March 2025 - Page 13 of 14

Mar42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Unplanned Urbanisation Fuels Rising Heat Managing Blue-Green Spaces Key to Mitigation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Urbanisation is coming at the cost of natural blue and green spaces leading to a surge in surface temperatures and exacerbating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Researchers warn that without sustainable urban planning or urban centres especially in developing nations like India will face hazardous heat stress, threatening both human health and local ecosystems. Urbanisation and Rising Temperatures The C(UN) estimates that by 2050, 68% of the global population will live in urban areas, with 90% of this growth concentrated in Asia and Africa. As a result, the rate of urban land expansion is already twice as fast as population growth, leading to a dramatic transformation of landscapes. Studies project that by the end of the 21st century, the Land Surface Temperature (LST) could ri...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rajasthan Churu Leaving Farmers Devastated as Crops Destroyed in Thar Desert’s Unexpected Winter Scene

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The Churu district of Rajasthan known for its scorching temperatures and arid terrain witnessed an unusual hailstorm and heavy rainfall, transforming parts of the Great Indian Thar Desert into a surreal winter-like landscape. Villages such as Bhanipura, Bisarasar, Rajasar, and Sardarshahar were blanketed in hail, with farmers counting heavy losses as crops neared harvest. Hailstones, described as the size of jujubes, wreaked havoc on farmlands, devastating mustard, wheat, barley, isabgol, fenugreek, and gram crops. Vishnu Parikh, a farmer from Rajasar Panwaran, expressed his distress, stating, "Everything we worked for this season is gone in minutes. The damage is severe." Another farmer, Raj Kumar Sharma, called for immediate government relief and compensation, fearing an economic setb...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cloudburst Triggers Flash Floods in Himachal’s Kangra, Villages Cut Off as Roads Blocked and Homes Damaged

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

A cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district has caused flash floods, leaving villages cut off and damaging homes, roads, and vehicles. The worst-affected area is Luwai village in the remote Chhota Bhanghal valley. Heavy rainfall over the past 48 hours has led to landslides and rising water levels. Four vehicles were buried under debris, while 14 houses and a middle school building suffered severe damage. Power supply poles have been uprooted, leaving many villages without electricity. Landslides and fallen trees have blocked roads, stopping traffic in areas like Multhan, Luhardi, Barot, and Kothi Kohar. Hundreds of vehicles are stranded as roads remain covered with snow and large rocks. To prevent further damage, authorities have opened the floodgates of two hydroelectric p...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mass NOAA Layoffs Spark Outrage Raise Alarm Over Weather Forecasting, National Security

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

Hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been laid off as part of the Trump administration’s sweeping effort to reduce the size of the federal government. The move has triggered strong backlash from lawmakers, scientists, and former NOAA officials, who warn of severe risks to public safety, economic stability, and national security. The layoffs, which began on February 27, targeted probationary employees—those with less than two years of service or who had recently been promoted or transferred. The Commerce Department, which oversees NOAA, issued termination notices, with some employees given as little as two hours to leave their offices, according to NPR. Weather Forecasting at Risk NOAA plays a crucial role in weather forecasting, ...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

28 Buried Chamoli Avalanche Climate Change Behind Deadly Disaster, Say Experts

Breaking News, Disasters

A devastating avalanche in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on February 28 buried 55 workers of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), killing four and leaving five missing. Experts blame climate change for shifting snowfall patterns, which may have triggered the disaster. The workers were clearing snow on the road between Badrinath and Mana when the avalanche struck. Some reports suggest it happened around noon, while others claim it hit at 5 am when the workers were sleeping in their tin shed. Rescue teams, facing heavy snowfall and poor communication, have managed to save 50 people. Efforts continue to locate the missing. Changing Weather Patterns Raise Avalanche Risk Uttarakhand’s winter was drier than usual, with only 6.9 mm of rainfall recorded between January 1 and February 15 ...

Mar32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IMD Reports India Faces Hottest February in 125 Years

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Opinions

February 2025 has been the hottest in India since 1901, with the average mean temperature reaching 22.04°C, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The month also recorded the second-highest maximum temperature at 29.07°C, nearly 1.5°C above normal. Experts attribute this extreme heat to climate change and the absence of western disturbances. Unprecedented Heat and Rainfall Deficit The IMD report highlights that February 2025 was not only abnormally warm but also among the driest in 125 years. The country received less than half of its usual rainfall, with an overall deficit of 59% during the winter season (January-February). Central India was hit hardest, recording an 89.3% rainfall deficit, while Northwest India saw a 64.4% shortfall. The cumulative rainfa...

Mar12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Shockingly Avalanche Strikes Near Badrinath chamoli 55 Workers Still Trapped

Breaking News, Disasters

A massive avalanche hit Badrinath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday morning, trapping 57 workers engaged in snow-clearing operations to facilitate army movement. So far, 32 workers have been rescued, while 25 remain stranded near a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Mana village. Rescue Operations Underway The avalanche struck between Mana and Mana Pass, burying a BRO camp where the workers, employed by a private contractor, were stationed for road construction. Despite continuous snowfall and rain, rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and BRO are working tirelessly to locate and extract the stranded workers. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured that...

Mar12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Experts Warn of Rising Urban Heat and Extreme Weather at Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

At the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025, climate experts painted a grim picture of India's worsening extreme weather, highlighting urban heat, rising nighttime temperatures, and the growing impact of climate change on agriculture. Urban Heat and Warm Nights on the Rise In the session titled "In the Red: Why Are Our Cities Heating Up?", experts discussed how increasing urban heat islands and warm nights are endangering public health and livelihoods. Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, explained that India is highly vulnerable to extreme weather due to its tropical location and rapidly warming oceans. “The Indian Ocean may enter a permanent heatwave state by 2050,” Koll warned, adding that oceanic heatwaves could increase from 20–50 ...

Mar12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rescue Operations Underway After Avalanche Traps 57 Near Badrinath

Breaking News, Disasters

A massive avalanche struck near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, trapping 57 workers at a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) project site. So far, 33 people have been rescued and shifted to an ITBP camp in Mana for treatment, while rescue teams continue efforts to save the remaining workers. Mana, located 55 km from the India-China border, is a well-known tourist destination once referred to as "the last village of India" but now recognized as "the first Indian village" before the border. Every year, residents migrate to lower altitudes between November and April to escape extreme winter temperatures, which often plunge below -17°C. At the time of the avalanche, the village was deserted, with its residents staying in Gopeshwar, the district headquarters, about 1...

Mar12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Taranaki Drought Declared Medium-Scale Adverse Event as Farmers Struggle

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

New Zealand’s Taranaki region has been officially classified as experiencing a medium-scale adverse event due to persistent drought conditions, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. The extreme heat and lack of rainfall have severely impacted pasture growth, forcing many farmers to sell livestock early or rely on stored feed. "Conditions on the ground are becoming extremely difficult," McClay said. "Taranaki is experiencing persistent dry weather, and we recognize the toll this is taking on the farming community." In response, the government has allocated $30,000 to rural support groups providing direct aid to affected farmers. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is also monitoring conditions nationwide to determine if further intervention is needed. Rural Communities ...