https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/one-in-three-gender-equality-institutions-weakened-in-two-years-un-report-warns https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-18/5vg7aelz/G6ZdjOSaYAES-Ee.jpeg Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi at the G20 Johannesburg Summit in 2025. UN Women report found political power remains overwhelmingly held by men. downtoearth en 2026-09-18T10:57:39.193Z One in three gender equality institutions weakened in two years, UN report warns Governance, Sustainable development goal, gender equality, UN Women, UN DESA, women’s rights, women in leadership, Gender Snapshot 2026, Gender funding, Women’s rights organisations https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-bihar-rajasthan-kerala-odisha-sikkim-among-states-to-receive-heavy-rainfall https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-18/xytd5j16/1000423805.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-18T09:47:24.399Z Daily weather tracker: Bihar, Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Sikkim among states to receive heavy rainfall Climate Change, monsoon, Bihar, Sikkim, Odisha, Delhi-NCR, Kerala, Weather, Rajasthan, Thunderstorms https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/possible-cyclone-in-bay-of-bengal-next-week https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-18/25hbkoqd/1000423756.png Weather visualisation on windy.com showed the formation of a cyclone with a distorted eye around September 23-24. downtoearth en 2026-09-18T07:09:29.451Z Possible cyclone in Bay of Bengal next week Natural Disasters, Storm, low pressure, Odisha, Cyclone, Bay Of Bengal, Rainfall, Coast, Andhra Pradesh, wind https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/indias-groundwater-in-persistent-decline-warns-un-report https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-18/spuo1qa7/iStock-1128658556.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-18T06:48:28.436Z India’s groundwater in persistent decline, warns UN report India groundwater, groundwater decline, WMO report, water crisis, groundwater depletion, terrestrial water, Northern India, water balance, over abstraction, freshwater storage, glacier retreat, Punjab groundwater, El Nino, river drought, global water https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/brown-is-beautiful-what-namibias-capital-windhoek-can-teach-african-cities-as-they-get-hotter-and-drier https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-18/v246stwg/1000423722.jpg Dry countries such as Namibia need solutions designed for scarce water and fragile desert ecosystems. downtoearth en 2026-09-18T06:27:59.768Z Brown is beautiful: What Namibia’s capital Windhoek can teach African cities as they get hotter and drier Climate Change, Africa, World, Global Warming, nature-based solutions, Namibia, Windhoek, climate plans https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/why-ai-consciousness-could-become-the-next-great-societal-divide https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-18/c9zxqy5x/iStock-2187706237.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-18T05:08:29.728Z Why AI consciousness could become the next great societal divide AI consciousness, machine consciousness, AI ethics, digital minds, AI rights, AI morality, AI personhood, AI divide, AI sentience, AI regulation, AI companions, AI debate, AI philosophy, AI politics, AI future https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/himalayas-nearing-tipping-point-as-glacier-melting-accelerates-report-warns https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/ew7s2h0r/iStock-477705536.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-18T04:57:02.975Z Himalayas nearing ‘tipping point’ as glacier melting accelerates, report warns Himalayan glaciers, glacier melt, tipping point, black carbon, glacial lakes, Himalayan disasters, Third Pole, climate crisis, peak water, early warning, Hindu Kush, brick kilns, water security, mountain ecosystems, sustainable tourism https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/climate-change-added-a-month-of-risky-heat-for-15-billion-people-117-million-affected-in-india https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/risrll38/1000423122.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-17T11:48:52.319Z Climate change added a month of risky heat for 1.5 billion people; 117 million affected in India Climate Change, Climate change impact, France, Vatican, European Heatwave 2026, climate-induced heatwaves https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/simply-put-season-of-emissions https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/glz4s7be/Simply-Put-17-Sept-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/avtl5e2h/Simply-put-17-Sept-Garment-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-09-17T11:35:29.213Z Simply Put: Season of emissions Climate Change, Emission, Bangladesh https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/forests-at-the-heart-of-food-security-nutrition-and-livelihood-fao https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/apwy0tf9/1000423026.jpg More than 50,000 wild species are used for food and medicine worldwide, including at least 10,000 species consumed directly as food. downtoearth en 2026-09-17T09:51:44.993Z Forests at the heart of food security, nutrition and livelihood: FAO  Forests, Food, World, Nutrition, Forest foods, environmental assets https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/six-states-sign-kishau-water-agreement-but-experts-question-dams-risks-and-utility https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/od3aj9j9/iStock-1492649425.jpg The