Ethico | Inspiring sustainable practices to fight the climate crisis
The first step to taking action is being informed. On this platform, join the watch on the climate crisis, learn from people who practice sustainability and ethical conscious living, and start understanding how we as a community can do better.
The Oscar for documentary short The Elephant Whisperers has brought a lot of joy and has also brought home the deadly impact of human-elephant conflict that’s playing out with alarming frequency in India.
Traceability is the foundation upon which we can truly revolutionize the fashion industry, revealing the actual costs of products and ensuring that the wealth generated from production gets redistributed more fairly.
Higher fossil fuel prices are making green hydrogen comparatively cheaper, which could accelerate India’s transition to the clean fuel
Author of the mountains chapter in latest IPCC report highlights how global warming, unplanned urbanisation, and gender insensitive practices are threatening the Hindu Kush Himalayan region
Crucial messages from coordinating lead author of the water chapter in the just-released IPCC report explain how we adapt to an intensified water cycle
Brands now understand the immense benefits of touting their sustainability and purpose credentials; but those with sustainability ‘halos’ aren’t immune to scrutiny over their claims. As Innocent drinks was recently reminded, the stakes have never been higher for getting it wrong.
The UN’s draft resolution on ending plastic pollution has been described as the most important international environmental deal since the Paris Agreement
Across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, there has been an alarming rise in the number of districts categorised as ‘overexploited’
As climate change exacerbates the threats faced by the species, researchers say study of snow leopards must be ramped up and diversified to secure the health of Asia’s mountain ecosystems
Radical new approach could slash global carbon emissions while increasing fish catch, but experts flag implementation challenges in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
A good traveller is a mindful traveller. Do you follow these simple green travel tips?
Bombay Sapphire and Starbucks are working with farmers to ensure complete supply chain sustainability for their gin and coffee, respectively.
Radical new approach could slash global carbon emissions while increasing fish catch, but experts flag implementation challenges in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
Records obtained under the RTI Act show the project is being built without prior approvals from the National Monument Authority and the environment ministry.
‘If the Gulf Stream crosses its tipping point, it will continue to weaken even if we have managed to stop global warming.’
More young Indians are adopting safer menstrual practices, but polluting materials pose an environmental hazard that remains unaddressed.
The United Nations has warned that immediate action is needed to face the triple environmental emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Policymakers need to take into account resilient practices of indigenous peoples and the wisdom they have honed over generations to conserve biodiversity and combat climate change.
Since a long time, scientists have been pointing out at climate change posing a big threat to these glaciers and the populations that rely on them.
Plastic credits are poised to generate the momentum necessary to launch a circular plastic economy and give brands the opportunity to act. In order for brands to take action, they will need to follow these four priorities …
Already suffering from the impacts of climate change, the habitat for Ladakhi shepherds to graze their flocks is further reduced as tensions escalate between India and China.
The first state to define ‘forest’ has already lost 50,000 hectares to ‘development’, 10,649 ha to encroachment and 44,518 ha to fires.
As Haryana government shrinks conservation zone, paving way for the plant, protests by residents mount over the ‘ecological damage’ and against corporate interest in the region.
The United States under President Joe Biden has re-entered the Paris climate agreement, providing a renewed impetus to act on the world’s deepening climate crisis.
The northward shift of the rain belt will result in an increase in droughts in southeastern Africa and Madagascar along with intensified floods in Southern parts of India.
Leveraging small-scale closed social networks to provide pre-owned products a new lease of life is a simple, effective solution to our consumption problem.
Poorly planned tree planting programmes in Himachal Pradesh have squeezed pastoralists and put greater pressure on fragile ecosystems.
Weak consumer appetite, lack of charging infrastructure and a high payback period is holding back adoption of electric cars for personal use in India.
Uttarakhand’s Shivalik Reserve is not the only threatened habitat. Rajaji and parts of Corbett are under attack from “development” too.
The rise in temperature in 2020 was recorded despite a fall in global emissions due to the pandemic-induced lockdown and the absence of El Niño, which leads to a rise in temperature, that occurred in 2016.
Ropeways are being touted by the Indian government as an environment-friendly form of transport in the Himalayas, but experts and locals say they risk disturbing fragile mountain ecosystems and disrupting livelihoods.
With the exception of Kazakhstan, Central Asian countries did not take the opportunity to ramp up their emissions reduction targets at the Climate Ambition Summit in December 2020. An environmental campaigner says realisation of the climate crisis is dawning in the region, and that this must be matched with increased ambition.
It’s that time of the year again, when you sit and make a checklist of everything you’re going to achieve this year. How about making sustainability a priority in 2021?
Coral reefs across the world may disappear by the 2040s, according to a new report. While it’s tempting to blame ‘humanity’ for this crisis, the truth is that it is the social formation called capitalism that is central to global warming.
The park with over 40 species of butterflies, honeybees, birds and insects has been developed over four acres by the research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department.
We have to invest in resilience-building measures, especially in health infrastructure, and weather and disease forecast systems, addressing training and adaptive capacity needs.
If the iceberg collides with the South Georgian landmass it will create havoc for the biodiversity of the island, according to the European Space Agency, which recorded the fracture of the iceberg.
