A Public Effort

Where the government has failed miserably in providing quality service to the people, some ngos have set an example on how urban waste can be …

Bogged Down

Waste generation is not rare in urban areas, nor any other part of the world. The only difference is in the management of wastes. An effective, …

Addressing indoor pollution and climate change with fuel-efficient cook stoves

A simple measure carried out by our organisation has helped to kill two birds with one stone

Too cold for comfort!

Managing our cooling and heating needs would go a long way to reduce electricity demand and carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate …

Clean cook stoves and climate mitigation: Tara Ramnathan explains

Down To Earth is at COP 22 in Marrakech, Morocco. We speak to Tara Ramnathan, prgramme director at Nexleaf Analytics, a company making clean …

State of Energy: We still use unclean cooking fuel

One out of three—or 33.8%—households in India continue to use firewood, chips and crop residue as their primary cooking fuel. The use …

Getting Indore's roads to play a double role

An Indore engineer has solved the problem of waterlogging in the city's slums by building sloping roads that lead excess water to the nearest nullah.

The central problem

Callous unconcern, pollution, encroachment and politics is finishing off the lakes in Bhopal and Indore

India, own the agenda for clean air

After all, clean air is a public good and the adverse health effects of polluted air affect everyone

Cool roofs: episode 3 New Vastu with Ashok B Lall

Top floors can be excruciating during the Indian summers. But there are ways to stay comfortable on top floor houses. Ashok B Lall gives his tips …

How indoor pollution affects women & children

One statistic says that children have carbon monoxide levels similar to those that would result from smoking about seven cigarettes per day

Particulate matter from cigarettes, mosquito coils makes indoor air toxic

A study reveals that aluminum, chromium and tin are higher in mosquito coil smoke, and copper, zinc, manganese, nickel and lead are higher in …

Clean(er) cooking in India: We need a transition to better solutions along with smarter policies

Lack of access to cylinder distribution networks means that schemes such as PMUY have not succeeded as expected

Swalia Bibi: Ujjwala's beneficiary number 2 crore can no longer afford LPG

The family of six has to take a loan every time they want to get their cylinder refilled

Burning wood, coal for cooking can cause blindness: Study

The very small particles released with the fumes can penetrate the eyes and cause physical interior damage

Double burden of indoor and outdoor air pollution in developing world: Report

A quarter of global deaths due to particulate air pollution occur in India. Globally air pollution is the 4th largest killer

If you are in Patna, there's no respite from "very high levels" of PM2.5 concentration

The CSE study found that PM 2.5 levels even inside anganwadis were more than 42 times higher than the permissible safe standards for ambient air …

Air pollution kills our children; and it isn’t even acknowledged

Lack of political will and intent and not making an explicit linkage with health means that Indian children die preventable deaths

WHO sets emissions standards for reducing indoor air pollution

4.3 million global premature deaths around each year attributed to illnesses caused by household air pollution

Murky science of comfort part 5: Here’s how being mindful is good for the environment

We cannot wish away air-conditioning in today’s world, but we can be reasonable in choosing where, when and how to resort to the energy guzzlers

Your air-conditioner can't keep you safe from Delhi’s noxious air

Indoor air quality is directly dependent on quality of outdoor air. It's time the aam aadmi came out on the streets to clean up not just …

Most pollution-related workplace deaths in countries with highest GDP: Lancet report

India fares better, ranks 40; United Kingdom worst-performing; United States occupies 18th position

India witnessed worst levels of human-induced air pollution during 2018-2021: Study

Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Chennai recorded huge fluctuations in terms of air pollution

Why indoor pollution is as deadly as its outdoor counterpart

With the continual improvement in our quality of life, indoor air quality has become an important area of concern in the 21st century

More than 12 million deaths due to unhealthy environment in 2012, says WHO

One in every four deaths across the world can be attributed to environment-related factors