https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/nepal-floods-expose-climate-finance-delay-gcf-took-seven-years-to-approve-glacier-risk-project-while-lenders-backed-hydropower-in-vulnerable-basin https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/qyz2wooh/HRD9f9bUAAcN5S.jpeg Indian tunnel rescue team making progress at Chilime and Langtang hydropower sites. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T13:48:47.049Z Nepal floods expose climate finance delay: GCF took seven years to approve glacier-risk project while lenders backed hydropower in vulnerable basin Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Governance, Economy, Climate finance, Hydropower, Disaster risk management, Green Climate Fund (GCF), GLOF, Glacial lake outburst floods, nepal floods, Himalayan Glaciers, Bhote Koshi, Trishuli basin https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/climate-change-is-strengthening-el-niño-corals-reveal https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/4zzmtx82/Coral-reefs.jpg Coral reef and tropical fish in Sunlight. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T13:01:09.514Z Climate change is strengthening El Niño, corals reveal Climate Change, Wildlife & Biodiversity, El Nino, Pacific Ocean, Corals, equatorial pacific ocean, Fossil Corals https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/low-pressure-areas-western-disturbances-cause-most-rainfall-in-one-of-the-warmest-august-months https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/75eh5w0n/1000409735.jpg The cold desert of Ladakh had the highest seasonal excess rainfall (195 per cent). downtoearth en 2026-09-01T12:39:39.480Z Low pressure areas, western disturbances cause most rainfall in one of the warmest August months Climate Change, Meghalaya, Ladakh, Indian summer monsoon, imd, Western Disturbances, low pressure area, India rainfall, low pressure systems https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/highlights-from-the-issue-49 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/d5z2odpu/01-Highlights-from-the-issue.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/wffagoof/plastic.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/xhdoimvf/31.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/ylygirf2/36.jpg Poonam Muttreja, executive director, Population Foundation of India. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/h9s372b9/37.jpg K Srinath Reddy is a physician and founder president of Public Health Foundation of India. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/xoonfjcf/16.jpg The label on most mustard oil bottles do not mention the exact variety of mustard used to produce the oil. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/2ijfmkxu/26.jpg The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana provides central financial assistance of Rs 1 crore per megawatt after commissioning and up to Rs 50 lakh per project for feasibility work. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-26/s6cvsuig/p10illu-First-take-1a.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/8q8c0ry8/Farmers-transplanting-paddy-at-Maklang-village-Imphal-west-district-Manipur.jpg Farmers transplanting paddy at Maklang village, Imphal west district, Manipur. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-22/po7wwgao/sal-borer-cover.png Sal borer insects collected in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district. Local tribal residents are stringing the insects into garlands of 100 each before selling them to the Forest Department, which is paying Rs 2 per insect as part of a control campaign. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/gz8yukh3/CJP.jpg Sonam Wangchuk on fast last month. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-25/1rajmovd/p44illu-PatentlyColomn.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/n3noigj8/55.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/suzfl0bn/48.jpg Sandalwood trees growing with their host, Malabar neem (Melia dubia) in Pimpode Budruk, Satara, Maharashtra. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/gs85ubor/56.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:49:18.213Z Highlights from the issue Environment, Manipur, Northeast, Demography, ebola, Mustard, Oilseeds, pastoralism, Total Fertility Rate, fertility, Sandalwood, mustard oil, sal borer, floating solar, Water Vapour, Gen Z Protests 2026, Ig Nobel, Baby bust https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/indias-women-farmers-are-finally-being-recognised-will-they-ever-own-the-land https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/h8l65pdg/iStock-1420776314.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:30:44.386Z India’s women farmers are finally being recognised. Will they ever own the land? Agriculture, Governance, Gender inequality, rural india, land rights, Land Ownership, Maharashtra, women farmers, farm policy, Women Farmers Empowerment Act, Feminisation of agriculture, Agricultural workforce https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/a-laugh-and-think-riot https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/gs85ubor/56.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:09:48.083Z A laugh and think riot Science & Technology, Research, Nobel Prizes, Ig Nobel, curosity https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/epr-in-asia-pacific-philippines-built-a-tough-plastic-penalty-but-its-polluters-set-the-footprint https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/xe4zd3b3/Philippines-plastic Philippines' EPR system has real strengths: Rising targets written into law, a penalty built to make non-compliance the costlier option, and a mandatory third-party audit few comparable economies have. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/0sro3wq7/1000409545.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:09:37.380Z EPR in Asia Pacific: Philippines built a tough plastic penalty but its polluters set the footprint Waste, Waste Management, Plastic, Plastic pollution, PLASTIC WASTE, policy, Extended Producer Responsibility, The Philippines, plastic penalty, Philippine pesos, Plastic recovery https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/vapour-on-the-rise https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/n3noigj8/55.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:09:29.138Z Vapour on the rise Science & Technology, wildfire, Global greenhouse gas emissions, Volcanic Eruptions, Water Vapour https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/sandalwood-reborn https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/suzfl0bn/48.jpg Sandalwood trees growing with their host, Malabar neem (Melia dubia) in Pimpode Budruk, Satara, Maharashtra downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:09:11.339Z Sandalwood, reborn Forests, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Nirmala Sitharaman, Ayush, Sandalwood, Sandalwood cultivation https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/low-fertility-doesnt-clamp-down-our-development https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/h9s372b9/37.jpg K Srinath Reddy is a physician and founder president of Public Health Foundation of India downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:08:48.830Z Low fertility doesn’t clamp down our development Health, Demography, Total Fertility Rate, fertility, Gender dividend https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/goal-shouldnt-be-to-push-fertility-up-or-down https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/ylygirf2/36.jpg Poonam Muttreja, executive director, Population Foundation of India downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:07:28.842Z ‘Goal shouldn’t be to push fertility up or down’ Health, Demography, Demographic dividend, Total Fertility Rate, fertility, reproduction, Population Foundation of India (PFI) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/indias-sudden-baby-bust https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/xhdoimvf/31.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/y6m2fgov/32.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T11:07:12.251Z India’s sudden baby bust Health, Demography, Total Fertility Rate, National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), fertility, birth rate, Thomas Malthus https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/simply-put-population-paradox https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/ig1onee5/1000409599.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/jvmj7308/1000409598.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T10:53:35.250Z Simply Put: Population paradox Governance, Delhi, Census, Vatican City, 2027 Census, SIR, Special Intensive Revision https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/waterborne-solar https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/2ijfmkxu/26.jpg The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana provides central financial assistance of R1 crore per megawatt after commissioning and up to R50 lakh per project for feasibility work. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T10:25:00.828Z Waterborne solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Odisha, floating solar, GRIDCO https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/whats-in-a-botanical-name https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/xoonfjcf/16.jpg The label on most mustard oil bottles do not mention the exact variety of mustard used to produce the oil downtoearth en 2026-09-01T10:14:34.363Z What’s in a botanical name Food, FSSAI, Mustard, Oilseeds, mustard oil, rapeseed https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/this-area-witnessed-the-dhauliganga-disaster-after-nepal-the-stakes-have-only-become-higher https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/aevce1ik/Niti-Valley.jpg After the Rasuwa tragedy in Nepal on August 26, 2026, the fear of ‘cascading hazards’ looms across the Himalayas, not least the western part of the range in Uttarakhand. The Niti Valley is located not far from the course of the Dhauliganga river, which witnessed something similar to Raswua in 2021. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/aeq05xqp/Niti-Valley.jpg After the Rasuwa tragedy in Nepal on August 26, 2026, the fear of ‘cascading hazards’ looms across the Himalayas, not least the western part of the range in Uttarakhand. The Niti Valley is located not far from the course of the Dhauliganga river, which witnessed something similar to Raswua in 2021. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T09:58:23.602Z This area witnessed the Dhauliganga disaster. After Nepal, the stakes have only become higher Natural Disasters, China, Nepal, himalayas, tibet, uttarakhand, Western Himalaya, Dhauliganga, Rasuwa Flood, Rasuwa https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/gen-alpha-calls-for-new-syllabus https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/gz8yukh3/CJP.jpg Sonam Wangchuk on fast last month. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T08:31:34.484Z Gen Alpha calls for new syllabus Governance, youth, Gen Z, Gen Z activism, Gen Z Protests 2026, Cockroach Janata Party https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-punes-uniform-fares-for-ac-and-non-ac-buses-could-offer-model-for-public-transport https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/5wp3zky7/iStock-1622047488.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T08:14:43.098Z India on e-wheels: Pune’s uniform fares for AC and non-AC buses could offer model for public transport Air, Energy, Maharashtra, Public Transport, electric mobility, electric buses, Urban mobility, Pune, Electric vehicles (EV), India on e-wheels, Bus fares, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/mechanical-compression-prevents-short-circuits-in-solid-state-batteries-study https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/tn2f0zj2/1000409470.jpg Researchers have struggled to determine where dendrites originate because they are thinner than tens of nanometres and can propagate within seconds. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T07:20:28.882Z Mechanical compression prevents short circuits in solid-state batteries: Study Energy, electric battery, solid-state battery, dendrites, compression https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/is-nepal-the-new-bangladesh-of-climate-migration https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/weh24ppm/Nepal.jpg Rescue and relief efforts at the site of the tragedy in Rasuwa, Nepal. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T06:53:24.883Z Is Nepal the new Bangladesh of climate migration? Natural Disasters, Climate Change, Nepal, climate migration, Bangladesh, Rasuwa Flood, Rasuwa https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/plastic-regime-needs-transparency https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/wffagoof/plastic.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T06:16:04.308Z Plastic regime needs transparency Waste, Editorial, Plastic, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Extended producer responsibility (EPR), plastic waste processors (PWPs) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/nepal-floods-chinas-strict-control-of-tibet-makes-it-harder-to-prepare-for-himalayan-disasters https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/chbemzia/Nepal-floods Already impoverished, Nepal faces grave challenges of rebuilding once the relief effort is over. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T06:14:49.766Z Nepal floods: China’s strict control of Tibet makes it harder to prepare for Himalayan disasters Natural Disasters, China, tibet, nepal floods, Himalayan floods, Himalayan disasters https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/the-mocha-monopoly-how-yemens-dominance-of-the-global-coffee-trade-birthed-the-houthi-rebels https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/3e6ol8ij/MochaRedSea-panoramio.jpg View of the Mocha port city on the Red Sea coast. downtoearth en 2026-09-01T05:14:37.020Z The Mocha monopoly: how Yemen’s dominance of the global coffee trade birthed the Houthi rebels Economy, Governance, History, Trade, Coffee, Yemen, Red Sea, Houthi rebels https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-heavy-rains-trigger-flash-flood-alerts-in-chhattisgarh-odisha-uttar-pradesh-uttarakhand-and-several-other-states https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-01/ieorckvv/Monsoon.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-01T04:57:36.706Z Daily weather tracker: Heavy rains trigger flash-flood alerts in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and several other states Climate Change, Southwest monsoon, Heavy rains, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/coral-bleaching-events-becoming-more-frequent-leaving-reefs-little-time-to-recover https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/85rvc14y/iStock-2289149647.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-31T13:04:55.115Z Coral bleaching events becoming more frequent, leaving reefs little time to recover coral bleaching, coral reefs, marine heatwaves, reef decline, heat stress, global bleaching, coral mortality, climate change, GCRMN report, hard coral, degree heating, reef recovery, Caribbean reefs, Acropora corals, global warming https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/simply-put-loan-waiver https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/fvmdhtgt/Simply-Put-31-Aug-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/wv763pzv/SImply-Put-31-Aug-Debt2-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-31T11:56:30.213Z Simply Put: Loan waiver Agriculture, Governance, farm suicides, Loan waiver, Farm loan waiver, Hosur https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/660-children-acquired-hiv-every-day-in-2025-while-200-died-from-aids-related-causes-unicef https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/juveg35f/iStock-1224410603.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-31T11:31:51.699Z 660 children acquired HIV every day in 2025, while 200 died from AIDS-related causes: UNICEF UNICEF HIV report, children HIV, paediatric HIV, AIDS deaths, adolescent HIV, mother to child, sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS orphans, HIV prevention, HIV testing, HIV treatment, AIDS-free generation, global HIV, health inequalities, HIV data https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-maharashtra-has-second-largest-ev-fleet-but-official-said-numbers-mask-adoption-gaps https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/a3g7altk/IMG1932.jpg Maharashtra has nearly 1.13 million registered EVs. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T11:25:50.432Z India on e-wheels: Maharashtra has second-largest EV fleet, but official said numbers mask adoption gaps Air, Energy, Maharashtra, electric mobility, electric buses, E-Rickshaws, ev charging stations, EV charging, clean transport, EV charging infrastructure, EV policy, Electric vehicles (EV), India on e-wheels https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/india-finally-gives-its-wastelands-a-name-and-a-future https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/kd3eb047/Bhupender-Yadav.jpg Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav (Third from left) launching the first-ever Guide to India’s Grasslands and other Open Natural Ecosystems on the sidelines of the UNCCD CoP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on August 25. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T09:13:38.345Z India finally gives its ‘wastelands’ a name and a future Climate Change, Environment, Mongolia, International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, UNCCD COP17, Ulaanbaatar, rangelands, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/gobardhan-has-the-money-are-indias-cities-ready-to-use-it https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/bz2eh1aq/Urban-Waste-Varanasi.jpg Many of India’s biggest cities generate the largest and most concentrated volumes of wet waste. This photo shows garbage being dumped and stored in a vacant downtown city lot in Varanasi. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T08:28:05.585Z GOBARdhan has the money. Are India’s cities ready to use it? Waste, Municipal Solid Waste, CSE, CNG, Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas, gobardhan, compressed biogas (CBG), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs or MoHUA https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/antimicrobial-resistance-in-children-rises-globally-threatening-life-saving-antibiotics-finds-study https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/qrhr5guv/Newborn.jpg A doctor examines a newborn infant. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T07:19:10.172Z Antimicrobial resistance in children rises globally, threatening life-saving antibiotics, finds study Health, Antimicrobial resistance, The World Health Organization (WHO), Children, Antibiotics, Newborns https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/nearly-160000-women-and-girls-affected-by-nepal-flash-floods-un-women-warns https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/b4jt324o/HQ-r4MbbUAAY-f2.jpeg The tunnel rescue team from India worked with the Nepali Army’s team to conduct search & rescue operations at hydropower tunnel sites in Chilime and Langtang area. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T07:08:31.892Z Nearly 160,000 women and girls affected by Nepal flash floods, UN Women warns Nepal floods, UN Women, women girls, flash floods, gender violence, humanitarian crisis, Rasuwa Nuwakot, disaster response, community kitchens, food shortages, water scarcity, trafficking risk, Bagmati Province, aid appeal, women leadership https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/for-countries-such-as-india-ethanol-represents-far-more-than-another-cooking-fuel https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/73imv5i3/Cookstoves.jpg Representational photo. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T06:52:41.126Z For countries such as India, ethanol represents far more than another cooking fuel Energy, Fossil Fuels, Ethanol, Transport, net zero, Cooking, clean cooking https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/what-happens-next-with-bird-flu-an-expert-explains-why-monitoring-matters https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/sf9c2xta/iStock-1133918607.jpg A group of King penguins stands on a black sand beach at Macquarie Island, an Australian Antarctic Territory. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T05:10:47.274Z What happens next with bird flu? An expert explains why monitoring matters H5N1 bird flu, avian influenza, Australia bird flu, H5N1 outbreak, wildlife monitoring, conservation impact, marine mammals, Australian sea lion, waterfowl spread, Macquarie Island, urban wildlife, seabird colonies, emergency conservation, El Niño drought, population recovery https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-very-heavy-rain-alert-across-odisha-chhattisgarh-and-several-states-as-low-pressure-system-strengthens-monsoon-activity https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/8q1tntfz/Raipur.jpg Due to low pressure and monsoon activity, Chhattisgarh and Odisha have issued an alert for very heavy rainfall, with heavy downpours and strong winds and lightning expected in many areas. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T04:51:47.172Z Daily weather tracker: Very heavy rain alert across Odisha, Chhattisgarh and several states as low-pressure system strengthens monsoon activity Climate Change, Odisha, Southwest monsoon, Chhattisgarh, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/us-gas-power-proposals-linked-to-data-centres-nearly-doubled-in-the-first-half-of-2026 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-31/ofew1jbr/Data-Centre.jpg A modern data centre with large solar array and cooling systems. downtoearth en 2026-08-31T04:43:54.814Z US gas power proposals linked to data centres nearly doubled in the first half of 2026 Energy, Science & Technology, China, United States, Texas, data centres, AI data centres, Gas power plants