In a significant achievement in wildlife conservation, India’s tiger population has grown to 3,682 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018, showing a 6 per cent annual increase in consistently monitored areas, the Parliament was informed on Monday. The rise in tiger numbers is due to efforts by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which focuses on three main strategies -- material and logistical support, restricting habitat interventions, and following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. The Central Indian Landscape Complex and Eastern Ghats Landscape Complex, spanning Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand, saw the numbers rise from 1,033 in 2018 to 1,439 in 2022, while the Shivalik-Gangetic Plain landscape complex, encompassing Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, registered a rise from 646 to 819, including from 442 to 560 in Uttarakhand. Other complexes also registered significant growth, such as Sunderbans where the population increased from 88 to 101. However, within the Central Indian Landscape Complex and Eastern Ghats Landscape Complex, the tiger population has declined in Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Apart from this, the tiger population has also decreased in Arunachal Pradesh where it has come down from 29 to 9 in 2022. However, in Madhya Pradesh, tigers increased from 526 in 2018 to 785 in 2022, and in Maharashtra, from 312 to 444. India's tiger population has more than doubled since 2006, when it was 1,411. This growth has been supported by Project Tiger, a government initiative that funds conservation activities through annual plans prepared by tiger reserves. These plans are based on broader Tiger Conservation Plans, as mandated by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the reply said. Funding is provided to tiger reserves for acquiring capacity in terms of infrastructure and material, to deal with tigers dispersing out of source areas. These are solicited by tiger reserves through an Annual Plan of Operation (APO) every year which stems from an overarching Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP), mandated under Section 38 V of the Act. Based on the carrying capacity of tigers in a tiger reserve, habitat interventions are restricted through an overarching TCP. In case tiger numbers are at carrying capacity levels, it has been advised that habitat interventions should be limited so that there is no excessive spillover of wildlife including tigers thereby minimising man-animal conflict. Further, in buffer areas around tiger reserves, habitat interventions are restricted such that they are sub-optimal vis-a-vis the core/critical tiger habitat areas, judicious enough to facilitate dispersal to other rich habitat areas only, the reply said. As per Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs), the National Tiger Conservation Authority has issued three SOPs to deal with human-animal conflict -- the issue of managing dispersing tigers, managing livestock kills so as to reduce conflict as well as relocating tigers from source areas to areas where the density of tiger is low, so that conflict in rich source areas does not occur. Also as per Tiger Conservation Plans, need-based and site-specific management interventions are undertaken by the tiger reserves to improve the quality of wildlife habitat and funding support for these activities is provided under the Project Tiger Component of the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, the Minister said in the reply. Also Read: Wildlife conservationist Dr Jane Goodall praises Mumbai’s human-leopard co-existence; watch video This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 November,2024 07:46 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSIndia ranked 10th on a list of over 60 countries assessed for efforts to fight climate change despite dropping two spots compared to last ago, thanks to its low per capita emissions and rapid deployment of renewables, a report said on Wednesday. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI 2025) report, released at the annual UN climate conference here, leaves the first three places empty followed by Denmark (fourth place) and the Netherlands while the largest two emitters, China and the US, remain very low at 55th and 57th place, respectively. Published by think tanks Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, the CCPI tracks the progress of the world's largest emitters in terms of emissions, renewables, and climate policy. The 63 countries, along with the European Union, assessed in the CCPI are responsible for 90 per cent of global emissions. India ranks 10th in this year's CCPI, remaining among the highest performers. However, noting that significant changes in India's climate policy are unlikely, the CCPI report said the growth-oriented approach to climate action is expected to continue or intensify, driven by rising energy demand from industry and the growing population. "While India is the world's most populous country, it has relatively low per capita emissions and energy use. Renewables have expanded rapidly over the last decade, and India aspires to play a leading role in green energy on the global stage,¿ the international climate think tanks observed. India's per capita emissions stand at 2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), far