Kyiv attack: Death toll rises to 14 Including child
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has confirmed that the death toll from the missile and drone attacks on Kyiv on 31 July has risen to 14, inclu...
While the world's attention is often captured by rising sea levels, another critical environmental crisis is unfolding beneath our feet: land subsidence.
Cities across the globe are literally sinking, a phenomenon largely driven by human activity. This insidious process is accelerating flood risks and posing an immediate threat to millions of people. Land subsidence refers to the gradual lowering of the Earth's surface; unlike dramatic coastal erosion or storm surges, its effects are often slow and less visible, yet the consequences are profoundly damaging.
Nowhere is this crisis more evident than in Jakarta, Indonesia's sprawling capital. Ranked among the fastest-sinking cities globally, its residents constantly battle escalating floodwaters. Homes require repeated elevation, and urban infrastructure is perpetually strained. Jakarta's dire situation serves as a stark warning for other urban areas facing similar threats worldwide. The problem extends far beyond Indonesia. A recent study, examining 48 coastal cities, revealed that an alarming 76 million people live in areas sinking at least 1 centimetre per year. This rate of subsidence significantly intensifies the impact of rising sea levels, transforming what might be manageable coastal changes into devastating, widespread inundations.
So, what's causing this widespread urban descent? The overwhelming evidence points to excessive groundwater pumping. As urban populations boom and development accelerates, the demand for fresh water skyrockets. To meet this demand, cities heavily rely on extracting water from underground aquifers. When water is pumped out, the empty spaces within the soil and rock layers compact, causing the land above to settle and sink. This issue is particularly severe in rapidly developing and populous regions like Asia and Southeast Asia. It's a cruel irony: the very urban development intended to uplift communities often contributes to their gradual sinking. The weight of heavy infrastructure, combined with the continuous demand for water, creates a perilous cycle. While engineers devise large-scale solutions like massive sea dykes and powerful pumping stations, these are often reactive measures, temporary fixes that don't address the core problem.
Despite the widespread challenges, solutions exist. Tokyo, Japan, once a rapidly sinking city, provides a compelling example of successful mitigation. Through strict groundwater pumping regulations and the implementation of a comprehensive water supply management system, Tokyo has managed to significantly slow and even halt its subsidence. This achievement underscores the critical importance of sustainable water management practices and robust urban planning.
The sinking of our cities is a complex issue, intricately linked to climate change, population growth, and resource management. Addressing it demands a multifaceted approach. We must invest in alternative, sustainable water sources, implement and enforce rigorous controls on groundwater extraction, improve the resilience of urban infrastructure to withstand ground movement, and educate the public about the causes and consequences of land subsidence. If we don't fundamentally rethink how we manage our precious water resources and plan our urban futures, many of our most vibrant cities risk becoming submerged histories. The time for decisive action is now.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
European forests are absorbing significantly less carbon dioxide than a decade ago, putting the European Union’s ambitious climate goals in jeopardy, scientists from the EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) warned on Wednesday.
The United Nations' climate bureau have concerns that sky-high accommodation prices for this year's COP30 climate summit in Brazil could price poorer countries out of the negotiations, according to diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.
The Environmental Protection Agency has moved to erase the foundation of America’s climate regulations. On Tuesday, it unveiled a proposal to rescind the “endangerment finding,” the legal opinion that lets it curb greenhouse gas emissions.
They seem distant and frozen in time, but glaciers are melting fast, and the ripple effects are reaching every corner of the world. From rising seas to disrupted weather and water shortages, their disappearance is reshaping our shared future.
The United Nation’s climate chief says a delay in choosing the host for next year’s COP31 summit is causing problems. It's after Australia and Türkiye submitted bids in 2022 to host the high-profile conference in 2026. Sydney said it's received the most votes.
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