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Ozone levels rising in Pune & Mumbai, CPCB tells NGT

According to new data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra’s two major cities, Pune and Mumbai, are emerging as hotspots for ozone pollution with ozone levels frequently exceeding safe limits. The findings were submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on September 25 in response to a case based on a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report warning of rising ozone levels across Indian cities. While Delhi remains the national hotspot for ozone pollution, the CPCB’s latest data highlights that Mumbai and Pune too are now firmly in the danger zone, necessitating immediate action from policymakers and civic authorities.

त्योहारों की धूम ने बढ़ाया दिल्ली में धुआं! खराब स्थिति में पहुंचा प्रदूषण

23 साल में सबसे जल्दी विदा हुआ मॉनसून : सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की डीजी सुनीता नारायण के अनुसार, इस बार मॉनसून राजधानी से काफी पहले विदा हो गया है। सितंबर के मध्य से ही बारिश नहीं हो रही है। इसकी वजह से हवाओं का रुख बदलने लगा है। नई दिल्लीः इस बार सितंबर में ही हवा खराब होने की कगार पर पहुंच रही है। आमतौर पर प्रदूषण 15 अक्टूबर से बढ़ना शुरू करता है, लेकिन इस बार प्रदूषण अभी से खराब के करीब पहुंच गया है। आने वाले दिनों में हवाएं और कमजोर पड़ेंगी। ऐसे में संभावना है कि इस बार सितंबर में ही प्रदूषण खराब स्थिति में पहुंच सकता है। आखिर इस बार सितंबर में ऐसा होने की क्या वजह सामने आ रही है, इस पर एक्सपर्ट से बात की एनबीटी ने। 23 साल में सबसे जल्दी विदा हुआ मॉनसून सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की डीजी सुनीता नारायण के अनुसार, इस बार मॉनसून राजधानी से काफी पहले विदा हो गया है। सितंबर के मध्य से ही बारिश नहीं हो रही है। इसकी वजह से हवाओं का रुख बदलने लगा है। मॉनसून की विदाई के साथ इस बार पराली जलाने के मामले भी जल्दी शुरू हो गए हैं। इन सब का असर सितंबर में ही दिखने लगा है। 23 साल बाद मॉनसून इतनी जल्दी विदा हुआ है। इस साल यह 24 सितंबर को विदा हो गया। इससे पूर्व यह 19 सितंबर 2002 को राजधानी से विदा हुआ था। शुष्क मौसम, हवाओं की दिशा में परिवर्तन की वजह से प्रदूषण भी बढ़ रहा है। दशहरे का जल्दी आगमन एनवायरोकेटालिस्ट के फाउंडर सुनील दहिया ने बताया कि नवरात्र और दशहरा समय से काफी पहले आ गए हैं। इस बार दशहरा अक्टूबर की शुरुआत में ही आ रहा है। दशहरे से पहले नवरात्र और जीएसटी रिफॉर्म की वजह से मार्केट तेज हो चुके हैं। लिहाजा बारिश नहीं है और भीड़ काफी अधिक है। सड़कों पर ट्रैफिक जाम बढ़ चुका है। गाड़ियों से निकलने वाला धुंआ, उड़ती धूल और तेज धूप की वजह से ओजोन और गैस के प्रदूषण मिलकर प्रदूषण बढ़ा रहे है। इसलिए इस साल प्रदूषण का सीजन लंबे समय तक परेशान कर सकता है। GRAP आएगा अपने समय पर एक्सपर्ट के अनुसार, GRAP (ग्रेडेड रिस्पॉन्स एक्शन प्लान) इस बार भी प्रदूषण खराब होने के पूर्वानुमान के साथ ही लागू किया जाएगा। वहीं नवरात्र से ही दिवाली की तैयारियां शुरू हो गई है। नवरात्र के चलते घरो में पेंटिंग और रिनोवेशन के काम शुरू हो गए है। घरों की साफ सफाई कर लोग उसका कूड़ा इधर उधर डाल रहे है। टाइल्स का काम चल रहा है। कई प्रोजेक्ट्स शुरू हुए है। निर्माण कार्य इस समय कई जगहों पर जोरों पर है। ऐसा मॉनसून के जल्दी जाने और फेस्टिव सीजन के जल्दी आ जाने की वजह से हो रहा है। काफी समय बाद त्यौहारों की तैयारियों के लिए बिना GRAP का सीजन मिला है। जिससे व्यापारियों और लोगों में काफी उत्साह भी है। इसकी वजह से धूल जरूरत से अधिक तेजी से बढ़ रही है।

CPCB Flags Rising Ozone Pollution In Pune To NGT; Experts Urge Timely Action

“Pune and Mumbai are witnessing rising ozone levels much more than the safe limits,” stated the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The same data has now been forwarded to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on September 25 with respect to an ongoing case of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which warned of rising ozone in Indian cities. Though Delhi remains at the top for the ozone pollution levels but the CPCB’s new finding highlighting Pune and Mumbai rising up in the list is alarming. As reported by Hindustan Times (HT), head of the Metropolitan Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Services (MAQWS) at Indian Institute of Technology and Management (IITM), Sachin Ghude, said, “On certain days, the ozone levels do exceed, mainly due to chemical reactions, and there is an urgent need for policies to control this overshoot.” After analysing ozone levels from Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune, the CPCB concluded that Pune and Mumbai were found to be breaching the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) related to safe ozone limits.

