India has bagged an exploration contract from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to search for polymetallic sulphur nodules in the Carlsberg Ridge of the northwest Indian Ocean. This is the first such global licence granted for this specific region. These nodules are rich in critical minerals like manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper, essential for green energy technologies. While India has secured rights for the Carlsberg Ridge, its application for the Afanasy-Nikitin Sea (ANS) mount is pending due to overlapping claims by Sri Lanka regarding continental shelf boundaries under UNCLOS.
- The ISA granted India rights to explore polymetallic sulphur nodules in the 3,00,000-sq.km Carlsberg Ridge area.
- Polymetallic nodules contain valuable metals including copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
- India's claim to the Afanasy-Nikitin Sea (ANS) is complicated by Sri Lanka's claim to an extended continental shelf.
Australian regulators have approved the world's first vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia, a disease that causes infertility, blindness, and death. Developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast, the single-dose vaccine has shown to reduce mortality in wild populations by at least 65%. Koalas are currently listed as endangered in several Australian states due to habitat loss from wildfires and urban expansion. While the vaccine is a major breakthrough for wildlife health, conservationists argue that protecting and restoring natural habitats remains the most critical factor for the species' long-term survival.
- Chlamydia is a primary cause of death and population decline in wild Australian koalas.
- The vaccine provides a safer alternative to antibiotics, which can disrupt a koala's specialized digestive system.
- Koalas are listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory.
The global plastic pollution crisis is intensifying, with production doubling between 2000 and 2019. The OECD warns that plastic waste could triple by 2060 if current trends persist. Currently, only 9% of plastic is recycled globally. In response, the UN Environment Assembly has initiated a legally binding international agreement to end plastic pollution. UNEP's goal is to reduce plastic waste by 80% within two decades through improved product design, increased recycling, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Plastics currently account for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making their reduction vital for climate goals.
- Only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled, while 22% evades waste management systems entirely.
- Micro-plastics have become a ubiquitous environmental threat, infiltrating all ecosystems and the human food chain.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and landfill taxes are proposed as key economic tools to curb plastic use.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first bamboo-based ethanol plant in Golaghat, Assam, a project valued at ₹5,000 crore. Described as the world's first green bamboo bioethanol facility, it aims to reduce India's reliance on fossil fuel imports and promote clean energy. The plant will source 5 lakh tonnes of green bamboo annually from Northeast states, providing a significant economic boost to local farmers and tribal communities. Additionally, a ₹7,230-crore polypropylene project was initiated at the Numaligarh Refinery. These projects are part of a broader strategy to achieve energy self-sufficiency and accelerate development in the Northeast region.
- The plant is a 'zero-waste' facility that produces ethanol, acetic acid, and other chemicals from green bamboo.
- It is a joint venture between Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Fortum, and Chempolis.
- The government has reclassified bamboo to allow for its commercial use, supporting the local agrarian economy.
A recent survey in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve indicates a rise in the population and demographic diversity of saltwater crocodiles. This success highlights a shift in Indian conservation policy, which historically focused on 'charismatic' species like tigers and elephants. The Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project has demonstrated that targeted interventions, including captive breeding and release, can yield durable gains for less prominent species. As apex predators, saltwater crocodiles play a vital role in regulating prey populations and maintaining the health of mangrove ecosystems. However, emerging threats like rising salinity and habitat fragmentation due to climate change require proactive management.
- Saltwater crocodiles serve as hypercarnivorous apex predators essential for the health of the Sundarbans food web.
- The Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project is a successful model for the conservation of reptiles through captive breeding.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 is increasingly being used to protect a broader range of species beyond megafauna.
The Calcutta High Court is hearing petitions challenging the forest clearance for the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar Island development project. The Tribal Affairs Ministry has requested to be removed from the list of respondents, arguing that the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Territory administration. Petitioners allege that provisions of the FRA were violated, specifically regarding the consent of tribes for diverting 13,000 hectares of forest land. The project includes a trans-shipment port, airport, power plant, and a new township, raising significant environmental and tribal rights concerns.
- The project involves the diversion of approximately 13,000 hectares of forest land in Great Nicobar.
- Petitioners claim the consent of local tribes was not properly obtained as per the Forest Rights Act 2006.
- The Tribal Affairs Ministry contends that the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued based on facts from the island administration.
