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NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Plastic Pollution Threatens Human Health: Study
New Delhi: Ahead of the UN treaty on plastics, a new report in The Lancet journal on Monday has warned that plastic pollution is an underrecognised threat to the health of both humans and the planet, which must be addressed immediately. The report, led by a group of international experts, reviews the current evidence on how plastics -- including microplastics and plastic chemicals -- impact health. "Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognised danger to human and planetary health. Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually," said corresponding author Prof Philip J Landrigan, from Boston College, US. The report discusses evidence that plastics endanger human health at every stage of their life cycle -- in production, use, and disposal. It showed that airborne emissions from plastic production include particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, as well as hazardous chemicals to which plastic workers can be exposed. The experts from the US, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia noted the lack of transparency around which chemicals are present in plastics, their production volumes, uses, and known or potential toxicity. "Many plastic chemicals are associated with multiple health effects at all stages of human life," the experts said. Further, the report stated that microplastics have been reported in human tissues and body fluids, and, while further research is needed to understand the relationship with potential health impacts, a precautionary approach is warranted. An estimated 57 per cent of unmanaged plastic waste is burned in the open -- a major source of air pollution in low-and middle-income countries. Plastic waste can also provide a habitat for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and for the growth of microorganisms, potentially contributing to the spread of vector-borne diseases and antimicrobial resistance, said the experts. They called for a greater focus on health impacts when considering plastic pollution. Notably, the report projected that, without changes, plastic production will almost triple between 2019 and 2060. Landrigan stated that while "continued worsening of plastics' harms is not inevitable," it can be mitigated cost-effectively by evidence-based, transparently tracked, effectively implemented, and adequately financed laws and policies. To address plastics' harms globally, UN member states unanimously resolved in 2022 to develop a comprehensive, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, namely the Global Plastics Treaty, covering the full lifecycle of plastic. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow. Meanwhile, the experts also announced the launch of a new project to track the impact of plastics: the Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics. "The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics will identify and track a series of indicators that document the impacts of plastics and plastic chemicals on human health across all stages of the plastic life cycle. The first indicator report is expected in mid-2026," Landrigan said.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
AI for climate resilience and environmental monitoring
India navigates the twin frontiers of our time, which are escalating the climate crisis and a fast-evolving technological revolution. It holds a powerful opportunity to lead the world in crafting climate resilience through Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the nation co-chairing major AI-environment task forces at the UN and G20, this is more than a moment of influence; it is a call to action. AI, when paired with satellite data, can be our eyes in the sky and our early warning system on the ground for tracking deforestation in real time, predicting floods before they strike, and holding polluters accountable with data-driven precision. But to unlock this promise, we must build a framework that is not just tech-savvy but also just, transparent, and accessible to all. The future of climate action is digital, and India has the chance to code it right. AI(REUTERS) According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other UN organisations, India suffers an estimated annual loss of around $87 billion due to climate-related disasters, which is a staggering figure that underscores the urgency of predictive and preventive climate action. From heatwaves in Delhi to deadly cyclones along the eastern coast, the impact is felt in each part of the nation with growing intensity. In this situation, AI, when used with remote sensing technologies and geospatial satellite data, can lead to a transformative change. AI can be a silent watcher, keeping an eye on ecosystems in real time and spotting illegal logging, shrinking mangroves, glacier retreat, and forest fires with unmatched speed and accuracy. Tools such as Google Earth Engine, along with indigenous systems like India's Bhuvan and RISAT satellites, generate the crucial data, which AI algorithms may swiftly process to flag environmental threats. Beyond this monitoring, the Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models can reimagine the manner in which we predict disasters today by analysing historical weather trends, soil conditions, and atmospheric changes to forecast floods, landslides, and cyclones, saving thousands of lives. AI is enhancing emissions tracking by monitoring pollution from factories, traffic, and agricultural practices in near real-time, which will ensure India's carbon accounting remains accurate and aligned with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. While AI holds great promise for climate resilience, making it a reality takes more than just technology and data. It demands a supportive ecosystem, one that includes real-world pilots, forward-looking policies, inclusive economic planning, and strong collaboration across sectors. Several promising case studies and strategic pathways show how India can lead by example. In Tamil Nadu, an AI-based flood forecasting model has already helped predict urban flooding with greater accuracy, aiding disaster preparedness in Chennai. AI-powered systems, like the one launched in the Pench Tiger Reserve Pantera in Maharashtra, can distinguish between smoke and clouds, reducing false alarms. These systems use infrared technology to detect fires both day and night, enabling 24x7 monitoring. AI is transforming emission tracking and climate resilience globally, from India's AI flood forecasting in Tamil Nadu and fire detection in Maharashtra to G20 innovations like the US's electric vehicles and Brazil's AI-driven deforestation monitoring, highlighting the need for supportive policies and cross-sector collaborations. In parallel, India can spearhead South-South collaboration to tailor AI models for tropical, drought-prone, and monsoon-affected landscapes. Under the G20's push for inclusive AI governance, building a Global South Working Group and a shared AI knowledge hub can democratise access to computing resources, datasets and regulatory best practices. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi outlined India's AI vision at the G20, one that promotes inclusivity and global equity in addition to innovation. In order to guarantee that AI development is open, equitable, and available to all countries, not just a select few, he urged the establishment of strong international standards. According to Modi, ethical AI governance must put developing nations' particular needs first, enabling them to overcome historical obstacles and advance sustainable development, renewable energy, and climate resilience. To translate the promise of AI into a tangible impact for climate resilience, India must take a multi-pronged approach. First, integrating AI into national climate policy is crucial. Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), such as those focused on Himalayan ecosystems and sustainable agriculture, offer fertile ground for AI-powered scale-ups. With tools like satellite imaging, predictive analytics, and remote sensing, these missions can benefit from sharper decision-making and real-time responsiveness. Second, institutional capacity must be strengthened. Platforms like NITI Aayog, IndiaAI, the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), and NEERI's Sustainovate 2025 can catalyse mentorship and scalable innovation. Third, India must actively launch supportive pilots and regulatory frameworks. Successful models like AI-led flood forecasting in Chennai, heat vulnerability mapping in Delhi, and wildfire detection in the Pench Reserve must be scaled across other states through inclusive funding and smart governance mechanisms. Equally important is the need to safeguard transparency and equity. This means building open-access AI data ecosystems, mandating climate impact disclosures, embedding community-driven indices into AI decision frameworks, and ensuring that marginalised groups are neither excluded nor further disadvantaged. Finally, India must champion South–South collaboration. By operationalising PM Modi's G20 satellite mission proposal, India can help pool sensing, processing, and AI resources to create a shared digital public good for the Global South. This will not only democratise access to cutting-edge climate technologies but also foster a more equitable, cooperative, and resilient planetary future. Innovation alone is not enough; it must be backed by strong institutional will. For India to lead in AI-driven climate resilience, it must take decisive policy steps. First, the government should incentivise the development of clean and sustainable AI infrastructure through targeted subsidies, green procurement policies, and energy-efficient data centres. Second, fostering cross-border AI collaboration through platforms like the G20, GPAI, and South–South partnerships is essential to share knowledge, tools, and technologies tailored to diverse climatic challenges. Finally, India must embed data justice into its AI frameworks by ensuring that socio-environmental equity becomes a foundational principle in AI design, deployment, and governance. The future of climate action is digital, and India now stands at a pivotal moment to code that future with foresight, fairness, and purpose. This article is authored by Tauseef Alam, research lead, Rajya Sabha and Zainab Fatima, student, Banaras Hindu University.
Mint
6 days ago
- Mint
The Arabian Sea is calling, and this time for rare earths
At a time when nations are scrambling for rare earths and critical minerals following the Chinese clampdown, India is preparing to approach a United Nations agency for permission to scout for them in the Arabian Sea. In parallel, the government is also working on the technologies to extract and process these vital raw materials. The application for exploration rights to a 10,000 sq. km area, to be submitted to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), aims to reduce dependence on global supply chains dominated by China. It would also mark an expansion of India's deep-sea operations. The ISA is a UN body governing mineral-related activities in international waters. India's Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has already been allocated two areas in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea of 0.75 million sq. km and 10,000 sq. km respectively. The allocation is under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). India has done an exploratory survey and found polymetallic nodules that contains cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese in one of the allocated areas in central Indian Ocean. In the other area, south of mid-Indian ocean ridge which is below Mauritius, India has found copper, cobalt, platinum and gold. The goal is to now commercially mine these minerals and prove that the process is environmentally safe, earth sciences secretary M. Ravichandran said. "We have submitted for the exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Indian Ocean Ridge, called Carlsberg Ridge. It is mid between, what is called the Arabian coast and the Indian coast. It roughly covers an area 10,000 sq. km," Ravichandran said in an interview. Ravichandran explained that matters relating to metals including rare earths in seabed which is beyond India's exclusive economic zone, are the mandate of his ministry. 'It is open ocean. It is a global common. It is not our water. So, we do some exploratory survey. Then we go to UNCLOS for getting exploration rights," said Ravichandran, adding that the benefits can be shared between India and the UN. When asked whether India is extracting metals from the two already allocated areas, Ravichandran said that it requires technology for sweeping the metals from the seabed and then pumping. " We are developing a mining technology as we have to go to 4-5 km down the sea. We are able to sweep the metal with the technology, but we have some difficulty in pumping from deep bed as it has to be continuous. We are developing all these things," he said. The ministry is also working on developing the pumping technology at National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. Ravichandran said India is extracting rare earths for exploration, but not on a commercial scale. India, China, France and South Korea are all trying to confirm that the process of extracting rare earths from the sea is environmentally safe before starting commercial extraction, the secretary said. Amid supply chain disruptions from China, India's automotive industry, which imported over 80% of its approximately 540 tonnes of rare earth magnets from China in the last financial year, is experiencing the effects. While operations haven't fully derailed, short‑term disruptions—especially in EV output—are real and intensifying. Poonam Upadhyay, director, Crisil Ratings said, ' With applications across EVs and ICE vehicles, a prolonged supply squeeze could disrupt production of passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, making this low-cost component a potential high-impact bottleneck for the sector." An EY report 'Getting India future-ready: Role of rare earth elements' released on 28 May said China has a share of 68.6% in mining of REEs (Rare Earth Elements), followed by the US at 12.3%. "To realize India's Viksit Bharat aspiration, Aatmanirbhar strategy requires that India develop and control REE extraction and processing. Since REEs serve as a critical input throughout the modern production chains, they will have a substantial role linked to forward linkages," the report said. According to experts, discovering rare earth minerals in India's deep ocean beds is more than just geological news; it's a strategic opportunity. "India already holds the world's fifth largest, rare-earth reserves, about 6.9 million tonnes, but has lagged behind in refining and magnet production. This new discovery, if responsibly developed, can help reduce dependence on imports, enhance resilience in high-tech and defence supply chains, and allow India to play a role in the global critical minerals market. The key will be pairing this natural advantage with clear regulatory frameworks, technology partnerships, and environmental safeguards to translate reserves into real value," said Nikhil Dhaka vice-president, Primus Partners, a consultancy. According to EY, India has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 for this purpose. Under the NCMM, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been assigned to carry out 1,200 exploration projects from FY25 to FY31. To reduce India's import dependency in REEs, the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research is carrying out exploration to augment resources along the coastal, inland and riverine placer sands of the country.
