Central Zoo Authority: New Composition
The Environment Ministry has reconstituted the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The CZA is a statutory body chaired by the Environment Minister and tasked with...
Air Quality Early Warning System of Delhi
Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi was launched in Delhi by the Union Environment Minister.
The System is designed to predict extreme air pollution...
Methanol Cooking Fuel Program Launched
Northeast and Assam Petro-chemicals, a state-owned company launched the Asia's first cannisters based and India's first "Methanol Cooking Fuel Program" in Namrup, Assam. The...
National REDD+ Strategy of India Launched
Union Minister for Environment released the ‘National REDD+ Strategy India’. In simple terms, REDD+ means “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation”, conservation of forest...
Typhoon Jebi: Strongest Storm in Japan
Japan has issued evacuation advisories for more than a million people as it faces extremely strong winds and heavy rain consequence of typhoon Jebi's...
Global Drought Severity Index Launched
Drought monitoring is important for characterizing the timing, extent, and severity of drought for effective mitigation and water management.
Researchers at the University of California...
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak Hits Philippines
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak has hit the eastern Philippines. Kai-Tak hit the country's third-largest island Samar which was devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan four years...
Wildfires in California Driven by Santa Ana Winds
Wildfires in the forests of southern California are driven by Santa Ana winds. It has displaced the thousands of people from this area.
About 200,000...
Steps Taken to Tackle Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR
Union Minister of Environment chaired the meeting on the issue of tackling air pollution in Delhi-NCR region.
The meeting noted that the air quality in...
Role of Marine Bacteria in Global Carbon Cycle
In another dimension, marine bacteria that live in the dark depths of the ocean play a newly discovered and significant role in the global...
Carbon Capture and Storage: Latest Topic in News
Carbon dioxide can be used to extract oil, accelerating the development carbon-capturing technologies and limiting climate change. However, in a new analysis researchers say...
Trillion Trees Program Launched
Recently, the 'Trillion Trees Program' was launched by three conservation organizations – BirdLife International, the Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF.
'Trillion Trees Program' is a...
Cyclone Ockhi and Search Rescue Operations
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Ockhi is an active tropical cyclone currently threatening and impacting India, and is the most intense to exist in the...
National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2031
India has the largest participation of people living in the forests towards conservation efforts. National Wildlife Action Plan has been made landscape-based, rather than...
Concept Of ‘Capturing Waste Carbon Dioxide’ In News
As part of its climate change commitments in the aftermath of signing the historic Paris agreement India is now exploring the possibility of carbon...
Mexico Earth Quake: Reason and Complete Tectonic Details
The September 19, 2017, M 7.1 earthquake in Central Mexico occurred as the result of normal faulting at a depth of approximately 50 km....
UN ‘Global Land Outlook’ Report Released
Global Land Outlook (GLO) report by the secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was launched in Ordos, China.
This United Nations report warns...
NGT Bans Plastic Bags in Delhi
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on use of non-biodegradable plastic bags which are less than 50 microns in the entire national...
India Ratifies Kyoto Protocol Commitment
India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. This protocol commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases.
India deposited its...
Acid Zone in Chesapeake Bay Found
Scientists have identified a zone of water that is increasing in acidity in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary in the U.S....
Tropical Storm Pakhar and Typhoon Hato
Severe Tropical Storm Pakhar has swept into southern China, bringing heavy rain and strong wind to Hong Kong and Macau as the region reels...
Hurricane ‘Harvey’ Hits USA
Hurricane Harvey was a tropical cyclone that caused unprecedented and catastrophic flooding in southeastern Texas in USA.
It was the first major hurricane to make...
Latest Indian Efforts to Tackle Climate Change
The world came together in 2015 and agreed upon the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It came into force...
Ecosystems Service Improvement Project
A Grant Agreement from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the World Bank of USD 24.64 million for “Ecosystem Service Improvement Project” was signed...
GM Crops Cultivation in India
Genetically modified crops (GMCs, GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering...
