When Soda Replaces Water

The availability of water impacts our daily consumption, our sanitation habits and basically the supply of close to all our consumed goods. This makes it arguably the most important natural resource we have. However, the global water access will face increasing problems in the coming decades as our population is increasing as well as the […]

Hydropower is often praised as an environmentally and socially acceptable alternative to fossil fuels in the fight against man-made emissions. For many less industrialised but water-rich countries in particular, it seems to be a promising opportunity to boost economic growth and ensure energy security. In many cases, however, commercial hydropower development involves the building of […]

On March 25, a short but quite intense rainfall caused tragic flash floods in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz. This was only a week after widespread record-breaking rainfalls caused flooding in northern regions. This incident alone killed 21 people and washed away over 150 cars at the entrance highway to the city. In early […]

“I believe that the tragedy of Boko Haram is inextricably linked to poor water management,” said Amina J. Mohammed at the World Water Week in Stockholm last August. The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and previously Nigerian Minister of Environment was referring to the complex humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin. The lake, […]

Most of Central Asia’s water comes from the upstream countries Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, from where it channels downstream to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. During the era of the Soviet Union, the upstream countries were provided gas and coal during winters to generate heat and power. However, water and energy sharing agreements broke down following the […]

Dating back to 8,000 B.C., the ability to construct irrigation canals facilitated the transition from hunting and gathering to cultivation for human civilization. Today, agriculture withdraws 70 percent of the world’s freshwater, and is the main source of water pollution. Water as a molecule travels through a circular system composed of ocean, air, and soil, […]

While Jordan’s population is increasing, its water resources are more scarce than ever. Jordan is one of the most water-poor countries in the world. Geographical disadvantages are partly to blame; its climate is one of the driest in the world, receiving just 200 millimetres of rainfall per year. Added to this, climate change is reducing […]

With more and more people moving to cities, there is an urgent demand for new houses. With this comes an increased demand for sand that can be used in concrete and other construction materials. According to a recent article, there has been a sixfold increase in sand extraction over the last 25 years. This excessive […]