Sustainable Plastic Management is key to achieve Green Growth for Bangladesh

21.12.2021

plastic-plastika — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Sustainable management of plastic will be crucial for Bangladesh to tackle the increasing plastic pollution and ensure green growth, says a new World Bank Report.

The ‘Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh’ report provides a blueprint for managing plastic pollution over the short term (2022–2023), medium-term (2024–2026), and long-term (2027–2030), which will require an integrated cross-sectoral approach.

The National Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management focuses on circular use of plastic based on a 3R strategy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. A circular economy will help create new value chains, green skills, employment, and innovative products while addressing social and environmental challenges.

“With rapid growth and urbanization, Bangladesh faced a sharp increase in both plastic use and pollution. The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the problem of mismanaged plastic waste,” said Dandan Chen, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh. “Going forward, sustainable plastic management—from designing a product, to minimizing plastic use, to recycling—will be critical to ensure green growth for the country. We commend the government’s commitment to implement a National Action Plan to beat plastic pollution.”

The country’s annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas tripled to 9.0 kg in 2020 from 3.0 kg in 2005. Dhaka’s annual per capita consumption of plastic is 22.5 kg, significantly higher than the national average. COVID 19 pandemic has worsened plastic pollution, especially from single-use plastic used in masks, gloves, and Personal Protective Equipment. A large part of the plastic waste is dumped in water bodies and rivers.

The National Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management sets a target of recycling 50 percent of plastics by 2025, phasing out targeted single-use plastic by 90 percent by 2026, and reducing plastic waste generation by 30 percent by 2030 from 2020/21 baseline.

The plan, which is aligned with the 8th Five-year plan, was based on needs collectively identified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Department of Environment, private sector, and other stakeholders.

Source: The World Bank

From Birth to Ban: A History of the Plastic Shopping Bag

20.12.2021

mačka_plastične_kese — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Daniel Romero)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Roberta Errani)

A novelty in the 1970s, plastic shopping bags are now an omnipresent product found in every corner of the world. Produced at a rate of up to one trillion bags per year, they are showing up in the darkest depths of the ocean to the summit of Mount Everest to the polar ice caps. Being so widespread, plastic bags are intensifying some major environmental challenges.

So where did they come from and how did we reach this point?

1933 – Polyethylene, the most commonly used plastic, is created by accident at a chemical plant in Northwich, England. While polyethene had been created in small batches before, this was the first synthesis of the material that was industrially practical. Seeing its potential, it was initially used in secret by the British military during World War II.

1965 – The one-piece polyethylene shopping bag is patented by the Swedish company Celloplast. Designed by engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin, the plastic bag quickly begin to replace cloth and plastic in Europe.

1982 – Safeway and Kroger, two of the biggest supermarket chains in the United States, switch to plastic bags. Though they are yet to be fully accepted by shoppers, single-use plastic bags are cheaper than alternatives, and more stores begin to follow Safeway and Kroger’s switch. By the end of the decade, plastic bags will have almost entirely replaced paper bags around the world.

1997 – Sailor and researcher Charles Moore discovers the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest of several gyres in the world’s oceans where immense amounts of plastic waste have accumulated. Threatening marine life, this immense collection of marine litter and plastic pollution showcases the long-lasting and harmful effects of single-use plastic products.

2002 – Bangladesh is the first country in the world to implement a ban on thin plastic bags, after it was found they played a key role in clogging drainage systems during disastrous flooding. Other countries begin to follow suit.

2011 – Worldwide, one million plastic bags are consumed every minute.

2018 – As of July 2018, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that 127 out of 192 countries reviewed have enacted some form of national legislation to address the problem of plastic bags.

2018 – #BeatPlasticPollution is chosen as the theme of World Environment Day, hosted by India. Companies and governments around the world continue to announce new pledges to tackle plastic waste.

2019 – The European Union’s (EU) Directive on single-use plastics takes effect as the EU aims to lead the fight against marine litter and plastic pollution.

2020 – Recognizing its massive waste problem, China commits to strengthening national plastic pollution control, ushering in an era of single-use plastic reduction.

2022 – A major milestone turning the tide on plastic, the United States agrees to support a global treaty to combat ocean plastic pollution, setting the stage for international cooperation and action.

Source: UNEP

Coal power’s sharp rebound is taking it to a new record in 2021, threatening net zero goals

19.12.2021

coal_dumper_ugalj_kamion_mining_rudarstvo — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bence Balla-Schottner)

The amount of electricity generated worldwide from coal is surging towards a new annual record in 2021, undermining efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and potentially putting global coal demand on course for an all-time high next year, the International Energy Agency said in its latest annual market report.