Typhoon Hato Hits Macau, Southern China
Typhoon Hato, a maximum category 10 storm, has slammed into Hong Kong lashing the Asian financial hub with wind and rain that uprooted trees...
Volcano Eruption in Indonesia
Recently, Mount Sinabung on the Indonesian island of Sumatra blasted volcanic ash as high as 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles).
Hot ash tumbled down the mountain's...
Solar Eclipse of August
On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse, frequently referred to as the "Great American Eclipse", was visible within a band across the entire...
List of International Environmental Agreements
Following is the list agreements that are legally binding for countries that have formally ratified them. These bilateral or sometimes trilateral agreements are only...
Greenhouse Gas Footprints of Reservoirs
Trees and plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere to grow. When organic matter such as fallen leaves and branches degrades, CO2 is released back...
Caribbean Drought Atlas Created
Cornell atmospheric scientists have developed the first-of-its-kind, high-resolution Caribbean drought atlas, with data going back to 1950.
Concurrently, the researchers confirmed the region’s 2013-16 drought...
Mass Extinction Events in World
An extinction event (also known as a mass extinction or biotic crisis) is a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth. Such...
Heavy Mudslide in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone devastating landslide near the capital Freetown is one of Africa’s worst flooding-related disasters in years occurred when the side of Mount Sugar Loaf...
Tropical Storm ‘Noru’ in News
Typhoon Noru raked Japan's main island of Honshu with heavy rains and strong winds.
An unusually long-lived storm that was briefly a Category 5 typhoon,...
Pollution Certificate Mandatory for Insurance Renewal
The Supreme Court has came out with a direction to insurance companies that they should not renew the insurance of a vehicle unless the...
Climate Change Means More Nitrogen Runoff
According to a new study, an intensifying water cycle will likely cause dramatic increases -- nearing 20% by 2100 -- in the amount of...
New Continent ‘Zealandia’ Discovered
Earth’s surface is divided into two types of crust, continental and oceanic, and into 14 major tectonic plates. A new continent was discovered under...
Green Climate Fund and India: Latest Developments
Recently, Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) has been signed between Green Climate Fund (GCF) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Several of the...
National Highways Under Green Highways Scheme
The National Highways Authority of India has initiated tree plantations along 1,513 km length of National Highways in ten states in 2016.
This includes 390...
Global Sea Level Rise and Steps Taken by India
According to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that global mean sea level had risen by 0.19m over...
Steps Taken by India in Area of Climate Change
Average Temperature during last ten years (2007 to 2016) was 26.10 0C. Rise in the average temperature was 0.510C during this period.
Spatial pattern of...
Area Near Ganga Declared “No-Development Zone”
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed Rs 50,000 fine on anyone found dumping the waste within 500 meters from the edge of River...
France Launches Its Climate Change Plan
France’s minister of the environment Nicolas Hulot has unveiled a detailed a plan that includes ending the sale of fossil fuel-powered cars by 2040.
The...
Climate Change Adaptation Projects Launched
The Environment Ministry today approved three projects for climate change adaptation in three states.
The National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC), under the Chairmanship...
Seismic Zones in India
Earthquake - prone areas of the country have been identified on the basis of scientific inputs relating to seismicity, earthquakes occurred in the past...
‘Solar Comet’ Launched on Environment Day
World Environment Day was observed on June 5. On this occasion, Greenpeace India flagged off a solar bus named as 'Solar Comet' to raise...
National Green Tribunal Bans Chinese Manjha
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a country-wide ban on “Chinese manjha”, a string used in kite flying.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson...
Biggest Icebergs in Antarctica Broken
According to scientists of British Antarctic Survey, one of the biggest icebergs measuring 5,800 square km has broken away from Antarctica.
Ice shelves are extensions...
Forest Fires in Portugal and Canada
60 people have been killed in huge forest fires in central Portugal. Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, described these fires as “the greatest tragedy”. Three...
Science Express Climate Action Special Ninth Phase
The IX Phase of the prestigious Science Express exhibition train which is on a Nationwide tour since 17 February 2017 reached Madgaon in Goa...
Van Mahotsav Celebrations
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will lead a month-long drive to plant saplings to mark Van Mahotsav starting...
High Temperatures Reduces Dakshin Gangotri
The Dakshin Gangotri Glacier is a small tongue of the polar continental ice sheet impinging on the Schirmacher Oasis of central Queen Maud Land,...
Deadly Forest Fires in Portugal
A series of four initial deadly wildfires erupted across central Portugal in June 2017 within minutes of each other, resulting in at least 64...
Integrated Wildlife Law Enforcement Strategy
TRAFFIC India, in conjunction with CBI and INTERPOL has conducted a major wildlife law enforcement training in India. Senior delegates from various enforcement and intelligence...
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Seizes Wildlife Articles
Trading in wildlife articles is the third largest trade in the world. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has seized wildlife articles in ‘Wildnet’ operations in Noida...
NCA Allows Raising of Sardar Sarovar Dam Height
Narmada Control Authority (NCA) has cleared the final raising of Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) in Gujarat by lowering of gates and impounding of water...
Land Degradation Neutrality in India by 2030
Land Degradation is a global concern for sustainable development, conservation of biodiversity and mitigating and adapting to climate change. It refers to reduction or...
World Environment Day Theme in 2017
‘Connecting People to Nature’, the theme for World Environment Day 2017, implores us to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and...
USA Withdraws from Paris Climate Agreement
On June 1, 2017, United States President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would cease all participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate...
Air Quality Index Launched in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has launched a comprehensive Air Quality Index (AQI) and Air Information and Response (AIR) plan that would include an air pollution alert...
GEAC Approves Release of GM Mustard in India
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) headed by Amita Prasad has approved the commercial release of a herbicide-tolerant GM mustard (Brassica juncea).
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal...
New Unique Species of Frog Discovered
Scientists have discovered a new species of frog from Amazonian Ecuador. Its uniqueness is the transparent skin that is stretching all over its chest as...
Concept of ‘Heat Island Effect’ in News
Urban areas are usually warmer than their rural surroundings, a phenomenon known as the “heat island effect.” As cities develop, more vegetation is lost...
Cyclonic Storm ‘MORA’ in News
Severe Cyclonic Storm Mora is a currently active, but weakening tropical cyclone threatening Bangladesh.
Under the influence of a persistent area of convection, a low...
‘Ozone2Climate Technology’ Roadshow Organised
In a first, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with the UN Environment OzonAction’s Compliance Assistance Programme, organized an “Ozone2Climate” Technology Roadshow,...
Hyogo Framework for Action: Building Resilience After Disasters
The Hyogo Framework for Action is a 10-year plan to make the world safer from natural hazards. This famework came out of the World...
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: India’s Action
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven targets and...
Minamata Convention on Mercury in News
The world took an historic step forward in the fight against mercury poisoning as the European Union and seven of its member States ratified...
International Partnership to Protect Ocean Resources
The World Economic Forum and the Marine Science Institute of University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), have announced a partnership to improve the health...
Algal bloom and Indian Coastal Zone
An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems, and is recognized by...
Bumble Bee in Endangered Species List
The rusty patched bumble bee became the first wild bee in the continental US to gain federal protection when recently it was added to...
Delhi Metro Solar Project Listed With UN
The Delhi Metro’s solar rooftop plants has become the first of its kind green project to be registered with United Nations on climate change...
Satellite Tracking of Vultures Started
In the first-ever release of endangered species of vultures eight vultures from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Panchkula, Haryana was released into the...
New Species of South American Rabbit Found
A Portland State University researcher discovered that a rabbit known for centuries to exist in South America is different enough from its cousins to...
Cyclone ‘Maarutha’ in News
The 2017 North Indian Ocean cyclone season is a current event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation.
On April 13, an area of...
WMO Launched ‘Year of Polar Prediction’
The United Nations weather agency World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has kicked off of a two-year international effort to close gaps in polar forecasting capacity...
