UNFCCC Work on Building Climate Resilience Continues – Virtually

27.04.2020

desert_pustinja — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Despite the COVID-19 crisis, work is continuing apace on efforts to build resilience to the inevitable impacts of climate change.

Last month, the UNFCCC’s Adaptation Committee (AC) hosted its first-ever virtual meeting, thereby showing its determination to continue delivering timely and high-quality products in the face of the pandemic.

Youssef Nassef, Director of the UNFCCC Adaptation Division, said: “The COVID-19 challenge is giving us the opportunity to rethink our perception of a lot of things including vulnerability, early action, rapid response and what timescales mean when confronted with a crisis. I’m hopeful that the AC will itself be an engine for the world to understand these lessons even after the crisis ends.”

Key issues discussed at the virtual meeting were:

How to most effectively recognize the adaptation efforts of developing countries through the lens of its synthesis paper on How developing countries are addressing hazards.
Considering approaches to reviewing the overall progress made in achieving the global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience, and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
Reviewing an initial draft outline for supplementary guidance for voluntary use by governments as they prepare their adaptation communication and discussing how to ensure that this guidance does not create an additional burden on developing countries.
Finalizing the development—in partnership with the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), partner organizations of the Nairobi work programme, and other stakeholders—of an inventory of methodologies for assessing adaptation needs related to action, finance, capacity-building, technological support and other areas. Members brainstormed ways to ensure the inventory is user-friendly, accessible, and tailored to the needs of the practitioners who will use it on the ground.
Launching a discussion on the synthesis report the AC will prepare as an input into the global stocktake – a periodical assessment of progress towards achieving the purpose of the Paris Agreement and its long-term goals.
Members also discussed the AC’s draft technical paper on data for adaptation and reflected on how the paper can highlight opportunities for international cooperation to improve data availability, use and quality.

All 16 AC members, hailing from 16 different countries, participated in the meeting.

To uphold the practice of ensuring transparency and enabling observer participation, the secretariat invited all registered observers to participate in the Zoom meeting and the floor was open to observers. In total, 29 observers joined the meeting via Zoom and the meeting was broadcast live and is available on demand on YouTube.

Source: UNFCCC

What Are the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?

26.04.2020

documents_dokumenti — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The Paris Agreement and NDCs

2015 was a historic year in which 196 Parties came together under the Paris Agreement to transform their development trajectories so that they set the world on a course towards sustainable development, aiming at limiting warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. Through the Paris Agreement, Parties also agreed to a long-term goal for adaptation – to increase the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production. Additionally, they agreed to work towards making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of these long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement (Article 4, paragraph 2) requires each Party to prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that it intends to achieve. Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures, with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions.

What does this mean?

The Paris Agreement requests each country to outline and communicate their post-2020 climate actions, known as their NDCs.

Together, these climate actions determine whether the world achieves the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible and to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with best available science, so as to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of GHGs in the second half of this century. It is understood that the peaking of emissions will take longer for developing country Parties, and that emission reductions are undertaken on the basis of equity, and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, which are critical development priorities for many developing countries.

Each climate plan reflects the country’s ambition for reducing emissions, taking into account its domestic circumstances and capabilities. Guidance on NDCs are currently being negotiated under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), agenda item 3.

For more information on APA item 3, please click here.

Source: UNFCCC

Sweden Shutters Last Coal-Fired Generating Plant 2 Years Early

25.04.2020

coal_mining_ugalj_rudarstvo — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

It’s good news when a nation makes plans to rid itself of electricity generated from burning coal. It’s even better news when it does so ahead of schedule. Swedish utility Stockholm Exergi announced some time ago it would shut down its KVV6 coal generating station in Hjorthagen in 2022. It actually took one of the facilities two boilers offline last fall. But a milder than expected winter led to lower demand for electricity and so the decision was made to close the entire facility now instead of waiting another two years, according to PV Magazine.

The issue is money. Carbon Tracker, a renewable energy advocacy group based in London, claims that 84% of coal generators in the EU that rely on lignite, or brown coal, are now operating at a loss, with 76% of those which burn hard coal also losing money. In 2017, Carbon Tracker reported “only” 46% of European coal plants were unprofitable. The difference is what it calls the “relentless” competition from solar and wind power. Combined, coal generators are on track to lose more than €6.5 billion in 2020.

Stockholm Exergi says from now on it will focus on carbon negative approaches. “We continue to work on the transition to climate neutral solutions and also solutions to create negative emissions,” says chief executive Anders Egelrud. “Here, the researchers agree: We don’t only need to reduce our emissions to zero but also … to develop techniques to specifically reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”

Europe Beyond Coal, based in the UK, also praised the moves, saying it indicates the fate awaiting coal in Europe. “With Sweden going coal-free in the same week as Austria, the downward trajectory of coal in Europe is clear. Against the backdrop of the serious health challenges we are currently facing, leaving coal behind in exchange for renewables is the right decision and will repay us in kind with improved health, climate protection and more resilient economies.”

Other European nations plan to exit coal in the next few years. France expects to shut its last coal-fired facility by 2022, Slovakia and Portugal in 2023, the U.K. in 2024, and Ireland and Italy a year later. Greece, the Netherlands, Finland, Hungary, and Denmark also plan to eliminate coal-fired power generation this decade as a way of complying with the commitments they made in Paris in 2015. Germany is lagging behind the others as its current plans do not call for a complete phase out of coal until 2038, but economic pain in the coal sector may do before then what politicians cannot do today.

Author: Steve Hanley

Source: Clean Technica

Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Thriving World

24.04.2020

The development of sustainable energy projects, including finance and advisory services, makes the core business of E3 International (E3I). Bonnie Norman, president of E3 International and well-known advisor on the creation of green banks, has more than two decades of experience in strategic consulting. We talked with Bonnie about use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, and she filled us in on new program that should enable creating of energy farms at abandoned land in Serbia.

EP: What projects are in focus and how long has E3I been present in this region?

Bonnie Norman: E3I collaborates with clients to create and scale up bankable sustainable energy solutions for a healthier and more resilient world. We offer sustainable energy project development, finance, and advisory services from offices in Belgrade, the EU, and the US, where we’re headquartered. Our team has been working in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans for the last 20 years. We are a motivated group of experts dedicated to making a difference locally, regionally, and beyond.

The E3I team began its regional involvement in 1999 as the implementing partner for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD’s) Municipal Energy Efficiency Program in Bulgaria. In 2010, E3I expanded its regional work, as implementing partner for EBRD’s Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Finance Facility (WeBSEFF). Through WeBSEFF, E3I has supported over 400 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for commercial, industrial, and municipal enterprises and over EUR 200M in investment, and are developing new projects in Serbia for WeBSEFF financing. E3I is also pleased to serve as local implementing partner for the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) activity in Serbia to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewables in district heating.

EP: What’s your latest initiative?

