Post date
5 May 2025 (original LinkedIn date)
Original
LinkedIn version· 833 words
🌍 The roots of drought: climate, ecology, and human design
Droughts are symptoms of a deeper misalignment in our relationship with water. From a scientific standpoint, they’re driven by atmospheric patterns (like persistent high-pressure ridges), global warming, and land degradation. Yet they’re not just meteorological events - they’re ecological and social disruptions.
For example, in Flanders, 75% of wetlands have been lost in the last 60 years due to agriculture and urban development, reducing nature’s ability to store and slowly release water during dry times. In England and Wales, even a moderate drought could cost billions annually in economic losses - impacting power generation, food production, and industrial supply chains.
💧 What does water want?
Instead of asking how to control water, the question “What does water want?” invites us to understand water’s own rhythm. Water wants space to rest (wetlands), to travel slowly (meandering rivers), and to interact with life (soil, roots, and microorganisms). These slow phases were disrupted globally when 64–71% of wetlands were lost in the 20th century.
🌱 Nature-based solutions (NBS): letting water lead
Nature-based solutions work with, not against, water. They’ve been shown to reduce drought impacts by restoring the natural hydrology of a place.
Wetlands and floodplains: Act as sponges, recharging groundwater and storing water for dry periods. Wetland restoration has improved water retention and biodiversity across Europe.
Sponge cities: In China, cities use permeable pavements, green roofs, and urban wetlands to absorb and retain rainwater for future use.
Rewilding with beavers: In the U.S., beaver restoration has increased water storage and reduced wildfire risk by slowing water flow and raising water tables.
Indigenous practices: From bio-irrigation by Sahelian shrubs to communal water-sharing systems in the Andes, traditional knowledge often reflects deep hydrological wisdom.
Yet implementation lags behind need. A recent review found very few large-scale drought-targeting NBS with rigorous evaluations of their effectiveness, especially in Europe.
📉 Economic and health impacts: seeing the whole cycle
Droughts ripple across economies and societies. In the UK, they are linked not only to agricultural losses but also energy constraints, reduced water quality, and mental health burdens. From respiratory illnesses driven by wildfire smoke and dust to injuries from dried-out rivers, drought’s impacts are often indirect and delayed.
Economically, green and blue water shortages disrupt production differently. Green water (soil moisture) mainly impacts agriculture. Blue water (stored water) affects broader systems like industry and public supply. These distinctions are critical for effective policy.
🌿 From control to reciprocity
A recurring theme is the failure of control-based systems. Dams and aqueducts often solve short-term scarcity at the cost of long-term resilience. Instead, multi-scalar, participatory approaches - like the Flemish “Blue Deal,” which includes farmers and industries in ecosystem restoration - are more effective and equitable.
Indigenous frameworks remind us that water is not a commodity but a relative. Reciprocity, ceremony, and respect are foundational to many Indigenous water stewardship practices. Integrating these perspectives requires not just new technologies but a cultural shift in our understanding of value and responsibility.
🌀 Hope in the cycles
The hopeful message is this: droughts are not inevitable disasters. They are signals—telling us that we have altered the flow. And we can respond by restoring it. The science is clear, the stories are abundant, and the tools - natural and social - are available.
The journey begins not with dominating water, but with listening to it.
🌐 Web sources:
“Review of the Research and Scientific Understanding of Drought.” GOV.UK, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-research-and-scientific-understanding-of-drought/review-of-the-research-and-scientific-understanding-of-drought-summary.
“Exploring the Science of Droughts.” Environment Agency Blog, 28 Nov. 2023. https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2023/11/28/exploring-the-science-of-droughts/.
“Why Is Drought Such a Problem for the Economy?” Greenly, https://greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/ecology-news/why-is-drought-such-a-problem-for-the-economy.
“To the Last Drop: Europe’s Hidden Water Crisis.” Green European Journal, https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/to-the-last-drop-europes-hidden-water-crisis/.
“Nature to Tackle Drought and Desertification.” IISD, International Institute for Sustainable Development, https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/nature-tackle-drought-desertification.
“Spring Drought Threatens Europe’s Farms and Rivers.” Politico Europe, https://www.politico.eu/article/spring-drought-threatens-europes-farms-and-rivers/.
📄 Reports and articles:
Freire-González, Jaume, et al. The Economic Impacts of Droughts: A Framework for Analysis. University of Oxford, Environmental Change Institute, 2016.
Gillingham, Emma L., et al. “Chapter 11: The Direct and Indirect Effects of Drought on Human Health in the UK.” Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK: 2023 Report, UK Health Security Agency, 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adverse-weather-and-health-plan.
Hessel, Michael. Investing in Food – A Changing Climate: Adaptation Solutions Across the Food Supply Chain. Absolute Strategy Research, 4 Oct. 2024.
Jenkins, Katie, et al. “An Integrated Framework for Risk-Based Analysis of Economic Impacts of Drought and Water Scarcity in England and Wales.” Water Resources Research, vol. 57, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR027715.
Kapnick, Sarah. Building Resilience Through Climate Adaptation. J.P. Morgan, 2023.
Penn, Michael. Investing in Water: How to Invest in Water Solutions and Hedge Physical Climate Risk. Absolute Strategy Research, 2 Aug. 2024.
Yimer, Estifanos Addisu, et al. “The Underexposed Nature-Based Solutions: A Critical State-of-the-Art Review on Drought Mitigation.” Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 352, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119903.