Greek farmers and wildlife struggle as drought depletes water supplies

Farmers and residents in northern Greece are battling severe water shortages as persistent droughts have dried up lakes, wells and groundwater, threatening crops and wildlife.

Costas Kantouris reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

The ongoing drought has forced farmers like Dimitris Papadakis to rely on water trucks to irrigate their fields, as groundwater sources dry up.
The drought, worsened by climate change and tourism, has led to extreme water scarcity, impacting both human and animal populations.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for improved water management, including conservation and reuse strategies, to combat future droughts.

Key quote:

“These drought phenomena will return with greater intensity in the future. We need to take action and plan ahead to minimize their impact… and we must adapt to this new reality.”

— Konstantinos S. Voudouris, professor of hydrogeology at the University of Thessaloniki

Why this matters:

Northern Greece's persistent drought is a stark reminder of the escalating climate crisis. Without better water management, agricultural losses and wildlife deaths could become increasingly common.

apnews.com

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

Greek farmers and wildlife struggle as drought depletes water supplies

Trump administration seeks to reframe climate change as beneficial

NASA cuts chief scientist role and other positions at headquarters

Fossil fuel priorities take center stage at major energy conference

E.P.A. to shut down environmental justice offices, leaving vulnerable communities exposed

House Republicans push to protect clean energy tax credits in budget fight

Colorado River funding freeze raises alarms over water security

Most cities fail to meet global air quality standards

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.

Study shows $1 billion in lost tax revenue in Houston area from industry tax breaks

Top polluters are benefiting the most from tax breaks.