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16-30 SEPTEMBER, 2024 SCIENCE AND ON FORTNIGHTLY ENVIRONMENT POLITICS OF FORTNIGHTLY DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH `80.00...

16-30 SEPTEMBER, 2024 SCIENCE AND ON FORTNIGHTLY ENVIRONMENT POLITICS OF FORTNIGHTLY DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH `80.00 Subscriber copy, not for resale OZONE DAY SPECIAL CARBON COLONISED Can carbon markets combat the climate change crisis? Scientists join forces to Politics and Misconceptions assess climate impact on economics of Africa’s that obscure India’s tropical forests mpox epidemic Chipko objectives P15 P44 P48 01Cover.indd 1 10/09/24 10:14 AM  SCHOOL OF WATER AND WASTE AAETI ONLINE TRAINING ON BASICS OF DECENTRALIZED WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND LOCAL REUSE TARGET AUDIENCE  Working professionals and decision makers Date Last date to register Course Duration Language of from government and 7TH OCTOBER - 8TH 30TH SEPTEMBER, 6 HOURS A WEEK instruction non-government NOVEMBER, 2024 2024 (24 HOURS) ENGLISH institutions  PMU assisting Govt. in Decentralised wastewater treatment is based on the important LEARNING OBJECTIVE mainstreaming principle – devolving level of the application so that wastewater To understand the existing waterwastewater can be treated at affordable costs, cutting the cost of pumping problems in wastewater measures long distances and promoting local reuse of treated wastewater. management. The course builds awareness about issues and potential of  Urban Planners, decentralized wastewater treatment including successfully Understanding the definition, Architects, Engineers implemented case studies of local reuse of treated wastewater. concept and approach of and Consultants decentralized wastewater  Practitioners from treatment vis a vis centralized consultancies, COURSE FEE wastewater treatment and its community-based intervention in urban areas. organizations, social- E3,000/- US$ 100 Acquaintance to web based welfare organizations, Indian participants International Participant portal MOUNT – case nongovernment Two or more participants coming from the same studies showing different organizations organisation can avail a total discount of 20 per cent. technologies and cost  Independent researchers Participants from NGO, Civil Society or students can effectiveness. and academician avail 20% discount. working in water and Understanding about the enabling frameworks and sanitation sector Top 5 scorers will get a 50% refund of their regulations applicable to  Representatives of course fee and 1 year free Down to Earth decentralized wastewater Resident Welfare magazine subscription. treatment including reuse. Association FOR MORE INFORMATION, KINDLY CONTACT TRAINING COORDINATOR TRAINING DIRECTOR JYOTI PARSAD DADHICH DEPINDER KAPUR Deputy Programme Manager, Water Programme, CSE Director, Water Programme, CSE Mobile: +91 8559838864 | Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 02DTE Size-Decentralised Wastewater Treatment and Local Reuse-2024.indd 2 09/09/24 1:09 PM  SUNITA NARAIN \ EDIT We need politics of inclusion W E KNOW we stand at the crossroads. Unsus- to scale up the system for the poorest in the world. tainable growth means that we are hurtling The challenge of climate change is a mirror to the air towards climate catastrophe and inequitable pollution challenge we face in Delhi. In 1990, my growth means that we are hurtling towards increased colleague Anil Agarwal and I argued in our publication poverty, increased marginalisation and increased anger. "Global Warming in an Unequal World" that the world Our learning in India is that growth that is not afford- cannot combat climate change unless the agreement is able, in other words not equitable, cannot be sustainable. fair and equitable. Today, the same issue is on the table. This, then, is the agenda for the future. If the solutions cannot meet the needs of all—are Consider the challenge of Delhi’s toxic air pollution. equitable—they will not work. This is where we need to It's not that we are not trying to make a difference. All understand this environmentalism of the poor again. coal plants have been shut; pet coke import (incidentally It is clear that events in our world are spiralling out the ones that the US exports as it is toxic for local use) of control. Every year is the hottest year, till the next has been banned; and we are switching to the cleanest year comes around. Then a new record is broken. From fuels and vehicle technology. Despite these incremental forest fires, to increasing frequency and intensity of actions, we stay behind the pollution crisis. My col- storms to blistering cold waves and scorching heat—it’s leagues estimate that air pollution in Delhi has reduced all getting worse. Then we face the most inconvenient by 25 per cent over the past three years, as compared to truth. At current rates, the the previous three years; but it still needs to be reduced world will run out of the We cannot neuter by 65 per cent to get what you will call clean air. carbon budget—how much politics of access, The reason is simple: today less than 20 per cent of it can emit to limit global justice and rights, my city drive in cars to work; roughly 25 per cent own warming to 1.5°C—by 2030. and hope to fix environment or cars. But these vehicle owners take 90 per cent of the But there are vast numbers indeed development road space. The question is, if the demand of just 20 per of people who do not have cent is leading to huge congestion and pollution, where access to basic energy. They need energy for their and how can the city find the road and air space for all? development. This is why we need cooperation so that This is where the environmentalism of the poor kicks future development can be low-carbon for all. in. The