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Vikas Thakur
Vikas Thakur
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Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 8:49 AM
Subject: Diesel: when bad policy makes for toxic hell-CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (Nov 18, 2011)
CSE's Fortnightly News Bulletin (November 18, 2011)
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The fortnight at CSE began with the annual South Asian Media Briefing on Climate Change, a curtain raiser to Durban. Do visit our webpage (http://www.cseindia.org/node/2936) to get an idea of the discussions. Down To Earth matched the theme with a cover story on global extreme weather events.
Preparations for Durban are on. CSE will be covering the event extensively right from the convention venue with audio visual updates of all the key events, reports, blogs, analysis and more. Do stay tuned in....
For our other activities and stories from Down To Earth, read on.
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EDITORIAL: Diesel: when bad policy makes for toxic hell
by Sunita Narain
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Just consider. Every time petrol prices are raised, oil companies end up losing more money. Simply because the price differential between petrol and diesel increases further, and people gravitate towards diesel vehicles. More the use of diesel, more the oil companies bleed. Worse, we all bleed because diesel vehicles add to toxic pollution in our cities, which, in turn, adds to ill health and treatment costs.
This is very well understood. Yet nobody will do anything to fix the trend.
Today, it makes more sense for the next car buyer to buy an expensive personal car—perhaps even a Mercedes-Benz—but run it on the subsidised diesel. Today, according to government's own estimates, the use of diesel in personal vehicles has zoomed. Some 15 per cent of the current consumption of diesel is in passenger cars. The agricultural sector uses less—12 per cent of the country's diesel. This busts the myth that diesel prices are kept low for reasons of
public policy. In fact, keeping the price low but allowing its use in the private transport sector is clearly a deliberate policy to use the poor person's fuel to subsidise the rich.
Oil companies also say that the under-recovery in diesel is now costing them big time. It is estimated that Rs 67,500 crore is lost annually in under-recovery on account of diesel alone. This is roughly 60 per cent of the total losses of the companies. Assuming that private cars consume 15 per cent of the diesel, the direct subsidy to car owners is over Rs 10,000 crore. This is socialism Indian style: taxing the poor to pay the rich. With each increase in the price of petrol, this gap widens. Bad for oil companies; worse for the environment.
The claim of car companies that the modern diesel vehicle is clean is far from true. Emission data shows current diesel cars emit seven times more particulates and three to five times more nitrogen oxides than petrol cars. There is sufficient evidence that tiny particulates—PM 2.5—emitted from a diesel vehicle are toxic and carcinogenic. This toxin is firmly associated with significant increase in cases of asthma, lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and heart ailments. Long-term exposure can cause lung cancer. The increased level of nitrogen dioxide contributes to the formation of ozone, which, in turn, damages our lungs. So be clear, diesel vehicles, however fancy and fitted, are costing us our health.
Today, Europe, which promoted diesel vehicles, is paying a heavy cost. It is struggling to meet air quality standards, even though it has invested heavily in the cleanest of fuels reducing sulfur levels to near-zero and has fitted vehicles with every kind of anti-pollution gizmo like particulate traps and de-NOx catalyst. Diesel also has higher levels of black carbon, which is today understood to be a key contributor to climate change. In the US, the car mecca, where emission standards and price do not differentiate between fuels, there is no market for diesel cars.
So why does Indian policy continue to provide this perverse incentive to pollute? The irony is that there is no policy that allows this use. It is a loophole. Car manufacturers struck gold when they realised that they could sell more vehicles if they could run them on cheaper and subsidised fuel. They exploit the fact that diesel price is kept lower because of its use for transportation of essential goods and for public transport—trucks use some 37 per cent of the diesel consumed and buses 12 per cent. They also know that dual pricing of fuel—different diesel prices for cars and buses or tractors—cannot be operated. They merrily exploit this helplessness.
Government agencies know this. They make all the right noises about the need to fix the price distortion. The market types glibly talk about the need to deregulate diesel. They say this because they know that even though they sit in power, they cannot remove government control over the price of this fuel, which is also essential for railways, transport of public goods and agriculture. They know that the inflationary impact of raising diesel price will be high; they know it will be opposed. But they use this convenient cover to do nothing about the most glaring of distortions—the use of the subsidised fuel by the rich and for private transport.
But given the rising economic cost and pollution, the option of doing nothing is not acceptable anymore. The options are either to link the price with emission standards or to ban production of personal diesel vehicles. If this is not possible, then the government should tax diesel vehicles—200 to 300 per cent of the price of the vehicle—to remove the fiscal distortion in price and policy. Our neighbour Sri Lanka has done so. In India, committee after committee has recommended that this be done. But it is not done.
Clearly, the lobby for big diesel is powerful. Clearly, it sits in glitzy chambers of commerce, which can bend policy to suit purse and purpose. It's sad and deadly.
Post your comments on this editorial online at http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/diesel-when-bad-policy-makes-toxic-hell
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MORE FROM DOWN TO EARTH
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- Cover Story: Future shock
As the world continues to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the global temperatures could rise by 3°C by mid-century.Should we still blame the increasing disasters on unpreparedness of governments and bad planning?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/future-shock
- Special Report: Faulty formula
New drug pricing policy proposes bringing all essential medicines under price control, but makes them expensive
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/faulty-formula
- Special Report: Serious inquiry
Environment ministry categorises offences relating to environmental clearances
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/serious-inquiry
- News: Polavaram in tender turmoil
Court questions awarding of tender for mega dam to a disqualified consortium
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/polavaram-tender-turmoil
- News: Rajasthan scraps seed pacts
ICAR tells Rajasthan to wait for guidelines on benefit sharing, biosafety
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/rajasthan-scraps-seed-pacts
- News: Out of control
Parts of India still struggle to stabilise population growth
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/out-control
- S&T: How to curb neuro disorders
Inhibiting a brain enzyme provides protection, says study
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/how-curb-neuro-disorders
- S&T: Seaweeds threaten corals
Release chemicals that cause bleaching
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/seaweeds-threaten-corals
- S&T: Ground reality
Animal diversity in the soil mapped for the first time
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/ground-reality
- 20 years of DTE- Untapped potential
Edited exceprts of a DTE article suggesting remote sensing can change the contours of planning in India
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/untapped-potential
- Column: Patently absurd
WHO OWNS OUR VEGGIES?
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/who-owns-our-veggies
- South Asia- Lost in woods
Environmentalists see red over wildlife bill in Bangladesh
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/lost-woods
Down To Earth is now on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss
and stay in constant touch with our reporters on www.facebook.com/down2earthindia and twitter@downtoearthindia.
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Web DTE
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- Blog: Blame bankers, not oil, for climate impasse
It's time the green brigade joins the banker-bashing, Occupy Wall Street movement
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/blame-bankers-not-oil-climate-impasse
- Blog: The wisdom of the unlettered
Different ways in which indigenous knowledge reaches mainstream
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/wisdom-unlettered
- Blog: Outrage of the 99%
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/outrage-99
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On India Environment Portal
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Sub-portal on South Asia and Sustainable Development: Provides in-depth information through news, reports, analysis, opinions and events, linked to other key institutions and websites etc. Please do contribute studies, reports, court orders etc, especially from our neighbouring countries in the South Asian region. http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/indepth/south-asia
India Environment Portal is now on Facebook and Twitter. Do follow us, share, comment, and discuss and stay in constant touch with us on http://www.facebook.com/pages/indiaenvironmentportal/228015872817 and http://www.twitter.com/indiaenvportal
CSE Environment Photo Library is online.Follow the link to view our collection http://www.flickr.com/photos/csepictures
For any assistance, please contact kiran@cseindia.org, kirandw@gmail.com
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LEARNING WITH CSE
Courses offered by Anil Agarwal Green College
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Covering India: Where Journalism meets Environment - New Delhi, December 1 - 15, 2011
Date: December 1 to 15, 2011
This December, strap up and brace yourselves, learn to communicate the environment-development challenges in contemporary India.
