https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/farmer-groups-warn-mps-that-seeds-bill-and-trade-deals-could-weaken-control-over-traditional-seeds https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-06/qbib801g/1000391057.jpg The bill would place heavy registration and paperwork requirements on ordinary seed savers and community seed banks, requirements that small farmers would struggle to meet, while large seed companies, with legal and administrative resources would clear easily. downtoearth en 2026-08-06T08:26:43.542Z Farmer groups warn MPs that Seeds Bill and trade deals could weaken control over traditional seeds Governance, traditional seeds, India's Seed Saviours, India’s seed saviours, Seed sovereignity, Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch (BBSM), draft seed bill 2025 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/why-australia-should-urgently-vaccinate-wildlife-most-at-risk-from-h5n1-bird-flu https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-06/hmt1m26k/Sea-lion-Australia downtoearth en 2026-08-06T06:47:49.354Z Why Australia should urgently vaccinate wildlife most at risk from H5N1 bird flu Wildlife & Biodiversity, wildlife, bird flu, tasmanian devil, H5N1, Australia, vaccinate, vacine https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/karnatakas-junk-food-ban-near-schools-explained https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-06/3uzexeif/Karnataka-Junk-Food.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-06T05:54:41.693Z Karnataka’s junk food ban near schools explained Food, Junk Food, schools, Karnataka, ban on junk food, HFSS (high fat, sugar, and salt) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-monsoon-fury-continues-delhi-among-several-states-likely-to-receive-heavy-rainfall-alerts-issued https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-06/kuk9mt0v/Assam-Floods.jpg Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister J P Nadda tour flood-affected Sivasagar. downtoearth en 2026-08-06T05:41:12.325Z Daily weather tracker: Monsoon fury continues; Delhi among several states likely to receive heavy rainfall, alerts issued Climate Change, Delhi, Assam, Northeast, Southwest monsoon, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/drought-and-the-war-in-ukraine-changed-what-families-in-kenya-could-afford-to-eat-research-tracked-food-and-cooking-gas-use https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-06/pgqauj0g/iStock-1368167982.jpg Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi. downtoearth en 2026-08-06T04:21:56.715Z Drought and the war in Ukraine changed what families in Kenya could afford to eat – research tracked food and cooking gas use Food, Energy, Climate Change, Africa, World, climate crisis, Kenya, fuel prices, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia-Ukraine War, Agriculture + Land, liquefied petroleum gas, Food price inflation https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/maharashtras-semi-arid-districts-face-highest-risk-from-rapidly-intensifying-flash-droughts-study-says https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/dnp8vzu4/iStock-1420318132.jpg An inundated farm in Maharashtra. downtoearth en 2026-08-05T14:14:01.596Z Maharashtra’s semi-arid districts face highest risk from rapidly intensifying flash droughts, study says Agriculture, Climate Change, Maharashtra, flash droughts, Solapur, soil moisture, Beed, Sangli district, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, Drought early warning https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-august-4-2026 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/iaqm4qg5/court.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-05T11:35:01.236Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 4, 2026) Environment, Green Spaces, National Green Tribunal (NGT), Vedanta, Ganga, UNNAO, fly ash, daily court digest, court digest, Jharsuguda (D), Gurgaon (D), Generator sets https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/india-approved-diversion-of-215943-hectares-of-forestland-in-12-years https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-02-25/6w6dxefv/Kerala-Deforestation.jpg Deforestation in Kerala. Photo for representation. downtoearth en 2026-08-05T11:30:28.757Z India approved diversion of 215,943 hectares of forestland in 12 years Forests, Deforestation, forest land, forest diversion, non-forest activity, Forest Land Diversion https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/kharif-sowing-recovers-after-july-rain-but-pulses-maize-and-bajra-still-lag https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/qbfvddna/043A9114.jpg Farm labourers transplant paddy in a field near Sonipat, Haryana. downtoearth en 2026-08-05T10:05:27.940Z Kharif sowing recovers after July rain, but pulses, maize and bajra still lag Agriculture, Maize, PULSES, Agriculture Ministry, bajra, rain-fed agriculture, El Niño, Southwest Monsoon 2026, Kharif sowing, Monsoon 2026, July rainfall, Rice sowing https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/why-spain-needs-to-invest-heavily-in-preventing-fires-not-just-in-fighting-them https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/69ewlhml/Spain-fires