https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/indias-heat-plans-are-growing-but-the-real-test-lies-beyond-policy-experts https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/7ncfh29c/Heat-Prayagraj.jpg A hot summer day in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. downtoearth en 2026-05-12T11:30:27.904Z India’s heat plans are growing, but the real test lies beyond policy: Experts Climate Change, SDRF, Indian states, Super El Nino, Heat action plans, Heat modelling plans https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/the-west-asia-conflict-and-indias-rising-heat-are-not-separate-files-in-the-lives-of-ordinary-people https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/srs5te6f/Heat.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-12T11:30:15.355Z The West Asia conflict and India’s rising heat are not separate files in the lives of ordinary people Health, Climate Change, War, West Asia, Iran-Israel War 2026, West Asia conflict, Super El Nino https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/cooling-appliances-now-drive-indias-household-electricity-use https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/w9nm8syw/Air-conditioners-electricity India’s overall electricity consumption nearly doubled from 874 terawatt-hours in 2013-14 to 1,623 twh in 2023-24. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/jktyrrpp/1000329838.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/6rsibkcp/thermal_comfort_appliances_electricity_consumption. downtoearth en 2026-05-12T11:17:37.984Z Cooling appliances now drive India’s household electricity use Energy, Energy, Climate Change, Global Warming, Electricity, Air Conditioner, power, Household, heat, cooling appliances, cooler https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/record-wildfires-burn-through-over-150-million-hectares-globally-in-2026-as-scientists-warn-el-niño-could-worsen-crisis https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/alxazvgf/iStock-1200452781-1.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-12T10:37:09.437Z Record wildfires burn through over 150 million hectares globally in 2026 as scientists warn El Niño could worsen crisis Climate Change, India, World, Africa, Asia, wildfires, El Nino, public health, Air Pollution, United Nations, Extreme weather, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), world weather attribution, Super El Nino https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/in-parts-of-kashmir-the-quiet-act-of-laying-the-dead-to-rest-extracts-an-unintended-cost-trees https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/1j3acsft/forest-in-kashmir-1.jpg A forest in Kashmir. downtoearth en 2026-05-12T09:35:12.057Z In parts of Kashmir, the quiet act of laying the dead to rest extracts an unintended cost: Trees Forests, himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, kashmir valley, Deodar, Yew https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/sea-of-plastic-chennais-plastic-crisis-fight-to-stop-marine-litter https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/iiy7r6yu/Chennai-marine-plastics Should the responsibility of tackling plastic waste fall only on citizens, or must packaging companies and manufacturers be held accountable too? downtoearth en 2026-05-12T09:20:31.903Z Sea of plastic: Chennai’s plastic crisis & fight to stop marine litter Waste, Plastic, Bay Of Bengal, Chennai, bay of bengal cyclone, marine litter, plastic crisis https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/a-monsoon-shield-for-every-farmer-why-protective-irrigation-must-become-the-centrepiece-of-indias-water-strategy https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/uoh0cxtz/Irrigationthroughsprinkler.jpg What farmers need today is not water for maximising yield, but timely access to water to prevent crop failure during dry spells. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/fa3t8xio/Irrigation.jpg A sprinkler irrigation system in Raichur, Karnataka. downtoearth en 2026-05-12T08:50:24.723Z A monsoon shield for every farmer: Why protective irrigation must become the centrepiece of India’s water strategy Agriculture, Water, Food Security, Irrigation, protective irrigation, canal systems, rural incomes https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/solar-villages-no-electricity-for-decades-until-solar-mini-grid-reached-simdega-villages https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/sf2i7tx6/HIGLriMboAIkvcN.jpeg downtoearth en 2026-05-12T08:08:39.114Z Solar Villages: No electricity for decades until solar mini-grid reached Simdega villages Energy, Jharkhand, rural india, Simdega district, docuseries, solar villages, Solar mini-grids https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/debt-crisis-deepens-gender-inequality-puts-millions-of-womens-jobs-lives-at-risk-undp https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/wpwhe65z/Women-jobs Women’s per capita income is projected to decline by 17 per cent, while men’s incomes remain largely unchanged, further widening gender income disparities. downtoearth en 2026-05-12T07:37:50.667Z Debt crisis deepens gender inequality, puts millions of women’s jobs, lives at risk: UNDP Economy, Employment, Women, gender, Jobs, inequality, gender gap, Debt, debt servicing https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/fuelling-the-kitchen-burning-the-climate https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/ejhfn0c3/Firewood.