More severe, widespread and frequent droughts in Europe will have increasing economic impacts on the Continent over the coming years, with lower water availability and decreased river flows particularly affecting agriculture, energy production and the industrial sector. While most of Europe has adequate water resources, water scarcity and droughts on the Continent have been increasing in frequency, scale and intensity in recent years amid rising temperatures, reduced rainfall in some regions and decreasing flows of Alpine meltwater. Southern Europe, including countries like Spain, Italy, Greece and parts of France, faces the most severe challenges, with water levels in rivers, as well as surface and underground reservoirs, reaching record lows in recent years. However, other traditionally less affected areas, including Germany and Central and Eastern European countries, are also experiencing growing water stress, particularly concerning water levels in river basins. Between 2022 and the first half of 2023, a particularly severe...
