Back On Thursday, March 20, the opening conference “Groundwater – Making Invisible Visible!” of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme “Remediation of Historical Pollution” was held at Likteņdārzs. In honor of World Water Day and its importance to the residents of Aizkraukle Municipality, the conference focused on the role of underground water resources in our lives, their protection, and sustainability.
Addressing the conference participants, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation Martin Michelet, emphasized the importance of cooperation not only in environmental protection but also prompting security and economic growth in Europe:
“Today’s Opening marks yet another milestone in our ongoing excellent partnership of our two countries, including the further collaboration in environmental topics. Cleaning up this site will make a big difference now and for future generations: to the nature in Aizkraukle, to 700’000 people living along the Daugava River and in Riga, to the drinking water supply and to Latvia’s long-term energy security”.
Meanwhile Minister of Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis emphasized:
“Water is the basis of life on Earth, and it is the substance we first look for when exploring distant planets. Clean water, which we often take for granted in Latvia, is a valuable resource that must be protected together by preventing pollution. On the other hand, the remediation of historically contaminated sites will improve water quality and create favorable conditions for the conservation of biodiversity. I would like to thank Switzerland for its support and the children of the Aizkraukle municipality for their involvement”.
Leons Līdums, Chairman of Aizkraukle County Council, drew attention to an important aspect on the sustainability of the launched project:
“It is our responsibility to care for a clean and sustainable environment in which our children and grandchildren will be able to live in a healthy and safe world. Today, we are not only looking back at what has been done to reduce historical pollution but also taking steps to prevent that oil products do not flow in our nation’s bloodstream – the Daugava River – with a devastating impact on water collection sites all the way to Riga and the Baltic Sea. With this project, we are launching deliberate and concrete actions to make Aizkraukle County an example of sustainable development. We are grateful to our Swiss partners for their invaluable support in achieving the environmental and sustainability objectives!”.
An important project to improve the quality of the environment and the well-being of the people
During the event, representatives of the Ministry of Climate and Energy (MCE), the State Environmental Service, the Municipality of Aizkraukle, and JSC “Latvenergo” emphasized progress in reducing historical pollution and agreed on further steps to promote a sustainable and clean environment.
Representatives of the local community of the Aizkraukle municipality presented the important role of water resources in the municipality and their daily lives. They also shared their experiences with initiatives and activities aimed at ensuring the protection and sustainable use of water resources.
Educating the next generation on environmental issues
As part of the opening event, MCE organized educational and creative activities for the children and young people of Aizkraukle Municipality – an expedition to the polluted area in Aizkraukle and a drawing competition.
During the conference, four schools of Aizkraukle Municipality participating in the Eco-Schools program presented their ideas for the future use and development of the historically polluted territory. On March 3, students took part in the expedition and expanded their knowledge of the importance of water resources and environmental protection. Student presentations showed that protecting the environment can not only be useful but also exciting and innovative for each one of us.
At the end of the conference, highlighting the creativity and interest of children and young people in environmental protection, the winners of the drawing contest organized by MCE were honored. The competition received a lot of responsiveness, with 127 student drawings submitted, most of which were displayed at the conference venue. In their works, students highlighted the negative impact of pollution on environmental quality and the important role of water resources in ensuring life.
The event demonstrated that environmental protection can be creative, providing an opportunity to reveal the visible present in what is invisible. Such initiatives inspire the public, including children and young people, to explore and protect the environment around them!
It has already been reported that on November 12, 2024, the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme Agreement for the implementation of the “Remediation of Historical Pollution” was signed, with a funding allocation of 14.47 million Swiss francs (approximately 15.19 million EUR). Planned measures in the contaminated area of national significance in Aizkraukle will be carried out under the Programme until December 2029, aiming to eliminate the pollution source and prevent its further spread into groundwater and the Daugava River.
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