The Best, Right Next to the City Centre

03.04.2019

Visitors of the most popular booking website Booking.com bestowed it 9.3 points out of 10. On the site Hotels.com got 4.6 ratings out of 5, while at the TripAdvisor.com list of 86 hotels by guests’ choice it holds the 4th position.

Belgrade’s Jump Inn hotel has earned this excellent status thanks to the high ratings given by the guests for its location, comfort, cleanliness, friendliness of the staff and numerous services.

Although the recommendations offer a good insight into the service quality, one can get a fair impression of the hotel, located near the cultural and historical center of the capital, only by stepping into the 1924 building designed by the Russian architect Nikolay Vasilyev, who is also known for his building project of the Military Museum at Kalemegdan.

Location, location, location – goes the English phrase, but the Jump Inn hotel owners know about it too. This condition which implicates that the facility should be situated as close to the sights so that guests can do sightseeing on foot, while having the business part of the city at a short distance, has been met when the hotel moved into the building at the address in the former Zagrebacka street, that now bears the name of Koca Popovic. A short but picturesque street is one of the rare roads in Belgrade that has been keeping its appearance for almost a century. The charm of this destination does not come to an end. Tourists and business guests who are staying at the Jump Inn hotel can enjoy in a unique atmosphere of the famous Savamala district featuring numerous restaurants, bars, galleries and exhibition areas with various amenities.

The hotel was opened four years ago and the increase in the number of overnight stays by 25% each year grew out of continuous listening to the needs of guests, constant improvement of the hotel’s services and refining of the offer. Having welcomed so far more than 65,000 tourists from all over the world, they have raised the bar when it comes to the Belgrade’s hotel offer.

A large number of domestic and foreign tourists, as well as business people, mainly from Europe, most especially from Turkey, Germany, Sweden, the Russian Federation, Greece, Israel and Italy, gave high grades to the hotel’s services and atmosphere which made the Jump Inn hotel stand out as one of the best-ranked hotels of top category in Belgrade.

Care about guests in the first place

There is no doubt that a guest will enjoy in the ambience of any room or suit which he chooses since all accommodations are designed to satisfy different tastes and needs. Each of 49 rooms available to guests is characterised by a high standard, specially designed details and a combination of modern and antique furniture. If the guest feels like having a walk around the city, he or she won’t be wondering about what to see first. Guest Relation Agent is there for providing all necessary information about the sights and number of tourist attractions, not only in Belgrade but throughout Serbia, and also for organising the sightseeing tour according to the particular interest of the guest.

Based on the choice of the hotel guests, at the top of their list, apart from city centre and Kalemegdan, are river cruising and visits to museums. The visitors from the Netherlands and Great Britain seem to be very interested in running along the river Sava and riding e-bike which can be rented at the hotel.

This article was published in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine on CLEAN ENERGY, December 2018. – February 2019.

Prepared by: Tamara Zjacic

Mutilated Dolphins Wash Up on French Coast in Record Numbers

03.04.2019

dolphins-delfini — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

A record number of dolphins have washed up on France’s Atlantic coast in the last three months, many with devastating injures.

Environmental campaigners say 1,100 mutilated dolphins have been found since January, but the real figure could be 10 times higher as many bodies sink without trace. Activists warn the marine slaughter could threaten the extinction of the European dolphin population in the region.

The cause of the deaths is not known but it is thought fishing trawlers catching sea bass off the Atlantic coast may be responsible. Autopsies suggest the dolphins sustain catastrophic injuries attempting to escape nets or when trawler crew attempt to cut them free after they are caught.

Experts at the Observatoire Pelagis, a marine research station at La Rochelle, said the dead mammals showed “extreme levels of mutilation”.

Lamya Essemlali, the president of the ecology campaign group Sea Shepherd, said the real death toll was probably between 6,500 and 10,000 dolphins a year.

She said the animals were being trapped by trawlers working in pairs and dragging a net between them. Sea Shepherd released a video of dolphins caught in trawler nets last month as part of its campaign Operation Dolphin Bycatch.

“These fishing vessels have nets that are not selective at all so when they put their net in the water and the water is full of dolphins they get in the net. Dolphins are not fish, they are mammals, and they need to get to the surface to get air,” Essemlali told Associated Press.

“So what happens is they suffocate and they also injure themselves, when they try to get away from the nets and that’s the reason why we find all these marks on their bodies.”

Essemlali said the number of dolphins dying in this way had been increasing over the past three years, but added: “Right now it’s such an alarming rate they could drive the European dolphin population to extinction.”

She called on the French government to carry out greater surveillance of trawlers, but said Sea Shepherd’s warnings had so far fallen on deaf ears. Essemlali also blamed public demand for cheap fish.

“You can find sea bass cheap in the shops at €7 [£6] a kilo, but it’s the dolphins who are paying the price,” she said.

