Down To Earth | Latest news, opinion, analysis on environment & science issues

WIPO Meeting 2024: Conference on genetic resources & associated traditional knowledge begins in Geneva

JUST CONSERVATION

Wildlife & Biodiversity

WIPO Meeting 2024: Conference on genetic resources & associated traditional knowledge begins in Geneva

Two-week event hopes to present a way to protect rights of communities that have conserved genetic resources & hold knowledge of their use

NEWS AND VIEWS

Environment

City’s green thumbs? Exploring footprint of plant nurseries around Bengaluru

City's green thumbs? Exploring footprint of plant nurseries around Bangalore

Agro-ecological implications of greening urban spaces necessitate a rethink regarding …

Science & Technology

AI has learned how to deceive and manipulate humans. Here’s why it’s time to be concerned

By systematically cheating the safety tests imposed on it by human developers and regulators, a deceptive AI can lead us humans into a false sense of security, said Peter S Park, study author. Photo for representation: iStock

MIT research finds AI systems can strategically withhold information, lie to trick humans …

Renewable Energy

How renewable purchase obligation targets can advance energy transition in India

The dynamics of RPOs face compliance challenges, resource gaps and governance hurdles

Climate Change

What is the price tag of phasing-out coal? For China & India, at least $2 trillion

The researchers emphasised the importance of international collaboration in financing a just transition, particularly for developing countries like India, which may face greater economic burdens. Photo: iStock

European study calculates cost of coal phase, underlines need for smooth transition for …

Renewable Energy

India’s compressed biogas sector present opportunities for startup entrepreneurs

India's compressed biogas sector present sustainable opportunities for the country's startup entrepreneurs

The sector is gaining momentum towards its goal of establishing 5,000 CBG projects …

Africa

East Africa floods: Kenya confirms 44 cases of cholera as WHO warns of waterborne diseases

Health situation regarding possible or impending waterborne disease outbreaks could be …

Wildlife & Biodiversity

Biodiversity loss identified as biggest reason for emergence of infectious diseases

The researchers also found that natural biodiversity gradients, deforestation and forest fragmentation played a relatively lower role in the spread. Photo: iStock

Policy efforts to strengthen conservation would help, suggests new study

Governance

Climate change hardly a burning issue for Indian voters

Indian democracy is yet to breed a new category of ‘climate voters’ as its …

Videos

Health

Kerala is on high alert as West Nile Virus cases reported from Kozhikode, Thrissur, Malappuram

No need for people to panic as Kerala has been experiencing the presence of the virus since 2011 and is completely prepared to cope with any critical situation, says state health minister

Climate Change

World Migration Report 2024: Climate impacts will force 216 million people to move by 2050

Wildlife & Biodiversity

The emergence of cicadas in 2024 will rewire ecosystems

Environment

Why are young people migrating from the village where the Chipko Movement started?

Climate Change

Extreme weather strikes on opposite sides of globe in Brazil, Texas, Vietnam & Indonesia

Africa

Kenya Floods: Weeks of heavy rain continue to devastate region

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CSE Online Training Courses

Integrated Online and Onsite Training Programme on Water Audit and Wastewater Management in Industries

Online Training on Understanding Environmental Laws for Better Environmental Management

Integrated Online and Onsite Training on Environmental Impact Assessment

Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) systems Design, Operations and Applications of Solar Mini-Grid Systems

Onsite Training Program on Low Carbon Pathways for Industrial Sectors

Integrated online and residential training: Lake Rejuvenation and Groundwater Management in Urban Areas

Residential Training on Water Efficiency and Conservation (WEC) in Urban India

Cartoons

Photo Gallery

Environment

Ghazipur landfill fire: Annual choking hazard for Delhi

Authorities have missed multiple deadlines to clear out the legacy waste from Ghazipur landfill

Africa

Sudan, a country displaced

One of Africa’s largest and most populous countries is on the brink of famine after a year of war between its Army and main paramilitary

Down To Earth video journalists, Prabhat Kumar and Dhruval Parekh, are at the ground zero of the ‘Farmers’ Protest 2.0’. Both were at the Shambhu border crossing between Patiala in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana as hundreds of farmers from Punjab attempted

Agriculture

Farmers’ Protests 2.0: DTE reports from ground zero Shambhu border

DTE video journalists, Prabhat Kumar & Dhruval Parekh, at Shambhu border as Haryana Police fired tear gas on farmers crossing from Punjab

It has been an ‘arid winter’ in the Union Territory of Ladakh. There has been a complete absence of snowfall since November 2023. And it has set alarm bells ringing in the fragile region. This photo shows the Sangam Point near Nimmo village of Leh distric

Climate Change

Ladakh: No snow in the cold desert

The arid winter in the region this time is raising concerns among the local population, as it forebodes a potentially alarming situation

डाउन टू अर्थ

जल संकट

जल बिन प्यासे शहर, भाग एक: क्यों बेंगलुरु में बूंद-बूंद पानी के लिए तरस रहे लोग, कहां रह गई कमी?

बेंगलुरु का विकास ही इसकी झीलों और तालाबों को खत्म करके किया गया है, जोकि हमारे पानी की सुरक्षा के लिए बहुत जरूरी हैं

जलवायु संकट

जलवायु संकट को बढ़ा सकते हैं एआई और सोशल मीडिया, कैसे? क्या कहता है शोध?

शोधकर्ताओं ने शोध के हवाले से पता लगाया है कि जेनरेटिव एआई-जिसमें चैटजीपीटी जैसे बड़े भाषा मॉडल और सोशल मीडिया गंभीर वैश्विक मुद्दों से ध्यान हटा सकते हैं।

प्लास्टिक

नदियों में आसानी से पता चल जाएगी अदृश्य प्लास्टिक की मात्रा, वैज्ञानिकों ने विकसित की नई विधि

न दिखाई देने वाले प्लास्टिक के ये कण पानी के नीचे या नदी के तल में डूबे हुए हो सकते हैं, जहां वे नदी की पारिस्थितिकी को नुकसान पहुंचा सकते हैं।

Data Centre

Climate Change

Islands of heat

CSE study shows how Indian urban centres are trapping more heat due to built-up landscapes, in turn impacting health

Waste

Global stances on various facets of plastic pollution

As the fourth round of talks begin in Ottawa for a global plastic treaty, CSE analyses positions taken by various countries on plastics

Environment

The ground beneath our feet

Why soil health and biodiversity matters for the survival of the planet

Water

Parched Garden City

How Bengaluru’s water crisis is of its own making

Factsheet

Governance

Lok Sabha 2024: Is it too hot to vote?

DTE analyses if there is a direct correlation between rising temperatures and a decrease in voter turnout

Sunita Narain's Desk

Director General of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Editor of Down To Earth magazine. She is an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets