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Africa’s Deadliest Climate Crisis In Over A Decade: 2021–2025 Marked By Unprecedented Human Toll

Africa is experiencing an unparalleled climate crisis, with the most catastrophic five-year period in terms of the number of people killed by weather-, climate-, and water-related disasters occurring between 2021 and 2025. Based on a study of the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT), Down to Earth (DTE) found that 28,759 individuals died and over 221.57 million people were affected during this period, marking Africa’s deadliest climate crisis in over a decade. What is the Extent of Africa’s Deadliest Climate Crisis From 2021 to 2025? The scope of Africa’s climate problem between 2021 and 2025 was astounding. At least 221.57 million persons were impacted, according to DTE’s analysis of EM-DAT data, which is more than the combined totals from 2011–2015 (99.36 million) and 2016–2020 (91.15 million). Twenty-eight thousand seven hundred fifty-nine people died as a result of disasters, more than tripling the 8,106 deaths that occurred between 2016 and 2020. Given the severity of the crisis, these numbers, which are based on data through May 2025, are likely to increase further by the end of the year. Droughts, floods, cyclones, landslides, cold waves, and heat waves were among the extreme weather events that affected the continent, accounting for 54% of the 412 million people affected by catastrophes since 2011.

Pollution in Delhi stretch of Yamuna spiked in June, as per DPCC

“The pollution level is rising and data show that there is an increase in the amount of untreated sewage entering the river,” said Sushmita Sengupta, senior programme manager (water), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The pollution level in the Yamuna river stretch in Delhi increased in June compared with the previous month, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) monthly water quality report. The 54-km Delhi stretch of the Yamuna is one of the most polluted river stretches in the country. Over the past three decades, the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal have passed several orders directing authorities to clean the river. The levels of faecal coliform (microbes from human and animal excreta) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) have increased at Asgarpur, the point where the Yamuna exits the city, as per the DPCC report. BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter. A higher BOD implies a greater pollution load. In June, the faecal coliform level in Asgarpur was found to be 24,00,000 MPN (most probable number) per 100 ml, which was 4,800 times the desired limit of 500 MPN/100 ml considered safe for bathing, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. In May, the level was 23,00,000 MPN/100 ml, 4,600 times the desirable limit. Faecal coliform levels at multiple other points of the river have also shown an increase. The level of faecal coliform and BOD at Palla, where the river enters Delhi from Haryana, has also shown an increase in June compared with May, suggesting that the river was more polluted when it entered the national capital. However, at all points in Delhi where water samples were tested, except Palla, faecal coliform levels were found to be above the desirable and the ‘maximum permissible’ levels. “The pollution level is rising and data show that there is an increase in the amount of untreated sewage entering the river,” said Sushmita Sengupta, senior programme manager (water), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). In May, a report by CSE, a Delhi-based research and advocacy group, noted that the levels of faecal coliform in the Yamuna, an indicator of the sewage load in a river, were so high in Delhi that the river stretch in the Capital was practically a “sewage canal”.

High summer-time ozone levels in megacities a cause for concern: CSE study

Ozone levels in all megacities of the country have been high during the summer of 2025, with Bengaluru and Mumbai recording levels above prescribed standards for over a third of summer days, said a new Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysis. The new assessment used data from 80 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations across Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. When the CSE analysed Delhi’s ozone (O3) levels last month, they were found to have exceeded the prescribed standard on each summer day between March 1 and May 31. Ozone levels in Bengaluru exceeded prescribed limits 45 out of the 92-day summer days monitored by the CSE, which was a 29 per cent increase compared to last summer, the new analysis said. In Chennai, ozone levels exceeded prescribed levels for 15 out of 92 days, in comparison to no exceedance days for the corresponding period last year. Mumbai recorded ozone exceedance on 32 out of 92 days, marking a 42 per cent decline compared to the corresponding period last year. In Kolkata, about 22 out of 92 days this summer registered an exceedance of ozone standards, which was an improvement over last year by 45 percent. Due to its reactive nature, O3 levels are monitored in an eight-hour average period, instead of 24-hour averages, unlike other pollutants. The prescribed ozone standard for an eight-hour period is 100 micrograms/cubic metre as per the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQ). Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, CSE, said, “If unchecked, this can become a serious public health crisis as ozone is a highly reactive gas and can be harmful even with short-duration exposures. In contrast to cities in north India, where high summer temperatures and intense solar radiation can lead to ozone levels exceeding the standards, other cities in warm climates are experiencing consistent ozone exceedance during other seasons as well.” “Ground-level ozone is beginning to emerge as a pollutant of concern with cities experiencing days exceeding the 8-hour standards. While the level of exceedance is expected to be higher during the summer months with strong sun-shine days and heat, this is emerging as a round-the-year problem in the warmer climate. Clean air action plans for cities and the states need to address this multi-pollutant challenge urgently,” CSE recommended in its analysis. Ozone is not a primary, but a secondary pollutant formed through chemical reactions between other pollutants under sunlight. Hence, summer months see a spike in ozone concentrations. These chemicals include nitrogen oxides (Nox), volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide (CO), pollutants emitted from vehicle tailpipes, power plants, factories, the CSE analysis stated. Ground-level ozone can affect the airways and lungs adversely, increase susceptibility to infections, worsen respiratory ailments, and decrease lung function.

