Climate Emergency

Bihar has the lowest electricity consumption per person in India, mostly due to lack of power availability. The government is now focusing on solar energy projects, like rooftop installations, floating solar panels, and solar street lights, to boost clean energy. But is this solar energy boom in Bihar addressing the energy poverty challenge? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya travelled to the neighbouring villages in Gaya district of Bihar to understand how renewable energy is penetrating in Bihar. This episode explores the extent of solar adoption in the state and looks at whether solar adoption in Bihar transcends socio-economic factors like income, occupation and caste. This is the third story as part of a three-episode mini-series supported by Earth Journalism Network. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this final episode in the Joshimath series, Sudeshna Chowdhury speaks to an anthropologist, Lokesh Ohri who talks about how ancient rituals had always held nature in high esteem and how a sustainable development model is paramount for protecting the Himalayas.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower project undertaken by NTPC since 2006 is the biggest bone of contention between the people of Joshimath and the government. Residents say that it is this project that has caused disaster in the region. On the other hand, government representatives have steered away from blaming the NTPC for the disaster. Sudeshna Chowdhury speaks to different parties to unravel the reasons behind the disasterSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Studies in the 1970s indicated that the town is located in a fragile area rendering the region unsuitable for construction of massive infrastructural projects. In this episode, Sudeshna Chowdhury speaks to scientists and environmentalists to understand the landscape of the place and what lies beneath its earth that makes it susceptible to land subsidence.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Joshimath, an ancient spiritual town in Uttarakhand, is facing an existential threat due to land subsidence or urban sinking. Future of people who call this town their home is uncertain. The entire region has been divided into danger zones and safe zones. Some residents seek compensation to give up their homes while some don't want to move at all. Sudeshna Chowdhury visits the town and speaks to residents to find out more about the issue.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This summer, temperatures in India soared beyond 45 degrees Celsius, sparking discussions about the necessity of cooling as a fundamental need rather than a luxury. In India, fans, coolers and later air conditioners have been effectively used for seeking comfort from the heat. But with rising CO2 levels, experts have expressed the need for sustainable cooling methods.  In countries with modern and planned infrastructural settlements such as Japan, Canada, Middle East, Sweden, USA, France and some parts of Europe- ‘District Cooling' has been used as a popular cooling solution. But what exactly is district cooling? How does cooling happen in a typical district cooling setup? How climate-friendly is this solution?  And is it a viable solution for India?  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Sudheer Perla who is the Managing Director of Tabreed Asia. Tabreed provides district cooling solutions in the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council. They plan to collaborate with Indian real estate companies and corporations to establish district cooling systems, targeting airports, aero cities, and green buildings. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In the past few years, Jharkhand has seen extreme climate shifts which have affected the forests. The forests are home to various forest flowers, fruits, roots and stems that have been used for medicinal, consumption, healing, trade and many purposes and some have also been used as a livelihood measure. Many products have also been used in urban centres in daily cooking, like lac and tamarind. The climate shifts have resulted in reduced forest produce, affecting the livelihoods of tribal people here.  For reporting on this episode, Sushmita visited remote villages located deep inside forests. She interviewed activists and government officials to understand this issue. This podcast was supported by the Pulitzer Center.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Extreme heat this summer has indicated the need for a robust urban cooling system. It shows an urgent need to build community cooling centres which can be accessed by the most vulnerable groups such as the urban poor, women and elderly.  To understand the challenges and solutions for urban cooling in Indian cities, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Abhiyant Tiwari, who is the lead climate resilience and health consultant at National Research Development Corporation or NRDC India. He talks about the feasibility and scalability of cooling strategies like community cooling centres and district cooling systems, and effective integration of cooling measures in city planning.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This year, Delhi faced severe heat waves with temperatures that soared past 45 degrees on several days. The most vulnerable people—those who live in informal settlements—suffered the brunt of this extreme weather.  The Union Health Ministry and India Meteorological Department issued public health advisories as heatwave conditions persisted in various parts of the country. The advisories talk about following precautions such as monitoring the health of vulnerable individuals, staying hydrated, staying indoors during peak hours, keeping the house cool and so on.  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya visited Nandlal Juggi in Gopalpur village near Mukherjee Nagar in North Delhi, to understand whether these advisories reflect the lives of the urban poor and more.  See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