below the global average of 6.6 tCO2e. The country, the world's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter and the fastest growing major economy, has pledged to reach net zero emissions (balancing emissions with removals) by 2070 and aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Indian official data shows. According to CCPI experts, over the past year, India has made considerable progress in renewable energy policy, particularly with large-scale solar power projects and the launch of the Rooftop Solar Scheme. Energy efficiency standards have been introduced, but their coverage remains inadequate, the report said, adding, India is also advancing in electric vehicle deployment, especially with two-wheelers. The experts said that despite these positive developments, India remains heavily reliant on coal. "India is among the 10 countries with the largest developed coal reserves and is currently planning to increase its production," the report said. The report leaves the first three places empty, as no country performed well enough across all index categories to achieve an overall "very high" rating. India and the UK are the only two G20 countries among the high performers in the CCPI. Argentina (59th), which withdrew from COP29 and may pull out of the Paris Agreement of 2015, is one of this year's biggest losers. Its newly elected president denies human-made climate change, contrary to scientific consensus. Denmark ranks at the top (but technically fourth place), followed by the Netherlands and the UK. The UK, this year's big climber, benefitted from its coal phase out and the government's pledge to halt new licenses for fossil fuel projects, the report said. China, the world's biggest emitter, ranks 55th, falling to a very low level. Despite promising plans, trends, and measures, the largest economy in Asia remains heavily dependent on coal and lacks sufficient climate targets. The US, the second-largest emitter, remains in 57th place among the very low performers. The four lowest-ranked countries in the CCPI are Iran (67th), Saudi Arabia (66th), the United Arab Emirates (65th), and Russia (64th), all four among the world's largest oil and gas producers. Also Read: India’s CO2 emissions account 8pc of global total, to rise by 4.6pc in 2024: Report This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 06:16 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIIndia accounts for per cent of the global total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and it is expected to increase by 4.6 per cent in 2024, according to a new report released on Wednesday, ahead of the UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The report by Global Carbon Project, involving an international team of more than 120 scientists, showed that global carbon emissions from fossil fuels have reached a record high in 2024 -- 37.4 billion tonnes in 2024, up 0.8 per cent from 2023 levels. The report led by the University of Exeter showed “there is ‘no sign’ that the world has reached a peak in fossil CO2 emissions”. This is despite the urgent need to cut emissions to slow climate change. It showed that emissions from coal are expected to rise by 0.2 per cent; oil by 0.9 per cent; and gas by 2.4 per cent. China’s emissions -- which account for 32 per cent of the global total -- are projected to marginally increase by 0.2 per cent, while US emissions (which account for 13 per cent of the global total) are projected to decrease by 0.6 per cent. Notably, emissions from the European Union (accounting for 7 per cent of the global total) will decrease by 3.8 per cent. Emissions in the rest of the world (accounting for 38 per cent of the global total) are projected to increase by 1.1 per cent, said the report, published in the journal Earth System Science Data. Currently, more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions are released each year. This is increasing the level of CO2 in the atmosphere -- driving increasingly dangerous global warming. “Time is running out to meet the Paris Agreement goals," said Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, from the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute, who led the study. He called on world leaders meeting at the upcoming COP29 to “bring about rapid and deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions”, which will help the world to stay well below 2 degrees Celsius warming above pre-industrial levels. This study estimates the remaining “carbon budget” before the 1.5 degrees Celsius target is breached consistently over multiple years, not just for a single year. At the current rate of emissions, the Global Carbon Budget team estimates a 50 per cent chance global warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius consistently in about six years. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 November,2024 02:14 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSGreenhouse gas levels surged to a new record in 2023, rising by more than 10 per cent in just two decades, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In the course of 2023, large vegetation fire CO2 emissions and a possible reduction in carbon absorption by forests combined with stubbornly high fossil fuel CO2 emissions from human and industrial activities to drive the increase, according to the WMO's annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. The globally averaged surface concentration of carbon dioxide reached 420 parts per million (ppm), methane 1934 parts per billion and nitrous oxide 336.9 parts per billion (ppb) in 2023. These values are 151 per cent, 265 per cent and 125 per cent of pre-industrial (before 1750) levels, it said. These are calculated on the basis of the long-term observations within the Global Atmosphere Watch network of monitoring stations. "Another year. Another record. This should set alarm bells ringing among decision makers. We are clearly off track to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and aiming for 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. These are more than just statistics. Every part per million and every fraction of a degree temperature increase has a real impact on our lives and our planet," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. The 2023 increase of CO2 in the atmosphere was higher than that of 2022, although lower than that of the three years before that. The annual increase of 2.3 ppm marked the 12th consecutive year with an increase greater than 2 ppm. In the last 20 years, the CO2 level has increased by 11.4 per cent (42.9 ppm) above the level of 377.1 ppm recorded in 2004 by WMO's Global Atmosphere Watch network of monitoring stations. From 1990 to 2023, radiative forcing -- the warming effect on our climate -- by long-lived greenhouse gases increased by 51.5 per cent, with CO2 accounting for about 81 per cent of this increase, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Annual Greenhouse Gas Index cited in the WMO Bulletin. As long as emissions continue, greenhouse gases will continue accumulating in the atmosphere leading to global temperature rise. Given the extremely long life of CO2 in the atmosphere, the temperature level already observed will persist for several decades even if emissions are rapidly reduced to net zero. The last time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration of CO2 was 3-5 million years ago, when the temperature was 2-3 degrees Celsius warmer and sea level was 10-20 metres higher than now. Also Read: India's development journey intertwined with environmental conservation: EAM This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 October,2024 05:05 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIThe Amethi district administration has constructed 30 kilometres of paved roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana using processed plastic waste, saving Rs 45 lakh, officials said on Thursday. According to officials, processed plastic waste can be used to protect the environment when incorporated into construction materials. In Amethi, waste management units are operational across all four tehsils to process plastic waste for reuse, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Suraj Patel said. He said these units, located in Bhausinghpur in Amethi tehsil, Bahadurpur in Tiloi, Mahona Paschim in Musafirkhana, and Sujanpur in Gauriganj, prepare plastic waste for reuse by mixing it with bitumen for road construction under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. "Processed plastic waste is mixed with bitumen, with an eight per cent plastic content in the mix that strengthens the roads. The addition of plastic prevents water from settling, which is one of the main factors that degrades bitumen roads," Patel added. The CDO said the district has completed 30 kilometres of roads using plastic waste, including one road in the Gauriganj block, one in the Bahadurpur block, and four in the Jagdishpur block. "Using plastic waste saves Rs 1.5 lakh per kilometre, leading to total savings of Rs 45 lakh on these 30 kilometres. This approach has also facilitated the management of plastic waste, which poses a significant environmental challenge," he added. Also Read: Small changes, big Impact - Eco-champions reveal surprising plastic culprits and sustainable swaps This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 October,2024 02:53 PM IST | Amethi | PTIRajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed happiness over the success in the conservation efforts of the Great Indian Bustard species, as a "healthy chick" has been born through artificial insemination in Jaisalmer."Happy and proud news! A historic achievement has been made in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Significant success has been achieved in the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard species which is continuously moving towards extinction, where a healthy chick has been born through the new technique of artificial insemination," Bhajanlal Sharma wrote on X. सुखद एवं गौरवपूर्ण समाचार!