How Quickly is Tourism Recovering From COVID-19?

06.04.2022

travel-putovanje-ljudi+aerodrom — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Tourism was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, as lockdowns restricted people to travelling around their homes and neighbourhoods rather than around the world. But there are now signs that tourist numbers are starting to recover as limitations on movement are eased.

There was a 27 percent rise in nights spent at EU tourist accommodation in 2021, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. This took the total to 1.8 billion, although this was still 37 percent less than in 2019, before COVID-19.

Where tourists went

Greece, Spain and Croatia saw the biggest rises in visitors last year, with the number of nights spent at tourist accommodation jumping by more than 70 percent. Trips to Austria, Latvia and Slovakia fell, but by less than 18 percent.

“This shows signs of recovery in the tourism sector,” Eurostat says.

However, when 2021 tourist night numbers are compared with 2019, it shows some countries lost more than half their bookings. Latvia, Slovakia, Malta and Hungary were the worst hit. Denmark and the Netherlands, on the other hand, were the least affected countries. They saw drops of less than 20 percent in nights spent in tourist accommodation.

Eurostat says the figures are “far less dramatic” than the contrast between 2019 and 2020, when tourism in the EU halved.

Tourism supports jobs

More than 2 million businesses – mostly small and medium-sized companies – make up the EU’s tourism industry, according to the European Parliament.

These firms employ an estimated 12.3 million people, but worker numbers increase to 27.3 million when related sectors are taken into account.

Across the EU in 2018, travel and tourism made up about 4 percent of GDP – the total value of products and services produced in a country – or 10 percent if closely related sectors are taken into account.

Three-quarters of these tourism businesses operated in either accommodation or serving food and drink. Italy, France, Spain and Germany were home to 55 percent of the EU’s tourism firms in 2018.

Global growth and risks

Tourism is the world’s third-biggest export sector, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a special United Nations agency.

Because of COVID-19, tourism lost out on around USD 1 trillion of export revenues in 2021, UNWTO estimates. It predicts that the tourism industry will recover gradually in 2022.

International tourist arrivals globally grew 130 percent in January 2022, UNWTO says. And this was despite the Omicron variant of COVID-19 slowing down the speed of the recovery.

The war in Ukraine also poses a new risk to the global tourism industry – by potentially disrupting the return of confidence to travel, UNWTO says.

Source: World Economic Forum

Environmental Concerns Increase With Decision on Lifetime Extension of Tuzla 4 and Kakanj 5

05.04.2022

On 24 March, the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina endorsed conclusions to cancel the application of the opt-out regime of the Large Combustion Plants Directive for two power plants, the TPPs Tuzla 4 and Kakanj 5. With the conclusions endorsed by the House of Peoples, the intention is to extend their operation until 2028.

In the Secretariat’s opinion, such a unilateral decision is a clear breach of the obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Energy Community Treaty.

The two plants concerned – approved for opt-out by the Ministerial Council in 2016 – are at the end of their 20,000 hours limit. Operation beyond the 20,000 hours limit has negative impact on the interest of all citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina as air pollution is responsible for severe health and environmental damages, including premature deaths due to respiratory diseases, and also cause extremely high costs that societies have to bear as a whole.

Furthermore, it needs to be recalled that with regard to the planned new lignite-fired power plant in Tuzla financed by a loan of the Chinese Export-Import Bank (TPP Tuzla 7), the Ministerial Council decided last year that the decision of the State Aid Council was in breach of Article 18 of the Energy Community Treaty, as the guarantee was not issued on commercial terms. The country is expected to notify the Secretariat on measures taken to rectify the breach of the Energy Community acquis by 1 July 2022.

Source: Energy community

The Great Barrier Reef is Suffering its 4th Mass Bleaching Event Since 2016 – here’s What That Means

04.04.2022

corals_korali_coral_reef_koralni_greben — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Milos Prelevic)

It’s official: the Great Barrier Reef is suffering its fourth mass bleaching event since 2016. We dived into the reef on March 28 and saw the unfolding crisis firsthand.

Descending beneath the surface at John Brewer Reef near Townsville, our eyes were immediately drawn to the iridescent whites, blues and pinks of stressed corals among the deeper browns, reds and greens of healthier colonies.

It’s a depressing, but all-too-familiar feeling. A sense of: “here we go again”.

This is the first time the reef has bleached under the cooling conditions of the natural La Niña weather pattern, which shows just how strong the long-term warming trend of climate change is. Despite the cooling conditions, 2021 was one of the hottest years on record.

When coral bleaches, it is not dead – yet. Coral reefs that suffer widespread bleaching can still recover if conditions improve, but it’s estimated to take up to 12 years. That is, if there’s no new disturbance in the meantime, such as a cyclone or another bleaching event.

So what conditions are needed for coral recovery? And under what conditions will coral die?

What it takes for coral to die

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Veronica Reverse)

Whether a coral can survive bleaching depends on how long conditions remain stressful, and to what level. What’s more, some species are more sensitive than others, such as branching acropora corals, especially if they’ve bleached previously.

If water remains too warm for too long, corals will eventually die. But if the water temperature drops and the ultraviolet light becomes less intense, then the coral may recover and survive.

While the average sea temperatures in the reef currently remain above average, they’ve shown signs of cooling to a more amenable average for coral survival.

Sea temperatures in Cleveland Bay, near Townsville, were above 31℃ in early March, but thankfully have now reduced to below 29℃. Similarly in the Whitsundays, Hardy Reef experienced temperatures as high as 30℃ but has receded to nearer 26℃ in the past few weeks.