The Kerala Cabinet has approved the draft Kerala Forest Amendment Bill, 2025, which seeks to amend the Kerala Forest Act, 1961. This legislation empowers the Chief Wildlife Warden to order the immediate killing of wild animals that attack or injure individuals within residential areas. Notably, this is the first time an Indian state has introduced such an amendment. The bill aims to bypass time-consuming procedures in the existing Central Act, removing the requirement for Union government permission to declare animals in Schedule II as vermin in specific conflict scenarios. It also includes provisions to promote sandalwood cultivation on private land.
- The Chief Wildlife Warden is now empowered to order the killing of animals attacking humans in residential zones without prior Union government approval.
- The bill amends the Kerala Forest Act of 1961 to streamline response times in human-wildlife conflicts.
- It specifically targets animals listed in Schedule II that pose an immediate threat to life.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw a Union Ministry memorandum that exempts atomic mineral mining from public consultation. Stalin argues that coastal regions, rich in rare earth elements, are ecologically fragile and home to endangered species and natural barriers like mangroves. He emphasizes that such projects demand rigorous scrutiny and community involvement. The CM cited a 2020 Supreme Court verdict (Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. Rohit Prajapati) stating that substantive changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework cannot be made through executive instructions like office memoranda, which cannot override statutory notifications.
- The Union Ministry issued a memorandum exempting atomic and strategic mineral mining from public hearings.
- CM Stalin argues this weakens participatory democracy and threatens ecologically sensitive coastal ecosystems like the Gulf of Mannar.
- The EIA Notification of 1994 originally made public hearings mandatory for such projects.
Vultures play a critical role as 'nature's waste managers' by swiftly removing carcasses, which reduces the spread of zoonotic diseases like anthrax and rabies. Their populations in India have crashed by over 95% since the 1990s, primarily due to the toxic effects of the drug diclofenac. The 'Action Plan for Vulture Conservation (2016-25)' is nearing completion, emphasizing the need for a 'One Health' approach that links environmental health with human safety. Protecting vultures is a cost-effective way to prevent disease spillover and strengthen biodiversity-linked health security, requiring regional cooperation across the Central Asian Flyway.
- Vultures act as public health guardians by eliminating pathogens from the environment.
- The decline of vultures leads to an increase in feral dog populations, raising rabies risks.
- Conservation efforts must focus on creating 'vulture safe zones' and banning toxic veterinary drugs.
The Great Nicobar Island Project is a mega-development initiative involving an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield airport, and a power plant. Billed as a project of national importance, it aims to transform the region into a maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. The government emphasizes that the project includes rigorous Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and safeguards for the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes. Measures include a dedicated committee for tribal welfare and compensatory afforestation in Haryana due to the lack of non-forest land in the Union Territory. The project is vital for India's strategic maritime security.
- The project includes a 14.2 million TEU transshipment terminal and an international airport.
- It is strategically located to enhance India's maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Environmental concerns are addressed through a detailed Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (JNTBGRI) in Kerala have developed a multifunctional wound-healing pad using the red ivy plant (Strobilanthes alternata). Locally known as 'murikooti pacha', the plant has long been used in traditional medicine for treating cuts. Researchers isolated the acteoside molecule from the plant, which exhibits high efficacy in healing even at low concentrations. The pad utilizes electro-spun nanofibers, making it biodegradable, non-toxic, and breathable, while incorporating the antibiotic neomycin sulfate to prevent infection. This innovation successfully bridges traditional ethnobotanical knowledge with modern nanotechnology.
- The red ivy plant (Strobilanthes alternata) is traditionally used in Kerala for its medicinal properties.
- Researchers isolated the acteoside molecule, which is the key active ingredient for wound healing.
- The technology uses electro-spun nanofibers to create a thin, breathable, and biodegradable medical pad.
Recent disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, including floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, are being linked to unregulated construction rather than just climate change. Experts argue that the Himalayas are the world's youngest mountains and are naturally unstable. Rapid infrastructure growth, such as the proliferation of hydropower projects and highways, has ignored the region's carrying capacity. The Supreme Court has noted that 'development' often worsens the effects of climate change. Recommendations include conducting democratic public consultations, assessing carrying capacity, and ensuring that critical structures are not built in unsafe, high-risk zones.
- The Himalayas are high-energy environments characterized by instability and extreme sensitivity to human activity and rainfall.
- There are 1,144 hydropower plants in Himachal Pradesh alone, many of which are built without proper environmental impact assessments.
- The average temperature in the Indian Himalaya is rising faster than the global average, leading to reduced snowfall and melting glaciers.
