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Air Pollution Goes Down as Europe Takes Hard Measures to Combat Coronavirus

28.03.2020

milano_milan_italija_italy_saobraćaj_transport — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Revolt)

The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) data confirm large decreases in air pollutant concentrations — of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in particular — largely due to reduced traffic and other activities, especially in major cities under lockdown measures. Reductions of around half have been seen in some locations. The EEA’s data are measured hourly, on the ground, at about 3,000 monitoring stations across European countries.

The EEA has received many questions about the impacts of the stark measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on air quality in Europe.

“The EEA’s data show an accurate picture of the drop in air pollution, especially due to reduced traffic in cities. However, addressing long-term air quality problems requires ambitious policies and forward-looking investments. As such, the current crisis and its multiple impacts on our society work against what we are trying to achieve, which is a just and well-managed transition towards a resilient and sustainable society”, stated Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director.

The EEA’s data for recent weeks show how concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), a pollutant mainly emitted by road transport, have decreased in many Italian cities. For example:

In Milan, average concentrations of NO₂ for the past four weeks have been at least 24 % lower than four weeks earlier this year. The average concentration during the week of 16-22 March was 21 % lower than for the same week in 2019;
In Bergamo, there has been a constant decline in NO₂ pollution over the past four weeks. The average concentration during the week of 16-22 March was 47 % lower than for the same week in 2019;
In Rome, average NO₂concentrations for the past four weeks were 26-35 % lower than for the same weeks in 2019.

Similar trends can be seen in other European cities where lockdown measures have been implemented during the week of 16-22 March.

In Barcelona, average NO₂ levels went down by 40 % from one week to the next. Compared with the same week in 2019, the reduction was 55 %;
In Madrid, average NO₂ levels went down by 56 % from one week to the next. Compared with the same week in 2019, the reduction was 41 %;
In Lisbon, average NO₂ levels went down by 40 % from one week to the next. Compared with the same week in 2019, the reduction was 51 %.

Exposure to air pollution can lead to adverse health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A number of health authorities have warned that those citizens with certain pre-existing conditions, such as respiratory illnesses, may have an increased vulnerability to COVID-19. However at present it is not clear whether ongoing exposure to air pollution might worsen the condition of those infected by the virus. Further epidemiological research is needed to address such questions.

Source: EEA

Siemens Gamesa in Deal to Provide Clean Electricity to 240,000 People in Vietnam

27.03.2020

wind_turbine_vetrenjača — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Vietnam has some of the best wind resources in Southeast Asia. In an effort to tap the country’s potential and provide more clean energy to the country, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will supply 25 SG 4.5-145 for one of the nation’s largest wind farms. With a total capacity of 113 MW, the Hoa Thang 1.2 wind farm will generate enough electricity to meet the demands of over 240,000 Vietnamese following its commissioning in 2021.

The deal also marks the largest order in the country for Siemens Gamesa. Additionally, the company has secured a long-term 10-year service contract.

The project, located in the Bac Binh district, Binh Thuan province, on the South-Central coast of Vietnam, is developed by Hoa Thang Energy Joint Stock Company, a special-purpose vehicle of Vietnam’s construction group Trading Construction Works Organization (WTO) which has close to 60 years construction experience.

Hoa Thang Energy is a pioneer of renewable energy in Vietnam, where the fast-growing economy has seen electricity demand rise by around 10% annually. The Vietnamese government estimates that total power generating capacity will reach 125-130 GW by 2030, up from 46 GW in 2018. In order to mitigate climate concerns, the government also aims for renewable energy to account for 15-20% of its total energy output by 2030 and has established a target of developing 6 GW of wind power capacity by 2030.

“With an accumulated installation of 101 GW, Siemens Gamesa can leverage its global expertise and footprint to partner with Hoa Thang Energy to develop one of the largest wind farms in Vietnam. As market scale and financing are helping to unlock potential in Vietnam, we are committed to supporting our Vietnamese customers to accelerate the penetration of renewable energy and bring clean power for generations to come,” said Richard Paul Luijendijk, CEO of Siemens Gamesa’s Onshore business unit in APAC.

“With deep rooting in Vietnam, we are pleased to partner with Siemens Gamesa and leverage its industry-leading experience and reputation to develop renewable energy in the country. We selected Siemens Gamesa as the most appropriate supplier for our first wind farm project. This first ever cooperation between the two companies will lay a good foundation for us to further explore the wind market in Vietnam,” said Nguyen Thanh Oai, CEO of Trading Construction Works Organization.

Siemens Gamesa has been expanding in the Asia Pacific markets since the 1980s and has installed more than 8.4 GW of onshore turbines in China, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. In the offshore segment, the company successfully completed the installation of Taiwan’s first offshore wind power project in 2019 (128 MW) and in addition reached close to 2 GW of firm orders. The company also signed preferred supplier agreements for an additional 755 MW combined volume in Japan and Taiwan.

Source: Siemens Gamesa

Battery Storage Paves Way for a Renewable-Powered Future

26.03.2020

Battery storage solar farm — Photo: IRENA

Battery storage systems are emerging as one of the key solutions to effectively integrate high shares of solar and wind renewables in power systems worldwide. A recent analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) illustrates how electricity storage technologies can be used for a variety of applications in the power sector, from e-mobility and behind-the-meter applications to utility-scale use cases.

Utility-scale batteries, for example, can enable a greater feed-in of renewables into the grid by storing excess generation and by firming renewable energy output. Furthermore, particularly when paired with renewable generators, batteries help provide reliable and cheaper electricity in isolated grids and to off-grid communities, which otherwise rely on expensive imported diesel fuel for electricity generation.

At present, utility-scale battery storage systems are mostly being deployed in Australia, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and other European countries. One of the larger systems in terms of capacity is the Tesla 100 MW / 129 MWh Li-ion battery storage project at Hornsdale Wind Farm in Australia. In the US-State of New York, a high-level demonstration project using a 4 MW / 40 MWh battery storage system showed that the operator could reduce almost 400 hours of congestion in the power grid and save up to USD 2.03 million in fuel costs.

In addition, several island and off-grid communities have invested in large-scale battery storage to balance the grid and store excess renewable energy. In a mini-grid battery project in Martinique, the output of a solar PV farm is supported by a 2 MWh energy storage unit, ensuring that electricity is injected into the grid at a constant rate, avoiding the need for back-up generation. In Hawaii, almost 130 MWh of battery storage systems have been implemented to provide smoothening services for solar PV and wind energy.

