|
Climate
Change and Energy
News:
Weekly Digest by CAN
EECCA
| | | |
|
Someone
forwarded this digest to you?
You can
subscribe using this
link
| |
|
Dear
subscribers,
What
connects earthquake risks in Central Asia, the
return of sturgeon to the Dnipro River, and
human rights in green energy? All of these are
fresh stories about how the climate is changing
— and how we search for solutions. In this
issue: from seismic risks in Central Asia to new
technologies improving air quality in Bishkek,
and climate-resilient rice in Kazakhstan. We
also highlight global trends: human rights in
the energy transition, tropical heat, and
vanishing lakes.
At the
end of this newsletter — new opportunities for
activists.
Best
regards,
CAN
EECCA Communications
Manager
Aizirek
Almazbekova
| | | |
|
News
from the EECCA Region
| | | |
By 2022, Tajikistan had
reached nearly universal access to electricity.
Yet behind this milestone lie challenges: winter
power outages in rural areas, less than 40% of
the population having access to clean cooking
fuels, and heavy reliance on hydropower, which
is vulnerable to climate change. Meanwhile,
solar and wind potential remain untapped, making
investments in decentralized energy and
efficiency critically important for the
future.
Central
Asia on the Brink of a Major Earthquake: Is the
Region Prepared?
Recent tremors in
Almaty sparked panic and renewed concerns about
earthquake readiness. Many buildings are
outdated, while public trust in new construction
remains low. Authorities are ramping up drills,
evacuation plans, and even reserving land for
mass burials. But experts warn that without
systemic infrastructure modernization and
sustainable financing, the region may not be
prepared for the next seismic
event.
Caucasus
Glacier Retreats Rapidly Under Climate
Change
Azerbaijani scientists
have recorded accelerated retreat of the
Tufandag glacier in the Greater Caucasus. Their
expedition observed shrinking ice coverage,
widening cracks, and a retreating glacier tongue
— changes already raising water levels in the
Makhmudchay River.
Dnipro
Rivers Reborn, Sturgeon Return After 70
Years
Two years after the
destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant,
researchers have documented more than 300 plant
species (compared to only 11 in 2022) and
massive gatherings of birds. Most strikingly,
sturgeon have returned: for the first time in 70
years, fish from the Black Sea have reached
Zaporizhzhia, their historic spawning
grounds.
Kyrgyzstan and South Korea Launch
Project to Tackle Air Pollution in
Bishkek
KOICA and the Kyrgyz
government are implementing a joint project
through 2028 to reduce air pollution.
Eco-friendly heating systems will be installed
in schools and kindergartens, alongside a
comprehensive air quality management plan —
steps that could significantly improve Bishkek’s
chronic smog problem.
Kazakhstan Develops
Water-Efficient Rice to Combat Climate
ChangeIn Kyzylorda Region,
trials are underway for a new rice variety,
Syr
Sulu,
which requires far less water and ripens faster
than traditional types. Researchers are also
testing innovative soil additives that help
retain moisture, potentially cutting irrigation
needs nearly in half — a promising adaptation
for farmers facing water scarcity and climate
stress.
| | | |
|
World
Climate and Energy News
| |
Human
Rights Approach to the Energy
Transition
Elisa Morgera, UN
Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate
Change, presented a new report summarizing how
renewable energy development — and its reliance
on critical minerals — impacts human rights. The
report emphasizes that states must protect
people’s rights during the green transition,
while companies and other actors are responsible
for ensuring the process does not exacerbate
existing risks and
abuses.
Fact-checking 18 Myths About Heat
Pumps
Heat pumps are a key
technology for phasing out fossil fuels in
heating, widely adopted in Europe and the US.
But myths abound: that they don’t work in old or
poorly insulated houses, fail in cold weather,
are too noisy, or too costly. Carbon Brief
debunks 18 of the most common misconceptions,
showing that heat pumps are efficient,
cost-effective, and proven reliable — from
Norway to the US.
Electric
Vehicles: Debunking 21 Persistent
Myths
According to Carbon
Brief, electric vehicles already cut lifecycle
emissions by two-thirds and offset their
manufacturing carbon footprint within
18,000–21,000 km of driving. The analysis
addresses 21 myths — from “batteries die
quickly” to “charging is more expensive than
fueling.”
Landlocked Countries in Focus at
World Water Week
At Stockholm’s World
Water Week, safe water access was highlighted as
central to climate adaptation. Special attention
was given to landlocked countries such as Bhutan
and Rwanda, which shared experiences on
expanding water access and explored innovative
financing for water and sanitation
projects.
World’s
Lakes in Decline: Why It’s Happening and What
Can Be Done
Climate change,
excessive water withdrawal, and pollution are
driving a catastrophic decline in lakes
worldwide. Bolivia’s Lake Poopó has dried up,
the Aral Sea has nearly disappeared, and
Africa’s Lake Victoria is turning toxic from
algal blooms. According to the UN, lakes in 364
basins are shrinking or vanishing, threatening
nearly 100 million people. Scientists warn:
since lakes provide 90% of the planet’s
freshwater, protecting them is a matter of
survival.
| |
| |
Georgia:
Supporting Green Businesses Near Kolkheti
National Park
The Local Economic
Development Project (LEDP), supported by
Helvetas and the Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation (SDC), is accepting applications
from entrepreneurs and startups in the
municipalities of Poti, Zugdidi, Khobi, Senaki,
Abasha, and Lanchkhuti. Eligible projects
include ecotourism, gastronomy tourism, crafts,
and cultural initiatives. Deadline: September
19, 2025.
Young
Green Academy: Social Justice and
Climate
The Federation of Young
European Greens invites applications for the
online Young Green Academy (September–December
2025), focusing on the intersections of social
justice and climate. Participants will develop
projects on affordable housing, food security,
ecosystem protection, and inclusivity — all
through the lens of sustainable development and
climate action. Deadline: September 7,
2025.
Free
Online Courses from École
Polytechnique
École Polytechnique is
offering free online courses on hydropower, wind
and solar energy, photovoltaics, wind resources
for renewables, and more. Participants may also
obtain a certificate upon
completion.
Foux
Foundation: Global Support for Health,
Education, and
Youth
The Foux Foundation is
a private charity supporting small organizations
worldwide in the fields of health, education,
youth, and poverty reduction. Applications can
be submitted online, including project
description, team details, and
budget.
| |
| |
|
This
email has been sent to you because you are a
subscriber to the CAN EECCA News
| | | | From:
CAN EECCA <dig...@caneecca.org>
Date: вт, 2
сент. 2025 г. в 15:13
Subject: 🌍 CAN EECCA Newsletter:
Earthquake Risks in Central Asia, Sturgeon Returning to the Dnipro,
and Human Rights in the Energy
Transition
|
|
