Search

27 May 2021 New York, United States

"Water Under Fire": UNICEF Report Calls For End To WASH Attacks

UNICEF publishes the third in its series of reports on the devastating impacts on children caused when water and sanitation infrastructure is compromised during conflict. Urges adherence to humanitarian and human rights law as well as improved monitoring and advocacy.

30 Apr 2021 OTTOWA, Canada

Canadian Trade Union Urges Pension Investor To Withdraw From Brazilian Water Deal

Canada Pension Plan Investments comes under fire for its participation in privatisation of Brazilian public water utility. Trade union CUPE calls out "outrageous" use of "workers' retirement funds to profit from people's need for clean water". Challenges wisdom of deal amid political uncertainty.

17 Dec 2020 PRETORIA, South Africa

Environmental Approval For Thabametsi Withdrawn; Coal Project Officially Dead

The North Gauteng (South Africa) High Court has set aside the environmental authorisation for the 1500 MW Thabametsi power station, thereby ending the long saga of environmental dispute brought by NGOs Earthlife Africa, GroundWork, and Friends of the Earth against Thabametsi and the state of Limpopo...

10 Nov 2020 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa

Investors Withdraw Financing For "Dirty" South Africa Power Projects

Continuation of construction of the 630 MW Thabametsi coal-fired power plant in Limpopo province is in doubt as key investors follow South Africa’s major banks who have withdrawn commitments due to continuing environmental activism. Only Marubeni Corporation of Japan, with a 50 Percent stake, remains...

Premium

8 Sep 2020 WASHINGTON DC, United States

USEPA Relaxes Black Coal Plant Water Waste Rules

The Trump administration has confirmed that it is scaling back regulations introduced under President Obama that were designed to limit the levels of toxic materials in coal plants’ water waste.The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) said it’s relaxing rules about the disposal of coal ash (a fine powder and sludge) and contaminated water produced by coal-burning power plants...

Premium

3 Feb 2020 GENEVA, Switzerland

The World's Underreported Humanitarian Crises

An annual assessment of global online media coverage of "underreported" humanitarian crises, many related to water challenges, indicates increasing linkage between such events and man-made climate change.Humanitarian agency CARE International launched its fourth such analysis 28 January, examining 40 disasters and conflicts that have affected at least a million people to determine which are the most under-reported...

9 Dec 2019 WASHINGTON DC, United States

US Military Bases Face Water Shortages Associated With Climate Change

More than 100 military bases in the United States are at risk of water shortages associated with climate change according to a new report from the country's Government Accountability Office (GAO). Some have already experienced restrictions, while others may face curtailments in the next few weeks.The current GAO report's remit is not specifically climate change, but cites the 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment by the US Global Change Research Program, which is the leading federal authority on global change science...

Premium

1 May 2019 NEW YORK NY, United States

Urgent Call For Humanitarian Relief In Ukraine

After five years of conflict over 3.5 million people in eastern Ukraine are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection, the United Nations Security Council was told last week. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ursula Mueller, addressing the Security Council April 25 on the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, reporting that so far in 2019, 24 incidents have affected water and sanitation facilities and 12 have directly affected schools...

24 Mar 2019 NEW YORK NY, United States

"Water Under Fire": Children Might Survive The Bullets, Die From Unsafe Water, Poor Sanitation, Hygiene

In protracted conflicts children younger than 15 are, on average, nearly three times more likely to die from diarrhoeal disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than violence directly linked to conflict and war, according to a March 2019 UNICEF advocacy alert.For younger children, the impact of unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene is greater: Children under 5 are more than 20 times more likely to die from diarrhoeal disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than violence in conflict...

15 Mar 2019 WASHINGTON DC, United States

Trump Budget "Would Be A Disaster For Water, Air And Public Health"

Environmentalists have sharply criticized US President Trump’s propsed 2020 budget that seeks deep cuts in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the government department responsible for saguarding the nation's water resources.The March 11 White House proposal would cut the USEPA budget by 31 percent from $8...

Premium

4 Dec 2018 NEW YORK NY, United States

US Court Considers Consolidation Of Billions Of Dollars Worth Of PFAS Chemical Contamination Claims

A panel of judges in New York, United States has heard arguments for and against consolidation of more than 70 pending lawsuits related to PFAS chemical contamination of groundwater in the country. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as perfluorinated chemicals, are a class of manufactured chemicals that have been used since the 1950s to make commercial and industrial products that resist heat, stains, grease and water, non-stick cookware products and, notably, fire-fighting foams...

Premium

27 Nov 2018 Washington DC, United States

US Climate Assessment Report Warns Of Water Security Risks; Trump: "I don't believe it"

The United States released its fourth National Climate Assessment Report last week – and it’s not looking good for water security in the North American republic.The Congressionally mandated Assessment summarizes the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. More than 300 experts guided by a 60-member Federal Advisory Committee produced the report, which was extensively reviewed by the public and experts, including federal agencies and a panel of the US National Academy of Sciences...