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8 Mar 2024
Joint Research Centre Produces Report on Drought in the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean coast is in the grip of an unprecedented drought, with reservoirs at exceptionally low levels, rivers experiencing low flow volumes, and groundwater levels dropping. The winter precipitation that is typical of the region’s climate has been well below average – from the 1st to the 20th of January the Mediterranean region experienced critical drought conditions, and a quarter of Europe and North Africa is currently under drought conditions...
6 Mar 2024
Catalonia faces worst drought on record
Large parts of the northeastern Spanish region ( autonomous community) of Catalonia are suffering their worst drought on record, leading authorities in the region to declare a drought emergency for some 80% of the population. This is the third consecutive year of drought for the region, and with low levels of snowfall during the winter, the situation is critical...
6 Mar 2024
Initiative to restore part of Indus River Basin named as UN World Restoration Flagship
An initiative to restore more than 30 per cent of Pakistan’s Indus River Basin by 2030 has been named one of seven UN World Restoration Flagships. Announced ahead of the 6th session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly in Nairobi between the 26th of February and the 1st of March, the World Restoration Flagship awards are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration...
6 Mar 2024
AfDB and Lake Chad Basin Commission sign MOU to rehabilitate the Lake Chad Basin
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) have signed an agreement to rehabilitate and restore the Lake Chad Basin. The agreement was signed in the sidelines of the 37th African Union Summit held in Ethiopia on the 17th and 18th of February, will mobilise financial and technical resources to improve the development and management of water resources, support livelihoods and restore peace in the region...
5 Mar 2024
Persistent drought causes acute water shortages in Mexico City
Mexico City is facing a severe water shortage following a persistent drought across large parts of the country, with supplies to residents being restricted to several hours a day. According to a report released on the 15th of February by Mexico’s National Water Commission CONAGUA, almost 60% of the country is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought...
5 Mar 2024
The Battle for Truth on Water Climate and the Environment:
The Stockholm Hub on Environment, Climate and Security has published an insightful policy note on the impact of information influencing campaigns on the decision-making environment for climate change and water security. Looking back at COP 27, the researchers highlight the evidence of disinformation campaigns launched by fossil fuel companies and lobby groups that were active during the climate discussions...
4 Mar 2024
Concern over pause in EU’s Water Resilience Initiative
The absence of a clear date for the announcement of a European Water Resilience Initiative, expected in mid-March 2024, has raised fears amongst environmental groups and water experts that this initiative may be losing ground. A group of 28 European stakeholder organisations in the water sector submitted an open letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the 5th of March to express their regret at the delay in the launch of the Water Resilience Initiative...
4 Mar 2024
Study highlights socioeconomic impact of climate change in LDCs beyond 2°C warming
A new paper by the Centre for Global Development has reviewed a range of potential impacts that climate change could have on the socioeconomic status of developing countries. In particular, the report warns that if global warming is not limited to less than 2°C, revenue from crops could be cut by 30%, losses in GDP could range between 11...
1 Mar 2024
First ever report on the status of migratory species reveals critical decline of freshwater species
In the context of the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, which entered into force in 1983), the first ever global report on the status of migratory species has been published. Researched and written for CMS by conservation scientists at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), the report provides an overview of the status of billions of migratory animals, which travel to a variety of habitats for feeding, breeding and resting, and contribute to the maintenance of these ecosystems during their stay...
1 Mar 2024
Interview with Action Against Hunger on the humanitarian situation in Rafah
The Water Diplomat has received feedback from Action Against Hunger on the humanitarian situation in Rafah following the development of complex and difficult conditions for humanitarian organisations. The British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, warned on the 12th of February that Israel would be in breach of international law if it fails to provide food and water to the people of Gaza...
22 Feb 2024
Critical transitions in Amazon Forest may affect water supplies
In an article published in the influential magazine Nature on the 14th of February, a group of 25 researchers have warned that up to 47% of the Amazon Forest is unstable and could reach a tipping point if not further protected, with consequences for water supplies across the region. The researchers analysed the existing evidence for five major drivers of water stress in the Amazon basin...
19 Feb 2024
ICRC Concludes ten-year water programme in northern Jordan
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has concluded its water programme in northern Jordan and is handing over its work to local authorities, and it has also shared lessons learned with other actors with longer term presence in the region. Over the past decade, the ICRC has worked to improve access to sufficient domestic water for both Jordanian host communities and Syrian refugees in Jordan’s northern governorates...