drought-related management issues, through an examination of legal, organizational,
financial and political issues that guide and structure the interactions among all actors.
Over the past thirty years, there has been an increasing trend in droughts events
and their impacts in the EU. Water is relatively abundant in much of Europe;
however, large areas are affected by water scarcity and droughts (Kazmierczyk et al.
2010). Water scarcity affects at least 11 % of the European population and 17 % of
EU territory (European Union 2010); it is experienced by various member states
and not limited to the Mediterranean region (European Commission 2011). The
comparison of the periods 1976–1990 and 1991–2006, that shows a doubling in
both area and population affected (European Environmental Agency 2010) and the
quadrupled yearly average costs (European Union 2010). One of the worst droughts
occurred in 2003, when one-third of EU territory and over 100 million people were
affected (European Union 2010); see also the Box 1.1 in Fig. 2.1). The State of the
Environment Report states that “except in some northern and sparsely-populated
countries that possess abundant resources, water scarcity occurs in many areas of
Europe, particularly in the south, confronted with a crucial combination of a severe
lack of and high demand for water” (Kazmierczyk et al. 2010).
Climate change is further projected to increase water shortages across Europe.
The most severe impacts are expected in southern and southeastern regions, which
already suffer from water scarcity. These areas will face reductions in water
availability as more frequent and intense drought events occur. While water
availability will generally increase in northern regions, in summer periods availability of water may decrease and lead to drought spells (Jol et al. 2008 in European
Environmental Agency 2010).
Fig. 2.1 Recorded drought events in Europe between 2000–2009. As shown, the year 2003
drought disproportionately impacted much of South and Central Europe (Tallaksen 2007 in
European Environmental Agency 2010). Source: http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright
18
U. Stein et al.
financial and political issues that guide and structure the interactions among all actors.
Over the past thirty years, there has been an increasing trend in droughts events
and their impacts in the EU. Water is relatively abundant in much of Europe;
however, large areas are affected by water scarcity and droughts (Kazmierczyk et al.
2010). Water scarcity affects at least 11 % of the European population and 17 % of
EU territory (European Union 2010); it is experienced by various member states
and not limited to the Mediterranean region (European Commission 2011). The
comparison of the periods 1976–1990 and 1991–2006, that shows a doubling in
both area and population affected (European Environmental Agency 2010) and the
quadrupled yearly average costs (European Union 2010). One of the worst droughts
occurred in 2003, when one-third of EU territory and over 100 million people were
affected (European Union 2010); see also the Box 1.1 in Fig. 2.1). The State of the
Environment Report states that “except in some northern and sparsely-populated
countries that possess abundant resources, water scarcity occurs in many areas of
Europe, particularly in the south, confronted with a crucial combination of a severe
lack of and high demand for water” (Kazmierczyk et al. 2010).
Climate change is further projected to increase water shortages across Europe.
The most severe impacts are expected in southern and southeastern regions, which
already suffer from water scarcity. These areas will face reductions in water
availability as more frequent and intense drought events occur. While water
availability will generally increase in northern regions, in summer periods availability of water may decrease and lead to drought spells (Jol et al. 2008 in European
Environmental Agency 2010).
Fig. 2.1 Recorded drought events in Europe between 2000–2009. As shown, the year 2003
drought disproportionately impacted much of South and Central Europe (Tallaksen 2007 in
European Environmental Agency 2010). Source: http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright
18
U. Stein et al.