Plastic Alternatives May Worsen Marine Pollution, MPs Warn

13.09.2019

Compostable and biodegradable plastics could add to marine pollution because there is no infrastructure in place to make sure they break down correctly, a committee of MPs has warned.

The use of alternatives to plastic are being adopted by many food and drink companies, takeaway coffee venues, cafes and retailers. But experts giving evidence to MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs committee said the infrastructure required to deal with the new packaging was not in place and there was a lack of consumer understanding about these alternatives.

Much of the compostable packaging produced for the UK market only degrades in industrial composting facilities, rather than in home composting – but not all is sent to these facilities.

Environmental NGOs told the committee that the rapid introduction of such alternatives could actually increase plastic pollution.

Juliet Phillips, of the Environmental Investigation Agency, said: “If a biodegradable cup gets into the sea, it could pose just as much of a problem to marine life as a conventional plastic cup.”

The environmental thinktank Green Alliance said there was evidence that the term biodegradable made consumers think it was fine to discard it into the environment, which would make pollution on land and at sea even worse.

Neil Parish, chair of the Commons select committee, said: “In the backlash against plastic, other materials are being increasingly used as substitutes in food and drink packaging.

“We are concerned that such actions are being taken without proper consideration of wider environmental consequences, such as higher carbon emissions.

“Compostable plastics have been introduced without the right infrastructure or consumer understanding to manage compostable waste.”

Keep Britain Tidy said “the drive to introduce bioplastics, biodegradable plastics and compostable plastics is being done with limited emphasis on explaining the purpose of these materials to the public or consideration of whether they are in fact better from an environmental perspective than the plastic packaging they replace”.

The committee, in a report on plastic food and drink packaging published on Thursday, said the government should focus on reducing the use of plastic packaging rather than replacing it with other materials.

“Reduction is far more important than recycling, and a fundamental shift away from all single-use packaging, plastic or otherwise, is now necessary,” the report said.

A government consultation on biodegradable and compostable packaging is under way. It will examine whether the standard required for all such alternative plastics should be that they can be home composted.

In evidence to the committee Libby Peake, from Green Alliance, said there was a need for standards to be re-examined, saying: “Some companies are already switching to alternatives including bio-based and compostable plastics, paper, cartons or other materials in ways that will not ultimately prove sustainable.”

Peake added: “You cannot have a wholesale switchover to bio-based plastics, to aluminium, to glass or to paper, which all have environmental consequences themselves.”

Vegware, a compostable packaging manufacturer, said it advised consumers to put their products in the general waste if suitable composting was not possible.

The committee said it was shocking that the government had no idea how much plastic packaging was put on to the market. This is because the system is based on producers self-declaring their packaging footprint, and only those with a turnover of more than £2m and 50 tonnes of packaging a year are obliged to release their data. MPs recommended this figure should be reduced to 1 tonne…

Disposable, single-use plastics used for packaging food and drink – particularly cigarette butts, plastic drinking bottles, plastic caps, food wrappers, grocery bags, plastic lids, straws and stirrers – are the most common single use plastics found in the environment, according to a 2018 UN report.

Source: Guardian

Japan Will Have to Dump Radioactive Water into Pacific, Minister Says

12.09.2019

pollution_radioactive_waste_nuclear — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The operator of the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will have to dump huge quantities of contaminated water from the site directly into the Pacific Ocean, Japan’s environment minister has said – a move that would enrage local fishermen.

More than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water has accumulated at the plant since it was struck by a tsunami in March 2011, triggering a triple meltdown that forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.

Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) has struggled to deal with the buildup of groundwater, which becomes contaminated when it mixes with water used to prevent the three damaged reactor cores from melting.

Tepco has attempted to remove most radionuclides from the excess water, but the technology does not exist to rid the water of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Coastal nuclear plants commonly dump water that contains tritium into the ocean. It occurs in minute amounts in nature.

Tepco admitted last year that the water in its tanks still contained contaminants beside tritium.

Currently, more than 1m tonnes of contaminated water is held in almost 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi site, but the utility has warned that it will run out of tank space by the summer of 2022.

“The only option will be to drain it into the sea and dilute it,” Yoshiaki Harada told a news briefing in Tokyo on Tuesday. “The whole of the government will discuss this, but I would like to offer my simple opinion.”

No decision on how to dispose of the water will be made until the government has received a report from a panel of experts. Other options include vaporising the liquid or storing it on land for an extended period.

Harada did not say how much water would need to be discharged into the ocean.

One recent study by Hiroshi Miyano, who heads a committee studying the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi at the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, said it could take 17 years to discharge the treated water after it has been diluted to reduce radioactive substances to levels that meet the plant’s safety standards.

Any decision to dispose of the waste water into the sea would anger local fishermen, who have spent the past eight years rebuilding their industry.

Nearby South Korea has also voiced concern over the impact it would have on the reputation of its own seafood.

Last month, Seoul summoned a senior Japanese embassy official to explain how Fukushima Daiichi’s waste water would be dealt with.

Ties between the north-east Asian nations are already at a low ebb following a compensation dispute over Koreans forced to work in Japanese factories during the second world war.

The government spent 34.5bn yen (£260m) to build a frozen underground wall to prevent groundwater reaching the three damaged reactor buildings. The wall, however, has succeeded only in reducing the flow of groundwater from about 500 tonnes a day to about 100 tonnes a day.

Japan has come under renewed pressure to address the contaminated water problem before Tokyo hosts the Olympics and Paralympics next summer.

Six years ago during the city’s bid for the games, the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, assured the international community that the situation was “under control”.

Source: Guardian

Up to Half of the Consumed Energy Saved Thanks to Solar Panels

12.09.2019

One production plant has saved almost half of the electricity consumption in the day of the largest production thanks to the solar power plant on the roof of the facility. Out of 950 kWh consumed, it saved about 450.

The construction of a small solar power plant with the installed capacity of 50 kW in Simanovci with the connection to the cabinet for consumption was entrusted to the Belgrade-based company MT-Komex. The amount of produced energy from accumulated solar radiation is used exclusively for their own consumption. The photovoltaic power plant in Simanovci supplies the user with clean energy, and at the same time reduces the monthly electricity bill.

The rooftop structure carries 180 panels of 275 Wp which are set at an angle of 10°. In order to transform the DC to AC, three Fronius inverters were installed: two of 20 kW and one of 8.2 kW.

Experienced installers of MT-Komex have mounted a system of aluminium construction of the K2 Systems manufacturer from Germany, one of the leaders in the production of aluminium systems for rooftop structures. Due to the specificity of the location, they chose a system that reduces the influence of wind, thus reducing the need to use additional load in the form of concrete slabs which make the construction of solar panels and aluminium rails heavier. In this way, the risk of wind pushing the structure along on the roof and taking it off the roof with all the panels was averted.

The solar power plant was put into operation in mid-March. Even though April was marked by bad weather and abundant precipitation which are not characteristic for this time of year, the solar power plant has produced enough electrical energy to reduce almost 30 per cent of the electricity consumption to the cabinet for consumption in the production plant on whose roof a solar power plant is installed. In some cases, when days are sunny, no precipitation, this amount of reduction of electricity consumption has reached as much as 50 per cent. One of the sunniest days in the fourth month was April 26th and then the factory had the highest consumption in the facility, given that they had the highest production capacity, which resulted in a total consumption of 950 kWh on that day, and the solar the power plant gave almost 440 hours.

Thanks to solar power plants, MT-Komex customers receive clean and cheaper electricity. Certified engineers and electrical fitters are trained to mount solar power plants almost on any land and any facility, whether it’s a house, a factory, a parking lot or a canopy. So far, they have built 16 solar plants with 10 thousand solar panels with a total installed capacity of 2.6 MW. Behind every project of the power plant construction is 25 years of experience.

IN BRIEF ABOUT SOLAR POWER PLANTS Solar power plants produce “clean” electricity, and they can be rooftop or ground-mounted. The generated electricity from a solar power plant can be used to satisfy own consumption. This clean energy reduces the energy you would pay by taking it from the distribution network, which generates significant savings. Solar power plants can provide 15 to 70 per cent of the electricity of their consumption when there is constant electricity consumption throughout the day. Energy production depends mostly on how to install panels and equipment selection.

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine on ENERGY EFFICIENCY, June 2018. – August 2019.

Global Food Producers ‘Failing to Face Up to Role’ in Climate Crisis

11.09.2019

cows_milking_dairy_food_production_hrana — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The world’s biggest producers of meat, dairy and seafood are failing to tackle the enormous impact they are having on the planet through deforestation, the routine use of antibiotics and greenhouse gas emissions, a report warns.

The Coller Fairr index ranks 50 of the largest global meat, dairy and fish producers by looking at risk factors from use of antibiotics to deforestation and labour abuses. The producers are the “hidden” supply chain, providing meat and dairy to global brands including McDonald’s, Tesco, Nestlé and Walmart.

The index is written by investment experts who want to encourage awareness of the risks posed to the planet – and to their own profitability – by companies that fail to mitigate the damage done to the environment by food production.

Jeremy Coller is founder of Fairr and chief investment officer at Coller Capital. He says it is the huge companies behind the brands that will themselves suffer if the planet isn’t protected. “It is the companies hidden upstream in the meat and dairy supply chain who face the most significant climate and public health risks.

“As last month’s landmark report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) demonstrated, the world’s meat, fish and dairy industries are under serious threat from climate change impacts. In stark contrast to the transport sector, only one in four meat, fish and dairy producers even measure their greenhouse gas emissions, let alone act to reduce them.”

Among other failings, the index says that none of the companies analysed have a comprehensive policy to stop deforestation. And just four companies in the index “have committed to phasing out routine use of antibiotics, widespread in the industry”.

According to the report, two-thirds of producers do not even measure all their greenhouse gas emissions let alone set targets to reduce them. These include Hormel Foods in the US, a supplier to McDonald’s. Also included is Cal-Maine Foods. Cal-Maine is the largest producer of fresh eggs in the US and a supplier to Walmart and Nestle. Nestlé, McDonald’s and Walmart have all publicly committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

And while Walmart has previously said it wants to achieve zero net deforestation in its supply chain by 2020, the research shows that Walmart suppliers such as Cranswick in the UK have no comprehensive policy on deforestation. McDonald’s have pledged to reduce antibiotics use in their beef supply chains. But the vast majority of beef suppliers do not have a policy to avoid routine use of antibiotics. Only one – Marfrig – does.

The companies are ranked according to their risk for investors, based on analysis of nine key environmental, social and governance risk factors, combined with the sustainable development goals. The Hong Kong-based WH Group were noted as “high risk” while Hormel Foods and Cranswick were designated as “medium risk”.

The research argues that some of the companies, who between them have a value of $300bn (£248bn), are already suffering the costs of the deepening climate crisis.

Marine Heatwave Hits Pacific, Raising Fears of a New Hot ‘Blob’

10.09.2019

sea_ocean_turtle_more_okean_morska_kornjača — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jakob Owens)

The ocean off the western coast of North America is five degrees Fahrenheit hotter than usual after warming at an unusually rapid rate, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa).

It has been dubbed the “north-east Pacific marine heatwave of 2019”.

Marine heatwaves are defined as oceanic events in which the surface temperature of the water is warmer than 90% of past measurements for at least five days in a row. The current heatwave is the second-largest since scientists started tracking the phenomenon in 1981, Noaa reported on Friday.

If the abnormal patch does not dissipate soon, it could become as destructive as the so-called “blob” of warm water in the same area that, in 2014-2016, created toxic algae blooms, killed sea lions and endangered whales by forcing them to forage closer to shore.

Oceanographers started to notice something strange back in June in a triangle-shaped mass of ocean stretching from Alaska to Hawaii to southern California. The direct cause of the heat is weak winds, though these conditions do not usually persist for months at a time as they have done this year. Warm water has also lingered from the previous extreme heat event.

“It went from a little bit warmer than average to about as warm as we’ve ever seen it, in just three months,” said Nate Mantua, a research scientist at Noaa’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

“It’s not clear to me that there’s a simple link between persistence of this weather pattern and longer-term climate change,” Mantua added. “There might be. It’s still an evolving field and there are a lot of open questions.”

The oceans have absorbed about 90% of excess heat linked to the climate crisis. “That’s played out over many decades now, and it’s a slow process compared with this event, which has happened in just three months,” Mantua said.

It is also not known if there have been major impacts on marine life, mostly because researchers have relatively little monitoring equipment in the 4m square miles of ocean affected. Oceanographers are starting to see subtle effects in the distribution of some species, Mantua said, such as tuna that are hanging out closer to the coast to avoid the warmer waters.

