INDIAN NIGHT
With 1.38 billion people living in the country, India is the second most populous nation on the planet, after China and far ahead of the United States. This demography, combined with unbridled urbanisation and rampant modernisation, has turned the country into an energy-guzzling ogre, and New Delhi tops the list of the world’s most polluted cities.
With 1.38 billion people living in the country, India is the second most populous nation on the planet, after China and far ahead of the United States. This demography, combined with unbridled urbanisation and rampant modernisation, has turned the country into an energy-guzzling ogre, and New Delhi tops the list of the world’s most polluted cities. The figures speak for themselves. 2.5 million tonnes of coal are devoured every day to meet the energy needs of India’s population (70% of electricity is produced by coal-fired power stations). At the COP26 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a goal of carbon neutrality by 2070 through massive investment in renewable energy, yet his government has done nothing to reduce India’s dependence on coal. On the contrary: the state recently auctioned off 40 coal mines for commercial purposes.
In his images, AFP photographer Money Sharma illustrates all the links in the Indian coal chain, from domestic consumption for boiling water or heating homes to the huge mines from which thousands of tons of this black gold are excavated. This fuel is poisoning the planet and the health of the people who live on this land, scorched and scarred by crevices from which flames and toxic gases escape.
VENELLE SAINT-VINCENT
Agence France-Presse is a vital link in the international news chain and a beacon of quality journalism. For the third year running, our Festival is joining forces with AFP to present the work of press photographers.
Exhibition produced in collaboration with Agence France-Presse.
