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TOKYO – As the relentless march of climate change intensifies natural disasters across the globe, Japan, a nation long accustomed to the forces of nature, is emerging as a powerful model for building resilience. A unique blend of historical wisdom and cutting-edge technology is redefining disaster preparedness, offering critical lessons for a world increasingly at risk. The World Economic Forum's ”Global Risks Report 2025” ranks extreme weather as the most severe long-term risk and the second-highest short-term risk worldwide. This stark assessment underscores the urgency of effective strategies, and Japan’s approach known as bosai, a concept encompassing traditional disaster prevention and mitigation stands out. A Legacy of Observation, A Future of Innovation Japan’s deep-rooted ...

KABUL – Two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 6.0 and 4.5, struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The first quake, measuring magnitude 6.0, hit at 11:47 pm local time with its epicenter near Jalalabad in the Nangarhar province at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers. Fifteen people were injured and hospitalized, as confirmed by Naqibullah Rahimi, a spokesperson for the Nangarhar Public Health Department. A second, weaker earthquake of magnitude 4.5 followed 20 minutes later. This seismic activity comes nearly a year after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in October 2023 caused extensive casualties in the region, highlighting the area's vulnerability to seismic events.  

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – In a significant leap for volcanology and risk management, a team of researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) in Italy has successfully created a highly-detailed 3D model of the internal structure of an active volcano. Using a novel combination of advanced seismic networks and artificial intelligence, the team was able to "x-ray" the Vulcano volcano in northern Sicily, providing an unprecedented look into its depths. The groundbreaking research, published in Nature Communications, offers a new way to understand the complex processes that unfold miles beneath the surface, a critical challenge for scientists monitoring the world's over 1,500 active volcanoes. A Picture of Unprecedented Detail...

NEW DELHI – The Union Environment Ministry has introduced a significant overhaul of its Green Credit Programme (GCP) to ensure more rigorous and verifiable environmental outcomes. Under new rules, green credits for tree plantation will now be awarded only after a minimum of five years, contingent on the trees' survival and the successful development of a 40 percent minimum canopy density. The move marks a key shift from the initial, less stringent methodology and aims to tie the incentives directly to the tangible success of afforestation efforts. The revised rules, which came into effect on August 29, replace the previous benchmark of awarding credits based on a minimum density of 1,100 trees per hectare within two years. Non-Tradable Credits with an Exception The tweaked norms a...

A new report argues that a global ban on cigarette filters is necessary to address a dual crisis of public health and plastic pollution. Filters, initially marketed by the tobacco industry in the 1950s as a way to make smoking "safer," have been proven to offer no health benefits and may even increase the risk of certain cancers by allowing smokers to inhale more deeply. Despite this, a majority of smokers still believe filters reduce harm. An Environmental Disaster Beyond the health deception, cigarette filters are a major environmental threat. Made from a plastic called cellulose acetate, they are the most littered item on the planet. An estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded annually, with roughly 800,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste entering the environment each y...

NEW DELHI – In a move to strengthen India's disaster management capabilities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed two new members and re-nominated three existing ones to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The appointments, announced on Saturday, are aimed at enhancing the nation's strategies for disaster prevention, mitigation, and response. The new members are Dinesh Kumar Aswal, a notable scientist, and Rita Missal, a specialist in disaster recovery. Their addition is expected to bring fresh expertise to the authority's work. Meanwhile, existing members Rajendra Singh, Krishna Swaroop Vatsa, and Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) will continue their tenure for another three years. The appointments were made under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and were confir...

In the wake of continuous and torrential rainfall, the water levels of Uttarakhand's major rivers have risen to dangerous levels, prompting the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun to issue a high-alert. On Friday, the SEOC advised District Magistrates across the state to implement immediate precautions to avert any potential tragedies. The advisory comes as multiple districts report alarming rises in river levels. Earlier in the day, police in Chamoli and Rudraprayag issued urgent warnings to residents living along riverbanks, urging them to evacuate to safer locations. In Chamoli, police have proactively alerted the public that rivers have reached critical heights. "Your vigilance is your safety," a statement from the Chamoli police emphasized, urging residents...

A new study by Indian researchers has revealed a concerning escalation in Delhi's air pollution crisis, with microplastics found in airborne particulate matter. The study highlights that adults in the national capital inhale nearly twice as many microplastic particles during the summer as they do in winter. The average daily exposure jumped by 97%, rising from 10.7 particles in colder months to 21.1 during the hotter season. Types of Microplastics and Health Risks The study, conducted by scientists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and Savitribai Phule Pune University, found a total of 2,087 microplastics in particulate samples from across Delhi. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic commonly used in bottles and food packaging, was the most prevale...

LILONGWE, MALAWI – Malawi is embarking on a strategic new approach to combat the escalating threat of climate change, integrating advanced technology with deep-rooted community action. With recurring climate shocks projected to slash the nation's GDP by up to 16% by 2050, the country is fast-tracking efforts to expand early warning systems and operationalize a new AI-based weather prediction system. The convergence of these initiatives was the focus of the recent Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Malawi Partner Coordination and Stocktaking Meeting. According to Yusuf Mkungula, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, building effective partnerships is paramount to delivering sustainable climate services to every citizen. The two-day gatherin...