Just How Much Is The Earth Heating Up?

04.10.2020

crack-995370_1920 — Photo illustration: Pixabay

Data from NASA shows the Earth gradually heating up since the late 19th century. Since the year 2000, this trend seems to have accelerated as shown in the visualization of the data released. August 2020 was about 2.14° C hotter than the average month recorded on Earth since 1880.

As seen by the monthly temperatures of selected years since 1880, winter temperature is naturally below the multiyear mean of the reference period, which is a single figure showing the monthly mean temperature over a long period of time irrespective of seasons. Summer temperatures are naturally above the base period multiyear mean but have been diverging further and further from it.

As confirmed by NASA and NOAA, the months from February to April as well August 2020 were the second-warmest of their kind ever recorded, while January and May and July 2020 about tied for second-place.

Scientists at NOAA are projecting that 2020 will become the second-hottest year ever recorded. As of now, 2016 exceeded the Earth’s mean temperature most (calculated for the years from 1980 to 2015 and used as a reference period for the chart). 2019 was also really scorching and is currently the second-hottest year on record.

The global data for near-surface temperatures comes from onshore weather stations as well as from ship, buoys and satellite measurements of the oceans. According to scientific findings, the continuing global warming will lead to changes in the strength, frequency, spatial extent and duration of extreme weather events.

Source: weforum

Renewables Could Cover More Than One-Third of Energy Demand in CESEC

03.10.2020

windpark_vetropark — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Within ten years, the economies of Central and South Eastern Europe could cover 34 percentage of their rising energy demand cost-effectively with renewables, a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) finds.

The Renewable Energy Roadmap for the Central and South Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity initiative (CESEC), released today at the meeting of CESEC Ministers hosted by the European Commission and the Croatian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, shows that accelerating the take-up of renewables in the region could save CESEC citizens an estimated EUR 3 billion per year in energy costs in 2030. Furthermore, the economic value of avoided health, environment and climate damage could push total benefits to society up to EUR 35 billion per year in 2030, IRENA finds.

IRENA’s energy transition path for the region estimates that additional investments of EUR 78 billion are needed between now and 2030 in order to enable CESEC members to build an energy system that is substantially less reliant on imported fossil fuels, while delivering energy at competitive costs. Moreover, accelerating the take-up of renewables in the region would cut additional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 21 percentage beyond planned policies – comparable to today’s total emissions of Romania and Bulgaria combined.

By placing energy transition investments, regulations and policies at the heart of the region’s economic development, policy-makers can simultaneously alleviate the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, stimulate green recovery and sustainable job creation, and accelerate the transformation of the energy sector.

“Central and South Eastern Europe has a tremendous potential for renewable energy”, said IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera. “Renewables can reduce the region’s energy bill to the benefit of citizens and industry while improving energy security, air quality and aligning the region with long-term decarbonization goals of the Paris Agreement. Renewables also provide countries with a cost-effective way out of fossil fuels and towards a modern, resilient and sustainable energy future.”

Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy added: “The benefits from investing in renewables at this time of recovery are significant – for the economy, for the consumers and for the environment. As highlighted by the IRENA report, focusing on solar, wind and hydro power would create local green jobs and allow the region to gain from closer energy cooperation.”

IRENA estimates that all CESEC members have cost-effective potential to accelerate the deployment of renewables over the next decade beyond current policies. By stepping up capacity, the share of renewables in the energy mix in CESEC members would reach 23 percentage to 56 percentage in 2030.

Achieving the shift to modern, clean, competitive and regionally-integrated energy systems will require decisive policy action at national and regional levels. The development of a long-term vision in national plans is key and can be an important first step. But the mobilisation of the required investments will also depend on adopting appropriate regulatory and market frameworks. Closer cooperation with neighbours could also help CESEC members to reduce costs and tap the synergies of a regional approach.

Source: IRENA

Nature-based Solutions – An Answer To The Climate Change Challenges In The Western Balkans

02.10.2020

nature-priroda-green-plant-biljka — Photo illustration: Pexels

Nature-based Solutions offer a cost-effective, no-regret solution to reducing disaster risks and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. While still an emerging concept, evidence has shown the benefits of Nature-based Solutions to societies, national economies and ecosystems. They have emerged as a powerful ally to address societal challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and disaster risk reduction.

In March this year, the IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) launched a regional project, supported by Sida, with the long-term goal of increasing the climate-resilience of societies in the Western Balkans – the ADAPT project: Nature-based Solutions for resilient societies in the Western Balkans.

