Just Transition in the Brick Sector of Bihar - Assessing and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Bihar’s Brick Sector

Every winter, over 140 million Indians face severe air pollution as the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpasses the hazardous threshold of 300. Source apportionment studies highlight that Bihar's air pollution is significantly influenced by brick manufacturing, contributing to 15% of the pollution. Additionally, transportation, domestic fuel use, and industry constitute other major sources of pollution in the State. In recent decades, there has been a surge in brick manufacturing due to intensified real estate and construction activities. This industry, characterized by traditional methods, limited mechanization, and small-scale operations, annually produces 23 billion bricks, depleting 65 million tons of fertile topsoil. Remarkably, the brick sector ranks as Bihar's third-largest CO2 emitter, trailing agriculture, and energy, exerting a substantial impact on climate change by releasing Greenhouse Gases, Black Carbon, Sulfur Dioxide, etc. This study critically addresses Bihar's pressing air pollution issue, specifically focusing on the brick manufacturing sector, a significant contributor to the State's hazardous air quality. Bihar, experiencing the highest economic loss as a percentage of its GDP (1.95%) and holding one of the lowest per-capita GDPs among Indian states, stands particularly vulnerable to the adverse economic impacts of air pollution. Disturbingly, the state contributes to over 50% of air pollution-related deaths in the region (Lancet Planetary Health, Dec 22, 2020). Despite the State's substantial efforts to tackle escalating emissions from brick kilns, including transitioning to cleaner alternatives and imposing a ban on new licenses, this paper contends that the persistence of extensive emissions is attributed to the use of low-grade coal and inadequate production processes, even with the adoption of environment-friendly technologies. Primary data, including remote sensing, AI, and on-ground surveys, was employed to identify and collect data from 7865 brick kilns in Bihar. The GeoAI (Accelerator labs, UNDP) platform accurately marked kiln locations and types, while field surveys validated the AI-generated data. The primary survey covered 33% of the kilns, estimating a total of 10.01 million tons CO2e per annum, making the brick sector a significant contributor to industrial emissions in the state. In the broader field of study, this paper contributes by showcasing the application of GeoAI and primary surveys to quantify emissions from brick kilns, offering a comprehensive understanding of the sector's environmental impact. The study's significance lies in its revelation that despite technological advancements, improper practices, and low-grade coal hinder emissions reduction. The study recommends a multifaceted approach to reduce emissions by almost 70%. This includes policy measures, technological advancements, and a large-scale capacity-building effort. Strategies involve introducing alternative fuels, such as coal briquettes, and transitioning to cleaner technologies like Zig-Zag kilns. The study underscores the importance of building awareness and providing technical know-how to stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these measures. In conclusion, this research quantifies the emissions from the brick manufacturing sector in Bihar and provides actionable strategies for reducing environmental impact. By addressing the issue of pollution in the state, this study contributes to the broader field of environmental science. It emphasizes the urgency of adopting cleaner technologies to safeguard public health and the environment.