There is a strong belief that recycled plastic is always good for the environment, and is safe to use. But increasing, increasing evidence shows that recycled plastic should be used with caution. Toxics Link, a Delhi based  environmental research and advocacy organisation conducted a research to assess the toxic contaminants in recycled plastic products that were recycled in Delhi.  As part of this study, 15 samples of recycled plastic products, including food contact materials and toys were tested.  In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Priti Mahesh who has authored this study. She talks about several issues related to recycling of plastic. Some of these are: The recycling of plastic waste in India is mostly done by the informal sector which uses unsound, improper recycling methods. All recycled plastic products are not necessarily safe to use. There are harmful contaminants in recycled plastic that could pose health risks. This is an understudied subject The laws and policy regarding plastic recycling in the country There is a need for enforcement and standardisation of plastic recycling in India  See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

There is a strong belief that recycled plastic is always good for the environment, and is safe to use. But increasing, increasing evidence shows that recycled plastic should be used with caution. Toxics Link, a Delhi based  environmental research and advocacy organisation conducted a research to assess the toxic contaminants in recycled plastic products that were recycled in Delhi.  As part of this study, 15 samples of recycled plastic products, including food contact materials and toys were tested.  In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Priti Mahesh from Toxics Link who has authored this study. She talks about several issues related to recycling of plastic. Some of these issues are: The recycling of plastic waste in India is mostly done by the informal sector which uses unsound, improper recycling methods. All recycled plastic products are not necessarily safe to use. There are harmful contaminants in recycled plastic that could pose health risks. This is an understudied subject The laws and policy regarding plastic recycling in the country There is a need for enforcement and standardisation of plastic recycling in India   See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

As part of an aggressive push on solar, there is a strong emphasis on establishing “solar cities” in Uttar Pradesh. Ayodhya is being developed as a model solar city under the Solar City program in Uttar Pradesh. How far is Ayodhya from becoming a Solar city? How will the Solar City initiative change Ayodhya and the lives of its people? Where do people stand in Ayodhya's Solar city dreams?  Suno India's Sneha Richhariya travelled to energy poor areas of Uttar Pradesh to find out what the solar schemes like PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojna and other policies on solar mean to the people. In this episode, the focus is on Ayodhya as it is being planned as a “solar city”See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Connecting more and more people with solar energy has become an election plank for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Ram Mandir was consecrated in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, 10 million poor and middle-class households in India are supposed to get residential rooftop solar.  In this series, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya investigates what a scheme like this means to the people. In May 2024, she travelled to some energy-poor areas of north India. Where do the poor and the middle people fit into this policy framework? In this episode, Sneha tries to find out whether the scheme is accessible to the people it is intended to benefit. This is the first episode in Suno India's ‘Indian Solar Dream' series. Reporting for this series was supported by Earth Journalism Network. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On April 6, 2024, the Supreme Court gave a landmark judgement bringing the right to be free from adverse effects of climate change within the ambit of fundamental rights.  Indian jurisprudence had earlier held that people had a right to clean air and a clean environment. The right to be free from adverse effects of climate change is a new addition. This flows naturally from the right to life, and the right to equality guaranteed in the Constitution under Article 21 and 14 respectively.  But what are the implications of this ruling for climate litigation in India? How will this help in India's fight against climate change? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya explains in this episode of Climate Emergency.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The cooling industry contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions. As pressure mounts to address climate impacts, there's a crucial need for the industry to overhaul its manufacturing and disposal practices of appliances.  But how are your cooling appliances making the climate worse? What exactly is energy efficiency and what makes an appliance energy-efficient? What role can the consumers play? What do they do with their refrigerant-filled equipment once they are done using them? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to Bishal Thapa, senior director at CLASP, an international nonprofit organisation which provides technical and policy support to governments worldwide and works to implement energy efficiency standards and labels for appliances.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On 17th March 2024, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the Capital notified the new Delhi Solar Policy, 2024, rolling out larger incentives and subsidies for people to install solar power systems at their homes and businesses. The vision is to make solar energy accessible and affordable for all consumers in Delhi.  In the past months, the government has repeatedly promoted the policy that appears less like an environmental step taken to reduce emissions, but more like a policy to push subsidies and reduce electricity bills. Notably, the policy is being sold to all middle and working-class people. But is it really inclusive? Is it really consumer friendly as the government says? Will the middle class who have access to conventional forms of electricity switch to solar energy? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to people in Delhi to understand the complexities of residential rooftop solar adoption.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In early March 2024, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a hot summer this year, with above-normal temperatures and an above-normal number of heatwave days from March to May. On 5th March 2024, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), a specialised agency of the UN, said in a media release that the 2023-24 El Niño, one of the five strongest on record, has peaked and is gradually weakening — but it will continue to impact climate around the world in the coming months. We're playing an episode from last year where Sneha Richhariya explained what El-Nino is, what impact it causes and what is its relation to climate change.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

We're seeing what is being called one of the worst droughts in recent years in Karnataka. Bangalore has become unliveable. Bangalore has access to only half the amount of water that it needs on a daily basis. There's no water in many high and mid-rise buildings, gated colonies. The government is rationing out water tankers, construction using the adjacent Kaveri river is banned, new bore wells are being dug and so on.  In this episode of Climate Emergency, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Shreya Nath, who heads the urban water program at Well Labs, which is an environmental research organisation based in Bengaluru. Last year, Well Labs conducted a study on ‘How water flows through Bengaluru?' to understand where is Bengaluru's water, how much of it is there and in what condition.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Access to clean cooking has been on the radar of policymakers for several decades. With over half of rural households still using traditional, polluting cooking methods, the need for cleaner alternatives is more pressing than ever.  In this episode of Climate Emergency, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Noble Varghese, who has studied India's transition to e-cooking. Why should we think about transitioning to cleaner cooking options, more specifically e-cooking? How are India's villages going to see this transition? Is e-cooking more polluting than LPG? Can India make e-cooking a reliable cooking option? This episode attempts to find out. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

More than 500 people lost their lives in human-wildlife conflict between January 2000 to December 2023, as per the data gathered by the forest department. In 2023 alone, more than 20 persons died of conflict with leopards in the state. The state's Living with Leopards programme is trying to mitigate these conflicts. The programme that originated in Mumbai's Sanjay Gandhi National Park kicked off around 2016 when several non-profits such as Titli Trust, Wildlife Conservation India along with the forest officials sat down and discussed the problem. The programme that was piloted in three clusters in Pauri, Tehri and Almora districts depends on the co-operation of villagers. It is a behavioural change program that teaches people how to live peacefully with leopards. Instead of conflict, the focus here is on coexistence which takes place through sensitization and involvement of various stakeholders.  Sudeshna Chowdhury tails forest officials to find out how they are co-opting villagers into this programme and trying to reduce human-animal conflict. She also speaks with Sanjay Sondhi, Trustee of Titli Trust, NGO, Dr. Koko Rose, deputy project director with Jyca project in Dehradun, Dhananjai Mohan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand, Dharam Singh Meena,  Uttarakhand's Additional Secretary Forest and Environment, and Diksha Bijlan Bhatt, range officer, Maniknath range.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Efforts towards fighting plastic pollution are being made by governments across the world. India is also speeding up its fight against plastic pollution. On July 1, 2022, a ban was imposed on single-use plastic items. This ban was ambitious, covering 19 items.  In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya tries to dig deep and understand all about single-use plastics. She speaks to retail shopkeepers, wholesalers whose businesses rely heavily on single use plastic items and to Siddharth Singh from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) who has conducted a study to assess the status of the ban.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On 21st and 22nd December, 2023, authorities in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district cleared thousands of trees over hundreds of hectares for the phase-2 extension of coal mines in the Hasdeo Arand forest.  Over the past one decade, Adivasis have been a part of a struggle to save Hasdeo Arand forests that stretch across over 1,500 km through Chhattisgarh. The area is home to India's tribal communities, with an estimated five billion tonnes of coal buried under the dense forests.  In this episode of Climate Emergency, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya speaks to Adivasis from villages in Korba and Sarguja districts of Chattisgarh, to understand their concerns regarding the felling of trees in Hasdeo for coal mining.  She also speaks to Alok Shukla, the convenor of Chattisgarh Bachao Andolan and has been associated with the Hasdeo moment for a decade. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, Rakesh Kamal, host of of the Climate Emergency Podcast sits down with Disha Ravi, a prominent voice from an environmental awareness youth group, Fridays for Future India. She talks about the expectations and aspirations of the youth as they are participating in the critical climate change negotiations at COP28 in Dubai. Disha shares her realistic insights into the role of young activists, the challenges they face, and the impact they hope to make on the global stage. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the power of youth involvement in shaping the future of our planet.