Environment Archives - Page 11 of 46

Apr112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Floodplain Study Offers Breakthrough in Building Climate-Resilient Communities

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

As climate change fuels more intense and frequent storms, strengthening flood mitigation strategies has become a top priority. Lives, agriculture, and critical infrastructure are at increasing risk, particularly in downstream communities where effective flood resilience is essential. A new study from the University of Vermont (UVM) sheds light on a powerful yet underutilized natural ally in this fight: floodplains. Floodplains the low-lying land flanking rivers and streams act as nature’s shock absorbers. By temporarily storing excess water during floods, they reduce flood peaks, slow water velocity, and limit erosion in a process called attenuation. But not all floodplains work the same way. The latest research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface introduces ...

Apr92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Australia Faces 37% Spike in Heatwave Hazards: New Report Warns of Climate Health Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Australia has recorded a sharp 37 per cent rise in health-threatening heatwaves over the past two decades, according to the latest MJA–Lancet Countdown report released this week. The findings come as part of a broader annual assessment tracking how climate change is impacting public health across the nation. Lead author Professor Paul Beggs from Macquarie University, who heads the Lancet Countdown Centre in Oceania, stressed that the data highlights the need for consistent, long-term tracking of climate risks in Australia. “The frequency of health-damaging heat has increased substantially since the 1970s,” he said. The 2024 report covers five major domains: health impacts, adaptation, mitigation efforts, economics, and public engagement. One standout concern is the growing intersecti...

Apr92025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rapid Agricultural Driving Severe Groundwater Depletion Despite Rising Rainfall in Thar Desert

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

New study has revealed a striking transformation in the Thar Desert long known for its arid climate showing significant greening across both monsoon and non-monsoon seasons between 2001 and 2020. But behind this apparent revival lies a looming ecological concern: groundwater depletion, driven by rapid agricultural and urban expansion. Researchers compared the seasonal cycle of vegetation greenness between 2001–2010 and 2011–2020, finding a substantial rise in greenery during both summer monsoon (June–September) and the drier months (October–May). However, they traced this trend back to a dramatic surge in farming activity and irrigation. Between 1980 and 2015, the Thar region witnessed a 74% rise in crop area and a 24% increase in irrigated area. Gross and net irrigated areas expande...

Apr72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Brazil Pushes Fast Track Global Climate Action Proposal But Europe Warns Against Weakening UN Climate Process

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

As the world struggles to stay on track with its climate goals, Brazil has come forward with a bold idea create a new Climate Change Council under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to speed up global decision-making and implementation. The proposal is being floated ahead of the COP30 climate summit, which Brazil is set to host in Belem later this year. According to Brazilian officials, the aim of the council would be to bypass the current sluggish pace of international climate negotiations and provide a more agile mechanism for action. The suggestion was a key talking point during the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin. While the idea has caught the attention of several European countries namely Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden they have voiced...

Apr52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Telangana University Land Taken Forest Cut 2,000 acres at Kancha Gachibowli

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In a move that has sparked outrage the Telangana government has unveiled a grand plan to build one of the world largest eco parks by taking over 2,000 acres at Kancha Gachibowli land that includes the University of Hyderabad campus. But what’s being called an ‘eco dream’ by the state feels like a green disaster to many on the ground. Just weeks ago, 400 acres were marked for auction. But after protests and legal action, including intervention by the Supreme Court, the government didn’t back down it doubled down. The new plan? Remove UoH, shift it outside the city, and use the entire land for the park project. Students and environmentalists are calling this a cover-up for the damage already done. Large patches of green have been cleared, trees cut, and the local ecosystem visibly dist...

Apr52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

El Niño Now Lasts Longer Hits Harder Scientists Warn of Deepening Global Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

El Niño, the notorious climate disruptor, is evolving and not in a good way. Once known for its irregular but relatively short-lived bouts of weather chaos, new research reveals that both El Niño and La Niña are now persisting longer, bringing amplified and prolonged destruction to ecosystems, economies and communities worldwide. Triggered by shifts in Pacific Ocean temperatures, El Niño and its cold-phase counterpart La Niña have long reshaped global weather drying out regions like Africa and Australia, flooding the Americas, and damaging agriculture and fisheries. The 1997-98 El Niño alone caused an estimated $5.7 trillion in global income losses. But what's emerging now is far more alarming. A recent study combining fossilised coral records and cutting-edge climate models revea...

Apr12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Are the World’s Water Towers Running Dry? UN Report Warns of Glacier Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Half of the world’s population faces severe water scarcity for part of the year, and the situation is worsening as mountains and glaciers the planet’s natural water towers are melting rapidly, according to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2025. The report highlights that glacier retreat is threatening freshwater supplies for over two billion people worldwide. The crisis is further compounded by the fact that 3.5 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation, creating a severe water security challenge. With 2025 designated as the "International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation", the UN is emphasizing the urgent need for global action to protect these critical freshwater reserves. Scientists warn that unchecked global warming could accelerate glacier loss, wors...

Mar312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Extreme Heat Threatens Child Growth in Bangladesh, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The first 1,000 days of life play a crucial role in shaping a child’s future. But what happens when those days are spent in extreme heat? A new study, Extreme Heat Exposure in the First 1000 Days: Implications for Childhood Stunting in Bangladesh, has found a direct link between rising temperatures and childhood stunting. Despite Bangladesh’s significant progress in reducing stunting from 42% in 2012 to 28% in 2019 climate change now poses a serious threat to these gains. Extreme heat, defined as temperatures exceeding historical norms, disrupts critical biological processes. A mere 1% increase in extreme heat days raises the likelihood of stunting by 56%. Exposure after birth has an even stronger impact 67% compared to 28% for in-utero exposure. Babies born to mothers facing high...

Mar292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Rising Heat Worsens Water Crisis, Government Efforts and Sustainable Solutions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

India is grappling with an escalating water crisis worse by rising temperatures with 2024 recorded as the hottest year since 1901. As heatwaves intensified the country saw 733 deaths due to extreme heat according to a report by Heat Watch. The gap between water availability and consumption termed the water gap is increasing at an alarming rate. A study in Nature Communications found that India leads globally in water scarcity, with a baseline shortfall of 24.3 cubic km per year. Under a 1.5°C warming scenario, this gap is projected to increase by 11.1 cubic km annually, further straining resources. The worst-affected basins include the Ganga-Brahmaputra (56.1 cubic km per year) and Sabarmati (52.6 cubic km per year), where water demand far exceeds supply. Government Efforts and Su...

Mar292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Haryana Steps Up Pollution Fight Plans Long-Term Clean Air Project

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Chandigarh, March 29, 2025 – Haryana is tightening its grip on air pollution with a series of strict regulatory actions including industrial closures, heavy fines, and pollution-control initiatives. Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh, addressing the State Assembly emphasized the government's focus on air quality improvement through inspections, penalties, and awareness campaigns. 480 Industries Shut, ₹35 Crore in Fines The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has been actively inspecting industries, leading to the closure of 480 non-compliant units and the imposition of environmental fines worth ₹35 crore. While these efforts have led to some improvement in AQI, pollution hotspots like Faridabad and Gurugram continue to experience poor air quality. To combat seasonal pollution...