Down To Earth | Latest news, opinion, analysis on environment & science issues

DATELINE OTTAWA: CAN WE SAVE OUR PLANET FROM PLASTIC?

As countries meet in Canadian capital to decide on a global plastic treaty, Down To Earth looks at various dimensions of the problem

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Run-up to Ottawa: We, who suffer most due to plastics, must not be overlooked in talks, say indigenous peoples

Run-up to Ottawa: 86% of Indians want reduction in plastic production

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Run-up to Ottawa: Report says 86% of Indians want reduction in plastic production

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Run-up to Ottawa: New study shows how global plastic waste trade evolved recently & ways for responsible management

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Run-up to Ottawa: Civil society groups call for support from ASEAN leadership in fight against plastic pollution

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Run-up to Ottawa: Plastic may contribute to aggressive cancer spread, warns leading cancer scientist

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Run-up to Ottawa: Arctic a ‘hemispheric sink’ for chemicals & plastics; 13 million people in region at risk, says report

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Plastic, the forever pollutant

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220 million tonnes of plastic waste will be created in 2024: EA Earth Action

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How bad is India’s single-use plastic crisis?

WMO REPORT

Climate Change

Asia was the world’s ‘disaster capital’ in 2023, with all climate change drivers upping the ante in region: WMO report

Bay of Bengal recorded nearly 30% higher sea level rise over global average; east and north India have warmed more than rest of country

NEWS AND VIEWS

Waste

After fire outbreaks, Ghazipur landfill has a new concern — research finds its layers are heating up

A massive fire broke out at Ghazipur landfill in Delhi on April 21, 2024. Photo: Vikas Choudhary / CSE

These elevated temperatures in dumpsite can alter gas composition, worsen odours and …

Climate Change

There is a probability of above normal temperatures during polling phases, says Election Commission

EC issues list of dos and don’ts for voters; also directs provision of facilities …

Wildlife & Biodiversity

This summer, Bihar’s blackbucks won’t have to stray from their parched natural habitats for water

Local supply of drinking water will prevent them from wandering into human habitats & …

Waste

World Earth Day 2024: Global network presents solutions for cutting down plastic use in food chain

The Earth Market in Bogotá, Colombia. photo: Mercado de la Tierra Slow Food Bogotá / Facebook

Slow Food Earth Markets around the world suggest steps undertaken by it to reduce …

Governance

Lula not doing enough on his pledge to demarcate indigenous territories, say critics

The Brazilian leader’s decision to title two indigenous territories on April 18 has …

Climate Change

Warming planet may transform tundra ecosystems from carbon sinks to sources

Scientists found that rising temperatures was increasing both plant and microbial respiration, resulting in the release of carbon in arctic and alpine tundra biomes. Here, arctic tundra flowers in Norway. Photo: iStock

Experiments show warming temperatures increased metabolic activity among plants and …

Energy

Citroen e-C3 fails crash test: What this means for India’s electric vehicle passengers & buyers

Citroen e-C3 fails crash test: What this means for the Indian passenger

Citreon e-C3 received zero stars for adult occupant safety & one for child protection

Climate Change

Environment in elections: Sea erosion is key election issue in Odisha’s Satabhaya

A woman collecting groundwater from the sea erosion hit Satabhaya village in Odisha. File photo: Ashis Senapati

Villagers, opposition criticise state government’s failure to address erosion issues …

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Clean-Build Pathways to Decarbonize the Built Environment

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Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) systems Design, Operations and Applications of Solar Mini-Grid Systems

Videos

Waste

World Earth Day 2024: Urgent need to stop marine plastic pollution

On World Earth Day, join for an urgent call to halt marine plastic pollution

Agriculture

Wheat worries: Standing guard over future pandemics

Environment

After 8 years, IMD forecasts above normal rainfall

Climate Change

Extreme weather events in Mumbai and Dubai

Health

Whooping cough outbreak reported around the world

Water

No relief for Marathwada droughts: Failure of the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan

Cartoons

Photo Gallery

Environment

Ghazipur landfill fire: Annual choking hazard for Delhi

Authorities have missed multiple deadlines to clear out the legacy waste from Ghazipur landfill

Africa

Sudan, a country displaced

One of Africa’s largest and most populous countries is on the brink of famine after a year of war between its Army and main paramilitary

Down To Earth video journalists, Prabhat Kumar and Dhruval Parekh, are at the ground zero of the ‘Farmers’ Protest 2.0’. Both were at the Shambhu border crossing between Patiala in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana as hundreds of farmers from Punjab attempted

Agriculture

Farmers’ Protests 2.0: DTE reports from ground zero Shambhu border

DTE video journalists, Prabhat Kumar & Dhruval Parekh, at Shambhu border as Haryana Police fired tear gas on farmers crossing from Punjab

It has been an ‘arid winter’ in the Union Territory of Ladakh. There has been a complete absence of snowfall since November 2023. And it has set alarm bells ringing in the fragile region. This photo shows the Sangam Point near Nimmo village of Leh distric

Climate Change

Ladakh: No snow in the cold desert

The arid winter in the region this time is raising concerns among the local population, as it forebodes a potentially alarming situation

डाउन टू अर्थ

वन्य जीव

गुजरात में 4.7 करोड़ साल पुराने विशालकाय सांप का मिला जीवाश्म, क्या हो सकता है दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा सांप?

शोधकर्ताओं का अनुमान है कि वासुकी इंडिकस की लंबाई 10.9 से 15.2 मीटर के बीच हो सकती है

महिला स्वास्थ्य

आज भारतीय है धरती का हर छठा इंसान, चीन को पीछे छोड़ 2024 में 144.2 करोड़ हुई आबादी

1950 में देखें तो भारत की आबादी महज 35.3 करोड़ थी, तब से 74 वर्षों में देश की आबादी बढ़कर चार गुणा हो चुकी है

प्लास्टिक

पृथ्वी दिवस 2024: साल 2040 तक सभी तरह के प्लास्टिक के उत्पादन में 60 फीसदी की कमी लाने का लक्ष्य

दुनिया भर में हर साल 38 करोड़ टन से अधिक प्लास्टिक के कचरे का उत्पादन हो रहा है, जिसमें से काफी मात्रा लैंडफिल, महासागरों और जलमार्गों में पहुंच जाती है।

Data Centre

Waste

Global stances on various facets of plastic pollution

As the fourth round of talks begin in Ottawa for a global plastic treaty, CSE analyses positions taken by various countries on plastics

Environment

The ground beneath our feet

Why soil health and biodiversity matters for the survival of the planet

Water

Parched Garden City

How Bengaluru’s water crisis is of its own making

Water

Counting India’s waterbodies

Down To Earth breaks down data from the country’s first census on waterbodies conducted by the Centre last year

Factsheet

Water

Scheduled for Day Zero

The cities with population above 1 million in 2016, which would face water scarcity in 2050

Sunita Narain's Desk

Director General of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Editor of Down To Earth magazine. She is an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets