There is a high correlation between urbanisation and the emission of greenhouse gases. Landfills and sewers in cities generate 15% of methane emissions; this sector offers immense possibilities for the mitigation of methane emissions in Asian megacities. Capturing methane by efficiency improvements in the working of both sewage treatment plants and sanitary landfills has co-benefits in terms of both public health as well as mitigating climate change.

We studied the impact of the odd–even traffic rule (implemented in Delhi during 1–15 January 2016) on primary traffic emissions using measurements of 13 volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane at a strategic arterial road in Delhi (28.57N, 77.11E, 220 m amsl). Whole air samples (n = 27) were collected during the odd–even rule active (OA) and inactive (OI) days, and analysed at the IISER Mohali Atmospheric Chemistry Facility.

Original Source

Deforestation and draining of the peatlands in equatorial SE Asia has greatly increased their flammability, and in September–October 2015 a strong El Niño-related drought led to further drying and to widespread burning across parts of Indonesia, primarily on Kalimantan and Sumatra. These fires resulted in some of the worst sustained outdoor air pollution ever recorded, with atmospheric particulate matter (PM) concentrations exceeding those considered “extremely hazardous to health” by up to an order of magnitude.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) production is facing major challenges, including scarcity of irrigation water and ongoing climate change. Modifications of the current cropping techniques could increase yield, save water, and mitigate greenhouse gas emission. We investigated the effect of planting methods (young seedlings, wide spacing with alternate wetting and drying irrigation [YW-AWD], old seedlings, narrow spacing with continuous flooding [ON-CF], and in-between the two planting methods [IB-AWD]) and rice varieties on methane (CH4) and (N2O) emissions during two crop seasons.