Editorial – Strong action needed to strengthen Europe's water resilience

Editorial – Strong action needed to strengthen Europe's water resilience

Water is fundamental to life, sustaining ecosystems and supporting our societies with everything from drinking water to food production and energy generation. Yet, Europe’s freshwater resources are under increasing pressure. Climate change, pollution, and unsustainable water management are worsening water stress, and the challenges are only growing. Urgent action is needed to safeguard Europe’s water security and build resilience in the face of these evolving pressures.

Title Editorial – Strong action needed to strengthen Europe's water resilience
Description Water is fundamental to life, sustaining ecosystems and supporting our societies with everything from drinking water to food production and energy generation. Yet, Europe’s freshwater resources are under increasing pressure. Climate change, pollution, and unsustainable water management are worsening water stress, and the challenges are only growing. Urgent action is needed to safeguard Europe’s water security and build resilience in the face of these evolving pressures.
Preview image
Preview image caption
Creators fullname 63360e86-a408-4406-b8cd-0fb9559556e2
Contributors fullname
Lead Image
Lead Image Caption
Layout
Blocks { "064a7ef2-9bb8-4ac4-a457-da5360ac55bc": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": " Water stress already affects 30% of Europe\u2019s population each year, a trend that is set to worsen as climate change intensifies. Across Europe, shifting rainfall patterns have led to both more frequent droughts and more intense rainfall events and floods.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Water stress" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " already affects 30% of Europe\u2019s population each year, a trend that is set to worsen as climate change intensifies. Across Europe, shifting rainfall patterns have led to both more frequent droughts and more intense rainfall events and floods." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "087d3ad4-8f99-498b-8509-d7076c24f92e": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Positive opportunities and examples exist, too. Technological advancements and changes in farming practices can help reduce water pollution while maintaining productivity. Decarbonisation of Europe\u2019s energy production continues, reducing pollutant releases.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Positive " }, { "children": [ { "text": "opportunities and examples" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " exist, too. Technological advancements and changes in farming practices can help reduce water pollution while maintaining productivity. Decarbonisation of Europe\u2019s energy production continues, reducing pollutant releases. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "0fbf9657-a759-4e5d-b4c3-ea3c25fac093": { "@layout": "6a6e3a2a-54dd-4065-81bb-cccc84dc6320", "@type": "layoutSettings", "block": "6390490a-b7e9-4148-bf7a-05d123583ebc", "layout_size": "narrow_view" }, "1c313e72-2d2e-4e25-a4cc-24971ddf9547": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Resilience key to addressing challenges", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Resilience key to addressing challenges" } ], "type": "h2" } ] }, "208d9496-4b9d-4c2a-8282-cbc2647ecfed": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "To improve resilience , we must focus on reducing water use and enhancing efficiency . This includes cutting water leakage, investing in water-efficient technologies, and increasing water reuse. In addition, expanding the use of nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and increasing green infrastructure, can improve water retention, reduce flood risks, and restore biodiversity.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "To " }, { "children": [ { "text": "improve resilience" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ", we must focus on " }, { "children": [ { "text": "reducing water use and enhancing efficiency" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". This includes cutting water leakage, investing in water-efficient technologies, and increasing water reuse. In addition, expanding the use of nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and increasing green infrastructure, can improve water retention, reduce flood risks, and restore biodiversity." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "22cc7d68-7964-4ffe-b1a8-b5eb33458439": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Our existing systems are poorly adapted to cope with these rapid changes, threatening both water security and the health of people and nature . As weather extremes become more common, our management of water must adapt too. We need decisive action to protect communities and preserve the health of our natural environments.