Urban farming involves the cultivation of crops within and around cities. This practice not only provides fresh, locally grown produce but also has numerous environmental benefits…writes Maninder Singh
Climate change is no longer a distant concern but a current reality demanding immediate attention. Its effects, from extreme weather to rising sea levels and resource scarcity, are being felt globally. However, within these challenges lies an opportunity for eco-conscious decisions. Urban farming, once viewed as niche, is now recognized as a practical response to mitigate climate change impacts. By converting urban spaces into sustainable ecosystems, urban farming has the potential to transform our environmental stewardship and build a more resilient future.
The need to address climate change is urgent. The WHO estimates that by the 2030s, there could be an additional 250,000 deaths annually due to climate-related diseases like malaria and coastal flooding. Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and more frequent extreme weather events are among the outcomes of unsustainable practices. The time to take action is now, and urban farming offers a promising path forward.
Urban Farming: A Sustainable Solution
Urban farming involves the cultivation of crops within and around cities. This practice not only provides fresh, locally grown produce but also has numerous environmental benefits. By reducing the need for long-distance transportation of food, urban farming helps to lower carbon emissions. In addition, the use of organic farming practices can improve soil health and biodiversity, further contributing to climate resilience.
Transforming City Spaces
One of the key advantages of urban farming is its ability to convert underutilized city spaces into organic food production centers. Vacant lots, rooftops, balconies, and even vertical surfaces can be repurposed for farming, creating green spaces in the heart of urban areas. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of cities but also helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect, which can exacerbate the impacts of climate change.
Community Engagement
Urban farming also promotes community engagement and social cohesion. By bringing people together to grow and share food, urban farms can strengthen social bonds and create a sense of belonging. This can be particularly important in densely populated urban areas where social isolation is a growing concern. Besides, urban farming can provide economic opportunities for local residents, especially in underserved communities.
Policy Support
To fully realise the potential of urban farming, supportive policies and incentives are needed. While some state governments have extended their support by providing subsidies and thus creating an enabling environment for urban farming, policymakers can help to scale up this sustainable practice and make it accessible to more people.
Urban farming has the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against climate change. By transforming city spaces into sustainable havens, urban farming can help reduce carbon emissions, improve food security, and enhance the resilience of urban areas. However, realizing this potential will require concerted efforts from policymakers, communities, and individuals. It is time to embrace urban farming as a solution to climate change and work towards a more sustainable future.
A bedroom is a sanctuary for rest and rejuvenation, and plants can enhance this calming atmosphere. Consider a Snake Plant or a Lavender plant…reports Asian Lite News
In the bustling chaos of modern life, finding a moment of tranquility and connection with nature is a precious escape. That’s where the concept of ‘green corners’ comes in-a little oasis in every room that breathes life and serenity into your home. Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or just looking to introduce some greenery. Niraj Johri, Founder and CEO at Casa Decor shares some tips on how to create a green corner in every room.
Welcome Guests with a Green Entryway
The entryway is the first impression your home makes on visitors. Adding a touch of green here not only sets a welcoming tone but also purifies the air as guests step inside. Consider placing a hardy plant like a Snake Plant (Sansevieria) or a Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) near the entrance. These resilient plants thrive in a variety of lighting conditions and are excellent air purifiers.
Switch Artificial Greens with Natural Flora in your Living Room
The living room is often the heart of the home, and it deserves a lively, green touch. Opt for larger, statement plants like a Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) or a Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica). These not only add a refreshing element but also create an appealing focal point in the room. Explore modern planters and plant stands to match your living room’s aesthetic. These modern planters come in a variety of designer shapes, ensuring they can be displayed anywhere, while plant stands help ensure your plants get the proper light.
Keep Your Bedroom Fresh with Plants
A bedroom is a sanctuary for rest and rejuvenation, and plants can enhance this calming atmosphere. Consider a Snake Plant or a Lavender plant. The Snake Plant purifies the air, while Lavender’s fragrance promotes relaxation and sleep. Placing these on bedside tables or hanging macrame planters can add a soothing touch.
