Water Governance for Climate Resilience in Hungary

Water resources management is under growing pressure in Hungary. While the country has traditionally focused on managing widespread flood risks, it is now facing increasing droughts and water scarcity against a backdrop of rising water demand. New risks and challenges require water governance to shift from crisis to risk-based management, adopting adaptive strategic planning for water security and more place-based approaches. Based on a policy dialogue with the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development, and over 100 stakeholders, this report analyses the state of water resources in relation to climate change and the institutional framework for water and climate policies in Hungary. It identifies the main governance gaps towards accelerating climate adaptation measures in water governance and makes recommendations to address them across levels of government.