The Stream, March 21: Drought, Fire, and Kenya’s Wildlife

Drought and Water Access
A forest fire in China’s Yunnan province was brought under control Tuesday after burning for two days and coming within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the provincial capital, Xinhua reported. The fire was linked to drought conditions that have plagued Yunnan for the past three years.

The Guardian looks at the effects of drought in Kenya’s Masai Mara reserve, where water scarcity is putting increasing pressure on wildlife.

Israeli settlers are keeping Palestinians from accessing some water sources in the West Bank, according to a report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Reuters reported.

Climate and Energy
Global temperatures could rise four degrees if current trends continue and countries fail to limit emissions, according the European Union’s chief climate negotiator. A report by the London-based Royal Society predicts that a four-degree increase in temperature would make half of the world’s agricultural land unusable and would cause 40 percent of the world’s species to go extinct, EurActiv reported.

More Americans favor increasing development of oil, natural gas and coal as gasoline prices continue to rise, says a Pew Research Center study, according to The New York Times. The survey found that 52 percent of adults think pursuing alternative energy is a priority, down from 63 percent last year, while 39 percent think conventional energy development is a priority, up from 29 percent last year.

Tar sand pipelines face more road blocks after a Canadian court decision halted a pumping station that is part of a plan to eventually transport crude oil from Alberta to a seaport in Maine, Reuters 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