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Delhi Records Cleanest Air In Nearly A Decade, Says CAQM Data

Delhi is experiencing its cleanest air stretch in almost ten years, according to official data, with air quality from January to September 2025 showing marked improvement compared to previous years—except during the extraordinary Covid lockdown period. Figures released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reveal that the Capital’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the first nine months of this year has been the best since 2018, offering residents rare relief from the toxic skies that typically blanket the city. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), while presenting the data on Wednesday, attributed the cleaner air to a combination of favourable weather conditions and ongoing regulatory measures. “The improving trend in the overall air quality of Delhi-NCR continues and for the period between January–September this year, Delhi registers its best-ever average AQI during the eight years from 2018 to 2025, excluding 2020,” CAQM said in its statement. Numbers Show a Clear Shift Between January and September 2025, Delhi’s average AQI stood at 164—an improvement over 178 in 2024, 167 in 2023, and 193 in 2018. Only the pandemic year of 2020, when restrictions led to a sharp drop in emissions, recorded a lower level at 144. Officials noted that data from 2016 and 2017 were excluded due to inconsistencies, while 2020 was left out since its numbers reflected an “extraordinary halt in activity” rather than long-term progress. The Capital also logged its cleanest monsoon quarter in years. From July to September 2025, Delhi’s average AQI was 91—the lowest since 2018 (excluding 2020). By comparison, the figure stood at 103 in 2023, 95 in 2022, and 109 in 2018. Weather Gave Delhi a Breather Meteorologists say the weather played a decisive role in this year’s cleaner air. Unlike previous winters, January 2025 was marked by relatively high minimum and maximum temperatures, which helped disperse pollutants instead of trapping them close to the ground. “The summer this year was not as intense, with no heatwaves recorded,” explained Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment to media. “Additionally, we experienced frequent and intense spells of rain during the monsoon, which regularly washed away pollutants. Meteorological factors were definitely responsible for better air quality. How much the pollution level bounces back in the winter months is very important this year.” Thanks to these conditions, Delhi recorded no ‘severe’ or ‘severe-plus’ air days till September—compared to three such days each in 2024 and 2023, six in 2021, and seven in 2019. The city also registered its highest number of “satisfactory” days—75—since 2018, barring the exceptional 95 days recorded in 2020. In comparison, there were only 66 such days in 2024 and 53 in 2018. Fragile Gains Ahead of Winter Levels of PM2.5 and PM10, the harmful fine particles linked to severe respiratory illnesses, were also at their lowest in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period over the past seven years (again, with 2020 as the exception). Yet experts warn that these gains remain precarious. Historically, Delhi’s air quality plunges toward the end of the year, as colder weather traps pollutants, stubble burning in neighbouring states intensifies, and festive fireworks worsen the haze. For now, however, Delhiites are experiencing something rare—a sustained spell of cleaner air.

Some cement units may not need environment NOC: Ministry

The Union environment ministry has proposed to exempt from obtaining prior environmental clearance standalone cement grinding units which do not have captive power plants and transport raw materials and finished products either through the railways or electric vehicles. In a draft notification dated September 26, the ministry has said standalone grinding units which do not undertake calcination and clinkerisation have lower carbon emissions, generate less waste and utilise less energy due to absence of high temperature processes, as compared to cement plants. In addition, transportation of raw materials and finished products via trains and e-vehicles further reduces the release of pollutants. Despite this and “the fact that such projects do not require Public Consultation and detailed EIA report”, standalone grinding units are “subjected to a similar regulatory and monitoring regime, resulting in disproportionate compliance obligations,” the draft notification has said. The ministry’s expert appraisal committee has recommended that such units can be considered for exemption from the requirement of prior environmental clearance. The committee observed that the exemption will encourage green logistics and environmental governance, the draft notification said. Standalone cement grinding units are classified as Category ‘B’ projects and are further categorised into categories B1 and B2 based on the mode of transportation. Units where more than 90% of the total transportation of raw materials and finished products (inward and outward combined) is carried out through railways, are categorised as B2. Though experts agreed that the transportation in such units reduces the potential of pollution, they recommended strict rules on how these grinding units function and store their raw material. Cement production is mainly associated with CO2 emissions and air pollution, especially particulate matter, along with other pollutants such as SO2, NOx, and volatile organic compounds “In a cement grinding unit, clinker comes from an integrated unit, while fly ash, gypsum, and slaked lime come from other places, all of which is used to make cement. These raw materials are stored and taken for grinding. It is also important to check if conveyor belts are closed or open. Besides, grinding belts should also be fit with pollution-control equipment. There should be an SOP or strict rules on how these grinding units should function and store their raw material,” said Nivit Yadav, programme director, industrial pollution unit at the Centre for Science and Environment.

अब साफ हवा में खुलकर सांस ले रहे दिल्लीवाले! नौ साल का रिकॉर्ड टूटा, एक चुनौती भी

