COP29 UN Climate Conference Agrees to Triple Finance

 The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) closed on November 24, 2024, with a new finance goal to help countries to protect their people and economies against climate disasters, and share in the vast benefits of the clean energy boom.

With a central focus on climate finance, COP29 brought together nearly 200 countries in Baku, Azerbaijan, and reached a breakthrough agreement that will:

• Triple finance to developing countries, from the previous goal of USD 100 billion annually, to USD 300 billion annually by 2035.
• Secure efforts of all actors to work together to scale up finance to developing countries, from public and private sources, to the amount of USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2035.

 

Known formally as the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), it was agreed after two weeks of intensive negotiations and several years of preparatory work, in a process that requires all nations to unanimously agree on every word of the agreement.

"This new finance goal is an insurance policy for humanity, amid worsening climate impacts hitting every country,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC. “But like any insurance policy – it only works – if premiums are paid in full, and on time. Promises must be kept, to protect billions of lives. It will keep the clean energy boom growing, helping all countries to share in its huge benefits: more jobs, stronger growth, cheaper and cleaner energy for all.”

The International Energy Agency expects global clean energy investment to exceed USD 2 trillion for the first time in 2024.

The new finance goal at COP29 builds on significant strides forward on global climate action at COP27, which agreed an historic Loss and Damage Fund, and COP28, which delivered a global agreement to transition away from all fossil fuels in energy systems swiftly and fairly, triple renewable energy and boost climate resilience.

COP29 also reached agreement on carbon markets – which several previous COPs had not been able to achieve. These agreements will help countries deliver their climate plans more quickly and cheaply, and make faster progress in halving global emissions this decade, as required by science.

Important agreements were also reached on transparent climate reporting and adaptation. The agreement reached in Baku did not meet all Parties' expectations, and substantially more work is still needed next year on several crucial issues.

The finance agreement at COP29 comes as stronger national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs) become due from all countries next year. These new climate plans must cover all greenhouse gases and all sectors, to keep the 1.5°C warming limit within reach. COP29 saw two G20 countries – the UK and Brazil – signal clearly that they plan to ramp up climate action in their NDCs 3.0, because they are entirely in the interests of their economies and peoples.

A brief summary of other key achievements at COP29 follows below.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

A notable achievement of COP29 was the progress made on carbon markets. After nearly a decade of work, countries have agreed on the final building blocks that set out how carbon markets will operate under the Paris Agreement, making country-to-country trading and a carbon crediting mechanism fully operational.

On country-to-country trading (Article 6.2), the decision out of COP29 provides clarity on how countries will authorize the trade of carbon credits and how registries tracking this will operate. And there is now reassurance that environmental integrity will be ensured up front through technical reviews in a transparent process.

On day one of COP29, countries agreed standards for a centralized carbon market under the UN (Article 6.4 mechanism). This is good news for developing countries, who will benefit from new flows of finance. And it is particularly good news for least developed countries, who will get the capacity-building support they need to get a foothold in the market. 

This mechanism, known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, is underpinned by mandatory checks for projects against strong environmental and human rights protections, including safeguards that ensure a project can’t go ahead without explicit, informed agreement from Indigenous Peoples. It also allows anyone affected by a project to appeal a decision or file a complaint.

Under the text agreed on Article 6.4, there is a clear mandate for the UN carbon market to align with science. It tasks the Body getting this market up and running to consider the best available science across all work going forward.

The work on carbon markets doesn’t stop in Baku. The Supervisory Body setting up the new carbon crediting mechanism has been handed a long 2025 to-do list by Parties and will continue to be accountable to them.

Transparency

Transparent climate reporting made big strides forward in Baku, building a stronger evidence base to strengthen climate policies over time, and helping to identify financing needs and opportunities. To date, 13 Parties have now submitted their first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR) – due from all Parties by the end of the year. Andorra, Azerbaijan, the European Union, Germany, Guyana, Japan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, Spain, and Türkiye have led the way on transparent climate reporting, and set an example for others to follow. The list of received BTRs is continuously being updated here.

