Pointless Plants - Incredible Story of Nathan from Planes to Plants

Twenty-three-year-old Nathan Raab lost his job as a commercial airline pilot during COVID-19, and decided to make a change from spraying jet-fuel over the planet to set up his own eco-friendly company instead, Pointless Plants. Here, we present his amazing journey and his pioneering initiative.

Less is More

Most people don’t need more protein. They need less. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi exposes the mythology of protein and explains why it should come from plants, not animals.

India's RE Capacity Goal by 2030 - To Offset Major Carbon Emissions

In this article, Ramya Ranganath says that once all the sanctioned renewable energy projects attain fruition in 2021, and all the gaps are plugged, India is well underway towards achieving both its 2022 and 2030 target of 175 GW and 450 GW of renewable capacity, respectively. It will help India in achieving its intended nationally determined contributions.

A Circular Economy for All - ‘What Goes Around Comes Around!'

In this article, Sarah Berry highlights that for a rapidly developing country such as India, the adoption of a circular economy is of paramount importance, not only because of the rate of growth the country is undergoing and projecting, but also because of the numerous benefits this concept brings with it.

Joining the Dots Ecosystem services. Climate change. Global pandemic.

In this article, Biba Jasmine reflects on the linkages among ecosystem services, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. The important components of ecosystems are also discussed with a focus on policies in place.

The Elf of Plants They Call Mushroom

Thomas Carlyle had said once, ‘Thou fool! Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom; the idle crag thou sittest on is six thousand years of age.’ Isn’t it a fact that we haven’t yet grown big enough to realize the benevolence of nature that has long been arming us to the teeth against all odds?—writes Rajshekhar Pant.

Calamitous Earth Reheats International Efforts to Curb Emissions are Needed

‘The year 2020 has been an unprecedented year for people and planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives worldwide. At the same time, the heating of our planet and climate disruption has continued apace. Record heat, ice loss, wildfires, floods and droughts continue to worsen, affecting communities, nations, and economies around the world,’ United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, said recently. In this article, Dr Anil Pratap Singh discusses the urgent need to accelerate and deepen global actions with the political commitment and governments’ willingness. It would forge new partnerships while maintaining the tempo for mitigation and ways of cooperation to support international efforts to curb emissions.

Young Women Lead the Green Brigade in India

India, like the rest of the world, is facing the scourge of rising pollution levels, particularly in the urban pockets of the country. In the fight against pollution and environmental degradation, many youngsters are proactively working towards spreading environmental awareness, designing ‘green’ products and technology to prevent environmental degradation and reduce pollution and creating ‘sustainable’ enterprises for a cleaner and greener planet. Among the youngsters, it is the women who stand out for their sheer conviction and drive.

Railway Children India

Who might have ever wondered that locking down ourselves in our own little spaces of comfort would someday be out of an obligation than a personal choice made? During the lockdown when everyone was asked to stay home, where do you think the children living on railway platforms went who knew of platforms as their only home ever since they woke up to this life?

Recycled Plastic Bricks

Some Environmental Initiatives

Earthquake Risk Signs of Nature Should Not be Ignored

In this article, Baseera Rafiqi talks about earthquake risk factors in Jammu and Kashmir while reiterating that ignoring signs of nature could prove detrimental for the region in the long run.

WSDS 2021 Redefining Our Common Future: Safe and Secure Environment for All

Due to the unprecedented global impact of COVID-19, the 20th edition of TERI’s flagship event the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) was held entirely online from February 10–12, 2021. In two decades, the Summit series has achieved a position of repute in bringing together governments, policymakers, business leaders, academicians, scientists, youth and civil society in the fight against climate change and in promoting the agenda of sustainable development.

Avian Flu Protect Yourself from the Virus

Avian influenza is also a contagious viral flu disease of a similar nature to the coronavirus, says Maneka Sanjay Gandhi. Cooking contaminated chicken will not save you from infection because so many people and you handle the uncooked bird.

‘My Job is to Tell Stories that Need to be Told'

Gautam Pandey, a popular name in wildlife film festivals, such as the Wildscreen Festival, Jacksonhole, Jagran Film Festival, Woodpecker International Film Festival and many more, speaks to Elsa Lycias Joel about his passion, success, parents, and his love for the wild and untamed.

Paris Climate Pact Retrospect And Prospects

There is now a sense of a global urgency emerging towards keeping the promise of the Paris Agreement and securing our future on this planet. Net-zero emissions is becoming the new normal on the horizon. Several major economies have committed to climate neutrality or net zero emissions in the coming decades. Arvind Kumar discusses such related issues in this article.

