NGOs call to address the impacts of lignite mining on water in the Oder river basin
CCB • June 2, 2021
On June 8th, the International Commission for the Protection of the Oder River (ICPO) will meet to discuss the updates of the international River Basin Management Plan.
CCB, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and partner NGOs are calling on the ICPO, the Ministries of Water and the Water Directors of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, to take the necessary measures to protect the river from the disruptive impacts of lignite mining, with a joint letter.
Key messages and facts
- The Oder river basin water status is far from good: less than 40% of the surface water bodies are in good chemical status, and not even 20% are in good ecological status
- The EU Water Framework Directive requires the river basin to reach good water status by 2027, but too many exemptions to polluters – including lignite mines – are jeopardising this objective
- The national and international River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) are a key opportunity to revert this trend, protect and restore the Oder waters and basin
- The impacts of lignite mining are tackled in the upcoming river basin management plans and strategies, with a special focus on:
- Preventing lignite mines pressure on water bodies
- Implementing the ‘polluter pays principle’ to hold polluters accountable
- Cutting pollution at source
- Stopping the abuse of exemptions
- Have your say in the public consultation on the Oder RBMP
EU Council decision on 2026 fishing limits fails to implement legally required safeguards, jeopardising the fragile marine ecosystem
3 October 2025 - Coalition Clean Baltic, together with its Member Organization BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany and the citizens’ initiative “ Lebensraum Vorpommern ”, have launched a petition to stop new oil and gas drilling projects in the Baltic Sea . The petition comes in response to plans to exploit a deposit just 6 km offshore Świnoujście , Poland, in the transboundary waters of the Oder Estuary and Pomeranian Bay. The planned site lies at the heart of NATURA 2000 protected areas , which are vital for biodiversity, climate action, and local communities. Oil and gas extraction in the Baltic Sea poses severe threats to its fragile ecosystems. Industrial activities such as drilling, pipeline construction, and ship traffic risk polluting the water with chemicals, oil leaks, and toxic waste. Underwater noise from pile driving and increased traffic would further degrade marine habitats. These pressures add to the already critical challenges faced by the Baltic Sea, including biodiversity loss, eutrophication, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. The consequences extend far beyond nature. Local communities rely on a clean and healthy Baltic for tourism, fishing, and quality of life. Expanding fossil fuel infrastructure would also undermine Europe’s climate commitments and lock in carbon emissions for decades to come. The petition calls on the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the European Commission, and the Secretariat of the Espoo Convention to : Stop the plans for oil and gas extraction in the Oder Estuary and the Pomeranian Bay; Ban any new oil and gas extraction across the Baltic Sea; Ensure strong cross-border cooperation and communication amongst all involved states. The petition is open through the WeMove Europe´s platform and can be signed here .