E-India
• Dams versus Cranes! The Buddhist Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh are fighting to save the wintering site of the threatened sacred black-headed crane from the Nyamjang Chhu hydel power project.
• Beware sand mafia – new guidelines for sand mining are here. The Environment ministry has framed new guidelines to curb illegal sand mining following a Supreme Court order requiring environmental clearance for all mining projects.
E-Mage
• Can Mumbaikars let go of their most prized beauty – their beloved sea front? Nope, they are gearing up for a prolonged protest against a proposed coastal sea road. The protesters argue that the project will destroy mangroves, affect traditional fishing communities and damage the city’s sea front.
E-Video
• Watch this stunning and awe-inspiring time-lapse video that showcases the beauty of Hawaii’s volcanoes.
E-Economy
And now, some ‘colour’ being added to environmental regulation – red, orange, white and green! The government has proposed a new colour-based classification system for industries as per their environmental impact, with red being the most polluting category. The new system is expected to increase ‘green compliance’ in industry.
E-Energy
• Need ‘clean’ energy but can’t kiss coal goodbye: India’s Power Minister has stressed on the country’s commitment to clean energy, but has underlined that for now, coal-based thermal power is crucial for India’s development.
• Green nod to controversial hydro project: The Environment ministry has recommended forest clearance to three controversial hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh. Environmentalists argue that the environment impact assessments for the projects are flawed and incomplete.
• Bad news for India’s domestic solar energy: The World Trade Organisation has ruled against India’s choice to back domestic manufacturers to supply equipment for solar power projects in the country. India is expected to challenge the verdict.
E-International
• Wildlife trafficking has gone online. Authorities say that online platforms like eBay have made it more difficult to enforce laws against illegal trafficking.
E-Nature
• Ever wondered how many trees there are on Earth? A new study puts the number at an incredible three trillion, and notes that we’re cutting down over 15 billion trees every year. Even more worrying - we’ve reduced the total number of trees by 46% since the beginning of human civilisation.
E-Quiz
• Ever thought about your own contribution to climate change? Check out your impact on the Earth’s vital stats here.
(Shalini Iyengar is a lawyer and researcher working in India)