Emerging environmental and other issues impacting our ability to achieve a water-resilient Europe by 2050 : final report of 2022-2023 annual cycle

Each year FORENV - the EU Foresight System for Emerging Environmental Issues - identifies and characterises 10 priority emerging issues of potential importance to the European environment and environmental policy. In its fifth cycle (2022-23) FORENV explored emerging environmental and other issues impacting our ability to achieve a water-resilient Europe by 2050. This focus of FORENV was to inform thinking and discussion for policies to support water resilience and associated uncertainties. The 10 priority emerging issues identified relate to social, economic and technological developments, including, among others, new and alternative sources of water, the circular economy as a driver for water resilience, water resilient cities, and the use of digital technologies to improve water management. To enhance policy relevance, a synthesis assessment was also completed, which identified five key clusters of change: need for sectoral adjustment; new technology, new risks?; hydropolitics - a driver of conflict or cooperation; water inequalities and just transitions; water governance - centralised or decentralised system? These clusters are presented together with associated implications for the environment and water resilience alongside uncertainties and key questions for policy.