Water scenarios for the Danube River Basin: future challenges and preparedness

Abstract

We present the outcomes of a foresight study aimed at identifying the emerging challenges for water management in the Danube region, considering a set of possible future socioeconomic and political scenarios. For each scenario, we analyse the possible implications for key water management issues (wastewater treatment, diffuse pollution and hydromorphological alteration). Based on this analysis, we identify possible no-regret actions to adopt in the Danube region in order to improve water management in the long-term, along the three main lines: 1) Developing effective communities. 2) Basin-wide integration of the management of certain issues. 3) Bringing nature protection to the core of strategies. Sharing and strengthening capacity at various levels of water management is a precondition to avoid marginalization and impoverishment of regions within the Danube. Education of the youth in schools and universities (including through student exchanges and harmonization of educational programmes) is essential to create a more ecologically aware society.