Environment

Well drilling in the outskirts of Bishkek. The water supply system in Kyrgyzstan's capital is considered obsolete and experts note that substantial renovation is needed to avoid water losses. © IWPR Central Asia

Bishkek Water Shortages Highlight Poor Management

Obsolete infrastructure and bad planning mean issues already aggravated by climate change have got more serious.

13 Jul 23

President of Russia Vladimir Putin. © Daniel Jayo/Getty Images

Prosecuting Putin: How to Deliver Justice to Ukraine

The indictment’s specific focus keeps it distinct from other crimes and is important to avoid delays in delivering justice.

11 Jul 23

On June 20, riot police confronted residents in Soyudlu, in western Azerbaijan, as they protested against the construction of a second reservoir intended to hold waste from a nearby gold mine. © Still from video shared on social media

Azerbaijani Authorities Crack Down on Eco Protests

Villagers demand end to construction of a second reservoir for a local gold mine.

10 Jul 23

A view of a flooded area on June 10, 2023 in Kherson, Ukraine after the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant, which sit on the Dnipro river in the southern Kherson region, were destroyed, forcing downstream communities to evacuate due to risk of flooding. © Roman Pilipey/Getty Images

Ukraine: Prosecuting Ecocide

Pursuing those responsible for this crime would increase awareness and accountability, as well as having a significant and international impact.

4 Jul 23

Kherson © Olga Golovina

Ukraine: Rebuilding After the Dam Disaster

Residents of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions face an uncertain future as flood waters recede.

15 Jun 23

Kenya: Women Bearing the Brunt of Climate Change

An ongoing drought has served to amplify historic gender inequalities in arid areas of the country.

8 Mar 23

The town of Alaverdi in northeastern Armenia, near the border with Georgia, crossed by the Debed river. A criminal case was filed in late July, following a complaint that the river, a source of irrigation for some two dozen villages, had been polluted by Nahatak tailings. © Mania Israelyan/IWPR

Armenia: Mining Leaves Toxic Legacy

Activists call on government and local industry to respond to recent research revealing major hazards.

3 Oct 22

The IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ) arrives at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine, comprising IAEA nuclear safety, security, and safeguards staff, 1 Sept 2022. © Fredrik Dahl/IAEA

Zaporizhzhia Fuels Fear of Nuclear Disaster

“In the event of an accident, the situation will be comparable to Chernobyl.”

7 Sep 22

The coal-powered Bishkek thermal power plant (TPP) provides for the capital’s heating and hot water. Environmentalists blame it for the pollution trapping Kyrgyzstan’s capital in the depths of winter. © Dmitry Motinov/IWPR/CABAR

Kyrgyzstan: How Realistic is Phasing Out Coal?

The country is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, but production and consumption of fossil fuel continues to grow.

3 Nov 21

The Kamaz lorries were given to Sokhumi through a Russian-financed programme. Sokhumi is 80 km away from Gali. © Lana Kokaia

Georgia: Landfill Overwhelms Gali Village

Ethnic Georgians say that the de facto Abkhazia government is using their land as a dumping ground.

8 Oct 21

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