In addition, all transparency negotiating items concluded successfully at COP29, with Parties expressing their appreciation for the timely completion of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) reporting tools, the technical trainings, and the support provided to developing countries for reporting under the ETF that took place in 2024.

A total of 42 events were organized under #Together4Transparency, a UNFCCC collaborative initiative that promotes climate transparency with Parties and non-Party stakeholders. These events emphasized the vital role of transparency in preparing NDCs and net-zero pathways, as well as in recognizing climate action from non-Party stakeholders. Events included high-level sessions, mandated events and training sessions to prepare countries for their BTRs, as well as to equip technical experts for the upcoming review process.

The critical role of REDD+ was recognized through a £3 million pledge by the UK International Forest Unit to support UN Climate Change’s work over four years. This funding will bolster REDD+ activities in many countries, enabling the secretariat to create dedicated spaces for REDD+ experts to engage in technical dialogue. These efforts are expected to enhance the transparency and implementation of REDD+, in line with the Global Stocktake objective to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. 

Adaptation

COP29 was an important moment for adaptation, with the delivery of several key outcomes. The COP decision on matters relating to the least developed countries (LDCs) contains a provision for the establishment of a support programme for the implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) for the LDCs. Parties extensively discussed the second five-year assessment of progress to formulate and implement NAPs, and will continue that in June 2025.

A High-Level Dialogue on National Adaptation Plans convened ministers from least developed countries and small island developing States, financial experts and international donors to address the growing urgency of climate adaptation. Their discussions focused on innovative financing, technical support, and accelerated action to meet the 2025 submission deadline for NAPs. The event concluded with a strong call to action to expedite NAPs and translate plans into tangible outcomes.

The outcome on the global goal on adaptation sets a clear path forward on the road to COP30 for the indicators work programme, providing a process for experts to continue their technical work before passing the baton to Parties. COP29 also launched the Baku Adaptation Road Map and Baku high-level dialogue on adaptation to enhance the implementation of the UAE Framework. Finally, the outcome raises ambition by agreeing to continue unpacking transformational adaptation moving forward.

COP29 took a decisive step forward to elevate the voices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in climate action, adopting the Baku Workplan and renewing the mandate of the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP). The adopted decision acknowledges the progress made by the FWG in fostering collaboration among Parties, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and underscores the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in addressing the climate crisis.

Gender and climate change

Countries agreed a decision on gender and climate change, extending the enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender and Climate Change for another 10 years, reaffirming the importance of gender equality and advancing gender mainstreaming throughout the convention. They also agreed to develop a new gender action plan for adoption at COP30, which will set the direction for concrete implementation.

Civil society participation, children and youth

World leaders at COP29 were joined by civil society, subnationals, business, Indigenous Peoples, youth, philanthropy, and international organizations. More than 55,000 people attended COP29 to share ideas, solutions, and build partnerships and coalitions.

The decisions taken at COP29 also reemphasize the critical importance of empowering all stakeholders to engage in climate action; in particular under Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE). Parties recalled the importance of integrating ACE elements into national climate change policies, plans, strategies and action, and noted the secretariat’s compendium of good practices for integrating ACE elements into NDCs.

COP29 marked a significant milestone as dedicated spaces were created to ensure the meaningful participation of children within the Youth-led Climate Forum for the first time. Four children, including the youngest at just 10 years old, took on roles as moderators and speakers, engaging directly with Parties and observer organizations. Their participation highlighted the importance of inclusivity and intergenerational collaboration in driving climate action.

In parallel with the formal negotiations, the Global Climate Action space at COP29 provided a platform for governments, businesses and civil society to collaborate and showcase their real-world climate solutions. An overview and summary of these can be found here.

The High-Level Champions, under the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, launched their 2024 Yearbook of Global Climate Action at COP29, showing that climate action by non-Party stakeholders, including businesses, investors, sub-national actors and civil society, is driving progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, and that their engagement is more crucial than ever.

India faced more extreme weather events and higher damages in 2024

On November 8, 2024, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, released its annual state of extreme weather report. According to the report, extreme weather events have been steadily on the rise in India.

