An'n'Th - Dec 25 | Delhi Pollution, Carbon Capture and DST Net Zero Emission Roadmap
Delhi and other cities or places in India are again facing smog problem. Yamuna has become cleaner than earlier at least as seen on Chaath occasion and Bihar assembly election.
Government science and technology department has launched a roadmap towards meeting Net Zero emission by 2070 for India through innovations and technology in CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage) solutions leveraging R&D fund. India R&D ranking has improved, and it needs to improve further significantly to achieve the target of being developed nation.
From CII initiatives with private players and pilot implementation in around 800 villages shows the mitigation and alternate solution of in-situ and ex-situ straw management. Artificial cloud seeding pilot test was conducted in oct 2025 and the result was not as per expectation, although it’s seen there is intent and execution of different options and choices by the government and institutions.
Where exact reasons and the mechanism of processes are complex to be ascertained of related to pollution observed, it’s better to manage and implement solution at the source level. The causes of air pollution are primarily thought of as industries or factories releasing CO2 and other poisonous gases, transport sector and stubble burning. Carbon capture or reduction at source looks one of the best possible ideas that will minimize pollution from emission emitting factories and vehicles. Mobile carbon capture technology would address vehicle pollution. Pollution impact is because of generation at source, concentration and speed of dispersal or movement, which is making Delhi and other cities, smoggy in winter. Air pollution is not unsolvable problem, Beijing has achieved this during 2008 Olympic using existing tools and technologies, Mexico City also had done this earlier in nineties, and India can also do this in new ways with new technologies balancing economic need, goal and adjusting path.
Where there is dispersed household level problem, solutions can be devised to aggregate, move, process and utilize and disperse to the form aggregable to environment. Aramco and Warstla has been working on mobile CCU technologies with some good success and can be found in references as well. Vehicular emission capture looks viable, and it can be processed through the similar supply chain towards its appropriate sink – depleted hydrocarbon under ground fields, or mining fields or mangrove trees coastal areas using reversal route of pipeline or other transportation.
Wholistic, cross economic sectors, thinking and optioning through RnD will bring solutions to achieve the objective of net zero in balanced way.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiEXko0mVX4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBnl-aRFNmU
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2198607®=3&lang=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb-x_tbk1lE&t=54s
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-12/CCUS-Report.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTLBKKq30g8&t=7s
https://ciiblog.in/cleaner-air-better-life-mitigating-farm-stubble-burning/
https://unece.org/sustainable-energy/cleaner-electricity-systems/carbon-capture-use-and-storage-ccus