Resource Security News Archive

June 26-30, 2017

Three former executives of TEPCO, the utility company that
owned the Fukushima Daichii nuclear power plant, are on trial for professional
negligence. The Guardian
reported that these are the first and only criminal action hearings since the
nuclear meltdown occurred six years ago.

Bloomberg
Businessweek explained the complex maneuvering Saudi Arabia must do in
order to raise oil prices, while keeping prices low enough to hold back a flood
of US shale spending. This is proving particularly difficult with the waning
influence of OPEC and the geopolitical tensions among its members.

Northern China is suffering from a drought that began in
mid-April. The New
York Times wrote that farmers and herders are in great need of support,
including one area called Hulunbuir where economic losses have already totaled
$780 million.

Yemen is experiencing a massive cholera outbreak with 5,000 new
cases reported every day, wrote the Associated
Press. Unfortunately, this outbreak is having a compounding effect on other
dire concerns facing the country, including extreme food insecurity and the
displacement of 3 million people due to the ongoing civil war. 

May 29 – June 2, 2017

Poland is in the midst of an environmental showdown between the government and conservationists. Al Jazeera wrote that many are angered by a new initiative that has earmarked 10,000 acres for logging in Europe’s last primeval forest, Bialowieza. Ironically, the Ministry of the Environment claims this logging is to protect the forest, though the public has yet to be convinced.

The Christian Science Monitor reported that China will expand their scientific research in Antarctica with the mission to better understand the changing environment. However, there is speculation that there may be other underlying reasons why China wants to increase its presence on the continent.  

The drought in Kenya is increasing food prices, creating inflation, and subsequently causing a backlash on the president. Some feel he did not do enough to stave off the effects of this drought. These criticisms come at the onset of his reelection campaign, reported the Guardian.

The 120 mile long crack on an ice shelf in Antarctica just grew 11 miles longer in 6 days, reported USA Today. Now only 8 miles remain before this massive ice shelf breaks off and becomes a floating iceberg the size of Delaware.  

May 22-26, 2017

In February, China declared they would immediately stop all coal imports from North Korea – a move that should have crippled the Korean economy, or at least dinged it a little. However, the Washington Post reported that the North Korean exchange rate has remained stable with no signs of distress yet, which has led some to question the authenticity of China’s declaration.

National Geographic featured an article about India’s rapid energy transformation and how they hope to be a model for other countries who are trying to increase renewable energy supply and energy efficiency. One such project is replacing 770 million household and street lights with LED lighting, which will decrease annual CO2 emissions by a magnitude equal to Chile’s annual CO2 consumption.

It appears that OPEC, along with a number of other nonmember countries, will extend their oil cuts for an additional 9 months. This support comes despite evidence that the current cuts failed to reduce global oil inventories, though Bloomberg suggested the cuts may have less to do with effectiveness, and more to do with increased oil revenues.  

A new study led by a team at Dartmouth found that the Northeast United States did not experience a linear increase in heavy precipitation, as many previous studies have assumed, but instead there was an abrupt shift in 1996 that led to a 53% increase in extreme precipitation, compared to the period from 1901 to 1995. 

April 24-28, 2017

The International Energy Agency warned that there may be a global oil shortage as early as 2020. Sarah Kent at the Wall Street Journal reported that investment in conventional oil was historically low in 2016 causing concern for the near-term supply and that unconventional  oil resources like US shale are still not large enough to fill the possible gap between supply and demand.

Salt water intrusion is causing a major shift in the lives of Bangladeshi women on the southwestern coast. Neha Thirani Bagri wrote in Al Jazeera that increased water salinity is ruining the rice farming industry, forcing day laborers – who are traditionally men – to move to Dhaka and leaving women as the heads of their household.  

India is seeing a major shift in its energy market, explained Kavya Balaraman in E&E News. The low price of renewables coupled with the government’s new commitment to reduce construction of new coal plants is sparking uncertainty in the future of India’s coal industry.

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, an underground depository for nuclear waste in New Mexico, has reopened and is receiving nuclear waste again after being shut down for three years. David Iaconangelo wrote in the Christian Science Monitor about how its reopening warrants a conversation about whether underground disposal is the correct method going forward. 

April 17-21, 2017

France is seeing a tense debate over the future of its
nuclear power plants, explained Marion Sollety and Sara Steffanini in Politico.
The next President of France will need to upgrade or shut down 58 nuclear
reactors that are reaching their retirement age, but the presidential
candidates cannot agree on which route to take.

Philip Fearnside wrote in Yale360
about why deforestation is having a comeback in the Brazilian Amazon. One
reason, ironically, was the successful reduction of deforestation rates in
2012, which lulled the international community and the Brazilian government
into thinking the area was protected enough.

Last year, giraffes were listed as a vulnerable species by
the Union for Conservation of Nature. This week, five conservation
organizations who felt that classification was not strong enough filed a
petition in the US government to list giraffes as officially endangered, wrote
Fred Bercovitch in Mongabay
News. 

Saudi Arabia continued its campaign for increased renewable
energy by announcing ambitious targets for wind and solar energy. Wael Mahdi
and Vivian Nereim of Bloomberg
reported that Saudi Arabia wants to have 10% of its energy production be from
renewables by 2023, and is seeking bids to develop 30 new wind and solar
projects.

A new report commissioned by the German foreign office found
that climate change can and has bolstered recruitment by terrorist
organizations. Ben Doherty summarized in the
Guardian that terrorist groups have shown signs of exploiting weaknesses
caused by climate change like in the aftermath of a natural disaster or in
areas with scarce resources.

April 10-14, 2017

The Financial
Times reported on rising tensions between developing and developed
countries over the financial commitments in the Paris Agreement. The
fundraising pledge has fallen $40 billion short of its $100 billion target and
developing countries are concerned that there will not be enough new funding to
accomplish their climate goals.  

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is set to be completed
this year and Egypt is concerned that it will significantly affect their freshwater
availability. Already a water-scarce country, Egypt will potentially lose 25% of
its water flow from the Nile, wrote Yale
360.

Only two animals remained in the Mosul zoo, a bear named
Lula and a lion named Simba, after months of war caused almost 40 animals to
die from starvation and bombs. The New
York Times reported that this week, Four Paws International was able to
successfully rescue the pair and brought them to a shelter in Jordan. 

Reuters
wrote about the North Korean coal shipments that were blocked at Chinese ports
this week. The cargo ships held some 2 million tons of coal and were forced to
return to North Korea with full or mostly full loads. Without these shipments
from North Korea, China has had to rely more heavily on coal imports from the
US.

Guatemala’s national parks are experiencing extreme
wildfires. The government issued a red alert and deployed over 200 soldiers to
help contain the destruction, reported Mongabay
News. However, it’s possible that the fires have already consumed more than
30,000 hectares.

April 3-7, 2017

There is an ongoing feud between Kurdish groups and the Iraqi government over who controls the massive oil reserves in Kirkuk, an area in northern Iraq. The divisive topic was pushed to the background during the battle of Mosul, but with a possible victory in sight against ISIS, there are increased worries that the old tensions over the oil field will rise up again, wrote Bloomberg.

Somali piracy is feared to be on the rise again after multiple incidences of kidnapping were reported over the past few weeks. There are multiple factors that may be causing the resurgence including persistent drought, extreme hunger verging on famine, a change in politics, and the influence of ISIS, reported the New York Times  

A devastating landslide tore through the middle of Mocoa, Colombia this weekend, destroying entire neighborhoods and cutting off access to clean water and electricity, reported the Bogota Post. The government has confirmed over 200 fatalities, though hundreds more remain missing.

The US Geological Survey released a new interactive map that allows users to see the changing levels of pollution in rivers and streams throughout the US. The map uses monitoring data from almost 1,400 sites and looks at the variations in water quality since the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972.

The national energy companies of 26 European Union member states signed a pledge this week to stop investments in new coal plants after 2020, reported the Guardian. Eurelectric said the pledge is to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Agreement and their promise to be carbon neutral by 2050.

March 27-31, 2017

Yale360 featured an article about the far-reaching environmental impact of China’s infrastructure projects. Chinese companies have spent billions of dollars across developing nations building projects that promote economic development, but come with a heavy toll on water, air, soil, and biodiversity.  

Unlicensed slaughterhouses are being closed down in India stirring tension between the Hindu majority who view cows as holy and the Muslim minority who own most of the slaughterhouses in the country, reported Al Jazeera.

This week Westinghouse Electric Company filed for bankruptcy provoking questions about how this will affect the future of the nuclear market worldwide. Forbes wrote that this is not the proverbial nail in the coffin of nuclear, but it definitely makes matters more complicated.

The Wall Street Journal asserted that Saudi Arabia has consistently underestimated the potential growth of the US shale movement. Despite low oil prices, the US was able to cut production prices and improve oil software technologies with alacrity unmatched in the history of the oil market.

The integrity of the Tabqa dam in Syria is currently under examination after ISIS claimed the US coalition struck the dam, reported the BBC. Citizens and militants in ISIS-held Raqqa were seen in disarray, some even fleeing the town, though some strategists believe the dam is a ploy to escape the advancing coalition or that ISIS will destroy the dam and blame the US.

March 20-24, 2017

Fitch, one of the world’s three major credit rating agencies, has lowered Saudi Arabia’s standing from AA- to A+, wrote the Wall Street Journal. This demotion shows Fitch’s concern in Saudi Arabia’s ability to overcome the effect of low oil prices on their long-term economy, despite recent drastic reforms.

In Cambodia, a proposed dam project on the Mekong River is stirring public discontent. Mongabay News reported that NGOs and citizens in the area feel left in the dark about the project, and fear that the dam will impact their homes and the local fisheries.   

The Daily Beast reflected on South Sudan’s history of systematic corruption, violence and general lack of governance that has forced the world’s youngest nation into a debilitating famine. Yet, the author argues that this self-created ruin is not unheard of in the history of nations.

This week the Ganges River was granted legal personhood in an effort to protect its waters. However, the Christian Science Monitor reported that this designation will not stop pollution, other management policies and enforcement will need to take place in order to clean up the sacred river.

Emeralds continue to be a source of conflict in Colombia where fortune-seekers will sift through leftover grit with bare hands or illegally mine in order to find emeralds to sell in an informal market. Al Jazeera reported on these miners and used a series of photos to depict their toil.

March 13-17, 2017

This week oil prices dropped to the lowest level of the year
making OPEC concerned that their output cuts were not enough to affect price.
However, extended cuts seem uncertain since Saudi Arabia is already showing
discontent that they are bearing the bulk of the cuts, reported the Wall
Street Journal.

Cape Town, South Africa, home to 3.7 million people, is
facing a water crisis. Just last week the mayor sought approval to declare the
city a “proactive disaster area,” in hopes that the city could obtain funding
and emergency water supplies, wrote the Earth
Journalism Network.