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The climate change conference, COP28, where the world gathered to make agreements to solve the climate crisis, has wrapped up in Dubai. It's now a crucial moment for assessment and contemplation. Was the conference effective? Are we progressing as planned to achieve the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement? And, importantly, is the Global South experiencing upliftment or facing neglect? Climate Emergency podcast editor- Rakesh Kamal has reported from the grounds of COP28 in Dubai. In this episode, host Sneha Richhariya speaks with Rakesh about his observations, experiences, and reflections at the climate conference this year.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of "Climate Emergency," host Rakesh Kamal engages in a conversation with Vaibhav Chaturvedi, a fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), a leading think tank in Asia. He delves into the heart of the global stocktake (GST) in climate change negotiations, unraveling key developments and emerging trends witnessed at COP28 in Dubai. Vaibhav Chaturvedi brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities presented during this critical international climate summit. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the discussions that shape our collective response to the climate emergency. Stay tuned to "Climate Emergency" and be part of the conversation that shapes a sustainable and resilient future for our planet.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Join host Rakesh Kamal in this episode of "Climate Emergency" as he sits down with Arun Krishnan from the Climate Policy Initiative to delve into one of the most contested issue at COP28 in Dubai "the Global Goal on Adaptation". As the world gears up for outcomes from COP28 in Dubai, Arun sheds light on the challenges that lie ahead and opportunities that are being missed. Gain insights into the crucial discussions surrounding climate policy, adaptation strategies, and the collective efforts needed to address the urgent climate emergency. Don't miss this informative and timely conversation on the forefront of climate action.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of "Climate Emergency," host Rakesh Kamal engages in a compelling conversation with Ranjan Panda environmental activist and Convenor at Combat Climate Change Network, India, and Co-Founder, Youth4Water. He discusses the pivotal role of grassroots organizations in the battle against climate change, particularly within the context of international platforms like the Conference of the Parties (COP). Ranjan Panda shares his insights into how these local efforts can influence global decisions. Gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by these organizations, their successes, and the transformative power they bring to the forefront of climate action. In this episode he delves into the heart of climate advocacy, showcasing the importance of community-driven initiatives in the fight for a sustainable future. Tune in to this episode that is being reported from COP28 in Dubai and be inspired to take action in your own community.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, Host Rakesh Kamal delves into a conversation with Aakash Raanison – a passionate environmentalist, content creator, influencer, Author and documentary maker. In this episode, Aakash talks about how today's youth can actively engage at COP28 in Dubai. He also shares his experiences and insights on how the younger generation can make a meaningful impact on the global stage, influencing policies and fostering change. Tune in for an engaging discussion on navigating the path towards a sustainable and climate-resilient world.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In the lead-up to COP28, the call for increased youth engagement in climate negotiations resonates more powerfully than ever. As the world gears up for another critical COP session, the question looms: to what extent will global leaders heed the diverse experiences and perspectives of a generation least accountable for climate change but most susceptible to its repercussions? For this pre-COP episode of Climate Emergency, host Sneha Richhariya and Editor Rakesh Kamal spoke to Heeta Lakhani and Aditya Mukarji, two of the 17 UN-recognized young climate leaders, about what they think of climate negotiations. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

There are videos on social media suggesting that an artificial rain experiment by IIT Kanpur can tackle air pollution and drought and that this artificially induced rainfall is likely to have “no negative consequences on the environment”.  Videos on social media claim this as a “sustainable solution”. However, this isn't the first time that cloud seeding has been suggested as a possible solution for air pollution in Delhi.  Some experts say that it is complicated, an expensive exercise whose efficacy in battling pollution is not completely proven, and that more research is needed to understand its long-term environmental impact. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has proposed this idea to reduce pollution levels in the national capital. This project has been in development since 2018.  To understand this further, Climate Emergency host Sneha Richhariya speaks to Professor Maninder Agarwal, who is a professor at IIT Kanpur and is the scientist who's leading this project on artificial rainfall.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

