Thirsty Energy – World Bank launches global initiative on Energy and Water

Dear colleagues and friends,

Last week, on 22 January 2014, the World Bank formally launched its global initiative at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2014 in Abu Dhabi: Thirsty Energy

Leigh Cassidy explains how her grain research led to a system which can purify water poisoned by arsenic in Bangladesh

A project to remove arsenic from groundwater in Bangladesh began by accident, when Dr Leigh Cassidy from Aberdeen University was working on technology to treat industrially contaminated water in the UK.

As the World Economic forum kicks off, business leaders are calling for companies to respond to the 'planetary emergency'

• Jo Confino reflects: Sustainable development goals could be at risk by political squabbling

Mighty River Jordan matters more than any other river – for three religions, for the people living alongside it, for thousands of years of history and as both a joint resource and a dividing line for countries in today's rather difficult political environment. But the respect given to it does not reflect this importance. There is overuse and pollution all along the river, and once it reaches the Dead Sea, massive overuse of its water upstream has reduced it to a rivulet of sewage.