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As Hurricane Beryl approached Jamaica with howling Category 4 winds and sheets of torrential rain on the morning of July 3, 2024, fears of widespread destruction loomed. But unlike Tropical Storm Michelle over two decades ago which devastated Annotto Bay and left hundreds homeless this time the story was different. Jamaica's preparedness paid off. Thanks to the long-term efforts under the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, backed by the Government and the World Bank, the island nation displayed a stronger, smarter response to disaster. From shored-up coastlines and floodproof neighborhoods to faster emergency services and seismic-ready infrastructure, the country reaped the benefits of years of risk-informed planning. In Annotto Bay, once a hotspot for coastal erosion,...

In a major eco-awareness campaign the Forest Department, along with the Coimbatore Wildlife Conservation Trust and Rotaract Club of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, conducted a drive at the Maruthamalai Subramaniaswamy temple on Sunday urging devotees to avoid single-use plastics. Timed with the Aadi Krithigai festival, which drew heavy footfall, the initiative aimed to protect the hill temple nestled within a reserve forest. Volunteers formed a human slogan saying “avoid plastic” on the ghat road and placed checkpoints where devotees exchanged plastic bags for newspapers to carry offerings like coconuts and garlands. Those bringing cloth bags were encouraged and appreciated for their eco-friendly effort. The volunteers also cleaned the 800 temple steps and the 2.5 km ghat road, c...

In a significant leap toward solving the global plastic pollution crisis, scientists from Murdoch University in Western Australia have developed biodegradable plastics that dissolve naturally in seawater or soil leaving behind no harmful microplastics. Unlike conventional plastics, which degrade into microplastic pollutants, these eco-friendly alternatives are created using native microbes found in local environments. These microbes produce a natural polymer known as PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate), which safely breaks down without contaminating land, air, or oceans. Professor Daniel Murphy, leading the research, emphasized the urgency of eliminating plastic waste from ecosystems, especially for the sake of future generations. “We’re looking at plastics that are biodegradable and environme...

New Delhi: The world is quietly moving toward ecological disaster, not just through deforestation or climate change, but via a more insidious threat chemical pollution. A new international study reveals that low-level exposure to synthetic chemicals is now a leading cause of decline for nearly one in five endangered species, making pollution a stealthy but powerful driver of extinction. Since 1950, chemical production has skyrocketed fiftyfold, with over 350,000 synthetic chemicals now registered globally. That number is expected to triple by 2050, raising alarms among researchers who say that the ecological impact of these chemicals ranging from pesticides and pharmaceutical residues to plastic additives and industrial waste is being grossly underestimated. The study, published in t...

In a startling revelation, scientists have found that the construction of nearly 7,000 dams worldwide has caused Earth’s geographic poles to shift by almost one metre. This massive redistribution of water once stored in oceans, now trapped behind concrete has led to what scientists call a “true polar wander,” subtly altering the planet orientation. Published in the Geophysical Research Letters, the study analysed the impact of 6,862 dams built between 1835 and 2011. Researchers noted that as water was stored on land, particularly in large reservoirs, it changed the distribution of mass on Earth surface enough to influence the planet’s spin axis. Between 1835 and 1954, the North Pole moved 20 cm east towards Russia due to dam construction in Europe and North America. Then between 1954 an...

  The Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) latest findings have reignited concerns over drinking water safety in west Delhi Janakpuri area, revealing that five out of six samples collected from A block households were contaminated with Total Coliform and E. Coli. This comes despite the National Green Tribunal (NGT) prior orders to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to resolve the issue. According to the report submitted to the tribunal, the fresh round of sampling conducted on June 30 showed alarming bacterial presence, with E. Coli levels reaching as high as 280,000 units per 100ml well above the Bureau of Indian Standards’ permissible limits, which mandate zero detection in 100ml. One house even declined sampling, prompting CPCB to collect an alternate sample within the block. T...

Reforestation has long been hailed as one of the most hopeful responses to the climate crisis, offering the dual benefits of carbon capture and ecosystem restoration. But as sociologist Thomas Rudel makes clear in a sweeping new study, the regrowth of forests is rarely a passive, automatic event. It is a deeply human process one shaped by politics, economics, migration, and, most crucially, the decisions of the people who live and work closest to the land. In a wide-ranging interview with Mongabay, Rudel reflected on the ideas behind his latest book, Reforesting the Earth: The Human Dimensions of Reforestation. Drawing on decades of research across South America, Africa, and Asia, Rudel challenges the conventional belief that forests simply bounce back on their own. Instead, he argues t...

In a striking example of failed river and infrastructure management long-stalled Maheshwar dam on the Narmada River is now set to be permanently abandoned. After over three decades of controversy, delays, and mismanagement, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has ordered the liquidation of Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Ltd (SMHPCL), sealing the fate of the dam project that has already consumed ₹5,000 crore in public and institutional funds. The dam located in Madhya Pradesh Mandleshwar region, was once hailed as a flagship public-private partnership meant to modernize India's power sector. But instead of delivering hydropower it became mired in financial collapse, legal battles, incomplete rehabilitation, and stiff grassroots opposition led by the Narmada Bachao Andolan (...

Lucknow: Green finance initiative in India, the Uttar Pradesh government has started advance payments to farmers for carbon credits they are expected to earn five years from now through agroforestry. The move aims to incentivize farmers to plant and conserve trees by offering them early income for future climate gains. So far, Rs 48.6 lakh has been disbursed as partial prepayments to 237 farmers who registered under the state Carbon Finance Project in its first phase. On average, farmers have received around Rs 10,000 each. However the remaining amount will only be paid if the trees survive till the credit maturity period. “Farmers are being encouraged to plant saplings today for a greener tomorrow. This is the country’s first-ever initiative where advance carbon credit payments are ...

New Delhi: They may seem harmless fluttering over rooftops, but Delhi pigeons now dubbed ‘rats from the sky’ have become a serious cause for concern. Their growing population and disease-ridden droppings are prompting urgent warnings from health authorities and environmental tribunals. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has raised red flags over the unchecked rise in pigeon numbers warning that their droppings are not just messy but a genuine public health threat. A directive has been issued to the veterinary department to curb the bird boom, citing an increase in respiratory illnesses tied to pigeon-infested areas. This action follows a National Green Tribunal (NGT) notice served to the Delhi government in June after a school student filed a petition flagging the hazards of pi...