Feature Article

Negotiations in Durban over greenhouse-gas emissions should not try to revive Kyoto. (Editorial)

As the world continues to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the global temperatures could rise by 3°C by mid-century, says a soon-to-be-released report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Extreme weather events will become even more intense. Erratic monsoons and severe cyclones have already battered large parts of India this century. Should we still blame the increasing disasters on unpreparedness of governments and bad planning? Down To Earth investigates

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) cause significant physical debilitation, lowered economic productivity, and social ostracism for afflicted individuals. Five NTDs with available preventive chemotherapy: lymphatic filariasis (LF), trachoma, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis and the three soil-transmitted helminths (STH); have been targeted for control or elimination, but resource constraints in endemic countries have impeded progress toward these goals.

Mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are highly prevalent and are responsible for 14% of the global burden of disease expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The resources that have been provided in countries to tackle the huge burden are insufficient, inequitably distributed, and inefficiently used, which results in a large majority of people with these disorders receiving no care at all. Even when available, treatment and care often is neither evidence-based nor of high quality.

Century-old teak plantation business loses ground in India because of poor management and short-sighted policies.

Geoscientist Harsh Gupta speaks to Dinsa Sachan on the need for an early warning system for earthquakes.

Karma Tshiteem is the secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission, the novel name of Bhutan’s Planning Commission. He tells Aditya Batra how the concept has fared in the new democracy.

Natural gas is a clean, cheap and efficient fossil fuel, giving India hopes of reducing its carbon intensity. But its shortage has left critical sectors in the lurch. Can India overcome the crisis?

For centuries, traditional agricultural systems have contributed to food and livelihood security throughout the world. Recognizing the