A large commercial oil tanker and its 8 crew members were
held hostage by Somali pirates this week, the first of such occurrence since
2012, reported the Washington
Post. The pirates said their motive was not ransom, but rather to protest
against recent illegal fishing in the area.

A group of scientists published a long awaited report that
detailed the extent of coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef. The New
York Times confirmed that the amount of dead or distressed coral is much
more extensive than previously believed, leaving many concerned for the future
of the world’s most famous reef.

A UNICEF
photographer showed what 3 years of inadequate rain, chronic hunger, and
the possible onset of famine looks like in Somalia through a series of
photographs. The humanitarian crisis is only getting worse, with 16 million
people already facing hunger in East Africa.

February 27 – March 3, 2017

Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to be an environmental activist. Yale360 featured one story of a famous activist who was murdered after fighting against a dam project that would have disrupted her native land.

The term ‘famine’ can only be used when a population has surpassed an international threshold for extreme hunger. Unfortunately, a portion of South Sudan has reached this designation, the first country to declare a famine in six years, reported Al Jazeera.

The vaquita, a miniature porpoise that lives solely in the Gulf of California, will almost certainly be extinct within two years. Scientists currently believe there are only 30 left, with numbers dropping fast. The New York Times wrote that the main reason for their demise is illegal fishing, in which the vaquita is collateral damage, just a corpse thrown back into the ocean. 

Why is there a massive crater in Siberia that is…growing? The BBC explained that the ground in this area has deep layers of buried permafrost that are now melting due to deforestation and rising temperatures, leaving big holes. Fortunately, scientists may have found a silver lining…

In many ways Bhutan is a model of conservation excellence, evident in the fact that half of the country is either a national park or wildlife sanctuary. However, the Ecologist commented that Bhutan’s increased construction of megadams, influenced by its heavy exports of hydropower to India, could disrupt protected ecosystems.

February 20-24, 2017

China decided to place a coal ban on North Korea after they assassinated Kim Jong Un’s half-brother, and tested another ballistic missile. The Financial Times discussed why China’s decision to use economic leverage was so surprising, and what motivations may have led to this change in diplomacy.

The United Nations declared a famine in South Sudan, with additional concerns for widespread starvation and possible future famines in Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. The BBC looked at this worrying escalation of hunger and asked why do we still have famines in 2017? Unfortunately, in many of these cases, they seem to be man-made.  

Popular Science featured an article on La Paz, Bolivia and how they are struggling to adapt to water restrictions that appear to be staying for the foreseeable future. Their fate was not unpredictable, and in fact many saw the threats of melting glaciers and decreasing precipitation, but not enough was done to prepare the city for this current water-scarce reality.

OPEC countries are being applauded for their 90% compliance on their agreement to cut oil production, but they are still waiting to see the results of their efforts. Bloomberg reported that so far, their indicators, such as stockpiles of crude in the US, are going in the wrong direction.

Last year, 147 tigers were confiscated from the “Tiger Temple” in Thailand where evidence of wildlife trafficking was clear, including tiger cub bodies found in the freezer during the raid. Now, National Geographic wrote that an offshoot business of the temple is under construction next door to the monastery, where they already have a bid to “rescue” over 100 tigers from a closing zoo.  

February 6-10, 2017

There is a 100 mile long crack on an ice shelf in Antarctica that keeps inching towards danger. The New York Times reported that only 20 miles remain before a huge chunk of the ice is disconnected, which may have serious future repercussions for the rest of the shelf, and nearby glaciers.  

The hunger crisis in Yemen continues, and the UN fears that it will soon turn into famine this year. The Guardian reported on the dire situation in one of the poorest governorates, and featured stories of families hurting from hunger and war.

New Delhi, India is notorious for being one of the most polluted cities in the world, but recently researchers discovered that most of the Indo-Gangetic plain is also not faring well. Yale360explained what researchers know so far about the causes and impacts of the extreme pollution that is affecting millions of people.

Australians are increasingly worried about the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The most recent concern, reported the Christian Science Monitor, is the result of black coal dust emerging on shorelines near the diverse ecosystem, sparking criticism on the growing coal industry.

California has received an unprecedented amount of rain and snow this winter, allowing many drought-stricken regions to heave a sigh of relief. However, the state water managers say it is too soon to lift the emergency drought regulations, and that they will remain in place until they reassess the situation in May, wrote the LA Times.

January 30 – February 3, 2017

After three years of negotiations among a diverse set of stakeholders, the Philippines designated over 100,000 acres as a critical habitat – nearly 7 times larger than any other critical habitat in the country. Mongabay News featured an article on this biodiverse treasure, and the key actors who made it happen.  

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister remains unfazed by the new administration’s vow to end US dependence on OPEC’s oil. Instead, the Saudi Minister commented that he is glad to see the US oil sector grow, and may even increase investment in US refining and distribution, reported Bloomberg.

The world hit another dangerous climate change checkpoint this year as the minimum CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere consistently surpassed 400 parts per million. Yale360explained why this matters, and why the Earth has not seen CO2 levels this high for millions of years.

The BBC wrote about a new study from UC Berkeley that found little evidence to prove Mexico City’s car ban actually reduced pollution. Instead, families bought a second car, carpooled with family members, or found other ways to get around the laws.