The French agriculture minister, François de Rugy, has announced an “action plan” including fitting fishing nets with acoustic “pingers” to warn off dolphins, but Sea Shepherd says many trawlers do not activate them for fear they will scare fish away.

Source: Guardian

Strawberries, Spinach and Kale Are Riddled with Pesticides

02.04.2019

A diet rich in fruits and veggies is considered to be key to good health. They are low in calories but high in nutrients. Just what the doctor ordered. Or is it?

Because of the widespread use of pesticides many fruits and vegetables on the market are packed with noxious chemicals. Take strawberries, spinach and kale.

Strawberries are beloved by many children, and while admittedly spinach is many a child’s old foe, kale is becoming a staple in salads across much of Europe and the United States. It turns out, however, that all three are riddled with pesticides in the U.S., according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG).

In the 2019 issue of EWG’s annual “Dirty Dozen” guide to the most contaminated food products. strawberries, spinach and kale finish first, second and third in that order. They are followed by other popular favorites: nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries and pears. Rounding out the list are tomatoes, celery and potatoes.

Troublingly, kale did not make it onto the list last year, which means that the pervasive use of pesticides in agriculture carries on unabated, posing serious environmental and health risks. In some recent tests by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 92% of nonorganically grown kale was found to contain two or more pesticide residues. Some kale had residue from a shocking 18 different kinds of pesticides.

“We were surprised kale had so many pesticides on it, but the test results were unequivocal,” said Alexis Temkin, PhD, a toxicologist with EWG. “Fruits and vegetables are an important part of everyone’s diet, and when it comes to some conventionally grown produce items, such as kale, choosing organic may be a better option.”

In all, nearly 70% of nonorganic produce in the U.S. contains pesticide residues, EWG says. “The main route of pesticide exposure for most Americans who do not live or work on or near farms is through their diet,” said Carla Burns, a research analyst at EWG. “Studies have shown that eating fruits and vegetables free of pesticides benefits health, and this is especially important for pregnant women and children.”

Based on its tests, USDA says that as many as 225 different pesticides and pesticide breakdown products have been detected on popular fruits and vegetables in the U.S. Often, not even washing or peeling fruit removes all the toxins. These findings are highly disconcerting because long-term exposure to even relatively low levels of pesticides can have adverse health effects, especially on children.

“Even low levels of pesticide exposure can be harmful to children,” said Dr. Philip Landrigan, a renowned pediatrician and epidemiologist. “When possible, parents and caregivers should take steps to lower children’s exposures to pesticides while still feeding them diets rich in healthy fruits and vegetables.”

Author: Daniel T Cross

Source: Sustainability Times

IKEA Introduces Environmentally-Friendly Ice Cream

02.04.2019

devojčica jede sladoled — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Patricia Prudente)

IKEA has introduced an environmentally-friendly vegan ice cream to its Bistro menu in Europe.

Starting from April 2019, the retailer will sell its sustainable strawberry-flavour soft ice, which it says has almost half the carbon footprint of traditional dairy-based soft ice and is one of the most popular IKEA Bistro products on sale.

The launch of the more environmentally-friendly, plant-based version follows the development and success of the brand’s vegetarian hot dog.

Sandra Lindh, Commercial Manager IKEA Food Services, said: “Our ambition was to create a plant-based treat that is as soft, airy and delicious as our popular dairy-based soft ice.

“It’s an easy, affordable and delicious treat for customers that either need or want to skip dairy products and prefer plant-based food options.”

IKEA plans to develop other types of plant-based soft ice in the future, which could potentially be made with oats or soy.

IKEA has pledged to remove the use of single-use plastic straws from its restaurants and product range across the UK and Ireland.

Source: Energy Live News

‘Mosquito-Borne Diseases Will Spread as the Planet Heats Up’

01.04.2019

Climate change means the entire planet could be at risk from mosquito-borne tropical diseases by the end of the century.

That’s according to a new study from PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, which suggests the regions in which mosquitoes carrying harmful viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever can survive will spread northwards and southwards, away from the equator.

The researchers say warmer temperatures are a critical factor in mosquito and virus survival and therefore the transmission of the diseases they carry.

Currently, more than six billion people live in tropical and temperate areas that are suitable for disease transmission for at least one month out of the year.

The report predicts by 2050, disease-carrying mosquitoes could be present throughout Eurasia and North America, where a billion additional people would be at risk – scientists warn this could be particularly dangerous because the people living there won’t have any built-up immunity to the illnesses.

They say even if global fossil fuel emissions decrease in line with the most optimistic scenarios, by 2080 the at-risk area will still spread to affect around 455 million people.

Colin Carlson, Global Change Biologist from Georgetown University, said: “Part of the punchline with climate change is that there’s no way to keep diseases in one place.

