24th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage and 71st International Executive Council (IEC) Meetings will be organized by Irrigation Australia’s Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (IACID) in co-operation with ICID during 22-28 September 2020 at Sydney, Australia. The main theme of the Congress is ‘Innovation and Research in Agricultural Water Management to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals’.

National Adaptation Plan to Climate Variability and Change for the Agriculture Sector of Uruguay
08 December 2019
The objective of the National Adaptation Plan to Climate Variability and Change for Agriculture (NAP-Ag) is to guide the design, coordination, prioritization and implementation of policies, programs and projects that address the particular climate vulnerability of the agricultural production systems in Uruguay.
https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NAPC/Documents/Parties/NAP%20agriculture%20Uruguay%20executive%20summary%20ENG.pdf

 

Recycling nutrient-rich industrial waste products enhances soil, reduces carbon
05 December 2019
Recycling biotechnology byproducts can enhance soil health while reducing carbon emissions and maintaining crop yields.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uoti-rni120519.php

[Top] 

CLIMATE CHANGE 








The Scientist Hunting for Cave Crystals to Understand Climate Change
07 December 2019
Shatter Cave’s entrance forces visitors to bow down to its geological wonders — or at least forces cavers to crawl through a concrete tunnel on their hands and knees.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/kz447a/the-scientist-hunting-for-cave-crystals-to-understand-climate-change
 

Climate change: Oceans running out of oxygen as temperatures rise
07 December 2019
Climate change and nutrient pollution are driving the oxygen from our oceans, and threatening many species of fish. That's the conclusion of the biggest study of its kind, undertaken by conservation group IUCN.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50690995
 

Nobel laureate: Face up to climate change, no escaping Earth
07 December 2019
An astronomer who shares this year’s Nobel physics prize for discovering a planet outside the Earth’s solar system is taking issue with people who shrug off climate change on the grounds that humans will eventually leave for distant planets.
https://apnews.com/26706b2c60c69668edd1216c2c56700f 

[Top] 

DROUGHTS 







Plants 'Scream' in the Face of Stress
07 December 2019
A new study suggests that plants that are stressed by drought or physical damage may emit ultrasonic squeals. In times of intense stress, people sometimes let out their angst with a squeal—and a new study suggests that plants might do the same.
https://www.livescience.com/plants-squeal-when-stressed.html
 

‘The climate crisis is a child rights crisis’
06 December 2019
The climate crisis is threatening to roll back progress on child rights without sufficient urgent investment in solutions that benefit the most vulnerable children, UNICEF said today as the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 enters its second week.
https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/fact-sheet-climate-crisis-child-rights-crisis
 

Food for Thought: Expect to pay about $500 more for groceries in 2020
06 December 2019
Canada's Food Price Report calls the impact of changing weather patterns on our food systems through droughts, forest fires, heavy precipitation, reduced freshwater access and rising sea levels “the elephant in the room” for 2020
https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/food-for-thought-expect-to-pay-about-500-more-for-groceries-in-2020-1.24029639


[Top] 

 FLOODS







Massive floods hit Isabela, Cagayan
07 December 2019
Torrential rains had spawned floodwaters that surged across the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan in Philippines, submerging at least 33 villages where residents fled their homes for safety, local officials said. Large driftwood and logs washed up in farms and roads after mud and floodwater flowed from the mountains and forests.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1198977/massive-floods-hit-isabela-cagayan-2#ixzz67YKIO6XO
 

Djibouti: Flash Floods Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) Operation n° MDRDJ003
06 December 2019
As per UNICEF-Djibouti Humanitarian Situation Report No. 1 on Flood response, dated 25 November 2019, Djibouti suffered three days of heavy rains and floods affecting the entire country to varying degrees.
https://reliefweb.int/report/djibouti/djibouti-flash-floods-emergency-plan-action-epoa-operation-n-mdrdj003
 

East Africa hit by deadly weather phenomenon
06 December 2019
Two tropical storms are expected to hit East Africa late on Thursday and Friday, in areas which have already been affected by heavy rain.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-50676782/east-africa-hit-by-deadly-weather-phenomenon

[Top]

FOOD SECURITY 
 






Thailand and UN’s FAO collaborate to stop soil erosion to ensure future food security
07 December 2019
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Royal Thai Government today reaffirmed their close partnership to prevent the global acceleration of soil erosion, which threatens food security worldwide.
https://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/thailand-and-un-s-fao-collaborate-stop-soil-erosion-ensure-future-food-security
 