राजस्थान के जैसलमेर में ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धि हासिल हुई है। लगातार विलुप्ति की ओर बढ़ती गोडावण (ग्रेट इंडियन बस्टर्ड) प्रजाति के संरक्षण में महत्वपूर्ण सफलता प्राप्त हुई है, जहाँ कृत्रिम गर्भाधान (आर्टिफिशियल इनसेमिनेशन) की नवीन तकनीक द्वारा एक स्वस्थ चूजे… pic.twitter.com/k6VmHHsUdR — Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp) October 22, 2024 Calling the achievement unprecedented, the Chief Minister said it would prove to be a milestone in the conservation of Great Indian Bustards."This remarkable success has been achieved at the artificial breeding centre in Jaisalmer under the 'Bustard Conservation and Rehabilitation Program' run with the important objective of preventing the extinction of Rajasthan's state bird Great Indian Bustard and increasing its numbers. This unprecedented achievement will be an important milestone in the direction of Great Indian Bustard conservation," said CM Sharma.Extending wishes, the CM said, "Congratulations and best wishes to all the scientists, forest department officers and employees associated with this innovative project for their tireless and commendable efforts."Earlier on Saturday, continuing his investor outreach in the United Kingdom for the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit to be held from December 9 to 11 in Jaipur, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that "every third tourist that visits India, visits Rajasthan."At the Rising Rajasthan Tourism Meet held at the Taj Hotel in London on Saturday, Sharma addressed a gathering of tourism professionals, investors, and enthusiasts from across the UK, inviting them to the summit.During the event, CM Sharma highlighted that Rajasthan is known for its rich cultural heritage, historic landmarks and scenic beauty.The Chief Minister said that the tourism industry not only plays an important role in India's economy but is also essential globally. Every third tourist that visits India visits Rajasthan as any traveller feels incomplete if he doesn't visit the state. Rajasthan is not only known for its tourism but also for its historical and cultural heritage. Also Read: 'India's development journey deeply intertwined with environmental conservation,' says EAM S Jaishankar at art exhibition in Delhi This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 October,2024 10:24 AM IST | Jaisalmer | ANI
As Diwali draws near, an annual debate starts taking shape in the country: Should firecrackers be banned? While it is known that air pollution usually increases during the festive season, especially in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, experts have often debated the share of firecrackers contributing to poor AQIs. It is also an annual tradition for the State governments and the Supreme Court to release directions for regulating firecracker use in the weeks leading up to Diwali. Earlier this month, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee announced a complete ban on firecrackers till January 1, 2025. The order also banned manufacturing, storage and selling of firecrackers, including delivery through online marketing platforms. Last year, the Supreme Court clarified that its regulations of banning all crackers, except green crackers, are to be implemented throughout the country. Closer home, last year, the Bombay High Court directed municipal authorities and the police administration to ensure that the bursting of firecrackers is restricted to three hours between 8 PM to 10 PM. Also Read: Delhi govt imposes ban on firecrackers to combat air pollution While these judicial interventions are necessary to regulate the bursting of firecrackers and subsequently control air pollution, people believe it is not enough. Has the ban on firecrackers been effective in Delhi? Delhi is often in the news for its poor air quality, especially during the winter months. It is also one of the few places that has been implementing a complete firecracker ban for a few years now. But has that helped in reducing air pollution? Bhavreen Kandhari, a city-based environmentalist, says, “The ban is a step in the right direction. It surely helps, just like every other source of emission if checked, helps reduce AQI. Firecrackers contribute significantly to pollution during all festivities.” According to a report released by Delhi Pollution Control Committee, there was a 42 per cent increase in AQI on the next day of Diwali last year. Source: DPCC This, Kandhari believes, was majorly due to firecrackers. The same report also shows that AQI on Diwali reduced by 33 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022, and the AQI on the next day of Diwali reduced by 0.3 per cent between the two years. Source: DPCC Several residents reveal that despite the ban, people still buy and burst firecrackers in the city. On-ground challenges for implementing a ban on firecrackers Kandhari believes that while the ban is important, several challenges exist in implementation. She says, “One of the key challenges with the firecracker ban is that it’s often enforced too late in the year. By the time the ban was announced, manufacturers and traders had already produced and sold large quantities of firecrackers, making them widely available in the market. This leads to easy access, especially with people being able to buy them from neighbouring states where restrictions might be more lenient.” “Also, enforcement of the ban is inconsistent, making it difficult to fully control the situation. Without early intervention and stricter monitoring, both production and sale continue unchecked, thus diluting the effectiveness of the ban. There’s a complete lack of enforcement by the police on the ground as well. For the ban to be truly impactful, it needs to be implemented earlier in the year (the ban should be announced now for the next year) with a focus on stopping the supply chain and stronger cross-state coordination to prevent smuggling and illegal sales,” she adds. These challenges also make it difficult for a complete ban to be