Globally, energy storage deployment in emerging markets is expected to increase by over 40% each year until 2025.

Currently, utility-scale stationary batteries dominate global energy storage. But by 2030, small-scale battery storage is expected to significantly increase, complementing utility-scale applications.

The behind-the-meter (BTM) batteries are connected behind the utility meter of commercial, industrial or residential customers, primarily aiming at electricity bill savings. Installations of BTM batteries globally is on the rise. This increase has been driven by the falling costs of battery storage technology, due to the growing consumer market and the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs), along with the deployment of distributed renewable energy generation and the development of smart grids. In Germany, for example, 40% of recent rooftop solar PV applications have been installed with BTM batteries. Australia aims to reach one million BTM batteries installations by 2025, with 21 000 systems installed in the country in 2017.

Overall, total battery capacity in stationary applications could increase from a current estimate of 11 GWh to between 180 to 420 GWh, an increase of 17- to 38-fold.

Read IRENA’s full Innovation landscape briefs on Utility-scale batteries and Behind-the-Meter batteries.

Find more information about enabling technologies in IRENA’s Innovation Landscape briefs: Enabling Technologies.

Source: IRENA

To Make Things Last Longer and Create Less Waste

25.03.2020

saksije_cveće — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bernard Hermant)

“Circular economy as a part of the concept of society’s sustainable development” is the project of the professional organisation Ambassadors of sustainable development and environment. The goal of this organisation is to inform the general public about the values of circular economy concept, along with the portrayal of prior experiences and good practise examples about how this concept has already been implemented in education centres in Serbia. As a result of this project, the review was provided about the situation in Serbia, and farther (through previous experiences in EU and worldwide, in terms of Sustainable development goals), also about the progress of circular economy concept, our position at the moment and possible direction of further development and options for participation. The project was supported by the Ministry of environmental protection through co-financing model for projects of a nongovernmental organisation.

Photo: Private archive of Aleksandra Mladenovic

Aleksandra Mladenovic, the chairman of the organisation and national coordinator of the International programme Eco-schools, says that in the course of the programme, from July till November 2019, and having in mind the fact that Serbia has only scratched the surface of circular economy, it was necessary to examine the possibilities and legal frame, find the best practice examples and make the public familiar with them, allowing for follow-up on further development.

The concept of circular economy encompasses industrial production, which is based upon renewability of the materials, renewable energy sources implementation, reduction and/or elimination of chemicals usage, minimising waste generation, product design which will allow longer life cycle etc. The value-added product stands on “staying” longer in use and not making waste.

The transition to a circular economy requires changes in the entire life cycle of a product and product design. Thus, new business and trade model is needed, as much as an improved way of turning waste into resources and different consumers’ attitude, etc. Furthermore, it is necessary to change and innovate the system: in technology, organisations, society, financing procedures and policies, which are only a few of the starting points required for the transition process from linear to a circular economy.

In focus:

During the implementation of the project “Circular economy as a part of the concept of society’s sustainable development”, the major stakeholders were determined, whose role in the development of the circular economy concept in Serbia is conspicuous, particularly about to entrepreneurial initiatives of the education centres, women and youth. Also, the consultations were organized with the prominent representatives from the sectors of industry, science, state and local governments and non-governmental organisations, who already have experience in the implementation of the circular economy concept in Serbia. At the same time, the general public had a chance to get familiar with the accomplishments in the circular economy, through the publication designed for the school kids and public appearances of teachers and local governments’ representatives.

“Two years ago, when we first mentioned to the Ecoschool coordinators that what they do within their institutions, through the course of lectures, but especially through afterschool activities, has great importance and that they might help development and ’testing’ of circular economyin practice, they were surprised and slightly confounded. In the beginning, they weren’t sure what term ’circular in economy’ generally means and how they could implement basic ideas about that same ’circular economy’ into their regular curriculum”, Aleksandra explained how the first encounter of the project participants with a new concept had gone through.

However, it wasn’t much of an obstacle to the members of the “Ambassador of sustainable development and environment” team. They started with a series of lectures and numerous practical activities, which at last concluded with an expert conference “Principles of circular economy in the environmental protection” that is accredited by the Ministry of education, science and technological development. The conference was held in October 2019, in partnership with local communities of Cajetina, their tourist organisation, Eco-schools “Dimitrije Tucovic” from Cajetina and “Milivoje Borovic” from Mackat. Aleksandra says that they are particularly pleased as they managed to introduce thecircular economy, at least for the time being, as a way of thinking and guidelines for future activities, into the Ecoschools and local communities.

“In those communities, people have already changed their attitudes, and they look at materials, products, waste, production process etc. in a different way. They spread further the idea of the circular economy. This way new approach to resources and items has come out of the Ecoschools and entered the homes, institutions and around the local communities”, proudly points out Aleksandra.

The document “Circular economy in Serbia: the process started (2019)” shows precisely where the development of the circular economy concept stands at the moment, which encompasses advantages, obstacles, downsides, possible solutions for overcoming problems etc. The document alone has importance as a unique review on progress and further ways of staying involved in.

“Besides this ’serious’ document, we made a booklet for children and youngsters, with imaginative illustration and original texts. We distributed the booklets throughout the Eco-schools in Serbia so that youngsters can learn and apply basic values of this concept since the circular economy is explained in pictorial and appropriate to their age manner”, Aleksandra said. All publication will be available on the website of the “Ambassadors of sustainable development and environment https://ambassadors-evn. com/

The team of the organisation “Ambassadors of sustainable development” keeps track of the progress of circular economy and climate changes not only in Serbia but in the region too, as the partners on the regional project, financed by European Union, named “ENV.net factoring the environmental portfolio for the Western Balkans and Turkey in the EU Policy Agenda” (ref.no. 2017/394-372). Meanwhile, they expect that Eco-schools, as a never-ceasing source of good examples and substantial activities, will approach with suggestion and ideas about how to reuse an old textile, recycle secondary raw materials or extend the life cycle of objects and appliances. We are surely going to report on that in the future too!

Prepared by: Tamara Zjacic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine GRINNOVATIONS, December 2019 – February 2020.