Narmada Seva Yatra in News
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the temple at Narmada Udgam Sthal - the origin of the River Narmada.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi...
Migratory Seabird Deaths Due to Hurricanes
According to latest study, stronger and more frequent hurricanes may pose a new threat to the sooty tern, an iconic species of migratory seabird...
New Species of Snow Leopard Found
Three sub-species of snow leopard differentiated by geographical location:
1. the Northern group, Panthera uncia irbis, found in the Altai region,
2. the Central group, Panthera uncia...
New Butterfly Species Discovered in Israel
Israel, one of the most densely populated countries on Earth, turns out to have been harboring an unknown species of butterfly.
Vladimir Lukhtanov, entomologist and...
Official Data on Forest Cover of India
India has an area of 79.4 million hectares designated as forests. This is about 19.32 % of the country.
The Forest Policy of the year...
UN Declares War on Ocean Plastic
According to United Nations, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050 unless people stop using single-use plastic items...
Colombia Declares Emergency After Devastating Landslide
Colombia has declared an "economic, social and ecological emergency" due to devastating landslide in Mocoa.
The flood came after a night of extremely heavy rain,...
New Species of Orchids Discovered
Two new species of parasitic plants have been discovered on the main island of Okinawa, Japan.
They have been named Gastrodia nipponicoides and Gastrodia okinawensis.
Europe’s First Cave Fish Discovered
Scientists have discovered the first European cave fish. It was found in the north in Southern Germany.
Despite that relatively short period of evolutionary time, the...
Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions in Geneva
An inter-ministerial Indian delegation headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ajay Narayan Jha, will participate in the 2017 Conference...
Cyclone Cook Hits New Zealand
New Zealand's North Island was hit by strong winds from Cyclone Cook. The powerful storm system hit the Bay of Plenty region.
Cook, which forecasters...
South Africa Court Removes Ban on Rhino Horn Sale
South Africa's Constitutional Court has removed a moratorium on the domestic trade in rhino horn.
A global ban in the horn trade, which is regulated...
Cyclone Debbie in News
In Australia, a land of wild extremes, recent flooding caused by Cyclone Debbie has killed at least six people.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017...
Donald Trump Stops Obama Climate Change Measures
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to roll back his predecessor Barack Obama's climate change measures.
The decree's main target is former...
Mali Becomes First Country to Ratify Kigali Amendment
Mali has become the first country to ratify the Kigali Amendment, a ground-breaking amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, a major...
National Seismological Network
At present National Centre of Seismology (NCS) , Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), maintains a National Seismological Network (NSN) comprising of 84 (eighty four)...
ICHR Pilot Project on Ram Setu in News
The Indian Council of Historical Research will undertake a two-month pilot project on 'Ram Setu' this year to archaeologically "ascertain" if the structures were...
World’s Oldest Algae Fossil Discovered
Scientists in India have discovered a pair of 1.6 billion-year-old fossils that appear to contain red algae, which may be the oldest plant-like life discovered...
Fall in Australia’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions
There is a sharp drop in Australia's greenhouse gas emissions at the end of last year. Australia’s emissions fell by 3.57 million tonnes in...
New Frog Species Discovered in Peruvian Andes
A new frog species was discovered in the Peruvian Andes, has been named after noted British broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
The frog is...
Gangetic Dolphins Survey Launched
The Centre has launched the first ever across-the-river survey in the Ganga to determine the population of aquatic life, including that of the endangered...
Classification of Industry into Red, Orange, Green and White Category
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in consultation with Central Pollution Control Board has reclassified the industries into “Red”, “Orange”, “Green” and...
Tenth Annual ‘Earth Hour’ Observed
2017 marks the 10th anniversary of Earth Hour – the world’s biggest environment event. Millions of people across the world showed their love and...
Larvae Species Emit Green House Gases
New research demonstrates that the larvae not just contribute in global warming but also in disturbing the sedimentary layers at the bottom of lakes.
Chaoborus...