“There’s not going to be a ‘somebody else’s problem’ 20 to 30 years from now.”

Source: Energy Live News

Extreme Weather and Climate Events Affected 62m People in 2018

01.04.2019

pustinjski čovek s kamilom — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Extreme weather and climate events affected 62 million people in 2018.

That’s the conclusion reached in a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which warns the physical signs and socio-economic impacts of climate change are accelerating as record greenhouse gas concentrations “drive global temperatures towards increasingly dangerous levels”.

Carbon dioxide levels have sharply risen since from 357 parts per million in 1994 to 405.5 parts per million in 2017.

The WMO suggests floods alone continued to affect more than 35 million people, according to data from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and the UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The report highlights record rises in sea level, with Global Mean Sea Level for 2018 rising around 3.7 millimetres higher than in 2017, as well as “exceptionally high” land and ocean temperatures over the past four years.

However, climate change doesn’t necessarily mean it will be hotter everywhere – despite causing warmer daily winter temperatures in Europe and searing heatwaves in Australia, climate change also resulted in unusual cold periods in North America.

The study highlights the effects of Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael, which were two of 14 “billion dollar disasters” that happened in the US during 2018 – they triggered around $49 billion (£37.6bn) in damages and more than 100 deaths.

Over the course of the year, more than 1,600 deaths were also associated with intense heat waves and wildfires in Europe, Japan and USA, where they were associated with record economic damages of nearly $24 billion (£18.4bn) in the US alone.

The report also notes the Indian state of Kerala suffered the “heaviest rainfall and worst flooding in nearly a century” and says new evidence shows a continuing rise in world hunger after a prolonged decline.

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said: “Since the Statement was first published, climate science has achieved an unprecedented degree of robustness, providing authoritative evidence of global temperature increase and associated features such as accelerating sea level rise, shrinking sea ice, glacier retreat and extreme events such as heat waves.”

Source: Energy Live News

The Last Straw: European Parliament Votes to Ban Single-Use Plastics

31.03.2019

straw-2318921_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The European parliament has voted to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws and stirrers as part of a sweeping law against plastic waste that despoils beaches and pollutes oceans.

The vote by MEPs paves the way for a ban on single-use plastics to come into force by 2021 in all EU member states. The UK would have to follow the rules if it took part in and extended the Brexit transition period because of delays in finding a new arrangement with the EU.

The UK environment secretary, Michael Gove, who has previously sparred with the European commission over who is doing the most to cut down plastic pollution, also wants to curb single-use plastics.

As well as targeting the most common plastic beach litter, the directive will ban single-use polystyrene cups and those made from oxo-degradable plastics that disintegrate into tiny fragments.

EU member states will have to introduce measures to reduce the use of plastic food containers and plastic lids for hot drinks. By 2025, plastic bottles should be made of 25% recycled content, and by 2029 90% of them should be recycled.

The EU is also tackling the scourge of wet wipes that help to clog sewers in the form of “fatbergs”. Wet wipes, sanitary towels, tobacco filters and cups will be labelled if they are made with plastic. Packaging will warn consumers of environmental damage they do by disposing of these items incorrectly.

The “polluter pays” principle will be extended to manufacturers of fishing nets so that companies – but not fishing crews – pay the cost of nets lost at sea.

Frans Timmermans, a European commission vice-president, who has spearheaded the plan, said: “Today we have taken an important step to reduce littering and plastic pollution in our oceans and seas. We got this, we can do this. Europe is setting new and ambitious standards, paving the way for the rest of the world.”

At the sitting in Strasbourg, 560 MEPs voted in favour of the recent agreement hammered out with EU ministers, 35 against, with 28 abstentions. The directive only has to pass through formalities before it is published in the EU rulebook. Once that happens, EU member states will have two years to implement the directive.

Every year, Europeans generate 25m tonnes of plastic waste, but less than 30% is collected for recycling. More than 80% of marine litter is plastic.

Source: Guardian

Coal Prices Continue to Rise, Becoming More Costly Than Solar and Wind Alternatives

30.03.2019

silhouettes-808153 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Around three-quarters of US coal production is now more expensive than solar and wind energy in providing electricity to American households, according to a new study.

“Even without major policy shift we will continue to see coal retire pretty rapidly,” said Mike O’Boyle, the co-author of the report for Energy Innovation, a renewables analysis firm. “Our analysis shows that we can move a lot faster to replace coal with wind and solar. The fact that so much coal could be retired right now shows we are off the pace.”

The study’s authors used public financial filings and data from the Energy Information Agency (EIA) to work out the cost of energy from coal plants compared with wind and solar options within a 35-mile radius. They found that 211 gigawatts of current US coal capacity, 74% of the coal fleet, is providing electricity that’s more expensive than wind or solar.

