Western Balkans Mayors Commit to Tackle Air Quality Challenges with Support of Energy Community Secretariat and Western Balkans Green Center

02.07.2021

pollution-fosilna-goriva — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

On the occasion of the Energy Community Just Transition Forum on 30. June, nine Western Balkan municipalities came together virtually to sign a declaration launching the Clean Air Regions Initiative (CARI).

By signing the declaration, mayors of the nine participating municipalities committed to undertake voluntary measures aimed to reduce air pollution in their municipalities. CARI is an initiative launched by the Vienna-based Energy Community Secretariat and supported by the Hungarian Western Balkans Green Center (WBGC).

The CARI incentivises ambitious regions and communities to take action in the field of air quality on a voluntary basis. The initiative focuses on the most critical sources of pollution such as domestic heating, industry and traffic.

By signing the declaration, participating municipalities, with the support of the Secretariat and the WBGC, will strive to develop, adopt and implement local air quality action plans with ambitious policies and measures, share their experiences and learn about progress and achievements in other regions and municipalities.

The first nine signatories of the Initiative are the following: Banovići, Bitola, Kakanj, Lukavac, Maglaj, Novi Sad, Niš, Pljevlja, Tuzla.

CARI will remain open to other interested municipalities in the future.

Source: Energy Community

Sharp Decrease in CO2 Emissions of New Cars in 2020

02.07.2021

punjenje_električnih_automobila — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Chuttersnap)

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published its provisional data about the emissions of newly registered passenger cars and vans in Europe in 2020. For cars, the data show a 12 percent decrease in average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared with 2019. Average van emissions also decreased slightly, by about 1.5 percent.

According to the EEA’s provisional data, the average emissions of new passenger cars registered in the European Union (EU), Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom in 2020 were 107.8 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g CO2/km). This was 14.5 g (12 percent) lower than in 2019 and represented the first decrease observed since 2016. The share of electric vehicles in new registrations tripled from about 3.5 percent in 2019 to about 11 percent of new registrations in 2020.

About 1.4 million new vans registered in Europe in 2020 with average emissions of 157.7 g CO2/km, which is 2.3 g (1.5 percent) lower than in 2019. The share of electric vans increased from 1.4 percent in 2019 to about 2.3 percent in 2020.

The provisional data are available through the EEA’s data viewer on CO2 emissions of new cars and new vans.

About testing vehicle emissions

The emissions of new vehicles are systematically tested using ‘type approval’ procedures. Since 2017, the new Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) has been put in place with the objective to gradually replace the outdated New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The WLTP allows to obtain more realistic information on vehicle emissions in the type approval tests.

EEA activities

The EEA collects and regularly makes available data on new passenger cars and vans registered in Europe, in accordance with EU Regulation (EU) No 2019/631. The data are reported by all EU Member States, United Kingdom, Iceland (since 1 January 2018) and Norway (since 1 January 2019) in order to evaluate the efficiency of the new vehicle fleet and includes information on CO2 emissions and vehicle mass. The next data release will include the final results for new registrations in 2020.

Compliance with targets

The European Commission will confirm whether individual manufacturers or pools have met their own specific annual targets, which are based on the average mass of the cars registered.

Source: EEA

The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Shar Mountain National Park Approved

01.07.2021

The creation of Shar Mountain National Park in North Macedonia means the final puzzle piece for one of the largest transboundary protected areas in Europe is now in place. With the approval of the new 627.05 square-kilometre national park, a transboundary protected area has now been established totaling around 2,400 square kilometres.

Illegal logging has until now plagued the mountain range, resulting in an increased frequency of flash floods; the new park, declared soon after World Environment Day 2021 and the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration on 5 June, places precious ecosystems and habitats under strict protection.

“Historic decisions such as the creation of Shar Mountain National Park can boost the health of nature that supports all life on Earth. Ecosystem restoration is also essential to slow or reverse species loss” said the United Nations Environment Programme’s Europe Director, Bruno Pozzi. “It has been a privilege for UNEP to be with North Macedonia on this journey. In the end, it is the citizens, through their representatives, who have agreed to protect one of their natural treasures.”

“This is Shara. This is our new national park. We’ve done it. We worked so hard. It has taken over 27 years. I’d like to say congratulations to everybody. This is going to create development, tourism, and infrastructure. This is going to give us and the citizens living here an opportunity to come back to live here and work here. We’re proud of it. We want the world to know it,” said Naser Nuredini, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia.

After years of national debate, the Nature Division of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia has completed a broad consultation process. Different sectors of society, including hunters and environmental organisations, stepped up their efforts to consider each other’s needs and views and pave the way for a final agreement. A majority of 66 Members of Parliament voted yesterday evening at the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia in favour of the proclamation of the Shar Mountain National Park, writing a new green page in the history of their country.

“Here we don’t have factories or anything like that – only mountains. If Shar Mountain becomes a National Park, we hope for a better future. For us, the tourists and everybody,” Reshit Reshiti — a sheep farmer in the village of Veshala —said ahead of the vote.

North Macedonia is a European biodiversity hotspot. Two-thirds [i]of the country’s plant species, including numerous endemic ones, are found in Shar Mountain. More than 70 species of medicinal plants alone are collected and used there. Barely fifty critically endangered Balkan lynx are estimated to remain in the country, but they are now among the animals that have the promise of a safer future.

“Shara is home to an abundant share of all the biodiversity in North Macedonia. Here we can find animals like wolves, bears, lynxes, and foxes,” said Metodi Čilimanov, a professional mountain guide working in Shar Mountain. “Thanks to nature, we also have Shar Mountain’s tea and tulips, as well as the wonderful saffron that grows here,” added Metodi showing a tattoo of the colourful flowers on his arm.

Shar Mountain National Park is divided into four zones with different levels of environmental protection. Only scientific research, traditional grazing and hiking on marked trails will be permitted in the strictest zone, which contains glacial lakes and peatlands and makes up around 25 percent of the territory. Hunting, use of motorized vehicles, camping and the building of new houses will be banned there.

Meanwhile, in the active management zone, which covers almost half of the park’s area and includes the most important forest ecosystems, economic activity that does not negatively affect nature protection will be allowed. For example, wood and stone constructions for visitors and the building of new grazing shelters is to be permitted, while motorized vehicles used by the National Park management body will be allowed to circulate. A further ‘zone for sustainable use’ covers 22 percent of Shar Mountain and contains infrastructure and settlements.

The construction of major new infrastructure, such as ski lifts or hydropower plants, will be banned in the zone, yet camping can take place in certain locations, and visitor information centres can be built. A ‘buffer zone’ will furthermore exist around Popova Sapka Ski Resort, where measures must be taken to mitigate the resort’s environmental impact. More details of what is to be allowed in the park’s zones will be defined in the coming months.

The area covered by the park includes 30 villages with a total of more than 26,000 inhabitants. A survey conducted in April 2021 found that 82 percent of people surveyed living in the Shar Mountains were in favour of the proclamation. The Park is expected to bring new opportunities in areas such as eco and ethno-tourism and cattle-breeding. Meanwhile, traditional products such as cheese, honey and tea, as well as musical folklore, could be further anchored in the mountains.

“By proclaiming Shar Mountain as a National Park, we should keep this freedom and be able to protect all the values and beauties Shar Mountain has,” said Dursim Rushani, a horse keeper in the village of Bozovce.

A UNEP project initiated in 2016 with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has contributed to the establishment of the Shar Mountain National Park. Under the project, a series of meetings were organized between park stakeholders, as part of a challenging process to find compromises on key issues. Valorization and socio-economic studies were furthermore conducted to identify drivers of environmental threats to the area and the opportunities a national park could create. Future rangers are now being trained to manage the park, while land degradation will be closely monitored.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is due to hold its fifteenth Conference of the Parties meeting in October in Kunming, China. The landmark meeting aims to set in motion a global movement to help countries halt and reverse land degradation. A new global biodiversity framework will be set, and is likely to include fresh targets on the proportion of national land area that should be protected.

A United Nations General Assembly resolution issued in April called on Member States to maintain and enhance the connectivity of habitats, including through increasing transboundary protected areas. North Macedonia is the latest to have offered the world a new national park that will connect wildlife beyond its borders.

Source: UNEP

It’s High Time for Your Solar Power Plant

30.06.2021

solar_power_plant_roof_solarna_elektrana_na_krovu — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The new Law on Renewable Energy Sources will enable the citizens of Serbia to produce and sell green kilowatts. The novelties brought by this law are auctions for the allocation of premiums and feed-in tariffs, the adoption of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the possibility of establishing energy communities, etc. However, what is most important for the citizens is that the status of a prosumer (buyer and producer) will finally be introduced and regulated.

The adoption of the new law will enable new investments in renewable energy sources (RES) and their larger share in total energy production. According to the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the share of renewable energy sources in the total electricity production is currently around 24 percent, wherein the majority comes from large hydropower plants. In contrast, wind, solar and biomass power plants participate with about 4 percent. One of the main goals of the Serbian Government is that by 2050, at least 50 percent of energy come from renewable energy sources.

The new law introduces market premiums instead of the current feed-in tariffs, which will expose producers to the influence of the market and competition, reducing the costs for citizens and the economy, while at the same time, investors have guaranteed stability and predictability of the legal framework. Feed-in tariffs are retained only for small plants and demonstration projects, in accordance with the rules of state aid of the European Union state. Small solar plants are power plants with an installed capacity of less than 500 kW or wind farms with less than 3 MW capacity.

When it comes to incentives, they will be awarded in the auction procedure according to the same rules as for auctions for the allocation of market premiums, which will reduce the prices of the feed-in-tariffs. One of the most important innovations of the RES Law is the concept of the prosumer. It basically means that prosumers will be able to produce electricity for their own needs and deliver the surplus energy to the electricity system. Thanks to that, they will have the right to reduce their electricity bills. If they wish, they can store the produced surplus and use it later.

In focus:

Experts predict that this will greatly affect the installation of solar panels on the roofs of buildings, and small buyers – households and large buyers – the industry will be most interested in this concept. It essentially implies that if you want to install solar panels on the roof of your house, you have to hire a design bureau that will develop the project, examine the location conditions and finally ask for a work permit.

By choosing the right company, almost half of the work is done. Thus, the best is to choose one with many years of experience. The expert team of CEEFOR company (Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development), which consists of engineers with many years of work experience and a long list of successfully completed projects, is ready to listen to all customers’ questions at any time and answer them. Energy efficiency and design services in the field of RES represent only one part of their offer.

The design of 200 MW of solar power plants, 25 MW of CHP plants, 120 energy audits and checks of investment risk, as well as 66 MW of wind farms are on CEEFOR’s packed list.

In this company, special attention is paid to environmental protection and reduction of air pollution. Being a socially responsible company, their management and employees are often involved in numerous campaigns to raise awareness about environmental protection.

Reliable experts of CEEFOR company are always ready to find the best solution, which is why their list of clients is getting longer day by day. Your company might be the next one on their list.

If you are planning to install solar panels on the roof of a house or office space, or you have an ideal location for a small solar power plant, call CEEFOR’s engineers, tell them about your wishes and be sure that they will do their best to provide you with energy through green kilowatts.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY march 2021.-may 2021.

Decarbonisation of energy systems still at an early stage in Western Balkans

30.06.2021

zagađenje vazduha - air pollution — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Daniel Moqvist)

The Western Balkan 6 parties are progressing with the implementation of actions agreed by the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda, but their efforts are yet to deliver tangible results in terms of truly moving away from coal, embracing energy from renewable sources and decreasing their emission footprints, concludes the latest edition of the Secretariat’s Energy Transition Tracker.

All fossil-fuel power plants continue to operate and production even increased by 4 percent in 2020, resulting in a rise of carbon dioxide (4 percent), nitrogen oxide (6,5 percent), SO2 (8,7 percent) and dust (4 percent) emissions, compared to 2019. Renewables capacity is growing but at a slow pace, with only 188 MW of solar and hydro capacity added in 2020. Investments in energy efficiency in buildings picked up in the past year, however, only one third of the estimated investment needs for 2011-2020 have been met.

Electricity markets must improve to be fit for the energy transition. Incumbent companies continue to dominate wholesale and retail markets in WB6, with a downward trend visible only in North Macedonia. The non-internalization of costs of CO2 emissions, worth 1.2 billion euros at average EU ETS price in 2020, distorts the level playing field between EU and WB6 electricity markets and puts further market integration at risk.

The WB6 Energy Transition Tracker monitors and assesses the progress the WB6 have made on their energy transition paths through qualitative and quantitative indicators related to reducing emission footprints, improving functioning of the energy markets, scaling up renewables, improving energy efficiency and planning for the decarbonized energy future.

Source: Energy Community

Study Finds Limiting Renewable Energy Growth Would Result In Higher U.S. Power Costs

29.06.2021

solar — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Sungrow Emea)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Asia Chang)

With declining costs for renewable energy technologies, interest has turned to how that might translate into the total system costs of integrating more renewable energy on the U.S. grid.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers Wesley Cole, Nathaniel Gates, and Trieu Mai examined how changing the contribution of renewable energy from the optimal solution impacts the cost of building and operating the electricity system, as well as trade-offs between emissions savings and system costs for higher and lower levels of renewable generation.

The results, outlined in an Electricity Journal article, point to a nonlinear relationship between system costs and renewable energy contribution: Small deviations from the least-cost solution have minimal cost impacts, while larger deviations from the least-cost solution can result in large cost changes. In addition, increased levels of renewables lead to lower absolute carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

“We found that we can get to more than 80 percent renewable energy at the same cost as keeping the system at today’s level of renewables,” said Cole, NREL senior energy analyst and lead author of the paper. “Increased renewable energy contribution also reduces emissions, so going beyond today’s levels of renewable energy is a no-brainer.”

This work echoes the findings of another recent analysis published in Joule that showed the U.S. power system can achieve close to 100 percent renewable energy cost-effectively, but the last few percent come with a nonlinear cost increase. Here, Cole, Gates, and Mai did not study 100 percent renewable energy—but their results show that keeping renewables at today’s levels or limiting their growth can also produce system cost increases.

Source: Clean Technica

Joint Event Highlights Latest Actions to Tackle Methane Emissions in the Gas Sector

29.06.2021

gas_pipeline_gasovod — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Danil Sorokin)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Quinten de Graaf)

The Energy Community Secretariat, Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and the Technical Association of the European Natural Gas Industry (MARCOGAZ) hosted a joint event on methane emissions in the gas sector. The event briefed more than 170 stakeholders on the latest technical and legal developments as well as upcoming challenges.

The event gave an overview of activities at the level of the Energy Community and the EU, including a forthcoming EU legislative proposal to tackle gas methane emissions. GIE and Marcogaz presented updated best practice guidelines for the gas industry on detecting and preventing methane emissions. The event also highlighted ongoing initiatives to improve consistency of methane emissions data.

The annual event is part of the Secretariat’s efforts to raise awareness of methane emissions in the gas sector, alongside its successful webinar series launched in March 2021 with the support of GIE and Marcogaz. The so-called “Methane Mondays” will continue again in the autumn.

In anticipation of upcoming EU initiatives, the Secretariat recently adopted a report on methane emissions in the Energy Community gas sectors to serve as a baseline for moving towards methane emissions reduction targets.

For more information see here.