The Bay of Bengal is being severely depleted of its fish, hurting the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them – and it’s only getting worse. The Guardian explained the decades of unsustainable policies encouraging fishermen, and a recent drought in India is forcing farmers to abandon their farms and head to the coast, only to further exacerbate the problem.

January 23-27, 2017

Midwest Energy News wrote an article analyzing Germany’s energy grid and how they successfully and unsuccessfully integrated renewable energy. A few key recommendations were made for Ohio’s grid, such as making the grid “smarter” and looking at demand management, rather than just supply. 

Humans have about 500 primate relatives on Earth, but a new study found that they aren’t doing very well. Conservationists around the world were alarmed to hear that about 60% of primates are currently threatened by extinction – much worse than imagined, wrote the Christian Science Monitor. 

Solar energy production in Japan nearly doubled between 2015 and 2016, reported Forbes. Solar now accounts for about 5% of electricity, and increased Japan’s total renewable energy generation to 14%. This increase puts it third in the world for solar capacity, behind Germany and China. 

The New York Times wrote about how a new trash dump attracted migratory birds and why airplanes and governmental officials forced them to their death. Once thought of as a political fix, the garbage collection has now created a convoluted mess.

The European Environment Agency released a study on the effects of climate change in Europe that compiled the work of 60 authors and institutions, reported the Guardian. The study gives a grim outlook, noting that sea level increase is increasing in speed, it’s not linear, and that the world has little hope of staying below 2 degrees Celsius given the current political atmosphere.

January 16-20, 2017

Last year, Ethiopia faced their worst drought in 50 years causing millions to become food insecure. Humanitarian efforts have helped reduce the worst impacts, but the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that all these recent gains are in jeopardy by another drought emerging in Southern Ethiopia.

China continues its campaign against coal, this time canceling 104 coal projects (47 of which were already in progress) collectively worth $30 billion. Vox explained that this is just the most recent move in an ongoing effort to green China’s energy supply.

Japan has resumed their whaling in the Southern Ocean, causing an escalation of geopolitical tensions, reported the Financial Times. Australia has publicly renounced Japan’s activity, citing a 2014 ruling against whaling in the International Court of Justice.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation wrote about Sri Lankan efforts to prepare for an anticipated drought. A cross-ministry committee is looking at ways to lessen the impact through actions such as reducing taxes on food imports and creating short term energy agreements to offset a loss in hydropower.

The world’s frightening warming trend continues, with 2016 officially announced as the warmest year ever recorded. This news is not unexpected as four out of the past six years also set new records for the warmest year, reported Time magazine. 

January 9-13, 2017

The Alpine mountains are missing their iconic white tops because an unusually dry atmosphere is preventing snow fall. This December, the Alps saw the lowest amount of snowfall ever recorded since recordkeeping began 100 years ago, reported Bloomberg.

A series of deals between Cuba and the US were signed this month in an effort to strengthen their partnership before Trump takes office. The most recent deal, wrote Reuters, aims to protect the Gulf of Mexico from oil spills through joint disaster plans, personnel training, and cleanup responsibilities.

NASA scientists released a new report that for the first time looks at the impact wildfires have on droughts. The study found that an increase in the number of wildfires had a correlation to a decrease in precipitation in the following wet season in the Sahel region.

Tiger poaching in India spiked in 2016 as a result of an increased luxury market in China and a lack of funding for policing and legal enforcement in India. Yale E360 featured an article on this complex and multifaceted criminal trade that is leading wild tigers to the brink of extinction.

A Korean company is being scrutinized by a US environmental NGO for burning thousands of hectares of forests in Indonesian Papua for palm oil, reported Mongabay news. The company officially announced this week that they will stop clearing forests until they conduct an assessment of the remaining area. 

January 2-6, 2017

Water supplies are yet another victim of the ongoing Syrian War. This time, reported the New York Times, the drinking water shortage is happening in Damascus, the government-held capital. Millions of residents have gone days without a reliable access to clean water after the supply line was damaged in fighting north of the city.

Last year, Costa Rica produced 98% of its electricity through renewable sources, earning it a reputation as a sustainability success story. However, the Guardian reported that while this is impressive, it is not the full story of a country that does indeed use plenty of oil.

The Bangkok Post highlighted an ongoing tension in eastern Myanmar where farmers believe the military unjustly seized their land and never gave it back. Many of the farmers have no proof of ownership, so the military has sued nearly a hundred farmers for trespassing or destruction of property.

The contentious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is likely to be finished in 2017, wrote IEEE Spectrum. This six year long, $5 billion project is expected to significantly improve electricity access in Ethiopia and improve drought resilience, but Egypt and Sudan are concerned that filling the 74 billion cubic meter reservoir will reduce water flowing to their dams downstream on the Blue Nile River. This tension between riparian countries may stoke conflict, and is a dynamic to watch this year. 

Afghanistan’s agricultural sector is stagnating. The Diplomat explained that low production growth rates are the result of a multitude of coalescing factors including a lack of investment, decades of instability, farmer displacement, and cheaper food options from other countries in the region.

December 19-23, 2016

For the first time in 2016, China sounded the “red alert” – the highest level in the country’s air pollution warning system, indicating that the pollution surpassed ten times the levels deemed safe.  The Christian Science Monitor wrote that some cities temporarily shut down roads, factories, and schools as a result.

Boko Haram forced millions out of their homes in northeast Nigeria, some more than two years ago, but now many are returning to rebuild their livelihoods and houses. The Guardian detailed the progress already being made in some towns, including programs to restore food crops and trainings about how to farm in dry seasons. 