India lost one of its most renowned agricultural scientists, MS Swaminathan, on September 28th, 2023. He not just spearheaded the green revolution and pulled the South Asian masses out of a famine, but also contributed immensely to this field by engaging in solution-oriented deliberations and discussions with various stakeholders. He involved farmers into his mission. He involved politicians in his mission, and the global scientists too. In this episode, Sharada Balasubramanian talks to R Ramkumar, agricultural economist from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Ramkumar talks about various unknown aspects of the green revolution and the contribution of Swaminathan not just to India, but to the world's agriculture.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Solar energy has been an important player in India's energy transition. But how does the growth of solar align with the global targets of reducing emissions and alleviating energy poverty? How do we see the world's transition towards clean energy? How do we eliminate disparities in energy access? How do we make sure that renewables are cost-effective? To delve into this further, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya talked to Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and discussed a range of issues, from current challenges to the solar industry to ISA's journey so far and the expectations at the climate change conference this year.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

On October 4th, a glacial lake outburst event struck North Sikkim, sending shockwaves across the northeastern state. This event unfolded at Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, causing an abrupt and alarming surge in the water level of the Teesta River. The floodwaters reached the Teesta III Dam in Chungthang around midnight, resulting in the dam's destruction within mere minutes. While initial reports suggested that a cloudburst may have triggered the glacial lake outburst, scientific investigations are ongoing to uncover the true underlying causes of this phenomenon. In this episode of Climate Emergency, reporter Sneha Richhariya talks to local residents to understand the situation on ground and speaks to Prof. Vimal Khawas  from the Special Centre for the Study of North East India at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi about the factors driving this event, with an emphasis on how climate change has exacerbated it.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Bengaluru is currently experiencing significant and diverse forms of urban growth. Numerous environmental studies have consistently highlighted the adverse impact of intense urbanization on the city's environment. However, the city is now also gaining attention in discussions about its susceptibility to climate change. Unfortunately, the most severe consequences of this situation are affecting those residing in informal settlements throughout Bengaluru. Due to the lack of resources, the priorities of these residents in these settlements do not include climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Then how do we make these residents an active participant in the agenda of climate change? In this episode of Climate Emergency, host Sneha Richhariya talks to Bijal Brahmbhatt, who is the executive director of Mahila Housing Trust, which is a grassroots organization that works to strengthen women in the urban informal sector. MHT is also a part of Ellara Bengaluru, which is a union of NGOs, academia, civic society authorities to jointly work on building a climate-change resilient Bengaluru.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Bundelkhand region in Central India is infamous for its frequent droughts. The lack of water in the region.Farmers in this region have been either aligning their farming with seasonal rainfall patterns or are dependent on diesel or electricity operated pumps for irrigation. But the erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and poor electricity supply have disrupted farming practices, making them riskier.  Pumping ground water using solar energy is now seen as the solution to these water woes. The Central government started the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-Kusum) scheme in  2019 to overcome challenges of irrigation supply. Through this scheme the government subsidises these solar pumps for the farmers. However, solar water pumps rely on existing or available groundwater, which is already scarce in the region. In this episode, Suno India's Sneha Richhariya travels in three districts of Bundelkhand to understand if solar water pumps can solve the issue of irrigation for the farmers of this region and figure if it possesses a threat to its groundwater levels.  Note: This report was produced with the support of Internews' Earth Journalism Network. It was originally published by Suno India on 28 September 2023. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of the Climate Emergency podcast, Editor and host for this episode Rakesh Kamal speaks with Aditi Tandon, a production editor with Mongabay India and a fact-checking trainer with the Google News Initiative India Training Network. They discuss greenwashing and its role in climate misinformation. Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading or deceptive claims about the environmental benefits of a product or service. This can make it more difficult for consumers to make informed choices about the products they buy, and it can also give companies a free pass to pollute the environment. In this episode, Aditi and Rakesh explore the different ways that greenwashing is used, and they discuss the challenges of detecting and preventing it. They also talk about the role that consumers can play in holding companies accountable for their environmental claims. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who is concerned about climate change and the spread of misinformation. It provides important insights into how greenwashing can be used to deceive consumers and undermine efforts to address the climate crisis. *Call to Action:* If you are concerned about greenwashing, there are a few things you can do: * Be aware of the signs of greenwashing.* Do your research before you buy a product or service.* Contact companies that you believe are engaging in greenwashing.* Support organizations that are working to combat greenwashing. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against climate change.