Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) launched an AQMX in the backdrop of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (7 September).

• Led by UN Environment Programme (UNEP), this year’s theme focuses on ‘Invest in Clean Air Now’.

About Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx)

• It is a one-stop-shop that provides the latest air quality management guidance and tools proposed to meet WHO Air Quality Guidelines interim targets.
• It is a component of CCAC Clean Air Flagship and contributes to implementation of UNEA-6 Resolution to increase regional cooperation and action on improving air quality globally.

Need of AQMx

• Menace of air pollution: Causes more than 8 million premature deaths annually, particularly affecting poor and vulnerable.
• Capacity gaps: AQMx helps to address air quality management capacity gaps with curated guidance on air quality monitoring, health impact assessments etc.
• Knowledge sharing: Allow regional and sub-regional communities to exchange knowledge about air quality management best practices.

About CCAC

• Founded in 2012, and convened within UNEP, CCAC is a voluntary partnership of more than 160 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and NGOs.  India joined CCAC in 2019.
• It works to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants– methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution.

WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) They are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants. They recommend levels and interim targets for common air pollutants: PM, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO.  For instance, 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 µg/m³ and annual mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.  (refer image)

This annual bulletin, released by United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO), reports on the state of air quality and its connections to climate change.

Key findings

• Global PM2.5 concentrations:  Europe and China show lower PM2.5 pollution, while North America and India see increased emissions from anthropogenic activities.
  • Particulate Matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter is referred to as PM2.5. 
• Global PM hotspots: Include agricultural areas in Central Africa, Pakistan, India, China and South-East Asia. 
• Impacts of PM on crops: Reduces crop yields by 15% as it reduces sunlight reaching leaf surfaces.
• Aerobiology Advancements: New technologies have enabled real-time bioaerosol monitoring.

About Aerobiology

• Aerobiology is the study of the movement and impact of airborne biological particles, or bioaerosols, on human, animal, and plant health. Bioaerosols include: 
  • Bacteria, fungal spores, pollen grains, viruses, etc.
• Bioaerosols reflect changes in biodiversity, plant flowering patterns, and distribution, all sensitive to climate shifts.
  • Hence, new technologies are needed to improve understanding of Bioaerosols which would further enhance forecasting and climate change impact assessments.
• New observational techniques: Such as high-resolution image analysis, holography, multi-band scatterometry, fluorescence spectrometry and nanotechnology for DNA sequencing.

India’s first ‘teal carbon’ study undertaken at Keoladeo National Park (KNP). 

• The study depicted the potential of teal carbon as a tool to mitigate climate change, if the anthropogenic pollution in the wetlands can be controlled.
• Study also reveals elevated methane emissions can be reduced by use of a specialized type of biochar, which is a form of charcoal. 

About Teal Carbon

• Teal carbon refers to carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, encompassing carbon sequestered in vegetation, microbial biomass, and dissolved and particulate organic matter. 
• Teal carbon, being a color-based terminology (refer infographics), reflects the classification of the organic carbon based on its functions and location rather than its physical properties. 
• In contrast, black and brown carbon are produced by incomplete combustion of organic matter and contribute to global warming.
• Significance: It contributes to an increase in the ground water level, flood mitigation and heat island reduction, supporting a sustainable urban adaptation.

About Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur, Rajasthan)

• Declared a national park in 1982 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. 
• Home to over 370 species of birds and animals like pythons, Siberian cranes etc. 
• Placed on the Montreux Record (Ramsar Convention) in 1990 due to "water shortage and an unbalanced grazing regime”. 

Union Cabinet approved modification of scheme of budgetary support for the cost of enabling infrastructure for Hydro Electric Projects. 

• Union Cabinet modified the scheme for faster development of Hydro Electric Projects (HEP) and improvement of infrastructure in remote and hilly project locations. 
• Scheme of Budgetary support for cost of enabling infrastructure for HEP was launched by Ministry of Power in 2019, along with other measures to promote hydropower sector in India. 
  • It provided budgetary support for constructing roads and bridges connecting major dam, power house and other project infrastructure with nearest state/national highway. 

Modified Scheme

• Funding: Total outlay of Rs.12,461 crore for cumulative generation capacity of about 31,350 MW.
• Implementation Period: FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32.
• Expansion: Scheme expanded to include costs for constructing transmission lines, ropeways, railway sidings, and communication infrastructure, in addition to roads and bridges. 
• Eligibility: HEPs >25 MW capacity including private sector projects and all Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs). 

Other Measures for Development of HEP

• Declaring Large Hydro Power projects (> 25 MW projects) as Renewable Energy sources.
• Hydro Power Purchase Obligations (HPOs) requiring entities to purchase electricity from HEPs.
• Tariff rationalization measures for bringing down hydropower tariff
• Budgetary support for flood moderation / Storage HEPs.

Guidelines, issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, aim to promote proper battery waste management practices and enhance environmental sustainability across the country.

What is Environmental Compensation (EC)?

• 2022 Rules empower the CPCB to impose and collect EC from producers and entities involved in refurbishment and recycling of waste battery, in case of noncompliance of the rules.
• It can also be levied to entities carrying out activities without registration, providing false information / wilful concealment of material facts by the registered entities, etc., based on the polluter pays principle.
• It shall also be levied on Producer operating with respect to non-fulfilment of their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in these rules.
  • EPR means responsibility of any Producer of Battery for Environmentally sound management of Waste Battery.
• Payment of EC, however, shall not absolve Producer of EPR obligation set out under the rules. For instance, unfulfilled EPR obligation for a particular year will be carried forward to the next year.

Key Highlights of the Guidelines issued

• EC to be levied is divided in to two regimes:
  • EC Regime 1 – EC will be levied to the Producers for non-fulfilment of metal-wise (For Lead Acid Batteries and For Lithium-ion and Other Batteries) EPR Targets. 
  • EC regime 2 – EC will be levied to any entity for non-compliances of BWM Rules, 2022 based on application fees.

Click here to know more about the Battery Waste Management Rules and Amendment 2024.