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Now7:42 a.mEurope is experiencing a winter drought
Less than a year after drought hit Europe, parts of the continent are experiencing a repeat.
“The situation is dire [concerning] because … it hasn’t rained in the last four to five weeks in some parts of western Europe,” said Andrea Toreti, coordinator at the European Drought Observatory.
“We see a critical situation regarding the water content in the ground – and looking at what happened last year, we know the risks, especially for sectors such as agriculture,” he said from Italy.
The lack of rain, mixed with a record-breaking heat wave, has caused some canals, lakes and rivers to shrink – and dry up in some cases.
This affected several sectors in France, Spain and Italy, including agriculture, energy and river transport.
According to Toreti, this extreme drought could become the new normal for the European region.
“This may be seen in the future … because if we don’t do something in terms of mitigating climate change, then we can have events like this almost every year,” he said.
“After seeing the effects of drought, you can imagine and everyone can understand what it means that drought will happen every year.”
Toreti talked to NowMatt Galloway on the severity of the drought and the impact of human-caused climate change. This is part of the conversation.
What have you heard from people specifically in the agricultural sector, especially after last summer when … parts of Europe experienced the worst drought in 500 years? What does it mean for farmers?
In fact, it is time to rethink and redesign some of our approaches to agriculture.
I joined just last month [in] meeting involving rice producers, as there are several tests to develop and implement new water management strategies to prevent water peaks. [use] from the rice sector while there is also the highest demand for water from wheat corn.
These new agro management techniques may help to avoid water competition, especially during critical parts of the year.
Of course, when there is a drought, the approach is difficult to apply. So, of course, in the agricultural sector, there is a high level of concern because last year we experienced extraordinary losses.
The head of Italy’s Civil Protection Department said that Italy needs, in some way, to start thinking about a rationing plan. What will it be? Does that mean that certain agricultural sectors, as you have mentioned, perhaps do not get the water they have passed because there is so little water?
Well, there may be different, you know, approaches to the limitations.
There are already some restrictions in other countries. For example, in some French departments that are currently in a state of drought… you cannot use water for gardening or for washing cars or for feeding swimming pools. And something similar happened in Spain. So there are some steps that can be taken, of course.
Has drinking water been affected?
Yes, as we have seen last year, when this extreme drought affected most of Europe, drinking water became a problem for some villages and towns. But at the regional and national level, it is not a major problem.
Are you worried about this? And do you see a direct line between the changing climate and what is happening now in Europe?
I mean, as a scientist, I try to be as objective as possible when looking at analyzing these events.
It’s hard to say… it’s entirely due to climate change because, I mean, we have to do special studies and it’s really complicated.
But of course, it is true that it corresponds to the expected effects of climate change, meaning the intensification of extremes and the pattern of occurrence of these extremes.
But looking up at future projections using model simulations, we really think this kind of increase in the frequency of extreme drought.
Produced by Niza Lyapa Nondo. The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
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