Window for fast marathons closing because of climate change, report finds
The head of the UN's climate science panel, Jim Skea, has expressed concern over the accelerating pace of climate impacts, saying scientists have been surprised by the speed of temperature rise. Skea attributed the worsening situation to inaction on climate change and highlighted the need for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He also addressed concerns about the scientific messaging and the perception of imposed climate policies, emphasizing the importance of involving societies and people in climate change action.
A new study reveals that extreme climate hazards, typically associated with higher levels of global warming, could occur even under a moderate warming of 2 degrees Celsius, posing significant threats to food production, forests, and urban areas.
'If learning to read changed our brain in a good way and we gained remarkable knowledge that we shared with each other then, by the same logic, won't lack of reading also change our brain? Won't it reduce the valuable knowledge we acquire and share with each other,' asks reading coach Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta on National Reading Day.
Frequent weather shocks caused by climate change pose challenges for the monetary policy as well as downside risks to economic growth, a Reserve Bank report said. Global average temperatures are on a rise, with accompanying increase in extreme weather events (EWE), and the economic and social impact of global warming is becoming increasingly evident, said RBI's Monetary Policy Report - April 2024. The report said that climate change has increased the frequency and ferocity of weather shocks, posing challenges for monetary policy.
The deadly landslides in Kerala's ecologically fragile Wayanad district were triggered by a heavy burst of rainfall, made 10 per cent heavier by climate change, according to a new rapid attribution study by a global team of scientists.
Climate scientists warn that climate change is intensifying heatwaves in India, with the cooling effects of La Nia potentially becoming less effective in a warmer future. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts an early summer with above-normal temperatures and intense heatwave spells, following an unusually dry winter and the warmest February since 1901. Experts emphasize the role of human-caused climate change, along with natural climate drivers like El Nio and La Nia, in shaping weather patterns. While La Nia typically brings cooler temperatures, scientists suggest that under climate change, its ability to mitigate heatwaves may be diminished.
'We need to value lives and also put a value on our lives.'
Experts at the Mosambi Climate Conference (MC2) emphasized the importance of incorporating digital architecture into the energy ecosystem for achieving significant climate transformation.
India should encourage the second coming of SAARC with climate change as an urgent agenda and keeping Indian security concerns in mind as the subtext, suggest Lieutenant General Ashok Joshi (retd) and Colonel Anil Athale (retd).
Verushka Singh, the first Indian-origin Mrs South Africa, has resigned from her position after four months, citing personal and family reasons. Her reign was marked by advocacy for environmental sustainability and women's empowerment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the traditional Morung learning system of Nagaland, highlighting its role in preserving cultural heritage and fostering interest in subjects like mathematics and science among children. He also lauded the efforts of women in Chizami village for preserving traditional seeds.
'Since there is no photo-op, or quick fix solutions, politicians do not want to address climate change. It is very unfashionable.'
A top UN official has emphasised the critical role of women in India's development, highlighting that gender equality should be viewed as both a human right and a key factor in development effectiveness.
President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from over 60 international organisations, including United Nations bodies and the India-France-led International Solar Alliance, calling the institutions 'redundant' and 'contrary' to America's interests.
Satat Sampada, the organisation of climate activist Harjeet Singh and his wife, said the allegations made by the Enforcement Directorate against the firm and its founder were baseless, biased and misleading.
Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed advocates for building democratic institutions over military intervention in resolving international conflicts, particularly in the context of the escalating West Asia crisis. He also discusses the impact of the conflict on the Maldives' tourism-dependent economy and calls for a stronger, more understanding India in the Indian Ocean Region.
Dominic Xavier offers his take on the UN's climate conference, COP26 in Glasgow, where top world leaders -- barring Xi Jinping and Vladmir Putin -- will discuss how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change and altering our planet forever.
India will publish its revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the 2035 period by December, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Monday, while urging developed nations to achieve net zero targets ahead of their current timelines.
A radio-collared tiger was allegedly poisoned to death near the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, leading to the arrest of five individuals suspected of lacing the tiger's kill with poison after it preyed on their cattle; the suspects are also allegedly involved in illegal opium cultivation.
The overwhelming feeling at the end of COP 27 was that despite decades of meetings and landmark accords, like the Paris Agreement, the world was still not doing enough to slow the climate crisis, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
A radio-collared tiger was allegedly poisoned to death in Madhya Pradesh, leading to the arrest of five individuals. The incident highlights concerns about poaching and monitoring failures, prompting calls for investigation and accountability.
Unseasonal rainfall could damage standing wheat crops, especially late-sown fields nearing maturity and grain-filling stages.
'When there is a change in the wind speed or the stress exerted on the surface, it will change the ocean currents.'
How the UN's flagship climate summit lost its direction and what's at stake.
Climate change has hampered the ability of the forecasting agencies to accurately predict severe events and weather bureaus across the world are focusing on augmenting the observational network density and the weather prediction modelling to improve predictability, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra has said.
The transmission of dengue is closely associated with three key factors -- rainfall, humidity and temperature -- that dictate the geographies in which it spreads and the transmission rate of the viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed energy-efficient bricks designed to keep buildings naturally cool, offering a promising solution for sustainable construction. These bricks incorporate Phase Change Materials (PCMs) to absorb and release heat, reducing the need for air conditioning and lowering energy consumption.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recalls writing to Narendra Modi in 2010 about conserving the Great Indian Bustard, amid recent announcements of successful conservation efforts.
Many people who recognise the grave implications of climate change find it difficult to grapple with it. The problem is too big and thinking about it can be unbearable, says Rajni Bakshi.
India lost around 38.5 thousand hectares of tropical forest in the last decade. Nearly 14 per cent of the country's tree cover! It is one thing for Modi to announce that India will reach a net-zero level of emissions in 2070. But if it is serious, it needs to start today, points out Ramesh Menon.
Dominic Xavier offers his take on the likely outcome of the COP26 summit despite the grand promises and declarations to end climate change.
Over the years, India-EU ties have grown, and covered trade, investment, climate change, science and technology, space, digital, mobility, and connectivity.
Long-term climate and vegetation stability is why the one-horned rhinoceros survived in north east India even as it vanished from much of the subcontinent.
Tea planters in Darjeeling have raised that a shortage of commercial LPG, triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, could hit tea processing during the first flush, the delicate early-season harvest that commands the highest premiums and often sets the tone for the year.
India imports nearly 60 percent of its LPG, with most cargo previously coming through the Strait of Hormuz, now closed for commercial shipping.
Official records reveal that over one lakh mature trees have been felled in Assam since May 2016 for various development projects, raising concerns about ecological loss despite compensatory afforestation efforts.
Much has been said and written on climate change in the Indian media, especially in the run-up to Copenhagen in 2010 and since.
Cricket Australia has decided against centralising control over Test pitch preparation, maintaining that local curators are best suited to create unique and high-quality surfaces, despite criticism following the Ashes series.
We cannot simply have a 60-65 per cent import dependency in LPG, the bulk of which comes from just one volatile region -- West Asia, points out R Jagannathan.
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