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For years, the main threats to tropical forests were seen as drought, heat, rising carbon dioxide, and raging wildfires. But new research reveals that a quieter, often-overlooked culprit may be doing more damage than previously imagined thunderstorms. According to a study published in Ecology Letters on July 1, 2025, these short-lived but intense convective storms could be behind a significant portion of tree deaths across the Amazon. The study found that convective storms may account for up to 50% of the observed rise in biomass mortality in tropical forests. In some scenarios, the impact could be as low as 12%, or as high as a staggering 118%, depending on various assumptions and data interpretations. The sheer scale of this finding has stunned ecologists, as these storms which span j...

As the world gathered in Seville for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), a growing frustration echoed through the voices of leaders from developing nations. For many of them, tackling climate change isn’t just a matter of will it’s a matter of survival being delayed by debt. Across the Global South, countries already facing the brunt of extreme weather events are also struggling with massive debt burdens. In the face of rising costs of climate adaptation, these nations find themselves forced to choose between protecting their people and repaying creditors. The global financial system, they argue, is not only outdated but unfairly stacked against them. At the centre of the crisis is a system that offers no formal structure for countries to resolve ...

The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Seville, Spain, was billed as a landmark moment to reshape how development is funded across the world. But the meeting ended up exposing the deep divides and imbalances in the global financial architecture particularly around the issue of debt faced by developing nations. Convened by the United Nations, the summit took place against a backdrop of waning support from powerful economies. The United States was notably absent, having already cut back its international aid commitments. Major European powers such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany also announced reductions in financial support. As a result, the official agenda leaned heavily on private investment, blended finance, and public-private partners...

As the Southwest Monsoon swept across India ahead of schedule on June 29, 2025, its early arrival brought more confusion than comfort. While much of northwest and central India was inundated with record-breaking rainfall, the eastern and northeastern states traditionally among the rainiest parts of the country have been grappling with persistent dry conditions. The divergence reveals a troubling monsoon imbalance that has now lasted three consecutive years. By July 3, a third of India's districts had received deficient or severely deficient rainfall, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Eight states and Union Territories reported rainfall shortfalls, with the entire eastern and northeastern belt showing a cumulative deficit of 18.6%. At the same time, the...

Delhi sweltered under extreme discomfort on Thursday as a deadly combination of high humidity and moderate heat pushed the "real feel" temperature close to 49°C, even though the actual maximum temperature was recorded at 36.9°C one degree below normal. At 2:30 pm, the "real feel" soared to 48.9°C, while the wet-bulb temperature a crucial measure of heat stress on the human body hit 29.57°C by evening. For context, a wet-bulb reading above 32°C severely hampers the body’s ability to cool itself, and 35°C is considered a critical survival limit. Sweltering Day Despite Monsoon Onset Although the southwest monsoon officially arrived in Delhi on June 29, bringing 14 mm of rain on the first day, it has since fizzled. From July 1 to 3, only 3.8 mm of rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, co...

A Delhi resident’s frustration over the city’s vehicle scrappage policy has sparked a heated debate online. Rattan Dhillon, a social media user, publicly criticized the government after his father's 16-year-old Mercedes E280 V6 was deemed “vintage scrap” under the new policy. Sharing pictures and praise for the luxury sedan, Dhillon posted on X (formerly Twitter): “This is my dad’s 16-year-old Mercedes E280 V6, still running stronger and cleaner than most so-called modern cars... Zero pollution, zero nonsense.” But, he added bitterly, “I have to label it ‘vintage scrap’ just because we live in a country where politicians have zero love for cars!” The post quickly went viral, drawing both support and criticism. Many users sympathized, calling the rule "outrageous" and questioning t...

In a landmark move, the European Commission has proposed a legally binding target to slash net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. Announced on July 2, 2025, the ambitious proposal is seen as a major step toward aligning the European Union with its long-term climate neutrality goals. However, at the heart of this new target lies a deeply divisive clause: the use of international carbon credits. Under the plan, EU member states would be allowed to offset up to 3% of their emissions using carbon credits purchased from developing nations through a UN-backed global carbon market. These credits would primarily come from projects such as forest restoration and land-use changes aimed at capturing or avoiding carbon emissions. EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoeks...

In the heartland of Jharkhand, tribal communities have long relied on the signs of nature to predict the weather. From bird nests to flower blooms, from black ants to bamboo ropes, these time-tested indicators once offered crucial guidance for farming seasons. But as climate patterns grow increasingly erratic, the deep-rooted ecological wisdom of generations is facing unprecedented challenges. In Chitramu village of Khunti district, Ashok Munda, the gram pradhan, watches the nesting behaviour of the common swift locally known as the lipi bird for clues about the coming rains. A larger-than-usual nest, according to him, signals a weak monsoon. In neighbouring Gumla, villagers track the flowering of amaltas and the appearance of kaash grass to understand when to sow or when the rainy seas...

Eastern China is reeling under an intense and unusually early heatwave, with large swathes of the country's economic and agricultural core experiencing searing temperatures between 37°C and 39°C and some areas bracing for highs above 40°C. The scorching conditions are being driven by a subtropical high-pressure system that has settled over the densely populated Yangtze River region, hitting provinces like Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, and Henan. This premature onset of the “Sanfu Season” the hottest period of the Chinese calendar, usually starting mid-July is raising fears of crop damage, industrial disruption, and mounting public health risks. Experts are linking the extreme temperatures to climate change, warning of compounding impacts on key sectors. Agricultural yields are at risk of d...