Virus Which Causes COVID-19 Threatens Great Ape Conservation

25.03.2020

black_gorilla_gorilla — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Kelly Sikkema)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Mandy Henry)

Both great ape research and tourism have allowed people to learn about chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans, and to observe them from a close proximity. Great ape tourism also serves as an important source of revenue for governments and communities, and a significant proportion of this income is reinvested in the protection of endangered species and their natural habitats.

However, infectious diseases such as COVID-19—caused by the SARS CoV-2 virus—are a major concern for great ape conservation.

Johannes Refisch is a United Nations Programme Manager and Coordinator who oversees the Great Apes Survival Partnership. In this interview, he explains why disease prevention is critical, and what specific measures are being taken.

In relation to great apes, why is the SARS CoV-2 virus a concern?

The possibility of infection is a conservation risk. We do not yet know whether great apes are susceptible to the SARS CoV-2 virus, but we do know that wild chimpanzees were infected with human coronavirus OC43 in Côte d’Ivoire, and that great apes can be infected with many other human respiratory pathogens.

Among humans, the SARS CoV-2 virus is highly infectious and may survive in the environment for a few days. This being the case, we must assume that great apes are susceptible and prevent them from being infected.

What are the potential consequences of infection among great apes?

The survival of great apes is already threatened by habitat loss, illegal hunting, and other diseases. Ebola, for example—a hemorrhagic fever that affects both humans and great apes—has led to mortality rates of up to 95 per cent in gorillas; and calculations indicate that some of those populations will need more than 130 years to recover. Contraction of SARS-CoV-2 would add to these challenges.

There would also be economic and livelihood losses. Great ape tourism is an important source of employment, generates income for national governments and local communities, and produces the funds required to sustain conservation activities.

It is also important to note the risk of human infection by great apes. Because of our close genetic proximity, humans can transmit diseases to great apes, but humans can also contract diseases from great apes. Again, Ebola exemplifies a case in which both humans and great apes were affected. There is some evidence that hunters found carcasses of gorillas that had died of Ebola in the forest, and contracted the disease when they consumed infected meat.

What is being done to reduce these risks?

At present, there is no vaccine against SARS CoV-2 infection, and it could take months—if not years—to develop one.

In the meantime, the International Union for Nature’s Primate Specialist Group/Section on Great Apes and the Wildlife Health Specialist Group have published a joint statement, recommending that “great ape visitations by humans are reduced to the minimum needed to ensure the safety and health monitoring for the great apes”, and are emphatic that strict adherence to best practices for great ape tourism and disease prevention is critical.

Beyond this, the groups recommend that suspension of great ape tourism and reduction of field research should be considered and call for mechanisms “to offset loss of profit and employment from tourism” and to support public health in local communities. To this end, as of 23 March 2020, the majority of gorilla tourism sites have been closed.

In the long term, it will be critical to gain a better understanding of the spread of diseases between animals and people, as there is increasing evidence that loss of habitat and biodiversity has facilitated the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Source: UNEP

The Hidden Risks Nature Loss Poses for Businesses

25.03.2020

deforestation_krčenje_šuma — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Nature loss is still a hidden risk for many businesses.
This must change – both for the sake of businesses and the environment.
Here are four actions businesses can take to respond to this global risk.

As this past year’s news headlines have made all too clear, nature is in a state of emergency. In May 2019, following the most comprehensive scientific investigation ever into the planet’s health, a report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) sounded the alarm that one million species face extinction due to human activity. As IPBES chair Sir Robert Watson noted: “We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide”.

Ecosystems have declined in size and condition by 47% globally compared to estimated baselines, and species populations have faced stark declines.

The wake up call on nature loss is highlighted in this year’s World Economic Forum Global Risks Report (GRR), where biodiversity loss is, for the first year, ranked as one of the top-five global risks in terms of likelihood and impact in the next 10 years.

In boardrooms, investment and risk committees, however, nature loss still appears to be largely a hidden risk. This needs to change, and quickly.

Crossing the ecological limits of our planet will directly affect economic activities and businesses that depend on and have an impact on nature. Insufficient accounting for these risks could have unintended consequences, such as short or long-term risk mis-pricing, inadequate capital buffers, and in extreme cases the potential for stranded assets. For example, between $235 billion and $577 billion of global crop output is at risk annually from pollinator loss.

In recent years we have seen how governments, regulators, asset owners and managers, and – increasingly – businesses, have recognised that climate change poses a systemic financial risk. It is time for this recognition to be extended to the risk posed by nature loss.

In a new report by the World Economic Forum and PwC UK, the first in the New Nature Economy series, we look at the scale and urgency of the nature crisis for business. We highlight that as nature declines, so do the prospects for business growth and wider prosperity. For example, 60% of coffee varieties are at risk of extinction from a combination of climate change, disease and deforestation. If this were to happen, global coffee markets – a sector with retail sales of $83 billion in 2017 – would be significantly destabilized.

According to our analysis, $44 trillion of economic value generation – over half of the world’s total GDP – is moderately or highly dependent on nature and the services it provides. Industries which are highly dependent on nature generate 15% of global GDP ($13 trillion), while moderately dependent industries generate 37% ($31 trillion). This underscores the significant financial exposure to nature loss for businesses worldwide if current trends continue unabated.

It is critical that businesses regularly identify, assess, mitigate and disclose nature-related risks to avoid potentially severe consequences. One approach to doing this is to adapt the recommendations proposed by the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TFCD),which incorporate nature-related risks alongside climate risks within corporate risk management and disclosure.

The TCFD’s recommendations are focused on four broad themes of governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets, and can be used as a guide for businesses and investors to approach the management of nature-related risks and opportunities.

Four key actions for a business response to nature risk

1) GOVERNANCE for nature-related risks and opportunities

Businesses with material exposure to nature loss should ensure that they have a clear governance structure in place to identify and manage risks arising from nature loss. There should be a process for material risks to be fed up from the business units to the risk committee. It may make sense to use the same governance structure as for climate-related risks and/or environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks. There should be a clear understanding of the management-level individuals or committees with responsibility for nature-based risks and how and when they interact on the issue at all levels within the organization.

2) Incorporate nature-related risks and opportunities into the organization’s STRATEGY and financial planning

It is important for each organization to understand how it expects nature-related risks to evolve over time and to use this to inform business planning and strategy. Businesses should disclose what nature risks and opportunities they are exposed to across their value chain and how these might affect future cash flows and asset values. This can include assessment of the financial consequences of plausible scenarios driven by ongoing nature loss, which could include the physical effects of natural capital decline as well as changes in regulation, markets, and legal and reputational issues. Businesses can then decide what type of strategy is appropriate to manage nature-related risks and how they can create opportunities.

