WARSAW, Poland — The atmosphere ministers of Poland and Germany met on the border of the 2 nations on Wednesday to debate safety of a river in opposition to a repeat of lethal air pollution that killed a whole bunch of tons of fish final 12 months.
Polish Setting Minister Anna Moskwa stated that she could not rule out the prevalence of one other catastrophe regardless of tight monitoring alongside the Oder River and the blocking of the unlawful discharge of chemical substances and waste with a view to forestall the expansion of lethal golden algae.
“We’re certain that now we have carried out and can do every thing that we will on our aspect,” Moskwa stated. “Nonetheless, considering … the restricted information concerning the algae on this planet and … its aggressive nature, we expect each state of affairs.
“We’re getting ready ourselves for each state of affairs — the optimistic and the detrimental one,” she stated.
Moskwa met with German Setting Minister Steffi Lemke in Slubice, on the border with Germany, to discus methods of defending the Oder, components of which the 2 nations share.
They stated the ecosystem appears to be rebuilding after final summer season’s catastrophe, during which as much as 400,000 tons of lifeless fish have been pulled from the Oder when excessive temperatures and excessive salination of the river from chemical discharge led to the expansion of golden algae. Many of the discharge was from the Polish stretch of the river.
Lemke stated that Poland’s business, particularly coal mining, ought to chorus from discharging into the river throughout sizzling summer season months, noting that the 2022 ecological disaster was brought on by the expansion of algae due to excessive temperature mixed with excessive salination of the river, and low water ranges. It was the worst pure catastrophe within the Oder in a few years.
The German minister stated that she and Moskwa did not at all times see eye to eye and that cooperation was “not at all times simple.”
Local weather activist Dominika Lasota advised The Related Press on Wednesday that the scenario within the Oder would enhance if Moskwa “did her job in a accountable manner and stated ‘cease’ to the mines, that are persevering with to discharge salty waters into the rivers.”
Lasota stated a long-term resolution can be transition to renewable power sources.
She stated that Greenpeace and different environmental organizations are warning that some discharges are persevering with, and that threatens a repeat of the lethal air pollution.
However Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated Wednesday that his authorities members are “caretakers and protectors of Poland’s black coal and lignite mines and we is not going to permit Poland’s coal mining to be closed.”
Lemke stated Tuesday that measurements nonetheless present excessive ranges of “salt” contamination within the water, which, if temperatures stay excessive, may result in one other bloom of toxic algae within the coming months.
“That’s why we urgently want to forestall additional contamination of the Oder and do every thing so this delicate ecosystem can recuperate,” Lemke stated in an announcement.
The Oder River, about 840 kilometers (520 miles) lengthy, begins in Czech Republic, however largely runs by way of southwestern Poland and alongside the border with Germany, earlier than emptying into the Baltic Sea.
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Frank Jordans contributed to this report from Berlin.