Eco India (English) - Season 14

Exploring the extraordinary impact otters have on their ecosystem. Also on the show: a Spanish response to climate change and an artist who transforms old jeans into high-end pieces of art.

How can we make buildings more sustainable? An Indian organization shows how to use regional building materials and, in Germany, a team of researchers studies how concrete house facades can generate energy.

Reforestation efforts in Tamil Nadus Arunachala Hills are paying off. Fire teams in Spain clear brush to prevent wildfires. Can Indias Great Green Wall halt desertification? And how farmers are protecting biodiversity by going back to traditional cultivation practices.

Recycle, Repair, Renew

From abandoned solar panels in Tamil Nadu to Germany’s solar recycling breakthroughs, green architecture in Chennai, and the limits of electric planes, this show uncovers the promises and pitfalls of sustainability. Can bold ideas deliver a truly green future?

Loating islands on Bengaluru’s lakes, a cotton-like substance that can absorb oil, fighting violence against women, an 11-year-old climate activist from Germany and wild leopards in Mumbai.

Technology and innovation can help protect our planet. AI tracks elephants, drones help farmers, new tech boosts wind power and e-waste recycling recovers critical minerals.

From environmentally friendly politics, to producing clean energy, to building a cleaner future: going green is essential for our future and the health of our planet. And it creates job opportunitites, too.

To mark International Women’s Day, Eco India meets an NGO founder breaking period taboos and visits women-only farm collectives that are benefitting members and the environment. Plus: How solar power has improved womens health in rural Meghalaya.

Growing crops in greenhouses, indoor vertical farming in Germany and saving baby elephants in Assam. All this and more in the latest episode.

Billions of people across Asia are grappling with extreme heat in a trend worsened by climate change. Indias heat wave has been one of the longest ever recorded. This week, Eco India looks at what can be done to address the root of the problem.

Tanneries seek to reduce their environmental footprint switching to solar power in the Himalayas, what could happen if crude oil one day runs out, and why millet is making a comeback.

Reforming the egg, meat and dairy industry with benefits for all, rescuing animals in distress, conserving bees, and how beavers helped humans build a dam

From electric buses and e-rickshaws in India to green hydrogen trains in Germany: Why clean transport is better for us and our world.

Hybrid wind and solar power systems present new options and hurdles in Gujarat. Plus: Why grids need to be revamped for green energy how solar-powered cold storage is a win-win for Indias farmers and the small-scale solar power system for all.

We meet the changemakers transforming their communities: a young radio DJ in India who airs stories from struggling farmers, rescuers in Rajasthan who save injured birds from urban threats, and a Tamil Nadu policeman who protects trees from ads.

Zero waste management in Mysuru, a recycled plastic floating park in the Netherlands, innovative wooden stove technology, a matriarchal society in India and protecting coastlines with artificial seagrass.

Climate change is making summers hotter, winters colder and leading to flooding. How can cities, farmers, and ordinary people adapt to these new conditions. Eco India takes a look.

Tanneries seek to reduce their environmental footprint switching to solar power in the Himalayas, what could happen if crude oil one day runs out, and why millet is making a comeback.

Can breathing toxic air increase our risk of diabetes? Plus: The food forest in Tamil Nadu growing planet-friendly, healthy food, and the move to empower women working as waste pickers and in the construction industry.

Extreme weather favors the spread of invasive species, increases the risk of disease and contributes to the housing crisis. How can we stop this happening?

How our morning coffee could preserve rather than destroy biodiversity, why green farming is profitable, and how mass tourism could be made more sustainable.

An organic farm on the edge of Mumbai that’s teaching locals to grow high-quality food by working with nature. Plus: The waste pickers in Delhi growing fresh vegetables to improve their diet, and a storage sachet designed to cut food waste.

Watch Eco India English Online Advocates of change

The two sides of booming harvests in the Thar Desert, how plants are used to extract nickel from soil, and Italy’s first hedgehog clinic.

The secrets to growing food on a terrace. Also: will climate change reshape Kannauj’s perfume legacy? And Nagaland tribes rethink tradition to protect forests.

Mumbais street dogs, the wild boars of Berlin, paying the price for Indias appetite for coal, Malaysias campaign to save energy, and raising awareness of air pollution and climate change with masks.

From high-tech tools such as precision farming and autonomous tractors to zero-budget approaches and sustainable meat alternatives, farming is embracing innovation.

Billions of tons of waste are produced worldwide each year - with no end in sight. How can we deal with it? This week, Eco India looks at the fashion industry, a trash center that helps flowers bloom, and a big, new EV battery recycling plant.

Can we use industrial waste to build houses? And: Shrines in the Western Ghats use traditional wisdom to help protect wetlands while natural dyes make a comeback in the textile sector.

From farmers in the Himalayan region of Ladakh managing a water crisis to the commercial forests around the world that are dying - how can we adapt to climate change and thrive? Plus: The rise of the electric rickshaw across India.

Can electric three-wheelers improve air quality and empower women in the jewel of Punjab? Plus: Fish acid for plants, lab-grown meat, gravity batteries – and how Serbia is purifying its air with liquid trees

From used car tires and old plastic products to electronic waste: finding ways to repurpose things has benefits for the environment and the economy.

Improving our lives while saving money – and the planet From homes built using upcycled waste to clean energy solutions for our cities and rural communities.

The woman building toilets for slums, Mumbai’s tree man, curbing bear bile farming in Laos, using big data to predict changes in ecosystems, and innovative water wheels with handles.

From making Delhi more walkable and Germany’s north coast more robust to mangrove restoration and integrated farming: Eco India looks at protecting ourselves and the planet.

Climate change is bringing both floods and droughts. How do we adapt? From snakes in Kerala to flood-resilient homes in Assam and water shortages in Germany.

A man on a mission to fill potholes in Mumbai, how to recycle old wind turbines and vegan leather made from pineapples.

Leaving sex work for textile recycling, revamping old industrial machinery instead of building new, and products from banana waste in Tamil Nadu.

How teaching girls sustainable agriculture at school will drive equality, and Dalit women fight caste discrimination, plus female shepherd training in Italy.

An ancient method for collecting rainwater, why freak storms are becoming common in Europe, the local weather enthusiasts turned influencers in India, and an historic weather station in Poland that’s been charting climate change for over a century.

From technology to stop onions from spoiling in Indias warehouses to agri-tech that connects farmers with customers - we look at ways technology is helping to revolutionize food production.

From coastal erosion and drought-resistant smart farms in India to Barcelona’s battle with overtourism, communities are tackling environmental and social challenges head-on with innovation and resilience.

India is drowning in plastic. Can informal waste pickers be better integrated into the trash management system? Plus: how waste water could solve Delhis water crisis rangers protecting nature in Tamil Nadu, and avoiding flooding with forests.

From tree huggers and tree doctors to wildlife conservationists – we meet dedicated individuals raising awareness about the importance of preserving the natural environment, and look at ways we can all help save it.

The construction sector is a huge CO2 emitter. Buildings also shape our lives. They heat up our cities. Rethinking the industry holds the key to many solutions…

Insects give shrimps a boost in Tamil Nadu - and add bite to pizza toppings. Can local conservation efforts reverse damage at Srinagar’s Dal Lake? Plus hotel owners in Catalonia find creative solutions to water shortages.

From citizens monitoring waste management in Gurugram to tackling sulfur pollution, and conserving Dal Lake - great change doesn’t always require power, but determination and action.

How is Kashmir trying to protect its iconic Chinar trees? And whats gone wrong with Noidas smart villages? Problems include outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Plus: what are the benefits of integrated farming in Tamil Nadu, and a clinic for injured wildlife in Spain.

Recycling flowers offered in Indian temples, restoring moorlands and reviving a traditional handicraft.

Coastal erosion in Tamil Nadu, climate-hit floating schools in Cambodia, and urban water fixes in Berlin and Maharashtra.

Can community boilers cut costs and boost efficiency? Redesigning Delhi to make walking fun free public transport can lead to fewer cars. And Pollachi nutmeg farmers team up for fairer prices.

How to get edible fish from dirty water, underwater gardening in the Mediterranean, a new air pollution forecasting tool, e-bike taxis and a female Indian comedian.

From wastewater to plant residue, plastics and textiles, waste can be transformed into a valuable resource in all sorts of ways. It just takes creative ideas, efficient recycling systems and the right kind of infrastructure.

The rise of AI has sparked a boom in water-guzzling data centers. Can Indias cities cope? Also: How AI is affecting other countries — and saving elephants.

Photographers empower marginalized communities in North Chennai. Will India tighten its climate targets? Getting in on the green job market - and an invasive weed helps spread awareness about the coexistence of humans and wildlife.

