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Investments in Better Living Conditions and Sustainable Solutions

Photo: KfW

KfW is a financial institution for domestic business, namely in Germany, but also for countries in the processes of development and transition. In addition to its headquarter in Frankfurt, it has regional offices in almost 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and South-East Europe. KfW Development Bank acts on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is responsible for Germany’s so-called “Financial-Cooperation” activities within the area of development cooperation. We talked with Arne Gooss, the director of the KfW office in Serbia, about their investments, which now have reached almost EUR 2 billion, about ongoing Programme for entrepreneurship and self-employment promotion, about the outcome of activities taken for energy efficiency improvement as well as about other issues.

EP: What is KfW’s geographical scope and who exactly might be supported by KfW in this region?

Photo: From private arhive of Arne Gooss

Arne Gooss: Our main focus in Serbia is its preparation for a future EU-accession and to help Serbia meet the targets of the acquis communautaire especially in the sectors of energy, water supply and disposal, waste management and environment. Besides this, we also promote sustainable economic development by providing credit lines for micro, small and medium-sized companies and municipalities. The choice of companies that could be supported by KfW depends on local needs and the general conditions in place. KfW Development Bank finances investments and reform programs that create better living conditions for the population and offer sustainable and climate-friendly solutions.

When we speak about Serbia, it can be differentiated between activities in the public and the private sector. For instance, in the public sector, we are active in the areas of energy and environment, which includes projects for energy efficiency, renewable energies, water supply and sanitation, as well as waste management and biodiversity. With our activities in the private sector, we aim to reach small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and businesses with a positive social and environmental impact through which Serbia’s society as a whole can benefit.

EP: When the KfW programme of emergency support was launched in November 2000, aimed at the energy import and spare parts procurement, its budget was 70 million euros. It was all spent to provide stable electricity supply. It was almost 20 years ago. Are you familiar with what was the situation in the energy sector back then, especially in the aftermath of 1999?

Arne Gooss: The critical situation in post-war Serbia was the initial reason for German engagement in the energy sector, so we remember the situation very well. The Serbian energy sector was facing significant deficiencies in electricity supply after 1999, and the Serbian coal sector dropped from one of the most modern in the region at the end of the eighties, dramatically in the late nineties. With the KfW Emergency Aid Energy and Untied Financial Loan Energy programmes a contribution was made to stabilising the political and social climate and power supply in Serbia, the latter largely benefiting private users but also industry and trade. Both programmes were designed to support the new pro-reform government. At programme appraisal in 2000/01, Serbia was in a complicated process of political change. Regular and protracted load sheddings in the power sector seriously affected the conditions of life. Both programmes contributed to remedying this core problem. At programme appraisal, the  Serbian government had a clear and understandable interest in stabilising the power sector.

Besides our efforts, the Stability Pact for the Balkans accompanied by an aid programme being established on a Conference of Foreign Ministers convened by the EU on the initiative of the German government came into force in June 1999. Today Serbia is still aware of the sizeable economic importance of the energy sector and is continuing with its effective development to meet the EU acquis. While these and other earlier projects were aimed at ensuring a stable electricity supply, more recent projects have focused on making the energy sector more environmentally and climate-friendly by promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

In focus:

EP: The investment in Serbia by KfW reached 1.9 billion euros. What sectors are chosen to invest in, and why is it important to help small business to expand too? What kind of companies has the priority for financing?

Arne Gooss: From the total investment amount of roughly EUR 1,9 billion that KfW Development Bank invested in Serbia since 2000, around EUR 1,3 billion EUR went to projects in the public sector and EUR 600 million in the private sector. As I mentioned before, in the public sector our work concentrates on energy and energy efficiency with a focus on renewable energy in wind and hydropower, as well as sustainable infrastructure, particularly in water supply and sanitation, wastewater, solid waste and biodiversity. In the private sector, we concentrate on loans for SMEs and municipalities. SMEs are of particular importance to us because they represent the backbone of the Serbian economy. SMEs in Serbia employ more than 66% of all employees and represent more than 99% of all economic entities in Serbia. In particular, KfW Development Bank aims to introduce new products in the financial market and to help SMEs to achieve easier access to these products. For this reason, SMEs have the priority for financing.

As you might know, in 2000, SMEs had limited access to loans. Private individuals with a low or medium income had almost no access to financial services. To solve this problem, KfW Development Bank, ProCredit Holding, Commerzbank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Dutch Development Bank FMO conjointly founded ProCredit Bank of Serbia. Also, together with the most important donors in Southeast Europe, KfW Development Bank established the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) in 2005. EFSE successfully activated private investment intending to increase the scope of loans for SMEs in Southeast Europe. By the end of 2017, its loan portfolio equalled EUR 131.4 million for more than 100,000 small enterprises. The way of financing SME today through KfW Development in Serbia is in place since 2007.

Our most recent program in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia represented by Public Investement Management Office and the Ministry of Economy as well as the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) is the Programme for entrepreneurship and self-employment promotion (PESEP). This program aims to make a continuous contribution to the development of a sustainable entrepreneurial culture in Serbia, to increase the competitiveness of the Republic of Serbia and to build an economy based on entrepreneurial spirit. By implementing this program, the Republic of Serbia seeks to encourage citizens, especially young people, to think in an entrepreneurial way, as well as to help them to set up their companies to a greater extent. The emphasis is on strengthening local and regional initiatives that should deliver the most immediate results and contribute to the growth of economic success, job creation and retention of young people in the Republic of Serbia.

Photo: KfW

EP: Recently, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources have come into the KfW’s focus. The result should be a more environmentally friendly energy sector. How far have you gone with the plan of the rehabilitation of hydropower plants in Serbia?

Arne Gooss: For reaching the goal of a more environmentally friendly energy sector, we are active in energy efficiency, where we work closely with the Ministry of Mining and Energy (MoME) and the Office for Public Investment (PIMO). In the field of RES, we see the reconstruction of ecologically friendly hydropower plants as one key component of sustainable energy generation. The rehabilitation of the hydropower plants Bajina Basta and Zvornik, financed by favourable loans of EUR 100 million, was one of the first projects in the area of renewable energy resources. The Bajina Basta and Zvornik hydropower plants were built in 1968 and 1955 and have exceeded their economic and technical life. Without extensive refurbishment and modernisation the two hydropower plants’ electro-mechanical units would suffer from serious malfunction. The project includes the rehabilitation of the turbines and the modernisation of the electro-mechanical equipment in both hydropower plants. The Bajina Basta and Zvornik projects have increased their capacity by 15 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. In total, 460 MW of installed capacity have been rehabilitated, and 77 MW of power were additionally commissioned. This way, we increased the efficiency of production from RES. Also, the turbines have been overhauled in both power plants, and their service life has been extended by 30-40 years. The continued operation of the power plants avoids CO₂ emissions of around 1.9 million tons per year (compared to electricity production in a coal-fired power plant).

EP: In cooperation with the EBRD, KfW financed the introduction of a coal quality management system in Serbia’s largest mining area Kolubara. We are at the moment in the middle of the crisis concerning air pollution. As it seems, and official monitoring review confirms it, the majority (especially when it comes to PM10 and PM2,5) of it comes from thermal plants. How much will that novel system reduce CO2 emissions?

