Environment 

More efficient methods of tracking stubble burning needed, say experts - The Hindu 

With air quality in Delhi plummeting to hazardous levels, despite a five-year decline in the instances of stubble burning in Punjab, experts suggest that the current approach to satellite-based tracking of farm fires by government agencies may be leading to under-reporting the number of fires.

How sustainable is India’s path to net-zero with 45 years left? - The Hindu

Every year, climate action draws significant attention in the months leading up to the United Nations’ annual meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COPs). But the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election will likely have a greater impact on the planet’s climate future than COP29 itself, illustrating an important challenge in combating climate change: operationalising global cooperation towards a common cause even when national interests don’t align with it.

Demand and Supply Measures

How can design help a building be more climate-resilient?   - The Hindu

High-performance buildings are at the forefront of sustainable construction, focusing on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and climate resilience through integrative design and the use of sustainable materials; they employ passive and active strategies to minimise environmental impact.

African penguins, listed ‘endangered’ - The Hindu

Conservationists and veterinarians are worried their efforts aren't sufficient to stop the decline of the African Penguin, listed as critically endangered last month by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

GRAP IV - Indian Express 

The Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government recently over the “delay” in implementing stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• Meaning: Emergency measures to prevent further air quality deterioration in Delhi-NCR.
• Action: Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 and notified in 2017.
• Formulation: Formulated by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) with input from state governments and experts.
• Stages:
  • Stage I: AQI ‘Poor’ (201-300) – Initial measures activated.
  • Stage II: AQI ‘Very Poor’ (301-400) – Includes Stage I measures plus additional actions.
  • Stage III: AQI ‘Severe’ (401-450) – Both Stage I and II measures followed with stricter actions.
  • Stage IV: AQI ‘Severe +’ (450+) – All previous measures applied with most stringent controls.
• Incremental Approach: Measures from earlier stages remain in effect as air quality worsens.

GRAP Stage IV Measures

• Traffic Restrictions
  • Ban entry of trucks into Delhi, except for essential services and LNG/CNG/Electric/BS-VI diesel trucks.
  • Prohibit entry of non-EV/non-CNG/BS-VI diesel Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi, unless carrying essential commodities.
  • Strict ban on Delhi-registered BS-IV and below diesel Medium and Heavy Goods Vehicles (MGVs and HGVs), except for essential services.
• Construction and Demolition
  • Extend ban on all construction and demolition activities to include public projects like highways, roads, flyovers, power transmission, pipelines, and telecom infrastructure.
• Educational and Workplace Adjustments
  • Consider shifting physical classes (Classes VI-IX and XI) to online mode.
  • Allow public, private, and municipal offices to operate at 50% strength, with the rest working from home.
  • Central government to assess feasibility of work-from-home for its employees.
• Additional Emergency Measures
  • State governments may implement measures like closing colleges, shutting non-essential commercial activities, and introducing an odd-even vehicle policy based on registration numbers.

Science and Tech 

Regulating fossil fuel, like nuclear weapons - Indian Express 

At COP29 in Baku last week, it was announced that 10 more countries had joined discussions on the FF-NPT this year, though their names were not announced publicly.