Entries by Nadya Ivanova

The Stream, June 13: Drought in England

/in /by

England experienced its driest spring in a century last month, leaving fields parched and many rivers at record low levels, the Guardian reported, citing the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Meanwhile, Scotland had its wettest spring on record for the period of March, April and May. Downpours in two of China’s drought-hit provinces have caused […]

Rains Bring Relief For Six-Month China Drought, But Chronic Water Problems Loom

/in , , , , , , /by

Although now satiated, the dry spell is the latest in a growing trend of severe water shortages threatening China’s food production, energy generation, and accelerating modernization.

The Stream, June 10: Water and Food

/in /by

Farmers around the world should brace for higher temperatures and more frequent droughts, as climate change is reducing water availability and melting glaciers will eventually cut water supplies in major producing areas, Reuters reported, citing the the Food and Agriculture Organization. The U.S. Geological Survey projects that warming and snowpack decline in the Rocky Mountains […]

The Stream, June 9: Water Markets

/in /by

Major American universities are using endowment funds to buy or lease vast areas of African farmland in deals, some of which may force people off their land, the Guardian reports. About 370 water tanks will be sent to Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to hold more than 40,000 tons of radioactive water, AFP reports. Workers […]

The Stream, June 7: U.S. Energy Policy

/in /by

The U.S. Department of State will hold public meetings in five states before it decides whether to grant permission for the Keystone XL pipeline, which will transport Canadian oil sands petroleum to refiners in Texas, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, The New Yorker’s Elizabeth Kolbert argues that “just about every decision that [the Obama] Administration has made […]

The Stream, June 6: Heavy Rains Relieve China’s Drought

/in /by

Heavy rainfall over the weekend has eased the effects of the prolonged drought in central and eastern China, Xinhua reports. The rains are expected to continue over the next few days. Meanwhile, spring rains and melting winter snowpack have caused heavy flooding in central South Dakota, threatening to raise the Missouri River to record levels, […]

The Stream, June 3: Energy Shortages

/in /by

Radioactive water rising in Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant could start overflowing from service trenches within days and leak into the sea, Bloomberg reports. With scarce coal and water resources, Tianjin — China’s third biggest city — is bracing for electricity shortfalls that could reach 1.5 gigawatts this summer, Reuters reports. France’s record spring […]

Uncertain Future for Shale Gas in Europe — Accepted by U.K., Rejected by France, Others Undecided

/in , , , /by

Despite getting a go-ahead in the U.K., shale gas faces an uncertain future in Europe.

The Stream, June 2: Brazil Backs Belo Monte Dam

/in , /by

Brazil’s environment agency gave a go-ahead for the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, slated as a crucial energy source for Brazil’s fast-growing economy but frowned upon by native Indians and environmental groups, Reuters reports. South Africa South Africa has appointed a bulk raw water provider to oversee a short-term project to clean up […]

The Stream, June 1: Drought in China

/in /by

Food prices for staple crops such as maize will more than double by 2030, and the world will enter a permanent food crisis, charity Oxfam warns in a new report that also calls for European countries to abandon subsidies and higher production targets for biofuels. China Drought Shanghai is facing the longest dry spell in […]

The Stream, May 31: Turkey’s Massive Water Projects

/in , /by

India and Pakistan are in the midst of talks to reduce troops situated above the Siachen Glacier in the northern part of the disputed Kashmir region, Reuters reports. The glacier is also a source of melt water for Pakistan’s rivers. Turkey is building scores of dams, hydropower schemes and nuclear power plants, the Guardian reports. […]

The Stream, May 30: China’s Looming Power Crisis

/in /by

China’s worsening power crisis leaves it few long-term options but to raise consumer electricity prices and swallow a dose of inflation, Reuters argues in an analysis of the country’s power shortages, as a lingering drought in southern and central China is also crippling the hydropower output. China Meanwhile, the water woes in the Yangtze River […]