Search Climate Insights Directory

This expert report, prepared by Sustainable Surface and Groundwater Solutions (SSGS) for the Centre for Environmental Rights, reviews the revised groundwater component of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Tetra4 (Pty) Ltd's proposed Cluster 2 expansion of a natural gas field near Virginia, Free State Province. The review concludes that the assessment is fundamentally flawed in its methodology, data interpretation, and numerical modeling, rendering it an unreliable basis for decision-making.

This research paper analyzes the conflict between groundwater use in the Río Cuchujaqui watershed and the conservation goals of the Sierra de Álamos protected area in northwestern Mexico, arguing that groundwater must be capped to maintain ecosystem functions.

This research paper examines the vulnerabilities and adaptive strategies of agricultural and livestock producers in southeastern Arizona, finding that while groundwater use is a critical adaptation strategy, the utility of seasonal climate forecasts is limited by low risk tolerance and economic uncertainty.

This research paper examines the intersection of electricity supply, groundwater irrigation, and CO2 emissions, focusing on the 'perfect storm' of climate, water, and energy challenges in Mexico.

This research paper evaluates the interaction between water-table depth, rainfall variation, and sowing dates on maize yields in the Western Pampas of Argentina, identifying an optimal water-table depth for maximizing production and stability.

This research paper examines the relationship between electricity supply, pricing, and groundwater pumping for irrigation, focusing on the case of Mexico as a critical intersection of climate, water, and energy challenges.

This research paper evaluates the impact of climate change on water demand and coverage within the urban and agricultural sectors of the Maipo Basin in Chile, utilizing a statistical downscaling mechanism and hydrological modeling to compare sectoral sensitivities and the role of groundwater pumping.

A research paper based on a survey of global and regional experts regarding the governance of the Guarani Aquifer System in South America, focusing on regulation, resource ownership, and the state of groundwater quality and quantity.

A research paper by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research detailing a survey of state agency officials regarding groundwater governance in the United States, highlighting fragmented legal frameworks and shared priorities.

This research paper reviews literature on groundwater management, water security, international water law, and international water governance to propose recommendations for securing the nearly 600 transboundary aquifers globally.

This fact sheet examines the relationship between land use, shallow groundwater levels, and flooding in the Argentinean Pampas. It highlights how the shift from perennial alfalfa pastures to annual grain rotations has increased flooding frequency and suggests that planting water-logging tolerant cover crops can mitigate these risks.

This report by GEOSS South Africa, commissioned by WWF South Africa, details the establishment of a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network in the Brackenfell residential and industrial area of the Western Cape. The project was initiated to address the unregulated increase in borehole drilling and groundwater abstraction following the 2015-2019 drought. The study combined desktop research and a field hydrocensus to identify groundwater users and deploy water level dataloggers, with the resulting data integrated into a public Groundwater Dashboard for the Table Mountain Water Source Area.

This internal mid-term review (MTR) report evaluates the 'Table Mountain Water Source Area Partnership: Protecting critical groundwater' project, funded by the Danish Embassy and managed by WWF South Africa. The project aims to establish effective joint management systems for groundwater in the Table Mountain Strategic Water Source Area (TM-SWSA) by 2022 through a multi-layered Theory of Change involving groundwater monitoring, awareness raising, and governance. The MTR, conducted in late 2021, identifies successes in awareness raising and the establishment of a multi-stakeholder partnership, while highlighting challenges related to COVID-19, data accessibility, and the complexities of operating within an unequal urban environment.

This guide and factsheet from WWF South Africa and the Anglican Church of Southern Africa provides educational resources for youth on environmental stewardship. It specifically details the three main aquifers supplying Cape Town (Table Mountain Group, Cape Flats, and Atlantis) and explains the hydrological process of groundwater filtration. The document advocates for sustainable water use and the protection of aquifers against over-extraction and pollution, framing environmental care as a spiritual mandate.

This guidebook provides recommendations for state policy-makers in India to sustainably deploy standalone solar pumps, specifically within the framework of the PM-KUSUM scheme, to maximize social benefits for low-income farmers and minimize groundwater over-withdrawal.

This document outlines the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework for the WWF South Africa project 'Protecting Critical Groundwater' within the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership. The approach emphasizes real-time evaluation and adaptive 'double-loop' learning to support the sustainable management of groundwater and the development of a multi-stakeholder governance model for Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs).

The Groundwater Awareness Campaign 2021 is a guide and educational toolkit developed by WWF South Africa and The Greenpop Foundation to teach primary school students (Grades 4-7) about groundwater, aquifers, and water conservation. The document provides teacher and learner information packs, including three structured geography lessons and a poster competition designed to encourage students to become stewards of water awareness in their communities, particularly in the context of the Western Cape and Cape Town.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines water management frameworks in Mongolia and the Antofagasta region of Chile. It emphasizes the necessity of basin-level governance to balance the high water demands of the mining sector with the needs of other users and the environment, particularly in arid regions facing climate change.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the importance of watershed-scale governance for mine water management, focusing on the experiences of Mongolia and the Antofagasta region of Chile. It outlines a framework for effective water governance based on risk-based planning, stakeholder collaboration, and clear policy implementation, while highlighting the specific challenges of managing water in arid mining regions.

This guide, produced by the Green Anglicans and published by WWF South Africa, provides liturgical materials and educational resources for a World Water Day service in 2021. It combines religious worship with ecological advocacy, focusing on water scarcity, social injustice in water access, and the importance of groundwater preservation, particularly within the South African context.