Reports and Documents

Should the world go on a diet in 2014? There has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of overweight or obese people in the past 30 years. Previously considered a problem in richer countries, the biggest rises are in middle income countries and the developing world.

By 2040, global energy demand will increase by 35 percent and nine of the world’s 20 most populous cities — and one of every three people on the planet — will be in China or India. Together these nations account for half of the projected growth in global energy demand, says this new report released by Exxon Mobil.

Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Bhutan, Dec 2013

The government of Denmark reiterated its commitment to Bhutan with multilateral funds to support efforts within climate change, environmental protection and others at the Biennial High Level Consultation on Bilateral Cooperation between Bhutan and Denmark on December 3 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Read more in this December 2013 edition of the Bhutan State of the Environment Overview.

Young children are at risk of serious health problems from toxic materials found in toys widely available in the capital city of Bangladesh. A recent study, undertaken by the Environment and Social Development Organisation, identified high levels of lead, cadmium, bromine and chromium in all but one of 40 toys that were analysed. Read more in this December 2013 edition of the Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Bangladesh published by the South Asia Environment Portal

These rules may be called the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Social Impact Assessment and Consent) Rules, 2014. They extend to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette.

Ministry of Renewable Energy will focus on developing 60 solar cities in 2013-14 and has notified this to heads of the state nodal agencies. Read the notification.

Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Sri Lanka, Dec 2013

The Transport Ministry has formulated the draft Urban Transport Master Plan for the Colombo Metropolitan Region and the suburbs to address issues in the transport sector including heavy congestion in the Colombo city within the next 20 years. Read more in this December 2013 edition of the Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Sri Lanka

Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Pakistan, Dec 2013 Erratic climate change events have hit the rice production in Pakistan this year and to take account of damages, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in its end-of-the-season report has downgraded its production forecast for the country by 600,000 tonnes to 8.7 million tonnes (5.8m tonnes, milled basis). Read more in this December 2013 edition of the Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Pakistan

Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Nepal, December 2013

Until a few months ago, Kathmandu Valley denizens would walk past the Bagmati River covering their noses. These days, the river has undergone a makeover of sorts and the credit goes to the ‘Bagmati Cleaning Campaign’, which completed its 30 weeks in December. Read more in this December 2013 edition of the Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Nepal, December 2013 published by the South Asia Environment Portal.

The European Union approved a grant aid of EUR 4 million to help Maldives tackle issues related to climate change. Read more in this December 2013 edition of the Monthly Overview on State of Environment, Maldives.