Bonnie Norman: E3I recently kicked off its Sustainable Lands Initiative (SLI) for Serbia. The Serbia SLI puts government-owned abandoned and degraded agricultural land back in productive use, creating sustainable energy farms to support rural jobs and economic development and to improve the environment—air, soil and water quality, flood resilience, biodiversity, and native forest protection. Our goal is to catalyze EUR 3 billion in private investment—through the SLI’s planned Sustainable Serbia Finance Facility—to improve tens of thousands of hectares of abandoned land and associated rural lives, with a positive return for investors projected in 5-6 years on a 20-year project life.

EP: What’s the driving forces behind the Sustainable Lands Initiative (SLI)?

Bonnie Norman: Several factors are contributing to why the time is right for the Serbia SLI. We’re in a climate crisis—globally glaciers are melting, annual average temperatures are at record highs, extreme weather events are increasing, and locally air quality in Serbia this year has been a focal concern. We have only a short time to avert disaster, to keep global warming under the 2 degrees Celsius threshold by 2030.

Importantly, Serbia has 1. 6 million hectares of abandoned and degraded agricultural land no longer suitable for food production. This land could quickly help provide a natural capital solution to Serbia’s climate challenge as locations for fast-growing wood biomass plantations for energy or for other renewable energy “farms”, like solar, wind and geothermal. Use of cleaner fuels would improve air quality, and co-firing of wood biomass in coal boilers–which can be done right now–would dramatically reduce the contributors to smog in the near term.

The demand for wood pellets and chips regionally and globally is growing beyond the limits of what Serbian forests can sustain. Harvesting fast-growing willow or poplar after 3-4 years makes more sense than depleting forests of mature trees. Creating a stable and predictable biomass market through the creation of biomass centers, as in Lithuania, will protect individuals and businesses from price spikes due to supply constraints – price spikes which would affect the most vulnerable populations disproportionately.

At the Energy and Investment Days in Novi Sad, held in February, biomass expert Professor Glavonjic called fast-growing wood biomass plantations “Serbia’s oil”. Wood chips and pellets from these plantations can be used as a secure local energy source and for export.

Serbia has rural economic challenges which this initiative would address, including declining rural village populations with farmers needing additional sources of income and youth seeking more opportunities. Fast-growing wood biomass plantations are harvested in the winter, when the farmers do not have work, and use conventional farm equipment. Since these plantations (or coppices) will be grown on abandoned, degraded land, they will add to what is currently under cultivation. Adding solar PV, wind, or geothermal farms, where best suited on abandoned, degraded land tracts, will improve the overall investment opportunity and provide next generation local jobs.

EP: What synergies support SLI’s intended transformative results?

Bonnie Norman: The Serbia SLI has synergies with EU programs to support its advancement from donors and partners. It aligns with the objectives of the new European Green Deal, the EU Energy Barge initiative for the Danube, as well as the Dendromass4EU project, which highlights bioeconomy innovation along with cultivation of short rotation wood biomass plantations for sustainable energy. Ikea is a partner in that ongoing effort, along with the European Commission, University experts, and others.

In addition, the Serbia SLI will adapt from the State University of New York (United States) its proven model for commercial short rotation wood biomass production. The SLI targets including Development Credit Authority guarantees currently available through USAID in Serbia for small farm enterprises.

Lastly, the SLI will be structured to spark much new private investment, by securing large credit worthy biomass supply off-takers such as electricity, district heating, or industrial companies. A blended finance approach through the SLI’s planned Sustainable Serbia Finance Facility will result in flows of capital to achieve results at scale, leading to a green bond and further investment. We will build on the learnings of two similar successful (at scale) land recovery finance facilities created by now Assistant Secretary General of UNEP, Satya Tripathi, who has been an inspiration and SLI advisor from the start.

In focus:

EP: Who else is on board?

Bonnie Norman: E3I has received interest and support from the Republic of Serbia at the highest levels, an MOU with the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, where much suitable abandoned land is located, industry partners, leading NGO partners, international and local development finance institutions, local associations, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the banking community, and a wide variety of other stakeholders. We welcome all partners to create impact at scale for the Serbia SLI as quickly as possible.

EP: What’s next?

Bonnie Norman: With donor support, we are completing our feasibility analysis on several key components ahead of project initiation and demonstration starting later this year. With the support of the United Nations in New York, we have targeted a formal launch at COP26, the United Nations’ pre-eminent annual climate convening of which Serbia is a Vice President in 2020. The goal is for the SLI to highlight Serbia’s innovation and leadership in addressing its climate change objectives at scale.

This interview was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine NATURAL RESOURCES, march – may, 2020

Can Electricity Decarbonize the Energy Sector?

24.04.2020

electricity_grid_birds_elektromreža_ptice — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Alex Jones)

The energy sector currently accounts for two-thirds of global carbon emissions;
Expedited progress on energy efficiency and low-carbon sources in the energy mix is required to achieve deep decarbonization;
As the demand to “electrify everything” grows, the carbon footprint associated with every step of the electricity generation process must be assessed and reduced.

A transition to green energy is essential if we are to win the fight against climate change. The energy sector currently accounts for two-thirds of global carbon emissions, with more than 80% of the world’s energy supply coming from non-renewable sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Despite massive investments and innovation in clean technologies like solar and wind power, the overall trend shows no sign of abating. The share of fossil fuels in total energy supply has remained stable for the past three decades.

How can we move the needle? The answer may lie on the demand side. There is a growing trend globally toward “electrifying everything”, from cars, buses and trains to food production, heating and air conditioning – using electricity instead of fossil fuel to power their uses.

But can “deep electrification” of all sectors of the economy equate to deep decarbonization? The answer is not that simple: there will be an increased demand for electricity globally; however, for a while, at least, that increased demand is likely to be met by natural gas and coal. An effective reduction in carbon emissions associated with this deep electrification of the global economy will still require expedited progress on energy efficiency and low-carbon sources in the energy mix.

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency has helped reduce the overall demand and supply of energy, and therefore CO2 emissions too. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on energy efficiency we avoid spending more than $2 on energy supply. Yet globally, progress on energy efficiency has been slow – on average, 2% annually. Moreover, this may have slowed down the transition toward cleaner sources by extending the operational lifetime of existing (fossil-fuel) power plants and network components.

Energy efficiency is needed, but alone will not bring about enough decarbonization; the remaining energy demand will need to be met by near-zero carbon options.

Increased low-carbon sources in the energy mix

As the demand for electricity from end-use sectors increases, it is essential that we reduce the carbon footprint of the electricity grid. There is, unfortunately, a long way to go: coal and natural gas are still by far the most common electricity sources. At the same time, renewables currently account for less than a quarter of worldwide production and even though half of the G20 countries increased the share of renewables in electricity generation up to 2015, nine saw declines in 2015 or preceding years. The global community needs to double down on its efforts to make electricity generation cleaner.

