Environmentalism

About 1.5 mn deaths a year during 2009-2019 linked to air pollution: Study

About a million and a half deaths every year from 2009 to 2019 is potentially linked with a long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution, according to a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal. Researchers, including those at Ashoka University, Haryana, and Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, said that the entire 1.4 billion population of India live in areas having PM2.5 levels higher than World Health Organization-recommended five micrograms per cubic metre yearly average. The team also found that nearly 82 per cent of India's population, or 1.1 billion, lived in areas with yearly average PM2.5 levels exceeding those recommended by the Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (40 microns per cubic metre). Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, pollution is caused by particles sized under 2.5 microns in diameter. A yearly increase in PM2.5 pollution of 10 microns per cubic metre was associated with 8.6 per cent higher annual mortality, the researchers found. Fo

CoP16: India underlines efforts on land restoration, drought resilience

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav pointed to the link between desertification and poverty, stating that India recognised land degradation as socio-economic issue and recalled India's presidency at CoP14

Global warming result of unplanned, unscientific development: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said that global warming is a challenge for the world and it is a result of unplanned and unscientific development by the man. "The world is concerned; every person who has even a little positive feeling about the environment and the living world and its bright future in the country is concerned (about the environment)," he said, at an event organised to distribute appointment letters to 701 forest guards selected by the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission. Global warming is a challenge for the whole world, but it has not come from anywhere else, he said, adding that it is a result of following the path of unplanned and unscientific development that man is facing it as a problem. "Somewhere there is excessive rain, and somewhere there is a 'heat wave'. Somewhere life is destroyed by floods, and somewhere people are yearning for a drop of water," Adityanath said. Congratulating the selected candidates, Yogi s

No reason to scale back our domestic targets, says CEEW's Arunabha Ghosh

Expectations from this year's COP are clear on issues, whether we have a ministerial presence or not, Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of Council for Energy Environment and Water, said in his interview

Biodiversity policies should include behavioural changes, say researchers

About 90 per cent of the current national biodiversity policies fail to specify behavioural changes expected of an individual or a group, such as farmers, consumers and fishers, a finding that researchers said could explain the lack of progress on meeting conservation targets. A total of 1306 policy actions proposed by ten National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) from all world regions were coded for target actors, target behaviour and responsible agents as well as the policy options. The team, including researchers from the University of Surrey, UK, found that only 11 per cent of national biodiversity policies explicitly addressed the critical role of behavioural changes expected of individuals to meaningfully deliver on biodiversity conservation. "Unfortunately, we have collectively developed a major blind spot in biodiversity policies. There's a heavy focus on grand actions such as resource management, but little attention is paid to the everyday behaviours -- .

India commits to 30% protected areas in updated biodiversity plan

India has launched its updated biodiversity action plan with a goal to protect at least 30 percent of its terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030, in line with global biodiversity targets. The updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), unveiled at the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, outlines 23 national targets aligned with the 23 global goals set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), which was adopted at the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference in Canada in 2022. A key goal of the KM-GBF is to protect at least 30 percent of the world's land and ocean areas by 2030. It also aims to restore degraded ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, and rivers, to ensure they continue providing essential resources like clean water and air. India, recognised as one of the 17 megadiverse countries, became a party to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1994. It harbours 7-8 percent of the world's

Delhi Env min praises residents for controlling pollution by lighting diyas

He also congratulated Delhi residents for acting responsibly by lighting diyas instead of bursting firecrackers, which contributed to controlling pollution levels

Jairam Ramesh slams NITI Aayog over call to pause emission-reducing gear

Congress leader and former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday said sulphur dioxide emissions from power plants contributed significantly to air pollution and any argument suggesting that such emissions were of no concern to public health in India was ridiculous. His remarks came over a media report, which claimed the NITI Aayog had proposed halting the fitting of equipment to cut sulphur emissions at coal-fired power plants. However, there was no official word from the NITI Aayog. In a post on X, Ramesh said India was the world's largest emitter of sulphur dioxide and these emissions from power plants contributed significantly to air pollution. "A decision had been taken earlier that the power plants must install fluoride gas desulpharisers. First, a deadline of 2017 was fixed. This was later extended to 2026. Now it appears that the all-knowing NITI Aayog wants the deadline scrapped altogether," the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said. "To arg

India asks developed countries to help nations achieve biodiversity goals

India has urged developed countries to urgently provide finance, technology and capacity-building resources to developing and poorer nations to help them achieve their biodiversity targets. Delivering India's national statement at the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh also announced that India will launch its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) at the conference on Wednesday. He said the country adopted a comprehensive, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to updating the NBSAP with goals aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). "It is necessary to provide means of implementation, including financial resources, for the implementation of the NBSAP. A lot of ground needs to be covered in providing easily accessible means of implementation i.e. financial resources, technology and capacity building needs with the requisite speed, scope and

Delays in India's carbon trading scheme raise concerns amid UN warning

Delays in setting up a carbon market in India have become a pressing concern now, especially after a UN body warned this week of the perils of going slow on emission reductions

Slight progress in biodiversity protection but some species decline: Report

Global efforts to protect the world's plants and animals have made slight progress and some species remain in serious decline, according to two reports released Monday at a major United Nations biodiversity summit in Colombia. A report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) evaluated global progress since its biodiversity report in 2020. Two years ago, 196 countries signed a historic treaty to protect biodiversity on 30% of the planet by 2030. The biodiversity summit underway in Cali, Colombia is a follow-up to the 2022 accord in Montreal, which includes 23 measures to halt and reverse nature loss. One calls for putting 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030. The UNEP report found countries have made some headway on pledges, but that expansion of the global network must accelerate over the next six years to meet the goal. The report says 17.6% of land and inland waters and 8.4% of the ocean and coastal areas globally are within ...

