Improvement in air quality with decline in pollution levels in India: World Air Quality Report

New Delhi, (IANS) The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir reveals a positive trend in India’s air quality, despite ongoing challenges.According to the report, India now ranks as the fifth most polluted country globally in 2024, a notable improvement from its third-place ranking in 2023.The country also recorded a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations, which dropped from 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 to 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024.While 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India, including Byrnihat, Delhi, and Faridabad, this decline signals a step in the right direction for addressing air pollution.Delhi, which remains the most polluted capital city in the world, saw little change in its air quality, with an annual PM2.5 concentration of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024, almost identical to 92.7 in 2023.Despite these challenges, India’s progress in reducing air pollution is noteworthy. The decline in PM2.5 levels indicates that the country is making strides in combating air pollution, thanks to various...

Read More........ → March 18, 2025

The LA fires have prompted a reckoning for the insurance industry – Australian premiums could soar as a result

Paula Jarzabkowski, The University of Queensland; Katie Meissner, The University of Queensland; Rosie Gallagher, The University of Queensland, and Tyler Riordan, The University of QueenslandA series of wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused widespread devastation in California, including at least 24 deaths and the destruction of more than 12,000 homes and structures. Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and the danger isn’t over yet. Some estimates have put the cost of the damage and economic loss at between A$400 billion and A$450 billion, of which only A$32 billion is insured. This is a stark illustration of the insurance protection gap – the difference between insured and uninsured losses. As California rebuilds, it means the bill for uninsured losses will fall on the property owners themselves and public funds. These catastrophic fires should ring alarm bells in Australia, where global ripple effects are likely to force up our own insurance premiums. Most importantly, we must grapple with and prepare for the grim prospect of our own similar disaster. Uninsurable...

Read More........ → January 20, 2025

World still split over money as clock ticks on COP29

BAKU - A fresh draft of a climate pact unveiled Thursday at COP29 failed to break an impasse over money, with time running for nations to reach a long-sought trillion-dollar finance agreement.The UN climate summit in Azerbaijan is supposed to conclude on Friday but the latest draft only underlines divisions as nations return to the negotiating table."As for the text overall, I'm not going to sugarcoat it -- it is clearly unacceptable as it stands now," said EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra."I am sure there's not a single ambitious country that thinks this is nearly good enough".The nearly 200 countries in Baku are supposed to agree on a new target to replace the $100 billion a year that rich nations pledged for poorer ones to fight climate change.Many developing countries are pushing for $1.3 trillion, mostly from government coffers, though wealthy nations have balked at such demands and insisted private money helps meet any final goal.The latest draft recognises that developing countries need a commitment of at least "USD [X] trillion" per year, leaving out the crucial exact...

Read More........ → December 06, 2024

Need to invest in air pollution solutions for global prosperity: UN

Nairobi, (IANS) The world marked the fifth annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on Saturday, with calls for investment in clean air solutions as air pollution is increasingly causing public health, environmental, and economic problems.More than 99 per cent of humanity is now breathing polluted air, leading to more than eight million annual deaths, including more than 700,000 children under five.Dirty air disproportionately affects more vulnerable populations such as women, children and older people.Air pollution has become the second leading risk factor for early death globally, overtaking tobacco for adults and second only to malnutrition for children under five. Yet despite the already high and still rising economic, environmental and existential impact of air pollution, which each year costs the world $8.1 trillion in health damages alone, less than one per cent of international development funding is dedicated to tackling it.In addition to this silent killer’s toll on human health, “pollution is also choking economies and heating up our planet, adding fuel to the...

Read More........ → September 20, 2024

60 million americans under alert as heat wave hits US Midwest states

A heat wave brought record-high temperatures to US Midwest states this week, with more than 60 million people included in alerts over the conditions.The US National Weather Service (NWS) said a late-season high-pressure system over cities in the Midwest regions, such as Chicago, Des Moines, and Topeka, has left them experiencing rare extreme heat for a long period of time. The NWS warned the public of the combined dangers of heat and humidity associated with heat waves. US Midwest states have set up several public cooling centres in preparation for the dangerous heat.According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, extreme heat together with humidity is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States. Every year, approximately 1,220 people in the country are killed due to extreme heat. 60 million americans under alert as heat wave hits US Midwest stat...

