Die große Wasser-Challenge: Why we need to rethink our most important resource

Imagine turning on the tap and no water comes out. What still seems to be a matter of course in Germany is already a reality in many regions of Europe: water is being rationed. At this point, at the latest, it becomes clear that water is our most precious resource and that its protection can no longer be taken for granted.

The climate crisis is putting noticeable pressure on the water balance. Heavy rainfall and flooding alternate with long periods of drought. Soils are drying out, rivers are running low, and forests are slowly dying of thirst. This is a problem that affects not only nature and ecosystems, but also the economy, agriculture, and local communities.

Focus on solutions – big and small

This makes it all the more important that we learn to use water more consciously. This is precisely where the big water challenge from FOCUS online Earth, in cooperation with the WWF, comes in. From August 25 to 31, the FOCUS online Earth team will be presenting simple, everyday tips for saving water every day, directly to your cell phone or by email.

Click here for the challenge and all entries: www.focus.de/earth/wassersparen/  

More importantly, the Water Challenge not only addresses what each individual can do, but also focuses on the major levers in the system that go far beyond private households:

• Agriculture: It plays a decisive role in determining how much water is bound in soil and food and how heavily our groundwater is polluted by fertilizers and pesticides.
• Industry and energy production: This is where the greatest potential for savings lies. Power plants, production processes, and cooling systems are among the largest consumers of water in Germany.
• Cities and municipalities: Urban areas must become more resilient to heat and heavy rainfall—from green roofs to sponge city concepts.
• Ecosystems: Intact rivers, wetlands, and floodplains are natural climate sinks. They store water, bind CO2, and thus protect the climate and water resources.

Water is our most precious resource because without it, there is no life. With the water challenge from FOCUS online Earth, we are showing that as a society we are not powerless in the face of climate change, but that together we can make a difference.“

Journalism that drives change

This theme fits seamlessly into our strategic focus: climate journalism that is solution-oriented. We don't just want to highlight problems, we want to inspire hope and drive concrete change.