https://smogandsoot.com/2026-08-21https://smogandsoot.com/share-home.svg https://smogandsoot.com/news/delhi-cng-station-blast/2026-08-21https://smogandsoot.com/share-delhi-cng-station-blast.svgA large pile of cars is engulfed in flames, with fire trucks and firefighters present to combat...A blast at a CNG station in Delhi has left three people dead, with police saying the truck being refuelled had more cylinders than permitted (Source: Hindustan Times Delhi) https://smogandsoot.com/news/delhi-police-told-survey/2026-08-21https://smogandsoot.com/share-delhi-police-told-survey.svgA factory emitting smoke from its chimneys, with buildings and trees visible in the foreground...Lieutenant governor directs police to conduct fresh survey and expand senior citizen app (Source: Hindustan Times Delhi) https://smogandsoot.com/news/delhi-road-network-plans/2026-08-21https://smogandsoot.com/share-delhi-road-network-plans.svgA highway with cars and trucks driving on it, with a large industrial facility visible in the...The Delhi Development Authority is set to draw plans for existing and new road networks in the city, aiming to improve accessibility and reduce pollution. (Source: Hindustan Times Delhi) https://smogandsoot.com/news/china-five-year-plan/2026-08-21https://smogandsoot.com/share-china-five-year-plan.svgA factory emitting smoke into the air, with a mountain range visible in the background.China's new coal plan prioritizes energy security and a 'green and low-carbon transition', but lacks a clear timeline for reducing coal consumption, sparking debate among experts on its... https://smogandsoot.com/news/mariana-mazzucato-importance-culture/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-mariana-mazzucato-importance-culture.svgA woman holding a banner that reads "Stop global warming!" while marching with a crowd of people...Mariana Mazzucato argues that culture is fundamental to tackling the climate crisis and that a green transition must be people-centric https://smogandsoot.com/news/indian-ocean-changes-far/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-indian-ocean-changes-far.svgA plastic bag floating in the ocean, surrounded by fish and other debris.The Indian Ocean's unique biodiversity and climate are being shaped by its geological history, monsoon-driven dynamics, and global warming, with significant impacts on regional climate and marine... https://smogandsoot.com/news/indonesia-plastic-pollution-conundrum/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-indonesia-plastic-pollution-conundrum.svgA sea turtle swims above a coral reef, with plastic bottles and other debris scattered on the...Indonesia is struggling to balance its goal of reducing plastic waste with the expansion of its petrochemical industry, which is expected to increase plastic production https://smogandsoot.com/news/rising-temperatures-intensify-humid/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-rising-temperatures-intensify-humid.svgA large cooling tower emitting steam into the air, with a body of water in the foreground and a...A recent study finds that humid heat stress during India's monsoon season will rise sharply as global temperatures increase, affecting nearly half of the country if global temperatures exceed a... https://smogandsoot.com/news/delhi-traffic-police-suggest/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-delhi-traffic-police-suggest.svgA nighttime scene of a busy road with multiple cars, each featuring red brake lights, driving in...The Delhi Traffic Police has proposed a series of road and traffic engineering works to ease congestion and improve road safety in west and south-west Delhi. (Source: Hindustan Times Delhi) https://smogandsoot.com/news/delhi-hc-questions-mla/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-delhi-hc-questions-mla.svgA large pile of discarded white plastic cups, some of which have red and black text on them...The Delhi High Court has questioned the Delhi government's decision to require women seeking aid under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana to obtain an endorsement letter from their MP or MLA. https://smogandsoot.com/news/multinational-companies-invest-mangrove/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-multinational-companies-invest-mangrove.svgA factory emitting smoke from its chimney, with a brown tiled roof and trees in the foreground...Multinational companies are investing in mangrove conservation in India, with some projects focusing on community livelihoods and biodiversity rather than carbon credits. https://smogandsoot.com/news/brazil-indigenous-mps-face/2026-08-20https://smogandsoot.com/share-brazil-indigenous-mps-face.svgTwo large industrial cooling towers emitting steam into the air, set against a backdrop of a...Brazil's Indigenous MPs are fighting for climate action despite facing opposition from the ruralist bloc. (Source: Dialogue Earth, formerly China Dialogue and The Third Pole) https://smogandsoot.com/news/camera-traps-reveal-hidden/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-camera-traps-reveal-hidden.svgA forest with trees covered in frost, a factory emitting smoke in the distance, and a tall...A new study in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve estimates at least 55 greater hog badgers in the area, using camera trap data from the All India Tiger Estimation 2026. The