How Delhi is planning to save its lungs from another smoggy winter

As a familiar chill returns to the capital, so does the looming threat of its annual air quality crisis. Delhi is now finalising a sweeping plan to combat the long haze that defines its winter months. The city administration has announced a series of measures designed to provide relief from the toxic smog. The strategy, as reported by TOI, includes both technological interventions and stricter regulatory enforcement. A toolkit of technological fixes

 The government’s plan features several high-profile initiatives. Authorities will trial artificial rain through cloud seeding in an effort to wash away pollutants. The installation of mist sprayers on electric poles and mandatory rooftop sprinklers on high-rise buildings aims to settle dust. The city will also deploy anti-smog guns at key locations. Furthermore, a major push on electric vehicles and the plantation of 61 lakh saplings form part of the long-term ecological strategy. The TOI report also highlighted efforts to increase the processing of construction and demolition waste. The regulatory backstop

 Complementing these measures are stricter regulations on polluting activities. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will enforce a ban on the entry of non-Delhi registered commercial vehicles running on non-cleaner fuels from November 1. Audits of Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres will now be conducted every six months to ensure their credibility. The government has also committed to making roads pothole-free to reduce dust from vehicular movement. Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, expressed cautious optimism. "We have taken several steps," he said as quoted by TOI. "We are hopeful these measures will positively impact air quality." Air quality experts call for a deeper shift

 Despite the government's action plan, air quality experts warn that a fundamental shift in focus is critical. They argue that without reducing emissions at their source, temporary measures will yield limited results. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, stated that dust-control cannot be the core strategy. "Investments must be repurposed to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, waste burning and solid fuels, which dominate in winter," she was cited by TOI. Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at think tank Envirocatalysts, pointed to unresolved issues in key sectors. "Since power plants don't have emission control systems, they will continue to emit like last year. The EV policy is not in force, which could have helped," he said. A plea for systemic change

 Activist Bhavreen Kandhari offered a more stark assessment, dismissing what she termed "cosmetic fixes". "Delhi's smog cannot be washed away by cloud seeding, anti-smog guns, or token plantation drives," she said, as cited by TOI. She called for a city "built for people, not cars," with safe footpaths, bus priority lanes and clean public transport. "Delhi must enforce strict compliance on vehicles, construction and industry, with zero tolerance for corruption and loopholes," she urged.

प्रधानमंत्री फसल बीमा योजना बंद करने की मांग क्यों कर रहे हैं किसान?

मध्य प्रदेश के किसानों के लिए प्रधानमंत्री फसल बीमा योजना उम्मीद से ज्यादा निराशा का कारण बन रही है। हर साल किसान अपनी फसल का बीमा इस आस में कराते हैं कि अगर मौसम की मार से फसल बर्बाद हो जाए तो नुकसान की भरपाई मिल सके। लेकिन हकीकत यह है कि किसानों के खातों में बीमा कंपनियों ने प्रीमियम से भी कम राशि जमा की है। कई किसानों को महज 86 से 200 रुपए तक मिले हैं, वो भी फसल बर्बाद होने के दो साल बाद। सीहोर जिले के पीपलनेर गांव में यह लगातार तीसरा साल है जब सोयाबीन की फसल अनियमित मौसम से नष्ट हो गई। जहां एक एकड़ में 15-20 क्विंटल उपज की उम्मीद थी, वहां एक क्विंटल भी निकालना मुश्किल रहा। यही स्थिति भोपाल, राजगढ़ और रायसेन जिलों में भी देखने को मिली। किसानों का कहना है कि उन्हें आखिरी बार उचित बीमा राशि चार साल पहले मिली थी। कई किसानों ने पासबुक दिखाकर बताया कि जो रकम आई है, वह मज़ाक जैसी है। सरकार कहती है कि सर्वे सैटेलाइट से हो रहा है, जबकि किसानों को भरोसा है कि अधिकारी मौके पर आकर नुकसान का आकलन करेंगे। वहीं सरकार प्रचार में यह भी दिखाती है कि किसी किसान को लाखों मिले हैं, लेकिन सवाल उठता है कि एक तरफ कुछ किसानों को लाखों और दूसरी तरफ कुछ को केवल चंद रुपए क्यों? किसानों का गुस्सा अब विरोध प्रदर्शन में बदल रहा है। वे मांग कर रहे हैं कि जब सरकार बीमा की सही भरपाई नहीं कर सकती तो प्रीमियम काटना भी बंद कर दे। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि 2024 में मध्य प्रदेश ने 176 दिन चरम मौसमी घटनाओं का सामना किया, जिससे 25 हजार हेक्टेयर से ज्यादा फसलें बर्बाद हुईं। ऐसे हालात में फसल बीमा योजना किसानों के लिए सहारा बनने के बजाय बोझ और निराशा का प्रतीक बनती जा रही है।