Improvements on the storage side can also ease the pressure on the electricity grid and, ultimately, on the climate. Let’s take the example of new digital platforms, such as smart-charging technology to manage both electricity generation and consumption. With these platforms, it has become technically possible to shift the charging of electric vehicles (EVs) to when the demand for electricity is low (during off-peak times) and low-cost (generated by wind and solar power). This kind of technology could provide a way for countries to optimize existing capacity and meet part of the new demand without building additional power plants, translating into potential infrastructure savings of $100 to $280 billion between 2016 and 2040.

But how much additional electricity demand are we looking at? That could vary significantly based on how fast we embrace this trend of global electrification. Let’s take the example of electric vehicles (EVs). Notwithstanding the hype, EV penetration remains pretty limited at the moment. The US has fewer than 1 million electric cars on the road; by comparison, the country’s gasoline car fleet totals 260,000 units, with another 17 million vehicles sold every year. Even in China, the world’s largest manufacturer and buyer of electric vehicles, EVs account for less than 5% of the domestic car market.

One thing is clear: energy and all other sectors like transport will need to tackle a reduction in carbon emissions from all angles. Electricity can become the fuel of the future, but to make a lasting impact, we will need to look at the full picture. That means supporting green electricity production, optimizing storage and distribution, reducing the carbon footprint of battery manufacturing and pushing for more significant energy efficiency gains across all major industries.

This may all sound like a tough proposition, but working to power the global economy with green electricity is a promising avenue for reducing carbon emissions. Based on recent projections, electrification of energy services, combined with the increased use of renewables and improvements in energy efficiency, could deliver a whopping 90% of the reduction in energy emissions that we need to achieve to meet global climate targets.

This can’t happen soon enough.

Source: World Economic Forum

The Delicate Relationship Between People, Wildlife and the Pathogens

24.04.2020

bride_deer_mlada_jelen_wildlife_životinja — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Capyvara)

In the past, coronaviruses that circulated in humans caused only mild infections. This changed in 2002, when the SARS-CoV virus presented itself in humans as the disease we now know as SARS. In 2020, SARS-CoV-2–a relative of the same virus–has presented itself in humans in the disease we now call COVID-19.

Bernard Bett leads research on neglected and emerging infectious diseases at the International Livestock Research Institute as part of the research portfolio under the Improving Human Health flagship. His studies of zoonoses–diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans–informed the UNEP Frontiers 2016 Report and drew attention to the issue that now concerns just about everyone. In this interview, Bett discusses the delicate relationship between humans, wildlife and the pathogens that circulate among them.

COVID-19 seems to have caught much of the world by surprise. What is your reaction?

I’m not surprised by its emergence. Many emerging diseases have been reported in the last 10 years but we haven’t seen anything like COVID-19, which has affected nearly every country in the world. What is surprising is the rapid spread of this virus across the world.

Zoonotic diseases seem to occur more frequently than before. Why is this?

Zoonotic diseases are increasing. A review of the global trends of emerging infectious diseases since 1940 confirms that their outbreaks have been increasing with time. About 60 per cent of these diseases are zoonotic and slightly over 70 per cent of the zoonotic infections are caused by pathogens that originate in wildlife. Some of the reasons why the frequency of the diseases is increasing is because of the increased close contacts between wildlife and humans, encroachments of lands, urbanization and socio-economic development. As the human population increases and economies develop, the demand for food and other goods increases. Industries like agriculture are intensified. Land use, climate change, economic development, population growth and people living in densely populated areas are all contributors for zoonotic emergence, making it easy for diseases to spill over from animals to humans.

Can you break that down? Exactly how do pathogens merge?

Emerging diseases occur due to changes in the biological structure of a pathogen, the ability of hosts to resist infection and/or the ability of environment to control outbreaks.

A virus that might be harmless today could evolve into a much more pathogenic form, either through genetic mutations or recombination with other organisms that carry critical pathogenic traits. Small mutations often occur as viruses multiply, or as a mechanism to enable these viruses to survive better in their hosts.

For humans, we think of changes in livelihood practices—mainly socio-economic development, which typically promotes intensive agriculture where many animals are raised in a small, dense environment. Animals and birds that are often raised in such farms are of a narrow genetic diversity. Genetically homogenous host populations are more susceptible to diseases.

Land use and climate changes degrade the ability of an environment to control diseases. They destabilize pathogen-hosts interactions that occur in pristine environments, therefore increasing opportunities for zoonotic spillovers. Increased utilization of protected areas for example for horticulture, illegal grazing of livestock or bushmeat hunting bring humans and domestic animals into direct contact with potentially infected environments. When people degrade wildlife habitats or establish their own settlements in some areas, then they become part of the ecosystem. They become part the sylvatic cycle–the cycle of virus transmission that happens between animals in forests.

If you tie these three things together, you have an ideal environment for zoonotic diseases.

Would you say humans are diminishing the boundaries between human and animal life?

Urbanization influences disease occurrence in peculiar ways. Poor drainage and waste disposal systems provide conditions for arthropod vectors, rodents and birds that can transmit pathogens to thrive. The high human population densities in peri-urban settlements is another critical factor that increases effective contacts that would enhance infectious disease transmission.

How does climate change play a role in this dynamic?

There is a great link between climate change and disease transmission. Climate change is driven by the rising mean global temperatures. Its effects on disease transmission is complex. In general, a rise in temperature increases the development rates of vectors and pathogens up to a point (around >40°C), where a further increase in temperature would kill most vectors. Climate change also increases the incidence of extreme events, such as high rainfall and flooding, that have substantial impacts on disease transmission. Flooding, for example, boosts vector abundance, leading to an upsurge in arthropod-borne infections.

The relationship between humans and nature is quite delicate. Where do we go from here?

In terms of diseases, biodiversity is key to maintaining the health of people, animals and the environment. Research has shown that when you conserve nature and when you have multiple host species in place, you reduce the overall risk of transmission of a pathogen through what scientists call dilution effect. This is because in a mixed population of hosts, some would be “dead end” hosts, which don’t allow an infection to occur, hence conserving nature is a way to mitigate disease transmission.

What are some practical lessons we might draw from the response to COVID-19 so far?

Firstly, we need to report these diseases as soon as they occur and mount an effective intervention. Secondly, it’s good to continue what we are doing now–developing drugs and vaccines which can be availed during epidemics. Thirdly, we should be thinking of incentives that allow communities to participate in disease control. Social distancing works well in some areas, but in others where livelihood practices require people to move from one place to another, it’s difficult to implement this measure.

What should we be doing differently, to reduce the occurrence and mitigate the impact of zoonotic diseases in the future?

Nature takes care of itself so the best way to manage zoonotic diseases is to conserve nature and protect biodiversity.

