The Stream, November 2: Weather Extremes Will Worsen

Costly weather extremes such as drought and floods are becoming more prevalent as climate change progresses, the Associated Press reported, citing a draft of a new study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The growing populations in vulnerable locations around the world will likely exacerbate the problem.

Only 5 percent of the $97 billion spent annually on climate issues is going toward helping developing countries prepare for the effects of climate change, AlertNet reported. A new study by the Climate Policy Initiative investigates where the money is flowing.

Food
What does it take to feed 7 billion people? The world’s agricultural system is broken, according to a study published in the journal Nature, Climate Progress reported.

Global food prices should become a top priority for G20 leaders, the World Bank chief said, according to AlertNet.

Pollution
The ongoing drought in Texas is taking a toll on water quality, as algae grows in stagnant water and fish die, The Texas Tribune reported.

Discrepancies between U.S. and Chinese measures of air pollution levels in Beijing have angered many citizens, who say the Chinese government is misrepresenting the situation, CNN reported. One day in October, the air monitoring device perched atop the U.S. Embassy in Beijing listed the air quality as “beyond index,” while the Chinese government reported it as “slightly polluted.”

Energy
India is building a prototype nuclear power reactor that uses thorium instead of uranium to produce energy, according to the Guardian. India hopes that the less radioactive thorium will provide a low-carbon and low-risk alternative to fossil fuels and conventional nuclear energy.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek