Title: “International environmental governance and its influence on Air Quality Management in India”
Abstract
India is facing significant challenges of air pollution and more than 132 cities are now covered under the ambitious NCAP. The regulatory response of the authorities and also, of the judiciary has been conventional command and control with some innovation in mitigation strategies and associated finance to the urban local bodies. Most of these cities have already conducted emission inventory and source apportionment studies and have evolved city specific action plan. Still however, the desired results are far at distance, though the air action planning has been practised since 2005. The industries are one of the major contributors to the city specific air pollution. International environmental governance now is rapidly evolving and new focus is on decarbonisation through various initiatives. Europe is fast moving for Cross Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The industries need to comply these initiatives in order to be relevant in market and to secure their business. This will surely have co-benefit in terms of more efficient and clean operations of the industry which ultimately will lead to reduced pollution including the air emissions. The presentation will address these aspects and will try to present the current status of Indian industries and how these international governance initiatives will help industries not only to be competitive but also lead to reduced air pollution and lesser carbon footprint.
About the Speaker
Dr. Ajay Deshpande is an Environmental professional with more than 27 years hand-on experience in Environmental Pollution Control and Governance, Environmental Policy and Planning, Urban and Industrial Environment Management, Environmental Safeguards and Sustainable Development. He has 360 degree experience of working in various capacities in the field of environment including consulting organisation, environment regulator, development organisation and environmental review/justice. Dr. Deshpande worked with Asian Development Bank as part time Member of its Compliance Review Panel ( www.compliance.adb.org ) and responsible to ensure that the ADB financed projects are strictly following environment related ADB norms and procedures. He has also worked on assignments from APCTT-UN ESCAP, EBRD and AIIB on environmental safeguards. Dr. Deshpande, previously, worked for more than 4 years as Expert Member with National Green Tribunal (NGT), India ( www.greentribunal.gov.in ) (2013-17) which is only third dedicated environmental justice delivery system and has original, special and
appellate jurisdictions in the matters related to environment. He has worked with environmental regulator, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
(MPCB) ( www.mpcb.gov.in ). He is also Adjunct Professor at IIT- Mumbai and is involved in academic activities at several institutes. He is also
working on several committees of State and Central government on environmental governance and research.