elusive... https://smogandsoot.com/news/india-only-ape-endangered/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-india-only-ape-endangered.svgA monkey wearing a blue jacket and helmet, sitting on a motorcycle in front of a factory with...The western hoolock gibbon, India’s sole ape species, is known for its melodious calls and arboreal lifestyle. Found in northeastern India’s forests, it plays a crucial role in seed dispersal but... https://smogandsoot.com/news/theatre-review-hot-mess/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-theatre-review-hot-mess.svgA laptop with a hand holding a globe on its screen, surrounded by trash and debris, with a beach...The musical 'Hot Mess' uses a romantic comedy narrative to explore the tumultuous relationship between Earth and Humanity, highlighting the consequences of environmental exploitation and the... https://smogandsoot.com/news/indonesia-petrochemical-expansion-tests/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-indonesia-petrochemical-expansion-tests.svgA large industrial complex with numerous pipes, tanks, and structures, set against a clear blue sky.Indonesia’s growing petrochemical industry, boosted by a USD 6 billion China-backed refinery project, raises concerns about rising emissions and fossil fuel dependence. While the government touts... https://smogandsoot.com/news/bomb-fishing-tracked-sonically/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-bomb-fishing-tracked-sonically.svgA large amount of plastic debris floating in the ocean, with a school of small fish swimming nearby.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. https://smogandsoot.com/news/brazil-indigenous-policy-makes/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-brazil-indigenous-policy-makes.svgA factory emitting smoke from its chimney, situated in a rural area with trees and a field in...Brazil's Indigenous policy has made significant strides in recent years, but critical problems persist, according to a recent analysis. https://smogandsoot.com/news/african-ai-governance-must/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-african-ai-governance-must.svgAn industrial complex situated in a mountainous region, featuring a large factory with a tall...African governments are developing national AI strategies, but experts say they are neglecting the impact of AI on the environment and Indigenous rights. https://smogandsoot.com/news/indonesia-captive-coal-decarbonisation/2026-08-19https://smogandsoot.com/share-indonesia-captive-coal-decarbonisation.svgA power plant with smokestacks emitting smoke into the air, set against a backdrop of a blue sky...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. https://smogandsoot.com/news/women-led-rice-crab/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-women-led-rice-crab.svgA factory emitting smoke from its chimney, situated on the far side of a river, with a bridge...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. https://smogandsoot.com/news/pollution-uncertainty-brazil-steel/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-pollution-uncertainty-brazil-steel.svgA polluted riverbank with a large amount of trash and debris floating in the water, surrounded...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/india-young-farmers-embrace/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-india-young-farmers-embrace.svgA tractor is plowing a field with a red plow, set against a backdrop of houses and industrial...Young Indian farmers are turning to technology to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts in the country's agricultural sector. https://smogandsoot.com/news/ladakh-glaciers-losing-speed/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-ladakh-glaciers-losing-speed.svgA large body of water with several large chunks of ice floating on its surface.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. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/news/supreme-court-upholds-centre/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-supreme-court-upholds-centre.svgA large factory or industrial complex in the distance, with a field of green grass in the...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/clues-how-animals-evolved/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-clues-how-animals-evolved.svgA shell lying on a beach at sunset.Scientists have made new discoveries about how animals evolved an internal compass to navigate the Earth, but the origins of this ability remain elusive. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/news/heatwaves-lightning-recognized-national/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-heatwaves-lightning-recognized-national.svgA cityscape with multiple buildings, some of which have smoke or steam rising from their rooftops.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. https://smogandsoot.com/news/indian-peafowl-expanding-range/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-indian-peafowl-expanding-range.svgA close-up of a peafowl's majestic tail feathers, photographed in a sun-dappled forest clearing...The Indian peafowl, a national symbol and protected species, is causing significant agricultural damage in the eastern Himalayas, exacerbating tensions between farmers and conservationists. https://smogandsoot.com/news/india-online-ornamental-plant/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-india-online-ornamental-plant.svgA small green plant growing in a cracked, dry, and barren landscape.