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Jan 19, 2024 | 
newindianexpress.com | Smitha Verma
It was the year of political turmoil in Goa. India had launched Operation Vijay leading to the annexation of the state, and Daman and Diu, integrating them into the Indian Republic. But for Shirly Quarachim, it was the ‘coming-of-age’ year, when she hit puberty, put together a mini escape plan to get her father out of prison, got her first boyfriend and also had a younger sibling enter her life.
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Dec 28, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
As 2023 inches to a close, it would be a good time to have a relook at what the year was like when it comes to the climate crisis, key moments shaping the biggest crisis of our times and what we achieved and what needs to be done. It was a year shaped by heatwaves and droughts, of floods and record-breaking temperatures, of annual climate pledges, victories and misses.
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Dec 18, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
When Ignacia de la Rosa speaks people listen. Even when they don’t understand her. A leader of the San Antero community in the Cispatá region of Colombia, she has been working for several years on a ‘blue carbon’ project aimed at conserving and restoring coastal mangrove forests in Colombia’s Sinú River basin. “It gives us so much, from food to shelter.
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Dec 14, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
When Licypriya Kangujam, the 12-year-old climate activist from India, stormed the stage at the 28th Conference Of Parties in Dubai on Monday, holding a sign “End fossil fuel, save our planet and our future”, it was a clear message that any outcome this year can’t be devoid of strong wordings on fossil fuels. Predictably, when the annual UN conference extended by a day, all eyes were on the strong messaging that may come out of the outcome.
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Dec 12, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
On Monday evening as the new text on global stocktake (GST) was decoded, it became evident that once again the Global South has been hit hard. It singles out coal and goes soft on other fossil fuels — oil and gas — which is likely to be heavily contested by developing countries, especially India.
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Dec 1, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
Addressing the opening session of the world leaders at the COP28 Summit in Dubai, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Friday, said that India is one of the few economies in the world that is on the way to accomplishing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). India has set targets to bring emission intensity down by 45 per cent by 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil fuels to 50 per cent.
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Sep 20, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
In a world where the urgency of climate action is undeniable, a new initiative has taken shape that puts the focus on ‘just transition’ in the Global South. ClimateWorks Foundation and the IKEA Foundation have joined hands to place the voices and well-being of workers and communities in the Global South at the forefront of the global energy transformation.
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Aug 7, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) is the world’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being. Established in 2005 and hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), PMNCH provides a prominent platform for its adolescent and youth constituency to amplify the voices of the 1.8 billion adolescents and young people living in the world today, whose needs are currently unmet– climate change being one of the biggest challenges.
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Jun 20, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
If there’s one common aspect that’s binding most parts of the UK and several states in northern India, then it’s heatwaves. While Ireland and the UK are experiencing one of the worst marine heatwave alerts ever recorded, in India casualties are on the rise due to rising temperatures. It’s not surprising to see this phenomena of heat waves swiping across, something which we have been often warned by our scientists. What Is Marine Heatwave?
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Jun 13, 2023 | 
letmebreathe.in | Smitha Verma
Cyclone Biparjoy live: The Arabian Sea is witnessing Cyclone Biporjoy. The cyclone has been moving northwards at a speed of five kilometres per hour, and is centered southwest of Gujarat’s Porbandar. India and Pakistan have braced themselves for the first severe cyclone, Biparjoy, this year expected to hit their coastal regions later this week. The authorities in India have halted fishing activities, deployed rescue personnel and have announced evacuation plans for those at risk.