fact is, if the rich are to breathe clean air, we It is clear that increasing numbers of disasters need to rework mobility for all. We cannot think of because of growing intensity and frequency of weird and adding a few buses or trams or metros; we need to abnormal weather will make the poor, poorer. Their transform mobility so that it works for the rich and the impoverishment and marginalisation will add to their poor. This means combining affordability and conve- desperation to move away from their lands and to seek nience and safety. alternative livelihoods. Their only choice will be to This is also the case with energy. Many households in migrate—move to the city; move to another country. The my world still use biomass to cook food because they are double-jeopardy, as I have called it, in the interconnect- poor. These air pollutants, which are killing poor people, ed world is the push—lack of options—and the pull— are also contaminating the airshed they share with the bright lights that suggest a choice to better futures. This rich. So, if we want clean air, we will have to get the rich will add to the already volatile situation of boat people out of their polluting vehicles, but we will also have to and migrants at the border walls, making our world ensure that the poor households get options to move out insecure and violent. This is the cycle of destructive of dirty fuels. Their energy transition is important for change that we must fight. Our globalised world is clean air. This is why without inclusive growth, we inter-connected and inter-dependent, and we must cannot have sustainability. recognise this. The opportunity is also enormous. If we reinvent for Sustainable development is not possible if it is not transformative action we will focus on the needs of the equitable. Growth has to be affordable and inclusive for poor women and provide them viable, affordable it to be sustainable. But all this will not happen, unless options to leapfrog—from non-fossil dirty fuels to we articulate that the environmental challenge is not non-fossil clean fuels. But this is where the world technocratic but political. We cannot neuter the politics needs leadership so that finance for the energy of access, justice and rights and hope to fix the environ- transition is concessional and provides the opportunity ment or indeed development. D T E @sunitanar DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 3 03Editors.indd 3 10/09/24 10:14 AM  Founded in 1992 to arm you with knowledge critical to shaping a better world FOUNDER EDITOR Anil Agarwal Contents OZONE DAY SPECIAL EDITOR Sunita Narain MANAGING EDITOR Richard Mahapatra CHIEF COPY EDITOR Snigdha Das C OV E R S TO RY ASSOCIATE EDITORS Aditya Misra, Rajit Sengupta SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ajit Bajaj SUPPLEMENT EDITOR Souparno Banerjee CHIEF CARTOONIST Sorit Gupto REPORTING TEAM Shagun,Akshit Sangomla, Pulaha Roy, Rohini Krishnamurthy, Himanshu N SENIOR SUB EDITOR Dakshiani Palicha WEB EDITORS Rajat Ghai, Preetha Banerjee, Nandita Banerji, Pratyaksh Srivastava DESIGN TEAM Chaitanya Chandan (Art Editor), Ritika Bohra (Assistant Art Editor), Tarun Sehgal (Senior Designer), Yogendra Anand (Illustrator), Vineet Tripathi (Graphic Designer), Shri Krishan PHOTO EDITOR Vikas Choudhary PRODUCTION Rakesh Shrivastava, Gundhar Das TECH SUPPORT Rajendra Rawat, Jaidev Sharma MULTIMEDIA Joel Michael, Sunny Gautam, Midhun Vijayan, Shreya K A, Prabhat Kumar, Dhruval Parekh INFORMATION AND RESEARCH SUPPORT Kiran Pandey, Susan Chacko,Madhumita Paul, Sheeja Nair, Lalit Maurya, Dayanidhi Mishra CONSULTING EDITORS Anumita Roychowdhury, Vibha Varshney Vol 33, No 9; Total No of Pages: 60 Editorial, subscriptions and advertisements: Society for Environmental Communications, 41,Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi 110 062, Phone: 91-11- 40616000, 29955124, 20 29956110, 29956394, 29956399 | Fax: 91-11-29955879. 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To subscribe, sms ‘dte Subscribe’ to 56070 or visit www.downtoearth.org.in/subscription 08 Digest FOR ADVERTISEMENTS Jyoti Ghosh Initiative to train, employ women at [email protected] key positions in faecal sludge plants FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS 48 Opinion K C R Raja, [email protected] 12 Mpox A relook at the myths of the Vaccine delay, internal conflict hit Chipko movement Congo’s fight against mpox 50 Life & Nature 15 Tree mortality Local fests, departmental initiatives drive popularity of red Leaves hold evidence on the future of tropical forests in changing climate jackfruit varieties in south India 42 Ozone day special 56 Interview Climate change, space programmes The Great Nicobar project a big 16-30 SEPTEMBER, 2024 the new threats to the ozone layer threat to the island, native tribes SCIENCE AND ON FORTNIGHTLY ENVIRONMENT POLITICS OF FORTNIGHTLY DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH `80.00 Subscriber copy, not for resale OZONE DAY SPECIAL CARBON COLONISED Can carbon markets combat 44 Patently Absurd 58 Civil Lines Jobs, lack of faith in democracy the climate change crisis? Lessons for Africa from global Cover design: Ajit Bajaj response on mpox outbreak fuel youth anger today Cover illustration: Yogendra Anand Scientists join forces to assess climate impact on India’s tropical forests Politics and economics of Africa’s mpox epidemic Misconceptions that obscure Chipko objectives Down To Earth does not endorse the content of advertisements printed in the magazine. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only. P15 P44 P48 01Cover.indd 1 10/09/24 10:14 AM 04Contents.indd 4 10/09/24 10:14 AM  Engage leaves have turpentine and are highly flammable, which plays a role in the spread of forest fires. The only remedy is to replace this tree with native species. But it seems that the no one cares about the forests. PCS RAUTELA SATTAL Agriculture needs proper focus This is with regard to the 1-15 August, 2024 edition “Can we make India’s agriculture climate resilient”. The edition has covered most relevant issues pertaining to agriculture. I am seriously concerned about the future of the country and its people. I wonder why the annual Union budget does not plan for the impressive growth of the agriculture sector. No move to curb forest The cover story of this edition “The great gamblers”, says that agriculture fires in Uttarakhand meets 18 per cent of the country’s GDP. More importantly, 70 per cent of the households or nearly 42 per cent of population are engaged in this activity. Apropos “Hotter Himachal” (1-15 August, 2024), it is a well summarised write-up. Another article,“Price of being a farmer”, Uttarakhand is suffering as much as Himachal Pradesh, perhaps even more. Last shows how men in rural areas struggle to year, I noticed a forest fire as early as on December 23, while travelling from get married. The debate “How to measure Jageswar temple in Uttarakhand’s Almora district and passing through the the cost of farming” speaks of issues Barechhina area. The flames were absent in the morning that day but moved around minimum support price and farm shockingly fast. losses. Is it not fair to expect that our By June, the forests, dominated by chir pine trees, had recorded a total of government addresses these issues with 522 fires. Forest department officials were forced to seek help from the Indian Air more intent, so that our farmers’ quality of Force to extinguish fires in Nainital and the Binser sanctuary. The Sattal forest, life can be improved? They deserve once a haven for kalij pheasants, jungle fowl, barking deer, porcupine, stag deer monetary support, particularly in times of P H OTO G R A P H : R O H I T PA R A S H A R and some 400 types of butterflies, was razed. Pheasants and jungle fowl lay their climate change, which is in line with the eggs on the ground and the chicks are born around April, when the fires are at a support provided to the corporate sector peak. Even now, I do not see a single bird of these species in the region. and income tax payers. One wonders how Chir pine is an invasive species, imported from Germany by the British in China, an equally populous country, deals 1864, to meet the increasing demand of wood for railway sleepers. It was initially with these issues. grown at an altitude of 900-1,200 m, but can now be found at an elevation of GOPINATH 1,900 m on the Himalayas. The tree increases the acidity of the soil. Chir pine BENGALURU DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 5 05-06Engage+more.indd 5 10/09/24 10:15 AM  More ENGAGE Now you can access more news, daily updates and expert analysis on environmental and developmental issues from across the world through videos, data sets and our specialised newsletters. Engage with us here Data Centre Climate emergency Down To Earth Access our newsroom’s dedicated coverage shares some of the existential crisis, emerging solutions compelling stories Subscribe to our and comprehensive coverage of global through simplified weekly climate negotiations. Scan to read and visualised newsletter data on this Environment-in-Court Weekly resource site. Want to know how environmental issues are Scan to view being dealt in courts? For a weekly listing of hundreds of legal cases with details, sign up to receive our India’s data sets free newsletter. 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Letter writers should mention www.sholaicloaat.org [email protected] their full name, postal address and phone number. 6 DOWN TO EARTH 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 05-06Engage+more.indd 6 10/09/24 10:15 AM  Digest WHAT’S INSIDE Women take charge in faecal Unusual monsoon pattern Centre lifts cap on production of sludge treatment plants P8 skews rainfall distribution P9 ethanol from sugarcane P10 1,000 WORDS VIKAS CHOUDHARY Fifty-three-year-old fisher Zakir visits the Sahibi river, a tributary of the Yamuna, near the Delhi-Haryana border every day to catch fish. He blames sewage and polluted water for reducing his daily catch to a fraction of the 50-60 kg of fish he would find here two decades ago. Large-scale pollution in the Sahibi has been reported for years due to indiscriminate and illegal dumping of sewage and industrial waste. In recent months, the National Green Tribunal has issued multiple directions to Delhi and Haryana authorities to clean up and restore the river. FOR MORE PHOTOS, SCAN DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 7 07-10Digest-aug16-31.indd 7 10/09/24 10:15 AM  Digest/IN FRONT Breaking barriers in the State Urban Development Agency WHEN APARNA Sahu joined the faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) Women in Uttar (SUDA) to hold an exposure session in her city, Jaunpur, in March this year, Pradesh take on for SHGs, after which the 16 women her family and friends were less than shortlisted were trained by Delhi-based supportive.“They had concerns over crucial roles at think tank Centre for Science and Envi- my safety as well as the social implica- faecal sludge ronment. They learned about different tions of working with faecal sludge. They processes at FSTPs, safety measures assumed I would work for a couple of treatment plants and operating the technologies.“During days and quit,” recalls Sahu, a sociol- the training, the officials also showed ogy graduate. But now, as she nears six SUBRATA CHAKRABORTY us videos of women in Odisha who had months as a supervisor at the plant, all AND ALKA KUMARI joined FSTPs under the AMRUT Mitra doubts have vanished.