“Nature-based Solutions open up pathways for solving multiple societal challenges all at once. They are cost-effective options that positively contribute to disaster risk management and offer long-term economic, social and environmental benefits. The protection and restoration of natural ecosystems is an economically viable and safe way to adapt to climate change and reduce risks of natural disasters,” emphasised Boris Erg, Director of the IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia opening the first virtual Nature-based Solutions webinar with a spotlight on the Western Balkan region. “Our new ADAPT initiative aims to mitigate the effects of climate change and increase societal resilience in the Western Balkans by introducing Nature-bases Solutions into relevant regional and national policies and implementing pilot projects on the ground,” he added.

The first regional Nature-based Solutions webinar presented an overview of the major challenges faced by Western Balkan countries and brought together an array of experiences from the region highlighting opportunities of utilising them for reducing disaster risks and adapting to climate change.

“The post-COVID-19 world presents a timely opportunity to alter traditional policies, investments, and decisions on an economic recovery that is more resilient. Healthy natural systems reinforce stronger and healthier societies. Nature-based Solutions offer a bridge and an opportunity to adapt to climate change effects, while improving economic recovery and sustainable livelihoods, saving lives and properties. ADAPT has great potential to contribute to Agenda 2030 and EU accession in the Western Balkans,” stressed Maria Osbeck, Senior Advisor Environment and Climate from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in her welcome remark.

To showcase existing initiatives and applicable solutions in the region, Stevko Stefanoski, Head of Department for Analysis, Assessment and Strategic Planning, Crisis Management Center offered insights on how North Macedonia has applied Nature-based Solutions for disaster risk reduction. It demonstrated that sustainable forest management is essential ingredients to manage disasters effectively and to increase the resilience of local communities. “The Republic of North Macedonia is strongly committed to fully integrate into the EU polices and our government and relevant institutions are continuously working to achieve the required standards in various fields. Implementation of Nature-based Solutions support major EU strategies, such as the European Green Deal, EU Biodiversity Strategy and EU Adaptation Strategy. The motivation for our involvement in the implementation of the ADAPT project and the application of the Nature-based Solutions standards is at the top of our priority list,” he emphasised during the presentation.

“Nature-based Solutions can be a cost-effective response especially in a transboundary context where the cost of addressing transboundary issues is not easily taken up by a single country. An official cooperation process, as in the case of the Drin Basin, can provide a framework for moving from ad-hoc NbS interventions to address issues, to NbS related policy recommendations and policy making,” stressed Dimitris Faloutsos Deputy Regional Coordinator, Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) presenting an overview of transboundary cooperation and integrated water resources management in the Drin Basin.

There is growing evidence at the global level on and momentum behind the importance of Nature-based Solutions and sound progress with documenting, communicating and mainstreaming these solutions into climate change and sustainable development policies and disaster risk management.

The aim of the regional ADAPT initiative, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), is to apply innovative solutions to increase community resilience in the Western Balkans, for instance to a flood or drought event, reduce environmental degradation, increase social and gender equality, and thus adapt to longer-term changes over an extended period. The project will be implemented in six Western Balkan countries and will involve national and local partners, with two Nature-based Solutions pilot projects that will be executed in Albania and Serbia.

Source: IUCN

Humans Destroyed an Ecosystem the Size of Mexico in just 13 years

02.10.2020

posečena-šuma — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Between 2000 and 2013, Earth lost an area of undisturbed ecosystems roughly the size of Mexico.

That’s the mind-melting finding of a new study published in One Earth and the researchers say it has “profound implications” for global biodiversity and for humans who rely on natural resources.

“We were expecting there to be high levels of intact ecosystem and wilderness loss, but the results were shocking,” lead researcher Brooke Williams of the University of Queensland told The Guardian. “We found substantial area of intact ecosystems had been lost in just 13 years – nearly two million square kilometres – which is terrifying to think about. Our findings show that human pressure is extending ever further into the last ecologically intact and wilderness areas.”

In total, the researchers found that 1.9 million square kilometers (approximately 700,000 square miles) of previously intact ecosystem area had been “highly modified” during the study period. They also found that 58.4 percent of Earth’s land ecosystems were under “moderate or intense” pressure from human activity, while only 41.6 percent of ecosystems were intact and 25 percent were true wilderness.

The 1.9 million square kilometers lost were mostly tropical and subtropical grasslands in Asia, South America and Africa, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which participated in the research. The rainforests of Southeast Asia also suffered significant human encroachments.

