Health & policy
Brazil's Indigenous Policy Makes Progress, But Challenges Persist
Brazil's Indigenous policy has made significant strides in recent years, but critical problems persist, according to a recent analysis.
Health & policy
Brazil's Indigenous Policy Makes Progress, But Challenges Persist
Brazil's Indigenous policy has made significant strides in recent years, but critical problems persist, according to a recent analysis.
Water
Indonesia's Captive Coal: A Decarbonisation Paradox
Indonesia's ambition to dominate nickel and electric vehicle battery supply chains may undermine global decarbonisation efforts due to its reliance on captive coal-fired power plants.
Waste
Bomb fishing tracked sonically across Indonesian coral reefs
A study has used thousands of hours of underwater audio recordings to track blast fishing in the Spermonde archipelago, off the south-western edge of Indonesia's Sulawesi island.
Health & policy
African AI Governance Must Respect Indigenous Peoples, Expert Says
African governments are developing national AI strategies, but experts say they are neglecting the impact of AI on the environment and Indigenous rights.
Health & policy
Women-led rice-crab farming offers climate-resilient alternative in Assam
Farmers in Assam are adopting a climate-resilient farming method that combines rice and crab cultivation, providing a second source of income and reducing the need for agrochemicals.
Monitored sourcesDialogue Earth, formerly China Dialogue and The Third PoleMongabay India
24 stories today6 sections0 topics trackedUpdated through the day
The index
Water
Indonesia's Captive Coal: A Decarbonisation Paradox
Indonesia's ambition to dominate nickel and electric vehicle battery supply chains may undermine global decarbonisation efforts due to its reliance on captive coal-fired power plants.
Waste
Bomb fishing tracked sonically across Indonesian coral reefs
A study has used thousands of hours of underwater audio recordings to track blast fishing in the Spermonde archipelago, off the south-western edge of Indonesia's Sulawesi island.
Health & policy
African AI Governance Must Respect Indigenous Peoples, Expert Says
African governments are developing national AI strategies, but experts say they are neglecting the impact of AI on the environment and Indigenous rights.
Health & policy
Women-led rice-crab farming offers climate-resilient alternative in Assam
Farmers in Assam are adopting a climate-resilient farming method that combines rice and crab cultivation, providing a second source of income and reducing the need for agrochemicals.
News
Pollution and Uncertainty in Brazil's Steel City
Volta Redonda, a city in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, is plagued by pollution from the country's largest steelmaker, CSN. Residents and environmental groups are calling for action to address the issue, but the company claims it is taking steps to mitigate the damage.
Air
India's Young Farmers Embrace Agri-Tech to Bridge Generational Gap
Young Indian farmers are turning to technology to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts in the country's agricultural sector.
Water
Ladakh Glaciers Losing Speed as Ice Melts, New Study Warns
A recent study has found that glaciers in the Zanskar Himalayas in Ladakh are losing speed, with implications for water availability in the region over the long term.
Waste
Supreme Court Upholds Centre's Power to Notify Post-Facto Clearance
The Supreme Court has struck down the central government's 2021 Office Memorandum on post facto environmental clearances, but stated that the central government can frame statutory amnesty schemes under the Environment (Protection) Act.
Soil & chemicals
New Clues into How Animals Evolved an Internal Compass to Navigate Earth
Scientists have made new discoveries about how animals evolved an internal compass to navigate the Earth, but the origins of this ability remain elusive.
Health & policy
Assam Activist's Detention Sparks Widespread Condemnation
Rights groups condemn the detention of Assam-based environmental and Indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley under the National Security Act, calling it a clear attempt to punish and vilify activists for exercising their constitutional right to protest.
Also filed
Health & policy
Heatwaves and Lightning Recognized as National Disasters in India
The Indian government has officially recognized heatwaves and lightning as national disasters, making them eligible for relief under the State and National Disaster Response Funds.
Health & policy
Indian Peafowl's Expanding Range Sparks Conflict with Farmers in Eastern Himalayas
The Indian peafowl, a national symbol and protected species, is causing significant agricultural damage in the eastern Himalayas, exacerbating tensions between farmers and conservationists.
Water
India's Online Ornamental Plant Trade May Be an Overlooked Pathway for Invasive Species
A new study has found that a majority of ornamental plants sold online in India are alien species, many of which are known to be invasive or naturalised in other countries.
Waste
Mine Closures in India: A Complex Transition
India's mine-closure framework has expanded in recent years, but challenges remain in implementing scientific closure and ecological restoration. Local communities are often unaware of developments regarding closed mines, and concerns persist about the environmental and social consequences of mine closures.
Soil & chemicals
Herders Quitting Occupation Threatens Human-Tiger Coexistence in Kanha-Pench Corridor
Herders play a vital role in mediating between villages and the forest department in the Kanha-Pench corridor, but many are quitting due to low wages, loss of pastures, and the risk of being attacked by a tiger.
Health & policy
Tourism and Human Disturbance Linked to Elevated Stress in India's Tigers
A study across five tiger reserves in India reveals that tigers exposed to higher levels of tourism and human disturbance exhibit elevated stress hormone levels. Female tigers appear to prefer less disturbed areas for breeding, though researchers caution that the findings show associations rather than direct causation. The study recommends better wildlife tourism management to balance conservation with minimizing stress for tigers.
News
Assam Floods Expose a Crisis Beyond Heavy Rain
The recent floods in Assam and Nagaland have left a trail of destruction, with over 100 people reported dead and thousands displaced. While heavy rainfall is being cited as a primary cause, researchers and local residents point to a complex array of factors, including wetland degradation, disrupted drainage, and unregulated mining and infrastructure.
Air
Himalayan Pheasants Face Mounting Human Pressure
A study on the white-crested kalij pheasant in the northwestern Himalayas has identified habitat degradation, hunting, and human disturbance as major threats to the species. The findings serve as an early warning to conserve the region's forests and other rarer pheasant species.
Water
Western Ghats States at Odds Over Eco-Sensitive Areas Notification
The Union Environment Ministry has released a new draft notification defining Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) across 56,825 sq km of the Western Ghats, but states including Kerala and Goa continue to resist the boundaries due to concerns about tourism, farming, and real estate development.
Air
Nine Anchor Species Could Boost India’s Biodiversity and Climate Goals
New research identifies nine key species whose habitat conservation could protect over 700 vertebrates and 1.1 gigatonnes of carbon in India, offering a pathway to meet biodiversity and climate targets.
Air
The Carbon Market Bets on an Invasive Tree
Big companies are paying to convert invasive trees in India into charcoal-like substances to solve climate change, but the process raises several questions about its effectiveness and impact on local communities.
Health & policy
Free-ranging dogs threaten livelihoods in Spiti's agro-pastoral landscape
A new study finds that free-ranging domestic dogs are a growing threat to livestock in Himachal Pradesh's Upper Spiti, with many herders considering them a greater risk than traditional predators.
News
India's Bats: Ecological Guardians Under Threat
India's diverse bat species play vital roles in pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal, yet face declining populations due to habitat loss, persecution, and wind turbine collisions. With only six species legally protected, conservation efforts remain inadequate.
Explore topics
Common questions
How often is Smog and Soot updated?
New stories are published through the day as reporting is confirmed. The homepage lists the most recent items first.
Where does Smog and Soot get its information?
Every story carries a named source attribution. Our methodology page sets out which document types we treat as primary and how we handle estimates.
Who writes the articles?
Each story carries a named byline. Author pages collect everything that writer has filed for this site.
How are corrections handled?
Corrections are logged on a dedicated page with a date and a plain description of what changed, rather than edited in silently.