SPAN Edition 1 2024

U.S.-India Forward for the Planet

Stemming the Tide | Shaping a Greener Future | Unmasking the Poachers

* Are We Ready to Face the Heat?

* AI for a Better Planet

* From Crisis to Action

* Air Pollution: Research for Action

Stemming the Tide

Shaping a Greener Future

Unmasking the Poachers

* Climate Change and Disability

* Using Technology to Protect Oceans

Transforming Waste Management

* Activism for Ecological Restoration

Charvi Arora

Giriraj Agarwal

Syed Sulaiman Akhtar

Art Director/ Production Chief

Hemant Bhatnagar Deputy Art Directors/ Production Assistants

Qasim Raza, Shah Faisal Khan

STATEMENT FORM IV

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Name and address of The Government of the United States of America individuals who own the newspaper and partners or shareholders holding more than one percent of the total capital:

Gloria F.

my knowledge and belief. Date: April 8, 2024

Author Jeff Goodell, a panelist at a U.S. Embassy-sponsored session at the Jaipur Literature Festival, talks about global warming, climate change and threats of heat stress.

Are We Ready to Face the Heat?

BY KRITTIKA SHARMA

Jeff Goodell is not an alarmist, but he wants you to know that now is the time for action against climate change and global warming. He shared his perspective as a panelist in the session “Scorched Earth: Lessons from Nature,” which focused on climate change and was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy New Delhi at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2024.

Goodell, whose latest book is “The Heat Will Kill You First,” has been at the forefront of environmental journalism for about 25 years. “Until recently, I never really gave much thought to heat, which sounds like a very strange thing to say because we all know that heat is not a hidden phenomenon,” he says.

During the JLF session, Goodell shared a pivotal moment from his own life: on a scorching day in Phoenix, Arizona, he missed his cab and had to run about 20 blocks for a meeting. “At the end of the 20 blocks,

Courtesy Jeff Goodell

Right / In his latest book, “The Heat Will Kill You First,” author Jeff Goodell wanted to highlight how climate change can have immediate consequences.

my heart was pounding,” recalls Goodell. “I was dizzy and realized that if I had to go another 20 blocks, I would be in big trouble. It was the first time that it really occurred to me that heat is not just some abstract concept in our atmosphere, but that it can actually kill you very quickly. And that was the beginning of this book for me.”

During the session, Goodell said that in his book, he “wanted to talk about how climate change is so often talked about as something that’s distant and affecting future generations, perhaps people different from ourselves, maybe with different skin color, in faraway places. I really wanted to talk about it in an intimate way, highlighting how it can have immediate consequences, like when you are out for a walk on the wrong day and you don’t know how to respond.”

Interactions at the JLF, says Goodell, were “refreshing” and forward-looking. “People were deeply engaged and eager to discuss actionable solutions,” he shares. “There was a lot of talk about reducing emissions, the transition to clean energy, and India’s commitments to getting half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2070, whether those are real targets or not, etc.”

The need to address heat

“India is one of the places where the risks of extreme heat are most dangerous,” says Goodell. “When you think about the future temperature projections that could lead to extreme heat waves, that would be very deadly. So, India is sort of right in the bull’s-eye when you think about extreme heat and about a rapidly growing population.”

Air conditioning, on the other hand, says Goodell, has its downsides. “While it can save lives and is an important technology, it also requires more energy,” he says. “If that energy comes from fossil fuels, like coal, it just continues the cycle

of burning them.”

Air conditioners are heavy on energy consumption and use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which contribute to the emission of greenhouse gasses, one of the primary causes of climate change.

However, air conditioners are also essential in fighting heat stress, especially as heat waves become more intense, leading to an increase in heat-related deaths decade after decade.

“As the heat situation develops,” says Goodell, “the West will need to do everything it can to help India accelerate the transition to clean energy, especially do a better job of insulating houses, and think differently about incorporating green spaces into growing cities.”

Goodell believes ancient Indian architecture can teach a lot about ventilation systems to keep buildings cool. While exploring

Jaipur

on the sidelines of the JLF, Goodell came across ancient structures designed to use courtyards and water fountains to maintain cool temperatures.

Adapting to climate change

Goodell believes ancient Indian architecture can teach a lot about ventilation systems to keep buildings cool. While exploring Jaipur on the sidelines of the JLF, Goodell came across ancient structures designed to use courtyards and water fountains to maintain cool temperatures.

“People in India 500 years ago knew very well how to deal with the heat,” he says, “and I think bringing some of that knowledge back and rediscovering those ideas that offer natural cooling solutions are really important.”

Ancient architectural marvels like the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur use carved lattices, called jalis, to allow ventilation, light and a gentle breeze to keep the interiors of these stone buildings cool.

According to Goodell, as global temperatures soar, Arctic ice caps melt and warmer waters become breeding grounds for new kinds of bacteria, we must consider ways to adapt to the changing climate. Workers who spend long hours under the sun or cannot afford cooling

Courtesy Jeff Goodell

units can use inexpensive solutions like white roofs that deflect the sun and heat.

Humanitarian measures like restricting workers from spending long hours under the sun on extremely hot days, while also paying their wages, can help save lives and families. “There’s a lot that one can do that is not terribly expensive to reduce the risk of death from heat,” says Goodell.

Soaring temperatures might also lead to more intense rainstorms. “It’s time to begin thinking about how to prepare and adapt to intense rainfall,” explains Goodell. “That means increasing storm drainage. There’s a lot of concrete and not a lot of places for water to be absorbed naturally in the soil. Countries are making things like ‘sponge parks’ that are green spaces built to absorb large quantities of water.”

Above / Jeff Goodell (second from right) at the U.S. Embassy New Delhi-sponsored session at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2024. / Left / Goodell marvelled at the natural cooling architecture of heritage structures around Jaipur during his visit.

Courtesy Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

Series Jaipur Literature Festival 2024

David Sandalow explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and climate change, providing insights on tackling the climate crisis.

AI for a Better Planet

BY KRITTIKA SHARMA

AI is transformational technology, and if you care about climate change mitigation, you need to pay attention to it.

Above / By using artificial intelligence, researchers are gathering good information on the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which is essential for responding to climate change. /

Left / David Sandalow at the JLF session.

NONGASIMO

Courtesy Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series Jaipur Literature Festival 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. From booking a cab and checking GPS-enabled maps for traffic diversions to choosing an outfit based on weather predictions, AI facilitates everyday decision-making. But, if AI can simplify our daily lives, can it not be used for greater public good?

This was the question the panelists at “AI for Good: Climate of Change,” a U.S. Embassy New Delhi-sponsored session at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2024, attempted to answer. Among the panelists was David Sandalow, an inaugural fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University, who has previously served in senior positions at the White House, the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Energy.

Investments in AI across the world benefit areas like medicine, environmental sustainability, education and public welfare. For example, AI helps scientists process information from NASA satellite images, revealing patterns in human activity over a long period of time.

Experts are now working to improve these technologies and deploy them on a larger scale, with more advanced processing power. Their goal is to find solutions to pressing global problems like the climate crisis.

AI and climate

“AI can, broadly speaking, do three things with large data sets,” explained Sandalow during the session at JLF. “It can predict, optimize and simulate. If you apply that framework, there are so many opportunities for using AI for good, particularly in the area of climate change.”

Sandalow led the team that published a report titled, “Artificial Intelligence for Climate Change Mitigation Roadmap,” which studies the advantages and barriers of using AI to mitigate climate change. The report, released in December 2023 by the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum, notes that concentrations of heat-trapping gasses in the atmosphere are at their highest and are changing Earth’s climate. “Good information on the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is essential for responding to climate change,” says the report. “AI is helping to significantly improve such information by analyzing vast amounts of data from Earth-observation satellites, airplanes, drones, land-based monitors, the Internet of Things (IoT), social media and other technologies,” it notes. One key area of impact, according to the report, is providing advance warning for extreme weather conditions. “AI is beginning to improve the weather forecasts associated with extreme events, providing accurate, near-term advanced warnings in

critical contexts,” the report explains. “This work has made major strides in the past two years and could ultimately transform climate adaptation responses. Some of the most crucial areas for applying this AI-enabled ‘nowcasting’ (forecasting within six hours) capability are extreme precipitation and extreme wind speeds. Additionally, research is ongoing to predict extreme heat over timescales of days to weeks,” it says.