Home care products permeate our lives like never before. In the first part of this four-part series, we talk about how these chemical-filled products harm the environment, and how you can start transitioning to natural solutions.
Higher levels of waste fishing gear were reported in sampling sites near the sea. It is likely due to the high prevalence of fishing activity at these sites combined with the downstream accumulation of waste gear from further up the river.
The number of people displaced by climate change impacts is projected to rise exponentially in South Asia unless stronger action is taken to reduce distress migration.
Three projects, which include four laning of the highways, along with the double tracking of railway and a 400-kilovolt (kV) power transmission corridor are threatening the cultural identity and the pristine green cover of Goa.
Goans are protesting against infrastructure projects that will cut through protected areas in the Western Ghats and impact both the environment and lives of people.
Developed countries are taking action to reduce their own carbon emissions, but they are not coughing up enough money to help vulnerable poorer countries do the same, or adapt to the intensifying impacts of climate change.
The country is meeting its current unambitious pledge, but it is still pushing coal and failing to protect natural resources needed to protect people from the worst impacts of climate change.
The green garland scheme of Telangana is expected to raise forest cover in the southern Indian state to 33% of its total area to mitigate the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
From baking edible gifts to having ornament swaps with friends, we have plenty of ideas on how you can make this festive season a sustainable one.
Plasticity asks its players to choose small acts of kindness in an attempt to make a difference to an apocalyptic world filled with plastic debris.
Among the 150+ films airing at this edition of the International Kids Film Festival, these films expose children to the environmental problems and solutions facing humanity today.
A virtual film festival celebrating our planet aims to create a fresh experience for viewers interested in the social and environmental issues of our time.
A sum of Rs 2.5 crore has been sanctioned by the government for the cheetah relocation project.
The latest Lancet Countdown report identifies how Covid-19 has created an opportunity for policymakers to work on health and climate change issues together to minimise diseases and deaths.
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
A new research shows that economically-challenged countries in arid regions are at the receiving end of the impact of climate change.
Can something as simple as using a camera help draw attention to environmental problems? And can children find solutions to the climate crisis? All this and more was laid on the table at a panel discussion held as part of the International Kids Film Festival.
India’s decentralised renewable energy sector has become an enabler of economic growth, especially in rural areas, with a focus on livelihoods and income generation.
Whether you want to help researchers document plant and animal species, or simply try your hand at being a wildlife DJ, this list appeals to a wide range of ages and interests.
Companies are investing more in environmental, social and governance initiatives than ever before, but a new study shows that commitments are matched by flouting environmental and other norms.
A new paper, authored by eminent environmentalists from across the world, urges the policy makers to shift their focus to the needs of the rural and indigenous people who manage ecosystems for their livelihoods and can render climate solutions effective.
A recent WWF India webinar brought together panelists to answer questions about why water bodies in our cities are vanishing, and what the government is doing about it.
Meet the entrepreneur duo collecting flowers from across Hyderabad to make eco-friendly products that also empower local women.
#IfTreesCouldTalk is a blog series that aims to highlight one aspect of environmental impact, wildlife conservation and other issues that need to be spoken about from the natural world and our impact on it. The idea was simple. We just believe that if Mother Nature had a voice, there would be a lot she would have to say about the state of the world today and what we can do to help. This is just our effort to give her a voice.
How does one navigate their purchasing decisions around packaging to ensure sustainability? The terms and options available only serve to further confuse us. Here’s the packaging guide you didn’t know you needed.
India is one of the countries most threatened by biodiversity losses, yet its government denies and obfuscates its own data, and opens environmentally sensitive areas to exploitation.
In most places, the annual Hindu festival caused serious water pollution this year as well
Although top global banks are bankrolling biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction at an unprecedented scale, the finance sector has largely evaded scrutiny till now
In most places, the annual Hindu festival caused serious water pollution this year as well
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
The protesters alleged that double-tracking, which involves cutting of trees in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, would benefit coal companies.
A week-long analysis of this correspondent’s trash can reveals the gap between how sustainable he thinks his household is and how sustainable it actually is.
It is in our common interest to achieve a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 disruption that is aligned with the principles of building back better.
Students are rallying en masse to ‘save Thano’ in a bid to recreate the Chipko movement to save trees.
Land use on floodplains needs better regulation so that rivers have space to flood and contribute ecosystem services
A webinar by WWF India puts the spotlight on latest technological innovations that can help protect wildlife, track climate change and make the planet more sustainable.
Students are rallying en masse to ‘save Thano’ in a bid to recreate the Chipko movement to save trees.
Students are rallying en masse to ‘save Thano’ in a bid to recreate the Chipko movement to save trees.
Meet Mehndi Shivdasani, a low-waste crusader who has been educating people on sustainable living through her Instagram account, where she goes by the moniker Conscious Chokri.
Want to do some good for the planet while performing your asanas? Here’s your guide to sustainable, eco-friendly, and socially conscious yoga clothing and gear.
A legislation meant to ensure that India’s forests aren’t completely destroyed in the name of development has environmentalists and Adivasi activists up in arms against it. Here’s why.
This has opened an easy way for corporates to procure prior environmental clearances, but the chances of non-compliance to the environmental commitments are now high.