Spring ozone surge prompts warnings for public health

CSE finds Bengaluru recorded 45 ozone-exceedance days this summer —up 29%. Pollution now peaking earlier, with serious implications for health and agriculture Between March and May this year, Bengaluru has recorded a higher number of days exceeding the ozone standard, compared to the previous summer, an analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi has highlighted. As many as 45 out of 92 days this summer recorded ozone levels exceeding permissible limits, according to data from Bengaluru’s air quality monitoring stations. This represents a 29% rise in high-ozone days compared to last summer. The worst day in terms of spatial spread was March 31, when four out of 14 monitoring stations reported levels above the standard threshold. Hombegowda Nagar recorded the maximum number of days with high ozone levels (31 days), followed by Bapuji Nagar. A comparison of ozone levels in May 2025 and May 2024 shows a 28% drop in average hourly ozone peaks, indicating it no longer persists after sunset as it did last year. Daily trends reveal that higher NO2 levels during morning and evening peaks help neutralize ozone. However, ozone concentrations rise during off-peak hours when NO2 levels are comparatively lower, allowing it to accumulate more freely in the atmosphere. Unlike primary pollutants, ozone is not emitted directly from any source. It is formed through chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide (CO) - pollutants that are released by vehicles, power plants, factories, and other combustion sources. In the presence of sunlight, these substances undergo a series of cyclic reactions that result in the formation of ozone at ground level. VOCs also have natural sources such as vegetation, adding to the complexity. Ground-level ozone accumulates not only in urban environments but can also travel long distances, turning into a regional pollutant. It can impact agricultural productivity and threaten food security. Experts say that exposure to ground-level ozone can inflame and damage the airways, increase susceptibility to infections, and worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Children with underdeveloped lungs, older adults, and individuals with existing respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable. Ozone exposure increases the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, often leading to higher rates of hospitalisation. In Bengaluru, ozone forms during both winter and summer, but this year’s data shows a notable shift to spring (February–April), with a 31% rise compared to the same period last year. This trend suggests earlier ozone formation, likely driven by rising temperatures, stronger solar radiation, and potential changes in precursor emissions contributing to the seasonal shift. The analysis underlines that ozone is a regional pollutant that requires effective control at both the local and regional levels. According to CSE researchers, Bengaluru’s clean air action plan must include ozone mitigation. This requires scaling up zero-emission vehicles, cleaner industrial processes, and fuels. Authorities must also control waste burning, remediate legacy waste, and promote clean household fuels to reduce emissions and tackle rising ground-level ozone levels effectively. India scenario As per the analysis, every leading metropolis and megacity in India – including Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai – has been struck by high ozone levels in the summer of 2025. Ground-level ozone pollution in all these cities has spiked, and concentrations have exceeded the eighthour standards on a number of days

