Month: August 2025

A new report argues that a global ban on cigarette filters is necessary to address a dual crisis of public health and plastic pollution. Filters, initially marketed by the tobacco industry in the 1950s as a way to make smoking "safer," have been proven to offer no health benefits and may even increase the risk of certain cancers by allowing smokers to inhale more deeply. Despite this, a majority of smokers still believe filters reduce harm. An Environmental Disaster Beyond the health deception, cigarette filters are a major environmental threat. Made from a plastic called cellulose acetate, they are the most littered item on the planet. An estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded annually, with roughly 800,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste entering the environment each y...

NEW DELHI – In a move to strengthen India's disaster management capabilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed two new members and re-nominated three existing ones to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The appointments, announced on Saturday, are aimed at enhancing the nation's strategies for disaster prevention, mitigation, and response. The new members are Dinesh Kumar Aswal, a notable scientist, and Rita Missal, a specialist in disaster recovery. Their addition is expected to bring fresh expertise to the authority's work. Meanwhile, existing members Rajendra Singh, Krishna Swaroop Vatsa, and Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) will continue their tenure for another three years. The appointments were made under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and were confir...

In the wake of continuous and torrential rainfall, the water levels of Uttarakhand's major rivers have risen to dangerous levels, prompting the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun to issue a high-alert. On Friday, the SEOC advised District Magistrates across the state to implement immediate precautions to avert any potential tragedies. The advisory comes as multiple districts report alarming rises in river levels. Earlier in the day, police in Chamoli and Rudraprayag issued urgent warnings to residents living along riverbanks, urging them to evacuate to safer locations. In Chamoli, police have proactively alerted the public that rivers have reached critical heights. "Your vigilance is your safety," a statement from the Chamoli police emphasized, urging residents...

A new study by Indian researchers has revealed a concerning escalation in Delhi's air pollution crisis, with microplastics found in airborne particulate matter. The study highlights that adults in the national capital inhale nearly twice as many microplastic particles during the summer as they do in winter. The average daily exposure jumped by 97%, rising from 10.7 particles in colder months to 21.1 during the hotter season. Types of Microplastics and Health Risks The study, conducted by scientists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and Savitribai Phule Pune University, found a total of 2,087 microplastics in particulate samples from across Delhi. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic commonly used in bottles and food packaging, was the most prevale...

LILONGWE, MALAWI – Malawi is embarking on a strategic new approach to combat the escalating threat of climate change, integrating advanced technology with deep-rooted community action. With recurring climate shocks projected to slash the nation's GDP by up to 16% by 2050, the country is fast-tracking efforts to expand early warning systems and operationalize a new AI-based weather prediction system. The convergence of these initiatives was the focus of the recent Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Malawi Partner Coordination and Stocktaking Meeting. According to Yusuf Mkungula, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, building effective partnerships is paramount to delivering sustainable climate services to every citizen. The two-day gatherin...

LAHORE, PAKISTAN – In a catastrophic turn of events, Lahore and numerous areas across Pakistan's Punjab province have suffered unprecedented flooding for the first time in nearly four decades. The severe deluge, fueled by unusually heavy monsoon rains and the release of excess water from India's eastern rivers, has claimed at least 22 lives in the last 24 hours alone. The impact has been widespread, with over 1.5 million people affected and nearly 1,700 villages, including significant sites like Kartarpur, submerged by the rising waters. Parts of Lahore, the provincial capital situated along the Ravi River, have been inundated, with floodwaters engulfing residential areas and damaging critical infrastructure. The situation marks the first time in 38 years that the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chen...

While hurricanes and floods grab headlines with their sudden, dramatic destruction, droughts often go unnoticed by the media and financial markets. Yet, a new study reveals that this "silent crisis" has severe and far-reaching economic consequences that are often underestimated, draining livelihoods and destabilizing entire communities. Droughts Hidden Impact Beyond Farms A new report highlights that droughts a prolonged shortage of precipitation do more than just hurt farmers. Their effects ripple through the economy, disrupting supply chains and tightening profit margins for the entire food industry. Utilities are also hit hard, as shrinking water supplies strain water providers and can halt hydropower production, increasing electricity costs. Low river levels can even stall car...

A team of scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Italy has successfully created an unprecedentedly detailed 3D model of the interior of the Vulcano volcano, located in northern Sicily. This groundbreaking achievement, detailed in a study published in Nature Communications, represents a significant leap forward in understanding volcanic structures and could revolutionize risk management and eruption anticipation. A "Photographic" Breakthrough Unlike previous large-scale studies that only provided broad outlines, this new research offers a high-resolution, three-dimensional "photograph" of Vulcano's internal structure. The team, led by UNIGE doctoral student Douglas Stumpp, used a technique called seismic ambi...

The Delhi floods of July 2023 were a major disaster with the Yamuna River breaching a 45-year-high water level, submerging large parts of the city. While heavy rainfall in the upstream regions was a primary trigger, a confluence of other factors turned a natural event into a significant urban crisis. The floods caused widespread disruption, damaging infrastructure, and displacing thousands of people. The disaster highlighted systemic vulnerabilities and prompted a reevaluation of the city's flood management strategies. Causes of the Floods The 2023 floods were not simply a result of a single cause but rather a combination of meteorological and human-made factors that amplified the disaster impact. The increasing frequency of floods has raised concerns due to climate change, s...

A new report has found a significant gap between the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) orders and their on-the-ground implementation in India's coal-bearing regions. The analysis reveals that while the NGT has repeatedly mandated compensation and environmental restoration based on the principle of absolute liability, a lack of monitoring and weak regulatory enforcement have often prevented the money from reaching affected communities and delayed crucial clean-up efforts. Restoration Mandates Often Unmet The report highlights several cases where the NGT ordered mandatory environmental restoration. For example, in the Sonbhadra case, a committee was directed to plan repairs for damage caused by coal dumping. In the Mejia case, over ₹12 crore was set aside for restoration. However, the re...