announced and enforced in other cities. Ronak Sutaria, a Mumbai resident and founder & CEO of Respirer Living Sciences, a real-time air quality monitoring startup, says, “While Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or State Pollution Control Boards have the authority to issue such bans, the main question is how do we enforce this? On paper, it looks right. But there’s no proper mechanism to implement it. The ban has to come with penalties but how will the police force be mobilised for this? Theoretically yes, a ban on firecrackers would help reduce air pollution but practically, the situation is different.” Mumbai-based environmentalist Stalin D backs this, saying, “The ban on firecrackers has largely remained on paper. Some smoke-emitting crackers have been banned. Beyond that, nothing has happened.” Ask him why the restrictions have not been effective and he’s quick to say, “The failure of the ban is due to many reasons. The masses believe that crackers are a must during festivals. People have not been able to understand the linkages between air pollution and health disorders. This is despite their children and aged parents suffering. The politicians who can help bring the change themselves encourage the violations and this hazardous activity. For every politician's birthday, loud firecrackers are burst at midnight. This again is done in gross violation of Supreme Court orders banning fireworks beyond 10 PM.” In his words, “A beautiful festival of lights has been turned into a noisy polluting nightmare.” Have firecracker restrictions helped improve AQI in Mumbai – what does data say? While Mumbai has not imposed a complete ban on firecrackers yet, there have been several restrictions in terms of sales, timings, etc. Has that helped reduce air pollution over the years? A report compiled by Repository Living Sciences using data from 18 stations in Mumbai presents the following insights: Average AQI one day before Diwali in 2021: 82.80 Average AQI one day before Diwali in 2022: 57.93 Average AQI one day before Diwali in 2023: 46.18 There is a 19.54 per cent reduction in AQI in 2023 as compared to 2022. Average AQI on Diwali in 2021: 84.25 Average AQI on Diwali in 2022: 68.79 Average AQI on Diwali in 2023: 66.64 There is a 1.85 per cent reduction in AQI between 2022 and 2023. However, the AQI remained above the safe level limit of 60 across all three years. Average AQI one day after Diwali in 2021: 91.18 Average AQI one day after Diwali in 2022: 109.49 Average AQI one day after Diwali in 2023: 78.62 The AQI reduced by 17.86 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022. However, the levels remained above the safe level. While the insights show a positive change, it is important to note that a majority of stations recorded AQI above 60, which presents a dire picture. Also, factors beyond firecrackers may have also contributed in the increase or reduction in AQI. Is imposing a ban on firecrackers enough? While restrictions on firecrackers and in some places, a complete ban, are steps to curb air pollution, they are not enough. “The ban is a step in the right direction, but to see real, sustained improvement in air quality, we need long-term systemic changes that address these underlying causes of pollution. A comprehensive approach that includes better waste management, stricter regulation of industrial emissions, promotion of cleaner transportation and policies encouraging green infrastructure will have a more meaningful impact on the AQI,” believes Kandhari. Cultural and behavioural changes needed The harms of bursting firecrackers both on the health of living beings and the environment are not unknown. Yet, people continue this practice because many consider it a part of their culture, a way of celebration. “People believe firecrackers to be inherent in culture. In that sense, if you’re banning firecrackers, you are essentially asking for a cultural change and that is not something that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) or other authorities can do. Unless some religious or cultural figure persuades people not to burst firecrackers, just the authorities saying it won’t make much of a difference, especially when there are no legal mechanisms to enforce it. A behavioural change and cultural change is required,” believes Sutaria. If one wants to stop or control the bursting of firecrackers, a mindset shift is required which can’t come about at the snap of a finger. It needs to start from an early stage. Other steps to control air pollution While firecrackers do play an important role in contributing to air pollution, especially during this time, other factors are also responsible for poor AQI. To manage those, some steps need to be taken around the year beyond restricting firecracker use. Kandhari suggests the following: Urgent transition to clean energy: For example, diesel gensets were banned in Delhi, which has been a great step. While alternatives like battery storage systems or solar-powered options are available, the high cost and limited infrastructure for cleaner options discourage widespread adoption. Convenience and affordability are key barriers to moving away from polluting technologies. Expanding public transport, promoting electric vehicles and creating better infrastructure for cycling and walking can reduce vehicular emissions. Implementing congestion and