Interventions for emerging infectious diseases should be implemented through multi-agency collaborations espoused under the One Health framework. Zoonotic diseases affect humans, livestock and wildlife at the same time. Medical experts must come together with veterinary and environmental experts and stakeholders to find solutions to these diseases. Social scientists should also be part of these interventions because we need to better understand behaviour in order to implement any changes in communities working in hotspots for zoonoses.

Finally, we need to diversify our focus–look at the economy, look at livelihoods. Because at the end of the day when we want to recover from the epidemics or pandemics, we will go back to our livelihoods. It would be good for governments to think of multi-pronged approaches to managing COVID-19.

Source: UNEP

Renewable Energy Can Support Resilient and Equitable Recovery

23.04.2020

solar_energy_solar_panels_solarna_energija_solarni_paneli — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Advancing the renewables-based energy transformation is an opportunity to meet international climate goals while boosting economic growth, creating millions of jobs and improving human welfare by 2050, finds the first Global Renewables Outlook released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) recently.

While a pathway to deeper decarbonisation requires total energy investment up to USD 130 trillion, the socio-economic gains of such an investment would be massive, the Outlook reveals. Transforming the energy system could boost cumulative global GDP gains above business-as-usual by USD 98 trillion between now and 2050. It would nearly quadruple renewable energy jobs to 42 million, expand employment in energy efficiency to 21 million and add 15 million in system flexibility.

IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “Governments are facing a difficult task of bringing the health emergency under control while introducing major stimulus and recovery measures. The crisis has exposed deeply embedded vulnerabilities of the current system. IRENA’s Outlook shows the ways to build more sustainable, equitable and resilient economies by aligning short-term recovery efforts with the medium-and long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.”

“By accelerating renewables and making the energy transition an integral part of the wider recovery, governments can achieve multiple economic and social objectives in the pursuit of a resilient future that leaves nobody behind.”

The Global Renewables Outlook examines building blocks of an energy system along with investment strategies and policy frameworks needed to manage the transition. It explores ways to cut global CO2 emissions by at least 70 per cent by 2050. Furthermore, a new perspective on deeper decarbonisation shows a path towards net-zero and zero emissions. Building on five technology pillars, particularly green hydrogen and extended end-use electrification could help replace fossil-fuels and slash emissions in heavy industry and hard-to-decarbonise sectors.

Low-carbon investment would significantly pay off, the Outlook shows, with savings eight times more than costs when accounting for reduced health and environmental externalities. A climate-safe path would require cumulative energy investments of USD 110 trillion by 2050 but achieving full carbon neutrality would add another USD 20 trillion.

The Outlook also looked at energy and socio-economic transition paths in 10 regions worldwide. Despite varied paths, all regions are expected to see higher shares of renewable energy use, with Southeast Asia, Latin America, the European Union and Sub-Saharan Africa poised to reach 70-80 per cent shares in their total energy mixes by 2050. Similarly, electrification of end uses like heat and transport would rise everywhere, exceeding 50 per cent in East Asia, North America and much of Europe. All regions would also significantly increase their welfare and witness net job gains in the energy sector despite losses in fossil fuels. However, economy-wide, regional job gains are distributed unevenly. While regional GDP growth would show considerable variation, most regions could expect gains.

Raising regional and country-level ambitions will be crucial to meet interlinked energy and climate objectives and harvest socio-economic welfare. Stronger coordination on international, regional and domestic levels will be equally important, the Outlook concludes, with financial support being directed where needed including to the most vulnerable countries and communities. As partner of the Climate Investment Platform, launched to drive clean energy uptake and mobilise clean investment, IRENA will advance collaborative action targeted to help countries create enabling conditions and unlock renewable investment.

Source: IRENA

Knowledge From Sarajevo Becomes the Development Potential of the Region

22.04.2020

About 300 km from Belgrade, there is one city which I love a lot. Sarajevo is located on the coast of the Miljacka – which would perform a miracle indeed if it demolished bridges as said in a famous folk song. There, I learned about the relevance of making a difference between a pie and a burek (traditional meat pie) and the irrelevance of making a difference between people. In Sarajevo, I discovered an enterprise who makes lives and environment of its present and future residents more comfortable and healthier as well. The company in question is Enova, the leading provider of energy, environmental and security services in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Already in its name and slogan “Inspired by the future”, it shows a commitment to innovative ideas. I had the opportunity to speak with a young, curious and ambitious team of Enova experts who have been implementing projects in their country and region for ten years to transform knowledge into development potential.

Their success is established on the most valuable resource – people, and they base their business on integrity, a culture of collaboration, commitment, excellence, willingness to learn and adaptability. They believe that if they want to be useful to society, they should not only do better or more but work differently.

Enova’s business portfolio includes major international institutions, for instance, the European Commission, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. With this in mind, it is not surprising that the City of Sarajevo and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have entrusted them to design smart urban planning andpublic opinion analysis tools through the Sarajevo – Smart City initiative funded by the Swedish Government.

The smart urban planning tool is a numerical simulation of airflow and is based on computational fluid dynamics. The software enables the dynamic calculation of air currents and the dispersion of pollutants in space and time in real orography. It includes details of urban amenities in critical meteorological conditions such as temperature inversions or wind-free situations, they explained to me in Enova, noting that the simulations would show how urban amenities also affect airflow and pollutant concentrations.

No matter how complex the process of obtaining this information seemed to me as a layman, Enova’s team assured me that the results would be easy to understand for decision-makers and citizens alike. Besides, they are also developing an easy-to-use tool that will enable the analysis of civic expectations when it comes to urban amenities, such as recreation zones, changes in modes of transport, construction of facilities, parks and the like. Citizens will be
able to download the application through social networks, or they will be able to express their opinions on screens placed in public places. Enova’s intention is to encourage citizens to think and get involved in the decision-making process. The ultimate goal, in order to encourage the city’s inventiveness and thoughtfulness, is to implement sustainability into urban planning. They also hope to expand it to other cities.

In focus:

Focusing on Enova’s inspiration, Sarajevo seeks to green its surfaces and enrich biodiversity and to use geothermal energy and energy-from-waste.

Hydropower is a fairly represented renewable source in our neighbour’s energy mix, so I was interested in the public’s perspective on small hydropower plants. In all likelihood, the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina are concerned

A smart city also requires transportation with the same epithet, and members of Enova notified me that the Sarajevo Cantonal Government recently signed a loan arrangement for the procurement of low-emission vehicles for public transport. Enova has been involved in the development of the Green Action Plan that involves a series of proposed sustainable mobility measures. These include the extension of bicycle lanes, the creation of pedestrian corridors, multimodal (combined) transport with suburban connectivity, and more.

According to company representatives, a comprehensive strategic approach is needed to raise awareness of the effects of air pollution. First of all, it involves identifying the target groups. Enova advises that youth should be motivated to turn bike pedals more instead of a steering wheel but draws attention to the need for time and dedication to educating the population, as well as monitoring technological progress and change in the community.

