Preparing for water resilience in the mountains

The mountains are veritable water towers for Europe. The Alps alone provide 40% of Europe's fresh water and many areas, in the mountains and lowlands, depend on run-off from the mountains. Mountain areas are therefore key for Europe's water resilience. Yet, as result of global warming, water resources are shrinking due to melting ice and precipitation tend to be more erratic and unpredictable.

Water is a vital resource, and many municipalities are already experimenting with water cut-offs during periods of water shortage. In a context of diminishing resources and increasing consumption, conflicts of use are on the rise. Besides the primary water needs of ecosystems, many economic sectors are also dependent on access to water, such as mountain agriculture, tourism, and energy. Water resilience is a vital priority for Europe.

However, policymakers and mountain stakeholders on the ground are still not sufficiently aware of the challenges associated with water management. At present, there is little data on current and future water resources and few strategies for adapting and rationalising water use. Given the importance of mountain areas in the water cycle, those territories have a key role to play in the EU's Blue Deal.

This webinar aims at raising awareness of water management challenges in mountain areas and exchanging experiences to help build resilience. The webinar will address fundamental issues such as the water crisis in the mountains, the lack of data and knowledge on water, and the role of local and regional authorities in water management.

In a second part, the webinar will aim at illustrating how Europe’s mountain areas are approaching water resilience. Practitioners will share inspiring and replicable experiences that help to assess, preserve, or rationalise water resources.