By 2025 the picture becomes even clearer, with nearly the entire US coal system out-competed on cost by wind and solar, even when factoring in the construction of new wind turbines and solar panels.

“We’ve seen we are at the ‘coal crossover’ point in many parts of the country but this is actually more widespread than previously thought,” O’Boyle said. “There is a huge potential for wind and solar to replace coal, while saving people money.”

Coal plants have suffered due to rising maintenance costs, including requirements to install pollution controls. Meanwhile, the cost of solar and wind has plummeted as the technology has improved. Cheap and abundant natural gas, as well as the growth of renewables, has hit coal demand, with the EIA reporting in January that half of all US coalmines have shut down over the past decade.

“Coal is on its way out,” said Curtis Morgan, the chief executive of Vistra Energy, a major Texas-based coal plant owner. “More and more plants are being retired.”

Data released last week highlighted the rise of renewables, with electricity generation from clean sources doubling since 2008. The bulk of renewable energy comes from hydro and wind, with solar playing a more minor, albeit growing, role.

Renewables now account for around 17% of US electricity generation, with coal’s share declining. However, the power of coal’s incumbency, bolstered by a sympathetic Trump administration, means it isn’t on track to be eliminated in the US as it is in the UK and Germany.

Fossil fuels continue to receive staunch institutional support, too. A recent report released by a coalition of environmental groups found that 33 global banks have provided $1.9tn in finance to coal, oil and gas companies since the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

In sobering figures released last week, the EIA predicted that US carbon dioxide emissions from energy will remain similar to current levels until 2050, with coal consumption dropping but then leveling off beyond 2020.

Such a scenario, disputed by other experts who argue the transition to renewables will be more rapid, would be compatible with disastrous climate change, causing vast areas of the US coastline to be inundated, the spread of deadly heatwaves, growth of destructive wildfires and food and water insecurity.

The Trump administration has largely ignored scientists’ warnings over these dangers, instead pushing ahead with an “energy dominance” mantra whereby enormous tracts of federal land and waters are opened up for oil and gas drilling.

The Energy Innovation report, which suggests the “smooth shut down” of ageing coal plants, comes as states and territories start to rally to California and Hawaii’s lead in committing to 100% renewable energy.

Lawmakers in New Mexico recently decided to follow suit, with Puerto Rico poised to vote on the issue this week as states and territories attempt to address climate change in lieu of the federal government.

“It would be better if we had a federal cohesive policy because not all states will take the initiative,” said O’Boyle. “In order to get an affordable, clean energy system we need both federal and state actors involved.”

Source: Guardian

Air Pollution Linked to Psychotic Experiences in Young People

29.03.2019

dani-ramos-500960-unsplash — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Dani Ramos)

Young people living with higher levels of air pollution are significantly more likely to have psychotic experiences, according to the first study of the issue.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Dani Ramos)

Researchers analysed the experiences of more than 2,000 17-year-olds across England and Wales and found that those in places with higher levels of nitrogen oxides had a 70% higher chance of symptoms such as hearing voices or intense paranoia.

People growing up in cities were already known to have more psychotic experiences than those outside urban areas and the new work suggests toxic air is one potential reason. But the type of study done cannot prove a causal link, and other factors such as noise could be important.

Psychotic experiences are much more common in adolescents than in adults, but those having these symptoms when young are more likely to develop serious mental illnesses later. With more people around the world living in cities every year, scientists are particularly keen to uncover the reasons for mental ill health in urban centres.

The study took into account other potential causes of psychotic experiences, such as smoking, alcohol and cannabis use, family income and psychiatric history, and measures of neighbourhood deprivation. “[Nitrogen oxides] explained about 60% of the association between urban living and psychotic experiences,” said Joanne Newbury at King’s College London, who led the research. Other factors may include genetic susceptibility and experience of crime.

Nitrogen oxides come largely from diesel vehicles and are at illegal levels in most British towns and cities, with the government having lost three times in the high court over its failure to cut pollution quickly. Research is linking air pollution with an increasing range of ill health, including reduced intelligence, dementia and depression, while other work has revealed air pollution can reach the brain.

“There seems to be some link between exposure to air pollution and effects in the brain and this [new research] is perhaps another example of this,” said Prof Frank Kelly, at King’s College London and also part of the research team. “Children and young people are most vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution owing to the juvenility of the brain and respiratory system.”

The new study, published in the journal Jama Psychiatry, combined high-resolution air pollution data and psychotic experiences disclosed by the adolescents in private interviews. A third of the young people lived in urban areas, with one fifth being rural and the rest suburban. Overall, 30% of the young people reported at least one psychotic experience, a rate considered normal for teenage years.

But psychotic experiences were significantly more common among teens living in the top 25% most polluted places. “In areas with the highest levels of [nitrogen oxides], there were 12 teens who reported psychotic experiences for every 20 teens who did not, said Newbury. “In areas with lower levels, there were only seven teens who reported psychotic experiences for every 20 teens who did not.”

The researchers also found a link to small particle pollution, with psychotic experiences 45% more common for those teens exposed to higher levels. However, they said that while this first study provided good evidence, it was important other studies were done to confirm the findings.

“The study makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of evidence that air pollution may affect more than just cardiovascular and respiratory health,” said Stefan Reis, the head of atmospheric chemistry and effects at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. “This new study makes a compelling case to investigate a range of mental health outcomes of air pollution exposure.”

“People living in cities are subjected to high concentrations of toxic particles and gases from exhaust fumes on a daily basis,” said Dr Ellen Wood, from the Doctors Against Diesel campaign group. “This study adds to the growing evidence that air pollution could have devastating and far reaching consequences on our physical and mental health, that is put at further risk if policymakers do not address this public health emergency.”

“We urgently need to see policies that equitably reduce polluting vehicles on our roads, and replace them with affordable, sustainable and accessible public transport,” said Rebecca Daniels, at the global health charity Medact.

Source: Guardian

Will Copenhagen Be the First Carbon Neutral Capital in the World?

29.03.2019

Copenhagen-buildings-boats-Denmark — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Nick Karvounis)

The City of Copenhagen has set itself ambitious goals for the city’s social, economic and environmental development.

Copenhagen is to be carbon neutral by 2025 as the first capital in the world. The city plans to achieve these goals through a transition of the energy supply, building retrofits, waste management, public infrastructure and mobility, as well as other key initiatives to support the transition on both a short-term and long-term basis.

It is their vision that the ambitious goals are implemented in a way that secures and improves the quality of life in Copenhagen and creates opportunities for innovation, jobs and green growth.

The transition to a green economy in Copenhagen cannot happen in one year or through the efforts of each individual stakeholders alone, the City states.

Therefore, Copenhagen is collaborating with companies and knowledge institutions to find new solutions to specific challenges. The City of Copenhagen is also striving to increase documentation of its green efforts and to target new initiatives based on available data and evidence.

In 2014 the London School of Economics showed in a report based on extensive analysis why they consider Copenhagen to be a “green economy leader”. Even to those familiar with the Copenhagen story, it makes impressive reading. Among many other things, the report shows that Copenhagen has managed over a long time horizon to develop into a very compact and transport-effective city, even compared with other cities such as Stockholm and London.

Source: Copenhagen

Saudi Arabia to Build 2.6GW Solar Plant near Mecca

28.03.2019

mecca-66966_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Saudi Arabia has signed a deal for a 2.6GW solar farm to be built in the Makkah Region.

The facility, which will be located near the holy city of Mecca, will supply electricity to Al Faisaliah city and the western parts of the country at times of peak demand, increasing grid reliability and flexibility.

The Middle Eastern oil giant’s Prince Khalid Al-Faisal signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faleh, confirming the joint project between the Ministry of Energy and the Makkah Region Development Authority.

They say 600MW will be tendered through the Renewable Energy Projects Development Office (REPDO) with the remaining 2GW to be developed by the Public Investment Fund and selected partners.

Saudi Arabia is currently working towards a renewable energy target of 27.3GW by 2023 and 58.7GW by 2030.

Last year Saudi Arabia suspended plans to build a $200 billion (£153bn) solar power plant in collaboration with SoftBank Group.

Source: Energy Live News

‘BirthStrike’ Movement Encourages People to Stop Having Children in the Face of Climate Change

28.03.2019

A growing movement is encouraging future parents to reconsider their decision to conceive and instead vow not to procreate in the face of climate change. As the world’s increasing population pushes the boundaries of natural resource extraction and carbon emissions, the organization hopes its proclamation will bring attention to addressing the world’s ecological crisis.

UK-based BirthStrike is a voluntary organization comprised of around 200 members globally who have decided not to have children in response to “climate breakdown and civilization collapse,” reports The Guardian. Founder Blythe Pepino discussed the group in March shortly after U.S. congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) voiced her own concerns over procreating because of the current climate situation and lack of government action.

“We, the undersigned, declare our decision not to bear children due to the severity of the ecological crisis and the current inaction of governing forces in the face if this existential threat,” declare BirthStrikers on their blog page, calling for “fast acting and deep change towards an equality based, sustainable, caring, and non-violent future for humans and between all life on earth.”

Scientists argue a sixth mass extinction event is underway capable of triggering “biological annihilation.” They point to wildlife population losses and declines around the world directly linked to overconsumption of resources by an increasing human population. Indeed, the world population currently hovers around 7.7 billion and the United Nations estimates numbers will continue to grow to 9.8 billion in three decades, reaching 11.2 billion by the end of the century. In response, members like Alice Brown say they won’t be having children for fear they will enter a world on the verge of extinction.

