Position papers
For a water resilient Europe – Proposals for sustainable water management in the mountains and beyond
Euromontana's recommendations on water management in the mountains.
The Alps alone provide 40% of Europe’s freshwater and the mountains play an essential role in the great water cycle, storing water in the form of snow, ice or lakes in winter and draining it into rivers from spring onwards. Yet, melting glaciers and global warming are threatening the water towers that the mountains used to be.
The European Commission will publish a Water Resilience Initiative early 2025. In this context, Euromontana provided evidence on the role that mountains can play in water resilience in Europe and suggested policy improvements on the ground.
This position paper includes:
- An overview of the risks associated with water in mountain areas, particularly in terms of water supply for citizens, climate risks and economic risks for agriculture, tourism and energy production
- Recommendations to promote sustainable water management and coherent policies.