Delhi records 15-week high AQI. What changed the capital's air?

After enjoying a rather long streak of clean air days, Delhi on Saturday clocked an Air Quality Index of 169, a 15-week high. Earlier, the national capital recorded an AQI of 187 on June 13 and slid to further moderate levels in the subsequent days owing to heavy rains and strong winds. While the AQI improved at 155 by 11pm, experts suggest that such fluctuations in this season are normal. “Fluctuations like this in this season are normal. We see a lot of variation in the meteorological conditions post-monsoon, before the cold weather conditions start to set in. These meteorological conditions, in turn, can cause fluctuations like this and cause a sudden spike in pollution level.” Anumita Roychowdhury of Centre for Science and Environment said. Vice president of Skymet, Mahesh Palawat attributed the spike in Saturday's AQI to the change in the wind direction. “There was a change in wind direction from the dry westerlies to more humid easterlies. As a result, the humidity pulled in dust and smoke, thus increasing the pollution level. In the evening, however, the speed of the winds increased, slightly improving the AQI," he said.

From the Opinions Editor | Can artificial rain quell Delhi’s pollution? Experiments in capital must be backed by science

According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment Delhi was the country’s most polluted megacity by a wide margin during the 2024-25 winter, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 175 micrograms per cubic metre, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment. The Aam Aadmi party which was in office then had asked the Centre’s permission to trigger artificial rain, but it was stonewalled. Now when the BJP runs a “double engine sarkar” in Delhi, the Centre’s approval of the Rekha Gupta government’s cloud seeding plans has invited accusations of step-motherly behaviour. However, beyond the AAP-BJP politics, policymakers need to subject the technology to a critical analysis, take stock of its scientific complexities, before looking at artificial rain as a silver bullet for Delhi’s pollution problems. Dear Express Reader, Artificial rain to clean air The monsoon has withdrawn from most parts of the country and there are indications of an early onset of winter over the National Capital Region. The prospect of a long cold season has triggered fears of a smoky sky over the capital. The haze usually makes its appearance in the run-up to Diwali, and continues well past the winter. The Delhi government this time has a new weapon in its armoury against pollution – it is slated to trial cloud-seeding in early October to trigger artificial rainfall. The procedure that aims to check pollution from aggravation will involve aircraft flying beneath cloud layers and dispersing silver iodide. This compound interacts with water droplets in clouds, making them heavier so they condense and fall as rain. According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment Delhi was the country’s most polluted megacity by a wide margin during the 2024-25 winter, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 175 micrograms per cubic metre, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment. The Aam Aadmi party which was in office then had asked the Centre’s permission to trigger artificial rain, but it was stonewalled. Now when the BJP runs a “double engine sarkar” in Delhi, the Centre’s approval of the Rekha Gupta government’s cloud seeding plans has invited accusations of step-motherly behaviour. However, beyond the AAP-BJP politics, policymakers need to subject the technology to a critical analysis, take stock of its scientific complexities, before looking at artificial rain as a silver bullet for Delhi’s pollution problems. In 1947, a tropical hurricane that was moving west to east in the US was pricked. The hurricane moved west, instead and made landfall at Savannah, Georgia. This was blamed on the experiment, and seeding hurricanes was abandoned for more than a decade. The US army used weather modification from 1967 to 1972 during the Vietnam War to extend the monsoon season, especially over the Ho Chinh Minh trail, that was a conduit of soldiers and supplies between the northern and southern parts of the Southeast Asian country. The resulting floods led to an international treaty, in 1977, against the used of weather warfare. China has experimented with the technology since the 1960s to bring rain to the areas in the north of the country. Then, having chosen the monsoon months to conduct the Beijing Olympics of 2008, the Chinese government asked the city’s weather engineers to shoot and spray silver iodide and dry ice into incoming clouds, still far away, to flush out rain before it could reach the sporting centres. In recent years, Russia has used cloud seeding against forest fires in Siberia – drawing from an experiment in the 1980s to prevent radioactive rain from Chernobyl to reach Moscow. That said, the jury on weather modification is still out. Scientist believe that the results of cloud seeding are difficult to quantify. Seeding can only change certain clouds and in 2021, the Central Pollution Control Board had said that the feasibility of the technology as an emergency measure to battle winter pollution in northern India will be limited, reasoning that insufficient moisture could reduce the method’s efficacy. Delhi’s winters are typically dry with minimal cloud cover and data shows that over the past five years, during peak pollution episodes in Delhi and the surrounding areas, clouds are rarely present. The scale of the capital’s pollution problem is vast, and it requires continuous and intense rainfall over a large area to have a measurable impact. Rain triggered by cloud seeding can, at most, temporarily wash away pollutants but it does not address the source of particulate matter and pollution levels could rebound in a short time. That’s why the effects of weather modification on dust suppression in other parts of the world have, by and large, been episodic. The Delhi government must also heed the environmental red flags on cloud seeding that have been raised in several parts of the world. In the coming weeks as the Delhi government experiments with weather modification to resolve the city’s long standing problem, it must strictly go by science.

From sacred mothers to polluted streams: India’s dying rivers and the urgent call for renewal

The Centre for Science and Environment’s State of Environment Report 2023 revealed that 279 rivers across 30 states are polluted—nearly half of all rivers. In Indian culture, rivers are not only life-giving but also sacred, worshipped as mothers who nourish and sustain humanity. Without rivers, the very idea of human civilization would have been impossible. Our sages understood that water and forests are the foundation of life. They reminded us that “trees bring rain, rain produces grain, and grain sustains life.” The Atharva Veda emphasized the need for pure water bodies near human settlements, noting that clean water ensures health, longevity, and well-being. This reverence for rivers shaped traditions that treated them as divine. Yet, today, driven by greed and profit, we have pushed our rivers into crisis. India, known as the land of rivers, has over 4,000 small and large rivers. Yet, according to the Pollution Control Board, out of 521 monitored rivers, only 198 remain clean, mostly smaller ones. Unplanned urbanization, industrialization, and reckless development have gravely endangered them, even wiping out several tributaries. Climate change has further shrunk their sources, while market forces exploit them as commodities. The Centre for Science and Environment’s State of Environment Report 2023 revealed that 279 rivers across 30 states are polluted—nearly half of all rivers. Maharashtra tops the list with 55 polluted rivers, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Manipur, and West Bengal. Industrial effluents, unchecked waste, and rapid growth are poisoning rivers, decimating fish populations, and destabilizing aquatic ecosystems. Scientists consider fish as bioindicators of healthy water. If rivers can no longer sustain them, it signals ecological collapse. Pollution also undermines agriculture. Farmers already depend heavily on chemical fertilizers, and when polluted river water irrigates fields, it contaminates food at its very source. Meanwhile, reckless sand mining devastates riparian zones, as seen in the Narmada basin, where once-expansive riverbanks have shrunk drastically. This demands stricter regulation, treating sand not as a minor but a major mineral requiring environmental clearance. Large dams further complicate river health. In the Narmada valley alone, 30 major dams have been proposed, many already built. Their cumulative impact on the river must be assessed before any new projects move forward. Globally, dam removal has gained momentum. Europe and North America are dismantling obsolete or harmful dams to restore river ecosystems. The European Parliament’s Nature Restoration Law requires 25,000 km of rivers to be free-flowing by 2030. New Zealand has gone further by granting the Whanganui River legal personhood. India too has seen progress—the Uttarakhand High Court recognized the Ganga and Yamuna as “living entities” with rights akin to human beings. The way forward for India requires more than token schemes. Regulatory bodies must move beyond administrative management to ecological governance that integrates climate science and biodiversity. Mining, deforestation, and construction that disrupt catchments must be banned. Every project impacting rivers and valleys should undergo rigorous and impartial environmental and social assessments. Comprehensive sewage treatment plants must be built across river basins, while industrial effluents, pesticides, and chemical residues must be strictly controlled. The National Green Tribunal has issued important directives for river conservation, targeting pollution control, illegal mining, and waste management. Initiatives like Namami Gange can succeed only if governments, industries, local communities, and citizens recognize rivers not as exploitable resources but as living lifelines.

9 new monitors in Gurgaon soon to boost noise level checks

Gurgaon: The city that tops Haryana's charts for construction activity and traffic congestion has just three noise monitoring devices, and those too, are used only around Diwali. There is no routine monitoring of how loud Gurgaon actually is, officials said, adding that the three movable devices are deployed only to track violations of the cracker ban around the festival, leaving everyday noise from traffic, weddings, DJ nights and construction unchecked. Moreover, the city has not been allocated any fixed or real-time monitoring stations so far. However, the situation is set to improve as the city is slated to receive nine more devices, bringing the total to 12. The state, according to HSPCB senior environmental engineer JP Singh, has set a target of procuring 117 additional devices by 2026. "Noise pollution is not a problem only around festivals. People here live with construction clatter, honking, and late-night party music every single day," said Vivek Kamboj, an environmentalist, underscoring the disconnect between policy and lived reality. Moreover, there is a stark disparity across districts. Of the 22 districts, only 12 have more than one device. Six districts, including Kaithal and Dabwali, have none, with no procurement planned. Jhajjar, also at zero, has been earmarked for 16 instruments, though no timeline has been fixed for the same. The state's reliance on portable meters, 37 out of 39 devices, means real-time, location-specific data remains elusive. Meanwhile, districts like Ambala, which has 10 existing and 10 planned devices, and Sonipat, with 30 devices, are set to receive far more equipment than Gurgaon, despite being less urbanised. Public health experts warn that the lack of sufficient devices comes at a cost. "Noise pollution is not just a nuisance; it contributes to stress, hypertension, and sleep disorders," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate with Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). "Districts with zero coverage are essentially flying blind." For residents, enforcement will remain a once-a-year ritual unless the promised meters are delivered and actively used. "Noise pollution, often overlooked, also poses serious health risks, particularly in urban and industrial areas. To combat these challenges, a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach is essential. Key actions include the installation of ambient noise level monitoring systems, procurement of portable analysers, and enhanced noise monitoring during the festive season," said Tiwari. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 1.1 billion people aged between 12 and 35 years are at risk of hearing loss due to noise exposure.

Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative Touted As An African Model of Climate Adaptation

As part of its Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), anchored by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia this year is reported to have planted a record-breaking 714.7 million tree seedlings on a single day in July 2025, under the theme "Renewal Through Planting," according to Engineer Lelise Neme, Director General, Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) in a keynote address at the launch of the State of Africa’s Environment 2025 Report in Addis Ababa on 17 to 19 September,2025 by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) based in India. Engineer Neme said at the launch that the 2025 planting campaign was part of an annual target to plant 7.5 billion trees, with a long-term aim to reach 54 billion seedlings by 2026 in a five year programme. ‘This is an African model of climate adaptation,” she told Journalists from Africa, government officials and other experts, including from CSE in lndia. She 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 like the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE). She extended sincere appreciation to the organizers of the meeting, the Alliance for Science – Ethiopia, Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), Kenya and particularly the Center for science and Environment (CSE), India for making the gathering a reality. “This is because, the promoting and ensuring the protection and conservation of the environment as a valuable asset for the people of Ethiopia, is the key mandate of Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority (EPA),” Neme said. She said their mission is to protect their people and the environment from harmful effects of Pollution, Climate change and Biodiversity loss. “At this point in time, discussing and working on issues of climate and environmental protection is extravagance, but it is a matter of existence and way of life,” Neme said. She said scientific evidences are constantly telling them that climate change is disproportionately impacting the continent Africa due to increased extreme weather events that devastate agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Neme said impacts of climate change including droughts and floods, leading to crop failure, food insecurity, and economic losses are usually caused by rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. She said according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 16 out of 19 hunger hotspots in 2025 are in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Sahel, with up to 56% of the population in South Sudan and Sudan affected by acute food insecurity. She added that over 115 million people faced acute food insecurity in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Sahel in 2025 due to environmental factors exacerbated by conflict. According to Neme, in Africa, the most vulnerable populations to climate change and pollution are particularly people living in remote rural areas and informal settlements as well as other sections of society - women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those living in poverty. She said well aware these facts, Ethiopia’s constitution incorporates a number of provisions the right to a clean and healthy environment and the right to sustainable development, protection, sustainable use, and improvement of the country’s environment. She said too ensure the constitutional provisions, their Authority undertakes various coordination activities to ensure that the environmental objectives provided under the constitution are fully realized and to establish effective systems and monitoring instruments to achieve our goals. They are also mandated to formulate or initiate and coordinate the formulation of strategies, policies, laws and standards as well as procedures and up on approval monitor and enforce their implementation as well as the development of mechanisms that promote social, economic and environmental justice. Neme said when it comes to climate change and pollution, the country Ethiopia wants to pursue not only the narratives of challenges and skepticism, but climate solution and adaptation. She said at the recent second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Ababa, African leaders in their Declaration called to "strengthened and sustained support to scale up the implementation of the African led climate initiatives including the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative. “I hope as African will continue to spotlights African solutions and adaptation mechanism also in the time to come including during the upcoming 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties, COP30, to be held in Belém, Brazil,” Neme said. She said that it is her conviction that “The State of Africa’s Environment 2025 Report” that was launched would remain to be a vital instrument to documents Africa’s environment and climate changes stories and inform our policies and laws. “I know that Africa and India share communalities and have mutual interests in the global climate change debates,”she said. “Therefore, once again, I want to thank the Center for science and Environment (CSE), India, for this wonderful annual report that reflects these commonalities,”Neme said.

