Daily Dose of Air Pollution

Climate Change & Religion - Five Stories from Flushing (Queens, New York City)

2012-02-01T23:01:00.001+05:30

Watch more videos on The Guardian.

Task Force to Tame Carbon (CO2 and Black Carbon) from Brick Kilns

2012-02-01T21:46:00.002+05:30

Patna, Jan. 31: Deepak Kumar Singh, the secretary of the environment and forests department, today called for setting up a task force for cleaner brick production in the state.

While speaking at a workshop at the Beltron Bhavan in the state capital, Singh said: “The role of the task force would be to implement new eco-friendly technology and make them popular among people. The task force would also spread awareness.”

The workshop on “Accelerating low-carbon pathways for climate change mitigation in Bihar — Enabling transformation in the brick sector” was organised by Bihar State Pollution Control Board and Development Alternatives, New Delhi, in association with Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi.

Its objective was to map the brick sector in Bihar that has witnessed little change in the past 150 years.

This objective, however, is a Herculean task, claimed Soumen Maity, Development Alternatives programme director (technology). He said: “There are many issues plaguing the brick sector in Bihar. We, who are stakeholders in this, have gathered today to discuss these issues and find solutions for them. We want to give people a basket of choices so that they know how to cut down on carbon emission during brick production.”

Maity added: “This would tackle the problem of climate change.”

Sources said there around 100 brick kilns of different sizes in each district of the state.

Emission from brick kilns was not the only concern of the experts. They were also worried about agricultural land being used as brick kilns.

After inaugurating the workshop, Bihar State Pollution Control Board member secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said: “The brick sector is a priority for the state because of the high consumption of coal. It also plays a major role in climate change.”

He added: “It also has the potential to affect food production. If vast tracts of agricultural land is used as brick kilns, it will have an impact on food production.”

Entrepreneurs who attended the workshop called for modern technology to cut down on carbon emission at brick production sectors.

Sanjay Pratap Singh, an entrepreneur from Ara, who installed an eco-friendly vertical-shaft brick kiln last year, told The Telegraph: “At this workshop, we were provided information about fly ash bricks that are eco-friendly. However, it is difficult for small factories to produce such bricks, as the raw material used for it can be obtained only from National Thermal Power Corporation. Small kilns do not have access to raw material.”

Reduction in Life Expectancy due to Air Pollution

2012-02-01T12:07:00.003+05:30

A very good summary of articles on lifetime deaths and life expectancy is posted on Next Big Future. Links to some images below. Please read the article on their blog.

Trends in the mortality rate due to air pollution (studies across the world)

A picture from the London fog in 1952

The air pollution levels and mortality rates during the London Fog in 1952

India's Performance Declining on Air Quality in 2012 (EPI, Yale University)

2012-01-28T07:24:00.004+05:30

Yale published the latest on the Environmental Performance Index for 2012, including some trend analysis, which is very interesting.

India is the ranked worst among the big Asian countries (below a clip from the Hindu, January 28th, 2012).

The trend analysis for India shows, lower performance, with some improvement (click to enlarge view or check under country profiles on EPI page).

Scavenging for Charcoal Fuel in the Rubbish of Manila (National Geographic)

2012-01-26T13:57:00.004+05:30

Published in National Geographic on January 25th, 2012. This story is part of a special series that explores energy issues. For more, visit The Great Energy Challenge.

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Thousands of urban slum dwellers including these in the Ulingan community in the Philippines capital of Manila (map) live amid filth and swirls of toxic smoke as they eke out a living making charcoal from wood scavenged from nearby garbage dumps and construction sites.

The conditions of slums near Manila Bay are unhealthy enough—the Ulingans live next to a rubbish dump. But the rudimentary process of making charcoal in open pits exposes the squatters to harmful emissions such as as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and soot, as well as chemicals when burning treated wood. The result is a myriad of respiratory illnesses and heart disease.

The plight of the poor who scavenge Manila's trash heaps underscores why United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has declared 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Energy, said Ban, is "the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity, and preserving the environment." More than 2.7 billion people worldwide cook on wood, charcoal, dung, coal, or agricultural residues on simple traditional stoves or open fires, and 1.4 billion have no access to electricity at all. The vast majority of the world's energy-poor people live in Asia and the Pacific islands.

Although energy is essential for development, it is not sufficient without programs that help the poor to increase their incomes, concluded a report released last week by the UN Development Program.

The vicious energy poverty cycle is clearly visible in Manila, where many children are held out of school by their families to make charcoal. Amid hazardous conditions, children toil; this girl is searching for nails in charcoal pits to resell for a few pesos. Researchers have identified more than 35 diseases in garbage-scavenging areas, including cholera, dysentery, malaria, skin disorders, tuberculosis, and typhoid.

Small-scale charcoal production in the developing world is usually illegal and unregulated. It occurs not only in urban slums like these in the Philippines, but in rural areas across the globe. For example, charcoal production and the resulting deforestation in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is considered a leading threat to mountain gorillas.

Air Pollution in Delhi in December, 2011

2012-01-26T13:30:00.004+05:30

Winter pollution in Delhi is the worst for changes in meteorological conditions and changes in pollution sources. Recent news coverage in NY Times and the Hindu.

Figures below present the measured PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in December, 2011. Click on the images to enlarge view.

My interview on CNN International, aired on January 3rd, 2012.

For more information see the air pollution in Delhi page.

Snowfall in Punjab, Winter rain in Rajasthan: An Arctic Link to an Extended Winter (Live Mint)

2012-01-25T11:12:00.001+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

The story below mentions first snow in Punjab in over half a century. I heard about a rainstorm in Rajasthan from a laborer.

Climate changes. So?

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An Arctic link to an extended winter
On 10 January, when the index dipped to its negative phase, snow dramatically fell over much of Europe, India and Pakistan - Jacob P. Koshy (Live Mint, India)

New Delhi: Blame a combination of tropical storms and a whimsical drop in air pressure in the distant Arctic for the surprise snowfall in Punjab, the first in over half a century of the state’s meteorological history.

While the weather over northern India may have been mild for most of the winter months, international forecast agencies and analysts suggest that the January chill over north India is likely to be in line with global trends of a long-drawn winter that is likely to extend well into February.

While it’s well known that snow in Europe closely ties in with the intensity of winters in India, international interest in the relationship between global warming and its impact on ice cover in the Arctic has dramatically increased scientific scrutiny of how weather patterns here - such as fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, wind speeds, sea surface temperatures - may have a global impact on weather in far-flung continents.
This scrutiny has led climate scientists to develop and monitor the so-called Arctic Oscillation (AO) index, a barometer of the variation in pressure over the Arctic region.

When the AO index is positive, surface pressure is low in the polar region. This helps the middle-latitude jet stream (gusts of warm air above the Mediterranean) to blow strongly and consistently from west to east and trap the cold Arctic air within the polar region.

When the AO index is negative -as it is now-there tends to be high pressure in the polar region, weaker zonal winds and greater movement of frigid polar air into middle latitudes.

While the pressures were rising and positive until January, there’s been a steady, unexpected dip in the index since 4 January.

In fact on 10 January, when the index dipped to its negative phase, snow dramatically fell over much of Europe, India and Pakistan.

Moreover, current predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center, as well as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts suggest that this negative phase is likely to last well into January.

“They could be wrong too, because AO is quite erratic that way. But these models’ ability to predict the AO patterns over the next week or fortnight has considerably improved over the last few years,” said Madhavan Rajeevan, meteorologist at Indian Space Research Organisation.

Last year, too, the index was negative throughout January and triggered a longer, but relatively mild winter over India.

For most of the 20th century, during which systematic global climate records were maintained, the AO index was usually positive. Since the 1970s, almost coinciding with global concerns over greenhouse gases and warming, the index has seen fluctuating patterns.

“There are some correlations between the Indian monsoon and AO index, but it’s still to be well fleshed out, since the fluctuations of the ’70s in the ice cover (over the Arctic) are being closely monitored and they seem to be more erratic,” according to Rajeevan. “It’s not known why.”

Scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that they didn’t monitor the AO index daily.

“Arctic seasons are known to have global repercussions, but given that hailstorms and blizzards aren’t too frequent over India, we only monitor Arctic patterns for monsoon,” said D.S. Pai, director (forecasting) at IMD.

Consistently low temperatures over January and February could affect India’s rabi or winter crop. The agriculture ministry has already issued an advisory that stronger hailstorms and colder weather could affect some of the oilseed and cotton crop, though there was unlikely to be significant damage to the key wheat crop, which is the staple of India’s rabi season.

Emissions Inventory for Pune

2012-01-24T19:24:00.005+05:30

Annual emissions for the base year 2010 are estimated at ~36,600 tons of PM10, ~16,600 tons of PM2.5, ~3,600 tons of SO2, ~127,500 of NOx, ~438,000 tons of CO, and ~13.4 million tons of CO2.

DOM = domestic; TR = transport; RD = road dust; WB = waste burning; CON = construction; QR = quarries; BK = brick kilns; GS+IND = generator sets and industries

Gridded vehicular emissions inventory for PM2.5 is presented below.

For full details, visit the SIM-air Working Papers Series.

Air Pollution News & Alerts - January 22nd, 2012

2012-01-22T12:12:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on January 15th, 2012)

Scientific American, January 22nd, 2012
Worried About Air Pollution? Don't Hide Indoors.

Reuters, January 21st, 2012
Beijing begins measuring tiny air pollutants.

Climate Himalaya, January 20th, 2012
Cuts in Non-CO2 Pollutants May Slow Climate Change.

China Daily, January 20th, 2012
Air is thick with smog complaints.

Dawn.Com, January 20th, 2012
The rising cost of climate change.

China Daily, January 18th, 2012
Tougher pollution law promised in two years.

Times of India, January 18th, 2012
Silent killers in Ahmedabad.

NRDC Switchboard, January 18th, 2012
Save Lives and Keep Extreme Weather in Check by Cutting Smog, Soot, and CO2 Pollution.

NRDC Switchboard, January 18th, 2012
Cutting black carbon--and slowing climate change--with cleaner cookstoves and cleaner diesel.

Shanghai Daily, January 17th, 2012
City pledges 10% of buses to be green by end of 2015.

The Economic Times, January 17th, 2012
How China Managed Inclusive Eco-friendly Growth.

Nature, January 17th, 2012
Pollutants key to climate fix.

China Daily, January 17th, 2012
Study: Urban areas lax on pollution reporting.

Bloomberg Business Week, January 17th, 2012
Hong Kong Says New Air Quality Objectives May Start in 2014.

New York Times, January 16th, 2012
Climate Proposal Puts Practicality Ahead of Sacrifice.

Waste Management World, January 16th, 2012
The Garbage King.

The Guardian, January 16th, 2012
NGOs upbeat over China's environmental transparency progress.

The Boston Globe, January 16th, 2012
The doctor prescribes clean air.

China.Org, January 16th, 2012
Beijing to plant millions of trees against smog.

The Economist on Energy in India: The Future is Black

2012-01-22T11:16:00.003+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

Energy - anything and everything to do with the production, transport, trade, and use of coal, oil, gas, electricity, even wood and other biomass for energy - is the signature failure of Indian governance. Ignorance (sometimes deliberate), secrecy, hubris, stupidity, combine to 1) keep half the India in the dark (always or occasionally) and 2) bleed India's resources (from the taxpayer or the user).

We have gone on muddling through and wasting time for all these years, is there any reason to change?

Does anybody care?

"If the test is avoiding a national catastrophe, India’s power sector will pass it. But if it is delivering the infrastructure that can allow the economy to grow at close to a double-digit pace and industrialise rapidly, India is failing."

It's not just power delivery. Everything in energy is failing.

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Only the images from article are posted below. Read the article on the Economist.

India untangling !!

Indian PV Plant for the Subcontinent

2012-01-21T10:04:00.001+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

In the story below "Modi suggested to the Central Government to consider setting up huge solar power projects on Western Indo-Pak border, which can be managed by the Border Security Force (BSF)."

Since Gujarat will be in surplus, since moving huge quantities of power from the border to Pak grid will no doubt be easier and cheaper than to move it to Delhi (Gandhinagar to Gandhidham is longer than the border to Hyderabad or Karachi), and since Pakistan has severe power shortages, I raise a toast to Modi and propose a $5 billion, 2000 MW PV plant with grid connecting India and Pakistan.

Mr Modi claims he raised $450 billion for Gujarat. He should've no difficulty raising $20 billion for Gujarat investment in subcontinent peace and prosperity.

Or Dr Singh can put the deal on the table and have the rest of the world finance it.

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Gujarat to have 7,000 Mw surplus power by end 2012: CM
Business Standard Reporter / Mumbai/ Ahmedabad Jan 10, 2012, 00:28 IST

As an ambitious move by the Gujarat Government, the state is aiming to generate 7,000 megawatt of surplus power by the end of 2012, the state chief minister Narendra Modi said at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas – 2012 conclave held in Jaipur on Monday.

"Gujarat had a shortage of power to the tune of 2,000 Mw in 2001. The country continues to face a similar situation now, but Gujarat has now become, a power surplus state. Gujarat currently has 4,000 Mw of suplus electricity and it will generate 7,000 Mw of surplus power by the end of 2012," a state government statement quoted Modi as saying.

In his speech at the conclave, Modi said, "Jyotigram scheme of the state government provides round-the-clock power in every nook and corner of Gujarat and on Monday state has become, a power surplus state."

Speaking on the solar power capacities in Gujarat, Modi mentioned that the state had become a global capital of solar energy generation. "Gujarat is the first state in India to have a solar energy policy which was later adopted by the Government of India. World’s largest solar park with 3,000 Mw of capacity is being established in Gujarat jointly with Clinton Foundation," said Modi.

Modi suggested to the Central Government to consider setting up huge solar power projects on Western Indo-Pak border, which can be managed by the Border Security Force (BSF).

Speaking on the global economic slowdown, the chief minister apprised that Gujarat took the initiative to host global investors' summit in 2011, which a record inflow of investment commitments to the tune of US $ 450 billion (approx. Rs 23.72 lakh crore at the current exchange rate).

He also advocated for a roundtable conference of all the States to be convened by the Prime Minister, joined by prominent economists and policy makers to address the economic slowdown.

Addressing a gathering of non-resident Indians including leaders of Gujarati community abroad, Modi shared the growth story and approach of the state towards development. He informed that according to a Government of India’s survey, Gujarat has 72 per cent employment rate, whereas rest of India stands at 28 per cent. He also proposed that Gujarat should host the 2015 Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas to mark the centenary of Mahatama Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 2015.

SIM-air Paper No.37: Integrated Air Pollution Modeling for Pune, India

2012-01-18T22:17:00.006+05:30

This study under the SIM-air program was initiated to better understand the sources of air pollution in the Pune city and to support an integrated dialogue between local pollution management and climate policy in a co-benefits framework.

Annual emissions for the base year 2010 are estimated at ~36,600 tons of PM10, ~16,600 tons of PM2.5, ~3,600 tons of SO2, ~127,500 of NOx, ~438,000 tons of CO, and ~13.4 million tons of CO2. The dispersion modeling results for PM10 annual average concentrations, overlaid on the gridded population at the same resolution are utilized for calculating the health impacts, estimated at ~3,600 premature deaths in 2010. Six “what-if” interventions were modeled for 2020 with expected benefit of 39% reduction in premature mortality and mitigation of ~3.0 million tons of CO2/yr.

Download the paper @ SIM-air working paper series.

Air Pollution in Ahmedabad

2012-01-18T12:28:00.003+05:30

This is the article published in Times of India, January 18th, 2012

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Silent Killers

This might be the best city to live in India but there are a few black spots that need to be dealt with. One contentious issue is pollution.

