Article

From 2000 to 2022, cooling power plants in the EU accounted for 36% of total water abstraction, with significant variations among member countries. The International Energy Agency noted that global water withdrawals for electricity and fuel production reached about 370 billion cubic meters in 2021, projected to increase to 400 billion by 2030, primarily due to cooling needs. While the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference aims to boost renewable energy capacity, challenges such as climate impacts and high water usage in mining remain critical concerns for water resource management.