Drought

With countries around the world continually beating their own records for both heat and rainfall year on year, extreme weather is becoming more common. Now, as the planet heats up, natural disasters are on the rise. We have seen events from wildfires to hurricanes increasing in frequency and intensity, but how exactly can our changing climate have an effect on natural disasters?

“In previous years, when it gets dry, it’s not to this extent. This is our first experience of seeing it like this."

England could see a serious water shortage within 25 years if we don’t change our habits, according to the chief of the Environment Agency. Sir James Bevan says that both leaks in water company pipes, and changes from individuals could both go towards avoiding the country running dry by 2040. Here are some small changes that can make a big difference to our water usage at home.

Hundreds of dehydrated baby flamingo chicks have been airlifted from their drought-stricken home in the Northern Cape to a bird sanctuary in Cape Town. The drought in South Africa has led to dams drying up, endangering the habitat of the birds. Volunteers fed the starved chicks upon arrival with a mix of baby cereal, eggs and the prawns that give them their famous colour.