Month: June 2025

  Pakistan is struggling to meet its water needs during the ongoing kharif cropping season due to consistently low water levels in its dams. This situation has been triggered by India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and is expected to worsen in the coming years as India moves forward with multiple projects on the Indus river system. With agriculture forming the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, the impact of this water shortage could be severe, potentially causing widespread economic damage. India has begun implementing a broad plan to optimise the use of the Indus river waters, including inter-basin water transfers. One of the key projects under this plan is a proposed 113-kilometre-long canal designed to redirect surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to the states of Punj...

In a fresh boost for both environmental sustainability and farmer welfare, the Uttar Pradesh government has extended its Carbon Credit Scheme to the farmers of Prayagraj, offering them a new way to earn while helping combat climate change. Under this initiative, farmers can generate tradable carbon credits simply by planting trees that absorb carbon dioxide turning their fields into green assets. The scheme, already in operation across 13 forest divisions of the state, has now been rolled out in Prayagraj and surrounding areas. “We are promoting fast-growing species like poplar, melia dubia, semal, eucalyptus, and neem, which are ideal for absorbing carbon dioxide,” said Arvind Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Prayagraj. For every tonne of carbon dioxide absorbed, farmers ea...

Professor Gerhard Adrian of Germany has been awarded the prestigious International Meteorological Organization (IMO) Prize, the top honor of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in recognition of his outstanding contribution to weather science, international cooperation, and data policy reform. At the award ceremony, Adrian reflected on five decades of transformation in weather forecasting. "In 1975, we questioned if forecasts beyond two days were reliable. Today, seven-day forecasts are as accurate as one-day predictions were fifty years ago," he said during his lecture titled “Following 50 Years of the Evolution of Numerical Weather Prediction from my Personal Perspective.” Transforming Forecasting and Global Data Policy Adrian’s leadership has spanned national and global ...

A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Uttarkashi’s Mori area early Friday morning when the wall of a house collapsed, killing four members of the same family. The incident occurred around 2 AM in the Gujjar colony of Odata village. According to the Uttarkashi District Disaster Management Office, the victims were asleep when the wall gave way. Emergency teams, including personnel from the administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), quickly reached the remote site located about one kilometre uphill from the main road to carry out rescue and relief operations. Rescuers recovered the bodies of all four family members: Ghulam Hussain (26), his wife Rukma Khatoon (23), their three-year-old son Abid, and ten-month-old daughter Salma. Officials suspect that either the recen...

Delhi air quality has seen a welcome improvement with the Air Quality Index (AQI) holding steady at a 'satisfactory' level of 89 for the second consecutive day. This marks the cleanest air recorded in the city in over eight months, according to official monitoring data. The improvement follows a 100-day government plan focused on reducing pollution levels across the city. As part of the initiative, more than 11 lakh kilometres of roads have been cleaned since February 20, alongside daily water sprinkling to keep dust under control. Weather conditions are also expected to play a role in maintaining or further improving air quality. The India Meteorological Department has issued a 'yellow' alert for thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall in the capital, which could help clear air...

A large majority of Indians believe that oil, gas, and coal companies should be taxed to pay for the environmental harm caused by floods, droughts, wildfires, and health issues linked to pollution. This was revealed in a recent international survey released during the ongoing Bonn Climate Conference 2025. According to the findings, 80% of Indian respondents agreed that fossil fuel corporations should bear financial responsibility for these damages. Over half of them said oil and gas companies should be taxed directly, while another 23% felt that taxes should be extended to other businesses. Around 13% said the cost should be passed on to consumer goods, and 10% felt working people should also contribute. When asked who should carry the main burden of such taxes, 43% of respondents po...

  Mauritius is facing an alarming water shortage as changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and increasing demand strain the island nation’s limited water resources. Once abundant, the country’s reservoirs are now dangerously low, holding just 38.2% of their capacity compared to 92.6% in February 2024. The island’s population has more than doubled since the 1950s, pushing demand for water to new highs. At the same time, rainfall over the past decade has declined by 8%, compounding the stress on supplies. Scientists warn that droughts in Mauritius are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening agriculture, industries, and the daily lives of people, especially in the central plateau and coastal regions. The government has imposed strict water-use restrictions. Washi...

A recent analysis by a Delhi-based think tank has revealed a troubling rise in ground-level ozone pollution across the National Capital Region (NCR) during the summer of 2025. The study found that ozone levels breached national safety standards nearly every day from March to May, with a wider spread and longer duration compared to previous years. Between May 25 and June 11, ozone emerged as the dominant pollutant on 12 of 18 days in the city’s official Air Quality Index readings, surpassing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for the first time over such an extended period. However, the city’s current pollution control framework under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) does not include specific measures to curb ozone or its precursor gases, leaving a critical gap in efforts to manage th...

For a city long plagued by choking smog and dust-laden skies, Delhi woke up to a rare and refreshing sight this week clean, breathable air. For the second consecutive day, the capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) held steady at a 'satisfactory' level of 89, marking the best air quality the city has seen in more than eight months. This welcome change, confirmed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), follows the rollout of an ambitious 100-day action plan by the Delhi government. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa credited this rare improvement to intensified road cleaning efforts, with more than 11 lakh kilometers of city roads swept and regular water sprinkling operations helping to keep dust levels in check since February 20. And there’s more relief on the way. The Indi...

Two years after the fierce winds and heavy rains of Cyclone Gabrielle battered Auckland and much of New Zealand’s North Island, the scars of that storm are still visible but so are signs of strength, unity, and renewal. Thanks to the generosity of Kiwis who supported a special Lotto draw held in March 2023, Auckland’s local communities are now receiving much-needed support. Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced that $1.8 million in grants has been distributed to 71 community organisations across Auckland, funding projects aimed at rebuilding, strengthening emergency services, and preparing for future climate risks. “Cyclone Gabrielle caused devastating damage, tearing through homes, disrupting lives, and testing the spirit of our people,” van Velden said. “But this...