Our roads have been planned and built to cater to motorists, particularly private vehicles. Space and consideration for low carbon modes of commute (walking, cycling, and public transport) is not a priority. This is in spite of the fact that these are sustainable modes of transport - causing minimal pollution, taking little space, being affordable and accessible by all. 

Public debate, including in the media, on transportation problems in our cities inevitably focuses on increasing road width, building flyovers, etc to ease traffic congestion. Global research and experience has shown that these are temporary measures that in the long run only serve to increase the volume of motorised traffic. In a country like India, where 60% of trips are by walk, it makes sense to prioritise walk/cycle/public transport. For this to happen, the tenor of public conversation needs to change. With this in mind, CAG organised  a workshop for  media personnel on February 16, 2023.

The workshop provided an open forum for media professionals to discuss and share ideas about sustainable mobility. Previously, CAG’s Sustainable Mobility team members conducted a research analysis of newspaper articles that covered sustainable mobility, over a one-year period. The findings of the newspaper article analysis were compiled into a report, which was then presented at the workshop. G.Ananthakrishnan, Senior Journalist, Felix John, the Bicycle Mayor of Chennai, and R Devapriyan, a Senior Anchor from News 18, were invited to share their expertise. 

The workshop and the day's presenters were introduced by Ms Sumana, Senior Researcher, CAG. Divya and Mohan,  members of the Sustainable Transport and Mobility team, CAG presented the article analysis. The analysis covered major Tamil and English articles from both online and newspaper prints. The analysis found that the concept of sustainable mobility is often not highlighted in many transport-related articles.  The majority of the transport-related articles only give basic information about schemes and don’t provide any analysis or learning from case studies. It was also observed that most of the transport-related articles were published in English newspapers, with Tamil newspapers bringing in only a much smaller level of coverage. In addition, online articles tend to give more analysis and details than newspaper print. The report also  highlighted that only 1 in 10 news articles are written about livelihood cyclists, the rest of the articles were solely about sport cycling. 

Mr. G. Ananthakrishnan, a senior journalist, formerly with The Hindu, spoke on the different transport service providers in Chennai and the need to see the big picture. He said, “We are not seeing mobility in terms of social and environmental issues. Perspectives such as quality, safety, accessibility for the physically challenged and improvements in the ticketing systems are crucial to bring in users. In addition, we need to see mobility as a service rather than looking at it as a profit-making mechanism. Only when we start reporting from a different angle will we be able to create awareness on the prevailing transport issues." 

Mr. Felix John, Bicycle Mayor of Chennai (BYCS) highlighted the importance of reporting pedestrian and cyclist issues on various media platforms. He spoke on ways to achieve equitable mobility which prioritize marginalized user groups (such as pedestrians and cyclists). “Our policies only emphasize bikes and cars, not cyclists and pedestrians. But we need to change that, the road is for all user groups”, said Felix John. He also added that improving the quality and quantity of public transportation is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions and congestion. Individual transportation is the true competitor of collective transportation; so it is critical to provide high-quality, frequent public transport services. 

Mr. R Devapriyan, Senior Anchor from News18, spoke about ways to put forth civic issues in different media platforms. He spoke about the difficulties in reporting and tactics for better outreach with the public. “We approach news as a story and look to showcasing issues that connect with the viewer,” he noted. He said the impact on the public can be considered when the outreach is done properly.

A discussion followed with the speakers and the participants highlighting issues faced. The event finished with felicitation of the speakers.

Figure 1: Felix John shares his experience of being a cyclist and the various issues he faces on a daily basis, riding in Chennai. 

Figure 2: Mr. R Devapriyan, Senior Anchor from News18 addressing ways to improve media reach among the public.

Figure 3: Mr. G. Ananthakrishnan senior journalist speaking about different ways to look at mobility in Chennai.

This year's #UnionBudget's focus under energy transition is on incentivising domestic #EV battery production & scrapping of old polluting vehicles. These are great except that we are still woefully dependent on #electricity from #fossilfuels. As a consequence, any EV also runs on fossil fuels. These "green growth" moves therefore might not be so green after all. Promoting #SustainableTransport (public transport, walking, cycling) would go a long way in reducing our use of fossil fuels and effecting a true #EnergyTransition. 

A #DrivingLicence is a legal document that permits you to drive on the road. It is important that every young driver holds a valid driving licence. To every future driver out there, follow Diya on her journey in obtaining a driving licence in #TamilNadu.

#RoadSafety #RoadAccidents #StreetsforKids #SadakSurakshaJeevanRaksha

 

The divide between rich & poor is heightened by the impacts of #ClimateChange, with marginalized communities facing disproportionate consequences. Bridging this gap through #ClimateAction is crucial for creating a more just & equitable world. #WorldDayOfSocialJustice

 

A report on the proceedings of the

National Conference on Air Pollution and Climate Change

January 31, 2023 
 

Organised by

 

Report prepared by  

Mala Balaji (Researcher, Environment & Climate Action, CAG)

Shankar Prakash (Researcher, Environment & Climate Action, CAG)

Madhuvanthi Rajkumar (Researcher, Environment & Climate Action, CAG)
 

Acknowledgements: 

The authors acknowledge Vamsi Shankar Kapilavai and S. Saroja for their critical review of the report and Benedicta Issac for editing the report.
 

National Conference on Air Pollution and Climate Change

Session 1: Air pollution & climate change - 2 sides of the same coin

1. Nexus between air pollution and climate change - A multifaceted problem - Mr. Bhasker Tripathi, Freelance journalist.
2. Socio-economic issues in Non-Attainment Cities - Mr G. Sundarrajan, Poovulagin Nanbargal.