राजधानी दिल्ली, जो अक्सर जहरीली हवा और धुंध की चादर में लिपटी रहती है, ने 2025 के पहले नौ महीनों में एक नया इतिहास रच दिया है। कोविड लॉकडाउन के असाधारण समय को छोड़ दें, तो राजधानी की हवा इस साल जनवरी से सितंबर तक पिछले एक दशक में सबसे साफ रही है। सेंट्रल पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड (CPCB) के आंकड़े बताते हैं कि दिल्ली का वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (AQI) इस बार 2018 के बाद से किसी भी साल के मुकाबले सबसे बेहतर रहा है। मौसम की मेहरबानी और नीतियों का कमाल वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन आयोग (CAQM) ने बुधवार को इस सुखद खबर को साझा किया। आयोग के मुताबिक, '2018 से 2025 तक के आठ सालों में, 2020 को छोड़कर, दिल्ली का औसत AQI इस साल जनवरी से सितंबर तक सबसे शानदार रहा है।' इस दौरान दिल्ली का औसत AQI 164 रहा, जो 2024 के 178 और 2023 के 167 से बेहतर है। 2018 में यह आंकड़ा 193 था, जबकि कोविड से प्रभावित 2020 में यह 144 तक गिर गया था, जब लॉकडाउन ने प्रदूषण को थाम लिया था। CAQM ने साफ किया कि 2016 और 2017 के आंकड़ों में कुछ खामियां थीं, इसलिए तुलना 2018 से की गई है। 2020 को भी अलग रखा गया, क्योंकि उस साल की उपलब्धि असामान्य परिस्थितियों का नतीजा थी, न कि दीर्घकालिक प्रयासों का। मानसून ने बिखेरी ताजगी मानसून ने इस साल दिल्ली की हवा को और चमकाया। जुलाई से सितंबर के बीच, शहर का औसत AQI 91 रहा, जो 2018 के बाद सबसे साफ मॉनसून सीजन है (2020 को छोड़कर)। तुलना करें तो 2023 में यह 103, 2022 में 95 और 2018 में 109 था। बारिश ने प्रदूषकों को धोया और दिल्लीवासियों को राहत की सांस दी। मौसम ने दिया साथ, प्रदूषण हुआ कम विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि मौसम ने इस बार दिल्ली की हवा को साफ करने में बड़ी भूमिका निभाई। जनवरी 2025 में असामान्य रूप से गर्म तापमान ने प्रदूषकों को जमीन के पास जमा होने से रोका। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने बताया, 'इस साल गर्मी ज्यादा तीखी नहीं थी और न ही लू चली। मानसून में बार-बार हुई तेज बारिश ने प्रदूषकों को साफ किया। हालांकि, सर्दियों में प्रदूषण का स्तर कितना बढ़ता है, यह देखना अहम होगा।' इसकी के चलते इस साल सितंबर तक दिल्ली में एक भी गंभीर या अति गंभीर AQI वाला दिन नहीं देखा गया। पिछले सालों में 2024 और 2023 में तीन-तीन ऐसे दिन थे, 2021 में छह और 2019 में सात। साथ ही,इस साल AQI 75 यानी संतोषजनक वाले दिन दर्ज किए गए, जो 2018 के बाद सबसे ज्यादा हैं (2020 के 95 को छोड़कर)। PM2.5 और PM10 में भी राहत हवा में मौजूद छोटे-छोटे कण PM2.5 और PM10 जो फेफड़ों के लिए खतरनाक होते हैं, भी इस साल जनवरी से सितंबर तक पिछले सात सालों की तुलना में सबसे कम रहे (2020 को छोड़कर)। यह दिल्ली के लिए एक बड़ी जीत है।

अब साफ हवा में खुलकर सांस ले रहे दिल्लीवाले! नौ साल का रिकॉर्ड टूटा, एक चुनौती भी

राजधानी दिल्ली, जो अक्सर जहरीली हवा और धुंध की चादर में लिपटी रहती है, ने 2025 के पहले नौ महीनों में एक नया इतिहास रच दिया है। कोविड लॉकडाउन के असाधारण समय को छोड़ दें, तो राजधानी की हवा इस साल जनवरी से सितंबर तक पिछले एक दशक में सबसे साफ रही है। सेंट्रल पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड (CPCB) के आंकड़े बताते हैं कि दिल्ली का वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (AQI) इस बार 2018 के बाद से किसी भी साल के मुकाबले सबसे बेहतर रहा है।

