Environmental issues
Concerns and policies regarding the biophysical environment
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We include updates on Deforestation, Jordan River, Irrigation, Superfund, Bushmeat, Eutrophication, Land reclamation, Desalination, Water conservation, Cancer Alley, Soil contamination, Shark fin soup, Water scarcity, Slash-and-burn, Biodiversity loss, Agroforestry ... and more.
| 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
National dam reservoir inflow decreases by 28% compared to the previous year, indicating a continuing and worsening water scarcity situation.
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| 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Tehran government announced 12-hour water cut-offs for the top 5% of high water consumption households who ignore conservation warnings.
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| 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Remaining segments of the 'Qamar Bani Hashim' ring pipeline were scheduled to come online to complete the water redistribution infrastructure.
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| 2025 |
Orphan wells in Alberta, Canada
Forecast of $1.1 billion in clean-up costs for orphan wells.
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| May 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
By May 2025, Khorasan was the driest province in Iran, with rainfall down 41% from the long-term trend, and water storage in reservoirs at only 12% of capacity.
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| 2025 |
Climate migration
United Nations research estimates that over 1 billion climate and environmental migrants will be uprooted from their homes in the next 30 years, primarily from countries in the Global South.
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| 2025 |
Drinking water quality in the United States
EPA plans to issue proposed rules for perchlorate, as mandated by a court order.
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| March 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Special security forces (Yegan-e-Vijeh) are dispatched from Tehran and other cities to Isfahan, resulting in clashes with protesting farmers in an attempt to reopen water flow.
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| March 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Tehran officials warned the city was entering a fifth year of drought with sharply reduced water reserves, with rainfall 42% below the long-term average.
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| March 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
At least 10 provinces have key dams that have dropped below 15% capacity, highlighting the widespread nature of the water crisis.
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| March 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Yazd province experiences a severe water crisis, with stored water lasting only 48 hours, forcing the city to rely entirely on water tankers and bottled water for five days.
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| March 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Tensions escalate in Isfahan over water scarcity when authorities close the Zayandeh Rud river after a brief release, breaking promises to local farmers during a winter of sparse rainfall.
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| March 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Enraged farmers from East Isfahan retaliate by breaking the water pipeline to Yazd and destroying several pumping stations, cutting off water supply to Yazd province during the Nowruz holidays.
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| March 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Tehran's water chief urged residents to cut water usage by 20%, emphasizing conservation as a necessity to avoid 'water bankruptcy'.
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| 2025 | Estimated 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be under water stress conditions. |
| 2025 | Projected water withdrawals expected to rise by 50 percent in developing countries and 18 percent in developed countries. |
| 2025 |
Waste management in Thailand
PCD reports significant water quality deterioration in major rivers flowing into the upper Gulf of Thailand, with the Chao Phraya River at Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian District classified as 'very poor' and the Tha Chin River in Samut Sakhon rated as 'poor'.
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| 2025 |
Waste management in Thailand
Thailand continues to produce approximately 50,000 tonnes of solid waste annually that enters the sea, causing significant environmental damage to coastal ecosystems, particularly in the upper Gulf of Thailand.
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| 2025 |
Waste management in Bangladesh
Projected waste generation is expected to increase to 47,064 tonnes per day, with per capita waste generation anticipated to reach 220 kg per year.
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| January 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Tehran's five main water reservoirs hold only approximately 13% of their total capacity, with the critical Lar Dam reduced to just 1% full.
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| January 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Isfahan's Zayandeh Dam experiences near-complete cessation of water flow, highlighting extreme drought conditions.
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| 2024 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Iran experiences one of the most challenging water years in its history, with average rainfall approximately 45% below normal, affecting 19 provinces severely.
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| 2024 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Hormozgan province reports a dramatic 77% decrease in rainfall, leading to significant environmental and agricultural challenges.
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| 2024 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Sistan-Baluchestan province experiences a 72% drop in rainfall, contributing to the national water crisis.
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| 2024 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Tehran entered its fourth consecutive year of drought, an unprecedented situation in historical records where typically two dry years were followed by a wet year.
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| 2024 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Large sections of the 'Qamar Bani Hashim' ring pipeline (170 km of new pipes) became operational in western Tehran to redistribute water and prevent local outages.
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| 2024 |
Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act replaced the previous interim targets system with a new approach of measuring emissions every five years.