Session 2: Suffocating Indian cities

1. Vehicular emissions - Mr. Anirudh Narla, International Council on Clean Transportation.
2. Industrial pollution in coastal cities - Ms. Gandhimathi, Coastal Action Network.
3. Waste(full) cities - Ms. Sumana Narayanan, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group

Session 3: Indian policy responses to Air Pollution

1. CPCB Action plans in NAC - Dr. Ethirajan,TNPCB
2. Viewing air pollution and policies through the gender lens - Ms. Pallavi Pant, Health Effects Institute
3. Status of implementation of NCAP and roadblocks - Mr. Sunil Dahiya, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
4. Securing India's database for AP - Dr. Pratima Singh, Centre for the study of Science, Technology and Policy

Session 4: Sustainable solutions for Air Quality Management

1. India’s AQM - pollution prevention and control infrastructure - Dr. Abinaya, Centre for Policy Research
2. Zero waste cities - Mr. Shibu Nair, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
3. Transition to renewables - Ms. Bhargavi Rao, Environment Support Group
4. Sustainable mobility to combat air pollution - Mr. Ranjit Gadgil, Parisar

Session 5: Sustainable citizen accounts

1. Ms. Janani Venkitesh, a Resident of Kasturbanagar Association (ROKA)
2. Ms. Nina Sumbramani, Warrior Moms
3. Mr. Suresh, Environmental Enthusiast

Welcome address

Ms. S. Saroja

Executive Director, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group

The conference began with Ms. Saroja, Executive Director of Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), extending a warm welcome to the chief guest, speakers, members of the press and the audience. She began by highlighting India’s position as the infamous front-runner in air pollution related deaths. She touched upon the disproportionate loss and damage due to climate change in  developing countries and how 95% of deaths caused by air pollution occur in developing countries. She explained why  air pollution cannot be seen as one individual complication of our frenzied lives but instead should be seen as going hand in glove with the climate crisis. She hoped that the discussions would aim to explain and understand how we can intervene at the various stages of the vicious air pollution - climate change cycle in such a way as to mitigate their cumulative effects on humankind. She concluded  that the conference would pave the way for government officials, civil society, academia, industry and underrepresented groups to come together to understand the problems from the ministerial to institutional to the grassroots level; and help us come together to derive a holistic approach to control air pollution and mitigate climate change effects.

Keynote address

Mr. Deepak Bilgi I.F.S,

Department of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Tamil Nadu

Mr. Deepak Bilgi I.F.S, Director, Department of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Tamil Nadu, delivered the keynote address. He stressed the importance of concerted action by governments, stakeholders and the public towards controlling air pollution and mitigating climate change impacts. He explained  that the ultimate aim of the climate change mission should be to create  intrinsic changes in human behaviour. While air pollution is primarily seen as a public health issue, he highlighted that the deterioration of public health and loss of the labour force will impact the country’s economy. Therefore, in addition to being seen as an ecological problem, climate change should also be viewed as a serious  economic one. 

Launch of CAG’s textbook on climate Change - Facts on Climate Change Unravelled for Students ( FOCUS)

Following the keynote address, Mr. Deepak Bilgi, Mr. Ashok Varadan Shetty, IAS (Retd) -Trustee, CAG, and Prof. Sultan Ismail, Member, State Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu were invited on stage to launch FOCUS (Facts on Climate Change Unravelled for Students), CAG’s textbook on climate change for middle school students.  During the launch, Ms. Mala Balaji gave a summary of how the textbook is a part of CAG’s project to introduce climate change within the middle school curriculum. The textbook is already in its pilot phase in select schools in Tamil Nadu. Ms. Mala explained the research and processes that went into compiling the textbook and that on completion of the pilot phase, CAG will request the government that  it be introduced as a part of the regular school curriculum. 
 

Launch of CAG’s textbook, FOCUS, on climate change

CAG’s work on Environment & Climate Action

Ms. Mala Balaji

Researcher, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group

 Ms. Mala Balaji, Researcher, Environment and Climate Action at CAG, presented  on CAG’s work in the Environment and Climate Action space. She explained the rationale behind CAG’s work in  protecting eco-sensitive areas and promoting transparent decision-making by the government. CAG's Thermal Watch Initiative aims to educate local communities and NGOs about the regulatory and administrative processes for industrial activities and to build capacity for a more people-centred, clean-energy future. Ms.Balaji added that CAG is committed to empowering local communities and promoting stricter compliance with environmental protection requirements. Mr. Shankar Prakash, Researcher, Environment and Climate Action then gave an overview of CAG's work on air pollution and climate change.

Mr. A. Shankar Prakash

Researcher, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group

Mr. Shankar Prakash explained how  CAG is focused on addressing air pollution and climate change by utilizing a multifaceted approach that includes conducting research, advocating for change, and promoting citizen science. This involves monitoring air quality, investigating the effects of air pollution and climate change, and encouraging authorities to adopt cleaner energy sources. Mr. Shankar went on to elaborate how CAG also regularly organises workshops and educational programs to improve participants' knowledge and capacity, and creates informational and educational materials in local languages. He concluded his presentation by explaining that CAG is committed to creating the tools and knowledge pieces required for community outreach and engagement in order to raise awareness about air pollution and climate change.
 

Session 1

Air pollution & climate change - 2 sides of the same coin

Summary  

Ms. Vinuta Gopal

Co-founder & CEO, ASAR

The first session on ‘Air pollution and climate change - two sides of the same coin’ was moderated by Ms. Vinuta Gopal, ASAR. The session delved into discussions around the interconnection between air pollution and climate change; the sources of air pollution such as industries, transportation, construction and demolition debris and burning of waste are the same sources of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. Therefore, the solutions for both also automatically overlap. Extreme weather events in developing countries have resulted in loss and damage of livelihood, property and persons. Overall, public health is the common and widely impacted outcome of air pollution. This session explained how  understanding the nexus between weather, climate variability, air pollution and public health will better prepare us to tackle the effects of climate change.