Source: Energy Community

Oil & Gas Execs Are Struggling To Attract Investors And Blaming Clean Energy

28.06.2021

nafta_rezervoari — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Delfino Barboza)

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has released its Q2 2021 Energy Survey, and one thing is clear: oil and gas companies are struggling to find investors.

The new report included special questions about expectations for a global crude oil gap, current and expected investments in renewables by oil and gas firms, and more. Oil and gas executives who responded to the survey noted that this sector “continued to grow strongly” in Q2 2021. However, two comments stood out.

“We have relationships with approximately 400 institutional investors and close relationships with 100. Approximately one is willing to give new capital to oil and gas investment. The story is the same for public companies and international exploration. This underinvestment coupled with steep shale declines will cause prices to rocket in the next two to three years. I don’t think anyone is really prepared for it, but U.S. producers cannot increase capital expenditures: the OPEC+ sword of Damocles still threatens another oil price collapse the instant that large publics announce capital expenditure increases. The inability to access credit from reserve-based lending is a current issue affecting our business.”

“Our biggest fear is the administration’s executive actions. Inflation will cause higher oil prices. That will hurt demand over time. Dollar values will help domestic producers. Our foreign policy looks very weak. That may create issues that invite higher oil prices.”

These comments were from a survey of respondents whose identities were not mentioned in the report. Another comment mentioned that the Federal Reserve was leaning on banks to address climate change in their lending decisions — something that is not helpful to the oil and gas industry.

Another commenter referred to President Biden’s stance on clean energy as “the current mess in Washington,” and noted that this added an “unacceptable and adolescent level of challenge to strategic planning.” They claimed that the economy is dependent on the oil and gas industry to provide the energy to fuel it.

One executive stated that they have been monitoring potential changes to the tax code that could negatively impact the industry. They noted that they are “especially concerned about the elimination of intangible drilling cost deductions and flow-through entity taxation.”

Source: Clean Technica

What is “Nature Positive” and Why is it the Key to our Future?

28.06.2021

elephants_slonovi_animals_životinje_wildlife_divljina — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Silas Baisch)

G7 leaders recently announced that “our world must not only become net zero, but also nature positive, for the benefit of both people and the planet.”

This represents a real paradigm shift in how nations, businesses, investors and consumers view nature. In the past, the mantra among a growing number of inspired leaders has been to do less harm, to reduce impact and to tread lightly across our world. Of course, this mantra remains.

But now there is a new worldview gathering pace: “nature positive.” This asks: What if we go beyond damage limitation? What if our economic activities not only minimize impact, but also enhance ecosystems?

A natural positive approach enriches biodiversity, stores carbon, purifies water and reduces pandemic risk. In short, a natural positive approach enhances the resilience of our planet and our societies.

Nature positive is a disruptive idea. It forces us to think differently about our place in the world. It is a destination for humanity. It is a foundation for good governance, long-term stable societies and healthy economies. It is a philosophy that values our common future. And it is a new business model based on regeneration, resilience and recirculation – not destruction and pollution.

A natural positive goal is not some dream to be realized many generations from now: it is a goal for the next decade. And it is increasingly important.

Farming, overfishing, mining and deforestation have now reached such a scale that they are reducing the resilience of the biosphere – the thin veil on the surface of Earth where life thrives. About half of habitable land on Earth is used for farming, resulting in the world’s single largest source of greenhouse gases and ecosystem destruction. We are also exceeding planetary boundaries, creating a dual nature and climate emergency.

A natural positive approach contributes to solving both. At its heart, the goal is to halt and reverse the destruction of nature by 2030 with a full recovery of a resilient biosphere by 2050.

Momentum for a natural positive guiding star is building day by day. In addition to the G7, 88 heads of state have signed the Leaders Pledge for Nature to reverse loss of biodiversity by 2030. It is also a goal supported by 126 Nobel Laureates in the Our Planet, Our Future statement. More than 700 businesses have called for nations to reverse loss of nature as soon as possible. In the finance sector, the new Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures will help direct investments towards a nature positive future. And faith and youth leaders have issued manifestos calling for this decade to be a turning point towards living in harmony with nature.

Nature positive is now a movement.

And it makes business sense. The Future of Nature and Business report’s estimates that a nature positive economy can unlock USD 10 trillion of business opportunities by transforming the three economic systems that are responsible for almost 80 percent of nature loss: food, infrastructure and energy.

But what does nature positive mean in practice?

Such a goal must include relevant, actionable targets that capture nature’s complexity and connectivity from genes to ecosystems. It will need targets to enhance the resilience of the processes that support life – the water, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus cycles, to name just four. And it must be fair. Without equitable management of the global commons, we will not succeed.

A natural positive goal complements the agreed global climate target of net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, we need to halve emissions by 2030. But as climate science shows, it will not be enough. The only way to hold the 1.5°C line is to simultaneously cut emissions, safeguard natural carbon sinks and transform agriculture from one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases to a vital store of carbon.

This means that a natural positive goal is not only necessary and beneficial in its own right; it is a prerequisite for us to have any chance of delivering the Paris climate agreement. But any definition of “net” nature positive must clearly state companies and countries cannot destroy nature in one place and restore elsewhere. This is simply unacceptable and will rightly be open to criticism of “greenwashing.”

