A Roadmap for Copernicus water services

[Roadmap]

There is no life on Earth without water and we are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change through water extremes. The provision of high-quality data and information on water quantity and quality should therefore be a key aim of the Copernicus Programme and the Copernicus Services. This Roadmap informs the Copernicus Services how to improve their impact in the inland water domain. The Copernicus Services could be a powerful tool for understanding the water related processes on Earth, supporting water management, supporting Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDG), System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), climate adaptation, and boosting European markets.  To realise this opportunity, there is a need to demonstrate commitment to requirements of current and future users, as proposed through the recommendations in this Roadmap.

The Water-ForCE project, using internal expertise of 20 partners and engagement with over 800 current and potential users, assessed the current water-related service elements and how they satisfy the needs of different stakeholders and user groups. The Water-ForCE consortium developed and analysed four scenarios to provide the European Commission, the Entrusted Entities and the Member States with possible "pathways" towards a coordinated, coherent and trusted monitoring system for inland waters