In 2024, India faced extreme weather events on 93 per cent of the days in the year’s first nine months - 255 out of 274 days - marked by heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods and landslides. These events claimed 3238 lives, affected 3.2 mha of crops, destroyed 235,862 houses and buildings, and killed approximately 9457 livestock. The report pointed out that it was very likely that even these reported damages were an underestimation due to incomplete data collection on event-specific losses, particularly on public property and crop damages. All the statistics were worse than those of 2023.

 

The year 2024 also set several climate records. January was India’s ninth driest since 1901. In February, the country recorded its second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years. May saw the fourth-highest mean temperature on record, and July, August and September all registered their highest minimum temperatures since 1901. 

 

In the Northwest, January was the second driest, and July recorded the region’s second-highest minimum temperature. The Southern Peninsula saw its hottest February ever, followed by exceptionally hot and dry March and April, but with a 36.5% surplus in July rainfall and the second-highest minimum temperature in August.

 

In terms of event types, the first nine months of 2024 saw everything from lightning and storms - spanning 32 states and resulting in 1021 deaths -- to relentless monsoon rains, which led to flooding across various regions. In Assam alone, heavy rains, floods and landslides were recorded on 122 days, leaving large parts of the state submerged and communities devastated. Nationwide, 1376 lives were lost due to floods.

 

Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather on 176 days - the most in the country. Kerala recorded the highest fatalities at 550 (Wayanad landslides), followed by Madhya Pradesh (353) and Assam (256). Andhra Pradesh had the most houses damaged (85,806). Maharashtra, which saw extreme events on 142 days, accounted for over 60% of the affected crop area nation-wide, followed by Madhya Pradesh (25,170 ha).

 

Regionally, Central India faced the highest frequency of extreme events with 218 days, followed closely by the Northwest at 213 days. In terms of lives lost, the Central region had the most deaths (1001), followed by the Southern Peninsula (762 deaths), East and Northeast (741 deaths) and Northwest (734 deaths). Twenty-seven states and Union Territories saw a rise in extreme weather days in 2024, with Karnataka, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh each experiencing 40 or more additional days of such events. 

 

These record-breaking statistics reflect climate change’s impact, where events that used to occur once every century are now happening every five years or even less. This frequency is overwhelming the most vulnerable populations, who lack the resources to adapt to this relentless cycle of loss and damage.

 

While heatwaves claimed 210 lives, the data did not reflect the extended health impacts of prolonged high temperatures on the wellbeing of people in North India, including farmers and labourers, who endured intense heat with little means of relief. Similarly, the toll of severe cold snaps and frost on crop losses is not captured, highlighting the need for robust compensation systems for weather-induced losses. Without this support, farmers are pushed into debt, exacerbating their marginalisation and poverty.

 

The report also emphasised the need for climate reparations from high-emission countries responsible for much of the damage. Climate models are clear: extreme weather events are set to become more frequent and severe.

FAO Report Highlights Rising Vulnerabilities of Rural Poor Amid Climate Shocks in India

 The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) organized a national-level dialogue on FAO’s report "The Unjust Climate" on 16 October 2024 in New Delhi. The dialogue focused on the multidimensional poverty and climate vulnerabilities in rural India, facilitated discussions and provided policy recommendations on addressing the adverse effects of climate stressors, including long-term changes in temperatures, on the rural poor, which is critical for reducing persistent and transitory poverty in India. 

India has made remarkable strides in reducing rural poverty over the past two decades. Headcount poverty rates have dropped dramatically from 42.5 percent in 2005/06 to just 8.6 percent in 2022/24, according to the latest estimates from the India Policy Forum (Desai et al. 2024). However, this success masks the growing challenge of transitory poverty. While many have risen out of poverty, a significant portion of the population has been pushed back due to unpredictable life events, particularly extreme weather events driven by climate change. 

