The Stream, May 31: Pakistan On Verge Of Water Crisis
The Global Rundown
Pakistan’s water security is in serious jeopardy, and the country could face acute shortages within the decade, according to a new report. Government farming policies and saltwater intrusion into the Mekong River are exacerbating drought conditions in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The global El Nino is officially over, but millions of people still face food shortages. Severe floods turned deadly in both Germany and Texas over the weekend. Australia’s majority political parties perform poorly on environmental policy, according to a report card by a leading conservation organization.
“I’ve been planting rice since I was 13, and I have never seen anything like this. In February I got one bag of rice. Last year we harvested 1.4 tons.” –Lam Thi Loi, a rice farmer in Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta, on the severe drought that has destroyed crops. Saltwater intrusion into the delta and excessive farming promoted by the government have also contributed to poor conditions. (The New York Times)
By The Numbers
2 cities Number in Texas evacuated over the weekend due to flooding along the Brazos River. Water levels on the river are expected to crest Tuesday at record highs. ABC News
4 people Number who died in severe floods in southern Germany. Guardian
Science, Studies, And Reports
Pakistan could face acute water shortages by 2025 if it does not address critical water security issues, according to a report that will be released by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources. Old infrastructure, poor management in the agricultural sector, declining groundwater reserves, and climate change are all contributing to the crisis, experts say. Deutsche-Welle
Australia’s Coalition political parties received a score of 11 out of 100 on an environmental policy report card conducted by the Australian Conservation Foundation. The report card took into account performance on conservation issues, including progress toward implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Guardian
On The Radar
The global El Nino weather pattern, triggered by warmer than normal water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, has officially ended, according to meteorologists. However, the droughts and heatwaves caused by the El Nino have left nearly 100 million people worldwide with food shortages. Guardian
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
