Today the European Parliament discusses about drought issues in Europe. A few top researchers are invited to give their expert opinion about the issue in this meeting called 'Europe facing water scarcity: researchers and policy makers sharing views'.
One of them is dr. Henny van Lanen of Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR, who recently initiated the 3.4 million euro project 'Fostering European Drought Research and Science-Policy Interfacing' (DROUGHT-R&SPI). This project aims to limit Europe's vulnerability to drought as a result of global warming, using a trans-disciplinary approach with 6 case studies in different scales and geo-climatic regions.
The project includes physical an spatial aspects, as well as social economics, cultural and legal aspects. Drought research will be integrated into the policy making process by 'science-policy interfacing' and several forums. Expected results include understanding of past responses to drought events at the case study scale, identification of best practice examples for the future development of drought management and an innovative method of identification of drought sensitive sectors and regions on a pan-European scale.