2012 (European Commission—DG ENV 2012). In 2008, the European Parliament
adopted a report on the Communication, calling for a number of initiatives at the
EU level. It also requested the Commission to initiate pilot projects in areas of key
interest (European Commission—DG ENV 2012).
1
In January 2008, MEPs and experts convened at the European Parliament’s
Climate Change Temporary Committee’s Fourth Thematic Session to discuss the
complex links between water issues and climate change. The session determined
that significant decisions regarding the best way forward with climate adaptation
strategies was a top priority. Specifically, the discussion focused on the need for
water policies to respond to the impacts of climate and changing agricultural
demands, calling policy development to move beyond water policy itself to be more
encompassing (Farmer et al. 2008).
The former European Parliament Environment Commissioner Potočnik was a
key leader in mobilisations efforts following the session. At a hearing in January
2010, he announced a new focus area on resource efficiency, including water
efficiency, for the upcoming mandate. He also unveiled a new Commission initiative entitled “Blueprint for safeguarding European Waters,” slated for release in
2012. The Blueprint aimed to review the WFD, including the successes and challenges of its implementation, as well as provide insight on water and resource
vulnerabilities in the face the climate change and other man-made pressure
(European Commission—DG ENV 2012).
The European Commission Joint Research Centre also helped to establish the
European Drought Observatory (EDO) as part of ongoing efforts to integrate
drought into policy. Since 2011, the EDO has been the leading disseminator on
drought-relevant information and maps of indicators derived from a range of different data sources, including precipitation measurements, satellite measurements
and modelled soil moisture content (Vogt et al. 2011). At its core, the EDO serves
to buttress the already existing Global Drought Information System, with a focus on
the European context.
Like its sister initiative, the EDO provides a technical approach to drought policy
and integrates “relevant data and research results, drought monitoring, detection and
forecasting on different spatial scales, from local and regional activities to a continental overview at EU level (Vogt 2011)” in order to aid evaluation and
decision-making of future water scarcity and drought events (Vogt et al. 2011).
The EDO is also responsible for severe drought events, and produces reports
detailing the situation to better inform policymakers (European Commission—JRC
2015). In addition, the EDO is also responsible for retrieving information on
droughts and related topics from global news portals using the European Media
Monitor tool (Council of the European Communities 1979).
1
See also: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/quantity/scarcity_en.htm.
20
U. Stein et al.
adopted a report on the Communication, calling for a number of initiatives at the
EU level. It also requested the Commission to initiate pilot projects in areas of key
interest (European Commission—DG ENV 2012).
1
In January 2008, MEPs and experts convened at the European Parliament’s
Climate Change Temporary Committee’s Fourth Thematic Session to discuss the
complex links between water issues and climate change. The session determined
that significant decisions regarding the best way forward with climate adaptation
strategies was a top priority. Specifically, the discussion focused on the need for
water policies to respond to the impacts of climate and changing agricultural
demands, calling policy development to move beyond water policy itself to be more
encompassing (Farmer et al. 2008).
The former European Parliament Environment Commissioner Potočnik was a
key leader in mobilisations efforts following the session. At a hearing in January
2010, he announced a new focus area on resource efficiency, including water
efficiency, for the upcoming mandate. He also unveiled a new Commission initiative entitled “Blueprint for safeguarding European Waters,” slated for release in
2012. The Blueprint aimed to review the WFD, including the successes and challenges of its implementation, as well as provide insight on water and resource
vulnerabilities in the face the climate change and other man-made pressure
(European Commission—DG ENV 2012).
The European Commission Joint Research Centre also helped to establish the
European Drought Observatory (EDO) as part of ongoing efforts to integrate
drought into policy. Since 2011, the EDO has been the leading disseminator on
drought-relevant information and maps of indicators derived from a range of different data sources, including precipitation measurements, satellite measurements
and modelled soil moisture content (Vogt et al. 2011). At its core, the EDO serves
to buttress the already existing Global Drought Information System, with a focus on
the European context.
Like its sister initiative, the EDO provides a technical approach to drought policy
and integrates “relevant data and research results, drought monitoring, detection and
forecasting on different spatial scales, from local and regional activities to a continental overview at EU level (Vogt 2011)” in order to aid evaluation and
decision-making of future water scarcity and drought events (Vogt et al. 2011).
The EDO is also responsible for severe drought events, and produces reports
detailing the situation to better inform policymakers (European Commission—JRC
2015). In addition, the EDO is also responsible for retrieving information on
droughts and related topics from global news portals using the European Media
Monitor tool (Council of the European Communities 1979).
1
See also: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/quantity/scarcity_en.htm.
20
U. Stein et al.