Sri Vedachalam
@vedachalam.bsky.social
Water policy specialist | political junkie | 🇮🇳🇺🇲 | peekaboo enthusiast | chai tea latte isn't a thing | Life is better on two wheels
https://srivedachalam.com/
https://srivedachalam.com/
This is just the second relocation of a capital of a large country due to climate change and that is two too many. Indonesia moved its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara due to rising sea levels. Should we expect this to become a common occurrence?
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This is just the second relocation of a capital of a large country due to climate change and that is two too many. Indonesia moved its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara due to rising sea levels. Should we expect this to become a common occurrence?
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
I feel like evacuating a city of 14 million because they are going to run out of water should be a bigger story regardless of where it is.
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I feel like evacuating a city of 14 million because they are going to run out of water should be a bigger story regardless of where it is.
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
Quite a metaphor. 👀
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
Fire Breaks Out at COP30 Climate Talks in Brazil
Delegates were evacuated from the conference venue, where thousands from nearly 200 countries had gathered.
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Quite a metaphor. 👀
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
"The blaze [sent] panicked delegates racing to evacuate...rain from a torrential downpour leaked into the meeting spaces...There were complaints about food shortages, & the air-conditioning struggled to keep up with the high heat..."
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
Hazzah! Today, my colleagues at @virginiaclimate.bsky.social released the first-ever Virginia Climate Assessment, a "comprehensive, science-based evaluation of how past, current, and anticipated climate conditions have and will impact Virginia and its people." Please join me in thanking them.
1/2
1/2
The Virginia Climate Assessment — Virginia Climate Center
www.vaclimate.gmu.edu
November 19, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Hazzah! Today, my colleagues at @virginiaclimate.bsky.social released the first-ever Virginia Climate Assessment, a "comprehensive, science-based evaluation of how past, current, and anticipated climate conditions have and will impact Virginia and its people." Please join me in thanking them.
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country.
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country.
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
Through photosynthesis, trees absorb CO2 & turn it into energy needed for growing biomass like trunks & roots. This process of removing CO2 from the atmosphere is called carbon sequestration. New study shows Indian forests are losing sequestration capacity
frontline.thehindu.com/environment/...
frontline.thehindu.com/environment/...
India’s Forests Are Greener—but Storing Less Carbon: New Study Reveals a Sequestration Crisis
Despite increased forest and tree cover, scientific analysis finds a 5% decline in India’s carbon stock capacity over the past decade—raising urgent questions about the efficacy of afforestation strat...
frontline.thehindu.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Through photosynthesis, trees absorb CO2 & turn it into energy needed for growing biomass like trunks & roots. This process of removing CO2 from the atmosphere is called carbon sequestration. New study shows Indian forests are losing sequestration capacity
frontline.thehindu.com/environment/...
frontline.thehindu.com/environment/...
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
A looming global water crisis may be under appreciated as climate change takes hold. Today I report on a new study that finds the planet is quickly drying, with mega-regions of water loss now stretching across continents. www.propublica.org/article/wate...
“Staggering” Water Loss Driven by Groundwater Mining Poses Global Threat
A new study finds that freshwater resources are rapidly disappearing, creating arid “mega” regions and causing sea levels to rise.
www.propublica.org
July 25, 2025 at 7:27 PM
A looming global water crisis may be under appreciated as climate change takes hold. Today I report on a new study that finds the planet is quickly drying, with mega-regions of water loss now stretching across continents. www.propublica.org/article/wate...
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
Because electricity is more costly for data centers than water, companies often prioritize building their facilities in places with cheap power, even if the area is drought stricken. “Water is an afterthought”...The thinking is, ‘Someone will figure that out later.’”
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/t...
Their Water Taps Ran Dry When Meta Built Next Door
www.nytimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Because electricity is more costly for data centers than water, companies often prioritize building their facilities in places with cheap power, even if the area is drought stricken. “Water is an afterthought”...The thinking is, ‘Someone will figure that out later.’”
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/t...
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
“The burning of the water treatment plant resulted in the release of chlorine gas that prompted the evacuation of firefighters and hikers from the inner canyon. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and can quickly settle into lower elevations such as the inner canyon, posing a health risk.”
July 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
“The burning of the water treatment plant resulted in the release of chlorine gas that prompted the evacuation of firefighters and hikers from the inner canyon. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and can quickly settle into lower elevations such as the inner canyon, posing a health risk.”
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
A 🧵 on 🚰 : For years, @dcwater.bsky.social rarely shut off water at residential buildings for unpaid bills. Why? Because it would impact many tenants, and many buildings have a single water meter in the name of the owner. This spring, the policy changed.