Fishers and experts protecting India’s coastline, a Bangladesh women’s group helping with extreme heat, a Tamil Nadu man saving trees — and Antarctica at risk.

Curbing air pollution in Kolkata, saving water in Singapore, and using coco peat from Tamil Nadu to help improve global agriculture. Whats good for the environment is good for us.

As the ultra-rich fuel climate damage with their lifestyles, others feel the full force of the catastophe despite playing little part in it. Like India’s fishers and farmers. Will the new Indian ruling on climate justice help them?

From oil leaks from shipwrecks to coastal erosion in Chennai – our planet is under pressure. But hope comes from unexpected places, like cow dung-powered energy and sustainable fish subscriptions, proving that innovation can turn crisis into opportunity.

The risks of soaring pigeon populations in cities, protecting against flooding in Jakartas coastal communities, and urban farming with hydroponics.

Living space for lions in Gujarat, treating retired circus elephants in Mathura, and leopards versus villagers in Kashmir. How to meet the challenges of changing human-animal habitats.

The snake rescuer tackling the human-wildlife conflict, environment lessons in schools and sharing solar power in Bangladesh

Farmers feed the world. But from Europe to India, farmers are burdened by high costs, low prices, and climate change. Technologies like an AI crop-doctor app and drones can help. But there’s a wellspring of anger among farmers worldwide. Why is that?

Delhis stray dog crisis - can the city find a better balance? Plus: urban farming, a community-tended forest and a salad revolution.

How can we boost nutrition levels and benefit our environment too? A waste product that enriches farmland could help, as could seaweed. Children in Assam are learning to grow veggies, and an age-old fish dish has made a comeback in Tamil Nadu.

With more and more people living in cities, how can we improve life in urban areas, ensure food security and ease the burden on the environment? From community and rooftop farms, to cave dwellings and clean air projects in India, Bangladesh and Spain.

Trees can help to make cities like Berlin more climate-proof. Mushrooms play key role in the environment in parts of Kashmir, as do palmyra trees in Tamil Nadu. Clean air and clean water – as desired by Mumbaikars – are universal requirements.

Ancient sand dunes protect Tamil Nadu, urban planners design cities to be a shield against extreme weather. Plus: Building cyclone-resilient, sustainable homes.

Turning crop stubble into plates, luxury sustainable tourism and adding environmental matters to school curricula.

As the climate changes and architecture is having to rethink form and function, eco-friendly building practices that have been used for centuries in India are proving inspirational.

Traditional solutions to groundwater scarcity and deforestation reviving customary but neglected crops and a rebirth for canoes.

The self-taught bird surgeons of Delhi, plants from paper and pencils and Rajasthans sheep herders.

A community in Kerala collects and shares weather data to protect its members, after repeat devastation by floods. Ditching the city for rural self-reliance. Sweden proves you can slash emissions AND grow the economy How have they done it? And: the many uses of sustainable cork in Portugal.

A show brim-full of water Can water ATMs improve Delhis water supply? Tackling rising sea levels. A gel removes microplastics in water. And paper from invasive plants.

Battling climate change and patriarchy in Maharashtra, resourceful waste recycling in Dharavi and Gurugram’s citizen-led cleanup and a wise approach to owls.

Organic produce grown locally and sustainably is good for public health and the climate - and it can boost the local economy too: The multiple benefits of letting nature do its work.

Could Chennai become a green city by 2050? We look at efforts underway in the city. Plus: The Tamil Nadu farmer driving an initiative to reclaim traditional crop varieties, and how officials in Kerala are working with locals to protect biodiversity.

Healthy soil provides food, it helps secure homes, livelihoods and the climate. From soil testing to organic produce for the city – how to reverse degraded land?

Trying to revive the dirtiest river in India, traditional wells may save Bengaluru and flamingos campaign for the environment in Ibiza, Spain.

Fighting floods in Delhi, using regenerative farming to avert fungal infestation in the apple belt, the benefits of growing mushrooms in cities, how vermicompost can boost organic fruit and veg production and why Norway is giving up coal mining.

Changing mindsets with art and transforming the construction industry with innovative building materials.

As climate change advances, how do we adapt? From protecting informal workers in the heat to revamping the economy: How do we save lives and livelihoods?

Citizen initiatives in Chennai have increased recycling, revived a lake and transformed a town – what working together can achieve Plus, could a supposedly green waste solution in Delhi be harming public health? And building homes without concrete.

