Acharya is the founder of Avni Ventures, one of Nepal’s largest plastic recycling networks.

South Korea is hosting delegates from about 175 countries at the fifth and final meeting of the UN INC-5.

Studies show polluted air is shortening Nepali lives by almost five years.

Although most brands have taken positive initiatives, many have done it as a part of their CSR efforts – and perhaps mainly to showcase said efforts in their annual reports.

While residents acknowledged the marginal improvement, they noted that the air quality is still unhealthy. Prolonged exposure to air in the ‘very poor’ category can lead to respiratory illnesses, according to CPCB guidelines.

Participants stress the need for a regulatory framework to boost Nepal’s green finance market.

India’s pollution control authority said the national capital territory’s 24-hour air quality index (AQI) reading was at 484.

According to the website Science Direct, an average of 20 typhoons, or 25 percent of typhoons worldwide, barrel their way into the Philippines every year. Out of the 20, five are considered disastrous, while an average of nine makes landfall.

With air quality hitting “hazardous” highs, Lahore is forced into survival mode — schools shut, hospitals overflow, and households resort to pricey air purifiers to keep the smog at bay.

Sakal Bio Enzyme Nepal and Reverse Vending Machine Nepal also bagged the awards. Seven Nepali environmental startups proposed their pitches for a greener future.

At 4 pm on Thursday, Nov. 14, Delhi’s average AQI was 424, and to prevent further deterioration, the sub- committee decided to invoke GRAP – III.

Officials call for collective efforts to tackle air pollution. Meteorologists say air quality could start improving from Friday if wind conditions change.

During his meeting with Azerbaijani President Aliyev, Paudel emphasises Nepal’s minimal carbon footprint yet disproportionate impact from climate change.

Money is a central focus of the COP29 climate talks being held in Azerbaijan. A previous goal of $100 billion per year, which expires in 2025, was met two years late in 2022.

With climate finance weighing heavily at the UN COP29 in Azerbaijan, Singapore announced that it will commit up to US$500 million to a national initiative to channel financing to decarbonise Asia.

While Nepal is right to raise climate finance issues, loss and damage at global stages, policy makers should also focus on providing relief to affected populations at home, experts say.

Mr Yunus made the call in Baku just after he arrived in the Azerbaijan capital to lead Bangladesh in the annual UN-led climate change summit.

The onset of smog season in October results in a decline in air quality across Punjab, on either side of the Pakistan-India border.

Air quality in Lahore has deteriorated drastically, earning Punjab’s regional capital the rank of world’s most polluted city from Swiss air purification equipment maker IQAir.

Bangladesh is the poster child for climate change holding seventh position on the Global Climate Risk Index 2021.