3) Identify, assess and manage nature-related risks as part of enterprise RISK MANAGEMENT processes

A robust process for managing nature-related risks must underpin strategy and governance. Businesses should identify the nature-related risks to their operations, products and supply chains across the key categories of physical, regulatory and legal, market and reputational risks. Businesses should conduct a materiality assessment to understand which risks are likely to be most significant and worth integrating into the core enterprise risk management (ERM) system. Businesses wishing to take a more mature approach will conduct a detailed assessment of key risks and opportunities, including quantification in financial terms.

4) Identify and track nature-related risk METRICS AND TARGETS

Developing metrics and targets is crucial for businesses to effectively monitor nature-related risks and assess progress against their strategy. Key metrics will differ by sector, though there may be some overlap with climate-related metrics already being reported (for example on water, land use, deforestation and virgin material use).

It’s time for nature risks to move up the agenda for business and economic decision-makers. We cannot reverse nature loss without industry playing a pivotal role; and industry cannot afford to ignore the nature crisis. New commitments, new policies, new business models and new solutions are urgently needed that protect and restore nature and incentivize its sustainable use.

Source: WEF

How to Move More People in Fewer Vehicles

24.03.2020

boston_traffic_saobraćaj_school_bus_školski_autobus — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Shared mobility services have the potential to dramatically reduce levels of congestion and pollution in our cities.
For maximum benefit, these services must be integrated with public transport systems.
The technology to make this happen already exists.

Advocates of autonomous mobility are looking forward to the day when zero-emission, shared autonomous vehicles deliver services that dramatically reduce urban congestion and pollution. But as the mass deployment of autonomous vehicles seems farther and farther off, it is important to point out that we don’t have to wait for autonomy to realize many of the efficiencies that shared mobility can provide.

Trip-optimization technology that can make shared transport work already exists – whether a computer or a human is driving. One proof point can be found in a project to make Boston’s public school buses more efficient. What can the humble yellow school bus teach us about efficient urban transport? Plenty, as it turns out.

Learning from schools

In 2019, Boston’s public school district held a contest to find a solution that could better move its 25,000 students to more than 200 schools across 20 zip codes. Parents are allowed to select their children’s schools, so the transportation patterns are irregular. To further complicate matters, Boston’s schools have different start times. Student transit was costing the district $2,000 per student—10% of its budget.

Researchers at MIT’s Operations Research Center rose to the challenge. They developed an algorithm capable of ingesting all ride requirements simultaneously instead of optimizing service for each school independently, one by one. By optimizing the entire network, under the new schedule, some buses dropped students off at multiple schools. In short, the algorithm enabled the district to eliminate 50 buses, more than a million miles of driving, and 9,000kg of CO2 emissions per day. Student ride times and walking distances were not impacted. And the district now has $5 million per year in savings to invest in education programmes.

Many have argued that the future of urban transport is electric, autonomous and shared. But the real key to reducing traffic and pollution comes from sharing—and we don’t have to wait for the widespread adoption of electric and/or autonomous vehicles to achieve significant efficiency gains that remove cars and their emissions from city streets.

Multiple studies have found that shared autonomous vehicles can dramatically improve traffic:

· An International Transport Forum (ITF) study of traffic in Lisbon found that shared self-driving cars combined with the existing public transport system could reduce traffic by 90% with a maximum wait time of five minutes.

· A University of Texas simulation of traffic in Austin found that one shared autonomous vehicle could do the work of nine private vehicles with extra ride times of two to five minutes.

· A study of traffic in Oslo by the PTV Group found that shared autonomous vehicles could meet the city’s rush hour needs with just 7% of today’s vehicles, and that combining the services with public transport would reduce trip times by an average of 11 minutes.

Swap autonomous vehicles that receive instructions into a computer with human-driven vehicles that receive instructions through a driver’s mobile app, and you can achieve the same results – albeit today with fossil fuel-powered cars. But reducing the number of vehicles on streets by as much as 90% would enable proportionate emissions reductions.

Public benefits

Critical to the success of these models is the integration of services with public transport. The flip side of the equation would be to use shared services in place of public transport, which would likely worsen congestion. Shared transport integrated with public mass transit would have to be mandated by cities rather than deployed as a free-for-all – which is how peer-to-peer ride-hailing services were introduced. Unregulated and unintegrated, these services have dramatically worsened traffic in most large cities.

Orchestrating success

Analysts at Accenture recently released a report calling for cities to take the lead in creating coordinated, “orchestrated” mobility ecosystems. Limiting shared services to routes that connect people with mass transit would be one way to deploy human-driven services now and to prepare for driverless services in the future. Services and schedules can be linked at the backend, and operators can, for example, automatically send more shared vehicles to a train station when the train has more passengers than usual; or the cars can wait for a train that is running late.

Orchestrating large fleets and processing large volumes of ride requests simultaneously and in real time, and dispatching vehicles and pooling ride requests in the most efficient manner possible, are extremely complex processes. This complexity increases as most urban environments are continually changing. Traffic, weather, special events, construction, and other conditions can impact trip times and wait times.

Managing space

Managing urban congestion and mobility comes down to managing space. Cities are characterized by restricted residential, commercial and transportation spaces. Private autos are the most inefficient use of transportation space, while mass transit represents the most efficient use of transportation space. Getting more people out of private cars into shared feeder routes to and from mass transit modes is the most promising way to reduce auto traffic. Computer models show that it can be done, and we don’t need autonomy to realize the benefits of shared mobility. With our climate crisis growing more acute by the day, we can and should start implementing shared mobility now.

Source: WEF

Clean Energy at the Heart of Stimulus Plans to Counter the Coronavirus Crisis?

23.03.2020

solar_panels_solarni_paneli — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The impact of the coronavirus around the world and the resulting turmoil in global markets are dominating global attention. As governments respond to these interlinked crises, they must not lose sight of a major challenge of our time: clean energy transitions.

The coronavirus is turning into an unprecedented international crisis, with serious repercussions for people’s health and economic activity. Although they may be severe, the effects are likely to be temporary. Meanwhile, the threat posed by climate change, which requires us to reduce global emissions significantly this decade, will remain. We should not allow today’s crisis to compromise our efforts to tackle the world’s inescapable challenge.