Sandalow believes the ability of AI to find different solutions through permutations and combinations of existing data will be crucial in driving an efficient response to the climate change crisis. “When Thomas Edison came up with a new version of the light bulb 150 years ago, he physically took dozens of different kinds of materials and ran electric charges through those materials to find out how much light and heat they would produce,” explained Sandalow during the JLF panel discussion. “Today, AI can simulate millions of these interactions using chemical structural constraints in a second. This allows us to both select from a wider range of options more rapidly and expand the universe of materials we’re testing.”

Looking forward

AI holds promising potential in tackling climate change but it comes with barriers and risks. Some key barriers, according to the Sandalow-led report, would revolve around conflicting datasets from different sources, data access, equitable tech resources and AI literacy.

However, there is a need for “dedicated effort” to ensure AI-led technology is used for public good. “For example, one of the things we recommend in our report,” explained Sandalow, “is that every institution with a role in climate mitigation have an AI office, or at least a senior adviser on AI. This is because AI is transformational technology, and if you care about climate change mitigation, you need to pay attention to it and think about how AI can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Machine learning tools, a type of AI that uses algorithms to make predictions with minimal human input, can make a big difference in several areas related to climate change mitigation, according to Sandalow. These tools are currently being used in solar and wind farms to help predict electricity generation patterns and facilitate their better integration into electric grids. As Sandalow says, “That is just the beginning of what we can do with AI when it comes to climate change.”

Biogeochemist and author Gabriel Filippelli shared insights on driving sustainability and climate-resilient economies at a U.S. Embassy-sponsored session at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

From Crisis to Action

BY CHARVI ARORA

Climate change took center stage at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2024, with sessions exploring its impact on civilizations and the urgency of finding solutions. One such session, featuring biogeochemist and author Gabriel Filippelli, focused on driving the transformation toward a sustainable, fair and climate-resistant global economy. Titled “Chasing Sustainability: Policy, Industry and the Environment,” the session was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy New Delhi.

Filippelli has over 200 publications to his name, including his latest book, “Climate Change and Life,” published in 2022. He is a professor of earth sciences and executive director of the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute. Excerpts from the interview.

What are some of the biggest environmental challenges in the coming decade and how can biogeochemistry address them?

Some of the greatest challenges we face in the coming decade involve climate change. To cope with it, we need to start implementing nature-based solutions that are informed by our best science and produce equitable and durable outcomes.

One challenge from climate change is the significant alternation of weather patterns and rainfall— its negative impacts are hitting cities especially hard, and many of the natural responses do not currently exist in urban areas. One example is wetlands or areas that can temporarily store stormwater, thus reducing flooding. Therefore, cities should value and embrace natural spaces to help them adapt to the climate change challenges.

Courtesy Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series Jaipur Literature Festival 2024

Above / Gabriel Filippelli (second from left) at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 session sponsored by the U.S. Embassy New Delhi.

Some of the greatest challenges we face in the coming decade involve climate change. To cope with it, we need to start implementing nature-based solutions.

How can we effectively communicate the science of climate change to the public?

First, decision-makers at the municipal, state and federal levels have to value the science that we climate scientists are producing and incorporate it into their policies and implementation decisions.

Second, we need more effective climate communicators who do not just portray negative or “crisis-type” messages but also lay out the real and effective current technologies and practices that can fight climate change, and inform about the available creative adaptation responses. People need more hope along with the doom that is the typical message that comes from science.

We need more effective climate communicators who do not just portray negative or “crisistype” messages but also lay out the real and effective current technologies and practices that can fight climate change, and inform about the available creative adaptation responses.

Can you share some key takeaways from your session at JLF?

Several takeaways are that policies, including agricultural ones, need to adopt climate resilience strategies, the private sector needs to be part of the climate solutions and so do communities. Many practices to reduce carbon emissions, such as renewable energy, result in fewer particulate emissions and thus cleaner air, which is a big concern in this region as it strongly impacts public health.

What steps can the United States and India take together to mitigate climate change?

The technologies to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change are already available. The United States serves as a good example of how a country can combine strong policy with significant funding to make a big difference.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 alone directs hundreds of billions of dollars toward equitable and rapid action to reduce carbon emissions, adopt climate-resilient practices and create climate-resilient communities. I believe that the United States and India can further engage directly on climate issues, including researcher and university engagement, to advance science and business, and innovation engagement. This collaboration can play a pivotal role in advancing the development and implementation of climate-forward practices.

How did your experience at the U.S. Department of State inform your approach to environmental policy and international cooperation?

I was a senior science adviser in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and my portfolio included climate policy, environmental engagement and science cooperation. Specifically, I drafted policy statements on Antarctic climate observations, expanded partnerships with international marine protected zone partners, and shepherded the interagency development of the Science Cooperation in the Arctic International Agreement under the Arctic Council, which was eventually signed into law. My experiences revealed to me that clear and genuine communication across sectors, and with stakeholders, is critical to developing and implementing sound and enduring cooperation.

Left / Gabriel Filippelli spoke on various topics related to climate change at the JLF 2024 session.

Courtesy Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series Jaipur Literature Festival 2024

Air quality expert Richard Peltier sheds light on the gravity of air pollution and its link with climate change during his visit to India, sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

Air Pollution: Research for Action

BY GIRIRAJ AGARWAL

Air pollution kills more than seven million people annually across the world. The smallest particles floating in the atmosphere are the most dangerous, increasing the risk of heart and lung diseases and cancer, says air quality expert Richard Peltier. A public health scientist and professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Peltier recently visited India on a trip sponsored by the U.S. State Department. During his visit he engaged with diverse audiences, emphasizing the urgent need to address air pollution.

Peltier serves as a member of the WHO’s Global Air Pollution and Health Technical Advisory Group, and his work is supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).

Excerpts from the interview with SPAN.

Right / Richard Peltier is a public health scientist and professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Apoorva Anand

Please tell us about your work in the field of global air pollution.

I work with the WHO, the U.S. EPA and, to some extent, with the World Meteorological Organization. While most of my work takes place in a laboratory, field or classroom, it often also involves writing academic science papers that are read mainly by other academics.

About five years ago, I made a deliberate shift in my focus to address broader societal challenges and move beyond publishing papers for academics. I began prioritizing engagement with policymakers and assisting in the interpretation and translation of scientific findings for them. Now, as part of my role at the WHO and EPA, I help these organizations understand and incorporate the latest innovative scientific research.

What technological options can help decrease air pollution in cities, besides shifting to greener fuels?

It’s crucial to determine the sources of pollution and take steps to mitigate them. There are statistical tools that help identify the origins of air pollution and make estimates. Supporting research focused on analyzing sources and creating emission inventories is essential. If you were to divide India up into one-kilometer grids, you could figure out what fraction of that grid is covered by agriculture, refining industries, has cars and trucks on it, and create an emissions inventory. Once you know your sources, you can implement emission controls.

What factors affect air pollution in Indian cities?

Air pollution in India exhibits seasonal variations. It is highest in winter, from October through February, and this period seems to be getting longer. The increase in air pollution is a combination of two things. Firstly, the Indian economy is developing rapidly, and one of

the byproducts of development is often air pollution. Secondly, climate change is affecting our weather patterns, amplifying the existing air pollution. Increasing emissions and environmental conditions make pollution worse. Air pollution stems from three primary sources: pollution originating from distant regions, pollution generated within the regional area, and pollution that is locally generated. It is a combination of these factors that drives air pollution levels in various locations across India.

What are the linkages between climate change and pollution?

Climate change and pollution are two sides of the same coin. As the climate gets warmer, air pollution increases because pollutants form faster in a warmer environment. At the same time, air pollution can also make climate change worse. Black carbon, the sooty byproduct of diesel combustion, lands on glaciers and makes them melt faster, and traps more energy on the surface. So, you have this circle, and you wind up with aggravating conditions for climate change.

Transitioning to green energy is one pathway to reducing both carbon emissions and pollution. I say that with some hesitation because that magical experience when we transition everything to green energy sounds great in the future, but it’s going to take years and years and lots of money to get there. It’s something that we have to keep practicing and working at.

Can you give examples of U.S. cities that succeeded in controlling air pollution?

Los Angeles was once known as the pollution center of the United States. In the 1980’s it took robust science and really good scientists to go in and figure out what those sources were. Once the sources were identified, authorities started implementing changes with enforcement mechanisms. Regulators were willing to do the hard work of enforcing the laws. It took quite a while to get there, but we are at a point, I think, in which air quality in Southern California, in the Los Angeles Basin, has improved dramatically. It’s much, much cleaner.

