Letter of the European Water Movement to the EU Parliamentarians about next 2023 UN Water Conference
In view of the convocation by the UN General Assembly of the Conference on the complete mid-term review of implementation of the goals fixed in the International Decade for Action “Water for a sustainable development 2018-2028” (2023 UN Water Conference), to be held in New York from the 22nd to the 24th of March 2023, we, movements, networks, NGOs, trade unions, that are members of the European Water Movement (EWM), invite the EU Parliament and all the MEPs to actively contribute and participate to the events of the aforesaid UN Water Conference.
The European Union's Department of International Relations has developed a common position paper for Member States (MS) with topics to be addressed in the interactive dialogues of the Conference. The suggested topics include governance, climate adaptation and financing.
Regarding this position paper, the European Water Movement (EWM) shares the EU stance on the necessity to implement a Human Rights-based perspective for water management and governance, ensuring the affordability of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation (HRWS) and the good ecological status of water bodies, underlining the need to improve accountability and transparency, and to regulate and control the involvement of the private sector and its risks for the HRWS guarantee.
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WATER SIGN
World Water Day demonstration
~ For water purification, water conservation and water justice ~
When: 22 March 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Starting point: Monbijouplatz, 10178 Berlin
End point: Fluss Bad Garten, Sperlingsgasse corner Friedrichsgracht, 10178 Berlin.
We all love water. We all need water. And we all care about water. On the occasion of World Water Day and the opening of the United Nations Water Conference on 22 March, we are making a collective statement for the protection of our natural resources, the responsible use of the element of water, the cleaning and keeping clean of our natural waters, the rediscovery of our rivers as axes of life and development and the creation of equitable access to the common good of water.
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The GRÜNE LIGA Berlin e.V., together with a tip: tap, will present their activities in the context of the newly founded and cross-association Wassernetz Berlin at the Ökomarkt on Kollwitzplatz on 9 March 2023 (12-17 h). Here in the catchment area of the Stadtspree, we would also like to get into conversation with people interested in water bodies on the question of what can be done for water retention and rain infiltration in the neighbourhood.
The pilot project Wassernetz Berlin, financed by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin, was launched in Berlin on 20 January 2023. The aim of the project is, among other things, to present and support measures for the protection and ecological upgrading of watercourses and lakes in Berlin and to implement them on 19 watercourses themselves in order to preserve and restore the natural biodiversity of our watercourses, also in order to realise the goal of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) of achieving a "good ecological status of all watercourses in Europe".
To raise awareness and provide the general public with understanding tools, we and other partners in the Water Network organise dialogue events on this topic.
Discover more about the Water Network here: www.wassernetz-berlin.de
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The new Nature Restoration Law proposed by the European Commission in June 2022, aimed at restoring ecosystems for people, climate and planet, will be put to a vote in the ENVI Committee in May 2023. In June 2023, the European Parliament will hold its plenary vote (mid-June).
In this context, the GRÜNE LIGA supports EEB's #RestoreNature campaign, which is pushing for the adoption of an ambitious law.
This law is fundamental to establish a governance framework in order to restore ecosystems that are particularly at risk, in order to increase climate change adaptation, ensure food security and the well-being of humankind and all forms of life on our planet.
Member States will have to develop National Restoration Plans, including both area-based restoration targets and indicator-based restoration targets. This should allow for the establishment of an integrated approach to restoration on the European level.
(The Havel River in Germany)
The main overarching objectives are the following:
- at least 20% of land- and sea-areas' restoration targets by 2030
- by 2050: having measures in place for ALL ecosystems in need of restoration
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Between 18 and 20 January 2023, the annual meeting of the Living Lakes Network Germany and the Lakes Conference took place in Berlin, which had not been held for several years due to the pandemic.
The Living Rivers Foundation, Global Nature Fund (GNF), the GRÜNE LIGA and Living Lakes Germany were pleased to be able to bring together over 120 participants over three days.
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Open letter: Counting on new hydropower to accelerate Renewable Energy deployment in Europe is irresponsible.
The EEB (European Environmental Bureau), Bird Life International, the EEA (the European Anglers Alliance), Wetlands International and WWF have published an open letter, this Monday 6 February 2023, asking for more regulations of hydropower development. The open letter is signed by more than 100 NGOs across Europe.
Among others, we ask for:
- At least retain the new article 29b on sustainability criteria for hydropower proposed by the European Parliament (RED III), as it recognises that hydropower has direct impacts on freshwater ecosystems which must be mitigated.
- Ask Member States to exclude new hydropower plants from go-to areas (RED IV), as the Council’s general approach from 21 December on REPowerEU, which only gives Member States the option to exclude new hydropower plants from go-to areas, does not go far enough.
Discover the entire open letter of the European NGOs here (in English): Open letter: Counting on new hydropower to accelerate Renewable Energy deployment in Europe is irresponsible.
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- 1st Main Riverfilmfest (14.-26.03.2023)
- New network strengthens water protection in all Berlin districts
- LEAG opencast mine continues to pump groundwater without permission
- Lake Conference 2023
- Online seminar of the WG Water in the Forum Environment and Development - "Biodiversity Targets in Danger?"
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