ON STRATEGIES OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN HUNGARY POLICY REPORT
POLICY REPORT
ON STRATEGIES OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN HUNGARY
ESSRG Ltd.
Budapest, 2024
Cover photo: Radhey Khandelwal; Unsplash
This report has been created as part of the MOSAIC project—Innovative and effective policies for sustainable land use
1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
This document was tailored with the purpose of providing a general picture on the core policies addressing the problem of drought in Hungary due to climate change and human activities, especially with regard the 'Homokhátság' region of Hungary.
As a recent scientific paper* describes, the region suffers from severe water management issues, with a consistently negative water balance leading to falling groundwater levels and worsening droughts. The authors highlight the need for comprehensive water retention strategies, including wetland restoration and sustainable land-use practices. This study also criticizes the fragmented and inconsistent territorial policies, which have failed to address the region's unique environmental and socio-
About the project
MOSAIC is an EU-funded project that is bringing together twenty organisations for 4½ years to better understand and support sustainable land-use management practices across Europe. By addressing the overexploitation and unsustainable management of land, the MOSAIC project aims to help Europe adapt to and mitigate the climate and biodiversity crises.
To address these challenges, the MOSAIC project is researching why people currently use land the way they do and to what extent they consider climate change and biodiversity issues when making land-use decisions. The
economic needs. Development efforts have focused disproportionately on agricultural modernization without integrating environmental sustainability. The paper calls for a paradigm shift in territorial and rural development policies, emphasizing locally adapted governance models, decentralized decision-making, and long-term investment in water infrastructure and rural revitalization programs.
The current document aims to provide a step towards this by showing what exact policies on the international, national and regional levels address these challenges, how are they intertwined and whether they set concrete measures that imply actions as well.
MOSAIC team also works with local people and organisations in six case study locations to establish Policy Labs. Each Policy Lab develops robust policy options and state-of-the - art modelling is used to explore the impact of these different policies.
The MOSAIC policy labs are located in: Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Portugal, Switzerland, and Europe-wide. The lessons from MOSAIC’s research, modelling and stakeholder engagement will be made available online through a series of tools, which will support in developing and implementing innovative and effective policies.
*Farkas, Jenő Zsolt Kovács, András Donát Vasárus, Gábor Lennert, József Csáki, Béla (2024): A Duna-Tisza közi homokhátság terület- és vidékfejlesztési kihívásai [Challenges of Spatial Planning of the Sand Ridge in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve] In. Földrajzi Közlemények 2024. 148. 1. pp. 1–17. ht t ps://doi.org /10.32643/f k.148.1.1
The Homokhátság region in Hungary faces a complex mix of environmental, social, and economic challenges due to decades of ineffective policies, water scarcity, and the worsening impacts of climate change. Despite various development plans introduced since the 1990s, most initiatives were either delayed or abandoned due to insufficient funding, fragmented policies, and a lack of coordinated development efforts.
One of the region's most crucial problems is environmental degradation, driven by severe water scarcity, falling groundwater levels, and drought-induced desertification. Outdated water management practices, focusing on drainage rather than retention, have worsened the crisis. As a result, planned reservoirs frequently remain dry due to poor site selection and inconsistent rainfall patterns.
Economically, the Homokhátság region is heavily dependent on agriculture, yet outdated monoculture farming methods and poor soil management have led to declining productivity. Additionally, government support has been inconsistent, creating economic vulnerability. Despite these difficulties, some areas have achieved success in **spa tourism**, particularly in towns like Mórahalom, though such
examples remain isolated and do not reflect the broader regional reality.
The region also has social challenges, including depopulation and aging communities. Young, educated residents often migrate to larger cities or abroad, leaving behind shrinking, socially isolated rural populations. A lack of skilled local leadership and difficulties in securing funding for projects have further hindered modernization efforts in the region.
Governance issues further complicate the situation. Limited municipal autonomy, fragmented administrative responsibilities, and a lack of community-based planning have prevented integrated development efforts. Local leaders often focus on short-term, visible projects due to funding constraints, rather than pursuing long-term, sustainable strategies that could support lasting growth.
Overall, the Homokhátság region highlights the difficulties of balancing environmental sustainability with socio-economic development. Addressing its challenges requires a shift toward integrated water management, agroenvironmental reform, and community-driven development. Without comprehensive policy reforms and substantial investments, the region risks continued environmental decline, economic stagnation, and further population loss.
About the ’Homokhátság’ region
Photo: Tibor V; Unsplash
2. EU-LEVEL POLICIES
2.1. European Parliament resolution P10_TA(2024)0014
The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change – European Parliament resolution of 19 September 2024 on the devastating floods in central and eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change (2024/2817(RSP))
In 2024, the European Parliament adopted a resolution addressing the increasing severity of floods in Central and Eastern Europe. This resolution highlights the direct link between climate change and the rise in extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and floods, particularly (among others countries) in Hungary, Poland, and Romania. It stresses the need for enhanced preparedness across the EU to manage these disasters more effectively.
In this document, the EP aims to strengthen the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), emphasizing the importance of increased funding, upgraded resources, and improved disaster response coordination. Immediate financial assistance, particularly through the European Solidarity Fund (ESF), is vital for flood-affected regions, especially in underdeveloped areas.
Further, the resolution wants to facilitate investment in climate adaptation measures, such as early warning systems and nature-based solutions like restoring wetlands and floodplains to mitigate flood risks. It also emphasizes the need for an EU-wide climate adaptation plan to enhance regional resilience and ensure that disaster-prone areas are better equipped to face future challenges.
