Water Resources Report
The European Investment Bank (EIB) releases water resources report aimed at analyzing the water resources situation in Europe and summarizing the actions of the EIB in protecting water resources.
As the climate bank of the European Union, the European Investment Bank invests significant resources in the blue economy and circular economy, providing financing for projects and consulting support. Water resources, as one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, have become a focus of attention.
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European Water Resources Situation
According to data from the World Health Organization, at least 1.7 billion people consume polluted water resources daily in the world. Due to economic growth, population development, and the impact of climate change, water scarcity may continue to worsen. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that the world needs to invest $1 trillion annually to address water resource issues, but the current investment amount is only a quarter.
Although Europe is not the most water scarce region, water scarcity has affected 20% of land and 30% of population. The Climate Risk Assessment by the European Environment Agency shows that drought has caused an annual economic loss of 9 billion euros in the European region, posing risks to human health, biodiversity, electricity production, and more. In addition to addressing water resource security issues, Europe also needs to operate, maintain, and upgrade existing water supply systems, as well as address the challenges of emerging water resource pollutants.
European Investment Bank’s Water Resources Action
Since the 1960s, the European Investment Bank has provided over 86 billion EUR in financing for the water resources industry and has become the largest lending institution in the global water resources industry. The initial projects focus on building or upgrading water resource infrastructure, and later develop into multiple aspects such as reducing flood risk and preventing water source pollution. EIB has invested a total of 1770 water resource projects.
The European Investment Bank invests in water resource projects from both technical and financial perspectives, with the most common approach being providing loans. In 2023, the European Investment Bank invested 4 billion EUR in water resources projects, providing safe drinking water for 4.9 million people and reducing the risk of drought for 12 million people. For each investment, the EIB evaluates whether the project is technically, economically, and environmentally sound, and emphasizes resource efficiency to promote sustainable water resource management.
The previous projects of the European Investment Bank include:
- Establish community pipeline networks to treat wastewater and reduce groundwater pollution.
- Build photovoltaic seawater desalination plants to provide clean water resources for residents.
- Improve the water resource network and facilitate residents to access water.
- Repair urban drainage systems and reduce flood risks.
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