If coral does survive a bleaching event, it is still impacted physiologically, as bleaching can slow growth rates and reduce reproductive capacity. Surviving colonies also become more susceptible to other challenges, such as disease.

Signs of stress

Survival also depends on each individual coral’s own resilience: its ability to cope with higher temperatures and increased ultraviolet stress.

For example, fast growing branching corals are the most susceptible to bleaching and are generally the first to die. Long-lived massive corals, such as porites, may be less susceptible to bleaching, show minimal effects of bleaching and recover quicker.

Corals can use fluorescent pigments to shield themselves from excessive ultraviolet radiation – a bit like sunscreen that lets coral manage, filter and attempt to regulate the incoming light.

To the casual observer, fluorescent corals look bright purple, pink, blue and yellow. For reef scientists, fluorescence is an obvious signal that corals are stressed and struggling to regulate their internal balance. As we’ve seen, white and fluorescent corals are currently a common sight on many reefs.

Most coral species have fluorescent pigments in their tissue. Some are always visible to humans, especially branching corals with bright blue or pink hues on the their branch tips.

Others are never visible, and some are visible only during times of heat stress when coral colonies boost these fluorescent pigments to fight the increasing ultraviolet intensity in warmer seas.

Coral can’t adapt fast enough

Scientists measure heat stress on corals using a metric called “degree heating weeks”.

One degree heating week is when the temperature at a given location is more than 1℃ over the historical maximum temperature. If the water is 2℃ above the historical maximum for one week, this would be considered two degree heating weeks.

Generally speaking, at four degree heating weeks, scientists expect to see signs of stress and coral bleaching. It usually takes eight degree heating weeks for coral to die.

According to Bureau of Meteorology data, many parts of the Great Barrier Reef, such as off Cairns and Port Douglas, currently remain in the window of between four and eight degree heating weeks. But some areas, near Townsville and the Whitsundays, are experiencing severe bleaching stress beyond eight degree heating weeks.

While we hope many coral reefs will recover from this round of bleaching, the long term implications cannot be understated.

When corals bleach, they eject their zooxanthellae – single-celled algae that gives coral color and energy. Some corals may regain their zooxanthellae after the bleaching event is over, but this usually takes between three and six months.

To make matters worse, full reef recovery requires no new bleaching events or other disturbances in the years that follow. Given the reef has bleached six times since the late 1990s, alongside global climate trajectories, this would appear an unlikely scenario.

While some corals may learn to cope with these new conditions by potentially acquiring more heat-tolerant zooxanthellae, the reality is that change is happening too fast for coral to adapt via evolution.

The severe bleaching in previous years also means future events may appear less severe. But this is simply because most of the heat sensitive corals have already died, potentially resulting in a lower probability of widespread severe bleaching.

We need stronger climate policies and action

Australia has the world’s best marine scientists and marine park managers. And yet, our policies are rated “highly insufficient”, according to the latest Climate Action Tracker.

If global emissions continue unabated, Australia may warm by 4℃ or more this century. Under this scenario, widespread coral bleaching is likely on the Great Barrier Reef every year from 2044 onward.

There have been some glimmers of hope in federal policy in recent years, such as statements recognising the existential threat climate change poses to coral reefs. Despite this recognition, substantial action is lacking, as any policy without action on climate change is ineffective.

If the federal government, reef businesses and individuals are to show leadership and maintain healthy reefs, we need to work together and take rapid, drastic action to reduce carbon emissions.

Committing to a stronger emissions target for 2030 and a carbon neutral footprint for all Great Barrier Reef businesses would go a long way to exhibiting the kind of change required if coral reefs, in their current form, are to survive into the future.

Source: World Economic Forum

IEA Member Countries Agree to New Emergency Oil Stock Release in Response to Market Turmoil

04.04.2022

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Erik Mclean)

The International Energy Agency’s 31 Member Countries agreed on Friday to a new release of oil from emergency reserves in response to the market turmoil caused by conflict between Russia and Ukraine, underscoring their strong and unified commitment to stabilizing global energy markets.

The agreement was reached at an Extraordinary Meeting of the IEA Governing Board, which was held at the Ministerial level and chaired by US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

The details of the new emergency stock release will be made public early next week. The agreement follows the previous action taken by IEA Member Countries, announced last month, to which they pledged a total of 62.7 million barrels.

Ministers expressed their solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their democratically elected government in the face of Russia’s appalling and, as they say, unprovoked violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Governing Board also encouraged member countries to support Ukraine in the supply of oil products.

The Ministers noted that war in Ukraine continues to put significant strains on global oil markets, resulting in heightened price volatility. This is taking place against a backdrop of commercial inventories that are at their lowest level since 2014 and a limited ability of oil producers to provide additional supply in the short term. Ministers also noted the particular difficulties in diesel markets.

IEA Members hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels. This agreement will be the fifth time that the IEA releases emergency stocks. Previous collective actions were taken in 1991, 2005, 2011 and on 1 March, 2022.

The prospect of large-scale disruptions to Russian oil production is threatening to create a global oil supply shock. Russia plays an outsized role on global energy markets. It is the world’s third largest oil producer and the largest exporter. Its exports of about 5 million barrels a day of crude oil represent roughly 12 per cent of global trade – and its approximately 2.85 million barrels a day of petroleum products represent around 15 per cent of global refined product trade. Around 60 per cent of Russia’s oil exports go to Europe and another 20 per cent to China.

