Cities relied entirely on conserving and recycling water to get through the last big drought. We now have desalination plants, but getting the most out of our water reserves still makes sense.
Tree trunks, which were submersed when the dam was full, stand a the critically low dam in South Africa in 2018.
EPA/NIC BOTHMA
Australia’s subtropical regions are drying, but if we can slow the global temperature rise then rainfall should increase again.
The largest desalination plant in Australia, Victoria’s A$3.5 billion ‘water factory’ can supply nearly a third of Melbourne’s needs.
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Sydney and Melbourne are bringing desalination plants back on stream and Adelaide plans to increase its plant’s output. Perth depends on desalination. But is it the best way to achieve water security?
A dry river bed in south Australia.
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Freshwater fish are suffering as drought becomes more common and severe. Whether they survive will depend on how governments manage rivers and lakes, and on taking action against climate change.
The key to predicting drought is knowing how much water is in the soil, as well as how much rain is on the way.
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New satellite-based research shows there is at least as much value in knowing how much water is left for plants to use as there is in knowing how much rain may be on the way.
Banking water ensures a steadier, reliable supply in future.
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Forests in the US face many threats: climate change, invasive species, pests and pathogens. Could genetically engineering trees make these plants more resilient?
Puddles in the bed of the Darling River are a sign of an ecosystem in crisis.
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Climate change threatens to cause mass extinctions – but how, exactly? New research suggests male fertility may be the weakest link.
A recent study estimates that high temperatures and drought will lead to drastic losses for all major food crops, including maize and wheat.
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Australia is facing an increase in extreme heat, fire danger weather, floods and marine heatwaves, according to the latest biennial snapshot from the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO.
Cape Town residents queuing for water during the water crisis.
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Kate Gannon, London School of Economics and Political Science et Declan Conway, London School of Economics and Political Science
Water and power cuts prompted by reduced rainfall and drought in Southern Africa have caused major problems for business.
Smoke billows from the High Park wildfire west of Fort Collins, Colo., on June 11, 2012, a year of historic drought across much of the western United States.
AP Photo/Ed Andrieski
Some observers have blamed recent wildfires on poor forest management, while others point to climate change. In fact, a climate scientist explains, reducing fire risks means tackling both issues.
Australian women have disproportionately been affected in times of drought.
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Research shows water restrictions can mean well-off households have to cut down on leisure and luxury. For disadvantaged households, and particularly women, it is a different story.
Reliable water supply is essential for South Africa’s development.
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The forecast arrival of El Niño may mean the east coast of Australia will experience an exceptionally hot and dry summer, but does this mean there will be fewer mosquitoes buzzing about?