Director General Office Interdependence in corona world What should countries like India do, with limited testing facilities and even more limited public health infrastructures? Sunita Narain I write this from lockdown — India is on the cusp of coronavirus third and the deadliest stage of community transmission and the government has now called out to citizens to stop all economic activities and self-isolate themselves. This is clearly crucial; never before at least in my living memory has something this small become so globally life-threatening and so out of control, so quickly. It was only in January that we got the first real news about the novel virus, which jumped from animals from humans, and was taking lives in China. We saw images of forced incarceration; millions of businesses and homes were shut down; hospitals were built overnight and it would have seemed that victory was on hand. It was a blip in the global economy and China would bounce back. Business was as usual. But then, so quickly, the virus moved to make new homes — Italy, where things have completely gone out of control, and Iran, where so little is known even today of the sheer extent of toll that this disease is taking. Now the spread is practically universal; most of the world is in lockdown mode. It is completely unbelievable. In India, when I write this, there are 3,577 coronavirus cases, with 83 deaths. This pales into insignificance when you consider that Italy has close to 125,000 cases; or that New York on Sunday has over 113,700 confirmed cases and, worse, it’s doubling every six days. It is said these cases in India do not represent the true numbers, because testing is limited. But this is where the real question comes. What should countries like India do, with limited testing facilities and even more limited public health infrastructures? All the evidence is pointing to the fact that as the cases reach community spread, the deaths increase because countries cannot provide the intensive care that is needed. This is why for Indians the choice is stark — we cannot afford community transmission; we have to contain and to prevent. And, yes, we have to increase our testing capacities, but it is also clear that we will never be able to test adequately once it spreads. So, testing has to be done to identify and isolate. We need to know that we have to shut down so that we do not end up spreading the virus, which, we have seen from other countries, gallops exponentially to infect entire populations within days. There is no rulebook on this virus, but what is clear is that the only way to contain it is to break the chain of transmission. This, of course, is tough because it brings economies to a grinding halt. It destroys livelihoods, particularly of the poor and the selfemployed — and this again is where we will need governments to step in with social security and access to essentials — so that people can cope and make their way through this never-before global catastrophe. But this is not all. We need to use this time to think about some fundamentals — one of which is the issue of global cooperation. There is never a good time for such a pandemic to hit the world — but this, we can safely say, is the worst time possible. There is no global leadership or institution that has the respect and the sagacity to take us through what is clearly a crisis beyond national boundaries. What we have seen in the past few months has been a shameful record of self-interest and selfpreservation. For most of us who work to advocate global cooperation on another existential threat like climate change, this should not be news. But it does shock you that even with such a crisis, which is literally bringing the most powerful countries to their knees, we are not getting together to discuss the global response to the global pandemic. Why? What more can and should we do? I want to discuss this further in the coming weeks. Then, of course, there is the issue of public health — what coronavirus teaches us (if we care to learn) is that we are only as strong as our weakest link. If there is no access to public health care to all or if public health service is weakened to collapse — as is the case in most of the emerging world (and even in private health care systems of the US) — then we cannot withstand pandemics. It is also not enough to build this capacity within countries because if any region of any country or any country of the world is weak, the contagion will breed there and will spread. For how long will we be able to keep our borders closed? How will this even work? And this, then, leads to my third question — about the nature of globalisation after corona. Will we learn from the vulnerabilities of our system to make it more robust and invest in local economies and local health systems through global partnerships? Let’s keep discussing this in these tough times. Business Standard | Delhi | April 06, 2020
Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility Breathe@47 Amid the COVID-19 lockdown, rising cases and deaths, one thing that the citizens can take heart is the improved air quality index which is down to less than 50 in many parts of the country, a number that had stood at 222 a couple of months back in Delhi-NCR. SHALINI SAKSENA speaks with experts to tell you more Back in the 70s, 80s and even 90s, there was a time when azure sky was a norm. Then everything changed. Globalisation opened doors and the almost empty roads and no traffic snarls soon became a thing of the past. Soon the air quality index was touching 1,000 and beyond and many people ended up with several breathing problems. Cut to March 25, 2020. Clear blue skies, a smattering of stars in the night sky and a clear view of the Capital for miles on end from the roof top without the usual haze is what Delhiites are waking up to since the lockdown. While the circumstances that have led to the present situation is extremely unfortunate given that the number of COVID-19 cases as of April 4, 2020 stands at 3,474 and deaths at 91, there are a few numbers that are falling and people can take heart from it and breathe easy due to improved air quality. According to a data by SAFAR (March 30, 2020), the Capital has seen a reduction of 63 per cent in NOx and 49 per cent fall in PM2.5. Mumbai too witnessed a decrease in numbers — NOx 57 per cent down and PM2.5 down by 53 per cent, Pune: NOx stands at reduced percentage of 55 and PM2.5 at 38 per cent. According to Anumita Roychoudhary, associate director general at the Centre for Science and Environment, the overall air pollution levels have dropped sharply after the lockdown because vehicles, factories, construction has stopped. “We don’t want to depend on this kind of emergency to bring this change. But this crisis has proved that if health risk perception can provoke emergency response it can galvanise far reaching changes. Collective community action during this pandemic has forced us to reinvent solutions to reduce our vulnerability to toxic risk. We have made massive lifestyle adjustments to practice social distancing,” Roychoudhary says. She tells you that whether this crisis induced change can throw up long-term solutions to air pollution is a question that we need to address. This means that we have to make systemic changes to institutionalise some of the emergency responses in terms of maximising potential of digital world to alter the concept of workplace, scale up public transport options to reduce vehicle miles travelled and personal vehicle numbers, roll out electric mobility to move towards zero emissions, ensure zero tolerance for non-compliance with emissions control regulations and standards, among others, only then post pandemic period can gain from this short term breather from emergency action. “Health risk associated with the ongoing air pollution problem also needs emergency response. There are concerns that during post pandemic period, it will be business as usual and pollution will go out of control once again. But people need to understand that air pollution kills 1.2 million people and makes many more ill annually. This requires similar emergency response and public support for strong action. This pandemic has also brought to light the evidence that air pollution increases vulnerability to pandemic because poor air pollution has already compromised lungs and overall health of people. It is important to deepen awareness and public understanding of this connection and overall health risk associated with air pollution to build the momentum for hard action. We need strong and sustained action across regions and give our national clean air programme effective teeth,” Roychoudhary says. Environmentalist BS Vohra tells you that the reduced AQI levels has one message to give. “It was all manmade. It was our fault that we allowed polluted industries to function and we allowed vehicular pollution to reach levels that people in Delhi were choked. Nature has given us a strong message — when we try and correct the wrong — when we stop things that create pollution — things change for the better,” Vohra says. Also, there is now no scope of ambiguity. “Today, we know the exact reason for the high AQI levels. Earlier, there were many studies that threw up different reading on what was contributing to the air pollution. Now, we know the real reason. We are being told that the mistake was ours and we need to take corrective action,” Vohra tells you. He paints a dismal picture if we don’t learn the lesson this lockdown has taught us. “First, the lockdown was not something that human did to combat air pollution. It was forced due to COVID-19. The improved AQI doesn’t mean man has done something. If the virus has not been there, things would be as it was before. There would have been no improvement Haridwar, Nilgai roaming the deserted streets of Noida, leopard spotted in Chandigarh and a pod of dolphins spotted along the seashores of Mumbai. There are many who believe that since humans are now confined to their homes, this is Nature’s way of claiming what was its territory. According to Dr Ravi Chellam, CEO, Metastring Foundation & director of Mission Secretariat, National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-being, this is one of way of viewing it. “It does tell us about the remarkable resilience of Nature to come back if we give it the slimmest of opportunity. It is time that we humans recognise, accept and work with the fact that we are part of Nature and it is the foundation for our existence and development. There is a price to pay for destroying Nature and the cost will always be higher than any projected economic benefit. Even places like Chernobyl which was abandoned after the nuclear disaster became a thriving wildlife habitat. Nature is very resilient and when given an opportunity it would try to re-colonise and make a comeback,” Chellam says. Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare, based out of Mumbai agrees with Chellam and tells you that one can say that is partially true that Nature’s way to take back what was rightly its. “There is need to co-exist with the animals. Till now they co-exited with us, now it is our turn to give back. What we are witnessing that had led to the lockdown is the damage human intervention can do. Nature has its way to balance itself out. We had only read it in books but today we are living it. It is time to slow down. In our quest to develop we destroying Nature but development and conservation needs to go hand-in-hand. Animals don’t understand manmade boundaries. Man has encroached on their habitat and damaged it. Since there is no disturbance now, animals are curious and are out exploring,” Sharma says. Chellam is quick to point out that reports of wild animals roaming the streets need to be viewed in the right perspective. “Even before the lockdown it was not unusual to see lions, leopards, elephants, gaur, rhino, many species of deer and antelopes including nilgai and blackbuck, many other smaller mammals like jackals, mongoose, many reptile species including monitor lizards, different species of snakes, many species of birds including large ones like Sarus cranes, either on or by Indian roads. These sightings were when things were normal. With the lock down, human presence and disturbance has gone down drastically and hence we are getting to see these animals much more frequently and also more often during day time,” Chellam explains. There are several reasons why these animals are in the cities to begin with. First, many of these animals live around cities and their habitat may be fragmented by the city and hence they would be using the city for passage from one part of their habitat to another which would have been difficult when there was traffic and human presence. It should not be forgotten that it is we humans who have settled in wildlife habitats and in some sense, we are the intruders and not the animals. Second, could be that the city offers resources, primarily food (mostly in the form of garbage and food plants in our gardens and parks), domestic animals including dogs and pigs and water. It is also important to understand that these animals haven't settled in the urban areas. They are only using it for some time. Chellam sees a way forward. “It is absolutely crucial that humanity learns the right collective lessons from this pandemic. It would be a huge mistake to revert to business as usual once the worst of the pandemic is over or a vaccine is developed. If we continue to develop in ways that destroy Nature and pollute the environment and without compassion for all fellow human beings, such tragedies are only bound to be repeated. We have to recognise that we live in an interconnected world not just with citizens of other countries but equally if not more importantly with Nature and all species that occur in the wild. We need to completely re-prioritise and invest more in restoration of Nature and functional ecosystems, basic but very essential needs of all people like health, sanitation, adequate nutrition, safe housing and education instead of grandiose infrastructure projects and the military. The re-prioritised development model will enable much greater levels of equity, much more sustainable development and build resilience,” he tells you.
Water Programme 58Monthly compilation of CSE’s media clippings: for the month of April 2020Building resilience to climate change in Addis Ababa By Mekonnen Teshome Tollera –Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa (Sheger) was born twice: first, as a crowded city; and then again, as a beautiful Sheger with clean rivers, public spaces and parks, bicycle paths and walkways along the riverside.The city of 4.6 million people is being born again as a result of a multimillion dollar project “Beautifying Sheger” intended to decorate Addis Ababa. This 29 billion birr (about $1.028 billion), rivers and riversides development project is slowly making the city green as works for developing and rehabilitating the two rivers in the city launched in February 2019 progress.The project, an initiative of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, is expected to be completed within three years and has created job opportunities for hundreds of Ethiopians and some Chinese too. The project is running along two of the largest rivers of the city, stretching a total of 51 kilometres, all the way from the mountains of Entoto through the city to Akaki River.The commissioner of Addis Ababa Environmental Protection and Green Development Commission, Alem Asefa says: “As an adaptation to climate change the riverside project will install water-permeable pavements to better deal with floods and storm water and improve water storage and use.”The Changing AddisAbaba climateImpulsive changes in climate including rising heat waves, drought and flash floods in Addis Ababa are negatively impacting natural resources and city productivity. A recent study by Open Access: “GIS based quantification and mapping of climate change vulnerability hotspots in Addis Ababa” confirmed that the city “...is vulnerable to climate change impacts...”“The degree of vulnerability is underpinned by the interaction of multiple factors mainly adaptive capacities of sub-cities, location basedcharacteristics and changes in climatic parameters,” it accentuates.Alem Asefa, Commissioner of Addis Ababa Environmental Protection and Green Development Commission, told InfoNile in Addis Ababa that scientific projections suggest that the city will face enormous challenges of climate change unless necessary measures are taken to significantly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.Alem further explained: “If abusing the city master plan, especially the urban green component and emissions of greenhouse gases, including those from transport and industry are not controlled in the coming years, continued growth of their atmospheric concentrations is projected to result in severe climate change.”According to the commissioner, the most important anthropogenic influences on climate in Addis Ababa and neighbouring areas are the emissions, changes in land use, such as urbanization and agricultural activities.Enabling Addis Ababa adapt to climate changeThe rivers and riversides development project aims at curbing the serious environmental effects of pollution and habitat degradation of rivers through planning, design and management of riverside areas. Commissioner Alem says greening is recommended for containment and abatement of air pollution in urban-industrial environment.“Carbon is sequestered in the process of plant growth as carbon is captured in plant cell formation and oxygen is released during photosynthesis. Branches, leaves and other materials that fall to the forest floor may store carbonuntil they decompose,” noted Ale Additionally, he said, “forest soils may sequester some of the decomposing plant litter through root and soil interaction,” as he related greening efforts with adapting climate change. Optimally designed green belts can be effective in reducing the impact of fugitive emission and pollutants accidentally or otherwise released at ground levels.Alem says in addition to energy-efficient technologies in transport, industrial sectors, and buildings and development of green infrastructures including green development will help Addis Ababa mitigate climate change.Polluted rivers of Addis AbabaA number of research results from university academic and research institutions show that rivers of Addis Ababa are highly polluted due to congested residential houses and manufacturing industries’ presence around the water bodies.For example, an assessment study on the water chemical content of the Akaki river published by Research Gate (2017) –“Pollution Status of Akaki River and Its Tributaries (Ethiopia) Evaluated Using Physico-Chemical Parameters, Major Ions, and Nutrients,” indicates that the water quality of the TAR shows pattern of behavior linked to anthropogenic sources with the intensity of human pressure associated with industrial effluent, domestic wastes and agricultural activities.As the issue is a matter of high concern, the government in collaboration with local and international institutions is also making efforts to further analyze the water pollution and take necessarymeasures against polluter industries like leather tanneries and chemical industries.Director of India Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Mrs. Sunita Narain recently told this reporter in New Delhi that CSE has launched chemical analyses of the Akaki River, a river in central Ethiopia, to identify the concentration of heavy metals in the river and present recommendations on the possible solutions. Residential wastes, sewage flowing into the river and the disposal of single use plastic material are some of the major polluting factors of rivers in Addis Ababa.Managing and Mitigating floodsA flood related study by ScienceDirect (2016) –“Flood Risk and Vulnerability of Addis Ababa City Due to Climate Change and Urbanization”, states that the Akaki catchment’s urbanization rate grown by 10% only from 1993 to 2002 and flooding risks in Addis Ababa has also shown significant increase.The study attributed the vulnerability of Addis Ababa to riverine as well as flash floods due to extreme climatic events and upper catchment activities and the vulnerability to flooding is more aggravated due to a poor drainage system, rapid housing development along river banks and using inappropriate construction materials.Therefore, the riverside development project also aims to enhance the well-being of city dwellers by mitigating river flooding, creation of public spaces and parks, bicycle paths and walkways along the site as well as to face-lift the image of the city.