The battle for Mosul may continue for another two to four months, reported the New York Times. Time is an important factor in this fight where approximately a million civilians are trapped inside ISIS domain with dwindling supplies of food, water, and medicine.

Before the uprisings began in Libya in 2011, the country produced 1.6 million barrels of oil a day. Five years later, their oil output declined to less than half of that due to the conflict and political arguments. However, the national oil corporation announced that this oil slump will soon change, reported Reuters.

India says it will go over and above its targets set in the Paris Agreement, wrote the Independent. A new report forecasted that India will be able to have 275 GW of energy from renewable sources and 100 GW from nuclear by 2027.

December 12-16, 2016

The World Wildlife Fund celebrated the end of 2016 with a list of 15 major wins for species and ecosystems all over the world, including an increase in tiger populations for the first time in a century, innovation in thermal infrared cameras to detect poachers, and the protection of a World Heritage site in Belize.

Failing farms in an increasingly arid region in West Africa are creating migrant groups of young men who have no choice but to leave this harsh environment in search of other livelihoods. The New York Times featured a story profiling a few of these men, and how the changing climate will continue to hurt them.  

The American Meteorological Society published a new report showing how climate change influenced some of the worst extreme weather events in 2015. The Washington Post gave a rundown on the report’s findings.

In September, Pakistan went to the World Bank for arbitration on the designs of two hydroelectric power projects in India. The World Bank accepted the request, but India’s protests have caused the process to be paused. Now, Pakistan and India have written that they hope they can settle the disagreement using the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, with talks by the end of the month.

Nature reported on an international group of scientists’ winter expedition to the Arctic to measure sea ice. The team was surprised to find that the ice was younger and thinner than typical for late winter.

December 5-9, 2016

In 2016, China installed enough solar power to fulfill Switzerland’s entire electrical capacity. However, the Wall Street Journal wrote that China is now pulling on the reigns of their clean energy growth because their electricity grids are not being updated fast enough.

 An oil refinery was liberated from ISIS by the Iraqi Security Forces, but conflict and corruption remain. The Middle East Monitor reported that expensive equipment was stolen and sold on the black market after fighting ceased, and was later written off as damaged during the battle. In an interview an Iraqi MP claimed he knew who stole the equipment, but feared assassination if he named them.

 Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are steadily rising, and at this current rate, it will far exceed its Paris commitments. To illustrate this, the Guardian has a carbon clock ticking down the remaining tons in Australia’s “carbon budget”. 

Three water pipelines were attacked in Mosul, resulting in at least a half a million people without access to running water inside the city. Aid agencies are not able to repair the pipes because they are inside ISIS territory, reported CNN.   

Mongabay News featured an article on five large dams planned to be built on the Salween River and how they are provoking further conflict in Myanmar because they all lie within or near areas of disputed governance.

November 14-18, 2016

The Guardian’s environmental writers teamed together to profile 9 countries that are all experiencing troubles as a result of the hottest year on record – 2016. From the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria to dog sled racing in Alaska, climate change has already had an effect.

Many signatory countries of the Paris climate agreement have spoken publicly saying they plan to continue their commitments in the accord, even if president-elect Trump decides to pull the US out. Even Saudi Arabia, a country dependent on oil revenues, plans to stick with its pledges, reported the Financial Times.  

Farmers in Herat, Afghanistan are adopting new agricultural techniques, including the construction of over 300 modern raisin drying houses, reported the World Bank.  The new houses are quickening the drying process, improving the quality of the raisins produced, and subsequently increasing the farmer’s income.

The Los Angeles Times interviewed a professor in Grenada who highlighted the existential threat of rising sea levels on small island nations. “Even 2 degrees of warming will be too much,” he stated. “We see 1.5 degree of warming as essential to our survival.”

Southern Madagascar is facing severe food insecurity as a result of an unremitting 3 year drought. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization wrote that $67 million is needed to support the 1.4 million people believed to be food insecure, but assistance has been scarce. 

October 1 – November 4, 2016

National Geographic contrasted the climate change ambitions, or lack-there-of, of two countries: Costa Rica and Australia. It may appear that Australia is an environmental oasis what with photos of the Great Barrier Reef and jumping kangaroos, but in fact, they are doing very little to reduce their massive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Iraq has a devastating history of using the environment as a weapon of war. Vox wrote that it is happening once again with the battle for Mosul as the Islamic State set fires to oil fields and a sulfur plant with significant consequences that were visible from space. 

The dictator of Venezuela, typically an anti-American actor, told his fellow OPEC-countries during recent talks that they should consider including the US in future discussions since the US is a large producer. Forbes reported on this strange twist of political sentiments, and how the US quickly shot down the possibility. 

Small farmers are an important source for food in developing countries, and increasingly an important knowledge base that can create innovative, local solutions to climate change. Christian Science Monitor interviewed one Zimbabwe community organizer who believes she has solutions for small farmers like herself. 

Bloomberg reported that Egypt is attempting to stabilize its faltering economy by floating their currency. However, this means they will need to scramble to reduce their energy subsidies, or else they will see an increase in imported fuel costs.  

October 24-28, 2016

The 52-year long war in Colombia took a toll on the fragile environment. The narrow rejection of the peace accord means that conflict-exacerbated deforestation and ecosystem destruction can continue, reported the Guardian. 