Mega cities in India see high concentration of ozone pollution

All mega cities in India, including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, saw high concentration of ground-level ozone pollution this summer season, according to a new analysis by think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). A previous analysis had shown that ozone, instead of particulate matter, was the main pollutant in Delhi’s daily Air Quality Index (AQI) on several days this summer. The new analysis by the CSE’s Urban Lab highlighted that ozone, unlike primary pollutants, is not released directly from any source. It forms through complex chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO), pollutants emitted by vehicles, power plants, industries and other sources of combustion. These substances react in the presence of sunlight, leading to the formation of ozone at the ground level. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the CSE, said: “If unchecked, this can become a serious public health crisis as ozone is a highly-reactive gas and can be harmful even with short-duration exposures.” She added that while cities in north India experience high ozone levels in summer due to intense heat and strong sunlight, cities in warmer climates are also seeing consistent ozone exceedance in other seasons. The current policy focus must be expanded to include improved monitoring, the mitigation of this toxic gas and a reduction in high local exposures. Ozone mitigation needs drastic control over a range of gases from vehicles, industry and all combustion sources, Roychowdhury said. Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager at the CSE’s Urban Lab, said: “Inadequate monitoring, limited data and inadequate methods of trend analysis have weakened the understanding of this growing public health hazard across cities of India. Instead of merely averaging out the levels for the city, which is the standard practice to estimate the AQI, it is also important to adequately capture the high levels of local build-up and exposures in the hotspots and design mitigation strategies accordingly.” Between March 1 and May 31 this year, Mumbai recorded ozone exceedance on 32 out of 92 days across its monitoring stations, a 42-per cent drop compared to the same period last year. The worst day in terms of spread was March 29, when eight out of 31 stations reported exceedance. The highest ground-level ozone concentration recorded was 90 micrograms per cubic metre. In Kolkata, ozone levels crossed the safe limit on 22 out of 92 days, a 45-per cent decline compared to last summer. The city also saw an overall improvement, with the average hourly ozone peak dropping by 22 per cent. Bengaluru saw ozone exceedance on 45 of the 92 days, a 29-per cent increase from last year. The worst day was March 31, when four of 14 stations recorded levels above the standard. Hyderabad recorded 20 ozone exceedance days, a 55-per cent drop compared to last summer. The highest ozone level recorded in the city was 51 micrograms per cubic metre. Chennai saw ozone exceedance on 15 days this summer. No such exceedance was reported during the same period last year. In comparison, the city had three exceedance days in 2023 and 19 in 2022. The highest level this year was 64 micrograms per cubic

CSE Analysis: Indian Mega Cities Face High Ozone Pollution This Summer

CSE Analysis: Every leading metropolis and mega city in India – including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai – has been struck by high ozone levels in the summer of 2025. Ground-level ozone pollution has spiked and concentrations have exceeded the eight-hour standards on a number of days. This has emerged from an analysis done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which was released here today. The analysis has been done by the Urban Lab in CSE under its ‘air quality tracker’ initiative. The assessment highlights that unlike primary pollutants, ozone is not emitted directly from any source. It forms through intricate chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon monoxide (CO) — pollutants that are released by vehicles, power plants, factories and other combustion sources. In the presence of sunlight, these substances undergo a series of cyclic reactions that result in the formation of ozone at ground level. VOCs also have natural sources such as vegetation, adding to the complexity. Ground-level ozone accumulates not only in urban environments but can also travel long distances, turning into a regional pollutant. It can impact agricultural productivity and threaten food security. Given ozone’s highly reactive nature, the ambient air quality standards for it are set for eight-hour averages, instead of 24-hour averages. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, CSE, says: “If unchecked, this can become a serious public health crisis as ozone is a highly reactive gas and can be harmful even with short-duration exposures. In contrast to cities in north India where high summer temperatures and intense solar radiation can lead to ozone levels exceeding the standards, other cities in warm climates are experiencing consistent ozone exceedance during other seasons as well.” Roychowdhury adds: “The current policy focus must be expanded to include improved monitoring and mitigation of this toxic gas and reduction in high local exposures. Ozone mitigation needs drastic control over a range of gases from vehicles, industry and all combustion sources.” “Inadequate monitoring, limited data and inadequate methods of trend analysis have weakened the understanding of this growing public health hazard across cities of India. Instead of merely averaging out the levels for the city – which is the standard practice to estimate AQI — it is also important to capture adequately the high levels of local build-up and exposures in the hotspots and to design mitigation strategies accordingly ,” says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager at the Urban Lab in CSE. The CSE review shows that exposure to ground-level ozone can inflame and damage the airways, increase susceptibility to infections, and worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Children with underdeveloped lungs, older adults, and individuals with existing respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable. Ozone exposure increases the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, often leading to higher rates of hospitalisation. The investigation method: This assessment has traced trends during summer (March-May) between 2022 and 2025 (up to May 31). It is based on publicly available granular real time data (15-minute averages) from the Central Pollution Control Board’s official online portal – the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management. The data has been captured from 80 official stations under the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS), spread across Mumbai (31), Kolkata-Howrah (12), Bengaluru (14), Hyderabad (14) and Chennai (nine). Says Kaur: “Given the volatile and highly localised nature of ground-level ozone pollution build-up and its variability across space, and consistent with the global good practice, this analysis has considered station-level trends in terms of number of days exceeding the eight-hour standard over time.” She points out that as ozone formation depends on complex atmospheric chemistry and on photochemical reactions, its level varies across the time and space horizon. Meteorological parameters such as sunny and warm weather, stagnant wind patterns etc have a bearing on its formation. Kaur says: “This analysis tracks exceedances at each station in metro cities — breach of the standard by even one station is considered exceedance by the metro city in which the station is located. Days with multiple stations exceeding the standard indicates the severity of the spatial spread and number of people exposed.” The study has considered global good practice and taken on board the USEPA approach of computing eight-hour averages for a day and then checking for the maximum value among them to capture the daily ozone pollution level. USEPA assesses city-wide or regional AQI based on the highest value recorded among all stations of the city or the region. Thus, trends have been calculated in terms of number of days when the daily level has exceeded the eight-hour standard (referred as exceedance days hereafter.