The impact has mostly been limited to the upper 50 meters of the ocean. “If it persists for one to two years, then warming will penetrate to deeper depths,” Mantua said.

Source: Guardian

Australia Cleared 7.7m Hectares of Threatened Species Habitat Since Introduction of Environment Act

09.09.2019

forest_trees_šuma_drveće — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Josh Withers)

More than 7.7m hectares of habitat have been cleared since the introduction of Australia’s national environment act, according to new research that finds 93% of land cleared was not referred to the federal government for assessment.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Queensland and three environment organisations – the Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF Australia and the Wilderness Society – warns that Australia’s high extinction rate will increase “without a fundamental change” in how environment laws are enforced.

The scientists used publicly available spatial data to quantify the amount of clearing of potential habitat for 1,638 listed threatened species and ecological communities – which are groups of species that form a single habitat – between 2000 and 2017.

They used the federal government referral record to calculate how much of the clearing had been referred to the government for assessment.

The study examined two types of habitat – forests and woodlands – and excluded clearing that had occurred before the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act came into force in 2000 and any clearing that was due to natural causes such as fire.

They calculated that the land cleared included 7.7m hectares of potential habitat for terrestrial threatened species, 64,000 hectares of habitat for terrestrial migratory species, and 330,000 hectares for threatened ecological communities.

The researchers found that clearing had affected potential habitat for 84% (or 1,390) of the species studied and that the overwhelming majority of that clearing (93%) had not been referred to the federal government for scrutiny under the EPBC Act.

“This noncompliance means that potential habitat for terrestrial threatened species, terrestrial migratory species and threatened ecological communities have been lost without assessment, regulation or enforcement under the EPBC Act,” they wrote.

Some species suffered more habitat loss than others. According to the study, the Mount Cooper striped skink lost 25% of its potential habitat, the Keighery’s macarthuria, a plant native to Western Australia, lost 23% and the southern black-throated finch lost 10%.

The researchers found that 1.1m hectares of potential habitat for koalas had been cleared.

“These are the species threatened with extinction,” said Michelle Ward, the study’s lead author from the University of Queensland. “If we don’t stop their habitat loss, they’re going to go extinct.”

Queensland was the location of the highest levels of clearing – the state had nine of the 10 species that lost the most potential habitat.

A statutory review of the EPBC Act is due to begin this year. Ward said the researchers would be submitting comments based on their research.

Their paper says Australia’s national environment laws have been “ineffective” at preventing habitat loss and calls for amendments that require critical habitat, where possible, to be mapped and monitored for threatened species and ecological communities, and for protection of that habitat to be enforced.

“We think that the act should be amended so that critical habitat is mapped, available to stakeholders and fully protected from further destruction,” Ward said.

Source: Guardian

Every Man Who Loves Nature Is My Brother

08.09.2019

He said that Indians are the only people who live in harmony with nature, that we are in desperate need of every grain from the field that we do not leave a furrow after the harvest to feed the pheasant, that a new age man who talks most about the nature conservation is the one who pollutes it… We could expect this kind of attitude from some passionate naturalist or avid fighter for the protection of the planet. Still, in the picture we see Vuk Kostic, an actor, hunter and fisherman, and these are truly his words.

In between rehearsals and filming, Vuk took the time to answer our questions about hunting and fishing and whether these activities are contrary to the concept of nature protection. In order not to waste time, we chose in medias res approach.

EP: People generally have a negative assumption about hunting because their first association is killing innocent animals for fun. Are hunters the enemies of nature?

Vuk Kostic: It’s a far cry from the destruction of nature because hunting is the best form of nature protection. People who have never taken a single corn cob into the woods and yet comment hunting should acknowledge that hunters are those who feed animals. When the winter comes with temperatures of – 20 or any other natural disaster, the animals run out of food. Not only do those circumstances starve the ruminants because they cannot reach the food, but predators also decimate them. Here is another example; if one year we do not hunt foxes, they multiply and eat all the rabbits in the hunting area. The following year, the foxes reproduce, but the rabbits are gone, so they have nothing to eat. Man intruded in nature a long time ago. It is easy to illustrate that. Highways crisscrossed the land so the game cannot move freely. Thus, when the man has already interfered with nature, he must regulate it. The fact is that the hunter cannot endanger nature as much as the industry can; the fisherman cannot fish as much as the industry can.

The modern man uses numerous household chemicals and does not think about nature when he enthusiastically says, “I have just sprayed a little bit and it immediately took off the rust”. And that went into the water and the packaging to a landfill where it will never decompose. Appealing packaging attracts us while shopping, but it will remain in nature for another three hundred years.

Each hunting association “Srbija sume”, every hunting ground, every forest has a game management unit. It means that you approximately know how many animal species there are per species. The aim is that the forest is full of a healthy animal population. One of the ways to maintain the game is preservation and harvesting. Apart from us hunters, mountaineers and mushroom pickers, I do not know who else goes to nature. Admittedly, some people spend one day in nature and leave behind the plastic bags, and the bear can’t pick them up. Waste Utility takes care of this in the city, but not in nature. Animals can’t deal with it.

EP: You mentioned fishermen. You also often go to the Adriatic for fishing. Is the situation at sea better than in the forests?

Vuk Kostic: I have travelled from Mexico to Australia, and there is no such beautiful sea as the Adriatic because there are no poisonous fish or sharks. In Mexico and Australia, corals can burn you, and the fish are poisonous. So, one little jellyfish can kill 20 people if they touch it. Not to mention tsetse flies, spiders, poisonous snakes, Anopheles mosquitoes and other insects.

The climate of the Adriatic is so mild, and there is nothing that can endanger and harm you. There is fish, but we should not think that this fish stock is limitless. Fish quotas have been set in Croatia, thus, for example, the period for fishing tuna is known. Still, with that measure, a small fisherman gets the wrong end of the bargain. Those with large ships and large nets catch all the fish and then it is said that one can catch only three more. And only small fishermen depend on what they catch, and they are the only endangered by this measure. The sea is polluted, but when you have protected areas, the fish has a place to circulate and spawn. One must not fish there. Finally, several old boats can be sunk, which are interesting for diving at depths of 30 meters, where fish can reside.

EP: Is there plastic at these depths?

Vuk Kostic: Not in the Adriatic. But if we were to collect all the plastic floating on the seas, we would see an island bigger than Australia. But that’s not the only problem. There is also the engine noise, as well as the one from the oil rigs, which confuse fish, mammals, dolphins, whales and it leads them in the wrong direction, so they stray. I recommend everyone to watch a documentary with Leonardo Di Caprio “Before the Flood”. Your readers will be much more aware of the problems that animals face.

