Source: NYT > Business (paywall)
When Europe's busiest inland waterway drops below navigable levels, it exposes the continent's dependence on a single chokepoint for moving coal, grain, and chemicals—industries with zero built-in redundancy. Barge operators reduce cargo loads by half, multiplying shipping costs and transit times as manufacturers already face energy shocks and labor constraints. Europe's infrastructure planning treats climate volatility as an edge case rather than a design constraint.