Green business

MRR is calling for an immediate temporary halt to all dredging and land-reclamation projects until reef conditions normalise, followed by a two-week buffer period.

WASA insists the emergency project is not a replacement for surface-water schemes but a bridge until they are complete.

The report’s central message is hopeful amid the grim projections: adaptation works when strategically deployed.

According to PIB, India’s submission marks not just compliance but a strategic advancement in biodiversity governance – the country is demonstrating that conservation and economic development can go hand in hand when guided by principles of equity and sustainability.

As South Asia pushes ahead with billions of dollars in LNG infrastructure, the unfolding crisis in the Gulf is a stark reminder that energy security in a volatile world remains deeply intertwined with geopolitics.

Despite the optimism, experts warn of hurdles in ensuring equitable distribution and community access to funds. Past REDD+ pilots in Nepal have faced criticism for bureaucratic delays and inadequate consultation with marginalized groups, including indigenous Tharu and Chepang communities in the targeted provinces.

If scrapped, the ECC's removal could set a precedent for similar levies in other cities, prompting a nationwide discussion on pollution funding. Environmental groups, however, caution that alternatives must ensure continued investment in clean air strategies, lest Delhi's AQI woes persist.

Groups like Greenpeace India praised it for upholding the precautionary principle amid rising pollution levels, noting cement plants contribute significantly to air toxins like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, linked to acid rain and respiratory ailments.