India has recently leapfrogged to the much cleaner BSVI emissions standards for vehicles. It is also opting for electric mobility pathways. Measures like these can open up opportunities for fleet renewal-replacing old, uneconomical (and often, grossly polluting) vehicles.
However, the success and impact of any initiatives aimed at fleet renewal will depend on the speed with which such actions are carried out (to quickly replace the polluting vehicles). The programme will also have to be well designed to target the most polluting vehicle segments, the nature of the replacement vehicles and the design of the incentives.
At the same time, the end-of-life vehicles that have exhausted their useful economic life will require careful disposal to minimise environmental damage, as well as recover material from the waste for recycling and reuse. Guidelines exist for scrappage infrastructure and safe disposal, but their enforceability will have to be the priority.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) invites you to a virtual Round Table discussion and Webinar and the release of a new report on `environment-friendly vehicle scrappage and end-of life programme for green recovery'.
The meeting is expected to bring together all the key stakeholders including policymakers, air quality regulators, and representatives from vehicle industry, the vehicle scrappage and recycling sector, and vehicle certification agencies, to debate on the design of a scrappage policy that is needed to scrap old vehicles and replace them with new vehicles and how air quality and environmental gains from this initiative can be maximised even as the fleet renewal strategy catalyses the market demand.