आधुनिक जीवनशैली की खामोश कीमत

तकनीकी प्रगति ने मानव जीवन को अभूतपूर्व सुविधाएँ प्रदान की हैं।स्मार्टफोन, लैपटॉप, टेलीविजन जैसे उपकरणों ने हमारे काम, संचार और मनोरंजन के तरीकों को क्रांतिकारी रूप से बदल दिया है। लेकिन इस डिजिटल युग की चमक के पीछे एक गहरा संकट छिपा है—इलेक्ट्रॉनिक कचरा (ई-वेस्ट)। यह न केवल पर्यावरण के लिए घातक है, बल्कि मानव स्वास्थ्य और सामाजिक-आर्थिक ढाँचे के लिए भी गंभीर खतरा बन चुका है। तेजी से बढ़ता ई-वेस्ट और इसका अनियंत्रित निपटान 21वीं सदी की सबसे जटिल वैश्विक चुनौतियों में से एक है। ई-वेस्ट में पुराने मोबाइल, कंप्यूटर, बैटरी, रेफ्रिजरेटर जैसे बेकार इलेक्ट्रॉनिक उपकरण शामिल हैं। संयुक्त राष्ट्र की ग्लोबल ई-वेस्ट मॉनिटर 2024 की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 2022 में वैश्विक स्तर पर 62 मिलियन टन ई-वेस्ट उत्पन्न हुआ, जो 2010 की तुलना में 82% अधिक है और 2026 तक इसके 74 मिलियन टन तक पहुँचने का अनुमान है। भारत, जो इस सूची में चौथे स्थान पर है, ने 2022 में 3.2 मिलियन टन ई-वेस्ट पैदा किया। चिंताजनक बात यह है कि वैश्विक स्तर पर केवल 22.3% ई-वेस्ट ही औपचारिक रूप से रीसाइकिल होता है, बाकी अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रों या लैंडफिल में चला जाता है। ई-वेस्ट की सबसे बड़ी चुनौती इसके जहरीले तत्वों—सीसा, पारा, कैडमियम, आर्सेनिक और लिथियम(The silent cost of modern lifestylesToxic elements—lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and lithium)—में निहित है। विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के अनुसार, इनके संपर्क से साँस की बीमारियाँ, कैंसर, त्वचा रोग और तंत्रिका तंत्र की समस्याएँ हो सकती हैं। खुले में जलाए जाने पर ई-वेस्ट जहरीली गैसें जैसे डाइऑक्सिन और फ्यूरान उत्सर्जित करता है, जो वायु प्रदूषण को बढ़ाता है। भारत में दिल्ली, मुंबई, बेंगलुरु जैसे शहरों में अनौपचारिक रीसाइक्लिंग क्षेत्र में हजारों श्रमिक बिना सुरक्षा उपायों के इस कचरे को संभालते हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, भारत में 95% ई-वेस्ट अनौपचारिक क्षेत्र द्वारा संसाधित होता है, जिससे पर्यावरण और श्रमिकों के स्वास्थ्य को गंभीर नुकसान होता है। इस संकट की जड़ हमारी उपभोक्ता संस्कृति में भी है। हर साल नए स्मार्टफोन और गैजेट्स की लॉन्चिंग पुराने उपकरणों को तेजी से बेकार कर देती है। ग्लोबल ई-वेस्ट मॉनिटर के अनुसार, औसतन हर 2-3 साल में लोग स्मार्टफोन बदलते हैं। कंपनियाँ “प्लांड ऑब्सोलेंस” की रणनीति अपनाती हैं, जिससे उत्पाद कम टिकाऊ बनते हैं, और उपभोक्ता बार-बार नया सामान खरीदते हैं। भारत में 2024 में 150 मिलियन से अधिक स्मार्टफोन की बिक्री का अनुमान है, जिससे ई-वेस्ट का ढेर तेजी से बढ़ रहा है। यह न केवल पर्यावरणीय संसाधनों पर दबाव डालता है, बल्कि दुर्लभ धातुओं जैसे कोबाल्ट और लिथियम की माँग को भी बढ़ाता है। ई-वेस्ट का प्रभाव पर्यावरण तक सीमित नहीं है; यह सामाजिक और आर्थिक असमानताओं को भी गहरा करता है।भारत में अनौपचारिक रीसाइक्लिंग क्षेत्र में काम करने वाले ज्यादातर लोग गरीब और हाशिए पर रहने वाले समुदायों से हैं, जो निम्न मजदूरी में जोखिम भरी परिस्थितियों में काम करते हैं। ई-वेस्ट से निकलने वाले जहरीले तत्व—सीसा, पारा, कैडमियम—भूजल और मिट्टी को दूषित करते हैं, जिससे खाद्य शृंखला और मानव स्वास्थ्य खतरे में पड़ते हैं। उदाहरण के लिए, दिल्ली के सीलमपुर और मुंडका जैसे क्षेत्रों में अनियंत्रित रीसाइक्लिंग के कारण मिट्टी और पानी में भारी धातुओं की मात्रा खतरनाक स्तर पर पहुँच चुकी है। यह न केवल स्थानीय समुदायों, बल्कि भावी पीढ़ियों के लिए भी गंभीर संकट है। इस चुनौती से निपटने के लिए तत्काल और समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी हैं।सबसे पहले, औपचारिक रीसाइक्लिंग प्रणाली को मजबूत करना होगा। भारत में ई-वेस्ट मैनेजमेंट नियम, 2016 के तहत उत्पादकों की जिम्मेदारी को लागू किया गया है, जो कंपनियों को अपने उत्पादों के जीवनचक्र के अंत में निपटान की जिम्मेदारी सौंपता है। लेकिन इन नियमों का कार्यान्वयन कमजोर है। सरकार को आधुनिक रीसाइक्लिंग संयंत्रों को प्रोत्साहन देना चाहिए और अनौपचारिक क्षेत्र को औपचारिक प्रणाली में एकीकृत करना चाहिए। यूरोपीय संघ, जहाँ 65% ई-वेस्ट औपचारिक रूप से एकत्र होता है, इसका बेहतरीन उदाहरण है। भारत को ऐसी ही प्रभावी प्रणाली विकसित करनी होगी। दूसरा, उपभोक्ता व्यवहार में बदलाव लाना अनिवार्य है। “रिपेयर एंड रीयूज़” की संस्कृति को बढ़ावा देना होगा। जापान और दक्षिण कोरिया जैसे देशों में लोग पुराने उपकरणों की मरम्मत को प्राथमिकता देते हैं। भारत में भी स्थानीय स्तर पर मरम्मत केंद्र स्थापित किए जा सकते हैं, जो न केवल ई-वेस्ट को कम करेंगे, बल्कि स्थानीय रोजगार के अवसर भी बढ़ाएँगे। तीसरा, जनजागरूकता अभियान महत्वपूर्ण हैं। स्कूलों, कॉलेजों और समुदायों में ई-वेस्ट के खतरों और इसके सुरक्षित निपटान के बारे में जागरूकता फैलानी होगी। कई देशों में “ई-वेस्ट ड्रॉप-ऑफ पॉइंट्स” स्थापित हैं, जहाँ लोग पुराने उपकरण जमा कर सकते हैं। भारत में बेंगलुरु जैसे शहरों में कुछ निजी संगठनों ने ऐसी पहल शुरू की है, लेकिन इसे राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर लागू करना जरूरी है। चौथा, तकनीकी नवाचार को बढ़ावा देना होगा। ई-वेस्ट से सोना, चाँदी और ताँबा जैसी मूल्यवान धातुएँ निकालने के लिए नई तकनीकों का विकास संभव है। उदाहरण के लिए, 1 टन स्मार्टफोनों से 300 ग्राम सोना निकाला जा सकता है। यह न केवल आर्थिक लाभ देगा, बल्कि प्राकृतिक संसाधनों पर दबाव भी कम करेगा। ई-वेस्ट का यह अंधेरा पक्ष हमें सिखाता है कि तकनीकी प्रगति की कीमत पर्यावरण और मानव स्वास्थ्य पर नहीं पड़नी चाहिए। यह संकट एक अवसर भी है—टिकाऊ भविष्य के लिए नवाचार और जिम्मेदारी को अपनाने का। सरकार, उद्योग और नागरिकों के सामूहिक प्रयासों से हम इस चुनौती पर काबू पा सकते हैं। यह समय है कि हम डिजिटल युग की चमक को वास्तव में सार्थक बनाएँ और ई-वेस्ट के खिलाफ यह लड़ाई पर्यावरण, समाज और आने वाली पीढ़ियों की भलाई के लिए जीतें।

