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July Sets New Temperature Records

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Extreme heat hit hundreds of millions of people throughout July, with a domino effect felt right across society. July was one of the hottest – if not the hottest – month on modern record, and the world’s hottest day was registered – yet another unwelcome indication of the extent that greenhouse gases from human activities are changing our climate. 

Global average temperatures for at least 13 consecutive months set new monthly records.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 2024 was the warmest July on record for the globe in NOAA’s 175-year record and 0.03°C (0.05°F) warmer than July 2023 and “more likely than not the warmest month on record for the globe since 1850.”

July 2024 was the second warmest month globally and the second warmest July in the ERA5 data record of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. It was just 0.04°C lower than the previous high set in July 2023.

The differences between the datasets are so minor that they are within the statistical margin of error used to calculate global temperatures. WMO combines six international datasets for its climate monitoring, including ERA5 and NOAAGlobalTemp. 

The prolonged and intense heat underlines underlines the urgency of the Call to Action on Extreme Heat issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who said that “Earth is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.”. 

“Widespread, intense and extended heat waves have hit every continent in the past year. At least ten countries have recorded daily temperatures of more than 50° C in more than one location. This is becoming too hot to handle,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. 

“Death Valley in California registered a record average monthly temperature of 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) – possibly a new record observed for anywhere in the world. Even the remote frozen ice sheets of Antarctica have been feeling the heat,” she said.

“The WMO community is committed to responding to the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action with better heat-health early warnings and action plans. Recent estimates produced by WMO and the World Health Organization indicate that the global scale-up of heat health-warning systems for 57 countries alone has the potential to save an estimated 98,000 lives per year. This is one of the priorities of the Early Warnings For All initiative,” said Celeste Saulo. 

“Climate adaptation alone is not enough. We need to tackle the root cause and get serious about reducing record levels of greenhouse gas emissions ,” said Celeste Saulo.

NOAA Data

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Tadeusz Lakota)

NOAA said that July 2024 was the 14th consecutive month of record-high global temperatures. This breaks the longest record warm global temperature streak in the modern record (since 1980) previously set from May 2015—May 2016. 

Climatologically, July is the warmest month of the year. As the warmest July on record, July 2024 was more likely than not the warmest month on record for the globe since 1850. The past ten Julys have been the warmest Julys on record.

The global land-only July temperature also was warmest on record at 1.70°C (3.06°F) above average. The ocean-only temperature was second-warmest at 0.98°C (1.76°F) above average, ending a streak of 15 consecutive monthly record highs that stretched from April 2023—June 2024, according to NOAA. 

Copernicus Climate Change Service

Globally, 22 July was the hottest day, and 23 July was a virtual tie, in the reanalysis dataset (ERA5) from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which is implemented by the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF). 

The daily global-average temperature reached 17.16°C and 17.15°C in ERA5 on 22 and 23 July. Given the small difference, similar to the level of uncertainty in the ERA5 data, it is not possible to say which of the two days was the hottest with complete certainty, said C3S.

The ERA5 reanalysis dataset uses billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world. It is one of six international  datasets used by WMO for its climate monitoring and annual State of the Climate reporting. 

C3S compared ERA5 with other reanalyses, the uncertainty for day-to-day or year-to-year temperature changes is estimated to be well below the 0.07°C difference found between 6 July 2023 (previous hottest day) and 22/23 July 2024, and multiple datasets are in agreement on the periods of the record temperatures in 2016, 2023 and 2024. 

The reasons for the spike in high temperatures is being analysed. 

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, one of the contributing factors was much above-average temperatures over large parts of Antarctica, with anomalies of more than 10°C above average in some areas, and above average temperatures in parts of the Southern Ocean. 

Although natural climate variability can play a role, such big temperature anomalies are unusual. It is the second such heatwave to hit the continent in the last two years and a similar heatwave contributed to the record global temperatures in early July 2023. The Antarctic daily sea ice extent in June 2024 was the second lowest on record, after 2023, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. 

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At a Glance

Detailed below are some selected noteworthy observed extreme temperatures in July. Note that details of all the impacts are not included since this necessitates a more extensive analysis, and the impacts of heat on human health, in particular, are widely underreported.   

Asia

Japan’s monthly average temperature in July was the highest in the instrumental record back to 1898 (2.16 °C warmer than Japan’s July 1991-2020 average), beating the record set last year. Severe heat is expected to continue across the country for August. In recent days maximum daily temperatures climbed to  above 38 °C in many weather stations, and the monthly average temperature at 62 of the 153 meteorological stations nationwide was the highest ever recorded for July, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.   It advised people to pay attention to temperature forecasts and heatstroke alerts, and take appropriate steps to prevent heatstroke.

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Ivan Aleksić)

China – July was the warmest month on record (comprehensive data since 1961).

The heat continues in August, with maximum daily temperatures above 40 °C in many places of eastern China, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

India had its second warmest July on record, with minimum overnight temperatures being the warmest on record (since 1901), according to the India Meteorological Department.

Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran both suffered repeated heatwaves, with the latter forced to close schools because of the heat.

Bahrain recorded its hottest July on record (since 1902), with a mean monthly temperature of 37.4°C, or 2.3°C above the long-term normal for July.

Africa

During July, Morocco experienced two consecutive heatwaves with record temperatures. The second heatwave, from 22 to 25 July, was particularly intense, reaching 41.7°C in Nouasseur and 47.6°C in Marrakech. Chefchaouen broke its July temperature record with 43.4°C on 19 July 2024.

This followed an unusually cool start to the month. The sudden contrast between cool temperatures and extreme heat intensified the heat stress on residents.

Europe

Many areas of the Mediterranean and Balkans were gripped by extended heatwaves in July, causing casualties and impacting public health. A rapid attribution study by scientists in World Weather Attribution said that the Mediterranean heatwave – Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Morocco – would not have occurred without human induced climate change

Several countries including Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria reported the warmest July on record. The last 4 years have recorded 3 of the 4 warmest July months for Greece in at least 80 years.

In Spain, Barcelona’s Fabra Observatory , officially recognized as a centennial long-term observation station by the WMO, registered a new record maximum temperature of 40.0 ºC.