Nexus between air pollution and climate change - a multifaceted problem

Mr. Bhasker Tripathi

Journalist

Mr. Bhasker Tripathi, a renowned climate journalist, explained why the climate crisis is also a geopolitical issue, touching upon the  power politics between developed and developing nations. He said  developed countries, after having gone through their industrialisation era much earlier (than developing countries), have historically contributed to the majority of the greenhouse gas emissions. While developing countries are just beginning their industrial growth, it is unjust of the developed nations to ask developing nations to cut down emissions which the former is largely responsible for. He claimed that although individual action is important, the real question should be posed to large polluters such as MNCs, particularly fossil fuel companies and demand redeeming action.

He stressed the importance of posing questions to the government about the big polluters and asking what has been done to make them comply. While he acknowledged the actions taken by the government in shifting to renewables, he added that it is important to ensure a just transition, although it is quite hard to do that in a country like India which remains  heavily dependent on coal. Electric vehicles have been promoted as the green solution to the transportation problem, however, it is important to see how the energy needs for EVs are met. Other solutions such as green grid and LPG cooking fuel sound good on paper, but might not be accessible and affordable to all.

He flagged the relaxations granted to industries by Pollution Control Boards (PCB) in the name of ‘ease of doing business’ and called out the fact that compliance can never really be achieved if self-audits are the primary mechanism for ensuring accountability. He also mentioned that we need to focus on the capacity building of PCBs since they see themselves as more of an advisory body rather than an implementing body.

Socio-economic issues in Non-Attainment Cities

Mr. Sundarrajan

Poovulagin Nanbargal

Mr. Sundarrajan started his presentation by giving the audience a reality check that if we believe that  Chennai is performing better than other metro cities vis-a-vis air pollution, we are believing an illusion. He mentioned that four  cities in Tamil Nadu have been categorised as ‘Non-Attainment Cities’. He revealed alarming facts and stats about Chennai’s air pollution problem caused by thermal power plants, other red-category industries and vehicular congestion. He said that Chennai’s severity  of air pollution does not show up in numbers only  because of the coastal advantage. However, the role of the sea in absorbing toxic air cannot be relied upon for far too long. He revealed that the number of deaths due to air pollution in Chennai is higher than in other cities due to the numerous thermal power plants. The further expansion of thermal power plants in Tamil Nadu has resulted in over 50000 deaths. 

He also added that the problem of air pollution needs to be viewed from a socio-economic perspective since most of these polluting industries, particularly the thermal power plants are located in North Chennai, where the lower income neighbourhoods are situated.  He pointed out the cruel reality that while the rich people who live in air-conditioned houses can afford indoor air purifiers, the poor who live in the vicinity of these power plants have no other choice but to breathe toxic air. He also pointed out the caste divide,  with North Chennai families typically being from the  oppressed castes. This clear divide in unhesitatingly polluting the socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, makes air pollution and climate change,  a class and caste issue.

Session 2 

Suffocating Indian cities

Summary

Prof. Sultan Ismail,

Member, State Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu 

The second session of the conference was on ‘Suffocating Indian Cities’. Prof. Sultan Ismail, the moderator, began the session on the note that air pollution in India, particularly in megacities and non-attainment cities, requires our immediate and sustained attention. The major sources of air pollution in cities are emissions from vehicles, industries, construction and demolition debris and mismanaged solid waste. Rapid urbanisation and accelerated industrial growth have added to the existing air pollution problem. Among the top 50 most polluted cities in the world, 35 are from India. Therefore, air pollution is a pressing issue in India which needs to be prioritised and addressed immediately.

Vehicular emissions

Mr. Anirudh Narla

Associate Researcher, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)

Mr. Anirudh Narla, briefly explained the study he has undertaken as part of  the International Council on Clean Transportation, with the aim of reducing vehicular pollution. He elaborated on ‘The Real Urban Emissions initiative’ (TRUE) which proposes an alternate testing methodology for vehicles to capture and understand the real-world testing of emissions. He explained that since the ‘Pollution Under Control’ certification doesn’t capture the key pollutants which are harmful to the environment, the use of infrared and ultraviolet rays can help detect and capture key pollutants such as nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and other particulate matter in tailpipe  emissions. ICCT has been working with the Clean Air Fund and the Centre for Science and Environment to scientifically measure vehicular emissions. This model helped identify that diesel taxis emit 5 times more than other vehicle groups in London. This model has also been used in Kolkata to screen high-emitting vehicle groups. He explained that  the Delhi NCR TRUE remote sensing study will provide scientific evidence for real-time emissions, and identify low-emission and high-emission zones in the city, thus helping policymakers to make decisions based on scientific data.

Industrial pollution in coastal cities

Ms. Gandhimathi

Coastal Action Network 

Ms. Gandhimathi from the Coastal Action Network (CAN) addressed the subject of air pollution caused by industries and subsequent health impacts for the people in the surrounding neighbourhoods. She explained how emissions from industries can drastically affect and alter the biodiversity of the region. She also added how the biodiversity of coastal cities, in particular, is at a risk due to industrial pollution. She drew the audience’s attention to the adverse impacts of thermal power plants and mentioned that due to improper storage of waste, the children in the neighbouring areas have developed various kinds of sicknesses. Ms. Gandhimathi emphasised that the calculation of social cost is often overlooked in assessing the impact of any industrial  activities. 

