Current Issue - Volume 18 Issue 5 (August 2025)

India, the world's second-largest sugarcane producer, employs millions of workers exposed to occupational hazards such as heat stress, chemical exposure, and insecure labour conditions. Certification programmes like Bonsucro's Production Standard aim to improve worker safety, labour rights, and environmental stewardship. In India, tools like the Bonsucro Calculator and initiatives such as DCM Shriram's certification of mills and thousands of smallholders demonstrate tangible progress, including reduced accidents and stronger safety systems. While certification is not a standalone solution, it aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals and fosters collaboration, innovation, and accountability towards safer, fairer, and more sustainable sugarcane production.

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India's clean energy transition also brings to light the often-overlooked challenge of hazardous industrial waste. Outdated incineration methods risk pollution and public health, while modern systems enable cleaner combustion, energy recovery, and advanced pollution control—turning incineration into a climate-positive solution. By centralizing facilities, supporting MSMEs, and recovering byproducts, incineration reinforces circular economy goals. Once seen only as a compliance measure, it now stands as a key driver of sustainability and responsible industrial growth. Keep reading Asiya Muhammed Kochuveettil's article.

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In this article, Gajanan Khergamker says Chaul, a historic port town on Maharashtra's Konkan coast, once central to maritime trade, now faces neglect despite its layered legacies from the Satavahanas to the Portuguese and Marathas. While a recent government publication has renewed interest in Mumbai’s maritime heritage, Chaul is experiencing more performative attention from influencers and digital content creators than conservationists. Its forts, temples, houses, and cemeteries are deteriorating, while intangible traditions—fishing wisdom, boat-building, oral storytelling, and cuisine—struggle to survive. Preservation requires shifting from passive recognition to proactive, culturally responsible engagement.

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In this article, we highlight the pioneering work of Dr A V Baliga Memorial Trust, established in 1968, which has been working with marginalized communities in Delhi to create lasting change. Over the years, the Trust has focused on education, child rights, health, adult literacy, women's empowerment, and protecting the environment. Children and young people play an active role - leading efforts like waste management, planting trees, and cleaning the Yamuna River in Delhi. With its strong community-based approach, the Trust encourages change that passes from one generation to the next, building equality, inclusion, and resilience among disadvantaged groups. By involving children's groups, the Trust ensures that environmental knowledge and sustainable practices are passed on to future generations. This intergenerational approach strengthens community resilience and embeds eco-friendly practices into the fabric of daily life. Keep reading to know more… read more

In this conversation with TerraGreen, Rushikesh Chavan, Head, The Habitats Trust, outlines the role of partnership in the context of sustainable development and climate solutions. As per him—the most crucial enabler for partnerships is a shift in mindset. We must transition from being gatekeepers to being aggregators, co-creators, and facilitators. True partnerships require empathy, active collaboration, and a hands-on approach. read more

India, as an agrarian economy, produces massive volumes of organic waste annually, much of which is either burnt or left to decompose, leading to environmental and health issues. Anaerobic digestion (AD) presents a sustainable solution by converting biomass into biogas and biofertilizer. This article by Apurva Chaudhary, Nagendra Kumar and Diksha Bodwal explores the feasibility of AD in India, evaluates suitable feedstocks, identifies appropriate digestion technologies, and compares biogas upgrading options to determine the most effective strategies in the Indian context. read more

Located in the tranquil Buddhist village of Jaubari in Nepal, the homestay will offer travellers a chance to explore the Eastern Himalayas and seek one of its most elusive treasures - the red panda.

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