The Stream, February 22: Africa’s Food Security

Water Quality
Environmental degradation, including waste water discharge that is harming fisheries, is the greatest threat to food security in Africa, Xinhua reported.

Proposed regulations for ballast water discharge in the Great Lakes will not do enough to stop invasive species, according to environmental groups, Reuters reported. The groups want the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require treatment of ballast water to kill any potential invaders.

Water Scarcity
Mapping India’s aquifers will cost $1 billion over the next five years, but could also help the country manage agricultural areas and avoid a water crisis, according to Bloomberg News.

Drought continues in China’s Yunnan province, where it has already persisted for three years and caused $372 million in economic losses, Xinhua reported.

Energy
Chinese and U.S. companies plan to build a $1.25 billion plant to convert coal from the Gobi desert into natural gas to help supply China’s growing energy demand, according to The Wall Street Journal.

InsideClimate News looks at how natural gas exports may affect electricity prices and coal use in the United States.

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