Drought is causing severe damage in Europe

This summer Europe is suffering from drought. The lack of water is causing different problems on several locations in the European Union. For example, fish needs to be saved from lakes drying out, drinking water is being rationed, irrigation restricted and crops are getting lost. The economic damage will be substantial. Countries will have to import products like corn, wine and olive oil.

France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Poland are all suffering from drought. Authorities are taking measures in order to restrict the consequences. Due to low water levels in the rivers Elbe and Danube, shipping is hard but ships are still managing to navigate. In Spain and Portugal the lack of rainfall and high temperatures is causing fires. Because of the drought, in the Netherlands, dikes need to be checked on cracks in order to prevent breaches. And due to low river water levels salt seawater is causing pollution.

Climate change

Drought is one of the consequences of climate change. Besides periods without hardly any rain, we will experience extreme rainfall. Europe needs to adapt to these new circumstances and find ways to cope with these extremes.