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-12T07:37:17.429Z Fuelling the kitchen, burning the climate Energy, Coal, Petroleum, LPG, Iran-Israel War 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/the-missing-link-in-americas-critical-minerals-push-isnt-mining-its-processing-expertise https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/i5gmrlng/file-20260419-63-xjvxi7.jpg MP Materials’ Mountain Pass mine and processing facility in California was for years the only U.S. rare earth elements mine. downtoearth en 2026-05-12T07:24:55.023Z The missing link in America’s critical minerals push isn’t mining — it’s processing expertise Energy, Renewable Energy, Mining, Environment, engineering, Minerals, Technology, Environmental law, critical minerals, Rare earths, supply chains, engineering education, Mineralogy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-may-8-2026 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/wh30exvz/court.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-12T07:04:42.260Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (May 8, 2026) Environment, Delhi, Encroachment, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, solid waste management, Green Spaces, National Green Tribunal (NGT), Faridabad, forest land, kullu https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/birds-of-prey-in-south-africa-are-in-trouble-a-study-analyses-data-from-16-years-of-road-counts https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/zkpu9jxe/Secretarybird-birds-of-prey-threatened-in-South-Africa Secretarybird. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/fjyczonq/South-Africa Map of the study area showing the distribution of all road counts conducted between 2009 and 2025. The black polygon indicates the core survey area. downtoearth en 2026-05-12T06:32:49.969Z Birds of prey in South Africa are in trouble — a study analyses data from 16 years of road counts Africa, Biodiversity, conservation, South Africa, wildlife, Birds, raptors, Birds of Prey, Secretarybird https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/simply-put-the-wfh-dilemma https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/myicwzt3/Simply-Put-11-May-2-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/i9oh90if/Simply-Put-11-May-Petrol-2-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-12T06:17:48.956Z Simply Put: The WFH dilemma Governance, narendra modi, fuel scarcity, WFH https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/simply-put-99-not-100 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/f6nmwgo9/Simply-Put-11-may-1-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-12/ap4ox2lf/Simply-Put-11-may-Petrol1-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-12T06:11:46.801Z Simply Put: 99, not 100 Energy, Energy security, Iran-Israel War 2026, global energy security https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/cascade-of-geopolitical-shocks-has-handed-agrifood-corporations-a-windfall-report https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/c49gkyvi/Agricorporate.jpg Photo for representation. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/thsvptai/Screenshot-2026-05-11-at-5.22.39-PM.png downtoearth en 2026-05-11T14:07:30.906Z Cascade of geopolitical shocks has handed agrifood corporations a windfall: Report Food, geopolitics, Tariff Wars, Iran war, Ukraine War https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/mgnrega-to-formally-cease-from-july-1 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/2q5peote/labourers-daily-wage-MGNREGA Around 45 per cent of all workers and 9.5 per cent of active workers did not complete eKYC, shows report. downtoearth en 2026-05-11T12:57:06.785Z MGNREGA to formally cease from July 1 Governance, Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), rural employment, Rural Development, Jobs, MGNREGA, NREGA, VB-GRAMG https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/fossil-fuel-wealth-fails-africas-development-promise-says-report https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/ujog9ugt/Coal-Africa Foreign multinational firms control most oil and gas production across Africa. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/7win2t8n/1000329355.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-11T12:32:06.357Z Fossil fuel wealth fails Africa’s development promise, says report Africa, Energy, Africa, fossil fuel, Coal, Development https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/why-is-may-cool-varied-weather-systems-have-been-active-over-india-or-the-surrounding-seas-this-month https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/n69qozva/Rain-clouds.