To achieve these results, an international team of 17 scientists from six countries used satellite imagery to assess the human footprint on land-based ecosystems and how it had changed between 2000 and 2013, The Guardian explained. The researchers found that human pressure increased on nearly 20 percent of the globe and decreased on only around six percent.

“Data does not lie,” senior author James Watson from WCS and the University of Queensland said in the WCS press release. “Humanity keeps on shrinking the amount of land that other species need to survive. In a time of rapid climate change, we need to proactively secure the last intact ecosystems on the planet, as these are critical in the fight to stop extinction and halt climate change.”

The study comes amidst other dire news for wildlife and biodiversity. A UN study released last week found that world governments had failed to achieve any of the 20 targets they had set for preserving biodiversity by 2020. Another study published this month found that wildlife populations had plummeted 68 percent on average over the last 50 years.

Williams explained to WCS why the loss of intact ecosystems is such a big deal for humans and other animals.

“Intact lands are relied on by biodiversity for habitat, and by people for ecosystem services such as climate regulation and clean water,” Williams said. “We continue to take these last functioning places for granted, and our results show urgent action is needed to protect those lands that do remain intact.”

Source: weforum

How Investing In Nature Can Help Tackle The Biodiversity And Climate Crises

01.10.2020

This month, world leaders and experts convened for the UN General Assembly which is culminating in the UN Summit on Biodiversity today. The Summit will emphasise the need to safeguard nature and drive momentum towards the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework. Last year, the UN Summit on Climate, also convened during UNGA, focused on addressing the climate emergency.

Just as our societies and economies are inextricably linked with and dependent on biodiversity, nature loss and climate change are also linked – and great benefits for people and planet can be achieved if they are tackled together. The COVID-19 pandemic has made an even stronger case for a fundamental shift towards net-zero, nature-positive economies.

The health crisis is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of overlooking biophysical risks on human wellbeing, businesses and economies. We must urgently and deliberately seize the narrowing window of opportunity to avoid such crises in the future.

As we reach irreversible tipping points for both nature and climate, the time to act is now. Over half of the world’s GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature and, in 2020, the World Economic Forum ranked climate change as the biggest risk to economy and society. Business-as-usual is no longer good for business.

The safeguarding of natural ecosystems is crucial if we are to meet both biodiversity and climate goals. Stopping deforestation and restoring forests, for example, is one of the best options available to halt climate change; it also brings vast benefits for biodiversity. Such win-win scenarios are central to nature-based solutions and natural climate solutions.

Nature-based solutions are gaining popularity among governments and businesses alike to address environmental threats and solve societal problems by protecting, restoring and sustainably managing ecosystems. They are also a powerful tool against climate change and could provide 37 percentage of the cost-effective CO2 mitigation needed by 2030 in order to stay below 2°C of warming. Natural climate solutions are related but have the specific aim of reducing carbon emissions and increasing the carbon stock in natural ecosystems such as forests and wetlands.

The way in which decarbonization efforts are planned can either help or hinder the reversal of nature loss. In order to reach climate goals, it is estimated that wind and solar must provide almost all new electricity generation capacity between now and 2040. However, the development of such technologies could pose a risk to critical natural ecosystems if not designed with nature in mind. Vast areas of land and sea will be needed to transition to renewable energy and, by some estimates, the production of some metals will need to increase 12-fold by 2050 in order to meet the Paris Agreement’s climate goals.

Some companies are already addressing this issue. Elion, a Chinese salt chemical engineering business, committed to using only renewable energy as well as to ensuring that the land on which solar panels are built is restored and biodiverse. This model is called “eco-restoration and wealth creation”.

As outlined in The Future of Nature and Business Report, there are significant economic gains to be made by transitioning to a nature-positive economy, amounting to $3.5 trillion in additional annual business revenues or cost savings and 87 million new jobs by 2030 in the energy and extractives system alone.

Nature-based solutions can increase the resilience of businesses and livelihoods. For example, Nestlé is using the approach to restore ecosystems and preserve water resources. Its reforestation programme plants trees throughout its supply chain, using an agroforestry approach, which contributes to biodiversity, stores carbon and provides water and nutrients to the crops around them. Farmers implementing this approach with Nestlé, therefore, use less water, achieve greater crop yields and are more resilient to extreme weather events.