France did not experience an exceptional month overall, but did see its first heat wave of the year at the end of the month, impacting the well-being of athletes and spectators at the Paris Olympics. 

North America

In the United States of America, about 165 million people (half the US population) were under heat alerts on 1 August, according to the heat.gov website. During the past 30 days, more than 80 temperature records were set, according to the US National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration. 

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

An average monthly temperature of 42.5 °C was measured at Furnace Creek/Death Valley which is a record for the site and possibly the world. WMO does not make systematic formal evaluation of in situ monthly average temperature, such as for the daily extreme temperatures. However, WMO Weather and Climate Extremes rapporteur Randall Cerveny, said that the record appeared to be reasonable and legitimate. 

Death Valley is considered the hottest place on earth, the highest daily temperature 56.7 °C (134 °F) was observed there on 10 July 1913, according to the WMO Weather and Climate Extremes Archive. 

On 1 August, Las Vegas set a new record of 43 consecutive days with maximum temperature of 105 °F (40.5 °C) or higher (the previous record was 25 days back in 2017).

On 2 August, there were 94 large active wildfires nationwide in the USA. Year-to-date wildfires have burned 4 489 028 acres (1 816 645 hectares), about 800 thousand acres more area than the 10-year average in 2014-2023 period.

Hot and dry conditions, coupled with lightning, contributed to the fires. As of 3 August, 829 fires actively burned in Canada, including more than 250 out of control. British Columbia and Alberta were especially affected, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. In British Columbia more than 800 thousand hectares already burned in 2024, amost double the 20-year average. The top years all occurred since 2017 in this province. 

South America

In the South American winter, some countries recorded temperatures more typical of summer. Temperatures above 30 °C, and even above 35 °C, in parts of Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay, northern Argentina are unusual for this time of the year, with anomalies up to 10 °C, and sometimes even higher.  Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service said that Bolivia and Brazil’s Amazon face unprecedented fire activity.

By contrast, during first half of July, unusual cold affected some parts of the continent. In southern Peru, heavy snow collapsed many houses and buildings. The cold weather also led to deaths reported in Argentina and Chile. Cold temperatures, down to -6 °C on 9 July, also affected southern Brazil and Uruguay. 

Source: WMO

EBRD Arranges 40.1 Million Euros Financing to Elektroprivreda BiH towards Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Green Transition  

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Fre Sonneveld)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a EUR 25.1 million loan to Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine (EPBiH), the largest public electricity generation and distribution utility in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to develop and construct a 50 MWp solar power plant on a former coal ash landfill site.

In addition to its own financing, the EBRD has helped to mobilise further funds for the project, with UniCredit Bank d.d. providing a parallel loan of EUR 15 million.

The proceeds of the loans will be used to develop, construct and operate two adjacent solar power plants (SPPs), with a combined capacity of 50 MWp, in the municipality of Gračanica.

The twin SPPs will be the largest solar project developed by the company to date and among its most significant investments in renewable energy. The project is part of a broader cooperation between the EBRD and EPBiH to facilitate the company’s transition to renewable energy.

As part of the project, the EBRD is supporting a 2050 technical cooperation initiative, in which several 2050 decarbonisation scenarios for EPBiH will be comprehensively assessed, along with their impact on EPBiH’s operations, financial capital requirements, planning, project implementation structures and communication with stakeholders. A second technical cooperation initiative will support EPBiH in working with the authorities to introduce new educational standards in the renewable energy field, focused on a just transition in the context of workforce management challenges associated with decarbonisation.

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Technical support for project preparation and implementation, as well as advisory support, are being provided by Austria through the Austrian Municipal Infrastructure Fund and the Austrian High-Impact Partnership on Climate Action. Additional funds for technical support are being provided by the EBRD’s Shareholder Special Fund.

Such projects and the associated technical support are crucial to the decarbonisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the country targeting a 43.6 percent renewable energy share by 2030.

To date, the EBRD has invested more than EUR 3.2 billion in 233 projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bank’s strategic priorities in the country are to promote the green economy, support the development of the private sector and foster regional integration.

Source: EBRD

Climate Anxiety – How Seriously Should it be Taken and How to Deal With it?

Photo-illustration: Freepik (jcomp)
Photo-illustration: Freepik (jcomp)

Daily media reports bring news of extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, loss of biodiversity as well as growing concerns about food security and numerous other adverse situations facing humanity. The reactions to this information are different – some ignore it or treat it indifferently, others feel concerned, while some cause more intense feelings.

If you’ve felt intense fear and anxiety while reading articles like this, you may be experiencing climate anxiety. Although climate anxiety involves feelings of dread and uses the term anxiety, it is different from ordinary anxiety. While normal anxiety is often about worries and fears that can be irrational or partially irrational, climate anxiety is based on the real threats that climate change brings us. As the impact of climate change on mental health is still not sufficiently researched, the previously written is very important for experts to lay the foundations for solving this problem that people are facing.

I want to insert a digression here. In a global survey conducted in 2021, it was shown that young people are most concerned about climate change, and if we look at this category, as many as 60 percent of young people between the ages of 16 and 25 expressed concerns that affect their everyday lives.

Let’s get back to the main thread of the text. It is very important to understand the difference between the mentioned two anxieties because it significantly affects the approach of experts in conversation and therapy. In common anxiety, a professional should recognize which fears are unfounded and help to replace them with a healthier way of thinking. On the other hand, climate anxiety is recognized as a healthy response to a real threat, which is why feelings of sadness, fear, and anxiety are not unfounded.

These feelings can have a profound effect on young people’s daily lives, causing feelings of sadness, helplessness, or anger. Many young people express a sense of injustice and anger towards older generations who have not taken enough action against climate change. Such feelings can lead to depression, sleep disturbances, reduced concentration, panic attacks, and obsessive thinking.

The approach in such situations should include understanding and accepting the person’s feelings, instead of denying them. Professionals should provide support by developing emotional and mental strategies to cope with the challenges brought about by climate change.

Below I will present several coping strategies that experts have highlighted. However, it should be emphasized once again that the impact of climate change on mental health has not yet been sufficiently researched, and that the strategies have not been perfected. They represent different ways in which individuals can manage their anxiety. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and their effectiveness depends on several factors that can also be influenced to improve the outcome.