Through these initiatives, the EU aims to better protect lives and infrastructure from the growing impacts of climate change. Core terminology such as "nature-based solutions," "blue and green infrastructure," and "regional cohesion policy" reflects the EU’s approach to integrating environmental conservation with climate adaptation and regional development strategies.
Key terms:
1) Disaster, flood, emergency, crisis, victims
2) Extreme weather events, risk management, protection
3) Climate adaptation
4) Blue infrastructure, flood management infrastructure
5) Water reservoir
Purpose: Describing standpoints, call for actions (EC)
Indicators: none
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:C_202407216
Photo: Wolfgang Hasselmann; Unsplash
2.2. European Climate Regulation
Regulation (Eu) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’)
The European Climate Regulation (2021), officially adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, is a one of the main milestones of the EU’s commitment to addressing climate change and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This law establishes a framework to guearantee the EU transitions to a climateneutral economy, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within the next few decades. It contains key goals from the Paris Agreement, specifically the 1.5°C global temperature target.
The law underlines the need for drastic emission reductions across all sectors of the economy, including energy, industry, agriculture, and transportation. By 2030, the EU aims to reduce its net emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels. This ambitious target is part of a broader strategy, emphasizing energy efficiency, the shift to renewable energy and support for low-carbon technology.
The ideas of "climate neutrality", "net-zero emissions", and "carbon sinks" are to be found in a focused way within the document. The law stresses the role of natural carbon sinks (e.g.,
Key terms:
1) Biodiversity, biodiverse ecosystem
forests and soils) in capturing and storing CO2, contributing to emission reductions. Furthermore, it acknowledges the importance of adaptation strategies for dealing with climate change impacts like extreme weather events.
The European Climate Regulation also puts emphasis on fairness and solidarity. It recognizes that some member states will face greater challenges due to their economies’ current status. Therefore, the claim is circumscribed that the transition must be socially inclusive and offer support to those most affected, ensuring that no one is left behind.
This law in general sets the framework for continuous progress monitoring, with regular reports on emission reduction efforts and adaptation measures. The document calls for a unified EU response, aligning national policies and laws with the broader objective of achieving climate resilience and sustainability for future generations. The law encourages member states to adopt resilience measures to protect against the growing impacts of climate change, including droughts and floods, which are becoming more frequent in Europe.
2) Nature-based solutions, nature-based carbon removal, carbon sinks
3) Restoration of ecosystems
4) Food security, resilience
5) Climate neutrality, net-zero emissions
Purpose: Regulation. National restoration plans to be developed.
Indicators: Yes, with indices, evaluated in 2033.
e.g. restore at least 25 000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers in the Union by 2030. Member States shall make an inventory of artificial barriers to the connectivity of surface waters and, taking into account the socio-economic functions of the artificial barriers, identify the barriers that need to be removed to contribute to meeting the restoration targets.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R1119
The European Council's Conclusions of December 2019 describe the EU's priorities, with a strong emphasis on addressing climate change through strategies that promote economic growth, sustainability, and climate neutrality. Recognizing the importance of aligning EU policies with the Paris Agreement, the Council set the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This commitment includes ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to sustainable practices across all sectors.
Water management is a core element of the Council’s climate strategy, as climate neutrality requires resilient infrastructure that can conteract extreme weather events, especially in vulnerable areas. To achieve this, the Council supports traditional infrastructure and the nature-based solutions of wetland restoration and improved land use planning. These strategies are designed to enhance water retention, prevent soil erosion, and manage flood risks, which are very important for protecting natural resources and supporting agriculture. In this context, the document emphasizes the importance of green infrastructure in bolstering water management, biodiversity, and resilience across member states.
Key terms:
The just transition mechanism is stressed as an important equipment for the support of regions which are facing economic challenges due to the transition. This mechanism aims to help local economies shift towards sustainable practices while ensuring that communities dependent on carbon-intensive industries are supported through financial investments and structural changes.
Regarding of finances, the Council advocates for mobilizing both public and private investments through the European Investment Bank and InvestEU. This financial backing is essential for driving forward green projects, such as those focused on water management and renewable energy, thereby supporting the EU’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness. This document thus includes a forward-looking approach to achieving climate goals, where water management and sustainable development play a crucial central role. By investing in green infrastructure and resilient water systems, the EU aims to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility, prioritizes resilience, inclusivity, and regional development.
1) Climate neutrality; transition to climate neutrality
2) Public and private investment
3) Energy security
4) Competetiveness
5) Citizens’ dialogues, humanitarian assistance
Purpose: Proceedings, setting general aims
Indicators: General goal of a climate neutral EU by 2050
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/41768/12
2.4. European Council's Conclusions of December 2020
The European Council Conclusions of December 2020 focus mostly on strategic goals across several areas, with a special attention paid on climate action and water management. Regarding the climate change, the Council reiterates the EU’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 in accordance with the Paris Agreement. To reach this goal, the Council set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels, emphasizing that all economic sectors must contribute to this goal. The document underlines the importance of sustainable and cost-effective approaches, incorporating both environmental and socio-economic considerations across the EU.
The topic of water management rises as an important theme in the context of climate adaptation, especially considerint the potential increase in extreme weather events, for example droughts and floods. The document stresses that effective water management will be crucial to maintain agricultural productivity, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring the resilience of urban areas. As for this issue, the Council highlights Nature-Based Solutions like
wetland restoration and river basin management, which naturally enhance water retention and flood control while supporting biodiversity. The document also adress the need for developed green financing mechanisms to support climate and water management goals. The Council wants to increase global standards for green finance, aiming to attract investments that align with the EU’s climate and environmental objectives. This includes plans to introduce a European Green Bond Standard and mobilize significant resources from both public and private sectors. With these funding mechanisms, the EU seeks to accelerate sustainable projects across member states, including those focusing on water infrastructure and agricultural adaptation.