 

FAO’s “The Unjust Climate” report highlights a stark reality: each year, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs),households headed by women in rural areas suffer significantly greater financial losses than those headed by men. On average, female-headed households lose 8 percent more of their income due to heat stress and 3 percent more due to floods compared to male-headed households. This translates to a per capita reduction of USD83 due to heat stress and USD 35 due to floods, totalling USD37 billion and USD16 billion respectively across all LMICs. 

 

If the average temperatures were to increase by just 1°C, women would face a staggering 34 percent greater loss in their total incomes compared to men. Considering the significant existing differences in agricultural productivity and wages between women and men, the study suggests that if not addressed, climate change will greatly widen these gaps in the years ahead. 

 

FAO analyzed socioeconomic data from over 100,000 rural households (representing more than 950 million people) across 24 LMICs. By integrating this information with 70 years of georeferenced daily precipitation and temperature data, the report examines how various climate stressors impact people's incomes, labour, and adaptation strategies, differentiating based on their wealth, gender, and age. 

Impacts differ not just by gender but by socioeconomic status, according to the data. Heat stress, or overexposure to high temperatures, exacerbates the income disparity between rural households classified as poor, who suffer a 5 percent greater loss (USD 17 per capita) than their better-off neighbours, and the figures for flooding are similar. Extreme temperatures, meanwhile, worsen child labour and increase the unpaid workload for women in poor households. 

 

Extreme weather also compels impoverished rural households to resort to maladaptive coping strategies. These may include reducing income streams, selling off livestock, and shifting spending away from their farms. These actions, however, exacerbate their vulnerability to long-term climate changes. 

 

Policy Recommendations 

The report suggests that addressing these challenges requires targeted interventions to empower various rural populations to engage in climate-adaptive measures. 

1. Anticipatory social protection: Scaling up programs that provide financial support ahead of extreme weather events can prevent households from resorting to adverse coping mechanisms, such as selling off productive assets or reducing food consumption. 

1. Workforce diversification: Investing in skills development and vocational training, combined with mentorship programs, can help rural poor households diversify away from climate-sensitive work. This would enhance their resilience to climate-induced income shocks. It also recommends linking social protection programmes to advisory services that can encourage adaptation and compensate farmers for losers, such as cash-based social assistance programs. 

1. Gender-transformative approaches: Tackling discriminatory gender norms that prevent women from participating in non-farm employment is crucial. Programs that address these barriers can unlock new opportunities for income diversification, benefiting entire households. Inclusive climate actions are embedded in FAO’s Strategy and Action Plan on Climate Change and in the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031, where tackling the impact of climate change is mainstreamed in efforts to achieve the four betters: better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life for all. 

1. Participatory agricultural extension: Encouraging group-based approaches to agricultural experimentation can help rural farmers adapt to changing climate conditions. These collective methods reduce individual risks and promote shared learning, improving resilience. 

1. Access to adaptive technologies: Public investment in promoting climate-resilient agricultural technologies is critical for supporting land-constrained households. 

Agricultural policies must address gender equality and women's empowerment and intersecting vulnerabilities such as climate change. An analysis of agricultural policies from 68 low- and middle-income countries done by FAO last year showed that about 80 percent of policies did not consider women and climate change. 

 

As India continues to progress in poverty reduction, addressing the vulnerabilities posed by climate change is essential. Targeted interventions that strengthen the adaptive capacity of rural households and reduce their exposure to climate risks are key to ensuring that poverty reduction gains are sustained. The findings of this brief provide critical insights for policymakers and development organizations as they seek to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population from the adverse effects of climate change. 

 

Pact for the Future: World leaders pledge action for peace, sustainable development

 On 22 September 2024, at the UN Summit for the Future, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, a landmark declaration pledging concrete actions towards a safer, more peaceful, sustainable and inclusive world for tomorrow’s generations. The Pact along with its annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, was adopted by consensus to chart out a peaceful, sustainable and inclusive future.

The Resolution was adopted despite a last-minute proposal for an amendment by some countries, including Russia, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Syria. The amendment sought to incorporate text calling for non-intervention in any issue of national sovereignty, and the primacy of intergovernmental deliberation, in effect, downplaying the role of the civil society or private sector interests. It was rejected after the 193-member Assembly decided not to act on the proposal.

