Mountain People Among the World’s Hungriest as Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change Take their Toll

13.12.2020

rice-cultivation-hrana — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Mountains host about half of the global biodiversity hotspots and are home to a growing number of the world’s hungriest people, according to a new study launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners to mark International Mountain Day 2020.

The study conducted by FAO, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), shows that the number of mountain people vulnerable to food insecurity in developing countries increased from 243 to almost 350 million between 2000 and 2017.

The joint study, “Vulnerability of mountain peoples to food insecurity: updated data and analysis of drivers”, was released today ahead of a virtual event to be hosted by FAO entitled “Mountain Biodiversity Matters”.

This year’s International Mountain Day highlights the social, economic and ecological value of mountain biodiversity as mountains account for 30 percent of the key biodiversity areas on the planet.

Mountains provide between 60 and 80 percent of the world’s freshwater, which is essential for irrigation, industry, food and energy production and domestic consumption. Many of the world’s most important crops and livestock species also originate in mountain regions and are a source for food and medicine.

Yet the joint study found that mountain ecosystems are becoming increasingly fragile, under pressure from changes to land use and climate, overexploitation, pollution, demographic shifts and other factors which threaten livelihoods and food security.

“The vulnerability to food insecurity of the mountain people in the developing world is compounded by the presence and occurrence of natural hazards and armed conflicts that disrupt livelihoods or put strain on the natural resources on which mountain people depend,” the study concluded.

It also noted that environmental degradation affects mountain people disproportionately. Climate change has increased the degradation of mountain ecosystems and the incidence of natural hazards such as landslides and droughts. Around 275 million rural people vulnerable to food insecurity were estimated to live in mountain areas that have already been affected by natural hazards.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added urgency to an already difficult situation as restrictions imposed by various countries have amplified the vulnerabilities of mountain communities that depend on agriculture and tourism for their survival.

“One in every two rural mountain people in developing countries do not have enough food to live a healthy life and they are now dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We must protect our mountains and the livelihoods of those who depend on them,” said FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo, commenting on the study’s findings.

The joint study recommended urgent action to address climate change and remove food insecurity and malnutrition in mountain areas. It called for policies to improve the resilience of mountain ecosystems and promote sustainable food systems that support innovation, research and community involvement.

“Ultimately, the goal of this study is to call on decision-makers and others stakeholders to strengthen cooperative action to reduce the vulnerability of mountain people, in particular local communities and indigenous people, and of the most vulnerable among them, often women and children,” the study said.

The Mountain Partnership, a voluntary United Nations alliance that includes 400 governments, NGOs and other members, works for livelihood improvement and natural resource management in mountain communities.

This year’s virtual event will feature a high-level segment, a session on collaborative actions and programmes, and a roundtable session featuring the Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassadors.

Yuka Makino, FAO’s Mountain Partnership Secretariat Coordinator, will moderate the event together with Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador Jake Norton, a climber and filmmaker.

Source: FAO

National Measures to Cut Air Pollution Would Benefit From Stronger Links With Climate Action

12.12.2020

chair-2595311_960_720 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Actions taken to reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases often address the same economic sectors but are reported separately under different EU legislation.

This briefing presents an overview of the latest policies and measures reported by Member States to tackle air pollution, as required under the National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive. It includes an analysis of synergies with the policies reported under the Regulation on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions (Monitoring Mechanism Regulation), highlighting the importance of coherence between these domains.

The EEA briefing ‘Measures to reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases: the potential for synergies’ presents an overview of the latest policies and measures (PaMs) reported by Member States to tackle air pollution, as required under the National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive.

Policies to reduce emissions of three important air pollutants – ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – mainly focus on the agriculture, transport and energy sectors, the EEA briefing shows.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Macau Photo Agency)

The EEA briefing also looks at links between the policies and measures tackling air pollutant emissions and those to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The briefing shows that Member States have identified about one third of their air pollution policies to have links with national policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which are reported under the Regulation on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions (MMR).

According to the EEA briefing, it’s vital to seek coherence across these areas. Promoting consistency in reporting policies and measures on air pollution, energy and climate change can reduce red tape, foster policy coherence and support the identification of synergies across efforts towards zero pollution and climate neutrality in Europe.

Source: EEA

More than 1500 Photos on the Contest „Natura 2000 in the Frame”

11.12.2020

The photo contest „Natura 2000 in the frame”, which was jointly organized by the project „EU for Natura 2000 in Serbia” and the Energy Portal, was completed on November 27th. During 11 weeks more than 1500 photos took part in this competition and three of them, most successful, will be awarded at the closing ceremony that will be held online on December 17th on the Facebook page of EU Info Center.

The main topics on which photographers amateurs and professionals responded were: protected areas and landscapes, natural beauties, flora and fauna, sustainable human activities (sustainable agriculture, tourism, and other activities). The intention and goal of this photo-contest were to connect the importance of protection of biodiversity with the diversity of natural landscapes in Serbia, highlighting the spaces that will be part of the future Natura 2000 Network, as well as to show to the beautiful public landscapes in Serbia, and to motivate and remind citizens to the importance of protection of the environment and diversity of flora and fauna.