The Conclusions document calls for an integrated approach to climate action and adaptation, with water management as a key element. By setting clear targets and establishing funding standards, the EU aims to safeguard its natural resources and promote resilience, aligning environmental, economic, and social interests for a sustainable future.
Key terms:
1) Climate neutrality; transition to climate neutrality, climate ambition
2) COVID-19
3) Energy security, resilience
4) Transitional technologies
5) Green finance
Purpose: Proceedings, setting general aims
Indicators: 55% domestic greenhouse gas emission by 2030
2.5. European Union Nature Restoration Regulation 2024
Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869
The European Union Nature Restoration Regulation 2024 sets a comprehensive framework aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems across the EU by 2030, as part of the European Green Deal and EU Biodiversity Strategy. The regulation sets binding targets to restore at least 20% of the EU's degraded land and marine ecosystems by 2030, expanding to all ecosystems needing restoration by 2050.
Emphasizing naturebased solutions, it promotes measures such as wetland rewetting, forest restoration, and sustainable agricultural practices to enhance biodiversity, carbon capture, and climate resilience. Water management is the focus of the regulation. The law highlights restoring wetlands and floodplains to boost natural water retention, reduce flood risks, and maintain groundwater levels. Additionally, the regulation prioritizes free-flowing rivers, setting a target to restore 25,000 km by removing artificial barriers and enhancing river connectivity. These actions aim to address water scarcity, improve ecosystem health, and support local biodiversity.
The regulation considers it important to integrate restoration with agricultural policies, encouraging practices like agroforestry and organic farming to protect soils and reduce pesticide reliance. For urban areas, it advocates expanding green spaces, which can regulate urban temperatures, enhance stormwater retention, and contribute to public health. Through financial mechanisms of the Just Transition Fund and LIFE Programme, the EU
tries to support member states in implementing these restoration targets. The regulation calls for detailed national restoration plans and the development of monitoring systems to track progress. This approach underlines the EU’s commitment to biodiversity recovery, climate adaptation, and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Article 4 of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (2024) focuses on habitat restoration and the protection of biodiversity. It outlines specific restoration targets for Member States, emphasizing habitat conservation, improvement, and expansion across various ecosystems. These include forest, wetland, grassland, and freshwater habitats. The regulation sets timelines for restoring a percentage of degraded habitats and maintaining the ecological integrity of designated areas. A requirement for Member States is set to create national restoration plans with measurable goals. These plans should identify areas needing restoration, define restoration targets, and provide a timeline for achieving them. Where achieving targets by 2050 is not feasible, Member States must justify delays and propose alternative deadlines. The regulation facilitates actions to prevent further degradation, ensuring that restored habitats remain in good condition. It also includes mechanisms for monitoring and reporting progress, with the European Environment Agency (EEA) assisting in technical evaluations. Any identified deterioration must be addressed with compensatory measures to minimize ecological damage.
Key terms: habitat restoration, ecosystem recovery, nature-based solutions (NBS), favourable reference areas, biodiversity protection
Purpose: Regulation, mandatory goals set.
Indicators: By 2030, at least 30% of the total area of habitat types not in good condition must be restored. By 2040, this target increases to 60%. By 2050, the goal reaches 90%.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202401991
3. COUNTRY-LEVEL POLICIES
3.1. The Kvassay Plan
The Kvassay Jenő Plan (National Water Strategy), which was adopted in 2017, aims to be Hungary’s comprehensive framework for water management up to 2030, with specific objectives for the medium-term until 2020. The plan defines strategic directions for managing the country’s water resources during the challenges caused by climate change,rising economic demands and environmental protection.
A central focus of the plan is Hungary’s vulnerability regarding both water shortages and floods due to its geographical location. The plan emphasizes the importance of balancing water retention with flood management, recognizing the growing threat of extreme weather conditions, including more frequent floods, droughts, and water scarcity. To overcome these risks, the strategy emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach that connects flood defense, water retention, and the rehabilitation of wetlands and water ecosystems.
The plan also stresses the importance of sustainable agriculture through efficient irrigation systems and water resource management. It encourages a change from traditional flood protection methods to nature-based solutions and soft water management practices that facilitates water retention in agricultural areas. The plan stresses the importance of improving irrigation infrastructure to support agriculture while minimizing environmental impacts, especially in regions which are prone to drought.
According to the plan, a more coordinated approach is essential between the various sectors of agriculture, energy, and urban planning, to ensure that water resources are managed sustainably. The plan highlights the need for modernizing water management systems through investments, scientific rese-
arch, and innovative water technologies. According to the plan, water resources for future generations needs to be secured by integrating climate adaptation, environmental protection, and economic needs into a unified water management strategy. The plan describes that „There are 817 high-risk municipalities and 37,000 km of sewers are at risk of stormwater drainage problems. The maintenance of stormwater drainage systems, especially open ditch networks, is unacceptable. The majority of inland drainage and related projects are designed to drain water as quickly as possible, rather than retaining and reusing it. Areas suitable for this purpose are shrinking and are not adequately protected from development.” (own translation)
The document stresses that the negative consequences of draughts are even higher than those of floods, however, the enlisted opportunities do not specify potential counteractions:
1. Increasing value of water as a natural resource, mainstreaming water issues into policy
2. Increasing solvent demand for water-based therapeutic recreation
3. The potential for reuse of used water
4. the development of a more incentive-based insurance regime to protect against water damage
5. Pressure to act from EU directives on water management
6. Significant EU development funding
7. Improved adaptation of the productive sector to water management conditions, restructuring of related economic regulatory instruments
8. Implementation of integrated water management, modern decision support systems
9. innovation resulting from technological progress (closed systems, water and energy saving technologies, IT, monitoring).