After falling in 2019 and 2020, global power generation from coal is expected to jump by 9 percent in 2021 to an all-time high of 10,350 terawatt-hours, according to the IEA’s Coal 2021 report, which was released today. The rebound is being driven by this year’s rapid economic recovery, which has pushed up electricity demand much faster than low-carbon supplies can keep up. The steep rise in natural gas prices has also increased demand for coal power by making it more cost-competitive.

Overall coal demand worldwide – including uses beyond power generation, such as cement and steel production – is forecast to grow by 6 percent in 2021. That increase will not take it above the record levels it reached in 2013 and 2014. But, depending on weather patterns and economic growth, overall coal demand could reach new all-time highs as soon as 2022 and remain at that level for the following two years, underscoring the need for fast and strong policy action.

“Coal is the single largest source of global carbon emissions, and this year’s historically high level of coal power generation is a worrying sign of how far off track the world is in its efforts to put emissions into decline towards net zero,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Without strong and immediate actions by governments to tackle coal emissions – in a way that is fair, affordable and secure for those affected – we will have little chance, if any at all, of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.”

Source: IEA

10 Ways You Can Help Fight the Climate Crisis

18.12.2021

sijalica_svetlo — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Callum Shaw)

The evidence is irrefutable: unless we act immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we will not be able to stave off the worst consequences of climate change.

The world is already 1.2°C warmer than pre-industrial times and every fraction of a degree counts. Research shows that with 2°C of global warming we will have more intense droughts and more devastating floods, more wildfires and more storms.

As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said at the recent UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), “Our fragile planet is hanging by a thread. We are still knocking on the door of climate catastrophe. It is time to go into emergency mode — or our chance of reaching net-zero will itself be zero.”

The outlook can seem depressing. But the good news is that there is a lot we can still do as individuals to change this narrative.

“The climate emergency demands action from all of us. We need to get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and everyone has a role to play,” said Niklas Hagelberg, UNEP’s Climate Change Coordinator. “We, as individuals, must change our consumption habits and pressure those who represent us – our employers, our politicians – to move rapidly to a low-carbon world.”

Here are 10 ways you can be part of the climate solution

1. Spread the word

Encourage your friends, family and co-workers to reduce their carbon pollution. Join a global movement like Count Us In, which aims to inspire 1 billion people to take practical steps and challenge their leaders to act more boldly on climate. Organizers of the platform say that if 1 billion people took action, they could reduce as much as 20 percent of global carbon emissions. Or you could sign up to the UN’s #ActNow campaign on climate change and sustainability and add your voice to this critical global debate.

2. Keep up the political pressure

Lobby local politicians and businesses to support efforts to cut emissions and reduce carbon pollution. Count Us In has some handy tips for how to do this. Pick an environmental issue you care about, decide on a specific request for change and then try to arrange a meeting with your local representative. It might seem intimidating but your voice deserves to be heard. If humanity is to succeed in tackling the climate emergency, politicians must be part of the solution. It’s up to all of us to keep up with the pressure.

3. Transform your transport

Transport accounts for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and across the world, many governments are implementing policies to decarbonize travel. You can get a head start: leave your car at home and walk or cycle whenever possible. If the distances are too great, choose public transport, preferably electric options. If you must drive, offer to carpool with others so that fewer cars are on the road. Get ahead of the curve and buy an electric car. Reduce the number of long-haul flights you take.

4. Rein in your power use

If you can, switch to a zero-carbon or renewable energy provider. Install solar panels on your roof. Be more efficient: turn your heating down a degree or two, if possible. Switch off appliances and lights when you are not using them and better yet buy the most efficient products in the first place (hint: this will save you money!). Insulate your loft or roof: you’ll be warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and save some money too.

5. Tweak your diet

Eat more plant-based meals – your body and the planet will thank you. Today, around 60 percent of the world’s agricultural land is used for livestock grazing and people in many countries are consuming more animal-sourced food than is healthy. Plant-rich diets can help reduce chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

6. Shop local and buy sustainable

To reduce your food’s carbon footprint, buy local and seasonal foods. You’ll be helping small businesses and farms in your area and reducing fossil fuel emissions associated with transport and cold chain storage. Sustainable agriculture uses up to 56 percent less energy, creates 64 percent fewer emissions and allows for greater levels of biodiversity than conventional farming. Go one step further and try growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs. You can plant them in a garden, on a balcony or even on a window sill. Set up a community garden in your neighbourhood to get others involved.

7. Don’t waste food

Photo-illustration Unsplash (Chantal Garnier)

One-third of all food produced is either lost or wasted. According to UNEP’s Food Waste Index Report 2021, people globally waste 1 billion tonnes of food each year, which accounts for around 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Avoid waste by only buying what you need. Take advantage of every edible part of the foods you purchase. Measure portion sizes of rice and other staples before cooking them, store food correctly (use your freezer if you have one), be creative with leftovers, share extras with your friends and neighbours and contribute to a local food-sharing scheme. Make compost out of inedible remnants and use it to fertilize your garden. Composting is one of the best options for managing organic waste while also reducing environmental impacts.

