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    Despite a rapid increase in protected areas across the world, new research warns that nature loss is continuing inside many of these zones, raising serious questions about whether conservation efforts are delivering real ecological results. Scientists say that governments are focusing more on meeting numerical targets for land and ocean coverage than on ensuring actual protection on the ground. Protected areas are widely regarded as one of the most powerful tools to halt biodiversity loss. Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, countries have pledged to protect 30 per cent of land and oceans by 2030. On paper, progress appears encouraging, with about 17.6 per cent of land and inland waters and 8.4 per cent of oceans currently under some form of pro...

As air quality continues to deteriorate across the national capital and surrounding regions, experts have stressed the need for clearly defined and measurable clean air targets for Delhi-NCR. The Delhi government has recently announced emergency measures, including the formation of a high-level committee to finalise an air pollution control plan for 2026, but experts say stronger coordination and long-term planning are essential. Air pollution is not limited by administrative boundaries, making regional cooperation critical. The creation of the Commission for Air Quality Management, which oversees Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas, is seen as a positive step. However, its impact must be strengthened through coordinated action across departments such as transport, urban development, agricult...

    The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order directing the removal of fruit-bearing orchards from encroached forest land, observing that the high court should not have passed an order with such far-reaching consequences. The apex court said the decision had a severe impact on marginalised communities and landless people whose livelihoods depend on apple cultivation. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that the high court’s direction affected thousands of small and marginal apple growers. Calling the order disproportionate, the Supreme Court said it resulted in social and economic hardship, particularly for those dependent on orchards for survival. The verdict has brought major relief...

    Indian scientists working in Antarctica have discovered traces of ancient black carbon, or soot, dating back nearly 7,000 years, shedding new light on how pollution can accelerate ice melt and contribute to rising global sea levels. The discovery has significant implications for India, even though the frozen continent lies nearly 10,000 kilometres away. Indian Scientists Study Hidden Climate Threat Researchers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, uncovered the black carbon in sediment cores taken from Pup Lagoon in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica. According to NCPOR scientist Dr Mahesh Badanal, these sediment layers act as a climate record, revealing how pollutants from forest fires thousands of kilometres away travel across c...

    Scientists studying microscopic particles from outer space have uncovered compelling new evidence that the Arctic is losing its sea ice far more rapidly than earlier projections suggested. The research shows that cosmic dust preserved in ocean sediments can reveal how Arctic ice has expanded and retreated over the past thirty thousand years, offering a long-term perspective that modern satellites cannot provide. The findings come at a critical moment, as Arctic sea ice has already declined by more than forty percent since systematic satellite monitoring began in nineteen seventy-nine. Researchers warn that this accelerated melting could reshape Arctic ecosystems, alter global climate systems, and affect communities that depend on polar environments. Cosmic dust, f...

    Shares of Race Eco Chain Limited drew investor attention on Tuesday after the waste management company announced plans to demerge two of its business verticals, a move aimed at sharper strategic focus and long-term value creation. The stock moved up by nearly four percent during intraday trade as markets reacted positively to the proposed restructuring. Race Eco Chain has proposed a scheme of arrangement to separate its Biomass Division and Restore Bag Division into two independent listed entities. The Biomass Division deals in briquettes made from agricultural waste, while the Restore Bag Division focuses on cloth-based products such as reusable bags and home furnishings. The company believes that operating these businesses as standalone entities will allow each seg...

    Global efforts to address climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are facing a serious crisis, as several major international negotiations collapsed over the past year. From stalled talks on a global plastic pollution treaty to disagreements over key climate science assessments, these failures point to deeper structural problems in how environmental diplomacy is conducted. According to experts, the breakdown of these negotiations is not accidental. It reflects long-standing weaknesses in global governance systems that were designed for a different era, but are now struggling to keep pace with rapidly escalating environmental emergencies. A year marked by repeated negotiation failures In just one year, four major environmental ...

    High in the hills and valleys of northeast India, a silent transformation is taking place. Without loud slogans or sweeping announcements, communities across the region are redefining how waste is managed, reused, and respected. From small towns to busy municipal centres, waste is no longer treated as a burden to be hidden away, but as a resource that can restore ecosystems, generate livelihoods, and strengthen civic responsibility. From neglect to renewal in Assam’s North Lakhimpur North Lakhimpur in Assam has emerged as a powerful example of how science-backed planning can reverse decades of environmental damage. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, the municipal board cleared nearly 79,000 metric tonnes of legacy waste from the Chandmari dumpsite. This ef...

    A turtle species once feared lost forever is quietly reclaiming its place in the waterways of the Sundarbans, marking one of South Asia’s most encouraging conservation successes in recent decades. The northern river terrapin, scientifically known as Batagur baska, has reappeared after decades of absence, following sustained scientific effort and community-backed protection in Bangladesh’s mangrove-rich delta. From disappearance to rediscovery For years, the northern river terrapin had vanished from scientific records, pushed to the edge by relentless hunting, shrinking habitats, and polluted rivers. By the early 2000s, many experts believed the species had gone extinct in the wild. That grim assumption was overturned in 2008, when just eight surviving turtles were...

    The gradual destruction of the Aravalli hills could allow the Thar Desert to advance towards Delhi and the National Capital Region, triggering severe climate, health, and environmental consequences, according to environmental scientist Professor Laxmi Kant Sharma of the Central University of Rajasthan. Speaking amid growing concern over a recent Supreme Court decision on mining in the Aravalli range, Sharma warned that weakening this ancient natural barrier could permanently alter north India’s climate and air quality. Supreme Court ruling raises alarm among conservationists The Supreme Court recently accepted an elevation-based definition proposed by the Union environment ministry, under which only landforms above 100 metres would be classified as part of the ...