Now a security ‘threat’, Sonam Wangchuk was Govt’s expert for all seasons

Sunita Narain, environmentalist and director general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), was also among the Indian invitees but could not make it due to “health issues.” Two Indian journalists attended the event as media delegates. Last Friday, Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) after being accused of instigating the protests demanding statehood for Ladakh, which turned violent, leading to four deaths in police firing in Leh on September 24. The NSA empowers governments to act pre-emptively against individuals seen as a threat to public order or national security. And yet, as recently as last year, key offices of the Government were reaching out to the acclaimed education reformer, climate activist and technology innovator for guidance — from topics as diverse as water conservation, clean energy, tourism and even pashmina. Official records show Wanghuk was also the Centre’s go-to man to headline its flagship events in Ladakh, such as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and World Heritage Week. So much so, that in April 2022, BJP’s national general secretary Vinod Tawde, then Education minister of Maharashtra, publicly thanked Wangchuk for “working together towards betterment of our Nation, specially welfare of our students”. Wangchuk was a member of the Maharashtra International Education Board from 2018 when he was appointed by the Devendra Fadnavis government. While Wangchuk’s recent visit to Islamabad was cited by Ladakh DGP Dr SD Singh Jamwal to justify “a big question mark” on the activist’s “credibility,” he was not the only Indian expert to attend the Breathe Pakistan climate event organised by the Dawn group in February. Harjeet Singh, founding director of Noida-based Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, was the other Indian delegate at the two-day event. Among the others who attended were World Bank’s global director for climate change Valerie Hickey; UNEP’s senior regional advisor Aban Marker Kabraji; and, UNICEF South Asia Climate Change and Energy Advisor and Carbon Finance Specialist Rakshya R Thapa, among others. Sunita Narain, environmentalist and director general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), was also among the Indian invitees but could not make it due to “health issues.” Two Indian journalists attended the event as media delegates.

Africa is warming more rapidly than the global average, says CSE’s State of Africa’s Environment Report Released in Addis Ababa

Alliance for Science-Ethiopia, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, Down To Earth magazine, and Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), Kenya jointly released the 2025 annual report on the state of environment and development in Africa, at a communicator’s and media person’s briefing in Addis Ababa Professor Kassahun Tesfaye, Director General, Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Government of Ethiopia; Nigussu Lema, Deputy Director General, Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority; Dr Rita Bissoonauth, UNESCO-Director of Addis Ababa Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA and Representative in Ethiopia; and Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE were the chief guests at the inaugural session. The report ssys the year 2024 was the warmest year on record for Africa. To add to this, almost the entire ocean area around the continent has been reeling under marine heat waves – says the annual report on the State of Africa’s Environment. “The period between 2021 and 2025 has been the most devastating five-year stretch in terms of human toll from weather, climate and water-related disasters”: adds the report. Researched on and published by New Delhi (India)-based fortnightly Down To Earth and the research and advocacy body Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), based on investigative reportage by African journalists from across the continent, the State of Africa’s Environment 2025 covers subjects ranging from adaptation, carbon markets and climate debt, to migration, food security, water and health. The report was released at a communicator’s and journalist’s briefing organised jointly by CSE and its partners in Africa, the Alliance for Science-Ethiopia and the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), Kenya. The report presents a set of thoroughly researched and analysed data. Climate-induced migration, for instance, is a matter of concern. By 2050, says the report, up to 5 per cent of Africa’s population of some two billion people could be forced to be on the move due to climate change. “Africa, in fact, would have the highest rate of displacement or migration due to impacts of climate change,” says the report. Food insecurity is looming. Climate change, combined with land degradation, is causing an 18 per cent decline in agricultural production. In fact, the report points out that cocoa production in West and Central Africa (which produces 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa) would be severely hit. If the world warms up to 2oC, it would put 50 per cent of the continent’s population at risk of undernourishment. In terms of health, the report points out that the global burden of cholera has shifted to Africa – there was a 125 per cent increase in cases in 2023 compared to the previous year. There was a 14 per cent rise in malaria transmissions as well in the same year. Speaking at the launch of the report, Professor Kassahun Tesfaye, Director General, Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Government of Ethiopia, said: “The data in this report, while alarming, also points the way forward. It shows that our greatest liability – our natural resources and land – is our most powerful asset to build a sustainable bioeconomy. The solution lies in not simply trying to mitigate a crisis we did not create, but in pioneering a new model of development altogether – that model is the African bioeconomy.” Explaining what he meant by ‘bioeconomy’, Professor Kassahun said: “This is an economic system that uses renewable biological resources to produce food, materials and energy. It is a circular economy where waste is not an endpoint but a new beginning. It is an economy that is inherently sustainable, regenerative and tailored to our continent’s strengths.” In her address, CSE Director General Sunita Narain said: “Change is taking shape in Africa. Across the continent, countries are adopting policy measures and crafting programmes to adapt to and mitigate climate change. Starting from rolling out a national strategy to become net-zero in carbon emissions to adopting indigenous knowledge to fight impacts such as drought and extreme weather events, every African nation now has some adaptation programmes to showcase. Addressing the assembled audience, UNESCO’s Dr Rita Bissoonauth said: “This report from CSE is more than a scientific assessment. It is a moral compass. It comes at a pivotal moment. Africa is on the frontline of a climate emergency it did not create. Estimated average direct economic losses are to the tune of US $1.18 billion per year in northern Africa and US $1.25 billion per year in sub-Saharan Africa. The message of the 2025 State of Africa’s Environment report is clear – the current trajectory is not sustainable.” Highlighting the steps taken by Ethiopia, Nigussu Lema, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority, said: “Ethiopia’s climate adaptation efforts focus on strengthening climate resilience through its National Adaptation Plan (NAP-ETH), which integrates adaptation into its development strategies.” The communicator’s and journalist’s briefing will continue till September 19, 2025, and will cover three subjects – conflicts, migration and climate change; agriculture, food security and climate change; and adaptation. About 20 journalists from across Africa are participating.