Photo: KfW

Arne Gooss: In the field of electricity production, KfW, in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), participated in financing the introduction of a coal quality management system in Serbia’s largest mining area Kolubara. There is a great need for an environmentally friendly coal quality management system that significantly reduces CO2 emissions. With the introduction of an open-pit coal quality management system in the western part of the Kolubara mining basin, coal-fired power plants should receive a uniform coal quality for energy production. The total cost of the project is EUR 182 million, with EUR 74 million from KfW and co-financing from EBRD with EUR 80 million and EPS with EUR 28 million. The project enables a more efficient and cleaner energy production and reduces CO₂ emissions by approx. 700,000 tons per year, SO₂ emissions by approx. 3,800 tons per year and NOX emissions by approx. 800 tons per year. Besides, the more efficient coal quality management will save EPS EUR 25 million annually, so it will save not only a notable amount of greenhouse gases and pollutants, but also costs.

Interview by: Tamara Zjacic

Read the whole article in the new issue of Energy portal Magazine GRINNOVATIONS, December 2019 – February 2020.

Europe Has Warmest Winter on Record

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Biegun Wshodni)

The past winter was by far the warmest on record for Europe, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service/ECMWF. It was the second warmest February, both globally and for Europe.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sasha Sashina)

From December 2019 to February 2020, there was persistent mild weather over Europe, particularly in the north and east. The average temperature was almost 1.4°C higher than that of the previous warmest winter, 2015/16 (when there was a strong El Niño) and 3.4ºC above the 1981-2010 norm.

February temperatures were most above average over a large region covering much of Europe, Siberia and Central Asia, and over West Antarctica, while they were most below average over northern Alaska. The month was 0.8°C warmer than the average February from 1981-2010, making it the second warmest February in this data record, about 0.1°C cooler than February 2016 and 0.1°C warmer than February 2017.

European-average temperature anomalies are generally larger and more variable than global anomalies, especially in winter, when they can change by several degrees from one month to the next. The European-average temperature for February 2020 was particularly high. The month was: 3.9°C warmer than the average February in the period 1981-2010.

Japan also had both its warmest winter and warmest February on record, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The average temperature from December to February was 1.66°C above the 1981-2000 baseline.

France and Spain both had the warmest and driest Februarys on record. In North Africa, Morocco also reported very low rainfall. By contrast, the  United Kingdom had its wettest February on record, according to the Met Office.

In addition to the underlying long-term signal from climate change, natural climate variability also played a role. The North Atlantic Oscillation, which refers to variations in the large-scale surface pressure gradient in the North Atlantic region, has been predominantly “positive” during winter 2019/20. A positive NAO during winter is usually associated with wetter-than-normal conditions across northern Europe and drier-than-average conditions for southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.

It was the warmest January on record, both in Europe and globally.

Details are available here

Source: WMO

Under What Conditions Will Clean Energy Become The Norm?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Even as renewables become a more common energy source around the world, they still face major obstacles. Some barriers are inherent with all new technologies; others are the result of skewed regulatory frameworks and marketplaces. Through what confluence of conditions will clean energy become the norm?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The Union of Concerned Scientists states that wind and solar already have overcome numerous barriers to become competitive with coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. The shift towards the adoption of renewable energy is not mainly driven by the federal government, but by state governments, private corporations, and community initiatives. The growth rates of various energy sources, the flows of clean energy investment, and the world’s progress on its sustainability goals are solid beginning points.

But, in a world driven by corporate, political, and media influences, under what conditions can clean energy as a normal be possible? Thinking through the conditions that enable and constrain agency and action helps us better understand precisely how individuals and collectives set social changes into motion and can point us toward a clean energy world.

That’s the gist behind research from the University of Minnesota which invites us to extend and consider how social change precedes and provokes transformations of many kinds: technological, ecological, economic, political, legal, ethical, cultural, ideological, and intellectual.

The scholarship indicates that, when we ask about the conditions of social change, we are revealing both the preconditions for transformation and how encounters encourage us to think and feel and act, not just individually but collectively as well. It’s that collective response, that sense of moving beyond our individual satisfaction and desire, that might promote the conditions where pervasive applications of clean energy become the norm.

Philosophizing about Ways Clean Energy Will Become the Norm

Anthropogenic climate change has necessitated innovations of green energy that could force the conditions for an energy transition away from fossil fuel dependence, at least in slow stages. The University of Minnesota investigation compels us to ask, “How could a framework of sustainable energy production and extraction be drawn from philosophers who have framed western ideas about the language of knowledge?”

They call on us to interrogate the way that language is mobilized to marginalize some people and foreground others. The discourse around renewables is morphing by significant degrees, no longer the fodder for controversy and radical thought. Our comfort with the once-accepted energy source of fossil fuels is incrementally translating into acceptable of new energies that are carbon free. What does a a philosophy of energy look like?

Friedrich Nietzsche spoke about a kind of “peace treaty” that would come about as a means of securing stability — it would require establishing and enforcing a linguistic code of conduct. For Nietzsche, truths are created, not discovered, invented, not found – and language is the fundamental condition of their formation. He asks us to create new ways of becoming with/in the world.

So the conditions that usher in clean energy would require a language in which, for example, decentralized models become commonplace. Smaller generating stations, spread across a large area, would work together to provide power. And capital costs, like the expenses of building and installing solar and wind farms, could be viewed differently, as part of a larger profitability equation. Solar and wind, like other renewables, are inexpensive to operate with endless energy supply and minimal maintenance. The condition of clean energy full life expenses, as a result, come from innovation and constructing the resulting stable technology.

As Judith Butler relates, “Our acts are not self-generated, but conditioned. We are at once acted upon and acting.” It’s becoming common to see school climate strikes and social movements like Extinction Rebellion. Numerous governments around the world have declared a climate emergency. The Green New Deal is on the lips of the Democratic party in the US with the impetus that a rapid transition to clean energy is possible.

With such clean energy norms emerging around us, the conditions that persuade us to act are making people around the world less skeptical of clean energy and more ready to act. But, as Butler writes, “The forces that act upon us are not finally responsible for what we do, in part because we are able to modify the conditions themselves.” Transformations are necessarily conditioned by language and, indeed, have to pass through language. Change only occurs through individual and collective efforts which create the pathway for resignification. We act, we react, and we transcend, relying but also emerging from the conditions which form us, which we, in turn, reform.

New energy technologies must demonstrate conditions of scale, as most investors want large quantities of energy, ideally at times when wind and solar aren’t available. And we must make visible the disconnect between science and policy and how the price we pay for coal and gas isn’t representative of the true cost of fossil fuels. We must expose the enormous costs of the climate crisis and other externalities, and, through such language, we have the capacity to change the conditions where fossil fuels seem inevitable.

Jacques Derrida admits, ‘Yes, I only have one language, yet it is not mine.” The gist here is that we may — on the surface — have a common language where clean energy holds inevitable dominance. But the conditions that will reframe fossil fuels as an historic anomaly and renewables as primary reliance imply that individuals will achieve agency that rises from particular relations. The well-established nature of existing fossil fuel infrastructure has created pervasive ways of being and erects formidable barriers for renewable energy.

Solar, wind, and other renewable resources need to compete with wealthier industries that benefit from existing infrastructure, expertise, and policy. It’s a difficult market to enter, but the force of language and collective action can create conditions where marketplaces react positively to renewable energy shifts.