Read More........ → August 30, 2024

Japan issues emergency warnings issued for Kagoshima as typhoon nears

Tokyo, (IANS): Japan's weather agency on Wednesday issued emergency warnings for storms and high waves in Kagoshima prefecture, calling for top-level alerts among residents as powerful typhoon Shanshan approaches Japan.The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) told a press conference that the maximum alert was issued due to unprecedented storms and expected record-breaking rainfall, Xinhua news agency reported.It also noted the possibility of issuing a heavy rain emergency warning for the prefectures of Kagoshima and Miyazaki.As of Wednesday noon, the 10th typhoon of the year was located 90 kilometres south-southwest of Yakushima Island in Kagoshima prefecture and slowly moving northward.It had a central pressure of 935 hectopascals, packing winds at a maximum speed of 180 kph around its centre, and a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 252 kph.The JMA also called for extreme precautions against windstorms, landslides, flooding, and overflowing rivers. Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/japan-issues-emergency-warnings-issued-for-kagoshima-as-typhoon-nea...

Read More........ → August 29, 2024

Japan Issues Megaquake Advisory After 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake

The Japanese Meteorological Agency has issued a megaquake advisory after a 7.1 magnitude quake rocked Japan, as part of the Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information protocol. It has also lifted all tsunami advisories. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the possibility of a mega earthquake is higher than usual. Earlier, Miyazaki Port in the southern Miyazaki Prefecture was hit by 50 centimetres of tsunami waves after the quake. Local media reported that no abnormalities were found in nuclear plants near the quake-hit area. It said, after the quake, the Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train service was halted.Japan Issues Megaquake Advisory After 7.1 Magnitude Earthqua...

Read More........ → August 09, 2024

Polish ministry approves plans for Rolls-Royce SMRs

How a Rolls-Royce SMR might look (Image: Rolls-Royce SMR)Polish industrial group Industria's plan to construct a power plant based on Rolls-Royce's small modular reactor (SMR) has been approved by the Ministry of Climate and Environment.Industria submitted its application for a decision-in-principle in December last year to Polish Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska. The application concerns the construction of a nuclear power plant using Rolls-Royce SMR technology - a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor - and a used nuclear fuel storage facility as an integral part of the power plant.On 10 May, Hennig-Kloska issued the ministry's decision-in-principle, saying that she believes the investment would be in the public interest and in line with Poland's energy and climate policies. The application was positively assessed by the Head of the Internal Security Agency and the Minister of State Assets.The decision-in-principle represents official state approval for the planned investment in accordance with the assumptions and concept presented by the...

Read More........ → May 24, 2024

Powerful 6.3 magnitude quake jolts Croatia

A strong earthquake in central Croatia has killed at least one person – a girl, injured many and caused considerable damage to buildings in Petrinja, a town southeast of the capital Zagreb.The earthquake was felt throughout the country on Tuesday, as well as in neighbouring Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and as far away as Graz in southern Austria.Croatian state broadcaster HRT confirmed the girl died in the earthquake. The child’s age or other details were not immediately available.“The centre of Petrinja as it used to be no longer exists,” HRT said in its report. “One girl died and there are injuries and people inside collapsed buildings.”Petrinja Mayor Darinko Dumbovic said in a statement broadcast by HRT TV: “My town has been completely destroyed, we have dead children.“This is like Hiroshima – half of the city no longer exists.”Petrinja is about 60km (37 miles) from Zagreb.Al Jazeera reported a boy and his father being pulled from a car buried in the rubble.The European Mediterranean Seismological Center said the 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 46km (17 miles) southeast of Zagreb....

Read More........ → December 30, 2020

NZ PM Ardern declares ‘climate emergency’

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern moves a motion in the Parliament House in Wellington, New Zealand, to declare a climate emergency, Wednesday, December 2, 2020; Photo: AFP/Mark MitchellNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared a “climate emergency” on Wednesday, telling the Parliament that urgent action was needed for the sake of future generations.“The science on climate change was clear and New Zealand had to acknowledge the threat,” Ardern said.The center-left leader said the challenges posed by global warming meant parliament’s declaration — an act undertaken by more than a dozen other countries — was warranted.“In those cases where we do issue declarations, it is often where there is a threat to life, a threat to the property, and civil defence emergencies,” she told Parliament.“If we do not respond to climate change, we will continue to have these emergencies on our shores.”Lawmakers passed the largely symbolic emergency declaration by 76 votes to 43 after Ardern urged them to back the move.“Vote in favor of this declaration, be on the right side of history,...

