UNIT 4

Global Warming
• It is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature. Though this warming trend has
been going on for a long time, its pace has significantly increased in the last hundred years due to
the burning of fossil fuels.
• As the human population has increased, so has the volume of fossil fuels burned. Fossil
fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas, and burning them causes what is known as the “greenhouse
effect” in Earth’s atmosphere.
• The greenhouse effect is when the sun’s rays penetrate the atmosphere, but when that heat is
reflected off the surface cannot escape back into space.
• Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels prevent the heat from leaving the atmosphere.
• These greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapor, methane,
and nitrous oxide.
• The excess heat in the atmosphere has caused the average global temperature to rise overtime,
otherwise known as global warming.
• Global warming has presented another issue called climate change.
• Sometimes these phrases are used interchangeably, however, they are different.
• Climate change refers to changes in weather patterns and growing seasons around the world. It
also refers to sea level rise caused by the expansion of warmer seas and melting ice sheets
and glaciers.
• Global warming causes climate change, which poses a serious threat to life on Earth in the forms
of widespread flooding and extreme weather.
Causes global warming
• Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO 2) and other air pollutants collect in the
atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface.
• Normally this radiation would escape into space, but these pollutants, which can last for years to
centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter.
• These heat-trapping pollutants—specifically carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor,
and synthetic fluorinated gases—are known as greenhouse gases, and their impact is called the
greenhouse effect.
• Curbing dangerous climate change requires very deep cuts in emissions, as well as the use of
alternatives to fossil fuels worldwide.
• The good news is that countries around the globe have formally committed—as part of the 2015
Paris Climate Agreement—to lower their emissions by setting new standards and crafting new
policies to meet or even exceed those standards.
• The not-so-good news is that we’re not working fast enough.
• To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, scientists tell us that we need to reduce global
carbon emissions by as much as 40 percent by 2030.
• For that to happen, the global community must take immediate, concrete steps: to decarbonize
electricity generation by equitably transitioning from fossil fuel–based production to renewable
energy sources like wind and solar; to electrify our cars and trucks; and to maximize energy
efficiency in our buildings, appliances, and industries.
• The impacts of global warming are being felt everywhere. Extreme heat waves have caused tens
of thousands of deaths around the world in recent years. And in an alarming sign of events to come,
• Antarctica has lost nearly four trillion metric tons of ice since the 1990s. The rate of loss could
speed up if we keep burning fossil fuels at our current pace, some experts say, causing sea
levels to rise several meters in the next 50 to 150 years and wreaking havoc on coastal
communities worldwide.
• Disappearing glaciers, early snowmelt, and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water
shortages and continue to increase the risk of wildfires in the American West.
• Rising sea levels will lead to even more coastal flooding on the Eastern Seaboard, especially in
Florida, and in other areas such as the Gulf of Mexico.
• Forests, farms, and cities will face troublesome new pests, heat waves, heavy downpours,
and increased flooding. All of these can damage or destroy agriculture and fisheries.
• Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal
species to extinction.
• Allergies, asthma, and infectious disease outbreaks will become more common due to increased
growth of pollen-producing ragweed, higher levels of air pollution, and the spread of conditions
favorable to pathogens and mosquitoes.
• Though everyone is affected by climate change, not everyone is affected equally. Indigenous
people, people of color, and the economically marginalized are typically hit the hardest. Inequities
built into our housing, health care, and labor systems make these communities more vulnerable to
the worst impacts of climate change—even though these same communities have done the least to
contribute to it.