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-11T12:27:05.161Z Why is May cool? Varied weather systems have been active over India or the surrounding seas this month Climate Change, India Meteorological Department (IMD), weather systems, Super El Nino, May 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/an-open-and-shut-case-of-ais-risky-trajectory https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/zkt5srrc/p46illu-Patently-Coloumn.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-11T12:03:30.282Z An ‘open’ and ‘shut’ case of AI’s risky trajectory Science & Technology, Elon Musk, Microsoft, openai, sam altman, Artificial intelligence (AI) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/india-drives-global-coal-based-steel-expansion-as-new-blast-furnace-projects-rise-5 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/gzeykdc5/Steel.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/d2ht949i/Coal-1.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/yy4spi2c/Coal-2.jpg downtoearth en 2026-05-11T11:53:17.217Z India drives global coal-based steel expansion as new blast furnace projects rise 5% Energy, Coal, Steel, European Union, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), coal-based blast furnace, Global Energy Monitor (GEM) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/in-the-mountains-disasters-do-not-start-with-collapse-they-begin-when-warnings-that-have-been-passed-remain-unheeded https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/bsc9n37r/Slope.jpg Destroyed building in Inner Akhara Bazar, Kullu. downtoearth en 2026-05-11T11:21:12.455Z In the mountains, disasters do not start with collapse. They begin when warnings that have been passed remain unheeded Environment, Natural Disasters, himalayas, Mountains, Himachal Pradesh, disasters, kullu https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/zero-additive-cashew-apple-beverage-provides-income-to-farmers https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/npsqxj4x/Cashew-apple-beverage Latha Ajadka, ex panchayat member and resident of Guthigaru in Dakshina Kannada district has started a zero-additive cashew apple juice shop in Guthigaru. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/evdwqg37/Cashew-apple-juice Zero-additive apple juice brought from Plantation Corporation of Kerala being sold at a cashew apple fest in Mangalore. downtoearth en 2026-05-11T11:14:21.038Z Zero-additive cashew apple beverage provides income to farmers  Agriculture, cashew, cashew plantations, Cashew Apple, cashew apple juice, Cashew farming https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/cash-transfer-development-model-to-continue-in-bengal-under-new-government https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/1b8qfk7u/Kolkata-women-Bengal-cash-transfer-scheme Mamata Banerjee’s government introduced more than 90 social welfare schemes that pushed the state deeper into debt trap. downtoearth en 2026-05-11T08:37:37.643Z Cash transfer development model to continue in Bengal under new government Governance, West Bengal, ayushman bharat, BJP, doles, swasthya sathi, Election, welfare schemes, Lakshmir Bhandar, Annapurna Bhandar https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/organic-farming-is-not-just-about-changing-agricultural-practices-but-also-about-building-a-healthier-future-transition-gap-remains-the-biggest-barrier-in-this-journey https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/zm3e7e37/Sikkim-Farmer.jpg A farmer ploughs a field in Rumtek village near Gangtok. downtoearth en 2026-05-11T07:57:15.216Z Organic farming is not just about changing agricultural practices, but also about building a healthier future. Transition gap remains the biggest barrier in this journey Agriculture, Sikkim, Farming, Organic agriculture, Transition gap https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/from-definition-to-deployment-indias-evolving-green-methanol-ecosystem-a-crucial-addition-to-countrys-green-taxonomy-stride-across-sectors https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/nmf9czyf/Green-Industry.jpg Representational photo. downtoearth en 2026-05-11T07:00:47.000Z From definition to deployment: India’s evolving green methanol ecosystem a crucial addition to country’s green taxonomy stride across sectors Energy, Industry, CSE, MNRE, ccus, green methanol https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/cameroons-sacred-and-royal-animals-could-literature-and-futures-thinking-help-save-them https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-11/kjhwm13w/lion-royal-animal-COngo-basin Custom dictates that when these animals are found, they must be killed and taken to the palace as a tribute. downtoearth en 2026-05-11T06:28:58.958Z Cameroon’s sacred and royal animals: Could literature and futures thinking help save them? Africa, Climate Change, Africa, History, conservation, Lion, Indigenous, literature, Ecology, culture, Leopard, Congo Basin, Cameroon, Africa elephants, community conservation, Royal animals, sacred animals, environmental humanities, ecological history