RCM + 1 Rate How Two GST Tweaks Can Flip ₹86 700 Cr Loss Into ₹1.82 Lakh Cr Gain Create India's Largest Green Jobs Surge

September 30, 2025 – India's recycling sector faces a critical fiscal crisis: the government currently collects ₹30,900 crore from formal recycling but loses ₹65,300 crore annually to informality-driven tax leakages double the revenue collected. By 2035, under status quo, collections may reach ₹86.7K crore but losses could escalate to ₹1.82 lakh crore, resulting in a net negative of ₹86.7K crore. According to the Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) 2025 report titled "Relax the Tax" (https://www.cseindia.org/relax-the-tax-12819), two targeted GST reforms could flip this loss into a net positive of ₹1.82 lakh crore through full formalization with a 12% rate transforming India's ₹5 lakh crore recycling economy. The Compliance Paradox: Legitimate Businesses Pay for Others' Fraud "You pay your taxes, you check the documents, and still a notice arrives years later," one Delhi recycler says. "How do you plan expansion with that risk?" In a workshop on the outskirts of Jaipur, a young entrepreneur runs a modest paper recycling unit with ten employees. Every ton of wastepaper he processes reduces landfill load and saves trees. But when asked why he hasn't scaled further, his answer is blunt: "The tax rules make my business risky." This is a story shared by many micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India's recycling sector. Whether in plastics, metals, paper, or e-waste, entrepreneurs say they follow GST rules yet are penalized when upstream dealers vanish or fail to deposit tax. For a small business, one disputed notice can wipe out working capital. Recyclers follow all the formal processes: sourcing from GST-registered suppliers, maintaining e-way bills, and making payments through official channels. Still, when upstream suppliers fail to remit GST, the last visible recycler becomes liable, facing penalties, interest, and unexpected tax reversals. Even relatively small infractions can freeze working capital for months, stalling expansion and discouraging reinvestment in infrastructure. "We follow the rules, pay our dues, and still end up paying for fraud committed by others in the supply chain," says one recycler in Delhi. In some cases, companies have reported ITC reversals that turn ₹1 crore worth of tax credits into a ₹2.5 crore liability after penalties and interest are applied. Where the 'Tax Pipe' Leaks: The Informality Crisis The CSE report confirms this reality: informality dominates the very chains these entrepreneurs depend on approximately 95% in paper & glass, 80% in plastics, 90% in e-waste, and 65% in metals. These are precisely the streams where tax leakages occur. With scrap taxed at 18%, the same as many finished goods, that spread makes paper-only trades attractive higher up the chain, and pushes compliance risk toward the last visible, solvent entity the recycler. The result is volatile working capital, higher risk premia, and delayed approvals. Much of India's plastic and other scrap originates in the unorganized chain: ragpickers → small dealers → medium aggregators → big dealer. GST typically enters only at the last leg, when a major dealer invoices a recycler. With scrap taxed at 18%, fake invoicing and paper-only trades become attractive. The Two-Reform Solution Industry and policy experts point to two levers that, together or separately, could change the investment equation: 1. Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) for Scrap Make the recycler, not the middleman, pay GST directly to government, cutting out fake invoices. Liability shifts to the documented buyer the recycler who pays GST directly to the exchequer. This starves "paper-only" dealer chains and anchors collection where there is audit trail. 2. Lower GST Rate on Scrap (approximately 1%) Keeps finished goods at 18% but removes the arbitrage that drives fraud. Shrinking that spread reduces the payoff from fake billing without touching tax at value-add. Bringing down the GST rate on plastics, metals, paper, and e-waste to around 1% would make recycling financially viable, enabling entrepreneurs to invest in better technology, scale their operations, and reduce dependence on informal channels. Some representations also flag exemption for scrap as an option, though this is considered controversial. The Fiscal Revolution: CSE's Scenario Modeling CSE's scenario modeling finds that every reform pathway flips losses into gains. The strongest case full formalization with a 12% rate yields an estimated net positive of ₹1.82 lakh crore. The fiscal stakes are material. CSE estimates that today formal recycling brings in ₹30,900 crore of GST, while leakages tied to informality are ₹65,300 crore. On a status-quo path to 2035, collections rise to ₹86,700 crore but losses escalate to ₹1.73 lakh crore net negative ₹86,700 crore. What Steadier Cash Unlocks A clearer line of sight on tax and credits typically lowers underwriting friction for: • Plastics: Higher-throughput hot-wash, NIR sorting and de-odor units that lift resin quality • Paper: Pulping and fiber-recovery upgrades to meet recycled-content targets • Metals: Compact shears/shredders, sensor-based sorting to improve yield and alloy integrity Ask lenders why projects for hot-wash and NIR sorting lines (plastics), fiber-recovery upgrades (paper) or compact shredders with alloy sorting (metals) often stall, and the answer is the same cash flows look unpredictable when legitimate buyers can be hit with legacy liabilities for someone else's non-compliance. Beyond Revenue: Green Jobs and Economic Impact The benefits of GST reform go beyond individual businesses. A formalized recycling sector could generate tens of thousands of green jobs across collection, processing, and logistics. Municipalities would see improved waste segregation, less landfill burden, and more efficient material recovery. This, in turn, could stimulate local economies and enhance the viability of sustainable business models. According to industry estimates, these reforms could create up to 1 million jobs within the recycling sector over the next decade, particularly in sectors like plastic sorting, metal recovery, and paper recycling. Moreover, a strengthened recycling sector contributes directly to India's climate goals. By keeping plastics, metals, and paper in circulation, recyclers reduce the demand for virgin materials, lower carbon emissions, and foster a circular economy that can scale nationally. The CSE Roadmap: Beyond Tax Reform Beyond the headline rate, CSE flags operational frictions that keep cash uneven: C2B flows left out of the net, misclassification, refund friction, and rate mismatches that strand credits. The report also recommends: • Linking GST benefits to verified EPR flows: Ensuring that tax benefits track real material movement, not just paper trails • Establishing Common Facility Centers (CFCs): So MSME recyclers can upgrade quality and compliance • City-level transition plans: To map informal chains and create formalization pathways • Worker recognition and social protection: For ragpickers and waste collectors The Wider Impact Smarter GST rules don't just ease compliance for recyclers; they make India's green economy more resilient. With stable cash flows, recyclers can scale plastic sorting, fiber recovery in paper mills, and safe e-waste dismantling. Cities benefit from reduced landfill load, and workers gain recognition and protection as the system formalizes. When scrap is trapped in informal chains, cities face overflowing landfills, while ragpickers get squeezed on price. When GST flows are predictable, formal recyclers can invest in better processing, creating safer jobs and cleaner neighborhoods. Industry Call to Action India's recycling industry, represented by leading associations, is urging policymakers to consider these reforms as part of India's broader green economy strategy. The recommendations from the CSE report provide a clear roadmap for: • Implementing RCM for scrap materials to ensure tax collection at the point of accountability • Reducing GST rates on scrap to eliminate arbitrage opportunities that fuel fraud • Establishing infrastructure support through CFCs for MSME recyclers • Integrating EPR compliance with GST incentives The Bottom Line Smarter GST rules can help India recover more, waste less, and bring the green economy into the mainstream. Prevention is better than punishment. Collect tax where accountability is strongest, narrow the spread that invites fraud, and build a system where compliance pays. Recycling is a capex story hiding inside a tax story. Stabilize cash, and projects move from pilot to plant. With RCM and a lower scrap rate, plus practical enablers like EPR-GST alignment and CFCs, India can crowd in private capital led by plastics and paper, with metals in the mix without diluting tax at the point of value creation. The time has come for policymakers to recognize recycling as a strategic sector for India's green economy. Implementing reforms such as RCM, lower rates, and targeted exemptions can unlock billions in economic value, create green jobs, and accelerate the country's transition to a sustainable, circular economy. REFERENCE: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Report: "Relax the Tax" (2025) Full report available at: https://www.cseindia.org/relax-the-tax-12819 (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Malawi goes thirsty as temperatures rise

