Towards sustainability: a look ahead to environmental moments in 2024

09.01.2024

eco — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Joshua Woroniecki)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Coralie Meurice)

The year 2024 will be marked by a number of events and observances with important implications for the environment, biodiversity, and global sustainability. From advancing sustainable nitrogen management to fostering inclusive collaboration for biodiversity and addressing critical threats like antimicrobial resistance, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) will work to support multilateralism, science-based dialogue and actions, innovation, partnerships for people and planet and much more.

Here are some key international events and meetings planned (dates and details subject to change):

9 – 10 January: 5th Meeting of the UNEP Working Group on Nitrogen

The UNEP Working Group on Nitrogen is convening for its fifth meeting, aimed at advancing the implementation of UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolutions 4/14 and 5/2 concerning “Sustainable Nitrogen Management.” This gathering will occur in Nairobi, Kenya, with both physical and hybrid attendance options available.

23 – 25 January: Bern III Conference on Cooperation among the Biodiversity-related Conventions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

The Bern III Conference focuses on enhancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) implementation by fostering inclusive collaboration. It aims to identify opportunities for cooperation among biodiversity-related conventions, suggesting steps to strengthen collaboration while respecting mandates. The conference also emphasizes sharing practical experiences to inform scalable cooperation in implementing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

12 – 17 February: Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 14)

The upcoming CMS COP14 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, emphasizes international collaboration for migratory species’ survival. Set under the theme “Nature knows no borders,” it aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This meeting addresses habitat conservation, threats like overexploitation and the climate crisis. The conference underscores international collaboration for the survival of these species beyond political boundaries.

27 February – 1 March: 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6)

UNEA-6, hosted at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, emphasizes effective and sustainable multilateral actions to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Member States and stakeholders will collaborate to advance the Decade of Action, addressing interlinkages between these global challenges through dialogues and official events. The assembly aims to lay the groundwork for strengthened global and regional efforts by the UN, Member States, and partners for impactful environmental action. The event will also feature Leadership Dialogues, a number of official and associated side events (some hybrid), exhibits, and much more.

30 March: International Day of Zero Waste

The International Day of Zero Waste promotes sustainable consumption and production, advocating for a circular economy to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. With global waste reaching 2.24 billion tons annually, zero-waste initiatives aim to minimize and prevent waste, enhancing environmental protection and human well-being.

21 – 30 April: 4th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4)

The Plastic Pollution Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4), as mandated by the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) resolution, will convene in Ottawa, Canada. The committee, supported by UNEP, seeks to craft an international legally binding instrument addressing plastic pollution, encompassing marine environments.

28 – 30 May: Nairobi Convention COP 11

The Nairobi Convention is a regional treaty that works to protect, manage, and develop the Western Indian Ocean. Its COP 11 comprises a preliminary meeting for partners, experts, and national Focal Points, followed by a Heads of Delegation meeting. The session involves a review of the Convention’s 2022–2024 Work Programme, approval of the 2024–2026 Work Programme and budget, and deliberations on key decisions.

3 – 5 June: 2nd Global meeting of the Montevideo National Focal Points

The Montevideo Environmental Law Programme is dedicated to advancing global environmental rule of law. The upcoming Second Global Meeting of National Focal Points will convene in Nairobi, Kenya. The programme’s objectives include promoting the development and implementation of environmental rule of law, enhancing capacity in countries, and contributing to the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

17 – 12 June: 3rd session of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on a Science-Policy Panel to further the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution

The Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) 3, in line with UNEA resolution 5/8, continues work to propose a Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals and Waste. Mandated to finalize proposals by 2024, it addresses key aspects like institutional design, governance, name, scope, functions, and operating principles for effective contributions to sound chemical management and pollution prevention.

24 September: High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance

The 2024 United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) presents a crucial opportunity to address the escalating threat of antibiotic resistance. The meeting aims to renew global commitment, exploring innovative and multilateral actions to combat AMR’s far-reaching implications on healthcare, mortality rates, and overall well-being.

Photo-illustration: Freepik (kdekiara
kdekiara)

21 – 23 October: 26th Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia Intergovernmental Meeting (COBSEA IGM 26)

The 26th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is scheduled to take place in Cambodia. The event will focus on crucial strategies for managing marine environments in the East Asian Seas Region.

21 October – 1 November: 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), will convene in October–November 2024. The event marks a critical global gathering to address biodiversity conservation, biosafety, and access to genetic resources.

4 – 5 November: 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance

Saudi Arabia hosts the fourth high-level global ministerial conference on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bringing together leaders to address urgent issues in preventing and managing AMR on a global scale.

25 November – 1 December: 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment

Plastic Pollution Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) convenes in Busan, Republic of Korea, as part of UNEA-5.2’s resolution for a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. With a comprehensive approach covering the plastic life cycle, the aim is to complete the work by the end of 2024.

A number of international days related to and led by UNEP will be observed:

2 February: World Wetlands Day
3 March: World Wildlife Day
30 March: International Day of Zero Waste
22 April: International Mother Earth Day
11 May: World Migratory Bird Day (1st birds’ biannual migration event)
22 May: International Day for Biological Diversity
5 June: World Environment Day
7 September: International Day of Clean Air for blue skies
29 September: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
12 October: World Migratory Bird Day (2nd birds’ biannual migration event)
6 November: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
18 – 24 November: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Source: UNEP

ABB acquires innovative optical sensor company to expand smart water management offering

09.01.2024

ABB announced that it has agreed to acquire Canadian company Real Tech, a leading supplier of innovative optical sensor technology that enables real-time water monitoring and testing. Through the acquisition, ABB will expand its strong presence in the water segment and complement its product portfolio with optical technology critical for smart water management. Financial terms of the transaction that is expected to close in Q1 2024 were not disclosed.

Unlike traditional water quality measurement, which can be a time-consuming process, Real Tech’s product portfolio provides critical measurements in real-time. This enables better process control and continuous water quality assurance. Real Tech’s patented solutions cover the entire digital water value chain for water quality monitoring with a focus on data creation and analytics.

Real Tech’s portfolio includes optical sensors, controllers and a suite of optional accessories that allow each system to be configured according to customer needs. Leveraging the power of light, the sensors measure water composition. They use spectrophotometry and fluorescence measuring techniques to move testing from the lab to the process environment for real-time use. Liquid AI®, a proprietary AI software platform, completes the service offering, providing an easy and accurate way to analyze data from Real Tech sensors. The company has approximately 40 employees and is based in Whitby, Ontario.

“We are excited to welcome all our new colleagues to the ABB family,” said Jacques Mulbert, Division President, ABB Measurement & Analytics. “We look forward to jointly driving the innovation and growth journey of Real Tech. Joining forces with ABB will accelerate the deployment of Real Tech’s technologies through the vast ABB global sales and service network, making a step change in access to market. The acquisition is an important part of ABB Measurement & Analytics’ strategy, which includes adding advanced environmental technologies to the portfolio.”

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Manki Kim)

“When we founded Real Tech almost 20 years ago, we were set on developing optical sensor technology that would advance the management of water into a new era,” said Jodi Glover, CEO and co-founder of Real Tech. “Our real-time water quality monitoring sensors and data analytics capabilities are empowering our clients, both utilities and industries that manage water in their operation and manufacturing processes, with the critical insights they need every minute, every day. We look forward to becoming part of ABB with our shared vision to create a more sustainable future.”

According to the UN, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, while more than 4.2 billion people lack safely managed sanitation. At the same time, only 11 percent of the world’s treated wastewater is reused and around half of the world’s untreated wastewater still enters rivers, lakes, and seas. Advancements in water sensor technology and artificial intelligence can aid in efficient water and wastewater management. Investment in water quality monitoring, water treatment and water infrastructure has expanded dramatically worldwide. In the US, an unprecedented 111 billion dollars is being invested in upgrading water infrastructure over a 10-year period.

Source: ABB

THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLANS

08.01.2024

The state of Kuwait, the monarchy nestled on the coast of the Persian Gulf, which borders Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with a population of about 4.5 million, got its name after the Arabic term for a fortress built by the water. The largest industry in this Arab country is oil, which accounts for almost half of the country’s GDP. In Kuwait, summers last from April to October, with temperatures above 51 degrees Celsius. Kuwait attaches great importance to investments in environmental protection and implementing plans and measures that mitigate the negative consequences of climate change and allocates significant funds for investments.

We spoke with His Excellency Fayez Mujbel Sulaiman Al-Mutairi, Ambassador of Kuwait to Serbia, about the country’s national plan for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, investments in desalination in the struggle for drinking water, reducing dependence on oil, plans to reach zero gas emissions, cooperation with our country and other topics.

