News: Views of Anil Aggarwal, Down To Earth founder editor, on population density and community resource management. As per him, it’s not always necessary to mock an increasing population. It can be seen as an opportunity for moving towards real solutions, including an end to excessive population growth. What are the conditions in which natural… Continue reading Remembering Anil Agarwal — Forget Malthus: upside of population growth
Tag: down to earth
Making solar cells efficient, cheaper, recyclable: IIT-Guwahati finds a way
What is the News? Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, have developed Hybrid Perovskite-based Devices that can generate electricity through solar energy at a power conversion efficiency of more than 21%. What is the current method to produce electricity through solar energy? Among all the renewable energy sources, the energy from the… Continue reading Making solar cells efficient, cheaper, recyclable: IIT-Guwahati finds a way
What does NFHS-5 data tell us about state of women empowerment in India
What is the News? India aims to achieve United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goal-5, which focuses on women empowerment and gender equality, by 2030. To measure the progress of women’s rights in the country, National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 provides data regarding the position of women for 2019-21 on a few key indicators. Must read: NFHS-5… Continue reading What does NFHS-5 data tell us about state of women empowerment in India
New CAG report exposes wide gap between India’s groundwater management regulations & implementation
What is the News? Comptroller and Auditor General of India(CAG) has conducted a performance audit of groundwater management and regulation to analyse the extent of groundwater scarcity in the country. About the CAG Audit Report on Groundwater The audit was conducted on the basis of five years of data (2013-2018) on groundwater management and regulation… Continue reading New CAG report exposes wide gap between India’s groundwater management regulations & implementation
Low grant sanctions, disbursement: India wants to promote FPOs but where are the funds?
What is the news? State of India’s Livelihood (SOIL) Report 2021 has been released by Access Development Services, a national livelihoods support organisation. Focus of the report: The report analysed only farmer producer companies registered under The Companies Act, 2013 since they make up a large majority of the organisations started in recent years.The number… Continue reading Low grant sanctions, disbursement: India wants to promote FPOs but where are the funds?
Transforming lives-The job creation potential of livestock transition
News: Around the world farmers are transitioning from livestock operations to plant-based operations. Why are farmers all over the world transitioning from livestock to plant based production? Demand for plant-based products is growing. Farmer specific issues-Animal farming usually has exploitative contracts, with poor working conditions, low income, high vulnerability to market forces and extreme stress. … Continue reading Transforming lives-The job creation potential of livestock transition
COVID-19 vaccines for 15-18 year olds; boosters for healthcare, frontline workers, senior citizens with comorbidities
What is the News? The Prime Minister has announced new vaccination plans for Covid-19. What are the new announcements made by the Prime Minister related to the Covid-19 Vaccine? Firstly, Covid-19 Vaccine will be made available for children above 15 years from January 3, 2022. Secondly, the “precautionary” doses will be administered to healthcare and… Continue reading COVID-19 vaccines for 15-18 year olds; boosters for healthcare, frontline workers, senior citizens with comorbidities
Labour losses due to rising heat: India among the most affected, finds study
What is the news? Rising heat and humidity due to global warming has prompted major loss in labour hours across the globe. India is one of the worst affected countries, according to a new study led by Duke University researchers. This is the first study at the global scale assessing how effective it is to… Continue reading Labour losses due to rising heat: India among the most affected, finds study
Blue sky thinking-Net zero aviation is more than a flight of fantasy
News: Emissions from aviation industry have almost doubled since 2000 and reached one billion ton in 2018. To reduce emissions from aviation sector and make it net-zero will require a huge collaborative effort between industry, government and consumers. What has been the efforts by the aviation sector towards the net-zero goal? The aviation sector’s progress in cutting… Continue reading Blue sky thinking-Net zero aviation is more than a flight of fantasy
Delivering climate action: The road ahead for India after CoP26
News: At CoP26, India pledged to become a ‘net zero’ carbon emitter by 2070. It announced enhanced targets for renewable energy deployment and reduction in carbon emissions. Achieving these targets will require focusing on the three important areas. 1) Increasing renewable energy capacity, 2) Decarbonising emission-intensive sectors, 3) Creating more carbon sinks. What needs to… Continue reading Delivering climate action: The road ahead for India after CoP26
