General

The push for clean energy transition as an effective climate action strategy is intensifying. Since fossil fuels—which include coal, lignite, and liquefied natural gas (LNG)—are major greenhouse gas producers, they will have to be replaced with cleaner sources of energy production, broadly known as renewables (solar, wind, and hydro). In addition, natural gas, which is significantly less carbon-intensive as compared to coal, is being used as a lower-emission fuel during the energy transition.

It has been a slow journey, but the pace of air pollution studies is now picking up, and with it, our ability to save lives. Several nations have established standards to monitor air pollution and ensure that it remains within limits. Scientific understanding of various pollutants and their effect on human health has helped us develop ideal standards for safer and good quality air. In 2021, WHO revised the standards for pollution levels after research suggested that even small amounts of pollutants were detrimental to our health.

Vehicles contribute to around 68% of Bengaluru's particulate matter of 10 microns or less (PM10) emissions. The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy’s (CSTEP’s) study indicates that PM10 could increase by at least 12% by 2024 compared with the 2019 levels if we do not implement immediate measures.

A monthly newsletter featuring CSTEP commentary, publications, events, and other developments.

Here is the CSTEP Annual Report for 2021-2022.

We are witnessing the first signs of the climate crisis. While the word ‘crisis’ should jolt us awake, here’s another statistic: 75% of 10,000 youngsters reported that they thought the future is ‘frightening’. These are the findings of a study, published by The Lancet Planetary Health, which included respondents from Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, the UK, and the USA. More than 50% of the respondents reported feeling sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty.

Year after year, the many days marked for environmental awareness push for concrete actions to protect our planet.

Rather than jumping on the ‘Go Green’ bandwagon and hastily considering the on-the-horizon (and sometimes even the in-the-pipeline) options, it would be simpler to start off with correcting the wrong we are doing—by giving up the habits that are bad for the environment. This would be quicker too, which is crucial given the time we have for arresting or limiting environmental damage and climate change.