The Stream, May 18: Climate Change Will Affect U.S. Water Availability

Water levels on the flooding Rio Negro in Brazil have reached 29.78 meters, the highest in a century, prompting 53 cities to declare a state of emergency, Xinhua reported.

India could see its first commercial shale gas production in four years, Bloomberg News reported. Companies are waiting for further data analysis and government policy before any serious drilling begins.

China’s government has announced it will spend $US 79 billion on nearly 6,000 projects to prevent and control water pollution, Xinhua reported.

Climate Change
The United States Geological Survey has studied how climate change will affect water availability in 14 basins across the U.S., United Press International reported. The findings: a warming trend will likely reduce snowpack, meaning less water flowing into river basins.

After mapping Australasia’s temperature trends for the past 1,000 years, scientists at Australia’s University of Melbourne found that the last 60 years have been the hottest, the Guardian reported. The study’s authors say it supports the idea of man-made climate change.

Climate change, particularly droughts and floods, cost Kenya $US 11.5 billion in 2011, Xinhua reported, citing Kenya’s prime minister. A study estimates that it will take $US 1 billion for drought recovery efforts in the country.

The United Nations climate chief urged countries to set emission reduction targets now in order to prepare for a global climate deal in 2015, AlertNet reported.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Codi Kozacek

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