Environmental issues
Concerns and policies regarding the biophysical environment
Follow Environmental issues on Notably News to receive short updates to your email — rarely!
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 |
Sewage discharge in the United Kingdom
A report by the Campaign for National Parks and The Rivers Trust revealed that rivers in national parks are more polluted by sewage and farm runoff compared to other rivers, highlighting inadequate sewage treatment for small populations.
|
| 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Iranian government ordered closure of all government offices in Tehran and over 24 other cities to reduce water and electricity consumption.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 2025 |
Orphan wells in Alberta, Canada
Forecast of $1.1 billion in clean-up costs for orphan wells.
|
| 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.
|
| 2025 |
Drinking water quality in the United States
EPA plans to issue proposed rules for perchlorate, as mandated by a court order.
|
| 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'.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| November 2025 |
Climate policy of China
China joined the COP30 Climate Coalition proposal.
|
| September 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
A national survey reveals 75% of Iranians blame domestic mismanagement for the water crisis, highlighting significant public perception of governmental inefficiency in water resource management.
|
| July 2025 |
Asian carp in North America
One grass carp was discovered in the waters of Lake Huron near the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Kincardine, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada reporting a potential second grass carp in the vicinity.
|
| July 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Professor Ezatollah Raisi Ardakani warned that Iran has exhausted its water reserves and agricultural production has become completely dependent on annual rainfall, criticizing the government's failure to implement effective agricultural insurance.
|
| July 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Iranian experts and senior officials issued severe warnings about the country's critical water situation, including Dr. Banafsheh Zehraei's warning of an 'apocalyptic' scenario with only two to three weeks to prevent a nationwide drinking water shortage.
|
| July 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Abbas Aliabadi, Minister of Energy, declared that Tehran is experiencing its worst water resource situation in 100 years and warned that eastern and southeastern regions of Tehran Province would run out of water within a month due to the Mamloo Dam's withdrawal from the supply system.
|
| May 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Storage in all Khorasan Razavi reservoirs was only 12% of capacity on average.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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'.
|
| 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.
|
| January 2025 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Isfahan's Zayandeh Dam experiences near-complete cessation of water flow, highlighting extreme drought conditions.
|
| 2024 |
Land use, land-use change, and forestry
Preliminary projection of land-use change emissions estimated at 1.2 ± 0.7 Gt C yr⁻¹ (4.2 ± 2.6 Gt CO₂ yr⁻¹).
|
| 2024 |
Climate gentrification
Hurricane Helene caused $78.7 billion in damage and economic loss across the Southern United States, particularly in Florida and the Carolinas, and other Atlantic Ocean territories. Climate change contributed to 10% heavier rainfall and significantly increased rainfall probabilities due to record hot sea-surface temperatures.
|
| 2024 |
Nuclear weapons tests in Australia
Investigative journalist Susie Boniface published 'Exposed: The Secret History of Britain's Nuclear Experiments', revealing details about nuclear weapons tests in Australia.
|
| 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.
|
| 2024 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Hormozgan province reports a dramatic 77% decrease in rainfall, leading to significant environmental and agricultural challenges.
|
| 2024 |
Water scarcity in Iran
Sistan-Baluchestan province experiences a 72% drop in rainfall, contributing to the national water crisis.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 2024 |
Woodchipping in Australia
Commercial forestry within native forests, including woodchipping, was ended in Western Australia and eastern Victoria after decades of environmental campaigning.
|
| 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.
|
| 2024 |
Waste management in Egypt
PLASTEX 2024 introduced a new Plastics Recycling Zone to support sustainable companies and address e-waste recycling challenges.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
| 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.
|
|
We are only showing the most recent entries for this topic. |
|
This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Agroforestry, Orphan wells in Alberta, Canada, Asian carp in North America, Waste management in Egypt, Waste management in Bangladesh, Climate policy of China, Woody plant encroachment, Woodchipping in Australia, Climate migration, Environmental justice and coal mining in Appalachia, Water scarcity in Iran, Water scarcity, Drinking water quality in the United States, Land use, land-use change, and forestry, Sewage discharge in the United Kingdom, Climate gentrification, Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, Nuclear weapons tests in Australia, Waste management in Thailand & Ghazipur landfill, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.