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Water crisis hits the Alps: Act now or lose everything!
Thekla Walker will discuss the effects of the climate crisis on water resources in mountains at the 2025 Water Extreme Conference.
Water crisis hits the Alps: Act now or lose everything!
The climate crisis has long since developed into a water crisis, which not only has far-reaching environmental consequences, but also poses social and economic challenges for many regions. How scilogs reports, the water crisis has already reached Central Europe and the impending water extremes are getting closer. The author, who observed the escalation of this crisis in Iraq in 2015, states that the symptoms of the crisis in the Alps and other mountains are increasing faster than originally assumed.
It was originally assumed that Europe still had around 20 years to prepare. But warming in mountainous regions occurs much faster than in lowlands. This not only leads to temperature increases, but also to an unreliable water supply due to global warming. One example is the low water levels on Lake Constance, which may encourage the migration of production facilities.
The importance of mountain regions
As well as UNESCO notes, mountains are essential water sources for billions of people, providing them with fresh water. The World Water Report published in March provides a stark warning about the impact of climate change on these fragile ecosystems. Of particular concern is the accelerated melting of glaciers, which is leading to less and unreliable water. In Germany it is predicted that the rivers will carry less and less water as the Alpine glaciers disappear.
The warnings are urgent: a quarter of the world's population is suffering from extreme water scarcity, and around 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, according to the report. Droughts, floods and landslides caused by global warming are becoming more and more common. These developments make it clearer than ever that more robust water supply systems are needed in mountain regions.
Opportunities and challenges
In view of this serious situation, the World Water Report outlines recommendations for the necessary action: These include the creation of robust water supply systems, decentralized solutions to stabilize water supplies and the promotion of international cooperation on sustainable water management. The challenge of securing water supplies is further complicated by the decline in development aid in the water sector, which has fallen by 15 percent since 2015.
Another report intended to address the risks of the water crisis will be presented as part of a planned water extremes conference on July 21, 2025, which Environment Minister Thekla Walker will also take part in. Meanwhile, the author plans to share his insights in the form of explainer videos on the water crisis on YouTube to create broader awareness of this pressing issue.
In conclusion, increasing water scarcity has increased the need to protect water resources and strengthen cooperation. The effects of climate change and other crises are becoming increasingly noticeable, particularly in cities. The understanding that access to safe water is a human right must also be reflected in current policy.