The first strategy is aimed at taking specific actions that can contribute to solving the problem of climate change. It includes learning about climate change, adopting environmental habits, and participating in activities that help reduce harmful emissions. Through this strategy, individuals are enabled to focus their energy on positive activities that can make an impact, leading to a sense of control, purpose, and hope. However, there is also the possibility of a feeling of helplessness because the individual realizes that not all control is in his hands and that he cannot contribute enough. As explained, it is necessary to find a balance between goals and expectations. Setting smaller goals that are realistic to achieve and celebrating success can help with motivation.

Another strategy relates to ignoring or denying climate change. This can temporarily relieve a person of anxiety, which is sometimes necessary. However, if we look at the long term, including if all people turn to this approach, climate change will become even more intense. It is good to develop such a strategy for temporary relief, but in the long term, it is important to work on other methods as well.

Thirdly, trust in social power, i.e. institutions, organizations, and social collectives, to work on solving the problem of climate change is mentioned. The good side of the strategy is that it creates a sense of hope and motivation because the importance of both one’s own and collective efforts is recognized. However, if an individual relies only on faith in social power, he may experience disappointment, due to a certain failure. That is why one should work on maintaining a positive attitude, that it is important not to give up, but also that significant results cannot be achieved overnight.

Each of us faces different emotions when it comes to climate change. As a journalist dedicated to ecology and a person for whom nature is important, I also go through moments of hope and doubt about the meaning of my work. What helps me in difficult times is knowing that I am not alone in my feelings and that other people feel similar concerns. This is encouraging because worry can be a trigger for motivation and action. Therefore, it is important that we openly discuss our fears, jointly recognize the problem, and look for solutions for positive changes.

Katarina Vuinac

German state approves gas drilling project in North Sea

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (kevin-mueller)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (jonah-geurs)

The controversial extraction of natural gas in the North Sea near the German island of Borkum is moving closer to becoming a reality after a responsible authority gave its approval.

The Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) in the northern German state of Lower Saxony said on Wednesday it granted the Dutch energy company ONE-Dyas an 18-year permit for drilling under the seabed.

Under the terms of the deal, the drilling and extraction would be halted if it was determined that Germany no longer needed natural gas as an energy source.

Europe’s biggest economy is aiming to accelerate the use of renewable energies, such as solar and wind power, as part of a low-carbon future.

LBEG President Carsten Mühlenmeier said that gas extracted from domestic deposits is significantly less harmful to the climate than imported gas.

ONE-Dyas plans to start extraction from a field near the German island of Borkum and the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog later this year.

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Drilling is planned at depths of 1.5 kilometres to 3.5 kilometres.

The expected extractable amount of natural gas for the entire project ranges from 4.5 billion cubic metres to 13 billion cubic metres.

The Federal Network Agency, a German regulator, said around 81 billion cubic metres of gas were consumed in Germany last year.

Project still faces legal and diplomatic hurdles

Environmental protection groups and island residents in Germany and the Netherlands are opposed to the project. Fridays for Future protested recently on Borkum and in front of the Lower Saxony state parliament in Hanover.

Environmental Action Germany had promised to take legal action against the project should it receive approval from state authorities.

Apart from the climate concerns, they fear damage to the Wadden Sea marine national park. The UNESCO World Heritage Site spans the territory of Netherlands and Germany. It is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world, UNESCO says.

Furthermore, an international agreement between Germany and the Netherlands is still needed before drilling can begin as the project affects the territory of both countries. The sides have been in talks since 2022 at the federal level.

“The main content of the agreement includes regulations on the division of the deposit, cross-border cooperation between the authorities and field and extraction taxes,” a spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry in Berlin said.

Source: DPA

The Serbian Electricity Exchange Ensures the Highest European Standards

Foto-ilustracija: Pexels
Foto: Ljubaznošću Miloša Mladenovića

After almost a decade since its foundation and becoming operational in February 2016, the Serbian Electricity Exchange (SEEPEX) has firmly positioned itself not only as an important support provider in green transition and further liberalization of the electricity market in Serbia but also as a significant integrative factor in stock exchange business in a broader regional, interregional and one could even say pan-European context.

After the establishment of the first regional electricity exchange in the regions of Southeastern and Central Eastern Europe, the Alpine-Adriatic-Danube Electricity Exchange (ADEX), established in December 2022 through the corporate merger of SEEPEX and the Slovenian electricity exchange BSP, it was officially announced that in 2024, the Hungarian stock exchange HUPX will be added to that unique business infrastructure. After this year’s drastic energy crisis and price consolidation, this news, as well as the current situation and further development directions of the European electricity market, are the reasons we talked to Miloš Mladenović, founder and director of SEEPEX.

SEEPEX and partners from the ADEX Group continue to push the boundaries and ensure the highest European standards in stock exchange business infrastructure. In a way, it has brought to life its initial idea of forming a single regional stock exchange.

“This significant business success at the end of the first decade of SEEPEX’s operations came as the icing on the cake of the company’s successful and profitable business, which in just a few years profiled itself as a relevant national and regional trading place, with a fully rounded spot market framework. Last year, the intraday segment of spot trading was also launched with more than 40 participants from 16 European countries and a volume of almost 5TWh of electricity traded in the day-ahead market. Those business results were accomplished during the so-called ‘isolated’ operations, which is the first such case in the region, where all other stock exchanges (including those from the EU) began to accomplish such business and financial results only after the implementation of market merger projects and the significant increase in liquidity that they consequently brought”, said Mr Mladenović.

He pointed out that all of the above was due to believing in the success and commitment of all parties who participated in the company’s establishment and operations, not only from SEEPEX and Elektromreža Srbije but also from a wider area, including the institutions that came forward to meet the necessary, and on a couple of occasions, systemic interventions on changes and additions to the energy sector, market and financial regulations. First of all, this is the fruit of the set, the far-reaching vision of SEEPEX as a modern European stock exchange that will operate fully in accordance with the best European practice and have a clear regional perspective.

