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Europe forests once reliable allies in the fight against climate change, are now showing signs of distress. A new study published in the journal Nature reveals that climate change-induced heatwaves and droughts, combined with human activities like excessive logging and reduced afforestation, are significantly reducing the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide. Forests currently cover around 40% of Europe’s landmass and have historically absorbed about 10% of the continent’s carbon emissions. But recent data from the Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) inventory shows that the carbon sink capacity of forests declined by 27% between 2010–2014 and 2020–2022. Researchers note an even steeper drop in 2025. Extreme weather events are disrupting tree growth and photosynthesis while ...

In the wake of the devastating cloudburst that hit Dharali village in Uttarkashi, the Uttarakhand Health Department, under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has launched an immediate and comprehensive emergency medical response to assist affected residents. Medical teams were rapidly deployed to the disaster zone, providing urgent care and coordinating relief operations. Health Secretary Dr. R Rajesh Kumar is leading the health response, personally overseeing hospital readiness and ensuring that all necessary facilities are fully equipped to handle the surge in patients. “No patient shall face a shortage of medical care,” Dr. Kumar stated during his inspection of emergency and ICU services in major hospitals in Dehradun. He emphasized that mental health support ...

As 180 nations gather in Geneva to negotiate a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty, India finds itself in a deeply conflicted position defending its rapidly growing petrochemical industry while grappling with the environmental damage it is causing at home. India has joined ranks with countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia in opposing any treaty provisions that would impose production caps on plastic polymers or restrict toxic chemicals used in plastic manufacturing. Instead, India has pushed for the treaty to focus only on waste management, not curbing production. But the stakes are high. If the treaty passes in its current form supported by over 106 of the 180 nations present it would require binding international rules to reduce not just plastic pollution, but the ...

SYDNEY: The Great Barrier Reef has recorded its sharpest decline in coral cover in 39 years, with scientists blaming climate change-driven heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and coral-eating starfish outbreaks for the devastation. The 2024 mass bleaching event has now become the most widespread ever documented, leading to over 70% loss in hard coral cover in some regions. According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), this marks the fifth mass bleaching since 2016, and part of the ongoing global coral bleaching crisis that began in 2023. AIMS surveyed 124 reefs between August 2024 and May 2025. The findings were stark: •48% of reefs saw a decline in coral cover. •42% remained unchanged. •Only 10% showed recovery. The northern GBR, especially around Lizard Isla...

The devastating cloudburst and flash floods that struck Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand on August 5, 2025, mark yet another grim reminder of how vulnerable the Himalayan region is to climate change and extreme weather events. While the immediate impact was tragic with lives lost, villages destroyed, and critical infrastructure swept away the broader implications are equally alarming. This article breaks down the disaster, the science behind it, and what it tells us about the intersection of climate change, human activity, and disaster preparedness in one of India’s most ecologically sensitive zones. What Happened in Uttarkashi? On the afternoon of August 5, around 1:30 PM, sudden floods swept through the Dharali and Sukhi Top areas of Uttarkashi district. The Kheer Ganga river ov...

In a time when climate change is rapidly reshaping ecosystems across the globe, Tamil Nadu has emerged as a frontrunner in ecological restoration with its ambitious Rainforest Revival Mission. Launched by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the mission aims not just to plant trees, but to rebuild entire rainforest ecosystems restoring biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and creating sustainable livelihoods in the process. This bold initiative, currently targeting the fragile rainforests of the Western and Eastern Ghats, seeks to revive 1,000 hectares of degraded forest land over the next five years. And it is already being hailed as one of the most comprehensive, community-driven, and tech-enabled reforestation efforts in India. A Vision Rooted in Urgency Tamil Nadu’s rainfore...

Punjab groundwater crisis has taken a serious turn, with alarming new data presented in the Rajya Sabha revealing that nearly one in three water samples from the state contain uranium levels far beyond safe limits. In a written reply to MP Swati Maliwal, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti reported that 32.6% of groundwater samples tested by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Punjab have exceeded the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 0.03 mg/L for uranium. Toxic Cocktail Beneath the Soil The contamination does not end with uranium. The CGWB report also highlighted unsafe concentrations of fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, and salinity: •Fluoride: 13.8% of samples contained more than the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/L. Long-term exposure can lead to bone deformities, dental fluor...

As the Arctic heats up, an invisible danger is quietly smouldering beneath the earth zombie fires. Unlike surface wildfires, these fires burn slowly under the soil, survive freezing winters, and reignite months later, releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants. Zombie fires have been increasingly spotted in northern regions like Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, often igniting in peat-rich soils where organic matter accumulates over time. Scientists now believe that these underground blazes could worsen as climate change dries Arctic soils and thaws ancient permafrost, unlocking centuries-old carbon. According to researchers from The Ohio State University, zombie fires are hard to detect and even harder to extinguish. They produce little surface smoke but can smoul...

As Gurugram continues to battle waterlogging and monsoon flooding, a draft drainage plan by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has revealed an alarming situation nearly 85% of individual homes and around 50% of residential societies in the city do not have working rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. The findings come as the GMDA launches its first review meeting for a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s drainage infrastructure. The report identifies three major drainage zones and reveals how vast catchment areas ranging from Nathupur to Najafgarh, Chakkarpur to Millennium City Centre, and across the Badshahpur drain remain underutilized when it comes to rainwater conservation. It notes that 70% of RWH pits in residential areas are currently non-functional. Eve...

In a decisive push toward sustainability ITC Ltd has expanded its eco-friendly packaging portfolio by 2.4 times between FY22 and FY25, positioning itself at the forefront of the industry shift away from single-use plastics. Speaking to ET Digital, B. Sumant, Executive Director of ITC Ltd, shared that the company paperboards and specialty papers division has ramped up innovation to develop alternatives like recyclable and compostable paperboard products for the food and FMCG sectors. One of ITC most notable developments is the Filo Series a range of barrier-coated, biodegradable, and PFAS-free paperboards designed for packaging hot beverages, meals, and delivery items. The company has also launched WrapWell, a recyclable alternative to aluminium foil, and BioSeal, a compostable coatin...