“The confidence programme. I realised then that if they and financial stability I have earned has can do the work, so can I,” adds Poonam changed opinions,” she says. Tripathi, supervisor of the Raebareli FSTP. Like Sahu, 15 other women work at The women then split into four- FSTPs in Jaunpur, Sitapur, Raebareli and member teams—one supervisor, two Khurja in Uttar Pradesh. They belong to sanitation workers and one gardener. different self-help groups (SHGs), which “The initial days were difficult, but slowly the Union government has involved in we picked up the work. After seeing the its AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvena- protection measures at the plants, even tion and Urban Transformation) Mitra my family is less concerned,” says Tanya, programme for water management supervisor at the Khurja FSTP. initiatives. The state government transfers a The AMRUT scheme funds 54 of the monthly honorarium of R12,000 for the 59 septage treatment plants (FSTPs and supervisor and R10,000 for the others. co-treatment units) in Uttar Pradesh. “Earlier when I was a part of the SHG, I “Operations and maintenance are the made and sold pickles and papads from biggest challenges,” says P K Srivastava, home. My earnings depended on Additional Mission Director, AMRUT, Uttar the demand. But working at the Pradesh. “As of now, 18 plants do not FSTP has provided income stability,” even have any arrangement this work,” says Tripathi. he says. After the Union Ministry of “After Odisha, Uttar Pradesh is the Housing and Urban Affairs launched the second state to rope in women from AMRUT Mitra programme in February, SHGs. We see that the women are more the Uttar Pradesh government decided than capable for the work, and are look- to close the gaps. AMRUT officials roped ing to engage more,” says Srivastava. Aparna Sahu works as a supervisor at the Jaunpur faecal sludge treatment plant in Uttar Pradesh 07-10Digest-aug16-31.indd 8 10/09/24 10:15 AM  SPOTLIGHT / Digest WEATHER India sees unusual monsoon patterns THE 2024 southwest normal temperatures, monsoon has, between with some extreme June 1 and September rainfall, according to 1, led to excess rainfall the India Meteorological in western and southern Department (imd). The states such as Gujarat, agency expects La Maharashtra and Tamil Niña, the cooler phase Nadu, while others like of the El Niño Southern Nagaland, Manipur and Oscillation, to develop Punjab recorded a deficit. in the equatorial Pacific This season has also seen Ocean towards the end of extreme weather events, trough. Over the past few monsoon zone, northern the monsoon season. including a rare August months, while one end of and eastern regions see Weather conditions in cyclone that formed over the trough stayed at its poor rain. If the trough 2024 seem to be similar the Arabian Sea, Asna. normal position, the other is skewed north, the to 1999, marked by record These variations may deviated. When skewed monsoon is on break with heatwaves and frequent be due to the unusual to the south of its normal rain over the Himalayan cyclones. That year also movement of the main position, the trough and northeast regions. saw La Niña after a rain-causing low pressure shifts rainfall towards The rest of September strong El Niño, similar to region or the monsoon southern India; the core may see warmer than the current trend. ENVIRONMENT DISASTER EU faces legal challenges Widespread forest fires over climate goals raze Brazil, Bolivia NON-PROFITS Climate Action Network (can) Europe and BRAZIL'S AMAZON rainforests recorded 38,266 fire Global Legal Action Network (glan) on August 27 hotspots in August, more than double the number took legal action against the EU for its "insufficient" seen in the same period in 2023, according to climate targets. The two groups argued before government data. The fires spread across 11 states, the EU General Court against the bloc's plan to including the capital Brasília and São Paulo, with reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by reports of thick smoke and respiratory problems 2030, particularly from agriculture, waste, small increasing through the month. Brazil's Pantanal industry and transport sectors. The EU rolled out the region, the world's largest tropical wetland, also saw goals in June, following weeks of protests from the 3,845 fires in August, says the World Wide Fund for agriculture sector against proposed measures to cut Nature (wwf), putting at risk endangered species emissions from farming. According to climate groups, such as jaguars, parrots and giant anteaters. The the final measures are not in line with the 2015 Paris 2024 fire season in Brazil began in July rather than agreement to limit global warming to 1.5oC. Their August, owing to a year-long drought. President Luiz case, which was formally filed earlier this year, is set Inácio Lula da Silva also said on August 26 that the for hearing in 2025. Later on August 28, a set of five fires are suspected to be started by humans rather other non-profits also announced that they would than natural sources like lightning strikes. Brazil's take legal action against the European Commission neighbour Bolivia also declared a national emergency for including aircraft and ships in the EU’s because of forest fires on September 7. The country sustainable finance rules. In 2023, the EU allowed is seeing the largest number of wildfires since 2010, investment in new aircraft and ships labelled "green" burning at least 3 million hectares, according to for meeting certain emissions efficiency criteria. Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (inpe). DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 9 07-10Digest-aug16-31.indd 9 10/09/24 10:15 AM  Digest/SNIPPETS BITS GLOBAL BITS INDIA At least six people died and more than 131 The Union government on August 29 lifted an eight-month cap on production of were injured in Japan due to heavy rainfall and ethanol from sugarcane products.The government also allowed ethanol producers to winds brought by tropical storm Shanshan in participate in the Food Corporation of India's auctions of rice, which is used as a raw late August.The storm, which made landfall material to make the fuel.The cap was introduced in December amid concerns on on August 29 as a typhoon, hit the southern production and price rise of sugar and rice. regions of the country.As of August 31, some Uttar Pradesh in late August mounted an 1.4 million people in 46 cities were urged operation to capture a pack of wolves, after reports to evacuate to safer areas as heavy rainfall of over 30 attacks on people in Bahraich district continued, increasing the risk of floods since July. At least seven people died after being and landslides. attacked.As of September 4, four wolves were captured and at least two more were being traced. Assam on August 29 said it has approved and forwarded to the Centre a proposal for an oil exploration project by the Vedanta group near Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary.The project is proposed 13 km from the sanctuary that hosts the hoolock gibbon, India's only ape,and the Bengal slow loris, the only nocturnal primate in the Northeast. Lightning strikes kill nearly 1,900 people in India each year, says a new study published in the journal Environment, Development and Sustainability.The study says that lightning caused 0.2 million deaths in the country between 1967 and 2020, with the rates increasing significantly in the past two decades. Trials of the world's first mRNA vaccine for IN COURT lung cancer have begun in seven countries. About 130 people in the UK, US, Germany, NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL SUPREME COURT Hungary, Poland, Spain and Türkiye will be n Noting that encroachment of forest n The apex court has directed inoculated by the BNT116 vaccine made by land in Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary governments of Rajasthan, Punjab, BioNTech, designed to treat non-small cell lung in Assam has been allowed for several Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and the cancer, the most common form of the disease. years, the National Green Tribunal National Capital Territory of Delhi to fill According to the World Health Organization, (NGT) has asked the Union Ministry vacancies in their respective pollution lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer- of Environment, Forest and Climate control boards within two months from related deaths globally, accounting for the Change to file an affidavit on its stand August 27. highest mortality rates. in the matter. Greek authorities collected 100 tonnes HIGH COURT nNGT has directed the constitution n Noting the poor quality of of dead fish off the coast of Volos in the country's central region at the end of August of a three-member committee to healthcare services in the national after climate fluctuations caused a mass die- probe illegal dumping of waste at capital, the High Court of Delhi told off in the city's lake Karla.The lake has seen 10 locations in Thane district of the director of the All India Institute drastic change in water levels due to severe Maharashtra.The committee will of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to rainfall in 2023 and heatwaves this summer. inspect the locations and recommend take steps to improve government The cleanup process closed nearly 80 per an action plan, if needed, by the end hospitals, as per recommendations of cent of commercial activities in Volos, a tourist of September. an expert committee. hotspot, for three days in August. Zambia shut down its mainstay hydropower So far... NATIONAL SUPREME HIGH Number of cases on GREEN COURT COURTS plant on September 14, due to a significant TRIBUNAL 314 66 79 drop in water levels of its source, lake environment and development Kariba.The lake, shared between Zambia tracked from January 1 to and Zimbabwe, has just 8 per cent of water September 3, 2024 available for generation due to severe droughts FOR DETAILED VERDICTS, SCAN in the region. Zambia has warned its people of more power cuts as the generation drops. 10 DOWN TO EARTH 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 07-10Digest-aug16-31.indd 10 10/09/24 10:15 AM  Advertisement 11NTPC Trim Size- 19.7 cm (W) x 26.5 cm (H)_English (1).indd 11 09/09/24 1:10 PM  Congolese health workers consult suspected mpox patients in a treatment centre at the Kavumu hospital in Kabare territory, South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 29. The country has already reported 19,000 suspected cases and 650 deaths this year Festering troubles D The Democratic ESPITE BEING the epicen- The World Health Organization tre of the mpox outbreak that (who) has declared mpox a public Republic of Congo has infected over 103,000 health emergency twice in the past struggles to contain people across 122 countries since three years—first between July January 2022, the Democratic Re- 2022 and May 2023, due to its rapid mpox amid vaccine public of Congo (drc) received its first spread outside Africa, and again on delays, conflict and batch of vaccines on September 5— August 14, 2024, following a surge nearly two years after the US and in cases across Africa, largely driv- fragile healthcare European nations began stockpiling en by mutations in the virus. EMILIA GANKAMA them following their own cases. The mpox virus is categorised So far, drc has received 99,000 into two main clades: I, endemic to KINSHASA, doses from the EU, with another Central Africa, and II, which was DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 110,000 doses expected soon. How- previously known as the West Afri- ever, these figures fall far short of can clade. Both have two subclades OF CONGO the 3 million doses officials estimate a and b. Clade IIb drove the 