Current Affairs - Environment

The Equator Prize 2025, presented by the United Nations Development Programme through its Equator Initiative, recognised 10 community-led nature-based solutions by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The central theme for this year’s awards was “Nature for Climate Action,” emphasising the vital role that ecosystems and biodiversity play in mitigating climate change. Winners came from diverse countries including Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Tanzania. Each recipient was awarded USD 10,000 and will receive global recognition during significant international events such as the UN General Assembly and COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

A cloudburst over the Kheer Ganga River, a tributary of the Alaknanda River, triggered flash floods in Dharali, a high-altitude village located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Cloudbursts are characterised by extremely intense rainfall, often exceeding 100 mm in one hour over a small area of about 10 km². These events are particularly common in mountainous regions like the Himalayas due to the combination of steep terrain and unique weather patterns. The flash floods caused by such incidents pose significant risks to lives, property, and infrastructure in vulnerable areas.

Dharali Village in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, was the epicentre of a devastating flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in the upper catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river. The sudden surge of water caused widespread destruction, sweeping away homes, shops, roads, and damaging infrastructure critical to both residents and pilgrims travelling to Gangotri Dham. Rescue operations were swiftly launched by SDRF and the Army, though several individuals were feared trapped under debris. The incident not only caused severe property damage but also highlighted the vulnerability of Himalayan settlements to extreme weather events, with continued heavy rainfall posing further risks.

The Krasheninnikov Volcano, located on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, erupted for the first time in approximately 600 years, making it a significant geological event. The eruption sent a towering ash plume 4 kilometres into the sky and prompted an orange aviation alert due to the risks volcanic ash poses to aircraft. The volcano, dormant since around 1463, suddenly reawakened, likely triggered by a recent 8.7 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks in the region. The Kamchatka Peninsula, known for its high volcanic activity, is home to over 300 volcanoes, 29 of which are active, placing it within the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula shortly after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the region’s Pacific coast on July 30, 2025. Klyuchevskoy, the tallest active volcano in both Europe and Asia, is located in one of the world’s most seismically active zones—part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The eruption followed a dramatic seismic event that triggered tsunami warnings as far as Japan, although no major damage or casualties were reported. The event underscores Kamchatka’s geological volatility, with over 300 volcanoes and frequent seismic activity shaping its rugged and remote landscape.