The necessity for green spaces in cities
Green spaces, including parks, urban forests, gardens, and green rooftops are crucial for cities. This note will discuss the primary reasons for having green spaces in cities at greater length,…
Sagar Dhara
We live in troubled times: State of the environment and suggested programmes
We live in troubled times—wars, caste conflicts, water scarcity, poverty, global warming, etc. Our problems can be clubbed into two categories—environmental problems (water pollution), and problems associated with inequality--economic (poverty),…
A South Asian Union is Essential to Address Future Environmental Challenges
South Asia is a vast land half the size of Continental Europe. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka lie in South Asia and account for 25%…
Indian environmental movements: Why they failed or succeeded, and the challenges ahead
When the majority of human society feels social stress, it does one of three things—1) accept stress out of a feeling of helplessness, 2) move away from the stressors in…
Did Agasthya Muni have a solution for the World’s Water Conflicts?
Sixth Abhee Dutt Mazumdar Memorial Lecture, Kolkata, 26 July 2019 INTRODUCTION Honouring Abhee Dutt Mazumdar It is a great honour to deliver the Abhee Dutt Mazumdar Memorial Lecture this year.…
Two Events On South Asia At WSF, Kathmandu
Dear friends, We have the pleasure of inviting you to 2 events (details below) that we are organizing in the World Social Forum (WSF), to be held in Bhrikutimandap in central Kathmandu, 15-19 Feb. If any…
Humans can never win World War Zero–Part 1
Economics is based on war against nature and theft from working people Economics sanctifies war against nature to create wealth and distribute it inequitably between people and nations. Economics encourages…
India and China declined to endorse the renewables pledge at COP28
India and China refrained from signing the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, a document endorsed by 123 nations in the COP28 held in UAE in the first half of…
COP28: India’s Pharma and Healthcare Industry Profits Trump Fossil Fuel Reduction Benefits
India refrained from signing the Declaration on Climate and Health, a document that was endorsed by 123 nations in the COP28 held in UAE in the first half of December…
Navigating climate change: Will it be by governments or by people?
Abstract Many well-meaning writers attempt to advise governments and UNFCCC on the actions they should adopt to tackle climate change. Is such advice heeded? More importantly, can governments and UNFCCC…
Is remaining under 1.5 C warming feasible?
In the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change’s twenty sixth Conference of Parties (COP is an annual inter-governmental meetings held to discuss and negotiate climate agreements) held in Glasgow…
Indigenous people hit by double whammy, is COP26 listening?
For the last ten days I have opened the COP26 daily programme website each morning to search for the events that may interest me. And I have been overwhelmed by…
COP26: By 2100, Bangladesh may drown, Pakistan likely to face severe water shortage, fear experts
Alok Sharma, the President of COP26, the mega make or break climate negotiation event currently underway in Glasgow, in a speech given at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on October 12…
To avoid catastrophes India should adopt a risk minimization for all policy
COVID-19—a gray rhino event COVID-19 is a gray rhino event, an event that is highly probable and with a large impact. It can be seen well in advance due to…
Climate crisis: Is there a Savitri to Save the World from Climate Catastrophe?
In the days of yore, Savitri saved Satyavan The legend of Savitri and Satyavan in the Hindu mythological epic, the Mahabharat, is a love story. Savitri, a beautiful princess, marries…
COP gets it upside down: the climate crisis calls for supply side management and justice
COP 25: Hiring a thief to guard one’s home The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded its 25th Conference of Parties (COP 25) meeting in Madrid on…
Delhi’s air pollution woes require an out of the box solution
Every October as the rains recede, Delhi prepares to choke on poisoned air which peaks for 3 months from around Deepawali. This year the Delhi Government even asked public for…
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