
At the “Technology and Innovation Conclave 2.0” held in New Delhi, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, reiterated that combating climate change is a global imperative that no single country can tackle in isolation. Emphasising the need for collective action, Dr Singh said that climate change “is too serious a subject to be left to one nation alone,” and highlighted the importance of international cooperation to develop effective solutions.

Delhi recorded its most polluted December since 2018, with air quality remaining alarmingly poor for most of the month. Data on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) showed average concentrations crossing 200 micrograms per cubic metre, far above India’s prescribed safety limit and many times higher than global health guidelines. This prolonged exposure placed millions of residents at serious health risk.

The year 2025 witnessed an unprecedented rise in extreme weather events, according to the latest assessment by World Weather Attribution (WWA). A total of 157 major weather events across the globe met humanitarian impact criteria, meaning they caused large-scale fatalities, displacement, or severe disruption to livelihoods.

Climate change isn’t just an environmental challenge — it’s a growing threat to human cardiovascular health. Recent research shows that the combination of extreme temperatures, polluted air, and climate-driven stressors is significantly elevating the risk of heart attacks and other heart-related illnesses globally.

At the sidelines of UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the 11th meeting of Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Partner Countries was held on 19 November 2025. Chaired by Japan’s Environment Minister H.E. Hirotaka Ishihara, the meeting marked an important milestone as the JCM expanded to 31 partner countries with more than 280 projects progressing under the framework of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

At the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, India strongly reaffirmed its commitment to a just and inclusive global climate framework. Emphasizing equity, climate justice, and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), India urged the world to recognise that developing nations cannot be expected to shoulder the climate burden without adequate support.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has taken decisive action by summoning 14 leading national and multinational brands for their significant contribution to hard-to-recycle plastic waste in the state. This follows a comprehensive state-level audit, the “Plastic Waste Brand Audit‑2025,” conducted across six cities—Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Patiala. The audit revealed that of 11,810 plastic packets examined, just 14 brands were responsible for nearly 59 percent of non-recyclable waste.

The Supreme Court of India has directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to submit a detailed report on the measures being taken to prevent stubble burning, one of the key contributors to Delhi’s worsening air quality. The directive comes as the national capital continues to grapple with toxic smog and hazardous pollution levels, prompting urgent calls for accountability and immediate action.

The air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has deteriorated to alarming levels, prompting authorities to implement emergency measures. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the region has soared past 400, placing it in the “Severe” category under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The world is on the brink of a major energy transformation as renewable electricity production is set to surpass all other major sources, signaling the end of the fossil‑fuel era. Reports indicate that more renewable capacity is expected to be deployed in the next five years than in the previous four decades.