Page 46 - Air Pollution

India wants to export green hydrogen abroad in bet on demand surge

Although India currently only boasts green-hydrogen research facilities - rather than production capability - PM Modi has set a goal to produce 5 million tons a year by the end of the decade

PM2.5 pollution in India dips by 19% between 2017 to 2022: Report

PM2.5 pollution in rural and urban India reduced by around 19 per cent between 2017 and 2022, according to a new analysis. Uttar Pradesh leads the way with a 38 per cent decline in PM2.5 pollution in both urban and rural regions during the same period. On the other hand, Maharashtra observed the least decrease in PM2.5 pollution across the country, according to the study conducted by Climate Trends, a non-governmental environmental think tank, using satellite data from IIT Delhi. PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller, and are the greatest risk to health. The acceptable annual standard for PM2.5 is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Rural India's PM 2.5 levels in 2022 stood at 46.8 microgram per cubic metre, down by 19.1 per cent compared to 2017. Urban India's PM 2.5 levels in 2022 stood at 46.4 microgram per cubic metre, down by 18.7 per cent compared to 2017. The study shows the annual average PM 2.5 levels in rural and urba

India mulls bilateral deals for green hydrogen-linked carbon credits

Indian companies such as Reliance Industries, Indian Oil and Adani Enterprises have big plans for green hydrogen, a fuel generated using renewable energy

India proposes 5% zero carbon marine fuel mix by 2030, to set realistic aim

India on Monday asked the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to focus on a realistic target to ensure that net zero carbon fuels occupy 5 per cent of the Marine fuel mix by 2030, without any additional checkpoints during this explorative and take-off period. During the plenary of the 80th session of the Maritime Environmental Protection Committee of the IMO here, Indian delegate Ajithkumar Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor-Cum-Additional DG, Ministry of Shipping, said, "any unrealistic target will place undue pressure on the governments to resort to flawed policies, industry to make haste and unsustainable investments, and the research to push through half-cooked and immature technological solutions - all of them will have long term, irreparable repercussions on this industry." That is why India, which falls under the extremely risky category in the climate change vulnerability index, had submitted an MEPC document, proposing a way forward for the reduction strategy to be phased in ..

Canadian wildfires causing unhealthy air quality again in parts of US

Drifting smoke from the ongoing wildfires across Canada is creating curtains of haze and raising air quality concerns throughout the Great Lakes region, and in parts of the central and eastern United States. Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on Tuesday issued an air quality alert for the entire state, while in Chicago where the air quality has been categorised unhealthy by the US Environmental Protection Agency officials are urging young people, older adults and residents with health issues to spend more time indoors. Just driving into the zoo ... you could just see around the buildings, kind of just haze," said Shelly Woinowski, who was visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Some day care centres in the Chicago area have told parents that their children will remain indoors on Tuesday due to the poor air quality, while one youth sports club says it adjusted its activities to add more time indoors. We recommend children, teens, seniors, people with .

Indian researchers develop low-cost mobile pollution monitoring tech

They have developed a low-cost mobile air pollution monitoring framework in which, pollution sensors mounted on public vehicles can dynamically monitor the air quality

Delhi extends permit validity of taxis running on CNG, other clean fuels

All taxis running on CNG, other clean fuels to have permit validity of 15 years

'Warrior Moms' fight for their children's right to breathe clean air

An ideation and action-oriented group that goes beyond language barriers, demographic differences and geographical boundaries, Warrior Moms is a 'Mothers For Clean Air' initiative

'Hazardous' smoke from Canadian wildfires reaches Norway: Scientists

"People in Norway may be able to smell and even notice the smoke as a light haze but, unlike parts of the US that have seen hazardous pollution, they should experience no health impacts"

New York sets record for air pollution, Governor says it's 'emergency'

In many places, the sky took on an eery orange glow prompting an NWS unit in New York State to tweet: This is not Mars

CAQM shares revised guidelines for use of diesel generator in Delhi-NCR

The revised guidelines of CAQM will come into effect starting October 1, 2023, following which, the use of these sets will not be allowed in the Delhi-NCR

Automobile emission leading cause of recorded air pollution: IITR study

The pre-monsoon report on air quality released by IITR said that leading cause of air pollution during 2022-23 was automobiles, with number of registered vehicles having risen by 6.3% since 2022

War on pollution: CAQM raises FY24 plantation target for NCR by 21%

CRPF, Northern Railway, BSF and CISF, among others, to pitch in by plantinhg 610,000 saplings

We must encourage tech transfer to deal pollution challenges: NHRC

Adopting a rights-based approach to environmental protection ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can live in a clean and safe environment, NHRC chairperson justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra said on Monday. In a written message on World Environment Day, issued by the National Human Rights Commission on Monday, he said environmental protection has a "vital connection" with human rights. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on June 5 since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world, the UN says on its website. "The day reminds us that sustainable development envisages protecting the environment, which is crucial for human existence. Adopting a rights-based approach to environmental protection ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can live in a clean and safe environment," justi

Remarkable improvement in Delhi's AQI, 30% reduction in PM levels: Kejriwal

He announced plans to implement a mechanical sweeper system for vacuum cleaning Delhi's roads

Pace of development not down, but pollution dipped in Delhi: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the pace of development has not gone down in the national capital, but the level of pollution has dipped in the last eight years. Addressing a gathering at Thyagaraj Stadium on the occasion of World Environment Day, he asserted that both PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels "fell by 30 per cent" in 2022 compared to the figures in 2016. Whenever development happens, it is accompanied with pollution due to felling of trees, road construction, kicking of dust, among others, he said. "In Delhi, the pace of development has not gone down in the last eight years. Schools, hospitals and flyovers are being constructed. But, the pollution level has dipped in this period," Kejriwal said. Sharing further data, he said in 2016, on 26 days, pollution level was 'very bad' when the city was "akin to a gas chamber" with grey skies and bad air. In 2022, only six such days were there, he said. In 2016, on 109 days, pollution level was 'low with clear sky' and '

UN talks on a treaty to end global plastic pollution open in Paris

A United Nations committee is meeting on Monday in Paris to work on what is intended to be a landmark treaty to bring an end to global plastic pollution, but there is little agreement yet on what the outcome should be. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics is charged with developing the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. This is the second of five meetings due to take place to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024. At the first meeting, held six months ago in Uruguay, some countries pressed for global mandates, some for national solutions and others for both. Humanity produces more than 430 million tons of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that soon become waste, filling the ocean and, often, working their way into the human food chain, the United Nations Environment Program said in April. Plastic waste produced globally is set to almost triple by 2060, with a

Darjeeling may join 6 other non-attainment cities in Bengal in 2024: Report

According to Dr Chatterjee, there is an urgent need for attention from policymakers regarding the significant pollution load experienced in Darjeeling

Transport sector accounts for 40% of pollution, need greener fuel: Gadkari

Addressing the GH2 summit in Mumbai, the minister urged the industry to develop greener fuel alternatives to tackle the problem

Decoded: What is biological process behind air pollution's effect on lungs?

A new study reveals a biological process that may be behind that link - a discovery which could provide new insights on better ways to treat or prevent diseases related to pollution exposure