Environment

SC mulls setting up panel to vet permission for felling trees in Delhi

The bench referred to Section 7(b) of the 1994 Act which says the tree authority shall be responsible for carrying out the census of existing trees and obtaining

Hafele India to Showcase Cutting-Edge Solutions at Acetech 2024

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Fossil emissions to hit record this year, India's share to rise: Report

India's fossil fuel emissions are projected to rise by 4.6 per cent in 2024, while China could see a marginal rise of 0.2 per cent, according to new research by a group of international scientists. The report, unveiled during the UN climate conference or COP29 in Azerbaijan's Baku on Wednesday, stated that global carbon emissions from fossil fuels could reach 37.4 billion tonnes, an increase of 0.8 per cent from 2023 levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are projected to reach 422.5 parts per million in 2024, which is set to become the warmest year on record. This is 2.8 parts per million higher than in 2023 and 52 per cent above pre-industrial levels. "The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly dramatic, yet we still see no sign that burning of fossil fuels has peaked," said Professor Pierre Friedlingstein of Exeter's Global Systems Institute, who led the study. According to a UN report released last month, India's greenhouse gas emissions surged by 6.1 per cent in 2023, ...

COP-16: World's 1st global ecosystem atlas unveiled; how will it help biz

The new initiative aims to help governments, businesses, financial institutions, and local communities to make informed decisions, support sustainability and manage risks

RBI move to slow down gold loan growth, lead to uptick in default: CRISIL

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Centre and nine state pollution control boards along with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee on a study cited by a newspaper alleging severe impact of poor air quality on mortality rates across 10 major Indian cities. The green body was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report, which quoting a Lancet study said that approximately 33,000 deaths annually were linked to air pollution levels that exceed the World Health Organization guidelines. The report examined the cities of Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla, and Varanasi. In an order passed on October 15, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the news item, the study's findings show that even cities previously considered less polluted, such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai, are significantly affected and it is alleged that this is largely due to ...

Strike over: Environment must be created for early end to labour disputes

To build a global manufacturing base, which is desirable, India will need to build large-scale production facilities

Govt issues guidelines to prohibit greenwashing, misleading green claims

The government on Tuesday unveiled comprehensive guidelines to regulate greenwashing and misleading environmental claims by companies, aiming to protect consumers and promote transparency in eco-friendly marketing. Greenwashing refers to claims by companies about any product or service having climate-friendly impact. The new guidelines, issued by the consumer affairs ministry, aim to ensure that eco-friendly assertions are backed by verifiable evidence and clear disclosures. Briefing media, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare emphasized that the guidelines do not prohibit environmental claims but seek to ensure they are made with integrity and transparency. "The claims have to be supported by verifiable evidence and independent studies," the secretary said. For instance, terms like '100% eco-friendly', 'zero emissions', and 'cruelty-free' must now be substantiated with accurate and accessible qualifiers. The guidelines provide definitions for 'greenwashing' and 'environmental

NGT issues notice over civic issues faced by Gurugram Ward 16 residents

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Gurugram Municipal Corporation commissioner and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority CEO in a matter regarding unsanitary conditions caused by overflowing sewers and stray cattle in the city's ward 16. The green body was hearing a matter in which it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding the severe civic issues faced by residents of the ward, which included the localities of Arjun Colony, Idgah Colony, Jyoti Park, Jyoti Park (East), Madanpuri, Nehru Lane, Pratap Nagar, Vijay Park and Manohar Nagar. In an order dated September 30, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the news item, the ward is plagued by broken and damaged sewers that continuously overflow, spilling filth onto the roads. This results in severe water logging even after brief rainfall, making commuting difficult and spreading a foul stench throughout the area." "The presence of stray cattle adds

World Habitat Day 2024: Theme, History, Significance, Quotes and more

On World Habitat Day, people, groups, and governments are urged to strive toward improving housing conditions, enhancing neighbourhood safety, and creating safe spaces

Site visits essential for environment clearance in Western Ghats: Ministry

A panel of the Union Environment Ministry has said that site visits should be conducted "in toto" before granting environmental clearances to pumped storage projects (PSPs) in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. During a meeting of the ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on September 27, the member secretary stated that the ministry had granted Terms of Reference (ToR) -- which outlines the environmental studies a project must complete before applying for clearance -- to approximately 15 projects in the Western Ghats. "The EAC reviewed the Terms of Reference recommended to the PSPs proposed to be located in Western Ghats... Given the region's high environmental sensitivity, the EAC, in previous meetings, recommended site visits by sub-committee members to several pumped storage projects. "These projects are located in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats and a huge forest area is also involved. The EAC emphasised that, prior to granting environmental clearance or ...

