Sustainable water management will strengthen resilience to water scarcity – Wodne Sprawy

Report on European Commission Initiatives for Sustainable Water Management and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Renewed Focus on Water Resilience

The European Commission has initiated a series of dialogues with member states, a strategic measure designed to bolster sustainable water management and accelerate the achievement of environmental objectives. This initiative is fundamentally aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, placing significant emphasis on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The dialogues aim to foster collaboration and create a unified approach to ensuring a water-resilient future for Europe, directly contributing to global sustainability targets.

Assessment of EU Water Status and Progress Towards SDG 6

Key Findings from Commission Reports

Reports published by the European Commission on February 4, 2025, concerning the implementation of key water legislation, indicate that substantial challenges remain in meeting environmental targets. The findings highlight a critical gap in achieving the objectives set forth in SDG 6, particularly Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution.

• Only 39.5% of EU surface waters have achieved good ecological status, a key indicator for SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• A mere 26.8% of surface waters have attained good chemical status.

These statistics underscore the urgent need for accelerated action to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems (SDG 6.6) and to ensure the health of both aquatic and terrestrial life.

The European Water Resilience Strategy: A Framework for Action

Strategic Objectives and SDG Alignment

The European Water Resilience Strategy, introduced in 2024, provides a comprehensive framework for managing water resources in a manner that supports long-term environmental and economic security. Its core objectives are intrinsically linked to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Protecting and Restoring Water Ecosystems: This objective directly supports SDG 6 (Target 6.6), SDG 14 (Target 14.2), and SDG 15 (Target 15.1) by focusing on the health and restoration of freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
2. Balancing Water Supply and Demand: By promoting efficiency and addressing scarcity, the strategy advances SDG 6 (Target 6.4), which calls for substantially increasing water-use efficiency and ensuring sustainable withdrawals.
3. Guaranteeing Access to Safe Drinking Water: This aligns with the fundamental aim of SDG 6 (Target 6.1) to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
4. Enhancing Governance and Implementation: Improving the management and implementation of water regulations strengthens institutional capacity and promotes integrated water resources management, a cornerstone of SDG 6 (Target 6.5).
5. Building Resilience to Climate Change: The strategy’s focus on preparing for future challenges contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

Fostering Collaboration through Member State Dialogues

A Partnership Approach to SDG Implementation

Announced on November 11, 2025, the dialogues with member states represent a critical implementation mechanism for the Water Resilience Strategy. This collaborative process embodies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering cooperation between the European Commission and national administrations.

Dialogue Structure and Timeline

• Period: The dialogues will be conducted between 2025 and 2027.
• Process: The initiative involves technical preparatory meetings followed by high-level policy discussions with ministers responsible for water management.
• Goal: The primary objective is to accelerate the implementation of measures required to meet environmental goals by the 2027 timeframe, thereby advancing the water-related SDG agenda across the EU.

Analysis of EU Directives in the Context of the SDGs

Water Framework Directive (WFD)

The WFD’s mandate for all water bodies to achieve “good status” is a foundational element for realizing several SDGs. Its objectives are directly aligned with:

• SDG 6: Improving water quality (Target 6.3), implementing integrated water resources management (Target 6.5), and protecting water-related ecosystems (Target 6.6).
• SDG 15: Ensuring the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems (Target 15.1).

Floods Directive

This directive focuses on risk assessment and management, contributing significantly to building resilient communities. It directly supports:

• SDG 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by reducing the impact of water-related disasters (Target 11.5).
• SDG 13: Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards (Target 13.1).

Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)

The MSFD is central to the EU’s commitment to protecting the marine environment and is crucial for achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Its goal of achieving “good environmental status” for marine waters directly addresses:

• SDG 14: Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution (Target 14.1) and sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems (Target 14.2).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
     
     The article mentions that the European Resilience Strategy includes “guaranteeing access to safe and affordable drinking water.” This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring everyone has access to safe drinking water.
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…
     
     The article highlights the Water Framework Directive’s requirement for member states to ensure all surface and groundwaters reach “good status (quality).” It also reports that only “39.5 percent of surface waters in the EU achieve good ecological status, and 26.8 percent achieve good chemical status,” indicating a focus on improving water quality.
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…
     
     The European Water Resilience Strategy is designed to “address water scarcity” and support member states to “manage water more efficiently.” This shows a clear connection to improving water-use efficiency and managing water resources sustainably.
   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
     
     The European Commission’s initiative to launch “dialogues with individual member countries” to help them move toward “improved water management” and accelerate the implementation of EU water legislation is a direct example of implementing integrated water resources management at a regional and national level.
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
     
     The article states that the European Resilience Strategy includes “protecting and restoring water ecosystems.” Furthermore, the Water Framework Directive’s goal of achieving “good status” for all surface waters like lakes and rivers contributes to the protection and restoration of these ecosystems.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters…
     
     The article discusses the Floods Directive, which “requires member states to identify and map flood-prone areas and develop plans to reduce the risk and potential damage of floods.” Its aim is to “minimize their negative effects on the population, environment, cultural heritage and economy,” which directly corresponds to reducing the impact of water-related disasters.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
     
     The article introduces the “European Water Resilience Strategy,” which aims to make Europe “resilient to water shortages” and prepare for the “future challenges of climate change.” This strategy, along with the Floods Directive, represents a clear effort to strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards like droughts and floods.

4. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…
     
     The article explicitly mentions the “Marine Strategy Framework Directive,” stating its purpose is to “protect Europe’s marine environment and ensure the sustainable use of its resources.” The directive’s main goal was to “achieve or maintain good status of the European Union’s marine waters,” which is a direct reflection of this target.

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…
     
     The Water Framework Directive, which focuses on inland surface waters like “lakes, rivers, transitional and coastal waters,” and the European Resilience Strategy’s goal of “protecting and restoring water ecosystems” are directly linked to the conservation and restoration of inland freshwater ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 6

   • Indicator for Target 6.3 (Water Quality): The article provides a direct quantitative indicator: the “percentage of surface waters in the EU achieving good ecological status (39.5%)” and “good chemical status (26.8%).” This metric is used to measure the state of EU waters and progress towards the goals of the Water Framework Directive.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 6.4 (Water Scarcity): While no specific number is given, the focus on a “Water Scarcity Resilience Strategy” implies that progress would be measured by changes in water-use efficiency and the level of water stress in member states.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 6.5 (Integrated Management): The implementation of dialogues and the adoption of national water management plans in line with EU directives (Water Framework Directive, Floods Directive) serve as a process indicator for integrated water resources management.

2. Indicators for SDG 11

   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.5 (Disaster Risk Reduction): The article mentions that the Floods Directive requires member states to “identify and map flood-prone areas and develop plans to reduce the risk.” The number of countries with such plans and the extent of their implementation can be used as an indicator to measure progress in reducing flood risk.

3. Indicators for SDG 14

   • Indicator for Target 14.2 (Marine Ecosystems): The article states that the goal of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive was to “achieve or maintain good status of the European Union’s marine waters by 2020.” The proportion of marine waters achieving this “good status” is the key indicator for this target.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

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