Greenhouse effect
• The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's
heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere.
• The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a comfortable place to live.
• The greenhouse effect works much the same way on Earth. Gases in the atmosphere, such
as carbon dioxide, trap heat similar to the glass roof of a greenhouse. These heat-trapping gases
are called greenhouse gases.
• During the day, the Sun shines through the atmosphere. Earth's surface warms up in the sunlight.
At night, Earth's surface cools, releasing heat back into the air. But some of the heat is trapped by
the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That's what keeps our Earth a warm and cozy 58 degrees
Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius), on average.
How are humans impacting the greenhouse effect?
• Human activities are changing Earth's natural greenhouse effect. Burning fossil fuels like coal and
oil puts more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.
• NASA has observed increases in the amount of carbon dioxide and some other greenhouse gases
in our atmosphere.
• Too much of these greenhouse gases can cause Earth's atmosphere to trap more and more heat.
This causes Earth to warm up.
What reduces the greenhouse effect on Earth?
• Just like a glass greenhouse, Earth's greenhouse is also full of plants! Plants can help to balance
the greenhouse effect on Earth.
• All plants — from giant trees to tiny phytoplankton in the ocean — take in carbon dioxide and
give off oxygen.
• The ocean also absorbs a lot of excess carbon dioxide in the air. Unfortunately, the increased
carbon dioxide in the ocean changes the water, making it more acidic. This is called ocean
acidification.
• More acidic water can be harmful to many ocean creatures, such as certain shellfish and coral.
• Warming oceans — from too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere — can also be harmful to
these organisms. Warmer waters are a main cause of coral bleaching.

Climate Change

• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

• These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle.
• The climate crisis is not a looming threat, people are now living with the consequences of centuries
of greenhouse gas emissions.
• A failure to act urgently now will mean a reverse in development gains for the poorest and most
vulnerable people in society, an erosion of biodiversity, increasing difficulties in providing food
and shelter, as well as the potential loss of entire countries due to the impacts of climate change.

Acid Rain
• Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the
atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.
• Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it has
elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH).
• Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic
components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or
dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is acidic.

Causes of Acid Rain

• Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the
atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.
• The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric
acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground.
• While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid rain is from natural sources such as
volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels. The major sources of SO2 and NOX in
the atmosphere are:
• Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Two thirds of SO2 and one fourth of NOX in the
atmosphere come from electric power generators.
• Vehicles and heavy equipment.
• Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.
• Winds can blow SO2 and NOX over long distances and across borders making acid rain a problem
for everyone and not just those who live close to these sources.

Forms of Acid Deposition

1. Wet Deposition
• Wet deposition is what we most commonly think of as acid rain. The sulfuric and nitric acids
formed in the atmosphere fall to the ground mixed with rain, snow, fog, or hail.
2. Dry Deposition
• Acidic particles and gases can also deposit from the atmosphere in the absence of moisture as dry
deposition.
• The acidic particles and gases may deposit to surfaces (water bodies, vegetation, buildings) quickly
or may react during atmospheric transport to form larger particles that can be harmful to human
health. When the accumulated acids are washed off a surface by the next rain, this acidic water
flows over and through the ground, and can harm plants and wildlife, such as insects and fish.
• The amount of acidity in the atmosphere that deposits to earth through dry deposition depends on
the amount of rainfall an area receives. For example, in desert areas the ratio of dry to wet
deposition is higher than an area that receives several inches of rain each year.

Measuring Acid Rain

Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH scale for which 7.0 is neutral. The lower a
substance's pH (less than 7), the more acidic it is; the higher a substance's pH (greater than 7), the
more alkaline it is. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6; it is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide
 (CO2) dissolves into it forming weak carbonic acid. Acid rain usually has a pH between 4.2 and
4.4.

Ozone Layer
• The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of
the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.
• It contains a high concentration of ozone (O3) in relation to other parts of the atmosphere, although
still small in relation to other gases in the stratosphere.
• The ozone layer contains less than 10 parts per million of ozone, while the average ozone
concentration in Earth's atmosphere as a whole is about 0.3 parts per million.
• The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately 15
to 35 kilometers (9 to 22 mi) above Earth, although its thickness varies seasonally and
geographically

Formation
• The photochemical mechanisms that give rise to the ozone layer were discovered by the British
physicist Sydney Chapman in 1930.

• Ozone in the Earth's stratosphere is created by ultraviolet light striking

ordinary oxygen molecules containing two oxygen atoms (O2), splitting them into individual
oxygen atoms (atomic oxygen).
• The atomic oxygen then combines with unbroken O2 to create ozone, O3.
• The ozone molecule is unstable (although, in the stratosphere, long-lived) and when ultraviolet
light hits ozone it splits into a molecule of O 2 and an individual atom of oxygen, a continuing
process called the ozone-oxygen cycle.
• About 90 percent of the ozone in the atmosphere is contained in the stratosphere.
• Ozone concentrations are greatest between about 20 and 40 kilometres (66,000 and 131,000 ft),
where they range from about 2 to 8 parts per million.
• If all of the ozone were compressed to the pressure of the air at sea level, it would be only 3
millimetres (1⁄8 inch) thick

Depletion

• In 1976, atmospheric research revealed that the ozone layer was being depleted by chemicals
released by industry, mainly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• Concerns that increased UV radiation due to ozone depletion threatened life on Earth, including
increased skin cancer in humans and other ecological problems led to bans on the chemicals, and
the latest evidence is that ozone depletion has slowed or stopped.