Scientists are documenting the state of coral health in the Great Barrier Reef, but it looks like bad news. Many of the 83 reefs assessed have shown signs of coral bleaching – sometimes to dire levels, said the Huffington Post.  

Severe drought in Madagascar has caused widespread crop loss and acute food insecurity for 850,000 people, reported the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. An urgent need for humanitarian assistance is predicted to continue throughout 2016 and into 2017. 

Dozens of oil wells are burning away vital resources in Venezuela due to a lack of management and processing equipment, wrote the Wall Street Journal. The deteriorating economy desperately needs money from oil exports, but instead oil output shrank by 11%.

More than half of the world’s vertebrate species have declined since 1970 and they may reach a 68% decline by 2020, says a new report by the World Wildlife Fund. CNN summarized the new report and interviewed a WWF conservation scientist on the human threat to biodiversity. 

October 17-21, 2016

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) calculated the human and financial cost of Africa’s air pollution in a recent study. The Guardian reported on their findings and why pollution may affect more people across the continent per year then malnutrition.

Mashable reported on an ongoing feud between Greenland, Denmark, and the United States over toxic waste buried in Greenland’s ice sheet since the Cold War. This week, Greenland claimed that Denmark is harming the future of indigenous peoples’ rights to a safe environment as the ice sheet melts and possibly millions of liters of sewage, chemicals, and nuclear waste unfreeze.

Nomadic livestock herders in Mongolia are creating community-level adaptation collectives to combat climate change. Al Jazeera wrote about the herders’ climate problems and their innovative solutions.  

The energy minister of Saudi Arabia predicted that the world’s oil price slump will soon rebound, but maybe by too much. The Wall Street Journal looked at the minister’s recent speech and his warning about a petroleum shortage that he thinks will cause a price spike.

National Geographic wrote about a new report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization that analyzed the debilitating effect climate change will have on agriculture and farming families, particularly on women. 

October 10-14, 2016

NPR interviewed a Brazilian coffee farmer that has dire predictions for America’s favorite drink. Increased temperatures threaten to run coffee farmers out of business, and in Brazil many farmers are already deep in debt and fearing the future.  

Saudi Arabia is trying to figure out how to run their economy without oil revenue. The New York Times wrote that the persistent low oil prices and the war in Yemen have withered their budget, forcing the government to reassess their large public expenditures and subsidies.

Germany, a country known for its success in green energy, is doing too well. The Guardian reported that the government plans to significantly reduce in its target for northern wind farms because their power grid is overwhelmed.

“It’s just a complete failure of the system,” said a Doctors Without Borders employee about the massive humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria. The Washington Post reported that the Nigerian government has focused on fighting Boko Haram and largely ignored the millions who were freed or displaced, causing thousands to die and many more that face starvation and fatal disease.

The European Centre for Energy and Resource Security released a new report about China’s international coal power industry and its geopolitical implications. 

October 3-7, 2016

OPEC decided to cut its oil production by 700,000 barrels a day in order to balance the supply-heavy and low price crude oil market. However, the Wall Street Journal reported that these efforts are unlikely to make a difference because the reductions are not big enough, will not happen quick enough, and it is unclear whether all OPEC nations will comply.

The National Guard is on standby to help the areas impacted by Hurricane Matthew, wrote Stars and Stripes. Additionally, one hundred soldiers have already deployed to Haiti where hundreds have died.

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change will enter into force next month now that the threshold for emissions and ratified countries has been met, said Time magazine. The ratification process took less than a year from the time of negotiations, faster than anticipated.

The Guardian reported on a massive garbage dump floating in the Pacific Ocean. Recently, an aerial survey found that the heart of the garbage and the periphery span over 1 million square miles, and is growing to the point where it may become visible from space.

What happened at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference? Mongabay news gave a summary on the animals that saw victory and some that were less fortunate in the two week-long conference that convened over 180 countries.

September 26-30, 2016

OPEC is seeking to woo a growing export market in China, known as “teapots”. The Wall Street Journal reported that these independent refiners account for the large surge in oil imports in China last year, and as a result they are reshaping the global oil market. 

This week the Obama administration convened the first Arctic Science Ministerial and released a new satellite-based dataset of the Arctic’s changing elevations in an effort to better understand the consequences of the melting Arctic, reported the Washington Post.  

The Guardian reported on a conflict between the European Commission and nearly 30 African states as the EU decided to oppose a global ban on the ivory trade. The EU’s stance may allow a mass extinction of the African elephants, say the African states. 

The United States is pushing for the UN Security Council to reconsider a provision in the sanctions against North Korea that allows China to import coal and iron ore, wrote the US News and World Report. 

Vox featured an article with powerful photos that showed the drastic disappearance of one of Iran’s most popular lakes due to climate change, agriculture, and dams. The photos show wide expanses of barren land that used to be filled with deep waters.

September 19-23, 2016

This week 31 countries formally joined the Paris Agreement on climate change bringing the total to 60 countries, representing 48% of global emissions. These additions make it likely that the agreement will enter into force before the end of this year, reported Time magazine.

The New York Times featured an article on Venezuela’s dire oil crisis and how their situation has deteriorated to the point that they are now begrudgingly importing oil from the US.  

On Wednesday, the White House released a presidential memorandum directing 20 Federal departments and agencies to address climate security. The memo was released alongside a report by the National Intelligence Council on the US national security threats of climate change.

Hodeidah is already one of the poorest cities in Yemen, but airstrikes and continued conflict has made a bad situation even worse. Food insecurity is widespread and extreme child malnutrition is rampant, reported US News.

