Page 4 - Environment

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

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil calls Wayanad tragedy 'man-made', blames state govt

Gadgil-led Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel in 2011 recommended the entire Western Ghats be designated as an 'ecologically sensitive area' and ban the transfer of forest land for non-forest purposes

Defence forces move in big way in rescue ops in Wayanad landslide

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that 93 bodies have been recovered and 128 people have been injured after massive landslides

ERF sees no payouts since 2019, fund reaches Rs 1,062 cr: MoS tells RS

Established in 2008 to assist individuals affected by hazardous substances, ERF has remained inactive in recent years. "No funds have been released from the ERF in the past five years," Singh stated

280% surge in projects in wildlife sanctuaries, national parks in 2023-24

India saw a massive 280 per cent increase in the number of projects recommended in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in 2023-24 as compared to 2022-23, according to the data presented in Parliament on Monday. Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh also informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 957.25 square kilometers or 95,724.99 hectares of forest area has been diverted for non-forestry use under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 over five years starting from April 2019. The minister said that 71 project proposals were approved in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country in 2019-20. The numbers stood at 85 in 2020-21, 154 in 2021-22, 150 in 2022-23, and surged to 421 in 2023-24. Singh also shared that 8,731 requests for forest land diversion were approved between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2023, amounting to a total of 95,724.99 hectares of forest area being set aside for non-forestry use. Madhya Pradesh saw the highe

Prez Murmu urges people to take smaller, local steps to protect environment

Highlighting the recent spate of terrible heatwaves in India and frequent extreme weather events around the globe, President Droupadi Murmu asked people on Monday to take smaller and local steps to protect the environment for a better tomorrow. In a note on the social media platform 'X' after visiting the seashore in this temple town, Murmu said oceans and the rich variety of flora and fauna have suffered heavily due to pollution but people living in nature's lap have sustained traditions "that can show us the way". "Inhabitants of coastal areas, for example, know the language of the winds and waves of the sea. Following our ancestors, they worship the sea as God," she said, while suggesting ways to protect and conserve the environment. The President arrived in Odisha on a four-day tour on July 6. "There are places that bring us in closer touch with the essence of life and remind us that we are part of nature. Mountains, forests, rivers and seashores appeal to something deep within

Need to increase green cover to tackle soaring summer heat: Minister Yadav

Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Sunday stressed the need to increase green cover to deal with soaring temperatures during summer. The union environment minister joined the ongoing campaign to plant 51 lakh saplings in Indore. Speaking on the occasion, Yadav said humans built concrete cities on the earth but destroyed greenery in the race for development. "This year, we have experienced temperatures soaring to 45 to 50 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. In the race for development, humans have built concrete cities on earth but destroyed the greenery," he said. The "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day on June 5 is about respecting Mother Earth. According to officials, the plantation drive in Indore will end on July 14. Yadav planted a sapling at a programme organised at the Border Security Force (BSF) campus in the Bijasan area under the campaign "Apne Indore Ke Liye, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" i

Over 200 investors join forces to push for policy action on nature loss

Spring initiative comes ahead of global talks in Colombia in October that aim to accelerate efforts to protect and restore nature

Here's why EU's ecodesign regulation can hurt export of textiles, footwear

EU's ecodesign regulation mandates rigorous energy performance and environmental sustainability, prohibiting the disposal of unsold textiles and footwear, potentially impacting India's export volumes

Modi govt to continue to balance development, environment protection: Min

The Modi government will continue to balance development with environmental protection and conservation, Bhupender Yadav said on Tuesday after taking over as Union Environment minister. Yadav's role as Environment minister will be crucial as India proposes to host the international climate talks (COP33) in 2028. If accepted, it would be the next major global conference in India after the G20 Summit last year. Listing the major achievements of the Modi-led government, which enters its third consecutive term, he said, "India met the quantitative and qualitative targets set under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - the national climate plan to achieve Paris Agreement goals - nine years ahead of schedule." "Our achievements in emission reduction and the renewable energy sector are significant milestones of the Modi government over the past decade," Yadav told reporters. The minister, who also expressed satisfaction with the progress of the cheetah project, said Prime Minis