Land use on floodplains needs better regulation so that rivers have space to flood and contribute ecosystem services
This has opened an easy way for corporates to procure prior environmental clearances, but the chances of non-compliance to the environmental commitments are now high.
In a time where the durable plant is being hailed for being resourceful and sustainable, it would be wise to stop and question whether this is yet another example of greenwashing.
Would the environment prefer that you drink your soda out of a can or a bottle? Turns out, it actually would rather you make lemonade from the many lemons it gives you.
Would the environment prefer that you drink your soda out of a can or a bottle? Turns out, it actually would rather you make lemonade from the many lemons it gives you.
The NGT declared 46.11 sq km of land as a private forest and directed the State Government to enter the details in the revenue records.
Coca-Cola is the biggest plastic polluter, but on the whole there’s so much plastic waste that recycling will not make a dent in it.
Vultures and other scavengers not only clear decaying animal corpses, protecting us from disease, but their absence could also destabilise entire ecosystems
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
As the annual Daan Utsav kicks off, Ethico chats with one of its volunteers, Bharati Dasgupta, about how sustainability is closely tied to the joy of giving.
Scientists assessed a 3,000-km-long section in equatorial East Indian Ocean and found temperature fluctuations between 2005 and 2016, with a decadal warming trend that “substantially exceeds previous estimates.” By one estimate, the ocean could be warming by nearly 70% more than had been believed.
We love our pets, but we can’t ignore the fact that the way we choose to nurture them has a sizeable impact on the environment. Here’s how you can give your pet the best life while also caring for the planet.
A pilot project in Assam’s largest city could start a new trend for the rest of India.
We need an integrated approach between lives and livelihoods.
India has the only population of the Great Indian Bustard in the world. There are two breeding grounds in the country, one in Rajasthan and the second in the Ballari district of…
A lot of us have taken to making art during the Covid-19 pandemic, but we don’t realise that art materials have a negative environmental impact. Here’s how you can make it a more eco-friendly activity.
The report found that due to lockdowns, the daily level emissions of greenhouse gases went down by 17% in comparison to 2019 in the month of April. But, as the world came back to work, emissions rose by June and that was 5% of the previous year.
The disappearance of the glaciers will affect river channel flow dynamics in downstream areas and impact human settlements, including Bihar, in the long run, say experts.
roper management of plastic waste is lacking in Indonesia’s coastal communities, where the use of plastics is outpacing mitigation efforts, according to a newly published study. The paper found that nearly 6,700…
You don’t have to go the extra mile to find eco-friendly solutions. Just use some of these life hacks that served our older generations well.
Between 1970 and 2016, wild populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish shrank by 68% on average, according to a new report by WWF and the Zoological Society of London. The…
As mystery shrouds sixty-four elephant deaths, Tamil Nadu Forest Department constitutes an expert panel to investigate conservation threats and human-elephant conflicts. Poisoning and disease emerge as prime suspects. Pushed out from degrading…
Urban forests are suddenly springing up around the world, many of them grown using the now-popular Miyawaki method.
A pilot project in Assam’s largest city could start a new trend for the rest of India.
The extent of modification of the oceans by human construction is said to be comparable to the extent of urbanised land. It goes beyond the global area covered by some natural marine systems.
Kinder to the pocket and the environment, these online spaces for pre-loved goods are shedding the taboo of second-hand buys to emerge as preferred shopping alternatives
While activists have celebrated the move, there is a need for greater clarity about the exact forest zone.
Air pollution destroys the environment and annually kills millions of people worldwide. But Graviky Labs has found a way to capture carbon emissions and convert it into commercially viable ink.
The notification, which experts say gives easy clearances to developmental projects, is being seen as a grave violation of environmental norms and has triggered protests across India.
A food and agriculture consultant, Subham Kar Chaudhuri of Extinction Rebellion, Mumbai, tells us why we should no longer keep calm over the climate crisis.
Three new studies show that people in the middle ranges of the Indian Himalayas are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
As a massive road-widening project continues to roll through the Indian state of Uttarakhand, residents battle landslides and the future of the environment is unclear.
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
Onam, a traditional harvest festival in Kerala and a day celebrating happiness, peace and prosperity, has been marred by natural disasters and economic crises in the past few years. The COVID-19 pandemic…
The climate crisis is accelerating like never before. Our only hope is if we all slow down.
About 500 traditional fishermen from the Sankizahan village in the Sundarbans region migrate to other coastal states in India for the better part of the year. This migration, that seems to have…
Every year, millions of toothbrushes end up in our landfills and wash up on our shores, most of them made of plastic. What can we do to improve this situation?
The study estimates that 20-55% of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans have shown an emergent man-made signal and it is likely to increase to 40-65% and up to 80% by 2080.
Out of our confines and into the open environs of green spaces, Wildschooling is a great way to let your children connect with nature.
While the NGT has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to conduct public hearings in compliance with the norms, farmers’ rights stand to be compromised.
Continuing our azaadi series: Freedom from water-based personal and home care products can help make Earth a greener place.
Red pandas and pangolins are being trafficked into extinction – and exclusionary conservation policies are making this worse in India’s Singalila National Park, argues a researcher.