8. Dress (climate) smart

The fashion industry accounts for 8-10 percent of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined – and ‘fast fashion’ has created a throwaway culture that sees clothes quickly end up in landfills. But we can change this. Buy fewer new clothes and wear them longer. Seek out sustainable labels and use rental services for special occasions rather than buying new items that will only be worn once. Recycle pre-loved clothes and repair when necessary.

9. Plant trees

Every year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed and this deforestation, together with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We can all play a part in reversing this trend by planting trees, either individually or as part of a collective. For example, the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative allows people to sponsor tree-planting around the world.

Check out this UNEP guide to see what else you can do as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global drive to halt the degradation of land and oceans, protect biodiversity, and rebuild ecosystems.

10. Focus on planet-friendly investments

Individuals can also spur change through their savings and investments by choosing financial institutions that do not invest in carbon-polluting industries. This sends a clear signal to the market and already many financial institutions are offering more ethical investments, allowing you to use your money to support causes you believe in and avoid those you don’t. You can ask your financial institution about their responsible banking policies and find out how they rank in independent research.

Source: UNEP

Clear Opportunities to Decouple Europe’s Waste Generation From Economic Growth

17.12.2021

smeće-plastika-otpad — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Brian Yurasits)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jasmin Sessler)

In most European countries and in the EU as a whole, waste generation is growing but at a slower pace than the economy. However, there are no signs that the overall objective of reducing the total generation of waste is close to being achieved, according to a European Environment Agency report published today. The report’s findings highlight opportunities to more effectively prevent waste, with textiles in the spotlight.

Preventing waste is a key part of Europe’s strategy in shifting to a resource-efficient and climate-neutral circular economy. Waste generation across Europe increased by 5.2 percent between 2014 and 2018, while GDP increased by 14.8 percent in the EU according to the EEA report ‘Progress towards preventing waste in Europe — the case of textile waste prevention.

The same data trends also show that the adoption of the first waste prevention programmes by countries, applicable in most EU countries from 2013 or earlier, was insufficient to decrease the amount of waste generated.

The analysis shows that waste generation is still very dependent on developments in the economy, but, overall, the EU has been able to achieve a waste generation growth lower than the economic growth, or a so-called relative decoupling. Still, more needs to be done to ensure that waste decreases in real terms in a growing economy. The adoption of concrete targets — a strong driver of policy making — would help consolidate prevention policy at EU and national level.

The EEA analysis looked at national waste prevention programmes and specifically waste streams in focus, indicators, targets, and measures to prevent waste. The review revealed that, as of this year, 10 out of the 32 countries examined do not have a waste prevention programme in place, as required by EU legislation.

Textile waste in focus

Textile waste would benefit greatly from improved measures to prevent waste , as this is a fast-growing, environmentally impactful waste stream associated with unsustainable consumption patterns. The average European generates approximately 11 kg of textile waste per year.

Preventing textile waste has great potential, mainly through reducing textile consumption, eco-design and ultimately reuse. To facilitate this, emphasis should be put on product design to promote durable and long-lasting materials, while support should be given to repair (e.g. with use of tax breaks) and reuse (e.g. through regulations).

New EEA briefing: trade of recyclable waste across Europe

A separate EEA briefing ‘Linking cross-border shipments of waste in the EU with the circular economy’, also published, looks at the state of play for the trading of non-hazardous, recyclable waste within the EU. The briefing, besides supporting the ongoing review by the European Commission of the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation, offers insights on recyclables trading in the EU as well as potential solutions to help ensure that waste is treated in the best possible way in line with the principles of the waste hierarchy.

More than 90 percent of waste generated in the EU is treated in the country in which it was generated, respecting the EU’s ‘proximity principle’ underpinning EU waste law. However, cross-border trading of non-hazardous, recyclable waste offers opportunities to find the environmentally-optimal treatment options, allowing good-quality secondary raw materials to be produced and respecting the principles of a circular economy.

Source: EEA

Energy Transition: from Commitment to Action

16.12.2021

The energy transition grounded in renewables delivers jobs and economic growth, underpins sustainable development, improves health and is among the most effective responses to climate change.

However, the transition must move much faster and international promises made at the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy and COP26 have to translate into concrete implementation and action.

The 12th IRENA Assembly will take place under the overarching theme of “Energy Transition: From Commitment to Action”. In this context, IRENA has launched a global campaign that aims to raise awareness about the transition, and encourage leaders and citizens to #ChooseAction.

IRENA invites everyone to join this campaign by showcasing how they #ChooseAction, retaining a laser sharp focus on how to accelerate the transition and pursue concrete, material progress towards a 1.5-degree future.

How can you take part in the #ChooseAction campaign?

