Bolivia ’s worst drought in a quarter of a century , which led to the government declaring a state of emergency last week , has been exacerbated by climate change , mining , large - scale agriculture , population growth in cities and poor infrastructure , according to campaigners . Environmentalists and advocates of land reform argue the drought has increased the damage caused by mining , which diverts and contaminates water , and soya and cane farming , which has led to pollution and increased land use . Water shortages in Bolivia's cities have also been affected by the shrinking of glaciers that surround cities and provide millions of people with drinking water. Shortages have also been intensified by the climate - change - related 40 % shrinkage of two large glaciers in the country 1983 and 2006 .
Bolivia ’s worst drought in a quarter of a century , which led to the government declaring a state of emergency last week , has been exacerbated by climate change , mining , large - scale agriculture , population growth in cities and poor infrastructure , according to campaigners . Environmentalists and advocates of land reform argue the drought has increased the damage caused by mining , which diverts and contaminates water , and soya and cane farming , which has led to pollution and increased land use . Shortages have also been intensified by the climate - change - related 40 % shrinkage of two large glaciers in the country 1983 and 2006 .