यावरणीय समस्याओं को प्रमुखता से उठाएंगे। बता दें कि उन्होंने इससे पहले भी आईआईटी कानपुर के वार्षिक कार्यक्रम (गोवा) में इस मुद्दे को राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर प्रस्तुत किया था।

जलवायु परिवर्तन और प्रदूषण से जूझता देश

दुनिया के अमीर देश हों या गरीब, जलवायु परिवर्तन से आने वाली आपदा से कोई नहीं बचा है। भारत में भी पर्यावरण प्रदूषण और जलवायु परिवर्तन का असर अब गहराई से अनुभव किया जाने लगा है। राष्ट्रीय राजधानी दिल्ली में अलावा देश के तमाम छोटे-बड़े शहर पर्यावरण प्रदूषण और जलवायु परिवर्तन से कराह रहे हैं। बढ़ता प्रदूषण संकट आम लोगों के स्वास्थ्य से खिलवाड़ कर रहा है। दुनिया में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषित शहरों में तीसरे स्थान पर आने वाली दिल्ली में वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक का 450 के आसपास बना रहना, निश्चय ही खतरे की घंटी है। विशेषज्ञों के अनुसार, इस संकट की जड़ में मानव-जनित जलवायु परिवर्तन है। 1990 के दशक की शुरुआत से भारत का औसत तापमान 0.89 डिग्री सेल्सियस बढ़ चुका है। प्रदूषण के साथ अब जलवायु परिवर्तन का असर भी साफ तौर पर दिखने लगा है। इस साल ठंड ने उत्तर भारत ही नहीं बल्कि दक्षिण भारत को भी अपनी चपेट में लिया है। भारत के दक्षिणी प्रायद्वीपीय राज्यों- तमिलनाडु, कर्नाटक, आंध्र प्रदेश-तेलंगाना और केरल को समशीतोष्ण या उष्णकटिबंधीय जलवायु के लिए जाना जाता है, जहां शीत लहर की स्थिति दुर्लभ होती है। हाल के वर्षों में ठंड के मौसम में उत्तरी हवाओं के असामान्य रूप से गहरे प्रवेश के कारण इन क्षेत्रों के आंतरिक हिस्सों में तापमान में भारी गिरावट दर्ज की जा रही है। केरल के मुन्नार में तापमान गिरकर 0 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक पहुंच गया है। यह केरल में इस सीजन का सबसे कम तापमान है। मौसम अधिकारियों के अनुसार, आने वाले दिनों में तापमान शून्य से भी नीचे जा सकता है। मुन्नार के तापमान ने लोगों को हैरत में इसलिए डाला है क्योंकि केरल का औसत तापमान दिसंबर में 30 डिग्री सेल्सियस के करीब रहता है। दिसंबर के महीने में यहां औसत अधिकतम तापमान 23 डिग्री और न्यूनतम 12 डिग्री सेल्सियस रहता है। केरल के अलावा दक्षिण भारत में तेलंगाना की राजधानी हैदराबाद, चेन्नई के अलावा कर्नाटक की राजधानी बेंगलुरु में मौसम परिवर्तन का असर देखा जा रहा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट और पत्रिका डाउन टू अर्थ के आंकड़ों के अनुसार, जनवरी से नवंबर 2025 के बीच 334 में से 331 दिन ऐसे रहे, जब देश के किसी ना किसी हिस्से में अत्यधिक मौसमीय घटना दर्ज की गई। यानी पूरे साल का लगभग 99 प्रतिशत समय। अगर 2024 से तुलना करें तो पिछले साल यह आंकड़ा 295 दिनों का था। इन आपदाओं में 4400 से अधिक लोगों की जान गई और करीब 1.74 करोड़ हैक्टेयर फसल बर्बाद हो गई जो बदलते जलवायु संकट की भयावह तस्वीर पेश करती है। मानसून बाढ़ से 2707 लोगों की जान गई। आंध्र प्रदेश में सबसे अधिक 608 मौतें, जबकि मध्य प्रदेश में 537 लोगों की जान गई। प्री-मॉनसून महीनों में ही 990 मौतें हुईं, जो 2022 की तुलना में लगभग 3 गुना थीं। अगस्त में आई बाढ़ के बाद पंजाब के कई जिलों में खेत पूरी तरह तबाह हो गए। भारत दुनिया के उन दस देशों में शामिल है जो बीते तीन दशकों में जलवायु आपदाओं से सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित हुए हैं। पर्यावरण थिंक टैंक जर्मनवॉच की नई रिपोर्ट क्लाइमेट रिस्क इंडेक्स 2026 के मुताबिक, 1995 से 2024 के बीच भारत में करीब 4.30 मौकों पर प्राकृतिक रूप से असहनीय मौसम की घटनाओं ने 80 हजार से अधिक लोगों की जान ली और 1.3 अरब से ज्यादा लोगों को प्रभावित किया। इन आपदाओं से भारत को लगभग 170 अरब डॉलर (करीब 14 लाख करोड़ रुपए) का आर्थिक नुक्सान हुआ है। यह रिपोर्ट ब्राजील के बेलेम शहर में आयोजित कॉप 30 सम्मेलन में जारी की गई। इसमें कहा गया कि भारत में लगातार बढ़ती बाढ़, चक्रवात, सूखा और भीषण गर्मी जैसी घटनाएं जलवायु परिवर्तन के गंभीर असर को रेखांकित करती हैं। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि भारत की स्थिति लगातार खतरे जैसी है, यानी ये घटनाएं अब अलग-अलग नहीं, बल्कि बार-बार दोहराई जा रही हैं। इससे विकास की उपलब्धियों पर असर पड़ रहा है और करोड़ों लोगों की आजीविका खतरे में है। भारत की विशाल जनसंख्या और मानसूनी पैटर्न पर निर्भरता इसे खासतौर पर संवेदनशील बनाती है। रिपोर्ट बताती है कि हर साल करोड़ों लोग किसी न किसी रूप में भीषण मौसम की चपेट में आते हैं। साल 2024 में अकेले भारी मानसूनी बारिश और अचानक आई बाढ़ों ने गुजरात, महाराष्ट्र और त्रिपुरा में करीब 80 लाख लोगों को प्रभावित किया। पिछले वर्ष दुनियाभर में सबसे ज्यादा नुक्सान बाढ़ और तूफानों से हुआ, जिन्होंने वैश्विक स्तर पर अरबों डॉलर का नुक्सान पहुंचाया। एक रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, यदि जलवायु परिवर्तन से निपटने की रफ्तार सुस्त रही तो वर्ष 2100 तक दुनिया का तापमान लगभग 2.6 से 2.8 डिग्री तक बढ़ सकता है लेकिन अगर नेट जीरो से जुड़े वादे पूरे कर लिए जाएं तो यह 1.9 डिग्री तक गिर सकता है। इसके तहत सभी देशों को अपने ग्रीन हाउस गैसों के उत्पादन को घटना है। भारत में हाल ही के वर्षों में देश में आने वाले चक्रवाती तूफानों की आवृत्ति बहुत तेजी से बढ़ी है। बात चाहे तौकते तूफान की करें या अम्फान की। वैश्विक तपन में वृद्धि के कारण तूफान और चक्रवात जैसी प्राकृतिक आपदाओं में भी बढ़ाैतरी हो रही है। जलवायु परिवर्तन पर सरकार की ओर से कुछ साल पहले एक कार्य योजना तैयार कराई गई थी। उसमें चिंता जताई गई थी कि वर्ष 2021 से 2050 के दौरान समुद्री तापमान में 1.8 से 2.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक वृद्धि हो सकती है। जलवायु-संबंधी आपदाओं का संचयी प्रभाव गंभीर आर्थिक नुक्सान पहुंचा रहा है तथा भारत के विकास पथ को खतरे में डाल रहा है। जलवायु जोखिम सूचकांक- 2025 ने वर्ष 1993 से वर्ष 2022 तक भारत को वैश्विक स्तर पर छठा सबसे अधिक प्रभावित देश बताया, जहां नुकसान 180 अरब डॉलर से अधिक था। हालिया शोध बताते हैं कि जलवायु संकट के कारण वर्ष 2100 तक देश की राष्ट्रीय आय का 6.4 से 10 फीसदी से अधिक का नुकसान हो सकता है जिससे 5 करोड़ और लोग फिर से गरीबी में धंस जाएंगे। संयुक्त राष्ट्र द्वारा प्रकाशित रिपोर्ट, ग्लोबल स्टॉकटेक, के अनुसार तापमान वृद्धि को 1.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक नियंत्रित रखने के लिए जितने कार्बन डाईऑक्साइड के उत्सर्जन में कटौती की जरूरत है, वर्ष 2030 तक उसकी तुलना में वायुमंडल में इस गैस का उत्सर्जन 22 अरब टन अधिक होगा। जलवायु परिवर्तन नियंत्रण के लिए दुनियाभर की सरकारों को त्वरित प्रभावी कार्यवाही करनी होगी, पर पूरी दुनिया इस समस्या के प्रति उदासीन और लापरवाह है। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार यदि जलवायु परिवर्तन नियंत्रण के लक्ष्य को पाना है तो सबसे पहले जीवाश्म ईंधनों का मोह त्यागना होगा और इनका उपयोग शीघ्र बंद करना पड़ेगा। पर, तमाम चेतावनियों के बाद भी जीवाश्म ईंधनों का केवल उपयोग ही नहीं बढ़ता जा रहा है बल्कि इस उद्योग को सरकारों से मिलने वाली सब्सिडी या रियायतें भी बढ़ती जा रही हैं। जलवायु के मौजूदा मॉडल बताते हैं कि सदी के मध्य तक वैश्विक तापमान 1.2 से 1.3 डिग्री सेल्सियस और बढ़ सकता है। मानसून की कुल बारिश 6-8 प्रतिशत बढ़ेगी लेकिन उतार-चढ़ाव बेहद अस्थिर होगा। वैश्विक तपन और जलवायु परिवर्तन को लेकर दुनियाभर में बहस भी लंबे समय से चल रही है। कुछ देश इस मुद्दे पर साथ मिलकर काम करने को तैयार हैं तो कुछ इसकी चिंताओं को नजरअंदाज करते हुए अपने यहां अंधाधुंध औद्योगिक विकास को बढ़ावा दे रहे हैं। इसे लेकर कई सालों से जलवायु परिवर्तन के विषय पर शोधकर्ता वैज्ञानिक लगातार चेतावनी देते रहे हैं कि वर्ष 2070 तक धरती का तापमान इतना अधिक बढ़ जाएगा कि यहां रहना तकरीबन असंभव हो जाएगा।