1) Print out this image. Alternatively, you can write the hashtag #ChooseAction on a paper, a screen, an object, your hand… totally up to you! Just make sure that it’s visible on your photo!

2)Pose alone or together with your colleagues, family, friends.

3) Take a picture holding the image.

4) Head to Twitter and don’t forget to include #ChooseAction when tweeting your pic. Tell us how you have decided to choose action – do you drive an electric car? use solar lights in your garden? installed rooftop PV? Share your current actions or your plans with us.

Source: IRENA

Serbia Opens Energy, Environment and Climate Change Chapters Under EU Accession Process

16.12.2021

srbija — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Ivan Aleksić)

The Energy Community Secretariat congratulates Serbia for its progress in the EU accession negotiation process and the opening of Cluster four (Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity) at the EU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference held yesterday in Brussels.

This cluster comprises four negotiating chapters: Chapter 14 on Transport Policy, Chapter 15 on Energy, Chapter 21 on Trans-European Networks and Chapter 27 on Environment and Climate Change.

The Secretariat will continue to provide support to Serbia in fulfilling its commitments under the Energy Community Treaty, and to promote its energy sector reforms on the pathway to further integration and decarbonisation.

The 2021 Annual Implementation Report published recently by the Energy Community Secretariat shows Serbia’s progress (and that of other Energy Community Contracting Parties) in implementation of the energy, environment and climate acquis, highlights the key challenges and makes recommendations for addressing these.

Source: Energy Community

EBRD Invests 5 Million Euros in Lithuanian Green Bond to Accelerate Regional Renewables

15.12.2021

solar-panel-renewable-energy — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Andreas Gücklhorn)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Andreas Gucklhorn)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing 5 million euros in a 25 million euros Green Bond issued by UAB Atsinaujinančios Energetikos Investicijos (AEI). AEI is a Lithuanian fund and renewable energy developer managed by Lords LB Asset Management, with an operating portfolio of 68.1MW of solar assets in Poland and Lithuania and a project pipeline nearly ten times that size for construction in 2022-2024.

This is the first issuance under a 100 million euros AEI Green Bond Framework, to be listed on the Nasdaq Vilnius Stock Exchange. The EBRD’s participation will be 20 per cent of the first issuance of 25 million euros. The proceeds will finance renewable projects in Poland and Lithuania.

This will be one of the Bank’s first bond investments into a renewables developer at the holding company level, supplementing traditional project financing at the asset level. There is a growing demand for this type of instruments from both regional and local renewable energy developers, where corporate level indebtedness allows the developers to move up the life-cycle, taking construction risk and gradually becoming independent power producers.

Dynamic growth of the renewables sector is vital if EBRD countries of operation within the European Union, which are more carbon-intensive than the EU average, are to play their part in ambitious EU greening plans. The dominant theme in the European energy sector is the drive towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The EU has committed to a binding target of a net domestic reduction of at least 55 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990, and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.The European Commission is aiming for a 40 per cent share of renewables in final energy consumption by 2030. These goals require massive investment in renewables in the coming decade, notably from the private sector.

EBRD participation should send a positive signal to other investors given the development bank’s strong credentials as a green investor. The EBRD aims to align all its investments with the goals of the Paris Agreement on limiting global warming to 1.5C by 2023, and make more than half its investments green by 2025.

The EBRD investment in AEI’s bond will support its roll-out into competitive mediumsized wind and solar projects in Poland and Lithuania, thus advancing AEI’s ambition to become a competitive mid-sized regional renewables player.

Source: EBRD

Nature-Based Solutions as a Response to Climate Change

15.12.2021

trees-drveće-priroda — Photo-ullustration: Pixabay

Today International Union for Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (IUCN ECARO), in cooperation with the Public Investment Management Office of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, held a working lunch for key partners in Serbia to discuss the application of Nature-based Solutions aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and reduce disaster risks.

“In recent years, we have seen more intensive and more frequent hazards causing massive damages to humans and nature. Disasters are just one of the faces of climate change that directly affect our daily life. We need to respond quickly at all levels if we are to reduce the risks to life, property and the further degradation of our environment, and to adequately adapt to the changing climate conditions. Nature-based Solutions play a key role in mitigating climate change and reducing disaster risk. However, for these solutions to be effective, they need to be recognised and included in all important strategies, laws, actions and financial plans,” stressed Boris Erg, director of IUCN ECARO seated in Belgrade.

“We are exceptionally pleased that the Public Investment Office, the City of Kraljevo and other partners have expressed their willingness to accept this concept and apply it to real examples on the ground in the Kraljevo area,” he added.