Grow Herbs in the Kitchen
What’s better than having fresh herbs at your fingertips in your kitchen? Herbs like basil, rosemary, or mint thrive in indoor environments. You can grow them in small pots on the windowsill or create a vertical herb garden on a sunny wall. Enjoy the convenience of using fresh herbs while cooking, and relish the delightful aroma they bring to your kitchen.
Succulents in the Bathroom
Bathrooms often have limited natural light, making them perfect for low-light, low-maintenance plants like succulents. These charming little plants add a touch of green without demanding too much attention. Aloe vera and Snake Plant varieties work well in bathrooms. Consider using wall floor planters or hanging pots to save precious counter space.
Essentials for Nurturing Your Green Oasis
Garden Watering Cans
To keep your green corner thriving, don’t forget the importance of proper hydration. A garden watering can is an essential tool for nurturing your plants. It allows you to water your plants gently and precisely, avoiding overwatering or creating a mess.
Plant Stands
Plant stands are an excellent addition to any room, providing a platform for your plants to bask in the sunlight. They come in a variety of styles, from sleek and modern to rustic and traditional. Use them to lift your plants to the right height, ensuring they receive the proper light. In addition to their functional benefits, plant stands can be a decorative element themselves, adding a touch of elegance to your home.
Wall Planters
If you’re dealing with limited floor space, wall planters are a smart choice. They allow you to create a vertical garden that adds a stunning visual element to your home. Hang them in your living room, kitchen, or even your bathroom to maximise your green corner without sacrificing precious floor space.
In conclusion, creating a green corner in every room is a delightful way to connect with nature, purify your air, and enhance your home’s ambiance. From welcoming guests with greenery in the entryway to creating a lush living room, refreshing your bedroom, growing herbs in the kitchen, and adding succulents to the bathroom, there are numerous opportunities to bring the outdoors in. With these tips and tools, you can transform your home into a thriving, green sanctuary.
Samsung has made some progress on the sustainability front to keep its word…reports Asian Lite News
With the one year anniversary of Samsung’s release of its mid- to long-term environmental management strategy nearing, the South Korean tech giant has said it was on the path toward achieving net zero companywide by 2050.
In September last year, Samsung unveiled the New Environmental Strategy, detailing its road map to achieve net zero at the Device eXperience (DX) division, covering its mobile and home appliances business, by 2030 and at the company level, including its chip Device Solutions (DS) division, by 2050.
Samsung has made some progress on the sustainability front to keep its word, its recent report showed.
The company’s use of renewable energy rose 65 percent last year to reach 8,704 gigawatt hours, according to Samsung’s 2023 sustainability report in June, reports Yonhap news agency.
The DX division reported the highest transition rate of 93 per cent, while the rate stood at 23 per cent at the DS division and at 31 percent companywide.
In 2020, Samsung completed its transition to 100 per cent renewable energy in the United States, Europe and China. Last year, the company did so at all of DX division’s business sites in South Korea, and manufacturing sites in Vietnam, India and Brazil, according to the report.
Samsung, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of electronic devices and semiconductors, also said it had reduced 10.16 million tons of carbon dioxide compared with business-as-usual, up 59 percent from the previous year.
Use of recycled and recyclable materials had increased, with 98,826 tons of plastic with recycled resin being used last year at a utilization rate of 14 percent and collecting 600,502 tons of electronic waste.
Samsung planned to expand the use of renewable resins in all its plastic products by 50 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.
Last year, Samsung joined the RE100, a global corporate initiative aimed at shifting to 100 percent renewable electricity. It vowed to increase the energy efficiency of its seven biggest-selling products, ranging from smartphones and washers to air conditioners, by 30 percent.
On the other hand, vegetation productivity has increased across 77 per cent of the above tree-line area in the study region…reports Asian Lite News
The satellite imagery of the European Alps spanning the past 38 years shows that climate change is driving a decline in snow cover and increase in plant productivity, a process also known as “greening”.