This means governments, cities and businesses need to know what to measure. Science-based targets for a natural positive trajectory are still under intense discussion. As of today, the proposed quantitative targets are as follows: zero loss of nature from 2020 onwards, nature positive by 2030, and full recovery by 2050.

An important step towards this is to aim to protect 30 percent of the land and ocean by 2030. The G7 committed to this goal, paving the way for an international agreement later this year in Kunming, China, when nations will meet to agree goals to protect biodiversity as part of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Leaders will meet again in Glasgow in November for the COP26 climate summit. Here, the COP26 leadership under the UK and Italian governments are committed to place nature at the same level as climate, driven by the nature positive framing.

Nation states make up one part of the picture. Businesses, investors and cities must also adopt nature positive targets. Within the Global Commons Alliance, which we represent, the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) is accelerating this process. Already, companies can join SBTN to prepare to set targets for nature based on a simple three-step process: discover their impact, evolve their business model to become nature positive, and track their progress. SBTN also plan to develop the tools for cities, too.

Given the complexity, scientific uncertainties remain regarding some of the precise targets to achieve such audacious goals – from companies to countries. This is no excuse for inaction. Targets must be flexible enough to evolve as new scientific information comes to light.

Within the Global Commons Alliance we have created the Earth Commission to do just that. It brings together world leading expertise to identify for the first time a “safe and just corridor for humanity”. It will present its conclusions in 2022, but in the meantime, we have enough information to act now and create a natural positive future.

Source: World Economic Forum

Miami Takes Another Step Into The Future With 42 Proterra Electric Buses

27.06.2021

električni autobus electric bus — Foto: Tviter skrinšot

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Lance Asper)

Miami-Dade county has taken another step towards the electric future by adding 42 Proterra ZX5+ buses to its rapidly growing electric bus fleet, bringing the grand total of Proterra-built EVs operating in Miami to 75. But that’s just the headline — along with the buses, Miami will be installing 75 high-capacity chargers across three bus depots, ensuring they’re all “juiced up” and ready to go each morning.

“Miami-Dade County has long been a leader in advancing forward-looking clean technology solutions,” said Jack Allen, Proterra CEO, in a statement. “We are delighted to build on our partnership together and drive the county’s switch to zero-emission, electric transportation with our EV technology.”

Proterra says its US-built battery-electric buses save nearly 230.000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions when replacing a diesel bus — per year. With more than 600 electric city buses already on the road and over 20 million service miles on them, I feel like it’s safe to say that these things are doing a great job cleaning up their respective cities’ air, you know?

Well, Miami-Dade County Daniella Levine Cava seems convinced, anyway. “This is a major step forward in Miami-Dade County’s commitment to incorporate clean, renewable energy to protect our environment and offer better transportation options,” she says. “With these new electric buses, Miami-Dade will lead the way with the largest sustainable transportation fleet in Florida and one of the largest in the nation.”

What do you guys think of Miami’s electric bus buy? Is it something to celebrate, or just a case of greenwashing to bring up at reelection? Scroll on down to the comments section and let us know.

Source: Clean Tchnica

Pollution From Farming and Harbours Imperils Coastal Habitats: New Report

26.06.2021

water-voda-zagadjenje — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Linnea Herner)

The plants and animals that live along the world’s coasts are coming under increased pressure from pollution tied to harbours, agriculture, and fish and shrimp farming, warns a new report from the International Resource Panel.

The study, Governing Coastal Resources, says there is an urgent need to limit coastal pollution and other byproducts of industry, including the introduction of invasive species. Failing that, some coastal ecosystems, as well as the ocean-based economy they support, could collapse, said the report.

“There is no doubt that the future of the world’s oceans is at risk, and so is the critical role they play in supporting life on Earth and human well being,” said Professor Steve Fletcher, the primary author of the report and a member of the International Resource Panel. The panel is part of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Oceans contain 50 to 80 percent of all life on Earth and many of those plants and animals dwell in coastal areas. Coasts are also vital for human prosperity. They provide resources, including food, energy, and raw materials, while supporting cultural and recreational opportunities. In fact, the blue economy, a phrase that refers to the sustainable use of the ocean’s bounty, accounts for 5 percent of global gross domestic product and relies largely on coastal resources

Threats from agriculture, ports and aquaculture

However, coastal resources are increasingly facing detrimental impacts from human activities on land. For instance, around 80 percent of marine pollution originates onshore. The International Resource Panel’s new report examines numerous land-based sectors and identifies the three that impact coastal resources the most: agriculture, ports and harbours, and aquaculture, which includes fish and shrimp farming.

Agricultural runoff, particularly from chemicals that leach from fertilizer, is a major threat, as are chemical discharges and waste from aquaculture. Nutrients used in both industries, including nitrogen and phosphorus, and persistent toxins can end up in coastal waters, leading to oxygen depletion and creating marine dead zones.

Meanwhile, the construction and operation of ports alter sediment, turbidity and current patterns, which harms coastal ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows. Invasive species can also be introduced through the ballast water of ships. On top of this, port operations and ship engines create noise pollution and generate substantial pollutants.