In recent years, young people from across the globe have been leading the fight against the climate crisis. Here are five such Indians who have brought about transformational change.
From engaging new champions, to promoting local narratives, here’s how we can strengthen action on climate change mitigation.
From ponds-on-wheels to the recycling of PoP idols, Ganesh visarjan is all set to be a more environmentally friendly affair for Mumbai this year.
Since 2000, Greenland has been losing more than 500 gigatons of ice each year on an average. In the 1980s and the 1990s, lost ice hovered around the 450 gigaton mark every year.
Harvard University has plowed $450 million of its $40 billion endowment in Brazil, most of it to buying up at least 405,000 hectares (1 million acres) of land in the Cerrado. This…
One of India’s last existing rainforests is under threat. From creating art to joining Twitter storms, an activist tells you how you can save it from destruction from the comfort of your home.
As Kaziranga National Park goes through another cycle of its annual floods, here’s a look at what it means for those on the frontlines.
A charming retelling of the history of our trees, Cities and Canopies offers precious insights into our social and cultural past.
The Gurugram-based tidying consultant talks about how decluttering our living spaces using the KonMari Method is a great first step towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Floods in India are turning more severe, unpredictable and rather intractable. In 2018 alone, India suffered damages worth over Rs. 950 billion due to floods. Number of urban floods is on the…
Freedom from colonial rule allowed India to develop into a prosperous and self-sufficient country, albeit at a cost primarily borne by the environment. In the spirit of independence, it’s now time to take stock and make sustainable choices for our future.
There is strict control on tourists visiting national parks or tiger reserves but pilgrimage inside a protected area is one easy way to enter such areas. Over the years, pilgrimage tourism inside…
Your inbox can have a shockingly large carbon footprint; it’s time to hit those unsubscribe buttons.
Monsoon flooding in Mumbai has become an annual phenomenon. This year though the floods reached areas that have never witnessed flooding. The activists and some experts blamed ongoing infrastructure projects like the…
The August 7 landslide at Pettimudi in Kerala’s Idukki district in which 49 plantation workers were buried alive necessitates a micro-level landslide hazard mapping for the state apart from relocation and rehabilitation…
Longer battery life, leaner and stronger built, and lesser registration hassle has touted low-speed e-scooters as a popular transport choice for conscious riders.
A ship that ran aground on a coral reef has leaked about 900 tons of fuel oil into the waters off the southeastern coast of Mauritius. The incident occurred on July 25,…
‘Experts say most of the fires have been deliberately lit by people, but they are now raging due to drought, lack of rainfall and low river levels.’
The 24-year-old from Odisha, who has just been appointed to a new UN youth advisory panel, talks about how Adivasi and forest-dwelling communities are in the best position to lead the fight against climate change.
On Aug. 5, spurred by a deadly Brazilian dam disaster in early 2019, a partnership between the U.N. and industry leaders released new guidance for companies to manage their mining waste safely.…
Laced with plastic and spun out of synthetic fibers, the fast-fashion favorite is a huge faux pas for the environment .
Distribution of relief material in the Sundarbans, post cyclone Amphan that hit the east coast in May, has brought in tonnes of plastic packaging, which is banned in the region. Environmentalists fear…
Are you a to-be or new parent confused about how to raise your baby sustainably? Read on to find out how you can make some easy changes without breaking the bank.
India targets to reduce carbon emissions by 20,000 tonnes by blending 10 million litres of ethanol in the fuel. However, the availability of biomass for ethanol production is far less than the…
From a respectful farewell for your once-loved iPad to guidelines that must govern your next headphones purchase, here’s what you must know about your electronic waste, according to Dr. Uttam Doraswami, Founder & Director at Elxion Private Limited.
Join Ethico as we celebrate our independence month with curated articles which urge you to choose better. Our first article in the azaadi series is to look within our own cultures.
A comparative study by the research wing of the state’s forest department showed a success rate of Miyawaki and ANR at 100% while that of traditional method from 30-40% in the hills and 50-60% in the plains.
Maharashtra witnessed lowest fish catch in 45 years in 2019. Fishers have also reported a 50% decline in their annual fish catch, attributing recurring cyclones for reducing their fishing window. Nationally, the…
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
On the day celebrating the bond between siblings, look beyond chocolates or mithai and consider one of these environmentally friendly gifting options.
Odisha has excellent habitat and vast forests for tigers to live and flourish. However, rampant poaching of prey base and tigers is taking a toll on their population.
Floods which are a recurring phenomenon in the northeast Indian state of Assam have hit the state heavily this year but healthcare workers have risen to the occasion serving the people by battling both flood and novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
While it is easy to defer to tradition when it comes to planning a funeral, here is how we can change our approach to death and take a more eco-friendly route.
On International Tiger Day, Ethico salutes Govardhan Meena, who has been using a decked out minibus to introduce thousands of children to not just the majestic cats, but also to the forest in their backyard.
An ecotel wedged between the tri-state boundaries of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra in the lush Mahdei Bioregion, Wildernest is based on the sound principle of minimal interference.
The police issued a notice under the UAPA to block Fridays For Future India’s website because their ‘unlawful activities may disturb peace, sovereignty of India’, only to later claim that it had been sent mistakenly.
