Tag Archives: citys

Mumbai Families Struggle as Data Centers Increase City’s Coal Dependence

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EEvery day, Kiran Kasbe navigates her rickshaw taxi amid the bustling Mahuls near her home on Mumbai’s eastern coast, where stalls brim with tomatoes, gourds, and eggplants, often enveloped in thick smog.

Earlier this year, doctors identified three tumors in her 54-year-old mother’s brain. The specific cause of her cancer remains unclear, yet those residing near coal-fired power plants have a significantly higher risk of developing such illnesses. A study indicates that Mahul’s residents live mere hundreds of meters from these plants.

The air quality in Mahul is notoriously poor; even with closed car windows, the pungent odor of oil and smoke seeps in.

“We are not the only ones suffering health issues here. Everything is covered in grime,” noted Kasbe, 36.

Last year, plans to shut down two coal-fired power plants operated by Indian firms Tata Group and Adani were announced as part of the government’s initiative to reduce emissions. However, by late 2023, these decisions were overturned after Tata claimed escalating electricity demand in Mumbai necessitated coal.

Neither firm responded to inquiries for comment.

Buildings blanketed in smog in Mumbai, India, January. Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images

India’s electricity demand has surged in recent years, driven by economic growth and increased air conditioning needs due to severe heat exacerbated by climate change. However, a study by Source Material and The Guardian highlighted that a primary hindrance for cities in relying on fossil fuels is the insatiable energy demands of data centers.

Leaked documents also expose Amazon’s significant presence in Mumbai, where it stands as the largest data center operator globally.

In metropolitan areas served by Amazon, the organization has noted three “availability zones,” indicating one or more data centers. Leaked data from a year ago indicated that the company operates 16 machines in the city.

Bhaskar Chakravorty, an academic at Tufts University analyzing technology’s societal impacts, remarked that the surge in data centers is creating a tension between energy needs and climate goals as India evolves its economy into an artificial intelligence hub.

“I’m not surprised by the slow progression towards a greener transition, particularly as demands grow rapidly,” he said regarding the Indian government’s stance.

Amazon spokesperson Kylie Jonas asserted that Mumbai’s “emissions issue” cannot be attributed to Amazon.

“On the contrary, Amazon is among the largest corporate contributors to renewable energy in India, backing 53 solar and wind initiatives capable of generating over 4 million megawatt-hours of clean energy each year,” she stated. “Once operational, these investments will power more than 1.3 million Indian households annually.”

Amazon is establishing numerous data centers globally, vying with Microsoft, Google, and other entities for dominance in the burgeoning AI sector.

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. office in Mumbai, India. Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Amazon Employee Climate Justice representative Eliza Pan criticized the company for not acknowledging its role in perpetuating reliance on one of the most polluting energy sources.

“Amazon is leveraging this shiny concept called AI to distract from the reality of building a dirty energy empire,” she said.

Jonas refuted this assertion, stating, “Not only are we recognized as the most efficient data center operator, but we’ve also been the top corporate purchaser of renewable energy for five successive years, with over 600 projects globally.”

Amazon’s claims regarding green energy are contentious. The organization has been scrutinized for engaging in “creative accounting” by acquiring renewable energy certificates alongside direct green energy purchases, as noted by a member of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice.

“Everything is contaminated”

Kasbe operates her rickshaw in Mahul, a former fishing settlement that has transformed into a residence for tens of thousands who were displaced from slums across the city.

Kiran Kasbe’s mother. Photo: Provided by Sushmita

Kasbe and her mother relocated here in 2018 after their home in Vidyavihar’s outskirts faced demolition. She was in good health prior to the move, but her medical condition significantly worsened, culminating in a brain tumor diagnosis.

Gajanan Tandol, a local resident, shared that pollution-related diseases are prevalent. “There are numerous instances of skin and eye inflammation, cancer, asthma, and tuberculosis, yet we receive no government assistance,” he lamented.

Another community member, Santosh Jadhav, implored the government to relocate residents from Mahul.

“Everything is tainted. We’re exhausted from fighting for a decent existence,” he stated. “This is hell for us.”

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hidden data center

Amazon, an e-commerce platform facilitating 13 million customer transactions daily, is investing billions into expanding its profitable cloud computing sector and enhancing its AI-assisted services, such as automated coding and translation, as per research from CapitalOne.

Many of the centers in Mumbai remain under the radar because they are leased rather than owned. Unlike in the U.S., where Amazon predominantly owns its facilities, it frequently rents entire data farms or server racks in centers shared with other companies elsewhere.

Xiaolei Ren, a computing scholar from the University of California, Riverside, remarked that shared “colocation” units lead to significantly higher energy consumption in data centers compared to wholly owned or fully leased operations.

“The majority of energy used in the data center sector is concentrated in colocation facilities,” he noted. “They are ubiquitous.”

Employees near the Amazon Prime brand in Mumbai, India, September. Photo: NurPhoto/Getty Images

Based on leaked information, Amazon’s colocation data center in Mumbai consumed 624,518 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2023, sufficient to power over 400,000 homes in India for an entire year.