Pact for the Future
The Pact’s five broad focus areas include: sustainable development; international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations and transforming global governance. This has become an urgent pivot, as multilateral financial institutions and even the United Nations itself have come up short seeking solutions to 21st century problems, the pact lays out.

By endorsing the Pact, UN Member States pledged, among other things, to:
•    Turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, two landmark 2015 agreements that have seen halting progress and missed milestones
•    Listen to young people and include them in decision-making, at the national and global levels
•    Build stronger partnerships with civil society, the private sector, local and regional authorities and more
•    Redouble efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts
•    Protect all civilians in armed conflict
•    Accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security

Global Digital Compact
The Global Digital Compact marks the first truly worldwide agreement on the international regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and is founded on the idea that technology should benefit everyone. It outlines commitments to ensure that digital technologies contribute to sustainable development and human rights, while addressing risks like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.

The Compact aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure AI technologies are used responsibly, fostering global cooperation on both AI capabilities and security threats. Governments are also obligated to form an impartial worldwide Scientific Panel on AI and start an international conversation about AI governance inside the UN.

Declaration on Future Generations
The Declaration on Future Generations focuses on securing the well-being of future generations, also highlighting the need to include their interests in decision-making processes. It also underlines the importance of protecting the environment, promoting intergenerational equity, and ensuring that long-term consequences of today's actions are considered.

State of the Rhino 2024

 Every September, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) publishes its signature report, State of the Rhino, which documents current population estimates and trends, where available, as well as key challenges and conservation developments for the five surviving rhino species in Africa and Asia.

Key takeaways from the 2024 State of the Rhino report:
•    Rhino poaching in Africa increased by 4% from 2022 to 2023. At least 586 African rhinos were poached in 2023, one every 15 hours.
•    While thriving in several regions, the total black rhino population declined slightly over the last year due to heavy poaching in Namibia and Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in South Africa.
•    White rhino populations in South Africa are on the rise despite poaching.
•    Greater one-horned rhinos have been making use of improved habitats and wildlife corridors.
•    Two calves were born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park in September and November 2023.
•    Since July 2023, Indonesian authorities have been investigating and prosecuting Javan rhino poaching groups, who confessed to killing 26 rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park from 2019 to 2023.

                             State of the Rhino Species
Species                        IUCN Estimated Population    IUCN Category
White Rhino                        17464                                Near Threatened
Greater One-horned Rhino    4014                                 Vulnerable
Black Rhino                         6421                                  Critically Endangered
Javan Rhino                        About 50                            Critically Endangered
Sumatran Rhino                  34-47                                 Critically Endangered

Global Rhino Population
Year     Population
2007    24615
2009    27130
2012    29646
2016    27979
2018    27344
2021    26266
2023    27420
2024    27990

Rhinos in India
The Asian Rhino Specialist Group (AsRSG) announced that the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), found only in India, Nepal and Bhutan, has increased to 4,014 individuals after a biannual survey was completed in early 2022. The population is growing largely due to the governments of India and Nepal creating habitat for rhinos, while also preventing poaching.

IRF will continue our work with the Assam Government and our partners to help increase the rhino population in Assam, India, by supporting implementation of a new strategy, Indian Rhino Vision 2.0 (IRV2.0). IRV2.0 will help secure and manage a minimum of three meta-populations with a total population of 4,500 – 5,000 greater one-horned rhinos in Assam by 2030.

IRV 2.0 intends to:
•    Translocate 10 rhinos from Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas National Park, to increase the Manas population (and its genetic diversity).
•    Make Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries, safe habitat for greater one-horned rhinos with adequate monitoring and security infrastructure, staff, strategies and equipment in place.
•    Establish a new rhino population in Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries by translocating 20 rhinos from Kaziranga and Pobitora over the next 2-3 years.