The company believes that there are several challenges on the path of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards more innovation, more extensive use of renewable energy sources and higher levels of energy efficiency. These include outdated technology, a lack of funding, insufficient cooperation between government, industry and the scientific sphere, and the associated lack of technology parks and hubs that would “build” a bond between stakeholders, all for the welfare of the community that would be achieved strengthening energy security.

Prepared by: Jelena Kozbasic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine GRINNOVATIONS, December 2019 – February 2020.

Why Earth Day 2020 Is More Important Than Ever?

21.04.2020

waterfall_vodopad_nature_priroda — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

22 April is Earth Day. While the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been spreading around the world and dominating news headlines, thoughts and attention, the need to take climate action has remained as urgent as ever.

By the end of 2020, global CO₂ emissions need to have dropped by 7.6% and continue to fall by 7.6% each year for us to have keep global heating under 1.5^oC, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emission Gap Report 2019.

Earth day 2020 is not just the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day, but also the anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement to take climate action.

The pandemic is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of humans and the planet in the face of global scale threats. Unchecked damage to our environment must be addressed. In his response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres noted that, “Had we been further advanced in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we could better face this challenge.”

Background on Earth Day

The first Earth Day took place in 1970. Outraged by oil spills, smog and polluted rivers, 20 million people took to the streets, protesting what they recognized as an environmental crisis. It was the planet’s largest civic event at the time and compelled governments to take concrete actions, including passing environmental laws and establishing environmental agencies. In addition to these practical outcomes, the event demonstrated just how much can be achieved when people come together and demand action.

The day continues to hold great significance. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution formally recognizing the day as International Mother Earth Day. On Earth Day 2016, the United Nations formally adopted the Paris Agreement, articulating the commitment of nations to limit global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celcius over pre-industrial levels; and to strengthen the ability of countries to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

Earth Day in 2020

Marking its half-century anniversary, and selecting climate action as its theme, Earth Day 2020 was already poised to be a historic event. An occasion planned to bring people physically together across a series of events, COVID-19 has now prompted a dramatic shift to completely digital and virtual platforms. Earth Day 2020 calls for 24 hours of actions, big and small, for people and the planet. On this 50th anniversary, civil society organizers hope to fill the world’s digital landscape with global conversations, positive acts, performances, webinars and events supporting urgent action on climate change.

As the world rushes to plan for a post-pandemic recovery, UNEP and other parts of the United Nations system see this as opportunity to call attention to the need to “build back better.” The risks faced by ignoring the threats of environmental destruction must be understood and addressed with protections and policies. April 22 is a timely reminder to embrace the opportunities of the natural world for green jobs, sustainable economic stimulus, for urgently taking action to protect ourselves against unsurvivable global heating and for securing healthy, dignified futures.

What can you do?

On April 22, join earthday.org livestreamed discussions, events and actions you can take from wherever you are. Explore the many virtual Earth Day events via this directory to online events across global time zones. There are new tools for volunteering and advocacy and opportunities to participate as citizen scientists–using the Earth Challenge 2020 app to measure data such as air quality and plastic pollution, right where you are. There are challenges for daily action; graphics for sharing on social media; tips for making your own Earth Day window sign; and a place to tell others about your own personal “act of green.”

Front-line community leaders will observe the occasion with a webinar on 21 April, including Earth Day blessings from leaders around the world; a message from youth climate activists; and conversations with religious and indigenous leaders.

Just like on the first Earth Day, 50 years ago, it is time to demonstrate solidarity, take action and send a clear message to world leaders to act on climate change, halt biodiversity and habitat loss, and make certain environmental protection is a fundamental foundation of building back better.

Looking ahead to the next 50 years, and in the lead up to World Environment Day on 5 June, UNEP will be sharing information on actions that can be taken to protect biodiversity, to contribute reforestation efforts of degraded landscapes and to commit to the overall sustainable management of natural resources.

Nature is in crisis, threatened by biodiversity and habitat loss, global heating and toxic pollution. Failure to act is failing humanity. Addressing the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and protecting ourselves against future global threats requires sound management of hazardous medical and chemical waste; strong and global stewardship of nature and biodiversity; and a clear commitment to “building back better”, creating green jobs and facilitating the transition to carbon neutral economies. Humanity depends on action now for a resilient and sustainable future.

Source: UNEP

Europe’s Environmental Footprints Exceed Several Safe Limits

20.04.2020

field_njiva_agriculture_poljoprivreda — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Global sustainability challenges increasingly raise concerns about the stability of the Earth system that supports all life on our planet. A joint study by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), published recently, focuses on four critical elements of that system, such as the nitrogen cycle and changes in land use. The study explores different ways of defining Europe’s share of the global safe operating space and shows that Europe is not yet living within those limits.

A new joint EEA-FOEN report ‘Is Europe living within the limits of our planet?’ explores two key questions related to Europe’s long-term sustainability ambitions. The first question is how to define a ‘safe operating space’ for Europe where all humanity can continue to develop and thrive. The second question is whether Europe’s consumption, or environmental footprint, is currently smaller or larger than its estimated ‘safe operating space’.

The report acknowledges that there are different ways to allocate Europe’s operating space in the global context, which inevitably involve normative choices about fairness, equity, international burden sharing, sovereignty and the right for development. Based on these different allocation principles, the study arrives to a minimum European share of 2.7 %, a maximum share of 21 %, and a median share of 7.3 % of the global limits.

Using a consumption-based analysis for four of the Earths life support systems, the report shows that Europe currently exceeds its safe operating space for nitrogen cycle by a factor of 3.3; phosphorous cycle by a factor of 2.0, and land system change by a factor of 1.8. Conversely, Europe does live within its limits when it comes to freshwater use, although problems with overconsumption and water scarcity remain locally and regionally.

The report also includes a case study of Switzerland’s biodiversity footprint. Considering the potential for global species loss because of land use, and by using and an equal share of land use per capita, the Swiss biodiversity footprint exceeds the threshold value by a factor of 3.7.

Source: EEA

Initiative in Indjija

19.04.2020

93149844_220503649053510_9111686063771877376_n — Photo: Indjijativa

Life in a local community can be much better if it fosters a collective spirit and turns criticism into action, as eight students from Indjija demonstrated by founding the Association Indjijativa. For a year and a half, they roused dormant citizens and municipal authorities and solved more than 100 problems in their city. The spirit of their activism is now slowly spreading across Serbia

We would all like to have a healthier and better-arranged environment, yet again there are very few situations in which we are ready to do something about it jointly. When they realised that want to change many things that bother them in their city and that criticism and complaints will not improve anything, eight students from Indjija spontaneously came up with the idea to do something and move from words to deeds. That is how the Indjijativa, an association of volunteers and activists, was created with the aim of working together with citizens and authorities on identifying and solving various problems in their local community.