The Governing Board also recommended that governments and consumers maintain and intensify conservation efforts and energy savings. Ministers welcomed the IEA’s 10-Point Plan to Cut Oil Use as a guide for member countries to reduce their oil consumption.

Ministers also discussed Europe’s significant reliance on Russian natural gas, as well as the importance to accelerate global dialogue with gas producing countries including IEA member countries, to ensure secure, affordable and reliable gas supplies, including LNG, and to continue to pursue a well-managed acceleration of clean energy transitions. On 3 March, the IEA Secretariat released a 10-Point to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas by next winter – and it is working closely with the European Commission on next steps.

The IEA Secretariat will continue to closely monitor global oil and gas markets.

Source: IEA

Eight Actions to Solar-Power EU Energy Independence

03.04.2022

On March 31st the international solar community gathered in Brussels for the SolarPower Summit. In light of the Russian war on Ukraine, the Summit publicly launched a landmark paper on the necessary, realistic, ambition for solar-powered EU energy independence.

Presented to EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, by European solar CEOs during a roundtable exchange, ‘Raising Solar Ambition for the European Union’s Energy Independence’ acts as SolarPower Europe’s official response to the consultation for the upcoming EU Solar Strategy. This paper sets out exactly what solar power can deliver for the EU’s climate goals and energy security in the short-, medium-, and long-term (and what we need to get there).

In the short term, to support immediate divestment from Russian gas, and with the right framework for the rooftop segment, solar can deliver 39 GW* of additional EU energy capacity for the coming winter. This represents 23.3 GW of solar rooftops, and 15.7 GW of utility scale solar installations. SolarPower Europe is currently surveying the sector to understand what additional utility scale solar is possible if we are able to fast-track shovel-ready projects.

The real solar acceleration can happen in the medium-term. The current REPowerEU solar market 2030 projection of 525 GW falls short of the true potential of solar expansion, with industry pre-war, business-as-usual scenario predictions of 672 GW. With the Russian war on Ukraine, and the increasingly acute climate crisis, the paper presents an accelerated high scenario, foreseeing over 1 TW of total EU solar capacity by 2030, and details the eight actions that will build the necessary foundations for the European solar Terawatt age:

Accelerate the deployment of projects
Connect and integrate solar projects into the grid
Develop the skills & workforce needed to deploy solar projects
Deploy integrated solar PV applications
Secure supply chains and access to raw materials
Reinvest in domestic manufacturing
Boost the deployment of rooftop solar PV during the renovation wave
Develop an enabling framework for consumer-driven solar

Aristotelis Chantavas, President of SolarPower Europe said: “The continent is facing war and geopolitical instability at a time when the climate emergency grows ever more intense. Europeans are just beginning to emerge from a global pandemic, already struggling to manage gas-driven soaring energy prices. Solar energy offers immediate relief – with potentially 39 GW potential additional capacity for this coming winter – and long-term sustainable solutions. 1 TW of solar in 2030 can replace all Russian gas imports to the EU. We have no more time to waste, we must raise EU solar ambition.”

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe said: “The SolarPower Summit comes at a crucial time. The unprovoked Russian war in Ukraine is a rough awakening from Europe’s fossil-fuel dependency and complacency. Factoring in this latest SolarPower Europe paper, the REPowerEU strategy, and the upcoming EU Solar Strategy, will be crucial tools to guide Europe towards a brighter, solar-powered future.”

Source: SolarPower Europe

Support Shifts Away from Fossil Fuels Despite Rising Energy Prices, Survey Finds

02.04.2022

thermal_power_plant_termoelektrana — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

According to a new survey, there is strong global support – across all countries and demographic groups – for the energy transition to move away from fossil fuels. A majority of consumers worldwide expect their overall spending power to be significantly impacted by further energy price increases, yet only 13 percent of those surveyed globally blamed climate policies for rising prices, while 84 percent of respondents stressed the importance of their own country’s shift to sustainable energy sources.

These are some of the key findings of a survey conducted by the World Economic Forum and Ipsos among 22,534 adults in 30 countries between February 18 and March 4 2022.

“The energy transition has always been about security, affordability and environmental sustainability: the so-called energy triangle,” said Roberto Bocca, Head of Shaping the Future of Energy and Materials, World Economic Forum. “The current geopolitical context makes it even more true today. This survey underlines that popular support exists for the transition to a new energy system that is more sustainable, secure and affordable.”

Impact of energy price hikes on consumer spending power

Survey respondents were asked to consider the energy they use for daily expenses – such as transportation, heating or cooling homes, cooking, powering appliances, etc – and assess how much energy price increases would affect their overall spending power. On average, more than half of consumers (55 percent) across the 30 countries surveyed expect their overall spending power to be significantly impacted by energy price increases.

However, expectations varied widely across countries. More than two-thirds of respondents in South Africa (77 percent), Japan (69 percent), and Turkey (69 percent) said that price rises would affect them “a great deal or fair amount”, as opposed to just over one-third in Switzerland (37 percent) and the Netherlands (37 percent). Conversely, the survey revealed limited differences of opinion across demographic groups in response to the same question. Concern was only slightly higher among those with a lower income (59 percent of respondents) and those in the 35-49 age group (58 percent) than the global average (55 percent).

Causes of the energy price spike – climate change policies least cited

The survey also asked respondents to select a “main reason” for the recent rise in energy prices. Answers to this question were particularly varied and revealed diverse opinions among global consumers. Without exception, no single reason dominated in any of the 30 countries.

