India in partnership with the US will raise $100 billion annually from public & private sector sources to tackle the climate crisis.
India is breaking records again, but these new highs are no reason to celebrate! People living in India's northern and central regions are experiencing severe heat waves. The temperature in Delhi crossed 45 degrees celsius, while UP’s Banda district registered a record high temperature of 49 degrees celsius. Although, high temperatures are typical in April and May, this year’s temperatures are unprecedented. India is witnessing its hottest summer in 122 years. Climate experts are pointing towards compound events as the major reason behind the increased frequency of heatwaves in the past few years. A compound event is one where two or more weather events which may not be necessarily dangerous occur together to create severe impacts. The heatwaves result from the compounding effect of global warming, weather pattern changes and existing weather cycles. An IPCC report released in August 2021 warned India might experience more frequent heatwaves. This was confirmed by a recent report by NASA which observed urban ‘heat islands’ in the Delhi NCR region. Although concrete is considered a good material for construction, it is notoriously known for absorbing and reflecting large amounts of heat. These concrete structures create heat islands that aggravate the impact of heatwaves where even the nights seem to offer no relief to the common people. While Delhi and its neighbouring areas recorded night time temperatures of 35 degrees celsius, the rural fields cooled off to 15 degrees celsius. The major differentiating factor was the lack of green spaces in urban areas.
Delhi suffers from a dengue outbreak every year. But the change in weather cycles, temperature and rainfall patterns recently, have led to an expansion of mosquito breeding periods. There has been a consistent rise in the number of infections over the years. The duration for which the outbreaks last has also increased because the weather conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for mosquitoes to keep breeding.
In the first eight days of July, abundant rainfall across various regions in India has not only bridged the rainfall deficit for the entire country but also exceeded the normal monsoon expectations, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cumulative rainfall during the monsoon season has reached 243.2 mm, which is 2% above the normal of 239.1 mm. However, there are significant regional variations in rainfall patterns.
Delhi experienced its heaviest rainfall for a July day in 21 years, causing chaos on the streets. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert, and the Delhi Traffic Police reported waterlogging at 56 locations and fallen trees blocking several stretches. The heavy rain was a result of monsoon winds interacting with a western disturbance. The city's lack of preparedness for the monsoon season is concerning, especially as it aims to become a world-class city. More rain is expected in the coming days.
Despite heavy rainfall in northern and northwestern India on July 8-9, 2023, the monsoon distribution across the country remains highly irregular. Large portions of southeastern and southern India continue to face a rainfall deficit while other regions grapple with excessive precipitation.
On July 10, 2023, the Yamuna River in Delhi surpassed the warning mark as its water level reached 204.63 meters, according to officials from the Delhi Jal Board. The heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area of the Ganga's longest and second-largest tributary was the primary cause of the rising water levels in the national capital.
A new study revealed a bleak picture of Delhi, the world's most polluted city. The city's severe air pollution crisis is causing a stunning drop in life expectancy, with inhabitants potentially losing nearly 12 years. This troubling discovery is based on data from 2021, specifically PM2.5 levels, which measure small particulate matter in the air. According to the data, air pollution in India grew from 56.2 g/m3 in 2020 to 58.7 g/m3 in 2021, exceeding the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended standard by more than tenfold.
While a glimmer of hope shines through a slight dip in air pollution levels, Delhi retains its dubious title of India's most polluted city, according to a report by the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
A two-day national exhibition and program promoting environmentally friendly activities under the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) themes will be held from February 9 to 10 at India Gate in the national capital.
Uber has launched its eco-friendly electric vehicle (EV) service, Uber Green, in Delhi, as announced on Saturday. The option will be accessible in the app, allowing users to make a conscious decision in favor of sustainable travel with clean and silent EVs.
A potential water crisis looms over Delhi as the Wazirabad treatment plant, supplying water to a sizable chunk of the city, faces a 50% reduction in production. The alarmingly high pollution levels in the Yamuna River, are the primary source for the plant.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi launched a trial effort to clean eight marketplaces using battery-powered devices, which was inaugurated by Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi. The effort's goal is to assess the effectiveness of these ecologically friendly devices, with the option of spreading their use to other marketplaces in Delhi if successful.
A Supreme Court judgement brought attention to multiple instances of e-waste being burned in open spaces despite limitations, and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has issued a warning against this practice, urging residents to follow the designated standards.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.