Final Thoughts

Oil Change International estimates that the United States spends $37.5 billion on subsidies for fossil fuels every year. Through direct subsidies, tax breaks, and other incentives and loopholes, US taxpayers help fund the industry’s research and development, mining, drilling, and electricity generation.

Hannah Arendt reminds us, “Earth is the very quintessence of the human condition.” The existential crisis in which we find ourselves as a planet requires us to speak collectively and robustly about the philosophy of clean energy alongside its pragmatic side. Slightly higher energy costs today are worth the investment if they lead to more affordable, efficient, and cleaner energy to sustain the Earth, and it is the language we choose to wield that can create the conditions for such a clean energy society.

Author: Carolyn Fortuna

Source: Clean Technica

Sweden’s EV Market Share = 24%

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Ben Mater)

Sweden’s plug-in passenger vehicle sales grabbed 24.3% market share in February, more than doubling year on year from 11.8% in February 2019. Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales declined dramatically, with petrol vehicle sales falling 24% and diesels falling a massive 36% compared to February 2019.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ben Mater)

Sweden’s February EV mix was dominated by plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) over pure electrics (BEVs), with a ratio of just under 3:1.

Whilst EV sales grew significantly year on year, overall passenger vehicle sales were down 5.4%, with all of the hit falling on pure petrol/diesel vehicles. Petrol-engine vehicle sales fell 24%, from 10,818 in February 2019 to 8,211 last month. Diesel sales were hit even harder, falling 36% from 8,827 to 5,637 and now comprising just 25% of the overall market from 37% a year ago.

The top 3 most popular PHEV models were the Volvo S60/V60, Kia Optima, and Kia Niro. The BEV top 3 were the Kia Niro, Audi e-tron, and Renault Zoe. Kia’s EVs are crushing it right now in Sweden! However, last year’s overall favourites, the Mitsubishi Outlander (PHEV) and Tesla Model 3 (BEV), will likely climb back to the top in 2020 once delivery peaks and troughs are evened out.

National auto association BIL Sweden expects EV market share to average 30% in 2020. LMC Automotive has the country’s 2020 auto sales currently trending between 300,000 and 350,000, so we’re potentially looking at 90,000–105,000 EV sales for the full year. This will likely put Sweden ahead of pioneering Norway for the first time in EV sales volume, simply by virtue of its larger auto market.

Of course, Norway still remains a few years ahead of any other nation in EV market share, having just hit 68% in February.

Europe’s total EV sales are currently on track to hit 1 million in 2020, almost double the volume of 2019.

Author: Maximilian Holland

Source: Clean Technica

Number of Europeans Exposed to Harmful Noise Pollution Expected to Increase

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Road traffic is the top source of noise pollution in Europe, the new EEA report ‘Noise in Europe – 2020’ says, with noise levels projected to rise in both urban and rural areas over the next decade due to urban growth and increased demand for mobility. Rail, aircraft and industry round up the other top sources of environmental noise pollution.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The report provides an update of noise pollution trends over the 2012-2017 period. It also provides an outlook of future noise projections as well as the associated health impacts in Europe, based on new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the health effects from exposure to noise. Building on the previous EEA assessment of noise in Europe from 2014, the report also looks at actions being taken to manage and reduce noise exposure and reviews progress made to meet the EU objectives on noise pollution set by EU legislation, including the Environmental Noise Directive and the EU’s 7th Environmental Action Programme (EAP).

An estimated 113 million people are affected by long-term day-evening-night traffic noise levels of at least 55 decibels (dB(A)). In most European countries, more than 50 % of inhabitants within urban areas are exposed to road noise levels of 55 dB or higher during the day-evening-night period. According to the World Health Organization, health impacts are likely to occur at this level. The EU considers long-term exposure to noise levels over 55 decibels as high.

Significant health impacts

Long-term exposure to noise has significant health impacts. On the basis of the new WHO information, the EEA estimates that such exposure causes 12,000 premature deaths and contributes to 48,000 new cases of ischemic heart disease (caused by a narrowing of heart arteries) per year across Europe. It is also estimated that 22 million people suffer chronic high annoyance and 6.5 million people suffer chronic high sleep disturbance. According to World Health Organization evidence, these health impacts start to occur below the reporting thresholds set by the EU Noise Directive and so are likely to be underestimated. In addition, the information provided by countries under the EU directive does not cover all urban areas, roads, railways and airports.

Apart from affecting humans, noise pollution is also a growing threat to wildlife both on land and in water. Noise can reduce reproductive success and increase mortality and the fleeing of animals to quieter areas.

EU objective for 2020 on noise will not be achieved

While some progress has been made by EU Member States in mapping and reporting more areas of high noise across Europe, overall policy objectives on environmental noise have not yet been achieved. Notably, the objective set for 2020 by the 7th Environmental Action Programme of decreasing noise pollution and moving towards the WHO recommended levels for noise exposure will not be achieved. Noise pollution is projected to increase because of future urban growth and increased demand for mobility.

More than 30 % of data required under the EU directive is still not available after the legally set 2017 reporting deadline. Significant delays suggest that countries may not have taken the necessary steps to address noise pollution. The report adds that better implementation is also required — a point reinforcing the conclusions of a separate recent European Commission assessment on the implementation of the directive.

Actions to reduce noise levels

Countries are already taking a variety of actions to reduce and manage noise levels, however, it remains difficult to evaluate their benefits in terms of positive health outcomes, the EEA report says. Examples of the most popular measures to reduce noise levels in cities include replacing older paved roads with smoother asphalt, better management of traffic flows and reducing speed limits to 30 kilometres per hour. There are also measures aimed at raising awareness and changing people’s behavior in using less-noisy modes of transport like cycling, walking or electric vehicles.

A significant number of countries, cities and regions have also put in place so-called quiet areas, most of which are parks and other green spaces, where people can go to escape city noise. The report says more needs to be done to create and protect quiet areas outside of the city and improve accessibility of these areas in cities.

Background on the EU’s Environmental Noise Directive

People’s exposure to noise is monitored under the Environmental Noise Directive (END) against two reporting thresholds; an indicator for the day, evening and night period (Lden) that measures exposure to noise levels associated with ‘annoyance’ and an indicator for night periods (Lnight) that is designed to assess sleep disturbance. These reporting thresholds are higher than the WHO recommended values and currently, there is no mechanism in place for tracking progress against the latter lower values.

Source: EEA

Coronavirus Outbreak Highlights Need to Address Threats to Ecosystems and Wildlife

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Diseases passed from animals to humans are on the rise, as the world continues to see unprecedented destruction of wild habitats by human activity. Scientists suggest that degraded habitats may encourage more rapid evolutionary processes and diversification of diseases, as pathogens spread easily to livestock and humans.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The World Health Organization reports that an animal is the likely source of the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19), which has infected tens of thousands of people worldwide and placed a strain on the global economy. It is providing daily updates on its website.

According to the World Health Organization, bats are the most probable carrier of the COVID-19 but added that it is possible that the virus was transmitted to humans from another intermediate host, either a domestic or a wild animal.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Previous investigations found that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome was transmitted from civet cats to humans, while the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome passed from dromedary camels to humans.

“Therefore, as a general rule, the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided,” said the World Health Organization in a statement. “Raw meat, raw milk or raw animal organs should be handled with care to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods.”