“I’m 24 and instead of dreaming about my career and family, I’m burdened with the disease we’ve created. My decision not to have a child I truly feel is a necessity not a choice. Sadly but with courage to fight this fight,” wrote Brown on the movement’s blog.

Her concerns aren’t unfounded. A 2017 study analyzing fertility and mortality rates found that even a one-child global policy would not reduce the world’s population by 2100. Similarly, another study from that same year suggests the best way to lessen one’s impact on the planet is to have one fewer child per person. Though BirthStrike does not call for population control, members hope their participation in the movement will not discourage people from having children or shame those who have chosen to do so, but will bring climate change to the forefront in sparking systematic change in regards to tackling the environmental crisis.

Author: Madison Dapcevich

Source: Eco Watch

Pink and Green Are the Colours of Love!

27.03.2019

gradonacelnik-Sapca-Nebojsa-Zelenovic — Foto: Đurađ Simić

Sabac is located in the north of northeastern Serbia, and it covers an area of 795 square kilometres inhabited by around 130 thousand people. Its citizens speak proudly about towns’ past – significant uprising battles, the first primary school in the country after Turkish rule, the flourishing economy of the city destroyed by the Second World War, famous people… Inhabitants of Sabac are also “bragging” about the present times – tourist events, the sports association with the most members in the region and the bohemian spirit for which Sabac is symbolically called “little Paris”.

Not all of the towns’ glory has been left in the past and the project of “Sava Park” is evidence of that. Its realisation will contribute to the greening of 300 hectares on the banks of the Sava, which will provide shelter from city bustle to the citizens.

Who could give us a better insight into the life in Sabac than the Mayor himself? Nebojsa Zelenovic has been the head of the city since 2014 and talking with him we have found out more about the cultural centre of the Macva district.

EP: What makes Sabac stand out from other cities in Serbia?

Nebojsa Zelenovic: Sabac is by far an unusual city for Serbia. The authorities of Sabac renounced the part of its power in decision making and transferred it to the hands of the citizens – they directly declare how the money collected from the property tax will be spent. We are committed to investing in culture – compared to other Serbian towns and municipalities, Sabac gives most for those purposes, even seven per cent. On top of everything, it is the only city where the ruling party doesn’t rule the city.

EP: Sabac has huge agricultural potentials. How do you invest in the development of those capacities?

Nebojsa Zelenovic: Irrigation proved itself to be the most cost-effective economical measurement which has been best shown in the case of producers of strawberries from Pocerina. Producers began cultivation of this fruit at few hundreds of hectares. In 2008, the City of Sabac decided to help them by subsidizing the cost of digging deep wells. When they got the main condition for the high-quality strawberries – water for irrigation, the expansion of production has started. Now strawberry spreads out at more than 1200 hectares. The City of Sabac gave half of the money needed for digging wells, respectively 20 euros per meter. Ever since then, more than 500 wells were dug and, during the season, the fruit growers earn more than 15 million euros from strawberries.

We have been investing for years in the improving of the genetic composition of cattle, crops and vegetables.

EP: Over the past few years, Sabac had a series of projects which were promoting sustainable development. Which projects are current and which ones are in the beginning?

Nebojsa Zelenovic: The best example for promoting sustainable development would be our Detailed Regulation Plan of “Sava Park”. A 4.5-kilometre long park along the Sava River will be designed and built to meet the highest standards of sustainability. The planned objects must use clean energy in a certain percentage. A system of canals that follow the soil formation was designed to drain the terrain.

The city also adopted a decision on the making of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. Sabac is hand in hand with Krusevac, a pioneer in this field. This kind of plans are being made in Europe for a long time so we will implement their methodology. Promoting the sustainable types of mobility such as walking, biking and reduction of private cars’ domination on the streets will decrease carbon dioxide emissions and improve public and environmental health and the result will be nicer, pleasant and safe streets. The plan will give solutions to a different arrangement of public space, modification of street regime, widening the pedestrian zone, restriction on parking use in the streets, the introduction of public transport and bicycle paths, greening of the streets and increasing the safety of all of the participants in the traffic. The ultimate goal of all of these measures would be life quality enhancement for all of the citizens.

In addition, the project of insulation of residential buildings covers more than 90,000 square meters. The Public Utility Company “Toplana-Sabac” plans the realization of the project of remote control and management of district heating substations in district heating. The project results would be savings in heat distribution, decreasing fossil fuel consumption and cutting down carbon dioxide emissions.

EP: The main focus of this issue is clean energy. Tell us about the estimation of potentials of your municipality in this field.