“Addis Ababa riverside project will reduce the amount of sediments and other pollutants disposed to the rivers and create greener urban centers suitable for living through plantation and/or reclamation of the river buffers with suitable trees, shrubs, herb and grasses along the different river buffer zones which can act as efficient biological filters or sinks for particulate and gaseous emissions, generated by vehicular movements and various industrial activities,” said Commissioner Alem.Transforming Addis Ababa into a greener, resilient and happier cityApart from the exceptional riverside greening and Addis Ababa’s beautifica tio effort, the government of Ethiopia has designed holistic climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies and policies and has been strictly implementing them.Ethiopia’sNational Adaptation Plan (NAP-ETH) which costs about USD 6 billion annually to address climate change, is integrating projects including botanical gardens and zoo park centers in Addis Ababa, river and riversides development, Mount Entoto and its surrounding tourist destination development projects and the Addis Abeba parks development projects are undertaken under River Basins and Green Areas Agency established in July 2018.A group of scholars in their recent study entitled “Current status and managementpractice of urban green spaces in Addis Ababa: A reflection on their potential for carbon sink” write that the role of Addis Ababa’s integrated green spaces development is vital in regulating climate and is noteworthy as it plays a momentous role in mitigating climate change by sequestering a significant amount of carbon.According to a study conducted by Samson Aynachew, the city of Addis Ababa has reserved 22,000 ha area of land for green space development. With regard to spatial distribution of public parks in Addis Ababa, this indicates that, out of the ten sub-cities of Addis Ababa, the “Gullele” sub-city has the largest share of Public Park, i.e. 9.8ha followed by “Nifas Silk” sub-city (6.2ha), “Yeka” sub-city (5.65ha), “Kirkos” sub-city (4.6ha) and “Lideta” sub-city (4.4ha).The Addis Ababa city Master Plan categorizes the urban green areas into local, district and city level green areas. At the local level there are many open and green areas which are used for festivals; children playgrounds and other social activities. Some of them are left out spaces between residential houses and the ones which are distinguished as urban open spaces are not managed well.The district level green areas include street sides, parks, plazas and most of the open spaces found in the center of the city. These places are officially designated as plazas, squares, streets and parks. The management of these places looks relatively good, but they are not properly managed when it comes to the use of the spaces.City level green areas include forest areas which are usually found in mountainous and preserved areas. These areas are well managed in the sense of preservation of trees and forestation, but people do not use them since they are not easily accessible and do not havethe necessary facility to be used as recreational areas.Valuing urban green spaces in mitigating climate changeWith the launching of the first phase of the 12km riverside development of the total 51km by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in October 2019 and some previously finalized works, the lifting of Addis Ababa’s face is being materialized and people have started to test the fruits of the greening efforts.For instance, people of Addis Ababa have started enjoying greenery luxury with the completion and opening of some sections of the riverside development around the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The protection and cleaning work of Addis Ababa’s rivers has already started due to the fencing and isolation of the water bodies as part of the construction efforts.As part of Addis Ababa’s beautifying project, the installation of metal holders for flower pots and planting flowers in the median divide on Africa Avenue in Bole all the way from Bole International Airport to the National Place has been finalized and are being enjoyed by the city residents and visitors.Urban green areas play a very important role as a carbon sink. Recognizing the mportance of urban trees for this purpose, the interest in preserving and maintaining the urban trees are increasing. Carbon sequestration is a phenomenon for the storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to mitigate global warming, says Miss Alem Asefa, Commissioner of Addis Ababa Environmental Protection and Green Development Commission.Tree planting drives are not new in Ethiopia. In July 2019, a massive tree planting campaign was initiated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, aiming at restoring the country’s landscape and tackling the climate change crisis. Thiscovered the whole of Ethiopia including Addis Ababa. A world-record of 353,633,660 tree seedlings were planted across the country in a 12-hour span.Public recounting of the projectResidents of Addis Ababa now are also optimistic that their city is changing for the better and becoming greener than ever. Tesfaye Abate is one of these residents who have witnessed a remarkable greening revolution in Addis Ababa. He says this could help control droughts and floods that have been affecting his community.“I am really very pleased to see our city becoming greener over the last decades and I hope this will enable us to adapt and cope with the ever escalating effects of global warming and the changing climate.”Professor Fekadu Beyene, Commissioner for Ethiopia’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission says greening efforts are imperative to curb climate change. The Professor also agrees that the river side and the intensive tree planting activities in Ethiopia notably the “Green Legacy,” a national gogreen campaign, are vital to adapt and mitigate climate change.Professor Fekadu Beyene says that Ethiopia’s Green Legacy campaign is an exemplary greening activity made to realize the country’s vision of building a climate change resilient economy. New Business | Ethiopia | April 4, 2020
Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility World carbon emission levels go down drastically as countries go into lockdown Almost all countries of the world including India have gone into lockdown to avoid coronavirus infection. Due to this, the air quality of the country and the world has become clean. The noise and air pollution of the earth has reduced and the amount of carbon emission has also been reduced by 5 per cent. For the first time since the Second World War, the level of carbon emissions has fallen so much. The country has never recorded such a superior figure in the Air Quality Index released since 2014. AQI below 85 cities in 100 The Air Quality Index has been running below 100 in the past one week in more than 85 cities of the country. This means air is good in these cities. The factors of pollution during lockdown are 35 to 40% drop in the amount of dust particles PM2.5 and PM10. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen, sulfur oxide and ozone levels also decreased. The important thing is that this level of pollution does not seen even in rainy season. Dr D Saha, a former scientist at the Pollution Control Board, said that since the Air Quality Index (AQI) is being maintained in 2014, this is the first time that pollution is at the lowest level. By applying Odd-Even in winter, the air of Delhi can improve by 2 to 3%. Compared to that, NCR has improved more than 15 times during the lockdown. On March 16, the air quality was satisfactory in 55 cities According to the Pollution Control Board, air was good and satisfactory in 55 cities on March 16, 6 days before the public curfew. Gradually the cities with this category of air kept increasing. This trend remained till March 21. On 22 such cities became 67. The number increased to 92 on 28 March. On 29-30 March, there was not a single city where the air quality was bad. On 31 March and 1 April, except for Bulandshahr and Guwahati, the air of all the cities was in satisfactory category. Dr Prashant Gargava of the board said that AQI has not been crossing 100 in more than 85 cities for a week. Improved air quality standards Air quality expert Dr. D Saha said that air quality is the best at the moment. We should improve the standards of air quality standards set in 2009 and the air quality index made in 2014. Also have to find a long-term solution CSE Executive Director Anumita Roychowdhury said that work from home is getting more done right now. We have to think that the method we are adopting at the moment, can we find a long-term solution also?
Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility Steep drop in pollution since janta curfew, lockdown Since the janta curfew was announced on March 22 and the country-wide lockdown two days later, particulate matter concentration in the Capital showed a significant fall, according to a central pollution control board (CPCB) report. Between March 22 and 23, PM10 concentration(coarse pollution particles with diameter less than 10 microns) fell by 44%, while that of PM2.5 (ultra fine particles) fell by 8% from peak values recorded on March 21. After lockdown, PM2.5 levels fell by 34%. While the March 22 curfew was a voluntary event on a Sunday, orders from the Delhi government prior to it had already shut down most schools and gyms, and advised citizens to remain indoors as much as possible. On March 23, the Delhi government clamped a lockdown in the city shutting all but essential services. The measures between March 22 and 23 are significant as there was a steep reduction in the number of vehicles on the road and aided by favourable weather.On the days, there was 51% drop in oxides of nitrogen (NOx)and 32% reduction in carbon monoxide (CO) levels compared to March 21. CPCB analysed the trends based on hourly PM10, PM2.5, NOx and CO data in the national capital region. Its scientists said favourable meteorological factors like rain and moderate wind speed also helped with dispersal of pollutants. “Air quality monitoring data reveal that during the lockdown period, PM10 and PM2.5 levels were reduced by about 35% to 40%, which may be explained as a possible reduction from industries (10% considering continued operation of power plants with 7% – 8% share), transport ( 15% with essential service vehicles and a small part of fleet still plying on roads), dust (10-15%; with continued contribution due to soil and wind-blown dust because of high surface winds),” the report reads. Experts say the steep reduction could be because the country-wide lockdown cut off most sources of pollution not just in the city but surrounding areas as well. “Janta curfew was only for a day when the PM level started dropping but the maximum effect of restrictions were seen during the lockdown. The question is how can we achieve similar air quality targets even after the outbreak resolves. We need systematic solutions that will help us to sustain this kind of air quality. Collective community action during this pandemic can help us to reinvent longer-term solutions to reduce our vulnerability to toxic risk,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment.
Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility Mother Nature Breathes Again quality and clear skies are there for all to see. With air pollution killing 1.2 million Indians annually, this is a gain worth protecting and fighting for. By Papia Samajdar The corona lockdown in India has had many deleterious effects on society which suddenly finds itself coming to a grinding halt. But the one positive effect it has had is on the environment which has found a new awakening. Clear blue skies, birds chirping sonorously and bright sunshine are testimony to this. Within a week of the lockdown, the air quality index (AQI) showed a drastic improvement across the country. Certain areas in Delhi-NCR climbed to “green” category, indicating good air quality—a rare feature during the spring months. Compare this to a week before the lockdown—then the AQI in Delhi ranged from moderately polluted to the poor category. Typically, the Central Pollution Control Board categorises AQI under 50 as good; 51-100, satisfactory; 101-200, moderately polluted; 201-300, poor; 301- 400, very poor and 401-500, severe. An analysis done by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed a dramatic declining trend in daily peakhour pollution in six major cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai). Air with a concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10 fell by 60 percent in several cities after the lockdown. Hourly NO2 levels associated with vehicles dropped more sharply. Hourly PM 2.5 levels associated with other sources of pollution also reduced. It is well-established that vehicles are a major contributor to air pollution. As employers were forced to provide the option of “work from home” and almost all vehicles were pulled off the roads, the effect on the air was evident. “Overall, air pollution levels dropped sharply after the lockdown because vehicles, factories and construction stopped. Of course, we don’t want this kind of emergency to bring this change,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy and head of the Clean Air Campaign at CSE. “This crisis has proved that if a health risk perception can provoke an emergency response, it can galvanise far-reaching changes. Collective community action during this pandemic has forced us to reinvent solutions to reduce our vulnerability to toxic risk.” Over the years, research has shown that air pollution is one of the biggest causes of deaths across the globe. According to WHO, an estimated 4.2 million deaths occur annually due to bad ambient air quality, globally. Of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, 22 are in India. This puts a large section of the Indian population at risk. Being exposed to poor air quality for a long duration also increases the risk of death from diseases like Covid-19 and SARS. The European Public Health Alliance warned that there is a link between deaths due to Covid-19 of patients with illnesses linked to air pollution. Doctors had found that the risk of death among SARS patients exposed to moderate air pollution was 84 percent higher compared to patients exposed to low air pollution. Despite these numbers and multiple warnings by researchers, public perception of poor air quality is low. With the global lockdown, companies are forced to change the ways they operate. As governments emphasise social distancing as the best precaution, along with periodicwashing of hands, the world adjusts to new ways of functioning. Schools and colleges have taken education online and so have big grocery outlets. Fitness regimes move into people’s living rooms and chatting with friends is through social media and online apps. Can this crisis-induced change give longterm solutions for air pollution? Roychowdhury said: “If we can make systemic changes to institutionalise some of the emergency responses and maximise the potential of the digital world to alter the workplace, it can work in the environment sphere too. We can scale up public transport options to reduce vehicles, roll out electric mobility to move towards zero emissions and ensure zero tolerance for non-compliance with emission control regulations and standards. Only then can we see a different post-pandemic period.” Ravi Kumar, a senior executive at Anil Agarwal Environmental Training Institute, foresees a change in operations after the lockdown is over. “Post- pandemic, we are expecting many changes in the way companies and businesses operate. We cannot entirely gauge what these will be or at what scale, but change will definitely be seen,” he said. “We will be putting systems and processes in place, ensure that lack of physical presence in designated spaces does not hinder operations and offer online courses.” The coronavirus pandemic has definitely made us realise how quickly we must adapt to the new normal and how we can be more productive using technology, said Gaurav Singh, Regional Head, No Brokers Technology Solutions, a software firm. “As a service provider, we have to ensure that we remain competitive. We can function effectively even if we deviate from the way we used to operate. We will design our systems to build on this learning,” he said. When asked if the reduced air pollution would influence his decision, he said: “That is a bonus as it also leads to reduced transport bills. The management has made a note of the benefits of work from home and is willing to consider it in future.” Rijit Sengupta, CEO at Centre for Responsible Business, remembers how a few months back in Davos, where rich business leaders were hosted by the World Economic Forum, a manifesto was released underscoring the importance of “Business with Purpose”. “As businesses and society pass through these difficult times, we must reflect on how to design and promote businesses with a purpose in India. If there is one time when we can begin some thinking and dialogue on this subject, it is now,” he added. There are concerns that in the postpandemic period, it will be business as usual and pollution will go out of control once again. But the air pollution crisis that kills 1.2 million Indians and makes many more ill requires a similar emergency response and public support for strong action. “It is important to deepen awareness and public understanding of this connection and the overall health risk associated with air pollution. We need hard action for this,” said Roychowdhury.
