Revolt of the rich and the poor

When a recent report says 26 people now own the same wealth as the world's poorest half and the IMF chief flags risks associated with India’s high fiscal deficit, here is a look at how 2018 was the year of revolt of the already-rich and the very poor

Water in forests: Finding the blue in the greens

It is time we rediscover forests as a ‘water commons’ to aid India’s fight against climate change

Niti Aayog’s new strategy: A call for growth or acceptance of failure

Celebrating India's 75th year of Independence is a matter of pride, but achieving a "New India" needs more than a textual articulation

MGNREGA’s information system flawed, misguiding

The scheme's Management Information System destroys local accountability, promotes centralisation and administrative control and gives out wrong data

UK changes its waste strategy for circular economy with Brexit

Maximise the value of resource use, and minimise adverse environmental impacts, aims new waste strategy of UK

You can be sued for your social media posts

Copyright issues related to social media posts are a concern as platforms are shutting down accounts without notice

Lessons from Cylone Gaja to Tamil Nadu

While the state government’s precautionary measures have helped save many lives, the cyclone offers some very important lessons for the future

COP24: Developed nations successfully wipe out equity in finance, reporting

These countries seem to be working towards a weak and non-ambitious Paris rulebook

COP24: Sum and substance of climate diplomacy

Climate change negotiations must move from being a zero-sum game to a positive-sum game

A vicious nexus

To ensure that inconvenient research is besmirched and killed, industries are invariably attacking the science and researchers

Kaiga nuclear plant expansion: Expect body blow for Western Ghats biodiversity

Rich tropical forest, vibrant wildlife, water of Kali river will be in line of destruction

COP24: BASIC willingness to be transparent must bring Katowice consensus closer

At COP24, developing countries agreed to report on climate actions on par with developed countries

Will Human Rights turn around in 2019?

Crackdowns on the Right to Freedom of Expression intensified in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Only the Maldives shone as a bright spot

From ‘incompatible with life’ to reclaiming life, outlook on TB is changing

Tuberculosis treatment is moving from germ theory to patients and their world

Want to solve climate problem? Nuclear isn't the answer

Alternatives to nuclear energy, in particular renewable sources of electricity like wind and solar energy, have become drastically cheaper.

Promoting input-based enterprises to spread organic farming

Promotion around locally available options can be sustainable solution 

COP24: A principled debate on adaptation communications

UN estimates that cost of adaptation in developing countries will rise to $140-300 billion each year by 2030

Plastic pollution threatens tourism dependent Bali

While more than 80 per cent of the Indonesian Island’s economy relies on tourism, its beaches and the water are strewn with plastic

Are coal-fired power plants attractive for investment?

A recent report says that there is economic merit in closing down such power plants to meet the Paris goals

Will contract farming law relieve agrarian distress?

Although the proposed law promises to alleviate the suffering of India’s farmers, it needs a research-backed approach 

COP24: Balanced rulebook must reflect latest climate science

The conference in Katowice will see parties negotiate to arrive at a consensus on the final rules and guidelines that would operationalise the Paris agreement