World Water Day is celebrated on 22nd March, an anniversary established by the United Nations in 1992. The aim of this day is to raise awareness of the importance of managing this precious resource sustainably.
The growing demand for water resources and the effects of climate change make water an increasingly scarce commodity, with geopolitical, social and economic effects of great importance.
We need more and more water. Water is essential not only for the survival of man and all living species, but also for all economic activities. The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) estimates that by 2050 water consumption will increase by 55% compared to 2000 levels due to the growth in demand for water resources for industries, agriculture, farming, for the production of electricity and for domestic use.
There is less and less fresh water available due to increasingly frequent drought periods.
The climate crisis is changing the frequency and intensity of rainfall, affecting the amount of water available, and periods of drought: the OECD estimates that in 2050 40% of the world’s population will live in areas with a high level of water stress. Furthermore, the uncertainty of climate change makes it difficult to plan water management policies based on data relating to historical rainfall trends.
In Europe. The report “Water resources across Europe — confronting water stress: an updated assessment” published in 2021 by the European Environment Agency (EEA) states that every year 20% of the European territory and 30% of its inhabitants are affected by water stress, a condition, temporary or extended, in which the water available cannot satisfy local demand. The situation, states the report, could worsen in the coming years, also due to the consequences of the climate crisis.
A few months after the publication of the document, the low rainfall and anomalous temperatures caused widespread drought in almost all the countries of the European Union: according to estimates by the European Drought Observatory (Edo), in August 2022, 60% of European territory was in critical or extremely critical condition due to drought.
IN ITALY. 2023 has just begun, but it is showing concerning signs in terms of drought levels.
Lakes and rivers run dry, almost as much as last summer, while accumulated snow is scarce in the mountains. This is what is happening in Italy, in mid-February, thanks to the increase in temperatures above the historical trends, low rainfall and a climate crisis that does not spare anyone. The result is a new wave of drought, or rather a drought emergency that never actually ends. Many rivers have reached a state of “medium” water emergency in three of the seven districts according to the latest bulletins issued in recent months.
We need to start preventing the “water emergency” that will increasingly characterize our territory, instead of thinking about it only when the damage has already been done. In fact, starting from the next few months, the demand for water for agricultural will increase the current need due to civil and industrial uses which are already too much. The national water requirement will be unsustainable compared to the actual availability.
We must immediately reduce withdrawals in all sectors and for all uses before reaching the point of no return.
Precisely for this reason, the Government has set up a “Working table on water crises”, which will have to address the problem, identifying all possible actions to fight water scarcity.
The current situation does not appear different in the neighboring countries: from Spain to France, or to Turkey, we are witnessing a shared scenario of permanent water stress, to be considered in Southern Europe the state of structural drought.
IDRAL’s attention to water issues is an integral part of the company’s ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.
To cite some examples of the concrete actions undertaken by IDRAL:
Our commitment in the future will continue more and more in this direction and we promise to constantly update you on the activities undertaken and the objectives achieved on this topic.
By Chiara Vasconi
Managing director
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