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The multifaceted importance of the common stock exchange

The formation of ADEX, the corporate association of the stock exchanges of Serbia, Slovenia, and Hungary, was a significant step forward in this segment of the region.

“The importance of forming a joint stock exchange for all three parties is truly multifaceted, not only in terms of the electricity market, security of supply and more efficient integration of renewable energy sources, but also on a strategic, and one might say, geopolitical plan, above all in the context of integrative activities towards the European Union“, Mr Mladenović adds.

He reminded us that the so-called BlueSky project was initiated in 2017 by SEEPEX and its founders (EMS and EPEX SPOT) as an instrument for realizing SEEPEX’s initial vision of establishing a regional electricity exchange. Due to an insufficient understanding of political structures from the relevant countries, which are the most important and natural interlocutors regarding that plan, SEEPEX turned to partners from the EU.

“The project implementation was carried out in two phases. The first phase, which involved the corporate integration of the Serbian and Slovenian stock exchanges and the establishment of the ADEX Group, was successfully completed at the end of 2022, while negotiations with Hungarian partners were also completed last year. The transaction document on HUPX joining this unique business infrastructure was signed in December 2023“, explains Mr Mladenović.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Thomas)

The first practical results of the planned synergy within ADEX were achieved after a few months, i.e., by establishing an intraday market in Serbia in late July last year. In April of this year, the process of transforming the business model of the Slovenian Stock Exchange (BSP) was completed in such a way that the clearing function and the platform for day-ahead trading were harmonized with SEEPEX’s business model, i.e. by applying the best European practices used in all EPEX SPOT markets. With the introduction of a unique membership process and a harmonized price list, all Serbian and Slovenian spot market participants will be provided with the so-called one-stop-shop solution, where all the accompanying benefits of such a solution will be at their disposal. These include a unique business and clearing infrastructure, netting and cross-margining of collateral, a uniform procedure and reduced costs of accessing spot markets. The plan is to boost further the synergy with Hungarian partners in the near future.

“In the Serbian market, the establishment of the intraday spot market is included in the legal framework as one of the essential prerequisites for the efficient integration of renewable sources of electricity and the successful implementation of a new incentive scheme based on auctions for concluding long-term financial purchase contracts (the so-called contract for differences), where the contracting party responsible for the state’s implementation of those fifteen-year financial contracts would be the guaranteed supplier (i.e. the Electric Power Industry of Serbia – EPS), while the physical delivery of the produced energy and the balance responsibility would fall on the producers themselves“, explains Mr Mladenović.

Of course, SEEPEX’s role in incentive measures is much broader, primarily in the context of providing a relevant and robust reference price to which the mentioned financial contracts refer, as well as ensuring a sufficiently liquid day-ahead market that will be able to accept the entire amount of produced energy without a significant impact on the price. So, it is safe to say that, with these latest improvements, a complex market puzzle has been completed and can now successfully respond to all the challenges that the green transition imposes on the electricity market and, therefore, support planned activities of state institutions aimed at achieving the proclaimed, very demanding goals contained within Serbia’s Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INEKP).

Prepared by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the whole story in the new issue the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

EU: Citizens Can Now Seek Compensation from Polluters

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Daniel Moqvist)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The European Union has adopted an amended directive on industrial and livestock emissions, 2024/1785 (IED 2.0), granting citizens greater rights than the directive adopted in 2010. Now, the European Commission announced they can seek compensation for damages caused by polluters.

The directive already covers over 30,000 large industrial plants and more than 20,000 intensive livestock farms, and by 2017, these regulations had reduced air pollution from the mentioned facilities by up to 75 percent.

However, considering that pollution from these sources continues to harm public health and the environment—resulting in damages worth billions of euros and causing hundreds of thousands of premature deaths annually—the European Union has, for the first time, established the right of citizens to seek compensation for health damages caused by pollution.

Furthermore, the strengthened IED will now also encompass mines and gigafactories for batteries, significantly broadening the scope of the directive. This extension will bring an additional 30 percent of the EU’s largest pig and poultry farms under the regulatory umbrella, furthering the directive’s potential impact.

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The new Industrial Emissions Directive, IED 2.0, stands as the European Union’s primary instrument for combatting air, water, and soil pollution. It also serves as a key preventative measure against waste generation from large industrial plants and intensive livestock farms, underscoring its comprehensive approach to environmental protection.

Governments must now always consider protecting human health when applying emission rules. At the same time, authorities will have greater powers to suspend installations that do not comply with regulations and demand higher penalties from offenders.

Additionally, all permits and significant environmental data must be publicly available online on the European Industrial Emissions Portal.

The IED 2.0 directive requires companies to use the best available techniques (BAT) to prevent or minimize emissions and environmental impacts from their activities. This will help guide major European industries toward achieving the EU’s zero pollution ambitions by 2050.

It is also stated that IED 2.0 will encourage innovation, reward leaders, help level the playing field within the EU market, and increase long-term investment security for the industry.

Milena Maglovski

Giant Clams – Master Engineers of Solar Energy and Efficiency

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (mauricio-santos)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (europeana)

It is well known that answers to many questions can often be found in nature. Have you ever heard that there are natural solar systems that can serve as examples of efficient use of sunlight? Recently, researchers from Yale University discovered an interesting and highly useful process that occurs in giant clams living near tropical reefs.

Inside these clams live small algae, which are actually like plants. The algae use sunlight to produce food, allowing them to grow. Through a process known as photosynthesis, sunlight provides the energy needed to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen, as it usually functions. The sugar produced in this way serves as food for the algae, while the algae provide nutrients for the clam.

Instead of generating electricity from sunlight as solar panels do, giant clams use sunlight to efficiently provide energy for their internal algae. However, the clams do this in a highly efficient way, which could be replicated to generate electricity and make solar panels even more efficient. ,

Giant clams have a unique way of using sunlight. This process can be described as follows: sunlight reaches the giant clam as a large beam of light. However, before the light reaches the algae, it passes through a special layer in the clams called iridocytes, which breaks and disperses the light in all directions.

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The light evenly illuminates all the algae inside the clam instead of falling on just one spot. This process allows the algae to utilize almost all the light that reaches them.

