Data and Statistics

With almost all the countries entering the ‘patents' bandwagon, year 2001 witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of patents application. The International Bureau of World Intellectual Property

Looked at on a geological timescale, the planet's biodiversity has always been faced with threats of one form or another. But, at present, the threat is more pronounced than ever: species loss is

Freshwater is the most fundamental natural resource. But its sources are fast dwindling or becoming contaminated throughout the world. At the start of the 21st century, nine countries with around 35

With urban and industrial development accelerating at a fast pace, waste disposal is becoming a major problem. Inordinate focus on household waste has often disguised the much larger volume generated

Despite environmental pressure against the use of chemical fertilisers, the deadly substances continue to be used unabated across the globe. At the end of the 20th century an average of 91 kgs of

Asia accounts for 62 per cent of the world's plantations. With 89 per cent of the new plantations coming up in the continent, they are increasingly becoming the source of debate and conflicts. Who

Today, around 36 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Of these, 11.8 million are children and young people. Half of all new cases of HIV — almost 6,000 daily — occur in young people 15

Forests are depleting worldwide — the State of World's Forests 2001 report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (fao) states the obvious. But it also goes beyond the obvious in analysing the

The world's highest energy consuming country, the us , has done little to promote renewable energy. Being one of the major emitters of heat trapping gases like carbon dioxide, the us would be

Negotiations over the past four years have diluted the already weak Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997. The protocol requires industrialised countries to reduce emissions of heat trapping gases like