Water scarcity in Greece Water scarcity in Greece | Page 7

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Huge water scarcity problem the next fifty years
Intense and prolonged water shortages will face over the next 50 years, Greece with tragic social
and economic consequences. Scientists are sounding the alarm bells about climate change and
point out that our country must be consistent with its obligations to the international community for
limiting pollution it produces. The first problems, moreover, are already being felt throughout the
Mediterranean.
The president of the National Observatory of Athens and professor of the University of Athens.
Christos Zerefos, the Associate Professor at NTUA, John Ziomas and Rep. Ibrahim, responsible
for the campaign of the environmental organization Greenpeace on Climate Change, spoke
yesterday at the Environment Committee House.
"The most important consequence is the disruption of water balance, evolution observed in
Greece with dramatic way," he explained. "The descent of the aquifer is noticeable even in areas
of the country where there is no over-pumping." The second noticeable change is the change of
behavior of weather systems. "We accept the same rain in a much shorter time," he said, leading
to increased flooding. "Over the past 30 years rainfall in the Mediterranean have fallen by 20%.
This reduction will continue over the next fifty years, when the water shortage problem would be
huge for Greece, "he concluded.