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. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/news/mine-closures-india-complex/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-mine-closures-india-complex.svgA close-up of a rusted, abandoned mine headframe, partially shrouded in a haze of dust and...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/herders-quitting-occupation-threatens/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-herders-quitting-occupation-threatens.svgA close-up of a herder's worn leather boots, half-submerged in the dry riverbed of the...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/tourism-human-disturbance-linked-e27606/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-tourism-human-disturbance-linked-e27606.svgA close-up of a tiger's paw print in the mud, with a subtle footprint of a hiking boot partially...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/assam-floods-expose-crisis-39a5da/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-assam-floods-expose-crisis-39a5da.svgA large area of land covered in a thick layer of mud, with several objects and structures...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/himalayan-pheasants-face-mounting-e75726/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-himalayan-pheasants-face-mounting-e75726.svgA white bird with a tan head and black beak is perched on a pile of tangled red and blue fishing...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/western-ghats-states-odds-4c3220/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-western-ghats-states-odds-4c3220.svgA close-up of a weathered, moss-covered stone signpost, partially submerged in a dry riverbed in...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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/nine-anchor-species-could-94f623/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-nine-anchor-species-could-94f623.svgA tree with a sign attached to it, indicating a nature reserve.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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/carbon-market-bets-invasive-fe7b24/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-carbon-market-bets-invasive-fe7b24.svgA factory emitting smoke from its chimney, situated behind a forest and a body of water.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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/free-ranging-dogs-threaten-8387ab/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-free-ranging-dogs-threaten-8387ab.svgA deer with a can in its mouth, standing in a grassy field.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. https://smogandsoot.com/news/india-bats-ecological-guardians-48d7f3/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-india-bats-ecological-guardians-48d7f3.svgAn old, dirty, brown glass bottle lying on its side in a field of green grass.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... https://smogandsoot.com/news/shrinking-shola-grasslands-threaten-a28158/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-shrinking-shola-grasslands-threaten-a28158.svgA large body of water with numerous white swans swimming in it, accompanied by a grassy bank and...A new study of the high-elevation shola sky islands shows that loss of native grasslands and the spread of exotic woodlands are restricting movement for endemic birds, especially the... https://smogandsoot.com/news/divergent-climate-rankings-highlight-5a19aa/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-divergent-climate-rankings-highlight-5a19aa.svgA cityscape with a prominent factory emitting smoke from its chimney, situated amidst a cluster...India’s low placement in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index and its high ranking in the Climate Change Performance Index expose how differing ethical assumptions-total emissions versus... https://smogandsoot.com/news/invasive-species-impact-severe-ed0e16/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-invasive-species-impact-severe-ed0e16.svgA factory emitting smoke from its chimneys, with a grassy area in the foreground.A recent study published in the Science journal challenges the notion that the impacts of invasive alien species are greatest in wealthy countries of the Global North. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/news/declining-breeding-population-arunachali-ad50a6/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-declining-breeding-population-arunachali-ad50a6.svgA riverbank littered with trash, including plastic bottles, cans, and other debris, with a large...A recent genetic study on the Arunachali mithun has revealed a declining breeding population, highlighting the need for informed breeding decisions and conservation efforts. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/air/2026-08-21 https://smogandsoot.com/water/2026-08-21 https://smogandsoot.com/waste/2026-08-21 https://smogandsoot.com/health-policy/2026-08-20 https://smogandsoot.com/topics/sec-air/2026-08-21 https://smogandsoot.com/topics/sec-health-policy/2026-08-20 https://smogandsoot.com/topics/sec-waste/2026-08-21 https://smogandsoot.com/topics/sec-water/2026-08-21 https://smogandsoot.com/about/ https://smogandsoot.com/sources-and-methods/ https://smogandsoot.com/corrections/