Drought, climate variability & climate change: The Blue Nile Case

Key messages

• Large spatially variable climate conditions between upstream and downstream of river basins needs special attention in mitigation drought risks.
• Great temporal variability in hydrological conditions of transboundary river basins causing droughts and prolonged droughts have to be managed jointly among riparian countries.
• Dams upstream transboundary rivers are human-induced drought risk drivers that can exacerbate drought risks downstream countries and should be designed and managed jointly.
• While Dams may reduce hydrological drought risks downstream river basins, natural renewable Groundwater Aquifers can reduce meteorological drought risks upstream river basins.

This case study is a contribution to the GAR Special Report on Drought 2021.