HCP’s plan to reorder the tree “palette” on the Central Vista according to Lutyens’ colonial plan is not only proof of the project’s blindness to today’s climate change and environmental realities that many Delhiites already experience.
Only those who have faced a flood can understand the pain and suffering it brings.
The draft EIA Notification 2020, activists say, is a major setback for environmental justice as it weakens public consultation and dilutes compliance norms for corporates.
Seventeen authorities from the higher economic sector released a letter in opposition to the environmental policies of President Jair Bolsonaro’s government.
Though there have been community protests against these projects, the state government is using the prevailing lockdown as an excuse to move forward all these projects, which would create long term impacts on the state’s environmental and social equilibria.
Our kitchens are repositories of natural hair care goodness. And if we get past the initial apprehension of going chemical-free, it’s a beautifully organic journey
Instead of moving vehicles, cities should focus on moving people. What does this mean?
12-year-old climate activist Ridhima Pandey talks about her journey, signing a petition at the UN alongside Greta Thunberg, and climate activism in times of Coronavirus.
An analysis has revealed that approximately 120 projects were recommended, 90 were deferred, 30 projects returned and only two projects were rejected during the Expert Appraisal Committee and Forest Advisory Committee meetings held during the lockdown.
Roughly 6,000+ plastic menstrual pads can be replaced with sustainable products if one of us makes the switch. Have you started yet?
Fun and fascinating, these books about the environment are engaging and drive home a strong message.
The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, finalized a year ago has been facing opposition from the EU after Brazil’s destructive environmental policies and its failure to respect the Paris Climate Agreement.
As per recent study, palm oil may not be the only consumable oil that causes destruction to biodiversity. We know little about the environmental footprint of other consumable oil crops.
India should rewrite outdated, colonial laws and empower local people so that embankments work for communities and nature.
If you haven’t already begun your journey towards sustainability, here’s some inspiration for you to get started and take up the plastic-free challenge.
Tigers are a keystone species at the top of the ecological pyramid, and their survival is pivotal to the well-being of several animals, including humans.
COVID-19 has heightened existing climate vulnerabilities and caused climate action to take a backseat. Here’s how the government can think ‘green’ for the recovery of the economy.
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
While many projects with huge environmental and social costs have been opposed, the TDP is different, for even government-nominated experts had wanted it scrapped.
The draft EIA 2020, which was unveiled in March has raised objections from environmentalists, who consider it as a serious dilution to the earlier version.
Armed with words and wit, illustrator Rohan Chakravarty is sketching a unique dialogue around wildlife and conservation.
The three proposed projects would require cutting down over 50,000 trees and diversion of 216 hectares of forest and private land.
The recent incident of a female wild elephant in Kerala falling prey to crude bait meant for wild boar sheds light on the widespread issue of human-wildlife conflict in the state.
Follow these amazing global influencers to get your daily dose of green, sustainable beauty recommendations.
A safe haven for biodiversity and wildlife, India’s protected areas are losing to the environment ministry’s clearance spree where coal mining, road construction, and other projects are being approved within ecologically sensitive areas.
Information is the first step towards adapting a sustainable lifestyle. Poonam Bir Kasturi helps us understand the implication of some of the buzzwords in the space
My journey to a plant-based diet began on a whim three years ago and I feel stronger and healthier than ever before.
Scientists said that rapid retreating of Kolahoi and other glaciers in the region is largely attributable to global factors and climate driven by the local land-use changes.
If we don’t invest in building community resilience, climate change and natural disasters will undo what development work has achieved so far.
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
Swarms of these ‘deadly’ desert locusts have now made their way to India, threatening our agricultural economy.
Uneven heating could have major impact on marine wildlife, as species that rely on each other for survival are forced to move.
Microsoft’s business with the oil industry could inflate its climate impact and undermine its efforts to achieve carbon negativity.
Hidden in the fallout from the virus are lessons to make the world a better place. Reducing pollution and re-imagining transportation are strong places to start.
Researchers emphasize the need to tackle various threats to reduce the burden on the species due to climate change.
In a new paper, a group of 30 scientists offers suggestions for industry, land managers, governments and individuals to protect insects in the face of a global decline.
Here are four things that need to be done to bring the current environmental impact assessment regime in line with the basic principles of environmental management.
Brazil’s Cameli family, who owns the timber companies, was ordered to pay the Ashaninka tribe a $3 million settlement, which will be used to protect the Ashaninka tribe and the Amazon.
Environmentalists are pleased at the positive impact this will have on India’s oceans.
On time scales of hundreds of thousands to millions of years, carbon dioxide concentrations in the air have varied hugely, and so has global climate.
Cited by environmentalists as one of the worst human interventions in nature, building damns on the Indus delta has led to adverse ecological consequences.
The new treaty focuses on conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the waters beyond national jurisdiction.
As the climate crisis threatens bee populations around the world, Slovenian beekeepers see an opportunity to be more than just stewards of a beloved tradition.
Beyond Meat Inc reported better-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday as it sold more of its plant-based meat products.
Everyday food choices can make a difference to the overall climate impact of our diet.
A modern society that is rooted in traditional philosophies, Japan looks into the future while borrowing generously from its past. We must too.
