Ancient Hydro-Technologies as a Response to Climate and Food Emergencies: Use of Cultural Heritage to Rescue the Future

Résumé fourni par la source

The Mediterranean region faces worsening climate challenges, including rising temperatures, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation. Climate projections indicate a temperature increase of up to 6.5°C by 2100, with reduced rainfall and increased evaporation exacerbating water shortages, particularly in agriculture, which consumes 70–80 per cent of the region’s water. Competition for freshwater, declining agricultural productivity, and salinization of coastal aquifers further threaten sustainability. Ancient hydro-technologies—traditional water management systems developed by ancient civilizations—offer valuable insights for climate adaptation. Examples include Minoan rainwater harvesting, Roman aqueducts and the qanats originating in what is now Iran, which prioritized water conservation, efficient irrigation, and flood control. These systems, designed in harmony with nature, exemplify sustainability, resilience and multifunctionality, contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. To scale up ancient hydro-technologies, integrated governance, legal recognition, capacity building and interdisciplinary research are essential. International cooperation and financial resources can help preserve and adapt these traditional solutions to modern challenges, integrating them into the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE Nexus) framework for sustainable water, energy, food, and ecosystem management.

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