2022 are needed to bring the outbreak global outbreak. The current spike P H OTO G R A P H : R E U T E R S under control (see ‘The politics and in cases, however, is largely attrib- economics of mpox’, p44-45). Nige- uted to the more virulent clade Ib, ria, the only other African country which spreads through close contact to secure vaccines, has managed to and contaminated surfaces. receive just 10,000 doses. Since January 2024, Africa has 12 DOWN TO EARTH 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 12-14Special Report-Mpox.indd 12 10/09/24 10:16 AM  Advertisement 13Tata Chamicals Ad 25.7 cms height and 18.6 cms width_green.indd 13 09/09/24 1:10 PM  AFRICA /HEALTH reported over 3,900 confirmed mpox cases and 52 deaths, with drc ac- Heart of the outbreak counting for the majority—3,365 The Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for over 90% of the cases and 25 deaths, according to confirmed mpox cases reported across Africa in 2024 who. The official numbers from drc for 2024 are 19,000 suspected cases and 650 deaths. The most vulnera- ble population is children, who make up 62 per cent of the patients. Four out of five deaths have oc- curred in those under 15 years old. The vaccines currently available are only approved for adults. PROBLEMS GALORE Mpox has been endemic in drc since it was first identified in 1970. Though the country experiences outbreaks almost every year, the Confirmed cases current crisis has laid bare deeper 0 issues. “The resurgence of the cur- 1-9 rent epidemic can be attributed to 10-99 three key factors,” says Sharon 100-999 1000+ Source: World Health Ngandu Binagula from Padiyath Not applicable Organization, as on Medecity-Hopital du Cinquante- September 1, 2024 naire in Kinshasa. “First, the re- laxation of preventive measures, World Bank. In rural areas, where gions. Vaccine distribution will also especially the discontinuation of mpox is most prevalent, healthcare be extremely difficult in conflict smallpox vaccinations in 1980 facilities are often under-resourced, zones, says Jean Kaseya, director- [which offered protection from the lacking basic supplies, clean water general of Africa Centers for Dis- virus]. Second, in endemic countries and reliable electricity. ease Control and Prevention (cdc). like drc, Nigeria and the Central There is severe stigma associat- African Republic, humans are in- ed with mpox patients as the clade GLOBAL INACTION creasingly encroaching on animal II of the virus could be transmitted Despite the first human case being habitats. Finally, increased interna- through sexual contact. According reported in 1970, the global spot- tional mobility has facilitated the to who, many people delay seeking light only intensified in 2022 when global spread of the virus.” treatment out of fear of judgment, cases of mpox were reported in Eu- At a press conference, Dieudon- further fuelling the virus’s spread. rope and North America. This inac- né Mwamba Kazadi, director-gener- Ongoing conflict in the eastern tion for almost five decades allowed al of the National Institute of Public provinces, particularly in North mpox to grow into a global scare. Health (insp), highlighted how poor and South Kivu, has exacerbated Not much has changed even now. access to healthcare has worsened the mpox outbreak. Refugee camps On September 6, the Africa cdc and the epidemic. insp is responsible for in conflict-torn provinces, where who launched a continent-wide re- the Public Health Emergency Oper- millions live in overcrowded and un- sponse plan to combat mpox. The ations Centre, drc’s epidemic pre- sanitary conditions, have become six-month plan, with a budget of paredness and response system. hotspots for the virus. According to nearly $600 million, aims to bolster drc is one of the poorest coun- Al Jazeera news, armed groups, the response in 14 affected nations tries in the world, with over 70 per such as the M23 rebel faction, have and improve readiness in 15 others. cent of the population living in ex- made it nearly impossible for health- However, funding for this initiative treme poverty, according to the care workers to operate in these re- remains uncertain. D T E 14 DOWN TO EARTH 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 12-14Special Report-Mpox.indd 14 10/09/24 10:16 AM  Scientists deploy sensors to measure leaf temperature and calculate its vulnerability to climate change Turn a new leaf E Scientists join VERY NOW and then, biolo- There is also evidence that gist Deepak Barua takes a extreme temperatures threaten the break from his usual assign- hands to predict survival of sensitive species, result- ments at the Indian Institute of Sci- ence Education and Research climate future of ing in local extinctions, range shifts and altered vegetation composition. (iiser), Pune, and plans a trip to the India’s tropical A 2010 study, published in Forest 500 km away Sirsi forest. Located Ecology and Management, docu- in the heart of the Western Ghats, forests mented 88 events of forest mortali- the forest near Sirsi town of north- ty, driven by water or heat stress HIMANSHU N ern Karnataka is known for its tree since 1970. A May 2024 study, species diversity. This is one of the NEW DELHI published in the Proceedings of the latest forests that Barua has been National Academy of Sciences monitoring, along with other scien- shows that about 37 per cent of the tists, to investigate the threat that Amazon forest in Brazil is unable to P H OTO G R A P H : R O N S U N N Y climate change poses to the tropical recover due to frequent droughts, tree species of India. suggesting the possibility of mass Studies suggest that heatwaves die-offs in near future. and frequent and intense droughts However, not much is known result in increased tree mortality about how tropical forests in India and forest dieback across