The climate crisis has intensified global water-related challenges, with Europe particularly facing pressures such as prolonged droughts, extreme precipitation, and floods. As highlighted in the European Commission’s 2025 Implementation Report on the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Floods Directive (FD), these challenges threaten public health, ecosystems, food security, and infrastructure while incurring economic damages. With the 2027 WFD deadline for achieving good water status fast approaching, the EU has committed to advancing its water management under a European Water Resilience Strategy. Addressing these challenges requires internal innovations and learning from sustainable water management practices successfully implemented in developing countries. Whether developed or developing, our problems are similar and allow us to learn from others. Countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have pioneered sustainable and community-led approaches to water management that could inform and strengthen the EU’s efforts. The EU’s dedication to improving water resilience is crucial as climate problems increase.
The EU can effectively strengthen its water systems by adopting successful approaches tailoring to EU-specific environments and cultures from developing countries—like community-based water management, nature-inspired solutions, and advanced technologies. Encouraging local participation, coordinating policies, and using international knowledge will help the EU lead in sustainable water management while addressing climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. As the EU develops its Water Resilience Strategy, incorporating these global best practices will enhance water security in Europe and support worldwide sustainability efforts.
Fig: Water abstraction by economic sector in the 27 EU Member States, 2000 2019 (EEA)
Full report here: https://lnkd.in/grq_QC_H
#WaterResilience #ClimateAction #SustainableWaterManagement #EUWaterStrategy #NatureBasedSolutions #CommunityLedApproaches #ClimateAdaptation #WaterSecurity #GlobalKnowledge #SustainableDevelopment
Bapon (SHM) Fakhruddin, PhD 