emission taxes in high-traffic areas can further discourage the use of private vehicles. Encouraging responsible waste management, strict implementation of SWM Rules 2016 implementing waste segregation at source, curbing open burning of waste and promoting composting will help curb harmful emissions from landfills and incinerators. Stricter enforcement of emission standards for factories and industries is crucial, along with incentives for cleaner technology adoption. Protecting forests and increasing green cover through urban forests and green belts is necessary. There’s also a need to implement greening guidelines for footpaths, roads and highways. Civil society and experts should be included in all stages of decision-making and implementation. Also Read: Diwali 2024: Eco-friendly and DIY ideas to elevate your home décor
23 October,2024 10:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Raaina JainIndia's development journey is "deeply intertwined" with environmental conservation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said and lauded tribal communities for their role in protecting biodiversity. He was speaking at an event held at the India Habitat Centre here on Thursday to mark the inauguration of a tribal art exhibition -- 'Silent Conversation: From the Margins to the Centre' in Delhi. In his address, Jaishankar also praised the 'Project Tiger' that was started in 1973. "It is not an exaggeration, it is a shining example of success. And, for which the tribal communities deserve immense credit," the Union minister said. Jaishankar further said that this art does not just show creativity, it sends a "profound message, one that bridges the gap between nature and humanity.. from tigers to tribals". This exhibition showcases that people can exist with nature in complete harmony. It weaves the story of how tribal community over millennia has forged an enduring bond with nature, he added. In his address, he spoke of the philosophy of 'Antyodaya', which means to leave no one behind, and said "it is not just a policy, it is a soul and guiding principle of our government". "We are committed to ensuring Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas, with a particular focus on uplifting marginalised community, especially our tribal population. Through targeted policies, we are creating opportunities, bolstering education with sustainable livelihood for our tribal youth," the minister said. The Aspirational Blocks Programme has been instrumental in improving the ease of living of tribal community, who reside in these areas, he underlined. "India's development journey is very deeply intertwined with environmental conservation," the EAM said, and highlighted that tigers have been depicted in arts, and also worshipped by some communities. There is an "emotional relationship" between tribals and the environment they inhabit and after seeing this exhibition, the feeling of the Mother Earth comes to one's heart, he said. He concluded that as a foreign minister it will be a "source of pride for me" to present art works made by tribals as a gift to people abroad. Later, he also posted some photos of the exhibition on X. "Delighted to inaugurate the tribal art exhibition 'Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre' in New Delhi today. Witnessed a beautiful exposition showcasing our ethos of environmental conservation, sustainability and living in harmony with the nature. Commend the exceptional work of our talented tribal artisans. Do visit and support," he posted. Sankala Foundation, in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, hosted the exhibition with the support of National Human Rights Commission and International Big Cat Alliance. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 October,2024 01:16 PM IST | Delhi | PTIMumbai witnessed heavy downpour on Wednesday this week bringing the city to a standstill once again as roadways and the city’s railway network was affected. It has only got worse since. The monsoon season has been erratic this year for the city, which saw a slump in August and has now returned this week, but for how long? The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has been sharing regular live updates, but the city also boasts of a citizen weatherman helping people in times of need. Rushikesh Agre, popularly known as Mumbai Rains, shares live updates on his social media accounts @rushikesh_agre_ on X (formerly Twitter) and @india_weatherman on Instagram. As we speak, Agre has put as many as 10 updates in the last 24 hours on Instagram to inform people about Mumbai’s current weather. The Mumbaikar has predicted ‘High Alert in Mumbai city and suburbs between 3 to 5 pm, and that major waterlogging is likely’ for this evening. The update is also supported with technical information that is broken down by him. It is not difficult but in fact easy to understand along with weather diagrams. While the accuracy of the updates may depend from time to time, the Mumbaikar has been consistently doing this since 2019 for the love of the weather. He has now amassed over 70,000 followers on Twitter, and over 8167 followers on Instagram – all of whom depend on him daily for Mumbai rain updates, especially when the situation gets worse like it has in this week. With more people depending on him, mid-day.com spoke to Rushikesh Agre to know more about what inspires