10. Export of knowledge to developing countries
11. strengthening links between water training institutions, coordinating training, creating a network of researchers, strengthening international links.
12. Developing the capacity of the water service to retain staff, better pay conditions
13. Development of international cooperation mechanisms, internationalisation of training programmes
14. Better use of cross-border cooperation on water, water as a tool for effective diplomacy
15. Improving intersectoral cooperation
Nevertheless, the document concludes, that
„The occurrence of extremes, floods, inland waterways and droughts is a natural consequence of our natural and socio-geographical conditions. Combating them is not disaster prevention, but a daily operational task for the water management of the Carpathian Basin, which requires a high level of professionalism and is the key to water crisis prevention.The
Key terms:
occurrence of extremes, floods, inland waterways and droughts is a natural consequence of our natural and socio-geographical conditions. Combating them is not disaster prevention, but a daily operational task for the water management of the Carpathian Basin, which requires a high level of professionalism and is the key to water crisis prevention.” (own translation)
Long-term (by 2030) goals described by the Strategy are:
1. Water retention and water allocation for better use of our water resources, for water management that supports the economy
2. Preventive water damage
3. Progressive improvement of water status to achieve sustainable good status
4. Quality water supply and management of stormwater at a sustainable cost to the consumer.
5. Improving the relationship between society and water (at individual, economic and decision-making levels).
6. Renewing planning and governance
7. Reorganisation of the economic regulatory system for water management
1) Water secutity, water crisis, water retention
2) (Integrated) water institution system
3) Water ecosystem, water quality
Purpose: Strategical planning; background study for potential decisionmaking and policy recommendations
Indicators: Specific subsection for indicators, including: Local retention of water in river basins and areas, exploitation of natural potential, preservation of storage potential, construction and development of small reservoirs: from a potential storage potential of 1 100 million m3 of flat and hilly areas, create at least 400 million m3 of actual storage by 2020.
https://www.vizugy.hu/vizstrategia/documents/997966DE-9F6F-4624-91C5-3336153778D9/Nemzeti-Vizstrategia.pdf
Photo: Richard Stachmann; Unsplash
3.2. National Clean Development Strategy
The National Clean Development Strategy 2020-2050 , created by the Ministry for Innoivation and Technology in 2020 outlines Hungary’s further ways to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This includes many sectors, along with energy production, the industrial sector, transportation, waste management, agriculture, R&D, and so on). The strategy integrates economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection, emphasizing the need for a transition to a low-carbon economy. Central to this plan is reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, including energy, industry, and agriculture. It states that „achieving climate neutrality will require significant investments in all sectors of the national economy. The contribution of climatepolluting industries and the private sector is essential to achieve the targets. The Hungarian government is determined that the biggest polluters should pay the bulk of the costs, and that families should not see their energy and food bills rise as a result of the energy transition. Climate neutrality not only entails significant costs, but also has huge welfare potential by laying the foundations for sustainable economic growth over the next 30 years.”
Regarding water management and agriculture, the strategy highlights the need to modernize water usage practices in agriculture, focusing on efficient irrigation systems and water retention. The strategy stresses the importance of adopting precision farming techniques, which minimize water waste and promote sus-
tainable agricultural practices. These measures are necessary to manage water more effectively, having climate change kept in mind, increasing the risks of both droughts and floods.
Further, the strategy emphasizes natural carbon sinks e.g. forests and wetlands as imortant elements of carbon sequestration and water management. The document also stresses the importance of improvements in soil and forest managment to develop water retention and prevent soil degradation, which are crucial for maintaining agricultural productivity under climate change. A comprehensive approach to water management is provided, with a focus on modernizing agricultural practices and enhancing natural ecosystems to support climate goals and water sustainability. The strategy describes that „climate change-related damage to agriculture is strongly linked to water management, as the increase in drought vulnerability could pose the greatest risk to agriculture in the future. For this reason, it is particularly important to develop land-use policies - and incentives for change - that help to reduce the extreme effects of weather and ensure that soil fertility is maintained in the long term. The promotion of semi-natural water recharge and sustainable irrigation systems is key. Adaptive tillage, water management and the cultivation of landscapeappropriate crops can help prevent soil salinisation and soil acidification.”
5) Financial investment
Purpose: Strategical document, background study for potential decisionmaking and policy recommendations
Indicators: none; climate neutrality by 2050
https://cdn.kormany.hu/uploads/document/5/54/54e/54e01bf45e08607b21906196f75d836de9d6cc47.pdf
3.3. National Climate Change Strategy 2
The 2013 discussion paper of the Second national climate change strategy describes a strategic approach to climate change through both by mitigation and adaptation. By recognising the increasing risks from climate impacts, the document lays out a vision for long-term resilience and sustainability, emphasizing the critical role of sectors such as agriculture, water management, and infrastructure in adapting to climate variability. As for water management, the strategy highlights Hungary’s vulnerability to both droughts and floods, exacerbated by its location in the Carpathian Basin.
