Too wet, too dry - what now?

Every year in November, the Day of the Environment at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. This year, the focus was on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation for all. Due to extreme drought and rising temperatures on the one hand and heavy rainfall events on the other, we are also facing enormous challenges here in the Zittau region. How do we deal with these climatic changes? How do we protect water as a precious resource? And what solutions are there for sustainable use?

The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, and Thomas Zenker, Mayor of the large district town of Zittau. In his welcoming address, Thomas Zenker pointed out that, unlike today, the Environment Day was able to fill the large lecture hall in the past. He said it was important to get more people interested in Environment Day and the associated topics again. His words underlined the relevance of the event and the urgent need to raise awareness of environmental issues among the general public.

This was followed by several specialist presentations. Juliane Dziumla, Associate Sustainability Officer at the United Nations University, opened the series of lectures with her contribution on global goals and local responsibility in the context of climate change and sustainable development. Rocco Deckert, Technical Managing Director of Stadtwerke Zittau, then explained the challenges of water supply in Zittau and presented the project "Z-Aqua: Stability and resilience - Zittau's drinking water as a task for generations". Michael Kuba, Managing Director of SOWAG, spoke about the challenges in wastewater management and the necessary adaptations to climate change. Thomas Gubsch, project member of the AQVA-HEAT project at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, closed the round by presenting the innovative project on the use of water as a sustainable heat source.

Ulrike Bobek, Environmental Coordinator at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and organizer of the event, was delighted with the great response: "I am very pleased with the positive feedback on the programme and the many interested participants. My very special thanks go to the speakers who took the time to share their knowledge and expertise with us and to Ms Hirt from the Zittau city administration for her active support in organizing the event."

After a final round of talks, the tour continued with a special guided tour of the Zittau municipal baths. The participants were able to visit the otherwise closed tower room of the baths, which offers a great view of St. John's Church and interesting insights into the history of bathing and the baths. The importance of water over the centuries, both for health and for daily life in Zittau, was impressively demonstrated here.

The day ended with a film screening at the Kronenkino Zittau, where the movie "Micha Denkt Groß" was shown. The comedy, starring Charly Hübner, Jördis Triebel and Peter Kurth, dealt with social and individual challenges and offered participants an entertaining end to the day.

Environment Day 2024 thus offered a multi-layered examination of current water problems and encouraged a lively exchange on solutions and strategies for action at local and global level. In times of climate change and resource scarcity, it remains more important than ever to raise awareness of environmental issues - a concern that Zittau's Lord Mayor Thomas Zenker also clearly formulated in his opening speech.