Similarly, Unilever, as a part of its commitment to stop deforestation, is working to restore and expand forested areas to “prevent the worst impacts of climate change and safeguard the world’s biodiversity”, in five different landscape programmes across Indonesia and Malaysia. Since 2018, Kering has partnered with Savory to pioneer nature-based solutions for regenerative agriculture in fashion, an industry which, if nothing changes by 2050, will use up one-quarter of the world’s carbon budget and significant amounts of land and water.

Nature-based solutions should form part of the strategy of any forward-thinking organisation looking to reduce their impact on nature and climate and take advantage of the business opportunities of a nature-positive, net-zero economy.

Investing in nature to tackle climate change

Natural climate solutions are also gaining traction in policy and business. Such solutions are proven ways of reducing carbon emissions and storing more carbon in the landscape. The EU’s recently announced Green Deal combines safeguarding nature and reducing carbon emissions to create a sustainable and inclusive growth strategy by implementing approaches such as regenerative agroforestry.

Pharmaceutical giant Bayer has taken steps to make carbon sequestration a crop opportunity for farmers. Bayer rewards growers who generate carbon credits by adopting climate-smart practices and creating a new on-farm revenue stream. Shell also believes that natural solutions can make a big contribution to their net-zero emissions by 2050 strategy. In June 2020, Amazon announced a $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund to invest in companies building products, services, and technologies to decarbonise the economy and protect the planet.

Natural climate solutions are often complex and interconnected and can deliver significant adaptation and mitigation benefits. The Natural Climate Solutions Alliance at the World Economic Forum is working to scale-up affordable natural climate mitigation solutions to help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Restoring and preserving nature can help us fight the twin crises of nature loss and climate change. Addressing these issues together, however, offers wide benefits beyond the obvious reduction in carbon emissions and increases in plant and animal varieties. Doing so would strengthen the resilience of our societies and jobs in the face of environmental, economic and health shocks, as well as improve water and food security.

Governments and businesses alike must promote action that supports biodiversity and natural ecosystems in addition to reducing climate change and its impact.

The benefits of natural solutions are not insignificant and could enable us to build back better. Transitioning to a nature-positive economy could generate up to $10 trillion in additional annual business revenue and cost savings and create 395 million new jobs by 2030. While the integration of climate change and nature in COVID recovery packages is still not as widespread or consistent as it should be, the message is clear: we must not solve problems of today with solutions that create problems for tomorrow.

Investing in nature holds the key.

Source: WEF

Secretariat Supports Albania’s Decision to Stop Hydropower Construction on the Vjosa River

30.09.2020

minihidroelektrana_mini_hidroelektrana_141114_tw1024 — Photo-ilustration: Pixabay

The Energy Community Secretariat supports the announcement made by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to cancel plans for the construction of hydropower plants on the Vjosa river.

Hydropower Balkans Summit

Confrontation: Small Hydropower Plants and Big Issues

The announcement came two weeks after the Secretariat opened a dispute settlement case addressing its concerns with regard to the environmental impact assessment of the HPP Poçem project, a dam on the Vjosa river. The Vjosa River is one of the last unregulated rivers in Europe.

The announcement followed the rejection of a construction permit for the HPP Poçem.

Director Dirk Buschle said: “We fully support the Albanian Government in this decision. As our assessment in the Poçem case showed, the quality of the environmental impact assessment and the procedure were not appropriate for power plants with such a massive impact on the ecosystem of the river Vjosa.”

Source: Energy Community

Renewable Energy Jobs Continue Growth to 11.5 Million Worldwide

29.09.2020

solarni_paneli — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Renewable energy continues to bring socio-economic benefits by creating numerous jobs worldwide, according to the latest figures released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) today. The seventh edition of Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review shows that jobs in the sector reached 11.5 million globally last year, led by solar PV with some 3.8 million jobs, or a third of the total.

“Adopting renewables creates jobs and boosts local income in both developed and developing energy markets,” said IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera. “While today we see a handful of countries in the lead, each country can harness its renewable potential, take steps to leverage local capabilities for industrial development, and train its workers.”

Last year, sixty-three per cent of all renewables jobs were recorded in Asia, confirming the region’s status as a market leader, the new report reveals. Biofuels jobs followed closely behind solar PV, reaching 2.5 million. Many of these jobs are in the agricultural supply chain, particularly in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, with labour-intensive operations. Other large employers in the renewables sector are the hydropower and wind industries, with close to 2 million and 1.2 million jobs, respectively.

Renewables jobs have shown more inclusion and a better gender balance than fossil fuels. The report highlights that women held 32 per cent of total renewables jobs, as opposed to 21 per cent in fossil fuels sectors.