him to be Mumbai’s weatherman. Interestingly, the 21-year-old is law student with a love for meteorology, and is armed with a course from Harvard University, that has not only made him a local celebrity but also around the world. Here are edited excerpts from the interview: What inspired you to take up tracking Mumbai's weather and since when have you been doing it?Forecasting Mumbai's weather, the financial hub of India, has always been a source of pride. Notorious for its unpredictable rains, Mumbai often leaves its residents uninformed about live updates. Thus, looking at these things, I started my journey in weather forecasting. Since June 2019, I have dedicated myself to studying weather patterns and providing daily updates, with a particular focus on the Mumbai-Pune stretch for the last five years.How did you start tracking Mumbai's weather? What are the methods you use? Initially, I started checking various weather radars and models and from their map analysis and after getting more comfortable in this field, I started developing my experience and interpret the weather alerting Mumbai people. I believe IMD Doppler Radar and IMD-GFS models are pretty accurate tools for the Indian subcontinent, to track live weather and how the weather will be ahead. Along with IMD forecast, I look on other platforms too just for a backup, if majority of the models show the same result, then it becomes easy for us to give more proximate estimation, quite faster and more accurate compared to them.At a time when India has the Indian Meteorological Department, what role do you think independent weathermen like you play generally as well as online? As IMD gives long term alerts, and few nowcast warnings, we as individual weathermen are more useful for the people for tracking live weather and thus, we become a bridge between IMD and citizens, as declaring alert from them takes time for few conditions to get fulfilled, but we give alerts suburb-wise as well looking at the live weather which makes it more efficient for people. But lastly, we rely on the information, from IMD based models only.What has been the most fascinating aspect of doing this? What have you learned in the process? It is important to have patience in this field. The fascinating part is I learn new geography concepts along with live happenings of the event, as I have a solid interest in geography and studying maps. I just recall myself, estimate the projection of the weather for a day, get it right and the satisfaction you get is just amazing. You don't leave this hobby once you get a streak of wins, same story as a cricketer.What are the challenges you face while doing a job like tracking the weather? Every day is a different day and a different challenge in the life of a weatherman. While forecasting the weather, various parameters have to be checked before posting or issuing an alert, sometimes the projection looks uncertain about how the weather would be, and you still have to wait for a lot of time, always checking with updates and models showing different trajectories especially while tracking cyclone, to get to an answer takes a lot of effort. At such time you just have to look at the history of the happenings, and along with that you can project your estimation, looking at the factors from time to time, which I do.How would you say has Mumbai and India's weather changed since you started tracking it?Well, I have been observing climate change is making the weather more unpredictable not only for Mumbai, but all over India. This summer we saw how Delhi got 40 degrees Celsius days almost for a month and a few days back Delhi got floods in the same month, On the west coast as well, heavy downpours begin in Mumbai in no time and the rest of the few days in monsoon remain dry, we all know about July 26 floods, such weather is getting more uncomfortable for all of us.Do you believe such weather updates help more during the monsoon than any time of the year? Yes, of course. Monsoon is a prime time for a weatherman, be it 3 pm or 3 am, you have to keep a watch on the weather, as we all have seen many times subways getting flooded due to rains every year. If all of us can be alerted before happening of the event, people can be ready and aware of the weather changes and can plan accordingly saving their precious time and lives.Do you have a day job? If yes, how do you manage it with this? Would you call it a hobby? I am a law student, pursuing BLS LLB in Government Law College, Mumbai and pursued Meteorology course from Harvard University. Forecasting the weather is still a hobby for me. I start the day with studying radars and post the morning tweets so all of us get prepared for the office hours, along with me. Haha. Whenever I get free, I primarily look at weather warnings and if no warnings are there, the day remains free unlike other days where you have to stay awake overnight looking at the weather models and radars.In the time that you have been sharing these updates online, what is the kind of reaction you have got from people? It is a pleasure serving the city of more than 2 crore people with live weather updates. I have always got appreciated by my people from time to time and also few social media influencers, especially Abhi and Niyu, and the legendary film director Vivek Agnihotri, which motivates me to go ahead with sharing more weather updates and alerting people.Lastly, do you have a memory where you think you may have helped make a difference?It just happened two months ago on May 13, when Mumbai witnessed a severe dust storm where I was the only person who alerted all Mumbaikars before the arrival of the dust storm, by giving warnings 1 hour before. As it came true, I got a lot of media recognition as it saved a lot of lives, my expert quotes from news media got shared and went viral all over European and North American media channels which made a huge difference. This was one of the most memorable moments in my life.