Water Programme Building resilience to climate change in Addis Ababa By Mekonnen Teshome Tollera – Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa (Sheger) was born twice: first, as a crowded city; and then again, as a beautiful Sheger with clean rivers, public spaces and parks, bicycle paths and walkways along the riverside. The city of 4.6 million people is being born again as a result of a multimillion dollar project “Beautifying Sheger” intended to decorate Addis Ababa. This 29 billion birr (about $1.028 billion), rivers and riversides development project is slowly making the city green as works for developing and rehabilitating the two rivers in the city launched in February 2019 progress. The project, an initiative of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, is expected to be completed within three years and has created job opportunities for hundreds of Ethiopians and some Chinese too. The project is running along two of the largest rivers of the city, stretching a total of 51 kilometres, all the way from the mountains of Entoto through the city to Akaki River. The commissioner of Addis Ababa Environmental Protection and Green Development Commission, Alem Asefa says: “As an adaptation to climate change the riverside project will install waterpermeable pavements to better deal with floods and storm water and improve water storage and use.” The Changing Addis Ababa climate Impulsive changes in climate including rising heat waves, drought and flash floods in Addis Ababa are negatively impacting natural resources and city productivity. A recent study by Open Access: “GIS based quantification and mapping of climate change vulnerability hotspots in Addis Ababa” confirmed that the city “…is vulnerable to climate change impacts…” “The degree of vulnerability is underpinned by the interaction of multiple factors mainly adaptive capacities of subcities, location based characteristics and changes in climatic parameters,” it accentuates. Alem Asefa, Commissioner of Addis Ababa Environmental Protection and Green Development Commission, told InfoNile in Addis Ababa that scientific projections suggest that the city will face enormous challenges of climate change unless necessary measures are taken to significantly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Alem further explained: “If abusing the city master plan, especially the urban green component and emissions of greenhouse gases, including those from transport and industry are not controlled in the coming years, continued growth of their atmospheric concentrations is projected to result in severe climate change.” According to the commissioner, the most important anthropogenic influences on climate in Addis Ababa and neighbouring areas are the emissions, changes in land use, such as urbanization and agricultural activities. Enabling Addis Ababa adapt to climate change The rivers and riversides development project aims at curbing the serious environmental effects of pollution and habitat degradation of rivers through planning, design and management of riverside areas. Commissioner Alem says greening is recommended for containment and abatement of air pollution in urbanindustrial environment. “Carbon is sequestered in the process of plant growth as carbon is captured in plant cell formation and oxygen is released during photosynthesis. Branches, leaves and other materials that fall to the forest floor may store carbon until they decompose,” noted Alem. Additionally, he said, “forest soils may sequester some of the decomposing plant litter through root and soil interaction,” as he related greening efforts with adapting climate change. Optimally designed green belts can be effective in reducing the impact of fugitive emission and pollutants accidentally or otherwise released at ground levels. Alem says in addition to energy-efficient technologies in transport, industrial sectors, and buildings and development of green infrastructures including green development will help Addis Ababa mitigate climate change. Polluted rivers of Addis Ababa A number of research results from university academic and research institutions show that rivers of Addis Ababa are highly polluted due to congested residential houses and manufacturing industries’ presence around the water bodies. For example, an assessment study on the water chemical content of the Akaki river published by Research Gate (2017) – “Pollution Status of Akaki River and Its Tributaries (Ethiopia) Evaluated Using Physico-Chemical Parameters, Major Ions, and Nutrients,” indicates that the water quality of the TAR shows pattern of behavior linked to anthropogenic sources with the intensity of human pressure associated with industrial effluent, domestic wastes and agricultural activities. As the issue is a matter of high concern, the government in collaboration with local and international institutions is also making efforts to further analyze the water pollution and take necessary measures against polluter industries like leather tanneries and chemical industries. Director of India Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Mrs. Sunita Narain recently told this reporter in New Delhi that CSE has launched chemical analyses of the Akaki River, a river in central Ethiopia, to identify the concentration of heavy metals in the river and present recommendations on the possible solutions. Residential wastes, sewage flowing into the river and the disposal of single use plastic material are some of the major polluting factors of rivers in Addis Ababa. Managing and Mitigating floods A flood related study by ScienceDirect (2016) – “Flood Risk and Vulnerability of Addis Ababa City Due to Climate Change and Urbanization”, states that the Akaki catchment’s urbanization rate grown by 10% only from 1993 to 2002 and flooding risks in Addis Ababa has also shown significant increase. The study attributed the vulnerability of Addis Ababa to riverine as well as flash floods due to extreme climatic events and upper catchment activities and the vulnerability to flooding is more aggravated due to a poor drainage system, rapid housing development along river banks and using inappropriate construction materials. Therefore, the riverside development project also aims to enhance the wellbeing of city dwellers by mitigating river flooding, creation of public spaces and parks, bicycle paths and walkways along the site as well as to face-lift the image of the city. “Addis Ababa riverside project will reduce the amount of sediments and other pollutants disposed to the rivers and create greener urban centers suitable for living through plantation and/or reclamation of the river buffers with suitable trees, shrubs, herb and grasses along the different river buffer zones which can act as efficient biological filters or sinks for particulate and gaseous emissions, generated by vehicular movements and various industrial activities,” said Commissioner Alem. Transforming Addis Ababa into a greener, resilient and happier city Apart from the exceptional riverside greening and Addis Ababa’s beautification effort, the government of Ethiopia has designed holistic climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies and policies and has been strictly implementing them. Ethiopia’s National Adaptation Plan (NAPETH) which costs about USD 6 billion annually to address climate change, is integrating projects including botanical gardens and zoo park centers in Addis Ababa, river and riversides development, Mount Entoto and its surrounding tourist destination development projects and the Addis Abeba parks development projects are undertaken under River Basins and Green Areas Agency established in July 2018. A group of scholars in their recent study entitled “Current status and management practice of urban green spaces in Addis Ababa: A reflection on their potential for carbon sink” write that the role of Addis Ababa’s integrated green spaces development is vital in regulating climate and is noteworthy as it plays a momentous role in mitigating climate change by sequestering a significant amount of carbon. According to a study conducted by Samson Aynachew, the city of Addis Ababa has reserved 22,000 ha area of land for green space development. With regard to spatial distribution of public parks in Addis Ababa, this indicates that, out of the ten sub-cities of Addis Ababa, the “Gullele” sub-city has the largest share of Public Park, i.e. 9.8ha followed by “Nifas Silk” sub-city (6.2ha), “Yeka” subcity (5.65ha), “Kirkos” sub-city (4.6ha) and “Lideta” sub-city (4.4ha). The Addis Ababa city Master Plan categorizes the urban green areas into local, district and city level green areas. At the local level there are many open and green areas which are used for festivals; children playgrounds and other social activities. Some of them are left out spaces between residential houses and the ones which are distinguished as urban open spaces are not managed well. The district level green areas include street sides, parks, plazas and most of the open spaces found in the center of the city. These places are officially designated as plazas, squares, streets and parks. The management of these places looks relatively good, but they are not properly managed when it comes to the use of the spaces. City level green areas include forest areas which are usually found in mountainous and preserved areas. These areas are well managed in the sense of preservation of trees and forestation, but people do not use them since they are not easily accessible and do not have the necessary facility to be used as recreational areas. Valuing urban green spaces in mitigating climate change With the launching of the first phase of the 12km riverside development of the total 51km by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in October 2019 and some previously finalized works, the lifting of Addis Ababa’s face is being materialized and people have started to test the fruits of the greening efforts. For instance, people of Addis Ababa have started enjoying greenery luxury with the completion and opening of some sections of the riverside development around the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The protection and cleaning work of Addis Ababa’s rivers has already started due to the fencing and isolation of the water bodies as part of the construction efforts. As part of Addis Ababa’s beautifying project, the installation of metal holders for flower pots and planting flowers in the median divide on Africa Avenue in Bole all the way from Bole International Airport to the National Place has been finalized and are being enjoyed by the city residents and visitors. Urban green areas play a very important role as a carbon sink. Recognizing the importance of urban trees for this purpose, the interest in preserving and maintaining the urban trees are increasing. Carbon sequestration is a phenomenon for the storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to mitigate global warming, says Miss Alem Asefa, Commissioner of Addis Ababa Environmental Protection and Green Development Commission. Tree planting drives are not new in Ethiopia. In July 2019, a massive tree planting campaign was initiated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, aiming at restoring the country’s landscape and tackling the climate change crisis. This covered the whole of Ethiopia including Addis Ababa. A world-record of 353,633,660 tree seedlings were planted across the country in a 12-hour span. Public recounting of the project Residents of Addis Ababa now are also optimistic that their city is changing for the better and becoming greener than ever. Tesfaye Abate is one of these residents who have witnessed a remarkable greening revolution in Addis Ababa. He says this could help control droughts and floods that have been affecting his community. “I am really very pleased to see our city becoming greener over the last decades and I hope this will enable us to adapt and cope with the ever escalating effects of global warming and the changing climate.” Professor Fekadu Beyene, Commissioner for Ethiopia’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission says greening efforts are imperative to curb climate change. The Professor also agrees that the river side and the intensive tree planting activities in Ethiopia notably the “Green Legacy,” a national go green campaign, are vital to adapt and mitigate climate change. Professor Fekadu Beyene says that Ethiopia’s Green Legacy campaign is an exemplary greening activity made to realize the country’s vision of building a climate change resilient economy.
