The recent heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have caused serious damage, and the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, has blamed the rains on climate change and faulty infrastructure.
A study suggests that the Thar Desert in India could turn green by the end of the century due to climate change. The study, which was published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that the Thar Desert is expected to receive more rainfall as the climate warms, which could lead to the growth of vegetation.
As climate change continues to grip the whole world, Southeast Asia is turning to alternative meats as a way to combat climate change. The region's livestock sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and alternative proteins could help to reduce these emissions.
In a series of rain-triggered tragedies within 24 hours in Himachal Pradesh, flash floods have resulted in the loss of seven lives. A video from the Sambal village in the Mandi district vividly depicts the force of water rushing downhill, and a distressed voice can be heard repeatedly saying "oh God." Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu shared the footage, stressing ongoing rescue, search, and relief efforts in response to the "dreadful situation." The region has experienced over 50 fatalities in the past two days due to unrelenting rainfall.
Heavy monsoon rains have unleashed destructive floods and landslides in India's Himalayan region, resulting in a death toll of at least 41 people and leaving numerous others stranded. The states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been particularly hard hit by days of relentless downpours, causing vehicles to be swept away, buildings to collapse, and bridges to be destroyed. The casualties are reported as 33 in Himachal Pradesh and 8 in Uttarakhand.
Around 50% of individuals who regularly engaged in discussions about climate and environmental issues on Twitter left the platform following its acquisition by Elon Musk and subsequent reduction in content moderation, according to recent analysis conducted by researchers. The study revealed that Twitter, now renamed "X," had previously been a significant platform for environmental dialogue, and this decline has raised concerns. Researchers termed this exodus of environmental users from Twitter as an "existential threat" to a crucial channel for educating people interested in climate action.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), set to host the vital Cop28 UN climate summit in December, has been exposed for failing to report its methane emissions to the UN for nearly ten years, according to an investigation by The Guardian. The country's state-owned oil company, Adnoc, headed by CEO Sultan Al Jaber, who will lead the climate summit, has also been criticized for setting an elevated methane leak reduction target, contradictory to its purported achievements. The revelations are particularly damaging as the UAE plans a significant expansion of oil and gas production, despite scientific advice to the contrary.
The Rivers Trust has introduced a real-time sewage discharge layer to its interactive Sewage Map, spotlighting combined sewer overflows and highlighting those that have released sewage in the last 48 hours. While this tool is a significant development for wild swimming enthusiasts and environmental advocates, its effectiveness depends on active involvement from water companies. Under the UK's 2021 Environment Act, all water suppliers are mandated to disclose real-time data on pollution incidents, but the act lacks a specific deadline for implementation. Currently, Thames Water is the only firm that has initiated the sharing of such data on the platform.
Campaigners are urging the Scottish Government to develop a comprehensive strategy that curbs the demand for materials required in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. A newly released report, "Unearthing Injustice," commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland in collaboration with the London Mining Network, sheds light on the concerning environmental degradation and human rights abuses linked to the extraction of vital transition materials like lithium and steel.
A thought-provoking documentary titled "The Need To GROW" raises the critical question of whether we can achieve global food security while adopting sustainable agricultural practices that respect the environment. The film delves into the potential of organic and circular approaches in agriculture to achieve high yields while supporting vital microorganisms.