Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released its analysis of air quality data during the second phase of odd and even scheme – from April 15 to April 30. This shows that air pollution took a downward dip during the first 10 days of the scheme but registers a sudden spike from April 22 onwards. Further investigations and analysis of NASA satellite pictures has exposed massive crop fires in Punjab and Haryana that started around April 19 – which could be the reason behind the rise in pollution levels.

Farmers from 12 states struggling with severe drought conditions came together in the national capital today to participate in a day-long consultation on the crisis which is devastating rural India. The consultation was jointly organised by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Swaraj Abhiyan, under the banner of Jai Kisan Andolan, a nation-wide public movement for farmers’ rights.

Delhi – and many other cities across India – need to plan differently to be able to beat the menace of air pollution. They cannot depend on a single solution, and need a basket of measures – this is what came out from the deliberations on the first day of the international conclave and public meeting on air pollution, organised here by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The public meeting was addressed by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and CSE director general Sunita Narain.

CSE has analysed air quality data from real-time monitoring of Delhi Pollution Control Board for the entire winter – November 2015 to January 2016 – to assess the benefits of the odd and even scheme and the loss of air quality gains after the completion of the scheme. It has found that the odd and even scheme, although limited in scope and ambit, could still slow down the peaking of pollution even when weather was hostile – no wind, lower temperature and western disturbance in the northern region.

A number of public health catastrophes – arising largely out of environmental reasons -- are staring the people of India in the face. While the debate over polluted air and how to control it rages on in the national capital, people have also had to contend with a host of other health challenges this year, ranging from strange pathogens to heightened risk from lifestyle ailments. Centre for Science and Environment’s latest publication -- Body Burden 2015: State of India’s Health – examines and dissects this linkage between environment and health quite comprehensively.

Even as the world discusses climate change in Paris, Chennai is perhaps experiencing its impact – the unprecedented deluge that the city has been subjected to is a reminder of increasing frequency of such freak weather events across the Indian sub-continent. However, point out experts in Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Chennai could have fared better if it had protected and preserved its natural water bodies and drainage channels

On the final day of the National Consultation on Crop Loss Estimation, Relief and Compensation,Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) called for global action to develop safety nets to shield farmers from the consequences of extreme weather events.