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

Rivers, lakes and wetlands make a major contribution to the quality of life in Europe;
they are also important to the maintenance of biodiversity. However, during the
2003 drought, terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems were all put under
exceptional stress, with increased risk of biodiversity loss (AVEC, 2003). Fish kills
due to high temperature and increased pollution loads and low flows were reported
as far north as Scotland, while eutrophication affected many southern lakes and
rivers. In the 2003 crisis, emergency exemptions from environmental legislation (e.g.
on discharging heated water from power stations) were taken at the expense of the
environment. Across much of Europe, the summer of 2003 was the warmest on
record (in a series extending back over 240 years). The associated heat stress is
estimated to have contributed to the deaths of more than 30,000 people. The
exceptionally dry soil conditions and clay shrinkage caused structural damage to
buildings and increased leakage from water supply pipes. In southern England,
insurance claims for building subsidence have been estimated to increase by €400
million in 2003 due to the exceptionally dry soil conditions.
Most climate change predictions indicate that there will be an increase in climate
variability. The climate will alternate more rapidly between increased extremes. In
these scenarios drought impacts described above will be more frequent and more
extreme, and in some areas, will last longer.
V.B.7. A European Framework for Drought Mitigation
While the 2003 drought set a number of records, Europe has experienced more
extreme drought conditions and the tendency for dry years to form clusters increases
the magnitude of the drought threat. For example, any repetition of the sustained
rainfall deficiencies that were a feature of a 25-year period beginning in the 1880s
would, with present demand levels, represent a very severe challenge to water
management throughout much of Europe. Longer-term (last 1000+ years) climate
information suggests that droughts of even greater severity, spatial extent and
duration have occurred. Thus, on the grounds of climate variability alone, there is a
need for pan-European drought mitigation strategies; this need will become more
compelling as climate change causes increased temperatures and changes in rainfall
patterns.
A recent succession of severe and extensive droughts has led to a fundamental
reappraisal of drought mitigation strategies in the USA, Australia and South Africa.
The 2002 drought in the USA in particular stimulated many water conservation and
demand management initiatives. Similarly, the recent drought in Australia has led to
a wide-ranging approach to ameliorating drought impacts and reducing long-term
pressures on water resources at national and state level. In the same way, Europe
should view 2003 as a wake-up call. The 2003 drought should be the catalyst for
actions aimed at reducing drought impacts across all relevant sectors.
Policy framework
Despite its profound effects, drought receives scant attention in many areas of
European policy. In respect to agricultural policy, droughts are rarely mentioned –
and yet droughts have major impacts, both direct (water stress in all plants, reduced
water for irrigation, increased water pumping / transportation costs) and indirect (soil
erosion and desertification).
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