downtoearth en 2026-08-05T09:13:32.790Z Why Spain needs to invest heavily in preventing fires, not just in fighting them Natural Disasters, Climate Change, Environment, Spain, Fire, Land, forest fires world, Europe wildfires, Spain wildfires https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/from-belem-to-antalya-why-implementation-now-defines-un-climate-negotiations https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/5w8wuuxk/Murat-Kurum-Turkey-COP31 downtoearth en 2026-08-05T08:26:47.604Z From Belem to Antalya: Why implementation now defines UN climate negotiations Climate Change, Paris agreement, Turkey, Negotiating text for climate agreement, UN climate negotiations, Implementation COP, UNFCCC COP31 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/nasa-to-track-spacex-rocket-part-as-it-crashes-into-moon https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/zezl2ow7/Screenshot-2026-08-05-at-12.15.12-PM.png A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission One lander lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 15, 2025; its discarded upper stage is expected to strike the Moon. downtoearth en 2026-08-05T06:51:13.457Z NASA to track SpaceX rocket part as it crashes into Moon Science & Technology, Moon, American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), spacex, moon exploration, space debris, space junk, Falcon 9, Moon crash, Lunar impact, Lunar crater, Firefly Aerospace, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-red-alert-in-assam-meghalaya-orange-yellow-rain-warning-across-15-states https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/t2l7lsp2/Assam.jpg Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma touring flood-affected areas in Sivasagar and Demow. downtoearth en 2026-08-05T04:48:26.792Z Daily weather tracker: Red alert in Assam-Meghalaya, Orange-Yellow rain warning across 15+ states Climate Change, Assam, Meghalaya, Northeast, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026, Delh-NCR https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/east-africas-iconic-snow-peaks-will-soon-disappear-for-good-what-will-be-lost-when-they-melt https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/i6n63f3g/iStock-1154993798.jpg Summit of Mt Kenya. downtoearth en 2026-08-05T04:44:58.444Z East Africa’s iconic snow peaks will soon disappear for good — what will be lost when they melt Africa, Climate Change, Andes, Global Warming, Glaciers, Tanzania, climate crisis, Kenya, weather pattern, Uganda, Troposphere, Kenya and Uganda, global warming impacts https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/climate-change-is-shifting-childhood-malaria-hotspots-across-africa-finds-study https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/7cviqm36/Mt-Kenya.jpg Cape Buffalo near Mount Kenya in East Africa. downtoearth en 2026-08-05T04:19:01.133Z Climate change is shifting childhood malaria hotspots across Africa, finds study Africa, Climate Change, Health, east africa, Malaria, Mosquito, Southern Africa, Malaria burden https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/the-sunita-narain-show-why-do-we-need-an-energy-and-economic-sense-for-survival https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/m0jdyp4o/SN-Show.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-05T03:43:17.139Z The Sunita Narain Show: Why do we need an energy and economic sense for survival? Climate Change, Energy, Sustainable growth, growth, docuseries, The Sunita Narain Show, India on e-wheels https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/keralas-latest-floods-show-state-yet-to-internalise-lessons-from-2018-on-ecological-degradation-and-unsustainable-land-use https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-05/btmreiah/Kerala-Floods.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-05T03:14:18.935Z Kerala’s latest floods show state yet to internalise lessons from 2018 on ecological degradation and unsustainable land use Climate Change, Urbanisation, Governance, Floods, Kerala, Western Ghats, kerala floods 2018, Southwest Monsoon 2026, Kerala Floods 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/centres-forest-rights-letter-could-weaken-gram-sabha-authority-experts-warn https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/olqyhoeu/iStock-854423386.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-04T12:34:59.509Z Centre’s forest rights letter could weaken Gram Sabha authority, experts warn Forests, forest rights act, scheduled tribes, Community Forest Rights, forest dwellers, forest governance, Gram sabha, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Forest working plans, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), community forest governance https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/epr-in-asia-pacific-vietnam-made-companies-pay-for-packaging-then-wrote-discount-into-the-formula https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/ca910tc0/Han-Markeyt-in-Da-Nang-City downtoearth en 2026-08-04T12:29:41.336Z EPR in Asia Pacific: Vietnam made companies pay for packaging, then wrote discount into the formula Waste, World, Waste Management, Pollution, Plastic, Recycling, Waste pickers, Extended Producer Responsibility, Environmental law, EPR, marine litter, EPR in Asia Pacific, packaging https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/first-step-to-fixing-childrens-nutrition-is-listening-to-them-heres-how-140000-young-voices-are-shaping-future-of-food-in-india https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/3wfrx8lh/iStock-1369767092.