The European Environment Agency (EEA) recently published a Thematic Briefing on water and climate impacts in Europe. The briefing provides a European overview of droughts, water scarcity and floods. It emphasises the importance of water resilience in response to human-induced pressures and the escalating risks of climate change impacts, using data reported under the Water Framework Directive WISE SoE dataflows, EEA indicators and assessments such as the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA).
Key findings:
- Europe faces intensifying droughts, floods, and water stress as warming accelerates beyond global averages.
- Around 30 % of land and 34 % of people already experience water stress. Floods cause annual losses of €6.5 billion. While water abstraction has declined by 19 % since 2000, demand continues to outpace supply, especially in southern Europe. Groundwater overuse and saltwater intrusion are rising risks.
- Europe’s water management is poorly-adapted to this rapid change, compromising longer-term resilience. Current water governance remains fragmented and slow to adapt. The shift from crisis to risk management reveals institutional gaps.
- The new EU Water Resilience Strategy seeks to restore water cycles and improve efficiency by 10 % by 2030. Stronger integration across agriculture, energy, and urban systems is essential. Investing in reuse, ecosystem restoration, and digital monitoring can boost resilience. Adaptation must become central to Europe’s climate and water policies.