project involves a 232.6-metre-high concrete gravity dam on the Tons River along the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border. downtoearth en 2026-09-17T08:43:40.613Z Six states sign Kishau water agreement, but experts question dam’s risks and utility Kishau dam, Kishau project, Yamuna basin, Tons River, water agreement, interstate water, hydropower project, seismic risk, environmental impact, displacement data, Yamuna cleaning, Himalayan dam, forest submergence, national project, water sharing https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/3-african-wild-dogs-travelled-over-4000km-to-find-mates-why-thats-good-news-for-the-endangered-species https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/hhn629d0/1000422887.jpg Photo for representation. downtoearth en 2026-09-17T06:36:10.065Z 3 African wild dogs travelled over 4,000km to find mates — why that’s good news for the endangered species Wildlife & Biodiversity, Africa, World, wildlife, Animals, Endangered Species, wild dogs, mating, African wild dogs https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/spekboom-is-nutritious-waterwise-and-edible-so-why-arent-more-south-africans-eating-it https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-17/2rnacetk/iStock-1271329780.jpg Spekboom. downtoearth en 2026-09-17T04:53:17.802Z Spekboom is nutritious, water‑wise and edible — so why aren’t more South Africans eating it? Africa, Food, South Africa, eastern cape, Natural world, Agriculture + Land, ACF2026, Vitamin C, indigenous plants https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/brics-2026-shows-how-the-global-south-agenda-is-shifting-on-climate-trade-and-development https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-16/kpll33t7/HSBmvCBaAAAHN4M.jpeg downtoearth en 2026-09-16T13:42:47.237Z BRICS 2026 shows how the Global South agenda is shifting on climate, trade and development Climate Change, global south, Climate finance, carbon markets, adaptation finance, New Delhi Declaration 2026, BRICS 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/the-ai-slowdown-debate-is-back-here-is-why https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-16/e1b2pwqp/AI.png downtoearth en 2026-09-16T12:53:34.906Z The AI Slowdown debate is back — Here is why Science & Technology, artificial intelligence, Anthropic, Artificial intelligence (AI), AI systems, Dario Amodei https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/unga-cop31-must-deliver-more-than-diplomatic-rhetoric-amid-nepal-disaster-and-energy-turmoil-experts-say https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-16/77yl48j2/UN.jpg United Nations Headquarters in New York City. downtoearth en 2026-09-16T12:41:04.362Z UNGA, COP31 must deliver more than diplomatic rhetoric amid Nepal disaster and energy turmoil, experts say Climate Change, Nepal, UNGA, Strait of Hormuz, COP31 Antalya, Rasuwa Flood, Rasuwa, Iran-Israel-US War, energy turmoil https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/highlights-from-the-issue-50 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-16/t86qy4nn/01-Highlights-from-the-issue.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-14/jo0k8cpe/Editor-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-15/gw3x6ybx/20.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-07/mlhijs6i/Nepal.jpg Nepal police personnel conducting combing operations at the site of the Rasuwa tragedy. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-05/cbxkbhgr/Langtang-National-Park.jpg Langtang National Park. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-27/gm5j9f46/HimalayasandalliedrangesNASALandsatshowingtheeightthousandersannotatedwithmajorrivers.jpg The arc of the Himalayas, Hindukush and Karakoram ranges. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-07/rbf4qcy6/Delhi-e-mobility-1.jpg Delhi is taking earnest steps towards electric transition. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-21/lq0nebmo/Delhi-Vehicular-Pollution.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-27/szx7mp7b/iStock-1445767002.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-15/qf4bt932/Ozone-graphic.jpg Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-15/qjd3kmni/10.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-14/h0m0emd5/52.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-15/t9r6livm/Inequality-India.jpg Slums and skyscrapers dot the Bandra skyline in Mumbai. downtoearth en 2026-09-16T11:51:23.529Z Highlights from the issue Environment, Nepal, himalayas, inequality, Ozone, Chamoli, UNCCD, Artificial intelligence (AI), UNCCD COP17, Ulaanbaatar, India on e-wheels, Rasuwa Flood, Rasuwa https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/why-civic-works-continue-to-be-a-headache-in-delhi-like-elsewhere-in-india https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-16/4ltp9f6k/Delhi-Civic-Works-1.jpg An open drain alongside an excavated located in East Delhi. A perfect recipe for disaster. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-16/k7z0b84o/Delhi-Civic-Works-2.jpg Civic works like road and sewerage repair are a bane for the national capital like the rest of India. From lack of agency coordination to low budgets, several reasons are to be blamed for messy maintenance works. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-09-16/7f9h3zii/Delhi-Civic-Works-3.jpg These actions lead to disruption, traffic bottlenecks and sometimes end in tragic consequences for citizens. downtoearth en 2026-09-16T11:07:25.506Z Why civic works continue to be a headache in Delhi (like elsewhere in India) Governance, Delhi, Civic works, Road repairs, Sewerage pipelines repairs, agency coordination, low budgets