India is on the verge of surpassing Japan and Australia, poised to become the second-largest consumer of data center power in the Asia-Pacific region. S&P predicts that by 2030, data centers will account for one-third of Mumbai’s energy consumption, according to Techno & Electric Engineering CEO Ankit Saraiya.

“Poison hell”

In a bid to keep up with power demand, the Maharashtra government has extended the operational duration of the Tata coal-fired power plant in Mahul by at least five years. Additionally, the closure of a 500-megawatt plant operated by Tata competitor Adani Group in the city’s north has been postponed.

When Tata requested an extension in its proposal to the State Energy Commission, it cited the rising energy demand from data centers as the primary justification. Adani projected that the anticipated surge in demand during the five years following the plant’s scheduled closure would come predominantly from data centers.

These power plants represent merely two of the numerous polluting sources within Mumbai’s Mahul district. The area also houses three oil refineries and 16 chemical facilities, as stated in a 2019 report by the Indian Center for Policy Research, which branded the locality a “toxic hell.”

The Tata power plant has been operational since 1984, and like many old power stations, it is subject to lenient emissions regulations, as noted by Raj Lal, chief air quality scientist at the World Emissions Network, who labeled it “one of the major contributors to air pollution in Mumbai.”

The Center for Energy and Clean Air Research noted that PM2.5 particles comprise nearly a third of the area’s pollution. PM2.5 particles are airborne and less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, which can lead to severe health issues when inhaled.

Smoke emanates from the chimney of Tata Power Company’s Trombay thermal facility in Mumbai, India, August 2017. Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Shripad Dharmadhikari, founder of the environmental organization Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, stated that the toxic heavy metals in ash generated by the factories are likely to trigger “respiratory diseases, kidney ailments, skin issues, and heart problems.”

While Tata’s facilities continue operations, Mumbai’s power grid is buckling under the increasing demand. To mitigate potential power shortages, Amazon’s colocation data center in the city has invested in 41 backup diesel generators and is seeking permission for additional installations, according to the leaked documents.

A report from the Center for Science and Technology Policy (CSTEP) released in August identified diesel generators as a primary pollutant source in the locality.

Air quality expert Swagata Dey at CSTEP argued that the presence of data centers requiring continuous electricity, coupled with the backup diesel generators, “will inevitably exacerbate emissions,” advocating for legal requirements for data center operators to utilize pollution-free solar energy.

Particularly, the Amazon facility across Thane Creek from Mahul has 14 generators already installed, and one partner was granted permission to set up another 12 generators on-site earlier this year.

“Public health considerations must be central to decisions regarding data center locations and energy source selections,” stated Wren from the University of California, Riverside, co-author of a recent paper evaluating the public health consequences of diesel generators in U.S. data centers.

Sushmita notes that in India, surnames are not commonly used as they signify caste, reflecting a hierarchical and discriminatory social structure.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paris Olympics to showcase city’s shift towards reducing air pollution by limiting car usage.

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Paris, the host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The city has made efforts to become greener by reducing its reliance on cars, setting an example for cities around the world.

Under the leadership of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris has enacted several changes to promote sustainability. Over 100 roads have been closed to automobiles, parking fees have tripled, SUVs have been restricted, around 50,000 parking spaces have been removed, and over 1,300 kilometers of bike lanes have been built.

These efforts have resulted in a 40% reduction in air pollution, according to city officials. Hidalgo expressed that Paris would end its dependency on cars through disruptive changes.

Although European cities like Paris have been leading the way in reducing car use, similar reforms in the U.S. have been slow to materialize. The American infrastructure has historically been built around cars, making it challenging to transition to alternative modes of transportation.

The environmental reforms in Paris have garnered support from residents like Louise Kraustl, who believes that fewer cars and more walking and cycling make the city safer and less polluted. Inspired by the concept of the “15-minute city,” Paris aims to create pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhoods where daily necessities are within easy reach.

While some cities in the U.S. have made progress in promoting biking and public transport, car dependency remains prevalent. Despite the challenges, experts emphasize the importance of reducing transportation emissions to combat climate change and improve air quality.

Paris’ efforts to prioritize sustainable urban planning serve as a model for other cities to follow. As cities worldwide grapple with the effects of climate change, the need for transportation reform becomes increasingly urgent.

The upcoming elections in Paris will be crucial in determining the city’s continued commitment to reducing car use and combating climate change.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

From Rust to Riches: Flying Taxi Startup Transforms Ohio City’s Prosperity

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FDayton, in southwestern Ohio, has been fighting for a decade to break out of its Rust Belt past. New apartment complexes, hotels, and breweries cut into a landscape dominated by abandoned warehouses and general industrial decline. But today, that transformation is shifting gears and taking to the skies.

Hundreds of flight facilities will be built in the town where the Wright brothers pioneered manned flight 120 years ago. futuristic flying taxi Every year.



Joby Aviation plans to build electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft here in Dayton, rather than in its home state of California.

