Wednesday, July 30News That Matters

Tag: environment

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

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

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

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

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

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...
Carbon Levels Hit Record in 2024 as Climate Change Escalates

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

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...
SA Hosts Global Forum to Propel Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste Management

SA Hosts Global Forum to Propel Circular Economy and Sustainable Waste Management

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
South Africa took center stage in advancing environmental sustainability by hosting the 7th Global Forum of Cities for Circular Economy (GFCCE) workshop. The event, organized by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment, convened in Johannesburg to champion sustainable waste management practices across Africa. The two-day forum welcomed participants from 18 African nations, including Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, focusing on enhancing South-South cooperation. With urbanization and environmental degradation posing challenges to the continent, the workshop aimed to build the capacity of officials and foster the adoption of circular economy principles. Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and t...
Climate Change to Cause Over 2.3 Million Additional Heat-Related Deaths in Europe by 2099

Climate Change to Cause Over 2.3 Million Additional Heat-Related Deaths in Europe by 2099

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A modelling study led by the Environment & Health Modelling (EHM) Lab at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) reveals alarming projections for the impact of climate change on temperature-related deaths across Europe. Published in Nature Medicine, the study predicts a substantial rise in deaths from heat, far outweighing any reduction in cold-related fatalities. Without immediate action to reduce carbon emissions, climate change could result in over 2.3 million additional temperature-related deaths across 854 European cities by the end of this century. The Mediterranean region, Central Europe, and the Balkans are identified as particularly vulnerable areas, with major cities like Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid expected to bear the brunt of this crisis. Adaptat...
Deadly Threat Lingers as Rain Looms Over Los Angeles Wildfire Zones

Deadly Threat Lingers as Rain Looms Over Los Angeles Wildfire Zones

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
While firefighters continue to battle wildfires in the Los Angeles area, another danger is fast approaching. Rain expected over the weekend of January 25–26 may help extinguish the flames, but it also carries the risk of triggering deadly debris flows in the burned hillsides. These fast-moving torrents of water, ash, and debris can wreak havoc, destroying homes, infrastructure, and lives in minutes. The phenomenon is not new to California. In 2018, the hills above Montecito, scorched by the Thomas Fire, gave way during a storm, unleashing a devastating debris flow that killed 23 people and damaged over 400 homes. Similar events now threaten wildfire-affected areas near Los Angeles, where experts warn that the conditions for another disaster are already in place. When wildfires scorch...