“In the last seven years since the Public Investment Management Office was opened, we have been witnesses to more and more frequent precipitation and flooding in certain parts of our country, particularly in the Western Morava catchment. The Government of the Republic of Serbia has invested significant funds to strengthen our nation’s resilience to disasters. We need to constantly implement prevention measures to ensure our security, not only while rebuilding after floods, but also during calm times. Nature-based Solutions can assist us in becoming more resilient to these hazards, while also enabling us to conserve our flora and fauna and to live in harmony with nature. The Office will always support and participate in such projects, and we kindly thank Sweden for its donation aimed at finding the right solutions for prevention, not only in our country, but throughout the region,” stated Sandra Nedeljkovic, acting assistant director of the Public Investment Management Office.

The Western Balkan region is considered one of the most affected due to climate change, which will have a negative impact on numerous sectors and domains of life. In Serbia, the risk of flooding has been recognised as a growing threat for people and their property. A flood risk affects about 22 percent of the population in 38 municipalities in Serbia. Given the recent history of flooding and other disasters, and the progress achieved in municipal planning and managing disaster risk mitigation, Serbia was selected as one of two countries for the implementation of the Nature-based Solutions pilot project within the ADAPT initiative.

As part of the ADAPT initiative, financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a series of activities have been carried out since March 2020 aimed at increasing the resilience of ecosystems and human communities to changes in climate conditions, and to reduce the risk of further catastrophes in the Western Balkans, through the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The NbS concept represents activities that are focused on protection, sustainable management and ecosystem restoration. These activities are being implemented worldwide, and benefit both nature and humanity. Some of these solutions include reforestation, building green infrastructure in cities, sustainable agriculture, or the protection of coastal areas.

As Part of the Paris Agreement, more than 130 countries have committed to including Nature-based Solutions into their national climate change adaptation programmes. As one of the activities within this initiative, the publication IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™ was translated into Serbian as the first, specific set of measures for applying NbS that are intended for the public, private and NGO sectors. The use of this Standard would ensure more effective implementation of NbS and ensure the maximum use of the potential of these solutions in response to climate change and other global social challenges, including the availability of food and water, human health, economic and social development, etc.

One of two selected sites for the pilot project for the application of NbS in the Western Balkans on the ground is in Serbia – the City of Kraljevo, which is considered one of the areas most threatened by disasters. The first phase of the pilot project in Kraljevo has successfully been completed, with a team of experts assessing the state of the forest ecosystems and biodiversity in the selected location, and the socioeconomic parameters in place, examining the opportunities for applying NbS and finally giving their recommendations for implementation. The entire process unfolded with the active participation and support of the Public Investment Management Office and the Civil Protection Department of the City of Kraljevo. The start of works is expected in early 2022, and the Gledićke Mountains have been selected as the location for the implementation of Nature-based Solutions with the aim of reducing flooding risk and increasing the resilience of the local population to disasters.

Source: IUCN

WMO Recognizes new Arctic Temperature Record of 38⁰C

14.12.2021

arctic-139393_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk on 20 June 2020 has been recognized as a new Arctic temperature record by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The temperature, more befitting the Mediterranean than the Arctic, was measured at a meteorological observing station during an exceptional and prolonged Siberian heatwave. Average temperatures over Arctic Siberia reached as high as 10 °C above normal for much of summer last year, fuelling devastating fires, driving massive sea ice loss and playing a major role in 2020 being one of the three warmest years on record.

“This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate. In 2020, there was also a new temperature record (18.3°C) for the Antarctic continent,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.

“WMO investigators are currently seeking to verify temperature readings of 54.4°C recorded in both 2020 and 2021 in the world’s hottest place, Death Valley in California, and to validate a new reported European temperature record of 48.8°C in the Italian island of Sicily this summer. The WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes has never had so many ongoing simultaneous investigations,” said Prof. Taalas.

The Arctic is among the fastest warming regions in the world and is heating more than twice the global average. The extreme temperature and ongoing climate change prompted a WMO panel of experts to add a new climate category “highest recorded temperature at or north of 66.5⁰, the Arctic Circle” to its international Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes.

You can read the whole article HERE.

Source: WMO

World Economic Forum Study Shows How Cities Can Save on Commuting Time, Double Job Access

14.12.2021

traffic-saobraćaj-auto — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

A new report released by the World Economic Forum pinpoints how cities can use mobility options to improve social equity and economic growth.

The white paper, How Mobility Shapes Inclusion and Sustainable Growth, identifies over 40 potential solutions to improve inclusivity in mobility, with simulations of over 40 million daily trips, global benchmarking and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders.

Prepared in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group and University of St Gallen, the study identifies transportation ‘pain points’ in three cities – Beijing, Berlin and Chicago. Using a six-step transportation equity methodology, the white paper analyses the mobility challenges each city faces, their affected communities and how transportation is driving, or failing to drive, economic growth and well-being. It also offers recommendations that result in real gains.

This methodology fills a void in current transportation analysis and can serve as the centrepiece of a strategy for developing mobility-based social inclusion programmes and policies in the identified cities and elsewhere.