The current population of greater one-horned rhinos in India:
•    Kaziranga National Park: 2613
•    Orang National Park: 125
•    Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary: 107
•    Manas National Park: 40
•    Jaldapara National Park:  287
•    Gorumara National Park: 52
•    Dudhwa National Park: 38

Kaziranga National Park, home to the world’s largest greater one-horned rhino population, announced an increase of 200 individuals since 2018, despite 400 deaths that were due mainly to natural causes.
In 2023, the Indian government increased Orang National Park by about 200 square km, connecting it to the Laokhowa and Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries, to build a larger landscape corridor for rhinos and other threatened species. This increase follows several expansions of Kaziranga National Park in recent years, which have added 919.48 square kilometers to the Park.

With NGO partners, including IRF, the government of Assam initiated translocations of rhinos within protected areas of Assam to give rhinos more room to breed. The state government also closes all rhino bearing protected areas in Assam to visitors during breeding season.

Working with Local Communities to Restore Habitat in India
One of the most significant landscape-level threats to greater one-horned rhinos is the prevalence of invasive species, which choke out native rhino food plants and limit the amount of habitat available for rhinos and other wildlife. IRF is collaborating with our NGO partner, Aaranyak, and local community members to remove these invasive plants from Manas National Park in India as a pilot phase, where around one-third of the rhinos’ grassland habitat has already been taken over by invasive species.

Over the past year, local community members successfully restored 50 acres of prime rhino habitat under the supervision of IRF’s on-the-ground partner, Aaranyak, and Manas National Park officials. They plan to restore another 250 acres over the next two years. Engagement of local people in removal of invasive plant species also offers them livelihood and in that way it helps park officials to garner better support from local communities along with improvement of grassland habitats.

Rhino news from India:
•    Rhinos return to Assam wildlife sanctuary after 40 years. In December 2023, two rhinos moved themselves from Orang National Park to the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries by using a newly established wildlife corridor. A total of four rhinos now reside in this newly established area, allowing greater one-horned rhinos to expand their range and population growth in Assam.
•    Two rhinos were killed in a single day in Kaziranga National Park, home to the world’s largest population of greater one-horned rhinos.

Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024

 The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 1, 2024.  The Bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The amendment aims to enhance India's disaster management framework with a focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR), improved coordination among various authorities, and strengthened urban disaster management.

Key provisions of the proposed Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2024: 

The Act establishes: (i) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), (ii) State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), and (iii) District Disaster Management Authority.  These authorities are responsible for disaster management at the national, state, and district level, respectively.  

Preparation of disaster management plans: The Act provides for constitution of a National Executive Committee and a State Executive Committee to assist NDMA and SDMA in performing their functions.  A key function of these Committees is preparing national and state disaster management plans, respectively.  NDMA and SDMA approve the respective plans and coordinate their implementation.  The Bill instead provides that NDMA and SDMA will prepare disaster management plans.

Functions of NDMA and SDMA:  Under the Act, key functions of NDMA and SDMA at their respective levels include: (i) reviewing the disaster management plans of government departments, (ii) setting guidelines for preparation of disaster management plans for authorities below them, and (iii) recommending provision of funds for disaster mitigation.  The Bill adds certain functions for these authorities at their respective levels.  These include: (i) taking periodic stock of disaster risks, including emerging risks from extreme climate events, (ii) providing technical assistance to authorities below them, (iii) recommending guidelines for minimum standards of relief, and (iv) preparing national and state disaster databases, respectively.  The databases will contain information on: (i) the type and severity of disaster risks, (ii) allocation of funds and expenditure, and (iii) disaster preparedness and mitigation plans.  Functions of NDMA will also include: (i) assessing disaster preparedness of states, and (ii) undertaking post-disaster audit of preparedness and response.

The Bill also empowers NDMA to make regulations under the Act with prior approval of the central government.

Urban Disaster Management Authorities:  The Bill empowers the state government to constitute a separate Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and cities with a municipal corporation.  The Urban Authority will comprise the Municipal Commissioner as the chairperson, the District Collector as the vice chairperson, and other members specified by the state government.  It will prepare and implement the disaster management plan for the area under it.

