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A new international report by scientists collaborating across continents provides stark evidence that human-caused climate change is making the world wildfires more extreme, unpredictable, and devastating. The analysis found that climate change has increased the area burned by wildfires (known as bushfires in Australia) by a magnitude of 30 times in some regions globally, serving as a clear warning about the urgent need to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions. Global and Regional Impacts In the past year, an estimated 3.7 million square kilometres a land area larger than India was burned globally. The fires affected over 100 million people, placing US$215 billion worth of homes and infrastructure at risk. The study used satellite observations and advanced modelling, noting that...

New Delhi: After the Supreme Court allowed the sale and bursting of green crackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, health experts have raised concerns that even these so-called eco-friendly crackers could worsen the city’s already deteriorating air quality. Dr. S. Chatterjee, Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospital, cautioned that the festive celebrations might trigger another surge in pollution levels, especially harming those with respiratory issues. “Green crackers are not pollution-free. They cause about 30% less pollution than conventional ones, but that still means a significant amount of harmful emissions,” he told. He added that while smaller shell sizes and reduced particulate emissions make green crackers relatively less hazardous, their use amid Delhi’s current poor air conditions c...

A remarkable discovery in Saudi Arabia northern Nefud Desert is rewriting the history of one of the world’s driest regions. Archaeologists have uncovered hundreds of life-sized animal petroglyphs carved into cliff faces and boulders, revealing that the area now a barren desert was once home to thriving human and animal life nearly 12,000 years ago. The findings published in Nature Communications detail 176 massive rock engravings across three previously unexplored sites Jebel Arnaan, Jebel Mleiha, and Jebel Misma. These carvings, some positioned as high as 128 feet on sandstone cliffs, depict camels, ibex, gazelles, horse-like mammals, and even an extinct ancestor of cattle. Researchers say the intricate carvings show evidence of evolving artistic styles over millennia, with newer engra...

India is facing a mounting public health emergency as antibiotic-resistant infections continue to rise, fuelled by widespread misuse of antibiotics and poor infection control in hospitals. Most of these infections are caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria pathogens that are notoriously difficult to treat and can spread rapidly in clinical settings. According to the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) Project, between 3 lakh and 10.4 lakh deaths in India in 2019 were linked to bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Experts warn that the situation has since worsened, with the unchecked use of antibiotics deepening the crisis. Dr. Aravind R, a senior microbiologist leading Kerala’s AMR control initiative, said that inadequate regulation and over-the-cou...

The Haryana government has defended its plan to set up a safari park in the Aravalli hills, telling the Supreme Court that the project aims to restore degraded land rather than pursue commercial interests. In its affidavit, the state said the proposed area had been heavily mined in the past and is now “highly degraded” with scrub vegetation and limited forest cover. “Instead of death knell, the project will be a conservation initiative for Aravallis as the area will be closed with a boundary wall, which at present is highly prone to encroachments and biotic interference,” the government stated. The clarification comes in response to a plea filed by five retired Indian Forest Service officers and the collective People for Aravallis, who argued that the project prioritises tourism over...

India Supreme Court has allowed the sale and use of “green crackers” during the upcoming Diwali festival, even as Delhi’s air quality plummets to dangerous levels. The ruling partially lifts a 2020 ban on firecrackers in the capital, where pollution typically spikes to its worst each winter. The court said that the less-polluting firecrackers which claim to emit 20–30% fewer toxic substances and generate minimal ash can be sold and used under strict conditions. Their sale will be permitted only between Saturday and Monday from authorised shops, and they may be set off only in designated areas for one day before and on Diwali. The Supreme Court has fixed a three-hour window for their use: one hour in the morning and two hours at night. The order came on a day when Delhi’s air quality ...

Air quality in Delhi-NCR continued to deteriorate on Wednesday, slipping further into the “very poor” category at several locations. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that five monitoring stations in the national capital recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 300, signalling a sharp rise in pollution just a day after Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 211. According to data cited, Anand Vihar reported the highest AQI at 345, followed by DU North Campus and CRRI Mathura Road (307 each), Dwarka Sector 8 (314), and Wazirpur (325). Out of the city’s 40 monitoring stations, data from 38 were available of these, 20 reported “poor” air quality, 13 “moderate,” and five “very poor.” An AQI reading between 301 and 400 is classified as “very poor,” indicating that pro...

The world forests are dangerously underfunded, with a staggering $216 billion annual finance gap that must be filled by 2030 to meet global climate, biodiversity, and land restoration goals, according to the State of Finance for Forests (SFF) 2025 report titled Unlock. Unleash. The report warns that current funding levels are far from sufficient to meet the targets set under the Rio Conventions and calls for tripling annual investments in forests from $84 billion in 2023 to $300 billion by 2030. Public funding continues to dominate global forest finance, accounting for 91% of total investments, while private finance contributes less than 10%. The report highlights the need for a major shift toward private and blended financing to close the growing gap. It estimates that by 2050, annual ...

In a landmark decision, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has, for the first time, declared fossil fuel production a direct threat to nature. On October 16, the IUCN adopted Motion 042 during its World Conservation Congress, marking a historic shift in global conservation policy. The motion urges governments and civil society to phase out coal, oil, and gas, halt new extraction projects, and ensure a just transition for affected workers and communities. It also proposes exploring new international frameworks such as a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to address what it calls a “critical gap in global governance” over fossil fuel supply. “This is a historic moment for global conservation,” said Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptati...

Mangrove forests in Florida played a crucial role in reducing property damages during recent hurricanes, saving billions of dollars, according to a new study published in Cell Reports Sustainability on October 14. Conducted by researchers from the UC Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) and East Carolina University (ECU), in collaboration with catastrophe risk modeling firm Moody’s RMS and The Nature Conservancy, the study is the first to quantify the economic benefits of mangroves using industry catastrophe-risk models. The research found that mangroves helped reduce storm surge and property damage by an estimated $725 million during Hurricane Irma in 2017 and $4.1 billion during Hurricane Ian in 2022. In Florida Collier County alone, mangroves provide around $67 mil...