Poland, Germany focus on avoiding repeat of lethal river air pollution however prepared for all situations

WARSAW, Poland — The surroundings ministers of Poland and Germany met on the border of the 2 nations on Wednesday to debate safety of a river towards a repeat of lethal air pollution that killed lots of of tons of fish final yr.

Polish Environment Minister Anna Moskwa mentioned that she couldn’t 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 the intention to forestall the expansion of lethal golden algae.

“We are sure that we have done and will do everything that we can on our side,” Moskwa mentioned. “However, making an allowance for … the restricted data concerning the algae on this planet and … its aggressive nature, we predict each situation.

“We are preparing ourselves for every scenario – the positive and the negative one,” she mentioned.

Moskwa met with German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke in Slubice, on the border with Germany, to discus methods of defending the Oder, elements of which the 2 nations share.

They mentioned the ecosystem appears to be rebuilding after final summer time’s catastrophe, during which as much as 400,000 tons of lifeless fish had been pulled from the Oder when excessive temperatures and excessive salination of the river from chemical discharge led to the expansion of golden algae. Most of the discharge was from the Polish stretch of the river.

Lemke mentioned that Poland‘s business, particularly coal mining, ought to chorus from discharging into the river throughout scorching summer time 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 mentioned that she and Moskwa didn’t at all times see eye to eye and that cooperation was “not always easy.”

Climate activist Dominika Lasota instructed The Associated Press on Wednesday that the scenario within the Oder would enhance if Moskwa “did her job in a responsible way and said ‘stop’ to the mines, which are continuing to discharge salty waters into the rivers.”

Lasota mentioned a long-term answer could be transition to renewable vitality sources.

She mentioned that Greenpeace and different environmental organizations are warning that some discharges are persevering with, and that threatens a repeat of the lethal air pollution.

But Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki mentioned Wednesday that his authorities members are “caretakers and protectors of Poland‘s black coal and lignite mines and we will not allow Poland‘s coal mining to be closed.”

Lemke mentioned 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 need to prevent further contamination of the Oder and do everything so this sensitive ecosystem can recover,” Lemke mentioned in an announcement.

The Oder River, about 840 kilometers (520 miles) lengthy, begins in Czech Republic, however largely runs by means of southwestern Poland and alongside the border with Germany, earlier than emptying into the Baltic Sea.