Contrary to popular belief, vehicular pollution on city roads and industries emitting black smoke from chimneys are not the only pollutants. According to researchers, there are many more 'culprits' that pollute the air we breathe. Even a brick kiln located outside Bopal or a power plant in Gandhinagar will be capable of polluting the city's ambient air quality.

These are silent pollutants which emit particulate matter of less than 10 micrometers in size (PM10). Power plants, dusty roads and brick kilns are some of the other pollutants.

These factors were highlighted by a study named 'Urban air pollution and co-benefits analysis in India' published recently for six Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Pune, Indore and Chennai.

The study was conducted by New Delhi-based research group UrbanEmissions.Info to understand the sources of air pollution in these cities and also projected pollution rate in 2020. As per the study, all six cities exceed the annual ambient standard of 60 ug/ m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) of PM10.

In 2003, the city was branded as the most polluted in the country. Since then many changes have been made like introduction of CNG autorickshaws and BRTS. But, the PM10 threat is yet to be addressed effectively. The researchers say that BRTS and its cycle track could hold the key to resolving this issue in future.

Sarath Guttikunda, founder of UrbanEmissions.Info who also developed statistical tools for the project told TOI, "Ahmedabad has a high level of PM10. Here, pollution comes from a variety of sources - power plants and brick kilns surrounding the district. We often believe that vehicles moving in immediate surroundings contribute to the pollution in cities. However, a plant or a kiln away from the city can also affect Ahmedabad considering the wind direction."

Guttikunda added, "While Chennai has almost the same size and more industries, sea breeze blows PM10 away from the city, reducing the suspended particulates in the air. Going by the PM10 levels in Ahmedabad, the estimated premature deaths due to pollution is likely to be 4,950 as compared to 3,950 in Chennai."

The Pollutants

The five main pollutants responsible for majority of the health hazards in Indian cities are particulates (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3). According to the study, consequences of exposure to these pollutants range from premature mortality to aggravated morbidity effects such as respiratory problems, asthma, chronic bronchitis and oxygen deficiency in blood.

The Solution

As per the study, the need of the hour is an air quality management plan which looks at a mix of policies to promote public transport, walking and cycling, improve efficiencies of industries, power plants, and brick kilns, and controls dust on the roads, for better air quality in the cities.

The study also highlighted the fact that a better transport system such as BRTS and less dependency on open burning for cooking or waste disposal is expected to reduce pollutants in air. While Ahmedabad emitted 35,100 tons of PM10, it is expected to decrease a bit in a decade and reach to 31,800 in 2020, says the study

Targetting Air Pollution for Climate Benefits !!

2012-01-16T12:21:00.004+05:30

Published in Science Daily on January 13th, 2012, based on Drew Schindell et al., 2012, in Science Magazine

Simultaneously Mitigating Near-Term Climate Change and Improving Human Health and Food Security.

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Researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York have played a key role in a new study that shows that implementing 14 key air pollution control measures could slow the pace of global warming, save millions of lives and boost agricultural production.

The study by an international team, which also included scientists from King's College London and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, identifies 14 measures targeting methane and black carbon emissions that could slow global mean warming by approximately 0.5ºC by 2050. The measures could also prevent between 700,000 and 4.7 million premature deaths each year and increase global crop yields by between 30 million and 135 million tonnes per season.

While all regions of the world would benefit, avoided warming is greatest in central and northern Asia, southern Africa and around the Mediterranean, total numbers of avoided premature deaths are greatest in Asia and Africa and the greatest total tonnage gains in crop production are estimated to occur in China, India and the US, followed by Pakistan and Brazil. Countries in South Asia and the Sahel region of Africa could see considerable reduction in the disruption of rainfall patterns.

The research published this week in the journal Science was led by Drew Shindell of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City.

Dr Johan Kuylenstierna, the Director of SEI at York, said: "All 14 measures are based on existing technologies and can be implemented immediately, so do not require long development processes. The measures maximize climate benefits but would also have important 'win-win' benefits for human health and agriculture."

Dr Kevin Hicks, at SEI, added: "The motivation for taking action will vary from country to country and region to region. In some, climate change will be the main concern but in others, air quality may well take precedence."

Recently published articles on black carbon

NRDC Switchboard, January 18th, 2012
Save Lives and Keep Extreme Weather in Check by Cutting Smog, Soot, and CO2 Pollution.

NRDC Switchboard, January 18th, 2012
Cutting black carbon--and slowing climate change--with cleaner cookstoves and cleaner diesel.

Nature, January 17th, 2012
Pollutants key to climate fix.

New York Times, January 16th, 2012
Climate Proposal Puts Practicality Ahead of Sacrifice.

India launches "Black Carbon Research Initiative".

ACP, April, 2011
Black Carbon on Tibetean Plateau and Himalayas.

Black carbon, a product of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels or biomass such as wood or agricultural crop residues, damages human health by entering the lungs and exacerbating a number of respiratory diseases. It also absorbs radiation from the sun causing the atmosphere to warm and rainfall patterns to shift and reduces the reflectivity of bright surfaces, such as ice and deserts, a process that hastens global warming. Methane is a precursor to ground-level or lower atmosphere ozone, a component of health-sapping smog, and is also a potent greenhouse gas. Ground level ozone at current levels also damages plants and reduces agricultural yields in sensitive areas.

Dr Lisa Emberson, of SEI, said: ''Ground level ozone is a particular problem in areas such as South Asia which is particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and climate change."

Co-author of the study, Professor Martin Williams from the Environmental Research Group at King's College London, added: "Measures taken now to reduce carbon dioxide emissions will not have any effect on the global climate for another 40-50 years. We have shown that there are things we can do to begin to mitigate the temperature increases already being seen.''

"The combination of methane and black carbon measures along with substantial carbon dioxide emissions reductions has a high probability of limiting global mean warming to <2ºC during the next 60 years, something which neither set of emissions reductions achieves on its own."

Professor David Fowler, of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, added: "These control measures represent many win -- win options with benefits for human health and climate as well as reducing waste, for example with the methane controls."

Black carbon and methane pollutants come from a wide variety of sources and the 14 measures identified by the study have all been successfully applied in different parts of the world.

For methane, the key strategies the scientists considered in their analysis were capturing gas that would otherwise escape from coal mines and oil rigs, reducing leakage from long-distance gas pipelines, preventing methane emissions in city landfills, updating city wastewater treatment plants, aerating rice paddies more frequently, and limiting emissions on farms from manure.

For black carbon, the strategies analyzed include installing particle filters in diesel vehicles, keeping high-emitting vehicles off the road, upgrading cook stoves and boilers to cleaner burning types, installing more efficient kilns for brick production, upgrading coke ovens and banning agricultural burning.

The research team used sophisticated emission, air quality and climate models (e.g. IIASA GAINS, NASA GISS and ECHAM) to estimate the impact of emissions reductions. The modelling shows that the benefits from the methane reductions would be widespread because methane is evenly distributed throughout the atmosphere. The methane measures if fully implemented will to large global climate and agriculture benefits and relatively small human health benefits, all with high confidence and worldwide distribution.

The black carbon measures are likely to provide substantial global climate benefits, but uncertainties are much larger. There is more certainty for the black carbon measures concerning the large regional human health benefits as well as reductions in regional rainfall disruptions, ice melting in both the Arctic and the Himalayas and improvements in regional agricultural yields.

Air Pollution News & Alerts - January 15th, 2012

2012-01-15T09:56:00.001+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on January 8th, 2012)

Times of India, January 15th, 2012
Country on wheels: Indian auto sector is 7th largest in world.

The State Column, January 15th, 2012
In fight against global warming, NASA calls for reduction of black carbon.

AFP, January 15th, 2012
China sets pace for smoggy Hong Kong: think-tank.

The Financial Express, January 14th, 2012
Making the city liveable.

The Economist, January 14th, 2012
Chinese air pollution - Clearing the air?

Info Mongolia, January 13th, 2012
Air pollution fees from the motor vehicles has been started to collect in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

SciDev.net, January 13th, 2012
Emissions cuts also offer quick health and crop benefits.

Science Daily, January 13th, 2012
Smart Targeting of Pollution Sources Could Save Lives and Climate.

The Guardian, January 13th, 2012
How to tackle the climate, health and food crises, all at the same time.

China Daily, January 13th, 2012
Capital begins hourly updates on air pollution.

China Daily, January 13th, 2012
Beijing to put clean-air plan into action.

Outcome Magazine, January 12th, 2012
Bowing to pressure, Beijing begins hourly smog data.

Reuters, January 12th, 2012
Investors say private sector must tackle climate change.

National Post, January 12th, 2012
Blue-skying in Beijing.

Science Daily, January 12th, 2012
What Can Be Done to Slow Climate Change?

The World Bank, January 12th, 2012
Green Transport Helps Build Low-carbon Cities in China.

Triple Pundits, January 11th, 2012
Air Pollution in South Asia Reaches Epic Levels.

The Telegraph, January 11th, 2012
Is Hong Kong's pollution driving expats away?

The Guardian, January 11th, 2012
How children in China's urban jungle are reconnecting with nature.

Economic Times, January 11th, 2012
Climate change: India's informal economy neglected.

Xinhua Net, January 10th, 2012
PM2.5: a gauge easy to monitor but hard to control.

Oil & Gas Journal, January 10th, 2012
EIA forecasts oil, gas demand increases through 2013.

Times of India, January 10th, 2012
Bangalore sets benchmark for popularizing public buses.

The Green Collective, January 10th, 2012
Cutting Air Pollution & Strengthening Information Transparency in China.

The Globe and Mail, January 10th, 2012
Clearing the air over Beijing’s pollution.

Road.CC, January 10th, 2012
Sustrans leads calls for London mayor to use walking and cycling to fight air pollution.

Biodiesel Magazine, January 10th, 2012
Company advocates for the use of biodiesel at power plants.

China.Org, January 10th, 2012
Car plates may be cut to help air.

India Today, January 9th, 2012
Delhi petrol pumps spew cancerous fumes.

Ends Europe, January 9th, 2012
Norway sets out its Nordic council agenda.

Indian Express, January 2nd, 2012
IIT-B centre to focus on challenges of climate change.

Delhi Choking in its Pollution (CNN)

2012-01-08T23:51:00.000+05:30

Air Pollution News & Alerts - January 8th, 2012

2012-01-08T09:40:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on January 1st, 2012)

Brookings, January, 2012
Mongolia’s Quest to Balance Human Development in its Booming Mineral-Based Economy.

China Daily, January 9th, 2012
Beijing air gets 'better' but still short of target.

Reuters, January 8th, 2012
Hong Kong air pollution at worst levels ever.

UB Post, January 8th, 2012
Waste not the Waste.

Deccan Herald, January 8th, 2012
Fast lane in Corbusier’s Chandigarh.

The Hindu, January 8th, 2012
India's blind love for cars.

The Telegraph, January 8th, 2012
China: The rise of the 'Precious Snowflakes'.

India Today, January 8th, 2012
Bus Rapid Transit in Delhi is on Break until Relook.

Deccan Herald, January 8th, 2012
The big picture.

Financial Express, January 7th, 2012
A case of skewed priorities in Dkaka.

Evolution, January 7th, 2012
Peking University team develops method for modeling historical global black carbon emissions from motor vehicles with reduced uncertainty.

Wall Street Journal, January 6th, 2012
Beijing to Publish More Sensitive Air Data.

BBC, January 6th, 2012
Pollution rise 'worsens' South Asia's winter smog.

India Today, January 6th, 2012
Delhi witnesses 30 per cent rise in respiratory diseases due to high pollution and chill.

NY Times, January 6th, 2012
China to Release More Data on Air Pollution in Beijing.

The Live Mint, January 6th, 2012
Green cars headline auto show, but India not ready.

Business Standard, January 6th, 2012
Getting urban transport on track.

Global Times, January 5th, 2012
PM2.5 ‘affordable’ to monitor.

Shanghai Daily, January 4th, 2012
Shanghai agrees to pay for special air quality equipment.

China.Org, January 4th, 2012
New year in Shanghai starts with a gray day.

Philippine Information Agency, January 4th, 2012
DENR cites clean air initiatives.

MSNBC, January 4th, 2012
Will the electric car be closer to mass market?

NY Times, January 4th, 2012
A Conversation With: Air Pollution Expert Dr. Gunasekar.

NPR, January 4th, 2012
Indonesian Economy Booms, Its Infrastructure Groans.

CNN Go, January 4th, 2012
India to get world's largest urban transport podcar system.

Xinhua Net, January 4th, 2012
Learn from EU energy "road map".

Times of India, January 3rd, 2012
Bajaj unveils small car RE60, promises 35 km per litre.

The Guardian, January 3rd, 2012
China's city dwellers to breathe unhealthy air 'for another 20-30 years'.

CNN, January 3rd, 2012
India's capital is choking on its own success as pollution envelopes the city.

Financial Express, January 2nd, 2012
Utilising the urban underground space.

Clean Technica, January 2nd, 2012
Last Minute Order Delays Air Pollution Cuts Which Could Save 34,000 people a year in US.

January 2nd, 2012
How pollution mounts sweeping attack on city.

Air Pollution New & Alerts - January 1st, 2012

2012-01-01T10:24:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on December 25th, 2011)

DNA India, January 1st, 2012
Ahmedabad 2012: What's on cards?

The Hindu, December 31st, 2011
‘Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg regions seriously impacted by mining, power projects'.

UNEP, December 31st, 2011
UNEP's Year in Review 2011: January to June.

China Daily, December 30th, 2011
City with worst air pollution vows change.

Ghana Business News, December 30th, 2011
New bamboo charcoal technology promises to jump-start Africa’s bio-energy sector.

Eco Business, December 30th, 2011
Climate change endangers millions in South Asia.

The Economist, December 30th, 2011
From Macau to Laos, with China in between.

Times of India, December 29th, 2011
Diesel generators, stone quarries, brick kilns adding to pollution level.

Economic Times, December 29th, 2011
Euro-III fuel to be phased out in 7 cities from March 31st, 2012.

Grist Magazine, December 29th, 2011
How India is winning the future with solar energy.

People's Daily Online, December 29th, 2011
Air quality of major Chinese cities.

Co-Exist News, December 28th, 2011
China’s Massive Coal Habit, Mapped.

The Atlantic Wire, December 28th, 2011
A View of China's Sooty Skies from an Airplane.

Business Day, December 28th, 2011
Bill gives weather bureau sole mandate to issue air pollution warnings in South Africa.

Science Daily, December 28th, 2011
Weather Deserves Medal for Clean Air During 2008 Olympics.

The Guardian, December 28th, 2011
UK switch to low-carbon energy 'no dearer than doing nothing'.

Indian Express, December 28th, 2011
Mushrooming brick kilns, stone quarries major air polluters in city.

The Windsor Star, December 28th, 2011
Smog causes havoc in China.

Canada Free Press, December 28th, 2011
India- ‘Green’ With Heavy Pollution.

Green Car Reports, December 28th, 2011
Can China's Power Industry Raise Interest In Electric Cars?

Deccan Chronicle, December 27th, 2011
Environmentalists for tax on diesel cars in India.

Waste Management, December 27th, 2011
Pakistan: Urban transport system in Rawalpindi soon.

USA Today, December 27th, 2011
Some Chinese turn to U.S. Embassy for clarity in smog data.

NPR, December 27th, 2011
As Nuclear Plants Age, No Easy Energy Solutions.

Shanghai Daily, December 27th, 2011
Heavy air pollution in Mongolia causes flight delays, cancellations.

