EU action on droughts

Climate change will increase the frecuency and severity of extreme weather events, including floods, droughts and water scarcity. The European Union is taking step to address these threats.

– including Portugal, Spain, southern France, Italy ,Slovenia, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria and southern Romania – will be most affected by drought. Estimates put the reduction in annual rainfall at up to 40% of 1990 levels by the 2080s. Temperatures in this region will be an average of 4 to 5°C above today’s levels.

Less precipitation and much warmer temperatures will lead to greater risks of water scarcity, droughts, heatwaves, forest fires and loss of species and ecosystems. Heat-related deaths alone could cause up to 55 additional deaths yearly per 100 000 people.

– including the Benelux region, parts of France, northern Germany, the UK, Ireland and Denmark – storms and floods will become more frequent and there will be more intense precipitation. Temperatures will be between 2 and 3.5ºC warmer than today.

northern Europe will be similar, but with greater warming and precipitation increases of up to 40%, leading to greater risk of floods. While there is potential for cultivating new areas and crops in the longer growing season, forests could be harmed by these changes.

central and eastern Europe are projected to be between 3 and 4ºC above current levels, with more precipitation than today in winter but less in summer. Agriculture is expected to suffer from soil erosion, loss of soil organic matter, migration of pests and diseases, summer droughts and high temperatures, although it could benefit from longer growing seasons. Cold-related deaths could decrease in Poland and Romania but heat-related deaths may rise.