As the global demand for food and agriculture is projected to rise and the shipping industry to expand, there is an urgent need to manage the impacts of these land-based activities on coastal resources to ensure the sustainability of nature and the blue economy, the report said.

The importance of an integrated land-sea governance approach

Historically the management of the ocean has been fragmented by natural, legal and administrative boundaries, the report said. Land and sea are often governed separately and pertinent sectors are not communicating with each other. Moreover, impacts arising from land-based activities may cross national borders, which creates, even more, governing challenges.

“There are very few, if any, truly effective governance mechanisms that take account of land-ocean interactions,” wrote Izabella Teixeira and Janez Potočnik, Co-Chairs of the International Resources Panel, in the report.

The world needs new governance frameworks that connect land and sea together, and consider the entirety of the impact of land-based stresses, the report urged.

“We’ve got to stop looking at the problem in a fragmented way,” said Fletcher. “Land-based activities in one country may contribute to degradation of coastal resources in another region. “This should now be a global priority.”

An example of integrated land-sea management can be found on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. The landscape has a high-value forest and coastal biodiversity, but also rapidly expanding agricultural production and a growing population. It has experienced extensive degradation of soil, forest, water and biodiversity. The Sustainable Landscapes Programme brings together various land-sea stakeholders to create action plans that meet food security, biodiversity, water and climate change targets. That maximizes the efficiency of coastal and land resources and minimizes the ecological footprint of export products.

The report said the world needs regional regulatory frameworks that would oblige industries to take into account their impact on coastal resources and local communities. It also said monitoring and evaluation frameworks and decision-support tools are important instruments to ensure the effective governance of coastal resources.

In this way, these can better account for, and ideally reduce, the effects of land-based activities on coastal resources and thereby support the transition to a sustainable blue economy, the report said.

Source: UNEP

Vestas Secures Its Largest Wind Turbine Order Ever In France

25.06.2021

sky-vetropark — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

To the start the summer with some strongly positive news, Vestas Mediterranean has announced that TTR Energy placed a 122 megawatts (MW) order for the Sud Marne wind park. It is located in Marne, France.

The contract is to secure the transport, supply, and installation of 30 V150-4.2 MW wind turbines. Some of the installations will be operating immediately, as delivered — in 4.0 MW operating mode. Vestas also includes a 20-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement.

“We are really proud of partnering with TTR Energy for Vestas’ largest order ever received in France. We expect that the reliability and high competitiveness of our 4 MW platform will contribute significantly to increase the yearly energy production of the wind park and optimise our customer’s business case,” says Vestas France Country Manager, Hugues Faivre.

The wind turbine delivery is supposed to take place by the 2nd quarter of 2022, and commissioning is scheduled the 4th quarter of 2022.

The first installation of a Vestas turbine in France was back in 1991. Since then, the company has led the country’s wind industry, with over 5,8 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity installed via more than 2,300 wind turbines. These numbers position the company as the main contributor to the expansion of wind energy in France, with a 30 percent cumulative market share.

Vestas shares: “We are really proud of partnering with TTR Energy for Vestas’ largest order ever received in France. We expect that the reliability and high competitiveness of our 4 MW platform will contribute significantly to increase the yearly energy production of the wind park and optimise our customer’s business case,” says Vestas France Country Manager, Hugues Faivre.

Source: Clean Technica

At Meeting of Global Commission, Energy and Climate Leaders Assess how to put People at the Heart of Clean Energy Transitions

25.06.2021

solar_park_solarni_park_solar_power_plant_solarna_elektrana_solar_energy_solarna_energija — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The second meeting of the Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions took place today, bringing together 25 high-profile energy and climate figures from around the world to assess how to ensure that the transition to clean energy is fair and inclusive for everyone.

The virtual meeting of the Global Commission was chaired by Dan Jørgensen, Denmark’s Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities. The Global Commission, which was convened in January by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, is led by the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, chaired by Minster Jørgensen and co-chaired by Sophie Gladima, Senegal’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy. It is made up of national leaders, government ministers, civil society representatives and other prominent figures working together to identify key actions in delivering people-centred and inclusive clean energy transitions.

“Clean energy transitions are about people, and for people, and will fail if they are not people-centred,” said Dr Birol. “There is no reason why any adverse impacts cannot be properly addressed if governments take the right actions based on sound policies that reflect their unique national circumstances. Public support is essential for a successful energy transition that can build a cleaner, more prosperous future and prevent the worst effects of climate change.”

The participants in the meeting stressed the importance of ensuring people benefit through the creation of good quality jobs in clean energy, and of protecting workers and communities that are negatively affected by employment shifts and job losses. They also underscored the importance of achieving universal access to clean, affordable and reliable energy worldwide as an integral part of energy transitions. And they recognised that while countries’ efforts to transform their energy systems present common challenges, local circumstances also need to be taken into account.

Today’s gathering continued the discussion from the Commission’s first meeting on 15 March, maintaining a focus on creating jobs, encouraging public participation, and enhancing social and economic development, equity and inclusion. The discussions were enriched by the IEA’s recent analysis presented in its special report on Financing Clean Energy Transitions in Emerging and Developing Economies, as well as by the employment analysis in Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector.