EP: Apart from Serbia, is there any other place you would like to live in?

Vuk Kostic: I used to think about Mexico. Australia is beautiful too. However charming these countries are, there is no such beauty as the Adriatic.

EP: What have we demonstrated as nature guardians?

Vuk Kostic: A modern man is generally not in touch with nature. I remember one nifty anecdote. A friend of mine who is a producer was shooting a commercial in which a child was supposed to pet a cow. They went to a farm in Vojvodina. They took the cow outside, and since it had never come out of the box, it could not walk; its legs were like macaroni. It was out of the question for the child to go and cuddle it. They lost a whole day because they had to find an animal that spends its days in nature.

I believe that it will be even worse even though technology enables us the ability to protect nature. We are not good guardians, except for us hunters. It is in hunters’ best interest to have does in the forest, and others do not care if there are any. They have never seen them.

Prepared by: Nevena Djukic

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine on ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Per Aspera Ad Sol

07.09.2019

When you crave a cake but do not have any will to make it on your own, you will be going to a pastry shop. In case of experiencing back pain at work, you will be arranging a massage appointment. If you need a new pair of running shoes, you will be visiting the shops with sports equipment. Supposing that you want to improve the energy efficiency of your objects, you will be reaching out to the engineers of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development (CEEFOR).

Why choose them over the huge competition? Because when you see only data, they see the opportunity to save energy and money and reduce emissions of harmful gases. By contacting them, many domestic and foreign companies seized the opportunity for both themselves and the environment, while improving their business at the same time.

The team of experts of the Belgrade-based company has top-quality references in designing and implementing measures of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. The knowledge of twenty engineers is based on the best examples from world practice and is supported by the many years of experience in the development of projects, production of technical and project documentation and the provision of support services.

Whether you are hiring the CEEFOR as a reliable consultant for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources or as a direct partner in charge of developing studies, projects and project documentation, you can count on the dedicated work of employees in finding a practical and long-lasting solution, adapted to your capabilities and needs, in the following areas:

implementation of preliminary, short and detailed energy audits,
consulting and engineering for financial institutions and investors in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy,
elaboration of feasibility studies related to energy technologies and technologies related to energy efficiency improvement,
making feasibility studies for the use of renewable energy sources and the construction of power plants,
consulting and production of all kinds of project technical documentation (General Projects, Conceptual Designs, As-built designs, Projects for building permit, Detailed-Design Projects etc.),
consulting in the field of preparation and implementation of the energy management system in industrial enterprises at the local level (municipalities and cities),
information technology in the field of energy savings and implementation.

It would be surprising finding at one place the Recycling Center “Bozic i sinovi” from Pancevo, producer of confectionery and food products “Swisslion Takovo” from Novi Sad, “Knjaz Milos” from Arandjelovac, Winery “Vino Zupa” from Aleksandrovac and public garage “Obilicev venac” from Belgrade, but the list of the CEEFOR’s customers includes even this diverse team.

There are also Elektroprivreda Srbije, Lazarevac heating plant “Kolubara”, Municipality of Lapovo, Health Center Kladovo, small hydro power plant Ravni, Novi Sad meat processing company “Neoplanta”, cardboard factory “Umka”, NIS Gasprom-Njeft and Solaris Energy.

When you place your confidence in the knowledgeable hands, there is no room for fear. Your expectations will be outplayed.

Prepared by: Jelena Kozbasic

Rare Two-Headed Snake Nicknamed ‘Double Dave’ Is Found in US

06.09.2019

dvoglava zmija_Nju Džersi — Photo: Facebook (screenshot)

Scientists have named a rare two-headed snake Double Dave after it was found in a forest in the US state of New Jersey.

The baby timber rattlesnake was discovered last month by environmentalists from the Herpetological Associates group, who study endangered and threatened reptiles.

The name Double Dave was coined because it was discovered by the environmentalist Dave Schneider and his colleague, also called Dave. The venomous pit viper, which is 20-25cm (8-10 inches) long, has two fully formed heads, meaning it has four working eyes and two flickering tongues.

Schneider explained that Double Dave’s two heads worked independently of each other, and it would be difficult for such a creature to survive in the wild, because the condition meant it was slow-moving and could be easily picked off by prey.

Two-headed snakes often have one head that is slightly more developed than the other, and the heads have been known to fight each other over food, not realising that whatever they eat is heading to the same digestive system.

The condition of having more than one head is known as polycephaly, and happens in much the same way that conjoined twins are formed: an embryo that has begun to split into identical twins stops before fully dividing.

Two-headed animals are considered in many cultures to be a portent of disaster, and they have frequently appeared in mythology. But although they are rare, happening in around one in 100,000 live births in the wild, two-headed snakes do turn up fairly frequently. In recent weeks, another two-headed snake made the news after it was photographed in the Bali resort of Tabanan.

In 2018, a two-headed snake even went on tour. Named Tom and Jerry, the 17-year-old California kingsnake appeared as one of the star attractions at the Reptile Expo in Villeneuve, Switzerland.

Keeping two-headed snakes alive can pose problems. Photographs of a two-headed eastern copperhead found in Woodbridge, Virginia, last year went viral, and the viper breeder Cooper Sallade, who was looking after it, told Wired magazine: “Since the snake had such an incomprehensible amount of media attention, there was a lot of pressure on me to keep that thing alive.”

He ended up gently force-feeding it, because the heads were not well-developed enough to eat independently, but after a few months the snake died.

Because of its poor chances of surviving in the wild, Double Dave is being taken into captivity by the Herpetological Associates. “We’ll take care of it,” said Schneider.

Source: Guardian

Energy Self-Sustainable Microgrids Are the Future of Energetics

05.09.2019

Profesor_Željko_Đurišić — Foto: Privatna arhiva

Professor Zeljko Djurisic lectures at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade. According to anonymous claims on the portal “Rate Professor”, there were students who would only come to the faculty because of his lecturers. Regardless of whether these statements were given by nerds who once racked up As or laggers who preferred sipping coffee at a nearby café in relation to lectures, the compliment does not lose significance and testifies to Djurisic’s pedagogical skills and receptivity.