रिपोर्ट : हाथ से निकल रहे हालात, साल भर झेलना होगा धूल-धुएं का गुबागुबार

भारत के कई शहरों मेंओजोन षण बढ़ रहा है, जिसमेंबेंगलु में 29% की वृद्धि ई है। सीएसई की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, यह षण गर्मियों तक सीमित नहीं हैऔर वाय पर गंभीर भाव डाल सकता है।...

कूड़े से बनी बायो सीएनजी से हर रोज चल सकती हैं 17 हजार कारें, इतना पैदा होता है कूड़ा

विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण कें की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दिली मेंहर दिन पांच हजार 210 टन गीला कचरा पैदा होता है। इतनेकूड़े सेबनी बायो सीएनजी सेहर रोज 17 हजार कारेंचल सकती हैं। अगर ठीक सेउपयोग किया जाए तो राजधानी मेंपैदा होनेवाला कचरा बत फायदेमंद साबित हो सकता है। गीलेकचरेसेहर दिन एक लाख 74 हजार किलो बायो सीएनजी बनाई जा सकती है। बायो सीएनजी की यह मात्रा इतनी बड़ी हैकि इससेहर दिन सह हजार सेयादा कारों की धन खपत पूरी हो सकती है।

दिल्ली-बेंगलुरु समेत भारत के इन शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण जानलेवा! CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट ने दिल्ली, कोलकाता और बेंगलुरु जैसे भारत के बड़े शहरों के लिए चिंता बढ़ा दी है. CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा हुआ है कि दिल्ली समेत भारत के कई बड़े शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण गंभीर स्तर पर पहुंच गया है. इन शहरों में दिल्ली, मुंबई, कोलकाता, बेंगलुरु, चेन्नई और हैदराबाद भी शामिल है. रिपोर्ट में बताया गया है कि ओजोन प्रदूषण अब केवल गर्मियों की समस्या नहीं है, बल्कि सर्दियों में भी ओजोन स्तर मानकों से ऊपर है. इसका सीधा असर शहरों के वायु की गुणवत्ता पर पड़ा है, जिससे हवा में धूल और धुएं का घना गुबार बना रहता है. इस गर्मी के दौरान देश के कई शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण खतरनाक स्तर पर पहुंच गया. साथ ही कई दिनों तक इसका स्तर सामान्य से ज्यादा रहा.

दिल्ली-बेंगलुरु समेत भारत के इन शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण जानलेवा! CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट ने दिल्ली, कोलकाता और बेंगलुरु जैसे भारत के बड़े शहरों के लिए चिंता बढ़ा दी है. CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा हुआ है कि दिल्ली समेत भारत के कई बड़े शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण गंभीर स्तर पर पहुंच गया है. इन शहरों में दिल्ली, मुंबई, कोलकाता, बेंगलुरु, चेन्नई और हैदराबाद भी शामिल है.

