Environment

HDFC Bank-HDFC's combined loan book up 13.1%; deposits up 16.2% in Q1

Sequentially, merged entity's advances rose by 0.7% to Rs 22.30 trillion as of March 31

The Chipko legacy

Alienating people whose identities are linked to the forest and trees around them is not only unfair, but also short-sighted

UGC initiates new curriculum to promote environmental education at UG level

The initiative aims to boost the popularity of environmental education to sensitize the students and make it a core subject instead of being offered as an elective or optional subject

The green wall

Green strip across Aravalli will have numerous benefits

Most of Himalayan glaciers analysed are retreating at varying rates: Govt

Majority of Himalayan glaciers analysed are melting or retreating at varying rates in different regions, the government has said. It has noted that melting glaciers due to any impact of climate change will not only severely affect the flow in Himalayan river system but will also give rise to natural disasters. The government's response was given to a parliamentary standing committee looking at Glacier Management in the Country - Monitoring of Glaciers/Lakes including Glacial Lake Outbursts leading to Flash-floods in the Himalayan Region. The parliamentary standing committee report was tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Explaining the problem of incessant melting and retreating of Himalayan glaciers and the estimated volume loss of glaciers between the year(s), the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation said the Geological Survey of India has conducted studies on their melting by assessment of mass balance studies on nine glaciers and also carried out

JSW Energy acquires 1,753 MW green assets of MEIPL for over Rs 10,000 crore

JSW Energy on Wednesday said it has completed the acquisition of 1,753 MW of renewable energy assets from Mytrah Energy (India) Private Limited (MEIPL) for over Rs 10,000 crore. "The transaction values the Mytrah Energy portfolio at an enterprise valuation of approximately Rs 10,150 crore after adjusting for net current assets and other adjustments under the share purchase agreements," JSW Energy said in a statement. JSW Neo Energy Limited (JSW Neo), a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Energy Limited, in a two-step process has completed the acquisition of 1,753 MW of renewable energy assets from Mytrah Energy, it added. The portfolio comprises 1,331 MW of wind capacity and 422 MW (487 MWp DC) of solar capacity operating primarily in the southern, western and central parts of India. The assets have a proven operational track record and long-term PPA with an average remaining life of 17 years. This is the largest acquisition made by JSW Energy since inception and will leapfrog the curr

Environmental groups slam German government's energy, climate deal

Environmental groups have criticised a deal between Germany's three governing parties on energy and climate policies, saying Wednesday that it risks watering down essential measures to curb global warming. The agreement announced Tuesday followed three days of intense haggling and weeks of discord that threatened to paralyse Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government. It eases requirements for new home heating systems and allows for the construction and expansion of Germany's highways, while also providing more money for the country's rail network. But Germany's BUND environmental group accused Scholz of giving in to expensive false solutions and ignoring warnings contained in a recent UN climate report about the need for drastic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Accelerating the planning process for up to 144 Autobahn projects is a fatal signal at a time of climate crisis, the group's head, Olaf Brandt, said. Brandt also criticised planned subsidies for synthetic vehicle fuels,

The snack bag of the future won't be made from single-use plastic

Most bags for potato chips and other crispy snacks are made with three layers of polymer materials. Polymers are made from petroleum, and they'll never decompose

Smoke particles from wildfires can cause erosion in ozone layer: Research

A wildfire can send smoke into the stratosphere, where it can linger for up to a year. According to a new MIT study, these particles can cause chemical reactions that erode the protective ozone layer

Climate change, glacier topography, morphology control glacial retreat

A scientific study has discovered that the glacier retreat rate is controlled by climate change, the topographic setting and morphology of the glacier.

Rudraprayag, Tehri in Uttarakhand record highest landslide density in India

Rudraprayag and Tehri districts in Uttarakhand have the highest landslide density and landslide risk exposure in the country. The two hilly districts of the Himalayan state figure at the top of a table published as part of the Landslide Atlas of India by Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre on the basis of satellite data inputs provided by the Indian Space Research Organisation. The list includes all 13 districts of Uttarakhand that vary from each other in terms of vulnerability to landslides. While Rudraprayag and Tehri districts are ranked first and second in a list of 147 districts, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar figure at the bottom at 146th and 147th, respectively. The famous Kedarnath temple is located in Rudraprayag. It was the epicentre of a massive natural disaster that killed thousands in June 2013. Chamoli district, where Joshimath is grappling with a land-subsidence crisis, has been ranked at 19th, Uttarkashi 21st, Pauri 23rd, Dehradun 29th, Bageshwar 50th, .

Free markets may not create competition on their own: CEA Nageswaran

'Morality, ethics should undergird free-market economy'

World Bank nominee Ajay Banga is a 'big believer' in climate science

Banga added that he's preparing to embark on a three-week trip to both creditor and borrower nations to shore up support for his nomination

Is that dishwasher truly green or is it another case of greenwashing?

The US has green codes defined by the Federal Trade Commission to prevent consumers from misleading marketing claims

Suzuki Motorcycle launches scooters compliant with latest emission norms

Suzuki Motorcycle India on Wednesday said it has launched a range of scooters, which conform with the upcoming stricter emission norms, priced between Rs 79,400 to Rs 97,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). The company's 125cc scooters, including Access 125, Avenis and Burgman Street, get the latest on-board diagnostics (OBD2-A) system. Suzuki has also introduced E20 fuel-compliant engines on the Access 125, Avenis and Burgman Street range. "Suzuki's powerful 125cc engine which delivers high performance and has been ruling riders' hearts is now E20 (petrol with 20 per cent ethanol) and OBD2-A compliant. We plan to gradually make our entire product portfolio compatible to E20 fuel," Suzuki Motorcycle India Executive Vice President (Sales, Marketing and After Sales) Devashish Handa said in a statement.

28% fall in cost of emissions reductions by Indian businesses: WRI study

A study, implemented in 2020-21, included 21 businesses, representing about 10% of industry emissions, and all elements of a carbon market demonstrated a 28% reduction in cost of emissions reductions

Green Strategic Partnership catalyst for India, Denmark cooperation: Prez

President Droupadi Murmu said that the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership has become a catalyst for enhanced cooperation between the two countries.President met Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik Andre Henrik Christian and Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth at Rashtrapati Bhavan.The Danish royal couple arrived in India on Sunday for a four-day visit.Yesterday, the Danish royal couple paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "Their Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik & Crown Princess Mary of Denmark paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat this afternoon."Danish crown Prince and Princess also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. During the meeting, they discussed sustainability and digital delivery.Jaishankar tweeted, "Delighted to call on their Royal Highness, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark during their India visit. Shared with them various aspects of ..

Net zero target: Why 'sustainable economic growth' will elude India

Western reluctance to spend on climate action and the govt's inability to accelerate renewables to power faster economic growth are major hurdles to the net zero target

All at sea

The impact of warming oceans is a neglected threat

Urbanisation and urban dynamics

Cities are not just an economic landscape. In the post-Covid world there is a need to understand the role culture plays in how a city grows beyond its economic allure