Climate-related Deaths Rise Sharply Across Africa: Researchers

Ethiopia recorded at least 442 deaths since 2020, twice as many as in preceding decade Extreme weather events claimed the lives of at least 442 Ethiopians in the past five years, according to a report published by an Indian public-interest research organization. The ‘State of Africa’s Environment 2025’ report from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE India) reveals that extreme weather events claimed twice as many Ethiopian lives between 2020 and 2025 as they did in the ten years leading up to the start of the new decade. The report, released in Addis Ababa this week, indicates a similar pattern across Africa, where close to 42,000 people have been killed by climate events over the past 15 years. Close to 70 percent of them in 2020 or after, according to CSE India, marking a threefold increase in weather and climate-related fatalities in recent years.

Delhi govt., IIT Kanpur sign MoU for artificial rain trials

The Delhi government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to conduct cloud seeding trials as an emergency measure to combat rising air pollution. The first phase of the trial is scheduled between October 7 and 11 in north and north-west Delhi. Operations will be carried out using IIT Kanpur’s Cessna 206H aircraft from the Hindon airbase at an estimated cost of ₹3.5 crore. Based on the results, the government will decide the future course of action. A senior government official explained that the aircraft will fly beneath cloud cover and spray silver iodide, which interacts with existing water droplets to make them heavier and condense as rain. ‘Delhi’s first trials’ Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, took part in the signing of the MoU. Ms. Gupta told reporters that the government is deploying every possible measure to curb pollution. “From mechanical road sweeping, using anti-smog guns and mist sprayers to strict dust control, we have taken multiple steps. Now, we are adding cloud seeding to provide relief during peak winter pollution. These will be Delhi’s first artificial rain trials, a historic milestone for the city,” she said. Mr. Sirsa confirmed that five trial operations are planned within the October 7-11 window, depending on weather conditions. “The aircraft is fully equipped, flown by trained pilots, and every operation will be assessed before moving to the next,” the Minister said. He also said approvals have been secured from 13 government agencies, including Aviation, Defence, Home, and Environment, as well as district administrations and meteorological bodies. ‘Letters not enough’ Mr. Sirsa criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, saying writing letters was not enough and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government worked to obtain all permissions. He added that IIT Kanpur has secured approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to conduct trials between October 1 and November 30. Efforts to introduce artificial rain in Delhi have been under discussion for years. The previous AAP government had initiated talks with IIT Kanpur, but the plan stalled, with then Environment Minister Gopal Rai alleging that the Centre did not respond to repeated requests for permissions. The BJP, after coming to power in February this year, revived the proposal. Trials were initially planned for July and later September, but both were postponed. ‘Temporary measure’ Despite the preparations for trials, experts have raised doubts over the move. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, said artificial rain is an “expensive temporary measure”. “Even if there is some rain, pollution levels will bounce back quickly during winter. We should focus on long-term solutions to reduce pollution at the sources,” she said. Ms. Roychowdhury said funds earmarked for these experiments should instead go towards ground-level implementation of emission reduction measures across sectors.

China announces 7-10% cut in GHG emissions by 2035; experts call it modest

China’s targets could have been more ambitious, but its real world investments in low carbon technologies — domestically and globally — will have an undeniably positive impact on global emissions, ” said Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment. China on Wednesday announced an update to its carbon dioxide emissions reduction target (or Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC) at the United Nations Climate Summit , positioning itself as the global leader in tackling the climate crisis ahead of the big UN Climate meeting (COP30) in Brazil, although experts adjudged the NDC itself as extremely modest China will also expand the installed capacity of wind and solar power to over six times the 2020 levels, striving to bring the total to 3,600 gigawatts. Xi added that the total forest stock volume will surpass 24 billion cubic metres. China’s NDC suggests emissions will peak before 2035, although some assessments show them as having already peaked. Experts said the NDC, while not being in alignment with the steep cuts required to meet the targets laid out in the Paris Agreement, still has major significance because of China’s posturing in climate action. India is yet to update its NDC, and it is not clear whether it will do so before COP30, although the general expectation is that it will. Signalling commitment “China’s updated NDC is an important step forward, one that can drive a deeper shift toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. China’s transition is moving into deep water, where difficult policy choices must be made just as national emissions are poised to peak. What matters now is preparing capital and speeds a shorter plateau and faster structural decline in emissions, ” said Ember’s senior analyst for China, Muyi Yang. In December , the Biden administration submitted its NDC 3.0, but President Donald Trump, who took office a month later, has since withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement. The European Union (EU) has submitted a “statement of criticised the range, saying it is not as ambitious as they expected. The EU is still to forge a consensus on an ambitious NDC as Germany, France, and Hungary have not yet come on board. An EU NDC may come through ahead of the COP30 in November. Experts are concerned that the EU is not taking the leadership that it is normally expected to and attribute this, in part, to the rise of the right wing in certain states, which have a different set of priorities, their domestic economic conditions, and more investments in defence. In his speech, Xi said green and low-carbon transformation is the trend of the times. He added that the international community should take the right direction with firm confidence and move forward with new NDCs and inject more positive energy into global climate governance cooperation. He also said countries should advance the global green transformation by upholding fairness and equity and fully respect the development rights of developing countries. Finally, he said countries should strengthen coordination in green technologies and industries. “China’s unveiling of its NDC is a show of commitment to the multilateral climate regime, and the desire to keep advancing ambition of shared climate goals. With its role as a dominant electrostate (one where electricity is the dominant source of energy), China’s actions will shape the coming decades in energy, as the US retreats further into fossil fuel entrenchment. China’s targets could have been more ambitious, but its real world investments in low carbon technologies — domestically and globally — will have an undeniably positive impact on global emissions, ” said Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment.