Governments are drawing up stimulus plans in an effort to counter the economic damage from the coronavirus. These stimulus packages offer an excellent opportunity to ensure that the essential task of building a secure and sustainable energy future doesn’t get lost amid the flurry of immediate priorities.

Large-scale investment to boost the development, deployment and integration of clean energy technologies – such as solar, wind, hydrogen, batteries and carbon capture (CCUS) – should be a central part of governments’ plans because it will bring the twin benefits of stimulating economies and accelerating clean energy transitions. The progress this will achieve in transforming countries’ energy infrastructure won’t be temporary – it can make a lasting difference to our future.

The costs of key renewable technologies, such as solar and wind, are far lower than during previous periods when governments launched stimulus packages. And the technology for both solar and wind is in a much better shape than in the past. Meanwhile, hydrogen and carbon capture are in need of major investment to scale them up and bring down costs. This could be helped by current interest rate levels, which were already low and are declining further, making the financing of big projects more affordable. Governments can make clean energy even more attractive to private investors by providing guarantees and contracts to reduce financial risks.

Taking these steps is extremely important because the combination of the coronavirus and volatile market conditions will distract the attention of policy makers, business leaders and investors away from clean energy transitions.

The coronavirus is turning into an unprecedented international crisis, with serious repercussions for people’s health and economic activity

This situation is a test of governments and companies’ commitment. Observers will quickly notice if their emphasis on clean energy transitions fades when market conditions become more challenging.

The sharp decline in the oil market may well undermine clean energy transitions by reducing the impetus for energy efficiency policies. Without measures by governments, cheaper energy always leads consumers to use it less efficiently. It reduces the appeal of buying more efficient cars or retrofitting homes and offices to save energy. This would be very bad news, since improvements in energy efficiency, a vital element for reaching international climate goals, have already been weakening in recent years.

Governments can address this by pursuing policies that have already proved successful previously, such as measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, which create jobs, reduce energy bills and help the environment.

The recent steep drop in oil prices is also a great opportunity for countries to lower or remove subsidies for fossil fuel consumption. There are around USD 400 billion of these subsidies worldwide today, and more than 40% of them are to make oil products cheaper.

There can be good reasons for governments to make energy more affordable, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable groups. But many subsidies are inefficiently targeted, disproportionally benefiting wealthier segments of the population that use much more of the subsidised fuel. In practice, the effect of most subsidies is to encourage consumers to waste energy, adding needlessly to emissions and straining government budgets that could otherwise be prioritising education or health care.

This situation is a test of governments and companies’ commitment to clean energy transitions

The coronavirus brings other dangers for clean energy transitions. China, the country most heavily affected by the virus initially, is the main global production source of many clean energy technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines and batteries for electric cars. The Chinese economy was severely disrupted during the government’s efforts to contain the virus, especially in February, causing potential supply chain bottlenecks for some technologies and components.

This is why governments need to make sure they keep clean energy transitions front of mind as they respond to this fast-evolving crisis. IEA analysis shows that governments directly or indirectly drive more than 70% of global energy investments. They have a historic opportunity today to steer those investments onto a more sustainable path.

As the IEA announced last month, global energy-related CO2 emissions stopped growing last year even as the world economy expanded by nearly 3%. We need to make sure 2019 is remembered as the definitive peak in global emissions, and that means taking action now to put them into sustained decline this decade.

The coronavirus brings other dangers for clean energy transitions

We may well see CO2 emissions fall this year as a result of the impact of the coronavirus on economic activity, particularly transport. But it is very important to understand that this would not be the result of governments and companies adopting new policies and strategies. It would most likely be a short-term blip that could well be followed by a rebound in emissions growth as economic activity ramps back up.

Real, sustained reductions in emissions will happen only if governments and companies fulfill the commitments that they have already announced – or that they will hopefully announce very soon.

Governments can use the current situation to step up their climate ambitions and launch sustainable stimulus packages focused on clean energy technologies. The coronavirus crisis is already doing significant damage around the world. Rather than compounding the tragedy by allowing it to hinder clean energy transitions, we need to seize the opportunity to help accelerate them.

Author: Fatih Birol

Source: IEA

The Wonder Trees That Nurture Marine Biodiversity

22.03.2020

forest_šuma — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

This 2020 theme for the International Day of Forests on 21 March is Forests and Biodiversity. It’s an often-quoted fact that forests are home to 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity, but did you know that one type of tree also supports marine biodiversity—the mangrove tree?

Awareness is growing among governments and coastal communities in tropical countries of the incredible value of mangroves to nature and humans.

Mangrove trees store more carbon in their rich soils than most other trees, which makes them valuable assets in the fight against global heating. They also buffer storm surges, provide breeding grounds for fish and a host of other marine animals, and serve as effective filtration systems that prevent the influx of saline water which renders soil unfit for agriculture.

Biodiversity is an important ecosystem benefit that mangrove forests provide. Community and biodiversity-based ecotourism in mangroves can help generate incentives for conservation and sustainable management. Tourists have a wide range of options to experience the wonderful biodiversity of mangrove forests, including through boat tours, kayaking, snorkeling, bird watching and nighttime crab fishing. In Madagascar, mangroves are home to lemurs which are among the most threatened group of mammals on Earth. These “swamp lemurs” were documented for the first time just a few years ago.

“Mangrove forests are highly productive ecosystems and their conservation should be the first priority, but where mangroves have disappeared restoration has also proved possible,” says United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) coastal and marine ecosystems expert Gabriel Grimsditch.

In 2019, the United Nations issued a massive global call to action to mobilize the political and financial support necessary to restore the world’s deforested and degraded ecosystems. The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will run from 2021 to 2030 and emphasize scaling-up of restoration work to address the severe degradation of landscapes and forests, including mangroves, our marine blue forests.

Blue forests restoration initiatives

UNEP and partners have recently been involved in successful “mangrove carbon” finance projects in Kenya, and Madagascar under the Blue Forests Project.

These projects link mangrove forests to the global carbon market, with payments for mangrove carbon supporting the planting and conservation of mangrove trees and other benefits to the local communities. UNEP is currently supporting an exploration of how to similarly link seagrass ecosystems to the carbon market in Kenya.