Tourism Hits Reset Button After Lockdown As Tourists Become More Responsible Now

In this article, Manu Shrivastava says that lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country had dealt a big blow to tourism-dependent economies, leaving them struggling to survive. However, after the restrictions were lifted up most of the tourists have become more disciplined and responsible for the good as they have realized that dirtying tourist places is like cutting the branch they’re sitting on.

The Plastic Pandemic The Looming Challenge

In this article, Rashi Goel highlights the issue of increased waste created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Meat Paradox Connecting the Head and the Heart

Maneka Sanjay Gandhi says that people consuming meat shy away from making the connection that animals have been harmed in the process. Meat eaters and sellers resolve this dilemma by deliberately dissociating meat from its animal origins.

Pondicherry Shark Critically Endangered

Mention a shark, and many of us think of a large creature tearing through the seas, baring serrated teeth. But there are sharks whose size may surprise you, like the critically endangered Pondicherry shark. Benita Sen finds out more about it.

Enhanced Climate Action

Neha Pahuja and Mekhala Sastry analyse the possibilities in India vis-á-vis enhanced climate action. They conclude that while India is committed to NDC till 2030, a sectoral approach is necessary to reduce emissions and broaden the ambit of climate action in the country. However, it is important to note that success of this strategy requires coordinated effort not just in sectors but across scales as well.

Ek Tara Helping Children Shine Like the Brightest of Stars

Ek Tara is a registered trust that began its journey in 2011 with a small group of marginalized children and women in the slums of Topsia and Tiljala in Kolkata, West Bengal with a vision to provide high-quality holistic education and livelihood skills to enable positive community transformation. Here, we are in an exclusive email conversation with Ek Tara’s Executive Programme Manager, Anupriya Bhattacharya, for TerraGreen.

Durga India

Dare to Understand Behaviour, Respond Appropriately and Guard Ourselves Ably

Chamurthi Horses Need for Their Conservation

Sarita Brara says Lari farm was set up for the conservation of the prized Chamurthi horses threatened with extinction. And though the population of this breed of horses has begun to increase, it is still far short of the numbers for this species to be completely out of red.

2020 Tied for Warmest Year on Record Shows NASA Analysis

Earth’s global average surface temperature in 2020 tied with 2016 as the warmest year on record, according to an analysis by NASA.

Is India Tsunami Ready? - Present And The Future

India is recognized as a tsunami service provider for the Indian Ocean region by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). IOC is a global body supporting global ocean science and services. In August 2020, the IOC recognized two coastal villages of Odisha as 'Tsunami Ready' for their tsunami preparedness. The country has a well-equipped tsunami early warning system in place since 2007, but what is it more that India needs to be fully tsunami ready? The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad—an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India—has been providing ocean information and advisory services to the country for nearly two decades now. This includes issuing warnings and alerts about tsunamis, high waves, swells, storm-surges, and other ocean-related phenomena through sustained ocean observations and continuous improvements through research. In an interview with Dr T Srinivasa Kumar, Director, INCOIS, we understand the present status of tsunami readiness in India and what must be done by the country to be ready to combat dangers from impending tsunamis in the future.

Plastic Waste Management - Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Plastic waste generation is expected to increase to 31.4 million tonnes by 2031 and further to 55 million tonnes by 2041 (Statista 2019), thus showcasing an urgent need to address the concerns from the growing plastic waste in our country. Dr Suneel Pandey and Sourabh Manuja tell us that a recent discussion paper, Plastic Waste Management: Turning Challenges into Opportunities, published by TERI brings forth a few recommendations to turn plastic waste management challenges into opportunities. lastics not only are enduring, tonnes of plastics in 2018–19 (PlastIndia those uneconomical for collection

The Secretive Lives of the Wild Cats of India

Did you know that living in the shadow of their famous and iconic larger relatives, there are 10 small and secretive wild cats in India? Sandesh Kadur, a National Geographic Fellow and BAFTA award-winning cameraman, has carefully documented them on film, for National Geographic Wild and for us to enjoy. Dr Marianne Furtado de Nazareth tells us about his vivid experiences in this endeavour.

Ways to Reduce Environmental Toxins at Home - To Lead a Healthy Life

In this article, Pratosh Saxena says that simple changes in our daily life can reduce our exposure to potentially harmful substances.

Turning Waste Plastic into 'Ecobricks'

In this article, Sarita Brara highlights the efforts of children of vulnerable communities towards envisioning a plastic-free society. Read on to find out more about their innovation called ‘ecobricks’.

Constitution Salvages Environment - State Ensures All-round Development

In this article, Gajanan Khergamker says apart from ensuring that the law on environment is enforced equitably across India, the State has to provide the perfect platform to balance development and environment. He cites different examples to make his point clear.