• The United Nations General Assembly has designated September 16 as the International Day for
the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
• The ozone layer can be depleted by free radical catalysts, including nitric oxide (NO), nitrous
oxide (N2O), hydroxyl (OH), atomic chlorine (Cl), and atomic bromine (Br).
• While there are natural sources for all of these species, the concentrations of chlorine and bromine
increased markedly in recent decades because of the release of large quantities of man-
made organohalogen compounds, especially chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
and bromofluorocarbons.
• These highly stable compounds are capable of surviving the rise to the stratosphere, where Cl and
Br radicals are liberated by the action of ultraviolet light. Each radical is then free to initiate and
catalyze a chain reaction capable of breaking down over 100,000 ozone molecules. By 2009,
nitrous oxide was the largest ozone-depleting substance (ODS) emitted through human activities.
• The breakdown of ozone in the stratosphere results in reduced absorption of ultraviolet radiation.
• Consequently, unabsorbed and dangerous ultraviolet radiation is able to reach the Earth's surface
at a higher intensity.
• Ozone levels have dropped by a worldwide average of about 4 percent since the late 1970s.
• For approximately 5 percent of the Earth's surface, around the north and south poles, much larger
seasonal declines have been seen, and are described as "ozone holes".
• Let it be known that the "ozone holes" are actually patches in the ozone layer in which the ozone
is thinner. The thinnest parts of the ozone are at the polar points of Earth's axis.
• The discovery of the annual depletion of ozone above the Antarctic was first announced by Joe
Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin, in a paper which appeared in Nature on May 16,
1985.

Population Growth

• The world's population is more than three times larger than it was in the mid-twentieth century.
• The global human population reached 8.0 billion in mid-November 2022 from an estimated 2.5
billion people in 1950, adding 1 billion people since 2010 and 2 billion since 1998.
• This dramatical increase in population size over a relatively short period is called population
explosion.
• Population explosion means a sudden increase in the number of individuals in a particular species.
The term is used to refer to the world’s human population.
• In India, Population explosion has become a severe matter of concern because the increase in
population leads to poverty and illiteracy. In this situation, it is difficult to cope up with the economy of
the country with the rapid growth of the population. The Government of India is now looking into the
matter seriously, and many states have framed laws to tackle the problem of population explosion

Major Causes of Population Explosion

1. Increase in Birth Rate
One of the major causes responsible for the growth of the population is the high birth rate. During
the 1891-1990 period, the birth rate declined from 45.8 per thousand in India, but it is still
considered high. So, unfortunately, in India, the birth rate number has not seen a decrease inspite
of the framing laws in terms of family planning, population education, campaigns, etc.
2. Decrease in Death Rate
In recent years, the decrease in the death rate is another factor contributing to the rapid growth of
the population. In 2001, the death rate in India was about 8.5 per thousand. The death rate has seen
a decrease due to advancements in the medical field. For example, Chronic diseases like typhoid,
chickenpox, etc., are no longer dreaded. Even the infant mortality rate has decreased because of
proper sanitation facilities, cleanliness, and better prenatal and postnatal care.
3. Early Marriage
Early marriage is also an essential factor for the rapid increase in population. In India, the marriage
age of a girl is 18, which is very low compared to other countries, which is about 23 to 25 years.
It leads to a longer span of reproductive activity and increases in children.
4. Religious and Social Reasons
In India, marriage is considered a compulsory social institution, and every person should marry.
Every individual in a joint family takes equal responsibility and has access to an equivalent level
of consumption. So, people don’t hesitate to increase their family size in a joint family. In India,
most people think that one male child is necessary, and in the expectation of getting a male child,
they increase their family size.
5. Poverty
Another major cause of population explosion is poverty. In most families, children become the
source of income. From a very young age, children start working for their families instead of going
to school, and they become a precious asset for the family. So, every individual becomes an earning
member and additional income for the family.
6. Standard of Living
It is seen that people with a low standard of living wish to have additional children as it will be an
asset for them rather than a liability. As we know, most of India’s population is uneducated, so
they don’t understand the importance of family planning. They are unaware that they can enjoy a
better quality of life with a small family.
7. Illiteracy
In India, 60% of the population is either illiterate or has minimum education, which leads to
minimal employment opportunities. So, due to the high illiteracy rate and belief in social customs,
child marriage and preference for a male child still prevail. As a result, there is a rapid population
growth rate in India.