As the world’s only examples of successful community-based mangrove carbon finance projects, the Kenya and Madagascar experiences were profiled last month at the Indian Ocean Blue Carbon Hub Inaugural Think Tank workshop in Mauritius. Results of the workshop included recognition that biodiversity and other ecosystem benefits, including carbon sequestration, are vital for advancing a nature-based healthy blue economy.

In Ecuador, the Blue Forests Project has supported Conservation International’s engagement with the government and local communities in setting up mangrove conservation agreements. Under the “socio manglar” programme, indigenous communities are given economic incentives—based on the rich biodiversity that mangrove’s support—to commit to the conservation and protection of mangrove forests. In this case, the communities gain exclusive use of the red mangrove crab and black cockle, both lucrative national fisheries.

“Restoration is not a quick win. Considerable financial resources and sustained buy-in from local communities over many years are needed for successful restoration projects,” says Isabelle Vanderbeck, a UNEP marine ecosystems expert working closely with the Global Environment Facility on mangrove restoration projects.

A Resolution adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly on 15 March 2019 “encourages Member States to improve research, education and public awareness, build capacity for the sustainable management and restoration of mangroves and related ecosystems, and, to that end, consider ways in which to mobilize the necessary resources for developing countries.”

What is the Global Environment Facility Blue Forests Project?

The Global Environment Facility International Waters focal area is enabling the Blue Forests Project to provide the first global-scale assessment of how the values of carbon sequestration and other coastal ecosystem services can be harnessed to achieve improved ecosystem management and sustainable communities while mitigating climate change. The project also improves knowledge for informed decision-making, raises awareness, fosters cooperation among all stakeholders, and provides experiences and tools for greater global application.

The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, led by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and partners such as the Africa Restoration 100 initiative, the Global Landscapes Forum and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, covers terrestrial as well as coastal and marine ecosystems. A global call to action, it will draw together political support, scientific research and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration. Help us shape the Decade.

Source: UNEP

Economic Slowdown as a Result of COVID Is No Substitute for Climate Action

21.03.2020

industry_tires_industrija_gume — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Efforts to control the Coronavirus pandemic have reduced economic activity and led to localized improvements in air quality. But it is too early to assess the implications for concentrations of greenhouse gases which are responsible for long-term climate change. Carbon dioxide levels at key observing stations have so far this year been higher than last year.

Any cuts in emissions as a result of the economic crisis triggered by COVID19 are not a substitute for concerted Climate Action, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

“Despite local reductions in pollution and improvement in air quality, it would be irresponsible to downplay the enormous global health challenges and loss of life as a result of the COVID19 pandemic,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. “However, now is the time to consider how to use economic stimulus packages to support a long-term switch to more environmentally and climate-friendly business and personal practices.”

“Past experience suggests that emissions declines during economic crises are followed by a rapid upsurge. We need to change that trajectory,” he said.

”The world needs to demonstrate the same unity and commitment to climate action and cutting greenhouse gas emissions as to containing the Coronavirus pandemic,” he said. “Failure in climate change mitigation could lead to greater human life and economic losses during the coming decades,” he said.

According to an analysis carried out for Carbon Brief, the lockdown and reduction in economic activity in China led to an estimated 25% reduction in CO₂ emissions over four weeks.

WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch coordinates high-quality long-erm global observations of greenhouse gas concentrations. Emissions represent what goes into the atmosphere. Concentrations represent what remains in the atmosphere after the complex system of interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere and the oceans.

Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere and oceans for centuries. This means that the world is committed to continued climate change regardless of any temporary fall in emissions due to the Coronavirus epidemic.

The February monthly average of atmospheric CO₂ at Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii was 414.11 parts per million, compared to 411.75 ppm in February 2019, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mauna Loa is the world’s longest continual observing station and a benchmark station of the Global Atmosphere Watch Network. At another benchmark station, Cape Grim in Tasmania, average CO₂levels were 408.3 ppm in February, up from 405.66 ppm in February 2019, according to CSIRO.

About a quarter of the total emissions is absorbed by the oceans. Another quarter is absorbed by the land biosphere – including forests and vegetation which act as carbon “sinks.” Naturally, the land biosphere takes up a similar amount of CO₂ than it releases over the year in a seasonal cycle. Therefore, global average CO₂ levels generally increase until April/May.

This natural effect is much larger in magnitude than the emission reductions related to the recent economic slowdown. It is thus too early to draw firm conclusions on the significance of this economic slowdown on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. After the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, was followed b strong emissions growth in emerging economies, a return to emissions growth in developed economies and an increase in the fossil fuel intensity of the world economy, according to a study in Nature Climate Change.

In 2018, greenhouse gas mole fractions reached new highs, with globally averaged mole fractions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) at 407.8±0.1 parts per million (ppm), methane (CH₄) at 1869±2 parts per billion (ppb) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) at 331.1±0.1 ppb. Preliminary data indicates that greenhouse gas concentrations continued to increase in 2019.

Air Quality

Observations have shown that nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels are significantly reduced during the lockdown in both China and Italy. In Italy, a gradual reduction trend of about 10% per week over the last four to five weeks have been confirmed by surface observations from the EU’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service.

Nitrogen dioxide, a gaseous air pollutant formed when fossil fuels are burned at high temperatures, is harmful for human health and a precursor for near-surface ozone which has adverse effects on human health, ecosystems and is also a short-lived climate forcer. NO₂ stays in the atmosphere generally less than a day before being deposited or reacting with other gases in the atmosphere. Therefore, the effects of emission reductions are visible quite shortly after they have taken place.

Surface ozone measurements at the Global Atmosphere Watch station of Monte Cimone, which dominates the Po Valley in northern Italy, show a decrease in March 2020, according to raw data. It is too early to draw firm conclusions on the significance of this for greenhouse gas concentrations, according to Italy’s Consiglio Nazionale delle Recerche. and the Institute of Atmospheric and Climatic Sciences.

Concentration of Particulate matter is also reduced. PM_2.5 is one of the most important air pollutants regarding health impacts according to the World Health Organization.

Source: WMO

Flash Flood Guidance System Saves Lives

20.03.2020

architecture — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Flash floods cause more than 5,000 deaths worldwide annually, exceeding any other flood-related event. They have enough power to change the course of rivers, bury houses in mud, and sweep away or destroy whatever is on their path.

They are among the world’s deadliest disasters and result in significant social, economic and environmental impacts. Accounting for approximately 85% of the flooding cases, flash floods also have the highest mortality rate.

