Pollution & Environmental Issues

AQLI report on pollution shortening Indian lives

Context: The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), estimates that fine particle pollution diminishes the average life expectancy of Indians by over five years. This comprehensive index, which links the longevity of individuals in over 200 countries to air quality, highlights that India is home to 77 of the most severely affected districts in terms of air quality.

More about the news:

In recent years, epidemiological research has established a connection between poor air quality and an increased susceptibility to various forms of cancer, cognitive disorders, and developmental issues in children.
Notably, a Lancet study conducted last year estimated that in 2019, India experienced the loss of 1.67 million lives due to diseases resulting from the inhalation of hazardous levels of PM 2.5 particles.
The challenge lies in the fact that these plans often continue to rely on ineffective past approaches, including punitive measures, without adequately recognizing the link between environmental problems and the ensuing public health crisis.
For nearly a decade, Delhi, in particular, only took action against pollution when it reached emergency levels. Even now, the city has made insufficient efforts to address the structural issues that make achieving satisfactory air quality for 100 days a year a rarity, especially given the geographical constraints, particularly during winter when pollutants become trapped.
According to last year's Lancet study, the economic losses resulting from pollution-related deaths and illnesses in 2019 amounted to nearly $37 billion, and a 2021 Dalberg report projected this figure could rise to $95 billion.
A country striving to become a $5 trillion economy cannot afford to neglect the well-being of its people.

Important highlights from by AQLI report:

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Regarding rankings, India holds the unfortunate second position among countries most severely impacted by air pollution, with Bangladesh topping the list, followed by Nepal in third place.
Examining particulate pollution in South Asia reveals a concerning trend, with a 9.7 percent increase from 2013 to 2021. During this period, PM2.5 levels rose by 9.5 percent in India, 8.8 percent in Pakistan, and a significant 12.4 percent in Bangladesh.
In terms of pollution levels in India, they escalated from 56.2 µg/m3 in 2020 to 58.7 µg/m3 in 2021, exceeding the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m3 by more than tenfold.
When considering health risks, pollution emerges as the most substantial threat to human well-being in India, surpassing even cardiovascular diseases and child and maternal malnutrition in terms of its impact on life expectancy.
Particulate pollution alone reduces the average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, while cardiovascular diseases decrease it by approximately 4.5 years, and child and maternal malnutrition by 1.8 years.
Delhi, recognized as the world's most polluted city, reported an annual average PM2.5 level of 126.5 µg/m3 in 2021, surpassing the World Health Organization's guideline of 5 µg/m3 by more than 25 times.
If current pollution levels persist, Delhi residents are projected to lose an average of 11.9 years of life expectancy compared to the WHO standard and 8.5 years relative to the national guideline.

What is Particulate Matter?

Particulate matter, abbreviated as PM, refers to the assortment of particles present in the atmosphere, encompassing substances like dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and tiny liquid droplets.
These particles remain suspended in the air for extended periods. Some of them are large or dark enough to be visible, resembling soot or smoke, while others are so minuscule that they can only be observed using an electron microscope.
Numerous natural and human-made sources release PM either directly or through the emission of other pollutants that react in the air and form PM.
Particles with a diameter less than 10 micrometers, often referred to as PM10, raise concerns for public health as they can be inhaled into the respiratory system and accumulate there.
Particles falling within the 2.5 to 10 micrometer diameter range are categorized as 'coarse.'
Meanwhile, particles with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers, termed as PM2.5, are considered 'fine' particles and are believed to pose the most significant health risks.
Exposure to fine particles can lead to short-term health effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, resulting in symptoms like coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, and shortness of breath.
Additionally, exposure to fine particles can adversely affect lung function and exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions like asthma and heart disease.
Over the long term, prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter may be linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, and increased mortality rates associated with lung cancer and heart disease.

What is Air Quality Life Index?

