Over the coming decades, climate change will have a significant impact on the quantity and quality of water resources both within Europe and globally. Water is essential to life and is central to society’s welfare and to sustainable economic growth. Plants, animals, natural and managed ecosystems, and human settlements are sensitive to variations in the storage, fluxes, and quality of water and will be affected by climate change. Climate change is projected to lead to major changes in water availability across Europe with increasing water scarcity mainly in southern Europe and increasing risk of floods throughout most of the continent. At least 11% of the European population and 17% of its territory have been affected by water scarcity to date. Recent trends show a significant increase in water scarcity across Europe. This paper expands on the water and marine issues highlighted in the White Paper, summarising the main impacts of climate change on water and related policies and identifying the measures in place to facilitate adaptation.

Ce document de travail accompagne la Communication COM(2009) 147 du 01-04-2009 : LIVRE BLANC - Adaptation au changement climatique: vers un cadre d'action européen