Volkswagen to pay $14.7 billion to settle emissions-cheating cases
After violating environmental and consumer laws for years, Volkswagen makes the largest-ever automotive buyback offer in the US
US agency proposes more stringent rules to curb downwind air pollution
The proposal is expected to reduce emissions from power plants in 23 states, protecting neighbouring states from ozone pollution
The truth about US emissions
A close look at the inventory published by the US Environmental Protection Agency shows emissions rose and dipped due to market forces and …
Climate negotiations moving at a slow pace, but seemingly in the right direction
Loss and damage continues to be a contentious issue while multiple spin-offs have slowed down the process
Children demand inclusion in water and sanitation programmes at UNICEF forum
More than 50 children from across the world participated at the two-day conference in Tajikistan
Mediterranean Sea accumulating plastic debris
Plastic remnants have been found in the stomach of small fish, seabirds, turtles and sperm whales which abound its waters
Mexico submits national contributions, says it will peak its emissions by 2026
Mexico is the first developing country to submit the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions ahead of Paris summit
Countries pledge US $9.3 billion to Green Climate Fund
Though the pledges were hailed as a trust-building development, many challenges still need to be addressed
Patently hollow claims of the US
Global organisations and academics defend India’s IP laws and call for US to back off
Menacing US diplomacy
Specialist attachés are strenuously pushing maximalist intellectual property rules worldwide
Myriad gains, we all lose
The US appeals court has upheld the patents for isolated human genes, ignoring scientists’ warning that it would obstruct vital research …
Bank’s first contest
Developing countries challenge US monopoly by putting up candidates for World Bank’s presidency
Science meets fiction
Down To Earth invites sci-fi buffs and writers to take its readers on a guided tour of the world of science fiction that throws a mirror to the …
Poisons we live with
Book>> What’s gotten into us? Staying healthy in a toxic world • by Mckay Jenkins, Random House • US $26
Turn on the tap
Why do Americans buy expensive bottled water when they have high quality tap water? That’s been an abiding enquiry for PETER GLEICK. …
World leaders should choose people over profit
Rising hunger, inequality, loss of livelihoods, climate change, environmental degradation, war and vaccine inequality pushed excluded people to …
COVID-19: Worst economic performance by very poor countries in 30 years
43 least developed countries are experiencing a fall in their average income levels, says UNCTAD report
Climate-related weather events to break records in US this year, data shows
The country is on its way to record 17 billion-dollar extreme weather events in 2020, having lost $46.6 billion till September
COVID-19 can reverse decades of progress in eliminating child deaths: UN
Almost 68% of 77 countries surveyed reported at least some disruption in health checks and immunisation services, which may lead to increase in …
UN report flags changes in food system to boost climate action
Addding diet and food loss to climate change plans can improve mitigation and adaptation contributions towards food systems by as much as 25%
COVID-19: 99% active cases are with mild symptoms
Spread of COVID-19 fastest in last seven months; the world added first million cases in four months, last million in four days
Green bonds: Is it green finance or green-washing?
A foremost requirement to develop a robust green bond market is to harmonise international and domestic guidelines and standards for …
'Female health workers played a critical role in making Africa wild polio-free'
Tunji Funsho, who led the effort to make Nigeria wild polio-free, says COVID-19 is a setback to the last mile of polio eradication
Coronavirus variants: why being more transmissible rather than more deadly isn’t good news
At the heart of this assertion lies an old foe that has plagued us right from the start of this pandemic: exponential growth
Is climate litigation the way forward for accountability and climate action?
Recent judgment in the US held the State of Montana responsible for causing unreasonable damage to climate