Current Affairs - Environment

Ladakh has unveiled twin flower fields at an altitude of 10,600 feet in Choglamsar and Stakna in the Leh district. The project covers 40 acres and features more than 25 lakh flowers, including around 24 lakh Lilium plants and 1 lakh Gladiolus plants. The initiative aims to promote commercial floriculture as an additional source of livelihood for local farmers and diversify agriculture in the high-altitude region. The Agriculture Department will initially manage cultivation before handing over the fields to selected self-help groups and cooperatives. The Choglamsar flower garden is also intended to serve recreational and educational purposes.

New Delhi topped the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025 with a score of 84 out of 100. The index, jointly developed by NITI Aayog and WRI India, evaluates all 36 states and union territories on electric mobility using 16 indicators across transport electrification, charging readiness, and research and innovation. Maharashtra secured the second position with 78 points, followed by Karnataka with 73 points. Delhi also recorded a strong performance in transport electrification and charging readiness. The 2025 edition showed overall improvement, with the national median score rising from 36 in 2024 to 40 in 2025.

Gandhinagar, Gujarat, will host the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 from September 15 to 18. It will be the first edition of the forum to be held in South Asia. Organised under the theme “Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity,” the event will bring together more than 2,000 delegates from over 65 countries. Participants will include business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, academicians, and innovators. The forum will focus on practical solutions for reducing waste through reuse, refurbishment, recycling, and reintegration of materials into the economic value chain. It will also promote international cooperation and investment in circular-economy initiatives.

Bisleri partnered with State Bank of India (SBI) on September 5, 2026, to implement the 'Bottles for Change' initiative across SBI offices. The initiative focuses on responsible plastic waste management through proper segregation, collection, and recycling of plastic waste. The partnership supports SBI’s sustainability goals, including its target of achieving Net Zero emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 by 2055. It also contributes to India’s broader target of achieving net zero emissions by 2070 and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Bisleri advances its environmental efforts through its Sustainability 2.0 framework and the Bisleri Greener Promise.

Malaysia declared an emergency in the Serian district of Sarawak after the Air Pollution Index (API) reached 519, far exceeding the hazardous threshold of 300. The severe haze was primarily caused by forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia, with smoke crossing into Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Malaysian authorities introduced measures including cloud-seeding operations to induce rainfall and reduce airborne particles. The emergency applies specifically to Serian within an approximately 20-kilometre radius. Despite the emergency declaration, essential services such as supermarkets, gas stations, and banks continue to operate while authorities monitor the pollution and environmental conditions.