Bringing life to the Oder River, from the source to the sea

CCB • July 31, 2023

In the coming days, July 31st-August 4th, 2023, various river stakeholders (academic staff, water-related institutions, municipalities and government representatives, locals, NGOs, business owners, individuals) from 11 European countries will visit the Oder Delta during the 4th edition of the international River University (1), organised by Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) in collaboration with Rewilding Oder Delta (ROD).

Taking the Oder River as an example and focusing on water pollution and risk management, they will explore the impact of the river's condition on the Baltic Sea, as well as climate change's consequences on the waters in the region.

The need for recovery

In 2022, the Oder, the transboundary river of Poland, Germany and Czech Republic, having one of the extraordinary European deltas, experienced the worst scenario of environmental catastrophe on Europe's scale, caused by anthropogenic pollution (2). To this day, the Oder River still registers a high level of salinity and conductivity. Saline discharges are an ongoing threat, and the toxic “golden algae” Prymnesium parvum are still present in the waters, with fish kills at specific points observed. These issues represent significant challenges for a smooth recovery.


"The Oder River recovery should be addressed holistically rather than in silos. We need a source-to-sea approach and awareness of the role that healthy rivers play in achieving a Good Environmental Status in the Baltic Sea. Sustainable use and protection are the only long-term, wise approaches to such riverine areas. It is a well-known fact that natural rivers have a greater self-cleaning capacity, offering many benefits to their users," - says Peter Torkler, Managing Director at Rewilding Oder Delta, and co-organiser of this year's River University edition.


Protection Plans for the Lower Oder River

The concept of a cross-border protected area of the Lower Oder River and its valley was made decades ago. Today, this initiative is still considered, needed and wanted, as it will benefit the river's health and the region's economy. Polish citizens of the Oder basin renewed these efforts with the initiative of Lower Odra Valley National Park (3). Already in the 1990s, a national park was established in the German part of this area. The need to create a coherent transboundary area of a protected Oder River valley should go from the old visionary papers to the bright new reality. The reality in which people not only use the rivers but also protect them, taking care of water security.


During the River University, participants will go on a canoe trip in the vicinity of an existing German national park and a planned Polish national park, in order to experience the ecological state of the river and discuss the topics of sustainable use and protection of natural resources and water safety.


Between rivers and the sea

On Thursday, the participants together with the staff of ZERUM educational centre in Ueckermünde will conduct water quality studies on the Szczecin Lagoon and Uecker River. Water samples and aquatic organisms will be examined from a boat and analysed directly on-site. The lagoon with its direct connection to the Oder River and Baltic Sea is sensitive habitat; fluctuations in salinity and high water temperatures have always made the lagoon susceptible to algal blooms. The expertise on the condition of the lagoon is crucial for preventing such events from happening as well as awareness raising on the importance of healthy and clean waters.


Connecting stakeholders and river practitioners

Initially founded in 2018 by Ewa Leś, this year's edition of the CCB River University is co-organised by Rewilding Oder Delta. The course will bring together various river stakeholders for five days of engaging indoor and outdoor workshops. The program includes presentations and hands-on activities led by top European academic staff and professionals. Among other sessions, the updated "International Warning and Alarm Plan for Oder Basin" (4) will be analysed due to its significance for the Oder Basin community regarding alarming procedures and communication. Can people feel safe and well-informed in case a similar disaster happens again?

The release and presentation of the new CCB research analysis, "The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region" (5) is planned, aiming to support and foster positive changes in integrated sustainable water management in the Baltic Sea region countries.


"There is a great need for up-to-date applied knowledge of river ecosystems and sustainable integrated water management practices. The River University delivers it in a practical and multi-sectoral manner while still being in contact with the river and its valley," - says Ewa Leś, River University founder and CCB Eutrophication Working Area Leader.


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Press note in Polish available here.



Further information:

(1) River University is an international and multidisciplinary course for participants from the Baltic Sea Region and Europe, established officially in 2018 under the wings of Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB): https://www.ccb.se/river-university

(2) CCB´s statement (August 2022): https://www.ccb.se/ccb-concerns-regarding-contamination-of-river-odra

ROD´s joint press release (August 2022): https://rewilding-oder-delta.com/en/news/oder-catastrophe-completely-clarify-causes-and-ensure-restoration-of-the-oder-restoration-and-renaturation-of-the-oder-must-now-have-top-priority/

(3) National Park Lower Odra Valley: https://pnddo.pl/en/home/

(4) The update of the “International Warning and Alarm Plan for Oder Basins”: https://www.mkoo.pl/index.php?lang=EN

(5) CCB publication “The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region” (2023): https://www.ccb.se/publication/greatest-water-management-challenges-baltic-sea-region


Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) - Is a politically independent, non-profit association, which unites 27 NGOs, with over 1 500 000 members in all countries around the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the Baltic Sea Environment and its natural resources for present and future generations. More info at: https://www.ccb.se


Rewilding Oder Delta (ROD) - is part of Rewilding Europe’s network founded in 2011 in the Netherlands, which aims to implement the concept of rewilding across the continent. Oder Delta became the eighth rewilding land in 2015. More info at: https://rewilding-oder-delta.com/


Contact:

Press inquiries for the on-site visits (31.07-04.08, Germany, Oder delta, different locations):

 

COP30 brings ocean and water to the center of climate policy

By CCB • December 5, 2025
In Belém, in the heart of the Amazon, the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference COP30 immediately set the bar high. In his opening speech, Brazilian President Lula da Silva stressed that climate change is no longer a "threat to the future", but a tragedy that the world is already experiencing here and now, and called on countries to accelerate actions rather than limit themselves to promises. However, as is often the case in COP meetings, the political reality turned out to be more complicated than ambitions. Negotiations were difficult: the countries could not agree on a clear and binding plan to phase out fossil fuels. It is important to note that the Global Action Plan has provided a platform for discussing the development of a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change. At the same time, COP30 has brought tangible progress in other areas: the countries agreed to triple the amount of adaptation funding for developing countries by 2035, strengthened the forest and ocean agenda, and expanded the range of practical initiatives under the Action Agenda . COP30 consolidated the trend: from "water at the center of the climate crisis" to a holistic ocean agenda closely related to energy, food, biodiversity and sustainable coastal development. From the COP29 Water Declaration to the COP30 Enhanced Ocean Water Program At COP29 in Baku, the Declaration on Water for Climate Action was adopted , with the aim to applying comprehensive approaches to combating the causes and consequences of climate change for water basins, emphasizing also the need to integrate water-related mitigation and adaptation measures into national climate policies, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). COP30 did not reverse this logic, but expanded it towards the ocean and coasts. Both processes "aquatic" and "oceanic" are moving in the same direction: integration of water, coasts and ocean into the climate plans of countries; development of nature-based solutions; strengthening transboundary management of water and marine systems; recognizing adaptation as an equal part of climate policy, rather than an "adjunct" to emissions reduction. Task Force on Oceans and the Blue NDC Challenge The international Task Force on Oceans , led by Brazil and France, was officially presented at the high-level ministerial meeting "From Ambition to Implementation: Delivering on Ocean Commitments" on 18 November, integrating oceans into a global mechanism to accelerate the incorporation of marine solutions into national climate plans. The Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge encourages countries to set ocean protection targets when updating their NDCs. The goal is to transition the Blue NDC Challenge into an Implementation Task Force. Members of the Blue NDC Challenge, currently 17 countries, can adopt a broad set of actions aimed at the protection and sustainable use of the oceans.These measures include the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems, supported by tools such as marine spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, and climate-aligned marine protected areas. Countries are also encouraged to support sustainable and climate-resilient fishing and aquaculture, ensuring ocean health and long-term food security. B razil has set a clear example: its updated NDC includes a separate chapter on the ocean and coastal zones. For the first time, the national climate plan (Plano Clima) until 2035 includes a thematic adaptation plan for these areas. Priorities include the completion of national Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) by 2030 and major programs for the conservation and restoration of mangroves and coral reefs (ProManguezal, ProCoral).

Pathway to Tox-Free Living: Policy and Action

By CCB • November 24, 2025
Leading scientists, consumer advocates and policymakers gathered on November, 18th in Brussels for the conference "From Evidence to Policy: Toward a Tox free Living Environment" . They warned that exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in homes and consumer products represents a silent but severe public health and economic crisis. New findings presented to over 65 participants by the EU Baltic Sea Interreg project NonHazCity3 , LIFE ChemBee and the ToxFree LIFE for All projects as well as revealed widespread contamination of European households by complex chemical mixtures of hormone system disrupting substances (so called endocrine disrupters – EDCs) that contribute to chronic disease and impose enormous health costs. According to the key note speaker Dr. Aleksandra Rutkowska, the home environment is a significant source of exposure to EDCs through indoor air, dust and daily contact with common products. Current research links such exposure to a shocking amount of lifestyle diseases including 22 cancer outcomes, 18 metabolic disorder outcomes and 17 cardiovascular disease outcomes. Scientists also stressed that the crisis spans generations. EDCs trigger epigenetic changes that not only affect today’s population but also future children and even grandchildren. Other effects include reproduction disorders. Over the last decade, 150 million babies were born preterm, and evidence shows that reducing the use of plastics by half could cut the risk of preterm birth by half as well.