She enumerated a host of health issues developed by the workers in these industries, the major ones being respiratory, cardiovascular and neurobehavioral problems. She explained how industrial pollution can affect not only the health and  livelihoods of people in neighbouring areas but also  ocean and marine life. Since oceans play a vital role in the ecosystem as natural buffers, we could be running unimaginable risks by letting this happen. She also elaborated on a case study of shrimp farmers in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and the impacts of shrimp farming on water bodies that are  significantly altering the marine ecosystem.

Waste(full) cities

Ms. Sumana Narayanan

Senior Researcher, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group 

Ms. Sumana from CAG addressed an important issue of mismanagement of waste as a cause of air pollution. She explained the different kinds of waste generated in India and brought the audience’s attention to the fact that over 60% of the waste generated in India is biodegradable waste which can be valuable as a resource if composted properly. A small portion of the waste is recyclable; however, recycling in India continues to be a myth. This is because waste is not segregated at source and therefore all kinds of waste are mixed together while collected and finally dumped in open dumpyards. She stressed that there is a huge difference between landfills and dump yards, although in India these two terms are used interchangeably. Apart from recyclable waste, there is domestic hazardous waste and bio-medical waste which cannot be recycled and needs to be disposed off in an environmentally friendly manner. However in India, since there is no segregation, all kinds of waste are dumped together and often incinerated as the end solution. 

Ms. Sumana emphasised the dangers of incinerating waste, particularly plastic waste which releases toxins such as furans when burnt, thus causing air pollution. The air pollution caused by incinerating solid waste is highly hazardous and can cause cancer, TB, asthma and other adverse health issues. She pointed out that those who are affected the most by air pollution caused due to incineration are the socio-economically disadvantaged sections of society since the dump yards are often located in their neighbourhoods. She also touched upon the role of the informal sector in the waste management value chain, particularly, e-waste. The informal waste workers are exposed to various health hazards while working in the dumpyards.  She also warned about the dangers of mixed waste, especially mixing bio-medical waste with solid waste in dump yards. Since urban local bodies cannot handle mixed waste in such large quantities every day, they choose the easy but unsustainable option of burning it. She highlighted that our systems are designed for linearity where overproduction and overconsumption are constantly encouraged. She therefore stressed the importance of promoting a circular economy and zero waste models which discourage use and throw behaviours.

Session 3 

Indian policy responses to Air Pollution

Summary 

Mr. Nivit Kumar Yadav

Programme Director, Centre for Science and Environment 

This session delved into the scope and mandate of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) and analysed whether sufficient budgetary allocation has been made to the programme. The ancillary issues and factors impeding the effective implementation of NCAP and the performance of Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) were examined. The policy was also  examined through the lens of subalterns, particularly women and indigenous communities. Mr. Nivit Kumar Yadav began the session by explaining how in order to tackle air pollution, the Indian government has implemented the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The program aims to address the issue in a comprehensive manner and target a reduction of 20-30% of particulate matter(PM)pollution by 2034, keeping 2017 as the base year. 432 non-attainment cities have been identified and asked to submit proposals for reducing air pollution. Despite NCAP having all the above provisions in place, there has been a lapse in the implementation phase; and therefore the results of the program have been a mixed bag. He added that this workshop is therefore vital to analysing the effectiveness of NCAP and identifying limitations and ways to overcome them.

CPCB Action plans in NAC

Dr. R. Ethirajan

Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board

Dr. R. Ethirajan began the session by giving a presentation on the National Action Plan of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for managing non-attainment cities. He discussed the three major acts (The Water Act 1974, The Air Act 1981, and the EP Act 1986) that the CPCB and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) implement to protect the environment. He explained the functions of the CPCB, MoEFCC, and state government in overseeing the work of the SPCBs. He also went into detail on the Air Act and the organisational structure of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). Dr. Ethirajan discussed the major components of air quality management, including setting air quality standards, monitoring air pollution, identifying sources of air pollution, and implementing strategies to reduce air pollution. The government monitors air quality through the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring program, with data collected from 883 stations across 28 states. The CPCB also publishes an Air Quality Index and uses real-time monitoring stations and continuous air quality monitoring stations. Dr. Ethirajan also discussed the National Clean Air Program (NCAP), which is aimed at reducing PM pollution by 20-30% by 2024, with identified non-attainment cities having source apportionment studies and action plans to reduce pollution. He concluded by explaining how the government operates through committees at the centre and state levels to ensure that the NCAP goals are achieved.

Viewing air pollution and policies through the gender lens

Dr. Pallavi Pant

Head of Global Health, Health Effects Institute

Dr. Pallavi Pant highlighted the absence of gender as a factor  in discussions about air pollution. While there was  a lot of talk about how air pollution  affects health, environment, the economy, etc.,  the gender aspect of it barely receives the attention it deserves.  She further asked us to introspect about who is doing the chores at home, who cooks, who drops kids at school and takes care of them etc. She went on to explain that women, particularly those of childbearing age and pregnant women, are disproportionately affected by air pollution and household pollution due to their traditional roles in the home. She added that the usage of wood, coal, animal dumps etc as household fuel has an impact on the  respiratory health of women. Hence it becomes vital that we transition to cleaner fuels for women, so that they can step out of the house and take part in other roles contributing to the economy. She emphasised the importance of analysing gender roles in finding solutions to air pollution and called for more focus on the gender aspect in future discussions and policies. Ms. Pallavi also expressed her hope that future policies will consider the gender perspective and include gender-specific data analysis.