The Telegraph, December 26th, 2011
Where the mornings taste grey: living under a cloud of smog in Beijing.

Mongolia News, December 26th, 2011
612 new taxis in Ulaanbaatar in 2011.

China Daily, December 26th, 2011
Daily report on PM 2.5 density soon in Shanghai.

Barrons, December 24th, 2011
Too Big To (Totally) Fail: China’s Energy Sector Seen Rising In 2012.

New York Times, December 22nd, 2011
China: Stricter Air Pollution Monitoring Standards to Start Next Year, With Results Made Public in 2016.

Climate Progress, December 21st, 2011
30,000 Chinese ‘Occupy’ Highway to Protest Polluting Coal Plants.

Pakistan Today, December 20th, 2011
EPA lacks stack emission testing facility.

Daily Times, December 18th, 2011
Residents of capital exposed to worse air pollution.

The International News, December 14th, 2011
‘Measures to improve traffic system under way’.

The International News, December 3rd, 2011
Solar energy to power city’s street lights in Karachi.

India "Green" with Heavy Pollution

2011-12-30T21:44:00.002+05:30

An interesting piece from the Canada Free Press..

The National Geographic Society ranks India as the world’s ‘greenest’ society. How did India achieve this? The Times of India explains the National Geographic Society’s logic. “That cold water bath that many Indians have because there’s no electricity…that ‘matka’ they use because they can’t afford a fridge…and the long walk they take to work and back because private transport is expensive and public transport shoddy. There’s an upside to the hard life. Indians may be green with envy at the consumption-driven lifestyle in the West, but their own frugal ways and modest means have catapulted them to the top spot in the world’s green index, making them the most environmental-friendly denizens of Planet Earth.” (1)

Reports Todd Myers, “The very squalor that served as a warning to Paul Ehrlich forty years prior (The Population Bomb, where he said that India couldn’t possibly feed 200 million people by 1980) is now presented as evidence the Indian people (now over a billion population) are, in fact, living in harmony with the planet. Exhibit A for planetary destruction in 1968 turned state’s evidence in 2009, arguing that others should follow India’s lead for the sake of Mother Earth.” (2)

The National Geographic Society ranks countries based on how much beef people eat, the number of cars they drive, the type of energy they use for home heating, and the like. For each of these categories the National Geographic Society cites scientific evidence of the relative impact on the planet. (3) That rating system, however, should lead them to conclude that the India of 1968 was even greener yet, with fewer people eating beef, driving cars and using fossil-based energy, or using any energy at all for that matter.(2)

Todd Myers adds, “The National Geographic Society’s focus on resource use has negative consequences because it sends the wrong signals about how to make real improvements in environmental quality. Calling India the greenest country in the world does not alter the fact that in some of the most tangible and important measures of environmental quality, the subcontinent fares quite badly.” (2)

Some Examples:

A 2007 study by a prominent cancer institute found, “Some 70% of people in the city of Calcutta suffer from respiratory disorders caused by air pollution.” Worse, in 2009 New Delhi was determined by some estimates to have the worst air quality in the world. That isn’t the end of the problems for New Delhi residents—the water in the Yamuna River is so polluted that levels of fecal coliform are ‘100,000 times the safe limit for bathing.’ Knowing that they live in the ‘greenest’ country is probably little comfort to Indians dealing with these health threats. (4)

India is growing rapidly and its major cities experience particulate levels often eight to ten times higher than the worst American cities. India is the fourth-most coal dependent country in the world and has enough reserves to last for the next 100 years. India’s coal consumption has been increasing at 6 percent per year since 2000 and its net coal imports in 2009 were 74,000 short tons, about two-thirds of China’s level. (5)

Carbon emissions in India are rising faster than nearly every other country on the planet. Between 1980 and 2006, India’s carbon output increased by 341%, compared to 321% for China, 103% for Brazil, 238% for Indonesia and 272% for Pakistan. (6)

Two cities in India made The Blacksmith Institute’s 2011 report on the ten most polluted cities: Number 3-Sukinda, India- waste rock and untreated water from local mines seep into local water supplies. The air and soils are also heavily polluted, and; Number 4-Vapi, India-more than 50 industrial places discharge heavy metals, pesticides, and chemical waste. Mercury in the groundwater is 96 times higher than World Health Organization standards. Very high incidences of cancer and birth complications have resulted. (7)

Believe it or not! Far more people in India have access to a cell phone than to a toilet and improved sanitation, according to UN experts. Roughly 366 million people (31 percent of the population) had access to improved sanitation in 2008. Meanwhile 545 million cell phones were connected to service in India’s emerging economy. Says Zafar Adeel of the Institute for Water, Environment and Health, “It is a tragic irony to think that in India, a country now wealthy enough that about half of the people own phones, about half cannot afford the basic necessity and dignity of a toilet.” (8)

So, there you have it. If you want to be the ‘greenest’ country in the world be prepared to do without decent sanitation and be willing to live in cities with massive air pollution and squalor.

Todd Myers sums this up quite well, “When it comes to air quality, there simply is no comparison between India and the United States. Ignoring this reality should lead us to question the value of the National Geographic’s ranking system. Their index is more measurement of which countries fit their preconceived notion of green rather than an objective test of how the environment is actually faring. Add this to income and life expectancy disparities between India and the United States, and National Geographic ends up giving the ‘green’ lifestyle a pretty bad name.” (2)

References

“Indians are world’s ‘greenest’: Survey,” The Times of India, May 14, 2009
Todd Myers, Eco-Fads, (Seattle, WA, Washington Policy Center, 2011), 216
National Geographic Society, “Green Index 2010-Consumer Choice and the Environment,” June 2010
Arvid Padmanabhan and Rajeev Ranjan Roy, “Delhi’s water crisis is set to explode,” twocircles.net, July 29, 2008
Ian Johnson and Keith Bradsher, “China’s rise complicates goal of using less energy,” The New York Times, September 16, 2010
Priyanka Bhardwaj and Robert Bryce, “India chooses coal, not Kyoto,”
The Blacksmith Institute, “Ten Most Polluted Cities,” ,July 27, 2011
United Nations University, “Greater access to cell phones than toilets,” April 2010

Sooty Skies of China (The Atlantic Wire)

2011-12-30T09:13:00.003+05:30

Posted on December 28th, 2011, The Atlantic Wire

Flight Cancellations Due to Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar

2011-12-28T19:25:00.004+05:30

We have heard of flight cancellations in Delhi and similar delays in Beijing, due to air pollution and winter fog. The implications of air pollution are also now observed in Ulaanbaatar, where the flight schedules are no where comparable to those of Delhi or Beijing, but still disrupting.

Read more about air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.

************
From Shanghai Daily, December 27th, 2011

Heavy air pollution in Mongolia causes flight delays, cancellations

Heavy air pollution in Mongolia's smog-filled capital has caused flight delays and cancellations in recent days, an Air China official said Tuesday.

During the last week, many flights were disrupted for six days except Thursday. And a total of 13 flights had been delayed or canceled this month due to air pollution, a 160-percent increase compared with the same period of last year, according to statistics provided by Air China.

With temperatures dropping sharply in December, thousands of residents living in ger districts near the airport have begun to burn large quantities of coal and firewood to get warm, and power plants are also operating at full steam to meet high demand for electricity for heating, causing a thick smog around the airport, said the official from Air China's Mongolia Bureau.

"Ulan Bator as well as the airport are located in a basin with mountains surrounded, so the smoke is blocked by the mountains and cannot dissipate. Wind also is very rare during winter time which worsens the air pollution here," the official said.

In recent years, more and more people from rural areas have rushed into the capital seeking better lives, making the city increasingly crowded.

The new residents live in ger districts in the suburbs, and due to the lack of access to central heating systems, they burn coal, firewood and garbage, which causes severe air pollution.

Air pollution kills about 1,600 people in Ulan Bator every year. A report released this month by the World Health Organization showed that the concentration of dust particles in the air was 35 times the standard recommended by the WHO.

Pollution from Brick Kilns and Quarries in Pune, India

2011-12-28T19:21:00.004+05:30

This is an article published in Indian Express on December 28th, 2011, based on a study conducted by UrbanEmissions.Info

******
Mushrooming brick kilns, stone quarries major air polluters in city
by Sushant Kulkarni
Posted online: Wed Dec 28 2011, 02:19 hrs

Pune : Rapidly mushrooming brick kilns and stone quarries along the city boundaries are major contributors to air pollution within the city, reveals a study by a Delhi-based research group which has used data provided by the Pune Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. The researchers have stressed the need to use better technologies for these activities, instead of just pushing them away from cities.

A Delhi-based research group named urbanemmissions.info did a detailed study of the pollution in six cities including Pune, Chennai, Indore, Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot. The studys says the areas around Pimpri-Chinchwad and Hadapsar, where brick kilns are mushrooming, and areas along Nagar Road where there are a large number stone quarries, are major contributors of the suspended particulate matter found within the city.

Sarath Guttikunda, founder and analyst with the group, said, “To study Pune’s pollution, we considered 32X32 km area, which include both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad limits. The data collected over four months of summer shows that brick kilns contribute to the 67 per cent of particulate pollution in the Western fringe areas of the city. These brick kilns are major polluters as most of them use coal and wood and sometimes bad quality oil.”

The study found that in the fringe areas of the city an average particulate matter pollution is 68 micro gram per cubic metre and that in the central part it’s around 111 micro gram per cubic meter. “It is very interesting to note that the chemical analysis done by the Central Pollution Control Board and the model developed by us show that brick kiln and stone quarries outside city contribute to about 25 per cent of pollution.” said Guttikunda. Mangesh Dighe, the environment officer with PMC said, “As per the Bhurelal Committee Report we had moved the brick kilns out of the city some years ago. But there is no such rule for stone quarries."

Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

2011-12-26T09:07:00.000+05:30

Ulaanbaatar (Ulaan Baatar / Ulan Bator) is located at ~1300 meters above sea level, is the coldest national capital (image above is from Google Earth) in the world, with an average annual temperature of -1.3°C (29.7°F). Given the long winters, the coal combustion for cooking and heating is prevalent and a leading cause of air pollution - outdoor and indoor. In a recent report by WHO, Ulaanbaatar is ranked in the top 10 cities with world's worst air quality. This page presents the current know-how and links to articles published on air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.

An Emissions Inventory of Air Pollutants in Ulaanbaatar

An analysis was conducted in 2007, which presents an overview of the air pollution sources and possible ways to control emissions from various sectors. The picture to the right presents the current growth in the vehicular fleet in Ulaanbaatar, which since 2007 has doubled, especially in the passenger vehicles category. The Report Structure

Air quality in Ulaanbaatar
Nature of the problem and the emission sources
An emissions Inventory for criteria pollutants
Results from the dispersion modeling over the city limits and linked health impacts
How to control air pollution in Ulaanbaatar -a list of possible interventions for various sectors
Future (2010/2020) Scenario analysis

Full Report is available @ www.urbanemissions.info
Abridged version is available @ SIM Working Paper Series 05-2008

Also see

In News: Air Quality in Ulaanbaatar (and Mongolia)

Mongolia News, December 26th, 2011
612 new taxis in Ulaanbaatar in 2011.

UB Post, December 24th, 2011
Ulaanbaatar's Air Pollution - Threat to Health.

Mongolia News, December 23rd, 2011
WHO report on the air pollution of Ulaanbaatar.

The World Bank, December 22nd, 2011
Study Identifies Best Options to Improve Air Quality and Thus Reduce Health Impacts in Ulaanbaatar, the Most Polluted City in the World in Wintertime.

The World Bank, December 21st, 2011
Air quality analysis of Ulaanbaatar : improving air quality to reduce health impacts.

Mongolia News, December 15th, 2011
Ulaanbaatar's Mayor meets with prominent American lawyer.

Mongolia News, December 15th, 2011
Mongolia focuses on bag filters to reduce air pollution.

Mongolia News, December 14th, 2011
MNT 34 billion in anti-pollution money goes unspent.

Voice of Mongolia, December 5th, 2011
The South Korean government will grant USD 300 million loan for Mongolia’s health sector and air pollution reduction projects.

Info Mongolia, December 2nd, 2011
The work plan for air pollution reduction was ratified in Mongolia.

China Daily, November 30th, 2011
Mongolian government approves new measures to combat air pollution.

Mongolia News, November 30th, 2011
Working plan on air pollution approved.

UB Post, November 29th, 2011
Ulaanbaatar and London.

Mongolia News, November 18th, 2011
National Committee reports on anti-pollution efforts.

Mongolia News, November 2nd, 2011
Do Not Pollute Air and Get Discount.

Info Mongolia, November 2nd, 2011
The Incentive Policy for Reducing the Air Pollution in Mongolia.

Mongolian Economy and Finance, November 2nd, 2011
Standing committee discusses air pollution.

Mongolia News, October 30th, 2011
New Buses to Serve Public Transport in Ulaanbaatar.

Info Mongolia, October 21st, 2011
People of Buriyatia to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.

World Bank, October 18th, 2011
Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar Clean Air Project : safeguards report.

The Reuters, October 17th, 2011
Mongolia's capital tries to shed its smog.

Mongolia Solutions, August 18th, 2011
Eco-friendly ger heaters before winter in Mongolia.

UB Post, August 12th, 2011
Ulaanbaatar's Fumes to Decrease by 30%.

Info Mongolia, July 22nd, 2011
Smog Inspectors in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Mongolian Economy, July 4th, 2011
UB: How long before levels of air pollution be acceptable?

2point6billion.com, May 30th, 2011
A Tale of Two Mongolias.

Mongolia News, May 7th, 2011
Air Pollution Matters in Mongolia.

Mongolia News, May 5th, 2011
Anti-air pollution work in Mongolia.

UB Post, April 26th, 2011
The Chairman of the Dept. of Construction Discusses the 100,000 Apartment Project.

MAD Mongolia, April 24th, 2011
Mongolian Government maintains that apartment prices will decrease.

UB Post, April 5th, 2011
The President sets up a committee to fight pollution.

UB Post, March 22nd, 2011
Ulaanbaatar Air Pollution Linked to Public Health Crisis.

Mongolia Corporate Services, March 10th, 2011
National Committee set up to oversee air pollution reduction programs.

Eurasia Net, February 28th, 2011
Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar Air Pollution Linked to Public Health Crisis.

Mongolia Web, February 18th, 2011
People in special zones to pay less for electricity at night.

UB Post, February 18th, 2011
Anti Air Pollution Campaign to Launch in March.

Mongolia Corporate Services, February 16th, 2011
New law seeks to make Ulaanbaatar smoke free in 2014.

The Mongolian News, February 15th, 2011
S. Lodoisamba: Coal gas should be introduced to ger area as soon as possible.

UB Post, February 15th, 2011
No Mineral Exploration License Issuance Till April 30.

The office of the President of Mongolia, Public Relations & Communications Division, February 15th, 2011
Actions to Reduce Air Pollution to Begin in March.

UB Post, February 11th, 2011
Mere Cash for Cashmere.

UB Post, February 8th, 2011
Coal Stoves Coat Mongolian Capital in Smog.

France 24, February 6th, 2011
Coal stoves coat Mongolian capital in smog.

MAD Corporate Services, February 1st, 2011
MPP'S Faction Discusses Air Pollution in Mongolia.

MAD Corporate Services, February 1st, 2011
Raw coal is banned to burn in Mongolian ger districts.

The Guardian, January 28th, 2011
Why Genghis Khan was good for the planet.

UB Post, January 25th, 2011
Mongolia to Start Uranium Exploration by 2012.

