Environment Archives - Disasters News

Jul282026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tiny keystone Microbes found to keep Deep Water Reservoirs Stable Despite Changing Conditions

July 28: A new study has found that a small group of highly adaptable microbes plays a critical role in maintaining the chemical stability of deep water reservoirs, even as the overall microbial community changes significantly over time. Researchers studied Xiaowan Reservoir, one of the world's deepest reservoirs located on China Lancang River, over a three year period from 2017 to 2019. The findings suggest that ecosystem stability depends less on preserving the same microbial species and more on maintaining essential biological functions performed by a few versatile "keystone" microbes. The reservoir which exceeds 650 feet in depth, develops distinct warm surface waters and cold, oxygen poor deep waters during summer. Scientists collected water samples from different depths in both...

Jul122026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

China Intensifies Disaster Preparedness as Typhoon Bavi Approaches Eastern Coast

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Beijing, July 12: Chinese authorities have intensified disaster preparedness measures across several eastern provinces as Typhoon Bavi approaches the country's east coast, prompting mass evacuations, transport disruptions and emergency response operations. According to Chinese state media, Zhejiang Province upgraded its typhoon emergency response to the highest level on Saturday as the storm moved toward the coast with strong typhoon intensity. The provincial meteorological observatory said Typhoon Bavi was located about 489 kilometres off the coast of Wenzhou on Saturday morning and was expected to make landfall in Zhejiang around midnight. Authorities in Zhejiang said nearly 1.72 million people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas as a precaution. More than 12,000 sch...

Jul12026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heat Resistant Indian Roads Perform Better as Europe Struggles in Record Heatwave

Breaking News, Environment

As Europe continues to battle an intense heatwave, images of melting roads in the United Kingdom have sparked global attention and prompted comparisons with countries like India, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius. Despite facing even higher temperatures, Indian roads generally remain intact because they are specifically designed to withstand extreme heat. The difference lies not in the quality of construction but in the climate conditions each country prepares for. Road engineering is tailored to local weather patterns, meaning materials that perform well in one region may struggle in another. Why UK Roads Soften During Extreme Heat Roads in the United Kingdom and many other European countries are primarily designed to survive freezing winters. They mus...

Jun302026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Ladakh Imposes ₹2 Lakh Fine on Tourists for Illegal Off Roading in Protected Areas

Climate Actions, Environment, Idea & Innovations

The Ladakh Administration has imposed a total penalty of ₹2 lakh on four tourists for illegally driving vehicles through ecologically sensitive areas, including Pangong Lake and protected wildlife habitats. Officials described the action as the first major enforcement drive against tourists violating environmental laws through illegal off roading. Acting on the directions of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, the Wildlife Department fined four vehicle owners ₹50,000 each under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The tourists, who belonged to Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, were found driving in protected areas of Changthang, Nubra and around Pangong Lake. During the investigation, authorities impounded the vehicles and released them only after the penalties wer...

Jun302026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Experts Warn Wales Is Falling Behind on Tree Planting, Putting Future Climate Goals at Risk

Climate Actions, Environment

Conservation groups and climate experts have warned that Wales is not planting enough trees to meet its climate targets, raising concerns that future generations could pay the price. While the number of trees being planted has increased in recent years, experts say progress remains far below what is needed to tackle climate change, reduce flooding, and achieve net zero emissions. The warning comes as campaigners argue that complicated regulations and bureaucracy make it easier to remove existing woodlands than to establish new forests. They are calling for simpler policies, long term funding, and greater support for landowners to expand tree cover across the country. Tree Planting Falling Well Short of Climate Targets According to analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Un...

Jun262026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 235 as Global Rescue Mission Intensifies

Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Venezuela is facing one of the worst natural disasters in its modern history after two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck within a minute of each other killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 1,500. The devastating twin quakes flattened buildings damaged critical infrastructure forced thousands from their homes and triggered an international humanitarian response as rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath the rubble. The earthquakes struck near the town of Moron, west of the capital Caracas, with shallow epicentres that intensified the destruction across several states. Authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency as hospitals filled with injured victims and emergency workers raced against time to rescue those still missing. The di...

Jun262026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Antarctica First Plant Extinction Risk Assessment Flags Rare Moss as Endangered

Breaking News, Environment

For the first time scientists have assessed the extinction risk of a plant species in Antarctica and found that a rare moss Roaldia revoluta is regionally endangered, highlighting growing concerns about the vulnerability of the continent’s unique vegetation. Although Antarctica is often viewed as a frozen wilderness, small ice-free areas support a surprising variety of plant life. The continent is home to two native flowering plant species more than 100 moss species as well as numerous liverworts and lichens. Despite their ecological importance, none of these plants had previously undergone a formal extinction risk assessment in Antarctica. Researchers evaluated the conservation status of Roaldia revoluta a rusty brown to yellow green moss that occurs in both polar regions and mounta...

Jun162026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heatwaves Could Threaten More Than 3,500 Vertebrate Species, New Global Warning System Finds

Environment

A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change has unveiled a global early warning system capable of predicting which wildlife species are at risk from extreme heat months in advance. Researchers say the tool could help conservationists take rapid action to protect vulnerable animals as climate driven heat events become more frequent and intense. The international team combined seasonal weather forecasts with species specific historical temperature limits to identify wildlife populations likely to face dangerous heat exposure. Using forecasts made in May 2024, the researchers predicted that more than 3,500 vertebrate species out of 30,585 assessed would be exposed to extreme temperatures. Among them were over 1,250 species already considered vulnerable, endangered, criticall...

Jun32026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Great Pacific Garbage Patch Becoming a New Marine Habitat, Scientists Warn

Climate Actions, Environment, Idea & Innovations

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) the world largest accumulation of ocean plastic, is no longer just a symbol of pollution scientists say it is now hosting entire communities of marine life, raising new concerns about how plastic waste is reshaping ocean ecosystems. Located between California and Hawaii, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an area estimated to be twice the size of Texas and contains around 100,000 tons of floating plastic. According to environmental researchers, more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic are trapped within this vast zone of ocean debris. The garbage patch forms in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a system of rotating ocean currents that naturally gathers floating waste. Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter the world's oceans through ...

Jun32026 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Delhi Loses Nearly Half Its Green Cover as Heat Stress Spreads Across City: CSE Report

Climate Actions, Environment

New Delhi: Delhi has lost nearly half of its green cover over the last decade, while heat stress has expanded across almost the entire city, according to a new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The findings highlight how rapid urbanisation, shrinking vegetation, and rising temperatures are making the national capital increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat. The report, Making Delhi Heat Resilient: A Roadmap with the Focus on Vulnerable Groups reveals that Delhi green cover declined from 25.36 percent in 2014 to just 14.14 percent in 2024. During the same period, water bodies also shrank, reducing the city’s natural ability to cool itself. Researchers found that 98.72 percent of Delhi crossed the heat-stress threshold at least once between 2015 and 2024. More tha...