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The Union government ambitious tourism expansion plans in the Himalayas have triggered a debate over environmental sustainability after an opinion piece criticized trekking tourism for its impact on mountain ecosystems. The discussion comes as authorities prepare to invest heavily in adventure tourism while scientists continue to warn about the increasing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to climate change and human activity. The criticism follows a budget announcement that earmarked ₹2,500 crore for tourism development including the creation of new trekking routes and the training of 10,000 guides. While the initiative aims to boost local employment and attract more visitors critics argue that unchecked trekking activities could worsen environmental degradation in already fragile m...

India southwest monsoon has entered a worrying phase after a dramatic slowdown in rainfall activity during June, triggering concerns over agriculture, water availability, food prices and economic growth. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country received only 19.2 mm of rainfall between June 4 and June 15 against the normal 53.7 mm, resulting in a massive 64 percent rainfall deficit. Satellite images from INSAT-3DS reveal unusually clear skies over large parts of peninsular, central and eastern India, where thick monsoon cloud bands are normally seen at this time of year. Although the monsoon has officially advanced into several regions, including parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and central India, rainfall activity has remained signif...

  India's battle against air pollution is entering a new phase as ground level ozone pollution increasingly threatens public health during summer months. Traditionally, winter has been considered the most dangerous season for air quality due to the accumulation of particulate matter caused by stagnant weather conditions. However, experts now warn that the seasonal relief usually experienced during summer is fading as rising temperatures and intense sunlight fuel the formation of ozone pollution across major cities. According to the latest State of Global Air 2025 report, India ranks third globally in exposure to ozone pollution. The report estimates that long term exposure to ground level ozone contributed to around 470,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, with nearly half of those dea...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup could become one of the hottest tournaments in football history, with climate experts warning that rising temperatures may pose serious health risks for players officials and spectators across the United States, Canada and Mexico. A recent analysis highlighted growing concerns over extreme heat during the tournament, particularly in several host cities where daytime temperatures have increased significantly over recent decades. The warning comes after multiple heat related incidents during recent football competitions held in North America. One of the most notable incidents occurred during the 2025 Club World Cup semifinal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey where Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández reportedly suffered heat exhaustion while playing in temperature...

India's major reservoirs are holding just 28.28 per cent of their total live storage capacity, making the progress of the southwest monsoon critical for irrigation drinking water supply and hydropower generation in the coming weeks. According to the latest data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC), the country's 166 monitored reservoirs contained 51.92 billion cubic metres of water as of June 11, 2026, compared to their total live storage capacity of 183.56 billion cubic metres. While the overall storage level is 15.8 per cent higher than the long term average for this time of year, it remains 8.17 per cent lower than the 56.53 billion cubic metres recorded during the same period in 2025. The uneven distribution of water across different regions is emerging as a major concern,...

A new academic study has raised concerns about the hidden environmental and health costs of the global plastic recycling system, revealing that large volumes of plastic waste exported from wealthy countries are being openly burned in developing nations causing dangerous levels of air pollution and increasing health risks for local communities. Researchers found that while recycling is often promoted as a solution to the plastic crisis, a significant share of plastic waste collected in countries such as the United States is shipped overseas, particularly to lower and middle income nations where waste management infrastructure is often inadequate. Instead of being recycled, much of this waste ends up in open dumps and is frequently burned. The study highlights that between 40 and 65 pe...

India has entered a period of heightened agricultural vigilance after the official arrival of El Niño climate phenomenon associated with reduced monsoon rainfall across large parts of the country. With forecasts indicating a higher likelihood of below normal rainfall during the 2026 southwest monsoon season Union government has moved into crisis preparedness mode identifying up to 200 vulnerable districts and ordering revisions to district level agricultural contingency plans. The United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) formally declared the onset of El Niño on June 11, 2026. Scientists have warned that the event could strengthen significantly in the coming months, with some projections suggesting the possibility of a "super" El Niño. Meanwhile, the India M...

Countries attending the Bonn Climate Conference 2026 debated how the world should halt deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, with major disagreements emerging over funding, accountability and responsibility. The discussions focused on a new roadmap unveiled by the COP30 Presidency during the closing session of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The roadmap is designed to guide countries in aligning their forest conservation strategies, financing plans, and monitoring systems before 2030. However, it is not a legally binding agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At a special session held on June 9 during the Bonn conference, rainforest nations, developed countries, and civil society groups shared differing views on how the plan should move fo...

Efforts to combat climate change and protect forests are increasingly putting Indigenous communities at risk of displacement according to a new analysis published by The Conversation. Experts argue that while governments and organizations promote conservation and carbon offset projects, Indigenous people are often excluded from decision making processes despite being long-time custodians of these ecosystems. One of the most prominent examples is the case of the Ogiek people an Indigenous hunter gatherer community living in Kenya’s Mau Forest. The Ogiek have faced repeated eviction attempts for more than a century. Although they secured a landmark legal victory in 2017 when the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights recognized their rights to the land, Kenyan authorities resumed evic...

Bengaluru based sustainability startup NoKasa is tackling one of India most overlooked environmental challenges textile waste. Founded by engineers Prasad Lingawar and Nachiket, the company has developed a structured doorstep collection and reuse system that has already prevented more than 23 tonnes of discarded clothing from ending up in landfills. Textile waste remains a largely invisible problem in urban India. While households frequently donate, store or discard unwanted clothes there is often little transparency about what happens to garments once they leave homes. Recognising this gap, the two founders set out to create a system that makes clothing disposal traceable, convenient, and environmentally responsible. The idea evolved after months of field research across Bengaluru's...