A global wildlife summit in Johannesburg, South Africa starts on Saturday. The 181 countries at the summit will attempt to crackdown on wildlife trafficking and will vote on trade bans and regulations for over 500 species, said the Guardian. 

September 12-16, 2016

The European Union is concerned that they will not ratify the Paris agreement before it goes into force, especially after the US and China formally joined the agreement earlier this month. The EU leaders will discuss today whether they will accelerate their approval process in order to maintain their image as a global leader against climate change, reports Bloomberg. 

Popular Science featured our Senior Fellow, David Abraham, in an article about a new era of technology that is subjugated by the demand of rare metals. These metals are integral to new innovation including Tesla’s Model 3 electric car.  

Earlier this week the Libyan forces under Commander Hafter regained four major oil ports from a rival armed faction. Despite regaining the ports, Reuters reported that other conflicts may be on the horizon as Libya restarts oil exports.  

Climate change has crossed three dangerous milestones this summer: The first climate-induced mammalian extinction, the lowest ice levels in the Artic Sea has ever seen and extreme flooding becoming increasingly frequent. Business Insider reports on each alarming consequence here. 

Two Indian states continue their feud over a shared river that dates back to the British colonial era, writes Time magazine. Protests and riots flared again this week after the Supreme Court ordered one state to release water to the neighboring state. The ensuing violence left 15 police officers injured, 35 buses set on fire, and 200 people arrested. 

September 5-9, 2016

The New York Times reported that President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to formally commit the US and China to the COP21 climate change agreement – A rare sign of harmony for the two countries during a period of discordant views.

The water security in Syria is quickly deteriorating to dangerous levels, reports the Guardian. Experts say that there is a widespread lack of access to safe water as a result of the war, causing migration and disease.

The Wall Street Journal wrote that the Algerian and Saudi Arabian oil ministers will meet with a top official of OPEC this week amid speculation that they will limit petroleum output at the summit later this month. Bloomberg laid out four possible outcomes for the summit and their effect on oil commodities. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization released a report about land resources and food security in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus. Read the report here. 

There is a growing consensus among the largest mining companies to stop resource extraction inside the United Nation World Heritage Sites. This week the International Council on Mining and Metals and their 23 member firms agreed to halt all mining in these areas, said Reuters.

August 29 – September 2, 2016

Reuters reported that Iraq and the Kurds will meet next week to discuss whether Iraqi oil can be exported through the north and into Turkey. If not, Iraq plans to sell oil through Iran or other countries.

In 2050, there is expected to be 2.5 billion more people on earth. The Guardian looked at the future of food and possible solutions to feed everyone.

In a symbol of good-faith and commitment to climate change goals, China and the United States will publicly cross-check each other’s fossil fuel subsidies at the G20 summit this weekend, said Business Insider.

Hawaii is expected to have back-to-back hurricanes this week. The Weather Channel explained why this is unprecedented for Hawaii, and how this phenomenon is becoming more frequent in the world.

The New York Times reported that the African elephant population is in severe danger. A survey published earlier this week showed that their numbers have declined more than originally thought. 

August 22-26, 2016

A noticeably high level of birth defects and cancer is plaguing Iraq. A new study thinks this is a result of war-induced air pollution from close exposure to bombs, bullets, and other ammunition, says the Guardian.

Russia is taking advantage of the melting polar ice caps as they increase their well drilling in the Artic, including four wells that are now in production in the Prirazlomnoye field, writes a Forbes contributor.

The New York Times featured an article about escalating farm seizures in Zimbabwe against party defectors. This is not the first instance of land seizure in Zimbabwe with many white-owned farms seized back in 2000, but now “no one is safe” as the government turns on its own former employees.

Brutal protests by miners in Bolivia continue after the deputy interior minister was kidnapped and beaten to death, reports the BBC. This murder comes after intense protests that led to blocking a highway and the death of two miners during a clash with police. The miners are demanding a right to work for private companies and more union rights. 

The Financial Times wrote that fishermen are at the forefront of a geopolitical battle in the East China Sea as depleting fish stocks increase competition among tense rivals. 

August 15-19, 2016

Iraq appointed a new oil minister who believes he can resolve the energy dispute with the Iraqi Kurds. Iraq is facing an economic decline partly due to low oil prices, which is exacerbated by the split of the country’s crude oil exports with the Kurds, Bloomberg reports. 

This week, TIME magazine featured an in-depth look at the bleak future of China’s food security and the government’s drastic response to change the agriculture industry.

In north-east Nigeria, areas controlled by Boko Haram have been retaken, but the UN News Centre reported that the alarming need for humanitarian assistance is dire. The area’s food security and agricultural livelihoods have suffered because of the conflict due to many people fleeing and the loss of three consecutive planting seasons. 

The Washington Post looked at the extreme flooding in Louisiana and the long road to recovery for tens of thousands of people.  

In 2014, President Obama issued an energy efficiency challenge to all federal agencies. This week, USA Today reported that the US Army surpassed the $1 billion mark in savings from 127 energy efficiency projects in response to the challenge.

July was the hottest month ever recorded. The Guardian looked at these rising global temperatures and explained that some regions will be hit harder than others. 

August 8-12, 2016

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection has drafted new rules to reduce pollution in their mining sector, including metals such as tin, copper, lead, and rare earths, Reutersreports. 