Next 15 days crucial to tackle air pollution in Delhi, says Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai emphasised the urgent need to tackle air pollution across northern India, calling the next 15 days "crucial". Following a key meeting with the Central government on Friday, Rai held a press conference on Saturday. The meeting, attended by Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Bhupender Yadav, along with environment ministers from neighbouring states, aimed to assess and address the worsening air quality in the region. Rai expressed concern over the delay in this year's meeting and said, "Last year, a similar meeting was held in August, allowing us more time to strategise. "This year's meeting took place in the last week of October. Had it been conducted three months earlier, we could have tackled the pollution problem more effectively," Rai said. According to Rai, Punjab has shown a promising downtrend in the stubble burning incidents, with only 1,500 cases reported this year compared to nearly 5,000 cases in 2022. However, he noted an upti

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

India's development deeply intertwined with environment conservation: EAM

India's development journey is "deeply intertwined" with environmental conservation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday and lauded tribal communities for their role in protecting biodiversity. He was speaking at an event held at the India Habitat Centre here to mark the inauguration of a tribal art exhibition -- 'Silent Conversation: From the Margins to the Centre' in Delhi. In his address, Jaishankar also praised the 'Project Tiger' that was started in 1973. "It is not an exaggeration, it is a shining example of success. And, for which the tribals communities deserve immense credit," the Union minister said. Jaishankar further said that this art does not just show creativity, it sends a "profound message, one that bridges the gap between nature and humanity.. from tigers to tribals". This exhibition showcases that people can exist with nature in complete harmony. It weaves the story of how tribal community over millennia has forged an enduring bond with natur

Ratan Tata: An environmentalist's homage to India's business icon

As we mourn the demise of Ratan Tata, let's also mourn the passing of the time when business leaders like him ruled our world, when values of frugality and simplicity in personal life were cherished

NGT issues notice over illegal tree felling in Gujarat's Koteshwar

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Gujarat regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the issue of alleged illegal tree felling in Gujarat's Koteshwar. The green body had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report on the threat to a 77-hectare forest patch in Koteshwar which is situated between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the article, this forest is home to over 700 species of flora and fauna, including some endangered species and this area, considered the last wildlife refuge near the city, is threatened by ongoing deforestation and urban encroachment as plans to transform it into a biodiversity park are set in motion as part of the Sabarmati River Front extension plan." The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members Afroz Ahmad and A Senthil Vel said the report raised "substantial issues" about compliance with

Decarbonisation of world economy progressing far too slowly: Fitch

They said one of the reasons for emerging markets poor performance was underinvestment in clean energy projects, especially in emerging markets excluding China

Countries, firms, trade officials urge EU to rethink deforestation rules

A growing number of governments, international trade organizations and businesses are urging the European Union to reconsider a deforestation regulation set to take effect in December. Critics of the regulation say it will discriminate against countries with forest resources and hurt their exports. Supporters of the EU Deforestation Regulation, or EUDR for short, say it will help combat forest degradation on a global scale. Several commodity associations have said they support the objectives of the regulation but that gaps in its implementation could harm their businesses. Environmental organizations have voiced support, saying the EUDR will help slow global deforestation, which is the second-biggest source of carbon emissions after fossil fuels. Here's a look at the EU Deforestation Regulation: What is the EUDR and what products is it expected to impact? Starting on Dec. 30, the EU Deforestation Regulation will outlaw the sale of forest-derived products within the 27-nation bloc

CSIR-NIO's study on microplastics reveals extent of pollution on Goa coast

The CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography's study on microplastics over the last decade has been instrumental in uncovering the extent of pollution on Goa's coast. The CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Dona Paula began its research on microplastics in 2013-14 with the partial support of the state and Central governments. A team of researchers led by principal scientist Dr Mahua Saha has been collecting samples from beaches littered with plastic bottles and other waste to study the presence and impact of microplastics. Talking to PTI, CSIR director Dr Sunil Kumar Singh said the problem is that microplastics in water (rivers and sea) have started making their way into food and entering human bodies. He said plastic waste breaks down into microplastics, enters the water system, and subsequently into the food chain through fish and other marine life consumed by humans. The NIO has established the country's first laboratory dedicated to microplastic research. Principa

Delhi to organise 'e-vehicle parade' in October to boost usage, sales

Delhi's environment department will organise an 'e-vehicle parade' at Rajghat in early October, aimed at encouraging the purchase and use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the city. Officials anticipate that over 500 EVs will participate in this event, with a registration link for interested owners to be announced shortly. A senior official from the environment department said that a tender has been issued for the event, which is expected to cost around Rs 5.76 lakh. Bids will be accepted until September 30, and the parade will be conducted within five days of awarding the tender. "The primary objective is to promote EV usage in Delhi and raise awareness about their benefits. We encourage as many EV owners as possible to join the parade," an official said. "Transitioning to electric vehicles will contribute to reducing vehicular pollution in the capital," the official stated. Environment Minister Gopal Rai, who recently resumed his role following the formation of a new cabinet, emphas