Environment News

Published on Sep 21, 2024 07:15 AM IST

HT’s analysis of global rainfall data shows a dramatic increase in both flooding potential and drought-affected regions in 2024.

HT's analysis shows that record-high January-August rain has covered the biggest proportion of the earth’s land area this year since 1979, the earliest available data(PTI photo)

Geothermal energy could outperform nuclear power

Tricks from the oil industry have produced a hot-rocks breakthrough

FILE - A drill rig stands at a Fervo Energy geothermal site under construction near Milford, Utah, Nov. 26, 2023. Southern California Edison will purchase electricity from Fervo Energy, Fervo announced on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt, File)(AP)

Published on Sep 17, 2024 08:00 AM IST

The Economist

India’s plastic crisis: The hidden emissions choking the country

With emissions spiralling and health impacts mounting, the time for half-measures is over, say experts; India must confront the scale of its plastic pollution

Mumbai, India. July 26, 2024: Plastic and other waste on Mahim beach after high tides. Throughout the monsoon season, trash thrown into the sea is repeatedly washed ashore by waves from the Arabian Sea. July 26, 2024. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

Published on Sep 12, 2024 06:14 PM IST

India has big renewable potential but land conflict could hamper boost: Report

India currently has an installed RE capacity of 150 GW, and up to 1,500 GW, the constraints are relatively manageable, the report said.

Workers clean solar panels after sunset at the 100 MW solar power plants operated by Ayana Renewable Power Pvt. in Tuticorin, India on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg(Bloomberg)

Updated on Sep 12, 2024 06:02 PM IST

ByJayashree Nandi

As monsoon season nears end, skew in rainfall persists across India

The 2024 monsoon season is shaping up to be one of the wettest in over a century, with a 12% surplus over the LPA. However, not all regions are benefiting.

So far this monsoon season, Chandigarh has received 652.3 mm rain, 13.5% below normal for this period. (Ravi Kumar/ HT)(HT_PRINT)

Published on Sep 11, 2024 09:41 PM IST

Canadians are taking dramatic steps to avoid more ruinous firestorms

The focus is as much on mitigation and preparation as on suppression

A helicopter buckets water onto smouldering fires outside Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. AMBER BRACKEN/Pool via REUTERS(via REUTERS)

Published on Sep 07, 2024 08:00 AM IST

The Economist

Weather Bee | Flood-affected Gujarat, Rajasthan are becoming rainier long-term

An HT analysis of the gridded rainfall data of the IMD shows that both states are experiencing one of the rainiest monsoon seasons in recorded history.

A family wades through a flooded road following heavy rainfall in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (AP Photo)(HT_PRINT)

Published on Aug 29, 2024 08:38 PM IST

Marginal dip in PM 2.5 levels in 2022; year added to avg life expectancy: Report

Delhi residents will have maximum benefits, gaining 7.8 years of life expectancy if all of India were to reduce particulate pollution to meet the WHO annual guideline

All of India’s people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the WHO guideline. (HT PHOTO/FILE)

Published on Aug 28, 2024 10:16 AM IST

ByJayashree Nandi

Weather Bee | Does the 2024 monsoon have more rainy days than usual?

How does the 2024 monsoon fare in terms of the number of days it has rained? Here are three charts that try to answer this question.

Visitors at Kartavya Path amid monsoon rain in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times)

Published on Aug 22, 2024 08:00 AM IST

Landslide devastation in Kerala highlights need for sustainable development

Conservationists are urging a balance between development and environmental protection to prevent further tragedies.

NDRF personnel conduct search and rescue operation following the devastating landslide in Wayanad, Kerala. (Photo from X)(HT_PRINT)

Published on Aug 18, 2024 09:00 AM IST

ByK A Shaji

Weather Bee | Is the monsoon becoming rainier?

This year’s monsoon prompts the question: Is the season becoming rainier long-term?

A vehicle moves through a waterlogged Sikar road following heavy monsoon rain in Jaipur on Monday. (PTI)(HT_PRINT)

Published on Aug 16, 2024 08:00 AM IST

New landslide hotspots found in Himalayas, Western Ghats, warns survey

Infrastructural development and deforestation apart from climate change are critical reasons why the frequency of landslides is going up in vulnerable areas.

This handout photograph taken on August 1, 2024 and released by Humane Society International, India, shows an aerial view of the tea plantations after landslides in Wayanad. (Photo by Hemanth Byatroy / Humane Society International, India / AFP)(AFP)

Published on Aug 15, 2024 08:20 AM IST

ByJayashree Nandi

Over three-quarter Indians acknowledge personal impact of global warming: Study

As India confronts the escalating challenges of climate change, the urgency to grasp public sentiment and awareness has never been greater.

Street artists paint a mural on climate change. (AFP File Photo)

Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:00 AM IST

World Elephant Day: The powerful connection between dance & the mighty elephant

On World Elephant Day, we are delving into the fascinating connection between Indian classical dance and the metaphorical representation of the mighty elephant

Exploring the relationship between Indian classical dance and the metaphorical elephant in the room

Cinema

Updated on Aug 13, 2024 08:31 AM IST

ByAadrika Sominder

Weather Bee | Skewed rain responsible for Himachal and Uttarakhand floods

One reason why parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand have flooded this monsoon is that there was a big surplus on particular days.

Kumaon, Jul 09 (ANI): The Haldwani, Banbasa, Tanakpur, Sitarganj, Khatima and other flood affected areas (ANI Photo)(ANI Picture Service)

Published on Aug 07, 2024 05:53 PM IST

Man’s pics in front of same glacier 15 years apart show devastating change

The man who shared the photos of a glacier works with a charity associated with creating and restoring natural ecosystems in the UK.

