Climate change

Water resources across Europe — confronting water scarcity and drought: This report provides an up-to-date assessment of water resources across Europe.
Located in Publications
Adapting to climate change - SOER 2010 thematic assessment: Climate change is happening and will continue to have far-reaching consequences for human and natural systems. Impacts and vulnerabilities differ considerably across regions, territories and economic sectors in Europe. Strategies to adapt to climate change are necessary to manage impacts even if global temperature stays below a 2 °C increase above the pre-industrial level. The EU adaptation framework aims at developing a comprehensive strategy by 2013, to be supported by a clearinghouse for sharing and maintaining information on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Thematic assessments
Water resources: quantity and flows - SOER 2010 thematic assessment: Europe's freshwaters are affected by water scarcity, droughts, floods and physical modifications. Many water bodies are at risk of failing to meet the aim of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) to achieve good status by 2015. Future policies should encourage demand management through actions such as increasing water efficiency. In addition, water management will benefit from applying an ecosystems perspective, using floodplains and groundwater aquifers for storing water, and making room (space) for rivers.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Thematic assessments
Urban environment - SOER 2010 thematic assessment: The global population is congregating in our cities. Eighty per cent of the world’s estimated nine billion people in 2050 are expected to live in urban areas. Our cities and urban areas face many challenges from social to health to environmental. The impacts of cities and urban areas are felt in other regions which supply cities with food, water and energy and absorb pollution and waste. However, the proximity of people, businesses and services associated with the very word ‘city’ means that there are also huge opportunities. Indeed, well designed, well managed urban settings offer a key opportunity for sustainable living.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Thematic assessments
Water resources: quantity and flows - key fact 4: A comparison of the impacts of droughts in the EU between 1976-1990 and 1991-2006 shows a doubling in both area and population affected.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › … › Water resources: quantity and flows - SOER 2010 thematic assessment › Key facts
Water resources: quantity and flows — key message 2: Water scarcity and droughts have severe consequences for many economic sectors. Over-abstraction is causing low river flows, lowered groundwater levels and the drying-up of wetlands, with detrimental impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Climate change is projected to increase water shortages, particularly in the Mediterranean region.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › … › Water resources: quantity and flows - SOER 2010 thematic assessment › Key messages
Land use - National Responses (Croatia): SOER Common environmental theme from Croatia
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Country assessments › Croatia
Simulated land average maximum number of consecutive dry days for different European regions (1860-2100): The 20th century (black), models simulations for IPCC SRES intermediate A1B (orange) and low B1 (green) emission scenarios
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Observed drought episodes in Europe (1971–2011): A country is coloured with orange if drought episodes have occurred in that country during the reference decade, regardless of their temporal and spatial (local or nationwide) scale. No distinction between the severity, the frequency and the extent of the events is made.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Windbreaks: Environmental Atlas of Europe - Georgia: During the Soviet era, Dedoplistskaro in south east Georgia was the country’s main production area for wheat and sunflower seeds. That came to an end in 1991 when Georgia became independent and Russia cut off its energy supply. To survive the cold winters, the people resorted to cutting down trees for firewood, stripping the countryside of the windbreaks that protected the crops and soil from the harsh desert winds and provided a natural habitat for many species of animals and plants.
Located in The Environmental Atlas › … › Windbreaks › Video