the world. are going to respond to extreme DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 15 15-18Special Report-Leaf.indd 15 10/09/24 10:16 AM  DEGREES OF VULNERABILITY l high temperature threshold during the hot-dry season l high temperature threshold during the cool-wet season DECIDUOUS SPECIES: LEAVES SHOW LOWER TEMPERATURE THRESHOLDS THAN EVERGREEN SPECIES White-bark acacia (Acacia leucophloea) 46.2 46.5 Tree of heaven (Ailanthus excelsa) 47.4 48.0 Neem (Azadirachta indica) 48.4 50.0 Golden shower (Cassia fistula) 45.7 48.2 Bastard rose wood (Dalbergia lanceolaria) 48.7 49.2 North Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo) 45.5 46.2 Flame tree (Delonix regia) 45.2 45.9 Dolichandrone falcata* 48.1 48.1 Cluster fig (Ficus racemosa) 48.6 Sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) 46.0 46.9 Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) 45.2 46.5 Queen’s Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia speciosa) 45.1 46.4 Lead tree (Leucaena leucocephala) 44.4 45.8 Burflower tree (Neolamarckia cadamba) 48.1 Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) 48.0 48.4 Indian beech (Pongamia pinnata) 45.7 47.3 Malabar kino (Pterocarpus marsupium) 50.1 African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata) 47.3 48.5 Indian almond (Terminalia catappa) 46.3 48.9 Teak (Tectona grandis) 45.5 Trumpet flower (Tecoma stans) 46.4 49.9 Indian laurel (Terminalia tomentosa) 47.8 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 temperatures and frequent and se- management of our forests. For ex- Ghats and has quantified their vere droughts. ample, he adds, in restoration ef- temperature and drought toler- Mahesh Sankaran, professor of forts, it would make more sense to ance, beyond which survival of the ecology and evolution at the Nation- select tree species that can with- species may become difficult. The al Centre for Biological Sciences stand droughts and extreme tem- species also include mangroves, (ncbs), Bengaluru, says events of peratures. Sankaran is part of the montane rainforests, grass, grass- forest diebacks have not been docu- research that Barua has been es, bamboos, palms, herbaceous mented in India. But given future spearheading for the past 10 years, plants and grasslands. climate predictions, identifying along with scientists from ncbs, the To assess climate vulnerability, which tree species are likely to be Kerala Forest Research Institute, the group monitors two organs of a susceptible, or alternately resist- Thrissur, St Joseph’s College Deva- tree: leaf and stem. While the leaf ant, to droughts and extreme tem- giri, Calicut, and Leeds University, reveals temperature tolerance of peratures can help us make more UK. The group has so far monitored the species, the stem indicates its informed decisions about the future 200 tree species across the Western tolerance to drought or water loss. 16 DOWN TO EARTH 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 15-18Special Report-Leaf.indd 16 10/09/24 10:16 AM  A study of leaves of 41 tree species in Pune shows that they can withstand temperatures ranging from 44.4ºC to 50.5ºC, depending on the season. Evergreen species, like mango and eucalyptus, show a higher temperature threshold than the deciduous neem or Indian almond EVERGREEN SPECIES: LEAVES WITHSTAND HIGHER TEMEPERATURES SINCE THEY HAVE A LONGER LIFESPAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE Cutch tree (Acacia catechu) 47.8 Indian gum arabic (Acacia nilotica) 46.4 Indian siris (Albizia lebbeck) 45.7 Rain tree (Albizia saman) 45.0 46.5 Devil tree (Alstonia scholaris) 47.9 48.0 Purple orchid (Bauhinia purpurea) 45.2 46.2 Yellow bauhinia (Bauhinia tomentosa) 46.4 46.7 Poinciana (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) 45.2 47.7 Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus species) 45.4 47.8 Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) 47.7 49.5 Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) 47.5 48.3 Rubber (Ficus elastica) 48.6 49.5 White fig (Ficus virens) 48.3 48.7 Mango (Mangifera indica) 48.5 50.5 Indian mulberry (Morinda coreia) 48.0 48.4 Bird’s cherry (Muntingia calabura) 46.3 48.3 Copperpod (Peltophorum pterocarpum) 47.6 47.8 Ironwood (Senna siamea) 47.1 48.2 Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) 46.9 48.0 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 Note: *English name unavailable Source:“Leaf thermotolerance in tropical trees from a seasonally dry climate varies along the slow-fast resource acquisition spectrum", Scientific Reports, September 2017 LEAF GIVES THE CUE experiments by taking a leaf from found in the urban parks of Pune, “Leaves are the primary organ of a an individual and studying it in both during the hot-dry (pre-mon- tree that interact with the environ- controlled conditions such as a labo- soon) and the cool-wet (monsoon) ment, temperature and light. It is ratory can bring us closer to repre- seasons, and bring those to the lab- also the organ responsible for many senting impacts of an entire tree,” oratory to analyse temperature tol- vital functions, such as photosyn- he adds. erance. Using a globally recognised thesis that helps produce glucose In fact, in 2014, when Barua method, Barua and Sastry would and oxygen, and transpiration that started monitoring the trees to as- rehydrate the leaves overnight and helps maintain the plant’s internal sess their vulnerability to climate then expose those to a range of tem- temperature,” explains Ron Sunny, change, along with another scien- peratures, say from 25°C to 55°C, assistant professor of biology at St tist from iiser Aniruddha Sastry, and measure the leaves’ efficiency Joseph’s College Devagiri. Besides, the study primarily relied on the to harvest light for photosynthesis. adds Barua, using leaves serves a leaves. They would collect leaf sam- The temperature at which the leaf’s practical purpose. “Carrying out ples of 41 tree species, commonly efficiency drops to 50 per cent— DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 17 15-18Special Report-Leaf.indd 17 10/09/24 10:16 AM  CLIMATE CHANGE /TREE MORTALITY denoted as T50 —is a critical point as branches known as xylem. Howev- sures to heat will put a tree in a beyond this, the leaves undergo ir- er, during drought, dry soil “pulls” dilemma of whether to continue reversible damage, experiencing water threads away from roots. transpiring to cool leaves, or close cell mortality, tissue necrosis and This tug of war, if intensifies, can its stomata to conserve water but ultimately death. T50 also helps sci- snap the water threads and lead to stop photosynthesis,” Sunny entists estimate thermal safety embolism or formation of air bub- explains. If trees continually margins of the species—indicator of bles in the xylem that ultimately transpire to cool down, they risk the species’ vulnerability to warm- kills the tree. dehydration. ing—by assessing how close the To determine tree species’ toler- “Moreover, a species may not trees’ temperature tolerance is to ance to drought, the scientists bring even experience xylem embolism if the maximum temperatures it ex- branches to the field station and it has a thick wax coat on the leaf periences in the region. measure the water potential in the that minimises water loss. This is Initial findings of the study, branch (the amount of water avail- akin to a person putting on Vase- published in Scientific Reports in able in the xylem) and estimate the line balm to lock in moisture on a 2017, suggest that most tropical ability of the branch to conduct wa- dry day,” he adds. The scientists are forest tree species in India “may be ter. As the branch dries with time, now incorporating these parame- highly vulnerable to future warm- both water potential and conduct- ters to their research methodology ing”. Thermal safety margins of the ance decrease. The point at which for a robust prediction. 41 species in Pune are “precarious- the water potential that results in a At the same time, they are de- ly low” at 3.5oC to 8oC, which 50 per cent decline in the branch’s ploying new tools for real-time leaf implies that the trees are likely ability to conduct water is taken as temperature data. Leaf tempera- to be severely affected by the hydraulic vulnerability thresh- tures can often be higher than that increased temperatures. of the air. Yet in 2017, When compared with DATA SHOWS THAT AT SIRSI, LEAF due to lack of technolo- evergreen species like TEMPERATURES CAN BE UP TO 10OC OR gy, Barua and Sastry banyan, eucalyptus and HIGHER THAN AIR TEMPERATURES. THIS based their calculation mango, the study found SUGGESTS THAT THERMAL SAFETY on ambient tempera- that deciduous and fast- MARGINS OF THESE SPECIES ARE ture. The group now growing species with low uses a light-weight sen- EXTREMELY LOW leaf mass per area, such as sor that remains clipped teak, Indian almond and frangi- old, denoted as P50. to the leaves and transmit the data pani, are likely to be more negative- While the findings of the study wirelessly to the scientists’ comput- ly affected by global warming. are yet to be published, the team is ers on a real time basis. Data shows constantly at work to further fine- that at Sirsi, leaf temperatures can STEMS COMPLETE THE TALE tune the methodology. For instance, be up to 10oC or higher than air During the subsequent years, the says Sunny, hydraulic thresholds temperatures for some species, says group has expanded their research are calculated with the assumption Barua. This suggests that the ther- to monitor the branches as well. Ex- that all leaves, irrespective of the mal safety margins of these species treme heat is not the only risk in a species, lose water at the same rate. are extremely low. Simply put, fu- warming world. Trees are also vul- But this is not the case, and hence ture warming will pose a major nerable to droughts and water loss. the rate at which the leaves lose wa- challenge for trees in this region. Sunny says this vulnerability of a ter may change the threshold risk While there is an urgent need to plant can be measured by assessing in plants. The rate may also change accurately monitor trees across the the risk of embolism or damage depending on the species, geo- country to assess their climate vul- caused to the plant’s vascular tis- graphic location, soil moisture, sur- nerability, Barua says, the sensors sues due to disrupted water supply. rounding temperatures, and time are limited to Sirsi for now, due to On a pleasant day, Sunny says, the and rate of environmental expo- resource limitations. Maintaining roots “pull” water from the soil and sure. “It is not just the threshold, and analysing data from them in- transport it to the leaves through a but also how quickly you reach the volves a lot of time, effort and mon- vascular tissue pipeline in the threshold that counts. Long expo- ey, he adds. D T E @down2earthindia 18 DOWN TO EARTH 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 15-18Special Report-Leaf.indd 18 10/09/24 10:16 AM  INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND GOVERNANCE AAETI INTEGRATED ONLINE AND ONSITE TRAINING ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT CSE is conducting an integrated online and onsite training programme on EIA. The training programme will comprise of two parts: Basic learning (online platform) and Advanced learning (at our residential campus). The course is designed to provide an overall understanding of the EIA process which includes theoretical knowledge via lectures from experts and firsthand experience through group exercises, discussions and case studies. 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