The image shows a picture a man took in front of Rhone Glacier in Switzerland 15 years ago. (X/@misterduncan)

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Published on Aug 05, 2024 02:55 PM IST

ByTrisha Sengupta

Delhi rains: Unraveling the cloudburst conundrum

IMD noted that the heavy rainfall in Delhi was not a cloudburst. The rainfall was categorised as extremely intense, influenced by atmospheric instability

New Delhi, India - July 31, 2024: Commuters stepping out during the evening rain at Mandi House in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times)(Hindustan Times)

Published on Aug 04, 2024 08:00 AM IST

Controversial tunnel road in Wayanad faces scrutiny after landslide tragedy

Environmental experts and residents fear the project could harm the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats and increase landslide risks.

A drone visual of the landslide-affected Mundakkai, Chooralmala area, in Wayanad on Friday. (ANI )

Published on Aug 04, 2024 04:44 AM IST

ByK A Shaji

Weather Bee | How abnormal is the rain in Kerala this monsoon?

IMD’s gridded data shows that the 30-year rolling averages of total monsoon rain over Kerala have been decreasing almost consistently over time.

A drone visual of the landslide-affected Mundakkai, Chooralmala area, in Wayanad on Friday. (ANI Photo) (ANI )

Published on Aug 02, 2024 06:05 PM IST

Pune's struggle with floods: Urban expansion meets monsoon fury

Extreme weather events have become the new normal, revealing critical gaps in urban planning. Indian cities fall short of building resilient infrastructure

Pune: People watch an overflowing Mutha river following heavy rainfall, in Pune district, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (PTI)

Published on Jul 28, 2024 09:00 AM IST

Weather Bee| July's sudden warming surge leads to the warmest day globally on re

A sharp rise in global temperatures has been recorded since July 18, reaching new daily highs and emphasising the volatility of climate patterns

A cyclist rides towards a thermometer that reads 45 degrees Celsius on a street of Seville on July 23, 2024. July 21, 2024 was the hottest day ever registered globally, according to preliminary data published on July 23, 2024 by the EU's climate monitor. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said the global average surface air temperature on July 21 was 17.09 degrees Celsius, a fraction above the previous record set in 2023. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)(AFP)

Published on Jul 26, 2024 08:00 AM IST

Three Maharashtra cities to host India’s first low emission zones by 2026

There are tourist-focused LEZs around Taj Mahal and Statue of Unity, while New Delhi has charged an environmental charge for heavy vehicles entering the city.

Cities do not have designated zones demarcated as an LEZ yet nor restrict polluting vehicles across all vehicle types.(HT/PHOTO)

Published on Jul 25, 2024 08:30 AM IST

How the invasive Senna spectabilis poses a threat to the Nilgiri's ecosystem

Efforts to eradicate the plant are facing challenges because the plant is hard to eliminate. Traditional methods like uprooting the plant have been ineffective

Published on Jul 20, 2024 08:00 AM IST

ByK A Shaji

Weather Bee | Will July warming fall below the 1.5°C level?

The expectation of the 1.5°C threshold not being breached in July is not wishful thinking. Some gradual cooling in global temperatures was expected this year.

Noida, India- July 11, 2024: Due to the increase in temperature and humidity after the rain in Delhi-NCR, passengers are walking under umbrella to avoid the heat, in Noida, India, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times)

Published on Jul 18, 2024 08:00 AM IST

Like people, elephants call each other by name

And anthropoexceptionalism takes another tumble

Kamrup: A wild elephant in the flooded water, in Hajo at Kamrup district, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (PTI Photo) (PTI07_06_2024_000249B)(PTI)

Published on Jul 12, 2024 08:00 AM IST

The Economist

Wildlife Board will now take 1st call on clearance to projects in protected area: MoEFCC

All project proponents can apply for all environmental clearances, including forest and wildlife simultaneously, on Union environment ministry’s Parivesh 2.0 website

One of the wildlife protected areas in the Western Ghats. (HT File Photo)

Published on Jul 11, 2024 09:39 AM IST

ByJayashree Nandi

‘India's Ramsar site growth is a remarkable contribution to wetland protection'

In an interview to HT, Musonda Mumba, secretary general of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, highlights the importance of ensuring the wise use of wetlands.

Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary seen on Wednesday, January 30, 2019. (Photo by Praful Gangurde/ HT Photo) (HT PHOTO)

Updated on Jul 10, 2024 11:56 PM IST

Weather Bee | Breaking down the performance of rain this monsoon

Despite normal national average rainfall, India's monsoon season is marked by significant regional and temporal disparities.

TOPSHOT - People enjoy rain showers near the sea front in Mumbai on July 8, 2024. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)(AFP)

Published on Jul 10, 2024 11:35 PM IST

Unlocking secrets crucial to coral reef preservation in India

Equipped with remotely operated vehicles, a team of researchers is exploring mesophotic reefs off the coast of Lakshadweep to combat climate change impacts

The ROV in use during initial tests to record coral reef imagery in shallow waters(Photo credit: Raheem D.A., REEF)

Published on Jul 06, 2024 09:00 AM IST

Lack of heat-related death numbers shows India is unprepared for the next crisis

Most estimates suggest India is grossly underestimating death numbers, given that non-optimal temperature ranks among the top 20 risk factors for death in India

India experienced one of its worst summers with record heatwave days and prolonged warm night periods since April across the country (HT ARCHIVE)