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Study: Central Asia’s Water Tower to Lose One-third of Glacier Mass by 2040
March 4th, 2026
Courtesy of The Diplomat, reports on a new study that suggests Central Asia’s water tower will lose 1/3 of its glacier mass by 2040: The Tian Shan mountains, also known as the water tower of Central Asia, are a crucial source of water for regional agriculture, industries, and millions of people across the Central Asian […]
Read more »Drought May Test Central Asia’s New Cooperative Approach
March 4th, 2026
Via The Diplomat, a look at whether the new ties that bind Central Asian countries strong enough to weather drought? Every year, rain and snow that falls in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan provides water for millions within their borders. Winter snow in the mountains melts in spring to fill hydropower reservoirs. Summer rain waters crops. But […]
Read more »Syria’s Environmental Woes Fueled Its Long Conflict. Left Unaddressed, They Will Do So Again.
February 28th, 2026
Via New Security Beat, a look at Syria’s environmental woes: I recently returned to Syria for my first peacetime visit. Unsurprisingly, the country is an awful mess. The destruction is somehow slightly more conspicuous than it seemed through a number of trips between 2014 and 2022. People’s exhaustion is palpable, and the economic situation is […]
Read more »Breaking Down Russia’s War on Ukraine’s Water
February 24th, 2026
For four years, Russia has relentlessly attacked not only Ukraine’s territory and troops, but also its vital water systems and resources—from missile strikes on dams to the shelling of water treatment plants and pumping stations. CSIS’s David Michel explains how Russia has weaponized water as a tool of war and the lasting impacts these attacks […]
Read more »Kazakhstan Battles Shrinking Caspian Sea To Keep Key Sectors Churning
February 20th, 2026
Via Nikkei Asia, a look at how Kazakhstan is battling a shrinking Caspian Sea to keep key sectors churning: From Aktau’s seaside promenade, a stretch of gorse flecked with ice separates the city from the waves. The sea, already more than 30 meters from the embankment, is still receding. “You can’t fail to notice it,” […]
Read more »Corpus Christi Tries to Drill its Way Out of a Water Crisis
February 20th, 2026
Via Texas Tribune, an article on how – after killing planned desalination plant – Corpus Christi is trying to drill its way out of a water crisis: After an industrial building boom on Corpus Christi Bay, the city is drilling wells to meet water demand, and rural Nueces County residents say their own wells are […]
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