Liquid Candy” is unhealthy

One alarming report: “In 2003, the Delhi non-profit Centre for Science and Environment published a disputed report finding pesticide levels in Coke and Pepsi soft drinks sold in India at levels 30 times that considered safe by the European Economic Commission.” IN previous columns, we wrote that soft drinks (which I call “liquid candy”), cola or uncola, diet or regular, or in any other form, are, by and large, unhealthy, especially for children. Not only because the regular ones are loaded with sugar (high carb, super calories), but because of the other adverse effects the ingredients in these soft drinks (without exception!) have on people’s health. Even those with artificial sweeteners in diet drinks, the phosphoric acid in them ruins tooth enamel, weakens bones by interfering with absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, minerals in general, and poses hazards to the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract. Soft drinks also increase the risk for metabolic syndrome, especially among children. In short, soft drinks are poisonous! Phosphoric acid is commonly used in cleaning products such as chelating, rust-proofing, and pickling metals. Because it is corrosive, I use cola beverage to drain my clogged drains, or to cleanse toilet bowls. Ravi Dhingra, MD, clinical instructor in medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, reported that “both diet and regular soft drinks have brutally high acid levels.” “Drinking more than one soda a day – regular or diet – appears to increase the risk factors for heart disease,” the Framingham Heart Study researchers emphasized. The following findings of the Harvard research, which we are quoting in full, are a most convincing confirmation and reaffirmation of the other clinical studies in the past of children soft drink consumers into adulthood: Risk rises with soda consumption Harvard Medical School researcher Ravi Dhingra, MD, and study colleagues looked at nearly 6,000 middle-aged men and women who had exams every four years. At the outset, all were free of heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Four years later, in comparison to people who drank less than one soft drink a day, researchers found that those who consumed one or more sodas a day experienced: • A 25% increased risk of impaired (or higher than normal) fasting glucose and high triglyceride levels. • A 31% greater likelihood of becoming obese. • A 32% higher chance of lower HDL levels. • A 44% increased risk of metabolic syndrome. These results were published in the Circulation Journal of the American Heart Association. Dr. Dhingra and his colleagues were surprised that regular and diet soft drinks posed similar risks for metabolic syndrome, which remained the case even when the study was adjusted for dietary factors such as saturated and trans fats, calorie and fiber consumption and levels of physical activity. There are several theories as to why this might be – perhaps the extreme sweetness of soft drinks makes people more apt to eat sweet foods, or the caramel content may promote insulin resistance and inflammation. To others, though, it is now obvious that high acidic levels will help cause these symptoms. Adverse health effects Drinking soft drinks of any kind has been linked to the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, lowered calcium and potassium levels, heart disease, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, dental cavities and nutritional depletion. There is also a claim that it may hurt conception. These liquid candies also contain caffeine which could disrupt sleep and lead to anxiety and DNA damage and hyperactivity, especially among children. The prevalence of obesity among Americans doubled between 1977 and 2001 and this trend was paralleled by a doubling of the consumption of soft drinks. An increase in the body mass index (BMI) of 0.24 kg/meter square was found among children for each (ONE!) soft drink they consumed. Studies on adults (50,000 female nurses in one study) revealed that drinking even one can of soft drink led to weight gain and increased blood sugar among diabetics. One study reported this interesting finding: “One four-week experiment compared a 450-calorie/day supplement of sugar-sweetened soft drinks to a 450-calorie/day supplement of jelly beans. The jelly bean supplement did not lead to weight gain, but the soft drink supplement did. The likely reason for the difference in weight gain is that people who consumed the jelly beans lowered their caloric intake at subsequent meals, while people who consumed soft drinks did not. Thus, the low levels of satiety provided by sugar-sweetened soft drinks may explain their association with obesity. That is, people who consume calories in sugar-sweetened beverages may fail to adequately reduce their intake of calories from other sources.” One alarming report: “In 2003, the Delhi non-profit Centre for Science and Environment published a disputed report finding pesticide levels in Coke and Pepsi soft drinks sold in India at levels 30 times that considered safe by the European Economic Commission.” Another study showed that those subjects who consumed soft drinks had lower bone mineral density, placing them at increased risk of suffering not only osteoporosis but also bone fractures. More scary is the increased risk for the development of metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that include type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, high blood fat, and low levels of good cholesterol). It is our government’s role and responsibility to protect our children by not allowing our schools, public or private, to have vending machines that sell soft drinks and other unhealthy products, much like outlawing the vending machines that used to sell cigarettes. The Departments of Health and Education and other agencies concerned, as MAHA Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, jr., has proclaimed, must also ensure that all schools require a course in nutrition for all students and offer only healthy menus in their cafeteria. This makes sense. After all, a healthy citizenry translates into a healthy nation.