Q: What are the biggest environmental challenges in the fight against climate change that the state of Kuwait is facing?

A: Our planet is facing the greatest environmental challenges in its history. The leaders of Kuwait took this into account when they drafted the national plan for the country’s development covering the period until 2035 – ‘The New Vision of Kuwait’.

This plan defines seven long-term development pillars – a sustainable environment, a diversified, sustainable economy, quality health care, efficient state administration, creative human capital, developed infrastructure and a prominent international position. Each of these postulates contains programmes and projects that are strategically important and envisaged to achieve the best possible results in implementing the New Vision of Kuwait, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which Kuwait officially adopted in 2015.

The greatest common challenge related to progress postulates is accomplishing and preserving sustainable development, which is impossible without investments in environmental protection, and this is a topic we attach great importance to, especially bearing in mind that our country is not spared the environmental challenges that the whole world is also facing. We can say that Kuwait is even more affected by them due to its geographical position because of which it suffers from a shortage of drinking water and extremely high temperatures, in addition to the risk due to the loss of biodiversity, the expansion of the desert and the rise of the sea level, as a result of climate change.

According to certain indicators, in the coming decades, the area of Kuwait could decrease from 1.4 to 3 per cent. Bearing in mind these data, we have drafted a national plan for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, which defines the main challenges, such as reducing our economy’s dependence, especially the transport, energy and water supply sectors, on fossil fuels, i.e. the diversification of the economy, to reduce dependency from oil and gas, while at the same time, preserving the living standard and the quality of life and ensuring the continuation of socio-economic development by creating an environment conducive to foreign direct investments and creating more jobs. We must bear in mind that Kuwait is one of the developing countries with only one basic source of income – oil.

IN FOCUS:

Q: The impact of oil on environmental pollution is well documented. How much do you do to raise the environmental awareness of companies and citizens alike? Which institutions regulate the field of environmental protection?

A: Raising awareness about environmental protection plays a significant role in implementing the measures foreseen by the development plan, as well as national legislation and international agreements, all to have better environmental protection and fight against climate change. The Public Environment Office (Directorate for Public Relations and Environmental Awareness) is a state institution in Kuwait responsible for instilling awareness in individuals, regardless of gender and age, about the connection between a clean environment and public health and security. The effort to disseminate good practices related to environmental protection among children is also significant because they are the future. In this sense, numerous campaigns for raising environmental awareness and bolstering environmental protection were carried out by the Public Office at all levels and among different social groups. One of those campaigns aimed to familiarize the public with the Environmental Protection Law, as well as raise awareness about this problem among our citizens and foreign ones. Numerous activities were carried out in the media, shopping centers, on social media and at exhibitions and conferences.

Q: You also suffered significant damage from the burning of numerous oil fields during the Gulf War. How much and what did you invest in air purification and ecosystem protection systems after that?

A: The events you mentioned and the consequences of climate change that we felt on our skin helped Kuwait to understand how important it is to put the preservation of the environment, which includes quality air and the protection of the ecosystem, at the top of the priorities when developing, financing and implementing new projects in oil and energy industry, as well as in other industrial and development activities. Kuwait has conducted field research and established fixed stations that measure and monitor air pollution, mobile laboratories that can respond to emergencies and air quality monitoring stations near oil fields. Furthermore, our government has started implementing projects under the Clean Development Mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and train national technical teams to effectively detect and assess air pollutants and implement the required measures.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

FROM BILLBOARDS TO 21ST CENTURY FASHION

07.01.2024

In the age of the consumer society and the fast pace of life, billboards, advertisements, and slogans do not last long. Very quickly, each of them becomes replaced by some newer content. However, in the same era, an interesting initiative appeared—imagine walking around the city and carrying a bag whose story began with a large advertisement on a billboard in your street. Recycling PVC foil for making billboards into a brand-new, unique bag significantly contributes to the circular economy, which relieves the planet and natural resources. Ivanka Stamenović creates art and fashion from waste, and the ecological, social enterprise EkoBag is a special story about the renaissance of ordinary advertising materials.

Ivanka’s story begins at the National Employment Bureau, where she went to learn more about self-employment tools. Then, quite by accident, she learns that the Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC) is looking for women who know how to sew. She recognized her chance. She is a textile designer by profession, and she saw a chance for progress as someone with a lot of experience and even more will. With the help of Miodrag Nedeljković from IDC, the project’s creator and with Ivanka’s realization, unique bags were sewn.

