Launch of State of India’s Environment 2023: In Figures — what to expect & how to register

How polluted are the cities of India? How many parts of the country were affected by floods or droughts? How many people were displaced because of the climate crisis? 

State of India's Environment: In Figures, the annual publication of Delhi-based non-profit The Centre for Science and Down To Earth, collates the latest statistics from state and central government datasets to find these answers. 

The eighth edition to be released on June 4, 2023 builds a comprehensive picture of the country’s environmental situation. 

Here’s how you can join the presentation by the authors of the report, Kiran Pandey and Rajit Sengupta, on the same day. The book will be introduced by Sunita Narain, director of CSE and editor of DTE, and Richard Mahapatra, the magazine's managing editor. 

Register for the launch event of SOE 2023: In Figures here

The e-book takes stock of the country’s progress in individual sectors of environment and development. But what emerges is the interconnections among these sectors.

For instance, while food inflation is lower in India as compared to other parts of the world, more Indians - 70 per cent as against the global average of 42 per cent — cannot afford a healthy diet, which includes portions of vegetables, fruits, dairy, legumes and, of course, cereals.

The various socioeconomic markers studied in the book may not have established correlations but placed next to each other, they provide a deeper understanding of where the country stands. 

It also analyses cases of extreme weather events as well as climate and economic migration for the readers to get a wider perspective of how global crises such as climate change and recession have impacted the country. 

It is the annual report of all the environmental parameters in one place. The comprehensive analysis tells us where the country stands and what it needs to do to have a sustainable existence. 

SOE 2023: In Figures ranked, for the first time, the environmental performance of all the states based on key indicators. The ranking was done based on the latest government reports for the states. Despite limitations, the analysis helps identify inadequacies and informs policy decisions.

A disturbing trend that emerged during the analysis exercise year after year is that data is not complete for any parameter. In some cases, the gaps are glaring and makes it impossible to see the true picture. This reminds us of the importance of strengthening our monitoring systems. 

The book has 12 chapters that detail the state of India’s water bodies, agriculture, waste management, food, employment, climate, economy, energy, air, migration, among others

The book will be available at the CSE online store from 12pm on June 4, 2023.