Art March air was ‘moderate’, but pollution dipped sharply since March 25 In March, the city recorded an average daily air quality index (AQI) value of 113, implying that it was experiencing largely ‘moderate’ air quality over the past month. However, the city has seen a sharp dip in pollution levels since March 25, when a nationwide lockdown to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) was enforced. Since the lockdown began, most vehicles have been off the streets and Gurugram’s air quality has ranged between 42 to 77, in terms of its daily average AQI value, while levels of particulate matter have remained within nationally prescribed ‘safe’ limits. The city’s average AQI value for February, as per Central Pollution Control Board data, was 190 (also in the ‘moderate’ category). “The air quality has remained in the ‘moderate’ category over February and March, but with a slight improvement due to the lockdown, as well as the rainfall earlier in the month. We will see an even sharper improvement between March and April, as the lockdown continues, mainly due to the shutdown of industries and lack of vehicles on roads,” Sachin Panwar, a city-based air quality scientist, said. Morning and evening peaks in the level of PM 2.5 (due to daily rush-hour commutes causing heavy traffic movement) have also flattened in the days since the lockdown came into force, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Data from three of Gurugram’s air quality monitors—at Gwal Pahadi, Sector 51, and Vikas Sadan— confirms that this is the case. All three monitors show PM2.5 to be at an average value between 40 and 50μg/m³ per day over the past 10 days, which is within the national safe limit of 60μg/m³. These monitors also show a sharp reduction in the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which can be directly attributed to the absence of vehicles on city streets, and closure of non-essential industries, both of which burn fuel and are major sources of NO2 in the atmosphere. “This analysis brings out the pronounced effect of traffic on hourly pollution trend and daily exposures to toxic vehicular pollution. With traffic minimised, hourly trends plummet. This is sharply evident in NO2 trends,” the CSE said in its analysis. Hindustan Times | Gurgaon| April 3, 2020
Sustainable Food Systems Hyderabad welcomes Kids’ health food startup HYDERABAD : For most kids, the word ‘snack’ conjures up images of a pack of chips, cookies, chocolates or sugar filled jellies. Many children graze through the day eating unhealthy snacks that are not specifically targeted for their age. As per a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, 93% of children between the age group of 9-17 eat packaged food. Children today have access to packaged food more than ever. A quick stop at the supermarket can result in a number of snack packs that are mostly unhealthy. Parents often find it difficult to buy trustworthy, wholesome, healthy and guilt free snacks that are suitable for children. "That is how Timios was born," says founders, brother sister duo, Aswani Chaitanya and Hima Bindu. The Hyderabadi duo say that their idea was to give design healthy food products for children. "Age-appropriate covering age ranges starting from 6 months to 12 years. (Babies, toddlers and schoolers). Each product is made with 100 per cent natural ingredients and contains zero preservatives," they add. The idea for Timios, which is funded by MTR Foods, came about when Aswani moved to India from the US in 2014 after spending about 15 years at top tier investment banks. Once he returned, he was in search of healthy age appropriate snacks for his two boys. Unlike in the developed markets, there were no options for healthy yet tasty snacks designed for children. He realized the gap in the market and teamed up with his sister Hima Bindu, who holds a masters degree in nutrition and has worked as a research associate "Each of these products are designed in suitable portions to provide the necessary nutrition. We are working out on other snacks for toddlers and schools," says Bindu. They are available on e-commerce websites and in over 250 stories including baby and organic stores.
Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility Blue skies, clean air: how the coronavirus lockdown is rejuvenating our environment With the COVID-19 lockdown in place, smog has given way to blue skies, waterways are seeing more marine life, and pollution levels have dropped to a large extent. A few days ago, Noida’s busiest Sector-18 had an unexpected guest. A Nilgai was spotted walking leisurely on the road. The sight was a welcome change from the usually jam-packed road. Similarly, in Kerala’s Kozhikode, a Malabar civet, which is a critically endangered animal, was spotted walking on the road. Ever since the coronavirus pandemic struck across the globe, several reports have emerged highlighting the return of many species to their natural habitats. earth environment (Image source: Shutterstock) The drastic measures taken by governments because of the spreading of the novel coronavirus, and the shutdown of factories, commercial establishments, and vehicular movement, has resulted in a drop in the pollution levels across the world. As the pandemic continues to halt industrial activities, it has given people some time to breathe. But, is all of this only a temporary mirage? As coronavirus is rapidly spreading around the world, most people are still confined to their homes. Schools, and offices have remained shut for weeks now. While some have lost their jobs, others are struggling to earn their daily bread amidst the lockdown. Most of the major events and conferences such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Facebook’s annual conference, and the World Athletics Indoor Championships stand cancelled. Several countries have tightened their borders and restricted the issuance of visas. ‘Work from home’ and ‘social distancing’ have become the new norm in everyone’s lives. work from home coronavirus (Image source: Shutterstock) According to latest reports by the World Health Organisation, there has been over 8.5 lakh COVID-19 cases reported across the world so far, with a little over 42,000 deaths. In short, the virus has affected people irrespective of their social and economic status. In the thick of all the gloom and doom, there is a silver lining. Mother earth seems to have rejuvenated itself – smog has given way to blue skies, marine life is seeing increased activity, pollution levels have dropped, and animals as well as birds are moving about on their own accord. Also Read Senior citizens face a high coronavirus risk. Here’s what you can do New York The famous Times Square at New York bears a deserted look due to the coronavirus pandemic. Image Credit: Tayfun Coskun and Anadolu Agency, Getty Images A considerable improvement in air quality Satellite imagery shows signs of nature scoring a victory. Both environmental researchers and scientists have evaluated the air quality, one of the most prominent parameters. With unnecessary travel being discouraged and manufacturing units facing a closure, the data gathered shows the emergence of cleaner air. According to a research by Columbia University, both carbon monoxide and carbon-dioxide emissions were observed to have fallen by around 50 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in the bustling city of New York. China pollution levels A before and after comparison of the level of nitrogen dioxide across China as depicted by NASA. An analysis carried out by Carbon Brief noted a 25 percent decrease in emissions across China during February 2020 due to the reduced use of coal and crude oil, as compared to the same time in 2019. Furthermore, the amount of nitrogen dioxide also dropped by 36 percent right after the Chinese New Year holiday, compared to last year. This can be verified with the measurements made by the NASA OMI instrument. Italy The European Space Agency's satellite image showing a drastic drop in air pollution at Italy after COVID-19. Some of the moststark differences were recorded in Italy, CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY Spain, and France – the three countries which imposed lockdowns much earlier than other European nations. The nitrogen dioxide levels across all of them saw a slump. Particulate