Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
Recently, International Transport Forum (ITF) warned that drought-induced low river levels are disrupting inland navigation, reducing cargo capacity and increasing freight costs.
Key Highlights of Report
River and Climate Indicators
- Major affected European rivers – It includes the Rhine, Danube, Loire, and Po.
- Rhine – Summer discharge may decrease by up to 10% by 2050 under high-emission scenarios.
- In August 2026, Rhine barge capacity decreased to approximately 15% of normal levels, while Danube capacity declined to about 30%.
- Amazon – Severe droughts have disrupted river navigation and limited access to food, fuel, medicines, and essential services.
Importance of Inland Waterways
- Inland waterways account for 15 to 45 percent of freight transport, measured in tonne-kilometres, in Belgium, China, the Netherlands, and Romania.
- United States – Approximately 92 percent of agricultural exports are transported via river systems.
- Rhine – The river serves as a major transport route for fuels, chemicals, and grains.
Economic and Supply Chain Impacts
- Low water levels reduce barge capacity, necessitating more trips, which increases freight costs, causes delays, leads to port congestion, and results in economic losses.
- Germany – Low-water conditions on the Rhine in 2018 were associated with a 0.4 percent decline in gross domestic product (GDP).
- Industrial production is estimated to decline by approximately 1 percent during a month of severe low-water conditions.
Challenges in Shifting to Alternative Transport Modes
- Rail – Rail networks are often already heavily utilized and are vulnerable to disruptions caused by extreme heat.
- Road – Shifting freight to road transport requires significantly greater capacity.
- A single barge with a capacity of 1,500 tonnes is equivalent to approximately 60 trucks, each carrying 25 tonnes.
Adaptation Strategies
- Enhancement of water-level forecasting capabilities
- Deployment of shallow-draft vessels
- Implementation of water retention measures during periods of high precipitation
- Regulated releases of reservoir water
- Execution of emergency dredging operations
- Pre-positioning of essential stocks and storage facilities
- Integration of inland waterways, rail, and road within multimodal transport systems
- Germany offers water-level forecasts extending up to six weeks for the Rhine, Danube, and Elbe rivers.
Reference
Down to Earth | ITF Report