The statement came a few days before China’s legislature took action to curb the trade of wildlife and consumption of all wild animals. Full details are available on the web site of the  Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (in Chinese).

“Humans and nature are part of one connected system, and nature provides the food, medicine, water, clean air and many other benefits that have allowed people to thrive,” said Doreen Robinson, Chief of Wildlife at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

UNEP’s Frontiers 2016 Report on Emerging Issues of Environment Concern shows zoonoses threaten economic development, animal and human well-being, and ecosystem integrity. In the past few years, several emerging zoonotic diseases made world headlines as they caused, or threatened to cause, major pandemics. These include Ebola, bird flu, Rift Valley fever, West Nile virus and Zika virus disease.

According to the report, in the last two decades, emerging diseases have had direct costs of more than US$100 billion, with that figure jumping to several trillion dollars if the outbreaks had become human pandemics.

From the point of view of the environmental community, it is important to address the multiple and often interacting threats to ecosystems and wildlife to prevent zoonoses from emerging, including habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal trade, pollution, invasive species and, increasingly, climate change.

Source: UNEP

European Transport Needs to Adapt to Rising Climate Risks

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jim Gade)

From road and rail networks to ports, airports and inland waterways, critical transport resources are facing unprecedented threats from climate change impacts, notably severe flooding.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jim Gade)

However, adapting transport systems to rising climate risks has so far received relatively low attention and better planning is required to avoid damage and related high costs.

Helping to address this gap, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has released a first of its kind study mapping key areas of the main inland transport networks and nodes in the Pan-European region and Canada facing potential climate risks. The regional maps produced in Geographical Information System (GIS) format offer a tool that can help to prioritize adaptation efforts.

The need for such adaptation efforts is increasingly evident. Spain has just suffered the most powerful storms in decades, destroying bridges, and cutting off roads and railway lines. In the UK, annual costs related to flooding and other events, estimated at £50 million in 2010, could increase to up to £500 million by the 2040s. In the European Union, future costs for bridge protection against flooding have been estimated at over €500 million per year.

Sharing country experiences

Complementing the mapping, the study draws on country experiences in the form of case studies, demonstrating a range of efforts that have been undertaken to analyze and adapt to climate change impacts on transport assets and operations.

One example involves analysis of future flooding of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley in Germany. In this scenario, the closure of network sections for 21 days in 2030 due to flooding of the federal highway and the closure of ferries would lead to the rerouting of around 7,000 vehicles, 56 long-distance trains, 78 local trains transporting 500,000 people, and 119 freight trains per day.

Analysis calls for strengthened adaptation efforts

The study includes recommendations for future action at national and international levels towards improved transportation system climate resilience.  Among the key recommendations are for public administrations to make available geographical data for their transport networks and nodes, and to review all their transport infrastructure, including local assets, in Geographic Information Systems.

Read relevant press release and download report here.

Source: UNFCCC

Financing the Global Energy Transformation: Green Bonds

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Despite the positive renewable energy investment trends over the past decade, annual investments in renewable energy power alone need to double until 2050 to meet climate goals. To allocate enough capital to drive the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy, a set of financial solutions need to be developed and taken advantage of by policymakers, investors and financial institutions. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has recently published a series of renewable energy finance briefs looking at tools to scale up renewables. Renewable energy finance: Green bonds highlights green bonds as an innovative instrument that can help channel substantial global capital into renewable energy and other green assets.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

By bridging the gap between providers of capital and green assets, green bonds can help governments raise finance for projects to meet climate targets and are enabling investors to achieve sustainability objectives. Like conventional bonds, green bonds allow the bond issuer to raise funds for specific projects or ongoing business. The “green” label tells investors that the funds raised will be used to finance environmentally beneficial projects. IRENA’s brief shows that the volume of green bond issuances has been growing nearly constantly since 2014. The green bond market started a little over a decade ago with the European Investment Bank’s first issuance of a Climate Awareness Bond in 2007, which allocated EUR 600 million to 14 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Since then, the green bond market has grown substantially, particularly in the past 5 years, with 2019 issuances reaching a record of USD 270 billion.

Along with the growing amount of capital raised, the market also expanded a growing variety of issuers from different regions – firstly from Europe, then North America, and increasingly from Asia-Pacific and to a smaller extent from Latin America and Africa. Issuers and currencies in which green bonds are offered have also seen diversification. From a market driven primarily by multilateral development banks and development finance institutions, green bonds are now issued by public and private institutions, including governments, government agencies, as well as private corporations and financial institutions.

Today, renewable energy is present in around half of all green bonds issued. However, green bonds remain well below their potential and too small to drive the global shift to renewables. Even though progress to date has been impressive, the green bond market continues to offer enormous growth potential.

The cumulative issuances of green bonds are below USD 1 trillion, while the global bond market is valued at around USD 100 trillion, accounting for less than 1% of cumulative global bond issuances. To grow the green bond market, co-operation between policy makers, standard setters, capital providers and investors is essential. IRENA’s brief highlights specific coordinated actions that various stakeholders can take to untap the potential of green bonds.

Some of the recommended actions include:

  • Policy makers can help increase both the supply of green bonds (through the adoption of leading climate-aligned green bond standards) and the provision of enabling policies that grow the renewable energy sector.
  • Public capital providers can do their part to help de-risk renewable assets and can support green bonds through provision of the seed capital, demonstration issuances and capacity building.
  • Institutional investors can assist by aligning their internal capacities and investment targets with long-term sustainability mandates.
  • Other stakeholders, such as rating agencies, financial institutions and retail investors, also play a role in strengthening the green bond market and advancing the global energy transformation.

For more information, see Renewable energy finance: Green bonds

Source: IRENA

Can by Can – Yes, I Can!

Photo: Solagro

All good ideas have something in common – it always appears to be some ever so logical and simple solution where such an idea found its implementation. The same goes for the innovation by local start-up Solagro. They made a crusher that grants points whenever you “feed“ it with a can.

Photo: Solagro

The crusher isn’t a new invention. Still, in Solagro design, it is substantially different. It was made to motivate users to recycle, and companies that take care of social responsibility to place it on their premises.

Marko Kalicanin and Nemanja Janic, a founding couplet of this team with the numerous innovators, have come up with an idea of valuating each can that user recycles after their experience with the first mechanical presses which they had made and placed at the festivals. Nemanja, the Solagro CEO, says that people respond in a positive way to otherwise somewhat sterile process of recycling if their effort is rewarded.

”Recycling is a generally hideous and repugnant task which we enhanced with an element of the game so that users might find it more interesting and inspiring. Based on our own experience, we know that a reward system forms a habit of separating and recycling the packaging that still prevails even when such an ’incentive’ is long gone.”

What rewards await those who diligently pop cans in the Solagro crusher, we asked Nemanja, and he pointed out that there is a variety of rewards. Still, it depends mainly onvisitors’ structure and the type of event where the crusher will be placed.

“The most appealing rewards are usually available at the most popular music festivals. It is up to the festival organizers to provide the rewards, with our assistance provided, whereas our start-up sets up the digital platform and the recycling system. The most wanted reward this year was undoubtedly an electric bicycle which we gave away on the Manifest festival. However, let me single out rides in an air balloon, helicopter and aeroplane, dinners at restaurants, theatre tickets, and weekends for two at the resorts in Serbia etc. And that isn’t all. The visitors had a chance to delight in ice-creams, beverages, but they were also getting books, toys etc.”

