European Union Pavilion at Expo Zaragoza 2008
11 June 2008
At world level, the European Union is the leading environmental and water policy organisation. The 27 member states coincide in prioritising sustainable development: developing technology and management models to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Convinces, as we are, that the long term goal is the survival of the plants; these 27 countries are committed to a technology, legal and economic change process that, for the first time, recognises the need to integrate environmental criteria in all other policies, assuming the costs and working to extend them worldwide.
At the European Union Pavilion at Expo Zaragoza 2008, you will discover how the said changes are being achieved.
OUR INHERITANCE
0Our society is progressing and growing; extending the life-style we consider fairest to more and more people. But growth requires abundant resources.
Water is, together with the air we breathe, the most precious of all: a scarce resource that requires us to develop a new integrated management model in which all social players, without exception - from the industrial sector to citizens, from farmers to the scientific community - must take part with the support of government institutions.
This exhibition displays the initiatives by the European Union to promote this new model based on efficiency, saving, solidarity and conservation.
THE (HUMAN) NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
The sole origin of the water issue is human activity. Due to our life-style, we extract too much water from the natural environment, we contaminate ground water, the rivers and the seas, we are causing the greenhouse effect, deforestation and, consequently, climate change, which, in turn, aggravates water shortage situations.
It's not "you" or "me", it's not "them" either. It's us.
OUR EVERYDAY WATER
The 450 million inhabitants of Europe consume enormous amounts of water each day. And it is precisely on everyday consumption that we are achieving gradual changes. New infrastructures, promoted by the administrations, and new consumption habits, based on citizens' awareness, that avoid the incorrect use and wastage of water through small measures. Each drop, added to other drops, becomes a great river.
THE CHALLENGE OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture has a direct impact on the amount and quality of water available in each area. Consequently, the EU's Common Agricultural Policy is an essential instrument in achieving a sustainable balance by promoting measures that encourage good practices, boost research into water saving technologies and establishing new environmental impact controls.
THE CHALLENGE OF INDUSTRY
The contribution of industry is essential to maintain our level of well-being and the economy. But we would be turning a blind eye if we did not take into account the environmental impact of these activities.
The European Union is also playing a leading role in connection with controlling emissions into the air, soil and water by promoting the necessary changes to transform industry into a sustainable activity. The only way of making the life-style and progress that the European Union supports a feasible objective.
WATER FOR THE WORLD
One world, one water.
Water knows no borders, not even those of the European Union. The Europeans share the same planet with another 5,000 million human beings. Our obligation, as world economic and political leaders, is to help developing countries to introduce key aspects, such as sustainability, in their development policies.