Beijing, People’s Republic of China

This high-density megacity can become nearly 30 percent more efficient, saving commuters about five days-worth of travel time per year:

Pain point: Very high demand has overwhelmed Beijing’s public transit network, with queuing times to get into some train stations consistently over 15 minutes, leading many residents to choose driving as an alternative.

Solution: A digital platform for metro reservations to flatten peak-hour demand and reduce commute time for rush hours.

Benefit: This equates to a 29 percent average reduction in travel time for the service users in the modelling for Beijing, an average reduction of 115 hours waiting a year per user.

Berlin, Germany

The report shows how this compact, middleweight city is raising USD 295 million more per year for inclusive mobility projects:

Pain point: As central districts have become gentrified, populations have been pushed further from the city centre, where public transport is more limited and fragmented. Berliners in these peripheral areas take about 27 percent more time commuting than central Berliners.

Solution: Creating differentiated service levels for public transit increases usage and brings in additional revenue that can be used to improve public mobility systems for the underserved.

Benefit: A differentiated service level on public transit increased the share of public transit trips by 11 percent while at the same time generating 28 percent higher revenue for the public transport operator – an equivalent of USD 295 million – that can be used to improve access for underserved populations.

Chicago, USA

A car-centric city such as Chicago can give low-income neighbourhoods access to hundreds of thousands of more jobs:

Pain point: Low-income households in Chicago spend up to 35 percent of their income on transportation, due to the high cost of vehicle ownership and reliance on cars for mobility. Average work commute time on public transit for individuals in low-income areas is also nearly 15 minutes longer when compared to residents in some high-income areas.

Solution: Introducing on-demand shuttles to cover the first and last mile of transport can greatly increase access for underserved communities.

Benefit: The solution would increase the share of public transit usage in Chicago by 26 percent and would broaden the number of jobs reachable in 40 minutes – the rough ceiling for a desirable commuting time – by 90 percent; this would result in improved access to 224,000 jobs from neighbourhoods that did not have access before.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Adrian Dascal)

The white paper also finds that in order to foster social inclusion through mobility, both supply and demand must be considered. Purely increasing mobility infrastructure does not always yield the desired results.

For example, adding 10 new subway cars may do little to increase ridership among people with disabilities even if they do not have other transportation options, mainly because getting to a subway station is a challenge in and of itself. Other solutions such as an on-demand mobility service for the disabled community, such as Hyundai Motor Groups’s EnableLA universal mobility service, may be the more appropriate option.

Next Steps for Policymakers

Access to transportation infrastructure is essential to social development and economic growth, and improving the mobility situation for underserved population groups needs to be one of the top priorities for decision-makers.

Since every city has its own mobility and socioeconomic challenges, data collection processes and the current understanding of rider demand must be re-examined in order to gather important information about mobility challenges affecting minorities.

Understanding the baseline conditions of the mobility conditions of each urban environment is crucial in effectively determining the appropriate solutions for individual cities.

Source: World Economic Forum

Cities Play Pivotal Roles in Europe’s Sustainability Transition

13.12.2021

italy-grad-zgrade — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Cities are centers of innovation and economic activity but they also affected by social challenges such as segregation, poverty and inequality. Environmental challenges for cities range from worsening impacts of climate change, such as heat waves and flooding, to pollution, waste management, or loss of green spaces

The EEA report ’Urban sustainability in Europe — Avenues for change’ brings together the Agency’s recent work on urban environmental sustainability, developed together with stakeholders in the field.

The main report is published together with an urban nexus assessment, which completes the EEA’s urban report package, available on the thematic page on urban sustainability.

The new assessments and the EEA’s previous work emphasise that cities have a key role in Europe’s transition to sustainability: cities need to address economic, social and environmental issues in an integrated way to achieve sustainability and that includes to ensure that cities are inclusive, safe and resilient.

The EEA report identifies several key building blocks for improving cities’ sustainability, including improving the quality of the local environment, building adaptive capacity, ensuring enough public and natural areas, switching to renewable energy, and improving energy and resource efficiency. Moreover, cities should improve the quality of the built environment, including homes, and ensure social justice and inclusive participation in decision-making. While all cities are both complex and different from each other, the report identifies some shared key factors for improving their sustainability. Local culture, knowledge and quality of data can either enable or slow down improvements, and the same is true for new technology, governance, and financial management.

The package also presents an ‘urban nexus approach’, which can help identify problems or opportunities that are linked and, as such, support integrated and costeffective actions. For example, in many cases cities can improve their climate resilience, quality of public spaces, ease of mobility, and air quality with integrated and targeted actions. Cities can also test sustainability approaches and develop new ways of measuring sustainability, the report argues.