Every week professional Jury selected the three most successful photos received during the week. During the photo competition, 34 photos became finalists, and the three most successful will be awarded at the final ceremony. The Jury is composed by the Team Leader of the project „EU for Natura 2000 in Serbia” Ana Iñigo, Project Manager in the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia responsible for environment and Climate Changes Antoine Avignon, Project Manager in the Ministry of environmental protection – Sector for Nature protection and Climate changes Snezana Prokic, photographer Bojan Džodan, multimedia artist Mina Radović and Editor in Chief of Energy Portal Nevena Djukić.

„Nature photographers show us once again what fantastic photos they can make and what wide opportunities nature gives to them. The Jury had a complex task to make the decision, but they have also allowed us to enjoy fantastic photos. Through them, we can imagine and feel that we are at that location and see something that we did not see before. For me, to be part of the Jury has been a great experience that allowed me to log which sites I shouldn’t miss travelling through Serbia”, said Ana Iñigo.

The Natura 2000 is an international ecological network of protected areas that are classified into two categories according to the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. The project supports the Ministry of Environmental Protection to establish the first list of potential sites in Serbia that will be part of the European Natura 2000 Network.

Photo contest „Natura 2000 in the frame” gather several hundreds of photographers and nature lovers that equal participate for the one of three main award – 1st prize 60.000 dinars, 2nd prize 45.000 dinars, 3rd prize 35.000 dinars.

The exhibition of the most successful photos is postponed due to a specific epidemiological situation and will be held once the conditions allow it, probably during spring 2021.

Human Activities Put Pressure on Every Part of Europe’s Seas

10.12.2020

sea_ocean_turtle_more_okean_morska_kornjača — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jakob Owens)

The EEA briefing Multiple pressures and their combined effects in Europe’s seas summarises the results of a spatial pressure assessment by the EEA and its European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine waters (ETC/ICM), which shows that a wide range of human activities at sea and on land cause pressures on Europe’s seas.

Nearly all of Europe’s marine area (93 percent) is under various pressures from human activities and there is hardly any part of this area that is not affected by at least two of such pressures, the EEA briefing shows.

According to the EEA briefing, the main pressures, including pollution, loss of habitats and disturbance from demersal fisheries that are most intensive along the coast and in the shelf areas.

Climate change adds to the concerns over the resilience of marine ecosystems.

The EEA briefing shows that the most extensive effects are in the coastal and shelf areas of the North Sea and, partly, in the Baltic Sea and Adriatic Sea.

Serious effects were found in the narrow shelf areas of the western Mediterranean Sea. Major data gaps in the assessment were identified in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The growth of the EU’s maritime economy is leading to increased competition for marine space and resources. For human activities on land and sea to be sustainable, they need to be decoupled from the degradation of marine ecosystems, the EEA briefing states.

Source: EEA

Micromobility: Major Study Shows Electric Bikes Are Good For Health

09.12.2020

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Okai Vehicles)

Electric bicycles are divisive in the cycling community. Some cyclists think that they are for lazy people and others think that they are unsafe. But that’s not what the evidence shows. A systematic review of the literature on electric bicycles found evidence from studies that they are healthier than non-cycling alternatives. But there are caveats.

Let’s talk about the study and its provenance first. Health benefits of electrically-assisted cycling: a systematic review was published November 21, 2018 in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (IJBNPA), an open access, peer-reviewed journal with a very respectable impact factor of 5.548. That means a lot of people cite articles in IJBNPA in later studies. It’s a credible source with typically high-quality content. The lead author, Jessica Bourne, and the other authors are all associated with the University of Bristol in the UK, specifically its Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School of Policy Studies and the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre.

The study itself is a systematic review. That’s second from the top of the pyramid of medical evidence. Given the quality of the publication and the quality of the evidence level, we can take these results seriously, and know, among other things, that they are not overstated.

So the study is very solid evidence of high credibility. But what does it find?

“There was moderate evidence that e-cycling provided physical activity of at least moderate intensity, which was lower than the intensity elicited during conventional cycling, but higher than that during walking. There was also moderate evidence that e-cycling can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in physically inactive individuals.”

That’s quite positive actually. The translation of the conservative wording is that it’s healthier than walking over the same distances and is much better than being sedentary.

There are provisos, of course, and the study team was careful to call them out.

“Evidence of the impact of e-cycling on metabolic and psychological health outcomes was inconclusive. Longitudinal evidence was compromised by weak study design and quality.”

All these sentences say is that no study lasted long enough or was structured well enough to determine if people were actually healthier long term using electric bikes. Some studies focused on weight loss, and as the current literature finds, weight loss is 80 percent intake and 20 percent output. Many studies make it clear that being sedentary is unhealthy, and being active at the level of walking and above are healthier.