The business runs in such a way that when some companies wish to cooperate with EkoBag, they donate billboards from which completely new products are made in the workshop. Then they buy new products with a sewn-on logo, recognizable colors, and billboard messages to continue the marketing campaign. They distribute newly created products to their employees or at promotions and workshops.

IN FOCUS:

– Our target group are companies that advertise in this way, promoting products or services. The degradability of banners takes 1,500 years, and if they are found in nature, they can even lead to soil contamination because they are impermeable, waterproof materials—says Stamenković. During Ivanka’s training for this project, her abilities came to the fore.

She designed a bag for a car manufacturer’s promotional material, and as the company was very pleased, they doubled the quantity requested. Quality work and dedication contribute to the production of each bag and today are the trademark of EkoBag, which numerous large and well-known companies have recognized.

Posters, which vary from 40 to 600 m2, represent a substantial amount of waste created due to one-time advertising needs. However, when EkoBag turns them into conference, business and everyday bags, wallets, folders, cases, wallets, and cardholders (clips, wallets…)—it becomes a range of products imbued with environmental awareness. The whole process proceeds by taking the foil from the billboard after the advertising campaign is over. Then, it is cut into smaller pieces, washed—and the cutting and sewing can begin.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

NOXATEST THE GREEN FUTURE OD DIAGNOSTICS

06.01.2024

nauka.istraživanje — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Louis Reed)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Logan Moreno Gutierrez)

Not so long ago, we witnessed a global pandemic. In our country, the first case was recorded over three years ago. After that, the situation became more complicated and less clear every day. It was precisely that era when COVID-19 was an everyday topic that showed us how important quick and accurate diagnostics are.

Diagnostics, as a process that leads to the discovery of a disease, is the first step in the treatment process. About 13 million people die yearly because they do not get a timely diagnosis. Predictions are that in 2050, about 10 million people will lose their lives annually because antibiotics will no longer be available. This statistic is followed by another 40 million people who could be at risk due to the indirect consequences of missed procedures during the diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Noxatest is a project that aims to create a rapid diagnostic test, which should reduce the waiting time for results and allow doctors to choose the proper treatment method with these quickly obtained results as soon as possible. Behind this project stands a team of Jelena and Marko Komloš, who were determined to combine the knowledge gained during their studies and many years of experience. The modern technology embodied in this project serves to identify numerous bacterial species and mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics faster and more precisely than before.

IN FOCUS:

The project’s creators start from the thesis that, no matter how powerful antibiotics are, microbes have evolved to be more resistant than them. Therefore, it is important to identify the mechanism of their resistance. At the same time, the project provides the opportunity to reduce stay in hospital precisely because of the efficient way of obtaining the necessary therapy.

The initial idea was to develop a rapid diagnostic test related to milk quality for dairy cows. We gave up on that idea because of the situation in agriculture, but that didn’t stop us from developing an idea for something that would help people. The idea was born while I was working on a veterinary specialization in microbiology – explains Marko.

In addition to all the good sides, this project is also green because a product is being created that will be completely recyclable. Jelena and Marko made it for humans, as well as for animals and the alternative protein industry. In those industries, they reduce waste, thereby protecting the environment from creating negative effects. They reduce carbon dioxide production by using biodegradable materials and the low amount of energy required for production. A very important achievement is increasing the survival rate of animals on farms by more than 15 per cent, which would save more than 400 million animals per year.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE CORE OF TETRA PAK’S STRATEGY

05.01.2024

Global initiatives implemented by the Tetra Pak Company in sustainability and circular economy are also implemented in Serbia. From the procurement of electricity from renewable sources for the company’s factory in Gornji Milanovac to supporting the development of new ways of using recycled packaging, the Tetra Pak team proves every day that sustainability is still a priority in decision-making and remains at the core of the company’s strategy.

According to the recently published 2022 Sustainable Business Report, Tetra Pak made significant achievements last year by reducing operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 39 per cent while using renewable energy by up to 84 per cent. In this way, the road to reaching zero net emissions in business by 2030 continues. The sale of 8.8 billion packages made from plant-based materials and 11.9 billion caps also made from the same material saved 131 kilo tons of CO2 emissions. The company has also invested around 30 million euros in expediting the collection and recycling of multi-layer cardboard packaging, collaborating with food technology incubators and startups to explore the future of sustainable food.