UB Post, January 21st, 2011
Why a Mongolian Economic Forum?

UB Post, January 18th, 2011
President Elbegdorj Worries About City Pollution.

Mongolian Views, January 16th, 2011
President demands action to reduce UB air pollution.

UB Post, January 14th, 2011
Risks on the Road.

UB Post, January 7th, 2011
Mongolia in 2020.

UB Post, January 6th, 2011
The Mongolian “Katrina”.

UB Post, December 21st, 2010
Electricity Price To Raise in Five Phases Until 2014.

UB Post, December 3rd, 2010
“Travelers”.

UB Post, October 15th, 2010
Mongolia Chosen As Pilot Nation.

UB Post, September 24th, 2010
Take on Your Gas Mask.

UB Post, August 17th, 2010
MCA To Assist Fight with Air Pollution in UB City.

UB Post, July 27th, 2010
Interview with the NEA official G.Bayasgalan.

World Bank, April 23rd, 2010
Ulaanbaatar's Air Pollution Crisis.

Eurasia Net, March 22nd, 2010
Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar Grapples with Smog Problem.

UB Post, February 26th, 2010
Air Quality in Ulaanbaatar.

UB Post, December 15th, 2009
Mongolia’s Used Car Market on Recovery.

UB Post, November 17th, 2009
Mongolia Turns Eco-Friendly in 2012.

Ulaanbaatar Post, September 22nd, 2009
New Master Plan on Nature and Environment.

Ulaanbaatar Post, September 18th, 2009
City Air.

Rising Voices, August 18th, 2009
Nomad Green: More Workshops In Ulaanbaatar.

Ulaanbaatar Post, July 14th, 2009
Mongolia’s Growing Shantytowns.

Sources of Air Pollution in Delhi

2011-12-25T21:49:00.000+05:30

This was published in India Ink, blog by New York Times. Get more information on air pollution in Delhi.

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Sources of Air Pollution in Delhi New York Times, December 20th, 2011

Delhi’s choking air pollution has caught the attention of politicians and newswires in recent weeks.

A massive influx of cars, which are being added at an estimated rate of more than 1,000 a day, is an oft-cited reason for the dirty air. But according to data collected by UrbanEmissions.info, a research group that studies air pollution across India, cars account for 25 percent or less of two key pollutants, carbon monoxide and the larger particulate matter known as PM10. Another oft-cited source, open fires used by some poorer residents for heating and cooking, accounts for less than 10 percent of the air’s carbon monoxide and PM10.

Other key polluters, Urbanemissions says, are power plants (Delhi relies on several coal-fired plants for much of its electricity), industries and the dozens of brick kilns that ring the city, supplying bricks for Delhi’s numerous construction projects.

Air Pollution News & Alerts - December 25th, 2011

2011-12-25T19:34:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on December 18th, 2011)

UB Post, December 24th, 2011
Ulaanbaatar's Air Pollution - Threat to Health.

The Financial Express, December 23rd, 2011
345 industries continue to violate pollution norms in India.

Mongolia News, December 23rd, 2011
WHO report on the air pollution of Ulaanbaatar.

The World Bank, December 22nd, 2011
Study Identifies Best Options to Improve Air Quality and Thus Reduce Health Impacts in Ulaanbaatar, the Most Polluted City in the World in Wintertime.

Nigerian Tribune, December 21st, 2011
LAMATA, LASEPA set to tackle vehicle emission in Lagos.

Xinhua net, December 21st, 2011
China sets pollution reduction targets for 2012.

The Globe and Mail, December 21st, 2011
Air pollution hazardous to China’s economic health.

The World Bank, December 21st, 2011
Air quality analysis of Ulaanbaatar : improving air quality to reduce health impacts.

TIME, December 21st, 2011
In Defense of Little Lungs: The Challenge of Raising Kids in Smoggy Beijing.

Down to Earth, December 20th, 2011
Delhi to go greener.

New York Times, December 20th, 2011
Surprising Sources of Delhi’s Air Pollution.

UNEP, December 20th, 2011
China Launches US$265 million Ozone and Climate Change Project.

The City Fix, December 20th, 2011
India’s Urban Future.

Science Daily, December 20th, 2011
Forest Health Versus Global Warming: Fuel Reduction Likely to Increase Carbon Emissions.

The Guardian, December 20th, 2011
EU set to charge international airlines for carbon emissions.

IPS, December 20th, 2011
Pollution Real if not Official in Beijing.

Bloomberg, December 19th, 2011
EPA Final Rule for Coal Plants Deemed ‘Unfortunate’ by Industry.

China Daily, December 19th, 2011
City reaches annual 'blue sky days' target.

Air Pollution News & Alerts - December 18th, 2011

2011-12-18T11:36:00.000+05:30

Interview of Erika Rosenthal - On Impacts of Climate Change, Air Pollution Links, and Arctic Warming

2011-12-17T18:03:00.003+05:30

Interview on how Earth Justice (Washington DC, USA) is engaging the international community in the process of reducing carbon emissions.

We can slow the pace of warming and melting in the Arctic in the near term by reducing emissions of soot and smog, which would have fast climate benefits, especially in the Arctic where black carbon pollution accelerates the melting of ice and snow.

Read or Listen.

Wood Smoke and Uutdoor Air Pollution Costs Lives and Money in US Northwest

2011-12-17T17:43:00.002+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

link to an article from NPR below, which quotes.. "In Washington, the state Ecology Department estimates that sooty pollution from sources including wood smoke and diesel exhaust contributes to 1,100 deaths and $190 million in health costs annually."

Now, should deaths be considered as savings in health costs?

*********

December 16, 2011, NPR
Where There's Smoke, There's Sickness: Wood Smoke now a major Northwest air polluter
by Robert McClure,

Wood Smoke now a major Northwest air polluter.

The warning label on the wrapping of neatly split firewood is one we're more accustomed to seeing on cigarettes or heavy-duty chemicals: "known... to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm."

But in fact, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, asthma attacks and premature death – in addition to cancer – all are linked to wood smoke pollution. It's a finding that poses a vexing dilemma for poor and rural communities around the Northwest where wood is a cheap or even free source of heat.

And in Tacoma, where the air is so dirty it violates the Clean Air Act, authorities are gearing up for what promises to be an arduous and expensive campaign over the better part of a decade to clean up wood smoke pollution. It's an effort that already has some residents chafing at government interference, and one that will set the stage for how other Northwest communities are treated when they bump up against tightened federal pollution standards.

In Tacoma and many towns across the Northwest, wood smoke is a prime culprit in driving spikes of sooty, toxic air pollution that leave some residents – particularly asthmatics, kids and the elderly – gasping for breath. It's especially bad during sunny, cold stretches like those we've seen in recent weeks, because atmospheric conditions trap the pollution close to the ground.

Read More on NPR.

Air Pollution News & Alerts - December 11th, 2011

2011-12-11T09:39:00.001+05:30

Will Congestion Fees Solve Delhi's Traffic Problems?

2011-12-09T11:40:00.002+05:30

Article below from The Guardian quotes, "This will help reduce congestion … [and] encourage people to use public transport".

How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi is not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current public transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in reducing congestion and related air pollution.

(an interesting response from Cornie Huizenga, attached after the article)

Articles on congestion pricing

***********************************

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gridlock?newsfeed=true

Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock

No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked streets of India's notoriously chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in London, Singapore and a handful of other cities.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a 150-rupee (£2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas during the day.

"This will help reduce congestion … [and] encourage people to use public transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. Lorries will be made to pay a higher fee.

A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and several Scandinavian cities in recent years.

Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of Delhi has attempted to introduce such a scheme.

Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's roads, at least twice as many as five years ago.

Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations.

Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented in areas around the historical old centre.

But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the necessary infrastructure simply isn't there."

The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. Nothing done in isolation will work," he said.

Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing or law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and laws that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely ignored.

Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small bribe to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page asking irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a massive response.

Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step – if technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious "delhiwalla" – inhabitants of the city – will be hard to win.

Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes … we don't need any more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper.

Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said no amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now I am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian.

Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel in the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, who has worked in Delhi, said.

******************
Dear All,

It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian speeches and presentations made reference to this.

I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing in public transport and promoting NMT.

Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does not undermine economic growth.

A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each year resulting in about $ 600 million in income.

The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc.

Cornie

Revealing the costs of Air Pollution from Industrial Facilities in Europe

2011-12-09T11:23:00.003+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

Link to the report after my comments..

--------------
On page 18, they say "One data point from the E-PRTR database was corrected prior to analysis as it appeared to have been reported incorrectly by three orders of magnitude when compared to the reported emissions of the other pollutants from the facility. This was the value for SOx emissions from the 'Teplárna Strakonice' plant (facility ID 14301) in the Czech Republic for which the reported estimate of 1 250 000 tonnes of SOx was taken to be 1 250 tonnes."

The same page also has Table 2.1 giving a figure "42 568 284 670" for "Aggregated national total emissions (tonnes)" - presumably for the 30-odd countries covered by the report.

This 42.6 billion tonne CO2 estimate is about 27% higher than the 33.4 billion tons of WORLDWIDE CO2 emissions from fossil fuels in 2010 (Link).

Yes, EEA says they count biomass CO2 as well, but surely these facilities don't burn whole forests down every year.

Looks like EEA is sensitive about some orders of magnitude, not all.

------------
Also, these are not "costs" in the sense of having been expended. They are "imputed" costs. Mostly in terms of health damages, but in the case of CO2, on "marginal abatement costs", which are debatable. In any case, there is very little evidence that CO2 is a health pollutant (except in heavily congested closed rooms).

Excluding CO2, seems like they would impute a cost less than ~$200 per capita per year or less than 1% of GDP. Another way of looking at it is that the actual health expenditures are perhaps in the range of $500-1,500 depending on the country, all diseases and health conditions included, so putting out an imputed cost that is 10-20% of the total health budget is largely an arithmetical exercise.

------------
Read the full press release

Air pollution from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe cost citizens between € 102 and 169 billion in 2009. This was one of the findings of a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which analysed the costs of harm to health and the environment caused by air pollution. Half of the total damage cost (between € 51 and 85 billion) was caused by just 191 facilities.

Key Findings

Air pollution by the facilities covered by EEA’s analysis cost every European citizen approximately € 200-330 on average in 2009.
Countries such as Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, where a high number of large facilities are located, contribute the most to the total damage costs. However, when damage costs are weighted in an attempt to reflect the productivity of national economies, the ordering of countries changes significantly. The emissions from countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic are then relatively more important with regard to the damage costs.
A small number of individual facilities cause the majority of damage costs. Three quarters of the total damage costs were caused by the emissions from just 622 industrial facilities – 6 % of the total number. The facilities with emissions associated with a high damage cost are in most cases some of the largest facilities in Europe which release the greatest amount of pollutants.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions contribute the most to the overall damage costs, approximately €63 billion in 2009. Air pollutants, which contribute to acid rain and can cause respiratory problems - sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - were found to cause €38-105 billion of damage a year.

Read the full report
Revealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities in Europe
@ http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/cost-of-air-pollution

Other news and articles on impacts of air pollution
@ http://urbanemissions.info/sim-series-06/mortalityandmorbidity.html

WHO on Climate Co-benefits of walking and bicycling

2011-12-08T08:08:00.003+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

More for Asia, Africa than Europe?

Good criticism of IPCC review (see p. 4-5), though I suspect the guidelines limit coverage of land use planning issues unless there is new literature.

"“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Ok, but how does one deal with disease and infirmity?

******

WHO Report Shows Health and Climate Co-benefits in Transport Sector

6 December 2011: The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a report on the health benefits of low-carbon transport measures, such as rapid transit, walking or cycling, as part of its "Health in the Green Economy" series.

Launched at a side event during the Durban Climate Change Conference, the report outlines strategies that can help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector while generating health benefits.

The report's key messages stress that a combination of active modes of transport, such as walking or cycling, rapid transport and improved land use to improve access to key destinations by these modes, can yield much greater immediate health co-benefits than improving fuel and vehicle efficiencies.

Such health benefits include reduced cardiovascular and respiratory disease from air pollution, less traffic injury and noise-related stress, and prevention of some cancers, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other obesity-related risks. Meanwhile, the report notes, a shift to fuel efficient diesel engines could increase emissions of health-damaging small particulates.

Recommended strategies include: integrating urban residential and commercial areas through more compact land use; including health and equity costs in cost-benefit analyses of transport projects; and improving active transport, rapid transit and public transport as cost effective measures to mitigate GHG emissions.

The report further stresses that healthier transport strategies also can help close the health equity gap in low- and middle-income countries by: reducing air pollution; providing benefits to women, older adults, children, people with disabilities and lower income groups; reducing the need for biofuels and related threats to food security; and reducing the use of older, more polluting vehicles.

Access the full report and press release on Climate-L News.

Air Pollution News & Alerts - December 4th, 2011

2011-12-04T13:10:00.002+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on November 27th, 2011)

Nature, December 4th, 2011
Three-quarters of climate change is man-made.

All Africa, December 4th, 2011
Africa: Change Ways of Cooking to Save Climate - World Bank Warns.

NPR, December 4th, 2011
A User's Guide To The Climate Change Talks.

Science Daily, November 30th, 2011
Gone With the Wind: Why the Fast Jet Stream Winds Cannot Contribute Much Renewable Energy After All.

The Guardian, December 4th, 2011
Durban climate talks 'roadmap' held up by India.

Press Information Bureau, December 3rd, 2011
Urban Mobility India 2011 to Address Ways to Achieve Sustainable Mobility.

Africa Science News, December 2nd, 2011
New Bamboo Charcoal Technologies Promise to Jump-start Africa’s Bioenergy Sector.

Bloomberg Business Week, December 2nd, 2011
How to Fix World Transportation.

New York Times, December 2nd, 2011
New Air Quality Rules for Power Plants in Dispute.

3 News, December 2nd, 2011
Rome limits traffic to lower pollution levels.

Info Mongolia, December 2nd, 2011
The work plan for air pollution reduction was ratified.

Moneylife, December 1st, 2011
Is Metro Rail not the answer for India’s urban transportation?

NRDC Switchboard, December 1st, 2011
Higher Education Paves a Way Forward on Climate Change.

Salon, December 1st, 2011
Are freeways doomed?

China Daily, December 1st, 2011
Beijing sees fewer 'blue sky days'.

AFP, December 1st, 2011
Smog sparks debate over Beijing air standards.

Market Watch, December 1st, 2011
NASA Satellite Confirms Sharp Decline in Pollution From U.S. Coal Power Plants.

China Dialogue, December 1st, 2011
A shadow climate regime.

India Today, November 30th, 2011
Delhi has the highest level of air pollutants.

The Guardian, November 30th, 2011
EU takes hardline stance at UN climate talks.

Mongolia News, November 30th, 2011
Working plan on air pollution approved.

NRDC Switchboard, November 30th, 2011
EPA's proposal for clearing the air of oil and gas pollution: a step forward, but not enough.

China Daily, November 30th, 2011
Mongolian government approves new measures to combat air pollution.

China Daily, November 29th, 2011
More blocked noses due to smog.

Think Progress Green, November 29th, 2011
Durban Dispatch: South Africa’s Globally Financed Coal Mega-Plants.

Los Angeles Times, November 29th, 2011
Brown cloud might be intensifying storms over Indian Ocean.

NPR, November 29th, 2011
What Will Become Of The Kyoto Climate Treaty?

UB Post, November 29th, 2011
Ulaanbaatar and London.

China Daily, November 29th, 2011
Scientists highlight pollutant problem.

ECOFYS, November 28th, 2011
UNEP Bridging the Emissions Gap.