Research from Yale University suggests that there is another trick involved. Clams are highly adaptable – during the day, they stretch to make better use of sunlight. When the light is stronger, the clams expand; when it is weaker, they contract. Ordinary plants do not have such capabilities, nor do solar panels. Scientists could potentially use this natural trick to develop even better and more efficient solar panels in the future.

The research team also mentioned that they had developed a model to calculate the quantum efficiency of the clams – a measure of how well the system can convert light into electrical energy. The initial model showed a quantum efficiency of 42 percent, but when the researchers included the dynamic adjustment of the clams – i.e., their stretching – the quantum efficiency jumped to 67 percent. By comparison, the quantum efficiency of green leaves in a tropical environment is only about 14 percent.

Therefore, clams are an excellent example of how to convert sunlight into energy most efficiently.

Energy Portal

How Modern Aircraft Flights Affect the Climate

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Blake Guidry)

The aviation industry faces significant challenges due to climate change, prompting continuous efforts to find innovations and improve existing technologies. However, the complexity of various impacts on accelerating climate change leads to more demanding solutions for their mitigation.

While solutions for halting one issue are being found, there is a concern that these measures could lead to other negative impacts.

How do modern aircraft flights affect the climate? Modern airplanes are designed to fly at higher altitudes compared to older commercial aircraft. The reason for increasing flight altitudes is that it reduces fuel consumption, as the air at such altitudes is thinner and provides less aerodynamic resistance. This simultaneously reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

However, while higher altitudes reduce fuel consumption and mentioned emissions, they exacerbate another problem related to climate change – contrails.

Contrails, or condensation trails, are visible trails of condensed water vapor created during an aircraft’s flight from its exhaust gases. Specifically, these trails form when warm and moist gases from an aircraft’s exhaust pipes come into contact with colder air. The vapor then condenses and forms droplets or ice crystals, which become visible in the sky as aircraft trails. As conditions at higher altitudes are different, with significantly lower temperatures and higher humidity in the atmosphere, these trails last longer before dissipating. Consequently, the longer they persist, the more they contribute to atmospheric warming, as they trap heat like clouds.

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These conclusions are based on a study conducted by scientists from Imperial College London, published in Environmental Research Letters. The study analyzed over 64,000 cases of contrails, using satellite data and flight information to investigate how different types of aircraft affect the formation and duration of these trails.

Although the study suggested that reducing solid particle emissions in exhaust gases could affect the duration of contrails, this remains a hypothesis. The reason is the numerous factors that influence the duration and intensity of these trails, making the study a mere introduction to further research needed to find more effective solutions to this problem.

Katarina Vuinac

Night Light – Cause of More Resistant Tree Leaves and Biodiversity Loss

Photo-ilustration: Unsplash (Dmitry Ratuchny)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jan Huber)

Light pollution, a pressing ecological issue that currently affects over 80 per cent of the world’s population, is a topic of urgent concern. Despite this, the full extent of its impact on plants and animals, and the resulting changes in ecosystems, remains a mystery. This has spurred experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing to delve deeper into this issue.

In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science, scientists aimed to answer why the leaves of plants in urban areas are less damaged by insects than the leaves of trees in nature. The answer lies in urban night lighting, which, over time, has led to changes in the key functional traits of leaves, making them tougher and more resilient.

It is known that there are similarities between natural and artificial light, with artificial light typically having a limited spectrum, specific wavelengths, and illumination compared to natural light. Therefore, excessive night lighting over a prolonged period can prevent a plant from adapting. Scientists suspected that plants exposed to high levels of artificial light would focus more on defense than growth, producing tougher leaves with more chemical defense compounds and fewer nutrients.

Studies indicate that the intensity of night lighting has exceeded the threshold of plant adaptation, leading to changes in their physiological responses.

“Leaves that insects do not damage can make people happy, but not insects. Herbivory is a natural ecological process that maintains insect biodiversity,” said one of the study authors, Dr. Shuang Zhang, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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As herbivores (primarily insects) find it increasingly difficult to access food in urban areas, their survival is at risk. The reduced number of insects further endangers the survival of birds and other species that feed on them, ultimately leading to dramatic biodiversity loss and ecosystem changes.

“The decline in insect numbers is a global pattern observed in recent decades. We should pay more attention to this trend,” said Zhang, noting that night light might also contribute to the reduced number of insects by making them more visible to predators.

Experts warn that the high intensity of night light is detrimental to the flow of energy from urban plants to higher trophic levels, posing a potential threat to maintaining biodiversity (e.g., arthropod diversity, bird diversity) in urban ecosystems. However, further research will be needed to fully understand the effects of artificial light.

Milena Maglovski

Safe Travels in Europe With Charge&GO

Foto: Charge&GO
Photo: Charge&GO

A well – established network of chargers is a prerequisite for safe and secure travel with an electric vehicle. Strategically located chargers along highways, busy traffic routes, and in cities facilitate drivers in planning their trips. With a mobile application that enables a quick and easy search for electric chargers and payment for charging sessions, every journey becomes a real pleasure. Charge&GO strives to make travel easier for its users, both in Serbia and across Europe. The company is actively expanding its network of chargers to be well-prepared for the summer season and tourists traveling to the seaside with their electric cars.

New DC chargers are ready, operational, and listed on the Charge&GO app. Recently, a 60-kilowatt charger was installed in the parking lot of the BIG shopping center in Rakovica. There are plans to install several more chargers, which are also located in the parking lots of BIG shopping centers throughout Serbia. There are also chargers at OMV gas stations. A 120-kilowatt charger is available on the bypass road near Surčin, while on the other side of the highway, also at an OMV gas station, there is a 150-kilowatt electric charger. By the year-end, the number of available chargers will be increased, with the Charge&GO Company playing a significant role in this progress.

IN FOCUS:

How to find a charger abroad?

When it comes to traveling abroad, Charge&GO app users have access to more than 400,000 chargers that are part of Hubject, the largest European e-roaming network. The process of accessing these chargers is very simple, allowing users to start charging with the help of the map, RFID card, and the app. Users will find the nearest charger abroad quickly and easily. Navigation opens by clicking on the icon of the desired charger, showing detailed directions to the requested location. To use these services, the user has to sign a contract, and the whole procedure is greatly simplified.

