Entries by Codi Kozacek

The Stream, February 11: Drought in Haiti Pushes Millions Toward Hunger

The Global Rundown A three-year drought in Haiti threatens millions of people with hunger, the United Nations warned, while the contaminated water used to grow vegetables in Tanzania’s cities places consumer health at risk. After two years of drought, barges are once again traveling on a key waterway used to transport agricultural products in Brazil. […]

The Stream, February 10: Pakistan Port City Hit By Water Shortages

The Global Rundown Population growth and drought are driving water shortages in Gwadar, a port city in Pakistan that plans to become a major international trade center. Food shortages caused by a drought in Zimbabwe will cost more than a billion dollars to fill, while it will take millions to replace aging lead water pipes […]

The Stream, February 9: Sea Level Rise Will Last Thousands of Years, Study Finds

The Global Rundown Rising sea levels will have consequences for human civilization thousands of years into the future, even if global temperature increases are contained, scientists found. To protect Tokyo from rising seas and floods, some architects have proposed rebuilding islands in Tokyo Bay. Meanwhile, Australia is planning major cuts to the climate research team […]

The Stream, February 8: Brazil Dam Failure May Lead to Homicide Charges

The Global Rundown Brazil may charge executives at a mining company for homicide over a tailings dam failure that killed 17 people. Radioactive water seeped into groundwater at a New York nuclear plant, though officials say it is contained. Egypt needs billions of dollars to finance water treatment plants, two major U.S. science agencies are […]

The Stream, February 5: Zimbabwe, Hit By Drought, Will Declare National Emergency

The Global Rundown Zimbabwe announced plans to declare a national emergency as it faces food shortages amid a severe drought, while water levels rose at Kariba dam, potentially avoiding a shutdown of one of Zambia’s major hydropower plants. Coal last year dropped to its smallest portion of U.S. electricity generation since records began, an Australian […]

The Stream, February 4: Canada’s Oil Sands Development In Doubt

The Global Rundown The future of the water-intensive, polluting development of oil sands in Alberta is in question amid a global slump in oil prices. Iraq plans to repair and maintain the Mosul Dam. The world’s largest offshore wind farm is slated for the coast of the United Kingdom, while a watchdog group called on […]

Water A Key Factor in Zika Virus Spread

Zika is carried by mosquitoes that reproduce in standing water, but in some cities that water can be hard to eliminate. By Codi Kozacek Circle of Blue The World Health Organization on Monday declared the spread of the Zika virus to be a public health emergency of international concern due to its potential link to […]

The Stream, February 3: India To Borrow Billions To Finance Irrigation

The Global Rundown India plans to secure billions of dollars in loans from international banks to improve its irrigation systems and protect its agricultural sector from climate change. Lebanon is struggling with an ineffective garbage system that threatens its drinking water and air quality, while Zimbabwe’s capital is seeing a sharp increase in bottled water […]

The Stream, February 2: Emergency Food Needs Rise in Zimbabwe Amid Drought

The Global Rundown A severe drought may double or even triple the number of people needing emergency food aid in Zimbabwe. Drinking water quality has declined in South Africa, a government report found, while the economic costs of a lead-contaminated drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, may just be starting. Projects to clean up Brazil’s […]

The Stream, February 1: United Arab Emirates Modifies Weather to Make Rain

The Global Rundown Pinched by shrinking groundwater reserves, the United Arab Emirates is pursuing research projects to modify weather passing over the country to create as much rainfall as possible. Farmers in South Africa are drilling wells hundreds of meters deep to reach water, and Japan is building the world’s largest floating solar farm. Detroit […]

The Stream, January 29: Iraq Mosul Dam Could Collapse, U.S. General Says

The Global Rundown The Mosul Dam, Iraq’s largest dam, could collapse and cause a catastrophic flood, a top U.S. general said. Employees of an aluminum oxide plant on trial for a 2010 flood of toxic sludge in Hungary were acquitted, and Michigan extended a state of emergency for the city of Flint over contaminated drinking […]

The Stream, January 28: Australia Coal Mines Risky For Investors Due to Environmental, Market Factors

The Global Rundown Coal mines in Australia are high risk for investors due to their dependence on export markets and their exposure to environmental risks, a new study found. The majority of India’s urban sewage is never treated, and air pollution in South Asia may be changing monsoon rainfall. The El Nino weather pattern is […]