In the Serbian market, the Gornji Milanovac factory was certified for using renewable electricity in 2020, which covers 100 per cent of the plant’s electricity consumption. Since 2020, the factory’s production process has also used packaging material produced from polyethylene obtained from renewable sources, i.e. sugar cane, which further increases the sustainability of the packaging.

IN FOCUS:

Through the support of projects related to smart recycling of used packaging in Kragujevac and Zrenjanin, Tetra Pak works locally to educate and motivate citizens, as well as local institutions, to introduce an adequate waste management system in practice in Serbia, which would allow a significantly larger amount of used materials to be kept in use longer and contribute to the development of the recycling industry while reducing additional pollution of the natural environment.

The company continues to work on finding sustainable solutions to the challenges facing society, believing that the global experience and know-how it possesses can be effectively applied in domestic circumstances as well.

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

PROCREDIT BANK ON THE ROAD TO CARBON NEUTRALITY

03.01.2024

ProCredit Centrala NBG — Photo: ProCredit bank

Saving energy, sustainable use of natural resources, less waste and reduction of harmful gas emissions are some of the clearly defined and planned goals of ProCredit Bank. They firmly adhere to internal approaches to environmental protection, and they pass their excellent practice on to clients. We spoke with Ivan Smiljković, a member of the Executive Board of ProCredit Bank.

Q. ProCredit Bank is moving towards being carbon neutral in the future. How do you plan to achieve this?

A. ProCredit Bank has been building a systematic environmental protection approach for over a decade. The first steps were taken in 2012 when we defined procedures regarding environmental protection in our business. Both internally and externally, we continuously monitor our impact on the environment. We really try to take a holistic approach and cover all ESG aspects. To reduce CO2 emissions, ProCredit Serbia defined replacing conventional official vehicles with electric and low-emission hybrid cars as one of the measures. Today, our fleet is one hundred per cent green—it consists of a total of 44 such vehicles. It is important to point out that ProCredit Serbia has set up a network of more than 40 chargers for electric cars across the country, which citizens can use completely free of charge. We believe that in this way, we are working to develop awareness about reducing harmful emissions. ProCredit Group joined the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and is committed to setting short term and long-term goals for reducing emissions. I am very proud of that fact.

Q. How does ProCredit Bank help clients improve environmental awareness, make it easier to decide on sustainable and green investments and implement them in their business and everyday life?

A. We strategically invest in renewable energy sources; we have professional people and excellent expertise in that domain, especially in solar power plants. We financed the construction of several large solar power plants in Serbia, and I would single out the largest DeLasol in Lapovo, with a total power of 10 MW. But we don’t only finance economic subjects. We also have incentive loans for energy efficiency intended for the population, with a return on investment of up to 20 per cent, in cooperation with the GEFF and the EBRD. This way, you can secure funds for a home solar energy plant, a heat pump, new PVC joinery, insulation, solar water heaters and more. In addition to providing funds, the bank also has an advisory role— the client can completely rely on us because we usually work on a turnkey model.

IN FOCUS:

Q. We hear the term green finance more and more often. What are the advantages of this type of financing, and how significant are they for ProCredit Bank?

A. No bank should claim to be green if it does not monitor environmental impacts on the external level, which means through the standards related to lending to clients. Those standards are detailed in ProCredit; they have been developed for years and follow the development of the markets in which all banks from our Group operate. ProCredit Serbia very resolutely implements the green agenda—the share of the green portfolio in the total loan portfolio of the bank in Serbia is slightly more than 15 per cent, while at the level of the ProCredit Group, the share of the green portfolio last year amounted to 20.2 per cent. We have set even more ambitious goals for the years ahead—to significantly increase investment in sustainable and green projects in Serbia with favorable and incentive credit lines.

Q. What novelties is ProCredit Bank preparing for the next period? In which segments do you plan to improve your business?

A. Relying on 20 years of experience from the headquarters in Germany, we have been an innovative bank in Serbia for years. We became the first to become a 100 per cent online bank, opened Zone 24/7, were the first to enable clients to pay their bills via Apple and Google Pay, and were the first to start promoting green financing. In addition, we always see room to be even closer to clients, listening to their needs. Since we have noticed that interest in term savings has been growing lately, we have provided attractive interest rates for term deposits. We will soon launch a redesigned and improved e-banking and m-banking application, and we have enabled customers who have online shops to pay via the ProCredit e-commerce platform. We strive to be a true green bank and a leader in digitization. We continue to set standards in the financial sector in which we operate.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

EKO FOND—SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTROMOBILITY IN MONTENEGRO

02.01.2024

električni auto , punjač — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michael Fousert)

The development of electromobility in Montenegro has been on an upward trajectory in the last few years. There are more and more electric and hybrid vehicles on the streets, and subsidies from the Eko fond (Environmental Protection Fund) contribute to this to a large extent. At the beginning of July, for the third year in a row, they announced three public calls for subsidizing the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles for individuals, business people and the public sector. Draško Boljević, executive director of the Eko fond, points out that more and more requests for subsidies are coming to their address.

– This is an indicator that our efforts have been recognized, and we are particularly pleased by the fact that the number of interested people is growing year by year, and more and more requests for subsidies are arriving at our address, which means that the budget we have at our disposal is being spent to the maximum—says Boljević.

For this year, the budget for subsidies amounts to 399,242 euros. 99,243 euros were set aside for users who are natural persons for certain categories, 100,000 euros for the economy and entrepreneurs, and 200,000 euros for the public sector The fact that during the first ten days of the competition, 35 requests arrived shows great interest in the funds. The public competition for natural persons, the economy, and entrepreneurs is open until the funds are used up, and for the public sector, the deadline is November 31, 2023.

The subsidy amount for the L-category electric vehicles ranges from 400 to 1,500 euros per vehicle. For electric vehicles of categories M1 and N1, the subsidies amount to 5,000 euros, while for hybrid vehicles (plug-in and full hybrid), the subsidies amount to 2,500 euros. – In previous years, and I hope it will be the same this year, allocated funds were distributed to the last cent, and I expect it will be the same this year as well. I sincerely hope that the funds we allocated will be sufficient and that we can fulfil all the requests that come to us—adds our interlocutor. It is a fact that more and more electric cars are driven in Montenegro, but the numbers are not so impressive. According to our interlocuter’s estimate, based on his information, there are around 500 electric and hybrid cars in Montenegro.

IN FOCUS:

– Unfortunately, we do not have accurate data on how many hybrids and fully electric cars there are. Eko fond’s experiences show that the relationship between hybrids and electric cars is slowly leveling off. In the first year of subsidy allocation, it was in favor of hybrid cars, and now we are getting to the point where the ratio is 50/50—concludes Boljević.

Network development and subsidies for chargers

The rapid development of electromobility must be accompanied by appropriate infrastructure, primarily the network of chargers. In Montenegro, according to Draško, this area is not legally regulated. Owners of electric cars are forced to fend for themselves, charging their vehicles at their chargers if they have them and using some that are public. While they are waiting for this area to be legally regulated, the Eko fond team is planning to allocate some of the subsidies for the purchase of chargers for electric vehicles. If everything goes according to plan, a competition for chargers should be announced by the end of the year. In this way, they want to complete the story by subsidizing the electric car and the charger.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

STRUJNI KRUG: TRANSFORMATION OF MOBILITY

30.12.2023

Traffic jams, polluted air, noise and the need for energy efficiency encourage the rapid development of electromobility. To reach its full potential, we have to solve a series of challenges that electrification causes. The national non-profit association from Croatia—Strujni Krug—has been dealing with everything associated with electromobility. We talked about the Association’s activities and engagement and the development of electromobility with Tin Koren, the Secretary-General, who also spoke about some interesting projects.

The Association became operational in 2019, and at that time, it gathered very few electric car owners willing to share their experience and knowledge with others. After a little more than a year, over 1,000 members joined the Association, willing to participate in the development of electromobility in Croatia. After only one year, Strujni Krug became a national e-mobility association with numerous initiatives. The Association has 1,500 active members who maintain contact with more than 10,000 e-car drivers and communicate daily with those who want to become members, so they are the largest association of this type in Croatia.

The Association’s Activities

The Association’s main goals are to inform and educate. By encouraging potential buyers to decide more easily on purchasing e-cars, they intend to boost sales of these vehicles in Croatia. By doing so, more people become familiar with the energy efficiency and zero emission of harmful gases provided by electric vehicles. Mr Koren says that in addition to activities in civil society, what needs to be done is to change the legal framework to unlock a new chapter that will facilitate building solid foundations for developing this sector.

