(Finance) – In Europe, a situation of severe drought was confirmed in August, which is undermining agriculture and endangering the environmental heritage. This is what emerges from the latest report “Drought in Europe – August 2022” the European Research Center of the Commission which takes into account the data and analyzes of the Drought Observatory.
Looking at the evolution of the prolonged drought in the EU, the worrying situation in July with the 47% of the territories still in the state of pre-alertwhich means that rainfall has been lower than normal and soil moisture is lacking, ed 17% of the EU in a situation of alert, which occurs when vegetation and crops also show the negative effects of drought. Overall, 64% of Europe is in a situation of pre-alert or alertwhich also contributes to the spread of fires,
“The combination of severe drought and heat waves has created unprecedented stress on water resources across the EU. We are currently seeing a significantly above average fire season and a major impact on crop production,” he said. commented the European Commissioner Mariya Gabrieladding “climate change is undoubtedly more evident every year”.
“The European Commission and its scientists are working for map and study this crisis with the best technologies available, from space and from the ground, to protect our environment and our citizens from emergencies “, he concluded.
The prospects for crop yields in the EU are also worseningwhich indicate for corn, soybeans and sunflower seeds yields of 16%, 15% and 12% respectively below the 5-year average. A severe rainfall deficit hit almost all rivers in Europe, also hitting the energy sector for both hydroelectric power generation and cooling systems of power plants, as well as river transport.
Several EU member states have adopted measures to ration water and supplies may still be compromised in the coming weeks. It is likely that warmer and drier than usual conditions will occur in the Western Euro-Mediterranean region in the coming months, at least until November 2022.