Poland criticized by Greenpeace for law concerning Oder river revival
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Building new infrastructure such as renewing sewer systems and constructing new water treatment plants are part of the plan which is estimated to cost around 9.5 billion zlotys ($2.3 billion).
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Volunteers are seen recovering dead fish from the German-Polish border river Oder on August 13, 2022 (AP)
After a toxic algae bloom hit the German-Polish border river of Oder last summer, approximately 300 tons of dead fish were recovered and in response to that, Poland just passed a new law on Thursday for its revitalization but Greenpeace has come out to condemn it.
The law includes provisions for new water treatment plants alongside stricter requirements on industrial sites, but Greenpeace believed on Friday in a post on X that the Polish government "ignored the voice of the public and scientists" by passing the law.
Sejm przyjął szkodliwy projekt ustawy odrzańskiej. PiS zignorował głos społeczeństwa, naukowców i powiedział się przeciwko polskiej przyrodzie. Ustawa nie ochroni Odry, rzeka będzie dalej betonowana i zanieczyszczana. Teraz trafi do prezydenta. Apelujemy o jej niepodpisywanie pic.twitter.com/2S9mlDI2Tw
— Greenpeace Polska (@Greenpeace_PL) August 18, 2023
They called the decision a lack of consultation and believed that it would "not protect the Oder". However, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) previously criticized the bill as well on the basis of "further regulation of the Oder (and other rivers), which will further destroy the ecosystem and its ability to clean itself."
Building new infrastructure such as renewing sewer systems and constructing new water treatment plants are part of the plan which is estimated to cost around 9.5 billion zlotys ($2.3 billion).
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Large industrial sites like mines are required to invest in reducing saltwater discharges.
According to the German environment ministry, the toxic algae growth was instigated by the presence of high levels of salt in the waters but claimed there was a lack of details as to the cause.
Instead of blaming the algae for the mass fish deaths, Poland stated that poor water quality was the cause which itself was the result of high temperatures and very low water levels.
Early reports had suggested indications of extremely high levels of mercury, and following another batch of preliminary results, high levels of salt were also detected. However, considering that the results were inconclusive, further test results on heavy metals and mercury were pending.
Polish and German authorities have one common goal of stopping future disasters but have been going head-to-head over responsibility and keeping the algae at bay.
