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According to a new report from the European Commission, the drought in recent months is the worst in more than a century, and it is feared that the consequences could be catastrophic for this year's crops.
The persistent drought continues to seriously threaten the agricultural sector and too little action is being taken, according to the EU researchers. The lack of rainfall is already preventing many farmers from irrigating their crops and endangering the availability of drinking water for humans and animals.
Drought is not a new phenomenon for Europe. With the exception of 2021, the continent has been experiencing major droughts since 2018. Hydrologists and climatologists are already talking about the 'multi-year drought'. The great drought of last summer actually started in December 2021, according to an Italian study.
The Technical University of Graz goes even further. Using data from satellite images, Austrian researchers came to the conclusion that Europe has had a major shortage of groundwater for five years
In France, new forest fires are now threatening in the southern provinces. Although summer has yet to begin, there are already the first forest fires and it is feared that more will follow if there is no rain.
France is by no means the only country in Europe where the drought is already biting. The situation is hardly better in Spain and Italy. At the end of February, the Catalan government introduced rules to limit the use of water. For example, agriculture must do with 40 percent less, industry with 15 percent and every inhabitant must try to use 20 liters less every day.
The drought is also affecting agriculture in Italy, where farmers are being forced to reduce their crops due to the low water levels. This is the second consecutive year that the Italian countryside has been hit by drought.
Drought in Europe is increasingly being recognized as an environmental and climate issue. Last week, an international water conference was held in New York under the Dutch presidency.
The aim of the conference was to strengthen international cooperation in the field of water management and to find solutions for the increasing water problem. The conference was attended by representatives from more than 150 countries.