Effects of Population Explosion

1. The problem of Unemployment:
An increase in population leads to a vast army of the labour force. But, it is difficult to employ
such an extensive labour working force due to a shortage of capital resources. In rural areas,
disguised unemployment and in urban areas, open unemployment are fundamental features of an
underdeveloped country like India.
2. More Pressure on Land
Overpopulation creates more pressure on land. It adversely affects the economic development of
the country. On the one hand, per capita availability of land goes on diminishing and on the other,
the problem of subdivision and fragmentation of holdings increases.
3. Environmental Degradation
Extensive use of natural resources and energy production of oil, natural gas, and coal negatively
impacts the planet. An increase in population also leads to deforestation, which directly affects the
environment, and it also degrades the soil’s nutrition value and causes landslides and global
warming.

Automobile Pollution
• Pollutants produced by vehicle exhausts include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen
oxides, particles, volatile organic compounds and sulfur dioxide.
• Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides react with sunlight and warm temperatures to form ground-
level ozone

Ingredients of Vehicular Pollution

• Ozone- The primary ingredient in urban smog, ozone is created when hydrocarbons and nitrogen
oxides—both of which are chemicals released by automobile fuel combustion—react with
sunlight.
• Particulate matter- These particles of soot, metals, and pollen give smog its murky color. Among
vehicular pollution, fine particles pose the most serious threat to human health by penetrating deep
into lungs.
• Nitrogen oxides- These vehicular pollutants can cause lung irritation and weaken the body's
defenses against respiratory infections such as pneumonia and influenza.
• Carbon monoxide- This odorless, colorless gas is formed by the combustion of fossil fuels such
as gasoline. Cars and trucks are the source of nearly two-thirds of this pollutant. When inhaled,
CO blocks the transport of oxygen to the brain, heart, and other vital organs in the human body.
Newborn children and people with chronic illnesses are especially susceptible to the effects of CO.
• Sulfur dioxide- Motor vehicles create this pollutant by burning sulfur-containing fuels, especially
diesel. It can react in the atmosphere to form fine particles and can pose a health risk to young
children and asthmatics.
• Hazardous air pollutants- These chemical compounds, which are emitted by cars, trucks,
refineries, gas pumps, and related sources.

Causes of Vehicular Pollution

1. Traffic Congestions
In most urban cities, the number of motor vehicles is high and as such, there is a congestion of
traffic. When these many vehicles congest in a singular area, the emissions per kilometre go up,
contributing to vehicular pollution
2. Technical Issues with Gasoline Engines
There are several issues with gasoline engines that could result in vehicular pollution. For instance,
evaporative emissions occur when fuel gets mixed with the atmosphere by getting evaporated from
fuel tanks or carburetors.
3. Vehicle Population
Over the last few decades, more and more vehicles are being produced. The population of motor
vehicles is estimated to hit 1.1 billion in 2020, with Europe and the USA contributing to about
two-thirds of the world’s vehicle population.
4. The Gasoline Itself
Motor vehicles rely on gasoline for locomotion to take place. However, gasoline is made up of
hydrogen and carbon atoms, which together make hydrocarbons, constituting gasoline and diesel.
It means no matter what, carbon and nitrogen particles or compounds will be released into the
atmosphere as soon as gasoline is combusted, regardless of the engine
5. The Combustion Process
When there is perfect combustion, oxygen converts all hydrogen in gasoline into the water and the
carbon into carbon dioxide. However, vehicles also emit other pollutants, which pollute the air and
are of particularly harmful effects to humans and the environment.
The combustion process leads to the emission of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons,
sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate matters, which are all harmful to the environment.
Particulate matter is responsible for about 30,000 premature deaths annually