Today’s meeting was a key moment for Commission members to share their views, preferences and points of concern on major issues ahead of the development of recommendations for the COP26 Climate Change Conference that will take place in Glasgow starting 31 October. These inputs and recommendations will be finalised at the Commission’s third meeting in October.

The Commission’s first meeting on 15 March provided crucial input for the IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit on 31 March, where energy and climate leaders from more than 40 countries backed further action to cut carbon emissions, and highlighted the economic opportunities presented by clean energy transitions.

The Commission will organise two public webinars in July: one high-level event exploring the role of labour in our inclusive energy future, and one on behavioural insights for inclusive clean energy transitions.

The Commission’s most recent public webinar on “Best Practice in People-Centred Policymaking” brought together Ministers from Canada, Senegal, Switzerland and Colombia; the European Commissioner for Energy; and the Special Advisor on Climate to the UN Secretary General.

Source: IEA

COVID-19 in Europe: Increased Pollution From Masks, Gloves and Other Single-use Plastics

24.06.2021

maske — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Brian Yurasits)

The coronavirus pandemic has challenged European societies in many ways. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) briefing, published today, analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products, which cause greenhouse gas and other emissions and can end up littering the environment. It also brings useful lessons to improve our response to future disruptive events.

The responses to COVID-19 have resulted in increased use of certain products made from long-lasting single-use plastics, according to the EEA briefing ‘Impacts of COVID-19 on single-use plastic in Europe’s environment.

Increased production and consumption of masks and gloves, which have been essential to protect people’s health, and certain types of food packaging resulted in additional greenhouse gas and other emissions, as well as litter that can harm ecosystems and animals.

Imports of face masks and gloves into the European Union (EU) more than doubled during the first half year of the pandemic, and the EU’s domestic production was also growing. The EEA briefing estimates that about 170 000 additional tonnes of face masks, or about 0.75 face masks per person per day, were imported to the EU during that period, resulting in additional greenhouse gas emissions and other types of pollution. The briefing further estimates that reusable cotton masks become more climate friendly after about 13 washes but notes that reusable masks may not provide the same level of protection, which should always be the primary consideration.

The use of plastic packaging also changed during the pandemic but, instead of increasing, the EU’s domestic production of plastic packaging decreased rapidly during the first months of the pandemic and then bounced back by October 2020 when restrictions were lifted in many countries, the EEA briefing shows. During the lock-downs, restaurants shifted to take-away and deliveries, increasing the use of single-use plastic food containers. However, the same lockdowns may have reduced overall sales of on-the-go snacks, reducing the need for plastic for that purpose.

The briefing outlines several responses to be better prepared for future disruptions and uncertainties, including research on alternative materials and product designs, strategies to reduce littering, options for sanitising medical products, better recycling, and circular business models.

Source: EEA

Schneider Electric Tops the List of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World

23.06.2021

schneider punjač — Foto: Schneider electric

EP: At the end of January, Schneider Electric announced the extension of its long-term strategy in the fields of environment, society and corporate governance to all its activities and committed itself to help its customers and business partners achieve their sustainability goals. How do you plan to implement it?

Ksenija Karić: As a company that represents a global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, we believe it is our duty to contribute to making the world a more sustainable, greener and inclusive place. We have long been committed to these principles. We are constantly raising the bar of quality for ourselves, our customers and partners, and the fact that back in 2005, we were the first to monitor the impact we had on people, the planet and profit, using the Barometer of sustainability. We have recently adopted a new program called Schneider Sustainability Impact (SSI), which covers the period from 2021 to 2025 and implies a significant expansion of the previous goals. It is based on six long-term commitments to meet each of the United Nations sustainable development goals. These commitments include working towards a climate-positive world, efficiency with resources, respect for the principles of trust, creating equal opportunities, giving opportunities to all generations and empowering local communities.

We saved 120 million tons of CO2 emissions over the last 15 years and provided access to energy for about 30 million people worldwide. We help our customers and clients to operate in accordance with the principles of sustainability. For example, the American company Walmart turned to us to help them green their business. By implementing our solutions in the next 10 years, we will help them save 1 gigaton of carbon, while in 2020, more than 2,000 of their suppliers saved more than 230 million tons of carbon – almost a quarter of a ten-year goal. That came after Schneider Electric helped them adopt energy systems based on renewable sources. We have developed applications, analytics, and services that use IoT data to identify additional energy efficiency opportunities, increase asset life, optimize maintenance services, and increase demand flexibility and renewable electricity. The Edge Control option provides the ability to manage on-site operations, with daily optimization of power consumption via remote access and advanced automation. Related products are eco-friendly designed to improve their efficiency and enable electricity savings.

EP: Your company is on the prestigious annual list of Corporate Knights as the most sustainable corporation in the world. What does this recognition mean to you?

Ksenija Karić: The first place on the list of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world for 2021 represents a huge leap from the 29th place we had last year. It is also an expert external confirmation of the long-term commitment to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues. Our goal is to be an example to others when it comes to our business and ecosystem and we strive to be part of the solution for our clients. It means a lot to us that this prestigious media and research company dealing with performance in corporate sustainability has seen our efforts and turning point to data centers, data warehousing and other energy distribution resources and smart solutions that promote electrification, energy efficiency and renewability. Today, 70 percent of our revenues come from sustainable solutions, and that is what provides 73 percent of our total investments.

