Guardian launches year-long rivers investigation as global waterways hit drought crisis
World Meteorological Organization reports 2025 was one of driest years in three decades for rivers worldwide.
What to know
- Rivers worldwide experienced one of their driest years in 30+ decades during 2025, according to a new World Meteorological Organization report.
- The Guardian is launching a year-long investigation into global river crises spanning climate impacts, over-engineering of waterways, and international water disputes.
- Major river systems—including the Amazon, La Plata, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Congo, Colorado, Nile, and Mississippi—are suffering from drought, monsoon shifts, and engineered alterations.
- Some restoration efforts, such as China's Yangtze River rebuilding, show measurable success with doubled fish biomass and rebound of endangered species.
“They feed and water us, and many other animal species. They carry our trade but also give us cool relief on a hot day. They're nerve endings, elders and sources of comfort, but also of awe and respect.”
Bibi van der Zee, Guardian Environment writer · The Guardian ↗
The Guardian News outlet launching investigationWorld Meteorological Organization Research bodyBibi van der Zee Guardian writer/editor
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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China's river restoration showing measurable ecological recovery
China's investment in rebuilding the Yangtze River is producing results, with biologists documenting doubling of fish biomass and rebounding of endangered species.
“the doubling of fish biomass and rebounding of endangered species shows that the government measures are starting to work…”
— Biologists cited by Guardian -
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https://www. europesays.com/us/1070545/ The world’s rivers are at breaking point. Can we save them before it is too late? | Environment # Environment # Science # UnitedStates # UnitedStates # US
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Guardian details river crisis scope: drought, engineering, and geopolitical conflict — The project outlines multiple stressors on global river systems including drought from climate change affecting Amazon, La Plata, Ganges, and Brahmaputra; over-engineering creating problems like Mississippi River mouth erosion; and diplomatic disputes like Egypt-Ethiopia tensions over Nile water distribution.
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Guardian launches 'Our Rivers' year-long investigative project — The Guardian announces a year-long project focused on examining the world's rivers in good health and bad, investigating climate impacts, human engineering, and water distribution disputes.
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World Meteorological Organization releases report on global river drought — A new report from the World Meteorological Organization finds that rivers across the world experienced one of the driest years in more than three decades during 2025.
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first by The Guardian, 6d ago · also Guardian Environment