The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
A clear picture is likely to emerge only towards the end of June Rural distress owing to heavy unseasonal rains in March and the prospects of less-than-normal monsoon have made bankers “a cautious lot” at the start of this financial year. However, it is too early to conclude that the …
Hyderabad: With a water crisis looming large over Telangana State, the government has taken up a summer contingency plan to ensure drinking water to nine districts, especially where the groundwater levels have plummeted. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao sanctioned Rs 263 crore and promised to release more funds to meet …
Infrastructure such as dams and reservoirs are critical water-supply features in several regions of the world. However, ongoing population growth, increased demand and climate variability/change necessitate the better understanding of these systems, particularly in terms of their long-term trends. The Sooke Reservoir (SR) of British Columbia, Canada is one such …
In the southwestern United States, where years of drought are leading water managers to consider drastic water-provision measures such as desalination and cloud seeding, entrepreneurs have suggested reviving a water-saving technique that was tried and abandoned half a century ago. They propose to stretch dwindling water supplies by slowing down …
In 2005 and 2010 the Amazon basin experienced two strong droughts, driven by shifts in the tropical hydrological regime possibly associated with global climate change, as predicted by some global models. Tree mortality increased after the 2005 drought, and regional atmospheric inversion modelling showed basin-wide decreases in CO2 uptake in …
The number of suicide cases by farmers due to agrarian reasons have increased by 26 percent to 1,109 in 2014, with majority of deaths reported from Maharashtra, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. Out of 1,109 cases, 986 were reported from Maharashtra, 84 from Telangana and 29 from Jharkhand. In 2013, …
Natural disasters have enormous impacts on human society, especially on the development of the economy. To support decision making in mitigation and adaption to natural disasters, assessment of economic impacts is fundamental and of great significance. Based on a review of the literature of economic impact evaluation, this paper proposes …
The world food crisis in 2008 highlighted the susceptibility of the global food system to price shocks. Here we use annual staple food production and trade data from 1992–2009 to analyse the changing properties of the global food system. Over the 18 year study period, we show that the global …
Rising temperatures and lessening fresh water supplies are threatening agricultural productivity and have motivated efforts to improve plant water use and drought tolerance. During water deficit, plants produce elevated levels of abscisic acid (ABA), which improves water consumption and stress tolerance by controlling guard cell aperture and other protective responses1, …
COULD São Paulo run out of water? The idea of South America’s biggest metropolis, home to 20m people, lacking something so basic seems fanciful. Yet shortages this year have forced schools to suspend classes and restaurants to shut in smaller towns across São Paulo state, where a fifth of Brazilians …
KARACHI: In the wake of below average rainfall in Thar in recent years, the Sindh government has planned a series of water, food and livestock projects under a strategy to end water shortfall in the drought-hit desert district, it emerged on Wednesday. Officials in the Sindh government said the death …
A Paris summit in 2015 will face a tougher task to agree a U.N. deal to slow climate change after the hopes of many that cooperation between Washington and Beijing would be a magic key to end global gridlock dissolved in chaotic preparatory talks in Lima. At best, Paris may …
KARACHI: A latest report prepared by the provincial government vis-à-vis the drought situation in Thar shows that 311 children under five years of age have died between December, 2013 and November this year, it emerged on Sunday. The report, submitted in the Sindh High Court by the chief secretary after …
NAGPUR: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced an unprecedented relief package of Rs 7,000 crore for drought-hit farmers, mainly from Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. He said his government was firmly backing farmers in their hour of crisis, but this was a one-off bailout package because of the exceptional situation. …
Many small Pacific Island states on the frontline of sea level rise and disaster threats are facing a shortage of the scientists, skilled professionals and technical experts they need to put in place effective climate change policies and adaptation projects. "Climate change and disaster risk management expertise is critical for …
A year after Uttarakhand floods: No disaster mgmt policy to combat nature's fury. Sikkim govt to buy 100% stake in Teesta-III if other investors exit. To stop the practice of ministries unilaterally declaring relief packages in times of natural calamities such as droughts and floods, the government has asked ministries …
Scientists Say CO2 Levels Went Up In Drought Years Of 2004, 2009 A deficit monsoon not only impacts crops and groundwater level but also has a worrisome impact on the climate. An analysis of two drought years in the last decade has shown an increased level of carbon-dioxide (CO2) over …
In the 9th century BC, Assyrians based in northern Iraq started a relentless process of expansion that within two centuries would see them controlling most of the ancient Near East. Traditional explanations for the decline of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the 7th century BC have emphasized the role of military …
KARACHI: The Sindh Board of Revenue has been directed by Qaim Ali Shah to declare Kachho, Kohistan and parts of Thatta district calamity hit. He directed Sindh Food, Revenue, Relief and concerned Commissioner/Deputy Commissioners to distribute wheat among 34,000 identified drought affected families with 50 kilogrammes to each family for …
Three quarters of European countries have placed adapting to disruption from climate change on the political agenda, but the same percentage cite factors such as time, money or technologies as a barrier to taking action, in the most comprehensive survey of the issue to date. The European Environment Agency survey …
