1. Introduction Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century. Rapid industrialization, deforestation, urbanization, and the overuse of fossil fuels have resulted in rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, global warming, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation. These changes pose severe threats to human health, agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, and…
Introduction India’s electricity sector is undergoing one of the largest energy transformations in the world. For decades, coal has formed the backbone of power generation, supporting industrialisation, urban growth, and rising living standards. However, mounting climate concerns, international commitments, and domestic sustainability goals are now reshaping this traditional structure. India has pledged to achieve net-zero…
Introduction The Himalayas, often referred to as the “Third Pole”, host the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. They are the lifeline of several major rivers in South Asia, including the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries, which support over 1.5 billion people. In recent decades, these glaciers have been shrinking at an…
The effective management of land and water resources plays a central role in alleviating poverty, reducing disasters, improving food security, and ensuring environmental sustainability. It is widely recognized that a mismanagement of these resources is at the core of many human miseries ranging from drought and famine to displacement, economic instability, and conflict. A systematic…
Introduction Mountain ecosystems are among the most fragile and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. They provide essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, biodiversity conservation, soil stabilization, climate regulation, and cultural heritage. These ecosystems support millions of people directly and indirectly through agriculture, forest products, and tourism. However, in recent decades, development initiatives and tourism have…
Introduction Mangroves are one of the most vital ecosystems in the tropical and subtropical coastal zones. They consist of salt-tolerant plant species such as Rhizophora, Avicennia, Sonneratia, and Bruguiera, thriving in intertidal regions where rivers meet the sea. Despite covering less than 1% of tropical forests globally, mangroves provide disproportionate ecological, economic, and social benefits….
Introduction In the 21st century, humanity faces the dual challenge of ensuring economic growth while safeguarding the environment. Rapid industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and technological expansion have created unprecedented opportunities but also generated critical environmental challenges. Climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, air and water pollution, and resource depletion threaten the very foundation of life on…
Introduction Agroecology has emerged as a transformative approach to agriculture that merges ecological science with traditional agricultural knowledge and sustainable farming practices. Rooted in both scientific and indigenous understandings of nature, agroecology seeks to design resilient farming systems that are ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable. Central to the practice and philosophy of agroecology…
Introduction Climate change has emerged as a significant threat to global food security, ecosystem balance, and rural livelihoods, particularly in countries like India where agriculture remains the mainstay of millions. Erratic rainfall patterns, increasing temperatures, soil degradation, and the loss of biodiversity are intensifying farming challenges. In this context, agroforestry has gained prominence as a…
Introduction Earth’s climate system is a complex interaction of various atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial processes. Among the most influential natural climatic phenomena that disrupt this balance are El Niño and La Niña, collectively known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). These irregular periodic variations in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and wind patterns in the central…