Pittsburgh, a small industrial town with significant metal industry, faced similar challenges with air pollution. It was also adjacent to the industrial sector of the United States. They’ve done a remarkable job as well with things like emission controls on cars, putting emission controls on particularly toxic industries and figuring out where air pollution is coming from.

Below / Richard Peltier interacted with students, changemakers and experts in New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Courtesy U.S. Consulate General Kolkata

An innovative project by U.S. government exchange program alumni helps communities in Kerala build resilience in the face of increased high-tide flooding.

Stemming the Tide

BY MICHAEL GALLANT

Global climate change creates problems of many kinds in Kerala’s coastal areas,” says Manjula Bharathy, professor and dean at the School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai. “One of the least noticed but most severe issues is tidal flooding.”

The Kerala coast’s seasonal high tide, which used to occur for only two months every year, “has increased in frequency, volume and number of days,” says Bharathy.

The high-tide flood period can now extend for over half a year, devastating large areas up to 30 kilometers from the coast and destroying the lives of millions. “Acknowledging and acting holistically on these environmental changes is an important preventive measure in the age of climate change,” she says.

Bharathy, a Fulbright-Nehru fellow, was one of the experts enlisted to lead the project titled, “Co-creating community resilience to climate change-aggravated

Tidal flooding in the village of Puthenvelikkara, Kerala.

high-tide flooding in coastal Kerala.” The project was supported by the U.S. Consulate General Chennai’s Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF), run through the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, and led by C. Jayaraman, a Fulbright-Kalam fellow and co-founder of the community-based environmental research firm EQUINOCT. AEIF projects, led by alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, have increased the collaboration of alumni and benefited communities around the world.

Knowledge and action were two of the most important goals for this innovative collaboration, created specifically to help Kerala’s residents and environment. Jayaraman says that the team worked together to spread awareness about coastal flooding and empower resi-

dents to know their rights and take action to help. The team also included Hubert Humphrey fellow K.P. Mohammed Basheer, along with EQUINOCT’s C.G. Madhusoodhanan, K.G. Sreeja and M.P. Shajan. Together, they created a remarkable number of initiatives to empower endangered communities.

Outreach through the arts

One of the team’s most impressive efforts was the creation of a three-minute documentary called “From the Brink,” which was screened at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. The video, which is now publicly available on YouTube, shows vivid footage of the damage caused by the flooding, and tells both heartbreaking and inspiring stories of affected villagers. The documentary also highlights the importance of data collection and flood-friendly agriculture in fighting the negative effects of climate change.

A second fascinating manifestation of the project was “Chevittorma,” a staged play directed by Sreejith Ramanan, dean of the School of Drama and Fine Arts in Thrissur, Kerala. Ramanan wrote the script in partnership with residents of Puthenvelikkara, a village affected by tidal floods. The story shares their memories and experiences dealing with environmental disasters. “Chevittorma” was performed multiple times, including one showing at TISS that received thunderous applause, says Bharathy. Later, the play was selected for the Bharat Rang Mahotsav in New Delhi. Bharathy describes the Delhi performance as a “personal moment of pride, an idea conceived by me,

Left / Homes in villages like Kumbalangi, Kerala, suffer severe damage as a result of increased high-tide flooding. / Above right and right / Automatic tidal gauges being installed in Kumbalangi as part of the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund project.

Courtesy EQUINOCT

transcending the boundaries that I dreamt of.”

Community advocacy

Beyond such creative endeavors, much of the team’s work involved organizing local communities, building their knowledge and skills, and giving them resources to help them thrive and stay safe. Local women were trained to collect detailed data during the area’s hightide floods, so researchers could have an accurate map of the damage being done by floods. Women community members were also trained by filmmakers to make short videos documenting how their lives are affected by climate change. Local residents were trained to

Photographs courtesy

create their own works of community theater to preserve local history, and change public awareness of the damage caused by the increasing floods.

On a more administrative level, Jayaraman highlights the team’s effective presentation of its findings and ideas in district planning meetings of local governments. As a result of these efforts, he says, funds were set aside to help vulnerable villages deal with flooding, and resolutions were passed “demanding that tidal floods be declared a disaster, and that they be made eligible for state disaster mitigation fund allocations.”

Jayaraman calls the project “a great success” overall, and specifically mentions how it successfully captured the attention of the local, state and national government alike, alerting them to the “totally neglected disaster of tidal flooding.”

The way ahead

“I am excited about these outcomes along with the local women and community,” says Bharathy. “We have made a women’s network, WICAN-Women in Climate Action Network, and will be continuing the discussions and engagements on climate change with these community groups formed from the project intervention.”

Efforts to help victims of flooding in Kerala didn’t end when the project concluded, and young people in India can assist by joining the discussion on climate change, says Bharathy, while keeping a focus on community and gender.

Jayaraman says that a technical approach is vital as well. “Global studies show that India and China will be the most impacted globally due to rising sea levels,” he says, “and it is high time that young people come up with innovative and novel ideas to develop early warning systems, measurement and monitoring mechanisms, and adaptive mechanisms.” He says that the potential for life-saving innovations is huge.

Acknowledging and acting holistically on these environmental changes is an important preventive measure in the age of climate change.

Michael Gallant is a New York City-based writer, musician and entrepreneur.

Above / “Chevittorma,” a play co-created by the tidal flood-affected people of Puthenvelikkara, was staged in New Delhi as a part of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2024.

Courtesy EQUINOCT

IVLP alumnus Prakshal Mehta’s initiatives on sustainability and recycling are building eco-conscious communities.

Shaping a Greener Future

BY BURTON BOLLAG

When Prakshal Mehta was invited to visit the United States in 2023 as part of a multicountry group looking at ways to combat climate change, he had already spent a decade-and-a-half creating awareness about environmental protection and sustainability in India.

The three-week International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program, with around 60 participants from the Asian and Pacific regions, visited

four U.S. cities to learn and share ideas about public and private initiatives on climate change. Mehta says the visit was of great value as it allowed him to exchange ideas with fellow participants and learn from what was being done in America.

“I realized that in the United States, everyone from government agencies to private companies is open to working for solutions and they have the resources to do it,” he says. “I really appreciated that willingness when I was invited to the White House to meet with

Photographs courtesy Prakshal Mehta Above right / Prakshal Mehta (left) participated in the IVLP in the United States in 2023 to learn about climate change solutions. / Above and top right / Mehta’s Pen Pals movement encourages school students to collect used plastic pens, which are recycled to decorate furniture.

a presidential team leading the Net Zero strategy. They said, ‘We lead by example’. ” The strategy’s aim is a net-zero American economy by 2050—one that creates no more greenhouse gasses than what is being removed from the atmosphere by any remediation method.

“If they do this,” says Mehta, “it creates an example for companies and governments around the world.”

Environmental programs

Mehta has already been working toward this goal in India. In 2009, he and a partner created a social enterprise called World Around You (WAY), in Ahmedabad. WAY provides educational programs on environmental sustainability for 5th to 7th grade students at schools across Gujarat. It also provides communications services on environmental issues for government agencies, businesses and other organizations.

The programs with school students employ a hands-on approach. For instance, some participants are asked to carry out a survey of water leaks in their schools and homes. They are then urged to press the school and local officials to repair the leaks to save clean water. The exercise empowers them to demand protections for their natural environment.

In 2017, Mehta created another company, Hara Pitara (meaning “green treasure box”), to market sustainable consumer products. Made mainly from bamboo or paper, the products include pens, stationery, musical instruments, wireless chargers and keyboards, and computer mice. The aim of the company, says Mehta, is “to make sustainable products more affordable and acceptable to ordinary people.”

At first, he says, people didn’t take their products seriously. But now “we are seeing a massive difference in people’s attitudes—a mass adoption of these products.”

Pen pals

Mindless and wasteful consumption has long been a pet peeve of Mehta, which is why he created a movement he dubbed Pen Pals. Based on data about pen sales and other information, Mehta estimates that across the world, billions of cheap plastic pens are thrown out each year. These end up in landfills and some of this plastic waste makes its way to waterways, where it breaks down into microplastics, polluting water and harming ocean life.

I realized that in the United States, everyone from government agencies to private companies is open to working for solutions and they have the resources to do it.

