Latest news with #KavehMadani
TimesLIVE
28-05-2025
- Science
- TimesLIVE
How dried-out wetlands on the Iran/Iraq border threaten the region
The dust storms that have choked Iranians and Iraqis for weeks and hospitalised thousands are the canary in the coal mine for a complex environmental disaster unfolding in wetlands straddling the two countries' border. The Hoor al-Hawizeh wetlands, north of the southern Iraqi city of Basra, are drying out and experts warn continued decline, including in the connected Hoor al-Azim marshes in Iran, could drive water shortages, migration and conflict. 'These marshes once acted as natural barriers, trapping fine sediments and maintaining soil moisture,' said Hossein Hashemi, an associate professor of water resource engineering at Lund University in Sweden. 'Their shrinkage, caused by upstream dam construction, wartime destruction and climate change, has exposed vast stretches of loose, dry sediment,' he said. 'As winds sweep across these barren areas, they lift large quantities of fine dust, leading to more frequent and intense storms.' The degradation of the wetlands, part of the Mesopotamian Marshes, also threatens unique wildlife, including softshell turtles, birds, fish and water plants. Hoor al-Hawizeh is recognised by Unesco for its biodiversity and cultural heritage, and Iraqi sections are designated wetlands of international importance on the Ramsar List, the world's largest list of protected areas. On the Iran side, Hoor al-Azim is a crucial source of food, water, jobs and tourism to millions of people in the southwestern Khuzestan province, but now it is under threat. 'This brings with it the issue of forced migration, displacement, conflict, poverty, unemployment, hunger and more,' said Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and a former deputy head of Iran's department of environment. Data from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran shows that since the early 1970s, Hoor al-Azim has declined from about 124,000ha to 60,650ha. That means nearly half of its original area, including water and reed beds, has disappeared, mainly, scientists say, because of oil exploration, farming, dam building and climate change. 'The degradation has contributed to the displacement of local communities, increased poverty and reduced agricultural productivity,' said Ali Torabi Haghighi, associate professor of water resource management at the University of Oulu in Finland. 'It has led to severe biodiversity loss, particularly among migratory bird species, native fish populations and other aquatic and semi-aquatic life,' he added. In July 2021, one of the largest waves of nationwide protests began in Khuzestan over drought and water shortages. Security forces killed dozens and thousands were arrested, according to the human rights group, Amnesty International. Those same stresses persist today with temperatures exceeding 55°C in the summer and drought again stalking the land. In May, about a thousand people were hospitalised in Khuzestan each day with heart and respiratory illnesses from sand and dust storms. Madani said urgent action was needed, not least to prevent political tensions flaring with countries accusing each other of not releasing enough water into the wetlands. Wildfires worsen the pollution. In early May, thousands of hectares of Hoor al-Azim caught fire, local media said. Earlier this year, smoke and pollution from fires on the Iraqi side of the wetlands engulfed villages in Khuzestan, forcing schools and offices to shut for days. 'As the marshes lose water, the once-lush vegetation turns into dry, flammable tinder, making the region highly susceptible to wildfires, whether ignited by natural causes, human activity or deliberate burning,' said Hashemi. 'Given the shared ecosystem, a fire on one side [of the border] directly affects the other, highlighting the need for bilateral co-operation in fire prevention, wetland restoration and air pollution control,' he said. As well as climate effects, human activities are degrading the marshes. About 80% of Iran's oil production is in Khuzestan and a 2021 study found that since the early 2000s, oil exploration projects have caused 'significant damage'. Hamidreza Khodabakhshi, a water planning expert and environmental activist in Khuzestan, said oil exploration had caused parts of the wetlands to dry up. 'Road construction and pipeline installation have not only damaged the ecosystem but also blocked the natural flow of water,' he said. In February, oil minister Mohsen Paknejad told a meeting in Ahvaz, the main city in Khuzestan, that the government took responsibility. 'We are the ones who dried up the wetland and we are the ones who hurt the people of Khuzestan — now we need to prioritise the employment needs of locals,' he said. The Hoor al-Hawizeh marshes are fed by water from the Tigris River in Iraq and the Karkheh River in southwest Iran — sources that have sometimes become a point of conflict. Iran, Iraq and Turkey have constructed dams upstream that scientists say have significantly harmed Hoor al-Hawizeh. Since 2009, the marsh has also been effectively divided by a 65km dyke built along the border by Iran to keep water in its territory. Haghighi said tensions also flared over water allocation. 'In many cases, maintaining ecological water flows is given lower priority compared with agricultural, hydropower and municipal uses, resulting in severe consequences for wetland health,' he said. Scientists hope to raise the case of Hoor al-Azim at the next meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Zimbabwe in July. 'Sand and dust storms and wildfires are examples of the complex problems that are going to require complex solutions through diplomacy and co-operation,' Madani said. Thomson Reuters Foundation