दिल्ली, बेंगलुरु, मुंबई समेत भारत के इन शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण हुआ जानलेवा, CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की हालिया रिपोर्ट ने दिल्ली, कोलकाता और बेंगलुरु जैसे प्रमुख भारतीय शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण (Ozone pollution) की गंभीर स्थिति को उजागर किया है. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दिल्ली के साथ-साथ मुंबई, कोलकाता, बेंगलुरु, चेन्नई और हैदराबाद में ओजोन प्रदूषण चिंताजनक स्तर पर पहुंच गया है, जो इन शहरों के निवासियों के स्वास्थ्य और पर्यावरण के लिए एक बड़ा खतरा बन सकता है.

New Delhi: समय पर कार्रवाई न हुई तो प्रदूषण बनेगा संकट: CSE

नई दिल्ली: भारत के बड़े शहरों जैसे कोलकाता, बेंगलुरु, मुंबई, हैदराबाद और चेन्नई में इस गर्मी (2025) में जमीन के स्तर पर ओजोन प्रदूषण ने खूब सिर उठाया है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, इन शहरों में ओजोन का स्तर कई दिनों तक 8 घंटे के मानक से ज्यादा रहा. यह प्रदूषण इतना खतरनाक है कि यह लोगों के स्वास्थ्य और खेती पर बुरा असर डाल रहा है. इस समस्या को समझते हैं और जानते हैं कि क्या करना जरूरी है.

Mega cities in India witness high ozone pollution this summer

“If unchecked, this can become a serious public health crisis as ozone is a highly-reactive gas and can be harmful even with short-duration exposures,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the CSE ALL mega cities in India, including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, saw high concentration of ground-level ozone pollution this summer season, according to a new analysis by think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). A previous analysis had shown that ozone, instead of particulate matter, was the main pollutant in Delhi’s daily Air Quality Index (AQI) on several days this summer. The new analysis by the CSE’s Urban Lab highlighted that ozone, unlike primary pollutants, is not released directly from any source. It forms through complex chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO), pollutants emitted by vehicles, power plants, industries and other sources of combustion. These substances react in presence of sunlight, leading to formation of ozone at the ground level. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the CSE, said: “If unchecked, this can become a serious public health crisis as ozone is a highly-reactive gas and can be harmful even with short-duration exposures.” She added that while cities in north India experience high ozone levels in summer due to intense heat and strong sunlight, cities in warmer climates are also seeing consistent ozone exceedance in other seasons. The current policy focus must be expanded to include improved monitoring, the mitigation of this toxic gas and a reduction in high local exposures. Ozone mitigation needs drastic control over a range of gases from vehicles, industry and all combustion sources, Roychowdhury said. Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager at the CSE’s Urban Lab, said: “Inadequate monitoring, limited data and inadequate methods of trend analysis have weakened the understanding of this growing public health hazard across cities of India. Instead of merely averaging out the levels for the city, which is the standard practice to estimate the AQI, it is also important to adequately capture the high levels of local build-up and exposures in the hotspots and design mitigation strategies accordingly.” Between March 1 and May 31 this year, Mumbai recorded ozone exceedance on 32 out of 92 days across its monitoring stations, a 42-per cent drop compared to the same period last year. The worst day in terms of spread was March 29, when eight out of 31 stations reported exceedance. The highest ground-level ozone concentration recorded was 90 micrograms per cubic metre. In Kolkata, ozone levels crossed the safe limit on 22 out of 92 days, a 45-per cent decline compared to last summer. The city also saw an overall improvement, with the average hourly ozone peak dropping by 22 per cent. Bengaluru saw ozone exceedance on 45 of the 92 days, a 29-per cent increase from last year. The worst day was March 31, when four of 14 stations recorded levels above the standard. Hyderabad recorded 20 ozone exceedance days, a 55-per cent drop compared to last summer. The highest ozone level recorded in the city was 51 micrograms per cubic metre. Chennai saw ozone exceedance on 15 days this summer. No such exceedance was reported during the same period last year. In comparison, the city had three exceedance days in 2023 and 19 in 2022. The highest level this year was 64 micrograms per cubic metre.

