The Stream, May 25: Asian Cities Resist Climate Change

ChiAsia and Climate Change
Ten Asian cities throughout India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are taking part in a pilot project to assess their vulnerability to climate change and develop urban planning methods to improve their resilience, AlertNet reported.

A lawsuit filed by two non-governmental organizations in China—the first case of its kind—seeks to gain compensation from companies that dumped toxic chromium waste in Yunnan province and polluted water supplies, Xinhua reported.

A new report argues governments around the world are not doing enough to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, and warns that emissions by 2020 could be 9 billion metric tons more than the amount that would limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius, Reuters reported.

The Americas
Tensions are high in a Guatemalan town where clashes between locals and security forces at a hydropower project have killed one farmer and injured others this month, Inter Press Service reported. Many of the protesters feel that companies are exploiting their natural resources without giving local communities any input.

The high price of gold has led to a mining boom in some Colombian towns. The mercury used to refine the gold is contaminating the air, water and soil in these areas, posing serious health risks to miners and their families, according to Bloomberg News.

Ohio’s governor will sign a new bill into law that allows businesses to withdraw up to 2.5 million gallons (9.4 million liters) of water a day from Lake Erie without applying for a permit, the Toledo Blade reported. This is half the amount of water that would have been allowed under a bill proposed last summer, which the governor vetoed.

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