In Dame Village, Malawi, the sound of water no longer means life—it means struggle. Every morning, 45-year-old Nasimita Lingilirani joins a weary procession of women and children armed with buckets, jerrycans, and fading hope. They gather around the village’s only borehole, praying it still has a few reluctant drops left to give. On many days, it doesn’t. “When it dries, we have no choice but to scoop from shallow wells,” she tells me, her eyes darting toward the dusty ground. “But the water makes us sick. Still, what else can we do? Without it, we die.” This isn’t just about thirst. It’s about survival. Across Malawi—and much of Africa—the climate crisis has left families gasping not only for water, but for dignity, health, and food. Fields lie barren, livestock waste away, and hunger hovers like an unwelcome shadow over communities already stretched to the breaking point. Researched and published by New Delhi (India)-based fortnightly Down To Earth and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the State of Africa’s Environment 2025 draws on investigative reportage by African journalists and was released at a communicators’ and journalists’ briefing organised with the Alliance for Science–Ethiopia and the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), Kenya. The report covers adaptation, carbon markets, climate debt, migration, food security, water and health. It warns that climate-induced migration is emerging as a major concern: “By 2050. Up to 5 per cent of Africa’s population of some two billion people could be forced to be on the move due to climate change. However the report released last week, puts numbers to what villages like Dama already know too well: this is the deadliest climate crisis Africa has faced in over a decade. The statistics are chilling. In just five years, extreme weather events across 23 African countries claimed 69,220 lives—more than the entire previous decade combined. Malawi alone lost 1,807 people, many swept away by floods or starved by droughts that left crops withered before harvest. But numbers don’t show the full story. Human faces do. In villages like Dame, mothers are burying children who die from cholera after drinking from contaminated wells. Farmers are walking away from fields scorched by the sun, their seeds and sweat wasted. Young girls are missing school because fetching water now takes hours instead of minutes. For families who once lived on the margins, climate change has pushed them into free fall. Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, put it bluntly: “We must keep going. Let’s continue with conversation. We must work together and focus on solutions.” But solutions remain painfully out of reach for those who are living the crisis daily.

Cassava, climate, and the cost of survival for Kenyan farmers

Africa is warming nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world, experts have warned. The soil in Runyu, Kisumu, and Kitui is cracking. Rivers that once sustained crops are drying up, while elsewhere swollen floods wash away entire fields. Across Kenya, farmers are feeling the sting of a continent heating nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world. The State of Africa’s Environment 2025 report warns that the climate crisis is dismantling livelihoods, driving families from rural areas and reshaping the future of food. Agriculture is the hardest hit, with smallholder farmers carrying the heaviest burden of both extreme weather and skewed global trade systems. “For small-scale farmers, who form the bulk of Kenya’s agricultural workforce, these shocks are catastrophic,” Sunita Narain, an environmentalist and one of the report’s authors, says. “Farmers are already living on the edge of subsistence. When a drought or flood strikes, they are the first to suffer.” Migration and the food paradox The report links climate change directly to migration. Families are abandoning parched or flooded farms for cities, while others are risking journeys beyond Kenya’s borders. It highlights a paradox: Africa holds 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, yet the continent remains a net food importer. Kenyan farmers, in particular, face a double bind. Unpredictable weather devastates crops, while cheap food imports undercut their earnings. “The real conversation around climate-smart agriculture must go beyond yields,” Narain says. “It must ensure farmers get a better deal, that their crops are not undercut, and that they can thrive in their own markets.” Cassava: Crop of contradictions Among the crops highlighted is cassava, long considered Africa’s survival staple. It thrives with little water, requires minimal fertiliser and feeds families from root to leaf. But climate change is making it more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Cassava symbolises both resilience and vulnerability,” Narain says. “Productivity should be measured not only by yield, but also by how little input a crop requires to provide maximum nutrition.” Soil beneath our feet The report urges policymakers to look downwards—into the soil. For decades, agricultural policies have focused on what grows above ground, neglecting the complex ecosystems below. Heavy reliance on chemical fertilisers, it warns, has degraded soil health rather than restored it. Healthy soils, rich in carbon, bacteria and fungi, are the bedrock of sustainable farming. “If farmers invest in soil health through organic carbon and biodiversity, they can increase yields without expensive chemical inputs,” Narain says. For Kenya, where food prices are soaring and poverty remains widespread, soil regeneration is no longer optional. Trapped by global trade Beyond climate, Kenyan farmers are also hemmed in by global trade rules. Africa continues to export raw coffee, tea and cocoa, but when countries try to export finished products, they face punishing tariffs. “Ghana pays zero tariffs when exporting raw cocoa, but up to 30 percent when exporting chocolate,” Narain notes. “It’s the same with coffee.” Such barriers lock African farmers into the least profitable part of the value chain, denying them funds that could cushion against climate shocks. Path to resilient growth The report calls for a new approach: one that blends climate-smart agriculture, soil regeneration, protection of indigenous crops like cassava and fairer trade rules. Growth, Narain argues, must be pursued in a way that strengthens resilience while protecting the environment. “This is now the revenge of nature,” she warns. “For too long, we have abused it. The challenge for Kenya is to deepen economic growth without destroying the planet, while ensuring farmers have more money in their pockets. That is the true path to resilience.”

Applause Entertainment’s Documentary ‘Red Hot Nation’ on Climate Change to premiere at the Water Front Indie Film Festival (WIFF)

Narrated by Boman Irani, the series also brings together thought-provoking insights from leading experts and changemakers, including Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, Amitabh Kant, Sonam Wangchuk, Ridhima Pandey, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Sunita Narain, Pauline Laravoire, Rajendra Singh and others. From Applause Entertainment’s growing slate of Docu-Series comes yet another poignant series ‘Red Hot Nation’, a powerful exploration of climate change and its far-reaching consequences. 2 episodes of the 5-part series will premiere at the Water Front Indie Film Festival (WIFF) on October 3rd. Filmed across 14 states and featuring rare archival footage, Red Hot Nation raises urgent questions about the ecological challenges India faces, the roles played by communities, policymakers, NGOs, celebrities, and the private sector, and the sustainable solutions that can guide the way forward. Capturing first-hand accounts of people grappling with climate change in their everyday lives, the series places their stories at the heart of the narrative. Narrated by Boman Irani, the series also brings together thought-provoking insights from leading experts and changemakers, including Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, Amitabh Kant, Sonam Wangchuk, Ridhima Pandey, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Sunita Narain, Pauline Laravoire, Rajendra Singh and others. Red Hot Nation, Produced by Applause Entertainment spotlights urgent issues, spark meaningful dialogue, and bring powerful stories to the forefront.

Air quality monitors fail soon after services restored ahead of festive season

Haryana’s air quality monitoring stations lying defunct for the past six months were finally restored to service on Monday, however, officials said in many cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, Karnal, Ambala and Charkhi Dadri, 12 to 15 of the 29 continuous ambient air quality monitoring systems (CAAQMS) kept on troubleshooting due to a technical glitch on Tuesday. The advanced-sensor systems, which feed into the Air Quality Index (AQI), were shut statewide in January 2025 following a failure to renew the contract with private firms who were adamant on demanding exorbitant prices for their maintenance, according to officials familiar with the matter. Notably, the contracts had expired in batches and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials were relying on legacy data to monitor the pollution levels since March. A senior official of HSPCB’s regional office in Gurugram, requesting anonymity, confirmed that at least two out of four CAAQMS stopped recording data after they were made operational on Monday. “Due to some technical issues, the air quality monitoring systems again failed to respond properly. We are working to resolve the problem on an urgent basis,” said the official. The official informed that the stations in Teri Gram and Vikas Sadan became non-functional, with their display showing no readings, immediately after they were set up following months of complete shutdown. Similarly, one station (Sector 16a) in Faridabad, and one each in most pollution-affected cities like Charkhi Dadri, Ambala, Karnal, were recorded as inactive on HSCPB’s live air monitoring feed on its website on Tuesday. Akansha Tanwar, environment engineer at HSPCB regional office in Gurugram, acknowledged that the CAAQMS data transmission has been disrupted, owing to a technical glitch. “Within two days, the systems will become fully operational,” she said. A senior official at the Faridabad office blamed the local HSPCB laboratory for it. “These are highly sensitive machines and one or two can become faulty, here and there,” he said. Dr Anumita Roychowdhury, director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said that it would be difficult to construct a long-term air quality monitoring trend due to the existing gaps in recording the data in the National Capital Region (NCR). “For air quality monitoring to become performance-linked, we need robust reporting and auditing systems. Without a stringent monitoring framework, it will be difficult to assess population exposure to air pollution and take further policy action,” Roychowdhury said.

