Breaking News

    Andhra Pradesh has utilised just over half of the funds allocated under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) over the past three financial years, according to official data. Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, the state spent ₹358.44 crore out of the approved ₹704.44 crore amounting to 50.9 per cent utilisation of funds meant for forest restoration and conservation. CAMPA funds are designed to support activities such as compensatory afforestation, natural regeneration of forests, protection of forest areas, restoration of degraded land, and improvement of wildlife habitats. Year-wise data shows varying levels of utilisation. In 2022-23, the state used ₹82.51 crore out of the approved ₹224.09 crore. Spending improved in 2023-24,...

    In a major step toward strengthening climate resilience and public health systems, the first Africa Climate Health Desk has been launched by the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development in partnership with the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization. The new regional facility, hosted in Niamey, Niger, aims to transform climate and weather data into actionable health insights, helping governments and communities respond more effectively to growing environmental threats. The Climate Health Desk is designed to close a long-standing gap between climate information and healthcare decision-making. It will convert complex weather and climate data into practical advisories, such as heatwave alerts and disease risk forecasts...

    A massive solar installation in China is doing more than just producing clean energy it is quietly reshaping the desert landscape around it. According to scientific findings, the Gonghe Photovoltaic Park in Qinghai is helping turn dry, barren land into a more fertile and life-supporting environment. A study published in Nature journal found that the solar farm has had a “positive effect” on the local ecosystem. The transformation is not due to the panels directly creating life, but rather how they alter environmental conditions. By absorbing sunlight, the panels reduce the amount of heat reaching the ground, which in turn lowers evaporation and helps the soil retain moisture. This retained moisture, combined with water runoff from regular panel cleaning, creates c...

Scientists have long known about a remarkable and unusual region in the Atlantic Ocean a sea that does not touch any land at all. This extraordinary body of water is called the Sargasso Sea, and it stands out as the only sea on Earth defined entirely by ocean currents rather than coastlines. Located about 590 miles east of Florida, the Sargasso Sea is surrounded by powerful currents, including the North Atlantic Current, Canary Current, North Equatorial Current, and Antilles Current. These circulating currents form a natural boundary, creating a calm, isolated patch of water in the middle of the ocean. Unlike other seas, the Sargasso Sea has no shores, no beaches, and no land borders. Instead, it is marked by its still, deep blue waters and floating masses of golden-brown seaweed kno...

    The relocation of leopards from Maharashtra to the privately run wildlife facility Vantara has triggered a serious debate among conservationists, raising concerns about ecology, ethics, and the future of wildlife conservation in India. Leopards are known for their remarkable adaptability. Across regions like Maharashtra, they have learned to survive in human-dominated landscapes such as farms, sugarcane fields, and semi-urban areas. Instead of retreating into forests, these animals often adjust their behaviour becoming more nocturnal and using fragmented habitats to coexist with people. However, this proximity also leads to conflict, with hundreds of human deaths linked to wild animal attacks in recent years. Experts argue that conservation science has long suppor...

Authorities have lifted restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi NCR after a noticeable improvement in air quality, officials confirmed on Monday. According to the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Air Quality Index dropped to 119, placing it in the “moderate” category. This improvement has been supported by favourable weather conditions, which helped disperse pollutants across the region. Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology suggest that air quality is likely to remain stable in the coming days, allowing authorities to withdraw the restrictions. GRAP Stage 1 measures had been in place since October 14, 2025. With their removal, several restrictions are no longer applicable. These included l...

    A new global study has revealed a worrying trend Earth’s continents are steadily losing freshwater, putting nearly 6 billion people at risk and reshaping the future of water security. The research, published in Science Advances, shows that around 75% of the world’s population lives in countries where freshwater reserves have been declining continuously since 2002. Scientists describe this long-term pattern as Continental Drying, a phenomenon where water stored on land is gradually decreasing. This includes water found in rivers, lakes, soil, glaciers, and underground aquifers. The findings are based on data collected from NASA’s GRACE satellite mission and its successor GRACE Follow-On mission, which measure subtle changes in Earth’s gravity to detect water loss o...

    India is set to overhaul its waste management system with a new regulatory framework aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and environmental compliance. The updated Solid Waste Management Rules 2026, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will replace the 2016 rules starting April 1, 2026. The new rules introduce a major shift toward digital governance, with a centralised online portal designed to track waste generation, movement, and processing across the country. This system will require mandatory registration of all key stakeholders, including bulk waste generators, local bodies, processing units, and landfill operators. Entities will also need to submit regular reports, making waste flows traceable at a national level. T...

    A fascinating new study published in The ISME Journal reveals how microbes in Antarctica manage to survive one of the harshest environments on Earth by literally feeding on air. During Antarctica’s long winter, temperatures drop far below freezing and sunlight disappears for months. This makes Photosynthesis nearly impossible, cutting off the main energy source for most life forms like plants and algae. Yet, microbial life continues to exist and even thrive. Scientists have discovered that these microbes use a process called Aerotrophy, which allows them to extract energy from trace gases in the atmosphere, especially hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Using specialized enzymes, these microbes can “sense” and consume tiny amounts of these gases, converting them into...

    India has taken a significant step in global environmental governance by submitting its first national report on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The announcement, made through the Press Information Bureau, highlights India’s commitment to conserving biodiversity while ensuring fair sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources and traditional knowledge. This submission comes alongside India’s Seventh National Report to the CBD, reflecting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to meeting global biodiversity targets. India’s Position as a Biodiversity Powerhouse India is recognised as one of the world’s megadiverse countries, hosting nearly 7–8% of recorded species despite occupying jus...