In an attempt to improve the sustainable management of global water resources, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the Global Water Systems Project (GWSP), launched the International Water Quality Guidelines for Ecosystems (IWQGES) project on October 10, 2013, at the Budapest Water Summit.
Results of study on prairie grasslands show differences across the months. Does it matter whether long periods of hot weather, such as last year's heat wave that gripped the U.S. Midwest, happen in June or July, August or September? Scientists studying the subtle effects of heat waves and droughts say that when such weather events happen makes a big difference.