With their activity, the members of Indjijativa have awakened their fellow citizens and authorities of municipal government, although reactions to their work have been divided from the very beginning. “There were both positive and negative reactions. Citizens initially obser-ved us with a great deal of suspicion, seeking to fathom the motives of our work which they thought were hidden and driven by personal interest. On the other hand, the municipal authorities had a very positive attitude towards us since they liked the zest and enthusiasm we radiated. Things changed, over time. Citizens have come to love us, due to the work and act that stood behind us, and we were not afraid to praise the municipal government when there were reasons for it, but also to criticise when criticism was more than necessary. With such an attitude, however, the doors of the municipality were left ajar to us,” says Mladen Rajic, one of the activists of the association, which now has seven experts of different professions, united in their desire to encourage positive changes in the society.

In focus:

The fellow-citizens regularly contact them via email or social networks with the request of solving a problem, and the members of Indjijativa ask them to describe the issue in detail and to send them a picture or a video. Very often, they conduct site visits and talk to citizens about the problems that bother them. Then they contact the relevant services through the System 48 – a platform implemented in the municipality to report utility problems. If there is a different type of problem, they address the institutions in written or oral form, using all the means and tools secured by legal regulations and according to the rules of democratic society operation – they write petitions, requests for the information of public importance, petitions, etc. “What is perhaps our mark is that we give a media character to everything which brings the problems closer to the whole community. That creates public focus and achieves a certain amount of pressure that encourages decision-makers to come up with a solution,” Mladen points out.

Much of their credibility has been built through the portal indjijativa.rs and social networks, which helped them to become more visible not only locally but also across the country. Thus, the residents of Indjija, as well as the who-le of Serbia, can see that this association has been able to initiate and help to solve more than 1000 problems in the-ir municipality over the past year. They are proud of each of those actions, but they set aside a charity picnic at the Koki Zoo, where they organised series of workshops and an auction of paintings, and the money they raised was given for the treatment of two little fellow citizens. Action-reaction attracted significant attention, when the members followed up illegal cut down of two linden trees in the centre of the city and asked the authorities to punish the perpetrator and plant new trees. The last action they are particularly proud of is launching a campaign #prO2disi that encourages fellow citizens to plant trees and reduce the use of plastic bags.

Based on the previous experience, the members of Indjijativa noticed that the citizens are most sensitive to problems for which it is clear that the money from the budget was poorly used or misspent. “Those problems directly affect the majority of the citizens, and they activate around them more,” says Mladen, adding that on the other hand, the municipal authorities are most firm on the issues that directly indicate the irresponsibility of the authorities. “Usually, these are the things that should have been resolved by a project or allocated funds from a budget, but they haven’t. Here we come upon a conflict that escalates with any criticism that is publicly addressed to those who we find guilty. Certainly, it is complicated to solve problems that require a strategic and long run of dealing with them, since the perspective of those responsible for dealing with the problem usually extends over a four-year period – which is a length of their term.”

There are also situations in which a problem cannot be solved persistently, but the members of Indjijativa do not surrender. One such an example is the problem of a curb located at the pedestrian crossing that is unsuitable for people with walking difficulties or moving in wheelchairs, as well as mothers who often pass there with strollers since it is at the beginning of the pedestrian zone in the city centre. “We have been waiting for the solution of the problem, precisely for the curb to be removed, for almost a year. We got promises from the competent authorities that the problem would be solved within a few days, another one when the construction season begins, etc. The reasons why this has not been resolved yet are now clear to us, and for the anniversary of not solving the problem, we are preparing a performance which will, as we hope, draw attention and resonate beyond Indjija and provoke a reaction. The point is not to give up on any problem,” Mladen points out.

One of the goals of the association is to make Indjija, as one of the least green municipalities in Vojvodina, European Green Capital. Since Vojvodina is generally poorly afforested region, and Indjija is one of the most developed municipalities, the members of Indjijativa believe that it should take the lead in reversing this trend. Indjijativa members did not only awake Indjija, but they have also motivated many local communities across the country.

At the end of the year, Indjijativa members are slowly finishing the existing actions, such as planting trees, and they are preparing for the new ones. Soon they will set “kind-hearted” racks, on which citizens can put away their unnecessary clothes so that the ones who need it can take it. At the same time, they are working on a project for revitalisation of children’s playgrounds and sports fields in the municipality with an emphasis on increasing the green areas. The project should start at the beginning of the next construction season if everything goes as planned.

When asked how much Indjija changed in the last year and a half, Mladen Rajic proudly points out that despite pollution, their activism is being spread in the air, and it provokes positive reactions among citizens. They are now motivated to step out of their comfort zone, speak out loud about their problems, and start looking for a way to solve them themselves. The members of this association are encouraged by the fact that they realise they are not alone and that they have the support and help.

Prepared by: Gordana Knezevic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine GRINNOVATIONS, December 2019 – February 2020.

Waste Glass in a Whole New Ballgame

18.04.2020

kuća_staklo_saksije — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sierra Bell)

Recycling raw materials mostly have limited use, especially when it comes to glass. Although it is generally thought that new glass products, which are of the same structure (such as jars, bottles, cups, etc.) are obtained from waste glass packaging, it is widely known in the scientific community that the range of application is much wider. At the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, within the framework of the doctorate with a very clear title “Model of the use of waste glass packaging as secondary raw material in the production of clay blocks” whose author is Zorica Mirosavljevic PhD, is precisely about the new application. Motivated by years of work on waste management, which goes back to the time when she was just a kid, Zorica decided to turn her enthusiasm into science.

EP: In Europe, whose trends we are striving to adopt, glass is treated as a recycling raw material in a closed cycle – we get glass packaging products from recycled glass. Various financial instruments stimulate recycling. What is the case with such practice in Serbia?

Photo: Private archive of Zorica Mirosavljevic

Zorica Mirosavljevic: The amount of glass has increased significantly over the last 20 years. Changing lifestyles and habits came with new age and integration into the consumer society. Few people think about reusing packaging, as our grandmothers and mothers used to do when preparing winter stores. We buy, consume and discard, and therefore the amount of waste increases. And that’s why we think about recycling intensely.

In particular, 85 per cent of glass in municipal waste is made up of glass packaging, and when it comes to recycling, that is the exact glass packaging that we have in mind. Of all types of glass, glass packaging is the most important during the management of municipal waste, and only glass packaging can be recycled by re-melting to obtain new glass packaging. This circular recycling process is fantastic because it saves on raw materials and energy by as much as 80 per cent than producing new glass packaging using only natural raw materials. In practice, unfortunately, due to the inadequate level of separation of glass packaging from municipal waste, it is difficult to come up with some more representative quantities that can be handled. Most glass packaging is intermixed when it comes to different colours of glass (white, brown, green), so it is difficult to recycle and reuse it for the production of glass packaging. The reason is that the melting temperature of the glass varies depending on the colour of the glass. Sorting the glass by colour further complicates the process, and it is necessary to have a developed system for collecting glass packaging, so in developing countries, therefore, most of the glass packaging most often end up in the landfill. That is why, according to European-level statistics, Serbia is in a very low place in terms of how much it recycles glass packaging and how it complies with European directives.