Wall Street Journal, November 28th, 2011
Canada Won't Make Second Commitment To Kyoto - Environment Minister.

Climate Progress, November 28th, 2011
Researchers Genetically Engineer Algae to Increase Oil Yields by Up to 50%: Should We Be Concerned?

China Daily, November 27th, 2011
Green drivers.

Forbes, November 27th, 2011
Why China Cannot Fight Pollution.

Xinhua Net, November 25th, 2011
China gives new-energy vehicles official nod.

Air Pollution News & Alerts - November 27th, 2011

2011-11-27T08:47:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on November 20th, 2011)

The Guardian, November 27th, 2011
Wood fires fuel climate change – UN.

Climate-L News, November 25th, 2011
Ozone COP/MOP Does Not Address HFCs Phase-Down.

BBC, November 25th, 2011
Climate sensitivity to CO2 probed.

Science Daily, November 25th, 2011
Fifth of Global Energy Could Come from Biomass Without Damaging Food Production.

EEA, November 24th, 2011
Industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009.

Science Daily, November 24th, 2011
Climate Sensitivity to Carbon Dioxide More Limited Than Extreme Projections.

China Daily, November 24th, 2011
China punishes power plants for pollution.

The Guardian, November 24th, 2011
Industrial pollution 'costs UK billions each year'.

ABC News, November 24th, 2011
EU Agency: Air Pollution Costs Exceed $134 Billion.

China.org, November 24th, 2011
WWF to promote low-carbon innovation in China.

Policy Shop, November 24th, 2011
Bad Energy: The High Price of Coal.

Huffington Post, November 23rd, 2011
The Foul Air Outside My Window.

Mongolia News, November 22nd, 2011
Ulaanbaatar managing officials discuss winter preparation.

UN-HABITAT, November 22nd, 2011
Cities and Climate Change Policy Note 2.

The Sunday Independent, November 21st, 2011
Climate cash deals are killing us.

The Times of India, November 21st, 2011
A moveable feast.

Science Daily, November 21st, 2011
Algae Biomass Increased by More Than 50 Percent.

Science Daily, November 21st, 2011
Second-Generation Ethanol Processing Cost Prohibitive.

BBC, November 21st, 2011
Climate concerns as ‘ozone-friendly’ HFCs use grows.

BBC, November 21st, 2011
No let up in greenhouse gas rise.

NY Times, November 21st, 2011
New Delhi, Now More Polluted Than Beijing.

Mongolia News, November 18th, 2011
National Committee reports on anti-pollution efforts.

Biofuels Digest, November 18th, 2011
Bioenergy Critical Success Factors.

Bicycling for an Aging America

2011-11-26T09:17:00.001+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

Two thoughts on bicycles and similar non-motorized transport options:

1. America is greying, and no telling when the grey would return to cities rather than in outer suburbs (or that suburbs with high grey densities would appear). The numbers for people aged 15-54 and 55+ for 1980 were 145 and 52 m; for 2011 are 172 and 91 m; for 2040 will be 190 and 149 m respectively. As % of total population, 57 and 21 in 1980; 53 and 28 in 2011; 46 and 36%.

If you take 15-40 as the bicycling age, 95, 106 and 98 m respectively.

Today's bicyclists (15-40) will be in the 45-70 age group then and 106 m strong in 2040.

An older population can also use bicycles and enjoy the health benefits. Keeping roads safe for them as well, not just the next younger generation, is an important consideration.

Besides, retirees may find gas cars much more expensive as their incomes decline and gas prices go up.

The 45-70 age cyclist group of the future will ride at lower speeds, and may well compete with the younger age for the cycle lanes and parking spaces. Since not all bicycling regulations can be age-separated, the best is to accommodate as much of both groups as possible in the planning and regulatory process.

2. For US locales, where distances are longer, a large market potential lies in electric and hybrid (pedal-battery) scooters and tricycles for the seniors. (Seniors would ride slower but may brake more often, hence a hybrid.)

Air Pollution News & Alerts - November 20th, 2011

2011-11-20T18:53:00.000+05:30

Air Pollution News & Alerts - November 13th, 2011

2011-11-13T10:17:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on November 6th, 2011)

The Jerusalem Post,
OECD officials commend Israel on environment.

The Financial Express, November 13th, 2011
CNG-consuming assocs threaten to go on indefinite strike.

The Atlantic, November 12th, 2011
How Walmart Is Changing China.

Reuters, November 11th, 2011
China official says air pollution rules too lax.

NPR, November 11th, 2011
Air Pollution: Bad For Health, But Good For Planet?

The Huffington Post, November 11th, 2011
The Arctic and Responsible Adaptation to Climate Change.

The Telegraph UK, November 11th, 2011
China concedes it underestimates air pollution levels.

The City Fix, November 10th, 2011
Embracing the Opportunity for Sustainable Urban Development in China.

Times of India, November 9th, 2011
10 yrs on, CNG advantage lost.

People's Daily Online, November 9th, 2011
Market blow away 'special air' rumors.

New York Times, November 9th, 2011
The Developing World, Leading on Climate Change?

People's Daily Online, November 9th, 2011
Expert: Heavy fog different from air pollution.

China Daily, November 9th, 2011
Beijing's air-quality center opens to public.

TG Daily, November 9th, 2011
Climate disasters costing billions in health costs.

NDTV, November 9th, 2011
Environment Ministry gives conditional clearance to Lavasa.

EBRD, November 8th, 2011
EBRD, World Bank join forces to cut emissions from gas flaring in Russia and Central Asia.

Hindustan Times, November 8th, 2011
Toxic Capital air killing like never before.

Shanghai Daily, November 8th, 2011
Air in many China cities remains highly polluted.

Global Times, November 8th, 2011
Beijing environmental agency shows the city recorded 239 days of good air.

Wall Street Journal, November 8th, 2011
The Hidden Toll of Traffic Jams.

NRDC, November 8th, 2011
Health Costs from Extreme Weather Events $14 Billion, We're Workin' On It.

China.Org, November 8th, 2011
Beijing environmental authority responds to public scrutiny.

Tehelka, November 8th, 2011
Blame pollution, truck overloading for haze in city.

China Dialogue, November 8th, 2011
US car fumes: a call to arms for China.

Live Mint, November 7th, 2011
Soot blamed for rising cyclone strength, drop in rainfall.

Washington Times, November 7th, 2011
China moves, haltingly, to clean up environmental mess.

Railway Gazette, November 7th, 2011
Ambitious plans in Kathmandu for Metrorail.

Inhabitat, November 7th, 2011
Uganda’s First Electric Car Built by Makerere Students.

Huffington Post, November 7th, 2011
Many Americans left behind in the quest for cleaner air.

China Daily, November 7th, 2011
Tighter air quality monitoring in Beijing.

International Business Times, November 7th, 2011
China Urged To Implement Stricter Air Monitoring Standards.

China Daily, November 6th, 2011
Electric taxis to triple in Beijing next year.

Times of India, November 5th, 2011
Haze in Delhi sets off air pollution alarm.

CNTN, November 5th, 2011
Public scrutiny pushes air quality monitoring.

C-Net, November 2nd, 2011
USDA awards $44.6 million for biofuel projects.

The Hindu, November 2nd, 2011
Bengal headed for a power crisis.

Speigel Online, October 26th, 2011
Chinese Scientists Warn of Significant Glacier Melt.

Introduction to Black Carbon by NOAA

2011-11-07T13:05:00.001+05:30

Transcript

NARRATOR: Black carbon is the fancy name for soot. And like carbon dioxide, it’s causing changes in the Arctic climate.

Black carbon comes from the burning of fossil fuels, like coal and diesel, and from forest fires, and cookstoves. The majority reaching the Arctic comes from North America and Eurasia.

Studies suggest that black carbon is contributing to the acceleration of sea ice melting in the Arctic. Loss of this ice would lead to more rapid warming and possibly irreversible climate change.

Black carbon is dark in color and warms the Earth in two ways: When it’s in the air, the particles absorb sunlight and generate heat in the atmosphere. This can affect cloud formation and rain patterns. When it covers snow and ice, the sun’s radiation is absorbed instead of being reflected back into the atmosphere. This again generates heat and speeds up melting.

It’s like wearing a black shirt on a sunny day. You’re going to feel hot. To stay cooler, you would wear a light-colored shirt that would reflect the sun’s warmth.

Scientists from around the world are studying black carbon from all possible angles. They’re using ships, snowmobiles, weather balloons, as well as manned and unmanned aircraft to collect data.

The instruments on board measure the total numbers of particles in the atmosphere, including the number of soot particles, and chemicals that can identify where the soot comes from. They also measure incoming radiation from the sun and the reflectivity of snow and ice covered surfaces. Newly fallen snow is also analyzed to trace where the black carbon is coming from.

The bad news is that black carbon is contributing to the acceleration of sea ice melting in the Arctic. The good news is that since black carbon is a particle and not a gas, it doesn’t last very long in the atmosphere. This means reducing the amount people produce can have immediate effects on the rate of climate change.

Scientists are hopeful that their research findings from the Arctic will help world leaders develop strategies for change, so that black carbon can no longer leave a dirty footprint on our world.

Link to the video on NOAA.

Air Pollution Alerts - November 6th, 2011

2011-11-06T18:17:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on October 30th, 2011)

The Hindu, November 6th, 2011
Gone in 50 seconds.

The Hindu, November 6th, 2011
Road ahead for urban renewal in India.

The Hindu, November 6th, 2011
Nuclear power is our gateway to a prosperous future, former President of India.

Bhutan Daily, November 6th, 2011
It’s no surprise – the air is polluted!

The Daily Star, November 5th, 2011
Can we save Dhaka city?

Times of India, November 5th, 2011
Haze in Delhi sets off air pollution alarm.

Times of India, November 5th, 2011
Vroom boom adds pollutants to Lucknow's air.

The Guardian, November 4th, 2011
China to phase out incandescent light bulbs.

The New York Times, November 4th, 2011
The Privileges of China’s Elite Include Purified Air.

The Guardian, November 4th, 2011
Incandescent lightbulb phase-outs around the world.

The Week, November 4th, 2011
Can white roofs really reduce global warming?

Hindustan Times, November 4th, 2011
With petrol price rise, majority prefer diesel cars.

AFP, November 3rd, 2011
Beijing accuses US embassy of pollution 'hype'.

The Guardian, November 3rd, 2011
How I cut my energy bills to £100 a year.

Science Daily, November 3rd, 2011
Hybrid Power Plants Can Help Industry Go Green: Affordable Solar Option for Power Plants.

CNN, November 2nd, 2011
U.S. readings challenge China's smog claims.

Mongolian Economy and Finance, November 2nd, 2011
Standing committee discusses air pollution.

Science Daily, November 2nd, 2011
Link Between Air Pollution and Cyclone Intensity in Arabian Sea: Disruption of Wind Shear Enables Stronger Storms.

The Guardian, November 2nd, 2011
Pollution makes powerful cyclones more likely, claim scientists.

India Today, November 2nd, 2011
Fumes, noxious gases choke Central Delhi.

AFP, November 2nd, 2011
Beijing vows better pollution data after smog anger.

Mongolia News, November 2nd, 2011
Do Not Pollute Air and Get Discount.

The Guardian, November 2nd, 2011
UN calls for universal access to renewable energy.

New York Times, November 2nd, 2011
Climate Change Imperils Global Prosperity, U.N. Warns.

Info Mongolia, November 2nd, 2011
The Incentive Policy for Reducing the Air Pollution in Mongolia.

China Daily, November 2nd, 2011
Weather debate shrouded in fog.

BU News, November 1st, 2011
Boston University Launches Urban Health Initiative.

The Guardian, November 1st, 2011
Wild weather worsening due to climate change, IPCC confirms.

Daily Times, September 30th, 2011
Study on growth of 2-wheelers presented in Karachi.

Air Pollution Alerts - October 30th, 2011

2011-10-30T13:20:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on October 23rd, 2011)

Supply Chain of CO2 Emissions

2011-10-29T10:40:00.003+05:30

Click on the image to access the website.. Supply Chain of CO2 Emissions

Where is the Carbon Coming From?

2011-10-29T10:35:00.002+05:30

Article from Guardian, October 21st, 2011

Which of the following accounts for the largest share of the UK's carbon footprint? All our holiday flights, all the power used in our homes or … Russia?

Okay, so it's kind of a trick question, but according to a scientific paper published this week, we might reasonably conclude that the answer is Russia – though to understand why it's necessary to go back a couple of steps.

For the purposes of the Kyoto treaty, a nation's carbon footprint is considered to be a sum of all the greenhouse gas released within its borders. But as many people – myself included – have been pointing out for years, that approach ignores all the laptops, leggings, lampshades and other goods that rich countries import from China and elsewhere.

If we want any chance of a fair global climate deal, the now-familiar argument goes, we need to rethink the way we measure emissions to allocate some of the carbon pouring out of Chinese, Indian and Mexican factories and power plants to the countries importing good from those countries.

The new scientific paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, points out that this argument – though persuasive – tells only half of the story. If you want to understand how carbon footprints are affected by international trade flows, the paper argues, you need to consider trade not only in gadgets and garments but also in fossil fuels themselves. After all, though country X might import a television that was made in country Y, it's quite possible that country Y in turn imported some of the coal, oil or gas consumed by the television factory from country Z.

Of course, there's nothing revelatory in the idea that fossil fuels are traded between nations. We all know that, say, Saudi Arabia produces much of the world's oil. But what the academics behind the new data have done is a remarkable feat of number crunching: they've tracked the carbon flows of virtually the whole world, from the countries extracting the oil, gas and coal via the countries in which it's burned to the countries that ultimately consume the goods and services all that energy is used to create.

As a result, we can see how much of the coal mined in Australia is used to support lifestyles in the Europe; or what proportion of all the energy, goods and services consumed in Japan was ultimately created with oil from the Middle East.

All of which will appeal to climate data enthusiasts, but is the study actually important? I think it is – not so much because it has any obvious practical applications, but because the data helps reminds campaigners, consumers and policymakers alike that the climate-change problem is ultimately about fossil fuel coming out of the ground. That sounds an obvious thing to say but it's a point often forgotten in all the discussions about clean energy or national emissions cuts – both of which are necessary but not sufficient to meet the challenge of leaving most of the world's hydrocarbons in the ground.

To meet that challenge, we need a global climate deal. And to increase the chances of getting one, one of many things we need to do, I would argue, is to think more about the whole chain of responsibility and benefits related to fossil fuel use. It's easy to simplify the debate and say that the US or Europe are entirely responsible for the goods they import from China; but in truth China also benefit economically from that trade and – crucially – so do the powers that be in the countries that provide China with its oil imports.

Which takes us back to the question I posed at the beginning of this post. Russia, it turns out, provides about 6.8% of the fossil fuels burned in the UK. It also exports its fuels to other countries, which in turn export goods to us. All told, Russian fuels account for almost a tenth of our national carbon footprint – more than our domestic electricity use or our leisure flights.

Does that make Russia 10% responsible for the UK's footprint? No, of course not. But in the same way that most of us would allocate some of the responsibility for drug use to the producers and importers, or of gun crime to the small arms manufacturers, or of chemical pollution to the chemical companies, surely we need to start thinking of responsibility for fossil fuel use in a more nuanced way. It's global emissions that matter – and globally the economic benefits of fossil fuel use are widely spread around.

The Daily Show: What is Science Up To - Climate Change?

2011-10-29T08:45:00.002+05:30

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

UN: Wasting 1.8 Billion Young People

2011-10-28T19:38:00.001+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

A Guardian story below. UNFPA talks of "1.8 billion .. aged between 10 and 24, 90% of those .. in the developing world."

