The climate is changing. It has been changing for over millions of years. The recent change, however, is a result of anthropogenic activities. As global warming and climate change affect sustainable development of humankind, it has become imperative that a sustainable link between humans and the nature is forged.

This month, our cover story titled ‘Mountains Shall Stand Tall’ discusses conservation of the mountains with special focus on food, water, and environmental protection. Preserving and protecting the dwindling mountain resources within the paradigms of different resource usage and land-use procedures have become serious challenges. The World Mountain Forum held in Bishkek foregrounded the theme of mountains in a changing world. The aim was to strengthen partnership between countries and building pathways for a thriving mountain future. One way to begin is by practising comprehensive development approaches that tap into the needs, aspirations, and experiences of young people researching and living in mountain societies. Maintenance of mountain resources involves regional and international collaboration and its benefits will be reaped by both on-site and offsite consumers.

India is home to one of the most polluted cities in the world. Every year, around Diwali, the capital of the country, Delhi, is engulfed in thick smog and toxic air, which is largely blamed on burning of paddy in nearby states of Haryana and Punjab. TerraGreen’s Special Feature focuses on this problem and attempts to find a solution through the adoption of 7 ‘R’s of sustainability (rethink, refuse, reduce, repurpose, reuse, recycle, and rot). The feature suggests how the pulp made from paddy straws could be converted to value-added products such as tableware, egg trays, millboards, and bio-foams.

The Special Report provides the readers an opportunity to explore the perfect green getaway with wonderful waterfalls and picturesque spots in India’s smallest and Asia’s only non-motorable hill station, Matheran, which is barely 80 km from Mumbai. Steeped in history, Matheran preserves the old British-style architecture, the charm of Parsi bungalows, beauty of the red laterite earth, and the magic of unmetalled roads. TerraGreen, like every month, has something interesting to offer to the young geniuses. This issue’s Children’s Story promises the youngsters a discovery of the fascinating world of Peacock Tarantula. Also known as the Gooty sapphire ornamental tree spider, this gorgeous spider is the only species in its genus to be covered in blue hair. As forests get cleared, like so many other species, the Peacock Tarantula is also facing the threat of extinction. So, it has become extremely important that we take immediate actions, safeguard our ecology and environment, and make every effort to reverse the harmful effects of climate change and global warming. With the COP 25 scheduled from 2 December 2019 in Madrid, Spain, countries and key policymakers will decide on the next pertinent steps to be followed in the UN climate change process. Also, in 2020, countries are scheduled to submit new and updated climate action plans, which will offer clarity on how committed the world is towards slowing down the hazardous effects of climate change.