In a worst-case scenario of accelerating emissions, areas currently home to a third of the world’s population will be as hot as the hottest parts of the Sahara within 50 years.
We’ve rounded up a list of two dozen environmental projects that can make your time indoors, or right outside, a little brighter.
Even with the global economy at a near-standstill, the best analysis suggests that the world is still on track to release 95 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted in a typical year.
With data centres set to have a bigger carbon footprint than the whole aviation industry, smart technology’s benefits need urgent re-examination.
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
Embracing the notion of “biophilia”- the innate human affinity with nature- while locked down inside may improve your productivity and even your health.
From ocean pollution to animal cruelty and global warming, here are our picks for some gut-wrenching, eye-opening and sometimes, heart warming films.
From spiderweb-inspired shampoo to a hotel whose architecture is based on the thermal properties of toucan beaks, scientists and companies in Brazil are betting on nature’s intelligence to create innovative solutions that reduce impacts on the planet.
Coronavirus-induced lockdown is changing the daily rhythm of urban life, shining a light on emboldened animals that usually prefer to remain hidden.
If you are working towards climate change solutions, you can use this opportunity to work with top climate pioneers in the field!
“This method will hopefully provide a stepping stone for satellites and drones to be used to tackle the marine plastics problem at the end of the product life cycle.”
The tech giant’s pledge to go carbon negative by 2030 leans heavily on nascent technology such as machines that suck carbon out of the air.
While the levels of microplastics are relatively low, it suggests that even Earth’s most remote continent is not immune from the perils of plastic pollution and human-made trash.
Scientists believe that at least 80 per cent of the Amazon’s trees need to stand in order to sustain the forests, and continue their hydrological water cycle.
If we are to reorient the environmental movement’s goals and actions to avert crisis, we must reassess how we assign value to different ecosystems and human communities.
Discovering clean energy technologies has become the goal of companies and think tanks around the world, and it requires thinking outside of the box.
It’s also true that Hollywood can’t complain about our environmental unfriendliness without drawing attention to its own.
How Vipassana changed the way I engage with my thoughts
The consumption of the world’s wealthiest 10 percent produces up to 50 percent of the planet’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions, while the poorest half of humanity contributes only 10 percent.
The research shows that the choice between climate action and economic growth is in fact a false dichotomy.
“Why is Amazon so scared of workers talking with each other? No company should punish their employees for showing concern for one another, especially during a pandemic!” Costa said in a statement.
“The truth is, all the individual actions together can’t be scaled up in time to make the fundamental difference in fossil-fuel emissions that we need. That’s why governments are so important.”
New NOAA analysis highlights an alarming trend; experts call for curbing pollution from oil and gas wells.
Dirty air in the United States is linked to higher death rates from COVID-19, according to a new study from researchers at Harvard’s school of public health.
When we are faced with immediate, unambiguous threats, we all focus on what’s confronting us right now. The loss of winter snow in five or ten years looks trivial against images of hospitals pushed to breaking point now.
A simple Google search returns over one billion combined results, proving that phrases that, 30 years ago, were virtually unknown have now become ingrained into the English language.
Global nature of the Covid-19 crisis is making us realise that we are connected to each other. This can help build momentum for strong climate action.
We love the crunch of a crisp as much as we hate the rustle of the plastic packet that it comes wrapped in. With these home-made recipes, you can skip the noise.
Pushed out of their village by a drought and lack of food, a group of Nepalis are fighting to amplify the voices of those forced to relocate by the planet’s warming.
This year’s United Nations-sponsored climate talks, widely regarded as the most important climate meeting of the past four years, were postponed on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Rising temperatures may be having a profound physical impact on one of the world’s favourite songbirds.
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
Therefore, climate action should be central to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the coronavirus pandemic continued to escalate around the world, a more localized emergency has unfolded in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
It’s always the little things, isn’t it? Follow these simple steps to make your house more sustainable
The whole planet will feel climate change’s impacts over coming decades. But some cities will see more dramatic changes in temperature or precipitation than others.
Campaigners urge governments to tie any bailouts to aviation and cruise industries to requirements for climate action.
From sparking imagination to making the child more mindful, wooden toys are so much more than their plastic counterparts
Secretary-General António Guterres still urged countries not to lose sight of the global warming challenge.
You should be willing to trade some your freedom for the greater good of the public.
Fix yourself a DIY face scrub that is good enough to eat
The coronavirus epidemic will lead to “a global recession of a magnitude that has not been experienced before” but will eventually allow humanity to reset its values, according to trend forecaster Li Edelkoort.
The practice of social distancing is having a collateral benefit — it’s slowing the climate crisis.
It can be hard to imagine a silver lining to the all-consuming cloud that is the current and ongoing spread of SARS-CoV-2 across the planet, but, as cities and lives are pulled to a standstill by communicable disease, our skies and rivers are revealing an unexpected positive to the pandemic.
If you have the heart to donate but not the time for it, here are a few good ideas to turn to.
The case of fracking in Pennsylvania shows that if experts and fossil fuel industry leaders can cooperate, innovation is possible.
The first step to solving a problem is understanding it. Here, we break down the complex world of plastics so you can navigate your way through it better.
‘The rush to mine this pristine and unexplored environment risks creating terrible impacts that cannot be reversed.’