Mountain landscapes are biodiversity hotspots and provide a host of important ecosystem services. For example, meltwater from alpine glaciers and snow provides nearly half of the world’s freshwater resources.
However, mountain environments are also more sensitive to climate change — warming roughly twice as fast as the global average. This is expected to impact snow cover and vegetation productivity in alpine regions, just as it has in the Arctic.
The findings led by researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland suggest that although alpine greening could increase carbon sequestration in the region, feedbacks between snow and vegetation are more likely to lead to more pronounced environmental changes in the future. This includes amplified warming, thawing of permafrost and increased habitat loss.
Climate feedbacks are processes that can either amplify or diminish the effects of climate forcings.
To determine these effects in the European Alps, the highest and most extensive mountain range in Europe, Sabine Rumpf and a team from the University used Landsat images and evaluated the spatial and temporal trends of snow cover and vegetation production from 1984 to 2021.
According to the findings, snow cover across the region has declined significantly, although in less than 10 per cent of the area studied.
On the other hand, vegetation productivity has increased across 77 per cent of the above tree-line area in the study region.
The feedback loop between greening and snow recession suggests that continued greening will likely accelerate snowmelt, which could have important implications, including altering the region’s albedo (its ability to reflect solar energy), potentially releasing greenhouse gases through melting permafrost, and disrupting ecological structures, putting fragile alpine plant and animal communities at further risk.
Good air quality is an indispensable component of a well-designed, sustainable bathroom. The bathroom is usually the most humid space in the house and requires suitable ventilation to keep the air renewed, clean, and free from any infections…reports Asian Lite News
This is a well-known fact that our planet has reached a tipping point and it is an urgent need of the hour to re-evaluate our lifestyle choices so that they have a lesser impact on the environment. This, of course, requires large scale change, but if we all do our bit then progress can be made in the right direction.
In the current scenario, sustainability drivers when renovating bathrooms have become critical given the context of global warming and the extinction of natural resources. This has led to a shift in design curation and makeovers of bathrooms. Going green doesn’t mean you have to compromise on wellness, comfort, or luxury. In fact, the opposite is simply closer to the truth. A greener, more eco-conscious space exudes comfort, calm and simplistic luxury. Changing up your habits and greening your bathroom will help make the planet greener, your home healthier, and your personal health more robust.
The green bathroom of today focuses on the economical use of precious resources and the well-being of people. Finding an environmentally-friendly (or friendlier) option for almost every equipment element and building material is no longer troublesome. From choices of flooring and fixtures to designing with a recyclable and reusable mindset, one can easily help reduce pollution and save water and energy with just a few changes.
With this year’s theme as ‘Only one earth’, mark the day with a pledge that you will do your bit towards the planet. Gaurav Malhotra, Managing Director, Hansgrohe India shares some tips to help you build and style more green bathrooms, and choose elements that are aesthetic while providing you with a lot of smart yet sustainable options. Use natural materials for your fixtures
When you’re considering renovating your bathroom, look around for cabinets made from environmentally friendly, organic materials. Natural materials are free from harmful, pollution-causing compounds and can be easily recycled later down the line. Countertops made from glass, wood, or stone give a prestigious, well-crafted look and are better for the environment than acrylic, MDF or similar materials.
Ventilation
Good air quality is an indispensable component of a well-designed, sustainable bathroom. The bathroom is usually the most humid space in the house and requires suitable ventilation to keep the air renewed, clean, and free from any infections.
Too much humidity in a concentrated space permits mould and mildew to grow, which can damage building materials and lead to various health issues. To keep the surplus dampness in your bathroom under control, install an energy-efficient ventilation fan. Bathroom ventilation fans have benefited from new machinery that make them more efficient than ever.
