No place to hide: AI firm to use satellite data to track air pollution, make data public

In a huge development, artificial intelligence firm WattTime has announced it will use satellite cameras to precisely track the air pollution (including carbon emissions) coming out of every single power plant in the world, in real time, and make the data public. The initiative is backed by financial think-tank Carbon Tracker. The system aims to fix the problems of poor monitoring and gaming of emission data. It will also help citizen groups to go online and track the polluting power plants in their area and initiate action.

Delhi NCR needs a plan to tackle summer air pollution

Not just in winter, there is an air pollution health emergency in Delhi-NCR area during the summer as well – that’s the conclusion of experts based on air quality figures provided by the Central Pollution Control Board in Delhi. Delhi’s air quality on Monday was “very poor” (322); Ghaziabad was also “very poor” (384), and Gurugram was “poor” (277). An average of the PM2.5 data across 10 locations in Delhi, taken between May 1 and May 12, show that the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels touched 500 (hazardous) several times, HT reported.

Poll time: Indian parties promise clean air in manifestos

With national elections in full swing, finally major and minor parties and independents were seen raising issue of clean air and environment protection in their manifestos. The biggies, BJP and Congress, promised to tackle air pollution, but did not mention legally binding targets or raising funds, experts said. The AAP manifesto promised clean air for Delhi, Indian National Lok Dal’s (INLD) Virender Rana offered the same for Gurugram. What was refreshing to see was Independents fighting on an environment plank. Independent Niraj Agarwal pitched clean air and waste management to the Kolkata electorate.

No pollutants: London to have world-first hydrogen-powered double decker buses

To clean its polluted air, London will introduce on its roads the world’s first hydrogen-powered double decker buses. Initially, 20 buses, costing around £500,000 each, will be introduced. The buses will emit only water as exhaust and they will run on green hydrogen produced via North Kent offshore wind farm. The buses are part of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone norms introduced last month, where polluting bus and coaches are charged £100-a-day to drive.

India’s environment minister: Don’t agree millions of people are dying because of pollution

Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan has rejected recent global reports that attribute over one million deaths in India to air pollution, saying such studies are only aimed at “causing panic”. A Greenpeace report ranked Delhi as the world’s most polluted city yet again. The State of Global Air report by Health Effects Institute had revealed that about 1.2 million people were killed in India due to air pollution in 2017.

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