In focus:

Along with Nemanja and Marko, the latter is in charge of research and development, their team comprises the developers Milos and Aleksandar, electronics technician Igor, and Tamara, who is the project manager. Originally, Solagro team contained 6 members, all of them were students of the last year at the Faculty of Agriculture at that time and the volunteers at the Public Utility Company “Gradske pijace” in Belgrade. Today, some of them hold a PhD degree, and others are skilled engineers for irrigation in Israel, bankers in Ecuador, or excellent alcohol technologist. At the same time, Nemanja and Marko set up Solagro following their vision.

When it comes to role distribution between the team members, according to Nemanja, that was a piece of cake. “Marko, although not a mechanical engineer, has a profound talent for device design. More than 200 of devices hitherto made, were designed and engineered by him. On the other hand, I am in charge of sales, negotiations, client relationship management and our presentations at the contests. Together we make a pretty good team, so the rest of the current team members just followed us in stride.“

More than a year ago their invention for can recycling found its way into the selection of the best 15 start-ups at the contest PowerUP!, being picked among three hundred innovations submitted from all over Europe. They arrived at the European finals of the contest PowerUP! in Prague as winners of the national contest held in May 2018 and organized by Startit. The finals and their presentation in Prague have contributed by and large to making valuable contacts and realizing West European market’s requisites when it comes to innovations in environmental protection so that smart crushers could be placed and marketed in those markets in an easier way.

After the finals of this contest in Prague, they showed up at the finals of another prestigious competition in Frankfurt called Clim@ competition, where they were selected among 12 finalists from all over the world. This year, thanks precisely to this competition, they got the support from Green for Growth (the organizer of the Clim@ competition contest) for campaign Smart Recycling in 2019. Also, at the beginning of 2018, they got the grant from the Innovation Fund of the Republic of Serbia through Early development programme to enhance further this system. In July 2018, they were among just a few Serbian start-ups who had a chance to present themselves at the Western Balkans summit in London.

Photo: Solagro

Today Solagro crushers are in use in nine European countries. The citizens of Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Romania, Austria, Montenegro, Slovenia and Croatia throw cans into the crushers, made by our innovative team, and from there, cans go directly to recycling, so that in 60 days they would be ready to go back on the shelves. Soon, the first smart crusher will make its way to Africa. Nairobi, Kenia’s capital, will get its first Solagro crusher, confirms Nemanja and adds that so far in our country their patent for can recycling has been used mostly at the festivals and other massively popular events.

“From the very beginning the start-up Solagro had a strategic partner in the Recan Foundation who has been helping our innovations first to see the light of day, and later supporting their implementation at numerous festivals in the country and abroad. Still, our ideal buyer would be a big company which deals in the packaging industry (e.g. Ball Packaging) but also all other bottling plants such as Coca-Cola, Heineken, Molson Coors etc”, says Nemanja sharing with us that their goal is to make a strategic part-nership with one of those big companies. “We have made it with Ball Packaging, the biggest can producer in the world.”

It is common knowledge that aluminium cans go through the recycling process countless times, without losing their quality. Discharging of crusher is a duty of a national operator such as Sekopak or the organization “Every can counts” whereas the income coming from the recycled material goes to the crusher owner, but mostly to the association “We live together”.

Innovations have marked the whole development process of the Solagro company. Nemanja affirms that they cooperated with the Public Utility Company “Belgrade City Markets” that resulted in placing one of biodigester for organic waste at one of the markets. “Ever since that, the inventions have just kept on coming. Those include solar power drier for fruits, vegetables and herbs, solar power oven for cooking in nature without smoke and fire, solar system for irrigation and smart crushers which are these days in demand but also other smart appliances for collecting packaging waste.“ Although they haven’t had time to develop all the patents fully, it is quite clear that they do not lack ideas and conceptions which might help the protection of the environment we all share.

We hope that their mobile crushers with the engaging appearance will become commonplace at cities’ squares, at various shows and other places where a lot of people get around. Naturally, while waiting for this creative team to amaze us with another of their designs which will allow us and facilitate waste recycling.

Prepared by: Tamara Zjacic

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

World Wildlife Day Highlights Importance of Sustainable Use of Wildlife in “Biodiversity Super Year”

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Joining the global celebration of the United Nations World Wildlife Day, representatives of UN Member States, UN System organizations, international and non-governmental organizations, rural communities and youth gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva to mark the day at two high-level events.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

World Wildlife Day is celebrated this year under the theme “Sustaining all Life on Earth”, highlighting the unique place of wild fauna and flora as essential components of the world’s biodiversity, as well as a key pillar of livelihoods for people, particularly among communities that live close to nature. The events also came as part of what has been dubbed the ‘biodiversity super year’.

Our planet is currently facing the urgent challenge that is the loss of biodiversity: research by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) says up to a million species could disappear in the coming decades if unsustainable human activity, climate change and habitat degradation are left unchecked. Raising awareness of this alarming trend and driving discussions towards solutions to bend the curve of biodiversity loss through conservation and sustainable use were the goals of this year’s World Wildlife Day celebrations.

In his message for this World Wildlife Day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that “On this World Wildlife Day, let us remind ourselves of our duty to preserve and sustainably use the vast variety of life on the planet. Let us push for a more caring, thoughtful and sustainable relationship with nature. A world of thriving biodiversity provides the foundation we need to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals of a world of dignity and opportunity for all people on a healthy planet.”

The Ambassador of India to the United Nations in New York,  the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations,  the CITES Secretary-General, the President of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and a representative of rural communities in Colombia provided opening remarks at the event at the UN Headquarters in New York, stressing the significance of the day and of this year’s theme.

A panel of expert speakers that included Permanent Representatives of the UN missions of Costa Rica and Germany, as well as representatives of UNEP, IUCN’s Sustainable use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi), a youth activist, engaged in discussions on the challenges that lay ahead in finding the right balance between use of wildlife and the need to conserve biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems.

For the fifth year running, one of the World Wildlife Day activities was co-organized with Jackson Wild™ and featured a film showcase based on the year’s theme. Attracting nearly 350 entries, the competition saw a wide array of filmmakers with a passion for wildlife bring to the screen some gripping stories centred on biodiversity and the interaction between people and wildlife. Once again, these films will provide a strong tool to mobilize and inspire the public for the cause of conservation and to raise awareness of the threats weighing on our world’s wild fauna and flora.

Another artistic highlight was the second international World Wildlife Day youth art contest organised with the support of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and which called on school age and youth artists to illustrate the day’s theme through their art.

Winners of both contests were announced during the high-level event at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The event in New York City was also graced by a moving musical interlude, courtesy of the UN Chamber Music Society, with a wildlife-themed performance.

Earlier that day, representatives of Colombia and Costa Rica spoke at the World Wildlife Day celebrations at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. They joined biodiversity experts from IUCN and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, and a representative of the private sector from Swiss luxury group Richemont for an event co-organized by the CITES Secretariat and the Geneva Environment Network.