Air Purifying Plants
The addition of air-purifying plants can also help to improve the air quality in your bathroom, especially in the context of the pollution-ridden world we live in. Lush greenery will not only keep the air clean but will also add an additional element of beauty and gorgeousness to the space while keeping it minimal. Switch your shower/ faucet fixtures
Swapping your water guzzler for resource-saving products saves water and lets you enjoy carefree moments of wellbeing. AXOR One is powered by advanced Select technology thereby, allowing end-users to establish a new mode of interaction such as pressing down on its all-in-one controller to start or stop the water flow; turn clockwise to increase the temperature. The technology ensures volume of water is not wasted and is released in a controlled manner
Fill your cupboard with recyclables
Organic and paraben-free bathroom products, such as moisturisers, face wipes, fibre towels, toilet rolls, and shampoos all do their part to help the eco-system recover. Using eco-friendly ingredients and recyclable bottles is ideal for creating a greener more sustainable bathroom. Natural products are healthy for your skin and body, while also good for our world and future generations that will call it home.
Having said so, the thumb rule for eco-friendly bathrooms that the fewer pollutants and mould, the better the indoor air quality. It is only fair, that we make some small yet meaningful changes to re-purpose these spaces which have less impact on the environment and at the same time are stylish and sustainable.
Vaani Kapoor is smoking hit in this lime green cut-out bathing suit, perfect for your summer getaway…writes Olivia Sarkar
A hot Indian summer necessitates the return to bright colours — fuchsia pink, indigo and bright yellows are just right for the heat. In case you didn’t notice, green should be your go to colour this season. It might have something to do with sustainability, gardening, summer safaris or the desire to explore the great outdoors, this regenerative hue has made waves both on and off the runway. It is summer’s unquestionable celebrity favourite, and we’ve picked out the best looks to help you join the bandwagon. Janhvi Kapoor
Janhvi strapless lime green number with a trail and cinched waist has us aching to go for a sundown party.
Ananya Pandey
All work and no play, not for Ananya Pandey as she works this green dress with a pair of bright red heels and layered chunky chains.
Deepika Padukone
Padukone hits all the style notes with this outfit. Sneakers, check! A crop top, check! Leather pants, check… and that too all in green. This winning athleisure monotone style is our favourite.
Vaani Kapoor
Vaani Kapoor is smoking hit in this lime green cut-out bathing suit, perfect for your summer getaway! Kareena Kapoor Khan
Trust the style diva to give us red carpet goals in this sweeping green gown. The minimal make-up and a high pony give the perfect summer vibes.
Kiara Advani
Kiara Advani teams a neon blouse with high waisted pants for elevated casuals.
Malaika Arora
Malaika Arora’s bold lemon pant suit is not for the faint hearted.
Following protests, the state government agreed to designated 24,000 bighas as Oran land but no decision was taken about the remaining land, despite sustained demands and protests by the locals…reports Mukesh Mathrani.
In 2002, villagers from around 10 villages in Rajasthans Barmer district were successful in saving three bighas of their sacred land, locally known as oran, from being allotted to a stone mining company by the district administration. The allocation was cancelled after a three-month-long battle which saw the community come together to protest this threat to their source of firewood, water and livestock feed.
But that was just the beginning. Over the years, they have had to fight many times to save their oran from encroachers, miners and the government. They continue to fight till today.
Orans are groves of trees, with a rich diversity of traditional flora and fauna and water bodies, considered sacred and preserved by the locals in this desert state. Orans, which derives from the Sanskrit word ‘aranya’ meaning ‘forest’ or ‘wilderness’, were often set aside by Rajasthan’s feudal lords for religious purposes. An Oran ensures food and fodder for the community and the large herds of camels, sheep and goats in times of famine.
Orans are preserved in the name of local deities; they are open to the whole community, irrespective of caste or creed, as long as the villagers follow certain rules governing its use. Tradition dictates that not a single tree or plant from here is cut, for example; only seasonal grazing of livestock is allowed.
Wrangling with the bureaucracy
But increasingly, these common lands have been allotted by the administration to mining, solar and other industries, to the detriment of the ecological health of the land. Most recently, the villagers in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district are engaged in a movement to protect their sacred land from being allotted to wind and solar energy companies.
