A Common Strategy for Sustainable Water Management in the Western Mediterranean

The Mediterranean countries are and will be more affected by climate change in the course of the 21st century. The impacts of the rise in temperatures, the decrease in rainfall, the multiplication of the number and intensity of extreme events and the possible rise in sea level overlap and amplify the already existing pressures of anthropogenic origin on the natural environment. These dynamics pose substantial risks for the sustainable development and water and food security of these countries. Reducing the cost of desalination, eliminating its reliance on fossil fuel, and mitigating its environmental impacts are crucial. The coupling of renewable energy sources with desalination has the potential to provide a sustainable source of water, address some of the trade-offs between water, energy and food, and reduce GHG emissions.