The European drought observatory for resilience and adaptation (EDORA)

The network of Drought Observatories in the EU provides technical and scientific support to further drought impact data collection and analysis, and develop tailored sectoral and a regionally disaggregated drought risk assessments. These initiatives represent an urgently needed first step in the transition from a mostly hazard-based assessment of drought risks to a more impact-based assessment, as the EU develops plans and implements measures to become more resilient and adapt to the risk posed by droughts and water scarcity, both in the current climate and in the future climate.

Conclusions of the publication include:

• Climate change is set to exacerbate drought risks for most systems and most regions of the EU, and especially the Mediterranean, calling for the development and implementation of drought adaptation plans and measures;
• While many Member States have consolidated their approach to droughts in recent years with the development of monitoring systems and management and adaptation policies and plans, there remains a need to build a community of practice to exchange technical and scientific knowledge and experience, and to improve transboundary and regional cooperation for drought monitoring and analysis;
• The EDORA initiatives represent an urgently needed first step in the transition from a mostly hazard-based assessment of drought risks to a more impact-based assessment as the EU develops plans and implements measures to become more resilient and adapt to the risk posed by droughts and water scarcity, both in the current climate and in the future climate.