A request for this service should be sent to podrska@chargego.rs. After signing the contract, users will immediately have access to a map full of AC and DC chargers across Europe upon leaving our country. With the expansion of the charger network, Charge&GO is also expanding its app’s availability beyond our country’s borders. Therefore, they have created a multilingual and multi-currency platform that supports different regulations in individual markets. Electric car drivers will no longer need to switch apps when crossing from one country to another; they will use only Charge&GO, which is easy to manage and compliant with all regulations in each market where they offer services.

Photo: Charge&GO

What is Charge&GO?

Charge&GO is the first regional platform and mobile application with a network of chargers that enables quick and easy charging of electric vehicles. The platform provides electric vehicle drivers with an efficient charging service, with each session automatically billed to the user’s account. Platform users can see a detailed overview of all charging sessions, completed payments, and account top-ups. Additionally, the Charge&GO customer service center is available at all times for any kind of assistance and to resolve any uncertainties.

Prepared by Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

Encouraging Competitiveness in Buying and Selling Electricity

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Thomas)
Photo: courtesy of Mersudin Gredić

As an energy entity responsible for organizing and managing the electricity market in Montenegro, the Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator (COTEE) continuously works to improve this segment while following trends and changes in the market of the region and Europe to create  an  open, transparent and non-discriminatory market environment as possible. COTEE creates conditions for a better and more competitive electricity market. Together with the electricity exchange, COTEE should enable energy entities with surpluses or electricity deficits to sell and buy it, respectively, while facilitating competitiveness and transparency of the entire process in Montenegro. We spoke with Mersudin Gredić, the Executive Director of COTEE, about the COTEE’s operating principles, how individuals can relieve themselves of the cost of renewable energy sources (RES), and how producers can get better market conditions, the advantages of guaranteed purchase of electricity, the development of solar energy, electricity trading in Montenegro and plans for the next period.

Q: How do the processes related to improving the electricity market in Montenegro affect renewable energy sources?

A: The development of the electricity market, which is our prerequisite for joining the European Union, as well as the harmonization of national regulations with the European ones, have a positive effect on the development of renewable energy sources, which is evidenced by the great interest of investors in the development of new projects in this area.

Q: How can individuals be relieved of the cost of RES and producers having better market conditions?

A: In its 2023 decree, the Government of Montenegro additionally reduced the fee for the production of electricity from RES by 50 per cent to take a responsible approach to consider the needs of individual citizens. In this way, individual producers must pay a significantly reduced fee to improve their overall economic standard. This year, we did not have requests from privileged producers to enter the market from the feed-in tariff. Several privileged producers who entered the market in the previous period returned to the incentive system this year. This indicates that the privileged producers assessed that now is not the moment to enter the market due to low electricity prices.

IN FOCUS:

Q: How would you assess the current development of solar energy and solar power plants in Montenegro, and what are your plans? How is the implementation of the SOLARI 3000+ and 500+ projects going?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Thomas)

A: Five solar power plants with an installed capacity of 2.2315 MW are included in the incentive system. Since we have many sunny days, there is great potential for developing solar power plants. Implementing these projects has multiple benefits and indeed represents a significant parameter for the overall development of the energy sector and overall economic progress.

When it comes to the SOLARI 500+ and 3000+ projects, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore is the chief project partner in carrying out project activities. The company recognized that the projects would be in the best interest of both individuals and legal entities in ensuring the use of this type of energy. In line with its business policies, the company implements these important projects. Development projects related to renewable energy sources contribute to accomplishing not only energy goals but also environmental protection goals, one of Montenegro’s strategic goals.

Q: How is electricity traded in Montenegro, and what are you planning to do in the coming period following the Energy Law?

A: Our country has an excellent connection with the Western Balkan and EU countries (undersea cable with Italy), which has helped Montenegro be viewed as one of the more interesting countries in this part of Europe. This good position was further boosted by the launch of the day-ahead market a little more than a year ago by the Electricity Exchange. Following the adoption of the new Law on Energy and the National Energy and Climate Plan, the obligations and plans of energy companies will be better specified in the coming period, and this segment’s development will increase.

Interview by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

Can Government Partnerships Support Responsible and Reliable Critical Mineral Supply Chains?

Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)
Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Shane McLendon)

As governments look to transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate the deployment of clean energy, policy makers are dedicating more attention to securing supplies of critical minerals.

Materials such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential to components in many fast-growing clean energy technologies, such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. As demand for them grows, government-to-government partnerships focused on mineral supply are becoming an increasingly popular policy tool, helping establish frameworks of cooperation between producing and consuming countries. However, many of these arrangements are described in broad language without supporting details. By making partnerships more concrete and transparent, governments could send an important signal about how they will ensure that new mining projects are developed responsibly.

Strategic partnerships on critical minerals are often struck between the government of a major consumer market and that of a major critical mineral producing country – such as those between the European Union and the Democratic Republic of Congo and between the United Kingdom and Zambia. There have also been a growing number of partnership announcements between consuming countries, such as the agreement between the United States and Japan.

Thus far, these deals have typically been motivated by economic and national security concerns and ostensibly lay the groundwork for future collaboration or investment incentives. They are rarely binding, but often reference high-level intentions to collaborate on:

  • Identifying projects to prioritise for financing.
  • Supporting open, competitive markets.
  • Building capacity and transferring knowledge through technical assistance programmes.
  • Facilitating cooperation on research, development and innovation.
  • Developing domestic processing capacity to ensure producing countries can add value to raw materials before they are exported.

Many of these partnership agreements also incorporate or reference a commitment to responsibly and sustainably manage supply chains. Delivering on this promise would require advancing the sustainable development ambitions of low- and middle-income producer countries and mitigating the risk of environmental, social and governance failures, which can cause harm and ultimately lead to supply disruptions. By prioritising transparency, incorporating criteria that require sustainable and responsible practices, and ensuring that affected communities and stakeholders are systematically consulted when negotiating and implementing these partnerships, countries can work together to strengthen secure critical mineral supply chains in a cooperative and responsible manner.

