Personalities from science, tourism, politics and society have founded the “Graubünden Wasser” association. They want to promote and share knowledge about water, climate and sustainability in Grisons. The canton of Grisons and numerous companies support the initiative.
“Abundance is the enemy of all appreciation,” said water ambassador Ernst Bromeis on Tuesday at the presentation of the “Grisons Water” initiative at Reichenau Castle directly on the Rhine. “Just a few years ago, hardly anyone could have imagined that we would have to talk about the finite nature of water in the Graubünden moated castle.”
The topic of water is highly topical: “Although winter precipitation has increased by 20 to 30% since 1970, the snow remains lying around for less time as a result of the rise in temperature and dry winters cannot be ruled out, as current developments show,” said weather and climate researcher Prof. Dr. David Bresch from ETH Zurich. Without climate protection, water will temporarily and regionally become so scarce or so warm that humans would have to limit themselves and suffer nature.
With educational and tourism offerings, Graubünden Wasser aims to raise awareness of issues relating to water, climate and sustainability in mountain areas, promote water and climate protection, water management and water restoration, and contribute to sustainable value creation in mountain regions. To this end, the association organises its own events and also supports the activities of others.
Dialogue platform
“Graubünden Wasser sees itself as a dynamic dialogue platform and promotes new cooperation between business, politics, civil society and the public sector,” said sustainability expert Dr. Thomas Streiff, co-initiator of Graubünden Wasser. “Using water as a resource sustainably over the long term is a major challenge. We invite all stakeholders to a dialogue in order to work on solutions for the future using facts from science.”
Graubünden Wasser, for example, supports the “Forum Aua Forta”, which takes place in the Lower Engadine in mid-June, said co-initiator Prof. Stefan Forster, head of the Tourism and Sustainable Development Research Division at the ZHAW. In 2023, the forum will illuminate water as a tourist attraction. “Water scarcity has also reached alpine tourism,” said Forster. “We discuss how tourism providers, the population and guests are dealing with the challenges.”
The idea of Graubünden Wasser extends far beyond the canton, said Ernst Bromeis: “We always place our concerns and measures in a national and international context. The Rhine and Inn rivers symbolically, but also practically, show our European solidarity and commitment.”
The activities of Graubünden Wasser are financed by contributions from industry and the public sector. The Canton of Grisons is supporting Grisons Water with funding from the New Regional Development (NRP) with around 260,000 francs until 2026. Numerous companies and their customers also contribute to the activities of Graubünden Wasser.
Touristic relevance
Hotelier Andreas Züllig, President of Hotelleriesuisse, has been selling tap water in carafes at his Hotel Schweizerhof in Lenzerheide for years and donates the proceeds to Ernst Bromeis for his work. “Ernst Bromeis has been working for years to sensitize people to handle this valuable asset with care. For us as a hotel, it was and is a matter of course to support him. Our guests receive lots of background information about water and really appreciate the commitment and support.”
For Gieri Spescha, managing director of the Graubünden brand, the commitment to Graubünden Wasser is also a question of sustainability: “Brands of the future are taking responsibility and becoming agents of change. The Graubünden Water project is an example of this orientation, which the regional brand Graubünden is fully committed to.”
“As a tourist canton, we have the unique opportunity to convey the value of water to our guests and show them how we handle this gift responsibly,” said Tourism CEO Reto Branschi from Davos Klosters.
Personalities from politics and civil society were also represented at the media conference to present Graubünden Wasser. For Council of States Stefan Engler, the issue of water also goes far beyond Grisons: “Conflicts over water will increase. They can only be resolved if we balance the different interests, and they affect all of us: states such as private individuals, municipalities, the canton and the federal government. Water policy has no limits.”
15 years of “The Blue Wonder”
For water ambassador Ernst Bromeis, Grisons water is the continuation of the “The Blue Wonder” initiative, which began 15 years ago. In 2008, he first caused a stir when he swam through all the lakes of Graubünden to draw attention to the issue of water. In 2010, the largest lakes of all cantons followed and in 2014 he was the first person to swim across the Rhine from source to mouth. Expeditions from Tenero (TI) to Expo Milano (2015) and Lake Baikal (2019 to 2021) followed.
Graubünden Wasser is currently an association and the establishment of a foundation is in preparation.
contact
Graubünden water
Ernst Bromeis, initiator
+41 79 348 74 94
kontakt@graubuendenwasser.ch
www.graubuendenwasser.ch
Press release from Graubünden Wasser dated March 21, 2023. Christian Gartmann supports Graubünden Wasser in media relations and communication. He is a pilot partner of Graubünden Wasser.