Our waters, our responsibility
Why are healthy waters important?
Water is the basis of all life. It provides us with drinking water, food, and energy, and is an indispensable part of our ecosystem. But pollution, climate change, and overuse threaten our oceans, rivers, and lakes. Healthy waters are crucial for biodiversity, quality of life, and economic stability.
National implementation of Mission WATER
Austrias' Action Plan for Mission WATER
The EU mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” aims to restore the oceans and inland waters to good condition by 2030. The general objective is divided into three specific goals:
1) to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity,
2) eliminating or preventing pollution of our oceans and waters and restoring habitats,
3) making the “blue economy” sustainable, climate-neutral, and circular. The “blue economy” economic system includes all industries and sectors related to oceans, seas, and freshwater ecosystems.
For the national implementation of the EU mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030,” the Austrian Mission Action Group has drawn up an action plan that outlines the following three impact pathways for achieving this mission:
- Impact pathway – Knowledge and awareness
- Impact pathway – Knowledge transfer
- Impact pathway – Technical priorities
Austrias' objectives for Mission WATER
Within the framework of the three impact pathways, the Austrian Mission Action Group has defined the following goals/priorities for Austria:
- Promotion of education and awareness raising: Raising public awareness through education and awareness raising in schools and universities, and through coordinated communication in political decision-making
- Promotion of knowledge transfer: Promoting knowledge transfer between scientific disciplines and between science and politics
- Taking new technical priorities into account Climate change: Pursuing one goal must not interfere with the achievement of other goals
More information about Mission WATER can be found on the FFG website: https://www.ffg.at/europa/heu/missions/nationale-umsetzung/wasser
How can citizen science contribute to Mission WATER?
Citizen scientists can help develop methods for evaluating ecosystems and renaturation, or share observations on bacteria, plastic pollution, or biodiversity. In doing so, they provide valuable data and contribute to a better understanding of the health of our waters and the development of targeted measures. At the same time, they raise awareness of the importance of clean waters and promote people's connection to their environment.
How can You be part of this mission?
The following projects contribute to the goals of Mission WATER:
Did You Know?
- Renatured streams have greater habitat diversity and species richness of invertebrates than straightened streams. (More information here)
- In catchment areas, vegetated banks can filter nutrients and pollutants from agriculture before they enter rivers and lakes. (More information here)
- Trees on riverbanks provide shade and keep the water cooler, which is important for fish species that need cold water, such as rainbow trout. (More information here)
- Wetlands such as moors and floodplains slow down the flow of water and can thus mitigate flooding. (More information here)