It’s time to take action! Mark Owen, From European Anglers Alliance, “Europe’s rivers and lakes are dying under our eyes and, through the public campaign #ProtectWater, we want to open citizens’ eyes to their unacceptable deterioration and compel them to take action!
EAA and 100 environmental groups launch European campaign to save the EU water law. By activating the public, we want to ensure/pressure policymakers and parliament members to sharpen their focus on the WFD (Water Framework Directive) as the right tool to protect and restore Europe’s waters and to address against Member States in taking responsibility.
This public consultation is the only opportunity for the general public to have its say during the evaluation of the law, and the campaign provides an easy tool for citizens to express their support to keep this law strong and effective”.
Freshwater ecosystems are the most threatened on the planet and the situation is no different in Europe. 60% of EU waters are not healthy today because Member States have allowed them to be exploited in ways that cause permanent harm, because of dams and other destructive infrastructure, and unsustainable agriculture.
Only a bad workman blames his tools. Member States are the clear culprits: for the best part of two decades, they have relentlessly dodged their commitments and avoided effective delivery on the legally binding objectives. Member States agreed to put a stop to this and achieve “good status” for their waters by 2027 at the very latest (the original 2015 deadline was missed by a long shot). They need a strong WFD to achieve their goals.
The online campaign, #ProtectWater, is led by WWF, the European Environmental Bureau, European Anglers Alliance, European Rivers Network and Wetlands International, who together form the Living Rivers Europe coalition. 100 NGOs want to protect all sources of Europe’s water, such as rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and groundwater, during its ongoing evaluation (known as a “fitness check”).
The campaign uses provocative scenarios and imagery around the future of beer to encourage citizens in Europe and beyond to participate in the European Commission’s public consultation on the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), which is running until 4 March 2019. 2027 is also the year which the #ProtectWater campaign playfully poses as the fictional ‘expiration date’ for good beer.
More information about the #ProtectWater campaign is available at: www.livingrivers.eu