Himalayan Glaciers Shrinking Fast, Study Warns of Water, Disaster Risks
A new analysis reports that glaciers across the Hindu-Kush Himalaya, which stretches across eight countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar, have been reduced by 12 percent in 20 years. This may lead to uncertainty in water availability and increased exposure to natural calamities in South and Southeast Asia in the coming decades, a trend scientists say is already contributing to rising risks of glacial lake floods, avalanches and landslides in the Himalayan region.
India Faces Major Ecological Setback as Aravalli Hills Lose Protection
The Supreme Court has accepted a new definition of what constitutes the Aravalli Hills, a mountain range that stretches across western India through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, limiting it to elevations over 100 metres and grouping only those within 500 metres of each other as part of the range. By excluding most smaller hills from protection, the change opens the door to mining and construction, threatening forests, wildlife, groundwater, rainfall, and air quality.
How Bad is Delhi’s Air Pollution for Your Health, What Needs to Change?
People in Delhi and nearby areas are absorbing dangerous amounts of air pollution deep into their lungs every day, far beyond what Indian or global safety standards allow. A five-year study measured how much of this pollution actually settles inside the respiratory system, offering a clearer and more direct view of the damage being caused to people’s health.