In an interview we conducted recently, Professor Djurisic showed that extensive professional knowledge, turned into numerous books and research paper can adapt to non-specialists as we are. He revealed to us where the exhaustion of coal reserves and the lack of a strategy for decarbonisation of electricity production could lead Serbia and also why engineers prefer to opt for employment in private companies rather than in the public company “Elektroprivreda Srbije”.

EP: Which course of the master studies is the most sought-after, and which one do you consider the most promising in the current labour market conditions?

Zeljko Djurisic: The labour market influences students when choosing a course at the undergraduate level to a large extent. It was particularly felt when the infrastructure of mobile networks in Serbia was built, and then telecommunications were the most popular. The development of renewable energy sources then brought the popularity of energy, and digitization now brings popularity to computer technology.

The labour market does not have a decisive influence on the choice of course on master studies. Engineers are already formed as well as their affinities toward some of the expert areas they acquired during undergraduate studies which determine their choice of study module. On the module of the Electrical Grids and Systems, where I am engaged, there are three courses of master studies: Grids and Systems, Facilities and Equipment and Renewable Energy Sources. Last two to three years, the students’ interest in all three directions is approximately equal. I believe that this is good for the labour market because the projects in the energy sector are complex and cannot be tied exclusively to one segment of the profession.

EP: One of the subjects taught at the PhD studies is the integration of renewable energy sources into the distribution system. What are the optimal parameters which the grid needs to fulfil so that renewable energy sources can be connected to it?

Zeljko Djurisic: Technical conditions for the connection of renewable resources are mainly defined by the regulations. In our country, those are the Regulations on the operation of the distribution and transmission system. These regulations define measurable criteria that must be met so that a power plant can be connected to a distribution or transmission system. However, the problem of the massive integration of renewable sources is not related to the connection point. It represents a systemic challenge. The main limitation of the connection of renewable sources is to ensure the flexibility of the system. It is necessary so that intermittent energy sources, such as solar and wind, could be integrated into the power grid. Flexibility is the ability of the system to provide, in all real connections of generation and consumption, satisfying technical performances of the system: voltage constraints, power flows, safety principles…

EP: What is the general state of our grid? What are the losses of the active power which incurred in the transmission of electricity?

Zeljko Djurisic: The Serbian Electric Power System did not follow world trends, especially in terms of the development of the distribution network. Technical power losses in the distribution network are significantly higher than in the European electricity system and range up to 10 per cent, which indicates the underdevelopment of the network. “Elektroprivreda Srbije” must make an effort to change the existing situation and make the system more flexible. It includes strengthening of critical transmission lines, automation of distribution facilities and installation of advanced relay protection systems, switchgear and measuring equipment. Unfortunately, Elektroprivreda Srbije is an inert system that does not show visible signs for the improvement of the system. Today, there are no jobs in Elektroprivreda Srbije on which young engineers could affirm their knowledge of modern energy. Therefore, they are looking for jobs in private companies rather than in the power utility. That has to change if we want to create an electric distribution system that will keep pace with world trends.

The transmission network is much more developed, and the losses are on the average level of European operators’ networks. Several projects which are in the implementation phase will significantly improve the transmission system. First of all, it is a Trans-Balkan corridor that will represent the main power exchange between eastern and western Europe. The strong interconnection is crucial for the increase of the conditions for the construction of renewable energy sources in our region. Of course, there is still plenty of room for the improvement of the transmission grid, both through the construction of new transmission lines, especially in the regions with good wind sources, and trough the construction of advanced systems for grid monitoring and real-time management. It can provide better capacity utilization and more reliable work in extreme meteorological and other complex conditions.

An essential aspect of improving flexibility is the cooperation between transmission and distribution network operators. It is crucial for the development of auxiliary service market in the new environment in which there is no clear boundary between the producers and the consumers of electricity.

EP How is the power plant which uses renewable energy sources connected to the grid? Are the costs borne by the investor or the Elektroprivreda Srbije and what does that depend on?

Zeljko Djurisic: When it comes to connecting to the distribution grid in a technical sense, small power plants can be divided into those that connect via energy converters and those that are connected directly. The first group includes photovoltaic power plants and modern wind power plants, while biomass power plants and small hydropower plants mainly use synchronous and rarely asynchronous generators that are directly connected to the grid. Technical conditions, which power plants must meet to be connected to a certain point in the power system, are defined for both categories. Often, preferred connection point does not meet the Regulations on the operation of the distribution, and Elektroprivreda requires a connection at remote locations, which further requires the construction of transmission lines, and that represents significant costs for the investor, and it also has a negative effect on the environment. In Europe, it is harder to get a license to build a transmission line than to build a power plant. If it is necessary to build 20 km of transmission in order to connect a power plant of several megawatts, it is not just an issue of the economy. At the Faculty, we have done a lot of research into the effects of the connection of renewable sources and conducted analyses. These research showed that the conditions of connecting could be improved with the use of modern power electronic devices which contribute that both the electric distribution and the investor have benefit from the operation of a small power plant. In this regard, I believe that there is room for the improvement of the existing Regulations and Operation Management of Distribution Networks. Conditions and alternative solutions for the connection must take wider aspects of the plant’s impact on the distribution system. For example, the existing Regulation did not take into consideration the impact which connection of a small power plant has on electricity losses in the distribution system. It is precisely this factor that should define the choice of connection point and also the split of costs between the investor and Elektroprivreda.

EP: Which renewable energy source in Serbia has the most significant potential, and which is the most cost-effective when it comes to the return of the investment?

Zeljko Djurisic: When it comes to the production of electricity, I would place the potential of wind and sun in the first place. In terms of the wind potential, Serbia is on the average level of the European Union and the sun potential is even above the European average. Biomass and geothermal energy have good potential in certain areas, and their most efficient use is the production of heat energy. The production of heat from renewable sources is highly suppressed, and it must be a priority in future strategies for the development of renewable energy sources in Serbia.

The investment repayment rate depends on subsidy, which the state should define only for the upcoming period. The current model of the feed-in tariff is overdated, but it played a role in developing renewable energy technology. Today, the technologies of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems are developed. New subsidy measures are expected to be largely market-oriented. In the free electricity market, the return on the investment is defined by the costs of the production. The investment costs have fallen both for wind farms and solar systems. Thus, the costs of wind power generation at favourable locations in Serbia can be below 50 euros/MWh, while for photovoltaic power plants is somewhat higher. However, it should be kept in mind that the price in the electricity market is significantly variable during the day, thus the profit which power plant gains is influenced by the daily production diagram dictated by wind and sun. It is not the same whether a power plant produces energy in the early morning hours or in the afternoon, so in the future, the systems for energy storage will be developed, and they will provide better economy for wind and solar power plants in the free market conditions.