Although precise estimates remain scarce and absolute numbers are small for now, off-grid renewables are creating growing employment, led by solar technology. Decentralised renewable energy can also propel productive uses in rural areas. This job multiplier effect can be seen in farming and food processing, healthcare, communications, and local commerce.

Comprehensive policies, led by education and training measures, labour market interventions, and industrial policies that support the leveraging of local capacities, are essential for sustaining the renewables jobs expansion.

The 2020 edition of the Annual Review highlights promising initiatives to support the education and training of workers. Such efforts revolve around vocational training, curricula-building, teacher training, the use of information and communications technology, promotion of innovative public-private partnerships, and recruitment of under-represented groups such as women.

Policymakers must also prioritise reskilling for fossil fuel sector workers who have lost or are at risk of losing their livelihoods. Many have considerable skills and expertise to contribute to a reoriented, clean energy industry.

The world has seen encouraging growth in renewables jobs. But it can bring about much larger employment by adopting a comprehensive policy framework that drives the energy transition. Never has the importance of such a push been clearer than at this momentous juncture. Even as the world is still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity receives near-daily reminders of what lies in store if we fail to address the gathering climate disruptions.

The need to chart a different course is undeniable, as are the benefits to be reaped. IRENA’s recently-released Post-COVID Recovery Agenda found that an ambitious stimulus programme could create up to 5.5 million more jobs over the next three years than a business-as-usual approach. Such an initiative would also allow the world to stay on track for creating the 42 million renewables jobs that the agency’s Global Renewables Outlook projects for 2050.

Source: IRENA

Say NO to a toxic Europe!

29.09.2020

klimatski_protesti — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Markus Spiske)

We call on you to guarantee that the new EU Chemicals Strategy protects our health and the environment, and fully lives up to the Commission’s commitments towards the zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment. The new strategy must rely upon scientific evidence about all health and environmental effects of chemicals.

Why is this important?

Think of your living room sofa. There’s a good chance that it’s been coated in toxic chemicals to prevent large fires. But what happens in case of a fire? There is increasing evidence that the inhalation of toxic smoke from the chemicals is likely to injure you as much as the flames themselves. Harmful chemicals are used everywhere, including toys, building materials, and much more. We’re literally all exposed to them.

And now, leaked documents prove that rather than protecting our health and the environment, the EU is considering allowing even more toxins in our everyday products. These new plans are going to be finalised and presented in mid-October, but we still have a fighting chance.

According to Europe’s own statistics, two thirds of the chemicals produced in the EU are hazardous to health. And according to the World Health Organisation, 1.6 million lives were lost due to exposures to selected chemicals in 2016 alone, and this is likely an underestimation.

There’s scientific evidence that furniture made from tightly woven natural fabrics is not more likely to catch fire than furniture treated with flame retardants, and produces far less toxic gas. But using toxic flame retardants is cheaper for big business, and the EU is letting them do it.

The Commission isn’t expecting people to be following this news on toxic chemicals too closely – because they know that things like COVID-19 and the recovery plan are in our minds instead. So if we do raise our voices, we’re sure we’ll be heard.

Source: WeMoveEurope

First Solar’s Thin-Film PV Modules Chosen For Largest Urban Solar Power Plant In Europe

28.09.2020

solar_panels_solarni_paneli — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Zbynek Burival)

This week, First Solar shared that JP Energie Environnement (JPee) has decided to use First Solar’s Series 6 solar modules for its 59-megawatt (MW)DC Labarde solar power plant built on a former landmine. It’s an interesting project, to say the least.

The Series 6 modules are some of the most reliable in the solar industry. First Solar backs that up with a 25 year product warranty. Additionally the company notes that “First Solar is one of only five modules in the world to pass Atlas 25+, the Thresher and TUV Long-Term Sequential Tests.” Also buried on the module product page is the news that First Solar’s thin-film solar PV modules have “the best environmental profile in the industry.” They are the “lowest carbon” solar modules on the market, if First Solaris to be believed.

JPee, which is headquartered in Caen, France, currently operates 263MWDC of wind and solar power plants that create enough electricity for 230,000 average French homes.

“The land was designated as a wasteland, unfit for residential or commercial buildings, or agricultural use. JPee, however, secured a 35-year lease for the 600,000-square meter site and began developing the Labarde solar project, which was selected under successive rounds of the PV tenders organized by France’s Commission de Régulation De L’Énergie (CRE).”