Through the Pen Pals movement, students are encouraged to collect used plastic pens. The first collection attempt was at a girls’ government school in 2013. “They accepted the challenge, and after three to four months, they called us to come pick up what they had collected,” says Mehta. “I went there by bike, thinking they would hand over a pack of used pens. But instead, when I arrived, there was a huge pile of old pens on the floor weighing 500 kilograms!”

But collection alone does not solve the problem because recyclers refuse to take the plastic pens. As they are typically composed of five to six types of plastic, recycling them is difficult, says Mehta. So, the team has been working on developing uses for the empty objects and has already found ways to decorate furniture with them.

The real solution, he says, is cutting down on the production and sale of disposable pens, which are produced in far greater numbers than what is actually needed. “We work with schools to encourage students to buy refills. They have adopted a slogan, ‘I choose refills, not landfills,’ ” says Mehta, adding his dream is a “litter-free, literate world.”

“The pen represents wisdom,” he says. “We expect anyone who is holding a pen to be responsible and help dispose of them responsibly.”

Burton Bollag is a freelance journalist living in Washington, D.C.

Previewed at the American Center New Delhi, the series “Poacher” showcases the investigation into India’s biggest illegal ivory poaching case.

Unmasking the Poachers

BY CHARVI ARORA

“Poacher,” an Amazon Original Series by Emmy Award-winning director Richie Mehta, is based on a two-year investigation into India’s biggest illegal ivory poaching case. The first episode of this series was previewed at the American Center New Delhi in February 2024. Over eight episodes, the series follows the teamwork of dedicated Indian forest officials, the Indian Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and the Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

WTI is a recipient of grants from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. SPAN spoke to Mehta on the sidelines of the preview screening. Excerpts from the interview.

Above / Emmy Award-winning director Richie Mehta (center) at the screening of the first episode of his Amazon Original Series, “Poacher,” at the American Center New Delhi.

Yogesh Kumar

What drew you to the story behind “Poacher”?

I was directing a documentary in 2015 titled “India in a Day,” in which people from all over India shot footage of their day and shared it with me. One of the pieces I received was of an ivory raid in Delhi. I called WTI, the NGO that submitted it, and they told me that the Kerala Forest Department had conducted India’s largest ivory bust in Delhi, following an investigation into a significant wildlife smuggling ring. I was flabbergasted. I knew that I couldn’t give the footage the context it deserved with the documentary, so I told Divya Bharadwaj at WTI that I would return and delve deeper into the case, and the issues it addresses, and do a full piece on it. “Poacher” is the result of that.

Tell us about the role real-life conservationists played in shaping your narrative, and about your collaboration with the WTI.

After the release of my series “Delhi Crime” in 2019, I got in touch with WTI Director Rupa Gandhi and volunteered to help conduct a workshop for local forest watchers on using mobile cameras to capture footage of elephants in wildlife corridors. After the workshop, Rupa introduced me to “wildlife crime fighters” Jose Louies and Vivek Menon.

Jose introduced me to officers in the Kerala Forest Department who were leading the ivory poaching case. I met Surendra Kumar, member of the Indian Forest Service (IFS), Kerala’s former chief wildlife warden,

Above, top and above right / Scenes from “Poacher,” which is based on an investigation led by Indian forest officials, the Indian Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and a local NGO, the Wildlife Trust of India.

Photographs courtesy Amazon Prime Video

the former principal chief conservator of forests, as well as the investigation in-charge at the time. Additionally, I met other incredible IFS officers. I also met one of the accused poachers in the case, which was truly eye-opening.

I realized that this wasn’t just about saving elephants from eradication; it addressed dozens of other issues. It touched upon our relationship with all other life forms on Earth, the indigenous peoples and how they are integrated with (or segregated from) society, the true nature of the “law of the jungle” (both the natural and asphalt one) and how it is deeply ingrained in us. It was a story resonating with everything I held dear, and it unfolded in the most thrilling, true-crime narrative I had ever encountered.

What were the challenges of translating a real investigation into a captivating eight-episode series?

The simple answer is labor. I would meet people, ascertain their involvement in this investigation via extensive conversations or interviews, review court documents and transcripts, and then return home after weeks of this and sort out all the data in chronological order. I would then go back into the field and do it again, several times over.

Throughout the process, I would see dramatic peaks in the real-life story—moments that lent themselves to mini-climaxes, shocking revelations and timebound chases under pressure. All of them are thrilling to even relay verbally.

But since I think in film and series format, I could see the structure falling into place, juxtaposed with what I felt was important to convey to people. This process of tightening the information and returning to the field continued for two years.

What message do you hope viewers will take away from the series regarding the consequences of human actions on endangered species?

By witnessing this story of people risking their lives to prevent species extinction, I hope viewers will connect the dots between motivations of these crime fighters and how it relates to us all in our day-to-day lives.

I also hope viewers will be inspired—wildlife crime fighting is a very cool profession! And I hope viewers will question their own relationship with all living things, as I did while learning about this incredible world.

By witnessing this story of people risking their lives to prevent species extinction, I hope viewers will connect the dots between motivations of these crime fighters and how it relates to us all in our day-to-day lives.

The Young Unheard Voices for Action (YUVA) on Climate Change project, initiated by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, is nurturing the next generation of climate leaders.

Youth Driving Climate Solutions

BY RANJITA BISWAS

Picture a dynamic initiative where young innovators take the lead to develop ideas for creating positive change and building a sustainable future. This is the Young Unheard Voices for Action (YUVA) on Climate Change project, which focuses on climate action on water bodies and linked ecosystems in two critically important South Asian biospheres: the transboundary delta system of the Sundarbans (India-Bangladesh) and the transboundary river system of Manas (India-Bhutan).

Implemented by the nonprofit organization Prodigal’s Home, in collaboration with the nonprofit BRIDGE as its knowledge partner, and supported by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, the YUVA project aimed to undertake youth outreach and mentoring programs in India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

The idea behind the project was to bring togeth-

The ideas and solutions the participants came up with were grounded on real-life experiences.

er the lived experiences of urban and rural communities with the out-of-the-box thinking of the youth. Together, they would create campaign and advocacy products as well as develop concrete ideas for interventions in these two biospheres.

“Youth are agents of change; they are also the ones inheriting this world along with the various issues that actions of past generations have resulted in,” says Prithviraj Nath, director of BRIDGE, who acted as the research director for the YUVA project. “More often than not, we get youth from more urban, cosmopolitan cities to ideate about climate change and the need for action. But somehow, ideas, voices and perspectives from the margins are often not heard. The ideas and solutions the participants came up with were grounded on real-life experiences.”

In 2023, the project started with a call for ideas

targeting youth from Bangladesh, Bhutan and India. Out of the over 60 submitted ideas, 41 were initially selected to participate in mentoring sessions and workshops organized in the three countries. These mentoring sessions aimed to help the youth share and present their ideas to experts and seek guidance and input for improvement. The final conclave, held by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata in January 2024 at the International Kolkata Book Fair, featured a jury of mentors who selected the top ideas.

Nath feels that the mentoring program helped the participants solidify their ideas. “Experts and mentors from various areas, like climate activists and policy influencers, development partners, environment researchers and leaders, representatives from start-ups and the private sector selected the best ideas,” he says.

Going forward, these ideas will receive further mentoring and opportunities for pilot projects. Two of the finalists were Shrabani Bera and Tapas Sardar, both from West Bengal.

Countering the water crisis

“Jibanamrita: A Complete Water Solution” is Bera’s brainchild. She lives in Naraharipur village in Sagardwip, a part of the Sundarbans, and is pursuing a master’s degree in social science through the Netaji Subhas Open University.

“We live surrounded by water,” Bera explains. “Cyclones, more frequent due to climate change, have left our area struggling with salinated water and a shortage of drinking water.” Cyclone Yaas in 2021 was particularly devastating. “So our proposal was to harvest rainwater for human use,” she says.

Bera has two other members in her team. She credits the YUVA ideas-sharing and subsequent mentoring programs for a key realization: “With investment, we can turn our ideas into a sustainable business model for

the long term. We didn’t know that before.” Bera’s model involves providing households with a basic structure, for a fee, to filter rainwater for drinking purposes.

Reviving old practices

Sardar has a vision to revive traditional eco-friendly methods of cultivating vegetables and fruits. His project, titled “Sujala: Climate Smart Agriculture,” emphasizes the reintroduction of locally available fertilizers and water harvesting methods that farmers have followed for centuries, as a way of organic farming. “The excessive use of pesticides in the hope of getting a better yield is spoiling our soil quality,” Sardar observes. “Even the water in our traditional ponds is becoming unusable for farming.” He further notes that the unsustainable cost of commercial fertilizers has made many farmers move away from agriculture.