Source: EEA

Better Understanding of Rooftop Solar PV Installation Can Support Increased Deployment

13.12.2021

solar-system-solarni-paneli — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The deployment of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased significantly in recent years thanks to their rapidly declining costs and supporting policies. Solar PV installations can be arranged in smaller configurations for mini-grids or personal use. This is of particular relevance in developing countries, where many residents need more accessible, affordable, and reliable electricity options. In many markets, self-consuming PV electricity is already more economically attractive than buying electricity from the grid.

In light of the increasing interest in rooftop solar PV, there is a need to raise awareness and understanding about its installation, particularly for residential use. To meet this need, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) with the generous support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed a series of training materials on rooftop solar PV deployment.

The training material consists of nine recorded sessions of narrated explanations that are supported by illustrative infographics and animations. The series are creatively designed to be clear and engaging for lay audience to comprehend, so the learning can be applied to their own scenarios.

Throughout the whole series, audience can have a clear understanding of the following:

why solar PV is a reliable option for residential electricity source, including its financial and socio-environmental benefits,
types and components of a solar PV system,
criteria for deploying PV systems,
different setup connections of solar PV systems to meet users’ needs,
aspects to consider when installing rooftop PV system to optimise its output,
ways to quantify energy consumption,
options for financing the system,
the steps to install rooftop solar PV that includes working with a contractor.

With better understanding, individuals and communities can deploy rooftop PV systems to obtain affordable and reliable electricity. Furthermore, the training video also shows how solar potential assessment is an important aspect in increasing the deployment of solar PV.

In this regard, IRENA is supporting home, business owners, and municipalities in charting solar resources potential and data with a web application called the IRENA SolarCity Simulator. First developed as a pilot project to assess rooftop solar PV potential in the city of Kasese (Uganda), the SolarCity Simulator allows users to assess solar PV potential in their areas and move forward with installations that fit their needs. One of the sessions in this new training series shows audience how to seamlessly navigate the simulator that now includes the mapping of rooftop solar PV potential in twelve cities worldwide.

Source: IRENA

Energy Efficiency Hub Launched to Boost Cooperation on World’s ‘First Fuel’

12.12.2021

environmental-protection-priroda — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The Energy Efficiency Hub – a global platform for collaboration aimed at delivering the social, economic and environmental benefits of more efficient use of energy – was launched on 1 December at an event hosted at the International Energy Agency in Paris.

The Hub’s initial 16 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, the European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Hub aims to facilitate government-to-government exchanges on efficiency policy, regulation and implementation, focusing on topics relevant to real-world challenges faced by its members. The launch event showcased digitalisation, efficient equipment and appliance deployment, best energy efficiency technologies, and energy management best practices as areas of collaboration.

“Hub Members span the globe, from East to West and from North to South, together accounting for over 60 percent of energy use and carbon dioxide emissions,” said Ulrich Benterbusch, Deputy Director General of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, who will serve as Chair of the Hub’s Steering Committee.

The Hub’s launch follows the previous week’s release of Energy Efficiency 2021, the IEA’s annual market report on the subject, which showed that while global energy efficiency improvements are recovering to their pre-pandemic pace, they are still far short of what is needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

“Being based at the IEA will enable the Hub to cooperate effectively with IEA experts and the other key initiatives and activities we host, including the Clean Energy Ministerial,” said Dr Birol. “The launch of the Hub is a clear and encouraging signal that momentum is building behind greater energy efficiency action worldwide.”

Source: IEA

5 Reasons Why a Healthy Ocean is Linked to Human Rights

11.12.2021

okean_ribe — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Francesco Ungaro)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Manuel Sardo)

We live on a blue planet, with oceans and seas covering more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. Oceans feed us, regulate our climate, and generate most of the oxygen we breathe.

But growing threats such as marine pollution, sea-level rising and over-fishing damage these aspects of our lives and infringe on the human rights attached to them. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) research shows, for example, that plastic pollution leakage into aquatic ecosystems has risen sharply in recent years and is projected to more than double by 2030.

In October 2021, the UN Human Rights Council recognized for the first time that a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a human right – a landmark move in the fight against the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution and waste.

On this 10 December observance of Human Rights Day, the head of UNEP’s Marine and Freshwater branch, Leticia Carvalho, outlines five reasons why a clean and healthy ocean is important for realizing human rights obligations relating to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

1. The ocean is our life support system

One-third of the total human population, nearly 2.4 billion people, live within 100 km (60 miles) of an oceanic coast – and all human life is dependent upon the oxygen and freshwater it creates.

Many societies–but not all–are able to take access to water, for drinking, sanitation and irrigation, for granted. In 2010, the UN enshrined water as a human right. Without our ocean to power the planet’s water cycle, and create fresh breathable air, we would not exist at all.

