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A few steps away from the chaos of Mount Poonamallee Road traffic, Porur in Chennai now hosts the city’s first sponge park Dr MS Swaminathan Wetland Eco Park. Once a marshland turned dumping ground and parking lot, the 16.63-acre site has been transformed into a thriving eco-space that not only reduces urban flooding but reconnects residents with nature. Developed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) in collaboration with Sponge Collaborative, the sponge park slows down, filters, and stores stormwater instead of draining it away quickly like conventional flood-control systems. This nature-based solution is designed to recharge groundwater, create a safe flood buffer, and act as a community green space. “When we came here initially, the land was degraded, with garb...

In Gaza war doesn’t end with bombs. It continues in poisoned wells, toxic rubble, and dying fields. The Strip’s destruction has gone beyond buildings it's unraveling the very ecosystems that sustain life. Today Gaza faces not just a humanitarian crisis, but an environmental collapse that could affect the region for generations. Water scarcity, sewage overflow, unbreathable air, and poisoned soil are now daily realities for millions. The death of water By early 2025, more than 85% of Gaza’s wells, desalination plants, and pumping stations were either destroyed or not functioning. All five sewage treatment plants stopped working by late 2024. Raw sewage now flows through city streets and into the Mediterranean, contaminating coastal waters and raising cholera risks. Gaza’s only natura...

In a move toward greener governance the Delhi government has introduced stricter guidelines to manage the city growing electronic waste mandating eco-friendly disposal protocols in all procurement and service contracts. This step is part of a wider strategy to curb the environmental impact of e-waste, which has surged to nearly two lakh tonnes annually. The decision was reaffirmed during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, where officials stressed the urgency of scientifically sound waste handling. Delhi currently lacks the infrastructure needed to manage this volume of discarded electronic goods, many of which contain hazardous materials that threaten both human health and the environment. To fill this gap, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa proposed the cre...

Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of relentless monsoon rains, which have shut down 404 roads and brought normal life to a halt across several districts. Mandi, Chamba, and Kullu are among the hardest hit, as landslides, floods, and waterlogging disrupt transportation, utilities, and public services. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, Una received the highest rainfall on Friday 260.8 mm triggering urban flooding and stranding vehicles and residents in low-lying areas. The Khab-Gramphu National Highway, a crucial route in the region, remains blocked. Educational institutions across the state have been closed as a safety precaution. Power transformers and water schemes have suffered heavy damage, cutting off electricity and clean water supply in multiple area...

Eastern Australia has been battered by a historic snowstorm, delivering the region deepest snowfall in decades and bringing daily life to a grinding halt. Over the weekend, thick snow, torrential rain, and fierce winds triggered flooding, blackouts, and widespread damage across New South Wales and neighboring areas. According to the NSW State Emergency Service, some towns saw up to 50 cm of snow while others were drenched with more than 10 cm of rain. The New England North West region witnessed its heaviest snowfall in 20 years, blanketing roads, farms, and residential zones under a thick white sheet. Authorities responded to over 1,455 emergency incidents, with more than 100 vehicles stranded in snow-covered or flooded roads. Thousands of homes were left without electricity as power...

Meghalaya known for hosting the world wettest places like Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, is witnessing a historic monsoon crisis. Once drenched in rain for most of the year, this northeastern Indian state has recorded a 56% rainfall deficit in 2025 the worst in the countryraising alarm for farmers, forests, and biodiversity. According to data from the India Meteorological Department, between June 1 and July 28, Meghalaya received only 690.7 mm of rainfall, compared to a normal of 1,555.4 mm. In contrast, typically drier states like Jharkhand received more rain a staggering 732.6 mm, well above its average. This isn't a one-off anomaly. Long-term trends now reveal that Meghalaya’s rains have been declining consistently since the 1950s. Studies show that drier zones are spreading across th...

The Barak-Meghna river basin, a vital transboundary ecosystem spanning 82,000 sq km and supporting over 50 million people in India and Bangladesh, is undergoing a dangerous transformation. Climate change is disrupting rainfall patterns, intensifying floods, and threatening both biodiversity and livelihoods, as revealed during a three-day dialogue held in Bangkok from July 23–25. Hosted by the Meghna Knowledge Forum II and co-organised by the IUCN South Asian University, and Asian Institute of Technology, the event underscored growing concerns: monsoon rains are declining, while pre- and post-monsoon rainfall is increasing a shift that raises the frequency and severity of early-season flash floods, especially across Bangladesh’s vulnerable Haor wetlands. Experts highlighted that more ...

As India prepares to launch its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) by mid-2026, the spotlight turns to the road transport sector the country third-largest greenhouse gas emitter. With over 90% of emissions from this sector coming from road vehicles the government inclusion of transport in the carbon credit offset mechanism aims to financially reward emission reductions and accelerate the adoption of cleaner alternatives. A Market Boost for EV Projects The CCTS could create a breakthrough moment for the electric vehicle (EV) sector. New guidelines from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) outline how transport projects especially those involving EVs can earn carbon credits under methodologies aligned with global frameworks like the UN Clean Development Mechanism and the Paris Agreem...

In a major step toward transforming Africa's energy future, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the G20 have unveiled a new publication Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa, spotlighting the continent rising interest in nuclear power. The announcement made at a high-profile event during the G20 Energy Transitions meeting in South Africa, reinforces nuclear energy central role in Africa clean energy roadmap. With South Africa currently holding the G20 presidency, the country has emphasized the expansion of nuclear infrastructure, not just domestically but across the continent. At present, South Africa remains Africa’s only nuclear energy producer, operating two reactors at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, supplying around 2 GW of electricity. The IAEA publication proje...

In a massive emergency preparedness effort a multi-agency disaster management mock drill was conducted at 55 different locations across Delhi on Friday morning. The large-scale exercise began with a simulated earthquake scenario, followed by mock incidents of chemical leaks in both industrial and transportation zones across all 11 districts of the capital. Coordinated under 'Exercise Suraksha Chakra', the drill was led by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and organized in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Indian Army, and the state governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. The exercise was simultaneously carried out in key areas of the National Capital Region (NCR). According to officials the primary goal was to evaluate and st...