Authorities’ Fear of Drought Contributed to German Floods
A five-year climate change plan meant dams were too full to absorb record December rains.
A five-year climate change plan meant dams were too full to absorb record December rains.
Solar parks, requiring regular water use for cleaning, are being recklessly approved in a country already devastated by drought.
The country has declared severe and extreme drought across 40% of its territory.
The French Minister of Agriculture stressed that the problem of drought was one that could affect the whole of Europe, even if Spain and Portugal are currently the main victims.
“There’s a feeling that this has never been seen before,” said Ramón Armegol of Copa-Cogeca. “There is not a drop of hope in Spain.”
Despite this year’s drought, which reduced the regional wildlife’s habitat to one-third of its usual size, the strawberry industry suffered very little.
With water levels nearing an all-time low, shipping on the River Rhine is already severely limited, leading to further disruptions of delivery chains. Experts fear this might contribute to a recession.
This year’s drought has brought water reservoir levels so low that the government is considering having to temporarily stop hydroelectricity exports.
The Po River, once feared for being prone to spring floods, may become the source of fresh horror as multiple crises in Italy play out due to the absence of water.
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