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm as rapid advancements strain global power systems: 'Technological innovations are often associated with unintended consequences'
Cryptocurrencies, including the popular Bitcoin, are here to stay, but the energy-intensive nature of the blockchain processes that support them is cause for environmental concern. Proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain systems, such as Bitcoin, use significant computational power as miners solve mathematical problems in exchange for cryptocurrency tokens, according to The Block. These processes validate transactions and open new blocks, but they consume enormous amounts of energy as miners push to stay ahead of their competitors. Bitcoin mining alone accounts for 0.5% of the world's electricity consumption. Alternatively, the proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, in which validators hold and stake tokens for the privilege of earning transaction fees, relies more on the machines of coin owners and draws much less computational power. Ethereum, as detailed in the report, has made the switch to PoS in its new 2.0 upgrade, which is said to have made significant progress toward reducing its carbon footprint by around 99.95%. A United Nations study has revealed that cryptocurrencies — along with data centers where many are hosted — are impacting more than just the electricity grid, which is reason enough to be concerned, as their massive power demand can lead to blackouts and higher utility bills. Water resources and land use are also major factors in the pollution they generate. Some believe the expansion of cryptocurrencies is helping drive innovation, with many data centers transitioning to renewable sources to meet their voracious energy demands. However, UN scientists reported that dirty fuels are still the primary power source for digital currencies, using Bitcoin as an example. The study, which covered the period between 2020 and 2021, found that 45% of its energy mix was coal, followed by 21% natural gas. Globally, data centers account for 1% of electricity consumption, while large economies, such as the United States, are seeing a draw of up to 4%, according to the International Energy Agency. It should be noted, however, that those numbers include machine learning and other processes beyond just crypto. Do you think our power grid needs to be upgraded? Definitely Only in some states Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Technological innovations are often associated with unintended consequences and Bitcoin is no exception," said study lead Professor Kaveh Madani, the director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH). "Our findings should not discourage the use of digital currencies. Instead, they should encourage us to invest in regulatory interventions and technological advancements that improve the efficiency of the global financial system without harming the environment." Indeed, blockchain technology has enabled new economic models, decentralization, and greater transparency for some financial transactions. Crypto's environmental impact, though, particularly through energy-intensive PoW systems, "remains a significant challenge" to the sector, as The Block concluded. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newly launched cryptocurrency receives major buzz after raising over $7 million in presale: 'Cryptocurrency of the future'
Cryptocurrency has faced a lot of criticism for its dependence on dirty energy and the toll that transactions take on the environment. A new project is trying to change that perception with the public. Lightchain AI is a newly launched cryptocurrency that combines artificial intelligence with blockchain. It had a successful presale and raised more than $7 million from early investors, according to Analytics Insight. One of Lightchain AI's biggest selling points is its commitment to green crypto, which means it prioritizes things like sustainability, efficiency, and renewable energy. Some ways to achieve green crypto include the adoption of solar or wind power, purchasing carbon credits, and investing in green initiatives. There's a huge need for innovative and sustainable cryptocurrency solutions because it utilizes so much energy and water to operate. It relies heavily on dirty energy and its use is only increasing over time. Bitcoin consumes as much electricity every year as a small country, according to a report from United Nations University. That carbon impact is equivalent to burning 84 billion pounds of coal or running 190 power plants using natural gas. Experts have debated whether Bitcoin can survive long-term without a major change. Some countries have even proposed taxes on crypto mining to curb its energy drain. "Our findings should not discourage the use of digital currencies. Instead, they should encourage us to invest in regulatory interventions and technological advancements that improve the efficiency of the global financial system without harming the environment," said Kaveh Madani, the director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. Lightchain AI's use of artificial intelligence does a lot of heavy lifting on the computations needed for transactions, leading to a significant reduction in energy consumption. "With a focus on sustainability and efficiency, Lightchain AI mends environmental issues with running blockchain applications, leading the field in sustainable crypto solutions," Analytics Insight said. Do you worry about companies having too much of your personal data? Absolutely Sometimes Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Lately, its focus on carbon footprint reduction and technological innovation has positioned Lightchain AI as a likely candidate for the green cryptocurrency of the future." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