Annually, the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) releases the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), which serves as a pollution index that translates particulate air pollution into a crucial metric: its impact on life expectancy.
The AQLI is built upon recent research that quantifies the cause-and-effect relationship between prolonged human exposure to air pollution and its effect on life expectancy.
To create this index, the research findings are combined with highly localized global measurements of particulate matter.
It has incorporated the revised guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO had updated its recommendations, lowering the acceptable limit for PM 2.5 from 10 micrograms per cubic meter to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) gauges the potential increase in life expectancy that communities could experience if they were to reduce air pollution levels in line with either the World Health Organization's recommended guideline or their own national standards.
The WHO's guideline deems annual exposure to particulate matter pollution as safe when it remains below 10 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), and many countries also establish their own national air quality standards.

Coral bleaching

Context: Across the globe, unprecedented heatwaves have plunged both animals and humans into challenging circumstances. Among the affected creatures, corals stand out as exceptionally vulnerable.

Corals Reefs:

They are most biologically diverse ecosystems of the planet. They are formed when Coral Polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, develop a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae, which live in its tissues.
Coral reefs are critically important ecosystems that underpin ocean sustainability and the economic, social and cultural security of hundreds of millions of people around the world. Despite their immense value, they are uniquely vulnerable to the increasing global threat of climate change, as well as other anthropogenic impacts.

Symbiotic Relationship:

It is defined as a close, prolonged association between two or more different biological species, where both parties involved benefit from the interaction.

Favourable Conditions for the formation of Corals:

Optimal Sunlight Exposure: Corals thrive in shallow water where ample sunlight penetrates to support their symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae (algae). These microscopic algae residing within the coral provide vital oxygen and other essential nutrients, relying on sunlight for their survival. Consequently, corals, too, depend on sunlight to flourish.
Translucent Water Conditions: Clear and unpolluted water is crucial for corals as it allows sunlight to permeate through the depths. The clarity of water determines the amount of sunlight that reaches the corals, thereby ensuring their sustenance and vitality.
Optimal Water Temperature: Corals exhibit a remarkable adaptability to a narrow temperature range, typically thriving in water temperatures between 20–32°C. The temperature within this specific range is essential for their growth and survival.
Salinity Requirements: Corals necessitate a specific balance in the salt-to-water ratio to thrive. As a consequence, they cannot survive in areas where freshwater from rivers flows into the ocean, as the altered salinity in these estuaries is unsuitable for coral growth. Instead, corals are restricted to habitats with the appropriate saltwater conditions.

Distribution of Corals in the world:

Ecosystem services provided by Corals:

Human health and wellbeing: 70% of the protein in the diets of Pacific Islanders comes from reef-associated fisheries (SDGs 2, 3, 6, 9 & 14; Aichi Biodiversity Targets 13, 14, 16).
Shoreline protection: A healthy coral reef can reduce coastal wave energy by up to 97%. Globally, USD6 billions of built capital is protected from flooding by coral reefs (SDGs 1, 8, 11, 13, 14).
Food security and livelihoods: Coral reef fisheries support as many as six million people and are worth USD6.8 billion per year, providing an average annual seafood yield of 1.42 million tonnes (SDGs 2, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16).
Tourism: Coral reef tourism contributes USD36 billion to the global tourism industry annually (SDGs 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14).
Biodiversity: Coral reefs support approximately 4,000 species of fish and 800 species of hard corals, Globally, about 830,000 species of multicellular plants and animals are estimated to occur on coral reefs, of which an estimated 13% are unnamed and 74% are yet to be discovered. Most of these species are cryptic, small and relatively rare.
Medicines: Coral reefs are the medicine chests of the 21st century, with more than half of all new cancer drug research focusing on marine organisms.

What is Coral Bleaching?

When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white.

Ocean acidification which is caused by CO2 absorption in oceans, lowers pH levels of ocean water and affects calcium carbonate minerals. The combination of acidification and ocean warming poses a significant threat to coral reefs’ ability to form skeletons.

Status of Corals in the world at present:

The 2019 global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service (IPBES), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, warn that:

Over half of the world’s coral reefs have been lost;
At warming of 1.5oC, 70-90% of the world’s coral reefs are expected to be lost. At 2oC degrees, this increases to >99% loss of coral reefs.

Global Initiatives for protection of Coral reefs:

The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is the only international partnership, between nations and organizations, focussing solely on the protection of coral reefs and related ecosystems worldwide.

