Project
AquaPath
From Local to Global
Raising awareness among European citizens for sustainable water consumption
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The Aquapath project aims to educate citizens (children – adults of tomorrow – and adults) on water consumption in Europe. Taking into account the specificities of each population, the objective is to guide Europeans to make responsible choices and accompany the implementation of regulations, which will only really become effective if accompanied by a change of mentality.
Context
Our pressures on freshwater resources (intensive use, pollution …) not counting the effects of climate change are unsustainable in the long term. Faced with this global challenge, local action remains essential with regard to the individual impact of our consumption habits.
The European citizen is often made aware of the need to adopt responsible behavior with regard to his direct consumption of water, with common sense measures such as turning off the tap when brushing his teeth, taking a shower rather than A bath, avoid water wastes in the kitchen, etc.
Yet more than 90% of our water footprint, ie the real impact of our actions on water resources, stems from our indirect consumption related to the goods and services we consume. On this point, the knowledge of the citizens remains limited and an awareness-raising / information work is indispensable.
Project Activities
A training / awareness campaign was developed by the AquaPath project team on the basis of several tools and materials:
- A water footprint calculator, available in 7 languages on the project site
- An interactive video on the concept of water footprint
- A “click to fix” tool to promote citizen involvement in water resources management
- Comprehensive training modules, divided into 6 themes, on the sustainability of water resources, the concept of water footprint and the water footprint of different products
- Quiz to test knowledge
- For children, a book (Aquapass) of games focused on this subject, translated into 7 languages
Results
The project aims to get citizens to:
- Change their consumption habits by opting for goods and services with a low water footprint
- Reduce direct water consumption
- Become ambassadors of water sustainability
- Pressure on companies to offer goods and services with a reduced footprint
As part of the project, 17 citizen meetings were organized in all the participating countries, enabling more than 400 adults and over 600 children to be sensitized during adapted events.
By September 2016, more than 2,200 people had already visited the project’s website, regular newsletters were sent to thousands of contacts and the AquaPath video (all languages) was viewed more than 7,000 times. A strategy to exploit the materials developed has been put in place to ensure their sustainability.
What do you know about your water footprint?
Calculate your water footprint
Discover the AquaPath project in a few clicks
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Evaluation of results
Newsletter 1
Newsletter 2
Newsletter 3
Newsletter 4
Brochure
Training modules for all
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Aquapass
The water footprint
Sustainability of water resources
Water footprint of production and consumption
Lifestyles and water resources
Water within households
Water management in the public sector
Links
[kleo_gap]AquaPath
www.aquapath-project.eu/
They talked about AquaPath:
- A guide to understanding and acting
The adoption of the Sustainable Development Objectives by the United Nations is the result of a long process, since sustainable development has been at the heart of the problems of our societies and international negotiations for more than 20 years.
Since 1992 and the third Earth Summit in Rio, the commitments made by the international community have not ceased to be strengthened, but progress has remained too modest in comparison with the many challenges. Whether economic, social or environmental, repeated crises are now exacerbated by the consequences of climate change, the anthropogenic origin of which is no longer in doubt.
Faced with these multiple challenges that can no longer be ignored, we have no choice but to make a transition to societies that are more respectful of man and his environment. However, this transition can only happen if all of us feel concerned about the future of our planet and, by extension, the future of our societies.
By decrypting the challenges of the Sustainable Development Objectives for the citizen, this Pedagogical Guide aims to contribute to the awareness of everyone, so that sustainable development is no longer seen as a simple subject of debate and debate but is definitively integrated In our everyday practices.
Our future combines with the present, here and elsewhere, and each of us has his own score to play. We are all actors of change!
- Médiaterre
An article presenting the Aquapath project on Médiaterre, the first francophone information network on sustainable development, available on the following link:
http://www.mediaterre.org/actu,20160701085607,3.html (French)
- Efficycle
Project partners
Project n: 2014-1-IT02-KA200-003610 – This project is funded with the support of the European Commission. This publication is solely the author’s own opinion and the Commission can not be held responsible for any use which may be made of the content of this publication.
