UN faces $100-trn shortfall in fight against inequality

What is the news? The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) face a financing gap that has soared to up to US$100 trillion in the wake of COVID-19 and other urgent global challenges. These are the findings of a new report ‘The Capital as a Force for Good‘ by Force for Good in collaboration… Continue reading UN faces $100-trn shortfall in fight against inequality

Climate crisis may destroy aquatic food systems — and livelihoods, economies

What is the news?  As per recent study published in Nature Food, Climate change can destroy the marine and freshwater systems of Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Indo Pacific. This may destroy livelihoods and economies of countries in the regions, if appropriate measures are not taken in time to mitigate the crisis.  What are the findings of the report?  First, India, along with other South Asian countries,… Continue reading Climate crisis may destroy aquatic food systems — and livelihoods, economies

UNESCO declares world’s first 5-country biosphere reserve in ‘Amazon of Europe’

What is the news?  Recently, UNESCO designated Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) as the world’s first ‘five-country biosphere reserve.  The biosphere reserve covers 700 kilometres of the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers and stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. The total area of the reserve — a million hectares — in the so-called ‘Amazon of Europe’, makes it the… Continue reading UNESCO declares world’s first 5-country biosphere reserve in ‘Amazon of Europe’

Explained: Why ‘black tigers’ sound a warning

What is the news? Recently, scientists resolved the genetic mystery of Simlipal’s so-called black tigers. Single genetic mutation in these tigers caused black stripes to broaden or spread into the tawny background.  Must Read: Scientists unravel mystery behind Odisha’s ‘black tigers’ What is pseudo-melanism?  Tigers have a dark stripe pattern on a light background of white or… Continue reading Explained: Why ‘black tigers’ sound a warning

Explained: What are the tarballs that have resurfaced on Mumbai’s beaches?

What is the News? Recently, black oil-emanating balls also called Tarballs were seen lying on the shore of Mumbai Beach. What are Tarballs? Tarballs are dark-coloured, sticky balls of oil that form when crude oil floats on the ocean surface. They are transported from the open sea to the shores by sea currents and waves.… Continue reading Explained: What are the tarballs that have resurfaced on Mumbai’s beaches?

Scientists unravel mystery behind Odisha’s ‘black tigers

What is the news?  Recently, scientists have resolved the mystery behind the ‘black tigers’ of Simlipal in Odisha. A recent study has discovered that the coat colouration and patterning that make the wild cats appear dark boil down to a single mutation in the Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep) gene.  The researchers found that the Similipal black tigers may have arisen from a… Continue reading Scientists unravel mystery behind Odisha’s ‘black tigers

Discovery of New Species of Hybodont Shark From Jurassics of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 

What is the news?  Recently, teeth of new species of hybodontshark  of Jurassic age (approximately, between 160 and 168 million-years-old) have been reported for the first time from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.    What is the history of Hybodonts?  Hybodonts, an extinct group of sharks, was a dominant group of fishes in both marine and fluvial environments during the Triassic and early Jurassic time.   It started… Continue reading Discovery of New Species of Hybodont Shark From Jurassics of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 

When climate crisis meets human rights conundrum: Decoding death curves of environment, land avengers

What is the news?  Recently, Global Witness Foundation, a Washington DC-based human rights watchdog, released its latest report titled Last Line of Defence.   The report discusses the environment and land rights activists. As per the report, 227 environment and land rights activists were murdered globally in 2020.    What are the key findings of the report?  Firstly,… Continue reading When climate crisis meets human rights conundrum: Decoding death curves of environment, land avengers

US activists, politicians demand FDA reclassify ‘Toxic 3 Os’ used in sunscreen

What is the News? A coalition of environmental groups, community leaders, academics and businesses in the USA have filed a petition seeking the removal of sunscreen products containing what they call “the Toxic 3 Os.” What are Toxic 3 Os? Toxic 3 Os are three chemicals namely Oxybenzone, Octinoxate and Octocrylene. These chemicals are active… Continue reading US activists, politicians demand FDA reclassify ‘Toxic 3 Os’ used in sunscreen

Food Systems Summit: ‘Supports to farmers keeping the world away from SDGs and the Paris Agreement’

What is the news? On September 14, three UN agencies — Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) — released A multi-billion-dollar opportunity: Repurposing agricultural support to transform food systems report. About the report The report analysed countries’ support to farmers and the consequent adverse impacts on food prices,… Continue reading Food Systems Summit: ‘Supports to farmers keeping the world away from SDGs and the Paris Agreement’

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