The Initiative was founded in 1994 by Australia, France, Japan, Jamaica, the Philippines, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. It was announced at the First Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 1994.

India’s efforts for Coral Restoration:

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with help from Gujarat’s forest department, is attempting for the first time a process to restore coral reefs using biorock or mineral accretion technology. Biorock is the name given to the substance formed by electro accumulation of minerals dissolved in seawater on steel structures that are lowered onto the sea bed and are connected to a power source, in this case solar panels that float on the surface. The technology works by passing a small amount of electrical current through electrodes in the water.

When a positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode are placed on the sea floor, with an electric current flowing between them, calcium ions combine with carbonate ions and adhere to the structure (cathode). This results in calcium carbonate formation. Coral larvae adhere to the CaCO3 and grow quickly.

Steps need to be taken for protection of corals:

Safeguarding Coral Reefs: Government should regulate nearshore fishing to ensure sustainable practices that do not harm the reef. This involves managing fishing activities around coral reefs and prohibiting harmful practices such as dynamite and cyanide fishing, as well as the harvesting of live coral.
Marine Protected Areas(MPAs): MPAs define specific rules and guidelines to protect reef life while also allowing sustainable human use. By designating specific zones for protection and regulated use, MPAs offer a practical approach to safeguarding coral reefs and their invaluable ecosystems.
Combating Land-based pollution: To protect coral reefs from land-based pollution and runoff, it is imperative to implement measures that reduce pollution sources and preserve critical coastal ecosystems. This includes sustainable land-use practices, responsible waste management, and protecting and restoring vital coastal habitats.
Effective Monitoring and Enforcement: Engaging stakeholders in monitoring and enforcing regulations empowers communities to take ownership of their coral reef resources, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship. However, in areas with limited resources, community-based management efforts can play a crucial role.
Education and Outreach: It should target stakeholders, community members, and even school children, enlightening them about the importance of coral reefs and their interconnectedness with human well-being. By empowering people with knowledge, communities can foster a deeper sense of appreciation and encourage positive actions to safeguard coral reefs. Education can also prompt individuals to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives, further contributing to the conservation efforts for these invaluable ecosystems.

Particulate Matter Pollution

Context: A recent report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlighted that the particulate pollution is increasing in the cities of Rajasthan.

About Particulate Matter:

Particle pollution — also called particulate matter (PM) — is made up of particles (tiny pieces) of solids or liquids that are suspended in the air. These particles may include:

Dust
Dirt
Soot
Smoke
Drops of liquid

Particle pollution can come from two different kinds of sources — primary or secondary.

Primary sources cause particle pollution on their own. For example, wood stoves and forest fires are primary sources.
Secondary sources let off gases that can form particles. Power plants and coal fires are examples of secondary sources.
Some other common sources of particle pollution can be either primary or secondary — for example, factories, cars and trucks, and construction sites. Smoke from fires and emissions (releases) from power plants, industrial facilities, and cars and trucks.

Particle pollution includes:

PM 10: inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller. These particles are relatively larger and can be seen as fine dust or smoke. They can come from various sources such as dust stirred up from construction sites, pollen, or emissions from vehicles and industrial processes.
PM 2.5: fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. These particles are much tinier and cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are often the result of combustion processes like burning fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, or even cooking. Because of their small size, PM 2.5 particles can penetrate deep into our lungs and even enter our bloodstream, causing more severe health issues.

Impact of Particulate Pollution:

Respiratory problems: Inhaling PM can cause or worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory infections.
Cardiovascular effects: PM pollution has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. Fine particles can enter the bloodstream and contribute to the development of plaque in the arteries.
Reduced lung function: Long-term exposure to PM can lead to a decline in lung function, making it more difficult to breathe properly.
Allergies and irritation: Particulate matter can trigger allergic reactions and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, causing symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes.
Premature death: Exposure to high levels of PM pollution has been associated with increased mortality rates, particularly among individuals with pre-existing health conditions and the elderly.
Cancer risk: Certain types of PM, such as diesel exhaust particles and some heavy metals, have been classified as carcinogens and are linked to an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Developmental issues: Pregnant women exposed to high levels of PM pollution may experience complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental issues in their children.
Impaired lung growth in children: Children exposed to PM pollution may experience reduced lung growth and development, leading to long-term respiratory problems.
Aggravation of existing conditions: People with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of PM pollution, which can exacerbate their symptoms and increase the severity of their conditions.