Prepered by: Jelena Kozbasic

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine on ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Wildlife Selfies Harming Animals, Experts Warn

04.09.2019

ronilac-selfi — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Pascal van de Vendel)

At the International Penguin Conference in New Zealand, the experts were worried. Among sobering discussions about the perils of the climate crisis and habitat loss, the unlikely issue of wildlife selfies photobombed the agenda, with increasing concern that the celebrity-fuelled search for that perfect shot is affecting animal behaviour.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Pascal van de Vendel)

Professor Philip Seddon, the director of Otago University’s wildlife management programme, said: ‘We’re losing respect for wildlife, we don’t understand the wild at all.”

Seddon told the global convention – held in Dunedin last week – that the normalisation of wildlife selfies was “scary” and was harming animals, including causing physical and emotional stress, interrupting feeding and breeding habits, and even potentially lowering birth rates.

“The trouble with wildlife selfies is the images are often appearing without any context – so even if the message is promoting conservation or an ambassador programme, that message is lost and all people see are someone hugging a penguin, and want to do that too,” says Seddon.

“We have an increasingly urbanised population around the world who are alienated from the natural world and whose access to wildlife is commodified and sanitised and made safe. So we’re seeing these very strange behaviours that seem weird to us as biologists – such as posing your child on a wild animal.”

Seddon takes his concerns so seriously he has forbidden his students from posting images of themselves on their social media accounts while studying and working with local wildlife, fearful that the photographs will be taken out on context and contribute to the rise of wildlife selfies online.

The International Penguin Conference itself turned down a lucrative sponsorship deal with a Dubai company recently because of concerns about its use of wildlife selfies in promotional material.

Platforms such as Instagram host hundreds of thousands of wildlife selfies. Researchers at World Animal Protection analysing wildlife selfies for a 2017 report discovered a 292% increase in the number of wildlife selfies posted on Instagram between 2014 and 2017, with 40% of the images posted described as “bad selfies” – meaning someone hugging, holding or inappropriately interacting with a wild animal.

A “good” wildlife selfie was described as a picture where there is no contact between an animal and a human, and the animal is not being restrained or held in captivity to be a used as a photo prop.

Celebrities have also contributed to the popularity of wildlife selfies, with Roger Federer and Margo Robbie posing with quokkas in Australia, Justin Beiber with a tiger, Kim Kardashian with an elephant and Taylor Swift with a kangaroo.

In New Zealand, tourists have been caught dancing with endangered sea lions for selfies, chasing rare yellow-eyed penguins, and trying to hug the shy and reclusive Kiwi bird.

Philippa Agnew, science and environmental manager at the Blue Penguin colony in Oamaru, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, says wildlife selfies have an “indisputable” impact on the penguins and all electronic recordings by tourists are banned.

Resalta Enters Polish Market Through Joint Venture with Luneos

03.09.2019

business-posao-mreža — Photo-illustration: PIxabay

Resalta is pleased to announce the launch of its new joint venture with the Polish energy transition service provider Luneos. Through the new venture, Resalta enters the next stage of its international expansion and begins operations in Poland.

The joint venture will combine the two companies’ strengths, with the aim of implementing an ambitious project pipeline in Poland, with a strong focus on combined heat and power in the industrial segment. Resalta’s technical expertise and prior experience on such projects, combined with Luneos’ knowledge of the Polish market will allow both companies to expand their respective businesses and offer their clients a broader portfolio of services and solutions.

“Resalta is happy to have found a strong partner for the next step of its international expansion, with shared values, ambitions and strong expertise. Poland is among the largest markets in Europe and we believe its potential for energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources is immense. We look forward to facing this challenge together with Luneos”, Luka Komazec, CEO of Resalta, said.

“We are extremely glad to team up with an expert partner who brings in significant experience and valuable expertise into the venture. Observing current changes in the energy market We understand the great challenge polish companies are facing. The search for modern, future-oriented, and own Energy sources is a natural direction of development. We believe the joint venture with Resalta creates a very good position for Luneos to offer suitable solutions to our clients,” added Zbigniew Prokopowicz, CEO of Luneos.

Luneos is a leading energy transition partner on Polish market offering a comprehensive service in preparation, financing, implementing and servicing investments in the area of LED lighting and photovoltaic installations. They invest in the energy independence of large and medium enterprises, providing energy optimization tools without investment contribution on the client’s side. Their combined activities aim at reducing energy costs and the cost of CO2 emissions, with a systematic drive to achieve energy independence.

For Resalta, this joint venture marks its entry onto the Polish market, the 9th country in which the company will be operating. Resalta is a leading energy efficiency and renewables company already present across SEE in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia. A dynamic, fast-growing company, Resalta works with both public and private clients to finance, design and implement projects that reduce energy consumption, lower CO2 emissions and promote sustainability while generating cost savings. So far, the company has realized over 180 energy projects for over 120 clients and continues to expand its product and service portfolio.

Source: Resalta

Africa Shouldn’t Have to Choose Between High Growth and Low Emissions

03.09.2019

solarni-panel-koliba-afrika — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The urgency to mitigate climate change around the world is growing, with an increasing focus on lowering CO2 emissions. Nowhere is this more critical than in Africa, which has one of the world’s fastest growing populations, high levels of poverty, inequality and is disproportionately impacted by climate events including cyclones and drought. The continent is home to 86 of the world’s 100 fastest growing cities, 79 (representing 48% of Africa’s GDP) of which are classified as being at “extreme risk” of climate change.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ninno JackJr)

Given the strong correlation between energy usage and economic growth, this set of circumstances poses a challenge for African governments, businesses and communities: How can energy access and usage be accelerated to support economic growth, without increasing CO2 emissions and increasing the climate risks already facing the region?

While there are many other factors that contribute to economic growth and the living standards of individual citizens, the impact of electricity access cannot be understated. Energy and electricity are used to power industries from agriculture to financial services, enabling them to grow and employ more people. In the home, electricity reduces the amount of time and effort needed for everyday household tasks, empowering more people (particularly women) to take up employment outside the home, increasing household income and improving living standards. For these reasons and many more, improving electricity access must be a priority across Africa.

Yet, compared to the rest of the world, Africa has a significantly lower rate of access to electricity, with as many as 600 million people excluded across the continent. Sub-Saharan Africa has an average electricity access rate of just 38.5%, falling to 20.2% in rural areas. Even in urban areas, more than one in four people do not have access to electricity. This compares to rates of 100% in most developed parts of the world (including the EU and China) and over 85% in emerging economies in India and East Asia.

Sub-Saharan Africa also lags behind the rest of the world in terms of electricity consumption per capita and electric power distribution and transmission efficiency. Worryingly, it is one of the only regions for which electric power consumption per capita decreased from 1990 to 2010 (the latest year with a consistent global dataset). This is in stark contrast to other emerging economies – China’s consumption grew by 476%, the Arab world’s by 115%, East Asia & Pacific’s by 181% and India’s by 135%. This suggests economic stagnation and a prolonged under-investment in electricity generation, transmission and distribution across sub-Saharan Africa at a time when its population has grown.

The condition and efficiency of the continent’s grid infrastructure needs attention if electricity access is to improve. Sub-Saharan Africa’s rate of electric power transmission and distribution losses are better than those in India and the Arab world, but still more than double those seen in the EU, East Asia & Pacific and China. Losses as a percentage of output in the region have increased by over a third since 1990, demonstrating a lack of grid maintenance and investment, which will continue to hinder electricity access and the associated economic growth.

Africa needs power, but at what climate change cost?

Renewables no longer a luxury

Historically, the high costs of utility-scale electricity generation from renewable and other low-emission sources meant that high government subsidies, industrial incentive programs and high levels of citizen engagement were needed to lower emissions without constraining economic growth. For many African governments, these were considered an unaffordable luxury.

Over the last five to 10 years, however, the cost of installing and operating renewable energy generation facilities at scale (particularly photovoltaic solar and onshore wind) has reduced dramatically. They now offer a competitive, or in some cases cheaper, alternative to traditional fossil fuel power plants.

Africa is a prime location for renewable energy developments due to its high levels of InSolAtion (Incoming Solar Radiation) and available land space for both solar and wind power. In addition, the modular, scalable and easily replicable nature of solar and wind power generation technologies means that where sufficient grid connections and storage infrastructure exist, these facilities can be rapidly planned, built and connected over much shorter time frames than their fossil fuel and nuclear counterparts; large nuclear or coal fired power plants can take over a decade to plan and build, whereas solar farms could be completed in less than two years. Of course, larger numbers of these installations are required, but this could also be used as an advantage, spreading generation facilities across a country instead of concentrating activity in a small number of strategic locations.

Historically, renewables needed to be subsidized by governments to be commercially competitive, but in recent years the Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE) of utility-scale renewable solar and wind energy has fallen significantly, to the extent that both are now cheaper than almost all new-build fossil fuel power plants.

Policies for low emissions

For the wide-scale implementation of low-emissions power generation and reliable distribution to the 600 million people still without access to power in Africa, African governments, businesses and communities must work together to put appropriate policy frameworks and investment programs in place.

Firstly, government commitments to climate change and emissions targets must be supported by stable, or at least predictable, regulatory frameworks that incentivize and lower the barriers to renewable energy project development.

There is also reduced potential for African countries with fiscal constraints or high levels of debt to channel public money towards renewables and energy efficiency R&D, as has been done in wealthier parts of the world. African countries need to attract public-private partnerships, FDI or “mission programme” funding to develop renewable projects without adversely impacting public finances.

Power investment in the region has been hindered by persistent financing risks (often relating to political risk and the financial strain on national utilities operators), challenging project development and insufficient or unstable regulatory frameworks. These factors emphasize the need for governments to work to centrally coordinate energy planning and investment requirements, putting in place the required incentives and fiscal safeguards to encourage private sector investment and international involvement in renewable energy power generation and distribution.
An uphill battle

Nowhere in the world is balancing the energy triangle of security and access, environmental sustainability and economic development more pressing than in Africa, which continues to face an uphill battle to develop its vast natural resources in a way that will benefit its citizens and the environment for the long term. As the vulnerability of the region’s fragile economy and fast-growing cities to climate change becomes better understood and more widely publicized, there can be no doubt that encouraging economic growth while minimizing the growth of CO2 emissions is a dilemma that the continent must solve.

With the increasing affordability and technological feasibility of renewable electricity, it is possible to build a grid system which provides sustainable electricity to Africa’s growing population. Given the limited ability for citizens to absorb tax increases to fund such projects, the onus has to be on governments to:

Create an attractive environment for investment in the power sector by foreign businesses and governments, including creating policy certainty and economic stability.
Work with international finance agencies to help guarantee critical investments in the power sector to further encourage foreign and private sector investment.
Where required, update energy generation, transmission and distribution policies to support independent power producers (for renewables), micro-grids and prosumers (consumers who also produce) to increase electricity access across the country.
Reduce and eventually eliminate fossil fuel subsidies in support of lower cost new-build renewable power generation facilities.

The scale and scope of these actions begins to show the vast commitment required from African governments and their cooperation with international investors, foreign governments, NGOs, research institutes, businesses and communities to successfully solve this dilemma and transition Africa towards a low-emission, well developed economy that is supported by an inclusive, sustainable, affordable and secure energy system.

Source: WEF

This Is Why Denmark, Sweden and Germany Are Considering a Meat Tax

02.09.2019

butcher-mesar — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Carnivores are in the firing line, with nations including Germany, Denmark and Sweden considering a tax on meat.

Advocates of such a plan say the environmental impact, health ramifications and concerns about animal welfare underpin the need for such a levy. But how realistic is it? And would it really work?

While the idea is likely to face opposition from farming bodies and industry lobby groups, in Germany Green and Social Democrat lawmakers are backing a higher sales tax on meat. Officials in Denmark and Sweden have considered similar proposals, according to a report from financial intelligence firm Fitch Solutions.

High emissions

Raising animals for food requires huge amounts of land, food and water. Added to that, the livestock sector plays a significant role in emitting greenhouse gases, producing 7.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). That’s around 15% of all human-induced emissions.

While meat consumption is falling in some developed nations, it is rising elsewhere, including in China, according to research published in Science. When you add to that the FAO’s prediction that overall global demand for livestock is set to increase by 70% by 2050, you can see why some politicians back policies to limit it.

There’s a growing move away from meat in many developed countries. A recent report commissioned by the United Nations advocates plant-based diets to help mitigate climate change, including a policy recommendation to reduce meat consumption.