It stresses the importance of the restoration of wetlands, floodplain management, and waterefficient agricultural practices. These goals
—discussion paper 2013
aim to balance water conservation with flood prevention, recognizing the importance of natural landscapes in managing water levels and protecting biodiversity. The strategy also incorporates a national adaptation strategy draft, which provides a frame for addressing sectorspecific climate vulnerabilities. This includes strategies to protect water resources and soil quality, which are vital for agriculture by promoting sustainable land use and efficient water management. The document emphasizes the integration of green infrastructure and encourages local governments to play an active role in climate adaptation efforts. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of public awareness and education on climate issues to develop a supportive, climate-aware society.
3.4. Second National Climate Change Strategy 2018
The Second National Climate Change Strategy covering the period from 2018 to 2030 with projections up to 2050, is Hungary’s comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, accepted by the Parliament (23/2018. (X. 31.) Having its first discussion version published in 2013, but changed greatly since, this strategy frames both mitigation and adaptation strategies to guarantee long-term sustainability and resilience in relation to climate impacts. The document’s focus is provided to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reflectinginternational commitments, while in parallel, increasing Hungary’s capacity to absorb CO2 through natural ways such as afforestation.
One of the central themes of the strategy is water management, particularly in relation to climate adaptation. The strategy stresses the growing risks of droughts and floods due to climate change. To mitigate these risks, the document emphasizes the importance of sustainable water management practices. It emphasizes the need for natural water retention solutions, such as restoring wetlands, improving soil quality, and modernizing irrigation systems, especially in agriculture. These measures aim to improve water retention and reduce the vulnerability of both rural and urban areas to water shortages and extreme weather
events. The strategy also identifies agriculture as a sector highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly regarding water scarcity. It advocates for efficient water use and modernized irrigation to support sustainable farming. Furthermore, the document emphasizes naturebased solutions to help manage water resources and protect natural ecosystems, ensuring both water security and climate resilience. The importance of integrating water management into broader climate adaptation and mitigation is present in the document to protect Hungary’s natural resources, economy, and population from the growing threats posed by climate change.
Since the discussion paper of this document (2013), plenty of elements has changed. The final document pays an expanded view on implementation, coordination, and sectorspecific actions. While the 2013 paper emphasized the importance of general adaptation strategies, the final document provides more concrete plans for water management, particularly emphasizing the importance of natural water retention measures. This includes restoring natural ecosystems like wetlands and using sustainable agricultural practices to manage water more effectively. This shift indicates a more structured and integrated approach to water resource management, di-
rectly linking these measures to climate resilience in agriculture and urban planning. The discussion paper outlined broad adaptation and mitigation goals, but this finalized strategy emphasizes specific sectors, particularly agriculture, water management, and infrastructure. For example, the finalized NÉS-2 calls for targeted adaptation measures in agriculture to address water scarcity through efficient irrigation systems and sustainable land management practices, which were less detailed in the discussion phase. The final strategy aligns more closely with European Union climate goals, especially the EU Adaptation Strategy and the EU’s 2030 and 2050 GHG reduction targets. The 2013 document has only mentioned EU relations, but the final strategy incorporates EU funding mechanisms more in a stronger way. The final NÉS-2 includes clearer frameworks for monitoring progress and reporting outcomes: a commitment to evaluating adaptation measures and adjusting strategies based on measurable progress, ensuring transparency and accountability across sectors. Also, it puts more emphasis on community awareness and education.
The Second National Climate Change Strategy describes, that „climate change is having a big impact on our waters. Climate change poses significant challenges for all aspects of water management. The magnitude of the challenge stems from the complexity and uncertainty of climate change and its impacts. Water management is not only challenged by the impacts of climate change, but also by non -climatic impacts that occur independently of climate change and their interactions. Climate change therefore poses an increasing risk to water management. The magnitude of the risk
Key terms: 1) Climate adaptation
2) Risk prevention, water damage
3) Water retention
is uncertain and depends on the likelihood and severity of its occurrence. Adapting to impacts with very severe consequences, even if the probability of occurrence is low, may be justified in the light of the precautionary principle. Adaptation reduces the risk and can prevent or minimise vulnerability. Adaptation efforts should not be delayed, as impacts can be felt in the short term, can be significant in adverse climate scenarios, and adaptation takes time, especially when measures are widely discussed with stakeholders in society.”
The document, in relation with water management, describes the following medium-term strategic goals:
1) Full implementation of water retention practices in our water management. Restoring small-scale water cycles.
2) Extend the programme for the reactivation of floodplain landscape management model areas and deep floodplains.
3) Adapt land use to changing ecological and climatic conditions.
4) Anticipating likely changes in water demand. Adapting the regulatory framework for demand management to address the problem of "growing demands - dwindling supplies" with a view to long-term sustainability.
5) Achieve good quantitative and qualitative status of our waters by 2027 in accordance with the WFD and create the conditions to maintain good status. Developing sustainable land use adapted to climate change through the full integration of spatial planning, nature conservation, agriculture and water management.
Purpose: Strategical document, accepted by Parliament 23/2018.