Steps taken by Government:

Government is taking all efforts for the mitigation of air pollution in the country. Central Government has taken a number of regulatory measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in the country.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 % to 30 % reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration.102 non-attainment cities mostly in Indo-Gangetic Plains have been identified based on ambient air quality data for the period 2011 – 2015 and WHO report 2014/2018.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was notified on January 12, 2017, for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
National Air Quality Index: It was launched in 2014 as ‘One Number- One Color-One Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity. Eight pollutants namely particulate matter (PM) 10, PM2.5, Ozone (O3), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb) and ammonia (NH3) act as major parameters in deriving the AQI.

Case Study: Rajasthan (Report by CSE)
The air quality is worsening in both big and small cities and towns in Rajasthan due to increasing level of nitrogen dioxide and ozone.Systemic pollution persists due to inadequate infrastructure for pollution control across all sectors.Jodhpur and Kota is the second among the five non-attainment cities in the State.

CSE analysis says South Delhi, New Delhi worst affected by ground-level ozone

Context: According to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), parts of the Delhi-NCR region witnessed ground-level ozone readings exceeding the national standards on 87 out of 92 days in the summer period.

About Ground Level Ozone or Tropospheric ozone:

Ozone (O3) high in the Earth's atmosphere protects us from the sun's harmful radiation. But ozone at ground level (tropospheric ozone), is an air pollutant that harms people and plants.
Ground-level ozone is a colorless and highly irritating gas that forms just above the earth's surface.

How ground level ozone is formed?

It is called a "secondary" pollutant because it is produced when two primary pollutants react in sunlight and stagnant air.
These two primary pollutants are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
These precursor primary pollutants are each produced primarily by a variety of human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and various industrial processes. Certain types of volatile organic compounds can also be emitted from natural sources.

Impacts:

Ground-level ozone is known to have significant effects on human health. Exposure to ozone has been linked to premature mortality and a range of morbidity health issues.
It can significantly impact vegetation and decrease the productivity of some crops.
It can also damage synthetic materials, cause cracks in rubber, accelerate fading of dyes, and speed deterioration of some paints and coatings.

India seeks leeway to plan shift to sustainable aviation fuel

Context: The 41st International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly adopted a long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in support of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius and reach net zero by 2050.

What is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)?

SAF is a liquid fuel currently used in commercial aviation which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80%. It can be produced from a number of sources (feedstock) including waste oil and fats, green and municipal waste and non-food crops.
It can also be produced synthetically via a process that captures carbon directly from the air. It is ‘sustainable’ because the raw feedstock does not compete with food crops or water supplies, or is responsible for forest degradation.
Whereas fossil fuels add to the overall level of CO2 by emitting carbon that had been previously locked away, SAF recycles the CO2 which has been absorbed by the biomass used in the feedstock during the course of its life.
Seven biofuel production pathways are certified to produce SAF, which perform at operationally equivalent levels to Jet A1 fuel. By design, these SAFs are drop-in solutions, which can be directly blended into existing fuel infrastructure at airports and are fully compatible with modern aircraft.

Need for SAF:

International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach net-zero in 2050.
This will require a massive increase in production in order to meet demand. The largest acceleration is expected in the 2030s as policy support becomes global, SAF becomes competitive with fossil kerosene, and credible offsets become scarcer.

What is India’s stand?

India asserted that global mandates for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with 2050 as the target year was ‘too early’ and each country must be allowed to develop its strategy according to its national plans.
It also sought the support of UN Aviation watchdog ICAO to achieve carbon net-zero goals alongside other priorities in the aviation sector.
Any global mandates for SAF with milestones to 2050 are too early as each State must be allowed time to develop its own strategy for reaching LTAG as per its national plans,” said Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rajiv Bansal at ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2023.