Effects of Vehicular Pollution

(i) Global warming
Emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere leads to depletion of the ozone layer and this
causes global warming. The result of this is adverse weather that more often than not results in
loss of life and property. Global warming is a concern for many major world governments and
deliberate efforts have been made to reduce it. With the ozone layer depleted, the harmful
ultraviolet rays of the sun can reach the lower surface of the earth and harm humans and other
living organisms on the planet.
(ii) Poor quality of air
There are countries where the quality of air is so poor that people wear masks to reduce the amounts
of harmful substances inhaled. This is not something to smile about because aside from the fact
that you have to walk around with a mask all day, which is not comfortable, there is also the
possibility of health complications. Countries that have a high number of old vehicles generally
have a problem when it comes to this. It’s the reason why many governments have also banned
the importation of vehicles older than a certain number of years.
(iii) International reputation
Cleaning up the atmosphere is a serious concern globally. This is the reason why so many climate
summits are held annually to make agreements on the responsibility of each nation in cutting down
greenhouse emissions. A country that has a high level of vehicle pollution risks damaging its
reputation and standing on the world stage.
(iv) Health
These pollutants can lead to lung infection and cancer. As we know, hydrocarbons are not very
good for human health. They can cause heart disease, aggravate asthma, damage the central
nervous system and make breathing difficult. Fuel spillage can also affect the health of plants and
marine life. When left unchecked, these health conditions can cause death. Treating diseases such
as cancer requires a lot of money. When the population of a country is mostly unwell, the economy
stalls because growth is usually pegged on the ability of people to work and earn income.
(v) Tourism
Most people would not willingly go to visit countries that they know are bad for their health. This
will, in turn, result in a reduction in the number of tourists to those countries and subsequently loss
of foreign exchange income.
(vi) Smog and acidic rain
Nitrogen oxides contribute to the formation of highly corrosive smog that speeds up rusting of
vehicles. When nitrogen oxide dissolves in rain, acidic rain is formed. Water harvested from this
type of rain cannot be fit for human, plant or animal consumption. These bad effects of vehicle
pollution are the reasons why it should be every person’s responsibility to reduce or eliminate
environmental pollution. The actions of a small group can put a bigger demographic in harms way.
Reduction of Vehicular Pollution
(i) Civic education
Ignorance is not bliss and education is definitely the key to success. Many people do not care about
the effects of pollution because they are not aware of them. One cannot fight to protect what he or
she values without knowing that there is an impending danger. Carrying out civic education by
government departments and non-governmental organizations can play a great role in awakening
the society to the realities of pollution and how reducing it can make the world a much better place
to live in. This can be done through community organizers or by having it taught in schools as part
of the curriculum. It would be counter-productive to keep on talking about the need to reduce
vehicle pollution without making people understand why that is necessary. A sense of
responsibility should be cultivated in everyone so that there is a desire and willingness to do what
is right.
(ii) Progressive policies
Creating good regulations that anticipate the challenges of the modern world when it comes to
reducing vehicle pollution can be very helpful in mitigating it. Lawmakers should draft legislations
that will make people do the necessary as far as bringing down the levels of vehicle pollution is
concerned. Such laws can include placing a cap on the age of vehicles that can be imported, setting
out guidelines on the conditions of roadworthy vehicles, and creating agencies that will look into
alternative fuels such as green energy. On the global front, world leaders should come together
and agree on standard practices for eliminating or reducing pollution. These should be adopted so
that every nation does its part in achieving the desired results. Citizens should also hold their
leaders to account and push them to have strategies to reduce environmental pollution in their
campaign manifestos.
(iii) Vehicle maintenance
This is more of a personal responsibility than it is universal. One should ensure that his or her car
is in good condition and does not release a lot of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Regular
car maintenance can help in repairing or replacing worn out parts. When this is done, the vehicle
performs optimally and less amount of pollutants are released into the air. Things like replacing
oil filters, changing the engine oil and greasing the moving parts should be done on a regular basis.
Carelessness is the reason why some vehicles release dark harmful smoke while they are moving
on the roads. This is especially harmful to those outside because they inhale the smoke and the
dangerous matter.
(iv) Discard old vehicles
Old vehicles should be discarded or returned to the manufacturing company so that new ones can
be acquired. They contribute highly to environmental pollution and can also cause accidents on
the roads. Getting rid of them would be a double win. Unfortunately many people attach
sentimental value to such cars without knowing what that does to the ecosystem. A change in
thinking would lead to better practices.
(v) Carpooling
People from the same neighborhood and who work in the same area should consider carpooling.
This would reduce traffic jams, save money used on car fuel and maintenance and contribute
towards having a clean earth. That is what would really make sense. On the flip side, neighbors
would also have more time to bond. This enhances unity and harmony within the society.
(vi) Alternative means of transport
It wouldn’t hurt to use alternative means of transport even if you have a car. One can ride a bike,
train or bus to work. Walking is also an option when your workplace is not that far off from your
place of residence. Riding bikes, as well as walking, provide great exercising and fitness regimen
options. Many people leave work when they are already tired and don’t have time for fitness
routines so this would make a fun option for staying healthy. It’s also cheaper as compared to using
your car which would still need fuelling, maintenance and set you back a couple of bucks in
parking fees. Using these alternative means of transport is the smart choice.
(vii) Protective wear
In order to reduce the amount of pollutant inhaled, a person can consider putting on pollution
masks. In countries where pollution is high and the quality of air is very poor, this is a common
practice. Since you can’t reduce or eliminate pollution and its effects all by yourself, it would be
wise to protect your health. Pollution masks help in filtering the air you breathe so that you don’t
inhale a lot of impurities. The responsibility for your health starts with you.

