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Drought cuts Rhine shipping depth to 17 cm at record low
The Rhine, a key shipping route for Germany, hit a low not seen since measurements began in 1880, underlining how extreme weather is disrupting European trade.
Severe drought has pushed Europe’s major rivers toward record lows, with the Rhine’s shipping reference point at Germany’s Kaub gauging station falling to 17 cm this month, the lowest level seen since monitoring began in 1880, according to SCMP Economy.
The article links the river strain to broader climate pressures, noting that the Loire, the Danube, and the Rhine are all being driven toward record low levels as water availability drops.
SCMP Economy also places the problem in a wider global context, saying smoke from intensified Canadian wildfires has drifted down to the US east coast, while China has faced a mix of heatwaves and floods while preparing for what could be the strongest El Nino cycle in the past 150 years.
In discussing potential policy responses, the outlet cites Chatham House research fellow Jiangwen Guo, who argues that China’s ability to execute climate measures through top down implementation is a key advantage, and that governments face the same core climate adaptation challenges.