Page 46 - Air Pollution

World losing race to meet climate change commitments: COP28 president

The summit, which opened on Monday, is focused on mobilising financing for Africa's response to climate change

PM10, PM2.5 levels in Delhi down 45% since 2014: Environment Minister

In a "big relief" for Delhi residents, the PM10 and PM2.5 levels have declined by an average of 45 per cent in the last 9 years, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters here after a meeting with officials of the environment department, Rai said that work on a 'winter action plan' to tackle any rise in air pollution levels has begun. The levels of particulate matter (PM) 10 and 2.5 usually start increasing from the last week of October and attain a peak in November when temperature plummets, requiring measures to check the poor quality of air, he added. "There is news of big relief for Delhi's people. The PM 10 and PM 2.5, which are two important parameters of air quality and determine the level of air pollution in Delhi, have registered a downward trend since 2014 due to efforts of Delhi's people and the government," the minister said. However, the Delhi government under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is determined to bring it .

TMS Ep513: Tax collection, air pollution, OMC stocks, Google Search's genAI

Is softness in tax collection a cause for worry? How can India fix its air pollution woes? Should you avoid OMC stocks? Google Search's generative AI experience: How it works? All answers here

'Developed nations overconsuming carbon budget; too little left for others'

Developed countries have consumed more than 80 per cent of the global carbon budget, leaving countries like India with very little carbon space for the future, the government said on Thursday. Responding to a question by BJP MP CM Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey told the Rajya Sabha that India is doing far more than its fair share to combat climate change. Developed countries have consumed more than 80 per cent of the global carbon budget (since 1850) for limiting average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100, leaving countries like India with "very little carbon space for the future", the minister said. Rich nations are "eating into even this reduced entitlement" for India. Despite this, India has chosen to walk its climate talk, conscious of the need to pioneer a sustainable development pathway for the entire globe, while attending to the needs and aspirations of its people, economy and society, he said. Climate science defines carbon budg

Air pollution could be driving antibiotic resistance: New Lancet study

Controlling air pollution could aid in reducing antibiotic resistance, which is when disease-causing microbes are able to resist the drugs designed to kill them, according to new research published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal. The association between PM2.5 air pollution and increase in antibiotic resistance has strengthened over time, with enhances in PM2.5 levels leading to larger increases in antibiotic resistance in more recent years, the analysis found using data for 116 countries from 2000 to 2018. Sources of PM2.5 include industrial processes, road transport, and domestic coal and wood burning. Previous research indicates 90 per cent of the world's population, or 7.3 billion people, are directly exposed to unsafe average annual PM2.5 levels, with 80 per cent of them living in low- and middle-income countries. PM2.5 air pollution was one of the leading factors driving antibiotic resistance, accounting for 11 per cent of changes in average antibiotic resistance level

Govt panel strengthens measures to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR

A government panel tasked with improving the air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas has made crucial changes to a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the region in winter. The changes include strict restrictions on the plying of overage vehicles and a complete ban on the use of coal and firewood in eateries, restaurants and hotels when the air quality index (AQI) breaches the 200 mark. In addition, BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers will be immediately banned in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar if the AQI crosses the 400 mark. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body formed under an Act in 2021, had amended the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), first notified in 2017, in July last year also to ensure proactive implementation of anti-air pollution steps based on forecasts -- up to three days in advance. Earlier, the authorities would implement these measures, including banning construction and demolit

CAQM asks Delhi-NCR to reduce air pollution due to use of diesel generators

The Centre's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has asked Delhi and states in NCR to minimise air pollution due to indiscriminate use of diesel generator sets in industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors. At a review meeting with the power distribution companies in Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, the panel discussed their preparedness for the winter season when there is a spike in air pollution levels. The meeting aimed at ensuring reliable and uninterrupted power supply during the critical period when air pollution generally worsens due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. One of the key points reiterated during the meeting was the need to minimise air pollution resulting from indiscriminate use of diesel generator sets in industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors, according to a statement. The power distribution companies assured the CAQM that efforts are being made to curtail dependence on .

Combating air pollution

Rural areas should not be left out

12% Indian cities have air quality stations, 47% people unmonitored: Report

Only 12 per cent of India's 4,041 census cities have air quality monitoring stations with just 200 of them monitoring all six key pollutants, severely limiting the ability to assess and address the extent of pollution across the country, according to a new analysis. Environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which conducted the analysis, said nearly 47 per cent of the country's population remains outside the maximum radius of the air quality monitoring grid. The study showed 62 per cent of the population is outside the coverage radius of the real-time monitoring network. This lack of comprehensive monitoring is concerning as compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and the goals of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) rely on accurate and robust monitoring systems. The NCAP aims for a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024 with on 2017 as the baseline year. Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director of .

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