On 5 November 2026, Prof. Judit Mádl-Szőnyi, Coordinator of the ClimEx-PE project at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), delivered an invited lecture at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences during the Science and Parliament 2026 – Water in Hungary: Resources, Risks and Decisions event. Her presentation highlighted the strategic role of groundwater in climate adaptation and introduced nature-based water retention solutions, including the NaBa-MAR® concept, a central innovation of ClimEx-PE.
The event brought together researchers, policymakers and government representatives to discuss Hungary's growing water-related challenges and the role of scientific evidence in shaping effective water management strategies.
Groundwater as a key resource for climate resilience
In her lecture, entitled “From Science to Responsible Decisions: Groundwater and Climate Adaptation in the Carpathian Basin”, Prof. Mádl-Szőnyi emphasised that groundwater is not simply a static resource stored beneath the surface, but part of interconnected, continuously moving flow systems.
These systems link recharge areas with rivers, lakes, wetlands and other groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Understanding their functioning is therefore essential for developing effective responses to increasing droughts, declining groundwater levels and other hydroclimatic extremes.
The presentation highlighted that surface water retention is necessary, but insufficient on its own. Effective climate adaptation also requires the planned and scientifically informed use of subsurface water storage capacity.
NaBa-MAR®: extending water retention to the landscape scale
A key focus of the presentation was Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), an internationally applied approach that enables the intentional and controlled replenishment of aquifers using available excess water.
Building on this technology, NaBa-MAR® (Nature-Based Managed Aquifer Recharge) integrates managed recharge with natural groundwater flow systems, extending the potential benefits of local interventions to the landscape scale.
The concept, developed and advanced through research at ELTE and within ClimEx-PE, considers not only where water enters the subsurface, but also how it moves through groundwater flow systems and contributes to water availability, ecosystem resilience and long-term water security.
Prof. Mádl-Szőnyi stressed that successful implementation requires site-specific hydrogeological assessment, appropriate water quality, careful planning and continuous monitoring.
ClimEx-PE: connecting research, stakeholders and decision-making
The lecture also addressed a central challenge investigated within ClimEx-PE: how to translate scientific knowledge and innovative groundwater-based solutions into practical water management and policy.
Drawing on the project's interdisciplinary research, Prof. Mádl-Szőnyi identified several barriers to wider implementation, including fragmented water governance, insufficient monitoring data, limited professional capacities and a lack of demonstration projects.
ClimEx-PE addresses these challenges by combining hydrogeological research with socio-economic and legal assessments, stakeholder engagement, education and science-based policy recommendations.
The presentation called for an integrated One Water approach that recognises the natural connections between precipitation, surface water and groundwater, rather than managing them through separate institutional and regulatory frameworks.
The importance of these issues was reinforced by the announcement of Hungary's new National Water Retention Concept and Action Plan during the event, highlighting the growing need for scientifically informed, landscape-scale water management.
Participation in the Science and Parliament forum provided an important opportunity to bring ClimEx-PE's research perspective and the NaBa-MAR® innovation directly into discussions with policymakers and water management stakeholders.
The key message was clear: the technologies for more sustainable water retention are available, but their successful implementation depends on cooperation between scientists, decision-makers and water users.