Leaders’ efforts to rein in global greenhouse gas emissions this year may face additional challenges.
Villagers are downing their weapons and protecting swathes of ancient forest and its wildlife in Nagaland state.
The bamboo water bottles have been ordered from Assam through Sikkim Rajya Sabha MP Hishey Lachungpa. Sikkim was the first state in the country to take steps against the use of plastic, bringing in restrictive measures as far back as 1998.
A shared space for anyone and everyone working towards a better planet, Y3K – Planet Lost and Found, garnered pertinent environmental voices and conversation.
Better access to nature, even just your local park, helps people and the planet.
Thirteen towns across four countries, including five from India (Mussoorie, Devprayag, Singtam, Kalimpong and Darjeeling), in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, are facing increased water insecurity, said a study, published in the journal Water on Sunday.
Here’s what our reading list looks like this month. Pick a title of your choice and join us!
Offsets have become a wildly popular — and controversial — way to fight climate change.
In the past month, the world has seen a remarkably large drop in emissions of carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming. The reason isn’t something to celebrate, though.
New research suggests ancient methane—like that trapped in an Alaskan lake—won’t flood the atmosphere as the climate warms in the coming decades.
New research suggests ancient methane—like that trapped in an Alaskan lake—won’t flood the atmosphere as the climate warms in the coming decades.
The vision of a “circular economy”—where we use resources sparingly and recycle endlessly—is inspiring businesses and environmentalists alike.
According to India State of Forest Report, 2019, the country has 62,466 wetlands covering 3.83% of its recorded forest area.
A US firm has given scientific details of its “human composting” process for environmentally friendly funerals.
Huge blocks of ice regularly shear away from Antarctica’s ice shelves, but the losses are speeding up.
The vegan diet is widely regarded to be better for the planet than those that include animal products, but not all plant-based foodstuffs have a small environmental footprint.
Residents and farmers have alleged that the dyeing and bleaching units in the city discharge dangerous chemical effluents directly into the river under cover of darkness or when it’s raining.
A rash of newly approved mines could destroy swathes of the Hasdeo Arand forest – and with it the biodiversity local villagers depend on for survival.
Australians take pride in winning against the odds but we have to move quickly to slow global warming and the extreme weather it creates.
Climate, extreme weather, biodiversity, food and water crises could lead to ‘systemic collapse’
According to the report, “given the very low rates of recycling we see today, we believe that even with much tighter regulation, it’s unlikely that global recycling rates could reach 50% by 2030”
An offer to plant trees to offset carbon emissions isn’t a solution – it’s a licence to continue with business as usual.
Employees ‘needed to stand up for what’s right’ despite policy barring workers from speaking about business.
Employees ‘needed to stand up for what’s right’ despite policy barring workers from speaking about business.
Plant and animal species are disappearing faster than ever in recorded history. We are to blame, but solutions are possible.
Plant and animal species are disappearing faster than ever in recorded history. We are to blame, but solutions are possible.
It’s the final call, say scientists, in the most extensive warning yet on the risks of rising global temperatures.
Like other central banks, the European Central Bank, which met on Thursday, is scrambling to prepare for what a report warns could be a coming economic upheaval.
Randomly selected 110-strong panel will try to come up with a plan to tackle global heating.
…a brand new perspective on hand-me-downs and a closet space that no longer hosted items that didn’t serve a purpose
Electric cars can stop global warming. Or can they? Girish Karkera clears the air around these haloed machines.
From braving flooded tents to feeling the love of your first homegrown harvest, the pursuit of farm life is as rewarding as the dream, Harsh Valechha tells us.
Made of organic ingredients that are often good enough to eat, TreeWear provides chemical-free alternatives for everyday articles
Humans are the only species to generate waste that can’t naturally decompose, making composting not just a crucial but also necessary part of urban living, says Rajeshwari Phadtare Mahadik.
Having made a few conscious switches towards a sustainable home, Prashant and Vibhuti are always exploring ways to make their home an urban oasis.
Often dismissed as pests and now facing the threat of decline, it’s high time we recognize pollinators for what they are – life savers
Team Ethico spoke to Fashion entrepreneur Meghna Nayak about her company LataSita, which upcycles one’s existing wardrobe to weave a brand new story – all while leaving no new trail
The fashion industry is one of the biggest in the world, accounting for 2% of the global Gross Domestic Product. It is also one of the biggest polluters on Earth—second only to oil.
One of the largest citizen action movements protesting the felling of 2,000 trees to build a metro carshed, the Aarey protests have been a show of strength and spirit in Mumbai. And for some of us it has been a defining lesson in fight and forbearance.
From dodging questions and comments to single-use plastic, Deepa and Prashin set a fine example of a sustainable wedding
Disposable nappies are a nightmare for our landfills. While nothing beats the classic (albeit labor-intensive) ‘langot’, the cloth diaper is your next best bet
The Footprint Calculator offers a reality check on the consequences of our actions – ecologically
Enriching and enjoyable as any other holiday (if not more), this one comes without the guilty indulgences of one – at less than half its cost. And a whole other world joy!
Therapeutic music practitioner, Karan Sajnani speaks of healing sounds as the mindful, holistic and perhaps more effective alternative to Western medicine.
