NBC Nightly News to Report on Peru’s Melting Glaciers and Water Crisis Next Week

A heads-up to viewers in the United States: My sources at NBC Nightly News tell me that an investigative report on Peru’s pending water crisis will air on the show next Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. EST in many states. (Click here for state-by-state air times.) 

NBC Nightly News crew films Anne Thompson’s interview with community leaders near Huaraz who are fighting to retain water rights (Oct. 2009)

Environmental news correspondent Anne Thompson explores the accelerating retreat of tropical glaciers in Peru and the downstream effects of dwindling melt-water on agriculture, hydroelectricity and drinking water supplies for highlanders and coastal dwellers. Peru is among the three countries in the world most vulnerable to the effects of climate change (IPCC), and its dependence on glacier melt-water for most of its water needs could spell disaster for this Andean nation within 20 to 30 years.

 Thompson and a team led by environmental news producer Mario Garcia traveled throughout Peru for ten days of investigations in early October. The team spent time at Pastoruri Glacier, Huascaran National Park, Lago Parón and Cañon del Pato, in the department of Ancash, where Thompson interviewed glaciologists, community leaders and environmentalists.

Back in Lima, the team explored the hardships suffered by inhabitants of Ate-Vitarte and other shantytowns without running water service. Minister of the Environment Antonio Brack spoke to Thompson about Peru’s environmental policy, mineral rights and proposed solutions to the country’s pending water crisis.

In addition to the news report airing next week, MSNBC will feature extended video coverage about Peru on its online site. The report coincides with the Copenhagen 15 summit.

Apart from being deeply concerned about what will happen when Peru’s glaciers disappear, I have an additional interest in seeing the report: I worked as a ‘fixer’ for the NBC Nightly News team while they were in Peru, obtaining permits, arranging transportation and lining up interviews with experts. It was hard work and a lot of fun to help these news professionals get up to the glacier and back. Along the way, we managed to survive a freak electrical storm on Pastoruri that could have fried the team’s expensive cameras but thankfully just left a few people with very static-y hair. As Peruvians know, it’s always a risk when you climb to the realm of the apus.