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of the Climate Emergency podcast, host Rakesh Kamal talks to independent journalist and trainer Mayank aggarwal about the importance of climate literacy and the need to train media organizations and journalists in fighting climate misinformation. They explore the role of journalists and media organizations in combating this growing problem and discuss the importance of responsible reporting in shaping public opinion and driving meaningful action. Join us as we uncover the challenges faced by reporters in an era of misinformation, and discover ways we can collectively address this urgent issue for a sustainable future. *Episode highlights:* * The rise of climate misinformation and its impact on public opinion* The role of journalists and media organizations in combating climate misinformation* The importance of responsible reporting in shaping public opinion* Ways to address climate misinformation and build a more sustainable future *Listen now to learn more about this important issue!*See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Join Rakesh Kamal, Editor of Climate Emergency Podcast, in this episode as he delves deep into the intricate matter of climate misinformation and its far-reaching consequences for the global north and south. He speaks with Aditi Tandon, production editor with Mongabay India, and a fact-checking trainer with the Google News Initiative India Training Network. She discusses the significance of narratives in climate negotiations to the detrimental effects of misinformation and the vital role of accurate information in tackling the urgent climate crisis. Tune in now to gain valuable insights into this pressing issue.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In India, we witness misinformation rampantly on social media platforms. Edited video clips and photographs of politicians/ celebrities without context are unfortunately quite common. During the peak of the COVID pandemic, health misinformation was rampant. And we saw how misinformation spread faster and is very harmful especially during situations of panic when people are willing to believe anything. And that is what climate change does, it creates those emergency situations because of extreme weather events which are on the rise.    Introducing "Climate Check," our new podcast mini-series on Climate misinformation in India. In the upcoming 3 episodes, we'll focus on the spread and impact of climate misinformation, the importance of climate literacy, and the need for collective action. We'll address misleading claims that confuse and disrupt real climate action.  Climate misinformation involves disseminating false or misleading information about climate change, its causes, impacts, and solutions. It distorts facts, cherry-picks data, and manipulates evidence to deny or downplay the reality and seriousness of climate change. Discussing it is crucial because misinformation confuses people, hampers decision-making, and delays necessary actions. To protect the environment and make informed choices, accurate information is vital.  Our mini-series will explore these issues and more, ensuring accurate information prevails and empowering individuals. Stay tuned for our three enlightening episodes on climate misinformation.  In the first episode, Rakesh Kamal, Editor of the Climate Emergency podcast and co-founder of Suno India talks to  Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu, Founder of Factly about the spread of misinformation and introduces Climate misinformation.  This mini-series is supported by Check Global Independent Media Response Fund. Additional material https://soundcloud.com/dhirendra-rai-745607051/suresh-audio-on-keral-flood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy0E7h-_Ic8&ab_channel=IndianNationalCongress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C1p4HUHlfE&ab_channel=SadhguruSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The peril of climate change is not new to Sundarbans. But in recent years, climate disasters, mostly in the form of cyclones,  are occurring all too frequently. What are the reasons for worsening climate change? How does this affect daily life? Must people brace themselves for future disasters? In this episode, Urvashi Sarkar spoke with Pintu Das who shares a first-person account of the 2009 Aila cyclone, and Prof. Sugata Hazra of Jadavpur University, Kolkata who studies climate change and rising sea levels in Sundarbans.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Since time immemorial, tigers have killed hundreds of fisherfolk and honey collectors who roam the forests of Sundarbans for a living. While hunting for fish and crabs, fisherfolk often wander into government protected areas for tigers, also known as the core area. No human entry or activity is permitted in these areas. Yet, fisherfolk continue to frequent these areas – for them it is less about daring and more about earning a livelihood in order to feed their families. When a fisherfolk or honey collector is killed by a tiger, government authorities usually refuse compensation to families, asking instead why the person was in the protected area to begin with. What follows is a cycle of trauma, deprivation and stigma for the families.  In this episode, Urvashi Sarkar, reports if human-wildlife confrontation has increased in recent times and the reasons for it. This episode looks at the close link between the government's failure to create employment in Sundarbans and the desperation which drives generations of families to the forests for a livelihood. For this Urvashi speaks to Pradeep Chatterjee, convenor of the national platform for small-scale fish workers, and Pushpa Mondal's husband Arjun Mondal, who was a fisherman.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In the public imagination, Sundarbans conjures visions of tigers, dense forests and tourism. But not many know, or perhaps care, that this region spread out in West Bengal and adjacent Bangladesh,  is home to over 50 lakh people on the Indian side alone and has its unique history and politics. In this three-part series on the Indian Sundarbans, we look at various factors that are of consequence to this region- recurring climate disasters, human-wildlife conflict and the role of development. In the first episode of this series, reporter Urvashi Sarkar talks with Annu Jalais about the geographic, historical and social processes which make up the Sundarbans. We explore myth and legend, the inescapable role of tigers and the fragile ecological balance of this region.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.