For subscribers
Climate is a supply chain problem that cannot be ignored
The waterborne infrastructure of global trade could dry out or shut down as the world heats up
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Helen Thomas
After weeks of scorching heat, it was possible to take a stroll on the parched bed of the Loire river.
Low water levels in the Danube have forced countries in eastern Europe to start dredging to keep barges moving along the critical waterway. The Rhine, at a key choke point, has fallen below levels that make it uneconomical for many vessels to operate. In terms of the looming challenges, this may simply be the warm-up.
