Study warns of long term drought threat

Although floods are in the news, preparations are being made at the Ministry of Environment to cushion the effects of a disastrous drought caused by climate change. A large swathe of the Czech Republic including some of the most fertile agricultural land across the centre of the country could be threatened according to a report which will go to the government, the daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported on Thursday. It pointed out that the costs of a drought in Western Europe last year was almost as high as the bill for floods in Central Europe in 2002. Proposals for dealing with a Czech drought include a tenfold increase in water charges for those who exceed consumption limits.

Author: Chris Johnstone