Guardians of the Ganga: task force keeps a watchful eye on the river Ganga

Context: Recently, Under the Namami Gange initiative, over 4,000 volunteers actively combat littering and poaching in the river. Their efforts aim to preserve the river's flora and fauna.

Ganga Pollution

Rapidly increasing population, rising standards of living and exponential growth of industrialization and urbanisation have exposed water resources, in general, and rivers to various forms of degradation. The mighty Ganga is no exception.
The deterioration in the water quality impacts the people immediately. Ganga, in some stretches, has become unfit even for bathing. The threat of global climate change, the effect of glacial melt on Ganga flow and the impacts of infrastructural projects in the upper reaches of the river, raise issues that need a comprehensive response.

Sources of pollution of Ganga River:

In the Ganga basin approximately 12,000 million liters per day (mld) sewage is generated, for which presently there is a treatment capacity of only around 4,000 mld.
Approximately 3000 mld of sewage is discharged into the main stem of the river Ganga from the Class I & II towns located along the banks, against which treatment capacity of about 1000 mld has been created till date.
The contribution of industrial pollution, volume-wise, is about 20 per cent but due to its toxic and non- biodegradable nature, this has much greater significance. The industrial pockets in the catchments of Ramganga and Kali rivers and in Kanpur city are significant sources of industrial pollution. The major contributors are tanneries in Kanpur, distilleries, paper mills and sugar mills in the Kosi, Ramganga and Kali River catchments.

Issues Faced in cleaning Ganga River

• Inadequate Sewage treatment: As opposed to around Four thousand MLD treatment capacity available, Ganga basin produces around twelve thousand MLD sewage.

• Pollution from Agriculture: The cumulative use of pesticides has doubled in the last one decade and most of it runs off in our rivers.

• Disruption of Ecological Flow(e-flow): Many interruptions in the flow of the river lead to the reduction in the flow which results in reduced velocity and siltation. This also increases the pollutant concentration. The decrease in flow has led to an increase in groundwater extraction for various uses.

• Challenges of Swachh Bharat: About 180 mld sludge would be generated in five Ganga basin states when they become open defecation free (ODF) and if proper faecal sludge management is not in place, it would invariably pollute the Ganga.

• Escalating costs due to delays in setting up of STPs. An IIT report predicted the cost of treating sewerage to be about 1 paisa per litre at 2010 price levels.

NMCG could not utilize any amount out of the Clean Ganga Fund and the entire amount was lying in banks due to non-finalization of action plan.

• Lack of coordination: The cleaning of the Ganga requires seamless coordination between the agencies responsible for carrying out different tasks. Jal Shakti ministry signed MOUS with 10 ministries for better implementation of Namami Gange. However, till date no detail is available as to how these ministries are functioning for better convergence.

Nation Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

It has a five-tier structure at national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga and

to ensure continuous adequate flow of water to rejuvenate the river Ganga as below.

STRUStructureCTURE:

1. National Ganga Council under chairmanship of Prime Minister of India.

2. Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development

and Ganga Rejuvenation).

3. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

4. State Ganga Committees and

5. District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states.

NMCG has a two-tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee. Both are headed by Director General, NMCG.

Thus, the newly created structure attempts to bring all stakeholders on one platform to take a holistic approach towards the task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation.

The Director General (DG) of NMCG is an Additional Secretary in Government of India. For effective implementation of the projects under the overall supervision of NMCG, the State Level Program Management Groups (SPMGs) are, also headed by senior officers of the

concerned States.

National River Conservation Plan

• The river conservation program was initiated with the launching of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985.

• The Ganga Action Plan was expanded to cover other rivers under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in the year 1995.

• The objective of NRCP is to improve the water quality of rivers, which are major water sources in the country, through implementation of pollution abatement works in various towns along identified polluted stretches of rivers on cost sharing basis between the Central and state governments.

Namami Gange Programme

It is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
Its implementation has been divided into Entry-Level Activities (for immediate visible impact), Medium-Term Activities (to be implemented within 5 years of time frame) and Long-Term Activities (to be implemented within 10 years).