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has requested a "factual report" from the Andaman and Nicobar administration regarding a complaint by the Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar. The Council alleges that forest rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 were not settled before 13,000 hectares of forest land were diverted for the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar project. While the administration claims tribal rights are protected under the 1956 Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act, the Council asserts their consent was obtained under pressure and later withdrawn. The dispute highlights the tension between large-scale infrastructure development and indigenous land rights.
- The Tribal Council claims the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 was bypassed for the Great Nicobar project.
- Approximately 13,000 hectares of forest land are being diverted for a project valued at ₹81,000 crore.
- The administration argues that the 1956 Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act allows for unilateral land diversion.
The Great Nicobar Project, a ₹72,000 crore mega-infrastructure plan, is facing criticism for being a potential ecological disaster. The project threatens the ancestral lands of the Shompen (a PVTG) and Nicobarese tribes, potentially displacing them permanently. Critics argue that mandatory Social Impact Assessments and consultations with tribal councils were bypassed. Furthermore, the project involves clearing vast tracts of rainforest, with 'compensatory afforestation' planned thousands of kilometers away in Haryana. The site also falls within a seismically active zone and critical turtle nesting grounds, raising serious environmental and safety concerns.
- The project impacts the Shompen tribe, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) with unique ancestral rights.
- Legal safeguards under the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the LARR Act (2013) were allegedly ignored during the approval process.
- Environmentalists warn about the destruction of the habitat of the Nicobar long-tailed macaque and leatherback sea turtles.
Indian Railways has announced the development of a hydrogen-powered train at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. This initiative aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets the production of five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. The train will operate on an 89-km route between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, powered by a 1-MW polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources like solar or wind to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, offering a zero-emission alternative to fossil fuels and supporting India's 2070 net-zero goal.
- The hydrogen-powered train is a significant step toward India's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
- Green hydrogen production involves electrolysis of water using renewable energy, resulting in no carbon footprint.
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims for 5 million metric tonnes of annual production by 2030.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has introduced the Environment Audit Rules, 2025, to enhance monitoring beyond State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). Recognizing the manpower and infrastructure constraints of SPCBs, the new rules allow private agencies to be accredited as environmental auditors. These auditors will evaluate project compliance with environmental laws and 'Green Credit Rules.' This shift aims to move environmental regulation from mere 'policing' to a comprehensive accounting of direct and indirect carbon emissions for nearly every company in India, fostering better implementation at the district and panchayat levels.
- The Environment Audit Rules, 2025, aim to bridge the resource gap in State Pollution Control Boards.
- Private agencies can now be licensed as environmental auditors to evaluate regulatory compliance and best practices.
- Audits will be integrated with 'Green Credit Rules,' allowing entities to gain tradeable credits for activities like afforestation.
Recent extreme rainfall in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has highlighted the critical intersection of weather events and governance. The editorial argues that while extraordinary rains can overwhelm systems, damage is often magnified by infrastructural weaknesses and neglect of sluices and drainage channels. Effective disaster management requires moving beyond immediate relief to proactive measures like real-time hydrological modeling for reservoir management. Urban planning must prioritize permeable land and drainage networks. The article emphasizes that 'rain and repeat' cycles can only be broken through continuous maintenance and insulating infrastructure upkeep from political cycles.
- Extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent, requiring a shift in monsoon management and reservoir strategies.
- Reservoir management needs real-time data to create 'flood cushions' by drawing down water levels before a deluge.
- Urban flooding is exacerbated by concretized surfaces and encroached stormwater channels that restrict water absorption.
The upcoming UN climate summit, COP-30, to be held in Belem, Brazil, will shift focus from negotiating new 'texts' to the implementation of existing agreements. COP-30 President André Corrêa do Lago emphasized the need to decouple negotiations from the actual 'execution' of climate actions. The summit comes at a critical time as scientific assessments suggest current global commitments will lead to a temperature increase of more than 2.6°C, far exceeding the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal. The summit will also address the challenges posed by U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and global trade uncertainties.
- COP-30 will be held in the Brazilian port city of Belem, a gateway to the Amazonian rainforest.
- The Paris Agreement (COP-21) aims to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C.
- The summit aims to move beyond 'big-ticket announcements' to practical, well-known solutions.
