Zambia's drought reveals hydropower's climate vulnerability

Droughts linked to climate change have crippled Zambia’s hydropower-dependent energy system, leading to economic struggles and a surge in deforestation for charcoal production.

Chico Harlan reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

Severe drought has left Zambia’s largest hydropower plant operating at 10% capacity, causing widespread blackouts.
The energy crisis has forced the country to expand coal-fired power plants and turn to charcoal, accelerating deforestation.
Climate models suggest hydropower will become increasingly unreliable as global warming intensifies droughts. A WWF study found that 26 percent of hydropower dams are in places where water scarcity. risks are medium to very high.

Key quote:

“Without the rainfall, this infrastructure becomes a white elephant.”

— Cephas Museba, Kariba hydro plant manager.

Why this matters:

Hydropower provides nearly half of the world’s renewable energy, but its vulnerability to drought threatens energy security and climate goals. Zambia’s struggles illustrate a broader global challenge, as countries face tough choices between fossil fuels and environmental degradation.

www.washingtonpost.com

Smoky skies in NYC showing the Empire State Building in the center

Credit: Ahmer Kalam/Unsplash

How wildfire smoke travels from Ontario to New York City — and turns distant city skies orange

Wildfires that have torched huge areas of forest and devastated communities are also sending smoke far and wide, prompting air quality warnings in distant cities and heated political rhetoric from the U.S. Experts say there's nothing particularly unusual about this summer's smoke patterns — but they say wildfires are getting worse, and that's not likely to stop on either side of the border.

Read the Full Article on

www.cbc.ca

Zambia's drought reveals hydropower's climate vulnerability

Zeldin vows to fulfill coal industry’s ‘wish list’

The U.S. is pulling back on energy efficiency

How Big Oil spent decades selling the myth of ‘clean’ natural gas

How wildfire smoke travels from Ontario to New York City — and turns distant city skies orange

Summer heat could be hurting your heart without you knowing it

Extreme heat is eroding health, productivity and incomes of Dhaka's informal workers

Global warming unmakes winter in the US West

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

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