UN SDG Report 2025

Context: The UN SDG Report 2025, released at the High-Level Political Forum, warns that 35% of measurable SDG targets are stagnating or reversing, with five years left to 2030. About Summary of UN SDG Report 2025: SDG 2: Zero Hunger Hunger affected 9.1% of the global population in 2023 (~713–757 million people). 2.33 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023. Sub-Saharan Africa: 23.2% hunger prevalence and Southern Asia: 281 million hungry. SDG 4: Quality Education 57% of targets show no progress or are regressing. School completion, foundational literacy, and gender parity remain unmet in many nations. SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water. 3.4 billion people have no access to sanitation and 1.7 billion lack hygiene access. SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth Half the targets stagnated or regressed. 57.8% of workers globally are in informal employment. Youth unemployment in 2024 stood at 12.9%, 3× adult rate (3.7%). SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities Rising inequality across income, access to vaccines, digital divide, and climate vulnerability. No significant redistribution mechanisms expanded post-COVID-19. SDG 14: Life Below Water 40% of targets regressing. Ocean acidification, marine pollution, and overfishing worsening. Least funded SDG, as highlighted at UN Ocean Conference 2025. SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being Maternal mortality and universal health coverage targets stalled. Health systems under post-pandemic strain and chronic underinvestment. SDG 12, 15, 16 (Responsible Consumption, Life on Land, Peace & Justice) 40–42% of targets off-track. Forest loss, biodiversity erosion, institutional backsliding seen in many nations. Negative Trends Identified: Climate Crisis: 2024 was the hottest year; WMO predicts an 80% chance of hotter years ahead, endangering food, water, and health security. Extreme Poverty: Over 800 million people remain extremely poor; SDG1 is off-track as 8.9% may still live in poverty by 2030. Debt & Aid Decline: A 7.1% fall in official aid in 2024 hampers SDG funding for low-income nations. SDG Financing Gap: A $4 trillion annual gap stalls SDG investments in developing countries due to limited access to affordable capital. Positive Trends Identified: HIV Infections: Global HIV cases declined 40% since 2010, marking strong gains in SDG3 health targets. Malaria Control: 2.2 billion malaria cases averted and 12.7 million lives saved since 2000 through prevention and treatment. Social Protection: Coverage now reaches over 50% of the world population, advancing inclusive welfare goals. Way Ahead: Roadmap for 2030: Reform Global Finance Architecture: Adopt the Sevilla Commitment: Expand multilateral lending, cut debt burdens. Focus on Six Key Accelerators: Transform food systems, ensure energy access, promote digital transformation. Expand inclusive education, create decent jobs, and protect climate/biodiversity. Build Resilient Data Systems: Implement the Medellín Framework for Action for data-driven SDG policies. Target Most Affected SDGs: Immediate action on SDG 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 — with multilateral and domestic investments. Urgent Multilateralism: Recommit to collective action beyond national interest — especially in G20 and BRICS forums. Conclusion: The UN SDG Report 2025 paints a sobering picture of stagnation amid global crises. While there are islands of success, systemic transformation and urgent global cooperation are essential. Achieving the 2030 Agenda now hinges on political will, equitable finance, and inclusive governance.

2-day training programme on human rights for Indian Forest Service Probationers organised by the IGNFA with the support of the NHRC, India begins in Dehradun

The training programme is spread into 13 theme-based sessions being addressed by eminent domain experts like Shri Rajiv Jain, Former NHRC Member; Shri Rajiv Kumar, Former Chief Election Commissioner; Shri Prasant Kumar, Member, CAT Srinagar; Dr S. P. Yadav, DG, International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA); Shri R. R. Rashmi, Former Spl Secretary, MoEFCC; Dr C. N. Pandey, Former PCCF (HoFF), Gujarat; Smt Meenakshi Negi, PCCF (HoFF), Karnataka; Ms Sunita Narain, DG, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE); Shri D. K. Nim, Former Joint Secretary, NHRC; and Shri Franklin L. Khobung, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Mega cities in India see high concentration of ozone pollution this summer

All mega cities in India, including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, saw high concentration of ground-level ozone pollution this summer season, according to a new analysis by think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). A previous analysis had shown that ozone, instead of particulate matter, was the main pollutant in Delhi's daily Air Quality Index (AQI) on several days this summer. The new analysis by the CSE's Urban Lab highlighted that ozone, unlike primary pollutants, is not released directly from any source.