27 September,2024 06:12 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento PintoOzone pollution is stunting the growth of tropical forests, with the effect being stronger in Asia, where such forests are losing nearly 11 per cent of new growth, research has found. Air quality will continue to play an important, yet often overlooked, part in how forests absorb and store carbon, according to lead author Flossie Brown, a recent graduate of the University of Exeter. While ozone in the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere protects people from harmful ultraviolet radiations from the Sun, ozone closer to the ground level is harmful to plant and human health. The gas is formed when pollutants from human activities combine in the presence of sunlight. The researchers explained that urbanisation, industrialisation and burning fossil fuels and fires have resulted in an increase in 'precursor' gases -- such as nitrogen oxides -- that form ozone. The team found that ozone at the ground level can stunt new growth in tropical forests by over five per cent, translating into an estimated 290 million tonnes of uncaptured carbon every year since 2000. The findings are published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Tropical forests are vital 'carbon sinks', which capture and store carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas driving climate change. "Furthermore, this impact (due to ozone pollution) shows a great deal of geographic variation, from a decrease of 1.5 per cent in Central Africa to 10.9 per cent in Asian tropical forests," the authors wrote. Lead author Alexander Cheesman, University of Exeter, said, "We estimate that ozone has prevented the capture of 290 million tonnes of carbon per year since 2000. The resulting cumulative loss equates to a 17 per cent reduction in carbon removal by tropical forests so far this century." For their analysis, the researchers ran experiments to measure the effects of ozone on various tropical tree species. They then incorporated the results into a computer model of global vegetation.Under a warming climate, an increase in ozone levels across the tropics is expected due to an increase in 'precursor' emissions, according to Brown. "We found that areas of current and future forest restoration -- areas critical for the mitigation of climate change -- are disproportionately affected by this elevated ozone," Brown said. Also Read: Mumbai’s ongoing battle to preserve its green spaces in an urban hub This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 September,2024 06:21 PM IST | Mumbai | PTILack of green spaces and long-term exposure to air pollution increase the risk of hospitalisation for respiratory conditions, a new study has said. Traffic-related air pollution is also strongly linked to the progression from asthma to asthma-COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), according to a second study presented at the ERS Congress the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria. The first study was presented by Shanshan Xu from the Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway. The study evaluated the association between respiratory health and long-term exposure (between 1990 and 2000) to particulate matter, black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and greenness (the amount and health of vegetation surrounding a person’s home). “Specifically, we observed that for each interquartile range increase in these pollutants, the risk of hospitalisation rises by approximately 30 to 45 per cent, depending on the pollutant. Greenness, on the other hand, contributed to a reduced risk of respiratory hospitalisation,” said Xu. But while greenness was associated with a decreased risk of respiratory hospitalisations, it was also linked to an increased number of respiratory emergency room visits, particularly when looking at the co-presence of hay fever. The second study was presented by Dr Samuel Cai from the Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability at the University of Leicester, UK. Levels of two main air pollutants – particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide – were estimated at each participant’s home address, and a genetic risk score. The team found that for every 10 micrograms per metre cubed higher exposure to particulate matter, the risk of developing COPD was 56 per cent higher among asthmatic patients. “We also found that higher exposure to nitrogen dioxide increases the risk. In addition, if individuals carry a medium-to-high genetic risk score, the risk of increased nitrogen dioxide exposure causing asthma to progress to COPD is even higher,” Dr Cai explained. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
08 September,2024 03:42 PM IST | London | IANSADVERTISEMENT