Status of implementation of NCAP and roadblocks

Mr. Sunil Dahiya

Analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

Mr. Sunil Dhaiya discussed the implementation status of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) and the roadblocks faced in its implementation. He mentioned that NCAP was implemented in 2019 after multiple consultations and revisions by MoEFCC and CPCB, but there are still roadblocks to its implementation. He talked about 4 different domains of NCAP with multiple indicators, including improving air quality monitoring mechanisms at the state and national levels. However, out of 26 cities, only 10 have submitted state-level action plans, and Tamil Nadu has yet to submit them. Also, despite a delay of 3 years, the base studies such as source apportionment and emission inventory have not been completed, which are crucial for strategic interventions. He further discussed the four different domains of NCAP, including strengthening the air quality monitoring mechanisms, but noted that the majority of the state-level action plans have not been submitted. He also pointed out that despite progress in some areas, the implementation of NCAP is failing. 

Mr. Dhaiya highlighted the lack of transparency in the committees set up to oversee the program, as well as the need for a different approach to industrial monitoring and setting standards for industries. He referred to a report by his organization, CSE, which outlines the status of NCAP and its progress in achieving its goals. He highlighted that despite multiple revisions and consultations, NCAP is facing difficulties in implementation. The NCAP is also facing problems with data availability and the integration of decision support systems.  Mr.Dhaiya concluded by saying that NCAP will not result in significant improvements unless there is a comprehensive mechanism for air quality management, stricter punitive actions on polluters, and a stratified national air quality approach.

Securing India's database for Air Pollution

Dr. Pratima Singh

Senior Research Scientist, Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy

Dr. Pratima Singh discussed the topic of "Securing India's Database for Air Pollution". She elaborated on the steps  to manage the air pollution problem,  with the first step being to set a goal,  which should be to provide clean breathing air for all. The next step is baseline air quality assessment, followed by air quality monitoring and management; the fourth step is intervention strategies and the final step is action plan implementation and evaluation. She pointed out that NCAP lacked a scientific approach and a robust emission inventory or source apportionment study, as most pollution boards in India do not have state-of-the-art laboratories to carry out such studies. 

Dr Singh also emphasised the need for high-quality data from authentic sources that can be used  for modelling and research purposes. For this, she stressed the importance of having a good network of monitoring stations and conducting emission inventory and source apportionment studies to identify the activities and sectors responsible for pollution. Dr. Pratima went on to explain the various ways of collecting data, such as through monitoring networks, manual emissions status, and continuous air quality management systems (CAQMS). While the  data currently available is collected by the state-level Pollution Control Boards and the government, institutions, and industries, this data is limited to research and compliance and not for the larger picture of understanding the impact of air pollution on health. Therefore, she emphasised the need to use data for the right purposes and not just to show numbers. Pratima highlighted the challenges in air pollution monitoring in India. Despite the need for 4000 monitors, the country only has 1387 monitors. The distribution of these monitors is also not even, with over 33% of real-time monitors concentrated in Delhi alone. The cost of setting up a monitoring station is also high, requiring an investment of over Rs. 4000Cr for 4000 monitors. This highlights the need for more investment and better planning in order to effectively monitor and address air pollution in India. 

Dr. Singh said that there is a need for a central database of emission inventory studies in India which can be accessed by researchers, policymakers and the public to better understand the air pollution problem in India and to develop effective strategies for reducing air pollution. Dr. Singh  stressed the need for young researchers to create a standard template for air quality data collection and for institutions to educate policymakers and various departments about the data required for effective air quality management. She also encouraged the creation of country-level databases to better understand and manage the air pollution problem in India.

Session 4

Sustainable solutions for Air Quality Management

Summary

Mr. Dharmesh Shah

Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment

Mr. Shah began explaining how  air pollution must not just be viewed as prevalent only in highly populated and urbanised areas but as something that has also reached the purest uninhabited corners of the world. Air pollution is not a new issue in India, but one that  has gained a lot of traction recently due to the rapidly worsening of air quality from anthropogenic sources. It results not only in individual and environmental loss but also affects the country’s economy, labour force and public health. 

Mr. Dharmesh discussed the possible sustainable solutions to tackle air pollution at source, especially emissions from vehicles, fossil fuels and solid waste. While managing the problem at source, parallelly, there is a growing need to conduct health surveillance and mapping to keep track of the impacts on public health.  The point about how India’s policy framework lags behind technological progress and the need for sustainable solutions to a modern problem which requires substantial political will to be implemented effectively was discussed.

India’s AQM - pollution prevention and control infrastructure

Dr. Abinaya Shekar

Senior Research Associate, Centre for Policy Research

Dr. Abinaya Shekar  discussed the evolution of air quality management (AQM), the issues and capacity of regulatory agencies, and the control measures that are taken. The objective of NCAP is to attain acceptable national ambient air quality standards. The standard PM2.5 levels that sensitive areas are required to maintain are designated by the State Government. However, none of the states have a clear definition of  sensitive zones. Furthermore, the 2009 standards are considered lenient compared to 1994 standards. Dr. Abinaya raised concerns about the capacity of regulatory authorities, citing that more than 50% of technical posts in the country are currently vacant and there is a lack of uniform pattern of assessment and selection criteria for these posts across the country. 

She emphasised the importance of providing scientific evidence to implement effective control measures and called for a transparent and scientific approach to determining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), taking into consideration the health evidence, factors used in similar cities, and involving the public in the decision-making process. Dr. Abinaya suggested that a revision of the AQM and NAAQS should be carried out in a periodic manner and that an airshed approach should be adopted to address the transport of pollutants from one state to another. She concluded by recommending that India should learn from cities like Mumbai and reduce local sources of pollutants, such as paving roads and banning diesel vehicles.

