Rhine River

BUND: Rhine River warming is threatening the environment萊茵河

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Many factories along the river dump heated water, originally used to cool their power plants, into the Rhine

Between Germany and the Netherlands, the Rhine is on average three degrees warmer than 100 years ago. Ecologists warn of serious consequences for nature and wildlife.

The River Rhine, which starts deep in the Swiss Alps, before winding it's way north along the French-German border, passing Bonn and Cologne, then heading to the Netherlands and out to sea, is heating up. Ecologists warn that it is, on average, three degrees Celsius (5.5 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than 100 years ago. The rising temperature is threatening fish and other wildlife in the region. According to the NGO Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND), part of the problem is climate change - but only a small part. Most of the trouble is being caused by industry. Living Planet speaks with Paul Kröfges, head of the North Rhine-Westphalia chapter of BUND.