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Our existing systems are poorly adapted to cope with these rapid changes, threatening both " }, { "children": [ { "text": "water security" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " and the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "health of people and nature" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". As weather extremes become more common, our management of water must adapt too. We need decisive action to protect communities and preserve the health of our natural environments." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "2e4eb3db-4679-4b9e-aa2e-a794438f014f": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "hidden": true, "section": true, "spacing": "s", "styles": {} }, "50a84da3-10d4-4c1a-9841-d8660a241749": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "By prioritising water efficiency, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and protecting our natural environments, we can build a more resilient Europe . Water security is not just about ensuring supply; it is about safeguarding ecosystems, enhancing the health of our communities, and securing a sustainable future for all Europeans.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "By prioritising water efficiency, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and protecting our natural environments, we can " }, { "children": [ { "text": "build a more resilient Europe" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". Water security is not just about ensuring supply; it is about safeguarding ecosystems, enhancing the health of our communities, and securing a sustainable future for all Europeans." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "58be7ca4-85e1-4d3e-bd96-b2ddb5560a81": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Building water resilience is a shared responsibility . The EU and its Member States, industries, farmers, and citizens must work together to reduce water consumption, limit pollution, and protect freshwater ecosystems. The European Environment Agency will continue to support policy makers with data and knowledge to help meet these challenges.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Building water resilience is a " }, { "children": [ { "text": "shared responsibility" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". The EU and its Member States, industries, farmers, and citizens must work together to reduce water consumption, limit pollution, and protect freshwater ecosystems. The European Environment Agency will continue to support policy makers with data and knowledge to help meet these challenges." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "6cf9ef55-b385-45d4-8381-98bbd95c29d6": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "hidden": true, "section": true, "spacing": "s", "styles": {} }, "9e0cceeb-2e87-401f-919c-63c4d6f1297c": { "@layout": "be00afcb-ff93-4190-8c49-8dd073243783", "@type": "description", "block": "acd3b38f-2964-4682-b5c8-bb7beb3a0a4d", "plaintext": " Water is fundamental to life, sustaining ecosystems and supporting our societies with everything from drinking water to food production and energy generation. Yet, Europe\u2019s freshwater resources are under increasing pressure. Climate change, pollution, and unsustainable water management are worsening water stress, and the challenges are only growing. Urgent action is needed to safeguard Europe\u2019s water security and build resilience in the face of these evolving pressures. ", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Water is fundamental to life, sustaining ecosystems and supporting our societies with everything from drinking water to food production and energy generation. Yet, Europe\u2019s freshwater resources are under increasing pressure. Climate change, pollution, and unsustainable water management are worsening water stress, and the challenges are only growing. Urgent action is needed to safeguard Europe\u2019s water security and build resilience in the face of these evolving pressures." } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "9f341621-77e6-43e2-a763-7af3536d2fbd": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "hidden": true, "section": false, "spacing": "s", "styles": {} }, "a9cd3b3b-b043-4243-9f9a-e8369cb76985": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "We must also strengthen our data and monitoring systems . Timely, accurate information about water quantity and quality is essential for making informed decisions and ensuring fair distribution of water resources. A better understanding of water availability will help balance the needs of agriculture, industry, and the environment.