Mediterranean Basin case study

Key messages

• Droughts are defined as natural phenomena caused by a deficiency in water resources (e.g. precipitation, groundwater etc.), which represents a certain anomalous situation with respect to the long-term average over a certain period of time and specific area.
• The Mediterranean basin is characterized by water scarcity, recurrent droughts and impending desertification, which threaten not only the economic viability of the region, but also its geopolitical stability.
• Mediterranean basin is also one of the regions that are most vulnerable to climate changes, as well as one of the most impacted because of high human water demand [1]. The key environmental challenges for the region are water management, waste and pollution management, loss of biodiversity, preservation of coastal areas, and desertification.
• Cascading impacts of droughts include dust storms, water-borne infectious diseases, hydrologic alterations, degraded water quality and so on.
• In the context, the situation requires the actions taken by organizations, institutions, and civil stakeholders involved in drought preparedness and mitigation and/or on water management for designing effective risk-based strategies that mitigate the effects of drought in agriculture, water supply systems, and the environment.

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