Residents allege that power companies and the sand mafia have encroached upon the Degrai Mata temple at Devikot in Jaisalmer. Durajan Singh, secretary at Degrai Mata temple and member of Oran Bachao Samiti, said that around 60,000 bighas had been set aside for the 610-year-old temple by the former royals of Jaisalmer.
According to Singh, post-independence when the land settlement process was initiated, this Oran was designated as government revenue land but villagers remained unaware of its status until 1999, when solar companies started cutting down trees to set up power plants.
Following protests, the state government agreed to designated 24,000 bighas as Oran land but no decision was taken about the remaining land, despite sustained demands and protests by the locals.
Singh said that for the past few years the government has been allotting land to the power companies like Adani Power and ReNew Power from this undesignated 36,000 bighas but now it has started allotments on the registered Oran lands as well. Villagers of more than a dozen villages have been protesting for the past six months against these allotments. Recently, they took out a 60-km long procession to mark their protest.
Sumer Singh Bhati, a local resident and social activist who is actively participating in this ‘Oran aandolan’ (protest) said: “In the last few years, the government has allowed private power companies and sand mining firms to recklessly cut trees and destroy the Oran land. If it is not stopped, communities will have to pay the price in times of need.”
The villagers now want the government to register the remaining land as protected oran land that can’t be allocated to private or state players. They cite the precedence of the people of Asada village in Barmer sitting in Satyagraha (non-violent protest) in 1952 to save around 800 bighas of Oran land, forcing the government to finally recognise and register it as such.
They simply want the implementation of the Rajasthan government’s acceptance in 2018 of the recommendation by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for the inclusion of sacred groves such as Orans and ‘Dev vans’ as forest land.
An oasis in the desert
Author of Oran-Hamara Jeevan and regional director at Nehru Yuva Kendra, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Bhuvnesh Jain, pointed out that these Orans played an important role in biodiversity conservation by preserving the endemic, endangered and economically important plant species.
Jain further stated that Orans are home to many types of grasses, herbs, medicinal plants, shrubs and trees, which are on the verge of extinction. It is also the habitat of many animals and birds like godawan (great Indian bustard), deer, and jackal. Technically speaking, he said that the Sariska, Ranthambore and Desert National Park are all pasture lands or Orans.
According to Jain, Orans were once considered an important lifeline in the desert. But with passing time and urbanisation, people started ignoring it and its importance has somewhat lessened. But for pastoral communities, Orans are still, quite literally, an oasis in the desert. According to Sumer Singh Bhati, a resident of Sanwta village in Jaisalmer who is actively involved in the Oran protection movement, their region has one of highest populations of camels in the state. Over 5,000 camels are dependent on the Degrai Mata temple Oran alone.
Malaram Godara, a resident of Araniyala village in Barmer, said that Orans are a big source of support during the frequent droughts this part of Rajasthan experiences. He explained that during such situations, people are still able to manage at least drinking water for the community and, more importantly, fodder and water for their thousands of livestock.
Mal Singh Jamara’s family has approximately 500 camels, 1,000 goats and 130 cows. Despite owning such a large herd, he has never had to worry about droughts in the past as the livestock were guaranteed food at the Orans.
“But for a few years now, power companies have been disturbing the oran land by cutting down the trees. Our cattle are not even safe from the power lines laid on the ground. In recent months, many endangered animals like the Great Indian Bustard have died due to the high tension lines,” he said.
Pradeep Pagariya, an agricultural scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Barmer, said that the Oran was not only vital for the community but is also an important buffer against pollution, the dense green cover helpful in preventing the development of sand storms in the desert. They further play a critical role in maintaining the quality of air and reducing pollutants.
“But modernisation and mismanagement have resulted in the destruction of this ecosystem,” said Narendra Tansukhani, a Barmer-based social activist who participated in the Oran Aandolan.
Preserving the community’s heritage and rights
Aman Singh, Chief Coordinator of Krishi Avam Paristhitiki Vikas Sansthan, wrote: “It is a pity that Orans, which are unique examples of Gene Pool Conservation based on the socio-cultural value system i.e., traditional biodiversity conservation methodology has not attracted much attention from scientists, foresters and policymakers.”
Tansukhani said that for many years, they have been demanding that these oran lands be declared as heritage sites.
It is only recently that the Rajasthan government, in a long-overdue action under the Rajasthan Biological Diversity Rules, has initiated the process to declare seven sacred groves of western Rajasthan as heritage sites. Jain, in coordination with Rajasthan’s revenue department, conducted a survey on the Oran lands in the Jodhpur region. Data revealed that there is a total of 1,34,749.75 hectares of Oran land in 1,759 villages of the Jodhpur division. These lands will now be officially exempt from being allocated for industry and being encroached upon.
As such, Orans are simply defined in the revenue records as ‘Culturable Waste Land’ which allows the government to distribute these land for other purposes. Therefore it is the need for policy and necessary legislation to legally and constitutionally uphold the community’s right to own and manage these Orans, which should be declared as forests or grazing land with the ownership of communities, according to Singh.
The aim for organising this event is to give the youth a sense of purpose and channelise their energies in the right direction for a better future, and a healthier tomorrow, Hastpa President Mohit Sood said
Celebrating the country’s 75th Independence Day in a ‘greener way’, the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (Hastpa), along with the Shimla Cycling Association, on Saturday announced to organise a 30-km cycle ride from St. Bede’s, one of India’s oldest women’s colleges here, to Daak Bangla village, where the riders will plant around 100 saplings.
Hastpa President Mohit Sood said that the aim for organising this event is to give the youth a sense of purpose and channelise their energies in the right direction for a better future, and a healthier tomorrow.
The ride route will be Nav Bahar, Sanjaulli, Dhalli, Mashobara, Talai and finally Daak Bangla, near Kufri.
Approximately 50 cyclists have registered their names for the ride and the organisation aims to plant more than 100 saplings.
“We are at Hastpa have been working for the last 16 years to promote the culture of cycling and mountain biking for a better tomorrow and this is part of our aim to make Himachal Pradesh clean and green and one of the most sought-after destinations for cycling,” he said.
Sood said the hill state has the best natural ecosystem to promote the mountain biking sport and also activities for tourism sports and fitness and with this idea we aim to put cycling as a core activity in and around Shimla.
Hastpa is the local club that has been organising the acclaimed Hero MTB Himalaya, Asia’s biggest off-road cycling event, every September-October with the participation from across the globe since 2005. The 15th in series and the last one was held in 2019. Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not held in 2020.
“Since this year again we are not holding the MTB Himalaya, we have decided to hold its local version to keep the mountain biking enthusiasm alive,” he said.
Sood said normally bikers prefer to ride on off-road mountain trails such as single-track, back-country roads, wider bike park trails, fire roads, and some advanced trails that are designed with jumps, berms, and drop-offs to add excitement to the trail.
“Because the riders are often far from civilization, there is a strong element of self-reliance in the sport. Riders learn to repair broken bikes and flat tires to avoid being stranded. Many riders carry a backpack, including water, food, tools for trailside repairs, and a first-aid kit in case of injury. Group rides are common, especially on longer treks. Mountain bike orienteering adds the skill of map navigation to mountain biking,” he said.
On the question of why to invest in adventure sports and mountain biking, Sood said: “We are doing this to create a sustainable eco-tourism model with the involvement of the local communities where they engage actively in promotion of the activity and attracting domestic and international tourists.”
“The objective is to attract top international and professional athletes to the state. This in turn brings an opportunity for the local community to get involved in the activities of the event, thus providing them with economic and financial stability.”
According to Sood, cycling-based tourism has made many countries start an economic revolution of their own and some of the biggest cities in the world have effectively merged the transport infrastructure with cycling.
The mountain biking and trekking trail network in Himachal Pradesh is Immense. There are multiple locations that offer the basic essential requirements to develop these trails.
The idea is to identify the most cost-effective and attractive places and then turn them around into successful circuits.
