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Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...

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<strong>Climate</strong> <strong>Change</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>European</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Dimension</strong><br />

Chapter V.B. <strong>Climate</strong> <strong>Change</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>European</strong> Droughts<br />

Key Points<br />

• Droughts are a natural <strong>and</strong> recurrent feature of <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>European</strong> climate occurring in both high <strong>and</strong> low rainfall<br />

areas, <strong>and</strong> in any season.<br />

• The impacts depend on <strong>the</strong> severity, duration <strong>and</strong> spatial<br />

extent of <strong>the</strong> rainfall deficit, but also on <strong>the</strong> environmental<br />

<strong>and</strong> socio-economic vulnerability of <strong>the</strong> affected region.<br />

• Europe’s vulnerability to drought is increasing due to<br />

increased dem<strong>and</strong> for water in some sectors <strong>and</strong> regions,<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> impact of climate change.<br />

• Total economic cost (primarily from agriculture) of <strong>the</strong> 2003<br />

drought was approximately US$13 billion, <strong>and</strong> in general<br />

higher than for floods.<br />

• The increased integration of water resource systems at <strong>the</strong><br />

regional level, with <strong>the</strong> optimal exploitation of both surface<br />

<strong>and</strong> groundwater sources, has significantly increased<br />

capabilities to withst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> impact of within-year drought<br />

episodes.<br />

• A Pan-<strong>European</strong> Drought Forecasting <strong>and</strong> Monitoring<br />

System: Reducing <strong>the</strong> economic, social <strong>and</strong> environmental<br />

impact of future droughts will require reliable <strong>and</strong> useable<br />

information (through forecasting <strong>and</strong> monitoring) to be<br />

provided to policy makers, water managers <strong>and</strong> citizens.<br />

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