26 June 2025
Drought isn't just a Southern Europe issue anymore.
This year, almost the whole of Northern Europe is experiencing dry conditions, with some regions facing the kind of drought we more commonly associate with the Mediterranean. In recent years, this is becoming an increasingly common occurrence.
Take the Netherlands: with another hot sunny week ahead, this year is on track to rank among the driest 5% of years ever recorded and it's not far off the record year of 1976.
Why does this matter?
🥕 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬: Droughts reduce crop yields, especially for staples like grains, fruits, and vegetables. This leads to rising costs and less food security.
🔥 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞: Drought dries out forests and grasslands, increasing the risk of wildfires. It reduces water quality and threatens biodiversity.
⚡ 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧: both hydropower and nuclear facilities depend on sufficient water levels to operate efficiently.
🛥️ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞: Inland shipping can become impossible on key trade routes such as the Rhine.
Yet in many parts of Northern Europe, water is still treated as an infinite resource. We lack a culture of conservation, businesses and individuals alike must start taking responsibility. Reducing water consumption isn’t just good for the environment, it’s becoming critical for resilience and long-term sustainability.
❓ Curious how your business can cut water use and build drought resilience?
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