Course details: http://www.cseindia.org/node/2607
Course Contact: Sharmila Sinha
(sharmila@cseindia.org / cseindiasharmila@gmail.com)
Ph: 91-11 29955124/6110/6399 (Ext: 270)
Fax: 91-11-29955879, AAGC Mobile: +91 9818482018
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Challenge of the Balance
A course on Policies, Politics & Practices of Environmental Management in the Developing World
Date: December 19, 2011 - January 6, 2011
Course Modules:
- Environmental governance in India
- Poverty and the biomass economy
- Ecological 'rights' and state of natural resource management (land, water & forests)
- Conservation regimes & the human-wildlife conflict
- Urban growth challenges
- Sustainable industrialization and pollution control
- Global environmental governance (focus on climate change politics)
Course details: http://www.cseindia.org/node/1259
Course contact: Sharmila Sinha
Assistant Coordinator, Education & Training
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110062
Email: sharmila@cseindia.org; cseindiasharmila@gmail.com
Mobile: +91-9818482018
Office Tel: +91 (011) 29955124 +91 (011) 29955124 / 125 /
Fax: +91 (011) 29955879
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Training programme on Social Impact Assessment
Capacity and create awareness among regulators, developers, NGOs and academicians
Date: December 15-17, 2011
Last date of application: December 1, 2011
Course Modules:
- Exposure to aspects of SIA, from theory to applications
- Integrated approach for addressing SIA and EIA process - from scoping, data collection to impact assessment as well as the role of public consultations
- Knowledge on review of SIA reports and identification of strengths and weaknesses
- Post SIA monitoring
- Procedure for institutional strengthening and capacity building
- Experience sharing on national and international best practices adopted in SIA
Course details: http://www.cseindia.org/content/cse%E2%80%99s-short-term-training-programme-social-impact-assessment
Course contact: Sujit Kumar Singh
Industry & Environment Unit
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi-110062
Ph: 91-11-2995 5124 / 6110 (Ext. 281); Fax: 91-11-2995 5879
Mobile: 9899676027
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UPDATES FROM OUR PROGRAMME UNITS
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Churning Still Water - National conference on lake conservation
CSE is organising a one-day national conference on lake conservation in the last week of January.The objective of the workshop is to set up a network of researchers, NGOs, legal advocates and regulators from India involved in the conservation of urban lakes.
We invite abstracts (not more than 250 words) from researchers, NGOs, faculties, law practicioners, in the areas relevant to lake conservation (and/or threats).
Abstract submission deadline: December 17, 2011
Submissions should be sent to Sushmita at sushmita@cseindia.org
For further details, please visit http://www.cseindia.org/content/churning-still-water
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National Seminar on 'Decentralised Wastewater Management Practices: Options and Challenges'
The aim of the seminar is to act as a forum to discuss and share experiences regarding the existing and upcoming decentralised sewage treatment concepts and technologies. Abstracts are invited from water experts at national level to present case studies on sustainable wastewater management practices – onsite & offsite.
Date: February 2012
Abstract submission deadline: January 14, 2012
Please send you submissions to Deblina at deblina@cseindia.org
Fore more details, kindly visit http://www.cseindia.org/node/3276
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Jaipur Citizen's Survey: Transport and air quality challenges
CSE's Clean Air Campaign team is organising a citizens' survey in Jaipur to understand the challenges of air pollution and transportation that the city faces, and identify the way forward.
Would you like to volunteer your participation in the survey? Just fill out a form at http://cseindia.org/node/1190 and send it to us.
For details, please get in touch with Vivek at vivek@cseindia.org
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RainWater Harvesting Technical Support
Every Friday between 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, CSE provides detailed technical guidance to interested individuals, RWAs and institutions to implement rainwater harvesting. The technical assistance will be provided at CSE's office at 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area.
For details, see
http://www.cseindia.org/content/catch-rainwater-solve-your-water-problems
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Technical advice: Decentralised wastewater treatment systems
Every second and fourth Friday, meet our experts at CSE, 41, Tughlaqabad Institutional Area for guidance on
planning and designing these systems.
For details, contact Deblina at deblina@cseindia.org or call her on 9899596661.
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From our stores
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Books from CSE that you might have missed:
Climate Change and Natural Resources -- A book of activities for environmental education
This is a collection of easy-to-understand-and-do activities for students and teachers, to be done in classrooms and at homes. Do take a look at http://www.gobartimes.org/?q=node/201, or write to Vikas Khanna at vikas@cseindia.org
Mobility Crisis - Agenda for Action 2011
Our publication on the way cities are being held hostage by rising vehicular traffic, and some thoughts on how to break the gridlock
(Pages 116) PB: Rs 290 / US $12
Challenge of the new balance
Based on a CSE study of the six most energy/emissions-intensive sectors of the country to determine India's low carbon growth options, this book is a must have for all who are interested in development economics and the way ahead for the country. The six sectors -- power,steel, aluminium, cement, fertilizer and paper & pulp -- together account for an estimated 61.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions in India, excluding emissions from agriculture and waste. Their energy profile is no less intensive...
(Pages 156) PB: Rs.690 / US $39
To order please visit: www.csestore.cse.org.in
Coming soon: Excreta Matters
CSE's 7th State of the India's Environment report on water and wastewater, based on a comprehensive survey of 71 Indian cities.
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