Beyond these two official events, States, organizations and civil society groups celebrated the day through their own events around the world. Photographic competitions in Accra, Ghana; a symposium in Bhopal, India; a forum on crocodile conservation in the Philippines; reforestation days in Nicaragua; giant billboards promoting World Wildlife Day across the United States on billboards; and the lighting of the Empire State Building in New York, all together honoured the day.  All in all, people around the world passionate about wildlife and biodiversity joined in on the World Wildlife Day celebrations and took the time to show their appreciation for the value of wild fauna and flora for people, planet and prosperity.

Remarks by organizers:

Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General:

“As we face a biodiversity crisis of such staggering magnitude, we know that, now more than ever, it is imperative that we remind everyone of the immense value of wild fauna and flora for the planet. Human societies and economies rely on biodiversity in fundamental ways. 2020 is the year to reset humanity’s relationship with nature and to start the transformative changes for both people and our planet. We believe this year’s World Wildlife Day will contribute to raising worldwide awareness of just how essential wildlife is for, as well as their livelihoods.”

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary of CBD:

“We can still reverse the trend of biodiversity loss. This year, the world will come together to act for wildlife and bend the curve on biodiversity loss, as Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are expected to adopt an ambitious and transformative post-2020 global biodiversity framework at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming, China. As governments negotiate the post-2020 framework, increasing the sustainability of wildlife use and management is a priority. In doing so, we must take on the challenge of ending unsustainable exploitation of resources, including wildlife and their ecosystems, while preserving the livelihoods of the communities that depend on them.”

Susan Gardner, Director for Ecosystems for UNEP:

“The evidence is clear – human activity is by far the greatest cause of habitat loss and results in loss of wildlife that require those habitats,” said Susan Gardner, Director of UNEP’s Ecosystems Division. “Sustainable conservation must be based on an appreciation of the interdependency of people and wildlife in order to reimagine a future where the livelihoods of farmers are secured while simultaneously reducing the risks to wild animals that share the land.”

Midori Paxton, Head of Biodiversity for UNDP:

“Wildlife and biodiversity underpin the well-being, safety, and resilience of all societies. One million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. Billions of families and communities who depend on wildlife and nature for food, water, and their livelihoods are also at risk, as are our economies. If we’re to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must reverse this trend now and put nature at the heart of development. Through World Wildlife Day we are helping raise awareness of the importance of investing in nature and scaling up solutions through a coaltion of  public, private sector, and civil society partners.”

Lisa Samford, Executive Director of Jackson Wild™:

“It is no longer sufficient to simply raise public awareness about biodiversity loss, media must ignite tangible action to protect and restore our planet and its diverse wildlife. We’re extremely proud of the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase winners because these films go beyond amplifying reasons to care and inspiring awe for our fragile, but resilient planet. They empower the radical changes that will be required to save humanity from ourselves.”

Source: UNEP

GGF and National Bank of Egypt to Advance Climate Finance With USD 10 Million

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The Green for Growth Fund (GGF), an impact investment fund advised by Finance in Motion, has loaned USD 10 million to the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) to support measures that reduce energy consumption, prevent CO2 emissions, and improve resource efficiency in the country.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

NBE is the flagship lender in the Egyptian banking sector, with a wide-ranging branch network across both urban and rural areas. This broad outreach positions the bank as an ideal partner in helping the GGF pursue its mission to expand financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy in the region. This second loan from GGF will be on-lent to industrial borrowers who are undertaking significant measures to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Expected energy savings are estimated at 150,000 MWh each year, preventing over 29,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.

GGF Chairman Olaf Zymelka said, “We are very pleased to be continuing our successful collaboration with the National Bank of Egypt to expand financial access to projects that reduce energy consumption. The modernization of industrial processes in particular is key to reining in carbon emissions and protecting our climate. This partner has already proven their commitment to and experience in supporting measures that promote energy efficiency and the responsible use of natural resources.”

Lloyd Stevens, Director at GGF Advisor, Finance in Motion, added: “Demand in Egypt is on the rise for ways to reduce electricity consumption and make the transition to renewable energy. The GGF has been fostering such endeavors in the country since 2016. The support of valuable partners like the National Bank of Egypt has been integral to our success so far.”

NBE Chairman Hisham Okasha reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to partner with GFF for green energy finance in Egypt, stating: “We believe in the importance of boosting the responsible use of energy and resources in our country and reducing CO2 emissions. Together with GGF, we are making dedicated financing available for these purposes.”

ABOUT THE GREEN FOR GROWTH FUND

The GGF helps reduce the use of energy and resources and prevent CO2 emissions. It pursues this goal by providing dedicated financing to businesses and households across 19 markets in the Southeast Europe Region including Turkey, the European Neighborhood Region-East, and the Middle East and North Africa.

By using a blended finance structure and working through local partner institutions, the GGF is able to raise awareness and implement green finance activities. The fund combines its financial offering with tailored technical assistance that helps build capacity and which brings energy efficiency measures, renewable energy, and improved resource management toward the mainstream. In addition, by managing the environmental and social (E&S) risks associated with its investments, the fund sets standards for its partners and supports them to enhance their own E&S management systems, as required.

The GGF was initiated as a public-private partnership in December 2009 by Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the European Investment Bank, with financial support from the European Commission, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Austrian Development Bank (OeEB). The fund’s growing investor base comprises donor agencies, international financial institutions and institutional private investors, including the International Finance Corporation, the Dutch development bank FMO, and the German ethical bank GLS. The GGF is advised by Finance in Motion GmbH. MACS Management & Consulting Services GmbH, Frankfurt am Main acts as the technical advisor.

For more information, see www.ggf.lu.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BANK OF EGYPT

The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) is the largest commercial bank in the Egyptian banking sector. It was established on June 25, 1898, and has an extensive network with 508 branches and outlets, as well as the largest ATM network of more than 4,060 machines and 13,900 point-of-sale terminals. The bank’s operations are supported by over 20,000 high-caliber employees.

NBE enjoys a substantial international presence via subsidiaries, branches, and representative offices in London, New York City, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Dubai, Addis Ababa, and Khartoum, along with a large number of correspondent banks around the world.

NBE is the pioneer in supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Egypt. The bank has partnered with various reputable international financial institutions by signing facility agreements through which long-term foreign currency funding is made available to local firms undertaking projects aimed at enhancing the environment.

Source: GGF

EBRD and Donors Boost Green Financing in the Region

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Moritz Kindler)

The Western Balkans is a key region for, and partner in, the EBRD’s green work. South-eastern Europe has huge potential for developing green energy, with its rivers providing hydroelectric power, its mountains and plains enabling wind power, its underdeveloped solarenergy, and the inhabitants of its many cities keen for sustainable development.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Moritz Kindler)

Yet a lot remains to be done: the Western Balkans countries are still heavily dependent on ageing coal-fired thermal power plants and suffer from high levels of air pollution. Carbon intensity in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia is more than six times higher than the European Union (EU) average. Achieving energy efficiency remains a key challenge in a region where energy usage is up to 2.5 times higher than the average for OECD countries in Europe.

So much for the bad news. Because there is also some good news and hard work from the EBRD – and increasingly so.

Since 2006, the EBRD has invested more than €3 billion in the “greening” of the region. Together with providing funding, the Bank is also very active in engaging with national governments to reform legal and policy frameworks to create an environment in which individual projects can succeed and wider impact is possible. For instance, in North Macedonia, an energy efficiency law drafted with EBRD support and approved by the government has recently passed its first reading in parliament; meanwhile on the renewable side, the EBRD support was crucial in launching and awarding the first private solar photovoltaic competitive auction in the country.