“The Labarde project demonstrates the positive role that solar can play within a community. Its role goes beyond transforming sunlight into solar electricity and supporting France’s decarbonization goals, as it helps heal a piece of land that has no other practical use,” said Xavier Nass, Chairman, JPee. “While solar is inherently sustainable, this project is powered by the lowest carbon solar technology and sets new benchmarks for sustainability.”

With over 1,100 MW of solar power installed across 400 projects, “First Solar’s advanced module thin film technology forms the backbone of France’s solar fleet.”

Source: CleanTechnica

WMO Verifies -69.6°C Greenland Temperature as Northern Hemisphere Record

27.09.2020

arctic-greenland — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The World Meteorological Organization has recognized a temperature of -69.6°C (-93.3°F) at an automatic weather station in Greenland on 22 December 1991 as the lowest ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere.
The temperature record was uncovered after nearly 30 years by “climate detectives” with the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes. It eclipses the value of -67.8°C recorded at the Russian sites of Verkhoyanksk (February 1892) and Oimekon (January 1933). The world’s lowest temperature record, of -89.2°C (-128.6°F) on 21 July 1983, is held by the high-altitude Vostok weather station in Antarctica.

The WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes includes records such as the world’s highest and lowest temperatures, rainfall, heaviest hailstone, longest dry period, maximum gust of wind, longest lightning flash and weather-related mortalities.

The weather station at Verkhoyanksk, which previously held the northern hemisphere low temperature record, hit the headlines when it recorded a temperature of 38°C on 20 June during a prolonged Siberian heatwave. WMO is currently verifying whether this is a new record high temperature north of the Arctic Circle (a new category for the archive). That ongoing investigation, following the lead of this evaluation, will also examine possible past occurrences of high temperatures north of the Arctic Circle.

“In the era of climate change, much attention focuses on new heat records. This newly recognized cold record is an important reminder about the stark contrasts that exist on this planet,” said WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas. “It is testimony to the dedication of climate scientists and weather historians that we are now able to investigate many of these older records and secure a better global understanding of not only current, but also historical, climate extremes,” said Professor Taalas.

While most climate extreme observations evaluated by the WMO’s Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes have been made within the last few years, occasionally climate historians uncover long overlooked weather data that contain important climate information that must be analyzed and verified. Such was the case with the just-concluded evaluation of a nearly 30-year-old weather record of an automated weather station at the remote Greenland site named Klinck, located at an elevation of 3,105 meters close to the topographic summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

The automatic weather station operated for two years in the early 1990s as part of a network established by the University of Wisconsin-Madison to record the meteorological conditions around the Greenland Crest during the Greenland Ice Sheet Project. In 1994 it was returned to the laboratory for testing and then sent for use in the Antarctic.

This was before WMO began evaluating global extremes, as the World Weather and Climate Extremes archive was established in 2007. The record came to light only after a WMO blue-ribbon international panel of polar scientists tracked down the original scientists involved. The committee commended the station’s original project scientists in the careful maintenance of the calibrations and metadata for an observation made so long ago. Such diligence indicates a high degree of detail and quality of observation.

After extensive analysis of the equipment, observation practices and the synoptic weather situation of December 1991, the panel unanimously recommended acceptance of the observation as valid.

“This investigation highlights the ability of today’s climate scientists to not only identify modern climate records but to play « climate detective » and uncover important past climate records—thereby creating a high-quality long-term record of climate for climate-sensitive regions of the world,” said Professor Randall Cerveny, Rapporteur of Climate and Weather Extremes for WMO.

The WMO investigations also serve to improve the quality of observations through the careful analysis of observation practices and proper equipment selection.

All components of the Automatic Weather Station had to be selected to be able to function in extremely cold conditions, according to George Weidner, who helped design the station. “On Greenland, all of the sites were installed by snowmobile. So the Automatic Weather Station had to be packed to survive a traverse over very rough snow surfaces. Years of packing experience in Antarctica helped us keep our Automatic Weather Station safe and snug on the sleds being pulled by the snowmobiles,” he said.

Full details of the assessment are given in the on-line issue of the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society on 23 September.

Source: WMO

These Stackable Blocks Could Keep Coal Plants Running, Emissions-Free

25.09.2020

power-plant-coal-ugalj — Photo illustration: Pixabay

As climate change worsens, the future of fossil fuel jobs and infrastructure is uncertain. But a new energy storage technology invented in Australia could enable coal-fired power stations to run entirely emissions-free.

