The European Commission warned this Monday of the possibility of an even drier summer than previous years in Mediterranean countries and that “rainfall in the coming weeks will be decisive”.
Due to “an exceptionally dry and warm winter, soil moisture and river flow are already showing significant anomalies” in countries such as France, Spain and Italy, according to a report released by the Commission.
Already in the Alps, the accumulation of snow “was significantly below average” and was “even less” than last winter, which, in principle, will lead to “a noticeable reduction in the contribution of melted ice to river flows.” “in the spring.
Brussels warns that “rainfall in the coming weeks will be critical in determining the evolution of the current drought” and how it could affect populations.
The most negative, and also the most likely, prediction is that “Europe and the Mediterranean region could experience an extreme summer this year similar to 2022.”
Therefore, the European Commission recommends monitoring of water use and coordination between Member States to deal effectively with this problem, as this scenario is expected to become the norm from now on.
The report is released after World Water Day, which will be celebrated on 22 March (Wednesday), and in conjunction with the United Nations Water Conference, which will be held in New York from Wednesday to Friday.
The commission also warned that “most countries in the south and west of the European Union”, including Portugal, “have been hit by an incipient drought, raising concerns about water supply, agriculture and energy production.”
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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