Status: 03/30/2023 6:35 pm
With dry summers and dry winters, water is becoming increasingly scarce in France. Head of State Macron is counting on big savings with his water plan. Agriculture is particularly challenged.
By Carolin Dylla, ARD Studio Paris
The figures presented by French President Emmanuel Macron are as sober as they are clear. “As a result of climate change, we will have 30 to 40% less water available by 2050”, said the head of state when presenting his water plan for the largest freshwater reservoir in Western Europe – the Lac de Serre-Ponçon, in the south from France.
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The situation is already more than tense. According to the National Research Department of Geology and Mining, 80% of France’s groundwater resources were below normal in February. They were unable to recover from last year’s extremely dry summer because there was very little rain in autumn and winter.
Sectors must draw up austerity plans
The first thing to do is prepare for next summer, said the president. “Similar to what we did last year with energy savings, we will be asking key industries to develop water savings plans by summer.”
For this, the responsible ministers will meet with representatives of different sectors in the coming days. “Energy, industry, tourism, agriculture. It works well when everyone takes responsibility and the effort is shared,” Macron said.
Friederike Hofmann, ARD Paris, on Macron’s planned measures to combat water scarcity in France
tagesschau24 2 pm, 3/30/2023
State pledges 100 million euros in aid
In addition, Macron issued a long-term goal: ten percent of water consumption must be saved by 2030. In addition to the energy sector and industry, agriculture plays an important role. Because almost 60 percent of water consumption in France can be attributed to this branch of the economy.
But the challenge here is different, Macron emphasized. “Our sovereignty over the food supply is non-negotiable. And we have a simple principle here: we will have to irrigate more in the future – but with the same amount of water as we have today.”
France needs innovations and better organization. Furthermore, farmers would have to be supported if they wanted to work in a water-saving way. Thus, the State will provide over 100 million euros per year for the promotion of these technologies.
“A really fundamental change”
Gonérie Le Cozannet believes that a fundamental cultural change is needed, especially in agriculture. He is a geographer and co-wrote the latest report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
A first possibility is to eat less meat. Production requires a lot of water, which stresses the soil, he says. In addition, more ecological agriculture must be created. “For example, reducing pollution by nitrates and pesticides. Because we also have to take care of water quality.”
The geographer asks that the soil be permeable again; the water passes and reaches the underground water reservoirs. This could be achieved by less intervention in the natural landscape. “So this is a really fundamental change.”
The price system should motivate consumers
Another important aspect is the better use of effluents. To date, only around one percent of treated wastewater in France has been reused. By 2030, according to Macron, this proportion should increase to ten percent. A final – very tangible – point of the water plan is a pricing system that should motivate private consumers to save.
“We need a graduated pricing system that appeals to accountability. The first cubic meters will remain cheap for everyone; that is, the amount we need to drink and wash, as well as for daily use at home”, explained the head of state. Those who consume more also have to pay more for it. “This seems normal to me for consumption that is only for convenience – and should be an incentive to save water.”
Committee to monitor implementation
In all, the water plan includes around 50 smaller and larger measures that should reduce consumption or at least make its use more efficient. Starting in September, the “National Water Committee” – an advisory body based at the Ministry of the Environment – will report, at least twice a year, on the implementation of the measures.
When it doesn’t rain enough: Macron presents the national water plan
Carolin Dylla, ARD Paris, 03/30/2023 5:15 pm