Unsafe and unreliable urban drinking water is pushing households toward bottled water, increasing dependence on single-use plastics and exposing people to microplastics. India generates about 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with significant leakage into the environment due to collection gaps. At the same time, cities produce nearly 48,000 MLD of sewage, but only ~56% is effectively treated, allowing pollution to re-enter water sources and worsen water quality. The recycling system relies heavily on informal waste pickers who recover ~40% of recyclables, yet modern waste reforms often reduce their incomes and exclude them from formal systems, while sanitation workers continue to face hazardous conditions. The issue highlights a vicious cycle linking water insecurity, plastic pollution and invisible labour, underscoring the need for integrated, inclusive and infrastructure-led urban sustainability.
Click to View MoreCarbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a key technology for reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors such as cement and steel, where carbon dioxide is released from core production processes. With budgetary support, indigenous research, and global cooperation, CCUS can help India balance industrial growth with climate commitments and move steadily towards its net-zero emissions target by 2070.
Click to View MoreThe debate over proposed “turtle trails” highlights tensions between eco-tourism and conservation at sensitive nesting beaches of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle. Scientists warn that light, noise, human presence, and tourism infrastructure can disrupt mass nesting events, particularly along Odisha’s globally significant arribada sites. While awareness and livelihoods are important, experts argue that strict protection of core nesting habitats, science-based regulation, and off-site educational initiatives are essential to ensure that conservation priorities are not compromised by tourism development.
Click to View MoreThe PM E-DRIVE Scheme, replacing FAME-II with a ₹10,900 crore outlay, has driven over 22 lakh EV sales by January 2026, prioritising e-buses and two-wheelers. Aadhaar-linked e-vouchers and charging expansion improve delivery, but lithium dependence, grid greening, and infrastructure gaps demand stronger domestic manufacturing and ecosystem development.
Click to View MoreThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty adopted in 1971 for the conservation and wise use of wetlands, recognizing their importance for biodiversity, water security, climate regulation, and human livelihoods. Wetlands designated as Ramsar Sites receive global recognition for their ecological value, including support for migratory birds, flood control, groundwater recharge, and carbon storage. In India, the addition of new sites such as Patna Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand Wetland in Gujarat reflects the country’s growing commitment to wetland conservation. These designations strengthen scientific management, international cooperation, and sustainable use while balancing ecological protection with community livelihoods.
Click to View MoreWorld Wetlands Day 2026 stresses restoring wetlands as living ecosystems, not engineering projects. Despite 98 Ramsar Sites, India faces degradation from urbanisation and fragmented governance. The focus shifts to integrating traditional knowledge, treating wetlands as national public goods, and managing them as green infrastructure for climate resilience and water security.
Click to View MoreIndia will host the first Global Big Cat Summit in 2026, reinforcing leadership in environmental diplomacy through the International Big Cat Alliance. The alliance promotes South-South cooperation to conserve seven big cat species, addressing habitat loss, conflict, and poaching through strong institutions, community-led conservation, and technology-driven solutions.
Click to View MoreThe proposal to classify village commons as a distinct land-use category aims to protect vital shared resources covering 15% of India’s land. These commons support livelihoods and biodiversity but face degradation. Legal recognition, stronger local governance, and community participation are crucial for sustainable management and long-term rural resilience.
Click to View MoreThe UNEP State of Finance for Nature 2026 report highlights a severe global imbalance in environmental finance, revealing that more than $30 is spent on activities that harm nature for every $1 invested in protecting it. Nature-negative financial flows reached around $7.3 trillion annually, while funding for nature-based solutions (NbS) stood at only $220 billion. Harmful subsidies for fossil fuels, industrial agriculture, and resource-intensive sectors continue to dominate global spending patterns. Although investment in NbS has shown modest growth and some decline in fossil fuel financing is visible, progress remains far too slow. UNEP warns that NbS funding must rise to at least $571 billion per year by 2030 to meet global climate, biodiversity, and land restoration targets. Without redirecting financial systems toward nature-positive investments, the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution will intensify.
Click to View MoreThe Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 introduce a stricter and more decentralised framework for managing waste in India. The rules make segregation at source mandatory into four categories—wet, dry, sanitary, and special care waste—and place greater responsibility on bulk waste generators such as residential societies, institutions, and government buildings to process waste on-site. The framework promotes a circular economy by encouraging reuse, recycling, and use of waste as alternative fuel, while discouraging landfilling through higher fees for unsegregated waste. It also introduces digital monitoring for better compliance and gives special powers to hilly and island regions to manage tourist-generated waste. Overall, the rules aim to reduce environmental pollution, improve resource recovery, and create a more sustainable and accountable waste management system.
Click to View MoreThe India–EU FTA promises tariff gains but faces stiff non-tariff barriers like CBAM, EUDR, and CSDDD, raising compliance costs for Indian exporters, especially MSMEs. To prevent green protectionism from eroding benefits, India must push mutual recognition, strengthen domestic capacity, and build global coalitions for a fair partnership.
Click to View MoreAn Oxford study warns that with 2°C warming, nearly half the world, especially India, will face extreme heat by 2050. Despite Heat Action Plans, ICAP, and judicial recognition of climate rights, weak implementation, urban heat stress, and cooling demands call for a stronger, integrated response.
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