A local eatery owner in Bengaluru’s Malleshwaram, Raja is a cheerful and much-loved ambassador of the zero-waste life
Despite the melting icebergs and plastic-laden fish bellies, there are those who diss the environmental talk. Talkback, smartly
Mindful consumption is the first step to conscious living. Start now.
Ethico founders Indranil and Rabia, together also the founders of the #MahimBeachCleanUp, share their trials and triumphs of exposing one of Mumbai’s neglected beaches from under piles of trash.
Made entirely from upcycled material, Hamsini’s creations are a riot of all things pretty
The Australian fires were on everyone’s mind at the Golden Globe Awards last night. Several winners mentioned the disaster and its ties to climate change in their acceptance speech, while others made the bolder choice to skip the event entirely
Global policymakers have proposed extending protections to at least 30% of terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems around the world.
Early this month, scientists announced a surprising discovery: The “fingerprint” of climate change is now detectable in everyday weather. In fact, evidence of global warming can be found in the planet’s weather every day, minute, and second since 2012.
A conference marked by squabbling and deferral yielded little progress despite protests.
The Amnesty poll, released on Human Rights Day, asked more than 10,000 people aged 18-25, in 22 countries across six continents, to pick up to five major issues from a list of 23.
The greatest trick corporations ever played was making us think we could recycle their products.
Wherever you live, the climate crisis is having an impact on your health. Here are nine charts that show how it is damaging the collective health of humanity.
Two of the worst storms ever recorded hit developing nations this year, supercharged by rising global temperatures. Now there’s an international push to link the billions of dollars in devastation to climate change and compel rich, industrial nations to pay.
Lower income countries are the hardest hit by climate change, but have lower coping capacity, the Germanwatch report said.
Minister James Shaw says environmental factors will be ‘at the forefront of our minds’ when major decisions are made.
Climate change doubters have a favourite target: climate models. But now, the most sweeping evaluation of these older models—some half a century old—shows most of them were indeed accurate.
The Swedish retailer follows competitors Banana Republic and Urban Outfitters, which tapped into the billion-dollar rental market earlier this year.
A critical 12 months in the battle against rising temperatures begins in Madrid this week, as UN delegates gather for key talks.
Ladakh doesn’t need the same kind of industrialisation as rest of India, he says
The European Parliament voted on Thursday to declare a “climate and environment emergency” in a symbolic gesture just ahead of the latest UN global crisis summit.
The Inter Ikea Group has said it will invest 200 million euros ($220 million) to accelerate its transition into what it describes as a “climate positive business.”
The manufacture, sale and storage of one-time use plastic items will be banned in Kerala from January 1, 2020. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday
Coldplay will not go on a world tour to promote its latest album, citing environmental concerns. The British band said it won’t tour again until the shows can be done in a sustainable way.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, pledged his government would ensure firms are “pulling their weight” to tackle the “existential threat” to the planet.
The world is beginning to tackle the threat of plastic waste, according to the renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
More than five lakh people died in India in 2016 due to dangerous levels of outdoor air pollution, says Lancet report on health and climate change
In what has been described as a “major first,” Ireland’s parliament was taken over by 157 young people from across the country on Friday as they discussed the climate crisis in Ireland’s first Youth Assembly.
The climate crisis is already hurting our health and it could burden generations to come with lifelong health problems by challenging already overwhelmed health systems and undermining much of the medical progress that has been made in the last century.
From sustainable fashion to sustainable foods, Adidas sustainability initiatives have shown the company’s deliberate strides towards creating a more circular economy.
The world is not doing enough to limit the rise in global temperature, notes an analysis of 184 pledges made by countries in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
The €50 million, 5-year loan comes with interest rates that are reduced when sustainability targets are met.
Coca-Cola was named the world’s number one global plastic polluter for the second year in a row, followed by Nestlé and Pepsico, according to an audit conducted by Break Free From Plastic.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s landmark climate legislation has passed in Parliament, with historic cross-party support, committing the nation to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050 and meet its commitments under the Paris climate accords.
In a worst-case scenario, climate impacts could set off a feedback loop in which climate change leads to economic losses, which lead to social and political disruption, which undermines both democracy and our capacity to prevent further climate damage
The world’s people face “untold suffering due to the climate crisis” unless there are major transformations to global society, according to a stark warning from more than 11,000 scientists.
With the United States withdrawing from the climate pact, other big carbon emitters may have to step up their emission pledges.
According to their 2018 sustainability report, Carlsberg’s current goals include aiming for zero carbon emissions at their breweries by 2030, hoping to already achieve a 50% reduction by 2022.
The U.N. says the clothing industry is responsible for about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes more energy than aviation and shipping combined.
Dove is aiming to cut its virgin plastic use by 20,000 tons a year by 2025
Railways will be an integral part of the Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s path towards climate justice
Rising seas could affect three times more people by 2050 than previously thought, according to new research, threatening to all but erase some of the world’s great coastal cities.
Children, pregnant people and the elderly are the most at risk from extreme weather and heat—but the impact is already felt across every specialty of medicine
Plastics travel on ocean currents and through the air to the far north and accumulate—sometimes inside the animals that live there.