Observing these challenges, Sardar, who holds a master’s degree in social work and lives in Kultali, about 120 kilometers from Kolkata, decided to examine the farming practices of previous generations on his own land. His efforts yielded positive results, prompting him to persuade local farmers to follow his example. “We offer a package with ‘true to type’ vegetable seeds and natural fertilizers like cow dung and vermicompost,” he explains. “We also construct embankments to conserve water so that during the drought season, water is available.” Currently, approximately 250 farmers are collaborating with him on this initiative. “The workshops and mentoring provided by the YUVA project have helped me transform my ideas into a business model for generating income,” Sardar says. “It has also given me the confidence that I am on the right path.”

Ranjita Biswas is a Kolkata-based journalist. She also translates fiction and writes short stories.

Courtesy Tapas Sardar

Left / YUVA project finalist Tapas Sardar (center) works with local farmers to grow crops using generations-old agricultural practices. / Bottom left / The YUVA final conclave at the International Kolkata Book Fair.

Nexus alumna Vaidehi Naik-Nandola’s start-up Ekobarn is helping protect the environment by transforming how we process trash.

Solutions to Tackle Waste

BY JASON CHIANG

India generates over 62 million tons of waste every year, of which only 43 million tons get collected, 12 million tons are treated before disposal and 31 million tons are discarded in landfills. This causes extensive land, water and air pollution. A Mumbaibased start-up Ekobarn, co-founded by Nexus alumna Vaidehi Naik-Nandola, is helping commercial and residential communities convert their organic waste into sustainable compost through low-cost and lowmaintenance solutions. Ekobarn was part of Cohort 17 at the Nexus incubator at the American Center New Delhi. A partnership between the U.S. Embassy New Delhi and ACIR, Nexus connects start-ups, innovators and investors, offering access to networks, training,

mentors and funding. Nandola shares her insights on the company’s environmental mission and her experiences in a conversation with SPAN. Excerpts from the interview.

What is Ekobarn’s origin story?

Ekobarn’s origin story is rooted in a shared commitment to environmental sustainability. My co-founders and I connected through our mutual passion for addressing waste management challenges. Our core values include a dedication to eco-friendly practices, technology innovation and a collaborative approach to creating impactful solutions for composting and wet waste management. Together, we envisioned Ekobarn

Above / Ekobarn, co-founded by Nexus alumna Vaidehi Naik-Nandola (top right), offers commercial and residential communities low-cost and low-maintenance solutions to help convert organic waste into sustainable compost.

Photographs courtesy Ekobarn

Ekobarn ekobarn.com

Nexus

Startup Hub startupnexus.in

as a platform to promote a greener and more sustainable future.

What is Ekobarn’s mission? How do its products and services fulfill that mission?

Ekobarn is on a mission to revolutionize waste management by offering cutting-edge solutions for composting and wet waste management. Our suite of services integrates advanced technology to efficiently convert organic waste into valuable resources. We developed our own compost cultures, bio-culture and composting bins to overcome resistance to treating waste at home. Our composting process is odorfree and also converts waste to compost within eight weeks.

By promoting sustainability and circular economy principles, Ekobarn aims to minimize environmental impact and contribute to a cleaner, greener future.

Could you tell us about Ekobarn’s impact and successes?

Ekobarn has recently achieved significant milestones. Our newly designed composting breathable bins have not only elevated the user experience but also increased waste diversion rates. Our community compost bin, EkoCycler, capable of treating one ton per day, has been successfully adopted by various communities, making large-scale waste management more efficient and eco-friendly. Our improved bio-culture, featuring novel fungi and bacteria strains, enhances plant dry matter decomposition, reinforcing Ekobarn’s position at the forefront of cutting-edge, environmentally conscious solutions.

What were your main takeaways from the Nexus Startup Hub training?

Participating in the Nexus training was transform-

ative. It provided invaluable insights into the intersection of technology and environmental sustainability. The experience highlighted the significance of diverse perspectives in tech entrepreneurship and empowered me to navigate challenges confidently. The networking opportunities enriched my understanding of the global landscape, fostering collaborations that have since propelled Ekobarn’s growth and impact.

What is the most promising change you’ve seen for

women entrepreneurs in technology?

The most promising change in the tech space for women entrepreneurs is an increasing recognition of diverse voices and talents. Many initiatives now support and highlight women-led ventures. However, there’s room for improvement in fostering equal access to funding and opportunities. Bridging this gap will further amplify the positive impact of women entrepreneurs in the industry.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or partnerships?

We’re exploring hybrid processing models to maximize efficiency in waste management. Collaborations with farmers for agri-waste processing aim to create sustainable solutions for waste reduction and soil enrichment. Moreover, blending compost with mineral-rich resources is a priority, fostering organic farming practices. Our pipeline also includes ventures into bio-digestate production through anaerobic digestion and converting waste into bio-oil, marking exciting steps toward a circular economy.

Jason Chiang is a freelance writer based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.

IVLP alumnus Aniket Bhatkhande works to safeguard ecosystems and promote sustainability through innovation and leadership.

Leading Sustainable Innovations

BY STEVE FOX

India is home to more than 3,000 wild tigers who often live in close proximity to remote villages where women routinely venture into nearby forests to collect firewood to warm their homes, cook their food and heat water. This practice exposes the women to danger from carnivores, depletes the forests and also contributes to respiratory illnesses from wood smoke.

Reconciling the differing demands of India’s tiger reserves and nearby communities is a significant part of the mission of the Mumbai-based Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), a nonprofit think tank founded to safeguard ecosystems in a holistic, sustainable manner. WCT, which has worked in 160 protected areas, covering 82 percent of India’s tiger reserves and 24 percent of the national parks and sanctuaries, emphasizes both forest and wildlife conservation and community development.

In this case, a partial solution to reducing firewood collecting has come in the form of the Heater of

Hope—an efficient water heater that can burn twigs, crop residue, grass and cow dung. The driving force behind the heater is Aniket Bhatkhande, WCT’s head of conservation behavior, who brought his capabilities as an economist, lawyer and social scientist to the innovative project.

Bhatkhande’s leadership skills were recognized by his participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Since its beginning in 1940, the IVLP has brought current and emerging leaders from across the world to the United States, where they meet with their professional counterparts and visit public and private sector organizations related to their field of interest. Bhatkhande participated in the exchange program in 2023, which focused on environmental engagement and the economy for the Indo-Pacific and Central Asia.

Photographs courtesy Aniket Bhatkhande

Below / The Heater of Hope has multiple benefits ranging from a reduction in forest degradation to an improvement in the health of the beneficiaries. / Below right / Aniket Bhatkhande with a mesh bag of oyster shells. During his IVLP, he visited the Coalition for Restoring Coastal Louisiana, which uses the bags to create artificial reefs on the seabed.

Health and sustainability

“The Heater of Hope has allowed a just and safe energy transition to more than 50,000 people while reducing carbon dioxide emissions of more than 100,000 tons,” says Bhatkhande.

“The communities we work with have seen more than 100 human deaths due to carnivore attacks in the last three years. This biomass-fueled water heater helps them avoid venturing into the forest, which has a high density of tigers and leopards. It also reduces women’s exposure to smoke, which can cause respiratory diseases,” he adds. “Most importantly, it has led to the inclusion of household water heating needs in state policies intended to help energy transition of households in forest-dwelling communities.”

The IVLP experience

Bhatkhande’s IVLP was hosted by the Mississippi Consortium for International Development’s Washington, D.C. office, where the group met with diverse stakeholders, ranging from the office of John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, to victims of Hurricane Katrina. The cohort explored the efforts of government, civil society and the private sector to promote economic growth while protecting the environment. They also shared best practices from their countries with representatives from the U.S. National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

“The IVLP highlighted for me the importance of policy, plurality and perseverance,” he says. “I think these lessons are critical in large federal democracies. This experience will allow me to implement these learn ings in my country.”

For Bhatkhande, the most helpful aspect was to get an arms-length picture of various stakeholders and their interactions in a diverse and vibrant democracy. “It taught me to be patient and understand that if we value our freedom and democracy then change is often slow. Sometimes appreciating that about your own system is difficult, but looking at another system was a game-changer,” he says. “What added to the experience was the diversity within the group. It was wonderful to have representatives from various countries share their experiences with federalism, diversity and policymaking.”