Burning of Paddy Straw

• Crop residue burning in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh has been known, but
nowadays it's spreading more frequently in other parts of country.
• Wheat stubble burning is a relatively new issue which started with mechanised harvesting
using combine harvesters. In the last four to five years, farmers from UP’s Ghazipur
district, especially Zamania and Chandauli areas, have been burning wheat stubble at a
large scale.
• The state government has not implemented the National Policy for Management of Crop
Residues to protect the parali (crop residue).
• On December 10, 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned crop residue
burning in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
• Burning crop residue is a crime under Section 188 of the IPC and under the Air and
Pollution Control Act of 1981. However, government’s implementation lacks strength.

Environmental and health risk

• A study estimates that crop residue burning released 149.24 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide (CO2), over 9 million tonnes of carbon monoxide (CO), 0.25 million tonnes of
oxides of sulphur (SOX), 1.28 million tonnes of particulate matter and 0.07 million tonnes
of black carbon.
• These directly contribute to environmental pollution, and are also responsible for the haze
in Delhi and melting of Himalayan glaciers.
• The heat from burning paddy straw penetrates 1 centimetre into the soil, elevating the
temperature to 33.8 to 42.2 degree Celsius. This kills the bacterial and fungal populations
critical for a fertile soil.
• Burning of crop residue causes damage to other micro-organisms present in the upper layer
of the soil as well as its organic quality.
• Due to the loss of ‘friendly’ pests, the wrath of ‘enemy’ pests has increased and as a result,
crops are more prone to disease.
• The solubility capacity of the upper layers of soil have also been reduced.
 • According to a report, one tonne stubble burning leads to a loss of 5.5 kilogram nitrogen,
2.3 kg phosphorus, 25 kg potassium and more than 1 kg of sulfur — all soil nutrients,
besides organic carbon.

Solutions to the burning problem

In 2014, the Union government released the National Policy for Management of Crop Residue.
Since then, crop residue management has helped make the soil more fertile, thereby resulting in
savings of Rs 2,000/hectare from the farmer’s manure cost.
Farmers can also manage crop residues effectively by employing agricultural machines like:
• Happy Seeder(used for sowing of crop in standing stubble)
• Rotavator (used for land preparation and incorporation of crop stubble in the soil)
• Zero till seed drill (used for land preparations directly sowing of seeds in the previous crop stubble)
• Baler (used for collection of straw and making bales of the paddy stubble)
• Paddy Straw Chopper (cutting of paddy stubble for easily mixing with the soil)
• Reaper Binder (used for harvesting paddy stubble and making into bundles)
On other hand, these machines are too costly and the state governments should come forward and
provide better subsidy so that farmer can afford these machines.