Forests

Top 10 stories of the week that was (July 29-August 4)

Down To Earth recaps the primary environment, health and developmental news from the week just gone by  

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Saturday 05 August 2023
The city of Venice, Italy. Photo: iStock__

It was an action-packed week as far as environmental news was concerned. From climate change to agriculture to health to wildlife and biodiversity, developments happened at breakneck speed, both in India and the world. Here are Down To Earth’s top 10 green stories on the week that was:

Action on key agendas like carbon capture and climate change, fund flow as well as village relocation are the weakest performing area for Indian tiger reserves according to a new government report.

Read more: Climate action worst-performing area for Indian tiger reserves, confirms Centre’s report 

The India Meteorological Department predicted that the monsoon would be weak in the month of August even as India’s first real-time drought-monitoring platform run by IIT-Gandhinagar’s Water and Climate Lab noted that at least 25.1 per cent of India is facing drought-like conditions.

Read more: Quarter of India’s land area faces drought-like conditions; IMD predicts weak monsoon in August

India is among the 12 countries which are responsible for 52 per cent of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste,  according to Swiss-based research consultancy Earth Action.

Read more: India among the 12 countries responsible for 52% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste: Report

The Netherlands and Mauritius have now joined Brazil and Turkey in implementing all the recommended measures to reduce tobacco smoking globally, United Nations’ health agency the World Health Organization said on July 31, 2023.

Read more: Only four countries making full efforts to end smoking: WHO

Experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have stated in a new report that the Italian city of Venice should be added to a list of world heritage sites in danger as corrective measures proposed by the Italian government are still insufficient and need to be further developed.

Read more: Climate crisis, tourism may place Venice on UNESCO heritage danger list 

The government of Andalusia in southern Spain stated that the Iberian wolf, the species of gray wolf native to the Iberian Peninsula comprising Spain and Portugal, has been extinct since 2020.

Read more: The Iberian wolf is extinct in Spain’s Andalusia: Report

A ninth cheetah, a female named Dhatri (Tiblisi), was found dead on the morning of August 2, 2023, at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, according to park officials.

Read more: Third cheetah dies within a month at Kuno National Park, 9th since March

The contentious Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was passed by the Rajya Sabha August 2, 2023 after a brief debate on concerns and questions on the Bill by members of the Parliament.

Read more: Rajya Sabha passes Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill amid confusion, concerns

Around 6.5 billion people, or 81 per cent of the global population, experienced at least one day of high temperatures made at least three times more likely by climate change in July 2023, according to a report released by nonprofit Climate Central.

Read more: Over 80% people felt climate change-induced heat in July 2023

Northwest India could face deadly levels of heat stress under a high emission scenario through 2100, according to a new study.

Read more: Study paints grim picture for northwest India if emissions keep increasing

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