key measures for the integration of environmental concerns into the CAP. The
RDPs encouraging farmers to conserve and enhance environmental features by
providing incentives for the provision of environmental services.
4 In addition, a
number of other rural development measures contribute to environmental protection
(including water issues) and climate adaptation and mitigation measures, in particular, measures such as the cultivation of legumes, reduced use of fertilizers and
pesticides, or organic farming methods.
5 Though indirectly, these measures also
contribute to reduction of drought and water scarcity, as the improved soil quality
also improves natural water retention capacity of soil. However, how rural development measures are designed and implemented is ultimately decided by the
member states.
2.3.7.3 Relevance to Drought Policy Implementation
Water scarcity and droughts can cause significant economic impacts, particularly on
agricultural activity, as it is one of the largest water demanding sectors after
industry and domestic use (Farmer et al. 2008). As a major water user, agriculture
plays a large role in impacting water scarcity and drought on ecosystems ‘through
effects such as the drying of wetlands, concentration of pollutants affecting river
biota, increasing risk of forest fires, etc’. (Farmer et al. 2008).
The CAP remains one of the key EU policies relating to drought and water
scarcity due to its scope and EU-wide coverage. Despite the reciprocal interlinkages
between agricultural sector and water scarcity and droughts, the CAP only minimally offers financial and legal instruments to address drought (Rossi 2009).
However, the CAP remains the primary instrument for financial support for
agriculture, and has in the past often led to increased pressures on water usage from
this sector thus exacerbating the issue of water scarcity, in particular through the
subsidies to water-intensive crops.
In addition, the definition of GAEC requirements at national level enables
member states to address drought and water scarcity flexibly according to national
priorities and local needs. One of three water-related GAEC standards focuses on
water irrigation issues setting the requirement of compliance with authorisation
procedures (European Community 2013) and is of relevance addressing water
scarcity issues. The GAEC standards related to soil and carbon stock might be
relevant to drought issues as well, as they support sustainable soil management
practices that increase the resilience of farming systems to floods and droughts and
contribute to soil health and quality in general. Such measures also improve natural
water retention capacity of the soil and increase the resilience against drought.
The new CAP also offers a risk management toolkit as part of the rural development policy. The toolkit addresses adverse climatic events, through an income
4
Agri-environment Measures, http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/envir/measures/index_en.htm.
5
Read more: http://www.ecologic.eu/9955.
2 European Drought and Water Scarcity Policies
37
RDPs encouraging farmers to conserve and enhance environmental features by
providing incentives for the provision of environmental services.
4 In addition, a
number of other rural development measures contribute to environmental protection
(including water issues) and climate adaptation and mitigation measures, in particular, measures such as the cultivation of legumes, reduced use of fertilizers and
pesticides, or organic farming methods.
5 Though indirectly, these measures also
contribute to reduction of drought and water scarcity, as the improved soil quality
also improves natural water retention capacity of soil. However, how rural development measures are designed and implemented is ultimately decided by the
member states.
2.3.7.3 Relevance to Drought Policy Implementation
Water scarcity and droughts can cause significant economic impacts, particularly on
agricultural activity, as it is one of the largest water demanding sectors after
industry and domestic use (Farmer et al. 2008). As a major water user, agriculture
plays a large role in impacting water scarcity and drought on ecosystems ‘through
effects such as the drying of wetlands, concentration of pollutants affecting river
biota, increasing risk of forest fires, etc’. (Farmer et al. 2008).
The CAP remains one of the key EU policies relating to drought and water
scarcity due to its scope and EU-wide coverage. Despite the reciprocal interlinkages
between agricultural sector and water scarcity and droughts, the CAP only minimally offers financial and legal instruments to address drought (Rossi 2009).
However, the CAP remains the primary instrument for financial support for
agriculture, and has in the past often led to increased pressures on water usage from
this sector thus exacerbating the issue of water scarcity, in particular through the
subsidies to water-intensive crops.
In addition, the definition of GAEC requirements at national level enables
member states to address drought and water scarcity flexibly according to national
priorities and local needs. One of three water-related GAEC standards focuses on
water irrigation issues setting the requirement of compliance with authorisation
procedures (European Community 2013) and is of relevance addressing water
scarcity issues. The GAEC standards related to soil and carbon stock might be
relevant to drought issues as well, as they support sustainable soil management
practices that increase the resilience of farming systems to floods and droughts and
contribute to soil health and quality in general. Such measures also improve natural
water retention capacity of the soil and increase the resilience against drought.
The new CAP also offers a risk management toolkit as part of the rural development policy. The toolkit addresses adverse climatic events, through an income
4
Agri-environment Measures, http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/envir/measures/index_en.htm.
5
Read more: http://www.ecologic.eu/9955.
2 European Drought and Water Scarcity Policies
37