Large-scale investments in renewable energy projects are providing alternative power sources to traditional coal, and work is being carried out to modernise the district heating networks across the region.

In Albania, the EBRD financed the modernisation of Korporata Elektroenergjitike Shqiptare (KESH), the largest generator of electricity in the country, supporting the company with a restructuring and reform package.

The Bank financed the first two large-scale wind farms in Kosovo: Kitka and Bajgora wind farms, providing a concrete way forward to address the challenge of power cuts and pollution caused by the lignite coal powering Kosovo’s two main electricity plants.

In Montenegro, following a long policy dialogue on the bankability of the power purchase agreement, the EBRD was the first financial institution to structure a project finance loan for the Krnovo wind farm, the first private wind farm in the country and at the time of financial close also the first private wind farm in the Western Balkans region.

In North Macedonia, the EBRD financed ESM, the first large-scale solar power plant on the site of an exhausted lignite coal mine, representing a tangible example of how to implement some of the solutions of the EU Just Transition policy for coal mine regions in the Western Balkans.

In Serbia, the Bank backed the construction of the country’s two largest wind farms: the 158MW Cibuk wind farm in Dolovo; and the Kovacica wind farm with a capacity of 104 MW.

Ten cities around the region have joined EBRD Green Cities, the Bank’s successful urban sustainability programme. The €1 billion programme with currently 39 participant cities recognises that 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from cities and are therefore a key location for addressing climate change.

In the Western Balkans currently Banja Luka, Belgrade, Kumanovo, Novi Sad, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tirana and Zenica have joined the initiative.

Concrete action has followed swiftly: in Banja Luka, the Bank provided a loan for the reconstruction of the heat distribution network, helping to improve the energy efficiency of the system by reducing leakages of hot water and cutting heat loss. In Zenica, the Bank teamed up with the EU and the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) to help the cantonal hospital save energy. The refurbishment will result in energy savings of more than 60 per cent and the reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent.

Supporting residential energy efficiency, the Bank has reached more than 3,500 families across the six countries of the Western Balkans through the Bank’s Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF). The programme provides financing to local banks for on-lending to households to invest in green technologies and solutions such as improving home insulation and installing efficient boilers.

Improving energy efficiency for business and municipalities, in North Macedonia, the Bank financed the refurbishment of a student dormitory, improving living conditions in 168 student rooms. Since 2013, this was one of the 332 successful projects carried out across the region under the GEFF’s sister programme, the Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (WeBSEFF).

Sometimes the different elements of the EBRD programmes are combined as in the Renewable District Energy in the Western Balkans (ReDEWeB) programme which supports solar district heating across the region. The region’s large district heating networks are often run at return temperatures as low as 45°C, making them well suited for solar and geothermal energy rather than coal or fuel oil. The €4 million programme, run under EBRD auspices and funded by the Austrian government, offers technical assistance and small investment grants for insulation of solar systems.

Source: EBRD in Serbia

Seven Ways You’re Connected to Coral Reefs

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

World Wildlife Day (3 March) is a chance to appreciate all that nature provides. This year’s theme, “Sustaining all life on Earth”, gives thanks to our natural world that allows wild animals, plants and humans to thrive in harmony.

Among the most valuable elements of nature is the coral reef. Coral reefs are home to the largest variety of species in the ocean. You might think of them as underwater rainforests—full of living and nonliving components that, together, create one of the world’s most unique and important ecosystems.

But did you know that coral reefs are just as important for our lives on land as they are for the lives of species underwater?

Here are seven ways you’re connected to coral reefs:

  1. Food

Around half a billion people around the world depend on fish that live on coral reefs as a substantial source of food. Even if you live far from a coast, there’s a good chance the fish you eat came from a coral reef! More than 4,000 species of fish are supported by coral reefs, and an estimated 15 tonnes of fish per square kilometre can be produced each year by healthy reefs.

  1. Livelihoods

Coral reefs are a significant tourism draw in the regions they inhabit. Millions of snorkelers and scuba divers flock to see their beauty every year, and even more travelers enjoy the beaches they protect. This provides an array of tourism-based livelihoods on dive-boats and in service centers like hotels and restaurants.

  1. Protection

Coral reefs act as natural buffers against storms and waves that can erode coasts and damage property or threaten lives. This is made possible by their complex shapes and the underwater ‘walls’ they build that help reduce the intensity of incoming waves. The protection provided by coral reefs is increasingly important as climate change threatens to increase the intensity and frequency of storms.

  1. Medicine

New medicines and nutritional supplements are being developed from chemical compounds found in many species that live on coral reefs. Although scientists have been doing this in forests for decades, it is only recently that we’ve begun exploring the possibilities provided by reefs. This means it’s possible we’ve only scratched the surface in terms of what powerful medicines might originate in coral reefs!

  1. Culture

For people who live on coasts where coral reefs grow, and for anyone who has ever dived beneath the surface and seen their wondrous display of colours and life, coral reefs have a value untethered to money. In addition to providing us with the resources and services above, they are dazzling representations of the complexity and beauty of life on our planet. If you have ever seen a coral reef yourself, you might already feel that their presence makes the world a more spectacular place.

  1. Water filtration

Coral reefs help keep our near shore waters clean from pollution. Many corals and sponges are filter feeders, meaning they consume particulate matter (pollutants that do not dissolve in water) in the water. This prevents these particles from settling on the bottom of the ocean and dirtying the ocean with harmful materials. The next time you take a dip in the ocean, don’t forget to thank the coral reefs for helping to keep it clean!

  1. Beaches

Sand on beaches are often thought of as the product of broken-down shells, but coral reefs also have a hand in building our beaches. In fact, much of the sand on many beaches is the product of broken-down coral skeletons. In addition, some reef creatures produce sand as a result of their coral consumption. For example, a large-bodied parrotfish is estimated to produce up to one tonne of sand per year!

Coral reefs are unlike any other ecosystem on Earth. Not only do these beautiful reefs support an abundance of plant and animal life, they also provide us with invaluable resources and improve our quality of life.

To learn more about what keeps a coral reef healthy, click here to take the Reef Riders Journey, an interactive challenge that lets you explore how species’ daily actions maintain the delicate balance of their ecosystem.

Source: UNEP

Major New Actions for Migratory Species

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
  • Ten migratory species added to global wildlife agreement including the Asian Elephant, Jaguar and Great Indian Bustard
  • Gandhinagar declaration sends strong message on importance of migratory species for new global biodiversity strategy
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13) concluded in Gandhinagar, India with the adoption of a number of significant resolutions and decisions to address the conservation needs and threats facing migratory species around the globe.

CMS COP13 was the first of a series of international nature-related meetings in 2020, which will culminate in the UN Biodiversity Conference at the end of this year, when a new global biodiversity strategy for the next decade will be adopted – the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

“With COP13, the important role of CMS in protecting nature around the world has been strongly embraced. CMS is uniquely positioned to address the conservation of migratory species and their habitats, and to contribute to reversing the trends of species and biodiversity loss worldwide” said CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel.

CMS COP13 was the largest ever in the history of the Convention, with 2,550 people attending including 263 delegates representing 82 Parties, 11 delegates from 5 non-Party countries, 50 representatives from United Nations agencies, 70 representatives of international NGOs, 127 representatives of national NGOs and over 100 members of both national and international media.

