Drought in Kenya and Colombia and the revitalization of European rivers

Europe made significant progress in river revitalization by removing almost 500 dams and other barriers from its rivers in 2023. This step has helped restore waterways to their natural state and was a 50% increase compared to the previous year. The leaders in river revitalization are France, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark. However, it is important to note that 150 thousand out of the 1.2 million barriers on European waterways are outdated and potentially dangerous.

Kenya is facing severe drought, and the people of Samburu County are struggling to survive. During the three-year drought in the Horn of Africa, 80% of cows in the region died, ruining residents’ livelihoods. To help farmers, who need new breeding animals due to climate change, shrinking land for grazing, and drying up water sources, the authorities have purchased 4,000 camels. The global camel population has doubled over the past 20 years, which the United Nations Agriculture and Investment Organization partly attributes to the animal’s suitability for climate change.

Bogota, the capital of Colombia, located in the humid northern Andes region, is experiencing continued dry weather caused by the impact of El Niño. The city’s water reserves are at critically low levels, threatening the water supply for millions of residents. To reduce water consumption, new measures have been announced. Houses that use more than 22 m³ of water monthly will have to pay additional fees. Financial penalties of up to $300 are also possible for people washing cars on the streets or performing other water-wasteful activities. These measures are crucial to ensure that the city’s water reserves are not depleted and to secure the water supply for its residents.