The relative lack of evidence in this space is more of a concern. Only 17 studies were sufficiently robust to pass muster and be considered in the systematic review. That’s part of the process of a systematic review by the way, to define the criteria for inclusion and carefully assess the quality of the studies. Bad science and anecdote need not apply. 11 of them were acute, meaning that they put people on electric bikes and measured their heart rates and the like, and 6 were longitudinal, which means that they tracked health outcomes over time. As the proviso says, the longitudinal studies weren’t that strong.

But still, if we accept that walking is healthy, then electric bicycling is healthy, especially over longer distances. As a 2017 study assessed in the systematic review concluded:

“… changing the commuting mode from car to E-bike will significantly increase levels of physical activity while commuting.”

A 2014 peer-reviewed and published survey of over 500 US electric bike users found that they traveled further with more cargo, and found a common thread that the target market was not necessarily current cyclists, but those who found cycling challenging for one reason or another.

“Results suggest that e-bikes enable users to bike more often, to travel longer distances, and to carry more cargo with them. Additionally, e-bikes allow people who otherwise would not be able to bike (because of physical limitations or proximity to locations) the ability to bike with electric assist.”

A pair of studies out of the Netherlands are interesting. The first found that electric bicycles were used for trips on average of 14.1 kilometers (8.8 miles). The second study showed that normal bicycles were used for trips up to 7.5 kilometers, although it didn’t provide an average. This suggests good empirical evidence for what is anecdotally obvious: people with electric bicycles ride them further.

And with further travel, health benefits improve. If the average person travels double the distance at half the intensity, that’s a similar total exertion. For commuting, which typically isn’t a time trial aiming for intensity training outcomes, this is very reasonable.

But the studies don’t cover other health aspects worth considering. As CleanTechnica reported, there are higher severity injuries and even occasional fatalities for rider and pedestrians being reported. Some of them are related to unexpected speed and mass on the part of the rider, and others are related to poor cycling infrastructure. Neither are insurmountable and both are at low enough levels that they fall into the background of improved population health.

The next aspect is more important. Electric bicycles aren’t replacing other bicycles for trips, but are often replacing cars. And electric bicycles have zero point-of-use emissions and do not contribute to road congestion. Electric cars are zero point-of-use emission of course, but still cause congestion with its attendant commuting-related health challenges. The health impacts of pollution are well understood, and lengthy commuting times in cars have been linked to a wide range of health ailments, including hypertension and obesity.

While some cyclists consider electric bicycles to be solely for the lazy and unfit, they should consider the evidence. Anything which gets more cyclists on the road increases safety for all cyclists. And electric bicycles are much healthier than driving for all involved.

There’s one last element to be considered, something which has come into sharper focus since this article was published two years ago. North America has many more electric bikes with throttles, not pedal-assist. Europe requires pedal-assist for any bike on the roads or paths, but that’s not the case in many other jurisdictions, such as in the United States. There’s a strong potential that many North American riders are treating their electric bikes as electric mopeds, and pedaling rarely if at all. As such, the personal health benefits they accrue are lower or nonexistent. However, the societal health benefits are just as strong.

It’s clear that electric bicycles make individuals healthier, and jurisdictions should be actively encouraging electric bicycle use.

Source: CleanTechnica

Wider Use of Carbon Markets to Boost Net-Zero Future

09.12.2020

termolektrana — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Hassan Afridhi)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ivo Lukacovic)

If more countries start recognizing the catalytic potential of carbon markets, the cost of achieving their climate mitigation targets will go down. This will make it easier for countries to step up ambition of their climate efforts and aligning more closely with the 1.5 °C temperature threshold of the Paris Agreement when communicating new or updated national plans.

Now that the global Covid-19 pandemic is straining public finance and fuelling a rise in government debt, it is more important than ever to find the most cost-effective action to abate carbon emissions, and to increase the role of private finance in doing so, an EBRD paper published.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement establishes two new carbon-trading mechanisms to boost climate mitigation, one for two countries to trade in carbon credits directly and one to trade carbon credits originating from emission reduction projects under international supervision. This has increased the potential for more global carbon markets to play a pivotal role in incentivising the generation of cost-efficient emission reductions and/or removals, as it gives one more policy option to countries drawing up their individual plans – known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Also companies, when authorised by countries, could use these instruments for their investments and operations to be aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Research supported by economic modelling has shown that International carbon markets could reduce the costs for implementing current NDCs by more than half (USD 250 billion per year in 2030), compared to with a scenario where all countries would implement their NDCs independently.

Carbon markets are starting to build further momentum and there is a groundswell of interest among private sector actors as evidenced by the newly formed Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets, launched by Mark Carney. Already one-third of the countries that have so far submitted NDCs say they intend to make use of international carbon markets. This can be further leveraged if the rules under Article 6 are clarified and adopted by COP26.

The paper urges a broader uptake of carbon markets, which can help lower the cost of achieving mitigation targets and help countries ratchet up the ambitions set out in their NDCs to implement policies and practices that could limit global warming to 1.5 °C.

Carbon markets offer much-needed flexibility for countries to meet their NDC commitments, to create fiscal space for a Just Transition and can act as a risk management tool in the transition to a net zero economy by ensuring countries can meet their NDC targets. A strong enough carbon price can guide new investment opportunities in emission reductions in the short term and towards a predominantly carbon removals market after 2030.

EBRD is part of the MDB Joint Workgroup on Article 6 and advises its countries and clients on carbon market development activities to facilitate a green economic transition.

Source: EBRD

ABB’s Digital Water Management Solutions Easing Water Shortage in India

08.12.2020

water - india - bird — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Ashwini Chaudhary)

With an annual rainfall of just 570mm, Koppal is a semi-arid region where the groundwater table only produces saline water. Water shortages are a daily challenge for the region’s one million inhabitants. As part of a multi-village clean drinking water scheme, the local government of Karnataka is sponsoring a water management program that encompasses harvesting rainwater, recharging ground water and rejuvenating old lakes. And ABB’s digital water management solutions are an integral part of the program.

Through the lead contractor L&T Construction Water & Effluent Treatment IC, ABB is providing the Rural Drinking Water & Sanitation Department, Karnataka with a solution that will improve control at pumping stations and reservoirs, and help them measure and optimize water use. The solution will also help them pump and distribute treated river water to rural homes through a widely dispersed water distribution network that spans close to 245 km and includes 620 overhead tanks and 16 reservoirs.

As part of the project, ABB is supplying 635 digital AquaMaster 4 flowmeters, which measure water flow in real time to track exactly how much water is passing through the network. Easy to install and running on battery power, the flowmeters offer reliable measurement accuracy down to flow velocities lower than 0.1m/s, making them the ideal solution to detect the small but continuous leaks that exacerbate the water shortage challenges in the Koppal district.

The flowmeter’s unique mobile app interface, which saves time and resources by eliminating the requirement for special cables, tools or the input of a trained engineer to set up the meter or read data on it, is another factor making this solution so workable for the region. The device is largely self-sufficient in operation, with automatic self-health check and auto calibration features.

A network of RTUs (remote terminal units) will be installed at remote locations and pumping stations, and the ABB Ability™ Symphony Plus SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system will supervise and control the operation. The SCADA solution will help monitor and analyze daily flow consumption patterns to identify possible leaks and send the information in real time to a central control room so they can be swiftly repaired.

“As India moves swiftly towards smart and sustainable villages, towns and cities, one of the key challenges is water management,” explains G Srinivas Rao, Head of Measurement & Analytics for ABB in India. “This project shows how ABB’s digital water management solutions can be deployed not only in cities but also to provide clean, drinking water in the villages that are crucial to our agrarian economy.”

“The drinking water scheme in Koppal raises the cultivable land and increases the productivity of crops per hectare, so that income from agriculture is increased, helping conserve the overall ecosystem of this area,” adds Vivek Malhotra, Head of Product Management at ABB Measurement & Analytics in India. “Reducing water wastage by addressing leaks in the network and consumption pattern analysis, will help augment the water supply, ensuring an optimum level of drinking water is available to each person in the future.”

As Koppal looks at the next level of growth in industries and agriculture, this major water management project will ensure the availability of infrastructure facilities for the district to forge ahead.

ABB flowmeters are also in operation in cities across India, including Delhi, Bangalore, Surat, Ranchi, Kolkata, Udaipur, Chennai, and in semi-urban and rural areas like Gadag in Karnataka and Jawai in Rajasthan, helping India develop more sustainable and smarter habitats.

Source: ABB

African Ministers of the Environment Commit to Support a Green COVID-19 Recovery Plan

08.12.2020

elephants-slon — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Ministers of Environment across the continent of Africa have agreed to support a comprehensive green recovery plan to boost economies and social systems aimed at building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a ministerial statement issued at the closing of the eighth special session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), representatives of the 54 African governments reaffirmed their commitment to enhance environmental resilience as well as to protect and sustainably use natural resources for the region’s development.

In a high-level Ministerial regional conference that was held virtually under the theme “Enhancing environmental action for effective post-COVID recovery in Africa”, participants further called to accelerate the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems as part of an effort to sustainably build back African economies from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa and President of AMCEN said: “whilst this pandemic is having a profound negative impact on sustainable development and our efforts to combat environmental degradation and eradicate poverty, it also presents opportunities to set our recovery on a path of transformative sustainable development.”

“The African Green Stimulus Programme seeks to address, in a sustainable manner, the devastating socio-economic and environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to, more importantly, harness the opportunities which this approach brings for the Continent,” she added.

Ministers noted the importance of policies and programmes linking public health, pollution abatement, climate action, biodiversity conservation, ecosystems integrity, socio-economic equity, and prosperity for an effective recovery from COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.

While noting the impact COVID-19 pandemic has had on Africa’s socio-economic development, the ministers acknowledged it has particularly undermined efforts to achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty.