Urgent Appeal to Supreme Court: Activists and Experts Demand Review of Char Dham Highway Project Amid Rising Himalayan Disasters

The appeal is endorsed by a stellar lineup including former Union Ministers Dr. Karan Singh and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, MPs Reta Ram Singh and Jaya Sabha, environmental experts like Prof. Shekhar Pathak and Dr. Y.P. Sundriyal, activists such as K. Govindacharya, and organizations like the Centre for Science and Environment and Ganga Action Parivar. A coalition of eminent environmentalists, scientists, former ministers, and activists has made a powerful plea to the Chief Justice of India, urging an immediate review of the Supreme Court’s 2021 judgment permitting extensive road widening under the Char Dham Pariyojana in the fragile Himalayan region. The appeal, backed by over 50 prominent figures, warns that unchecked infrastructure development is accelerating climate-driven disasters and threatening the ecological balance, local communities, and India’s water security. Mounting Himalayan Disasters Signal a Crisis The document highlights escalating natural calamities across Himalayan states—Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir—including flash floods, landslides, and glacier bursts. It cites the 2013 Kedarnath floods, the 2021 Rishi Ganga glacial burst, and 2023’s devastating floods as clear warnings of the fragile terrain’s vulnerability. This year alone, intensified cloudbursts and mudslides in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have caused significant loss of life and property. The recent Dharali disaster in the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (BESZ) is cited as a vivid example of how ongoing development projects exacerbate these risks. Global climate change worsens these threats, with the IPCC’s 2021 report highlighting the accelerated melting of Himalayan glaciers—crucial freshwater sources for millions downstream. Supreme Court Judgment Under Scrutiny At the heart of the appeal is a demand to revisit the December 14, 2021, Supreme Court ruling that allowed a Double Lane with Paved Shoulder (DL-PS) road design—10-meter wide with 12-meter formations—for the Char Dham project. The appellants argue this ruling contradicts the Supreme Court’s own 2018 circular recommending a maximum road width of 5.5 meters for hilly terrain, disregarding the fragile Himalayan geology. The Char Dham project, aimed at improving pilgrimage access, has caused widespread deforestation, hill cutting, and dumping of muck into rivers—heightening ecological fragility. The appeal notes that in narrow mountain valleys, simultaneous infrastructure works like hydropower tunnels and road expansions have overwhelmed the terrain’s carrying capacity. The appeal also flags the destruction of thousands of trees and potential harm to 6,000 hectares of forest, especially in the pristine Uttarkashi-Gangotri stretch, the last remaining untouched portion of the National River Ganga. Environmental and Human Costs: A National Concern The appeal stresses the broader ecological fallout—destroyed springs, damaged aquifers, increased vehicular pollution impacting glaciers, and illegal tourism infrastructure compounding the problem. It laments how unchecked multi-storey hotels on vulnerable slopes worsen disaster impact during floods and landslides. Economic losses are staggering: the 2025 monsoon damage estimate in Uttarakhand alone is ₹5,700 crores, with season-long losses nearing ₹50,000 crores—the worst since the 2013 Kedarnath floods, which caused over ₹3,800 crores in damages. The Himalayan ecosystem supports over 600 million people downstream, making its protection a critical national priority. A Diverse and Influential Coalition The appeal is endorsed by a stellar lineup including former Union Ministers Dr. Karan Singh and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, MPs Reta Ram Singh and Jaya Sabha, environmental experts like Prof. Shekhar Pathak and Dr. Y.P. Sundriyal, activists such as K. Govindacharya, and organizations like the Centre for Science and Environment and Ganga Action Parivar.