In Serbia, on the other hand, the low recycling rate for glass packing is primarily due to the low purchase price of glass, the high cost of collecting and transporting waste glass packaging and the very high cost of sorting glass by colour, which is necessary in order to use it as a secondary raw material in the production of new glass packaging. From an environmental point of view, this represents the best possible management option for glass packaging. As glass generally has high chemical and thermal stability, its degradation at landfills is negligible, which in turn creates a major problem at landfills. Technology that would provide a higher level of separation costs a lot, and there is no financial incentive in the form of subsidies or the form of waste disposal fees. The increasing amount of that glass in landfills is a consequence of this policy.

EP: What is the model of the use of waste glass that you worked on as a part of your scientific work?

Zorica Mirosavljevic: When Profesor Dragana Strbac PhD, my PhD mentor, and I decided to start finding alternative uses of waste glass, we first collected a certain amount of packaging and ground it to characterize the material. At the same time, we concluded that in brickworks across Serbia, there is a problem with the quality of clay used as a raw material for making construction products. If the amount of moisture in the raw material used in the production of ceramic products is increased, a large amount of energy is consumed to make a product that satisfies the market.

The experiment was set up to find a solution to these two problems, and we soon came to interesting conclusions. A detailed analysis of the current situation revealed that by adding glass and homogenizing a mixture of clay, we obtain a product that is better, more durable and with less moisture than the primary product. Both clay and glass contain a large amount of quartz which can be used. Increasing quality is just one of the positive factors in this process of obtaining a construction product. Of course, energy savings have been generated during this process. It is achieved by lowering the drying and baking temperature of the final product, which is made up of a mixture that is saturated with waste glass recyclate to some extent.

In focus:

EP: The first analyses were carried out as part of the project “Using Waste Glass Packaging from the Landfill in Novi Sad as a Secondary Raw Material for Brick Production” which was approved at the provincial level, and later the continuation of the research is carried out as part of your doctoral dissertation. How far have you come now when everything has taken on a practical dimension?

Zorica Mirosavljevic: For everything to make sense, it was necessary to present the project as technologically and industrially possible. Therefore, it was required to comply with some of the following conditions. When making clay blocks, we wanted to simulate the conditions that take place while obtaining construction products in brickworks. Firstly, the temperature range of the process was defined. The glass does not melt below 800 °C, and the baking of ceramic products usually takes place above 1000 °C, depending on the quality of the input raw material – clay. After that, we began to determine the size of the glass beads that are most suitable for mixing. The optimum size was below 0.71 microns. The next item was to determine the percentage of mass fraction of glass powder in the clay mixture. According to scientific papers published abroad, we reach a range of 0 to 20 per cent, while within our study, the range was expanded to 30 per cent by weight of glass powder, to see what is the most suitable composition of the mixture by checking the properties of the obtained experimental samples that would meet market standards. The first results are in favour of increasing the strength and reducing the moisture of the resulting product. According to the final estimates, the material has been obtained whose service life has been extended by more than 25 per cent. The part we should be practically working on, perhaps in the next project, is to reduce energy consumption. The brickworks in which we did the experiments reduced their temperature production process to 880 °C, due to the quality of the clay, so we could not overly influence the energy aspect here. According to scientific papers from the United Kingdom, it is estimated that up to 20 per cent of energy savings can be achieved, depending on the mass fraction of glass. It is up to us to check this in practice when the conditions allow us.

Interview by: Mladen Rajic

Read the whole article in the new issue of Energy portal Magazine GRINNOVATIONS, December 2019 – February 2020.

96% of All Worldwide Destinations Have Introduced Travel Restrictions in Response to the Pandemic

16.04.2020

airport_aerodrom — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The scale of disruption caused by COVID-19 to global tourism is shown in a comprehensive new report on travel restrictions from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The landmark report, published at a time of unprecedented disruption for the sector, shows that almost all global destinations have imposed restrictions on travel since January 2020, including complete bans on all travel as they work to contain the pandemic.

Over recent years, as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UNWTO has been regularly monitoring travel facilitation and observing a continuous trend towards more openness. COVID-19 has dramatically interrupted this. According to research carried out for the new report, as of 6 April, 96% of all worldwide destinations have introduced travel restrictions in response to the pandemic. Around 90 destinations have completely or partially closed their borders to tourists, while a further 44 are closed to certain tourists depending on country of origin.

Effect on lives and livelihoods

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “COVID-19 has impacted travel and tourism like no other event before in history. Governments have put public health first and introduced full or partial restrictions on travel. With tourism suspended, the benefits the sector brings are under threat: millions of jobs could be lost, and progress made in the fields of equality and sustainable economic growth could be rolled back. UNWTO therefore calls on governments to continuously review travel restrictions and ease or lift them as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The UNWTO global review shows that the global regions are largely consistent in their response to COVID-19. In Africa, Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East, 100% of destinations have adopted COVID-19-related restrictions since January 2020. In the Americas, 92% of destinations have taken similar steps, while in Europe, the proportion is 93% (as of 6 April).

Level of response evolving

More specifically, the analysis identifies four key types of restrictive measures, namely:

Complete or partial closure of borders to tourists;
Destination-specific travel restrictions (“Passengers who have transited or been in x are not allowed to enter x”);
The total or partial suspension of flights;
Different measures, including requirements for quarantine or self-isolation, medical certificates, invalidation or suspension of visa issuances etc.

Timely and responsible recovery

In many instances, destinations have already adjusted their restrictive measures as the situation has evolved. UNWTO will continue to regularly track and analyse the evolution of travel restrictions, in an effort to effectively support the responsible but also timely recovery of the tourism sector.

Source: UNWTO

London-Based E-Bike Passenger and Cargo Service Provider Added Home Delivery

16.04.2020

The home delivery market worldwide has been given a boost as many nations have implemented a range of movement restrictions ranging from issuing strong social distancing guidelines to stay-at-home orders to full lockdowns. It appears the social distancing practices will also give a much needed boost to firms using e-bikes in the last-mile/home delivery industry.

The coronavirus-induced global economic slowdown will most likely result in businesses adopting a more cautious approach when it comes to spending. They will be looking to cut operational costs significantly. One area where quick wins can be found is in the logistics and last-mile delivery space. This is where e-bikes come in and can slash opex costs for businesses. The social distancing and the need to ensure contactless interactions during this pandemic has resulted in a surge in demand for online shopping and delivery services as people avoid crowded places.

