Conference on Continuous Emissions Monitoring System - International Experience

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has conducted an International Conference on “Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems” on 19th March, 2016 at India Habitat Centre where experts from developed economies like UK, Germany and France shared their experiences along with representatives from emerging economies. 

Brief on the Conference

An efficient real-time pollution monitoring and reporting system is essential to strengthen regulatory enforcement and compliance of environmental standards. Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) is a proven tool for this.

Developed countries including the US, European Union (EU) and Japan have already adopted and excelled in CEMS. Some emerging economies, including Brazil, China, Chile and Indonesia have also adopted CEMS. Over the last two years, India has begun taking steps towards CEMS. India’s Central Pollution Control Board has issued directions and mandated the installation of CEMS in highly polluting industries. The Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate change (MoEF&CC) has also proposed a draft notification on how CEMS should be adopted. 

The successful implementation of CEMS requires some basic infrastructure such as: an indigenous device certification system; skilled laboratories and a lab empanelment system; comprehensive guidelines for: suitable device selection; installation; data monitoring; reporting and compliance check mechanisms. The availability of skilled manpower and capacity building are also essential. At present, these basic requirements are not in place in India, creating multiple implementation challenges which must be urgently resolved. This session provided a platform for Indian stakeholders to learn from the experiences of CEMS implementation around the world.

Representatives from the UK, Germany, China, South Africa, and Indonesia shared their experiences and ideas on CEMS. Indian participants including Central and State Pollution Control Boards, device makers, service providers, and other relevant agencies like the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) also shared their views on the critical issues and way forward.