Ministers recommended that an effective recovery strategy from COVID-19 pandemic is essential, and it can present opportunities to further mainstream environmental considerations across all facets of African economies, striving towards a more environmentally friendly, resilient, low-emissions and inclusive sustainable development.

“In overcoming the pandemic, we can also avert climate catastrophe and restore our planet. I congratulate Ministers on their deliberations this week on a green recovery programme for the continent. I call for international solidarity and for the domestic realignment of resources to fund the green recovery,” said Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

Also, in the conference, environment ministers committed to working with the global community to secure a robust, ambitious and transformative post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that aims at reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

While noting that Africa’s rich biodiversity is a valuable asset in mitigating climate change, ministers emphasised the need for further elaboration of adaptation planning and implementation under the Paris Agreement to address extreme weather and slow-onset events.

Ministers reiterated their continued support for multilateral cooperation at regional, continental and global levels, as well as their support to the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme to be held from 22 to 26 February 2021.

Source: UNEP

Western Balkan’s Countries Peeking Into the Right Direction, but still Lagging Behind in Transforming the Energy System

07.12.2020

coal-fired-power-plant-zagađenje — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The Energy Community Secretariat’s 2020 Implementation Report highlights some of the key obstacles in transforming the energy system of the involved countries, including the Western Balkans, in the foreseen timeline.

The Energy Community still does not have a 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, as well as targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, while setting these targets for its contracting parties has been a priority since 2017.

The report also makes it clear that the Ministerial Council, the highest authority of the Energy Community, failed to adopt decarbonisation guidelines, as well as to address continuous breaches of the acquis by its members, namely contracting parties.

These tasks still remain unfulfilled, although 2020 was supposed to be a decisive year for setting clear emission reduction goals by 2030 as well as concrete strategies to achieve them to accelerate the energy transition in the Energy Community countries.

“The Energy Community contracting parties still have a lot of work on their plate as they’re still falling short of complying with their treaty obligations. The region cannot afford further delays in taking action to lower their emissions and set NECPs which would reflect the ambition in line with the EU and the Paris Agreement”, said Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN).

Delays in the just and clean energy transition in the region come at high economic and societal costs.

“The Western Balkans’ chronic coal dependency results in continued ill-health and early deaths in the region and beyond. A dependency of this magnitude requires vision, ambition, decision, now, for a transition to a sustainable, climate-friendly and healthy energy system“, added Senior policy officer, health and energy at HEAL, Vlatka Matkovic.

Source: caneurope

Soil Pollution a Risk to Our Health and Food Security

06.12.2020

Each year, the world marks World Soil Day on 5 December to raise awareness about the growing challenges in soil management and soil biodiversity loss, and encourage governments, communities and individuals around the world to commit to improving soil health.

“We depend, and will continue to depend, on the ecosystem services provided by soils,” explains United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) soil expert Abdelkader Bensada.

While soil pollution traditionally has not received the same attention as issues like tree-planting, global momentum picked up in 2018, when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a ground-breaking study: Soil Pollution: A Hidden Reality.

The report found that the main anthropogenic sources of soil pollution are the chemicals used in or produced as byproducts of industrial activities; domestic, livestock and municipal wastes (including wastewater); agrochemicals; and petroleum-derived products.

These chemicals are released to the environment accidentally, for example from oil spills or leaching from landfills, or intentionally, through use of fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation with untreated wastewater, or land application of sewage sludge.

The report found that soil pollution has an adverse impact on food security in two ways –it can reduce crop yields due to toxic levels of contaminants, and crops grown in polluted soils are unsafe for consumption by animals and humans. It urged governments to help reverse the damage and encouraged better soil management practices to limit agricultural pollution.

In follow up to the 2018 study, UNEP, the Global Soils Partnership, the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, the World Health Organization and the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat are working on another report on the extent and future trends of soil pollution, including risks and impacts on health, the environment and food security. Scheduled to be released in February 2021, it builds on another UNEP report – Towards a pollution-free planet.

“Soil pollution can lead to the emergence of new pests and diseases by changing the balance of ecosystems and causing the disappearance of predators or competing species that regulate their biomass. It also contributes to the spreading of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and genes, limiting humanity’s ability to cope with pathogens,” says Bensada.

Pollution can also cause the quality of soil to dwindle over time, making it harder to grow crops. Currently, the degradation of land and soils is affecting at least 3.2 billion people – 40 percent of the world’s population.

FAO’s Revised World Soil Charter recommends that national governments implement regulations on soil pollution and limit the accumulation of contaminants beyond established levels in order to guarantee human health and wellbeing, a healthy environment and safe food.

Contaminated soil is also a major cause of land degradation – an issue that is at the heart of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. Led by UNEP, FAO and partners, the initiative is a global call to action to scale up restoration of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems over the next 10 years. This includes promoting sustainable practices to improve soil management.

“Soil has a key role to play in the UN Decade through its ecosystem functions as it affects water regulation, nutrient recycling, food production, climate change and the biodiversity of terrestrial ecosystems,” says Bensada. “Transitioning from soil degradation to practices that restore soil is critical to ensure the food security and wellbeing of generations to come.”

