<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/27/spain-environment-minister-hails-andalucia-wetlands-deal-green-transition>
"A landmark agreement to safeguard one of Europe’s most important wetlands
underscores the importance of harnessing public opinion to drive the green
transition and help mitigate the effects of the climate emergency, the
country’s environment minister has said.
The Doñana in western Andalucía – whose marshes, forests and dunes extend
across almost 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) and include a Unesco-listed
national park – has been at the centre of a furious national and international
row over recent years.
Water supplies to the park have declined drastically over the past three
decades because of climate breakdown, mining pollution, marsh drainage – and
the boom in soft fruit cultivation.
A deal reached in November by Spain’s environment minister, Teresa Ribera, for
€1.4bn (£1.2bn) of investment to help protect the area and diversify the local
economy away from its reliance on soft fruit however provided a ray of hope. It
had been a year in which a plan from the Andalucían regional government for an
amnesty for the farmers who have been illegally tapping its aquifer to irrigate
strawberry farms in the area around the park had led to dire warnings from
environmental groups, the European Union and supermarket chains.
Speaking to the
Guardian, Ribera said the deal had been the result of
internal and external pressure, a change in public opinion, and a concerted
effort to engage with people in the region to explain the need for urgent
action.
“There’s more of a future than strawberries and raspberries,” said Ribera. “And
anyway, if you don’t look after the water, there will be no more strawberries
or raspberries. I think that this change of mentality needs a very clear
understanding.”"
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-cancer-canada-elephants-africa-batteries-china/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
