Breaking News Archives - Page 227 of 292

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Needs Comprehensive Climate Justice Policy for Disaster Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

As climate change-driven disasters intensify across India, experts are calling for a comprehensive climate justice policy that integrates disaster risk reduction, resilience building, and adequate budgetary allocations. In 2024, extreme weather events impacted 255 out of 274 days, leading to 3,238 deaths, destruction of 2.35 lakh houses, and damage to 3.2 million hectares of land, according to the Centre for Science and Environment. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported a 24% rise in disaster-related fatalities compared to the previous year. Key Policy Gaps & Recent Amendments The 2024 amendments to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, now include "disaster risk reduction", but effective implementation and budget oversight remain crucial. Urban Disaster Management ...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Budget 2025 India Ambitious 100 GW Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a bold new ‘Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat’, setting an ambitious target of 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 as part of India's clean energy transition. To accelerate growth, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act will be introduced, enabling greater private sector participation. A major highlight of the initiative is a ₹20,000 crore R&D mission for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with at least five indigenous SMRs expected to be operational by 2033. Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr. Anil Kakodkar welcomed the move, calling it a “clear realization” of nuclear energy’s role in achieving Net Zero emissions. India currently has an 8,180 MW installed nuclear capacity, with 24 ...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Green Banks Coalition Collapses as Major US Lenders Exit Net Zero Alliance

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), a key UN-backed coalition of financial institutions committed to climate-friendly investments, has suffered a major setback with the withdrawal of six of the largest American banks. With JP Morgan becoming the latest to exit, only three smaller US banks remain in the alliance. This mass departure underscores the growing tension between climate goals and political resistance in the US financial sector. NZBA: A Climate Commitment Now in Question The NZBA, launched ahead of COP26 in 2021, is a global network of banks pledged to align their financing with net-zero emissions targets by 2050. With 136 members across 44 countries managing assets worth $57 trillion, the alliance was meant to be a major driver of climate-conscious banking. However, its ef...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Uganda Races to Deploy Trial Ebola Vaccine Amid Kampala Outbreak

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

KAMPALA – Ugandan health officials are rushing to deploy a trial vaccine after an Ebola outbreak hit the capital, Kampala. The vaccine targets the Sudan strain of the virus, with over 2,000 doses prepared for emergency use. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged support, providing 2,160 doses while assisting with regulatory approvals. Researchers are working alongside surveillance teams to assess the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before its rollout. Ebola, spread through bodily fluids, is suspected to have originated from contact with infected animals. Kampala’s high mobility presents a major challenge in containing the virus. Despite Uganda’s history of battling epidemic diseases, no licensed vaccine exists for the Sudan strain, making this trial a critical step in the figh...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

African Nations Commit to Clean Cooking Solutions at Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Thoughts & Talks

At the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, held in Tanzania on 27-28 January 2025, 12 African countries took bold steps to provide clean cooking solutions to combat the health, environmental, and economic challenges posed by traditional cooking methods. This initiative aims to address the annual deaths of 600,000 women and children caused by harmful cooking practices and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Tanzania Leads the Way Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan, who serves as the global Clean Cooking Ambassador, praised the commitment of the 12 participating governments and emphasized that many others would join in the future. The summit’s focus was to drive momentum toward the 2030 goal of ensuring universal access to cl...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Warns Lack of Climate Funding May Force Global South to Revise Climate Targets

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

India has raised significant concerns over the insufficient climate funding from developed nations, warning that this may lead developing countries to revise their climate targets. At the heart of the issue is the 2024 UN climate conference's financial package, which has been criticized for offering little hope in addressing the climate crisis. The shortfall in funding has sparked tensions between the Global South and developed countries, potentially undermining global climate action efforts. Impact on India's Climate Actions and Sustainable Development India's Economic Survey for 2024-25, presented in Parliament, emphasized that without adequate financial support from richer nations, developing countries may have to reassess their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the 2...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

WMO Launches Climate Services Dashboard to Boost Global Climate Action

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

As climate change accelerates, the demand for climate services that utilize scientific knowledge for mitigation, adaptation, and resilience is growing. In response, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has launched the Climate Services Dashboard, an innovative platform designed to improve global climate service capacities and support data-driven decision-making for effective climate action. The interactive dashboard offers a comprehensive tool for decision-makers, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), and development partners. It tracks essential data related to climate policy integration, climate service capabilities, and investment trends. This tool helps ensure that climate services play a vital role in supporting national climate action plans and sust...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Kobe 1995 Deadly Earthquake Legacy Shapes Japan’s Disaster Preparedness

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

On January 17, 1995, a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Kobe, Japan, killing over 6,400 people and leaving a lasting impact on the country’s disaster preparedness. The Hanshin region bore the brunt of the destruction, with tens of thousands injured and hundreds of thousands displaced. The economic toll was staggering, reaching approximately $130 billion as infrastructure, homes, and businesses crumbled under the quake’s force. The disaster exposed critical weaknesses in urban planning and construction, prompting sweeping reforms. Stricter building codes, retrofitting programs, and advancements in early warning systems became the foundation of Japan’s strengthened approach to earthquake resilience. The tragedy also led to a surge in earthquake insurance coverage, bolstering fi...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sikkim Flood Disaster Highlights Growing Climate Risks in the Himalayas

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

An international research team has concluded that the devastating flood disaster in Sikkim, India, in October 2023 was caused by the collapse of 14.7 million cubic meters of frozen moraine material into South Lhonak Lake, triggering a tsunami-like flood wave that reached up to 20 meters in height. This tragic event, which claimed at least 55 lives and caused widespread damage along the Teesta River, serves as a stark reminder of the escalating dangers posed by climate change in high mountain regions. A Massive Tsunami-like Wave On October 3, 2023, the collapse of frozen moraine material into the lake unleashed a catastrophic glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), releasing about 50 million cubic meters of water—equivalent to the volume of 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The flood c...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Bhutan Bold Move Weather, Climate Overhaul for a Resilient Future

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In the heart of the Himalayas, Bhutan a nation renowned for pioneering Gross National Happiness faces an escalating battle against climate-induced disasters. Yet, within this challenge lies a transformative opportunity to revolutionize its approach to weather, water, climate, and early warning services. The urgency is clear. In August, a flash flood, intensified by upstream landslides, devastated 70 households in Thimphu. A year earlier, another flash flood claimed 23 lives and severely damaged the Yungichhu hydropower project construction site. In 2021, extreme rainfall affected 2,500 acres of farmland across 18 Dzongkhags, destroying 2,400 metric tons of crops. Bhutan’s vulnerability is undeniable: the country hosts 700 glaciers and 567 glacial lakes, with 17 classified as high-risk f...