River Droughts In Europe And Their Consequences

In Europe, no matter that there are already more policies regarding climate change, it is still having problems because of high temperatures drying the rivers and depleting hydroelectric energy sources.

There is no rain, and many wood fires have been reported across the continent, and, as we can see, the rivers are droughty, as is the Danube River.

Like many of the problems in Europe, one problem makes another bigger. In the case of the Danube, it creates some problems regarding energy because the low-water reactors for energy in Hungary are not really working, and this is the first time in 45 years of service.

With Europe facing a historic drought, it could be weeks before it's back to normal.

Putting the governments of Austria and Slovakia aware of the problem that they could face with some problems with energy. For the government of Hungary, it also means more than half a billion euros to import energy because of the crisis and higher prices.

The population cannot use electricity all day, ordering them to turn off the electricity while they are at work, canceling many of the rail cargo services for 5 hours a day. Or in other cases, for those who can, it is possible to work at home as a way to save energy.

Also, the neighboring countries are having the same problems as Romania, with reactors shut and the nuclear plant on the Danube, with Bucharest even deploying naval forces to carry out underwater detonations to improve water flow.

Showing how the Romanian navy blasting rocks in controlled explosions in Izvoarele village as part of a push to divert a higher volume of water toward the cooling systems of the a Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.

While Serbia's largest hydropower station has fallen to a fifth of capacity.

Also in Germany, the water levels on the Rhine River, have fallen to their lowest levels in nearly 150 years, posing a risk to the German economy and further disrupting supply chains.

The water level at Kaub, key choke point for vessels transiting to southern Germany and Switzerland, fell to 24 centimeters, reflecting its lowest level since records began in 1880. Transport is still possible below this threshold, but cargo barges must be less heavily loaded, and freight transport costs and low surcharges rise sharply.

As I wrote before, the problem of the low water has also put the attention of one of the biggest critical environmental water scarcity.

It is a well-known problem around Europe, more in the Southtern, where around 30% of the population is living with the permanetly scarce water resources.

Remembering the European population that this is one of the problems caused by the intensifying climate crisis.

The policies and investments to improve the uses of energy in Europa are already in the budget, but the times and get into the real action are taking long, putting 2025 as the target year to reach climate neutrality.

There is a long list of things that Europe was listing to improve energy, for example: decarbonize and reduce emissions, and boost innovations through research and investment.

But every year we can see that the climate is getting worse. The conditions no matter if there are some changes are still not enough to cover all countries in the European Union and the population is the one that has to pay considering not only the ever-rising energy prices and all their consequences.

Dealing also with no water resources in places hitting the hottest temperatures.