July 10, 2025 at 7:36 PM
A 🧵 on 🚰 : For years, @dcwater.bsky.social rarely shut off water at residential buildings for unpaid bills. Why? Because it would impact many tenants, and many buildings have a single water meter in the name of the owner. This spring, the policy changed.
My first celebrity spotting at the @uswateralliance.bsky.social #OneWaterSummit! Bumped into THE John Gonzalez, who runs the insanely funny and popular social media accounts for the @neorsd.org. A day well spent ❤️
July 9, 2025 at 1:53 AM
My first celebrity spotting at the @uswateralliance.bsky.social #OneWaterSummit! Bumped into THE John Gonzalez, who runs the insanely funny and popular social media accounts for the @neorsd.org. A day well spent ❤️
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
Final report funded by the Water Research Foundation on leading utility-led affordability practices is out ⬇️ .
We @luskininnovation.bsky.social worked on this. Thanks to Morgan @pacificinstitute.bsky.social for leading the project, +folks @ CIS, UNC and many utility, NPO & CBO reps for advising.
We @luskininnovation.bsky.social worked on this. Thanks to Morgan @pacificinstitute.bsky.social for leading the project, +folks @ CIS, UNC and many utility, NPO & CBO reps for advising.
June 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Final report funded by the Water Research Foundation on leading utility-led affordability practices is out ⬇️ .
We @luskininnovation.bsky.social worked on this. Thanks to Morgan @pacificinstitute.bsky.social for leading the project, +folks @ CIS, UNC and many utility, NPO & CBO reps for advising.
We @luskininnovation.bsky.social worked on this. Thanks to Morgan @pacificinstitute.bsky.social for leading the project, +folks @ CIS, UNC and many utility, NPO & CBO reps for advising.
Did someone say FREE MARKET?
June 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Did someone say FREE MARKET?
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
"The region doesn’t lack water, it lacks clean water, Jones emphasized. “This is what’s referred to as a pollution-induced scarcity"
insideclimatenews.org/news/1906202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/1906202...
Pollution, Not Drought, Prompts Lawn-Watering Ban in Des Moines - Inside Climate News
It’s a first for the Central Iowa Water Works, which is worried about maintaining compliance with EPA nitrate standards.
insideclimatenews.org
June 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
"The region doesn’t lack water, it lacks clean water, Jones emphasized. “This is what’s referred to as a pollution-induced scarcity"
insideclimatenews.org/news/1906202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/1906202...
Making systems and processes easier to use and getting more people access IS the definition of DEI, but the DC political class has convinced itself that DEI is the bad, frivolous stuff, so the reporters here have to add a qualifier. @nytpitchbot.bsky.social couldn't have come up with this stuff!
Kind of baffled by this passage. Starts off saying the funds were "wasted" on "equity projects". Then says that by equity she means making the system easier to use and more accessible, which sounds like a good thing to do. Then she says that didn't count as bad DEI.
May 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Making systems and processes easier to use and getting more people access IS the definition of DEI, but the DC political class has convinced itself that DEI is the bad, frivolous stuff, so the reporters here have to add a qualifier. @nytpitchbot.bsky.social couldn't have come up with this stuff!
"They need a plumber. But not a plumber plumber, they need like a HVAC specialist."
A new water job category just dropped 😄!
It's interesting that even as he says the AI centers would guzzle lots of water, his concern is not where we will get the water from 🙄
A new water job category just dropped 😄!
It's interesting that even as he says the AI centers would guzzle lots of water, his concern is not where we will get the water from 🙄
Lutnick: "We're gonna build these automated factories -- the high tech factories of the future -- and our people are gonna work at the high tech factories."
May 16, 2025 at 1:41 PM
"They need a plumber. But not a plumber plumber, they need like a HVAC specialist."
A new water job category just dropped 😄!
It's interesting that even as he says the AI centers would guzzle lots of water, his concern is not where we will get the water from 🙄
A new water job category just dropped 😄!
It's interesting that even as he says the AI centers would guzzle lots of water, his concern is not where we will get the water from 🙄
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
Wanna reduce crime?
Open more libraries.
"we find within the nearby proximity of the library; there is a substantial reduction in frequency of burglaries, vandalism, robberies, fraud, and assaults."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Open more libraries.
"we find within the nearby proximity of the library; there is a substantial reduction in frequency of burglaries, vandalism, robberies, fraud, and assaults."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Do public libraries help mitigate crime? Evidence from Kansas City, MO - Journal of Cultural Economics
We examine the relationship between public libraries and local crime rates. Previous studies have looked at different factors that could account for changes in crime, but few have focused on cultural ...
link.springer.com
May 12, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Wanna reduce crime?
