Developing a Safe Operating Space framework for water resources in the Danube River basin

The Danube River Basin, spanning 19 countries and covering 801,000 km², is the most international river basin in the world. This region faces diverse challenges related to water quantity, quality, groundwater management, and biodiversity, all of which are expected to intensify due to climate change. To address these challenges, a holistic and sustainable water management approach is needed—one that integrates environmental, social, and economic dimensions, ensures stakeholder involvement, and aligns with regulatory frameworks.

Building on the Planetary Boundaries framework, the concept of Safe Operating Space (SOS) has emerged in the last decades to assess sustainable resource use within the Earth’s carrying capacity while maintaining human well-being. Within the Horizon Europe SOS-Water project, we are working to define the SOS for water resources in four case study sites across Europe and beyond (Danube, Rhine, Jucar and Mekong basins) using integrated modeling, monitoring, advanced indicators, and an inclusive and iterative participatory approach that actively engages stakeholders to co-define visions, water values, and management options.

The resulting co-created SOS framework will inform the design of sustainable water management pathways that address current and future challenges. It aims to maximize the socio-economic and ecological value of water while promoting resilience and sustainability across the different river basins.

This proposed talk will showcase the application of the SOS framework to the Danube Basin, highlighting its capability to integrate all the different aspects of the water dimension with stakeholder engagement and co-development of management pathways. We will present the preliminary framework co-developed with stakeholders for the Danube Basin and provide insights into the how it can be used to inform sustainable water management practices and address the critical water challenges facing the Danube Basin and other transboundary regions worldwide.