Down to Earth

14/08/2025

A massive cloudburst struck village in Jammu Division’s Kishtwar district on August 14. Some 38 people, mostly pilgrims going to or returning from the Machail Mata temple near Kishtwar town, are reported dead in the disaster

By Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat

A massive cloudburst struck remote Chashoti village in Paddar Atholi sub division of Jammu & Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on August 14, 2025. Around 38 peopl

14/08/2025

INC 5.2: Global plastics treaty talks hit rock bottom on last day over Chair’s new proposed text

Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh reports from Geneva

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/inc-52-global-plastics-treaty-talks-hit-rock-bottom-on-last-day-over-chairs-new-proposed-text

14/08/2025

As nations negotiate a global treaty to regulate plastics, scientists have released a damning report highlighting the health impacts on humans

By Rajit Sengupta

Plastics are cheap to buy, but expensive to use, says Sarah Dunlop, director, plastics and human health of Australia-based non-profit Minderoo Foundation and em

14/08/2025

14/08/2025

BREAKING: Global plastic treaty negotiations hit rock bottom — the new proposed chair’s text violates the UNEA resolution 5/14 that kick started the process, reports Siddarth Ghanshyam Singh from Geneva

14/08/2025

A study has shown that the western part of the Indus basin is experiencing increased discharge due to rising glacial melt & precipitation. The eastern part of the basin is getting wetter due to increased precipitation and changes in monsoon patterns

There is more bad news regarding the highly stressed Indus Basin that provides water to north Indian states and Union Territories like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

14/08/2025

NGT pulls up MoEF&CC on rules for spring water extraction, probes alleged illegal DLF construction in Haryana’s Aravallis, and flags untreated sewage discharge into the Gulf of Mannar.
Read top environmental cases from August 13, 2025

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to clarify regulations on the commercial extraction of spring water, following concerns over Mohan Meakin Pvt Ltd's use of spring water without permission. Additionally, the NGT has ordered an...

14/08/2025

Transforming our food system could save land larger than Africa by 2050! 🌍 Cutting food waste, shifting diets & restoring land could free 43.8 million sq km and help tackle climate & biodiversity crises, scientists say in a new study

A transformative approach to the global food system could spare an area larger than Africa by 2050, according to a Nature study. By cutting food waste by 75% and replacing unsustainable red meat with sustainable seafood, 30 million sq km of land could be freed. Combined with restoration efforts, the...

14/08/2025

India's maize cultivation has surged by 9 lakh hectares in the 2025-26 kharif season, driven by the ethanol push

By Shagun

The area under maize cultivation in India has seen a sharp increase of around 9 lakh hectares (lha) in the ongoing kharif season, driven by the push for ethanol

14/08/2025

Australia’s coral reefs face their worst bleaching event yet
Record marine heatwave devastates reefs across 1,500km of Western Australia, threatening marine life, coastal protection and livelihoods
https://shorturl.at/LaXtE

13/08/2025

India’s compressed biogas future hinges on tapping the power of organic by-products, explains Santosh Kumar

Despite its potential to transform waste into wealth, Glow Green Biotech faces challenges in scaling up operations due to low demand for its organic by-products. The plant produces enriched LFOM and FOM, which have proven to enhance farm yields and reduce fertiliser costs. Yet, entrenched reliance o...

13/08/2025

A women-led farmers’ group 🌾 in Karnataka has won the UNDP 2025 for restoring biodiversity, conserving seeds & boosting food security through sustainable farming. Bibifathima SHG is among 10 global winners

The Bibifathima Swa Sahaya Sangha SHG, a women-led farmers' group in Karnataka, has been honored with the UNDP Equator Prize 2025 for its innovative approach to sustainable agriculture. Operating in 30 villages, the group supports over 5,000 farmers in millet cultivation, seed conservation, and sola...