Month: June 2026

In a significant step toward tackling rising temperatures and environmental degradation, the Karnataka government has launched an ambitious urban afforestation initiative based on the Miyawaki forest model. The project aims to create dense mini-forests across nearly 100 urban local bodies in the state, with the first phase beginning in Belagavi on World Environment Day. The initiative was inaugurated by Asif Seth, who planted saplings alongside students, local residents, and municipal officials at Nandini Marg in Srinagar, Belagavi. Several additional Miyawaki parks are planned in different parts of the city, including Chandramouli Colony, Ramatirtha Nagar, Mahantesh Nagar, Hudco Colony, and the TV Centre area. The project comes as rapid urbanisation continues to reduce green spaces an...

A new scientific study has raised concerns that climate change may be progressing faster than previously estimated, potentially bringing key global warming thresholds closer than expected. Researchers argue that the rate of human driven warming has accelerated significantly over the past decade although some climate scientists remain cautious about the conclusion. Published in March 2026 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters study by climate researchers Grant Foster and Stefan Rahmstorf found that global temperatures have been rising at approximately 0.35 degrees Celsius per decade since 2015. This is substantially higher than the long term warming rate of about 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade observed since the 1970s. According to the authors, this represents the fastest decada...

The global fashion industry is facing increasing scrutiny over its enormous environmental footprint, with new estimates showing that a single cotton T-shirt requires approximately 2,700 litres of water to produce. Experts say this amount is roughly equal to one person's drinking water needs for two and a half years. According to environmental assessments cited by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the water footprint of a cotton T-shirt includes irrigation for growing cotton, textile processing, dyeing, and finishing. While production methods vary by region, cotton remains one of the most water-intensive crops used in commercial agriculture. The impact becomes even more significant when viewed on an industry-wide scale. The fashion sector consumes an estimated 79 to 93 billion cubic metr...

In a rare piece of positive environmental news scientists have found that the world's mangrove forests are making a significant comeback after decades of destruction. A new study reveals that since 2010, global mangrove gains have exceeded losses, marking a major turnaround for one of the planet's most important coastal ecosystems. Mangroves are salt tolerant trees that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines. Often overlooked they play a crucial role in protecting communities and combating climate change. Their dense root systems help shield coastal regions from storm surges, cyclones and tsunamis, while also providing breeding grounds for fish and marine species. At the same time, mangroves are among the world's most efficient carbon sinks storing up to five times more carbon d...

In a major push to improve air quality and expand green spaces across the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on World Environment Day inaugurated 18 Namo Oxygen Parks and announced an ambitious plan to plant 15 lakh trees and saplings across the city this year. The launch event was held in Maidangarhi and was attended by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. The initiative marks the beginning of a large scale urban afforestation programme aimed at enhancing Delhi green cover and addressing long standing air pollution concerns. Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government plans to establish 100 Oxygen Parks in different parts of the city over the coming years. These parks are designed to serve as green lungs for urban areas by increasing ...

A new study has raised concerns about the hidden environmental cost of global plastic recycling, revealing that large volumes of plastic waste exported to developing countries are being openly burned, causing dangerous air pollution and increasing health risks for local communities. The study examined what happens when plastic waste is shipped from wealthier nations to lower and middle income countries, where waste management infrastructure is often inadequate. According to the findings, between 40% and 65% of municipal solid waste in many developing countries is openly burned, largely because around 2 billion people worldwide lack access to proper waste collection services. When plastic is burned, it releases a cocktail of hazardous pollutants, including fine particulate matter, car...

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Bhutan near the Punakha region late Sunday night at approximately 11:06 PM. According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.21 miles). Strong tremors lasting several seconds were felt widely across the region, including Sikkim, North Bengal, parts of Northeast India, and Bangladesh. Many residents took to social media to report the shaking, with some temporarily leaving their homes as a precaution. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage. The incident followed a separate 4.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Afghanistan at a depth of 160 km earlier that day.  

The newly formed government in West Bengal has announced a fresh initiative to tackle Kolkata's growing plastic waste problem. Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul said that cloth bag vending machines will be installed in city markets within the next three months, after which fines will be imposed on people using banned single use plastic bags. The announcement came during an inspection of canals and drainage infrastructure ahead of the monsoon season. Officials have repeatedly pointed out that plastic waste is one of the biggest causes of waterlogging in Kolkata. Plastic bags often clog gully pits, manholes and drainage channels, while pumps at drainage stations sometimes stop functioning because plastic becomes entangled in their motors. Although single use plastic bags were o...

The world is facing an escalating plastic pollution crisis as global plastic production continues to surge while recycling rates remain stubbornly low. New research highlights how plastic waste is not only accumulating in the environment but is increasingly being detected inside the human body, raising fresh concerns about long term health impacts. According to recent estimates, the world now produces around 460 million tonnes of plastic every year, compared to just 2 million tonnes in 1950. Scientists warn that if current trends continue, annual plastic production could exceed 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060. Despite widespread recycling campaigns, only about 9 percent of plastic waste is successfully recycled worldwide. The remainder is either incinerated, sent to landfills, or leaks in...

A small freshwater fish living in the rivers of Mexico and southern Texas is challenging one of biology’s oldest assumptions. The Amazon molly, an all-female fish species, has survived for nearly 100,000 years without reproducing through normal sexual reproduction, surprising scientists who once believed such species were destined for extinction. Unlike most animals, Amazon mollies do not inherit genes from males. The fish reproduces through a rare process known as gynogenesis. Females mate with males from closely related species, but the male’s DNA is not passed on to the offspring. Instead, the sperm only triggers egg development, resulting in daughters that are essentially clones of their mothers. For decades, scientists believed that species reproducing without genetic mixing wou...