The novel material, called miscibility gap alloy (MGA), stores energy in the form of heat. MGA is housed in small blocks of blended metals, which receive energy generated by renewables such as solar and wind.

The energy can then be used as an alternative to coal to run steam turbines at coal-fired power stations, without producing emissions. Stackable like Lego, MGA blocks can be added or removed, scaling electricity generation up or down to meet demand.

MGA blocks are a fraction of the cost of a rival energy storage technology, lithium-ion batteries. Our invention has been proven in the lab – now we are moving to the next phase of proving it in the real world.

Why energy storage is important

Major renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power are “intermittent”. In other words, they only produce energy when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. Sometimes they produce more energy than is needed, and other times, less.

So moving to 100% renewable electricity requires the energy to be “dispatchable” – stored and delivered on demand. Some forms of storage, such as lithium-ion batteries, are relatively expensive and can only store energy for short periods. Others, such as hydro-electric power, can store energy for longer periods, but are site-dependent and can’t just be built anywhere.

If our electricity grid is to become emissions-free, we need an energy storage option that’s both affordable and versatile enough to be rolled out at massive scale – providing six to eight hours of dispatchable power every night.

MGAs store energy for a day to a week. This fills a “middle” time frame between batteries and hydro-power, and allows intermittent renewable energy to be dispatched when needed.

How our invention works

In the next two decades, many coal-fired power stations around the world will retire or be decommissioned, including in Australia. Our proposed storage may mean power stations could be repurposed, retaining infrastructure and preventing job losses.

For coal stations to use our technology, the furnace and boiler must be removed and replaced by a storage unit containing MGA blocks.

MGA blocks are 20cm x 20cm x 16cm. They essentially comprise a blend of metals – some that melt when heated, and others that don’t. Think of a block as like a choc-chip muffin heated in a microwave. The muffin consists of a cake component, which holds everything in shape when heated, and the choc chips, which melt.

The blocks don’t just store energy – they heat water to create steam. In an old coal plant, this steam can be used to run turbines and generators to produce electricity, rather than burning coal to produce the same effect.

To create the steam, the blocks can be designed with internal tubing, through which water is pumped and boiled. Alternatively, the blocks can interact with a heat exchanger – a specially designed system to heat the water.

Old coal plants could run on renewable energy that would otherwise be switched off during periods of oversupply in the middle of the day (in the case of solar) or times of high wind (wind energy).

Our research has shown the blocks are a fraction the cost of a lithium battery of the same size, yet produce the same amount of energy.

Proving MGA blocks in the real world

Our team perfected the novel material through research at the University of Newcastle between 2010 and 2018. Last year we formed a company, MGA Thermal, and are focused on commercialising the technology and conducting real-world projects.

In July this year, MGA Thermal received a A$495,000 grant from the federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, to establish a pilot manufacturing plant in Newcastle, New South Wales. This project is due to start operating in the second half of next year. The goal is to begin manufacturing a commercial quantity of MGA blocks economically, at scale, for large demonstration projects.

MGA Thermal have partnered with a Swiss company, E2S Power AG, to test the technology in the rapidly changing coal-fired power industry in Europe. Beginning next year, the testing will include retrofitting a functioning coal power plant with MGA storage. This will also verify the economic case for the technology.

We are aiming for a cost of storage of A$50 per kilowatt hour, including all surrounding infrastructure. Currently, lithium-ion batteries cost around A$200 per kilowatt hour, with added costs if energy is to be exported to the electricity grid.

So what are the downfalls? Well, MGA does have a much slower response time than batteries. Batteries respond in milliseconds and are excellent at filling short spikes or dips in supply (such as from wind turbines). Meanwhile MGA storage has a response time above 15 minutes, but does have much longer storage capacity.

A combination of all three options – batteries, MGA/thermal storage and hydro – would provide large-scale energy storage that can still respond quickly to fluctuating renewable supply.

Safe and recyclable

MGA blocks are safe and non-toxic – there is no risk of explosion or leakage, unlike some other fuels.

The blocks can also be recycled. They are expected to last 25-30 years, then can be easily separated into their individual materials – to be made into new blocks, or recycled as raw materials for other uses.

Like any new technology, MGA blocks must be financially proven before they’re accepted by industry and used widely in commercial projects. The first full-scale demonstrations of the technology are on the horizon. If successful, they could allow coal-fired power plants to be used cleanly, and provide hope for the future of coal workers.

