Europe is facing a significant water crisis as pollution, habitat degradation, climate change, and the overuse of freshwater resources take their toll. The European Environment Agency (EEA) released a stark warning on Tuesday, revealing that only 37% of Europe's surface water bodies are in \"good\" or \"high\" ecological status.
EEA Executive Director Leena Yla-Mononen emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, \"The health of Europe's waters is not good. Our waters face an unprecedented set of challenges that threatens Europe's water security.\" According to the report, just 29% of surface waters achieved \"good\" chemical status between 2015 and 2021, highlighting the pervasive issue of chemical pollution from sources like polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) and microplastics.
While Europe's groundwater resources fare better, with 77% maintaining good chemical status, surface waters are under relentless pressure. Air pollution from coal burning and vehicle emissions, coupled with agricultural waste, continue to contaminate rivers, lakes, and coastal areas.
The EEA's extensive analysis covered 120,000 surface water bodies and 3.8 million square kilometers of groundwater across 19 EU countries and Norway. The agency is urging member states to halve pesticide use by 2030 and adopt more sustainable agricultural practices. Yla-Mononen called for a collective effort to restore and protect Europe's vital water resources, stressing the need for reduced water consumption and ecosystem restoration to ensure water security for future generations.
Climate change exacerbates these challenges, bringing extreme droughts and flooding that strain Europe's freshwater systems like never before. The EEA report serves as a wake-up call for governments to prioritize water management and sustainable practices to safeguard this essential resource.
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Europe's water security under threat, environment agency warns
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