Is new-age environmentalism narrowing down to planting saplings?

Planting saplings is undoubtedly a good idea, but considering it as the panacea to all our environmental woes is dangerous

India’s population question

Population per se is not the determinant of environmental problems; it is their consumption pattern that leads to environmental degradation

CAG flags MoEFCC projects costing Rs 4.47 crore for procedural lapses

Two projects failed to take-off due to lack of monitoring and non-signing of agreements between parties

Plastic-free planet: Evolution of Global Plastics Treaty

UNEP gathered in Paris ahead of the INC-2 that can set the stage for negotiatons on the treaty

Apogee of the mountain lore: Abiding sway of village deities tie together ecological conservation & spirituality

Uttarakhand's folk traditions play a major role in conserving its forests amid unbridled development push in the hills

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (April 18, 2024)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal  

Iconic Tiger Hill near Darjeeling under ‘development’ threat, NGT pulls up government departments

An environmentalist moved court listing several detrimental activities in the  area; departments nudge one another 

Fourth global mass coral bleaching? Great Barrier Reef severely affected, corals seen dying 

High ocean temperatures due to climate change, El Nino feared to trigger fourth global mass coral bleaching   

Myrrh: How and why the ancient oleo-raisin played a role in the crucifixion of Christ

Many believe the ‘bitter cup’ of wine and myrrh offered to Jesus was an analgesic; it may, in fact, have been an attempt to increase …

Just transition in petrochemicals: Dahej’s industries proving to be major obstacles for climate targets

Petrochemicals, including plastics, emit large amounts of greenhouse gases during the process of manufacture — from start till end

Land of Fire and Ice: Will the Grindavik eruption in Iceland be another Eyjafjallajokull?

For now, the eruption does not present a threat to life, according to the Icelandic government  

We rely heavily on groundwater — but pumping too much threatens thousands of underground species

About a third of the world’s largest groundwater basins are in distress, meaning levels are continuously declining

Dissecting the discord between Guyana and Venezuela: Conflagration or pacification?

Intertwined concerns around geopolitics, economic interests and historical claims have escalated the stand-off. However, the silver lining is …

Plastic-free planet: No consensus on intersessional work on INC-3 last day; revised zero draft to form basis of next session

INC-4 to be hosted by Ottawa, Canada in a few months; INC-5 by Busan, South Korea in November 2024

How rising water vapour in the atmosphere is amplifying warming and making extreme weather worse

Water vapour is estimated to account for 50% of the total greenhouse effect

Cyclone tamers: An Odisha village restores mangroves to allay impact of cyclones

Mangroves can only be successfully revived in areas with a history of plantation

MoEFCC finalises emission standards for small boilers; but silent on whether they’re applicable for Delhi-NCR

Techno-centric policies, cleaner fuels needed to shave off industrial emissions

NGT fines petitioner Rs 1 lakh for wrongly accusing company of improper waste management, wasting court’s time

An expert committee found nothing wrong with the waste treatment plant that was functioning with the necessary environmental approvals

UNEA-6: Rapid adoption of renewables critical for a climate-resilient world, say experts

At the same time, a balance must be struck between the need for and limits of development, they add

Everything, everywhere, all as one: how the UN Environment Assembly can steer the world to a sustainable future

This year, we are inviting the multilateral environmental agreements, nations and indeed every actor to come together and find new ways of …

Book Excerpt: An Austro-Asiatic language that has struggled to find its place in modern India

Santali is the most widely spoken Adivasi language in India; But it was included in the Eighth Schedule only in 2003, a reminder of the country&…

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (February 8, 2024)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in Supreme Court, high courts & National Green Tribunal  

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (January 22, 2024)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in Supreme Court, high courts & National Green Tribunal  

Watch and earn: Initiative to protect Sinhagad fort & forest in Maharashtra also helps people earn a livelihood

Ghera Sinhagad Van Sanrakshan Samiti was set up jointly by the government & villagers to ensure conservation but has benefitted locals in …

‘Modest’ 2023 Antarctic ozone hole ranks 12th overall but still sign of recovery

The depletion would have been lower had it not been for the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in January 2022