Terming diesel as 'villain' of the air pollution, environmental experts today said technology for better fuels was available and governments were keen to act to move ahead but only automobile industry seems to be 'stalling' it and they needs to be brought on board.
Addressing 'Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2015', organised by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) here, experts and researchers said the use of diesel in vehicles will increase across the world, including India, and demanded that the country should implement Euro 6 emission standards by 2020 to cut vehicular diesel pollution.
"The bad news is diesel usage in vehicles will continue to grow across the world -- including India -- and diesel remains the villain of the air pollution and mobility stage.
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"The good news is, the technology to leapfrog to better fuels is available and governments and refineries are keen to act on this. Only the automobile industry seems to be stalling and needs to be brought on board," CSE said in a statement today.
CSE pointed out that even the limited evidences in India points toward high contribution of diesel fuel combustion in cities in formation of tiny killer particles - PM2.5.
"Some of the deadliest air toxics (WHO says some of them can lead to cancers) are related to diesel emissions. These have been blamed for killing unborn foetuses as well. Urgent action is therefore needed to deal with this menace," said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director(Research and Advocacy) CSE.
Diesel produces a higher proportion of black carbon which absorbs light and forces heating, as opposed to biomass burning in cooking stoves which produces more organic carbon that scatters sunlight. Of total black carbon emissions across the world, 20 per cent is expected to be generated by diesel, she said.
CSE noted that India implemented its Auto Fuel Policy in 2010, which introduced the Bharat Stage-3 emission norms all over the country and the Bharat Stage-4 in 13 cities.
The proposal to extend Bharat Stage-4 to more cities by April 1, 2015 was, however, "nixed" in a meeting of Standing Committee of Emissions held in February 2015, it said.