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "We must also strengthen our " }, { "children": [ { "text": "data and monitoring systems" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". Timely, accurate information about water quantity and quality is essential for making informed decisions and ensuring fair distribution of water resources. A better understanding of " }, { "children": [ { "text": "water availability" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " will help balance the needs of agriculture, industry, and the environment." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "b2701adf-4fe5-41c5-9ab4-d76dd61661c2": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Yet, both our \u2018state of water\u2019 assessment and an earlier analysis on Europe\u2019s climate risks point to the same, alarming direction. Climate change is making water management more challenging than ever. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events are putting unprecedented pressure on water resources.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Yet, both our \u2018state of water\u2019 assessment and an earlier analysis on " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Europe\u2019s climate risks " } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "point to the same, alarming direction. Climate change is making water management more challenging than ever. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events are putting unprecedented pressure on water resources. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "b4603190-fb93-4f57-bc30-4d7819549ca1": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "With water, too, one specific area has seen substantial progress. Over the past decades, Europe has improved the quality of its bathing waters significantly. Last year, 85% of EU bathing waters were rated excellent, and 96% met the minimum EU quality standards.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "With water, too, one specific area has seen substantial progress. Over the past decades, Europe has improved the quality of its " }, { "children": [ { "text": "bathing waters " } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "significantly. Last year, 85% of EU bathing waters were rated excellent, and 96% met the minimum EU quality standards." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "ced47762-23fe-468c-b6c3-bcff05e44d25": { "copyrightIcon": "ri-copyright-line", "styles": { "bg": "has--bg--center" }, "variation": "web_report_page", "@layout": "610b9ffe-c999-4455-8ad0-d96da6585cbd", "@type": "title", "block": "ced47762-23fe-468c-b6c3-bcff05e44d25", "content_type": "Web report", "copyright": "Murat Ibrano\u011flu, Well with Nature /EEA", "hideContentType": true, "hideCreationDate": true, "hideDownloadButton": true, "hideModificationDate": true, "hideShareButton": true }, "d0d7cc0d-23a3-4a5b-a35e-177171f2fc98": { "@type": "columnsBlock", "data": { "blocks": { "40097da4-81ee-4ea1-9b88-fe6cb729bcec": { "blocks": { "1da743cd-c15c-45bc-9f50-09f159e3e3dc": { "@type": "callToActionBlock", "download": false, "href": "../../../../../resolveuid/bc5773c46e06456c94b50ea4274902ab", "styles": { "align": "left", "icon": "ri-arrow-left-line", "theme": "primary" }, "text": "Introduction" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "1da743cd-c15c-45bc-9f50-09f159e3e3dc" ] } }, "bc0014c9-7097-44b3-a885-0a197a358ffd": { "blocks": { "d68c8f81-c012-434a-aea5-bccb84de31f8": { "@type": "callToActionBlock", "download": false, "href": "../../../../../resolveuid/411eb9b760be4c10b27990a8f7d8f0df", "styles": { "align": "right", "icon": "ri-arrow-right-line", "rightIcon": true, "theme": "primary" }, "text": "Next article" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "d68c8f81-c012-434a-aea5-bccb84de31f8" ] } } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "40097da4-81ee-4ea1-9b88-fe6cb729bcec", "bc0014c9-7097-44b3-a885-0a197a358ffd" ] } }, "gridCols": [ "halfWidth", "halfWidth" ], "gridSize": 12, "styles": {} }, "d205cd70-1a3a-4588-8c44-0347f958330b": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "A shared responsibility", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "A shared responsibility" } ], "type": "h2" } ] }, "e5918b6a-cb33-42fd-b5ad-631990588b23": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "section": true, "spacing": "s", "styles": {} }, "f1c87b81-61c7-499e-9539-6e4197428802": { "@type": "columnsBlock", "data": { "blocks": { "133a751f-8fe9-4b93-9a72-04777ca3ed9d": { "blocks": { "b2dac019-5d2a-439f-a63f-423349a06305": { "@type": "gridBlock", "blocks": { "7e57ba40-e212-4478-ba2b-3a34a3eb3c18": { "@type": "teaser", "description": "EEA Executive Director", "head_title": null, "href": [ { "@id": "../../../../../resolveuid/21d0ac6e1c454d60a9b86a5f6619d819", "@type": "Image", "Description": "", "EffectiveDate": "None", "ExpirationDate": "None", "Subject": [], "Title": "Leena Yl\u00e4-Mononen", "description": "", "effective": "1969-12-30T22:00:00+00:00", "hasPreviewImage": null, "head_title": null, "image_field": "image", "review_state": null, "start": null, "title": "Leena Yl\u00e4-Mononen", "type_title": "Image" } ], "itemModel": { "@type": "card", "callToAction": { "label": "Read more" }, "hasDate": false, "hasDescription": true, "hasEventDate": false, "hasLink": true, "maxDescription": 2, "maxTitle": 2, "styles": { "rounded:bool": true, "text": "center" }, "titleOnImage": false }, "overwrite": true, "styles": { "align": "left" }, "title": "Leena Yl\u00e4-Mononen" } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "7e57ba40-e212-4478-ba2b-3a34a3eb3c18" ] } } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "b2dac019-5d2a-439f-a63f-423349a06305" ] } }, "4acc23ac-ac03-4acb-af49-cf19382172af": { "blocks": { "1b8aa339-e7c1-4722-b402-71329d379813": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Despite ongoing efforts, pollution, particularly from agriculture and energy production, continues to hinder progress. While these sectors provide essential services to our societies, we must find ways to reduce their impact on water quality.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Despite ongoing efforts, " }, { "children": [ { "text": "pollution," } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " particularly from agriculture and energy production, continues to hinder progress. While these sectors provide essential services to our societies, we must find ways to reduce their impact on water quality. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "4166b315-69c6-47a3-80ba-1063f7580921": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "This year, the European Environment Agency (EEA) completed its largest assessment on the health of Europe\u2019s water bodies . The assessment shows that the goal of a chieving good status for European waters is still unmet. As of 2021, only 37% of Europe\u2019s surface water bodies met the standards for good ecological status, and just 29% reached good chemical status.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "This year, the European Environment Agency (EEA) completed its largest assessment on the " }, { "children": [ { "text": "health of Europe\u2019s water bodies" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". The assessment shows that the goal of " }, { "type": "strong", "children": [ { "text": "a" } ] }, { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "chieving good status " } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "for European waters is still unmet. As of 2021, only 37% of Europe\u2019s surface water bodies met the standards for good ecological status, and just 29% reached good chemical status. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "a5784ded-3a1b-40d7-9856-416e75e23afd": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "hidden": true, "spacing": "s", "styles": {} } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "a5784ded-3a1b-40d7-9856-416e75e23afd", "4166b315-69c6-47a3-80ba-1063f7580921", "1b8aa339-e7c1-4722-b402-71329d379813" ] } } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "133a751f-8fe9-4b93-9a72-04777ca3ed9d", "4acc23ac-ac03-4acb-af49-cf19382172af" ] } }, "gridCols": [ "oneThird", "twoThirds" ], "gridSize": 12, "styles": {} } }
Blocks Layout { "items": [ "ced47762-23fe-468c-b6c3-bcff05e44d25", "0fbf9657-a759-4e5d-b4c3-ea3c25fac093", "9e0cceeb-2e87-401f-919c-63c4d6f1297c", "2e4eb3db-4679-4b9e-aa2e-a794438f014f", "f1c87b81-61c7-499e-9539-6e4197428802", "087d3ad4-8f99-498b-8509-d7076c24f92e", "b4603190-fb93-4f57-bc30-4d7819549ca1", "1c313e72-2d2e-4e25-a4cc-24971ddf9547", "b2701adf-4fe5-41c5-9ab4-d76dd61661c2", "064a7ef2-9bb8-4ac4-a457-da5360ac55bc", "22cc7d68-7964-4ffe-b1a8-b5eb33458439", "208d9496-4b9d-4c2a-8282-cbc2647ecfed", "a9cd3b3b-b043-4243-9f9a-e8369cb76985", "d205cd70-1a3a-4588-8c44-0347f958330b", "58be7ca4-85e1-4d3e-bd96-b2ddb5560a81", "50a84da3-10d4-4c1a-9841-d8660a241749", "6cf9ef55-b385-45d4-8381-98bbd95c29d6", "e5918b6a-cb33-42fd-b5ad-631990588b23", "d0d7cc0d-23a3-4a5b-a35e-177171f2fc98", "9f341621-77e6-43e2-a763-7af3536d2fbd" ] }
EEA core metadata
Topics
Temporal coverage {}
Geographical coverage {}
Publisher
Rights
Other organisations involved
Add sources for the data used {}
Settings
Navigation title
Short name editorial
Versioning enabled yes
Categorization
Related Items
Contents

There are currently no items in this folder.