France Faces Potential Doubling of Water Consumption by 2050

A new report highlights the impact of climate change and societal choices on water demand, with agriculture emerging as the largest consumer.

France Stratégie's report outlines three scenarios for water demand by 2050: 'tendanciel' (current trends), 'politiques publiques' (planned policies), and 'rupture' (systemic change).
Water consumption could increase by up to 102% under current trends, while the 'rupture' scenario limits growth to 10%, emphasizing agroecology and energy efficiency.
Agriculture is projected to become the largest water consumer, particularly in summer months, driven by increased irrigation needs due to rising temperatures and reduced precipitation.
The report finds that 'mega-bassines' (water storage reservoirs) would have a limited impact, reducing peak irrigation demand by only 6%.
Regional disparities in water demand are expected, with southern France facing the greatest challenges due to declining precipitation and higher irrigation needs.