Kick-Off of the Network of Drought Observatories

Key information

Description

Droughts and water scarcity are an increasing problem in many parts of Europe. Climate change is expected to increase drought hazard, affecting both the frequency and magnitude of droughts. Changes in precipitation, combined with rising temperatures, will significantly worsen existing stresses on the quality and quantity of freshwater resources. Economic development, human health and ecosystems are inseparably linked to sufficient availability of freshwater. The European Green Deal and its initiatives now provide the necessary framework and momentum to move forward with an ambitious agenda on water quantity management, along with an increasing awareness and the application of new water legislation.

In line with the adoption of the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change in 2021, the European Commission (DG Environment and DG Joint Research Centre) launched the European Drought Observatory for Resilience and Adaptation project (EDORA), aiming to improve drought resilience and adaptation throughout the EU.

The kick-off meeting for the Network of Drought Observatories in the EU will provide an overview of the state-of-the-art of Drought Observatories in the EU, both from a scientific/technical and from an operational point of view (Thu 16 June). Short and medium-term challenges, and needs for development will then be identified and discussed, laying out the scope and roadmap for the network (Fri 17 June). The event will offer an opportunity to engage and connect with drought experts across the EU, as well as to participate to the information gathering effort within the EDORA project.

Related content

The EDORA project aims at strengthening the European Drought Observatory (EDO), hosted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), by enhancing drought risk assessment at different scales, aggregating data on impacts in different sectors, and fostering connections and establishment of drought observatories in the Member States. These actions will ultimately enhance the resilience and adaptation to drought across the EU, by offering a common core of operational data and knowledge about droughts.