Improving health and resilience of waters in Europe

Europe’s water is under pressure from pollution, over-use, habitat degradation and increasing impacts of climate change. Improving the resilience and health of Europe’s lakes, rivers and groundwaters is an urgent priority to secure good-quality water for people and nature.

‘EEA Signals 2024 – Towards healthy and resilient waters in Europe’ gives an overview of key challenges and opportunities about improving the health and resilience of Europe’s waters. The report consists of an editorial by EEA Executive Director, Leena Ylä-Mononen, and collection of interviews and short articles that are based on previously published EEA knowledge.

Based on the recently published ‘Europe’s state of water’ report, EEA Signals articles focus on water and nature, pollution and climate change, and also have a closer look at the story of improving bathing water quality in Europe. Each article also includes a box on what citizens can do. By prioritising water efficiency, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and protecting our natural environments, we can build a more resilient Europe.

In the interviews, Dr Sharon McGuinness, Executive Director of European Chemicals Agency, discusses the need to move towards more sustainable and safer chemicals. Monika Mörth, Director General for Water Management in the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, talks about her country’s efforts to safeguard good water quality. And Dr Zongsu Wei tells about his work at Aarhus University in Denmark to find solutions to remove harmful chemicals from water.

Water resilience is a growing priority across Europe. Earlier this year the European Commission launched the #WaterWiseEU campaign to promote the topic and sustainable water management across Europe. This week, the One Planet Summit focuses on international cooperation on water, and the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) seeks renewed commitment to restore land and boost drought resilience

The EEA Signals report is an annual, easy-to-read web publication that looks at key issues related to the environment and climate. Recent EEA Signals reports have looked at health and environment (2023), energy (2022), nature (2021), and zero pollution (2020).

Source: EEA Europa