ET Energy Leadership Summit 2025 maps India’s clean energy transition

Sunita Narain, Director-General, Centre for Science and Environment, spoke in a spotlight keynote on ‘Energy Futures for Development, Clean Air, and Climate Change’. Girish Tanti of Suzlon discussed the role of wind in energy transition in a conversation with Saurabh Kumar. New Delhi: With India’s ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and its growing emphasis on sustainability, The Economic Times Energy Leadership Summit and Awards 2025 brought together policymakers, industry leaders, financiers, and innovators for two days of discussions, debates, and recognitions. Held on September 24-25 at Le Meridien, New Delhi, the event was supported by SAEL, INA Solar, ONGC, IndiGrid, Pipeline Infrastructure Ltd (PIL), ExxonMobil, Suzlon, MSEDCL (MahaVitaran), Adani Solar, GAIL (India), Bharat Petroleum, Engie, NABARD, Aurora Energy Research, MAHAGENCO, Mahanagar Gas, Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Petronet LNG, Steel Authority of India (SAIL), Numaligarh Refinery (NRL), and Gautam Solar. Leadership voices set the tone The Summit opened with a chief guest address by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi, highlighting the government’s priorities in accelerating clean energy while ensuring affordability and access. He was followed by a keynote by Srikant Nagulapalli, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power. The inaugural leaders’ panel on “The Great Energy Pivot: India’s Place in a Shifting World” featured Tanti, Co-founder & Vice Chairman, Suzlon Group; and Puneet Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary - In a fireside chat, Laxit Awla, CEO, SAEL Industries, spoke on ‘Transforming Agri Waste to Energy Value Chain’ with Devina Lason, Editor, Video Initiatives & Senior Anchor, The Economic Times. Abha Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy), Government of Maharashtra, delivered a keynote on state-level strategies. Renewables, oil & gas, and technology in focus The panel ‘Achieving 500 GW: Scaling India’s Renewable Frontiers’ included NTPC Green Energy CEO Sarit Maheshwari, SECI GM Sreed Singh, IFC’s Shalabh Tandon, Engie’s Amit Jain, Adani New Industries’ Rahul Bhutiani, and Insolation Energy’s Manish Gupta, moderated by EYParthenon India’s Kapil Bansal. Discussions on ‘Transforming Legacy: The Role of Oil & Gas in a Changing Energy Landscape’ brought in ONGC Director Production Pankaj Kumar, IOC R&D Director Alok Sharma, Mahanagar Gas MD Ashu Shinghal, and Pipeline Infrastructure CCO Manoj K Pandey, with Nikhil Moghe of KPMG moderating. Sunita Narain, Director-General, Centre for Science and Environment, spoke in a spotlight keynote on ‘Energy Futures for Development, Clean Air, and Climate Change’. Girish Tanti of Suzlon discussed the role of wind in energy transition in a conversation with Saurabh Kumar. The role of artificial intelligence was explored in the session ‘Fusion of Future: AI x Energy,’ with LKS Rathore (Ministry of Power), Pankaj Sharma (PPAC), RN Gupta (Power Grid Corporation), and Prashant Atreya (NHPC), moderated by Saurabh Kumar. Day two highlights A nuclear energy discussion featured L&T’s Anil Parab, while IndiGrid COO Sanil C Namboodiripad spoke on ‘Powering India’s Green Future: Innovation, Investment & Infrastructure’. Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, addressed ‘Energy and Technology beyond Borders - India’s path to 2047’. The ‘Powering India 2047: Clean Energy for a Viksit Bharat’ panel brought together CEA Chief Engineer Bhagwan Sahay Bairwa, EESL CEO Akhilesh Kumar Dixit, PFC Director (Projects) Rajiv Ranjan Jha, CERC Chief Regulatory Affairs S K Chatterjee, and SAEL COO Khalid Nadeem. Debabrata Ghosh of Aurora Energy Research spoke on the India battery opportunity, while CEA Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad gave a keynote on building future-ready power systems. State energy leaders, including Narendra Bhooshan (Uttar Pradesh) and Padma Jaiswal (Puducherry), shared regional innovations. The mineral security panel featured Geological Survey of India DG Asit Saha, Indian Rare Earths Director Marketing Rajnish A Khale, Indian Bureau of Mines Controller of Mines Manish K Maindiratta, and SAIL Executive Director Rajiv Ranjan. Awards celebrate leadership across energy sectors The event concluded with the ET Energy Leadership Awards 2025, recognising companies, professionals, and institutions across categories: 1. Energy Company (Power – Small Cap): Intellismart Infrastructure 2. Energy Company (Power – Large Cap): Tata Power DDL and MSEDCL 3. Energy Company (Renewable – Small Cap): Axis Energy Ventures 4. Energy Company (Renewable – Large Cap): Adani Green Energy; Jury recognitions: SAEL and Avaada Energy 5. Energy Company (Oil & Gas – Large Cap): GAIL (India); 1st Runner Up: Petronet LNG 6. Equipment Manufacturer Award: INOX India; Runner Up: Bharat Heavy Electricals 7. City Gas Distribution Award: Maharashtra Natural Gas 8. Energy Transition Award: Adani Green Energy and GAIL India; Jury recognitions: Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals and Schneider Electric India Power, Government of Kerala. Moderated by Saurabh Kumar, the session explored India’s positioning in global energy transitions.

Sonam Wangchuk's Visit To Pakistan: What We Know So Far

The flagship event, Breathe Pakistan 2025, held in February, brought together a wide mix of speakers from across areas. The event speakers included Valerie Hickey of the World Bank, UN coordinator Mohamed Yahya, WHO’s Ellen Mpangananji Thom, UK envoy Jane Marriott, Soumashree Sarkar, News Editor, The Wire and Indian environmentalist Sunita Narain who appeared via video.

Video: How our food choices impact climate change

Our food production systems emit greenhouse gas emissions just like fossil fuels. But we don’t talk enough about it. This is because, more than any other economic sector, agriculture creates a divide between the world that emits for survival and the one that emits for luxury. As the world prepares itself to be climate-responsible, we need to reset the connection between food and livelihood, nutrition and nature.