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Battle cry over water shortage: Lausitz in the drought crisis!
Find out more about the current water crisis in Oberspreewald-Lausitz and the challenges for Europe's waters until 2025.
Battle cry over water shortage: Lausitz in the drought crisis!
In times of climate change, the water balance in Germany is becoming more and more of an issue. Things are looking bleak, especially in Lusatia: reported here LR Online about alarming declines in groundwater. According to recent surveys, the region is struggling with an acute water shortage, which is worrying not only for nature, but also for the people living here and their agriculture.
It is a race against time, which is directly exacerbated by the insufficient groundwater supply. The lack of water has serious consequences for agricultural production as the soil becomes increasingly drier. A circumstance that farmers are observing with great concern. If action is not taken as quickly as possible, this could have a devastating impact on the entire region.
Water quality and European challenges
But it's not just the amount of water that is a problem. The quality of water in Europe also leaves a lot to be desired. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), only 37 percent of surface waters in the EU reached a “good” or “very good” ecological status in 2021. The European Parliament speaks of a worrying situation if only 29 percent of the water bodies meet the criteria for good chemical status.
Of course, in this context, reference is also made to the human activities that contribute significantly to the deterioration of water quality. Industrial chemicals and agricultural pollutants are particularly important here. These include long-lasting chemicals, but also newly emerging substances such as microplastics, which are contaminating our water resources.
Legal dispute over subscription renewals
While a race against time is taking place in our waters, another topic is causing discussion: a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from October 5, 2023 is keeping people busy. Consumers may only revoke automatic subscription renewals once n-tv reported. This concerns a case from Austria in which the Austrian consumer protection organization VKI sued the German Internet learning platform Sofatutor.
The special thing about it: The subscription can be canceled at any time without notice during a 30-day test phase. After this phase, there will be a charge and will be automatically extended if no notice is given. The VKI's wish is expressed here that there should be the possibility of revocation even if the subscription is converted into a paid subscription.
Overall, these different aspects show how important it is to fight for both the quality and quantity of water and to protect the rights of consumers. The challenges are complex, but the commitment to an environmentally friendly and consumer-oriented future is even more urgent.