Open more libraries.
"we find within the nearby proximity of the library; there is a substantial reduction in frequency of burglaries, vandalism, robberies, fraud, and assaults."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Open more libraries.
"we find within the nearby proximity of the library; there is a substantial reduction in frequency of burglaries, vandalism, robberies, fraud, and assaults."
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
"If you are in Cleveland, your #2 is in the right hands." Truer words were never spoken!
we are ready for cleveland’s number 2 tonight and trades are a very viable option.
April 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
"If you are in Cleveland, your #2 is in the right hands." Truer words were never spoken!
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
Sending deep appreciation to all the sign-on members:
André Sanchez, @alyfromcali.bsky.social, Beth Roach, Bridget Ray, Carolan Sonderegger, Elizabeth Ruiz, Felice Green, Gia Moreno Cruz, Martin Griffin, Silvia R. González, @vedachalam.bsky.social, Victor Galvan, and Vinicius Taguchi! 💙
André Sanchez, @alyfromcali.bsky.social, Beth Roach, Bridget Ray, Carolan Sonderegger, Elizabeth Ruiz, Felice Green, Gia Moreno Cruz, Martin Griffin, Silvia R. González, @vedachalam.bsky.social, Victor Galvan, and Vinicius Taguchi! 💙
April 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Sending deep appreciation to all the sign-on members:
André Sanchez, @alyfromcali.bsky.social, Beth Roach, Bridget Ray, Carolan Sonderegger, Elizabeth Ruiz, Felice Green, Gia Moreno Cruz, Martin Griffin, Silvia R. González, @vedachalam.bsky.social, Victor Galvan, and Vinicius Taguchi! 💙
André Sanchez, @alyfromcali.bsky.social, Beth Roach, Bridget Ray, Carolan Sonderegger, Elizabeth Ruiz, Felice Green, Gia Moreno Cruz, Martin Griffin, Silvia R. González, @vedachalam.bsky.social, Victor Galvan, and Vinicius Taguchi! 💙
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
#EarthDay 📣#ColorOfWater members defend equity efforts in a new statement.
"It is in our collective long-term interest to continue to foster a movement that shows up for each other and future generations."
Read: colorofwater.waterhub.org/dei-statement/
"It is in our collective long-term interest to continue to foster a movement that shows up for each other and future generations."
Read: colorofwater.waterhub.org/dei-statement/
DEI Statement | Color of Water by Water Hub
Color of Water urges action to protect DEI, water justice, and equity amid political rollbacks—because clean water and justice are nonpartisan.
colorofwater.waterhub.org
April 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
#EarthDay 📣#ColorOfWater members defend equity efforts in a new statement.
"It is in our collective long-term interest to continue to foster a movement that shows up for each other and future generations."
Read: colorofwater.waterhub.org/dei-statement/
"It is in our collective long-term interest to continue to foster a movement that shows up for each other and future generations."
Read: colorofwater.waterhub.org/dei-statement/
Dentists and insurance companies all across America celebrate!
April 8, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Dentists and insurance companies all across America celebrate!
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
apparently, clean water is woke
Had a client community (population ≈80) send me this just now:
“[USDA Research] banned some key language from its vocabulary…as well as the phrase ‘safe drinking water.’ …water treatment, rural water, and clean water, among dozens of others.”
“[USDA Research] banned some key language from its vocabulary…as well as the phrase ‘safe drinking water.’ …water treatment, rural water, and clean water, among dozens of others.”
Leaked Memo Reveals Insane Ban on Words Agriculture Department Can Say
The Department of Agriculture is no longer allowed to use the phrase “safe drinking water.”
newrepublic.com
April 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
apparently, clean water is woke
Lol
President Trump cites risks from fentanyl to justify tariffs on Canada and Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says interceptions of eggs are way up, compared to 63 fentanyl cases last month.
U.S. sees large rise in border seizures of eggs, while fentanyl rate falls
President Trump cites risks from fentanyl to justify tariffs on Canada and Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says interceptions of eggs are way up, compared to 63 fentanyl cases last month.
www.npr.org
March 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Lol
Reposted by Sri Vedachalam
New paper compares non-exhaust pollution (brake and tire particulates) from ICE and EV cars.
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
March 23, 2025 at 2:20 PM
New paper compares non-exhaust pollution (brake and tire particulates) from ICE and EV cars.
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
🎶 Hey now, you're a sewer star 🎶 😂😂
new track on our great lake greatest hits album 🔊
March 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
🎶 Hey now, you're a sewer star 🎶 😂😂