New Release:
Water Conflict Chronology Updates
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Around the world, reports of violence over water are escalating as populations grow and pressures on water resources increase. At the same time, civil and regional wars are taking a toll on civilian populations through the destruction of water infrastructure. Our
Water Conflict Chronology
, updated with more than 300 new entries, shows recent attacks on civilian water systems in ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, as well as growing violence in parts of Africa between traditional herders and farmers.
View the updated Water Conflict Chronology
here
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Upcoming Event:
President Jason Morrison to Join COP25 in Madrid
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Pacific Institute Experts Weigh in on California Wildfires and Power Shutoffs
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The evidence continues to grow that human-caused climate change is influencing, and worsening, the risks of extreme heat, drying of soils and vegetation, and wildfires.
As California residents cope with the effects of raging fires, impacts on water infrastructure and water quality are often overlooked. Surface water flowing from burned areas presents a serious water quality threat to lakes, streams, and water reservoirs, including potential contamination from metals, nutrients, and organic contaminants, and water infrastructure may also be damaged or contaminated. Additionally, power shutoffs meant to avert wildfires may have unintended consequences on water systems.
Over the past few weeks, Pacific Institute experts weighed in on the recent wildfires and power shutoffs in California:
ABC 7:
How Global Warming, Climate Change Contributing to Wildfires, Power Outages
CNBC
:
‘There are Lives at Stake’: PG&E Criticized over Blackouts to Prevent California Wildfires
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Help Support a Water Resilient Future
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As the year draws to a close, our planet has once again experienced warmer temperatures, and the prospect of running out of water is rising around the world. The impacts of climate change are increasingly apparent and intensifying. We can’t afford more denial and inaction.
Building on over thirty years of innovative research and thought leadership, and in response to this mounting crisis, the Pacific Institute is significantly accelerating and scaling our reach and impact. We recently redirected our strategic focus and have a new 2030 organizational goal to
catalyze the transformation to water resilience in the face of climate change.
Help us realize this vision by making a leadership gift today. To inspire you,
the Pacific Institute Board of Directors has generously offered to match all contributions between now and December 31st, up to $200,000.
Please send your most generous gift before December 31st and your contribution will have twice the impact.
Donate Today
!
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Bringing Attention to Communities Without Toilets on World Toilet Day
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Tuesday November 19th is
World Toilet Day
, bringing attention to the
4.2 billion people around the world living without safely managed sanitation services. Even i
n California, where the Pacific Institute main office is located,
the human right to water and sanitation remains unrealized for many communities
. A recent Pacific Institute
report
determined
the number of Californians without toilets and hot and cold running water because of incomplete household plumbing and homelessness. The report offers strategies and solutions that can be adapted for communities around the United States.
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Update from the CEO Water Mandate:
Connect to Capacity-Building Resources with the Water Stewardship Toolbox
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The
Water Stewardship Toolbox
,
from the CEO Water Mandate, is a free online library of tools, datasets, reports, guidance, case studies and more that helps users understand and build capacity on water sustainability. The Toolbox now features over 450 resources from dozens of organizations around the world.
View the Water Stewardship Toolbox
here
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Pacific Institute’s Salton Sea Summit a Success!
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California's
Salton Sea
, the state's largest lake, faces a host of challenges, including a glaring disconnect between the rate of change at the lake and the rate of efforts to address that change.
On October 17th and 18th, the Pacific Institute and the University of California, Riverside hosted a multi-disciplinary
Salton Sea Summit
in Palm Desert, California. Attended by nearly 250 people, the summit
attracted a broad range of interests, promoted an exchange of ideas, provided real-time community feedback and recommendations, and developed new opportunities and partnerships.
Media coverage included:
Desert Sun
: Imperial County Seeks to Declare Salton Sea Crisis a Health Emergency; Wants State, Federal Disaster Funds
KESQ
: Aerial View Shows Environmental Disaster at the Salton Sea
Videos and conference presentations on hydrology, ecology, dust control, projects, and policy from the summit are available
here
.
Earlier this month, Senior Researcher Michael Cohen discussed the current situation at the Salton Sea on the What's Up With Water podcast from Circle of Blue. Listen
here
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Meet Our Communications Intern Paige Lary
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Paige joined the Pacific Institute in September 2019. She says she eventually hopes to leverage the knowledge in communications, climate change, and water sustainability she has gained at the Pacific Institute into a career making films on these vital topics.
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Upcoming Events:
November Through December
2019
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November 17-19
:
Research Associate Giuliana Chaves Moreira will serve as a moderator at the World Toilet Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
November 22
: Senior Researcher Dr. Sarah Diringer and Research Associate Cora Kammeyer will speak at the
Sustainable Water Markets Symposium in Santa Barbara, California.
December 4
: Ms. Moreira will speak at the Pro-Spring Riverheads Program Meeting in Minas Gerais City, Brazil.
December 6:
President Jason Morrison will attend the Water Action Event at COP 25 in Madrid, Spain.
December 11
:
Mr. Morrison will speak at a CEO Water Mandate event on the role of the private sector in addressing SDG 6, hosted by the Global Compact Network Brazil
in Sao Paulo.
December 11-13
: Senior Researcher Michael Cohen will attend the annual Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference in Las Vegas.
Keep an eye out for more upcoming staff events on our
announcements page
. Read the list of Pacific Institute experts’ past outreach
here
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Pacific Institute in the News
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Bloomberg:
America’s Biggest Problems are Intensified in California
New Times
:
Water Board Workshop Examines the Homelessness Crisis' Relationship to Water
Read more news featuring Pacific Institute research and experts
here
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Help create and advance solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges.
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