The most cited reasons on average were “volatility in the oil and gas markets” and “geopolitical tensions” (by 28 percent and 25 percent of respondents globally). Another 18 percent cited insufficient supply to meet increased demand, 16 percent said they were not sure, and only 13 percent blamed climate change policies – the least cited reason on average.

Consumers in different countries chose different causes for the price hike. Geopolitical tensions were most likely to be blamed in the Netherlands (the only country where any single reason is cited by a majority – 54 percent), Belgium (46 percent), and Italy (42 percent).

Market volatility was the most commonly selected cause in Mexico (40 percent), South Korea (38 percent), Peru (36 percent), and Saudi Arabia (36 percent). Insufficient supply was cited most often in South Africa (37 percent), Malaysia (28 percent), and Argentina (28 percent). Russian and Japanese consumers were the most likely to be unsure (29 percent and 25 percent of respondents respectively).

The countries most likely to cite climate change policies as the cause of the recent price rises were India (24 percent), Germany (20 percent), and Poland (19 percent); and among demographic groups, it was business decision-makers (19 percent). However, climate policies were not the top reason in any country or among any demographic group, and it was the least common response on average.

Global consensus around the importance of shifting away from fossil fuels

Respondents were also asked how important it was to them that their country shifts away from fossil fuels to more climate-friendly and sustainable energy sources in the next five years. On average, more than four in five of those surveyed globally (84 percent) said it was important to them. Vast majorities said so in every country surveyed: from 72 percent in Russia (the lowest globally) and 75 percent in the United States to 93 percent in South Africa and Peru. Citizens of emerging countries were especially adamant about it.

Globally, the level of importance granted to shifting away from fossil fuels was also very high across all demographic groups surveyed. Although support was strong among all demographic groups, slightly more women (87 percent) thought it was important to move away from fossil fuels than men (81 percent).

Source: World Economic Forum

We Lose One Species on Earth almost Every Hour

01.04.2022

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Laura Dewilde)

Last Saturday in center of Zagreb, the attention of passers-by is captured by a clock whose alarm rings to wake up the whole human race.

Every hour counts down and warns of the fact that we lose one species almost every hour on Earth. WWF Adria, in cooperation with Bruketa & Žinić & Gray and Dept, and Go2Digital, set it up today, the last Saturday in March, when Earth Hour is traditionally celebrated around the world.

According to the latest State of the Planet Report, published in September 2020, the size of the populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles has decreased by a worrying 68 per cent since 1970. This is a consequence of the expansion of global trade, consumption, population growth and accelerated urbanization, as a result of which species lose their habitats or are hunted and become extinct.

“Our relationship with nature has been damaged. The accelerated destruction of nature, as a result of human activities, has catastrophic impacts not only on wildlife populations, but also on human health and all other aspects of our lives. We lose one species almost every hour in the world. Our time is running out and if we want nature to recover, we must act immediately “, warned Nataša Kalauz, Executive Director of WWF Adria.

That the clock is ticking on some species in our vicinity, the people of Croatia can see on numerous advertising screens in our cities where there are photos of some of the most endangered species in the region, such as the Balkan lynx, olm or Mediterranean monk seal.

Among the greatest threats to wildlife are crimes against nature that include illegal hunting and fishing, the killing of protected species, illegal trade and smuggling, and the illegal capture and possession of wildlife. On the WWF Adria website, you can find information on other ways to prevent biodiversity loss. We can preserve the wealth and beauty of the world around us together, say WWF Adria, adding that in this time of great divisions and conflicts, we must not forget that we all share this planet and must take care of it together.

The Earth Hour can be marked by any of us, by turning off the lights from 20:30h, and the same will happen in the squares and sights of many of our and the world’s cities.

Source: WWF Adria

In Moldova, Shelter Belt Forests Build Rural Livelihoods and Protect Against Climate Change Impacts

01.04.2022

nature-priroda-Moldavija — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Mihail Bozianu’s interest in beekeeping started early. “I was 11 years old and we had nothing,” he remembers. “I started on my own with two hives. By the day I graduated from high school, I had 43.”

Today, Mihail, a resident of Mingir village, has 1,200 beehives. He’s one of the most productive beekeepers in Moldova, and has won international awards for beekeeping.

To do their best work and produce their finest “liquid gold,” Mihail’s bees depend on the tranquil forest environment they find on the slope of a nearby hillside, where they spend their days buzzing peacefully among the six hectares of trees and undergrowth. Astonishingly, this slope was once barren, frequently used as a rubbish dump and prone to landslides – but today, that’s a distant memory.

This dramatic change came about after Mihail received a grant from the IFAD-financed Rural Resilience Project (RRP), via IFAD’s flagship ASAP initiative, to plant a protective shelter belt.

Shelter belts are an agroforestry technique that turns degraded land into carefully managed forests of diverse native trees and plants. They reduce soil erosion, safeguard water resources, protect against storm damage, act as windbreaks, and even capture carbon – in short, they’re an ideal way to help rural communities adapt to climate change and its effects, including extreme weather events.

What’s more, a well-planned shelter belt helps increase rural incomes by creating the conditions for better agricultural yields in the surrounding fields, along with forest products like Mihail’s honey. The resulting boost to local economies fosters a sense of stability and creates economic opportunities that, among other effects, provide decent jobs for young people and give them another option besides leaving home in search of work.

Working with staff from ICAS, the research institute of Moldova’s forestry agency, Mihail chose trees that would flourish at different times of year: linden, mahaleb cherry, cornelian cherry and, most importantly, acacia – which grows fast and which bees love.