Indicators: Not specified/quantified recommendations. (e.g. Annual reduction in primary greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O)
https://nakfo.mbfsz.gov.hu/sites/default/files/files/N%C3%89S_Ogy%20%C3%A1ltal%20elfogadott.PDF
3.5. Climate Adaptation Infonote 2022
The information note is intended to inform Members of Parliament on EU and national policies and opportunitites regarding climate adaptation. The Climate adaptation info note provides an overview of Hungary’s approach to adapting to climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events, droughts, and floods, which have intensified over recent decades. Recognizing that reducing greenhouse gas emissions alone is insufficient, the document underscores the necessity of adaptation measures to enhance resilience against these risks. It emphasizes the general concepts such as the importance of proactive, localized adaptation strategies. Through a combination of water management, nature-based solutions, and targeted vulnerability assessments, it aims to build resilience against the impacts of climate change on environment, infrastructure and communities. The document focuses specifically on the question of water management and its role in climate adaptation. It addresses the significant challenges posed by increased rainfall variability and intensified droughts, especially for urban areas and agriculture. The document wants to facilitate integrated water management strategies which combine traditional and nature-based approaches. These strategies include restoring natural water cycles, improving groundwater recharge, and enhancing soil and vegetation management to retain water effectively. The note also highlights the National adaptation strategy as a framework for prioritizing and implementing adaptation actions, particularly at local levels. Local governments are encouraged to adopt
natural water retention measures such as wetland restoration, riverbed management, and urban greening to counterbalance the effects of heatwaves and water shortages. The emphasis on green infrastructure supports ecosystem-based solutions that support both climate resilience and biodiversity.
The vulnerability assessment conducted by Hungary’s National Adaptation GeoInformation System (NATéR) is another core part of the document, which helps identifying regions most at risk from climate impacts. Based on these assessments, local governments can tailor their adaptation strategies to address specific regional needs, acknowledging that certain areas, particularly rural and agricultural regions, are more vulnerable.
The document informs MPs that, „By growing crops that are adapted to the local conditions and landscape, soil salinisation and soil acidification can be prevented. Microbiological preparations and soil bacteria, which have been researched for decades, can be used to improve degraded soil structure. In regenerative farming, ploughing is proposed to be reduced or stopped altogether, while in other areas the use of crop rotation and mosaicism is used to increase biodiversity and reduce the negative impact of agriculture on the climate. In contrast to ecological farming, regenerative farming not only seeks to maintain the condition of the soil, but also to increase its organic matter content and carbon storage capacity in the long term.”
Key terms:
1) Climate change, climate adaptation
2) Soil degradation, soil improvement, regenerative farming
3) Biological crop protection, reforestation, alternative food
Purpose: Purely to inform decisionmakers
https://www.parlament.hu/documents/10181/63291245/ Infojegyzet_2022_8_klimavaltozas_valaszlehetosegek_a_mezogazdasagban.pdf/fa900fa0-3012-26d3-7bb1-2ba1fb6553ee? t=1655454389931
3.6. Adaptation Guide for Local Govenments
The Adaptation Guide for Local Governments, developed under the LIFE-MICACC project, aims to assist municipalities in responding to the challenges of climate change, specifically the increasing risks related to water management, such as droughts and floods. The guide emphasizes the role of local governments as key actors in implementing climate adaptation strategies within their jurisdictions.
The guide highlights the changing climate in Hungary, particularly the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods, and droughts. These changes pose significant challenges for municipalities, impacting daily life, infrastructure, and economic stability. The document stresses the importance of natural water retention solutions, which include restoring wetlands, managing forests for water retention, and modifying agricultural practices to cope with erratic rainfall. Local governments are encouraged to integrate these nature-based solutions alongside traditional "grey infrastructure" (e.g., flood barriers) to create more resilient communities. The guide also outlines practical steps for municipalities to implement these solutions, from assessing local climate vulnerabilities to engaging stakeholders and securing funding.
Further, the guide addresses the importance of continuous community involvement and communication to ensure public support and awareness of climate adaptation measures. In general, the document provides a comprehen-
sive framework for municipalities to take proactive steps in dealing with the impacts of climate change while fostering local resilience.
The concept of natural water retention measures are discussed within the document. These solutions focus on enhancing soil water retention, reforestation, and using constructed wetlands to manage both drought and excess water. The guide highlights the importance of integrated water management across municipalities, promoting the shift from conventional (grey) infrastructure to cost-effective, sustainable practices that address both flood control and drought resilience.
The document describes natural water retention opportunities in 4 areas: 1) at rivers and lakes 2) in forests 3) in the agriculture 4) in urban areas. The document describes natural water retention solutions as „nterventions that primarily aim to increase the water holding capacity of soils and wetlands. They are usually small-scale and retain surface water, such as rivers or streams, or run-off from rainfall, and then release it back into the environment in a slow, controlled manner, thus balancing the difference between periods of abundance and periods of scarcity. In addition, they provide a range of co-benefits such as erosion control, soil conservation, creation and preservation of natural habitats, microclimate regulation and recreational opportunities. Their application also helps to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.”
3) Nature-based interventions, natural solutions
4) Small-scale solutions
Purpose: To inform decisionmakers on opportunities
Indicators: None
https://vizmegtartomegoldasok.bm.hu/storage/dokumentumok/Adaptacios%20utmutato.pdf Key terms: 1) Natural water retention 2) Climate adaptation
3.7. Water Retention Solutions Baseline Study 2021
This study, prepared under the LIFE-MICACC project focuses on developing sustainable water management approaches to address the challenges posed by climate change. As climate shifts cause increased droughts, floods, and unpredictable weather patterns, the study emphasizes the importance of water retention techniques for local communities, especially in agricultural areas, to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather.
The document prioritizes nature-based solutions over traditional infrastructure. These solutions include restoring wetlands, reforesting, and modifying landscapes to naturally retain water. By preserving soil moisture and maintaining groundwater levels, these practices provide a buffer against both drought and flood risks. This approach also integrates ecosystem services, ensuring that natural habitats support biodiversity while improving local climate resilience.