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| 2024 |
Climate policy of China
China reduced its carbon intensity by 3.4% through a significant increase in renewable energy capacity, though this fell short of the annual target of 3.9% reduction.
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| 2024 |
Woodchipping in Australia
Commercial forestry within native forests, including woodchipping, was ended in Western Australia and eastern Victoria after decades of environmental campaigning.
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| 2024 |
Woody plant encroachment
UNCCD highlighted the 'silent demise' of vast rangelands, emphasizing how woody plant encroachment threatens climate stability, food security, and the wellbeing of billions of people globally.
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| 2024 |
Waste management in Egypt
PLASTEX 2024 introduced a new Plastics Recycling Zone to support sustainable companies and address e-waste recycling challenges.
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| October 8 2024 |
Drinking water quality in the United States
EPA issued the final 'Lead and Copper Rule Improvements' regulation, requiring the removal of all lead pipes within ten years and lowering the lead contamination action level to 10ppb.
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| August 2024 |
Sewage discharge in the United Kingdom
Ofwat proposed a £168m fine for Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water for releasing sewage too early ahead of heavy rainfall.
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| April 2024 |
Drinking water quality in the United States
EPA published final drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and PFBS.
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| April 21 2024 |
Ghazipur landfill
A major fire broke out at the landfill site, rapidly spreading and engulfing several areas. The fire produced toxic smoke causing significant health and breathing problems. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) requested a reply from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) within five weeks.
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| March 2024 |
Discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
The discharge of treated radioactive water was temporarily suspended following a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in the Fukushima coastal region. No abnormalities were detected with the wastewater treatment during this interruption.
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| March 2024 |
Discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Fourth round of water discharge completed, with no abnormal tritium levels detected in nearby waters.
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| March 11 2024 |
Climate change adaptation in the Philippines
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the European Union launched the €60 million 'Green Economy Programme for the Philippines', a grant aimed at mitigating environmental degradation and combating climate change. The program is designed to foster economic growth and social inclusivity, running from 2023 to 2028.
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| February 2024 |
Discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
A leak was detected by a contractor at the power plant, with 5.5 tonnes of potentially radioactive water escaping due to 10 out of 16 valves being left open, seeping into the surrounding soil within the plant compound.
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| February 2024 |
REDcycle
The Soft Plastic Taskforce, chaired by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water, announced a new soft plastic recycling solution with 12 drop-off locations in Melbourne for scrunchable food soft plastic.
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| February 2024 |
Recycling in Australia
Aldi, Coles, and Woolworths announced a new soft plastic recycling initiative through the Soft Plastic Taskforce, with 12 drop-off locations in Melbourne to recycle scrunchable food soft plastics into shopping trolleys, baskets, concrete aggregate, and asphalt road additives.
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| February 13 2024 |
Waste management in Australia
A severe weather event in Victoria caused a massive power outage, affecting over 620,000 homes and businesses, with approximately 12,000 km of power lines impacted by high temperatures, strong winds, and lightning strikes.
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| February 13 2024 |
Waste management in Australia
Victorian government implemented a waste levy waiver for disaster waste resulting from the power outage and storm, allowing free disposal for affected residents until April 30, 2024.
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| 2023 |
Water scarcity in Iran
City authorities began drilling new emergency wells across Mashhad, including 4 new wells at Ferdowsi University, to tap remaining groundwater.
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| 2023 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Mashhad launched emergency water measures, including water rationing plans and projecting a water shortfall of 4,150 L/s (about 30% of peak demand).
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| 2023 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Mashhad experienced three consecutive years of worsening drought, with each year's rainfall lower than the last, leading to severe water scarcity.
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| 2023 |
Environmental impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Continued environmental impacts from the ongoing conflict, including potential long-term ecological damage from military activities, infrastructure destruction, and potential chemical or radioactive contamination.
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This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Water scarcity in Iran, Waste management in Thailand, Climate change adaptation in the Philippines, Environmental justice and coal mining in Appalachia, REDcycle, Water scarcity, Waste management in Australia, Woody plant encroachment, Ghazipur landfill, Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, Agroforestry, Drinking water quality in the United States, Orphan wells in Alberta, Canada, Environmental impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Climate migration, Climate policy of China, Recycling in Australia, Sewage discharge in the United Kingdom, Woodchipping in Australia, Waste management in Bangladesh, Waste management in Egypt & Discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.