A tax on meat would echo other levies imposed around the world to promote public health and well-being. In addition to long-standing charges on alcohol and tobacco, sugar taxes are now in place in many countries including the UK, Ireland, Portugal and the UAE.

Really effective?

Even so, such measures can be controversial, with some arguing they fall disproportionately on low-income consumers. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning a review of how “sin taxes” work in the UK.

Others argue that better-designed policies could make these taxes work more effectively and alleviate the impact on the low-income population. A working paper from the US National Bureau of Economic Research explores how this could function in practice through the theoretical framework of a soda tax.

A study in Science contends more evidence is needed about the effectiveness of trying to influence people’s food purchasing and consumption.

“The multitude of factors that influence the price and availability of meat, and how it is processed and marketed, determine a socioeconomic landscape that profoundly affects, and is affected by, norms and behaviors,” the authors wrote.

“The existence of major vested interests and centres of power makes the political economy of diet change highly challenging.”

Source: WEF

Turning Europe into a Giant Wind Farm Could Power the Entire World

02.09.2019

vetropark-vetrenjače — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

On windy days, Europe’s growing number of wind farms can run entire nations on clean energy. But what if there were turbines in every potential location? Scientists have calculated that in such a scenario – however unlikely – Europe could generate enough onshore wind power to satisfy the entire world’s needs.

Mapping the wind

Researchers at the University of Sussex in the UK and Aarhus University in Denmark have developed techniques to map the total potential of onshore wind energy across the European continent. The research suggests that Europe could produce 100 times more energy than it currently does from onshore wind farms.

The map below shows that countries in Eastern Europe offer the greatest potential for generating additional onshore wind energy, with Norway and Iceland also presenting the opportunity to maximize renewable energy production.

The research team used digital wind atlases to provide finely detailed information on wind patterns across Europe. Armed with this data they identified that 46% of the European landmass would be suitable for the installation of wind turbines, and that’s after excluding urban areas, military sites and other landscapes unsuitable for reaping the wind.

The study estimates that more than 11 million additional wind turbines could, theoretically, be installed over almost 5 million square kilometres of suitable terrain.

The report concludes that if this potential was fully exploited, Europe could provide the whole planet with all the energy it will require as far into the future as 2050.

However, we should note the use of the word ‘theoretically’. The research team is quick to point out that this is not a proposal, but an indication of the untapped power of onshore wind capacity.

“Obviously, we are not saying that we should install turbines in all the identified sites but the study does show the huge wind power potential right across Europe which needs to be harnessed if we’re to avert a climate catastrophe,” said co-author Benjamin Sovacool, Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Sussex.

The decline of coal

For two weeks in the early summer of 2019, the UK ran entirely on energy produced without burning coal. On those sunny, breezy days in May, the output from renewable sources allowed the UK National Grid to shut down its coal-fired power stations and pump wind and solar energy into the homes and businesses of consumers.

The UK’s reliance on coal has declined dramatically and its government has announced plans to shut down all of its remaining coal-fired power stations by 2025.

A global shift to renewables

China and India are installing renewable energy capacity on a vast scale.

China aims to increase renewable generating capacity by 38% in 2020 (compared to 2015 levels) with a total investment of $361bn, according to UN data. In recent years India has exceeded its targets for installing renewable capacity. In 2016 it overshot its target by 43%.

Looking ahead, India is planning to install 175 gigawatts of capacity in 2022, according to the UN. China is cancelling plans for new coal-fired power stations and India is expected to follow suit by 2022.

Winning a battle, losing the war

Despite the shift towards clean energy production, greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change continue to increase.

Global coal power generation increased 3% in 2018, with growth mainly in Asia, particularly in China and India.

The UN’s Emissions Gap Report 2018 shows there is no sign of a peak in the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere.

The report shows that in 2017 emissions from energy and industry went up after three years of stability. Climate scientists have warned we have just over a decade to keep the global rise in temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius. But to achieve that, greenhouse gas emissions will have to be 25% lower by 2030 than they were in 2017. As we head towards 2020, we are still moving in the wrong direction.

Source: WEF

Great Barrier Reef Outlook Now ‘Very Poor’, Australian Government Review Says

01.09.2019

koralni_greben — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Marek Okon)

The outlook for the Great Barrier Reef has deteriorated from poor to very poor according to an exhaustive government report that warns the window of opportunity to improve the natural wonder’s future “is now”.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s outlook report, published every five years, finds coral reefs have declined to a very poor condition and there is widespread habitat loss and degradation affecting fish, turtles and seabirds.

It warns the plight of the reef will not improve unless there is urgent national and global action to address the climate crisis, which it described as its greatest threat.

The report says rising sea temperatures and extreme events linked to climate change, such as the marine heatwaves that caused mass coral bleaching in the northern two-thirds of the reef in 2016 and 2017, are the most immediate risks.

Other major threats include farming pollution, coastal development and human use, such as illegal fishing. The report says water quality is improving too slowly and continues to affect many inshore areas, largely due to farming practices that had not improved rapidly enough.

“Without additional local, national and global action on the greatest threats, the overall outlook for the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem will remain very poor, with continuing consequences for its heritage values also,” the report says.

“The window of opportunity to improve the reef’s long-term future is now.”

The authority’s chief executive, Josh Thomas, said the reef was widely recognised as one of the best managed marine protected areas in the world and its world heritage values remained intact, but it was at a critical point in its history.

“While the reef is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, its future is one we can change – and are committed to changing,” he said.

The report maps the health of the reef, which it says has declined from what was described as a crossroads in 2009 to “under pressure” in 2014 to being a “changed and less resilient reef” in 2019.

It says not all areas of the reef have been equally affected and the challenge to restore the reef is big, but not insurmountable. It would require action to effectively address the climate crisis and effective implementation of the government’s 2050 reef plan.

The environment minister, Sussan Ley, said the reef had been hit over the past five years by two mass coral bleachings, several cyclones, an ongoing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak and the impacts of climate change. She said the “very poor” outlook was something “we can change and are committed to changing”.

Other key findings of the report include that: seagrass meadows are in poor condition; some species populations are being substantially affected by habitat loss and degradation; the size of the reef is becoming a less effective buffer to widespread and cumulative impacts; reef-dependent economies need to prepare for the impacts of a less diverse ecosystem caused by rising ocean temperatures.

Renewables no longer a luxury

Policies for low emissions

High emissions

Really effective?

Mapping the wind

The decline of coal

A global shift to renewables

Winning a battle, losing the war

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