Zero waste cities

Mr. Shibu Nair

Regional Organics Campaigner, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives

In the presentation given by Mr. Shibu Nair, the topic of biodegradable waste management in municipalities, both in India and other countries was discussed. He highlighted the dangers of  burning waste as a means of cleansing, as it contributes to pollution. Mr. Shibu pointed out that the current trend in waste management is decentralisation, as people are rejecting centralised waste management plants in their neighbourhoods. This has led to cities setting up small-scale decentralised composting facilities.  The promotion of this system creates more businesses, and jobs and improves the local economy, as seen in Kerala. 

Mr. Shibu criticised the approach taken in Kochi where biodegradable waste is collected, composted, dried, burned, and then dumped in a mine or released into the air, adding to pollution. He emphasised the need for a simpler solution that eliminates transportation and reduces pollution. Mr. Shibu concluded by emphasising the importance of promoting home compost systems, kitchen and urban gardening, and organic farming to solve the issue of organic waste management in a sustainable manner.

Transition to renewables

Dr. Bhargavi Rao

Senior Fellow/ Trustee, Environment Support Group

Dr.Bhargavi Rao emphasised the significance of understanding the developments in the renewable energy sector while discussing air pollution and climate change. She stressed the need to assess the impact of renewable energy projects on local communities and the environment. She went on to talk about the negative impacts of the Pavagada solar park, a 2000 MW solar project in Karnataka, India. According to her, the project has resulted in the displacement of local communities, and loss of access to fields, grazing pastures, schools, roads, etc. The small and marginalised farmers received only one-time payments and have limited access to resources, resulting in poverty and increased mortality rates. Local people were not hired for installation work, with migrants being hired instead.  

Dr. Bhargavi pointed out that the region has a lot of pastoral jobs, but pastoral communities have lost access to their livelihoods. Additionally, despite being located near solar panels, the local communities still don't have access to electricity. She concluded by saying that it is important to ensure the participation of local people in such projects to minimise its negative impacts.

Sustainable mobility to combat air pollution

Mr. Ranjit Gadgil

Programme Director, Parisar

Mr. Ranjit Gadgil spoke on sustainable mobility as a solution to combat air pollution. He highlighted that the cumulative effect of transport on air pollution is increasing and that there is a reasonable argument for promoting electric vehicles (EVs) in cities due to their exposure to air pollution. He also emphasised the importance of demand management and reducing waste in order to combat air pollution.

Mr. Ranjit pointed out some positive initiatives in cities, such as Pune, which has adopted a comprehensive bicycle plan, and urban street design guidelines, and organises a pedestrian day annually. However, he also mentioned the challenges faced in implementing sustainable mobility, such as the need to reduce car trips and shift to walking, cycling, and public transport. 

Mr. Ranjit also discussed the downsides of car-centric planning, its ecological impact, and how this is a result of a misunderstanding of the use of flyovers among city planners. He emphasised the importance of demand management, such as parking policies, to discourage car usage and encourage sustainable mobility. He concluded by highlighting the need for a significant increase in the number of buses in India to move towards sustainable mobility.

Session 5 

Sustainable citizen accounts

Summary

In addition to the technical sessions by experts,  this session was dedicated to citizens sharing accounts of  sustainable lifestyles. 

Ms. Janani Venkitesh

Member, Residents of Kasturbanagar Association

Ms. Janani Venkitesh, member of Residents of Kasturbanagar Association (ROKA), shared her field-level work on promoting source segregation of waste.  She narrated how  ROKA volunteers have successfully diverted 1.5 metric tons of biodegradable waste from landfills through collection drives. Though they represent Kasturbanagar, their efforts extend to a few other cities and municipalities. She recollected Dr.Ismail’s speech and concurred with him that while dealing with waste we should think of it as resource management rather than solid waste management. To promote sustainable consumption, waste should be considered as a valuable resource. While there are many organisations working to build awareness about climate change, she stressed that ROKA works towards monitoring and implementation of policies. ROKA’s activities aim to include kids and adults in the community and also include housekeeping staff who largely deal with household waste.
 

Ms. Nina Subramani

Warrior Moms

Ms. Nina Sumbramani is from Warrior Moms, a collective led by women in selected states, committed to advocating for clean air and a countrywide healthy air quality index in line with WHO standards for children. She highlighted how air pollution is disproportionately distributed within Chennai’s geography. She and other mothers across the country have launched a ‘know your rights campaign’ initiative to raise awareness and amplify the health effects of air pollution. As most rural households can’t afford LPG cylinders, air pollution at the household level caused by burning biomass fuel affects mothers and children. 

Mr. Suresh

Environmental Enthusiast

Mr. Suresh is a self-taught environmental enthusiast who has taken it upon himself to find household-level solutions to environmental problems. He has successfully implemented projects such as rainwater harvesting, solar roof-top, biogas generation, terrace gardening, hydroponics, air-to-water generation, solar scooters and wastewater recycling in his house. He explained how he has  shared his experiences and household-level environment-friendly solutions with over 25,000 people and has given over 500 talks. He is of the opinion that individuals should not expect the governments to find the solutions; instead, they should find solutions themselves.  

