This pillar focuses on preserving natural resources and ecosystems. Recent articles highlight various challenges and innovations:  

Climate Change and Pollution: Articles are reporting on the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, like floods and storms, and the silent, but deadly, effects of air and water pollution. A study found that air pollution is fueling dementia, and another highlighted that one in six premature deaths annually are caused by pollution from industry and urbanization.  

Biodiversity and Conservation: The loss of biodiversity is accelerating. One article mentions that over 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction. On the other hand, a promising genetic breakthrough could help thousands of species cheat extinction by restoring lost genetic diversity.  

Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy: There's a growing focus on finding alternatives to traditional materials. Researchers are turning grapevine waste into biodegradable packaging and have created a new bioplastic that can degrade at room temperature and outperforms some petroplastics. The Indian Ayurveda industry, for example, is shifting towards eco-friendly packaging using materials like recycled paper, glass, and metals.  

Water Resources: The Ganga River basin in India is facing severe pollution and threats to its environmental sustainability due to over-exploitation and industrial waste. Other articles discuss the importance of sustainable water management and the potential of solar-powered pumps for providing water in Africa.