View of the drought that has affected the Los Bermejales Reservoir, which is at 18% capability in Arenas del Rey in Granada, Spain, May 13, 2023.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty’s paintings
European policymakers are scrambling to take care of the growing water crisis before scientists fear it might be one other drought fueled by the climate crisis.
Europe’s water resources have gotten increasingly scarce due to the deepening climate crisis record temperatures for spring and a historic winter heatwave that took a visual toll on rivers and ski slopes in the region.
Water reservoirs in the Mediterranean countries like Italy, they sometimes fall to the water level related to the summer heatwaves in recent weeks, threatening agricultural production, while protests against water shortages broke out in each France AND Spain.
It comes as temperatures are poised to rise in the summer and plenty of fear that Europe is already “very uncertain“The water problem could worsen.
Satellite data analyzed by scientists from the University of Graz in Austria earlier this yr showed that drought is affecting Europe on a much larger scale than scientists had previously expected.
The study was published after European Union scientists said last yr Europe experienced its hottest summer on record, with intense drought believed to be the worst the region has seen in a minimum of 500 years.
Scientists at the University of Graz said Europe has been affected by a severe drought since 2018, with the effects becoming apparent last yr as receding waters wreaked havoc on food and energy production and plenty of aquatic species lost their habitats.
“A couple of years ago, I might never have thought that water could be an issue in Europe, especially in Germany or Austria,” said Torsten Mayer-Gürr, lead writer of the satellite study.
“We even have water supply problems here – we want to take into consideration that.”
The yr 2022 was an “awakening” for decision makers
In Spain, where the temperatures prevailed rise to almost 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in April, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned in the same month that drought in the southern European country had change into one among the foremost long-term problems.
“The Spanish government and I are aware that the drought debate will probably be one among the foremost political and territorial debates in our country in the coming years,” Sanchez told parliament. Press Association.
Last month, the Spanish government approved a package value 2.2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) to ease the effects of a drought affecting the agricultural sector.
A farmer shows a pot of water as he speaks right into a microphone about drought during a farmers’ demonstration to draw attention to the living conditions in the countryside and highlight the importance of agriculture in society and its contribution to the country’s economy, in Madrid, May 13, 2023.
Oscar Del Pozo | afp | Getty’s paintings
Meanwhile, the European Drought Observatory warned in a special report earlier this yr that late winter conditions were similar to those seen last yr, when high temperatures and lack of rainfall caused a widespread and prolonged drought that affected much of the continent.
Latest available data to introduce drought warning conditions in greater than 1 / 4 of the EU bloc of 27, while 8% of the region is on drought alert.
Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said the outlook for much of Europe this summer “doesn’t look as scary because it did a month ago”.
That is because amidst a very volatile spring that brought record April temperatures to Spain and Portugal, and devastating flash floods in Italyheavy rains in southern Europe in recent weeks have helped replenish reservoirs and improve soil moisture.
Nonetheless, Burgess said large parts of northern Europe and countries including Spain, France and Portugal in the south still look “pretty dry” at a time when some researchers fear Europe might be on the right track for an additional brutal summer.
“For water security across Europe, we actually need to change the way we treat water – and I feel last yr’s events have really been a wake-up call for a lot of European policy makers,” Burgess told CNBC over the phone.
Cedric Sabate, an arborist, thins his trees to help them withstand water restrictions in Thuir, near Perpignan, southern France, May 16, 2023.
Raymond Roig | afp | Getty’s paintings
A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, didn’t respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Chloe Brimicombe, a climate researcher at Austria’s University of Graz, said water scarcity is a very acute problem in southern Europe.
“But I feel Central and Western Europe are less prepared – and it might hit them in ways they do not really expect in the coming years,” Brimicombe told CNBC over the phone.
“Europe needs to realize that climate change is affecting it,” she continued.
“They like to think that climate change is affecting the global south and that is it. And in fact it affects these people so much more, however it also affects Europe. Not only do they need to help the global south, but additionally they need to help one another at home – and meaning stronger mitigation and adaptation measures.”