As the global population increases, especially in urban areas, and societies continue to encroach upon floodplains, the need for flash flood early warning systems becomes more paramount.

In response to this need, the World Meteorological Organization, the U.S. National Weather Service, the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, and the Hydrologic Research Center formed a partnership in 2007 to develop and implement an early warning flash flood forecasting system (Flash Flood Guidance System – FFGS) for global application.

The Flash Flood Guidance System (or shortly – FFGS) is a forecaster’s tool designed to provide hydrological and meteorological forecasters with readily and accessible quality controlled precipitation estimates from weather radars and satellites, precipitation measurements (raingauges), forecast data from Numerical Weather Prediction models, and other information to produce timely and accurate flash flood warnings worldwide.

By the end of 2019, over 3 billion people in 67 countries are being provided early warnings of potential flash flooding through their National Meteorological and Hydrological Services working in concert with their National Disaster Management Agencies.

WMO has produced an animation explaining the challenges of flash floods and the benefits of the Flash Flood Guidance system as an important disaster management tool to save lives. This is now available in Arabic, French, Spanish and Russian.

Source: WMO

A Key Issue for Climate Change – What Passenger Cars Are Made Of

19.03.2020

ante-hamersmit-pwhKQrvLZAQ-unsplash — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ante Hamersmit)

When you see a new car, you might think of the speed it can attain, the sound system on offer, the upholstery, or its range, if electric. But have you ever stopped to think about the greenhouse gas emissions created by its manufacture—including mining the metals and moulding the plastics that go into its construction?

In the transport sector, one way to reduce greenhouse gases is to use fewer and recycled materials—a process experts call “material efficiency”.

What is material efficiency?

Material efficiency means using less materials to provide the same level of well-being. It is measured by the amount of service obtained per unit of material use. Materials include biomass, cement, fossil fuels, metals, non-metallic minerals, plastics and wood.

Resource efficiency encompasses material efficiency, but is a broader term which includes materials, water, energy and land. The Global Resources Outlook 2019 of the International Resource Panel defines it as achieving higher outputs with lower inputs.

New report—new conclusions

The International Resource Panel was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2007 to build and share the knowledge needed to improve our use of resources worldwide.

It recently published a new report titled Resource Efficiency and Climate Change: Material Efficiency Strategies for a Low-Carbon Future. Commissioned by the G7 countries, it shows that natural resource extraction and processing account for more than 90 per cent of global biodiversity loss and water stress, and around half of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The report points to opportunities to reduce these impacts through material efficiencies in homes and cars.

Climate mitigation efforts have traditionally focused on enhancing energy efficiency and accelerating the transition to renewables. While this is still key, this report shows that material efficiency can also deliver big emission reductions in the production, use and disposal of cars.

Specifically, material efficiency strategies could reduce emissions from the material cycle of passenger cars in 2050 by up to 70 per cent in G7 countries, and 50 to 60 per cent in China and India. The largest savings would come from a change in patterns of vehicle use such as ride-sharing and car-sharing, and a shift towards more intensive use and trip-appropriate smaller cars.

“Material efficiency strategies will play an essential role, for example, by providing low-carbon mobility services. Zero-emission transport systems are part of the solution, but it’s critical to also consider the resources and materials used to produce those systems. The good news is that material efficiency strategies for cars are based on proven technologies available today.”

Recycling, and use over a longer period of time, are key: “In the G7, improvements in manufacturing yields, fabrication scrap use, and end-of-life recovery, can lead to savings of 37 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions from the material cycle of cars in 2050. Savings in China amount to 34 per cent and in India to 26 per cent. Lifetime extension of vehicles and increased reuse of parts in the G7 can lead to additional savings of 5 to 13 per cent in the G7, 14 per cent in China and 9 per cent in India,” says the report.

Emissions from production of materials growing fast

Emissions from the production of materials as a share of global greenhouse gases increased from 15 per cent in 1995 to 23 per cent in 2015, the report says. “This corresponds to the share of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and land use change combined, yet they have received much less attention,” it notes.

Material efficiency strategies could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the material cycle of passenger cars in 2050 by 57–70 per cent in G7 countries, 29–62 per cent in China, and 39–53 per cent in India, says the report.

And such strategies for the manufacturing, operations, and end-of-life management of cars in the G7 could yield total greenhouse gas emission reductions of 30–40 per cent in 2050, says the report. Savings in China and India would be 20–35 per cent.

The report also points out that nationally determined contributions currently include limited commitments to material efficiency. They appear as explicit mitigation measures only in the nationally determined contributions of China, India, Japan and Turkey. Material efficiency can be advanced not only by broadening the scope of targets in these contributions but also by increasing the mitigation ambition, the report says.

The world must immediately begin delivering faster greenhouse gas emission cuts to keep global temperature rise to 1.5°C, says the November 2019 edition of the UNEP Emissions Gap Report.

To tackle global heating, we will need to use the full range of emission reduction options. And we need progress in all sectors: energy, industry, agriculture, forestry, transportation and buildings to meet this target.

Source: UNEP

The Deadline for Submitting Applications for the CNN Tech 2020 Conference Has Been Extended!

18.03.2020

project_writing_working_pisanje_projekta_rad — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

In accordance with the current decisions of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and in the belief that by the beginning of July the situation in the field of health in the world will be completely stabilized, the Organizing Committee of the CNN Tech 2020 conference continues with the online preparations.

International conference called “CNN Tech International Conference of Experimental and Numerical Investigation and New Technologies” will be held at Zlatibor in the period from the 30th of June to the 3rd of July 2020.

Due to the current state of the Republic of Serbia and the countries in the region, and the announcement of new applications from international institutions wishing to participate in the CNN TECH 2020 conference, the deadline for submitting applications for the CNN TECH 2020 conference has been extended to 04/15/2020.

CNN Tech International Conference of Experimental and Numerical Investigation and New Technologies

In addition to the members of the Organizing Committee, participants from the following institutions submitted their application for the conference:

1. Military Medicine Academy Named after S.M.Kirov, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation

2. J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Mechanical Engineering Faculty in Slavonski Brod, Croatia

3. Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Skopje, Macedonia

4. Faculty of Organizational Sciences University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

5. School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

6. Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy – Centre for Microelectronic Technology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

7. Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

8. Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies of the Technical University of Košice with a seat in Prešov, Prešov, Slovak Republic

9. Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Zlin, Czech Republic

10. Jadrová energetická spoločnosť Slovenska, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

More details about this conference can be found HERE.