Joby’s Didier Papadopoulos cited several reasons for the company’s plans to hire up to 2,000 people at a time. $500 million facility It is scheduled to open next year north of Dayton.

For one thing, “aviation has an immense history. It’s the birthplace of flight,” Papadopoulos said recently. He also said, “Ohio has a talented and skilled manufacturing workforce and we look forward to hiring and training both local and national applicants.”

Some expect the aircraft, which is scheduled to debut at this summer’s Paris Olympics, to reshape not just air travel but the broader mobility industry. In recent years, many startups and established companies have entered electric flying vehicles, and the global eVTOL market is expected to reach a value of $1 trillion by 2040.

Joby positions itself as the “Uber of the sky.” The aircraft has space for one pilot and four passengers and can reach speeds of up to 200 mph (322 km/h). A test flight in November took the plane from Lower Manhattan to JFK International Airport in just seven minutes, compared to an hour by taxi or subway.

The company aims to operate commercial flights between New York City and Los Angeles in 2025. Taxi service from home to airport on Delta Airlines.

President Joe Biden is plowing billions of dollars into a new era of manufacturing, with much of the money going to the industrial Midwest as part of a broader move to reduce U.S. dependence on other countries for key technology products. is flowing into. Millions of dollars in government incentives are being poured into new semiconductor and other mobility projects in Ohio. michigan and other states are often associated with socio-economic decline more generally.

The move could be a major turnaround for Dayton, which has lost nearly half its population since the 1960s.

“Ohio is Advanced air mobility plans” said Ted Angell of the Dayton Development Coalition, Joby’s liaison. “No other state was leaning so far forward.”

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, located a few miles east of Dayton, is the largest single employer in Ohio and boasts significant federal military research and development spending power, resulting in It is attracting a growing ecosystem of space partners and startups. area.

Nearby Springfield, a city of 60,000 people, has also suffered years of manufacturing closures, but the U.S. Air Force is helping build a new National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence, which is expected to become a hub for the aviation industry. . korean companies And elsewhere too.

“For products like this, [Joby] Jennifer Clark, a regional planning expert at Ohio State University, said: “That’s just normal in the airline industry. Almost every airline you can think of does both defense and civilian manufacturing. The Dayton area knows that very well.”

While the creation of thousands of new skilled jobs in economically challenged areas like Dayton has been widely welcomed, some of these communities may bear the cost.

Dayton has long been known as a place with an abundance of affordable housing, but rising rental prices over the past year have pushed residents to form a tenant associationin other citylarge manufacturing plants fueled a significant increase in real estate prices.

Ohio state government is the largest Taxpayers $325 million in taxes We will support Joby’s facility construction.Montgomery County, Dayton was suggested Donate $1 million to the company as “development costs.”



“There’s a belief among economic development officials that doing all this recruitment, retention and expansion with individual companies is risky and not the best use of taxpayer dollars,” Clark said. Stated. “Most of the research shows that if we want to have sustainable economic development, we need to invest in our entire institutional infrastructure. But it’s a long game.”

Mr Joby’s initial announcement suggested 2,000 jobs would be created, but that number has now been reduced to approaching 1,200may rise.

Still, investment from companies at the forefront of mobility is seen as a welcome shot in the arm for a region that has seen decades of population decline. That’s evidenced by the fact that the new factory sits on what was once a U.S. Postal Service airmail facility.

Angell, of the Dayton Development Coalition, said many community colleges and universities in the area are adjusting by opening training programs to establish a pipeline of technicians for Joby and other airlines. Ta.

“I can’t tell you how many tours I’ve done with school kids,” he says. ” [new] A flying revolution is happening here. ”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Severe Water Shortages Plague Mexico City’s 21 Million Residents

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The ancient relationship between Mexico City and water dates back to the city’s origins. Situated on a former lakebed that was drained after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the city now relies on underground aquifers and a network of canals, dams, and reservoirs from the Kutsamara water system for its main water supply.

Approximately 70% of the city’s water comes from underground sources, with the remaining 30% supplied by the Cuzamara system to the Mexico City metropolitan area and the Toluca Valley. However, increasing urbanization and overuse of aquifers have led to land subsidence, causing the city to sink at a rate of about 20 inches per year since 1950 due to continued groundwater extraction.

Despite efforts to repair and upgrade aging infrastructure, Mexico City’s water system struggles to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly growing population. Climate change further exacerbates the water crisis, with persistent drought and rising temperatures leading to decreased precipitation and limited water replenishment for aquifers and dams.

This water scarcity crisis has sparked protests and unrest among residents, with many areas facing severe water shortages. Efforts to conserve water and prioritize its usage have been urged by local authorities, as communities like Iztapalapa struggle to cope with limited water access.

For residents like Hernández Villa, conserving water has become a daily challenge, with measures like reducing laundry frequency and bathing in containers to stretch their limited water supply. The urgent need for sustainable water management and infrastructure upgrades is evident, as Mexico City grapples with a worsening water crisis.

Dennis Chou reported from New York City and Alvinson Linares from Mexico City.

Source: www.nbcnews.com