The water that gives

Mediterranean water management cooperation

Bragulat i de la Varga, Pol

This policy paper tackles the challenges that the different Mediterranean states will encounter in the XXI Century on water management, giving a special focus on the effects of climate change on water access in the region. The year 2030 is the proposed deadline for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 6th, Clean water & sanitation for all, supposes a big challenge for the Mediterranean states that for now seems unreachable. Nowadays, 60% of the region’s population lives under water poverty, both in a Mediterranean environment that tends to be dryer than other temperate climates and with water management systems that have severe flaws. Climate change is going to make further complex the achievement of such goal, increasing the stress of water sources with extreme weather effects like floods and droughts. In consequence, water management systems will have to be developed as well previewing the need of high resilience to climate change. Such action needs the proper political framework and perspective, which is explored by the paper searching for the right characteristics of such solutions.