I have been looking at world population stats for several months now. (Because Russ dared to challenge some numbers I picked; besides, every reference to Paul Ehrlich irritates me). I pulled a number out of air - an average of some 100 million people PER YEAR turning 15 over the next 20-30 years who will not have a full package within reasonable distances of basic infrastructure services, variously defined to include basic energy (small amounts of electricity, cleaner cooking and heating), drinking water (even irrigation in some places), sanitation and waste disposal; basic IECTs and libraries; basic (primary, secondary, tertiary) education and health; and yes, administrative, commercial and police/judicial services. I kept drainage and roads out because while the most basic enablers for nearly everything else, including plain survival or market linkages, people tend to settle where floods don't routinely wipe out everything and they have some means of transport. There are many 'troubled spots' without drainage and roads, of course. I also didn't include housing and vehicles.

That is, everything that for the currently rich countries was established (save digital technologies) nearly universally, and for rich cities in the poor countries.

When I was born, world under-15 population was a little less than a billion, 75% of it in the 'less developed regions' (UN definition).

By 2000, world under-15 population had nearly doubled to about 1.8 b people, with about 88% in the less developed regions. This will continue to be the case for the rest of the century - about 1.6 billion youngsters in the less developed regions throughout (Some of it is an artifact of demographic models).

An average of 200 million children per year from 2000 to 2020, 2030, 2040, 2050 in less developed countries EXCLUDING China. I am assuming that the poorer and more remote, less 'connected', poorly 'serviced', communities and people have higher fertility, and even their survival rates improve throughout all age groups; they account for about a half of the total new children on average, even as infrastructure services improve.

That is, some 100 million children a year, or three billion citizens of humanity over the next thirty years will not have the "minimum conditions" - apart from shelter and food security - to lead healthy, productive, peacefully "engaged" lives.

Yes, I happen to believe that a healthy, productive, voluntarily engaged populace is the ONLY objective of public policy. The means and scale are 'special interests'.

A couple of billion people wasted. Four billion more in the rest of my lifetime (should I live that long)? (Apart from the newborns, the rest of the population without basic infrastructure is another billion or more. And the 55+ population is also increasing. I am talking about developing countries excluding China.)

Oh, well. The priesthood of 'clean' energy is fantasizing about 'green jobs' for Africa. Whether enough youngsters are healthy and educated is the first question. Some will keep on polishing shoes.

Wall Street Journal on Seven Billion People

2011-10-25T09:12:00.002+05:30

today..
From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

An article, followed by the author's blog entry.

"not every nation carries out a census, and the U.N. says it hasn't been able to use census data more recent than 2005 for countries that contain 62% of the world's population. It has no data, census or otherwise, for 25% of the world's people since 2005."

Heck, what statistics are any better? GHG emissions and sinks? Didn't stop anybody from churning out scare scenarios.

"Projecting future population counts — such as the U.N.’s forecast in 2005 that global population will exceed nine billion in 2050 — can be even dicier, as the numbers depend on several factors, such as trends in human fertility. “The problem is that you’re projecting changes in human behavior, and also it depends on the changes in the level of contraceptive prevalence,” Johnson said...“We may have completely new fertility technologies,” added Gerhard K. Heilig, chief of population estimates and projections for the U.N."

Yes, and we may also have completely new technologies for disease and deaths, from disease or accidents or violence.

The human MORTALITY patterns are more uncertain than the FERTILITY ones, but everybody obsesses about sex and not enough about death. Don't worry. Be happy. Really.

Outdoor Air Pollution in Cities Across the World

2011-10-24T13:59:00.003+05:30

Download the database

The database contains results of urban outdoor air pollution monitoring from almost 1100 cities in 91 countries. Air quality is represented by annual mean concentration of fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5, i.e. particles smaller than 10 or 2.5 microns).

The database covers the period from 2003 to 2010, with the majority of values for the years 2008 and 2009. The primary sources of data include publicly available national/subnational reports and web sites, regional networks such as the Asian Clean Air Initiative and the European Airbase, and selected publications. The database aims to be representative for human exposure, and therefore primarily captures measurements from monitoring stations located in urban background, urban traffic, residential, commercial and mixed areas.

The world's average PM10 levels by region range from 21 to 142 ug/m3, with a world's average of 71 ug/m3. Additional details on the database are provided in the "Methods used for compiling the urban outdoor air pollution database".

Air Pollution Alerts - October 23rd, 2011

2011-10-23T15:22:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on October 9th, 2011)

New Atmospheric Emissions Inventories and Scenarios for IPCC v5

2011-10-21T12:57:00.002+05:30

Link to the article.

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2011) — Emissions of the main greenhouse gases, reactive gaseous and particulate chemical compounds have been inventoried over the period 1850-2300 by an international collaboration involving scientists from the Laboratoire "Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales" (CNRS/UPMC/UVSQ)(1) and the Laboratoire d'Aérologie (CNRS/Université Paul Sabatier)(2). This quantification has enabled researchers to propose four new scenarios that will be used in future climatic simulations of the 5th IPCC report, due in 2013.

This work, which is published in a special edition of the journal Climatic Change, was supported by CNRS, CNES and ADEME.

The scientists firstly refined estimations of the main greenhouse gas emissions, reactive chemical compounds such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, and particles from Earth's atmosphere over the period 1850-2300. Coordinated by Claire Granier and Catherine Liousse, both CNRS researchers, the French teams took a particular interest in emissions generated by human activity and the combustion of biomass.

On the basis of these inventories, the scientists then established new scenarios(3) describing a wide spectrum of possible futures for the main factors of climate change: greenhouse gases, atmospheric pollutants and land use. These scenarios will be integrated in climatic simulations of the future by most climate modelers. Such developments will be used to draft the next IPCC report, due to be published in 2013, and will also make it possible to explore the costs and benefits of the decisions taken today in terms of climate policies.

With support from CNRS, CNES and ADEME, the two French teams have designed a database known as ECCAD(4), which is available to the whole scientific community and can be consulted at http://ether.ipsl.jussieu.fr/eccad.

1 -- This laboratory is part of the Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, which encompasses six CNRS joint research units.

2 -- Part of the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, which encompasses seven CNRS joint research units.

3 -- Known as Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)

4 -- Emissions of Atmospheric Compounds & Compilation of Ancillary Data

NASA Presents a Visual Tour of Earth's Fires

2011-10-21T12:42:00.002+05:30

Link to the article

Click on the image to access video.

ScienceDaily (Oct. 20, 2011) — NASA has released a series of new satellite data visualizations that show tens of millions of fires detected worldwide from space since 2002. The visualizations show fire observations made by the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, instruments onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites.

NASA maintains a comprehensive research program using satellites, aircraft and ground resources to observe and analyze fires around the world. The research helps scientists understand how fire affects our environment on local, regional and global scales.

"What you see here is a very good representation of the satellite data scientists use to understand the global distribution of fires and to determine where and how fire distribution is responding to climate change and population growth," said Chris Justice of the University of Maryland, College Park, a scientist who leads NASA's effort to use MODIS data to study the world's fires.

One of the new visualizations takes viewers on a narrated global tour of fires detected between July 2002 and July 2011. The fire data is combined with satellite views of vegetation and snow cover to show how fires relate to seasonal changes. The Terra and Aqua satellites were launched in 1999 and 2002, respectively.

The tour begins by showing extensive grassland fires spreading across interior Australia and the eucalyptus forests in the northwestern and eastern part of the continent. The tour then shifts to Asia where large numbers of agricultural fires are visible first in China in June 2004, then across a huge swath of Europe and western Russia in August. It then moves across India and Southeast Asia, through the early part of 2005. The tour continues across Africa, South America, and concludes in North America.

The global fire data show that Africa has more abundant burning than any other continent. MODIS observations have shown that some 70 percent of the world's fires occur in Africa. During a fairly average burning season from July through September 2006, the visualizations show a huge outbreak of savanna fires in Central Africa driven mainly by agricultural activities, but also driven by lightning strikes.

Fires are comparatively rare in North America, making up just 2 percent of the world's burned area each year. The fires that receive the most attention in the United States -- the uncontrolled forest fires in the West -- are less visible than the wave of agricultural fires prominent in the Southeast and along the Mississippi River Valley. Some of the large wildfires that ravaged Texas this year are visible in the animation.

NASA maintains multiple satellite instruments capable of detecting fires and supports a wide range of fire-related research. Such efforts have yielded the most widely used data records of global fire activity and burned area in the world. NASA-supported scientists use the data to advance understanding about Earth's climate system, ecosystem health, and the global carbon cycle.

NASA's Applied Sciences Program seeks out innovative and practical benefits that result from studying fires. For example, the program has found ways to integrate space-based wildfire observations into air quality models used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that help protect public health.

NASA will extend the United States' capability to monitor and study global fires from space with the launch this month of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project. The satellite is the first mission designed to collect data to increase our understanding of long-term climate change and improve weather forecasts.

CMAQ Version 5.0 Released

2011-10-20T09:28:00.000+05:30

EPA Releases Air Quality Model to Study Harmful Air Pollution

Model will help scientists protect public health

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new version of its Community Multi-scale Air Quality model (CMAQ) that uses up-to-the minute meteorology and air chemistry data to determine how weather conditions affect pollution, and how pollution can affect and change weather. Version 5.0 of CMAQ allows scientists to analyze air quality at smaller, finer-resolution settings for individual towns and cities, and model air quality for the entire northern hemisphere. Currently, scientists use CMAQ to estimate air quality levels at the regional and national scales.

“The ability to apply the CMAQ model to larger scales will allow scientists to better understand the ways that air pollution moves around the globe, and provide much-needed information for decision makers in protecting public health,” said Dr. Paul Anastas, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The model represents collaborative work among scientists in the fields of engineering, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, atmospheric science, and meteorology.”

Air quality has a direct impact on people’s health. EPA research has shown that air contaminated with common pollutants like ozone, acidic gases, and toxic components of particulate matter can aggravate asthma symptoms and put stress on cardiovascular systems. CMAQ 5.0 allows scientists to study air pollution at the local level and much larger scales. Version 5.0 has the capability to use data from other air quality models. This gives the system more flexibility to address new and increasingly complex air pollution issues, and incorporate input from a worldwide community of CMAQ users.

Earlier versions of CMAQ have been used for more than a decade by EPA and states for air quality management. CMAQ uses meteorology and emissions data to evaluate air pollution trends and distribution. The system models multiple air pollutants, which include ozone, particulate matter, and air toxics to help air quality regulators determine the best air quality management scenarios for their communities, regions, and states. Also, the National Weather Service uses CMAQ to produce daily U.S. forecasts for ozone air quality.

More information on CMAQ: http://www.epa.gov/AMD/CMAQ

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Assessment Tools from SLoCAT

2011-10-11T12:07:00.001+05:30

Project Design Document for the Delhi Metro Phase II CDM project.

World Bank designed ROADEO (Road Emissions Optimization), software for calculating GHG emissions at the planning, design, and construction phases, calculator user manual, and a report on GHG emissions generated by road construction and rehabilitation activities, which is classified by work categories and includes analysis of local and international best practices.

ALMEC. 2009. “Guidelines for Preliminary Estimations of Carbon Emissions Reduction in Urban Transport Projects.” Final report and calculators. May 2009. Series of Excel based calculators on BRT, Bio Diesel and Idling developed at request of the World Bank.

The UNEP Risoe Tool for Selecting CDM Methodologies & Technologies – www.cdm-meth.org, gives an overview of the technologies used in CDM projects and the sectors (including transportation) where they are applicable as well as the methodologies and their applicability for every subtype.

Emission Reduction from Bus Rapid Transit and Pedestrian Improvements in Jakarta, Progress Report 2008 - 2010. Report produced by Pelangi as part of MoU with ITDP in which the applicability of CDM methodology AM0031 is reviewed for the Trans-Jakarta BRT.

Manual for calculating Greenhouse Gas Benefits of GEF projects. The Manual provides step-by-step guide for development of baseline, impact estimation and calibration of transport projects across a wide range of interventions including transport efficiency improvement, public transport, non-motorized transport, transport demand management, and comprehensive transport strategies.

Guidelines for Calculating GHG Benefits from Clean Technology Fund Investments in the Transport Sector. CTF co-financed operations in transport will be required to calculate GHG emissions reductions resulting from the investment. Annex 3 in this document summarizes the guidelines to be applied in CTF cofinanced operations.

This ADB evaluation knowledge brief provides new tools to measure how different transport projects funded by ADB affect carbon emissions.

Based on a case study in India ADB also published a report on measuring GHG emissions from road projects.

The Ecological Transport Information Tool (EcoTransIT) calculates environmental impacts of any freight transport. Thereby it is possible to determine the energy consumption, CO2 and exhaust emissions transported by rail, road, ship and aircraft in any combination. EcoTransIT is free of charge for any non-commerical use. http://www.ecotransit.org/index.en.phtml

UNEP has launched a cleaner fleet management toolkit which evaluates the impact of vehicle fleets on environment, including climate change, and human health. It can also be used to develop and assess the impact of corrective actions.

IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Chapter 3: Mobile Combustion. This document describes the guidelines Non-Annex I Parties are expected to use for estimating and reporting their national GHG inventories.

IGES has been working closely with researchers at Nihon University in Tokyo, Japan and associated organizations in Thailand and the Philippines to develop such a tool. “Mainstreaming a Transport Co-benefits Approach: A Guide to Evaluating Transport Projects” represents the result of these efforts. The guidelines or TCG, provide a set of user-friendly, step-by-step instructions for policymakers, transport planners, and development specialists interested in quantifying co-benefits of transport projects in Asia.

CHANGER is the greenhouse gas calculator developed by the International Road Federation (IRF) specifically for road infrastructure projects. The tool is very flexible allowing estimation of GHG emissions for each of the construction operations performed or for the entire project. The results are expressed in tons of CO2 equivalent. A video presentation of CHANGER illustrating its main features is available on www.irfghg.org

Methodology for Determining GHG Emission Reductions Through Bicycle Sharing Projects. This methodology is applicable for project activities under the Verified Carbon Standard that reduce GHG emissions through the usage of public sharing-based bicycle projects which introduce an alternative mode of transportation to displace other, more carbon intensive modes.

Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Analysis Techniques for Transportation Projects. This report developed on behalf of American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Environment identifies a total of 17 tools or methods that can be used to analyze the GHG implications of transportation projects. Existing tools are categorized into three groups: (a) Transportation GHG calculation tools, (b) Transportation/emissions strategy analysis tools, and (c) Energy/economic forecasting tools.

Perspective on CO2. Detailed phased approach to calculate emissions from freight and logistics. (In Dutch). English summary available at http://issuu.com/sdcom/docs/co2inperspective

NTM. Online emission calculator for road, rail, sea and air freight.

Methodology for Transport Energy Efficiency from Light Weight Pallets
This methodology outlines procedures to estimate the avoided net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from project activities involving the use of pallets - the flat, portable structures that support goods during handling, transportation and storage - that are lighter in weight than their conventional alternatives for freight transport.

Air Pollution Alerts - October 9th, 2011

2011-10-09T17:32:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on October 2nd, 2011)

World Bank, October, 2011
Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation in Road Construction and Rehabilitation: A Toolkit for Developing Countries.

The Hindu Business Line, October 9th, 2011
Challenges of mobility.

The Hindu, October 9th, 2011
Delhi Zoo safe for inmates.

Hindustan Times, October 9th, 2011
New BMC norms for your footpaths.

The City Fix, October 7th, 2011
Making Room for Delhi’s Bicycle Culture.

