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The Thirsty Dragon: Will Policy Changes Help China Avoid A Water Crisis?
May 17th, 2018
Via China Dialogue, commentary on China’s efforts to resolve its looming water crisis: Over the last 40 years the Chinese Communist Party has shown itself flexible in meeting the challenges of reforming a once sclerotic system. It has successfully “muddled through”. But some problems do not lend themselves to muddling through: you can print money, […]
Read more »Egypt Hails ‘Breakthrough’ In Nile Dam Talks
May 17th, 2018
Via Terra Daily, a bit of upbeat news on a potential ‘breakthrough’ in Nile dam talks: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Wednesday that a “breakthrough” had been reached in talks with Sudan and Ethiopia over a controversial dam the latter is building on the Nile. The progress, which he did not specify, took place […]
Read more »Pakistan’s National Water Policy: Triumphant or Tokenistic?
May 16th, 2018
Via Future Directions International, commentary on Pakistan’s National Water Policy: On 24 April 2018, Pakistan’s Council of Common Interests unanimously approved the country’s first-ever National Water Policy (NWP). Following the meeting, the Prime Minister and four Chief Ministers signed the Pakistan Water Charter, pledging commitment to the NWP. The NWP, if it is enacted, will […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China’s Acute Water Shortage Imperils Economic Future
May 14th, 2018
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an article on China’s water stress: The bestiary beloved of China commentators and economists needs an addition to its black swans, grey rhinos, white elephants and the ‘tigers and flies’ targeted in the corruption war. Welcome to the Camel Economy, one that must adjust very rapidly to water scarcity. A […]
Read more »Causes of the Drought in Southern Iraq
May 9th, 2018
Via Future Directions International, a report on Iraq’s drought: A worsening drought is threatening agriculture and livelihoods in the Dhi Qar Governorate of Iraq, 300 kilometres south of Baghdad. Other southern agricultural governorates, including Al-Q?disiyyah, Muthanna and Missan, are also suffering under the effects of the drought. The southern agricultural provinces of Iraq are home […]
Read more »Pakistan’s New National Water Policy
May 8th, 2018
Via Third Pole.net, an opinion piece on Pakistan’s new National Water Policy: The approval of a water policy package comprising a policy and a Charter by Pakistan’s Council of Common Interests on April 23 represents a historic milestone given the lingering, perennial disputes between the Punjab and Sindh provinces which had impeded the formulation of […]
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