Ten new species were added to CMS Appendices at COP13. Seven species were added to Appendix I, which provides the strictest protection: the Asian Elephant, Jaguar, Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican, Little Bustard, Antipodean Albatross and the Oceanic White-tip Shark.

The Urial, Smooth Hammerhead Shark and the Tope Shark were listed for protection under Appendix II, which covers migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status and would benefit from enhanced international cooperation and conservation actions.

New and extended Concerted Actions with targeted conservation plans were agreed for 14 species. For a full list of Concerted Actions, please click here.

CMS COP13 also adopted the Gandhinagar Declaration, which will send a message to the first negotiating session of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework convening in Rome next week. The Declaration calls for migratory species and the concept of ‘ecological connectivity’ to be integrated and prioritized in the new Framework, which is expected to be adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference in October.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The first ever report on the Status of Migratory Species, presented to CMS COP13, shows that despite some success stories, the populations of most migratory species covered by CMS are declining. COP13 agreed that a more comprehensive review should be undertaken to better understand the status of individual species and the main threats they face.

“The initial status report has been a real wake up call for the Convention, and Parties recognized, the importance of a more thorough analysis. CMS COP13 has given a clear mandate to prepare a flagship report on the status of migratory species which will give us a better idea of what is happening on the ground, and also provide a much needed tool for understanding where we need to focus our work,” Ms. Fraenkel said.

The COP also agreed on a number of cross-cutting policy measures to address threats to migratory species:

  • Integrate biodiversity and migratory species considerations into national energy and climate policy and promote wildlife-friendly renewable energy;
  • Strengthen initiatives to combat the illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory birds;
  • Mitigate the impacts of linear infrastructure such as roads and railways on migratory species;
  • Address the unsustainable use of aquatic wild meat;
  • Undertake a review of bycatch levels of sharks and rays, and further implement bycatch mitigation measures for marine mammals in national fishing operations;
  • Deepen our understanding of the importance of animal culture and social complexity for the conservation of endangered species;
  • To investigate possible trade in CMS Appendix I species and the implications for their conservation status.

Three CMS Ambassadors – for terrestrial, avian, and aquatic species – were named at the relaunch of the CMS Ambassadors Programme: the internationally renowned conservationist Ian Redmond OBE (for terrestrial), award-winning explorer and environmentalist Sacha Dench (for avian), and Indian actor and environmental activist Randeep Hooda (for aquatic). They will help raise awareness about the important work of CMS and the plight of migratory species.

Seven Migratory Species Champions were recognized during a special high-level event on the eve of the conference. Under the Champion Programme, Germany, India, Italy, Monaco, Norway, the European Commission, and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi were acknowledged for their generous contributions to CMS initiatives. These range from wildlife conservation in Africa to the implementation of measures to preserve marine life.

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and CMS extended their decade-long partnership protecting Dugongs, African-Eurasian birds of prey and other migratory animals of regional 3 importance. A donor agreement was signed during a high-level event on the opening day of COP13.

Ethiopia joined the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU). Ethiopia is a strategically important country for the conservation of migratory birds of prey given its location across the East African flyway, a significant migration route for millions of birds of prey. In addition, the Sharks MOU has two more cooperating organizations – Divers for Sharks and the Save Our Seas Foundation.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Two sets of commemorative stamps were issued at COP13. A special set of UN stamps featuring endangered migratory species was the result of a collaboration of the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). During the opening ceremony on Monday, the Government of India also issued a special stamp edition featuring the Great Indian Bustard – the mascot of COP13.

This was the first CMS COP to be inaugurated by a host-country Head of Government. In his opening address, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that the conservation of wildlife and habitats has long been part of the cultural ethos of India.

India, as COP13 host, will assume the role of COP Presidency for the next three years. Prime Minister Modi pledged to focus on the conservation of migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway, and announced the establishment of an institutional facility for undertaking research and assessment of the conservation of migratory birds, the conservation of marine turtles, reduction of pollution from micro-plastic and single-use plastic, transboundary protected areas, and sustainable infrastructure development.

He also highlighted some of the country’s efforts in wildlife conservation including for the emblematic Tiger, Lion, Asian Elephant, Snow Leopard, Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, and the Great Indian Bustard.

“The Government of India and the State of Gujarat have beena outstanding hosts of CMS COP13,” Executive Secretary Fraenkel said. “The spirit of ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ has been felt by all delegates attending the conference and its underlying message – which was also captured in the COP13 theme – will now resonate from Gandhinagar into the world: Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home!”

Source: UNEP

Montenegro Continues to Take Major Steps to Reduce GHG Emissions

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Following the adoption of the Law on Protection from the Negative Impacts of Climate Change in December 2019, Montenegro continues to lead the way in the Energy Community in the establishment of a complete system required to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, protect the ozone layer and adapt to climate change. A new regulation on activities emitting GHG for which a GHG emission permit has been issued, adopted by the Government on 6 February and having entered into force on 21 February, brings Montenegro even closer to the EU acquis in the area of climate change. Its adoption was also one of the prerequisites for opening Chapter 27 of EU accession talks (on environment and climate change).

The regulation introduces a regulatory framework to limit GHG emissions from industrial and energy plants in the country. In addition, it specifies the operators participating in the emission trading and also determines the total amount and minimum price (€ 24 / tCO2) of the emission credits to be auctioned, the formation of a stabilization reserve, the method of recording the allocated emission credits, their transfer and use, as well as the purpose of the funds raised from the emission credits auction. The funds shall be transferred into the Environmental Protection Fund and used for environmental protection measures, renewables support and financing of innovations.

Source: Energy Community

France Pledges €90 million for WHO Academy

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,  Director-General of WHO today met at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in Geneva to discuss the WHO Academy, which will be the world’s largest and most innovative lifelong learning platform in global health.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The WHO Academy aims to reach millions of people worldwide, offering high-tech learning environments at a “hub” in Lyon with “spokes” in the six WHO regions. The Academy will provide learning opportunities for leaders, educators, researchers, health workers, WHO staff and the broader public, and will deliver high quality, multilingual learning, both online and in-person, alongside a cutting-edge simulation centre for health emergencies.

The discussion today follows a Declaration of Intent signed by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and Dr Tedros on 11 June 2019, and a pledge by France in the amount of US$ 100 million (€ 90 million) to WHO to support the creation of the WHO Academy, which will be established as an internal division within WHO.

“Technology and innovation in learning are creating exciting new opportunities to accelerate progress towards health for all in every country,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “The WHO Academy will support millions of learners to maximize health impacts with the best evidence, adult learning approaches and state-of-the-art technologies.”

By propelling and strengthening digital innovations and lifelong learning opportunities around the world, the WHO Academy will play an instrumental role towards achieving WHO’s triple billion goal by 2023 and the health Sustainable Development Goals: 1 billion more people will benefit from universal health coverage; 1 billion more will be better protected in health emergencies, and 1 billion more will enjoy improved health and wellbeing.

The funding from France represents a commitment to accelerate the development of the WHO Academy, and confirms the engagement of France — a longstanding partner of WHO and a key actor in global health – and its strong support to the ambitions of 13th WHO General Programme of Work to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all ages.

Source: WHO

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