Heading into the Unknown? Exploring Sustainable Drought Management in the Mediterranean Region

Abstract

This paper proposes how drought management may be more sustainable in the Mediterranean region in order to face climate change. This paper collects information on the extraordinary efforts to manage drought in the region, highlighting how policies and investments in data and monitoring, as well as climate change, have defined the progress of drought management efforts. These crucial efforts may not be sustainable under highly likely short-term changes in climate and society. This paper proposes to include more explicitly lessons from managing common resources and from risk management, to guide the evolution of more sustainable drought management in the Mediterranean region. This research highlights the importance of shifting towards dynamic, proactive, and adaptive drought plans, emphasizing voluntary measures, defining responsibilities, and including future scenarios in the planification. Additionally, this paper proposes the establishment of a Technical Secretariat to centralize information, coordination, and collaboration in drought management efforts.