Ganga Task Force

It is a special unit of the Territorial Army raised under the public participation component of the Namami Gange Programme.
The unit is mandated to carry out rejuvenation of River Ganga through activities such as afforestation, monitoring of river pollution, patrolling of ghats, public awareness campaigns and assist civil administration during natural calamities in the three districts of Uttar Pradesh - Prayagraj, Varanasi and Kanpur.

Way forward

• Multi-dimensional approach: Many of the separated approaches like river-linking, riverfront development projects, access to toilets, making villages open defecation free, piped water supply in rural areas, need to integrate long-term ecological and sustainability goals.

• Organic agriculture: Agriculture along the entire riverbed should be organic.

• Liquid Waste Management:

o Decentralization of STPs: at the colony level.

o Reuse treated wastewater for irrigation and empty into natural drains. For all upcoming cities, smart cities and for those, whose master plans are not in place, earmark land for STPs.

• Develop and restore local storages (ponds, lakes, wetlands) as permanent solutions to both floods and droughts. Only 10 per cent of water received during monsoon rainfall is harvested. Restoration of ponds, lakes and wetlands should be an integral part of river

restoration and conservation strategy

• Restoring lower order streams and smaller tributaries in the Ganga Basin.

Understanding Waste to Energy Plants

Context - The Kerala government recently announced the State’s first waste to energy project in Kozhikode. The planned facility is expected to be built in two years and generate about 6 MW of power.

What is it?

Waste to energy projects use nonrecyclable dry waste to generate electricity
Waste-to-Energy is a technologically advanced means of waste disposal that is widely recognized for reducing greenhouse gases—particularly methane—by eliminating emissions from landfills.

Why Waste to Energy?

High CO2 emissions: Almost all the carbon content in the waste that is burned for WtE is emitted as carbon dioxide, which is one of the most notable greenhouse gases.
Urban waste generation ~ 62 million tonnes every year. Municipal solid waste to energy market is growing at ~ 9.5%.
FAO estimates that more than 40% of food produced is wasted in India. Organic waste has significant portion in overall waste generation in industrial/urban/ agricultural sector and therefore it can be used for energy generation.
Avoids landfilling.
Resource recovery : Another benefit of waste-to-energy over landfilling is the opportunity to recover valuable resources such as metals post-incineration.
Renewable source of energy - The total estimated energy generation potential from urban and industrial organic waste in India is approximately 5690 MW.
New business opportunity with appropriate technology and government incentive.
International expansion possibilities for Indian companies, especially expansion into other Asian countries.
Success in municipal solid waste management will lead to opportunities in sewage waste, industrial waste and hazardous waste by development of new technology.

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, there exists a potential of about:1700 MW from urban waste 1300 MW from industrial waste.

As per Centre for Science and Environment nearly half of India’s waste-to-energy (WTE) plants are defunct.

Problems of WTE Plants

Inefficiency – Municipal solid waste (MSW) in India
- Has low calorific value and high moisture content.
- Are unsegregated having high inert content.
Pollution – Carcinogenic chemicals are released due to chlorinated hydrocarbons like PVC.
High cost of electricity generated by waste. WTE ~ Rs 7/kWh; coal ~ Rs 3-4 per kWh
Technologies like bio-methanation are imported.
Protest and criticism – e.g: against the Okhla WTE plant in Delhi for polluting the environment.

Way Forward

Compliance of Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000– to ensure segregated solid waste.
Compliance of Waste Management rules 2022 to phase out Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Strengthening Municipal Corporations – financial and human resource.
PPP model for WTE plants as recommended by Task force on WtE headed by K Kasturirangan.
Spreading awareness - Protection and improvement of our environment as envisaged in Article 51 A(g) of our Constitution.

The High Seas Treaty

Context: Two weeks ago, negotiators from almost every country in the world finalised a new global treaty meant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources in the high seas.

Once the treaty becomes international law after ratification by member countries, it will regulate all human activities in the high seas with the objective of ensuring that ocean resources, including biodiversity, are utilised in a sustainable manner, and their benefits are shared equitably among countries.

