Executive Director - Research and Advocacy and head of the air pollution and clean transportation programme, campaigns for clean air and public health, Centre for Science and Environment.
Remembering Kirk R Smith (1947-2020)
Kirk leaves us with the power of imagining change and hope
Lethal toxicity vs quantum of pollution in Delhi’s air
Not just quantum of pollution but also toxicity of emissions must be assessed to prioritise action on pollution sources
Earth day musings: Can this pandemic change the idea of a city?
Post-pandemic, the new normal in our cities need to be more humane and inclusive and urban renewal must be designed on a human scale
Cleaner air: Can we go back to ‘normal’?
CPCB’s evidence on nation-wide clean up during the lockdown implies that clean air action has to upscale to new normal
Bharat Stage VI: India leapfrogs today and it is no Fool’s day
Despite the pall of gloom around COVID-19, there is reason to cheer that India has become the only country to leapfrog directly to Bharat Stage …
COVID-19 flattens peak-hour pollution
The flat rates of peak-hour pollution due to the lockdown proves why strong action is needed to reduce traffic volumes and cut tailpipe emissions …
COVID-19: Dirty air and vice of the virus
The novel coronavirus pandemic may have lowered air pollution. But this crisis-led change shows how health risk perception makes difficult …
What is COVID-19 signaling about building design for healthy living?
The possibility that our air-conditioned and cooled living spaces may make coronavirus comfortable and spread needs to be well understood to spur …
International Women's Day: Empower to protect the womb and newborn
Transmission of latent toxic risk from air pollution through womb forever is not acceptable
Harmattan and the air we breathe: What can we learn?
The massive climate change-induced dust fall event in west Africa has many lessons for all combating deadly air pollution
How do we know air quality is changing?
Expanding monitoring for more data alone won’t help. Need science, statistical methods for legal reporting on air quality trends, …
Union Budget 2020-21 promises Rs 4,400 cr for clean air; how, where and how soon?
Fiscal promise for clean air action without a blueprint for spending; even after a year of NCAP, output & outcome indicators not available in …
Fight barriers to solutions to clean air
Need solution-driven agenda to build public and political will to overpower resistance from inconvenience of change
Delhi notifies first-ever parking rules to restrain vehicle use, cut air pollution
The rule probibits parking in green areas, parks, footpaths, bus stops and intersections
BSIV muddle in stimulus package for auto-industry
Why Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's stimulus package for auto sector states the obvious that BSIV vehicles registered before BSVI roll out …
Not ‘go slow’, need more certainty in electric vehicle pathways
The auto industry slow down must not provoke reactive posturing but spur a firm policy roadmap and a legal mandate in consultation with the …
Delhi's Karol Bagh: On-street democracy for cleaner air
Pedestrian only street in Karol Bagh proves why urban renewal is needed for clean air and sustainability
Union government needs to focus on clean air
According to the State Of Global Air Report 2019, 12 lakh people are dying prematurely due to toxic air and dying 2.6 years earlier in India
Rebuild to tame cyclones
Commendable emergency response to cyclone Fani saved lives in Odisha, but now the state must build climate-resilient structures to minimise long-…
Can India be diesel car free?
With major carmaker Maruti saying ‘No to diesel cars’ at the wake of BSVI standards, is India heading towards a diesel car-free future?
BS-VI in NCR: Wise move on All Fools’ Day
Starting today, as a run-up to the BS-VI emissions standards for vehicles next April, the National Capital Region will start selling cleanest …
Idea of regulating comfort for energy efficiency
First-ever push for thermal comfort standard for buildings shifts focus from only energy efficiency of mechanical cooling systems to thermal …
Three-wheel powered solution to dirty air
Quintessential three-wheeler autorickshaws slated for unrestricted free run in Delhi-NCR can be a disruptive clean mobility solution across India
Volkswagen scandal: India must fix responsibility on manufacturers
For emission fraud, only penal action will not be enough; need regulations to fix accountability
National Clean Air Programme: Good idea but weak mandate
The much-awaited plan should not be top-down, it should create room for tighter action
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