3. An inevitable water transition

3.1 Key drivers of the transition

• Increased pressure

  The water cycle has been disrupted by several pressures, the combination of which has multiplied their impact:

  • climate change, which is modifying the water cycle and increasing the frequency and intensity of hazards (drought and torrential rain), in a highly heterogeneous way across the globe (for example, the Mediterranean rim is one of the most affected areas in the world);

  • overexploitation of resources (in terms of quantity) ;

  • resource degradation (in terms of quality) ;

  • anthropization of natural environments (e.g. soil sealing,...