Carbon dioxide (CO2) is not listed as one of the pollutants in National Ambient Air Quality Standards and is not monitored under National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP). CO2 is a Greenhouse Gas. An estimated amount of increase of CO2 in the atmosphere is in the order of 2.1 parts per million (ppm)/year has been observed during the last ten years. This was stated by Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister further stated that the Government have taken various steps including formulation of action plans to contain air pollution and CO2 which, inter alia, include:
(i) Notification of emission standards for various categories of industries processes and gensets, under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986;
(ii) Implementation of action plans for improvement of the ambient air quality in 17 cities including Delhi;
(iii) Source Apportionment Studies undertaken in six metro cities;
(iv) Introduction of cleaner fuels (B.S. III/IV) as per the Auto Fuel Policy;
(v) Introduction of gaseous fuel in select cities and towns;
(vi) Sale and registration of B.S. IV compliant passenger cars in selected metropolitan cities and towns apart from national Capital Region;
(vii) Enforcement of stringent ‘Pollution Under Control (PUC)’ certificate scheme to check exhaust emissions from in-use vehicles;
(viii) Implementation of stringent emission norms for generator sets;
(ix) Use of beneficiated coal for coal based thermal power plants;
(x) Implementation of the recommendations of the Charter on Corporate Responsibility for Environment Protection (CREP) for seventeen categories of air polluting industries;
(xi) Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (November, 2009);
(xii) Strengthening of National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network;
(xiii) Inspection and monitoring of air pollution industries for compliance of the emission norms; and
(xiv) Strengthening of public transport including establishment of metro rail in a few select metropolitan cities.
(xv) National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was released on June 30 2008. Two of the eight National Missions i.e. National Solar Mission and National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency relate to mitigation of emissions and include ambitious programmes aimed at generating solar power and conserving energy. Energy Efficiency mission envisages setting norms for achieving energy efficiency under Perform, Achieve and Trade Scheme.