Waste Management World, October 7th, 2011
Jindal Group's upcoming waste-to-energy plant has Delhi fuming.

The Guardian, October 7th, 2011
Europe's greenhouse gas emissions rise.

The Guardian, October 6th, 2011
Airlines can be charged for carbon pollution, court rules.

The Guardian, October 5th, 2011
Melting Arctic ice clears the way for supertanker voyages.

The Live Mint, October 4th, 2011
Soot-monsoon link to be studied.

Climate-L, October 3rd, 2011
The urban dimension of climate change.

The Guardian, October 3rd, 2011
China to tighten air pollution standards.

Times of India, October 3rd, 2011
Set emission cut target date for all nations.

All Africa, October 1st, 2011
Uganda: WHO Warns of Increased Air Pollution Deaths.

The Hindu, September 30th, 2011
Do aerosols have an impact on Indian monsoon?

Biofuels Digest, September 27th, 2011
The Third Way: Advanced biofuels as a system of systems.

Brookings, August 2011
Energy and Green Growth: Recasting the Options, Re-envisioning Sustainability.

Air Pollution Alerts - October 2nd, 2011

2011-10-02T02:53:00.002+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on September 25th, 2011)

Air Pollution Alerts - September 25th, 2011

2011-09-25T20:10:00.002+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on September 18th, 2011)

The Assam Tribune, August 25th, 2011
Urban transport authority in Guwahati city likely.

BD News, September 25th, 2011
Govt imposing new tech on brick kilns.

Science Magazine, September 25th, 2011
Tick Tock, Modeling Emissions From Trees Around the Clock.

China Daily, September 23rd, 2011
Environmental quality standards under change.

Treehugger, September 23rd, 2011
Trading Charcoal for Sustainably Farmed Biofuel in Africa (Video).

Forbes, September 23rd, 2011
America's Most Stressful Cities.

Huffington Post, September 23rd, 2011
Michele Bachman Needs to Go to China Before She Tries to Shut Down the EPA.

Indian Express, September 22nd, 2011
MoUD pitches for vehicle cess to fund urban public transport.

All Africa, September 22nd, 2011
Africa: Fact Sheet On U.S. Action in Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

Reuters, September 22nd, 2011
China to tighten emissions from thermal power plants.

Asia One, September 21st, 2011
Asean urges Indonesia to sign pollution pact.

NRDC Switchboard, September 21st, 2011
New source of information for Americans facing oil and gas drilling in their communities.

AFP, September 21st, 2011
Protests mark rising environment awareness in China.

The Economist, September 20th, 2011
Global health - Developing diseases.

Standford Daily, September 20th, 2011
Study shows black carbon is major warming culprit.

BD News, September 20th, 2011
US invites Bangladesh to clean cooking.

The National, September 20th, 2011
Environmental protests halt production at polluting Chinese solar panel plant.

Deccan Herald, September 19th, 2011
Tax likely for parking cars along roads.

Science Magazine, September 19th, 2011
Return of a Killer Volcano.

Radio Free Asia, September 19th, 2011
China Study Eyes Carbon Tax.

Economic Times, September 18th, 2011
Ships of hope on the mighty Brahmaputra.

The Energy Collective, September 18th, 2011
A Marshall Plan to Build a Smart Grid -- in China.

All Africa, September 18th, 2011
Kenya: How Grandiose Lamu Port Project Is Alienating Coastal Communities From Country.

All Africa, September 18th, 2011
Nigeria: Climate Change and Agriculture in Country.

Times of India, September 18th, 2011
Experts mull on high speed rail transport.

The Economist, September 17th, 2011
Green growth - Some emerging-world companies are combining growth with greenery.

People's Daily, September 16th, 2011
First liquefied natural gas station opens in Tibet.

People's Daily, September 15th, 2011
China prepares for 5th Car-Free Day.

VECC-MEP, September 15th, 2011
China Commits to Landmark Agreement With Dual Ozone and Climate Benefits.

CRI English, September 13th, 2011
Blue Sky Project Proposes Low Carbon Plan.

Cities Alliance, September 13th, 2011
Developing an Energy-Efficient Urban Transport Plan for Zarqa, Jordan.

Economic Times, August 29th, 2011
Air far from clean, city noisy too - Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.

Economic Times, August 1st, 2011
Ambient air quality in mining areas in Goa, India.

Car Fumes Can Trigger Heart Attacks !!

2011-09-21T21:38:00.001+05:30

Breathing in heavy traffic fumes can trigger a heart attack, say UK experts
(from BBC, September 21st, 2011).

Heart attack risk is raised for about six hours post-exposure and goes down again after that, researchers found.

They say in the British Medical Journal that pollution probably hastens rather than directly cause attacks.

But repeated exposure is still bad for health, they say, substantially shortening life expectancy, and so the advice to people remains the same - avoid as far as is possible.

Prof Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which co-funded the study, said: "This large-scale study shows conclusively that your risk of having a heart attack goes up temporarily, for around six hours, after breathing in higher levels of vehicle exhaust.

"We know that pollution can have a major effect on your heart health, possibly because it can 'thicken' the blood to make it more likely to clot, putting you at higher risk of a heart attack.

"Our advice to patients remains the same - if you've been diagnosed with heart disease, try to avoid spending long periods outside in areas where there are likely to be high traffic pollution levels, such as on or near busy roads."

Early peak

The research looked at the medical records of almost 80,000 heart attack patients in England and Wales, cross-referencing these details with air pollution data.

This enabled the investigators to plot hourly levels of air pollution (PM10, ozone, CO, NO2, and SO2) against onset of heart attack symptoms and see if there was any link.

Higher levels of air pollution did appear to be linked with onset of a heart attack lasting for six hours after exposure.

After this time frame, risk went back down again.

Krishnan Bhaskaran from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the research, said the findings suggested that pollution was not a major contributing factor to heart attacks.

For example, being exposed to a spell of medium-level rather than low-level pollution would raise heart attack risk by 5%, by his calculations.

"If anything, it looks like it brings heart attack forward by a few hours. These are cardiac events that probably would have happened anyway."

But he said the findings should not detract from the fact that chronic exposure to air pollution was hazardous to health.

Prof Pearson from the BHF agrees: "Unhealthy diets and smoking etc are much bigger heart attack risk factors, but car fumes are the cream on the cake that can tip you over."

Air Pollution Alerts - September 18th, 2011

2011-09-18T11:29:00.002+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on September 4th, 2011)

ICCT, September 18th, 2011
India Air Pollution & Health Workshop.

NRDC Switchboard, September 17th, 2011
Getting slicked by big oil.

DNA India, September 17th, 2011
Transport: Mysore makes a smart move.

Co-generation On-Site, September 17th, 2011
Hong Kong: Speech by SEN on Building a Green Hong Kong.

Bangkok Post, September 17th, 2011
Setting wheels in motion in Bangkok.

NPR, September 16th, 2011
Why'd It Take So Long To Invent The Wheel?

NPR, September 16th, 2011
EPA Postpones Power Plant Emissions Rules.

PRO-Publica, September 16th, 2011
Science Lags As Health Problems Emerge Near Gas Fields.

Grist Magazine, September 16th, 2011
Climate-denying candidates make more Americans believe in global warming.

Grist Magazine, September 16th, 2011
Watch comedian David Mitchell take the piss out of climate deniers.

Science Daily, September 16th, 2011
Cities to Grab Lands Equaling Size of Mongolia In Next 20 Years.

CSE, September 16th, 2011
Petrol hike will push diesel car demand.

China Daily, September 16th, 2011
Low-carbon growth 'needs incentives'.

Platts, September 15th, 2011
China oil demand growth to slow more on weak economic outlook.

Common Dreams, September, 15th, 2011

Despite Mounting Climate Crisis, EPA Delays Cuts for Greenhouse Gases.

Common Dreams, September 15th, 2011
America and Oil: Declining Together?

Grist List, September 15th, 2011
You want a war on cars? Fine, here’s your war on cars.

NPR, September 15th, 2011
Teaching Environmental Literacy: Seeking Balance.

NPR, September 14th, 2011
Al Gore: It's An Honor To Be Attacked On Climate Change.

Science Daily, September 14th, 2011
Air Pollution Caused by Ships Plummets When Vessels Shift to Cleaner, Low-Sulfur Fuels.

The Japan Times, September 14th, 2011
No rush to turn to renewables.

China Green News, September 14th, 2011
Ministry of Environmental Protection May Change Air Quality Measurement Standards.

Construction Week Online, September 13th, 2011
Construction sector behind GCC air pollution.

European Parliament, September 13th, 2011
MEPs call for cuts in non-CO2 greenhouse emissions.

ADB, September 13th, 2011
ADB Loan Boosts Solar Power in India's Gujarat.

Cause Because, September 13th, 2011
Pollution: How we make it happen.

Philippine Star, September 13th, 2011
Myanmar to upgrade hotels to meet ASEAN standard.

Science Daily, September 13th, 2011
Tools That Will Help Reduce Nitrogen Pollution.

Science Daily, September 13th, 2011
Can Scientists Look at Next Year's Climate?

Science Daily, September 12th, 2011
Health Fears Over CO2 Storage Are Unfounded.

Science Daily, September 12th, 2011
Sustainability Scientists Suggest How Countries Can Cooperate On Climate.

Times of India, September 12th, 2011
Diesel cars give petrol cousins a run for their money.

The Guardian, September 11th, 2011
Climate change: summer in the city.

The Guardian, September 11th, 2011
Biomass schemes will boost destructive timber imports, claims wood industry.

Shanghai Daily, September 10th, 2011
Reusable subway tickets developed.

New York Times, September 10th, 2011
Bicycle Visionary.

Vietnam News, September 9th, 2011
Vehicle fumes to be cut from 2017.

TIME, September 9th, 2011
Natural Gas Can Save the Climate? Not Exactly.

The Grist Magazine, September 9th, 2011
Switching from coal to natural gas would accelerate climate change.

Grist List, September 9th, 2011
Gaze upon the eight circles of commuting hell.

The Guardian, September 8th, 2011
Beijing set to become world's busiest aviation hub with new mega-airport.

MoNRE, September 8th, 2011
Pollution problems worsen in capital of Vietnam.

The Atlantic, September 7th, 2011
In Fast-Growing China, a Warning About When Prosperity Isn't Enough.

Science Daily, September 7th, 2011
CERES Continues Legacy of Cloud Study On NPP.

The Hindu, September 7th, 2011
Volvo to enter medium bus segment.

The City Fix, September 7th, 2011
Indian Cities Score Low in Walkability Ratings.

Xinhua Net, September 7th, 2011
China outlines reduction targets in energy consumption by 2015.

CNTN, September 6th, 2011
China to make clean fuels a priority.

Common Dreams, September 6th, 2011

Oil Exploration Under Arctic Ice Could Cause 'Uncontrollable' Natural Disaster.

Climate-L, September 6th, 2011
Clean Energy: Helping Propel Asia to New Prosperity.

Edie Net, September 6th, 2011
Water scarcity overtakes global warming as top environmental concern.

New York Times, September 2nd, 2011
Obama Administration Abandons Stricter Air-Quality Rules.

Press Information Bureau, September 2nd, 2011
Concentration of PM10 in Ambient Air in Delhi much above the Notified Standards.

NPR, September 2nd, 2011
Obama Withdraws Proposed Regulation On Smog.

CNN, August 31st, 2011
Why are hurricane forecasts still so rough?

MoNRE, August 23rd, 2011
It’s more difficult than thought to remove brick kilns in Vietnam.

MoNRE, August 23rd, 2011
Vietnam to bring clean energy to 600,000 households.

Vietnam Net, August 21st, 2011
Small scale brick kilns in Vietnam gradually killing creatures in Nghe An.

Science Daily, August 20th,2011
Growth of Cities Endangers Global Environment.

CNN, August 17th, 2011
Tackling climate change still a luxury in developing world.

The Economist, August 13th, 2011
Sticking it to China - A factory in rural Georgia helps East Asia eat.

David Mitchell (The Comedian) Making Fun on Climate Change Doubters

2011-09-18T11:05:00.002+05:30

Last week David Mitchell solved the environment - and he's a bit miffed that didn't make more of a stir. So this week he thought he'd tackle climate change doubters. These disbelievers must concede that climate change is a 'possibility'. In which case, why take the risk – and continue ruining the planet, in the meantime?

Another video on Sustainability.

More from David Mitchell's Soap Box (The Guardian)

Walkability in Indian Cities

2011-09-11T13:26:00.001+05:30

The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) released a study that benchmarks the pedestrian infrastructure of six Indian cities. The publication, “Walkability in Indian Cities,” looks at walkability in Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Indore, Pune, Rajkot and Surat. The study also contains pedestrian preference interviews from these cities and an assessment of current policies on pedestrians and walking environments, which includes discussions with stakeholders. Finally, the study also compares walkability across other Asian cities.

According to the study:

“Indian cities were built for walking and cycling. However, rapid motorization combined with limited attention to pedestrian facilities has inadvertently resulted in a decrease in the overall mode share for non-motorized transport. Strategies must be incorporated in order for people to reclaim the urban environment overrun by motor vehicles. Policies and investments provide an impetus to transform Indian cities, encourage pedestrianization and allow people to enjoy better mobility and quality of life.”

The study finds that pedestrian facilities are lacking and insufficient in Indian cities, especially within areas where they are the most needed, like areas with a high number of pedestrians and public transport options. A universal concern for all of the cities studied was also the lack of facilities for people with disabilities.

Out of a possible 100 points, the average walkability score of the six Indian cities was a 47, where residential areas received higher ratings and public transport terminals received lower ones. Pedestrian preference interviews revealed that neglecting pedestrian infrastructure can drive city inhabitants to motorization. According to the study, 60 percent of the respondents rated pedestrian facilities in their cities as either “bad” or “worst,” and 62 percent revealed that they would shift to motorized modes of transport if the walking environments in their cities do not improve.

Out of the six cities, Pune scored the highest with a rating of 54 out of 100. But in comparison to other Asian cities, the scores remain relatively low. Hong Kong, for example scored a 70 out of 100 for walkability.

The assessment of policies and institutions found a general lack of relevant initiatives that cater to the needs of pedestrians. “Because of the neglect, miniscule funds are allocated for pedestrian infrastructure and improperly used,” the report says.

Some suggestions from pedestrian interviewees include simple measures, like allocating clean footpaths without obstructions and reducing vehicular speeds at crossings. To improve walkability, the study provides several recommendations:

Improving institutional arrangements and creating dedicated institutional support for pedestrians;
Developing mandatory complete streets design guidelines;
Setting stringent walkability improvement targets including pedestrian mode share and pedestrian fatality reduction;
Conducting annual pedestrian benchmarks;
Integrating walkability to improve city plans;
Promoting applied research on walkability; and,
Making allies for improving walkability in India

Pedestrian infrastructure is not only important for road fatalities but also because it would serve a dual purpose in public health. “Improving the pedestrian facilities significantly reduces the shift from non-motorized transportation to two wheelers and cars, thereby minimizing traffic congestion and pollution emission that threatens public health,” the Clean Air Initiative explains.

Read the report here.

Commuter Pain Index

2011-09-11T13:21:00.003+05:30

86% of respondents in Beijing, 87% in Shenzhen, 70% in New Delhi and 61% in Nairobi said traffic was a key inhibitor to their work or school performance. Meanwhile 67% of drivers in Mexico City, 63% in Shenzhen and New Delhi and 61% in Beijing said they’d decided against a car trip in the last month due to anticipated traffic.

