Why climate change will bring water shortages to Europe

Climate change is affecting water availability across Europe. Higher temperatures, more frequent and severe droughts, and reduced snowfall are some of the factors which are bringing water scarcity and stress to many regions. These issues will pose serious challenges for agriculture, industry, nature, and human health.

Europe has been suffering from severe drought since 2018, depleting surface and underground water reservoirs. The winter of 2022-2023 was supposed to bring relief, but it was one of the driest in 60 years in some countries. As a result, many crops have been damaged or lost, some rivers and lakes have reached critically low levels, and some villages have faced restrictions on tap water access.

The situation is only going to get worse as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. More heat waves, causing deeper drought. More violent storms releasing water volumes which the bone-dry earth cannot accommodate resulting in massive and deadly floods. 

These events will disrupt water supply and quality and damage infrastructure which processes and delivers water. Water scarcity is not only an environmental problem, but also a social and economic one. It can affect food security, energy production, industrial activity, tourism, biodiversity, and human well-being. Increasing water demand for business activities will reduce the amount available for human consumption. Potentially increasing conflicts and tensions over water resources among different sectors and regions. 

Improving water efficiency and conservation, promoting sustainable water management practices, investing in water infrastructure and innovation are all critical responses to the coming water crisis. Taking action to decrease carbon emissions and slow global warming even more so.

Water is a vital resource for life and development, and it should be placed at the center of the climate change agenda.