According to the document, local governments play a central role, as outlined in the study, by implementing natural water retention measures and collaborating with community stakeholders to enhance awareness and adoption of these methods. By reducing dependency on external water sources and adapting landscapes to retain water, the document aims to build a resilient water management system that can withstand climate chal-
Key terms:
lenges. The study highlights the importance of community involvement and multi-stakeholder cooperation to achieve lasting, low-cost solutions aligned with Hungary’s environmental and water management goals.
Mentioned solutions
1) Wetland restoration and management: Restoring and creating wetlands helps retain water, improve biodiversity, and support ecosystems. Wetlands act as natural sponges, reducing the risk of both floods and droughts by holding excess water and releasing it gradually
2) Riverbed and floodplain restoration: This involves re-naturalizing riverbeds and reconnecting floodplains to allow rivers to spread during high flow, reducing flood risks while replenishing groundwater supplies
3) Retention ponds and lakes: Building retention basins captures rainwater that can be stored for dry periods, offering a sustainable source of water for agriculture and municipalities
4) Soil and vegetation management: Planting native vegetation along riverbanks and degraded lands helps prevent erosion, enhances soil moisture retention, and restores natural infiltration
1) Water retention, water balance, water management
2) Climate change, extreme weather events
3) Soil degradation, soil improvement
Purpose: Informational study document
Indicators: None
https://vizmegtartomegoldasok.bm.hu/hu/dokumentumok/Vizmegtarto%20megoldasok%20a%20hazai% 20vizgazdalkodasban_megalapozo%20tanulmany.pdf
Photo: Tomasz Anusiewicz; Unsplash
4. REGIONAL STRATEGIES
4.1. Pest County Climate Strategy 2018-2030
The Pest County Climate Strategy 2018-2030 outlines the county’s approach to addressing climate change with a particular focus on water management, adaptation, and resilience. This document, developed under the KEHOP project, presents a comprehensive plan for tackling the specific challenges posed by climate change within Pest County. Water management is highlighted as one of the important elements due to the county's vulnerability to floods, droughts, and extreme rainfall.
The strategy promotes natural water retention measures, including wetland restoration, floodplain management, and sustainable soil practices. By implementing these nature-based solutions, the strategy aims to reduce the impact of water scarcity and improve flood resilience, especially in urban and agricultural areas.The strategy also emphasizes the importance of adapting infrastructure and urban planning to the changing climate. It identifies increased urbanization and reduced green spaces as exacerbating factors in the creation of urban heat islands and reduced water retention. To address these, it advocates for integrating more green spaces, permeable surfaces, and water-sensitive designs to enhance the resilience of urban environments.
An important element of the strategy is community engagement and climate awareness. Recognizing the critical role of local governments and citizens, the strategy proposes educational programs and stakeholder involvement to foster a climate-conscious society that supports sustainable water use practices. It sees Pest County as a model of climate resilience, leveraging its natural and socio-
economic strengths to lead in climate action and sustainable development.
The strategy aims to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship, ensuring long -term resilience against climate risks through effective water management and communitydriven adaptation. The strategy describes three main goals to address climate change challenges, focusing on mitigation, adaptation, and awareness-building.
1. Mitigation: The strategy prioritizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the county with actions of enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, promoting renewable energy use, and upgrading public transport to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The strategy also aims to limit emissions growth and set significant reduction targets by 2030, with a long-term goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
2. Adaptation: Recognizing that climate impacts are intensifying (droughts, floods, and heatwaves), the strategy describes measures to increase the county’s resilience. For instance, it promotes natural water retention measures to enhance water storage, reduce flood risks, and support agriculture during dry periods. Furthermore, the strategy targets conserving biodiversity and securing vulnerable drinking water sources.
3. Awareness and Community Engagement: The strategy underscores the importance of climate education and engagement at the local level. It supports initiatives for climateconscious practices among residents, encourages collaboration with civil organizations, and highlights educational programs in schools to develop a climate-aware society.
The Strategy describes that „the prolonged warm spells combined with a lack of precipitation may lead to drought in Pest County, especially in the parts of the Sandhauty of the Danube-Tisza area. In addition, this southern area is also affected by the effects of climate change-induced drought and the decline in groundwater levels. The occurrence and duration of droughts may also have a negative impact on agricultural production, despite the fact that Pest County has a rich natural environment, a rich production tradition, numerous landscape types, good arable land and significant water resources. In preparation for the increasing drought phenomenon, an important objective is to help prevent drought
damage. To this end, the aim is to promote more sustainable and climate change-adapted crop production (e.g. drought-tolerant varieties), agricultural production adapted to local conditions and the landscape, the promotion of resource-efficient and resource-enhancing farming practices, and the promotion of complex sustainable landscape management based on water retention and conservation. In order to achieve these objectives, it is important to strengthen the links between the agricultural producers and operators in the county (e.g. the regional units of the National Chamber of Agriculture) and to promote awarenessraising.”