Read More

Exposure to Particulate Pollution in Auto-Rickshaws (3-Wheelers) in Delhi

2011-09-08T13:57:00.007+05:30

This is the research work carried out by Mr. Joshua Apte, a Ph.D student at the University of California, Berkeley. He spent a year in Delhi, in 2010, taking measurements and analyzing the results to better understand the levels of pollution for a commuter in an auto-rickshaw (also known as 3-wheelers). Here is a video from a section of the trip.

Following his presentation at the CSE's Dialogue with Doctors workshop on August 31st, 2011 (read CSE's press release and access the presentations)
this is what we saw in the media

Indian Express, September 1st, 2011
Delhi seems less polluted now, but autos not best way to travel

An Autoricshaw ride in Delhi comes at a great cost, and not just for your pocket. A recent study conducted by Joshua Apte, a PhD candidate from the University of Berkeley, has found that a single trip in an autorickshaw in Delhi could expose you to levels of air pollution that are much greater than full-day exposure experienced by residents of developed countries.

Apte was presenting the results of his study at a dialogue on air pollution organised by the Centre for Science and Environment here on Wednesday. He explained that the study was conducted during February and May 2010, and researchers were made to travelled in autorickshaws on a fixed route in South Delhi for the purpose.

“We made two trips a day in an autorickshaw, 75 times from South Delhi to Connaught Place. During each trip, we measured the actual particle concentration inside the vehicle while moving through the traffic,” he explained.

The study shows that commuters breathe far more harmful particles inside vehicles while travelling, as compared to areas with ambient air concentration, such as Lodhi Gardens. “The particle matter (PM2.5) concentration inside vehicles can be 1.5 times higher thah the surrounding background air, and ultrafine levels are about eight times higher,” Apte explained.

A lot of this, he said, has to do with exposure to sudden peaks in pollutant levels. Using video footage taken while travelling in an autorickshaw, he illustrated how the readings for particulate matter inside the vehicle spike everytime it gets stuck in traffic.

“There is very little data on exposure to air pollution while in traffic, as opposed to ambient air levels. Ambient air monitors, which are now being installed in Delhi, will miss out on a bit of the story. The fact is, there is a very high concentration of pollutants while travelling in open vehicles, and these peak exposures can do major damage,” Apte said.

Pollution levels have improved considerably over the past decade, and the city is no longer enveloped in black smog, admitted CSE executive director Anumita Roychowdhury. However, she cautioned that the authorities must not take this for granted, because pollutants still pose a major risk to people’s health.

“Earlier, pollution used to be measured only in terms of particulate matter. But now we have new substances to deal with, such as nox and ozone. People who access urban roads regularly and those who live close to roads are at a high risk of being affected by vehicular air pollution. According to estimates, about 55 per cent of Delhi’s population lives within 500 metres of such roads and are, therefore, prone to a variety of physical disorders,” she said.

And there are also people who misconstrue the objective of the study and publish this...

Times of India, September 1st, 2011
AC cars may keep you fit

Air pollution is posing serious health hazards for the people of the national capital.

Researchers from Berkeley University carried out a survey in Delhi between February and May 2010 to analyse the impact of pollution on those using public transport.

The study – Concentration of fine, ultrafine and black carbon particles in autorickshaws in New Delhi, India – published in Atmospheric Environment, says those travelling in autos and cars with windows rolled down are exposed to 1.5 times more PM 2.5 concentrations than the ambient air. Exposure to ultrafine particles are 8.5 times higher. Joshua Apte, who headed the research, said those travelling in air-conditioned vehicles suffered 35-55% less pollution as compared to those in autos.

Improved Cookstoves in South Asia

2011-09-06T15:53:00.002+05:30

today.. From Mr. Lalloobhoy Battliwala

A good literature review.

Can't tell just what was improved or how long the improvement lasted. If there were fuel savings, no idea where they were banked and at what interest rate.

Why, just why, do the poor have to be cheapened down (as in being "dumbed down")? Why is their choice limited to status quo, $5-20 'improved' stoves that are not convenient or reliable (and rarely purchased again), or switching to charcoal, kerosene, LPG and electricity?

I reckon "modern" fuels (incl. processed solid fuels) - and purchased prepared or semi-prepared food - have captured ~70% of the incremental cooking/heating market for the poor in the last 30 years, "traditional" fuels and stoves another 25%, and "improved stoves" with "traditional fuels" perhaps 5% if that and perhaps on a non-sustained basis (meaning, x here for ten years, y there for three years).

I always want to be proven wrong, but would rather be surprised by a stove that works and is desired, and given as a wedding gift.

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Read the full report "Improved Cookstoves in South Asia"

A Graphic Explanation of "What is Source Apportionment"

2011-09-05T09:58:00.006+05:30

Building an effective air quality management system requires a process of continual improvement in knowing where the pollution is coming from and how much each of the sources are contributing to the ambient air quality. The source apportionment techniques are now well established to develop this information for informed decision making.There are two ways in apportioning pollution - (a) A top-down approach starting with monitoring of pollution and (b) A bottom-up approach starting with the activity data (like fuel consumption). Both the methods are well studied and documented. The literature available on these approaches to successfully conduct a source apportionment study is immense. In September, 2011, for the readers, we simplified the explanations, methods available, frequently asked questions, myths, expected results, and on how to consolidate the results from the two approaches, into a graphic document, as part of the SIM-comic book series.

Others in the SIM-air Comic book series

A detailed handbook on source apportionment was published in March, 2011 by the ESMAP program (The World Bank). Download the report and more from "Review of Top-down Source Apportionment Techniques and Their Application in Developing Countries".

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Air Pollution Alerts - September 4th, 2011

2011-09-04T11:27:00.001+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on August 28th, 2011)

Air Pollution Alerts - August 28th, 2011

2011-08-30T14:35:00.002+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on August 21st, 2011)

Science Daily, August 28th, 2011
Nitrogen Pollution's Little-Known Environmental and Human Health Threats.

The Guardian, August 26th, 2011
WikiLeaks reveals China's failure to measure dangerous pollution.

Newsdek, August 25th, 2011
Historic Los Angeles neighborhood continues to bear the brunt of air pollution.

Irish Weather, August 24th, 2011
Monsoon Rains Clear Air Of Dust And Pollution.

People's Daily Online, August 24th, 2011
China to revise ambient air quality standards.

Center for American Progress, August 24th, 2011
China Eyes Competitive Edge in Renewable Energy.

The Guardian, August 24th, 2011
China's love affair with the car shuns green vehicles.

CNTN, August 23rd, 2011
Heavy industry: Culprit for soaring power consumption in Jiangxi.

Press Information Bureau, August 23rd, 2011
Electric Vehicles under JNNURM.

Press Information Bureau, August 23rd, 2011
Level of Air and Noise Pollutions in the Country.

Mail and Guardian, August 23rd, 2011
Waging war on Durban's poison.

The Lanka Island, August 22nd, 2011
Sampur coal power plant - an opportunity lost?

Science Daily, August 22nd, 2011
Nitrogen in the Soil Cleans the Air: Nitrogen-Containing Soil Is a Source of Hydroxyl Radicals That Remove Pollutants from the Atmosphere.

Expert Reviews, August 22nd, 2011
From four wheels to two - the Smart ebike.

UN News, August 22nd, 2011
New satellites battle pollution 'ghosts'.

Wired, August 22nd, 2011
Where Will We Plug In?

China Daily, August 22nd, 2011
Beijing should not be ranked 8.

Financial Express, August 22nd, 2011
WB launches study on quality of spending in road sector.

An Animated Film from 1957 Discussing Then Energy Use

2011-08-22T20:55:00.001+05:30

The only thing about this 1950s educational cartoon that’s more remarkable than its stylishness is how badly it botches its core prediction. It projects that between 1957 and 1975, electricity use in the U.S. would increase four-fold. But America's electricity consumption didn't quadruple from 1950 levels until 1989. Cartoons, we trusted you! How could you get it so wrong? Read More on Grist News.

Don't Park Your Car Illegally !!

2011-08-22T14:41:00.001+05:30

The mayor of Vilnius in Lithuania, Arturas Zuokas, was filmed at the controls of the eight-wheeled camouflaged armoured vehicle as it rolled over a Mercedes car illegally parked in a cycle lane.

In the video released by the city government, he said he was signalling that there would be a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal parking from now on

Japan Shifting Back to Fossil Fuels (NYT)

2011-08-22T07:51:00.001+05:30

From the New York Times, August 19th, 2011

Japan Quake Is Causing Costly Shift to Fossil Fuels

YOKOSUKA, Japan — The half-century-old, oil-fueled power generators here had been idle for more than a year when, a day after the nuclear accident in March, orders came from Tokyo Electric Power headquarters to fire them up.

“They asked me how long it would take,” said Masatake Koseki, head of the Yokosuka plant, which is 40 miles south of Tokyo and run by Tokyo Electric. “The facilities are old, so I told them six months. But they said, ‘No, you must ready them by summer to prepare for an energy shortage.’ ”

Now, at summer’s peak, Yokosuka’s two fuel-oil and two gas turbines are cranking out a total of 900,000 kilowatts of electricity — and an abundance of fumes.

The generators are helping to replace the 400 million kilowatt-hours of daily electricity production lost this summer because of the shutdown of all but 15 of Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. Across the country, dozens of other fossil-fuel plants have been fired up, and Japan is importing billions of dollars worth of liquefied natural gas, coal and oil to keep them running.

Japan, the world’s third-largest user of electricity behind China and the United States, had counted on an expansion of nuclear power to contain energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, its nuclear program is in retreat, as the public and government officials urge a sharp reduction in the nation’s reliance on nuclear power and perhaps an end to it altogether.

As its nuclear program implodes, Japan is grappling with a jump in fuel costs, making an economic recovery from the March earthquake and tsunami all the more difficult. Annual fuel expenses could rise by more than 3 trillion yen, or about $39 billion, the government says.

The country, until recently a vocal proponent of measures to curb climate change, is also leaving a bigger carbon footprint. According to government calculations, Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions could rise by as much as 210 million metric tons, or 16 percent, by 2013 from 1990 levels if its nuclear reactors were shut permanently. Under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, a global agreement on greenhouse gas emissions, Japan promised to reduce its emissions by 6 percent over that period.

“Can nuclear be eliminated?” asked Adam Schatzker, an energy analyst at RBC Capital Markets. “It’s possible, but very costly.”

If necessary, Japan could replace the energy capacity lost in the shutdown of its nuclear fleet by increasing the use of natural gas and coal, Mr. Schatzker said. “But even if fossil fuel facilities can make up for the loss of nuclear, it would likely take time, cost a great deal more money and pollute significantly,” he said.

For resource-poor Japan, it is an energy shift of an unprecedented scale and speed. A generation ago, the oil shock of 1973, which exposed the country’s overdependence on Middle Eastern oil, forced Japanese companies to focus on energy efficiency and prompted the government to invest heavily in nuclear power.

But as it doubled down on nuclear power plants, Japan was slow to develop alternative forms of energy, like solar or wind power, which account for just 1 percent of its electricity supply.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called for a gradual move away from nuclear energy, and proposed a goal of generating 20 percent of Japan’s electricity from renewable sources, including hydroelectric plants, by the early 2020s. The Parliament is debating legislation to spur that change.

A nuclear-free future could come much sooner, however. Nervous local governments have blocked the restart of reactors idled for routine inspections, which occur every 13 months. If no reactors can restart, Japan’s entire nuclear fleet, which provided 30 percent of its electricity in 2009, could be closed by spring.

The shutdowns are already causing an energy squeeze. At least three utilities have come close to full capacity during peak demand hours this summer. The government has warned that eastern Japan, including Tokyo, could face an electricity shortage of about 10 percent next summer if no nuclear plants are running.

A 10 percent shortage may not be disastrous. This summer, for example, a major energy-saving drive by households and companies drove down peak electricity demand in July by about 20 percent, to 46.3 million kilowatts, averting blackouts despite the energy shortfall, according to Tokyo Electric, the operator of the stricken Fukushima plant.

Still, “we take this situation very seriously,” Toshio Nishizawa, chief executive of Tokyo Electric, said this month. Only three of the company’s 17 nuclear reactors are running.

A protracted increase in fossil fuel costs is possible to make up for the shortfall, traders say.

Japan’s liquefied natural gas imports have jumped for three consecutive months, squeezing global supplies amid strong demand from China and other emerging economies. Imports of coal, which still accounts for 25 percent of Japan’s energy, are also rising.

Analysts at RBC Capital Markets predict that in Japan, the world’s largest importer of coal, coal-fired generation could climb as much as 20 percent, equivalent to 3 percent of global supply.

Last month, Japan’s power utilities said they would raise electricity prices in September to make up for higher fuel costs.

Some businesses worry about the impact of a long-term energy deficit.

“We could see Japanese companies start to move overseas,” Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Sumitomo Chemical and head of Japan’s largest business lobby, the Keidanren, told reporters last month. “A prolonged energy shortage could harm business and investment.”

Meanwhile, the sharply higher energy costs are helping to undermine Japan’s formerly rock-solid balance of trade, which swung into the red for three straight months after the earthquake as exporters struggled to restart production. The country’s trade surplus for July was down 90 percent from a year earlier, on a combination of weak exports and rising energy imports.

Elon Musk, the American entrepreneur and founder of the electric car company, Tesla Motors, was in tsunami-stricken Soma late last month to donate $250,000 to build a solar farm there. He said that he saw potential for renewable energy in Japan, but that cumbersome regulations and government foot-dragging were holding the industry back.

“The cost of solar power has dropped in recent years, but government policy hasn’t caught up to that,” Mr. Musk said in a telephone interview.

One roadblock for renewable power in Japan has been the inability of producers to get an adequate price for their electricity on the market, where they must compete with cheaper power from coal, natural gas and nuclear power.

Lawmakers are debating a law that would require utilities to buy electricity from solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and other renewable power sources, even if it means paying a premium. According to Japan’s Trade Ministry, the move would raise average home electricity bills by about 200 yen (more than $2) a month.

“If we, as a society, are willing to pay more, this technology will most certainly spread,” said Norihiro Okumura, an economist with the Tokyo-based Institute of Energy Economics. “And though some in industry say this hurts competitiveness, renewable energy will create new businesses, too.”

Until then, the huge generators at the Yokosuka power plant will continue to pick up the slack, fumes notwithstanding.

“People once called this the No. 1 power plant in the Orient,” Mr. Koseki said. “We are back, doing what we can.”

Air Pollution Alerts - August 21st, 2011

2011-08-21T21:12:00.000+05:30

News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on August 14th, 2011)

Breath of Fresh Air in London (CNN)

2011-08-18T09:59:00.000+05:30

Film on Climate Refugees Strikes a Chord (New York Times)

2011-08-14T12:27:00.001+05:30

During the shooting of his 2010 documentary “Climate Refugees,” the Irish-American filmmaker Michael Nash visited nearly 50 countries in about 18 months, interviewing politicians, scientists, health workers and victims of floods, cyclones, hurricanes and droughts.

His conclusion was that short- and longer-term changes in climate are causing vast numbers of people to abandon their jobs, homes and countries to seek better lives elsewhere, or to simply survive. (Jeffrey Gettleman’s recent coverage of the Somali refugee crisis in The Times has offered some vivid and disturbing examples, although Somalia’s troubles are also inextricably linked to political turmoil.)

Read more on New York Times.

Painting Reality - Movement of Cars in Berlin at a Traffic Junction

2011-08-14T09:03:00.001+05:30

500 liters of waterbased environmentally-friendly paint on asphalt spread by 2000 cars on Rosenthaler Platz Berlin. By IEPE & the anonymous crew. Directed by AKIZ