Source: World Economic Forum

Domestic Tourism Can Help Drive Economic Recovery in Destinations Worldwide

21.09.2020

pexels-tourist-turista-turizam-putovanja-fotografisanje — Photo illustration: Pexels

As restrictions on travel begin to ease globally, destinations around the world are focusing on growing domestic tourism, with many offering incentives to encourage people to explore their own countries. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with domestic tourism set to return faster than international travel, this represents an opportunity for both developed and developing countries to recover from the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recognizing the importance of domestic tourism, the United Nations specialized agency has released the third of its Tourism and COVID-19 Briefing Notes, -Understanding Domestic Tourism and Seizing its Opportunities.- UNWTO data shows that in 2018, around 9 billion domestic tourism trips were made worldwide – six times the number of international tourist arrivals (1.4 billion in 2018). The publication identifies ways in which destinations around the world are taking proactive steps to grow domestic tourism, from offering bonus holidays for workers to providing vouchers and other incentives to people travelling in their own countries.

Domestic tourism to drive recovery

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “UNWTO expects domestic tourism to return faster and stronger than international travel. Given the size of domestic tourism, this will help many destinations recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic, while at the same time safeguarding jobs, protecting livelihoods and allowing the social benefits tourism offers to also return.”

The briefing note also shows that, in most destinations, domestic tourism generates higher revenues than international tourism. In OECD nations, domestic tourism accounts for 75 percentage of total tourism expenditure, while in the European Union, domestic tourism expenditure is 1.8 times higher than inbound tourism expenditure. Globally, the largest domestic tourism markets in terms of expenditure are the United States with nearly US$ 1 trillion, Germany with US$ 249 billion, Japan US$ 201 billion, the United Kingdom with US$ 154 billion and Mexico with US$ 139 billion.

Initiatives to boost domestic tourism

Given the value of domestic tourism and current trends, increasing numbers of countries are taking steps to grow their markets, UNWTO reports. This new Briefing Note provides case studies of initiatives designed to stimulate domestic demand. These include initiatives focused on marketing and promotion as well as financial incentives.

Examples of countries taking targeted steps to boost domestic tourist numbers include:

-In Italy, the Bonus Vacanze initiative offers families with incomes of up to EUR 40.000 contributions of up to EUR 500 to spend in domestic tourism accommodation.

–Malaysia allocated US$113 million worth of travel discount vouchers as well as personal tax relief of up to US$227 for expenditure related to domestic tourism.

–Costa Rica moved all holidays of 2020 and 2021 to Mondays for Costa Ricans to enjoy long weekends to travel domestically and to extend their stays.

–France launched the campaign #CetÉtéJeVisiteLaFrance (‘This Summer, I visit France’) highlighting the diversity of destinations across the country.

–Argentina announced the creation of an Observatory for Domestic Tourism to provide a better profile of Argentine tourists.

–Thailand will subsidize 5 million nights of hotel accommodation at 40 percentage of normal room rates for up to five nights.

Source: UNWTO

Shanghai Shipping Company to save thousands of tons of fuel annually thanks to ABB Ability™ solution

20.09.2020

ship-1518522_960_720 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

ABB is to install its state-of-the-art engine diagnostics software ABB Ability™ Tekomar XPERT on 12 bulk carriers operated by Shanghai Ming Wah Shipping Co. The fleetwide deployment follows a successful trial on two ships in 2019.

Under the first order for four ships, ABB Ability™ Tekomar XPERT helped Shang Ming Wah save 0.62 tons of fuel per day on each of the ships. The lower fuel use will lead to a dramatic improvement in environmental impact, reducing fleetwide CO2 emissions by an anticipated 5.800 tons a year.

Chen Qiuhua, General Manager, Shanghai Ming Wah Ship Management Center, said: “With changing market conditions, Shanghai Ming Wah is embracing digital technologies while improving management efficiency, which will enable us to retain our full strength and market competitiveness. ABB’s digital solution helps our fleet optimize operations while creating a better experience for our customers.”

The ABB Ability solution analyzes turbocharger and engine performance to provide pre-emptive warnings and recommendations to improve operation. Key engine indicators are provided via intuitive dashboards, allowing the crew to monitor, optimize and benchmark engine performance while preventing engine problems. In one notable example, the solution detected an unusual high cylinder pressure in one engine which increases the mechanical load on cylinder components and can lead to operational hazards. ABB’s solution runs on any engine, regardless of type or age and is built on ABB’s Ability™ platform with the highest standards of cybersecurity.

Source: ABB

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