Nebojsa Zelenovic: The city adopted the document Energy policy of the town of Sabac. It is defined that Sabac should achieve energy independence from fossil fuels by 2050, which is in line with strategic documents on the level of Serbia and in accordance with the EU directives. We have renewable energy sources such as biomass, geothermal, and waste energy and solar energy at our disposal. Their amount is sufficient for the city to be independent of the dirty fuels by 2050.

EP: Is Sabac investing in clean energy?

Nebojsa Zelenovic: The projects in the field of biomass and waste energy exploitation speak in favour of this. The project of thermal insulation of existing buildings should be also mentioned because energy savings could be considered the renewable source of the highest potential. For example, thermo-insulated housing objects have proven that it is possible to achieve a reduction in consumption between 40 and 55 per cent. Heating bills for apartments in thermally insulated units where owners can manage their own consumption are up to 2.5 times lower than the bills in cities where heating is charged on a flat rate and where it is not worked on improving the isolation.

Prepered by: Milan Zlatanovic

Read the whole interview in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine on CLEAN ENERGY, December 2018. – February 2019.

RENEXPO® Energy, Waste & Water – Renewable Energy Hub for the Western Balkans

27.03.2019

For the 6th year RENEXPO® is proving to be the leading platform in the Western Balkans region for presenting innovative technology solutions and efficient networking in renewable energy and energy efficiency sector. International trade fair and conference, RENEXPO® contributes to the regional market development, bringing together industry professionals, decision makers and experts in energy, water and environment sector.

With an enviable number of international exhibitors, RENEXPO® offers market insight, best practice examples and hot conference topics for the participants. The exhibition presents products, equipment and services for the hydropower plants, including turnkey solutions.

One of the sponsors, Dürr Cyplan, will be presenting a highly efficient ORC technology and the latestrenewable energy waste heat reuse in biogas, natural gas and biomass industry plants, as well as different industrial and public utility facilities. Global company Paul Wurth, also one of the sponsors this year, will present turnkey solutions for decentralized energy production. Accompanying the national joint booths of Austria, Belgium, Croatia and Germany, some of the exhibitors for 2019 are Andritz Hydro; Barthauer Software; Budapest Waterworks; Cink Hydro-Energy; Conseko; Continental Industrie; Enexio Water Technologies; Fronius International; Global Hydro Energy; Hach Lange; Kawasaki Gas Turbine; Kohlbach Energieanlagen; Kössler & Co; Ludwig Pfeiffer; Nahtec; ProfEC Ventus; Rädlinger primus line; Riteh; Schiebel Antriebstechnik; Seal Maker Dichtungstechnik; Spaans Babcock; Stucky Balkans; Urbas Maschinenfabrik; WAPPtech; Wehrle Umwelt; Xylowatt. Presenting advanced technologies at teh trade fair contributes to the regional develoment, most notably in wastewater and solid waste management, as well as hazardous waste management, which the trade fair Advisory board recognized as priority for investment in the upcoming period.

Strong partnerships with international associations and growing support network allow RENEXPO® the cutting-edge conference programme. 14 conference sessions take place in parallel programmes during the two days, 24th and 25th of April, covering hydropower, biomass, biogas, energy from waste, wastewater and solid waste management, sustainable transport, energy efficiency in buildings and industry. Accompanying seminars, workshops and round tables gather the participants around burning topics of project financing, NET metering, construction of new and maintenance of existing hydropower plants, successfull application for the EU funds for public utilites.

The visitors may expect over 120 exhibitors, opening ceremony with high officials, organized trade fair tour, Danube Hydropower study visit and B2B Matchmaking.

Save the date. Entry to the trade fair exhibition is free with registration.

IEA: Global Carbon Emissions Hit Record High in 2018

26.03.2019

tablet-1737896_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions hit a new record last year, with an increase of 1.7% globally.

That was a result of higher energy consumption, which grew by 2.3% – nearly twice the average rate of growth since 2010, according to latest figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Emissions reached 33 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2018, with coal use in power generation alone surpassing 10Gt and accounting for a third of the total rise – most of that came from a young fleet of coal plants in Asia.

Electricity continued to position itself as the “fuel of the future”, with global power demand growing by 4% last year and pushing electricity towards a 20% share in total final energy consumption.

Almost a fifth of the increase in global energy demand came from higher demand for heating and cooling as average temperatures in some regions during both summer and winter approached or exceeded historical records.

China, the US and India accounted for nearly 70% of the rise in global energy demand, with the US seeing the largest increase in oil and gas demand.

The annual increase in US demand last year was equivalent to the UK’s current gas consumption.

Natural gas was the fuel of choice in 2018, accounting for 45% of the increase in total energy demand. Demand for all fuels rose, with fossil fuels meetings nearly 70% of the growth for the second year running.

Renewables were also a major contributor to the power generation expansion, accounting for nearly half of the growth in power demand – China remains the leader in green energy, both for wind and solar, followed by Europe and the US.

