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One in every four people on Earth including 520 million children lives dangerously close to fossil fuel infrastructure, exposing them to serious health and environmental risks, according to a new global study unveiled on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil. The report titled Extraction Extinction was jointly published by Amnesty International and the Better Planet Laboratory (BPL) at the University of Colorado Boulder. It warns that fossil fuel operations threaten the health, rights, and livelihoods of at least 2 billion people worldwide and underscores the urgent need for a global roadmap to phase out fossil fuels by 2050. “Proximity to coal, oil, and gas infrastructure has been proven to elevate risks of cancer, cardiovascular illness, and adv...

Pacific island nations have unveiled a historic plan to become the first region in the world to run entirely on renewable energy. This move, driven by the urgency of combating rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and the escalating impacts of climate change, also aims to end their heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels that currently consume up to a quarter of their GDP. Leaders from across the region will formally release the renewable roadmap next week at COP30 in Brazil, seeking global investment and technological support to achieve their clean energy goals. For years, Pacific countries have been on the front lines of climate change, championing the fight to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Now, through solar power, batteries, and electric transport, they plan to demonstrate t...

Delhi-NCR continues to grapple with dangerous air pollution levels as the season’s stubble burning and industrial emissions push air quality into the “severe” category. Between September 15 and November 10, more than 4,000 incidents of stubble burning were reported across Punjab and Haryana, worsening the toxic haze enveloping the capital. In response, authorities have intensified control measures. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have submitted detailed affidavits to the Supreme Court outlining the steps taken under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Over 1,500 polluting industrial units have been shut down, and flying squads have been deployed to ensure enforcement and monitor compliance in affected states. The Sup...

India’s carbon dioxide emissions are projected to rise by just 1.4 per cent in 2025, marking a slowdown compared to the higher growth rates of previous years. According to the Global Carbon Budget 2025 report, this deceleration can be attributed to an early onset of the monsoon season and the country’s rapid expansion in renewable energy capacity, which has nearly stabilized coal consumption. Released during the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, the report prepared by a network of over 130 climate scientists and research institutions places India among the world’s top emitters, alongside China, the United States, and the European Union. Despite the slower pace of increase, India’s emissions remain on an upward trend, underlining the complex balance between economic growth and envir...

At the opening plenary of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, India emerged as a strong advocate for climate justice and equity, speaking on behalf of the BASIC group Brazil, South Africa, India, and China as well as the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) coalition. India’s interventions highlighted the urgent need to balance climate ambition with fairness, ensuring that developing countries are not left behind in the global transition. Reaffirming the principle of “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities,” India stressed that any progress at COP30 must uphold equity and recognize the historic emissions responsibility of developed nations. It underlined that the structure of the Paris Agreement must remain intac...

A new joint report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has identified clean cooking as one of the world’s most powerful yet overlooked climate solutions. Titled Advancing Clean Cooking for Climate Action, the report argues that transforming how 2.3 billion people cook could cut up to two gigatons of CO₂ emissions annually, save millions of lives, and empower women across developing nations. It highlights that household air pollution from traditional fuels such as wood, charcoal, and kerosene causes 2.3 million premature deaths every year and drives deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its potential, the report notes that less than one percent of global clima...

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery beneath Egypt iconic Karnak Temple in Luxor is rewriting the origins of one of the world’s most sacred ancient sites. Geoarchaeologists have revealed that the Karnak Temple Complex was originally built atop a lost river island sculpted by Nile channels more than 4,500 years ago centuries earlier than previously believed. The new study, published in Antiquity by Cambridge University Press and led by researchers from the University of Southampton, suggests that the temple foundations date back to around 2300 BCE, during Egypt Old Kingdom. Until now, historians believed that Karnak was established much later, in the Middle Kingdom. Researchers say this revelation not only shifts Karnak’s construction timeline but also deepens its spiritual symbo...

A rare and severe solar storm has jolted Earth’s magnetic field, putting satellites, power grids, and high-altitude flights on alert. The event followed the early arrival of two powerful coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on November 11, triggering a G4-class geomagnetic storm one of the strongest in the current solar cycle. The explosion originated from sunspot region AR4274, which unleashed a massive X5.1-class solar flare. The flare expelled a surge of highly energetic protons toward Earth, with some particles penetrating deep into the atmosphere and even reaching the ground a phenomenon known as a Ground Level Event (GLE), among the rarest in space weather. “This is a very significant event,” said Professor Clive Dyer of the Surrey Space Centre. “Neutron monitors around the world are ...

    Ethiopia is poised to host the COP32 climate summit in 2027, with an official announcement expected soon. The development was revealed by André Corrêa do Lago, president of the ongoing COP30 summit in Brazil, as negotiations took shape on the first day of the event. The decision, backed by the Bureau of African Countries, follows a competitive bid against Nigeria, signaling Ethiopia’s growing diplomatic prominence in global climate discussions. Hosting COP32 would mark a significant milestone for Africa, providing the continent with a platform to advance its climate resilience agenda and highlight the urgent need for climate finance and adaptation measures. Meanwhile, uncertainty continues over the host country for next year’s COP31. Both Australia and Turkey are ...

A cold wave has set in across large parts of north and central India, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that below-normal night temperatures will persist for at least another week. According to the IMD, minimum temperatures have dropped 4–7°C below average in several parts of East Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh, while regions of south Punjab, south Haryana, and Delhi are also experiencing colder-than-usual nights. In isolated parts of East Rajasthan, temperatures have fallen below 10°C, leading to cold wave to severe cold wave conditions. Officials attribute the drop in mercury to a western disturbance over north India and changing wind patterns. The weather office said similar conditions are likely to prevail across northwest and adjoining central India, with...