Read More........ → December 04, 2020

Cyclone ‘Nivar’ to hit Tamil Nadu, Puducherry after midnight

Add captionCoastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are bracing for cyclonic storm ‘Nivar’ — which has intensified into a “severe cyclonic storm” and expected to intensify further, moving towards the southeast coast — is likely to hit the coast by midnight or early tomorrow, India’s Met department said.According to the Met department, the cyclone could hit the coast between Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu — 56 km from the state capital Chennai — and Karaikal in Puducherry. Meanwhile, cyclone ‘Nivar’ has brought with it heavy rain and strong winds in coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tweeted to assure the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments of all possible support.It is to be mentioned that the “super cyclone” Amphan ravaged several districts of South Bengal in May and killed more than 90 people. The cyclone caused large-scale destruction to property, flattening villages, destroying farms and leaving thousands without electricity. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.co...

Read More........ → November 25, 2020

Is the climate conducive for a change?

The Paris Summit brought out a global agreement on curtailing the global warming. How much change is the treaty actually going to bring on mother earth? Mona: All eyes were on Paris second time around in a month’s time. Only the top world leaders gathered the second time to save the earth. Paris Summit was extended by a day as 196 parties sat together to form a global agreement on the reduction of climate change. Two weeks of intense negotiations led to a deal to limit the rise in global temperature to less than 2C. India emerged a key player at the talks. Young turks from Chandigarh share their reflections on the treaty. Too good to be true: The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP 21) comes across a goody goody deal for all nations from developed to developing, including the US, China, India and Iceland but it’s not comprehensive. While the aim is noble, who does what, when and how remains largely unlettered in order to curtail the rising temperature. It’s tougher for developing nations than the developed, for while we have to carry on development, industry...

Read More........ → December 16, 2015

US to work with India, China on climate change

US President Barack Obama talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at the UN conference on climate change COP21 on November 30, 2015 at Le Bourget, on the outskirts of the French capital Paris. —AFP Washington, December 1, Responding to Prime Minister Narendara Modi's "not our fault" message on climate change, the US said President Barack Obama has signalled a willingness to work with India and China for an ambitious climate change agreement. Obama had "very constructive" meetings on Monday with Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in on the sidelines on Paris Climate Summit, deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters in Paris. "Now, today, very deliberately, President Obama wanted to send a signal with his meetings that we were going to work with China and work with India to pursue an ambitious agreement here in Paris," he said, according to a White House transcript. The US had helped to mobilise "a truly global effort" over the course of the last seven years with a recognition that "we needed to bring together the entire world, including major...

Read More........ → December 01, 2015

Proud Of Dhruv In Flood Ops: HAL

HAL Statement: HAL-produced helicopters – Dhruv, Cheetah/Chetak – played a leading role in the biggest ever helicopter based rescue operation of Indian defence forces in flood and rain-hit areas of Uttarakhand recently. These copters deployed over flood and landslide affected areas in Uttarakhand performed effectively in dropping paratroopers, evacuating stranded people and in supply of food and medicines. The helicopters made hundreds of sorties in the high risk zone overcoming strong winds, visibility and with virtually no space for landing on high terrains. HAL teams were positioned at Deharadun and Delhi to ensure logistic support for the rescue operations. Dhruv which can carry 16 passengers was the star performer. On many occasions, due to incessant rain IAF pilots could only use Dhruv as it was unsafe for other copters to land. Dhruv helicopters flew for nearly 630 hours during the operation and Cheetah/Chetak flew 520 hours. "The indigenous helicopters pressed into service by the Army and the Air Force in flood-hit areas have proved their mettle in carrying out rescue and...

Read More........ → July 13, 2013

BRICS summit delivers tangible results, Singh meets Putin & Invites the Chinese Premiere

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) poses for a group photo with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (1st L), South African President Jacob Zuma (C), Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (2nd R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (1st R) during the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa, March 27, 2013. [Photo: Xinhua] The leaders of five major emerging economies on Wednesday wrapped up their latest round of summit in the South African city of Durban to promote their partnership for development, integration and industrialization. It is the first time for the BRICS nations, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, to hold their leaders' meeting on the continent of Africa. China Pledges to Enhance BRICS Cooperation While addressing the summit in his keynote speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on all BRICS members to work hand in hand for common development. He pledged that China would strengthen cooperation with other members to make economic growth of BRICS countries more robust and their cooperation better-structured and more productive. BRICS cooperation...

Read More........ → March 28, 2013