“The time is always right to do what is right”, said Martin Luther King once. “And what is right at the moment is writing a paper for CNN Tech at your home”, the Innovation Center of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering adds. Will you listen?

Not a Waste of Breath

18.03.2020

goran_colak — Photo: Private archive od Goran Colak

Although it is imposed on him, due to his job and career, to watch seas and oceans from a different perspective than most people and, therefore, he notices what is hidden on the dark bottom, the famous Croatian diver, Goran Colak believes that people around the world are aware of the amount of waste we are surrounded by. The recorder in free diving confirms that part of that waste has found its place on beaches that look different than thirty years ago.

Goran believes that the problem is underdeveloped people’s awareness of how alarming this situation is. “People don’t understand the real damage and danger of plastic and microplastic. Everyone is busy with primary survival, especially in countries like yours and mine, but still, it isn’t hard to refrain from throwing plastic bottles in the street or the sea. It requires no effort, just common sense.”

As an experienced diver who travels very often and dives in different parts of the world, Goran has a lot to say about the situation outside the Adriatic, which he finds extremely polluted, even more than the average tourist on the Adriatic coast can see. “Wherever I dived in the Adriatic, I was greeted by the sea. But the sea of bottles, bags, tires, wreckages, and boilers. Winds and sea currents bring additional, huge amounts of garbage from Albania, which linger in coves. When I was diving in Mljet, I was seeing that all the time. However, we are still clean compared to some economically less developed countries.”

Pollution, he says, knows no boundaries. “When you look at the planet from the orbital perspective, there are no boundaries, just one big closed ecosystem that we are all in together, whether you like it or not.” The absence of a waste separation culture is considered as a big problem, and it should be the first step in solving the problem of plastic waste.

Still, he believes there is a cure. “Small advances of individuals can make a huge difference. If each one of usrecycled his one waste or just disposed of it improperly, the situation would be much better.”

In focus:

It seems a bit pointless, Goran explained vividly, if “we clean and the others dump the garbage on the other side of the fence”, alluding to the need for everyone to participate in the fight against waste. The most logical order of work to solve this problem involves reducing the amount of waste which every person produces every person individually, then local units, state and governments, down to the global level.

Indeed, there are numerous inventions and actions that contribute to attempts to prevent the accumulation of waste around the world. Recently, a group of Dutch researchers introduced a cleaning project, which also enables the collection of microplastics and tried it out in the Pacific.

“The microplastics made up of the smallest particles, created by the decomposition of plastic, currently form an integral part of the living world in the sea. That’s where they get into us,” says this world-renowned freediver who joined the appeal of Split-based organisation Green Sail in June to send a clear message to his fellow citizens about the need for personal responsibility in waste management. It is crucial that we take immediate steps regarding using plastic while there is still time, says Goran.

In his opinion, information about these problems is not sufficiently represented, at least not in our society. Consequently, people are neither informed nor aware of the danger to a sufficient degree.

“By no means do we realise that all of this is our common problem, and as such, it concerns everyone, without exception. We need to be aware that we have to save ourselves alone because the planet can function without us since it goes through constant periods of renewal” warns Goran adding that all we need to do is be guided by common sense – we should ask ourselves where in our yard or house to dispose of waste that we will take care of later.

Prepared by: Jelena Cvetic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine GRINNOVATIONS, December 2019 – February 2020.

EBRD Unveils €1 Billion Emergency Coronavirus Financing Package

16.03.2020

The EBRD has unveiled an emergency €1 billion “Solidarity Package” of measures to help companies across its regions deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

This is an initial response to the crisis and the Bank stands ready to do more if and when needed.

The proposals were approved today by shareholders of the Bank which invests to support the development especially of the private sector across 38 emerging economies.

Under the emergency programme, the EBRD will set up a “resilience framework” to provide financing for existing EBRD clients with strong business fundamentals experiencing temporary credit difficulties.

Commenting on the EBRD’s response to the global health crisis, EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti said, “The COVID‐19 pandemic and its economic consequences present an unprecedented challenge to the EBRD and its countries of operations.”

He added, “To respond in solidarity with its shareholders, countries of operations, partners and clients, the Bank has today established a resilience framework comprising €1 billion of new and additional funding for existing clients, comprising emergency liquidity, working capital and trade finance. This is a first step. The Bank stands ready to further scale up its response, and is taking active and urgent steps to review, adjust and expand its financing instruments, in partnership with its countries of operations, partner IFIs and the international community.”

The planned measures will include an expansion of trade finance and the provision of short-term finance of up to two years through financial institutions, specifically in support of small and medium sized enterprises.

The Bank will seek to provide short-term working capital facilities of up to two years for other corporates and energy developers and balance sheet restructuring and short term liquidity support for municipal, energy and infrastructure clients.

It will assess the need to restructure existing loans, including the possibility of extending maturities and changing other conditions and use its ability to disburse in local currency, including the possible conversion of existing facilities into local currency.

The response will put a premium on providing a rapid response to the needs of companies that are suffering from the effects of the Coronavirus and the global economic turmoil that has ensued.

In formulating its own response, the EBRD is closely following the statements of its major shareholders and coordinating with other multilateral development banks in order to exchange ideas and learn from previous experiences.

This EBRD’s package of emergency measures comes as the Bank is already pledging strong support generally for its existing countries of operations and follows a record level of investment of €10.1 billion in 2019.

The EBRD’s economists are expecting economic output to be affected right across its regions of operations, with growth seen slowing especially in Central Asia and also in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, Russia and south eastern Europe.

Countries that are highly integrated into global supply chains, and in particular have direct dependencies on China and Europe, are likely to suffer most from the virus. The tourism industry is likely to be affected in many of the EBRD’s countries.

The recent slump in oil prices will have also an impact on oil producing countries in the EBRD regions and the flow of remittances from workers back to their home countries is also expected to slow.

Source: EBRD

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In focus:

Four key actions for a business response to nature risk

Learning from schools

Sharing the future

Public benefits

Orchestrating success

Managing space

The coronavirus is turning into an unprecedented international crisis, with serious repercussions for people’s health and economic activity

This situation is a test of governments and companies’ commitment to clean energy transitions

The coronavirus brings other dangers for clean energy transitions

What is the Global Environment Facility Blue Forests Project?

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