One woman is rescuing Tamil Nadus palm trees and making life more sustainable. Also: new hydropower solutions, wildlife conservation, and art from trash.

Introduced on purpose, by mistake or as a result of climate change, invasive species destroy ecosystems and are often expensive to eradicate. We explore solutions, from turning pests into useful products, to serving them up as culinary delicacies.

The impact of new alternatives to plastic, cleaner cities through digitization and empowerment for Indian women entrepreneurs.

Human inventions have transformed the world – but many harm the environment, demanding a change in our ways. We’ve proved it’s possible…after global action, the Earth’s ozone layer is now recovering. On Eco India, we look at other damaging habits – and ways to kick them.

Permaculture in India helps regions threatened by water scarcity, bread for the poor of Mumbai, a family experiment to reduce CO2, Germany’s wood detectives, and new hope for Indian child brides.

Scuba diving for ghost nets, how grass protects against landslides in Nepal, how sanitary pads can improve women’s lives, and how World Cleanup Day became a worldwide movement.

Building community with Ultimate Frisbee in Chennai, a German classroom goes green, feeding thousands of kids in India’s largest school kitchen and taking a German village off the grid.

From burning to composting: the potential of dried leaves for gardeners, clean and cost-effective: a German startup is making wind energy cheaper and hip-hop for change: youngsters in Mumbai uplift their community through hip-hop.

How to live happily without electricity for decades tide power for clean energy and financial independence empowering female artisans in Rajasthan.

On this weeks Eco India we celebrate Womens Day and bring you stories about villagers who plant trees to honor and defend the value of girls lives, a group of women organizing mangrove safaris and female role models from Germany and India.

The world population is nearly eight billion and rising, and we all need to eat. Farmers have to make agricultural production more efficient and adapt to changing conditions while ensuring their livelihoods. Eco India showcases some pioneering projects.

A startup produces ecofriendly biodegradable dyes with the help of bacteria a firm in India uses scraps and discarded garments to make new clothes.

This weeks show is a sustainability special, featuring the environmentally-friendly tradition of dyeing fabric, smartphones made from ethical and sustainable materials, and the transformation of barren land in Karnataka into lush green forest.

Water, the basis of life: how oyster farming can provide a sustainable livelihood and purify water bodies, how an environmentalist is restoring India’s lakes and how the philosophy of Jugaad is spreading across France.

Training women as solar engineers, why spiders are important for the environment and supporting smallhold farmers in Indonesia.

This week we look at protecting the unique Kharai camels of Gujarat, how an Indian man is building hundreds of thousands of public toilets and an app developer who is making cities safer for women.

This week we look at waste and what to do with it. We show inspiring stories from India and Europe about people upcycling, recycling and reusing what others define as trash.

This time, we train the spotlight on changemakers, among them a marine conservationist saving Goas dolphins, a founder cleaning up the tanning industry and city planners who are turning a port into an eco-district.

Eco India meets people trying to make a difference: A woman who makes nutritious cookies with help from local farmers and rural women a developer of greenhouses for Indian farmers and Indians studying ecology in Germany.

This week we look at how food is produced sustainably in Berlin, why birds are important for the ecosystems in cities and hear from a pioneering architect in India .

This week with a focus on upcycling. A designer is ensuring that heirloom saris don’t lose their essence, a German company is rescuing worn-out sneakers and a Greek city is pioneering the art of printing public seating.

Green energy - for mobility, heating and electricity. Renting electric scooters in Kolkata, tapping geothermal energy to heat a German town, and championing solar energy in the Philippines.

We visit farmers in India using solar power to water their fields, consider the transition to renewable energy, present an innovative method for cleaning up waste water, and demonstrate how to build your own windmill.

How Delhi’s residents are getting more involved with their environment, how mobile veterinarians are helping remote areas, and what solutions climate change requires in a game - and in reality.

Village in Rajasthan which plants 111 trees every time a girl is born. Also: we see how eco-tourism can protect a forest from mining companies, and take a look at some sculptures made of leaves.

Track the path of a plastic spoon in the world showcase compostable organic film as an alternative to plastic film and we meet the women who hold the reins of power in Sumatra.

In Mumbai extremely hot summers, and aggressive monsoons and the floods that accompany it - bring life to a halt on many occasions. But this coastal metropolis now has another massive problem to deal with - Rising Sea Levels. Climate change is making the already vulnerable city, more vulnerable.