Cover of the JRC report: Science for water© EU, 2012
Science for water - New series of JRC thematic reports
Water, a high priority in the political agenda, is the theme chosen to launch a new series of JRC reports. The publication “Science for Water “aims to give a comprehensive overview of the JRC's work in relation to global water challenges. It was released on the occasion of the European Commission’s Green Week, the biggest annual conference on European environment policy, held on 22-25 May in Brussels. This year’s edition of the Green Week focuses on water .
The report covers water quantity, quality, governance and innovation, the preservation of ecosystems and water-related hazards & climate change, providing a glimpse on how science and the JRC can contribute to find solutions in these fields.
In the following years the JRC will increase significantly its scientific support to water policy by assessing water quality, predicting climate change impacts on water; assessing future water needs of the economy; studying water governance in developing countries, monitoring ecosystems, mapping water resources and carrying out analyses of how new technologies and innovations may give opportunities for water reuse, saving and harvesting.
The recurring theme of all this work is its relevance to policy. The JRC addresses the grand societal challenges on a European and global scale, for which scientific and technological support require more integrated, pro-active and cross-policy action.
JRC’s research priorities in relation to water focus on water treatment, water savings, desalination and governance. As the report shows, Europe – and the world – have a craving for fresh water that outmatches supply, and keeps increasing. Human consumption, irrigation, environmental requirements, recreational needs, cost, energy consumption and pollution all have an impact on the availability of water.
The JRC is building models to analyse the availability and scarcity of water resources to optimise the allocation of available water to competing uses.
22/05/12