Key terms:
1) Population concentration, heat islands, 2) Ecosystem fragmentation,
3) Extreme weather events, floods
4) Energy awareness, climate protection
Purpose: Providing a comprehensive strategy for decisionmaking
Indicators: Many indicators (pages 2011-219), but no target values set.
https://nakfo.mbfsz.gov.hu/sites/default/files/files/Pest_Megyei_Klimastrategia_2018-2030.pdf
4.2. Bács-Kiskun County Climate Strategy 2018-2030
As the appendix of the Resolution 147/2017 (XII.1.) of the General Assembly of BácsKiskun County Municipality, the Bács-Kiskun County climate strategy 2017 provides many goals regarding the reduction of climate change impacts in the region for the period of 2018 to 2030, and extended with a vision extending to 2050. Recognizing the county’s unique climate challenges, the strategy integrates local needs with national and EU climate objectives, focusing heavily on water management as a crucial component of climate adaptation. Water scarcity and drought risks are central issues for Bács-Kiskun county, given its geographic and climatic characteristics. The strategy emphasizes the need for natural water retention measures to address these issues. These include restoring natural landscapes like wetlands, implementing soil and forest management practices, and using sustainable agricultural methods. By focusing on natural solutions, the strategy aims to enhance water retention, reduce vulnerability to droughts, and support biodiversity. The strategy also identifies climate change threats to other sectors, including agriculture, public health, and infrastructure. For example, it anticipates that climate-driven water shortages could directly impact crop yields and soil quality, endangering local food security.
The most crucial goals of the document are the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy, and fostering public climate awareness. The document also describes a series of targeted actions: increasing energy efficiency in buildings, supporting sustainable transport, and encouraging com-
Key terms:
munity involvement in climate initiatives. The strategy stresses the importance of both community awareness and technological innovation, encouraging investments in clean technologies and climate education. The strategy claims that „one of the most severe impacts of climate change in Bács-Kiskun County is expected to be a further increase in drought damage. Among the reasons for this are unfavourable changes in climatic parametersabove all, hotter and drier summers, resulting in a deterioration of the climatic water balance - unfavourable soil conditions, especially in the Sandy Plain, and the prevalence of water management practices that do not take sufficient account of water retention, excessive, sometimes illegal, water abstraction, lack of capital and an ageing agricultural population, which prevent the widespread use of adaptation methods, and agricultural support systems which do not always encourage appropriate species selection and the use of agricultural techniques. However, the key issue for the future of Bács-Kiskun County is the viability of the agricultural sector and its ability to ensure the livelihood of those who depend on agriculture, the survival of accumulated knowledge and the maintenance of the image of the Bács-Kiskun County landscape, even under changing climatic conditions. In order to achieve this, through the widespread use of appropriate water management and soil cultivation practices, rational irrigation and appropriate species selection, it is necessary to ensure that drought damage does not represent an unbearable blow to the agricultural sector in Bács-Kiskun County in the future, even in the expected extreme climate”
1) Climate change, global warming, CO2 emission, (non-)renewables
2) Water retention, water replenishment, agrarian innovation
Purpose: Providing a comprehensive strategy for decisionmaking
Indicators: Many indicators (pages 121-130). Such as: „Change in the average 5-year area affected by drought damage in 2030-2035 compared to the 2010-2015 average.” Baseline value: 0. Target value set: 0
http://adattar.bacskiskun.hu/klima_strategia/klima_strategia.pdf
Photo: Uta Scholl; Unsplash
5. CONCLUDING REMARKS
This document has provided a comprehensive overview of key policy frameworks and strategic documents influencing water management and soil renewal in Hungary. While the selection of analyzed policies is not exhaustive, it offers valuable insights into the current policy landscape and highlights critical areas for further exploration.
A primary observation from the analysis is the frequent absence of specific, measurable indicators within the examined documents. Although EU-level policies, including strategies and regulations, mandate member states to incorporate targeted measures in their national frameworks, these objectives are often broadly defined, making assessment and quantification at the national or regional level challenging. Nonetheless, these international strategies serve as essential reference points, establishing a foundational framework for future policy development at both EU and national levels.
At the national level, however, the analysis reveals a notable gap in demonstrating a clear and consistent political commitment toward sustainable water management and agricultural reform. Many national strategies remain outdated, sometimes by decades, and lack concrete action plans or enforceable measures. As a result, these policy documents appear more as formal acknowledgments of pressing issues rather than actionable roadmaps guiding policy implementation.
The absence of defined indicators is particularly concerning. In some instances, as observed in certain regionally adopted documents, both baseline and target values were set to zero, effectively undermining the documents' strategic intent. This pattern suggests that while these documents acknowledge critical water management challenges, they fail to reflect a robust political will or a commitment to longterm, sustainable solutions.
An exception to this trend can be found in specific regional policies related to agricultural production, where political intent appears more explicitly articulated. These policies demonstrate a clearer commitment to preserving existing agricultural practices, highlighting a
selective but notable instance of political prioritization within the broader context of water management.
The outdated nature of Hungary's water management policy framework is further illustrated in the figure below, which highlights the prevalence of key terminologies within the analyzed documents. While thematic differences across specific policy texts are expected, certain critical terms such as climate adaptation, blue infrastructure, and most notably, citizen involvement appear far less frequently in Hungarian strategies compared to broader international frameworks. In contrast, more generic references to global warming and climate change are relatively common, reflecting a somewhat superficial engagement with these pressing environmental challenges. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that Hungarian policy documents demonstrate a consistent focus on nature-based solutions, as well as issues related to water balance and soil improvement. These themes, though insufficiently integrated into actionable policy measures, signal an awareness of core environmental concerns, offering a potential starting point for future policy enhancements.
In conclusion, while Hungary's policy environment in water management and soil renewal recognizes significant challenges, its strategic frameworks often fall short of translating awareness into effective, measurable, and politically supported action plans. Strengthening these policies with clear indicators, updated timelines, and demonstrable political commitment will be essential for fostering long-term sustainability and resilience in water management systems.
A summary figure of relevant core concepts of analysed documents, differentiated by source type (EU / Hungarian)