Global South water-sensitive cities: Here is how to make our urban areas water secure in a just and inclusive way

 Neo-liberal capital and builder-led urban development are splitting our cities into unequal parts

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (January 20, 2023)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

Obituary: Sujit Patwardhan, India’s sustainable urban transport champion

Patwardhan founded Parisar in the 1980s out of concern for the rapid changes taking place in Pune leading to environmental degradation

NGT has imposed a fine of about 80,000 crore so far on states for not disposing of sewage and garbage

If this amount was to be deposited by the states, it would be 48% more than the CAMPA fund.

India’s urban floods: Why we need to look at nature-based solutions

Solutions to reduce the loss of lives and livelihoods from urban floods; Can be exercised by individuals and local govts

If we’re smart about water, we can stop our cities sinking

As more cities sink, rethinking how we use groundwater can ease pressure on precious aquifers

Global South water-sensitive cities: Focus should be inequity in access, functionality and reusability

Cities of Global South cannot copy-paste frameworks and solutions emerging from the Global North

NGT orders stay on Draft Shimla Development Plan 2041

Plan will have disastrous consequences for environment and public safety, National Green Tribunal cautioned  

World Cities Day: How humans and robots can co-exist in cities

Robots are taking on more tasks in the world’s cities but create more challenges for policymakers

Male birth control options are in development, but a number of barriers still stand in the way

There has not been a new form of male birth control since no-scalpel vasectomy in 1980s

Delhi draft master plan 2041 : A heartening fresh approach to mobility

The capital's master plan has become more people-centric with time  

Oxfam’s latest report is a wake-up call on the ever-increasing gulf between India’s haves and have-nots

India should adopt a pro-people and nature-friendly economic model to reduce its inequalities

As told to Parliament (December 11, 2023): Rice, wheat and maize crops most affected by climate change

All that was discussed in the House through the day

Urbanisation in India: We must reimagine how our cities are planned

The recent floods in North India serve as a stark reminder to prioritise sustainable urban planning and drainage infrastructure

Global South water-sensitive cities: Framing the discourse

Simply copy-pasting the concepts from the Global North will lead to sub-optimal solutions 

Population populism: UP draft population bill will impact the vulnerable, especially women

The focus must be on safeguarding women and girls’ reproductive health. Smaller families can be achieved by ensuring gender equality, …

Use of contraceptives in Bihar doubles in 5 years: NFHS-5

Female sterilisation was the most common method of contraception in the state

Eucalyptus, acacia and teak, not Sal: Why CAG is critical of Odisha’s afforestation efforts

There was an ‘acute shortfall’ in achieving plantation targets in Odisha due to lack of coordination, working plan, improper …

Improving mobility for clean air: Why cities fall short of their goals

Transportation and mobility strategies are the weakest link in the National Clean Air Action Plans 

States fined thousands of crores over waste — but how did NGT calculate the penalty amount?

Fine determined on polluter pays principle, equated to environmental compensation and cost of restoration

Himalayan plunder: Hydroelectric plans in Arunachal will effect downstream Assam too

Arunachal Pradesh is highly susceptible to landslides; debris flowing downstream will change river behaviour, fear experts