Environmentalism

Site visits essential for environment clearance in Western Ghats: Ministry

The Western Ghats, like the Himalayas, are among the most fragile regions in the country and are prone to illegal mining, unregulated construction, and uncontrolled commercial activities

Parl panel recommends Environment Ministry revisit its monitoring framework

In its report, the parliamentary panel noted that the data provided by the Ministry seems very counter intuitive from what the public experiences at large

Biden admin nods for Alaska oil project, draws ire of environmentalists

The Biden administration said Monday it is approving the huge Willow oil-drilling project on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope, a major environmental decision by President Joe Biden that drew quick condemnation that it flies in the face of the Democratic president's pledges to slow climate change. The announcement came a day after the administration, in a move in the other direction toward conservation, said it would bar or limit drilling in some other areas of Alaska and the Arctic Ocean. The Willow approval by the Bureau of Land Management would allow three drill sites, which would include up to 199 total wells. Two other drill sites proposed for the project would be denied. Project developer ConocoPhillips has said it considers the three-site option workable, and company chairman and CEO Ryan Lance called the order the right decision for Alaska and our nation. Houston-based ConocoPhillips will relinquish rights to about 68,000 acres of existing leases in the National Petroleum

Union Environment Min inaugurates G20-themed flower festival in Delhi's CP

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated a two-day G20-themed flower festival of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) at Central Park in Connaught Place on Saturday

To save the planet, consumption patterns need to change: Bhupender Yadav

Unsustainable production and consumption need urgent attention, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said at a joint India-Denmark forum on Tuesday, adding that the two countries can set an example for the world in achieving climate goals. Speaking at the 'India Denmark: Partners for Green and Sustainable Progress Conference' here, the minister noted that the Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership is an appropriate forum to exchange ideas, best practices, knowledge, technology, and capacity building for promoting sustainable lifestyles, not only in Denmark and India, but in Europe and the whole world. Danish Crown Prince Frederik Andr Henrik Christian and Princess Mary Elizabeth were also present at the event. "Unsustainable production and consumption need urgent attention if we are to confront the global environmental and climate change-related challenges facing us today. We need to act fast before it is too late," Yadav said. He said India and Denmark have set very ambit

Resorts within one-km of Rajaji National Park not necessarily legal: NGT

The National Green Tribunal has said that it was wrongly assumed in a report that resorts within one-km radius of the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand were legal and formed a panel of "higher-level officials" to take remedial action. The NGT was hearing the matter regarding the illegal functioning of hotels, resorts, pubs, clubs and ashrams and other commercial activities in the Chilla Range of Rajaji National Park. A bench of Chairperson Justice A K Goel noted that in October last year, the tribunal had directed remedial action against violations by 19 resorts along with recovery of compensation for restoration of the environment, following which reports were filed by the Director of Rajaji National Park and the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) earlier this month. The bench also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted that according to the report, action was taken against illegally operating .

Environment conservation is commitment, not compulsion for India: PM Modi

Environment conservation is a commitment and not a compulsion for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, asserting he believes development and nature can go hand-in-hand. India strives to meet an increased portion of its power demand from renewable and alternative sources of energy, he said in a message read out at the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) being organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) here. The country is devising solutions to diverse urban challenges, particularly those related to pollution and cleanliness, through latest technology and innovation, he said. "Extolling the Earth as Mother, our scriptures say, 'The Earth is our Mother and we are her children'. The sentiment of universal brotherhood has constantly guided the nation and its people. With such a glorious culture and philosophy of lofty traditions of living in harmony with nature, it is only natural for India to remain at the forefront of global efforts for environment

Courts should balance between environment & development: Justice Sikri

Talking about development and environment, he said courts need to strike a delicate balance between the two while dealing with such matters

NGT orders Rajasthan to ascertain if Sambhar Festival harms migratory birds

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the authorities in Rajasthan to address the grievance regarding the proposed three-day Sambhar festival adversely impacting migratory birds and their natural habitat. The tribunal also directed the authorities, including the Rajasthan chief secretary, to shift the festival's location if such a detrimental effect is found. The green panel was hearing a petition that alleged that the festival's activities, including kite flying, paragliding and motorcycle expedition, would "adversely affect migratory birds and natural habitat of the lake which is a Ramsar site, particularly on account of the use of loudspeakers". The festival is scheduled to take place at Sambhar Lake near Jaipur from February 17 to 19. "We find it necessary to direct the chief secretary, Rajasthan, to address the grievance in coordination with State Wetland Authority, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), district magistrate, Jaipur, and integrated region

Despite differences, conservation challenges similar in Madagascar, Brazil

Madagascar's nature is so unique that 82 per cent of its plant species and 90 per cent of its animals are endemic, found exclusively on the island off the coast of Southeast Africa

Consultancy companies doubling capacity in sustainability divisions

According to industry sources, about 350-400 of the 1,000 companies have already engaged the services of sustainability consultants

Google launches circular economy accelerator for Asia-Pacific start-ups

Applications for the program are open from October 4 to November 14 this year and the program will commence in February 2023

King Charles III decides not to attend int'l climate summit in Egypt

King Charles III has decided not to attend the international climate change summit in Egypt next month, fueling speculation that the new monarch will have to rein in his environmental activism now that he has ascended the throne. The Sunday Times newspaper reported that the decision came after Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss objected to Charles attending the conference, known as COP27, when she met with the king last month at Buckingham Palace. While there was no official rebuttal, other British media quoted unidentified palace and government sources as saying that Charles made his decision after consultation with the prime minister and that any suggestion of disagreement was untrue. Under the rules that govern Britain's constitutional monarchy, the king is barred from interfering in politics. By convention, all official overseas visits by members of the royal family are undertaken in accordance with advice from the government and a decision like this would have resulted from

German court keeps hearing farmer's climate case against Volkswagen

Environmentalists claimed a small legal victory Friday after a court in Germany said it would continue hearing a case brought by a local farmer seeking to force automaker Volkswagen to end the sale of combustion engine vehicles. Ulf Allhoff-Cramer says drier soil and heavier rains due to climate change are harming his fields, cattle and commercial forests. He argues that Volkswagen is partly to blame for this, as the mass production of vehicles running on gasoline contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. During a first hearing in May, a regional court in the western German town of Detmold appeared to cast doubt on those claims, with judges asking the plaintiff and his lawyers to provide further details to back up their legal arguments. On Friday, the court again asked for further details and set a new hearing for February 3. Environmental group Greenpeace, which supports the case, said it is the first time that a court will consider whether a car ..

Mumbai: Environmentalists protest to save Aarey forest; security increased

The city police have increased police deployment at the forest to avoid any untoward incident during the protest, the official said.

Modi weakened environmental laws, now posing as eco-champion: Jairam Ramesh

Cong leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday accused Modi of hypocrisy and alleged that while he has weakened all environmental and forest laws in India, he is posing as an eco-champion on the world stage.

India achieves 10% ethanol blending target in petrol ahead of schedule: PM

Prime Minister Modi was speaking at a programme on 'Save Soil Movement' at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi

PM Modi to virtually launch global initiative 'LiFE Movement' today

The idea promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on 'mindful and deliberate utilisation' instead of 'mindless and destructive consumption

Artists across world celebrate Earth Day with Indian poet's 'Earth Anthem'

Abhay K. wrote the anthem in 2008 inspired by the blue marble image of the earth, taken by the crew of Apollo 17, and the Indian philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'

World Earth Day 2022: Make world a happier, healthier place to live

Each year on April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day to create awareness about the vital need to protect our planet from pollution by taking part in activities like planting trees or picking litter