“That is why Strujni Krug is working to change the legal provisions to facilitate the development of e-mobility projects and work more actively on improving and expanding the network of charging stations for electric vehicles,” Mr Koren explains.

IN FOCUS:

The Association’s pilot project— placing chargers for electric vehicles in street light posts—is also worth mentioning. The project is inspired by developed European countries and is the simplest and most convenient way to improve the charger infrastructure.

“With the implementation of this project, over the next two years, more than 1,000 publicly accessible chargers will be placed in street light posts throughout the cities, which will significantly facilitate the daily use of electric cars for drivers who do not have their own parking spaces, i.e. charging spaces. On the other hand, this pilot project precedes another large-scale project during which we would like to install more than 100,000 such chargers in Croatia by 2028,” Mr Koren adds.

In the last three years, the Association has accomplished a lot. First and foremost, they recorded a significant increase in customer interest, as evidenced by the number of registered electric vehicles, which went up by almost sevenfold. In 2019, 730 registered electric vehicles were registered, while there are more than 5,700 this year. In addition to educating and participating in shaping regulations, proposals, and regulations, with the support of its partners, Strujni Krug also has benefits for its members― discounts for the purchase of electric vehicles, home chargers, comprehensive insurance and others.

Subsidies for e-mobility

Higher sales of electric cars were mostly initiated and facilitated by the co-financing of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency (FZOEU), whose vision is to support Croatia’s sustainable development, reduction of greenhouse gases, development of circular economy, richer biodiversity, better waste management and the implementation of similar activities to benefit environmental protection. In cooperation with FZOEU, the Association is actively working on a very effective model for distributing funds intended for co-financing. The biggest obstacle to this initiative was the limited co-financing funds, so this year, they are also helping FZOEU find the optimal model for allocating funds. Negotiations with the Tax Administration regarding the abolition of VAT on the purchase of electric vehicles are ongoing, which would further facilitate this process, as the state would no longer have to allocate so much money to co-finance the purchase of these vehicles.

Prepared by: Milica Vučković

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

Looking back at top moments for the environment in 2023

29.12.2023

behnam-norouzi-vjIqpTg5Hwg-unsplash — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Behnam Norouzi)

Photo-illustration: Freepik (rawpixel.com)

The last year has been a hard one for the planet. The Earth sweltered under record heat, nature continued its precipitous decline and pollution continued to claim millions of lives.

But amid all that, there is reason for hope, say those on the frontlines of the effort to create a more sustainable world.

In 2023, countries came together in unprecedented ways to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. This environmental multilateralism led to landmark pacts to end chemical pollution and transition the world away from fossil fuels, among a host of other milestones, many of which were supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

As the calendar turns to 2024, here is a closer look at the biggest environmental moments of the last year and what they mean for the future of the planet.

Study finds ozone layer “on track” for recovery

January

The ozone layer, which protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation, is on track to recover within the next four decades, revealed a report from several scientific organizations, including UNEP. The Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion – 2022 found the planet’s sun shield could reach 1980 values over Antarctica by 2066 and over the Arctic by 2045.

Experts attributed the rebound to the Montreal Protocol, a planet-wide agreement adopted in 1987 to phase out many ozone-depleting chemicals. A 2016 amendment is also helping to rein in a series of powerful greenhouse gases and could avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100, the report found.

Fight for climate justice gains steam

February

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that many advocates hailed as an important step in the campaign for climate justice.

Spearheaded by the cyclone-wracked nation of Vanuatu, the resolution asks the International Court of Justice for an opinion on whether countries have a legal duty to address climate change and what the legal consequences of climate inaction could be. Experts say the court’s opinion, which is pending, would not be legally binding but would carry moral authority and some legal weight.

The resolution came as a growing number of people around the world turned to courts to compel governments and businesses to act on climate change. A UNEP study, released later in the year, found climate-related lawsuits have more than doubled since 2017.

Nations band together to protect freshwater sources

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sara Cottle)

March

UNEP and several partners launched the Freshwater Challenge, which aims to safeguard and revive 300,000km of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands around the world by 2030. That would make it the largest wetland and river restoration effort in history. Some 43 nations joined the push in 2023, including many at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), whose presidency cited the Freshwater Challenge as a key outcome of the summit. Sources of freshwater are under increasing pressure from climate change, pollution and other stressors. One-third of the world’s wetlands have been lost over the past 50 years, while rivers and lakes are the most degraded ecosystems in the world.

