Month: August 2025

India faces a significant and growing waste management crisis, driven by rapid urbanization and changing consumption patterns. While the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has established rules under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the country struggles to cope with the sheer volume of waste generated annually. The Scale of the Problem India generates approximately 62 million tonnes of waste each year, but only 43 million tonnes are collected, and a mere 12 million tonnes are scientifically treated. The rest is left to rot in open landfills. This issue is set to worsen as per capita waste generation in urban areas is projected to increase four to six-fold by 2025. The challenge is multi-faceted: • Rapid Urbanization: Over 377 million people...

LONDON — A new study has revealed that deforestation has caused the deaths of more than half a million people in tropical regions over the past two decades. Published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the research found that localized temperature increases caused by land clearance are responsible for an estimated 28,330 heat-related deaths annually. The study's authors, from Brazil, Ghana, and the UK, found that deforestation in the rainforests of the Amazon, Congo, and Southeast Asia leads to localized warming by reducing shade, decreasing rainfall, and increasing the risk of wildfires. This effect, which is distinct from global climate change, accounts for over a third of the warming experienced by people in these regions. The report estimates that between 2001 and 2020, over 3...

A recent report reveals that all 1.4 billion Indians live in areas where air pollution exceeds the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines. The study, conducted by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), highlights the severe public health crisis linked to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). According to the report, PM2.5 concentrations in 2023 were higher than in 2022, and the average level across India is more than eight times the WHO's recommended standard. Life Expectancy and National Efforts The report estimates that if India were to permanently meet the global air quality standard, the average Indian could gain an additional 3.5 years of life expectancy. In the most polluted regions, such as the Northern Plains, 544 million residents could see an aver...

CHENNAI — The Water Resources Department (WRD) has initiated a new plan for flood mitigation and water storage improvement in Chennai with crucial financial and technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This collaboration aims to address the city's dual challenges of perennial flooding and increasing water scarcity. The plan focuses on restoring 28 major tanks within the city, including prominent ones like Porur, Ambattur, Kolathur, and Korattur. According to WRD Superintending Engineer M. Mahesh Nagarajan, the storage capacity of these tanks has drastically diminished due to silt deposits and the inflow of sewage. The project will involve extensive desilting and an inter-departmental effort with the Corporation and Metro Water to prevent future sewage co...

A new study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group reveals that climate change significantly intensified this summer’s massive wildfires in Turkiye, Greece, and Cyprus. The fires, which killed 20 people and burned over 1 million hectares, were found to be 22% more intense due to human-caused climate change, making 2025 Europe’s worst-ever recorded year for wildfires. Drier Conditions and Stronger Winds Fuel the Blazes The research highlights a clear link between climate change and the meteorological conditions that drove the fires. The study found that winter rainfall ahead of the fire season had dropped by about 14% since the pre-industrial era. In addition, climate change has made weeklong periods of dry, hot air 13 times more likely, priming vegetation to burn. The analys...

NEW DELHI – The Yamuna River has once again breached its danger mark in Delhi, rising above the 205.33-meter level at the Old Railway Bridge. This is the second time this monsoon season the river has crossed the danger threshold, primarily due to continuous rainfall in the capital and a high volume of water released from the Hathnikund Barrage. At its highest point, the water level was recorded at 205.39 meters. Delhi on Flood Watch as Water Levels Rise The city's flood control department is closely monitoring the situation, and an official stated that the increased water flow from upstream barrages is the main cause of the rising levels. The evacuation mark for low-lying areas begins at 206 meters, and authorities have already established flood relief camps in areas like Mayur Viha...

CHIPATA, ZAMBIA – Zambia is putting its Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at the forefront of its green energy transition. The country has launched a new capacity-building program in Chipata aimed at equipping small businesses and institutions with the skills and tools they need to champion renewable energy and contribute to the nation's clean growth agenda. The initiative, part of the United Nations Joint Sustainable Development Goals (JSDG) Fund Project, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the International Labour Organization (ILO), along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The program focuses on enhancing MSME productivity, encouraging innovation in the green economy, a...

NEW DELHI – A new study from IIT Indore, along with collaborators from the U.S. and Nepal, has found that the Gangotri Glacier System (GGS), a primary source of the Ganga River, has lost 10% of its snowmelt flow over the past four decades due to rising temperatures caused by climate change. The research, which analyzed data from 1980-2020, reveals a critical shift in the glacier's composition. Snowmelt Declines, Rainfall Increases Published in the Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, the study shows that while snowmelt remains the dominant source of water, its relative contribution has decreased from 73% in the 1980s to 63% in 2020. Conversely, the proportion of water from rainfall and base flow is increasing, a trend that scientists directly link to a 0.5°C rise in the a...

BRAZIL — The stage is set for a major confrontation over climate finance at the upcoming 30th Conference of Parties (COP30), to be held in Belém, Brazil. Developing countries, led by India, are poised to demand that wealthy nations honor their financial obligations under the Paris Agreement, a contentious issue that dominated and ultimately stalled negotiations at last year's COP29 summit in Baku. The previous summit, dubbed the "finance COP," ended in disappointment for many. The agreed-upon target to mobilize a minimum of $300 billion annually by 2035 fell far short of the $1.3 trillion developing nations had requested. Even more concerning, the final text from COP29 diluted the legal obligations of developed countries to provide public finance as stipulated by Article 9.1 of the Pari...

Shimla: In a landmark move for environmental sustainability, the Himachal Pradesh government has launched India's first state-supported biochar programme. The initiative, a collaboration between the state's horticulture university, the Forest Department, and ProClime Services Private Limited, will see the establishment of a biochar plant in Hamirpur within the next six months. Eco-Friendly Innovation for a Greener Future The program is a multi-pronged approach to environmental management and economic development. At its core, it focuses on the sustainable utilization of biomass waste, converting it into a valuable product called biochar. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance created by heating biomass in a low-oxygen environment, a process known as pyrolysis. When added to soil, it he...