environment Archives - Disasters News

Apr152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Massive Sandstorm Hospitalises Over 1,800 in Iraq Grounds Flights

A powerful sandstorm swept across central and southern Iraq on Monday, hospitalising more than 1,800 people with breathing problems and grounding flights in several provinces. Health officials described the event as the largest storm of the year blanketing entire regions in an orange haze and reducing visibility to less than one kilometre. Hospitals were overwhelmed across multiple provinces. Muthanna reported over 700 cases of suffocation, while Najaf saw more than 250 hospital admissions In Diwaniyah, at least 322 people, including children sought medical help for respiratory distress, local authorities told. Additional cases were reported in Dhi Qar and Basra taking the total tally past 1,800. Emergency teams were seen administering oxygen to patients inside ambulances while polic...

Apr102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

China Mega Dam on Yarlung Tsangpo Raises Water Security Fears in India Bangladesh

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

China plan to build the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river has triggered serious concerns in downstream regions like northeastern India and Bangladesh, with experts warning of the project’s far-reaching environmental and geopolitical impacts. The proposed dam, expected to generate a massive 60,000 megawatts of electricity, is part of China’s growing push for energy dominance. However, critics are calling it a “water bomb” that could severely disrupt the delicate ecosystem of the Brahmaputra river basin and increase the risk of devastating floods in downstream areas. Tapir Gao, a Member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh, expressed alarm over the possibility of China releasing large volumes of water without warning. “Such a move could cause flash floods i...

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...

Mar292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

J&K Govt Admits Untreated Wastewater Discharged into Streams, Raising Jhelum Contamination Fears

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The Jammu and Kashmir government has acknowledged in the Legislative Assembly that untreated wastewater from Anantnag, Bijbehara, and Mattan is being discharged into nearby streams, raising concerns about pollution in the Jhelum River, Kashmir’s primary source of drinking water. The disclosure came in a written response from the Housing and Urban Development Department, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on March 11, 2025. The response was given to Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, an MLA from Srigufwara-Bijbehara, who sought details on drainage networks and sewage treatment facilities in these towns. The government stated that municipal bodies and the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) constructed drainage networks, which are interconnected where possible. It claimed that wh...

Mar252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nepal Sagarmatha Sambaad Set to Tackle Climate Crisis Invite Global Leaders Amid Rising Environmental Concerns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Nepal is gearing up to host its much-anticipated international dialogue, Sagarmatha Sambaad, from May 16 to 18 bringing together world leaders foreign ministers and experts to address the escalating climate crisis. The forum originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic aims to spark crucial discussions on climate change climate justice, and its devastating impacts on mountainous nations. During a media briefing in Kathmandu, Amrit Bahadur Rai, Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, revealed that heads of state, foreign ministers, and ministers of forest and environment from various countries have been invited. While the list of attendees has yet to be finalized he confirmed that continuous dialogue is underway with different governments and internati...

Mar202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

142,400 Tonnes of CO2 Emissions Protect 140 Million Hectares and Raise $633 Million in Sustainable Investments

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A new report from the World Economic Forum’s UpLink initiative has highlighted the significant environmental and economic contributions of early-stage innovators working on sustainability solutions. The Annual Impact Report 2025 revealed that UpLink-supported ventures have prevented 142,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the past two years, equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 30,000 cars. In addition to reducing emissions, these ventures have played a crucial role in protecting 140 million hectares of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, an area nearly one-fifth the size of the Amazon rainforest. The report also stated that these initiatives treated 2.5 billion litres of hazardous wastewater and tracked 28 million tonnes of waste, contributing to global efforts in po...

Mar42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Urbanisation Disappear Eight Dragonfly Species from Pune as 27 New Ones Discovered

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A recent study has revealed a dramatic shift in Pune’s dragonfly population, with eight species vanishing while 27 new species have been discovered. Conducted by researchers and citizen scientists, the study attributes the loss of local species to land-use changes, water pollution, shifting weather patterns, and rapid urbanisation. Published in the International Journal of Tropical Insect Science the research was led by scientists from Maharashtra Institute of Technology-World Peace University and conducted between 2019 and 2022 across 52 locations in Pune. The city, which falls within the Western Ghats and Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zones, is home to a rich diversity of odonates, the insect order that includes dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies as Environmental Indicators ...

Feb242025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UK Peatland Fires Set to Surge, Emissions Could Jump 60% with 2°C Warming

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A new study warns that fire emissions from the UK’s peatlands could increase by 60% if global temperatures rise by 2°C, highlighting the growing threat of climate change to these vital carbon stores. Researchers found that between 2001 and 2021, peatland fires in the UK released an estimated 800,000 tonnes of carbon. If warming continues, annual emissions could reach 3.8 million tonnes equivalent to those from 820,800 cars or 133 commercial aircraft. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, underscores the urgent need for restoration efforts to prevent catastrophic carbon losses. Peatlands, covering 9% of the UK’s land area, naturally sequester over three million tonnes of CO₂ annually. However, land management practices and prolonged dry spells have made them more sus...

Feb212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Carbon Levels Hit Record in 2024 as Climate Change Escalates

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations reached a new high of 422 parts per million in 2024, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This milestone follows another record-breaking year for global temperatures, increasing pressure on policymakers to take more aggressive action against climate change. Recent studies indicate that global warming may be accelerating beyond previous estimates. The world may have already reached 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, a critical threshold for triggering extreme and irreversible climate impacts. Research published in Nature Geoscience in November 2024 used 2,000 years of Antarctic ice core data and found warming at 1.49°C in 2023, based on a longer pre-industrial baseline. Ocean Warming and Storm Intens...

Feb182025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Environmental Groups Urge IMO to Ditch Biofuels, Warn of Deforestation Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Environmental organizations are pressing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reject biofuels as a low-carbon option for the shipping industry, arguing that their expanded use could worsen deforestation, land grabbing, and climate change. Biofuelwatch and the Global Forest Coalition (GFC), along with 65 other groups, submitted an open letter ahead of the IMO’s upcoming discussions on low-carbon fuel standards. The letter warned that biofuel expansion, particularly in the Global South, poses significant environmental and social threats. It also called for stricter sustainability criteria to prevent the negative impacts of biofuel production. Brazil, the world’s second-largest biofuel producer, has emerged as a vocal supporter of biofuels in the shipping sector. The country...