For decades, environmental protection and poverty reduction were often seen as opposing priorities, as though supporting one meant sacrificing the other. Forests were these fragile spaces, supposedly safe only if people stayed out, while raising rural incomes was some separate struggle. But recent research tells a different story. According to the International Forestry Resources and…
Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Prize, and 51 million Trees The Child Who Was Told Not to Disturb the Fig Tree In the hills of Nyeri, in central Kenya, a fig tree grew near the home of a young girl’s family. Her grandmother told her it was sacred and must not be disturbed. As a child,…
The United Nations highlights a massive $4 trillion annual gap in funding the Sustainable Development Goals, raising concerns about meeting the 2030 deadline. FFD Week 2026 will test whether global commitments like the Sevilla Commitment can turn into real financial action. Each year, the United Nations releases a figure that is hard to comprehend. The…
India and the World Bank have signed a $300 million agreement to launch the Haryana Clean Air Project, aiming to reduce pollution through electric buses, cleaner industries, and improved air quality monitoring. The initiative will also create thousands of jobs, with a strong focus on employment opportunities for women. India and the World Bank signed…
The 25th World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS 2026) in New Delhi showcased India’s progress in clean energy, agri-photovoltaics, and Himalayan innovations through Him-CONNECT, emphasizing that sustainability must be a civilizational commitment, not just a pledge. The 25th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) concluded in New Delhi, leaving behind more than a conference…
On 10 July, in Chennai, the 4th India Japan Business Conference brought together policymakers, industryleaders, and development experts under the Indo-Japan Business Council. At the center of the discussion was Takuro Takeuchi, Chief Representative of JICA India, who outlined a five-point agenda to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations. JICA’s approach is both pragmatic…
In India, water is more than a resource Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks is a report released by the NITI Aayog on 19 November 2025, anchoring water planning at the most local level: namely, the block. The report represents a shift from broad planning to community-based action and seeks to translate national ambitions into real…
As climate negotiations enter a new decade, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, has emerged as a defining moment for global climate governance. India presented a strong and forward-thinking climate position at the High-Level Segment, one that combines local resilience, global equity, and national ambition. Three reinforcing pillars- implementation, justice, and decentralised climate leadership can be used…
Uttar Pradesh has embarked on an ambitious campaign to cover every beneficiary household in the state under key welfare schemes. Referred to as the Zero Poverty Campaign, it reached its first major milestone on 15 November 2025. That was the deadline set by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for districts to complete the first phase of…
The Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam (IIMV) is cementing its place as an elite institution leading thought leadership into urgent current issues through its long-running conclave CRISP 2025 “Conference on Responsible Innovation & Sustainability Practices” this year in the company of an inspiring representation of academics, industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students. An event with…