Initiatives for forest guards

Bhatkhande has also been instrumental in developing a pioneering WCT study of India’s forest guards, whose lonely and demanding work is quite dangerous. “As per the International Rangers Federation, India is the riskiest country for forest rangers, accounting for the highest number of rangers killed in the line of duty,” he says.

“My work on the psychological well-being of forest guards has led to policy changes that enhance the well-being of forest staff,” says Bhatkhande. Covering 11 national parks, he led the largest initiative ever to measure the factors affecting the psychological well-being of forest staff. The findings have been notified as recommendations to park managers by the chief wildlife warden of Madhya Pradesh and were used in developing the 10-year budget plan. “Changes on the ground have included human resource training, better facilities as well as the institution of awards for frontline forest staff,” he adds.

My work on the psychological wellbeing of forest guards has led to policy changes that enhance the wellbeing of forest staff.

Bhatkhande and the WCT are also focused on threats from climate change.

“We have worked with all human stakeholders in biodiversity protection and climate change from forest guards to policymakers and local communities,” he says. “We are currently working on a critical endeavor to quantify the costs paid by forest-dwelling communities due to climate change and developing means to ensure more equitable outcomes.”

Steve Fox is a freelance writer, former newspaper publisher and reporter based in Ventura, California.

U.S. Fulbright-Nehru fellow and artist Rachel Breen delved into the intersection of craft traditions, textiles and sustainability during her project in India.

Sewing for Sustainability

BY ZAHOOR HUSSAIN BHAT

Rachel Breen learned to sew when she was 11 years old. “I sewed a lot of my clothes because my family could not afford to buy me the clothes I wanted,” she says. In graduate school, Breen started experimenting with a sewing machine as a drawing tool. But when more than a thousand workers died in a garment factory building collapse in Bangladesh in 2013, Breen felt a connection with garment workers and their issues. In addition to maintaining an active studio practice, Breen is a tenured professor of art at Anoka Ramsey Community College. She was awarded a Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award (Research) in 2022 for a project titled, “Textiles and Fair Trade: Using Art to Envision a Global Economy Based on Sustainability and Respect.” She spent five months in Jaipur at the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design.

Excerpts from an interview with Breen.

Why do you work with used clothes and what do you create out of them?

The process of disassembling used clothes and crafting something new underscores the need to develop more just and sustainable garment systems. Creating installations with used clothes also embeds the histories of workers and wearers into my work, prompting questions about the impacts of overproduction on our climate.

I create various items by dismantling and restitching used clothes. I have made “collective garments”— clothing designed to be worn by groups of people, like a shirt with 11 sleeves or a dress with three neck holes. These serve as a metaphor for the collective action needed for social change. I have also crafted

Courtesy Rachel Breen

Above / Rachel Breen presents her “Garment Solidarity Project,” a social engagement project where she sews clothes for garment workers who make clothes for sale in the United States. / Top right / Breen at a studio in Bagru, Rajasthan. / Above right / “Banners for the Commons” made by Breen during her Fulbright-Nehru fellowship, installed at the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design in Jaipur.

banners and pennants for exhibitions or to hang from buildings.

Please tell us about your Fulbright-Nehru project in India.

I explored the intersection of craft traditions, textiles, sustainability and fair trade, and social enterprises that prioritize treating workers fairly and providing safe working conditions. India has many garment factories and is renowned for its growing sustainable development and fair trade initiatives, supporting thousands of artisans and empowering women in their workplaces and daily lives. I wanted to learn about alternatives to the global garment industry specifically originating from people in India.

I met so many people who demonstrated exceptional thoughtfulness about materials and processes, including dyes, weaving and block printing. I also met people exploring circular design and no-waste design strategies, as well as those repurposing scraps from garment factories and turning them into new garments. I learned about sustainable craft processes and created work that reflects this research. I created some large banners utilizing the printing methods of Dabu, indigo dye, and handspun and woven organic Kala cotton. These banners were displayed at the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design.

Have you shared your creations from your Fulbright-Nehru project with a wider audience?

Yes, I have exhibited the banners I created in India, titled “Banners for the Commons,” at the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, and at the Alice Rogers Gallery in Collegeville, Minnesota. They will be exhibited at the Art Start Gallery in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. I have also given several talks about my Fulbright-Nehru research to numerous college classes across Minnesota.

Have your experiences with Indian textile artists influenced your later projects?

While I still feel as though I am “metabolizing” all that I learned and experienced in India, I have been greatly influenced by the way the making of fabric and textiles is ever present there. Throughout my Fulbright-Nehru project, I found myself constantly thinking, what would it be like to see and be aware of the daily process of fabric and clothing production.

I collected many kinds of materials throughout my project. Some were gifts, some were scraps. These ma-

terials are gradually being incorporated into the work I am creating now.

Please tell us about your upcoming projects.

I have upcoming exhibitions where I will showcase the banners I created during my time in India. I am also crafting a series of new banners made from used clothing that has been disassembled and reassembled. I am block printing on these used clothing parts with the hand-carved blocks I designed and commissioned in India—the same ones used for the banners created there. I employ the mark of the stitch as a symbol of human interdependence. I also created an image of two halves of a circle, symbolizing a yearning for coming together and being whole. These iconographies, along with some new ones, will be incorporated into all of the banners I am currently creating. The “mark” of my Fulbright-Nehru research will continue to be evident in this new work.

Photographs courtesy Rachel Breen

SunnyRay Solutions is lighting the way to a sustainable future, thanks to the assistance from the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata-supported Global Links Initiative entrepreneurship program.

Helping Entrepreneurs Power Up

BY HILLARY HOPPOCK

Right / Sangita Sen (left) is the CEO of SunnyRay Solutions, which offers custom solar systems for the domestic, industrial and commercial sectors. / Above / The team installs solar panels on a building in Bijoypur village in West Bengal.

Photographs courtesy SunnyRay Solutions

India has set a goal of adding 500 gigawatts of non-fossil power to its grid by 2030 and committed to achieving the net zero emissions target by 2070. The private sector will play a key role in this energy transition process. One such company is SunnyRay Solutions, which offers custom solar systems for the domestic, industrial and commercial sectors. With help from the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata-supported Global Links Initiative entrepreneurship program, it has expanded its services to several cities in West Bengal. Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, the Rick and Susan Goings Foundation and Rollins College’s Crummer Graduate School of Business, the Global Links Initiative provides in-depth business training in social entrepreneurship and practical business skills to female scholars who, in turn, mentor female entrepreneurs in their home country.

Based in Kolkata, SunnyRay Solutions provides multiple services, including site visits, design, procurement, installation, conversion and maintenance of solar products and solar plants. It has also expanded as a system integrator, and generates annual sales of around $5 million, shares founder and CEO Sangita Sen.

Sen wants the company to be part of the international efforts to combat climate change. The company’s vision of empowering communities through energy independence includes bringing sustainable power to underserved areas, driving economic development and improved quality of life, she adds.

The company also conducts awareness campaigns on the benefits of solar power plants and conducts solar training classes. “We see this as instrumental in empowering many women and the younger generation with revenue and employment opportunities,” Sen says.

Harnessing solar power

Sen, who has a degree in electrical engineering, spent 14 years in the Indian power sector, which is traditionally dependent on fossil fuels. Her transition to the solar field began with an entrepreneurship course offered by the Government of India’s Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. “I delved into the course and molded myself into an entrepreneur,” she says.

Sen says her start-up received invaluable support in

2019-20 from the U.S. Consulate Kolkata’s The Global Links Initiative, an entrepreneurship program that empowers women small business owners. The program helped SunnyRay Solutions improve its business presence on social media, build connections, gain industry exposure and diversify product offerings, she says.

In 2020-21, SunnyRay Solutions received support from The Global Links Impact Investment Forum to scale up its business and initiate BharatRays, a new venture led by Sen, and a successor to SunnyRay Solutions, to promote solar energy on a large scale.

In 2023, Sen participated in DreamBuilder, an online training program run by the Arizona State University, under the U.S. State Department’s Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program.

ALSiSAR Impact, an investment venture that partners with The Global Links Initiative, provides continuous mentorship, access to networks and legal and financial advice. “The organization provides a wealth of knowledge to help BharatRays Solutions navigate challenges and avoid pitfalls,” notes Sen. “Networking creates opportunities for potential clients, partners and investors for visibility and credibility within the business ecosystem. Meanwhile, their professionals help us create compelling messaging to reach our target audience and manage our online and offline presence. Equally important is the legal and financial advice they provide in terms of incorporation, contract drafting, compliance and financial planning.”