Vote of Thanks and Conclusion

Ms. Madhuvanthi R

Researcher, Citizen consumer and civic Action Group

Madhuvanthi from CAG thanked all the speakers for sharing their views, suggestions, and experiences on technical and policy issues related to air pollution. The conference helped in understanding the interconnectedness of air pollution and climate change and how the socioeconomic dimensions underlie this intersection. All the speakers concurred that in the persistent conflict between economy and ecology, economy always wins. However,  it was also highlighted that since air pollution and climate change impact public health and subsequently affects the economy of the country, taking control measures to combat air pollution and mitigating climate change effects is also beneficial from an economic point of view. The discussions also helped us understand in-depth about various sources of pollution and the challenges in regulating them. The conference also analysed the Indian policy responses to air pollution, particularly the National Clean Air Programme, its scope, and the roadblocks in its implementation. Due importance was also given to inclusive and participatory decision-making by discussing the importance of viewing the problem of air pollution through the gender lens. Rather than stopping with enumerating the issues, the conference also provided an arena to suggest some potential sustainable solutions and pathways in the context of transportation, waste management, fossil fuels and the process of transitioning to renewables. The conference concluded with 3 responsible citizens who practise sustainable initiatives in their daily lives explaining how it is possible to take action against air pollution at an individual level while waiting on macro level solutions from the government

Energy saving tips to help reduce your #electricity bills. Small changes can go a long way!

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நிலையான போக்குவரத்து பற்றிய வலுவான பொது விவாதத்தை உருவாக்குதல்

பத்திரிக்கை வெளியீடு 

உடனடி வெளியீட்டுக்காக

சென்னை, பிப்ரவரி 16, 2023

நமது அன்றாட செயல்பாடுகளை செயல்படுத்துவதற்கு போக்குவரத்து வசதிகள் மிகவும் அவசியம் மற்றும் வலுவான பொருளாதாரத்தை ஆதரிக்கவும் உதவுகிறது. ஆனால் நாம் போக்குவரத்தை சரியான கண்ணோட்டத்தில் பார்க்கிறோமா? பிப்ரவரி 16, 2023 அன்று சிட்டிசன் கன்ஸ்யூமர் அண்ட் சிவிக் ஆக்சன் குரூப்  ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்ட ஊடகங்களுக்கான கருத்தரங்கில், நிலையான போக்குவரத்தின் முக்கியத்துவத்தைப் பற்றி விவாதிக்க நிபுணர்களும் பத்திரிகையாளர்களும் ஒன்றுகூடினர்.

கடந்த பத்தாண்டுகளில் நமது நகரங்கள் அடைந்த வளர்ச்சியால் சாலைகளில் வாகனங்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்துள்ளது. இந்த காலகட்டத்தில் மோட்டார் பொருத்தப்பட்ட தனியார் வாகனங்களின் பயன்பாடு அதிகரித்து, பொதுப் போக்குவரத்து மற்றும் சைக்கிள் ஓட்டுதல் ஆகியவற்றின் பயன்பாடு குறைந்துள்ளதாக தரவுகள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. மோட்டார் பொருத்தப்பட்ட தனியார் வாகனங்களின் பெருக்கம், அதிக வாகன மாசுபாட்டிற்கும், நெரிசலுக்கும் வழி வகுக்கின்றது மற்றும் காலநிலை மாற்றத்திற்கும் பங்களிக்கிறது. சுற்றுச்சூழலுக்கு கேடு விளைவிக்காமல் சமமான போக்குவரத்தை அடைவதற்கான ஒரே வழி நிலையான போக்குவரத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொள்வதுதான். சமீபத்திய ஆண்டுகளில், நிலையான போக்குவரத்து என்ற கருத்து அனைவரது கவனத்தையும் ஈர்த்துள்ளது மற்றும் இது ஐ.நா.வின் நிலையான வளர்ச்சி இலக்குகளின் ஒரு பகுதியாகும்.

இந்த கருத்தரங்கில் நிலையான போக்குவரத்தை மேம்படுத்துவதில் ஊடகவியலாளர்களின் பங்கு மற்றும் பல்வேறு கோணங்களில் நிலையான போக்குவரத்தை எவ்வாறு அணுகுவது என்பது குறித்து விவாதிக்கப்பட்டது. வரும் காலங்களில் நிலையான போக்குவரத்து என்பது முக்கிய காரணியாக கருதப்பட்டு அனைத்து நகர்ப்புற வளர்ச்சி திட்டங்களிலும் முதன்மையான முன்னுரிமையாக இருக்கும். ஊடக பரப்புரை மூலம் நமது குடிமக்களுக்கு நிலையான போக்குவரத்து பற்றிய விழிப்புணர்வை நாம் ஒன்றிணைந்து செயல்பட வேண்டிய நேரம் இது.

ஜி அனந்தகிருஷ்ணன், மூத்த பத்திரிகையாளர், சென்னையில் உள்ள பல்வேறு போக்குவரத்து சேவை வழங்குநர்கள் மற்றும் அவற்றின் தாக்கத்தை குறித்து பேசினார். “சமூக மற்றும் சுற்றுச்சூழல் பிரச்சினைகளின் அடிப்படையில் நாங்கள் போக்குவரத்தை பார்க்கவில்லை. தரம், பாதுகாப்பு, உடல் ஊனமுற்றோருக்கான அணுகல் மற்றும் டிக்கெட் அமைப்புகளில் மேம்பாடுகள் போன்ற கண்ணோட்டங்கள் பயனர்களைக் கொண்டுவருவதற்கு முக்கியமானவை. கூடுதலாக, போக்குவரத்தை லாபம் ஈட்டும் வழிமுறையாகப் பார்க்காமல் ஒரு சேவையாகப் பார்க்க வேண்டும். வித்தியாசமான கோணத்தில் அறிக்கையிடத் தொடங்கினால்தான், போக்குவரத்து பிரச்சனைகள் குறித்து விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்த முடியும்" என்று கூறினார்.

