A Madras High Court bench reiterated the need for more mental health institutions in the country citing that just 47 of these were not enough for a country like India. The honorable court also advised the central government to set up more institutions like NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) at zonal levels.
Research drawing on hundreds of studies on air quality, climate change, agriculture, and public health has proposed a ‘systems lens’ or a scientific approach, to link the health risks to the ongoing environmental changes triggered by human practices. The research could aid in the identification of policies and solutions that have many environmental and human health benefits.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its sixth assessment report (AR6) predicts major changes in the environment due to climate change. These include heatwaves, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather events. These changes are attributed to the rising overall temperatures and oceans which causes changes in wind, heat, and moisture circulation patterns.
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More than 12 states in India are pushing for electric vehicles (EVs) including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, etc. Though in some of the states the bill is in the process of approval, most have already approved it. Recently Uttar Pradesh has made a push towards bringing EVs into mainstream transportation.
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Pineapple agroforestry, instead of Jhum cultivation can be a sustainable alternative in northeast India, says a study published in the Journal of Environmental Management. Jhum cultivation or swidden agriculture practiced in this region has become unsustainable causing soil infertility, erosion, and low agronomic productivity.
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E-waste is a growing concern & its management by recycling & reduction is critical. Government policies & laws are needed to make e-waste management a norm.
Evaluating projected changes in solar energy potential over the Indian subcontinent using various climate models, the study sends out a clear message: solar radiation or production will decrease over most of the active solar farming regions, especially north-western India, where the maximum number of solar farms are located. This shift in the frequency of solar radiation in a negative direction can be attributed to an increase in total cloud cover.
Delhi will be launching its 4th waste-to-energy plant
Svitlana Krakovska, who heads the applied climatology laboratory at Ukraine’s Hydrometeorological Institute, says fossil fuel dependency is the root of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Europe’s dependency on Russian oil has pumped enough money into Russia to reinforce its military. Money from oil and gas exports contributed 43% to the Kremlin’s budget, which is a large chunk.
Recent years, especially the last decade has been marked with extreme weather phenomenon. This is more frequent in the Himalayan regions of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and some parts of northeast India. While most of these events are a result of changing climate, some of them are attributed to local weather phenomenon and other human factors like tunneling, unplanned road cutting, stone mining, deforestation, and construction.
Bucharest is hosting the Climate Change Summit (CCS), an international climate conference on the 4th and 5th of October 2022 organized by the ‘BRD – Groupe Société Générale’, a Romanian Bank, and ‘Social Innovation Solutions’, an organization active in the fields of sustainability, social impact, and innovation.
Like any other major city, Budapest uses a lot of decorative lighting to beautify the city, especially the statues and monuments of cultural value. Such beautification is enjoyed both by the residents as well as the tourists.
Gurugram-based ReNew Power and Microsoft India have agreed to a renewable energy arrangement for 150 MW. ReNew Power identifies itself as India's top provider of renewable energy. According to ReNew Power's official announcement, it is one of the biggest deals made of its kind in India.
Mexico is facing a severe energy crisis as a deadly heatwave and record-breaking temperatures grip the country. With temperatures exceeding 113F in some states, Mexico has experienced a significant spike in heat-related deaths, reaching a peak in the last two weeks. The strain on the power grid has led to power shortages across more than 10 Mexican states, highlighting the lack of investment and preparedness in the country's electric system. Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating extreme heat in Mexico and that power shortages may become increasingly common. The Mexican government's neglect of investment in the electric system, coupled with a reliance on state-owned energy plants, has contributed to the current crisis.
In an interview with the BBC, Wael Sawan, the CEO of energy giant Shell, defended the company's decision to continue current oil production until 2030, claiming that cutting oil and gas production would be "dangerous and irresponsible." Sawan argued that the world still heavily relies on oil and gas, as the transition to renewable energy is not happening rapidly enough to replace fossil fuels. He further warned that increased demand from China and a cold winter in Europe could lead to higher energy prices and bills.
A pioneering project in the Dutch city of Bolsward seeks to utilize the residual warmth from the extinct Zuidwal volcano, lying deep beneath the Wadden Sea, to provide sustainable energy to local homes. Spearheaded by Stichting Ontwikkeling Geothermie Friesland (Stogef), a community initiative, the plan aims to reduce reliance on wind turbines and tap into geothermal energy for a more reliable and constant power source. With the Netherlands possessing extensive subsurface data from its history as a major gas extractor, researchers have discovered a layer of porous stone with temperatures reaching approximately 90°C, making geothermal energy an attractive option.
Researchers from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), in collaboration with other institutions, have developed a highly efficient artificial photocatalytic system that surpasses natural photosynthesis in converting carbon dioxide into methane, a valuable fuel, using light. This innovative system offers promising potential for contributing to the goal of carbon neutrality.
Allianz Trade's Critical Raw Materials report highlights the intricate interplay between political dynamics and the push for renewable energy through the lens of vital minerals and metals. As materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel become crucial for the transition to a fossil fuel-free economy, the renewable energy market's value has surged to $320 billion in 2022, doubling in size over the past five years, with similar growth projected for the next 17 years.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.