About High Seas

High seas are open ocean areas that are outside the jurisdiction of any country — the reason why the treaty is commonly known as the agreement on “biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions(BBNJ)”.
According to the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI), a network of global experts on oceans, high seas comprise 64 per cent of the ocean surface, and about 43 per cent of the Earth.

Other legal framework to govern the activities in the oceans

United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) a 1982 agreement defined the rights and duties of countries in the oceans, the extent of ocean areas over which countries could claim sovereignty, and the legal status of marine resources.
It also specified a set of general rules for a range of activities in the oceans including navigation, scientific research, and deep-sea mining.

About High Seas Treaty

It will work as an implementation agreement under the UNCLOS, much like the Paris Agreement works under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The treaty established exclusive economic zones (EEZ), ocean areas up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coastline, where a country would have exclusive rights overall economic resources such as fish, oil, minerals, and gas.
The high seas are the areas beyond the EEZ of any country.

The High Seas Treaty has four main objectives

Demarcation of marine protected areas (MPAs), rather like there are protected forests or wildlife areas
Sustainable use of marine genetic resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising from them
Initiation of the practice of environmental impact assessments for all major activities in the oceans
Capacity building and technology transfer

Marine Protected Areas(MPAs): Activities in these areas will be highly regulated, and conservation efforts similar to what happens in forest or wildlife zones, will be undertaken.

About Marine Protected Areas(MPAs)
MPAs are where ocean systems, including biodiversity, are under stress, either due to human activities or climate change. These can be called the national parks or wildlife reserves of the oceans. Only about 1.44 per cent of high seas are currently protected, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Marine Genetic Resources: Oceans host very diverse life forms, many of which can be useful for human beings in areas like drug development. Genetic information from these organisms is already being extracted, and their benefits are being investigated. The treaty seeks to ensure that any benefits arising out of such efforts, including monetary gains, are free from strong intellectual property rights controls, and are equitably shared amongst all. The knowledge generated from such expeditions are also supposed to remain openly accessible to all.

Environment Impact Assessments: Under the provisions of the new treaty, commercial or other activities that can have significant impact on the marine ecosystem, or can cause large-scale pollution in the oceans, would require an environmental impact assessment to be done, and the results of this exercise have to be shared with the international community.

Capacity Building and Technology Transfer: The treaty lays a lot of emphasis on this, mainly because a large number of countries, especially small island states and landlocked nations, do not have the resources or the expertise to meaningfully participate in the conservation efforts, or to take benefits from the useful exploitation of marine resources. At the same time, the obligations put on them by the Treaty, to carry out environmental impact assessments for example, can be an additional burden.

How will the High Seas Treaty protect marine life?

The key measure is put the world's international waters into protected areas (MPAs) - which will help achieve the global goal of protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, which was agreed at the 2022 UN biodiversity conference.
Activity can occur in these areas but only "provided it is consistent with the conservation objectives" - meaning it doesn't damage marine life. This could mean limiting fishing activities, shipping routes and exploration activities like deep-sea mining.

Draw backs of the Treaty

The treaty falls short of addressing some key threats that affect ocean biodiversity, notably fishing and industrial expansion, such as deep-seabed mining.

Access- and benefit-sharing has always been a highly negotiated principle within any treaty, and this treaty requires fair and equitable sharing of genetic resources. However, it stops short of discussing the sharing of any other type of resource.

The treaty failed to address is to identify a suitable international enforcement agency that could monitor and enforce the regulations laid out by the treaty. Such an enforcement body would also require a financial commitment – another issue that has not been negotiated or included.

The process of ratification is not expected to be easy. It took UNCLOS 12 years to become international law because the necessary number of ratifications was not reached. The Kyoto Protocol, the precursor to the Paris Agreement, also took eight years to come into effect.

Clearly, the new ‘High Seas Treaty’ is just the beginning of a long and tedious process of regulating various aspects of human use in international oceans. Despite these challenges, there is growing momentum behind the treaty.

When will the treaty take effect?

Countries will need to meet again to formally adopt the agreement and then have plenty of work to do before the treaty can be implemented.
It will only enter” into force" once 60 countries have signed up and legally passed the legislation in their own countries.