The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
Deforestation, evictions and high emissions - palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia have a dubious reputation. Only a few suppliers meet EU sustainability criteria.
This paper offers an overview of the Indian state’s alternative or sustainable development trajectories as well as the more mainstream policy decisions for high-growth objectives in the global economy. Rapid economic growth in India during the last two decades has accentuated the demand for energy and natural resources related to …
This report will examine the effects of European biofuels policies on global and local food security and food rights, land rights, climate change, labour rights and women’s rights. It will do so by referring both to independent modelling analyses of how food rights and land rights have been affected by …
Since 2008, the rush for land in developing countries has rapidly intensified but the sector remains largely unregulated and land deals are frequently agreed in secret between governments and investors. Such a lack of mechanisms or political will to ensure transparent, accountable, and equitable decision-making in the acquisition and allocation …
The state government of Tamil Nadu has finally succumbed to pressure by the central government and decided to commission the operation of the two Russian built nuclear reactors in Koodankulam. It has carried out a major crackdown on the mass movement in and around Koodankulam in southern Tamil Nadu, outrageously …
The government – both at the centre and the state (Odisha) – has reduced adivasis into mere exhibition items in attempts to lure domestic and foreign tourists. On the other hand, they invite multinational capitalists to plunder natural and mineral resources in the adivasi heartland and repress voices of resistance …
The consequences of development-induced displacement are the subject of research undertaken by experts from many disciplines. In addition to the specialist theoretical concepts (IRR Model; Colson-Scudder Four Stage Model), and useful general approaches (human rights, sociology, anthropology) an analysis on the basis of human security and development plays an increasingly …
Activist groups fear rights violation in Kudankulam area, where police have been heavily deployed to curb protests against State government's green signal to the project. Seeking release of all those arrested by the police in and around Kudankulam area, Pon Chandran of Peoples Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) said in …
This report by the Earth Security Initiative seeks to reframe the debate of ‘land-grabs’ in terms of solutions. It builds an argument for taking decisive action on ecological and human rights from a perspective of risk management, based on the prediction that resource pressures will continue to intensify globally. The …
This Monitoring Review Report was commissioned as the second 6-monthly update on Vedanta’s progress in implementing the Recommendations from the original independent strategic sustainability review that Scott Wilson undertook in September 2010. The first review of progress was undertaken in July 2011 and involved visits to the Vedanta Aluminium Limited …
This report initiated and authored by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque, offers solutions, ideas and pragmatic examples of legislation, policies, programmes, advocacy approaches and accountability mechanisms to demonstrate how the rights are becoming reality for the excluded, forgotten …
New DelhiA public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to declare the $8.48-billion Cairn-Vedanta deal as illegal. A bench headed by Justice HL Dattu is likely to hear the matter on March 2. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, …
The government has issued an order taking over the liability to pay compensation to the victims of endosulfan, recommended by the National Human Rights Commission, and absolving the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) of the liability. Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar issued the order on a representation from the Corporation. …
Calling Dhanbad district a “hotbed” of gangs indulging in illicit coal trade, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notice to Jharkhand Government over economic hardships faced by tribals and “illegal mining” in the Naxal-affected area. The Commission said that “abject poverty” was the reason behind spread of …
Migration and displacement are among the range of pressures on people and their communities likely to arise from the economic, social and environmental consequences of climate change. Despite fragmented data, the climate security literature has focused on the potential for climate change-induced migration to trigger social tensions and conflict within …
ISO 26000 is a new international standard on social responsibility developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It offers guidance across themes including human rights, labour, environment, consumer protection, fair operating practices and community development.This paper describes the development of the ISO 26000 standard and discusses the dissonances that …
‘Games organisers toeing company line' There were fresh calls on Thursday for an independent inquiry into Dow Chemical's controversial sponsorship of the London Olympics after Meredith Alexander, a leading environmentalist, resigned from the Games' ethics committee — the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 — protesting against Dow's links with …
