Adaptation of the Bulgarian Water Sector to Climate Change Extremes

Abstract

Extreme weather events and the resulting hydro-climatic disasters have increased in frequency and intensity in recent decades, confirming trends outlined in the Fourth and Fifth IPCC reports on the increased susceptibility of Southeast Europe to drought, extreme temperatures, heat waves, and floods. Currently, climate change in the region is most apparent in the frequency and intensity of climate extremes, specifically in temperature and precipitation. These changes may significantly affect the water sector in Bulgaria by the end of this century. The long-term strategic objective of the water sector in Bulgaria is to ensure sustainable use of water resources and to secure the future needs for water of the population, economy and aquatic ecosystems. The water sector operates in three main business areas: plumbing (supply, drainage and sanitation), irrigation (irrigation, drainage and protection from the harmful effects of water) and hydropower systems and equipment (dams and hydropower facilities). The operation of each one of these systems depends on the availability, quantity, and quality of water. This paper analyzes the impact and sensitivity of the Bulgarian water sector to climate change and assesses the sector’s vulnerability index. The results show that the water sector in Bulgaria is characterised by higher sensitivity and vulnerability toward changes in water quantity and quality and to climate-related extremes such as drought and floods. The Climate Change Vulnerability Index describes the sector as moderately vulnerable to climate change over the 2016–2035 time horizon. Some adaptation measures are proposed in respect of these results. The need of better integration between Water Framework Directive, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) and EU Strategy for adaptation to climate change (2013) are discussed.