His honey production is already increasing – to the point that he’s had to hire help. “Now I am paying a salary to a young man who is not afraid of bees,” Mihail says. “I am also supporting his studies so that he doesn’t have to leave the country to find work.” By the time the shelter belt is mature, he expects his honey production to rise by over 70 percent. He’s also planning to hire and train four more apprentices.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bianca Ackermann)

Stories like Mihail’s are an inspiration for impoverished rural communities across Moldova that are confronting the effects of climate change and struggling to find ways to adapt.

Petru Sorici, the mayor of Nishcani village in central Moldova, is among them. “We noticed that villages that are surrounded by forests are somehow more protected from different kinds of weather: hail, landslides, heavy rains,” he says. He urged his fellow villagers to apply for adaptation funding from the IFAD-financed IRECR project.

In 2020, Nishani village received approximately USD 16,000 to plant and manage seven hectares of forests as a shelter belt just north of the village, on what had once been heavily degraded land next to a landfill.

Residents are already seeing some benefits from the shelter belt: like the one in Mingir village, it’s an ideal place for bees to thrive and it halts soil erosion. It’s also an ideal growing environment for medicinal plants, and it creates a natural barrier against the landfill site.

But trees grow slowly, and forests need to be safeguarded as they mature. In the areas where shelterbelts have been established, local authorities have agreed to manage them for the first few years, until the trees are well established. This, along with training on climate-resilient agriculture for small-scale farmers, will keep the initiative sustainable even after the projects that supported them come to an end.

At the time of IRECR’s official closure in 2021, it had produced 42 forest restoration plans and established over 500 hectares of protective shelter belts and strips of pasture, on land owned by 2,000 households. The RRP project, which is still ongoing, is providing grants to small-scale farmers to establish another 200 hectares of shelter belts.

As climate change accelerates worldwide, conserving ecosystems and using natural resources sustainably will be critical for protecting the lives and livelihoods of rural-dwellers. For rural communities in Moldova, shelter belts are a small but important contribution to their resilience.

Source: IFAD

Green Cooling – Tackling Climate Change With Eco-Friendly Technology

31.03.2022

air_conditioning_klima_uređaji — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Krysztof Kotkowicz)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Chromatograph)

Natural refrigerants protect the environment and the climate. In Latin America and the Caribbean, they are replacing existing products that harm the climate.

With ever longer cold chains, the global movement of goods is driving up demand for air conditioning and refrigeration systems – particularly in countries in the Southern Hemisphere. Such systems generate additional greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and thus contribute to the climate crisis.

Many sectors depend on reliable, effective cooling systems for the production, storage and transport of goods. An example is the flower industry in Colombia – the world’s second largest exporter of cut flowers after the Netherlands. Tulips, lilies and sunflowers have a short life span and need to be refrigerated to stay fresh. The problem is that most cooling systems still use fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) as refrigerants, which harm the environment and the climate.

However, this situation can be prevented by using natural alternatives such as hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and ammonia, which are environmentally friendly and also more cost-effective in the long term as they are more energy efficient. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is promoting the use of these alternatives in seven Latin American and Caribbean countries. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and cofinanced by the European Union (EU), GIZ is working to minimise greenhouse gas emissions in refrigeration technology.

Together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), GIZ supports local concepts tailored to specific national conditions and challenges. In liaison with local companies and refrigeration equipment users, solutions are being developed to facilitate the transition to modern refrigeration technologies.

Know-how for a ‘cool’ future

Concepts include measures that directly reduce emissions; for example, ensuring that old refrigerators and air conditioning systems are disposed of correctly. At the same time, the project is developing a comprehensive knowledge management system. It has created 47 manuals and guides that support local initiatives with the practical transition to natural refrigerants.

In addition, the project and its partners are making sustainable cooling technologies more readily available. In Costa Rica, for example, hotels and public buildings have installed 100 eco-friendly air conditioning systems. The initiative also offers training courses for refrigeration technicians, which teach them how to operate and maintain modern refrigeration equipment and handle natural refrigerants safely. In total, 65 training sessions were held across the entire region, and more than 1,600 participants learned how to refrigerate efficiently while protecting the climate.

Source: GIZ

New Report: Is the Solution to Water Crises Hiding Right Under Our Feet?

31.03.2022

okean_voda — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Anastasia Taioglou)

Groundwater accounts for 99 percent of all liquid freshwater on Earth. However, this natural resource is often poorly understood and consequently undervalued, mismanaged and even abused. According to the latest edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report published by UNESCO, the vast potential of groundwater, and the need to manage it sustainably, can no longer be overlooked.

UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water is launching the latest edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report, titled “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible” at the opening ceremony of the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal. The authors call on States to commit themselves to developing adequate and effective groundwater management and governance policies in order to address current and future water crises throughout the globe. Groundwater presently provides half of the volume of water withdrawn for domestic use by the global population, including the drinking water for the vast majority of the rural population who do not get their water delivered to them via public or private supply systems, and around 25 percent of all water used for irrigation.

Globally, water use is projected to grow by roughly 1 percent per year over the next 30 years. Our overall dependence on groundwater is expected to rise as surface water availability becomes increasingly limited due to climate change.

“More and more water resources are being polluted, overexploited, and dried up by humans, sometimes with irreversible consequences. Making smarter use of the potential of still sparsely developed groundwater resources, and protecting them from pollution and overexploitation, is essential to meet the fundamental needs of an ever-increasing global population and to address the global climate and energy crises”, Audrey AzoulayDirector-General of UNESCO.

