Prospective Water 2050: Anticipating tensions on water resources – session videos now available.
From flooding in Valencia, Spain, to chronic drought in the eastern Pyrenees, 2024 has not been spared from extreme events. The water cycle is now being permanently affected by climate change, and conflicts over water use are emerging in the regions. In order to anticipate future tensions, in September 2023 the then Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, asked France Stratégie to produce a forecast of the water needs of mainland France and Corsica in 2050.
What could the water needs of human activities be in 2050? What societal choices will have a decisive impact on this demand? Will this demand be compatible with the resources available in the regions? At what times of the year could tensions arise?
As part of its forecasting work, France Stratégie has assessed water demand by estimating abstractions and related consumption in 2050, based on different societal choices in terms of energy, industrial and agricultural production. Without changes in public policies, summer consumption could more than double between 2020 and 2050 in half of the region. This could lead to an intensification of resource use conflicts.