Source: UNEP

ABB’s 1,000th Fast Charger in Norway Marks Key E-Mobility Milestone

05.12.2020

oslo - norveška - norway — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Eirik Skarstein)

The installation of the 1,000th ABB fast charger in Norway represents a key milestone for the country in its ambitious journey towards achieving a zero-emission economy.

Norway’s ambitious plans to move away from fossil fuels include targets to cut CO2 emissions by as much as 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990, and for all new cars sold from 2025 to be zero-emission. The policy is supported by generous incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), such as exemption from purchasing tax and reduced toll road fees and ferry fares.

ABB has played a key role in helping to enable Norway’s transition to a zero-emission society, and the recent installation of the 1,000th high-power charger in the western city of Bergen is continued evidence of ABB’s commitment to the achievement of ambitious sustainability goals. The Terra HP is capable of delivering 200km of range in as little as eight minutes.

Sustainable transport

Norway has already become one of the world’s most advanced e-mobility societies: EVs make up 10 per cent of the country’s three million cars – a greater proportion, even, than other EV-friendly countries such as The Netherlands and Sweden.

This accelerating trend has resulted in every other new car sale in Norway being pure EV. Since the country’s energy mix is around 98 per cent renewable, largely from hydro power, the reduction in CO2°emissions from the current EVs equates to around 600,000 tons per year.

The sharp increase in EV ownership and use has encouraged the rapid evolution of conventional gas stations. Many now offer EV charging and at busy stations, such as one of Shell’s most frequented stations, every third car ‘filled’ is now electric. A Circle K station was also the first in the world to replace a conventional gas pump with a fast charger, from ABB.

Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB’s global business for e-mobility Infrastructure Solutions said: “We are very proud of the role we play in supporting the energy revolution in Norway. Norway has pioneered the early adoption of EVs and green public transport networks and we are confident that other European countries will see this as a positive blueprint for sustainable infrastructure.”

Electric buses and zero-emission logistics and shipping

ABB is a world leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, offering the full range of charging and electrification solutions for electric cars, electric and hybrid buses as well as for ships and railways. The company has provided power to 150 of Norway’s electric buses – approximately half the country’s electric fleet. In addition, ABB is providing charging infrastructure and services to Norway’s largest grocery wholesaler, ASKO, for their growing fleet of electric trucks.

ABB’s e-mobility support also covers the maritime industry in Norway. Examples include shore-to-ship power solutions at major cruise and ferry ports and supply bases throughout the country which help to reduce emissions corresponding to more than 10,000 cars. At the busiest passenger ferry route, in Oslo, onboard ABB equipment contributes to reduced emissions equivalent to 3,000 cars, while the ABB-powered cruise ferry, Vision of the Fjord, carries tourists on a silent and zero-emission cruise through the country’s iconic fjords.

ABB entered the EV-charging market in 2010, and to date has sold more than 17,000 ABB DC fast chargers across 80 countries. Its commitment to driving progress in e-mobility is shown most clearly through the title partnership with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, which is about to enter its fourth season. From Season 9, in 2022-23, ABB will become official charging supplier to the championship.

Source: ABB

Montenegro Plans to Ban the Construction of a Small Hydropower Plant in the Future

04.12.2020

male_hidroelektrane_voda — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Prime Minister-designate Zdravko Krivokapić promised, in his exposition, that the new government would permanently ban the construction of small hydropower plants on watercourses in Montenegro and that all concession agreements would be revised and reviewed, as well as that amendments to the Energy Law would be made.

He pointed out that the green economy is one of the basic pillars of the new government’s policy and that the ultimate goal is for Montenegro to become an ecological state.

“Privileged individuals have benefited from the construction of small hydropower plants. Our watercourses are one of the greatest natural resources of Montenegro and as such must be preserved “, said Krivokapić.

He further stated that small hydro power plants do great damage to river ecosystems, nature and public finances, and their participation in the energy system is negligible.

“The new government will amend the Law on Energy and review all concession agreements, and we will pay special attention to those that have proven to be harmful,” said Prime Minister Krivokapić.

One of the main tasks of the new Montenegrin government will be to invest in energy and transport infrastructure.

According to him, investing in the environment, adapting to climate change and reducing harmful gas emissions will be the priorities of the new government.

Energetski portal

IRENA and Ocean Energy Europe Partner to Drive Ocean Energy Industry

04.12.2020

wave-dalasi — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The CEO of Ocean Energy Europe (OEE), Rémi Gruet and the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Francesco La Camera, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at the annual Ocean Energy Europe Conference & Exhibition. The partnership will deepen existing cooperation to accelerate the commercialisation of ocean energy technologies, by promoting the right policy incentives and innovative business models in Europe and globally.