Increased use of renewables in 2018 had an even greater impact on CO2 emissions, avoiding 215Mt of emissions, the vast majority of which was due to the transition to green energy in the power sector.

The IEA suggests the savings from renewables was led by China and Europe, together contributing two-thirds to the global total.

Increased generation from nuclear power plants also reduced emissions, averting nearly 60Mt of CO2 emissions. Overall, without the transition to low carbon sources of energy in 2018, emissions growth would have been 50% higher, the report adds.

Energy efficiency was the “largest brake” on emissions growth in 2018 but its contribution was around 40% lower than in 2017, largely because of a continued slowdown in implementing energy efficiency policies.

For the first time in almost a decade, there was an increase in plans to develop large-scale carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) facilities in 2018 and by the end of the year, the number of projects operating, under construction or under serious consideration increased to 43.

China is operating a new facility to capture CO2 from natural gas processing for use in enhanced oil recovery and there are five new projects under development in Europe.

IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol said: “We have seen an extraordinary increase in global energy demand in 2018, growing at its fastest pace this decade. Last year can also be considered another golden year for gas, which accounted for almost half the growth in global energy demand.

“But despite major growth in renewables, global emissions are still rising, demonstrating once again that more urgent action is needed on all fronts – developing all clean energy solutions, curbing emissions, improving efficiency and spurring investments and innovation, including in carbon capture, utilisation and storage.”

Source: Energy Live News

Koalas Should Be Given Endangered Listing, Environment Groups Say

26.03.2019

koala-1716142_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Koala populations on the Australian east coast have diminished to the extent the species should now be considered “endangered”, environment groups have said, amid concern that existing protection measures have failed to halt the creeping loss of critical habitat.

In south-east Queensland, once a stronghold for koala populations, habitat continues to be bulldozed through ineffective offset strategies, loopholes in development restrictions and poor planning for population growth, the groups said.

Last month, the Queensland government released a discussion paper about the state’s environmental offset strategy. It found that in 97% of cases, developers chose to pay a “financial settlement” to clear land rather than provide new habitat for koalas and other species.

The state recently flagged it would use a planning loophole to clear another five hectares of bushland on Brisbane’s south side, by designating the expansion of a shooting complex “essential infrastructure”. The plan is opposed by the Brisbane city council and local conservation groups.

“They seem to regard clay pigeons as essential, but not koalas,” said Michael Petter, the president of the Bulimba Creek catchment coordinating committee.

“The loss of koala habitat doesn’t happen 10,000 hectares at a time, it’s small clearing. The tyranny of small decisions.”

The shooting complex backs onto the northern end of the Koala Coast, a bushland corridor south of Brisbane, home to a nationally significant population of koalas that has undergone a steep decline in numbers in recent decades, mainly due to development pressures.

WWF-Australia, which is calling for the endangered listing for koalas in Queensland and NSW, says it is the slow creep of small developments – which bulldoze a hectare or two at a time – rather than broadscale clearing that has put once-thriving populations and habitat under threat.

Martin Taylor, the protected areas and science conservation manager for WWF-Australia, told Guardian Australia that development pressure on koala habitats was unnecessary and could be avoided, even as Brisbane’s population grew.

Taylor said preliminary research showed there were “conservatively” 200,000 lots in south-east Queensland on land that had already been cleared and that had the potential to be developed for housing.

“Clearing continues to happen, a little bit here, a little bit there, but it doesn’t have to,” Taylor said. “That’s what irritates us. It’s quite possible to meet housing demand on already-cleared land. So why isn’t that the first option? Instead we’re still knocking down virgin forest.”

From 1990 to 2016, at least 9.6m hectares of koala habitat was bulldozed in Queensland and New South Wales.

WWF-Australia and other conservation groups this month released a new strategy, led by the ecologist David Paull, designed to save koalas from extinction. One of its key recommendations was to upgrade the species’ listing from “vulnerable” to “endangered”.

“Weak state, federal and local government laws which allow excessive tree clearing are the main driver of the loss and fragmentation of koala habitat,” Paull said.

The Queensland government says there is “little evidence of any koala population” in the section of bushland it plans to bulldoze to expand the shooting complex, but has extended a public consultation period after concerns were raised.

Bulimba Creek’s Petter said data from the Moggill koala hospital showed there had been 100 koala sightings nearby over 20 years, and that the government seemed to misunderstand the transient nature of koala movement and the need to protect interconnected habitat.

“All the users of the gun club regularly report seeing koalas,” Petter said. “The only people who can’t find them are the consultants who did the biodiversity survey.

“There is little point to having designated … koala habitat if [the government] can just nibble away at it wherever they want by using ‘essential infrastructure’ designations. That’s what you’d expect from a real estate development company, this is state owned land.”

Source: Guardian

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