“Improving the way we use and manage groundwater is an urgent priority if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Decision-makers must begin to take full account of the vital ways in which groundwater can help ensure the resilience of human life and activities in a future where the climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable”, GilbertF. HoungboChair of UN-Water and President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Huge social, economic and environmental benefits and opportunities

The quality of groundwater is generally good, which means it can be used safely and affordably, without requiring advanced levels of treatment. Groundwater is often the most cost-effective way of providing a secure supply of water to rural villages.

Certain regions, such as Saharan Africa and the Middle East for example, hold substantial quantities of non-renewable groundwater supplies that can be extracted in order to maintain water security. However, consideration for future generations and for the economic, financial and environmental aspects of storage depletion should not be overlooked.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the opportunities offered by the vast aquifers remain largely underexploited. Only 3 percent of farmland is equipped for irrigation, and only 5 percent of that area uses groundwater, compared to 59 percent and 57 percent respectively in North America and South Asia.

As the report points out, this low use is not due to a lack of renewable groundwater (which is often abundant), but rather by a lack of investments in infrastructure, institutions, trained professionals and knowledge of the resource. The development of groundwater could act as a catalyst for economic growth by increasing the extent of irrigated areas and therefore improving agricultural yields and crop diversity.

In terms of climate change adaptation, the capacity of aquifer systems to store seasonal or episodic surface water surpluses can be exploited to improve year-round freshwater availability, as aquifers incur substantially lower evaporative losses than surface reservoirs. For example, including groundwater storage and abstraction as part of urban water supply planning would add security and flexibility in cases of seasonal variation.

Unlocking groundwater’s full potential – what needs to be done?

1. Collect data

The report raises the issue of the lack of groundwater data and emphasizes that groundwater monitoring is often a “neglected area”. To improve this, the acquisition of data and information, which is usually under the responsibility of national (and local) groundwater agencies, could be complemented by the private sector. Particularly, the oil, gas and mining industries already possess a great deal of data, information and knowledge on the composition of the deeper domains underground, including aquifers. As a matter of corporate social responsibility, private companies are highly encouraged to share these data and information with public sector professionals.

2. Strengthen environmental regulations

As groundwater pollution is practically irreversible, it must be avoided. Enforcement efforts and the prosecution of polluters, however, are often challenging due to groundwater’s invisible nature. Preventing groundwater contamination requires suitable land use and appropriate environmental regulations, especially across aquifer recharge areas. It is imperative that governments assume their role as resource custodians in view of the common-good aspects of groundwater to ensure that access to – and profit from – groundwater are distributed equitably and that the resource remains available for future generations.

3. Reinforce human, material and financial resources

In many countries, the general lack of groundwater professionals among the staff of institutions and local and national government, as well as insufficient mandates, financing and support of groundwater departments or agencies, hamper effective groundwater management. The commitment of governments to build, support and maintain institutional capacity related to groundwater is crucial.

The United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR), UN-Water’s flagship publication on water and sanitation issues, focuses on a different theme every year. The report is published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. The report gives insight into the main trends concerning the state, use and management of freshwater and sanitation, based on work by members and partners of UN-Water. Launched in conjunction with World Water Day, the report provides decision-makers with knowledge and tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies. It also offers best practice examples and in-depth analyses to stimulate ideas and actions for better stewardship in the water sector and beyond.

Source: UNESCO

Free Ride With ProCredit Bank – Regional Charger Network is Expanding

30.03.2022

For Serbia, it is often true that it is “lagging behind the world”, but in this case, it is not so because in our country, there is a support system for the purchase of electric and hybrid cars. Thanks to the state’s incentives, there are more than four hundred electric cars and about 5,000 hybrid cars on the streets of our country.

When we talk about electric cars, many people focus on the fact that these vehicles do not emit any harmful gases. In addition, these cars are very easy to maintain, and maintenance costs are very low.

Despite all the advantages that electric cars bring, it is necessary to develop a good network of chargers for “e-powered driving” to come to life in this area fully. Fortunately for e-powered drivers, there are more and more publicly available chargers that can charge the batteries of these cars.

It seems that the future brings us the fact that we will have the opportunity to replenish the car at every step during the completion of daily obligations, such as going shopping or to the bank. ProCredit Bank has paid special attention to that. Drivers of electric cars can charge their four-wheelers on chargers that are installed in the parking lots of the bank’s branches.

Until recently, ProCredit Bank has had fifteen chargers which are strategically placed in eight cities: Subotica, Sombor, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Pančevo, Kragujevac, Čačak and Niš. They are located in front of Zone 24/7 of this bank.

In focus:

The bank’s leaders realized that it was necessary to expand the network. So, at the beginning of this year, 27 new chargers were installed in busy places and near major roads and highways so that they would be easily accessible.

New chargers have been installed in Subotica, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Zlatibor, Šabac, Kragujevac, Sokobanja, Niš, Kruševac and Prokuplje. The complete network of these chargers will soon be available to drivers on ProCredit Electric Stations application.

At the level of the ProCredit Group in ten European countries during 2022, a total of three hundred chargers for electric cars will be installed, the use of which is completely free. ProCredit Bank is the first large buyer of green electricity in Serbia. Still, it is also the first domestic company to receive a guarantee of the origin of EPS that the electricity they consume is produced exclusively from renewable energy sources.

“Our citizens who drive an electric car will be able to cross long distances without any problems and recharge their vehicle battery every hundred kilometers, completely free of charge. In addition to the fact that this value provides additional value for these drivers, the positive impact on air quality will be evident over time,” people from Pro-Credit Bank say.

Protection of the environment, ecology and renewable energy sources are the focus of ProCredit Bank’s operations. They are intensively trying to be an example of good practice at the internal level, and they have fifteen electric vehicles in their fleet. No wonder they set a very ambitious goal – that by the end of the first quarter of this year, all vehicle in their fleet will be with zero CO2 emission. It is in line with the bank’s plan to become carbon neutral in the near future.

Fulfilling these goals will significantly affect the protection of the environment and the air quality in our country, which is the environmental commitment of ProCredit Bank which is planning special loan offers for the purchase of electric vehicles. ProCredit Bank experts are ready to answer all your questions at any time. All you have to do is to schedule an appointment or look at the detailed offer on the bank’s website.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

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

Uranium Legacy Sites Remediated in Kyrgyz Republic

30.03.2022

kyrgyz-republic- kirkinska-republika — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The successful completion of remediation works at the former uranium legacy sites in Shekaftar and Min-Kush, in the Kyrgyz Republic, brings a major environmental benefit for Central Asia’s most populous region and secures the sustainability of the sites for years to come.

The activity, funded through the Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia (ERA), was completed on schedule and below the projected budget despite difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Both sites were certified and accepted by the Kyrgyz authorities in December 2021 and February 2022 respectively.

The settlement of Shekaftar was founded in 1944 as part of the development of uranium-mining operations. Located in the south-western part of the country close to the Uzbek border, it is home to around 3,700 residents. Most of the mine sites were located in the village and very close to residential areas. The remediation works on site included the closure of mine openings, the removal of waste-rock dumps and the demolition and disposal of mining facilities.

Following the completion of remediation works in Shekaftar, locals received new areas for private, communal and business use. The scope of works also included upgrades to key local infrastructure such as a water pipeline, which will now provide an additional and much-needed water supply for the population, as well as a bridge and roads.

The second uranium legacy site of Min-Kush is located approximately 130 kilometres to the south of Bishkek on the banks of the Min-Kush River in the Tian Shan Mountains. Like Shekaftar, the village of Min-Kush was built to support uranium mining. It was heavily affected when uranium mining was discontinued in the late 1960s and following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, but today around 3,200 people still live in the village.

The ERA-funded remediation project at the Min-Kush site is now complete, reducing risks that the mining legacy posed to Min-Kush residents. The demolition of the former ore-processing plant facilitated the creation of clean, flat surfaces, which can now be used for community purposes, including a venue for traditional nomad sports. This will help generate more local revenue by attracting tourists. Further remediation works, funded by the Commonwealth of Independent States, remain ongoing.

Central Asia served as an important source of uranium in the former Soviet Union. A large amount of radioactively contaminated material was placed in mining waste dumps and tailing sites. The contaminated material is a threat to the environment and the health of the population. The hazards include the possible pollution of ground and surface water in a key agricultural centre of the region.

The EBRD has been active in addressing nuclear safety legacies since 1993 and is successfully continuing its engagements despite challenges caused by the coronavirus crisis. In addition to the transformation of Chernobyl, the Bank is also managing the decommissioning of former Soviet-era nuclear reactors in Bulgaria, Lithuania and the Slovak Republic and the safe disposal of radioactive waste in north-western Russia.

The ERA, established in 2015 at the initiative of the European Union (EU) and managed by the EBRD, addresses the legacy of Soviet-era uranium mining in Central Asia. The EU is the ERA’s biggest donor, while contributions have also been made by Belgium, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the United States of America to date.

Source: EBRD

Energy Transition Holds Key to Tackle Global Energy and Climate Crisis

29.03.2022

winter-zika-sneg-struja — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Short-term interventions addressing the current energy crisis must be accompanied by a steadfast focus on mid- and long-term goals of the energy transition. High fossil fuel prices, energy security concerns and the urgency of climate change underscore the pressing need to move faster to a clean energy system, says World Energy Transitions Outlook 2022.

Launched by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, the Agency’s Outlook sets out priority areas and actions based on available technologies that must be realised by 2030 to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century. It also takes stock of progress across all energy uses to date, clearly showing the inadequate pace and scale of the renewables-based transition.

“The energy transition is far from being on track and anything short of radical action in the coming years will diminish, even eliminate chances to meet our climate goals”, said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA. “Today, governments are facing multiple challenges of energy security, economic recovery and the affordability of energy bills for households and businesses. Many answers lie in the accelerated transition. But it’s a political choice to put policies in place that comply with Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Agenda. Investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure will only lock-in uneconomic practices, perpetuate existing risks and increase the threats of climate change.”

“It is high time to act”, La Camera added. “Recent developments have clearly demonstrated that high fossil fuel prices can result in energy poverty and loss of industrial competitiveness. 80 per cent of the global population lives in countries that are net-importers of fossil fuels. By contrast, renewables are available in all countries, offering a way out of import dependency and allowing countries to decouple economies from the costs of fossil fuels while driving economic growth and new jobs.”

The Outlook sees investment needs of USD 5.7 trillion per year until 2030 including the imperative to redirect USD 0.7 trillion annually away from fossil fuels to avoid stranded assets. But investing in the transition would bring concrete socioeconomic and welfare benefits, adding 85 million jobs worldwide in renewables and other transition-related technologies between today and 2030. These job gains would largely surpass losses of 12 million jobs in fossil fuel industries. Overall, more countries would experience greater benefits on the energy transition path than under business as usual, according to the Outlook.

Renewables would have to scale-up massively across all sectors from 14 per cent of total energy today to around 40 per cent in 2030. Global annual additions of renewable power would triple by 2030 as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). At the same time, coal power would have to resolutely be replaced, fossil fuel assets phased out and infrastructure upgraded.

The Outlook sees electrification and efficiency as key drivers of the energy transition, enabled by renewables, hydrogen, and sustainable biomass. End-use decarbonization will take center-stage with many solutions available through electrification, green hydrogen, and the direct use of renewables. Notably electromobility is seen as driver of energy transition progress, growing the sales of electric vehicles (EV) to a global EV fleet twenty times bigger than today.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Thomas Richter)

However, a comprehensive set of cross-cutting, structural policies covering all technological avenues and just transition objectives is needed to achieve the necessary deployment levels by 2030. Increasing ambition in the National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national energy plans under the Glasgow Climate Pact must provide certainty and guide investment strategies in line with 1.5°C.

Particularly the world’s largest energy consumers and carbon emitters from the G20 and G7 must show leadership and implement ambitious plans and investments domestically and abroad. They would need to support the global supply of 65 per cent renewables in power generation by 2030. Climate finance, knowledge transfer and assistance would have to increase for an inclusive and equal world.

Finally, enabling a rapid transition that complies with climate and development goals requires political commitment to support the highest level of international cooperation. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and universal access to modern energy by 2030 must remain a vital pillar of a just and inclusive energy transition. A holistic global policy framework can bring countries together to enable international flow of finance, capacity and technologies.

Source: IRENA

Charge&GO – A Safe Path Towards Energy Transition of Transport

28.03.2022

Charge&go-39-min — Foto: Bojan Džodan/MT-KOMEX

The path of sustainable transport in Serbia is slowly but surely being paved. The support of the Government, which for the third year in a row subsidizes the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles, also contributed to that.

The state has allocated 5,000 euro subsidies for the purchase of new passenger vehicles and light trucks with a fully electric drive. At the same time for plug-in hybrids (which can be charged from an external electricity supply) whose carbon dioxide emissions do not exceed 50 g/km, it allocates 3,500 euro subsidies. For ordinary hybrid vehicles, which cannot be plugged into an external electricity supply and whose carbon dioxide emissions are less than 140 g/km, 2,500 euros is obtained. More than 400 electric cars and about 5,000 hybrids have been registered in our country thanks to this support system.

For electric cars to participate in traffic at all, it is necessary to develop the charging infrastructure. There are more and more electric chargers in Serbia. Thanks to the digital platform and the charge&GO application, drivers of these cars can quickly and easily find chargers nearby and recharge their vehicles.

Charge&GO has created the first regional digital platform and mobile application that displays a network of chargers for electric vehicles. The platform gives electric vehicle drivers the ability to access the charging point and the ability to pay for the use of chargers through the app. At the same time, companies can remotely manage their charger network thanks to this app. It includes several services such as charging control, charger performance monitoring, pricing, usage restriction and charging session review.

The difference between AC and DC chargers

AC and DC chargers are available to charge&GO users. Some have already been placed at the service of electric vehicle drivers throughout Serbia. Others are in the design and installation phase, and good locations are being intensively sought for new electric chargers, says Nemanja Grubješić, Head of Technical Sales at charge&GO.

Nemanja explained the difference between charging vehicles on AC and DC chargers. The biggest difference is reflected in the charging speed because electric vehicles have lithium-ion batteries that charge on DC voltage, so charging time is much shorter. “C chargers receive AC voltage, which is switched to DC in the car, thanks to its elements and charges the battery. This process is time-consuming, so the AC charger belongs to the slower type of charger, and it is used at home or in commercial facilities where people stay longer. The average charging time of an electric car on an AC charger is from four to eight hours.

In focus:

The whole system is a bit different when it comes to DC chargers. These models have an inverter that converts AC to DC, and it automatically charges the battery, which significantly speeds up charging time. The charging speed of the car also depends on the power of the DC charger. Fast chargers charge the battery between one and three hours, while ultra-fast chargers can charge a car battery in less than an hour.

“For longer life of the electric car, i.e. its batteries, AC charging is recommended, which is also the cheapest solution. Electric car drivers charge their vehicles mostly during the night when electricity is cheaper, and they are ready to drive in the morning. Charging between four and eight hours can fully charge the battery. It takes much less money to charge the battery of an electric vehicle to full capacity than to fill the tank of a car with an internal combustion engine”, Grubješić points out.

AC charger price

The type of AC charger is mostly chosen by drivers of electric cars who charge vehicles at home, although this model is often installed in commercial facilities, such as hotels and shopping malls. On the other hand, fast and ultra-fast DC chargers are installed at gas stations, busy roads, rest areas on highways, where electric car drivers can recharge or fully charge the vehicle battery in a short period of time.

“When someone decides to buy an electric car, he immediately thinks about buying a charger because he wants to provide himself with a safe charge. For the installation of a home charger, according to the turnkey system, it is necessary to set aside about 1,500 euros”, says Nemanja, emphasizing that charge&GO, in addition to offering a simple and fast service of charging electric vehicles through platform and application, also sells and installs electric chargers.

The team of charge&GO is working hard on building the infrastructure, and they plan to cover the entire territory of Serbia with the network of their chargers.

Nemanja says he always tries to acquaint the citizens with all the advantages that driving electric cars brings. As he points out, the team’s success behind the charge&GO platform is reflected in how much electromobility in our country is developing and growing. One of the incentives would be subsidies for the installation of chargers. This type of support, which is not new in Europe, would significantly improve and accelerate the expansion of the charger network in our country, affecting the number of electric cars on the streets.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

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

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