Formation of State Disaster Response Force: The Act provides for constitution of a National Disaster Response Force for specialist response to disaster situations.  The Bill empowers the state government to constitute a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).  The state government will define the functions of SDRF and prescribe the terms of service for its members.

Statutory status of existing committees: The Bill provides statutory status to existing bodies such as the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High Level Committee (HLC).  The NCMC will function as the nodal body for dealing with major disasters with serious or national ramifications.  The HLC will provide financial assistance to state governments during disasters.  It will approve financial assistance from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund.  The Cabinet Secretary will serve as the chairperson of NCMC.  Minister of the department with administrative control over disaster management will serve as chairperson of the HLC.

Appointments to NDMA:  The Act provides that the central government will provide NDMA with officers, consultants, and employees, as it considers necessary.  The Bill instead empowers NDMA to specify the number and category of officers and employees, with previous approval of the central government. NDMA may also appoint experts and consultants as necessary.

The changes in the Amendment Bill compared to the Disaster Management Act of 2005:
1.    Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs)
o    Establishment of Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs) in state capitals and large cities with municipal corporations.
o    UDMAs are tasked with addressing the unique challenges of urban disaster management, especially in areas with dense populations and critical infrastructure.

2.    Disaster Database Creation
o    Creation of a comprehensive disaster database at national and state levels.
o    This database will include detailed disaster assessments, fund allocations, and preparedness plans to facilitate informed decision-making and efficient disaster response.

3.    Empowerment of NDMA and SDMAs
o    The Bill empowers the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) to take a more active role in disaster planning and response.
o    Responsibilities include preparing disaster management plans and conducting periodic risk assessments, particularly for emerging risks from extreme climate events. 

4.    State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs)
o    The Bill permits state governments to establish their own State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs).
o    These specialised units will decentralise disaster response capabilities, allowing for more effective management of disasters within state jurisdictions.

5.    Statutory Status for Committees
o    Existing bodies such as the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC) will receive statutory status.
o    This formalises their roles in managing national-level disasters and overseeing financial assistance during emergencies.

Greenpeace India releases report on air quality

 In early September 2024, Greenpeace India released the report “Spare the Air -2” (An Air Quality Analysis of 10 Cities from Southern India Edition-2). The report focused on the 10 south Indian cities, five of which (Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam) are non-attainment cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). These cities were selected based on the availability of data, population, and monitoring station networks.

The highlights of the report:

• The yearly and monthly levels of PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded the revised WHO standards in all studied south Indian cities.
• The annual average level of PM2.5 is 6 to 7 times higher than WHO standards in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kochi, Mangaluru, Amaravati and Chennai.
• The annual average of PM10 level is slightly to 1.5 times higher than NAAQS standards in Mangaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Amravati, Chennai and Vijayawada.
• The monthly average trend in Bengaluru city shows that PM2.5 levels are 5 to 6 times higher, and PM10 levels are 3 to 4.5 times higher than WHO annual guidelines in all months. Meanwhile, PM10 exceeds NAAQS annual limits in February, March, April, October, November, and December.
• The monthly average trend in Hyderabad city shows that PM2.5 levels are 7 to 8 times higher and PM10 levels are 4 to 5 times higher than WHO annual guidelines. PM2.5 exceeds NAAQS annual limits from January to April, November, and December. PM10 exceeds NAAQS limits in January to June, August, October, November, and December.
• The monthly average Trend in Chennai city shows that PM2.5 are 4 to 7 times higher and PM10 levels are 3 to 6 times higher than WHO annual guidelines. PM2.5 exceeds NAAQS annual limits in January, while PM10 exceeds limits in January, February, October, and December.

The report shows that there is an urgent need to add other cities in south India to the non-attainment list under NCAP. The Clean Air Action Plan reports have shown that the emissions from vehicle exhaust, road dust, construction and demolition activities, industrial processes, and burning biomass are the main sources of rising particulate matter (PM) levels.

The report finds that air pollution is a matter of concern for south Indian cities as well as those in the north. The report shows that there is an urgent need to add other cities in south India to the non-attainment list under NCAP.