This week, the easing of tensions between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladmir Putin has led to speculation that the plans for a major pipeline, TurkStream, could be renewed. CNBC looks further at the pipeline’s potential. 

Elephant conservation benefits humans too, explains the Guardian. Many countries realize their dependence on elephants to maintain a healthy tourism industry, but a more subtle worldwide benefit is the elephants’ role as “gardeners of the forest.”

State Grid Corp. of China is looking to make a $13 billion deal to takeover a Brazilian electric company. The Wall Street Journal estimates that the deal would be China’s largest investment in Brazil, and could potentially help Brazil during one of its worst recessions. 

The US and India agreed on a new $30 million energy-research partnership that will look at smart grid and energy storage technology over the next 5 years, The Economic Times reports. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released a new publication examining the links between food, conflict, and peace. 

August 1-5, 2016

Venezuela issued a decree allowing the government to force Venezuelans to stop their jobs to work in farm fields for 60 days in an attempt to curb the food crisis. CNBC comments on the controversial law in a country already plagued with social unrest. 

The Irish Times featured a story on a conflict between two tribes in Kenya as scarcity and drought drove both sides to violence.

Canadian and Mexican private oil companies partner on an $800 million project to build a 165-mile pipeline and a storage facility in Mexico, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Al Jazeera reported that more than 370,000 children in Yemen are suffering from malnutrition and risk starvation. This severe food insecurity is a direct result of the ongoing war.  

A new study by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies analyzed the complex and growing energy relationship between Russia and China, and determined who may have the upper hand. 

July 25-29, 2016

US coastal military installations have a high risk of losing vital training and testing grounds to flooding and sea level rise, says a new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The New York Times featured an article about the complications of illegal gold mining in Peru, and how the government’s marine and ranger forces are challenged to combat miners deep in the Amazon rain forest – with limited success.  

A new study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that weather disasters can increase the risk of conflict in multi-ethnic nations, Reuters reports.

The Wall Street Journal looks at the inconsistent and guarded reality of oil inventory data as some countries, such as Russia and China, don’t report their oil-storage while others, such as Nigeria and Brazil, give untrustworthy information.

This week, 15 southern African countries asked for $2.8 billion to feed the 40 million people devastated by widespread food insecurity. The Guardian has the story here.

The National Observer reported that 47 fossil fuel companies are being investigated for harming human rights in the Philippines as a result of climate-warming pollution. 

July 18-22, 2016

Saudi Arabia wants to develop a shipbuilding complex in order to increase capacity for exporting oil, Bloomberg reports. This development comes with an expectation of increased oil demand and higher prices.  

Perpetual conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has destroyed habitat and wildlife populations in many parts of the Congo Basin, but this week Mongabay reports the DRC opened a national park for the first time in 40 years.

Amid chaos from the attempted coup, Turkish authorities cut electricity to the Incirlik Air Base – a strategic hub for the US military in the fight against the Islamic State. Stars and Stripes reports the US military’s struggle to maintain power after several days without electricity.

At the start of World Forest Week, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization released a report saying agriculture and forestry can improve food security.

United Press International reported that Russia is trying to strengthen its relationship with China through partnerships in the energy sector.

Coca cultivation is continuing to rise in Colombia says the Associated Press, but the Colombian government’s anti-drug strategy is being questioned as relations with farmers become tense. 

July 11-15, 2016

Five years after independence, South Sudanese are forced to migrate back to Sudan due to severe hunger. The Guardian details the migrants’ story.

The US military says they will try to avoid confrontation with China by having a restrained response to the international tribunal’s ruling on the South China Sea, reports the Washington Post.

This week the Wall Street Journal reported that Aleppo, Syria is running out of food and medicine after Syrian regime forces cut off the only road that led to the rebel-held side.

National Geographic featured a story on a chronic issue facing many farmers in Karnataka, India: human-wildlife conflict. Farmers are disgruntled and have a lack of trust in conservation officials due to a low remuneration rate when wildlife cause crop and property damage, injuries and even death. 

The conflict-driven lack of food in northwest Nigeria has become so acute that the Nigerian Minister of Health declared a “nutrition emergency” in Borno State, says the Food and AgricultureOrganization’s (FAO) article.

Defense News says Russia is offering the Indian Navy a nuclear aircraft carrier.

July 4-8, 2016

Cuba announced that they will begin rationing fuel and electricity this month, partially due to Venezuela’s hardships from low global oil prices. President Raul Castro braces for a weak 2016 economy. Reuters reported the story.

This week China is holding military drills in the resource-rich South China Sea, despite the upcoming international court decision on July 12 challenging China’s claims to the area. Read the Guardian article here. 

Al Jazeera released a feature piece on the continued suffering of the former residents of Htein Bin, Myanmar who were displaced by the government to build the Paunglaung dam. Suicide, depression, and poverty are widespread in the former community members. 

NASA’s Earth Observatory reported severe drought conditions in the Amazon region and predicted extreme fire risk in the upcoming months. 

This week 500 Venezuelan women protesting the country’s food insecurity pushed through the country’s National Guard and walked across the international border into Columbia where they bought food for their families. See the article from Business Insider here. 

A three year study by Rystad Energy reports that for the first time ever, the US holds more oil reserves than Saudi Arabia and Russia. International Business Times has the story.

Al Jazeera reported that Iran and the Kurdistan Regional Government continued talks on a possible pipeline that could transfer 250,000 barrels a day to Iran. No deal has been signed, but officials from both regions have agreed on the technical details of the possible plan.