Scaling up

BharatRays Solutions recently announced ambitious goals. “We are aiming for 80 percent growth within the next five years,” says Sen. “We also anticipate the fulfillment of our dream of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the near future.” Through an IPO, a private company sells shares of its stock for the first time to the public and becomes a public company.

“We are not just about solar panels; we aim to offer comprehensive energy solutions,” notes Sen. “This includes integrating cutting-edge energy storage systems and smart grid technologies.”

Hillary Hoppock is a freelance writer, former newspaper publisher and reporter based in Orinda, California.

Jason Strother, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and multimedia journalist, explores how climate change affects persons with disabilities.

Climate Change and Disability

BY ZAHOOR HUSSAIN BHAT

An estimated 1.3 billion people across the world experience significant disability, according to the World Health Organization. They constitute about 16 percent of the world population and are at a greater risk of being affected by climate change. For instance, a disabled person might lose access to medical treatment or have mobility issues after a natural disaster.

Jason Strother, a multimedia journalist and 2023 Fulbright (South and Central Asia) Regional Research Award recipient, traveled across India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, to research how climate change impacts people with disabilities. He is also an adjunct professor at Montclair State University in New Jersey, where he created journalism courses, including one on disability representation in media and how to report on disability. In September 2023, with the support from the U.S. State Department, Strother participated in events across New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. He interacted with journalists, students, activists and civil society organizations focused on disability and climate matters. Strother also presented his documentary, “Disaster and Disability,” filmed in Odisha with support from the U.S. State Department. Excerpts from an interview with Strother.

What inspired you to study the impact of climate change on people with disabilities?

In 2014, I traveled for a reporting assignment to the Philippine city of Tacloban, which had been devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Several thousand people died, and the city was in ruins.

I have a low vision disability and have no problem getting around during normal circumstances. But it got me thinking—how would I survive 200 kmph winds, with debris flying around? I thought about people who use wheelchairs, are blind, deaf, are on the autism spectrum disorder, of families with children that have multiple disabilities, and how they are going to be affected by natural disasters or severe weather events.

Tell us about your work as a Fulbright scholar in India. What did you learn?

Two years ago, when I was applying for a Fulbright, I found this rare regional award where I could pick three countries to conduct my work. I knew India had to be one of them. I found some organizations based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, [working on disabilities and climate change] and reached out to one of them, which was run by Asha Hans, a Fulbright alumna. I spent three months conducting my fieldwork around Odisha, [focusing] on how climate change is impacting people with disabilities.

During my research, I found that Odisha has made some benchmarkable progress in including people with disabilities in its disaster management planning. In 1999, when a super cyclone killed about 10,000 people, there was a fledgling disability advocacy community in the state. Now, you have several disability groups at the local level and in specific communities, which raise awareness about how to evacuate and safely shelter people with disabilities. They have raised a lot of awareness about disability vis-à-vis climate change-related disasters.

How has your work as a journalist helped your research?

I’ve worked overseas for almost 20 years as a reporter. This, combined with my lived experience as someone with a disability, and my curiosity helped me in my current project. I teamed up with Snehasis Das, a Bhubaneswar-based documentary filmmaker who runs a production company, The Naked Eye. We co-produced a short film on Odisha’s efforts to make its disaster planning more accessible and inclusive, and where there is still room for improvement.

Tell us about your documentary “Disaster and Disability.”

I traveled to Puri on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, which is often battered by severe storms. Even though Odisha has a policy to include vulnerable populations in its evacuation and sheltering protocols, not many there knew about it when they had to evacuate for Cyclone Fani in 2019.

In Ganjam district, however, some storm shelters were built with ramps and accessible bathrooms. I found this interesting—in Ganjam, something is working quite well, but in Puri, something was missing. These are the regions I wanted to compare in my reporting. Das,

his team and I formed a 10-member production crew with a drone pilot and multiple translators because the people we interviewed only spoke Telugu.

So, we needed to find someone who could speak both Telugu and Odia and then I had a research assistant who translated back to me in English. It was one of the most complicated productions I’ve ever worked on.

What kind of response did you get from the audience? Are there any plans to screen it in more Indian cities and in Indian languages?

The reactions I’ve had so far have been largely positive. It was new to many of the audiences and the students I spoke with had poignant and thoughtful questions. There are multiple languages already in the film—Telugu, Odia and English. It also has English subtitles. I will produce an audio description for this film—a type of narration that describes on-screen action and imagery for visually impaired audiences.

I am also looking into ways to have Odia language subtitles and audio descriptions.

What are your key takeaways from your engagements with journalism students and climate activists in India?

Climate change is something that I think most people in India are very well aware of. In Odisha, I met climate change observers who focused on marginalized populations in their research and were aware of how disabled people are most likely to be adversely affected. The disability community I met in Odisha and New Delhi knows the risks too.

At the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, I talked to journalism students, some of whom had disabilities, about my research and showed my video. They had great questions about the production of the film.

Below left / Jason Strother (third from left) at a session on “Climate change and its impact on people with disabilities” at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi. / Below / Strother interacts with students at the India Today Media Institute at Noida.

Anamika Taneja

Left / The three-day tech camp in Kochi drew participants from across India, who developed eight projects to address ocean pollution and waterway management. / Below left / D. Dhanuraj, founderchairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research.

From AI-powered solutions to community-driven initiatives, innovations from the U.S. Consulate General Chennai’s TechCamp Kochi will help foster sustainability through technology.

Using Technology to Protect Oceans

BY PAROMITA PAIN

The production and use of plastic cause significant environmental concern worldwide, including in India, where 26,000 tons of plastic waste are produced daily. A large portion of this waste ends up in landfills, where it leaches toxic substances into the soil and water bodies.

Akhil Prakash E., a senior research scholar at Cochin University of Science and Technology in Ernakulam, believes this problem can be tackled by “emphasizing personal responsibility for the waste we produce.” He was part of a project called LitterLog, which aims to build a database using artificial intelligence (AI) to map out plastic dumping sites in different localities and identify the types of plastic found. “This will help

pinpoint specific areas needing attention, whether they are related to household or fishery waste,” he says.

Akhil presented this project at the “Tech4Oceans: Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future” technology camp, organized by the Kochi-based Centre for Public Policy Research in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General Chennai. “In the future, we aim to expand this project globally using AI and satellite mapping techniques,” he says.

Protecting marine life

The three-day techcamp in Kochi, which drew participants from across India, centered on examining issues like rising sea levels, deteriorating marine life,

It helped us understand the complexity in the marine ecosystems and how it varies from place to place, especially in the remote fishing villages.

Photographs courtesy J. Paul Zachariah and D. Dhanuraj

increased oceanic and surface temperatures, unregulated fishing and marine pollution. Participants developed eight projects to address ocean pollution and waterway management.

“The camp had international and local experts and the trainers took up a collaborative and multifaceted approach to enhance awareness about ocean health and sustainability by working toward achieving the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-14 which calls to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources,” says D. Dhanuraj, founder-chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research.

Facilitators included policymakers, representatives from government departments, technology experts from academia and research, social tech entrepreneurs, and national and international organizations who work toward strengthening India’s capacity and capabilities in ocean health, environmental issues and governance. Participants were trained via a combination of expert presentations, interactive sessions and group discussions.

Technology for the community

The techcamp emphasized topics related to linking communities and the ocean to promote healthy, sustainable human-environment interactions. The projects covered diverse aspects like the identification of species at risk, the use of real-time data, marine corrosion, and innovative ideas to incentivize people based on their involvement in marine pollution.

Shrijan Praveen Tayde’s start-up, Amlaan RiverCorp, developed a project on the aggregation of data on marine litter mapping using GPS-enabled onboard cameras.

“Our CataClean 2.0, an indigenously built water trash skimmer, will help battle the physical and evident

pollution in the water bodies much more efficiently than how it’s being done currently,” says Tayde. “Our planet is 73 percent water. With pollution increasing at an exponential rate, we need to spring into action. Otherwise, we’ll leave our water bodies damaged and toxified.”

Based in Nagpur, Amlaan RiverCorp is a marine environment conservation start-up dedicated to fighting marine environment pollution and facilitating waste management. A budding naval architect and an ocean engineer-turned-CEO, Tayde is eager to collaborate with like-minded individuals to help address the urgent need for solutions to combat water pollution.

