The Stream, June 19: Extreme Weather Threatens World’s Poor

Adapting to Extreme Weather
The world’s poorest people will be hit hardest by extreme weather caused by climate change, according to a new report from the World Bank, the Guardian reported. The increasing frequency of droughts, floods and heat waves expected in some regions, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, could cut regional food supplies within 20 years, the report said.

Thailand awarded $US 9.5 billion to companies for water management projects that will increase its resilience to floods, Reuters reported. The projects cover new infrastructure, such as floodways, as well as warning systems and land use management.

Water and Energy
Further testing of groundwater at Japan’s damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant revealed unsafe levels of radioactive substances, though the contamination was not widespread, Bloomberg News reported. Levels of tritium in the water are more than 8 times greater than levels allowed by Japan’s nuclear safety guidelines, while strontium levels are more than 30 times greater than the allowed amount.

An interactive application using Google Earth shows the location of U.S. power plants in relation to water sources. The application, posted on Google Earth Blog, was designed to help coal-fired power plant operators find sources of water.

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