Down To Earth - December 16, 2023

In this issue

LETHAL PROXIES - WHO’s labelling of aspartame as a possible carcinogen puts focus on potential health hazards of all sugar substitutes

Electric idea

College students in Delhi make and sell solar-powered lamps to promote use of renewable energy

1 min

Highs and lows

As COP28 enters its final week, Parties have operationalised historic loss and damage fund and agreed to the health impacts of climate change, but have failed to reach a consensus on key issues of climate finance, adaptation goal and global stocktake

5 mins

Conquest of lantana

A decade-long initiative in Madhya Pradesh to reclaim land overrun by lantana helps residents restart agriculture and restore native biodiversity

5 mins

POOR SUBSTITUTES

The World Health Organization's announcement on aspartame being possibly carcinogenic to humans has reignited the debate on health hazards of sugar substitutes. Not only is the evidence on safety of sugar substitutes sketchy, their role in controlling blood sugar levels, too, remains inconclusive. On the contrary, studies increasingly indicate that sugar substitutes contribute to factors that lead to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and, quite ironically, diabetes.

10+ mins

Saved by sponge

As oceans warm up, women in Zanzibar switch from seaweed to climate-resilient sponge farming to stay afloat

4 mins

Patents zoom, but where is the innovation?

India is among the top patent filers globally, but it has yet to make its mark in any breakthrough technologies

4 mins

Costly trade-off

A reduction in the planet's sulphur dioxide emissions could be behind the recent spike in global warming

5 mins

Green equations

A first-of-its-kind index to evaluate gross environment product

4 mins

RAISED ON EXHAUST

Link between air pollution and childhood diseases, including cancer, warrants concern

6 mins

Misplaced focus

The fictional series based on the Bhopal gas disaster falls miserably short in its attempt to be a riveting survival drama

3 mins

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Down To Earth Magazine Description:

Down To Earth is a fortnightly magazine published by the Society for Environmental Comm, a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi, India. It is one of the most respected environmental magazines in the country.

The magazine covers a wide range of topics related to the environment and sustainable development, including:

* Climate change: DTE provides in-depth coverage of climate change, including its causes, impacts, and mitigation and adaptation strategies.
* Energy: DTE covers a variety of energy topics, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and fossil fuels.
* Water: DTE covers a variety of water topics, including water pollution, water scarcity, and water management.
* Pollution: DTE covers a variety of pollution topics, including air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution.
* Biodiversity: DTE covers a variety of biodiversity topics, including forests, wildlife, and conservation.
* Sustainable development: DTE covers a variety of sustainable development topics, including green economy, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable transportation.

Down To Earth magazine is known for its high-quality journalism and its commitment to environmental protection. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the environment and sustainable development in India and around the world.