Rivers are drying up worldwide as climate change accelerates

Global river levels fell at unprecedented rates in 2023, threatening water supplies and increasing the risk of floods and droughts, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Helena Horton reports for The Guardian.

In short:

More than 50% of global river basins showed abnormal low-water conditions in 2023, following several years of decline.
Climate change, alongside the shift from La Niña to El Niño, is making extreme water events like droughts and floods more frequent and harder to predict.
Rising temperatures have intensified the hydrological cycle, leading to worsening droughts and unpredictable water availability.

Key quote:

"Water is the canary in the coalmine of climate change."

— Celeste Saulo, secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization

Why this matters:

Billions of people already face water shortages, and as climate change disrupts the global water cycle, more will struggle to access safe, reliable water. Floods and droughts will increase, threatening both lives and ecosystems.

www.theguardian.com

Rivers are drying up worldwide as climate change accelerates

More than 70% of new solar is being built in states that voted for Trump

A solar industrial complex is turning Republicans into believers

How California is kicking its natural gas habit

Sargassum superbloom: Seaweed scourge or ecological boon?

Former EPA officials warn of health risks from data center pollution

Climate ‘feedback loops’ could worsen global warming by 30%, study finds

Extreme weather preparedness is becoming increasingly necessary in Pittsburgh

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.