The Stream, April 2: World Bank Says $2.5 Trillion Needed for South Asia Infrastructure

Only 25 percent of people in South Asia have access to piped water supplies and more than a quarter lack access to electricity due to large gaps in infrastructure, according to the World Bank, Reuters reported. The Bank has estimated that the region needs $US 2.5 trillion in investment by 2020 to provide necessary services to the population.

Municipalities around the world are looking to integrate climate change adaptation measures into city operations in the absence of larger national frameworks, AlertNet reported. Adaptation, not mitigation, is best suited for cities and other local-level community responses because it addresses local problems rather than the problem of emissions overall, experts say.

Water Scarcity
California’s Sierra Nevada snowpack, which provides approximately 30 percent of the state’s water supply, contains just 32 percent of its average water content, Mashable reported. The state is experiencing its third year of drought.

The state water utility in São Paulo, Brazil is offering 17 million of its clients a discount if they conserve water, Bloomberg News reported. The state is contending with a sever drought just months before Brazil hosts the World Cup tournament, and the water utility is trying to avoid rationing.

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