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-04T12:18:21.341Z First step to fixing children’s nutrition is listening to them — Here’s how 140,000 young voices are shaping future of food in India Food, public health, food labelling, Ultra-processed foods, adolescents, school food, cost of healthy eating, Children’s nutrition, Let’s Fix Our Food, Food environments, Nutrition literacy, Healthy eating https://www.downtoearth.org.in/rural-water-and-sanitation/bijnor-demonstrates-that-indias-wash-crisis-is-increasingly-unfolding-at-peri-urban-edges https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/tq849jvx/Peri-urban-area https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-31/5e8ql474/1000384364.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-31/6xxzenva/1000384362.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-31/twmpt6jk/1000384359.jpg Trapping point at UPJN office -- Ladapur Ward 32 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-31/rhnsfpb9/1000384365.jpg Rampur Bakli pond in Ward 13 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/45o1yxik/1000387127.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/teqejidg/1000387126.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-04T12:14:58.616Z Bijnor demonstrates that India’s WASH crisis is increasingly unfolding at peri-urban edges Rural Water and Sanitation, Water, Sanitation, peri-urban, Water and sanitation for the urban poor, Urban Infrastructure and Governance, Urban and Periurban Areas https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/the-snake-in-indias-fields-is-not-the-enemy https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/oukjosff/Cobra-Paddy-Field.jpg An Indian cobra swimming in the rice fields in the morning in remote south India. downtoearth en 2026-08-04T11:53:02.644Z The snake in India’s fields is not the enemy Agriculture, Wildlife & Biodiversity, Food Security, Farmers, harvest, Snakes, Rodents, PESTS https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/ai-could-help-developing-countries-reduce-inequality-but-only-if-basics-are-in-place-world-bank-says https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/9y04m6g5/iStock-2258807282.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-04T11:46:34.615Z AI could help developing countries reduce inequality, but only if basics are in place, World Bank says Economy, Science & Technology, Developing Countries, inequality, World Bank, global economy, digital divide, generative ai, Artificial intelligence (AI), Jobs and automation, AI in agriculture, Technology policy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/the-sonipat-jind-hydrogen-train-may-one-day-be-remembered-not-for-the-89-km-it-traverses-but-for-the-technological-journey-it-set-in-motion https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/p4t0z994/Hydrogen-Train.jpg The Sonipat-Jind hydrogen train. downtoearth en 2026-08-04T10:12:40.856Z The Sonipat-Jind hydrogen train may one day be remembered not for the 89 km it traverses, but for the technological journey it set in motion Energy, Clean energy, Hydrogen, SONIPAT, Sonipat-Jind hydrogen train, Jind https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/as-the-gi-beyond-20-summit-starts-in-delhi-india-needs-to-reflect-on-hurdles-in-harnessing-potential-of-gis-for-agricultural-commodities https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/jlyyeh5u/Basmati.jpg Basmati Rice. downtoearth en 2026-08-04T10:12:28.027Z As the ‘GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit’ starts in Delhi, India needs to reflect on hurdles in harnessing potential of GIs for agricultural commodities Agriculture, Governance, Basmati Rice, agricultural commodities, Darjeeling tea, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit, Geographic Indicator https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/indias-distributed-solar-capacity-jumps-to-315-gw-but-regulatory-hurdles-slow-wider-clean-energy-push https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2024-10-22/6abrk64g/iStock-584487610.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/e8uaiceq/India-solar-energy downtoearth en 2026-08-04T09:21:39.660Z India’s distributed solar capacity jumps to 31.5 GW, but regulatory hurdles slow wider clean energy push Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, rooftop solar, PM-Kusum, distributed solar, implementation https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/strengthening-peatland-emissions-monitoring-new-fao-report-updates-factors-points-out-data-gaps https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-04/8hyl8df1/peatland-emissions-monitoring downtoearth en 2026-08-04T08:37:55.970Z Strengthening peatland emissions monitoring: New FAO report updates factors, points out data gaps Environment, greenhouse gas, Emissions, FAO, peatland, emissions monitoring