Droughts and water scarcity are an increasing problem in many parts of Europe. Climate change is expected to increase drought hazard, affecting both the frequency and magnitude of droughts. Changes in precipitation, combined with rising temperatures, will significantly worsen existing stresses on the quality and quantity of freshwater resources. Economic development, human health and ecosystems are inseparably linked to sufficient availability of freshwater. The European Green Deal and its initiatives now provide the necessary framework and momentum to move forward with an ambitious agenda on water quantity management, along with an increasing awareness and the application of new water legislation.

In line with the adoption of the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change in 2021, the European Commission (DG Environment and DG Joint Research Centre) launched the European Drought Observatory for Resilience and Adaptation project (EDORA), aiming to improve drought resilience and adaptation throughout the EU.

Objectives
The EDORA project aims at strengthening the European Drought Observatory (EDO), hosted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), by enhancing drought risk assessment at different scales, aggregating data on impacts in different sectors, and fostering connections and establishment of drought observatories in the Member States. These actions will ultimately enhance the resilience and adaptation to drought across the EU, by offering a common core of operational data and knowledge about droughts.

Improve drought impact and risk assessment

Enhance cooperation between drought observatories in the EU

Drought management, policy and adaptation review
A network of European drought observatories
EDORA means to extend in both scope and number of partners the existing network of the European Drought Observatory, to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, methods and best practices for drought monitoring and for the assessment of sectoral risk and impacts. By providing a quantitative framework and by strengthening the connections between the existing drought observatories in Member States, EDORA will help drought management and adaptation plans to become more effective and efficient in mitigating the impacts and risks of current and future droughts in Europe.