2. The ocean provides food, jobs and livelihoods

The annual economic value of the ocean is estimated at USD 2.5 trillion, equivalent to the world’s 7th largest economy. It provides nutrition, medicines, and mineral and renewable energy resources. It supports jobs in fishing, seafood, leisure and science. Our ocean is the original “super-highway,” that links economies together and transports goods and people all around the globe.

3. The ocean helps fight the climate crisis

The ocean moderates the climate and influences our weather. Since the start of the industrial period, it has stored more than 90 percent of the heat from human-caused climate change and one-third of the world’s carbon emissions. Vital ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes could help us store more than 1.4bn tons of carbon emissions a year by 2050 if they are protected and restored.

4. The ocean is home to vast biodiversity

According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, deep-seabed habitats alone host between 500,000 and 10 million species. But it is hard to know for sure, as some 80 percent of the ocean remains unexplored and 91 percent of marine species remain undescribed. What we do know is that we are continually making new discoveries.

In 2020, scientists discovered a detached 500-meter coral skyscraper, taller than the Empire State Building, off Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Precious and vulnerable coral reef ecosystems occupy less than 1 percent of the ocean floor yet are home to at least 25 percent of marine life. The ocean is home to vast mysteries, from the largest animal on the planet to microscopic organisms, which make up 98 percent of the ocean’s biomass. These microbes are essential to the food chain, the production of nutrients for land and sea, and the health of all animals and humans. In this Decade of Ocean Science, it is time to prioritize understanding and care for our ocean so that it can care for us.

5. The ocean provides wellbeing benefits to all humanity

Most cultures on Earth have celebrated, valued, and sometimes feared the ocean. It has provided myths and legends, and inspiration for art, music and games. For example, UNEP is working with the videogame industry to raise ocean awareness.

In our leisure time, many of us enjoy beaches and activities such as swimming, surfing, sailing and diving, or simply the peace of mind that comes from being near water. The UN’s Happiness Day recognizes happiness as a fundamental human goal. Like the rights to water, health, livelihoods and a clean environment, the ocean has a fundamental role to play.

Source: UNEP

Denmark Commits Millions to Vulnerable Farmers Through IFAD’s Climate Adaptation Fund

10.12.2021

watering-poljporivreda-hrana — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

In the wake of COP26, which featured a strong call for increased finance to help the world’s poorest countries adapt to the impacts of climate change, Denmark today announced a contribution of DKK 190 million (about USD 29 million) to the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to assist small-scale farmers to cope with unpredictable weather.

Denmark, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will provide the funds to IFAD’s Enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP+). Launched in January, ASAP+ aims to be the largest fund dedicated to channeling climate finance to small-scale producers to help them adapt to climate change and combat hunger and malnutrition.

“While COP26 stressed the importance of climate adaptation, it also showed that a huge financing gap remains and needs to be urgently closed if we want to avoid a continued rise in hunger and poverty in the most vulnerable rural communities,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD. “We thank Denmark for stepping up its commitment to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people to adapt to the impacts of climate change. This is vital to sustainably address hunger and poverty, to stabilize rural economic livelihoods and to help avoid future food crises and the conflicts, instability and migration that they often trigger.”

Small-scale farmers, who produce about a third of the world’s food, bear the brunt of climate change. Increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, rising sea levels and extreme events such as floods, droughts, landslides, typhoons and heat waves, decimate crops and kill livestock pushing millions into poverty and hunger.

Research supported by IFAD shows that the yields of staple crops such maize could decrease by as much as 80 percent by 2050 in parts of Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe due to climate change, resulting in increased hunger and poverty. Without timely investments in adaptation, climate change could push more than 140 million people to migrate by 2050.

The contribution is part of the Danish programme Climate Change, Conflict, Displacement and Irregular Migration Programme in the Sahel 2021-2024 (CCDMP). The programme aims to increase the resilience of vulnerable populations to the impacts of climate change by building their adaptive capacities, as well as those of national and regional partners, and to address the root causes of fragility which can lead to conflict, forced displacement and irregular migration.

IFAD aims to mobilize USD 500 million for ASAP+, to invest in building the resilience of 10 million rural people to cope with the impacts of climate change, sequestering over 100 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents and bringing more than four million hectares of land under climate-resilient practices. ASAP+ focuses on low-income countries that face the greatest challenges in terms of food insecurity and rural poverty as a consequence of climate change.

IFAD has already committed USD 300 million in climate funding since 2012 assisting more than 6 million small-scale farmers in 41 countries to adapt to the effects of climate change with investments in climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions, improvements to rural infrastructure (such as small-scale irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems) and climate information systems.

Denmark and IFAD have a decades-old partnership, with more than USD 157 million provided by the Nordic nation to the Fund since 1978. Denmark is the second highest donor of IFAD’s supplementary funding with a specific focus on youth employment, micro credit and inclusive finance in agricultural value chains, which contribute substantially to building the resilience of millions of rural people.

Source: IFAD

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