https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/combat-desertification-cop17-decision-on-a-global-drought-framework-stalled-once-again-even-as-drought-threat-intensifies https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/kp3d8i1h/ENB-IISD-Anastasia-Rodopoulou-UNCCD-COP17-28Aug2026-Photo-81.jpg The sun sets on August 28, on the last day of COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. downtoearth en 2026-08-29T06:02:57.286Z Combat desertification COP17: Decision on a global drought framework stalled once again, even as drought threat intensifies Climate Change, Environment, Drought, Mongolia, UNCCD COP16, Riyadh, sharm el sheikh, UNCCD COP17, Ulaanbaatar, UNCCD COP18 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-bay-of-bengal-low-pressure-system-triggers-heavy-rain-alert-across-several-states https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/a07ihgco/Rainfall.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-29T05:20:22.123Z Daily weather tracker: Bay of Bengal low-pressure system triggers heavy rain alert across several states Climate Change, Southwest monsoon, Bay Of Bengal, India Meteorological Department (IMD), low-pressure system, Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/when-the-mountain-breaks-nepals-disaster-and-the-failure-to-act-together https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/kw074ldm/Langtang-Lirung-Peak.jpg Mount Langtang Lirung (7,245 metres) dominates the Langtang valley, north of Kathmandu. At the end of the valley is the border with Tibet. A massive partial collapse of a glacier near the peak triggered catastrophic flash floods and debris flows across parts of Nepal and Tibet on August 26, 2026. downtoearth en 2026-08-29T03:51:37.814Z When the mountain breaks: Nepal’s disaster and the failure to act together Natural Disasters, China, Nepal, himalayas, tibet, Rasuwa Flood, Rasuwa https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/western-uttar-pradesh-is-now-as-much-a-leopard-landscape-as-it-is-an-agricultural-one https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/jnwruooe/Leopard.jpg A leopard. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/lgiv9tln/Leopard-1.jpg The landscape of rural western Uttar Pradesh. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/m4b7v466/Leopard-2.jpg Sugarcane fields in western Uttar Pradesh. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/t0mss3bj/Leopard-3.jpg A cage being set up to trap leopards in western Uttar Pradesh. downtoearth en 2026-08-29T03:51:25.073Z Western Uttar Pradesh is now as much a leopard landscape as it is an agricultural one Wildlife & Biodiversity, Uttar Pradesh, Human-wildlife conflict, leopards, Human-leopard conflict, western uttar pradesh, rural Uttar Pradesh, Leopard Conservation https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/himachal-pradesh-is-introducing-australian-merino-sheep-in-its-hills-to-enhance-its-wool-economy-but-at-what-cost https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/4xi578el/Merino-Gaddi-1.jpg A flock of sheep grazes on a hillside in Himachal Pradesh. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-29/ynat6e04/Merino-Gaddi-2.jpg A Gaddi shepherd with a sheep. downtoearth en 2026-08-29T03:51:03.745Z Himachal Pradesh is introducing Australian Merino sheep in its hills to ‘enhance’ its wool economy. But at what cost? Agriculture, Wildlife & Biodiversity, Livestock, Sheep, Himachal Pradesh, Australia, Gaddi, Gaddis, Merino Sheep https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/combat-desertification-cop17-experts-question-why-nutrition-and-land-are-treated-as-separate-disciplines-globally-as-report-reveals-soil-degradation-to-be-worsening https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/vvoxqhhy/ENB-IISD-Anastasia-Rodopoulou-UNCCD-COP17-27Aug2026-Photo-24.jpg Barron Joseph Orr (Right), UNCCD scientist, makes a point on August 27 at COP17. downtoearth en 2026-08-28T08:14:51.897Z Combat desertification COP17: Experts question why nutrition and land are treated as separate disciplines globally as report reveals soil degradation to be worsening Agriculture, Food, Environment, Nutrition, soil, Land, soil degradation, COP17, UNCCD COP17, Barron Joseph Orr https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/unpaid-labour-in-the-heart-of-gadchiroli https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/l3a6b4c5/Maharashtra-Water.jpg A woman and a girl fetch water in a forested area in the heart of eastern Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/arzgburq/Maharashtra-Water.jpg A woman and a girl fetch water in a forested area in the heart of eastern Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. downtoearth en 2026-08-28T06:11:37.470Z Unpaid labour in the heart of Gadchiroli Water, Governance, Women, girls, Maharashtra, fetching water, Gadchiroli, unpaid labour https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-august-26-2026 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/3nqlsd6m/Court-Digest.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-28T05:42:04.904Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 26, 2026) Environment, Uttar Pradesh, Ganga, National Green Tribunal, Jhansi, daily court digest, Floodplain, Pahuj https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-mercury-crosses-41c-in-sri-ganganagar-as-odisha-braces-for-very-heavy-rain-showers-likely-across-northeast-and-several-states https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/fwvhv19p/Daily-Weather-Tracker.jpg The temperature in Sri Ganganagar reached 41.4 degrees. Even amid rainfall, heat and humidity remained in many parts of India. downtoearth en 2026-08-28T05:08:19.586Z Daily weather tracker: Mercury crosses 41°C in Sri Ganganagar as Odisha braces for very heavy rain; showers likely across Northeast and several states Climate Change, Southwest monsoon, Rainfall, India Meteorological Department (IMD), heat, Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/data-centre-water-consumption-could-triple-to-644-billion-litres-by-2030 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/fny5b74k/Data-Centre.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/n65z59a7/Data-Centre-Rystad.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-28T04:47:00.895Z Data centre water consumption could triple to 644 billion litres by 2030 Science & Technology, Energy, Water, data centre, Artificial intelligence (AI), AI data centre, water consumption https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/nepal-tibet-tragedy-explained-ice-rock-avalanche-triggered-flash-floods https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-28/3ntj1rl6/nepal.png downtoearth en 2026-08-28T04:03:36.998Z Nepal-Tibet tragedy explained: ‘Ice-rock avalanche’ triggered flash floods Natural Disasters, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), US Geological Survey, Bhote Koshi, Rasuwa Flood, Rasuwa, Nepal-Tibet border, Lhende Khola