More:

Enhanced transparency on the content and implementation of strategic partnerships can help build credibility

Government-to-government partnerships on critical minerals raise expectations of new investment, with an increase in funding for projects that embed higher environmental, social and governance standards and support producing countries’ development ambitions. Yet information on the content of partnership agreements, the projects they may support, and the feasibility of such plans is not always publicly disclosed, making it difficult for stakeholders to fully assess the potential benefits and costs.

Research from the Natural Resource Governance Institute found that in about two-thirds of partnerships on critical minerals, no information is disclosed beyond an initial press release. Meanwhile, the strategic partnerships identified by the IEA in its Critical Minerals Policy Tracker are mostly preliminary agreements or Memoranda of Understanding that lack details about follow-up steps and implementation.

More proactive disclosure on the objectives of strategic partnerships, the terms of the agreements and their implementation could help to build credibility among trading partners, industry actors, civil society and the public. This would also align with the global emphasis on improving transparency in the extractive sector, as highlighted in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard and in industry commitments, such as the one on contract transparency by members of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). The need for stakeholders to have sufficient transparency is also recognised in certain legislative frameworks, such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and the EU Global Gateway Strategy. However, policy makers will need to ensure this is carried forward at the implementation stage.

Read the full text here.

Source: IEA

When Ecology and Energy Transition Aren’t on the Same Team

Photo illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

A green future is on the horizon! We will drive electric cars, solar panels will shimmer on our rooftops, and picturesque fields and meadows will be complemented by wind turbines gently spinning, almost as if to tell us, “There will be enough clean energy for everyone.”

It’s easy to fall in love with this romantic picture. Just imagine – no more air pollution, no more traffic noise, electricity bills getting lower, and the standard of living improving.

But will this romanticized picture elude us?

We know that energy transition is impossible without the key raw materials used in the production of batteries, solar panels, wind turbines… The demand for lithium, cobalt, and other precious resources has skyrocketed after the world market cried out for green technologies.

Thus, mining has gained a new dimension and is now among the key players in the game for climate neutrality. However, when mining is in play, ecology must not be benched.

A new study published by researchers from the University of Cambridge warns us that mining activities “in the service of the energy transition,” as well as oil and gas extraction, threaten the survival of 4,642 species of vertebrates and many more invertebrates and plants.

The greatest risk to species comes from mining materials fundamental to our transition to clean energy. These mines are often located in the world’s most valuable biodiversity hotspots, which are unique habitats for many species on the planet.

Moreover, the threat to nature is not limited to the physical locations of mines. Species living far away can also be affected by polluted waterways or deforestation, which is used to construct necessary roads and other infrastructure.

Among all vertebrate species, fish (up to 2,053) are particularly at risk from mining, followed by reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The level of threat seems to be related to where a species lives and its way of life: species inhabiting freshwater habitats and those with small ranges are particularly endangered.

New mines will undoubtedly be opened, and it is up to us to choose what is more important—accelerated energy transition or the protection of nature and species.

Although countries generally impose stricter environmental criteria on the entire industry, including mining, I wouldn’t rely too much on that. In critical raw materials, many countries and companies see a unique opportunity for economic growth, and it is clear that all those environmental protection measures significantly reduce the productivity of mines.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Some might say that the destruction of nature and the loss of certain species is the price we must pay to finally rid ourselves of fossil fuels and step into a greener future. After all, humans have always cleared forests for expanding cities and agriculture, so why should mines be an exception?

But this must not be our excuse. If we are already talking about a green future, we must be better than the generations that brought the planet to the boiling point.

We will never overcome the climate crisis if we continue to destroy nature and biodiversity. Moreover, long-term mining for energy transition could put us in an even worse situation than fossil fuels.

Therefore, if we must choose between mines and nature – let’s choose carefully.

Milena Maglovski

EU Tightens Measures on Industrial Emissions

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The European Union has made significant progress in its environmental protection policy by updating the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), which comes into effect on August 4, 2024, and has evolved into the Directive on Industrial Emissions and Livestock Emissions. As its name suggests, the revised directive is a key part of the European Green Deal, aiming to drastically reduce emissions from large industrial plants and intensive livestock farming.

Over the past decade, the original Industrial Emissions Directive has set standards for controlling pollution from industrial sources. However, two years ago, the European Commission proposed revising the directive to keep up with current trends and modernize it.

The updated directive brings several changes. First, it introduces stricter emission limit values and extends its application to additional sources of pollution, including metal mining and large- scale battery production. According to the European Commission’s website, this broader scope is expected to significantly reduce emissions of PM2.5 particles, SO2, NOX, and NMVOC, aiming for a 40 percent reduction by 2050 compared to 2020 levels, according to the European Commission’s.

More:

In addition, the directive mandates electronic permitting, simplifies administrative processes, and tightens conditions for granting derogations. It also introduces harsher penalties for non- compliance, including fines of at least 3 percent of annual EU turnover for the most severe violations.

Regulations for the largest pig and poultry farms with the highest pollution levels, which account for about 30 percent of such farms in the EU, have also been expanded. These farms will now be subject to a simplified permitting system, reducing administrative burdens while maintaining effective environmental management. Smaller and organic pig farms are exempt from these new obligations.

Moreover, the directive will enhance transparency through the Industrial Emissions Portal, which began operating on May 22, 2024. This portal provides comprehensive data on industrial installations and simplifies operators’ electronic reporting.

Member states have 22 months to transpose the revised directive into national law, while the European Commission will adopt secondary legislation to assist in its implementation. Data reporting on the Industrial Emissions Portal is expected to start in 2028.

Implementing the revised directive is expected to reduce emissions of key air pollutants by 40 percent by 2050 compared to 2020 levels.

Energy Portal

Investing In Sustainable Management of RES

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (tim-van-der-kuip)
Photo: Courtesy of Milena Popović Martineli

Serbia will accomplish the green transition of its energy sector through the increase of renewable energy sources, the improvement of power grids and energy storage, the promotion of fuels with zero carbon dioxide emissions, and the gradual abolition of fossil fuels. The goal is to transform the sector into a sustainable, efficient, and inclusive system that is adapted and resistant to climate change, with a significant increase in energy efficiency and respect for the principles of a fair transition. We talked with Milena Popović Martinelli, Climate Strategy Delivery Principal for the Western Balkans, about the support provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), challenges created by the energy transition, and plans.