Oceans hold abundant, largely untapped renewable energy potential that could drive a vigorous global blue economy, as two new studies, also released today by IRENA show. Fostering a blue economy: Offshore renewable energy and the Agency’s Innovation outlook: Ocean energy technologies find that in addition to providing mainstream power generation, a blue economy driven by offshore renewables will bring major benefits to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal communities.

Ocean energy can not only help to decarbonise power generation, provide affordable and reliable access to electricity, help countries to fulfil Paris Agreement pledges and contribute to global climate action. Offshore renewables can help meet energy needs for shipping, cooling and water desalination, laying the foundation for a broad-based blue economy and industry. They create jobs, improve health, strengthen people’s livelihoods and foster wider socioeconomic opportunities for a green recovery from COVID-19.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA said: “Renewable energy from oceans has the potential to meet four times the global electricity demand of today, foster a blue economy, and bring socio-economic benefits to some of the most vulnerable areas to climate change such as SIDS and coastal areas. Close cooperation with OEE in platforms like IRENA’s Collaborative Framework and Coalition for Action is absolutely vital to share knowledge with industry to ensure a widespread deployment of ocean and offshore renewables in the future.”

Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe added: “We have enjoyed a fruitful collaboration between OEE and IRENA for some time, and I am delighted to formalise it today. Europe is a world-leader in the development of ocean energy, but the massive potential of these technologies is unarguably global in scale. Working on joint initiatives and exchanging information with IRENA will strengthen the advancement of these technologies on the international stage.”

Today, ocean energy accounts for approximately 530 megawatts of installed generation capacity globally. Tidal stream and wave projects currently under construction may add another 3 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity short-term within the next 5 years, most of it in Europe (55 percent), Asia-Pacific (28 percent) and the Middle East and Africa (13 percent). However, with the right incentives and regulatory frameworks in place, IRENA foresees the potential growth of ocean energy up to 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030 globally.

Following the steps of wind power and solar PV, innovative offshore renewables have seen huge cost reductions in recent years. Tidal and wave energy already offer a viable alternative for remote diesel-powered island territories with high electricity costs. As economies of scale push costs down even further, these technologies will become affordable options alongside mature renewable energy sources. Strong R&I programs, revenue support, and regional co-operation in marine spatial planning are now needed to bring these technologies to the commercial stage.

Source: IRENA

Siemens Energy to Deliver Transformers to Scotland’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm

03.12.2020

Siemens Energy has been selected by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind (MHI Vestas) to deliver 114 low-loss 66kV distribution transformers for the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm in Scotland. With an installed capacity of 1,075 megawatts (MW), the wind farm will be Scotland’s single largest source of renewable energy and is forecast to provide low carbon energy for around 1.3 million homes.

The fluid immersed distribution transformers will complement 114 MHI Vestas’ 10MW turbines that the company will deliver to the wind farm located 27 km from the Angus coastline in Scotland. The low-loss distribution transformers were designed to meet high efficiency requirements. The transformer voltage class of up to 72.5 kilovolts (kV) will enable larger power capacities, such as provided by MHI Vestas’ 10MW offshore wind turbines, while keeping energy losses low. After commissioning, the distribution transformers will transform the voltage from the low voltage of produced electricity to the medium voltage level of 66kV needed to feed the offshore transmission substation before going to mainland with an even higher voltage. It is anticipated that the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm will be operational by 2022/2023.

“Siemens Energy worked closely together with us to develop a customized design transformer that perfectly fits our demands for an energy efficient solution with minimum footprint,” said Robert Slettenhaar, Vice President, Head of Procurement and Category Management at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind. “The transformers represent a critical component in our wind turbines and I am glad that with Siemens Energy we found a reliable and experienced partner for this significant project.”

Beatrix Natter, Executive Vice President Transmission at Siemens Energy, said: “I am delighted that we have been chosen to deliver our state-of-the-art distribution transformers for the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm – a project that is forecast to offset 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year and will significantly contribute to reach the UK’s net zero emissions targets.”

„We drive energy transition by innovation and customer dedication. Our team is enabling the efficient use of offshore wind energy, building on our 128 years of experience in transformers,” said Eduardo Terzi, Senior Vice President for Non-Switching Products at Siemens Energy. “Cleaner energy systems around the world is what we aim for, so implementing our lightweight and energy-efficient distribution transformers in Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm is an important milestone on this journey.”

The solution has been specifically designed for MHI Vestas’ needs for a lightweight and compact solution that passes through the opening in the tower base without disassembly. To combine the compactness with challenging and diverging efficiency requirements a newly developed core design, an innovative cooling solution as well as a highly efficient winding arrangement were implemented. The transformers will be filled with safe and biodegradable ester insulation fluid as an environmentally friendly and operationally safe alternative to conventional mineral oil. The transformers have been vibration tested to ensure they reliably cope with the highly demanding service conditions and strong vibration typical for wind power applications. In addition, a short circuit test was conducted to ensure the transformers can withstand potential short circuits.

About 10,000 fluid immersed transformer units built for wind farms in Siemens Energy’s transformer factory Weiz (Austria) in the last 10 years are affirming the company’s position as a leading supplier for special transformers for wind turbines.