matter (PM2.5) was sharply down in London, Cardiff, and Bristol since the closure. Sign up for Newsletters Check out our popular newsletters and subscribe Dropdown India too has been breathing easy in the last few days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) sank to as low as 93 last month in New Delhi as compared to 161 in March 2019, as per IQAir reports. Bengaluru There is hardly any vehicular emission at Brigade Road, one of Bengaluru's busiest shopping areas. Image Credit: PTI “All the hustle and bustle in my neighbourhood has disappeared. It feels like everything around is ushering a beautiful spring. This sure is a consequence of the drastic reduction in carbon emissions from vehicular movements. The goal should be to take this trend ahead in the days to come,” says Suresh Heblikar, a filmmaker and environmental activist based in Bengaluru. The World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. It also estimates the death toll due to air pollution to be around 7 million every year across the globe. In fact, the Collective of Doctors for Clean Air have stated that individuals residing in highly polluted areas can be more vulnerable to coronavirus due to the already caused damage to their respiratory systems. Nevertheless, the improvement in the air quality owing to the outbreak of the pandemic looks like a ray of hope in the times to come. Also Read COVID-19 diary: Why we will wait till next year to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Japan Undisturbed habitats for marine life While the COVID- 19 lockdown has made it imperative for people to stay indoors, animals seem to have been undeterred by it. The quiet street corners, empty parking lots, and deserted parks have given more space for nature to take control. The subdued humdrum surrounding tourism and the reduced number of motorboats in Venice has led to cleaner waterways. The nationwide lockdown is also providing perfect condition for olive ridley turtles to lay eggs in Odisha’s Gahirmatha beach and Rushikulya’s rookery. Usually, this event is known to attract huge crowds and officials from the Forest Department generally deploy a considerable amount of efforts and resources to patrol gatherings, protect the eggs, and later release the hatchlings into the sea. However, this time around, there were no such interruptions. All of this shows that the pandemic is resulting in more room for animals to thrive even amidst the margins of urbanised existence. Olive ridleys Olive ridleys on the coast were seen on the coast of Odisha's Gahirmatha beach. Image Credit: Shutterstock. Also Read How people are donating to the Centre's PM-CARES Fund to fight coronavirus Is this a long-term trend? It is said that times of disruptions tend to lead to big transitions. The COVID-19 shutdown has given people a glimpse into what the world might look like if we live sustainably and conserve the resources of the planet. But, can people expect a transformation in the future? SocialStory got in touch with a few environmentalists to understand their take on this. Sunita Narain, a renowned environmental activist and the Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), is of the view that the environmental restoration amid coronavirus outbreak is just a phase that might not have a long term impact. “Right after this health crisis subsides, it is imperative to get the economy back in shape. People need to get back to work and continue leading their lives. This is just a phase. People can learn from it. However, we require long-term solutions like that of the utilisation of clean energy, conservation of forests, and efficient waste management systems in order to see real impact,” she explains. While decreasing carbon footprints due to a standstill in industrial operations and vehicular movements is a sign of optimism, looking at the enormous scale at which global warming and 3 Monthly compilation of CSE’s media clippings: for the month of April 2020 environmental degradation is taking place, there is little joy in the air. A combination of policy and structural changes, conscious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the individual level, and better awareness levels is expected to bring out tangible results. R Rammurthy, an environmental activist who has been at the forefront of cleaning several water bodies across India resonated with this. Your Story | April 2, 2020
Sustainable Food Systems Here's why every parent should check out Timios' healthy, ageappropriate snacks for children Timios' Co-Founder Aswani Chaitanya tells Shreesha Ghosh why it is important for children to develop thse correct dietary habits at an early age For most children these days, the word ‘snack’ conjures up images of a packet of tomato-flavoured chips, cookies, chocolates or sugar-filled jellies. Numerous children push through the day eating unhealthy snacks, especially ones that are not specifically targeted for their age. As per a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment in 2016, 93 per cent of children between the age group of 9-17 years eat packaged food. The study also showed that 56 per cent of the children consume packaged sweet products like chocolates and ice creams more than twice a week and 53 per cent consume packaged salty food like chips. Parents often find it difficult to buy trustworthy, wholesome, healthy and guilt-free snacks that are suitable for children. This was the genesis for Timios, a start-up that makes organic, ageappropriate snacks for children. Founded by brother-sister duo, Aswani Chaitanya and Hima Bindu in 2016, Timios has a range of healthy food products designed for children. Timios products are ageappropriate, covering age ranges starting from six months to 12 years — babies, toddlers and schoolers. Each product is made with 100 per cent natural ingredients and contains zero preservatives. We spoke to Aswani about the process they follow to make the snacks and why it is important for children to adopt the right dietary habits. Here's what transpired: How essential is it for children within the age of 12 years to consume healthy snacks? For optimum health, three meals plus two healthy snacks per day is necessary. Healthy snacking is important for children because their smaller stomachs fill up fast and they burn energy quickly. Between meals, snacks give their growing body the nutrients and hydration it needs. A lot of children, at an early age, indulge in unhealthy snacks like chips, sweet products and packaged food nowadays. How will Timios help? Children today have easier access to packaged food now more than ever before. A quick stop at the supermarket can result in a number of snack packs that are mostly unhealthy. Currently, there are hardly any options available in the category of healthy age-appropriate packaged food for children. That's where we entered the market. How and when did you and your sister come up with the idea of Timios? What prompted you to start such a venture? The idea of coming up with a food brand for kids was sparked during our many supermarket visits where there always seemed to be a tussle between parents and their little ones. There was a huge gap when it came to children’s snacks, so I dived deep into research and reached out to friends and family to understand the market more. My wife played an integral role in all of this too, comparing what was available in the UK and India. It was discovered that that apart from a handful of known mega brands, there was nothing in this space that was specific to healthy snacking for kids. This is a concern because nutrition plays a very important role at this age. It was very clear that this needed to be addressed. Fortunately for me, my sister is a nutritionist and had just delivered a baby then. She too was on the lookout for some work that allowed her to stay at home more often. My father being an agricultural scientist also brought in valuable contributions. We reached out to paediatricians and got relevant references. Products: 9 months - 12 months Whole Grain Melts: Naturally dried fruit or vegetables 12 months - 2 years Zookers: Animal shaped biscuits made with natural ingredients Mini Oaty Bites: Soft and chewy bites for kids above 18 months 2 years and above Multigrain Munchies: Guilt-free natural munchies Natural Raisins: Raisins procured directly from Turkey with zero chemical treatment and sugar Cereal Crunchies: Made with whole grains and real strawberries 4 years and above Energy Bars: On the go treats made with rolled oats, berries, dates, etc What goes into making the snacks? From choosing the grain to checking the texture and quality, everything is noted and studied before it goes for production. All the products are 100 per cent natural and tested on a regular basis until the end-product is ready. What types of products do you offer? We have seven categories of products. Timios offers finger food, munchies, energy bars and much more. Each of these products is designed in suitable portions to provide the necessary nutrition to growing children. | April 2, 2020