For Dhanuraj, the techcamp was an invaluable opportunity to understand the need, potential and relevance of the use of technology to create awareness and find solutions to marine pollution and the efficient use of marine resources. “It helped us understand the complexity in the marine ecosystems and how it varies from place to place, especially in the remote fishing villages,” he says.

From high-tech systems like the tracking of plastic pollution using AI to low-tech beach cleanups and awareness campaigns, TechCamp Kochi’s innovations demonstrated how sustainable solutions can have an impact. The U.S. Mission in India continues to promote sustainability to protect the environment.

As a U.S. Department of State spokesperson says, “The U.S. Department of State looks forward to making additional impacts in India with our upcoming TechCamp Pune in September 2024, which will be focused on technological solutions to promote green waste management in Maharashtra.”

Paromita Pain is an associate professor of Global Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Nexus-trained Aakri uses tech tools to optimize waste collection from homes and integrate segregated waste into a recycling network.

Transforming Waste Management

BY ZAHOOR HUSSAIN BHAT

C. Chandrashekhar decided to venture into the waste management sector when a scrap collector at his house in Kochi, Kerala, refused to collect items like shoes and thermocol saying they had no recycling value in the market. Such things, explained the scrap collector, get dumped as waste. “I started working part-time at a scrap yard to learn about recycling for a year,” says Chandrashekhar. “After understanding the recycling process and observing unclear pricing and wrong weighing measures practiced in the industry, I decided to make positive changes.”

Chandrashekhar launched a start-up called Aakri, which means “scrap” in Malayalam, and developed a mobile app. With a staff of two and one vehicle, he started collecting scrap in 2019. Within a year, he was working in partnership with Clean Kerala Company Limited, a state government entity, and the cement industry. “We then expanded into business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sectors, all seamlessly integrated into the app,” he says.

Aakri has become a household name in Kerala for its waste management services. The start-up, which was part of the 19th cohort at the U.S. Embassy New Delhi’s Nexus Startup Hub, has a customer base exceeding 100,000 in Kerala, including municipalities, commercial establishments and residential communities. Aakri now plans to expand its services to other states. Excerpts from an interview with Chandrashekhar.

Below / Aakri provides home collection services for domestic biomedical waste, which is filtered using green technology in collaboration with Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd. / Right / The Aakri team has grown over the years to more than 45 members and has built a wide customer base, including residential communities, municipalities and commercial establishments.

How has the start-up evolved since its launch?

Aakri has seen remarkable growth. Within a year of its launch, our customer base surged from 100 to 5,000. In 2021, we enhanced the app, introduced regional zones, and established an in-house technology wing and call center. A year later, we launched the iOS app, expanded to three key districts, and collaborated with Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL) for biomedical waste management. We also made our app more user-friendly by adding features like subscriptions, online payments and multilingual support. By 2023, our team grew to 47 members. Prioritizing sustainability, we use CNG and electric vehicles.

How did the idea of using technology for waste management come in?

The idea of incorporating technology stemmed from a combination of environmental concerns, technological advancements, market opportunities, personal experiences and a desire to make an impact. We believe that using technologies like mobile apps in waste management can offer convenient and efficient solutions to real-life problems.

Tell us about Aakri’s role in safe and eco-friendly disposal of biomedical waste.

We collect a range of biomedical waste from homes, including urinal bags, diapers, sanitary napkins, expired medicines and laboratory waste. We have teamed up with KEIL for the scientific processing of this waste. We use yellow bar-coded bags that adhere strictly to the Biomedical Waste Management Rules of 2016. Additionally, we are in the process of establishing our own disposal plants, in association with Re Sustainability, a resource management company, for disposal of biomedical waste at a lower cost.

What challenges and opportunities did Aakri face in the waste management sector?

Challenges include the complex nature of plastic waste, difficulties in proper segregation and the sheer volume of waste generated. We navigate these challenges by using the Aakri app to streamline collection and recycling. The introduction of extended producer responsibility, which promotes recycling and reuse of plastic and e-waste has also helped.

What are your key takeaways from the training at the Nexus Startup Hub?

Nexus helped us with networking, access to expertise and motivation. Meeting fellow entrepreneurs, mentors and being a part of the program opened doors to collaboration. The training sessions often featured experts who provided insights into various aspects of entrepreneurship, such as business development, marketing and funding strategies.

How do you maintain customer loyalty?

Customers can connect with us through toll-free numbers, email and online portals, and we respond promptly. We also develop our strategies through regular feedback. We also implement solutions like route optimization, IoT-enabled waste bins and customer management platforms for operational efficiency.

What are your upcoming projects, and what will be your role in shaping the future of waste management?

The launch of a smart bin facility in Kochi will address the needs of the floating population and ensure secure waste disposal. Looking ahead, Aakri aims to extend its biomedical waste collection services throughout Kerala and beyond.

Photographs courtesy Aakri

Fulbright-Nehru fellow Mansee Bal Bhargava is dedicated to water conservation and environmental activism.

Activism for Ecological Restoration

BY ZAHOOR HUSSAIN BHAT

Fulbright-Nehru fellow Mansee Bal Bhargava is best known for her activism in helping disturbed ecosystems regain their balance. An entrepreneur, researcher, educator and mentor, Bhargava draws motivation from a deep concern for diminishing water resources and increasing water distress. She is passionate about environmental conservation and is a vocal advocate for sustainability.

Bhargava was associated with the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University during her Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship for Professional and Academic Excellence in 2016-17, where she studied the integration of urban water sources into the planning and management of cities. She has also led several workshops on water management in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General Mumbai.

Excerpts from an interview.

Please share some highlights from your years of conservation work and research.

In my nearly three decades of practicing environmental conservation and management, my major learnings and lessons are centered around “what not to do” in the environmental sector. For example, my long-standing research on urban lake governance and management helped me develop a stand that prioritizes conservation. Saying ‘no’ to a lake development project that does not incorporate conservation is a lifetime commitment. I have developed a module on what not to do with lakes, which is now included in executive training and college curricula across India.

Please tell us about your contributions to water conservation and management in India through research, writing and public speaking.

I aim to bring science and society together to engage in dialogues and deliberations on water-re-

Water literacy is at the core of addressing water matters in terms of conservation and management.

Photographs courtesy Mansee Bal Bhargava

lated matters. My contribution to water conservation and management in India is carried out through entrepreneurship, research, education, public speaking and mentorship. I strive to create a common vocabulary for water conversation for diverse stakeholders as conversations using simple language are crucial for effective water conservation.

How can we address the growing challenges of diminishing water resources?

Water literacy is at the core of addressing water matters in terms of conservation and management. Two key factors contribute to this challenge. First, there is a lack of comprehensive water education available, and second, the available education is mostly fragmented and divided, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the problems as well as the solutions. For instance, even well-intentioned people are sometimes challenged in interlinking water resources and access to water. Some common examples include debates over groundwater extraction and waterfront development.

Could you share some practical steps for individuals and communities to protect the environment?

The first and most crucial step is to enhance environmental education. It enables individuals and communities to actively participate in environmental protection. As individuals, we can:

• Embrace essentialism. Slow food and slow fashion are worth a try.

• Reduce and recycle.

• Embrace pre-loved goods.

• Reduce plastic use.

• Reduce automobile use.

• Reduce tourism.

• Reduce the use of groundwater.

• Recycle domestic water.

• Empower yourself with facts from credible sources.

As a community, we can:

• Do our bit to fight disinformation.

• Learn the difference between development and conservation.

• Stop commercialization of environmental resources.

• Connect and engage with the local environment.

• Save water bodies.

How has your Fulbright-Nehru fellowship influenced you? What were your key takeaways?

The Fulbright-Nehru fellowship was a turning point for me. During the fellowship year I had the opportunity to reflect, and it underscored the importance of citizen science for ecological restoration.

The fellowship year included talks, conferences and department seminars, which helped to build strong networks. Participating in short courses helped me develop my training programs. Most importantly, the scholarship encouraged me to pursue an integration of entrepreneurship, research and education. Public speaking and mentoring come naturally to me and form the core of my work. In the process, listening and learning seem to be the ultimate reward and goal for myself.

What are your upcoming plans or projects?

I have a few short-term plans personally, like trying to practice what I teach and minimizing my everyday needs. Professionally, I plan to continue my work for water conservation, upscaling water education initiatives, and documenting and disseminating the work of the water workers to engage more people.

Left / Mansee Bal Bhargava (left) organizes events to raise awareness about the lifecycle of wetlands.