Taking Steps to Safeguard Our H2O: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Water and Coastal Protection Law
proposed legislation for enhanced shielding of waterways and coastlines, dubbed Water and Coastal Protection Act - Proposal for a legislative measure reinforcing water and coastal conservation.
Hey there! Let's dive into the new water and coastal protection law that's been thrown into the mix in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, shall we?
This law, baby, is all about preserving our lifeblood (i.e., water) and fortifying our coastal areas—a move aimed at adapting to climate change's wrath. Till Backhaus, our environment and agriculture minister, declared that "water is our most valuable resource. We need to protect it and distribute it fairly."
As for the why behind this, it's pretty simple. Climate change is causing all sorts of chaos, from sweltering droughts to raging storms, and our water resources are feeling the heat. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's current water law, which has been keeping things tidy since 1992, is not cutting it anymore. Enter the new reform, which will supposedly go into effect around the new year.
Backhaus also mentioned that water consumers, namely households, should expect a bit of a price hike, though it won't break the bank. On average, a household might see a 15 euros increase in their annual water bill. Drinking water from the tap will still cost you around 1 cent per liter, so it's not exactly gone up in price like bottled mineral water (55 cents, y'all!).
Farmers aren't exactly off the hook, either. The new law requires them to fork over some cash for the water they use to irrigate their crops. This is a switch from how other regions handle things, but farmers are up in arms about this change. The fee for surface water will be 2 cents per cubic meter, while groundwater will set you back 6 cents. But don't sweat it too much, Leave it to Backhaus to explain that drip irrigation and frost protection irrigation in fruit cultivation are gonna be exempt from this fee.
There are currently 25,000 hectares of agricultural land that are under irrigation, which represents less than two percent of the land. With this new law, farmers can expect to incur about a million euros in added expenses each year. Backhaus argues that the fee is meant to encourage water conservation, as it becomes increasingly essential in farming, especially vegetable cultivation, as dry periods grow more common.
Oh, and to tackle the consequences of climate change head-on, the new law introduces some changes in terms of flood protection responsibilities. The state will still take care of flood protection in built-up areas, but municipalities and water and soil associations will now bear the responsibility of protecting agricultural lands from flooding. Backhaus says that these entities will also shoulder additional responsibility for flood protection in other areas outside of closed settlements.
In case you haven't picked up what's going on, this law is all about being proactive about climate change. It allows for the relocation of coastal protection facilities, the designation of coastal retreat areas, and the enhancement of near-natural water development areas. Backhaus summed it up best when he said, "We can't reverse climate change, but we can prepare for it wisely. This law gives us the tools to do so."
Alright, there ya have it! Stay thirsty, my friends.
- The new water and coastal protection law in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is not just about preserving water; it's also a policy to accommodate climate-change-induced challenges in the environment.
- This law introduces changes in policy-and-legislation regarding flood protection responsibilities, with the state focusing on built-up areas and municipalities handling agricultural lands.
- To combat the escalating water scarcity issue, the employment policy for farmers, in terms of water usage fees, has been revised to encourage water conservation in agriculture, particularly in vegetable cultivation.