World marks inaugural International Day of Zero Waste

April

Countries around the world celebrated the first International Day of Zero Waste, a global call for humanity to better manage waste and build more circular economies.

The day was led by UNEP and UN Habitat with support from Türkiye, and featured an address from UN Secretary General António Guterres. “Humanity is treating our planet like a garbage dump,” he warned. “It’s time to fight back and launch a war on waste.”

More than two billion tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated annually, of which 45 per cent is mismanaged. Up to 4 billion people lack access to controlled waste disposal facilities.

Creative solutions to plastic pollution abound at World Environment Day

June

UNEP-led World Environment Day, celebrated on 5 June, showcased to the world the scale of the plastic pollution crisis while highlighting a bevy of potential solutions. Several governments made firm commitments on the day, with host Côte d’Ivoire unveiling a new environmental code to fight plastic pollution and the Kyrgyz Republic announcing it will begin to transition away from some plastic products. The day grabbed the globe’s attention; it was the top-trending hashtag on Twitter and related content was seen more than 300 million times across social media.

Historic “high seas” treaty throws a lifeline to marine biodiversity

June

The United Nations formally adopted a pact that extends for the first time environmental protections to two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdictions.

The so-called “high seas treaty” offers an updated framework to The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that came into force in 1994. The world’s oceans, which play a vital role in everything from the global economy to regulating the climate, are labouring under climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

“You have pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance”, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, told countries as the measure was adopted.

Global plastics instrument takes crucial step forward

September

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, hosted by UNEP, released a zero draft of a legally binding global instrument to end plastic pollution. The draft, which covers the full lifecycle of plastic, was reviewed during the third session (INC-3) in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2023. The talks in Nairobi followed a second session in Paris, France in June 2023. The INC sessions mark a key step in the effort to finalize a planet-wide agreement by the end of 2024.

Every year, humanity produces around 430 million metric tonnes of plastic – about the same weight as 71 million African elephants – and much of that is contained in single-use products that quickly become waste, polluting land, sea and air.

The rest of the text, read it here

Source: UNEP

SMART CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EV IN BUILDINGS—PARKING AND GARAGES SOLUTIONS

29.12.2023

eMobility_206433-min — Photo: Schneider Electric

Electric vehicles (EV) contributed to transformation and decarbonization of transportation. To accelerate the process and take advantage of it brings both to consumers and the environment, it is essential to speed up installation of safe and smart infrastructure for electric vehicles charging.

Majority of current policies focus on setting the public charging infrastructure along principal road routes. However, research shows that around 90 per cent of EV chargers that are going to be installed in the following 15 to 20 years will be in private ownership, in garages and parking spaces of residential, business, and industrial buildings. It implies that existing and new buildings will have to meet growing demand for energy, for up to 40 per cent, which shall thus require controlled energy management.

Leaders of the current transportation electrification trend in Serbia and Montenegro are foremost companies which complement their fleet with electric vehicles and equip their existing garages and parking spaces with suitable charging stations. Beside companies, hotels, hospitality facilities, malls, public garages, and parking spaces also play a significant role wanting to accommodate their customers and provide them with “extra service”.

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The main issue arises—how much free capacity do the buildings have in their electrical infrastructure to deal with the increase in demand for electricity? Namely, the addition of EV charging infrastructure represents an increase in the electricity demand of a building. To avoid overloads and possible “outages” of power systems in buildings and use the available energy in the building in the most efficient way, Schneider Electric has developed EcoStruxure™ EV Charging Expert, a charging infrastructure load management, access management and supervision solution—one within the range of EcoStruxure™ for eMobility comprehensive solutions.

EcoStruxure™ EV Charging Expert is a system for dynamic monitoring and management, which responds to EV charging infrastructure in real time avoiding outages, overcharging and consumption during peak hours. Additionally, it enables integration of available renewable energy sources for EV charging. EcoStruxure™ EV Charging Expert guarantees continuity of service, enables fair and intelligent distribution of electricity between EV chargers and other sources in the building. This solution also helps limit impacts on electric infrastructure costs and avoid excess effects of prepaid electricity, while providing an excellent user experience for electric vehicle drivers. By using products from this range of solutions, it is possible to control the operation of up to 1,000 charging stations in multi-zone mode, ensuring adequate prioritization of charger users. The best of all is that there are no license fees in case of system expansion.

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.

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