Down To Earth This entrepreneur feeds dozens of unwanted monkeys every week Dharmender Kumar is a 38-year-old entrepreneur residing in Muzaffarnagar in the Uttar Pradesh region of India. He was nicknamed “monkey lover” for his affinity and affection for local monkeys. The area is full of wild monkeys, but Kumar is unafraid. In the video above, you can see him gleefully sitting on the ground with dozens of the hungry critters, equipped with a red bucket of chickpeas. The monkeys gather around him to grab a bite of one of their favorite foods. According to Newsflare, Kumar wants to spread awareness about animals and care for them. He says he has never had a negative encounter with the animals and finds them to be quite amicable. Monkeys have always been a presence in some rural areas of India, according to Down to Earth magazine. In 2016, local government officials released an advertisement in the paper to crowdsource ideas about how to manage the monkeys without hurting them. The creatures had reportedly wreaked havoc on crops that belonged to farmers or stolen food from people who were merely carrying groceries. “We have been receiving a lot of complaints on the havoc created by the monkeys and dogs. Complaints pouring in have become a daily feature,” V. P. Singh Badnore, BJP MP and chairman of the Rajya Sabha House Committee, told Down To Earth over the phone. “However, we will not kill them nor will we encourage anybody to kill them. It is not a ‘menace.’ It is only an issue that requires management.” In Muzaffarnagar, where Kumar is located, “local residents estimate there are four to five groups, each consisting of at least 15- 20 monkeys, which have made life difficult for farmers and others,” according to Down to Earth. Perhaps, that’s why Kumar’s work is all the more important, especially as he demonstrates how humans can coexist pleasantly with wild monkeys who are just looking for food. | April 1, 2020
Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility जहरीली होती दिल्ली की हवा:400 पार जा सकता है एक्यूआई, ईपीसीए ने लोगों को दिया अनावश्यक घर से बाहर नहीं निकलने की सलाह घटती पारे के साथ दिल्ली जहरीली होती जा रही है। अगर हवा की दिशा और रफ्तार में नहीं हुआ बदलाव तो अगले दो दिनों तक ऐसी ही स्थिति बनी रही स्थिति तो शनिवार को और रविवार को और हालात बिगड़ सकते हैं और दिल्ली की एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स का आंकड़ा 400 के पार जा सकती है। ऐसे हालात को देखते हुए केंद्रीय पृथ्वी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के अधीन आने वाली वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी संस्था सफर इंडिया और पर्यावरण संरक्षण एवं प्रदूषण नियंत्रण प्राधिकरण ने लोगों को अनावश्यक रूप से घर से बाहर नहीं निकलने की सलाह दी है। पंजाब और हरियाणा में पराली जलाए जाने के असर के कारण दिल्ली-एनसीआर में वायु प्रदूषण खराब स्थिति में पहुंच गया है। बताया जा रहा है कि हवा की रफ्तार कम होने और पराली का धुआं बढ़ने से इस साल अक्टूबर के तीसरे सप्ताह में ही एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स के हालात खतरनाक हालात बन गए हैं। शुक्रवार को हवा इस सीजन की सर्वाधिक प्रदूषित रही। वहीं सफर इंडिया का कहना है कि बृहस्पतिवार को पंजाब-हरियाणा में पराली जलाने के 1.231 केस सामने आए। दिल्ली के प्रदूषण में पराली के धुएं की हिस्सेदारी 17 फीसद तक रही। दिल्ली-एनसीआर में सभी जगह एयर इंडेक्स 300 के पार हो गया। यह हवा की बहुत खराब श्रेणी है। वहीं दिल्ली के 10 इलाकों में एयर इंडेक्स 400 से ऊपर गंभीर श्रेणी में पहुंच गया। सैर पर जाने वालों को सांस की परेशानी गुरुवार की रात से फिर से उत्तर-पश्चिमी हवा बह रही थी और इसकी गति भी 10 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे से कम रही। नतीजा स्मॉग के साथ-साथ प्रदूषण भी बढ़ने लगा। शुक्रवार सुबह दिल्ली-एनसीआर के लोगों ने आंखें खोलीं तो बाहर खासा धुंध था। सुबह सैर के लिए जाने वाले लोगों को सांस लेने में परेशानी का समाना करना पड़ा। ईपीसीए की सदस्य सुनीता नारायण ने कहा है कि कि सभी एजेंसियों को प्रदूषण की रोकथाम के लिए सभी कोशिशें करने के लिए कहा गया है। जरूरत पड़ने पर कुछ और सख्त निर्णय भी लिए जाएंगे। राजधानी में 14 डिग्री पहुंचा न्यूनतम तापमान,पड़ेगी कड़ाके की सर्दी राजधानी में न्यूनतम तापमान14 डिग्री तक पहुंच चुकी है, कुछ दिनों में कड़ाके की सर्दी पड़ने वाली है। मौसम विभाग के अधिकारियों ने बताया कि मौजूदा समय में राजधानी दिल्ली में सर्दियों का आगमन हो चुका है और यहां का न्यूनतम तापमान लगातार गिर रहा है। + हालात यह है कि इलाकों में इन दिनों तापमान 14 डिग्री से भी नीचे पहुंच रहा है। मौसम विभाग का अनुमान है दिल्ली में कड़ाके की ठंड पड़ेगी। मौसम विभाग के अधिकारियों ने बताया कि मौजूदा समय में राजधानी दिल्ली में आसमान साफ है। साथ ही सुबह-सुबह मिस्ट देखने को मिल रही है। प्रदूषण का स्तर हवाओं की गति और दिशा के चलते लगातार बढ़ रहा है। वहीं तापमान कम हो रहा है जो प्रदूषण के लिए अनुकूल है। इस कारण कड़ाके की सर्दी पड़ने की उम्मीद है। शनिवार के पूर्वानुमान हैं कि यहां पर अधिकतम और न्यूनतम तापमान क्रमश 34 और 14 डिग्री के आसपास बने रह सकते हैं। इससे पहले शुक्रवार को राजधानी दिल्ली का न्यूनतम तापमान 14.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया जो कि सामान्य से 4 डिग्री कम है। अधिकतम तापमान यहां 34 डिग्री सेल्सियस रहा है कि सामान्य से 3 डिग्री ज्यादा है।
Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility Delhi Clean-Air Action Plan: The agenda to reduce air pollution and protect public health In 2016, Delhi experienced one of its worst Diwali smog episodes in many years. Several factors converged to create the dirty haze that enveloped the capital region with the onset of winter. Scientists had predicted a near-total lack of wind and a severe spike in pollution levels on Diwali day – and they were proved right. Even before the Diwali smog could thin out, the weather turned hostile once again. Lower level anti cyclone—a weather phenomenon which prevents the dispersal of smog—developed around Delhi on November. There was virtually no wind in the vertical column. As a result, the smog thickened and worsened. According to the India Meteorological Department(IMD), this was the worst smog episode with very poor visibility in the last 17years.
Industrial Pollution Online Training Programme on Understanding Environmental Law for Improving Environmental Management Centre for Science and Environment is organizing a ten days long online training programme on 'Understanding environmental law for improving environmental management' from 01-10 September 2021. Programme Objective: This course has been particularly designed to capacitate the people working in the field of environment and the prospective environmentalist with an objective to develop a better understanding and knowledge of the laws and their interrelationship. Learning from the Programme: Better understanding of environmental governance structure of the country, major institution, and their implementation statistics. Increased understanding of the obligations of industry and individuals under various environmental laws and regulations and how to meet these obligations. Understanding the impacts of violations and noncompliance. Role of National Green Tribunal (NGT), environmental courts and public interest litigation (PIL). Understanding of international treaties and agreements Government of India subscribes to the impact of non-compliance with such agreements on business. Who can apply? Industry professionals; Environment Consultants; Environment Engineers Researchers and academicians Students aspiring to work in environment field For Other Details, Please Contact: Event Name: Online Training Programme on Understanding Environmental Law for Improving Environmental Management Website: https://www.cseindia.org/ Date: 01-10 September 2021 Centre for Science and Environment Address: 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area New Delhi-110062 Mobile: 91 1140616000 Email: ishita.garg@cseindia.org