A series of powerful earthquakes, including a magnitude 6.3 tremor near Jalalabad, have devastated Afghanistan, killing over 1,400 people. The disaster underscores the vulnerability of the region, which sits at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The editorial argues that while earthquakes are natural, the high death toll is a result of poor infrastructure and non-enforcement of building codes. Salvage operations are hampered by limited resources and international sanctions on the Taliban regime. The article contrasts this with countries like Chile, where strict codes minimize casualties.
- Afghanistan is highly prone to seismic activity due to its location near the Hindu Kush mountains and plate boundaries.
- Since 1900, there have been 12 earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 7 in north-east Afghanistan.
- Strict adherence to building codes can prevent earthquakes from becoming 'death sentences.'
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report states that all of India lives in areas where particulate pollution (PM2.5) exceeds WHO safety limits. While 46% of Indians live in areas breaching India's own more lenient standards, the northern plains remain the most affected, exposing 544.4 million people to bad air. The report identifies particulate pollution as the 'greatest external threat to human life expectancy' globally. In India, meeting WHO standards could add 8.2 years to the life expectancy of Delhi residents and nearly 9.4 months even in the cleanest areas.
- All of India exceeds the WHO annual average PM2.5 limit of 5 g/m³.
- Particulate pollution is identified as the greatest external threat to human life expectancy in 2023.
- In Bangladesh, the most polluted country in the region, air quality improved could add 5.5 years to life expectancy.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the mandatory roll-out of E20 (20% ethanol-blended) petrol. The petitioner argued that E20 fuel causes mechanical damage to older vehicles not designed for it and violates consumer rights. The government defended the policy as a measure to boost farmer income, conserve foreign exchange, and reduce carbon emissions. The court declined to interfere with the policy, noting that E20 has been introduced gradually since 2023. However, concerns remain regarding insurance coverage for damages caused by incompatible fuel use.
- E20 fuel (20% ethanol blend) is central to India's strategy to reduce carbon emissions and crude oil imports.
- The NITI Aayog's 2021 report 'Roadmap for ethanol blending in India 2020-25' noted that 20% ethanol could cut fuel efficiency by 6-7%.
- The petition alleged that vehicle damage from incompatible E20 fuel would not be covered by manufacturers or insurance companies.
The UK is set to implement a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (UK-CBAM) by January 2027, targeting imports like steel and aluminum. This mirrors the EU's CBAM and poses a significant challenge for Indian exporters, potentially increasing costs by 20-40%. India is developing its own Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) to mitigate these impacts. The article discusses the need for a global consensus on carbon pricing, referencing the IMF's proposal for an International Carbon Price Floor (ICPF) with tiered pricing based on a country's income level to ensure equity.
- UK-CBAM will be implemented from January 2027, covering direct and indirect emissions for hard-to-abate sectors.
- The IMF proposed an International Carbon Price Floor (ICPF) with tiered pricing: $25 for low-income, $50 for middle-income, and $75 for high-income countries.
- India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is a major step toward establishing a domestic carbon market.
Urban noise pollution in India frequently exceeds WHO safety limits, yet regulatory enforcement remains weak. While the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000 provide a framework, they are rarely updated to reflect urban realities. The Supreme Court has interpreted Article 21 (Right to Life) to include the right to a quiet environment, noting that unchecked noise poses a serious threat to mental well-being and civic freedom. The article calls for decentralizing monitoring, empowering local bodies, and fostering a culture of 'sonic empathy' to address the ecological and health impacts of rising decibel levels.
- WHO safe limits in silent zones are 50 dB(A) by day, but readings in cities like Delhi often reach 65-70 dB(A).
- The Supreme Court reaffirmed in 2024 that environmental disruptions, including excessive noise, infringe upon the fundamental right to life under Article 21.
- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) launched the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN) in 2011.
A new study utilizing coral microatolls as natural tide gauges reveals that sea levels in the Indian Ocean are rising faster than previously believed. Research in the Maldives and Lakshadweep shows a total rise of 30-40 cm over the last 60 years, with acceleration starting in the late 1950s. The current rate of 3.3 mm/year exceeds the global average. This warming trend impacts ocean dynamics and increases the frequency of coral bleaching. The study emphasizes that microatolls provide critical historical data for regions lacking long-term tide gauge records, essential for developing effective climate adaptation strategies.
- Coral microatolls are disk-shaped colonies that record sea-level changes through their unique upward growth limits.
- The Indian Ocean is experiencing above-average warming, leading to intensified coral bleaching episodes.
- Sea levels around the Maldives and Lakshadweep have risen significantly faster than the global average rate.