Q: What challenges is the green transition facing, and how does the EBRD support Serbia’s effort in this transition?

A: One of the EBRD’s key priorities in Serbia is to support the acceleration of the energy transition while ensuring the security of the energy supply and boosting economic growth and social development. The EBRD is engaged in many complex aspects of decarbonization, too. We invest in renewable energy sources, and in March of this year, we supported the Pupin project, a 94.4 MW wind farm. Pupin is the second phase of the development of the Kovačica wind farm (which we also co-financed back in 2017) and is the first to obtain financing among bidders at the first market premium auctions. We also support the reconstruction of the Vlasina hydropower plant to extend its useful life and increase the installed capacity, which is significant both for the supply and the balancing of renewable energy in the country.

We recognize that the energy sector is affected by climate change and support our clients in aligning their business models and operations with low-carbon and climate-resilient development principles. While acknowledging the Electric Power Industry of Serbia’s (EPS) role in the country’s effort to decarbonize, the EBRD provides support to the company in developing a decarbonization action plan in accordance with national green ambitions, as well as assessing the impact that climate change may have on business.

Furthermore, through our just transition initiatives, we support the Serbian government in understanding the impact of the energy transition on the most affected regions and communities. We are working to identify and prioritize specific interventions to ensure the transition is fair and inclusive.

IN FOCUS:

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michael Fortsch)

Q: How interested are investors in investing in renewable energy sources in Serbia?

A: The Serbian renewable energy market has proven very competitive, and investors recognize its potential. An adequate regulatory framework, with a clearly defined plan and goals, is a prerequisite for creating a favorable business environment. The Serbian market demonstrated that it meets the key criteria related to market premium auctions, at which bids for electricity from wind turbines significantly exceeded the available quota, were competitive, and well below the maximum price. With Serbia’s three-year plan to allocate 1,300 MW of capacity at auctions and the goal of reaching a 45 per cent share in electricity production from renewable energy sources by 2030, we expect that many will carry out new investments in the market.

Q: Are there other aspects of the transition that you consider significant to which the EBRD will pay special attention in the coming period?

A: Renewable energy production is key to decarbonizing the energy sector, but a successful transition requires a holistic approach that also focuses on other priority areas. There is a consensus and a deep understanding of energy demand, which can be seen in implementing energy efficiency projects in public and residential buildings. The EBRD stands out as an international financial institution that pays special attention to the energy rehabilitation of residential (multi-family) buildings, including buildings with the worst energy performance.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, we are preparing a Public ESCO Project, an innovative format with significant impact and coverage that will be implemented on millions of square meters. As part of the first public call for the project implementation, energy rehabilitation will include up to 1.1 million square meters of residential buildings connected to district heating in 14 Serbian cities. The Public ESCO Project will enable the simultaneous implementation of energy efficiency measures in the most energy-inefficient residential buildings throughout the country. It will be the basis for transitioning from flat-rate billing to billing only for the consumed heat. It will contribute to significant energy savings, reduce emissions and pollution, and improve air quality in numerous towns in Serbia.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (American Public Power Association)

Q: What help and support does the EBRD provide in preparing and implementing auctions for solar and wind power plants?

A: With the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the EBRD played a significant role in conducting auctions to allocate market premiums. We supported the Serbian Ministry of Mining and Energy in the implementation of competitive procurement for renewable energy projects and regulatory reform in the energy sector to facilitate the implementation of auctions, which culminated in the successful allocation of 400 MW of wind capacity and 25 MW of solar capacity in the summer of 2023. The first auctions for allocating market premiums based on the format of bilateral contracts for price difference will help develop over 700 MW of new green energy capacities in Serbia. The auctions were conducted in line with the best European practices. The transition to market premiums enables better cost management and significantly benefits the entire energy system. As for the next round, we can expect that the capacities will be determined in accordance with the three-year plan that sets a quota of 300 MW for wind power plants and 100 MW for solar power plants.

Interview by Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine AGROSOLAR ENERGY AND RES.

The Fashion Industry Lags in Achieving Climate Goals

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The fashion industry remains one of the world’s top polluters and shows no serious tendencies to change its business models and make them more sustainable.

Members of the global movement Fashion Revolution, which promotes human and environmental rights and sustainable fashion goals, have released a new report titled “What Drives Fashion”. The report analyzes 250 of the world’s largest fashion brands and ranks them based on their climate and energy-related data transparency.

The research revealed that the fashion industry significantly lags in achieving climate goals and still heavily relies on fossil fuels. This is an urgent situation, as 86 percent of companies lack a public goal to phase out coal, and 94 percent lack a public goal for renewable energy.

Nearly a quarter of the world’s largest brands do not disclose any data on the decarbonization of their operations, indicating that addressing the climate crisis is not a priority for them.

More:

For 145 brands (58 percent), it is unclear what progress they have made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, less than half (47 percent) of brands disclose their commitment to science-based emission reduction targets, while 42 per cent reveal their progress toward these goals. Regarding the source of electricity needed for production processes, fashion companies are also reluctant to share data. Less than half (43 percent) of brands are transparent about their electricity procurement at the operational level, and even fewer (10 percent) at the supply chain level. However, since the factories of major fashion brands are mostly located in countries that heavily rely on fossil fuels, it is clear that renewable energy sources have little (if any) share in powering the fashion industry.

Even so-called sustainable clothing can still be produced using fossil fuels. The fashion industry’s impact on the climate is primarily examined through the lens of the materials used in our clothing rather than the production processes behind them. While 58 percent of brands disclose goals for using sustainable materials, only a small percentage reveal the energy sources in their supply chain, meaning sustainable clothing could still be produced in factories powered by fossil fuels.

According to the latest data, the value of the fashion industry is estimated at over 770 billion dollars, making it one of the most prosperous industrial sectors. As the fashion industry expands, so does the demand for fossil fuels, indicating that fashion brands must urgently turn to renewable energy sources to contribute to a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to the Fashion Revolution movement.

Milena Maglovski

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