Seize the opportunity presented by the new EU water policy
The Rhine is at a record low, vast agricultural areas in Central Europe are at risk of drying up, France has had to reduce the output of its nuclear power plants due to a lack of cooling water – Europe has been suffering from unusual drought for weeks. This is extreme weather that is likely to occur more frequently as climate change progresses. Due to the already tense situation and the increasing risk of water shortages, the EU Commission presented a water resilience strategy on June 4. In a recent policy paper, the WBGU proposes further fundamental additions to this: When implementing the Water Framework Directive, “climate-resilient water management” should serve as a guiding principle for the entire EU water policy, the member states' water authorities, and local associations. Central to this is the inclusion of so-called green water, i.e., water stored in the soil, in the strategies; farmers would then also act as green water managers. European water policy should also create more synergies between different policy areas, such as the agricultural sector and industry, and establish links to other directives and regulations. The WBGU also recommends a common EU external water policy and a more intensive commitment to new forms of governance at the international level.
Four important principles for action
At the heart of the EU Water Resilience Strategy 2025 is a new “water use efficiency first” principle: water consumption should be reduced and its use made more efficient, including through water recycling. “The approach is necessary and comes at the right time,” says Jörg Drewes, head of the Chair and Research Center for Urban Water Management at the Technical University of Munich and co-chair of the WBGU. “But it is still far from sufficient; the corresponding strategies must be further concretized as a matter of urgency.”
In the opinion of the WBGU, the selection and design of measures for climate-resilient water management should not only be as effective and flexible as possible, but also designed in such a way that they can be easily implemented locally. At the same time, the concepts must be multifunctional, i.e., they should be used to achieve additional ecological, health, social, and economic benefits. When planning projects, care should also be taken to ensure the broadest possible participation of all stakeholders.
Cross-sectoral approach brings advantages
Comprehensive protection of water—whether stored in the soil or in rivers, lakes, and aquifers—requires climate-resilient water management to be embedded in both biodiversity concepts and EU agricultural and industrial policy. This broad anchoring promises not only better implementation results but also synergies in other areas, such as ecosystem restoration and the financing of measures. For example, the availability of water is essential for the European Clean Industrial Deal and for the EU's new vision for agriculture and food. A climate-resilient approach to water should be integrated into this and taken into account in financing mechanisms that are yet to be developed. It is important to raise awareness among stakeholders in industry and agriculture of the need for climate-resilient water management.
Joint EU water foreign policy needed
“The EU should integrate climate-resilient water management and green water as a protected resource into existing water legislation,” says Sabine Schlacke, professor of public law at the University of Greifswald and WBGU member. The WBGU also sees a particularly urgent need for action in the implementation of existing EU water-related legislation and strategies.
However, this commitment must not be limited to Europe. “Water is a resource of common concern to humanity and requires international cooperation among the international community,” emphasizes Schlacke. “It would therefore make sense for EU countries to develop a common external water policy that formulates positive examples and governance recommendations for the international level.” In this way, Europe could shape the upcoming UN water conferences in 2026 and 2028 and provide decisive impetus for global climate resilience in the water sector.