Page 2 - Environment

SC junks clause granting green nod exemption to education projects

The Supreme Court has struck down a Centre notification exempting schools, colleges and hostels from prior environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006

Himachal may 'vanish in thin air' amid ecological imbalance, warns SC

The Supreme Court has flagged the ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh and cautioned that the entire state may "vanish in thin air" if the situation does not change. Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse, the apex court said climate change is having a "visible and alarming impact" on the state. "We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology," a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said. "If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn't happen," it said. The top court made the observations on July 28 while dealing with a petition against an order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which declined to entertain a plea challenging the state's June 2025 notification declaring certain areas as "gr

Mehran Gul's debut book decodes the innovation ecosystem through its people

We see the United States as the source of just about all the technologies that define modern life, and most of the companies that created them are based there. But is that changing

Policy decisions, not financial markets, can lead to real climate action

Without strong policy guardrails, markets alone can't drive the green transition

Fossil fuel combustion caused 1,500 deaths in European heat wave: Study

Human-caused climate change is responsible for killing about 1,500 people in last week's European heat wave, a first-of-its-kind rapid study found. Those 1,500 people have only died because of climate change, so they would not have died if it had not been for our burning of oil, coal and gas in the last century, said study co-author Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College in London. Scientists at Imperial and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used peer-reviewed techniques to calculate that about 2,300 people in 12 cities likely died from the heat in last week's bout of high temperatures, with nearly two-thirds of them dying because of the extra degrees that climate change added to the natural summer warmth. Past rapid attribution studies have not gone beyond evaluating climate change's role in meteorological effects such as extra heat, flooding or drought. This study goes a step further in directly connecting coal, oil and natural gas use to people

Over 170 environmental agency staff sign dissent letter on Trump policies

A group of Environmental Protection Agency employees on Monday published a declaration of dissent from the agency's policies under the Trump administration, saying they undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment. More than 170 EPA employees put their names to the document, with about 100 more signing anonymously out of fear of retaliation, according to Jeremy Berg, a former editor-in-chief of Science magazine who is not an EPA employee but was among non-EPA scientists or academics to also sign. The latter figure includes 20 Nobel laureates. The letter represents rare public criticism from agency employees who could face blowback for speaking out against a weakening of funding and federal support for climate, environmental and health science. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health made a similar move earlier in June. "Since the Agency's founding in 1970, EPA has accomplished (its) mission by leveraging science, funding, and expert staff in servi

Environment friendly coal transportation grew by 34%, says Coal India

State-owned CIL on Thursday said environment-friendly coal transportation grew by 34 per cent year-on-year to 102.5 million tonnes in FY25. This was through 20 first mile connectivity (FMC) projects linked with the Indian Railway network. Comparatively, the same was 76.5 MTs in FY 2024 through 17 such projects, Coal India Ltd (CIL) said in a statement. Plans are on anvil to commission 19 FMC projects of nearly 150 million tonnes per year capacity during FY 2026. FMC initiative is an automated coal evacuation process which ensures eco-friendly coal transportation from pithead, in piped conveyor belts, to loading points. Key features of FMC involve constructing mechanized coal handling plants equipped with coal crushers where coal is sized, and rapid loading systems where precise quantity of quality coal is loaded into wagons avoiding over or under loading. FMC replaces truck-based transportation to railway sidings and avoids manual loading through pay loaders. This leads to reduce

World Environment Day 2025: Inspiring slogans, wishes and messages to share

World Environment Day 2025 is celebrated on June 5 every year. Here are the inspiring slogans, heartfelt wishes, and meaningful messages to share with friends, family, and colleagues

President Murmu, PM Modi call for united efforts to conserve environment

On World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for deepening efforts towards protecting the planet and overcoming the challenges facing it. He said on X, "This World Environment Day, let's deepen our efforts towards protecting our planet and overcoming the challenges we face. I also compliment all those working at the grassroots to make our environment greener and better." Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on June 5 since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach, the UN notes.

World Environment Day 2025: Download HD images for WhatsApp & Facebook

Every year, World Environment Day 2025 is celebrated on June 5. Here are images to share on WhatsApp, Facebook and more

World Environment Day 2025: Essays for students in 100, 150 and 200 words

Essay on World Environment Day 2025: World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, raises awareness about protecting nature, fighting pollution, and promoting sustainability for a greener future

Aravalli Green Wall Project: India's theme for this World Environment Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially inaugurate the project on June 5. Last year the theme was 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam', which continues

Plan B for the planet depends on oversight, not technology alone

For now, SRM remains what it's always been - an audacious, deeply uncertain proposition

US Supreme Court eases key environmental law to speed development projects

The Supreme Court on Thursday narrowed the scope of environmental reviews required for major infrastructure projects in a ruling that could accelerate development of railroads, highways and pipelines around the country. The 8-0 decision follows an appeal to the high court from backers of a multibillion-dollar oil railroad expansion project in Utah, which is aimed at quadrupling oil production in the remote area of sandstone and sagebrush. Environmental groups said the decision would have sweeping impacts on how the National Environmental Policy Act is applied. The landmark environmental law requires federal agencies to study the likely environmental impacts of government-funded projects in an often lengthy review process. President Donald Trump's administration has already said it's speeding up that process after the president in January declared a national energy emergency and vowed to boost US oil and gas production. Justice Brett Kavanaugh referred to the decision as a course ..

Climate change may fuel spread of fungi that could 'eat you from inside out'

Scientists from Manchester University have warned that rising temperatures could fuel the rapid global spread of Aspergillus, a deadly fungus already responsible for millions of deaths each year

India to exceed 2030 climate target with up to 57% cut in emissions: Report

India is on track to exceed its climate target of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 as compared to 2005 levels, according to a new analysis. The emissions modelling analysis by Delhi-based think-tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), an NGO, projected that India's energy sector emission intensity could decrease by 48-57 per cent by 2030 as compared to 2005 levels. However, achieving the 2070 net zero target (balancing emissions with removals) will require additional policy interventions, centred around carbon pricing, along with power pricing reforms, fiscal support for clean technologies, enhanced energy efficiency and behaviour change initiatives. The findings, published this week in the international journal Energy and Climate Change', suggest that India's 2035 NDC targets could include reducing emissions intensity of GDP between 55 and 66 per cent relative to 2005 (with most ...

Mountain Dialogue: India, Nepal pledge deeper climate, biodiversity ties

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav met Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli to discuss cooperation on clean energy, biodiversity, and climate action during the Sagarmatha Sambaad in Kathmandu

Air pollution levels across India well above global standards: WHO official

Strategies like LPG subsidies and a switch to cleaner cooking fuels could help India become a leader in meeting this challenge, says Dr Maria Neira, director of environment and health at WHO

Is your pet dog leaving a bigger carbon pawprint than you know?

From predators to polluters: A study by researchers at Curtin University, Australia argues that pet dogs might be a greater threat to the wildlife and environment, and they're getting a free pass

Maharashtra's Dharavi plan to shift thousands to toxic landfill sparks row

Maharashtra clears Adani-backed plan to relocate over 50,000 Dharavi residents to Deonar landfill, which may violate CPCB guidelines