சென்னையின் சைக்கிள் மேயர் பெலிக்ஸ் ஜான் (BYCS) பல்வேறு ஊடக தளங்களில் பாதசாரிகள் மற்றும் சைக்கிள் ஓட்டுபவர்களின் பிரச்சினைகளைப் புகாரளிப்பதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை எடுத்துரைத்தார். சமமான போக்குவரத்தை அடைவதற்கான வழிகள் மற்றும் போக்குவரத்தில் ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட பயனர் குழுக்களுக்கு முன்னுரிமை அளிப்பது குறித்து அவர் பேசினார்.

நியூஸ் 18 இன் மூத்த தொகுப்பாளர் ஆர் தேவபிரியன், பல்வேறு ஊடக தளங்களில் மாநகராட்சி பிரச்சினைகளை முன்வைப்பதற்கான வழிகளைப் பற்றி பேசினார். புகாரளிப்பதில் உள்ள சிரமங்கள் மற்றும் பொதுமக்களுடன் சிறப்பாகச் செல்வதற்கான தந்திரோபாயங்கள் குறித்து அவர் பேசினார். "நாங்கள் செய்திகளை ஒரு கதையாக அணுகுகிறோம் மற்றும் பார்வையாளருடன் இணைக்கும் சிக்கல்களை காட்சிப்படுத்துகிறோம்," என்று அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார். முறையாகப் பணிபுரியும் போது பொதுமக்களுக்கு ஏற்படும் பாதிப்புகள் கணிசமாக இருக்கும் என்றார்.

ஊடக நிருபர்கள் எதிர்கொள்ளும் சவால்கள் மற்றும் பயனுள்ள அறிக்கையிடலுக்கான நிலையான போக்குவரத்தை உள்ளடக்குவதற்கான வழிகள் பற்றிய கலந்துரையாடலுடன் கருத்தரங்கு முடிவடைந்தது.

மேலும் தகவலுக்கு, தொடர்பு கொள்ளவும்: சுமனா – 9445395089 | sumana.narayanan@cag.org.in 

சிஏஜி பற்றி

Citizen consumer & civic Action Group (CAG) என்பது 37 வருடங்கள் பழமையான ஒரு இலாப நோக்கற்ற மற்றும் அரசியல் சார் பற்ற அமைப்பாகும், இது குடிமக்கள் உரிமைகள் மற்றும் நல்லாட்சிக்காக செயல்படுகிறது. அதன் முயற்சிகள் மாநில அளவிலும் தேசிய அளவிலும் கூட தாக்கங்களை ஏற்படுத்தியிருந்தாலும், சென்னையின் நுகர்வோர் மற்றும் குடிமக்களின் நலன்களைப் பாதுகாப்பதற்காக இது முதன்மையாக செயல்பட்டது. 

 

Building a robust public discussion on sustainable mobility

Press Release

For immediate release 

Chennai, Feb 16, 2023

Mobility is essential to achieve our everyday activities and helps support a stronger economy. But are we looking at transport from the right perspective? Experts and journalists gathered to discuss the significance of sustainable mobility, at a media workshop organised by Citizen consumer and civic Action Group on the 16th of February, 2023. 

The unprecedented growth of our cities over the past decade has increased the number of vehicles on road. Data shows that there has been an increase in the usage of motorised private vehicles at the same time, there has been a decrease in the usage of public transport and cycling. The increase in motorized private vehicles has led to high vehicular pollution, congestion and has contributed to climate change. The only way to achieve equitable mobility without damaging the environment is by adopting sustainable transportation. In recent years, the concept of sustainable mobility has taken centre stage and it is part of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. 

This workshop discussed the role of journalists in promoting sustainable transport and how to look at sustainable transport from different angles. Sustainable mobility is going to be the new trend and be the top priority in all urban development projects. It’s time that we work together and create awareness of the concept of sustainable mobility for our citizens through the power of media.

G Ananthakrishnan, a senior journalist, formerly with The Hindu, spoke on the different transport service providers in Chennai and the need to see the big picture. He said “We are not seeing mobility in terms of social and environmental issues. Perspectives such as quality, safety, accessibility for the physically challenged and improvements in the ticketing systems are crucial to bring in users. In addition, we need to see mobility as a service rather than looking at it as a profit-making mechanism. Only when we start reporting from a different angle will we be able to create awareness on the prevailing transport issues."

Felix John, Bicycle Mayor of Chennai (BYCS) highlighted the importance of reporting  pedestrian and cyclist issues on various media platforms. He spoke on ways to achieve equitable mobility and prioritise marginalised user groups (such as pedestrians and cyclists). “Our policies only emphasize bikes and cars, not cyclists and pedestrians. But we need to change that, the road is for all user groups”, said Felix John. 

R Devapriyan, Senior Anchor from News18, spoke about ways to put forth civic issues in different media platforms. He spoke about the difficulties in reporting and tactics for better outreach with the public. “We approach news as a story and look to showcasing issues that connect with the viewer,” he noted.  He said the impact on the public can be considerable when the outreach is done properly. 

The workshop ended with a discussion on the challenges faced by the reporters and ways to include sustainable transport for effective reporting.

For further information, contact: Sumana – 9445395089 | sumana.narayanan@cag.org.in 

About CAG

Citizen consumer & civic Action Group (CAG) is a thirty seven year old nonprofit and non-political organisation working on citizen rights and good governance. It has worked primarily to protect the interests of consumers and citizens of Chennai even as its efforts have had state level and even national level impacts.

As per a paper published in National Library of Medicine, there is a link between increased trachoma infection and high temperatures and low rainfall – both of which are exacerbated by #ClimateChange putting our eyes at risk. #ClimateActionNow