In focus:

EP: Schneider Electric participated in preparing the report “Net-Zero Carbon Cities – Systemic Efficiency Initiative”. What are the conclusions of this report?

Ksenija Karić: It is a global framework that defines the vision of accelerated work on decarbonization and sustainability in cities around the world. It is an initiative in which we participate with Enel Group, a multinational energy company and a leading integrated player in global energy, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), and was created to emphasize the need and benefits of an integrated energy approach to building planning and management, mobility, use digitized and intelligent grid infrastructure in an urban context. Unfortunately, cities today participate in global CO₂ emissions with almost 70 percent and consume 78 percent of the planet’s energy, making this approach key to achieving the goal of limiting global temperature growth by 1.5 °C as compared with pre-industrial levels. Given these negative trends, it is necessary to emphasize the need for an integrated approach to improving energy productivity, electrification of transport, decarbonization of heating and cooling systems, enabling flexibility of demand, and giving specific recommendations and sharing experiences regarding these concepts. Since launching the initiative, a year ago, Schneider Electric and Enel have been working with the community to accelerate the transition to zero net CO₂ emissions in 100 cities by 2030. In addition to this document, tools, an interactive platform and instruments for measuring the progress of cities towards a green and sustainable transition will be developed. Each of these elements will be the result of close cooperation between large cities and several city networks and senior representatives of academia, NGOs, industry and finance

EP: Schneider Electric is a real example of sustainable business in Serbia as well, and moving to new, more modern premises is another confirmation of that commitment. What systems have you applied in the new space, and what do they enable?

Ksenija Karić: We have moved to one of the most attractive locations in the capital and we have implemented our solutions in the field of electricity distribution and Building Management System in the new space. We have connected various systems, such as switchboards, access control, heating, air conditioning, lighting and more, into a unique, automated real-time monitoring and control system, which we can access via the application even when we are out of the office. Such an automated system of supervision and management contributes to improving operational and energy efficiency in business with a significant reduction in total costs. The Belgrade office of our Development Center is at the same location.

EP: When we talk about sustainability, the question of transport always arises. Some predictions say that by the end of the next decade, every third car sold in the world will be electric. Where do you stand in the development of this sector?

Ksenija Kari: We recognized these trends, and to achieve the ambition to achieve net-zero operating carbon emissions by 2030, we joined The Climate Group # EV100 initiative, which includes the replacement of 14,000 company cars with electric vehicles. We believe that electricity is the future of mobility and that a good infrastructure of the electric charger network is the starting point for sustainability. It is also necessary for electric chargers to be compatible with different types of electric vehicles. We have a lot of experience in this field. There are about 100,000 electric vehicle charging points supplied by Schneider Electric in Europe. When we talk about Serbia and Montenegro, about 100 electric chargers have been installed so far.

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY march 2021.-may 2021.

Warming stripes show that climate change is here and now

23.06.2021

climate_change_klimatske_promene_temperature_rise_rast_temperature — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Broadcast meteorologists and climate scientists are uniting on June 21 – the Summer/Winter Solstice – for Show Your Stripes day to raise awareness of the urgent need to act on climate change.

UN Climate Change, the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are backing the campaign, which is also designed to build momentum for a strong outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow in December.

2021 is a make-or-break year for climate action, with the window to prevent the worst impacts of climate change – which include ever more frequent more intense droughts, floods and storms – closing rapidly.

The campaign is inspired by data visualizations from Prof. Ed Hawkins, a climate scientist at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom and a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report. He has spearheaded the creation of “warming stripes” graphics, which are visual representations of the change in temperature as measured in each country over at least the past 100 years. Each stripe represents the temperature in that country averaged over a year and is based on internationally recognized datasets.

“The Warming Stripes are a simple and compelling way to visualise that the world is warming and that every country is warming. The graphics can help start local conversations about the increasing risks from climate change wherever you live, and the necessary actions to avoid the worst consequences”, comments Prof. Hawkins.

For virtually every country or region, the stripes turn from mainly blue to mainly red in more recent years, illustrating the rise in average temperatures in that country. The most dramatic change is in the Arctic, which is warming more than twice as fast as the global average.

The campaign is run in conjunction with Climate Central, an independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the public. It is supported by TV weather presenters and meteorologists who will be displaying the warming stripes on their broadcasts and social media posts.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Markus Spiske)

“Weather presenters make excellent climate communicators. You play a major role in educating the public about the risks of climate change and extreme weather,” WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas told a workshop of weather presenters organized by the International Weather and Climate Forum.

“The WMO State of the Climate report showed that 2020 was one of the three warmest years on record. It capped the warmest decade on record. The average global temperature was 1,2°C above the pre-industrial levels and glaciers continued to retreat, with long-term impacts on sea level rise and water security,” said Prof. Taalas.

Weather presenters and the general public are invited to participate in the campaign by downloading the graphic from their region or country and posting it on social media using the hashtags #ShowYourStripes and #COP26.

For example, you can update your social accounts to #ShowYourStripes with ready-to-use graphics including a Facebook frame for your profile image, a Facebook camera filter, cover photos for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Source: World Meteorological Organization

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