For further information on wind energy, please visit the following press feature
www.siemens-energy.com/press/windenergy

Source: Siemens Energy

charge&GO – Your Step Towards Electromobility

02.12.2020

Charge&go-9-min — Foto: Bojan Džodan/MT-KOMEX

Do electric and hybrid vehicles belong to the future or are they reserved only for western, more advanced economies? However, if they are present here and now, such a standpoint is obviously wrong.

Countries around the world tailor their laws so as the electricity would become primary and even the exclusive fuel for vehicles. The most common means for achieving these aspirations are banning the purchase of diesel and gasoline vehicles, tightening regulations on exhaust gases, and restricting the movement of certain categories of vehicles due to their “polluting” properties. Also, the owners of electric cars enjoy other benefits such as exemption from import and purchase taxes, value-added tax and tolls. In certain countries, they can use the lane for buses and do not pay for parking.

Support packages make the total cost of owning an electric car lower than the cost of owning a conventional vehicle. What adds to their appeal is their lower price, improved capacity and performance of batteries, increased range thanks to a single charge, a wider choice of models and lifespan extension. By the end of 2019, the number of electric cars worldwide amounted to 7.2 million. For the purpose of comparison, in 2017, there were 17 thousand of them. However, this trend does not only include cars but it also “electrifies” both public transport and trucks.

Although Serbia has a reputation that it is always lagging behind the West, sustainable transport is slowly but definitely, being popularised in our country. As one of the levers for this progress, the Government allocated 120 million dinars (one million euros) to subsidy the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles, to improve air quality and preserve the environment. About 200 registered electric cars are now cruising throughout our country together with 1,500 hybrids. For electric driving to come to life in this region, it is necessary to develop an appropriate charging infrastructure. To ensure that eco-alternatives to diesel and gasoline vehicles do not remain with “empty batteries”, we surely need electric chargers. Four Tesla superchargers, which were installed at the beginning of the year in the parking of Ikea department store in Belgrade, are in favour of replacing diesel and gasoline with electricity, as well as the announced expansion of charging capacities on domestic highways.

In focus:

The company MT-KOMEX, as one of the leaders in the shift towards electromobility in our country, has recognised the need of the market for installed chargers to be connected in one integral set, so that drivers could find a place to recharge their electric cars more easily. As you might guess, unlike gas stations, there are no electric chargers on every corner. This idea has been put into practice in cooperation with the Finnish company Virta, which is the world’s leading vehicle-to-grid technology provider. This is how charge&GO has emerged as the first regional platform for charging electric vehicles, which will include neighbouring countries in addition to Serbia. MT-KOMEX encourages all interested companies to include their chargers in the charge&GO network.

How does charge&GO work?

The software allows users to quickly find the nearest charger within charge&GO network, as well as vacant charging stations. In just a few clicks, electric car drivers can book the desired charger. They need to create an account on the platform for “booking”, and when they do, they get the opportunity to use other benefits such as lower price.

Unregistered users of charge&GO, use charging points for their four-wheelers with a one-time payment. Of course, there is always a possibility to register and use the platform with the mentioned benefits. As of October, a mobile app for iOS and Android mobile platforms is also available, which will make charging even easier since drivers will be able to start charging process faster and easier by merely selecting the charger on the map. Apart from the fact that users will be able to move around the country and the region without any worries, thanks to the cooperation of MT-KOMEX and Virta, they will have electric chargers in 28 countries around the world that are part of this global platform at their disposal. And without the additional cost of roaming!

Electromobility is not green without green energy

Even though electric cars do not emit greenhouse gases, many experts point out that these vehicles are an insufficiently clean alternative to diesel or gasoline vehicles in countries whose energy mix relies heavily on coal. Serbia is among them. Although electric cars do not emit pollution on roads, they indirectly participate in the emissions in Kostolac. MT-KOMEX is also trying to change that, by building more than 4,000 kW of small solar power plants across the country and region.

About MT-KOMEX

MT-KOMEX company offers its clients expertise, security, and reliability based on 27 years of experience. In the past ten years, they have gradually complemented their core business thanks to their participation in the branching of the charging network for electric vehicles, as well as in numerous power plant construction projects. Along with technological changes in various industrial sectors, they were also adopting new skills and knowledge. Employees are trained to install chargers, both in smaller residential and business units and in larger facilities with more demanding infrastructure, in parking lots, gas stations and corridors and highways. Their skills are evident, and it is enough to take a look at their portfolio – they earned the trust of car manufacturers and their representatives such as BMW, British Motors, Hyundai, Fiat, Renault as well as public garages, hotels, shopping malls and gas stations on Serbian highways. It is quite possible that you will also recharge your electric vehicle on their electric charger which you have reached through charge&GO platform. “We are sure of ourselves, and that is why you can be sure about us”, is the message of MT-KOMEX.

Prepared by: Jelena Kozbasic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT, september-november, 2020.

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