World Environmental Health Day 2024: Date, History, Theme and Importance

The date of World Environmental Health Day 2024 is September 26, each year. The day emphasises how important it is to create a safe and healthy environment by tackling important concerns

80% Indians support criminalisation of environmental damage by govt: Survey

Nearly four out of five Indians support criminalising actions by government officials or leaders of large businesses that cause serious damage to nature and the climate, according to a new global survey. The Global Commons Survey 2024, conducted by Ipsos UK and commissioned by Earth4All and the Global Commons Alliance (GCA), also revealed that nearly three out of five (61 per cent) Indians believe that the government is doing enough to tackle climate change and environmental damage. Ninety per cent of them are worried about the state of nature today. Seventy-three per cent of the respondents feel that the Earth is approaching critical environmental "tipping points", where climate or natural systems, such as rainforests or glaciers, may change suddenly or be more difficult to stabilise in the future. Fifty-seven per cent believe that new technologies can resolve environmental issues without requiring significant changes in individual lifestyles, while 54 per cent think that many cla

Siberian 'gateway to hell' triples in size in 30 years, scientists worried

The Siberian giant hole, called 'gateway to hell', has increased its size three times in the last three decades. Scientists raise concerns about its potential threat to the environment

National Wildlife Day 2024: Why is this observed; all you need to know

National Wildlife Day highlights the critical need to protect endangered species and prevent their extinction, also to encourage a shared sense of responsibility towards all living beings

Climate change effect: Om Parvat's snow vanishes for the first time

The complete disappearance of snow this year is being attributed to scanty rainfall and patchy snowfall in the upper Himalayas over the past five years

Delhi breathes easy after long as rains wash down pollutants. What next?

With the monsoon expected to last longer in 2024, at least well into September, there is a good possibility that the AQI will remain tolerable for the next few weeks

Great Barrier Reef declines due to climate change; little time to save it

Humanity is killing the Great Barrier Reef, and other reefs around the world, by failing to curb the greenhouse gas emissions

Environment should be safeguarded for green, healthy future: Rajasthan CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday urged people to commit to safeguarding the environment, ensuring a green and healthy future. "Increasing pollution, climate change and the reckless exploitation of resources are weakening our planet day by day. It is our collective duty to make meaningful efforts to protect the environment," Lal said as he flagged off a cyclothon from SMS Stadium here. The cycling rally was organised for environmental conservation by the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair and the IMCT Foundation. The chief minister stressed that the change to save nature must begin with each of us, a statement issued here said. "Such programmes reflect our commitment to environmental conservation and raise awareness about health. These initiatives help us stay physically fit while also promoting mental well being," Lal said at the event. He noted that as vehicle use contributes to pollution, it is people's responsibility to compensate by planting more trees and b

BIS launches environment department, aims to set global benchmark

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Monday announced the launch of a new Environment and Ecology Department (EED), aiming to set global benchmarks in sustainability and environmental standardisation. The national standards body organised a workshop to mark the department's creation, with over 100 experts attending from across the country, an official statement said. BIS Director General Pramod Kumar Tiwari said the new department would address "all ecological needs" and create standards for both India and the world. Leena Nandan, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stressed the importance of collaboration between BIS, her ministry, and other stakeholders in developing standards on issues like ECO-Mark, sustainable wood practices, and Blue Flag Beaches. BIS plans to host seminars in the coming months to solidify its position as a leader in environmental standardisation, Tiwari said. The move comes as India seeks to strengthen its role in global

Kerala landslides: Search operations to continue after rains, says minister

Members of the cabinet sub-committee, who met the media said a detailed search will be conducted on August 12 and 13 to find those who are missing in the devastating landslides