Home truths

Most popular paints in India contain high quantities of lead, a toxin especially dangerous to children. The Centre for Science and Environment&…

Cop-out

Hopes were pinned on the latest UN climate summit at Lima. It was supposed to prepare the ground for a new climate deal that will replace the …

Fair farming

The European Union buckles under the pressure of the developing countries to reduce agricultural subsidies

Trade truce

It was neither a victory for the North nor a defeat for the South. Environment took centrestage as the main bargaining chip, but the discussions …

Lima climate summit: Commitment to deal with ‘Loss and Damage’ weakens

Least Developed Countries and civil society organisations call for an explicit inclusion of ‘Loss and Damage’ in the climate …

Climate of irrationality

Developed and developing countries are divided over regulating super greenhouse gases under Montreal Protocol

The gas game

Fluorocarbons, which created a hole in the ozone layer, have generated intense global debates. But these have been more about business than …

BASIC Ministerial on Climate Change: India calls for developed countries to step up at Katowice

Government argues for a just implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement that incorporates the principles of equity and common but differentiated …

'Their capability to pay arises out of their high level of exploitation'

Union minister for environment and forests Kamal Nath's attitude to the UNCED summit is a curious mixture of pessimism and optimism. He is …

No Headway

The just-concluded international conference on climate change in Buenos Aires saw the developing countries ranged against the US which was trying …

"The North is driven by the industry"

Christine von Weizsaecker is a senior microbiologist based in Wuppertal, Germany and the vice-president of Ecoropa, the premier European …

Not ready for Roundup Ready

Notwithstanding the resounding failure of its Bt cotton, Monsanto has begun to introduce another genetically modified crop into India, its …

Light pollution spreads diseases

It is difficult to comprehend modern life sans nighttime light. But the amenity comes at a price. Bruno A S De Medeiros and Alessandro Barghini …

CoP-8: Nothing's brewing

For a fortnight, 1,456 delegates from 167 countries sat in conference halls, attended plenary sessions and roundtables, and sized each other up …

Unmasking aerosols

Forget health impacts, tiny particles floating in the air are altering regional climates and affecting monsoon patterns and agricultural yield. …

Refugees are living longer in exile than ever before, with complex consequences for them and their host communities

Without any systematic solutions to deal with migration and refugees, refugees continue to forge ahead without a clear direction.

The anatomy of congestion

Travel today is relatively faster, and people across the world are travelling more than ever before. But at a giant cost: urban roads are choked …

Why India remains malnourished

Despite a fast-growing economy and the largest anti-malnutrition programme, India has the world’s worst level of child malnutrition. The …

The way out of energy and climate change dilemmas

Providing energy to the poor does not make good business. Take electricity. Connecting the 2 billion in the world who do not have access to large …

Pay attention to what’s happening with the Loss & Damage Fund

Climate justice hangs in the balance, as developed countries look for exit routes and seek to narrow eligibility for receiving money  

Consumption and emissions: rich Indians v/s rich (and poor) Americans

Here’s an attempt at starting a serious debate around sustainable consumption and production by drawing a comparison

Simply Put: A bridge too far

India, South Africa block attempt to include ‘investment facilitation for development’ agreement at WTO meet

New issues should not be considered for ministerial mandates unless past decisions and unfulfilled mandates were acted upon, states India

Train-ed to cut

The poor anatomy of health care