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WORK OVERVIEW

The Anthropocene is characterized by the multi-pronged existential threat of climate change, which in turn is defined by atmospheric warming, rising sea levels, escalating greenhouse gas emissions and the destruction of fragile ecosystems. An added layer of complexity is the important socio-political question: historically, India has not been the greatest emitter of greenhouse gasses (GHGs). An Indian emitted 1.97 tonnes of carbon dioxide (tCO2) annually in 2018, while Americans and Canadians both emitted well over 16 tCO2. India’s per capita emissions were also a fraction of the European Union (6.78 tCO2/person) and China (7.95 tCO2/person), making it the lowest per capita emitter amongst the world’s large economies.

Work Overview

An excreta flow diagram (also often described as shit flow diagram, SFD) is a tool to readily understand and communicate how excreta physically flows through a city or town. For more info on SFD and the SFD promotion initiative visit https://sfd.susana.org During the first two phases of the SFD promotion initiative, CSE was closely working with SFD PI partners (BMGF, EAWAG, GIZ, University of Leeds, WEDC, World Bank) to develop tools and methods for the production of SFDs and refinement based on feedback received from sector practitioners. As part of the SFD Phase 1 & 2 grants, CSE prepared more than 100 SFDs (65 + in Ganga basin states & the rest for other cities in India). CSE has made a considerable contribution to support the production and review of good-quality SFDs as well as help train practitioners.

WORK OVERVIEW

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) entered into a partnership with Bijnor Nagar Palika Parishad (BNPP) to support in implementation of action plan/strategies with a focus on effective Faecal Sludge & Septage Management, as listed in the City’s Sanitation Plan (CSP) endorsed by the City Sanitation Task Force (CSTF)’ in February 2019. CSE supports municipal functionaries to plan and implement reforms for achieving effective FSSM and city-wide sanitation by facilitating the convergence of various national and state policies, plans, programmes and project implementation showcasing improvements across the urban sanitation value chain – containment, emptying, disposal, treatment and reuse/recycle, together with river pollution abatement.

WORK OVERVIEW

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) entered into a partnership with Chunar Nagar Palika Parishad (CNPP) to implement effective Faecal Sludge & Septage Management for improved city-wide sanitation, in February 2019. CSE agreed to co-operate with CNPP to provide technical support for improvement in urban sanitation across the sanitation value chain in the city. CSE supports Municipal functionaries plan and implement reforms for achieving effective

WORK OVERVIEW

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) entered into a partnership with Department of Urban Development (DoUD), Government of Uttar Pradesh for ‘Support foreffective Septage Management in Uttar Pradesh’ in January 2018. CSE agreed to co-operate with DoUD to provide support for improvement in urban sanitation across the sanitation value chain in state-supported programmes, and provide technical support to select cities in Uttar Pradesh. CSE shall support state functionaries and ULBs plan and implement reforms for achieving effective septage management and city wide sanitation by facilitating the convergence of various national and state policies, plans, programmes and project implementation showcasing improvements across the urban sanitation value chain – containment, emptying, disposal, treatment and reuse/recycle, together with river pollution abatement.

WORK OVERVIEW

India faces a huge energy deficit, with millions of households without power for basic lighting or cooking, and coal power is essential for the next few decades to resolve this energy crisis, to address the issue of energy access, which is just as important as the environmental problems of unclean power. Centre for Science and Environment believes that we need to push for renewables – not because we can afford to do without coal, but because it is the urgent requirement to address the looming climate change concerns. At the same time, it is equally important is to clean up our coal power sector so that it does not destroy the environment and take human lives. This entails shutting down old and inefficient power plants, and reducing emissions from the remaining

WORK OVERVIEW

CSE has been working on rural water and sanitation issues for over two decades, with its focus on the need for sustainable management of water and wastewater. As part of this work, we have spearheaded research projects, documented case studies, produced a wide range of publications, reports and manuals, and undertaken model projects and training programmes. This work has resulted in some of CSE’s most influential and widely appreciated publications, among them Dying Wisdom: The Rise, Fall and Potential of Traditional Water Harvesting Systems, a monumental study that catalysed political leaders, judiciary, the media and other decision-makers into start thinking about rainwater harvesting, and Making Water Everybody’s Business, a treatise on the theory and practice of rainwater harvesting targeted at planners and policy-makers. In 1998,

WORK OVERVIEW

The Food Safety and Toxins (FST) programme team at CSE leads the AMR campaign and has been focusing on the animal and environmental aspects of AMR since 2009. Centered on the laboratory studies, the programme team complements with field studies and works towards necessary change in policy, practice and systems across relevant sectors such as food, feed, drug and environment. It has been part of the NAP-AMR development process and was successful in bringing necessary focus on the animal and environment aspects. CSE is now a stakeholder in NAP-AMR implementation and is working with the state of Kerala to support its action plan.

The School of Water and Waste (SW&W)

CSE has played a significant role in highlighting issues around Water, especially in creating awareness for an urgent need to address citywide sanitation and effective Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM). For instance, in 2011 CSE developed a policy paper on Septage Management in India which influenced the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to issue an Advisory Note on SeptageManagement in 2013,

WORK OVERVIEW

The waste management programme at CSE addresses institutional structures involved in waste management, treatment and disposal; helps build regulatory and technical capacities of cities in waste management; and highlights the role of the informal sector in India and global south through in-depth research and advocacy. CSE’s influential publication in 2016 on solid waste management, ‘Not in My Backyard’, highlighted the growing problem of waste in urban areas and carried in-depth case studies from cities following good solid waste management practices, as well as enabling policies and regulations. As part of its initiative to support implementation, the team signed an MoU with the city of Muzzafarpur in Bihar to develop an enabling framework for solid waste management which can be replicated in other cities and towns of India.  

The right of the people of the mining-affected areas to benefit from the mineral-rich lands they live on

The lopsided equation of poverty and social benefits have ailed some of India's richest mining districts for decades. Mining has benefitted mining companies, individual miners and governments, not the communities living there. After years of deliberations and negotiations in 2015, the country's central mining law, the the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) of 1957 was amended and District Mineral Foundation (DMF) was instituted. The DMF is a non-profit statutory 'Trust' for every Indian district affected by mining-related operations, which should "work for the interest and benefit of persons, and areas affected by mining-related operations".