55% Norton Residents food insecure
08 December 2019
AT LEAST 55% of Norton residents have been reported to be food insecure and in urgent need of assistance to avert severe hunger, the World Food Programme (WFP) has announced. In an analysis of the food security situation in Zimbabwe, Norton was flagged as the most affected urban town with the highest percentage of residents who are food insecure.
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/55-norton-residents-food-insecure-report/
 

The History of Evolution: from Darwin to DNA
07 December 2019
Many people believe that Darwin came up with the idea for evolution on that trip, but the reality is that the theory predated his birth. What Darwin is famous for is a revolutionary new way of thinking about that idea.
https://www.todayville.com/agriculture/the-history-of-evolution-from-darwin-to-dna/ 

[Top]

IRRIGATION






Japan turns over irrigation system facilities in Narra, Palawan
09 December 2019
The monumental ¥6.187 billion-project of Japan targets to rehabilitate 11 river irrigation systems (RIS) in Philippines. Three RIS including the Malatgao RIS in Palawan have been completed. The rehabilitated Malatgao diversion dam is located in the Municipalities of Narra and Aborlan.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/12/09/weekly/expat-diplomats/japan-turns-over-irrigation-system-facilities-in-narra-palawan/662606/ 

Smart irrigation technology for sustainable agriculture
08 December 2019
In the circumstance of global energy crisis and water insufficiency, rice production system is being changed with the policy to produce more with a minimum amount of water. In Bangladesh, use of groundwater in a massive scale for Boro rice is the main cause of declining groundwater tables, especially in the Rangpur Division -- now a burning issue at the national level.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/opinions/smart-irrigation-technology-for-sustainable-agriculture-1575815684
 

Nile dam talks end in Cairo with no deal
08 December 2019
A round of talks among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over Ethiopia's controversial Nile dam ended with no deal but the three countries’ water ministers agreed to meet in Washington and Khartoum for further deliberations and technical talks.
https://thearabweekly.com/nile-dam-talks-end-cairo-no-deal

 [Top]

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 





 

Climate action pathway: Water
04 December 2019
By 2050 the water sector will be largely decarbonized through the use of alternative energy sources such as solar and combined heat and power cogeneration, as well as through aggressive conservation, reuse and efficiency efforts.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/climate-action-pathway-water-executive-summary

 

New EPA Action Plan to Enhance Local Water Resources
03 December 2019
In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a draft National Water Reuse Action Plan (Draft Action Plan) that highlights key actions that support consideration and implementation of water reuse, which can be a valuable tool to enhance the availability and effective use of water resources.
https://citiesspeak.org/2019/12/03/new-epa-action-plan-to-enhance-local-water-resources/
 

Climate Change Uncertainty Means Water Uncertainty
03 December 2019
A new guidance and planning document for integrating water into climate responses. “Watering the NDCs” offers guiding principles and recommendations for national climate planners and decision-makers to help ensure they meet their goals set out in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement.
https://www.ooskanews.com/story/2019/12/climate-change-uncertainty-means-water-uncertainty_178976

[Top]

Water Pollution 2020: 15th International Conference on Monitoring, Modelling and Management of Water Pollution, 13-15 May 2020, Valencia, Spain. For more details, please visit: https://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2020-conferences/water-pollution-2020; Email: wit@wessex.ac.uk

MinWat 2020: 3rd International Multidisciplinary Conference on Mineral Waters: Genesis, Exploitation, Protection and Valorisation, 31 March-3 April 2020, Caserta, Italy. For more details, please visit: https://iah.org/events/minwat-2020; Email: segratario@iahitaly.it

6th IWA International Symposium on Water, Wastewater and Environment in Ancient Civilizations: Traditions and Cultures
28-30 April 2020
the 6th IWA International Symposium which will be Co-organized by the Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey and the Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece. It will take place at the Bogazici University (28 & 29 April) and in the Conference Hall of the Theological School of Halki in the island of Heybeliada, Istanbul, Turkey (30 April).
https://iwa-network.org/events/iwa-regional-symposium-on-water-wastewater-and-environment-traditions-and-cultures/
 

[Top]

IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land 08 August 2019 Land is already under growing human pressure and climate change is adding to these pressures. At the same time, keeping global warming to well below 2ºC can be achieved only by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors including land and food, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in its latest report on Thursday. Link: https://www.ipcc.ch/2019/08/08/land-is-a-critical-resource_srccl/