Recently, one start up in Namibia has pivoted to home deliveries as the coronavirus-induced slowdown has decimated the tourism business there. This April, London-based e-bike passenger and cargo service provider Pedal Me has added home delivery services. Some of the partners already using Pedal Me for home deliveries include Coleman Coffee, Dunns Bakery, Furanxo (wine and food shop), The Butchery Ltd, East London Liquor Company, and Feedr for Fresh food hampers plus pre-prepped meals.

Deloitte’s Discover the Future 2020 Predictions for UK Technology, Media and Telecommunications summarizes the appeal of e-bikes. The battery assistance makes pedaling a whole lot easier for longer. Average speeds on e-bikes can be up to 50% higher compared with standard bikes. The battery assistance also makes acceleration on take-off much easier after stops. Riders also get a power boost when going uphill, carrying heavy loads, facing headwinds, and in the case when a rider may encounter a combination of all of these at the same time. All of these coupled with realtime tracking via apps make e-bikes, and especially the cargo versions, perfect for the home deliver industry. 130 million e-bikes are expected to be sold between 2020 and 2023.

Pedal Me’s cargo e-bikes are from Netherlands-based Urban Arrow. Urban Arrow’s cargo bikes come in several options, with ranges of up to 80 km in eco mode and 40 km in turbo mode depending on the bike, the weight of the cargo, as well as the rider’s weight. The bikes use Bosch motors and have 500 Wh batteries. Dual battery options are also available. We certainly hope that the recent surge in demand for delivery services can be sustained once the stay-at-home orders are relaxed. This could lead to wider adoption of e-bikes in delivery services on certain routes, replacing diesel vans where possible.

Author: Remeredzai Joseph Kuhudzai

Source: Clean Technica

Ford Is Making Reusable Gowns From Airbag Materials

15.04.2020

Isolation-Gowns-3-2048x1152 — Foto: Ford, via Clean Technica

Automakers are putting their engineering and fabrication skills to use in the fight against COVID-19 as they can, it seems. Some, like Tesla, are re-purposing existing parts to help patients and medical providers. Others, like Lamborghini, are using their team of upholsterers to work making masks and protective face shields. Ford, which showed off an early sketch of a possible powered respirator early in the fight against COVID-19, has also joined the fight, producing face masks and face shields, of course, but it’s the company’s latest hack that may end up being the most significant. It is now making reusable gowns from airbag materials.

“This was a really great find,” Ford director Marcy Fisher says, as she explains how the lightweight fabric used in airbag construction — a material called Nylon 6,6 — is perfectly fluid-resistant. What’s more, this fabric that’s used in parachutes, carpets, and garden hoses is not only ideal for PPE — it’s also washable. “The gowns are washable and they retained their performance qualities, (even) after 50 times in the wash.”

Ford didn’t come to this realization alone, of course. In an interview with Quartz magazine, Ford explained that it has been working with local hospitals to “finesse” the sewing pattern for the isolation gowns and have conducted internal tests to make sure the reusable gowns are meeting the standards set by both the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM F3352-19) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (ANSI-AAMI PB70-2012).

It’s not just a sturdy smock, in other words. It’s a well-engineered piece of medical equipment that is critically needed to help keep healthcare workers safe as they fight the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ford, for its part, is proud of the work it’s doing these days. “We knew that to play our part helping combat Coronavirus, we had to go like Hell and join forces with experts like 3M to expand production of urgently needed medical equipment and supplies,” said Jim Baumbick, vice president, Ford Enterprise Product Line Management. “In just three weeks … we’ve unleashed our world-class manufacturing, purchasing and design talent to ‘get scrappy’ and start making personal protection equipment and help increase the availability and production of ventilators.”

Oh, and that sketch of a powered respirator that was set to be made from Ford HVAC controls and seat fans? The one we mentioned in the first paragraph? That one’s also in production. They have capacity to build about 100,000 of them with a staff of UAW volunteers, and they look absolutely awesome.

Author: Jo Borrás

Source: Clean Technica

All for One, CEEFOR for All

15.04.2020

energija_vetra — Poto-illustration: Pixabay

The company CEEFOR was founded in 2010 in Belgrade. At their disposal, customers have a diverse team of more than 20 professionals with many years of work experience – from mechanical, electrical and civil engineers, through technology engineers, architecture, traffic and fire protection, to economic and financial experts, translators and philologists.

By completing tasks in the field of energy technologies, CEEFOR reduced not only its customers costs but also emissions of harmful substances and gases, making the company one of the domestic economic elites pursuing social responsibility.

In addition to the two obvious fields of activity, sustainable development and energy efficiency, the company also offers consulting and design services in the field of renewable energy, in which its contribution to reducing the carbon footprint is particularly prominent.

By designing solar power plants, wind power plants, biogas power plants and hydropower plants, CEEFOR has “enriched” the energy mix of Serbia and the region with more than 100 pure megawatts and has positioned itself as a forerunner of the fossil fuel phase out in our market and an innovator.

Energy-efficient solutions, whose implementation was contributed by a group of CEEFOR employees, include two 2 MW solar power plants in Kladovo and a solar power plant on the roof of the IKEA department store in Belgrade.

The team of engineers also worked on the investmenttechnical documentation for a 9.9 MW solar power plant for the Electric Power Industry of Serbia as well as for a wind farm in Kostolac with a total installed capacity of 66 MW was also designed. Kostolac windmills are expected to supply about 30.000 Serbian households.

In focus:

The Petroleum Industry of Serbia also hired CEEFOR and one of the projects implemented for the period from 2013 to 2015 was the design, obtaining permits and technical inspection of cogeneration and gas power plant in the municipalities of Kanjiza, Srbobran and Veliko Gradiste. They provided a multinational corporation from France, Suez, focused on operations in water, electricity, natural gas and waste management sectors, with the preliminary design, the conceptual design, and the project for building permit for a landfill gas power plant in Vinca.

On top of that, the company is an authorized consultant for the Green for Growth Fund and ProCredit Bank, the first domestic user to be guaranteed the “renewable” origin of the consumed electricity by the Electric Power Industry of Serbia. Part of the energy needs will be potentially met from biogas plants with cogenerations from Stara Pazova (600 kW), Sombor (999 kW) and Cestereg (600 kW), whose designing also involved CEEFOR employees.

Whether you hire a company as a reliable consultant for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, or as a direct partner in the design of studies, projects and project documentation, you can count on the dedicated work of CEEFOR employees to find a practical and long-lasting solution adjusted to your requirements and capabilities.

When you put your trust in the expert hands of specialists, there is no need to worry that it could be abused, only that your expectations will be exceeded. The list of CEEFOR’s current clients is long, and, in the future, you can enrol in it.

Prepared by: Jelena Kozbasic

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine GRINNOVATIONS, December 2019 – February 2020.

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The Paris Agreement and NDCs

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Energy efficiency

Increased low-carbon sources in the energy mix

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In focus:

In focus:

Effect on lives and livelihoods

Level of response evolving

Timely and responsible recovery

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