The First Solar Plant Owned by the Citizens in Croatia

10.04.2019

Even though the price of solar panels is constantly decreasing, a solar plant is still out of most citizens’ budget. However, what if we split its construction costs with 52 people and get a 4.5 per cent annual interest rate on the invested funds? Sounds tempting, right? Technological solutions are available, and models of citizen investments are known from before and used for years in states like Germany and Denmark.

Croatian Citizens Took Energy into Their Own Hands!

Cooperative is a concept and practice developed among Slovenian tribes at the end of the 19th century. It was originally used to describe the village community of goods. All members of the cooperative lived together, and cultivated land that belonged to the community and no one could inherit it independently. The development of individualism and the breakthrough of the monetary economy have influenced the “decay” of its original meaning.

Today, more than a hundred years later, the cooperative does not necessarily have a coexistence of its members, nor does it relate exclusively to agricultural activities. In this manner, in the neighbouring country Croatia, the Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ) operates in the energy sector.

In May 2018, the ZEZ launched a campaign to raise money from citizens to build a photovoltaic power plant in the town of Krizevci. In only ten days, 230,000 kuna (about 31,000 euros) were collected on the principle of microloans.

ZEZ’s member, Sanela Mikulcic revealed to us that several months passed from the initial idea to the realisation. During that time, the ZEZ examined the legal framework and the way of involving citizens in such a project. “We were faced with the challenge of designing a legal model that fits into our legislative framework since this was the first collective investment in Croatia. We have also been slowed down by different administrative requirements”, Sanela said.

All individuals and legal entities had the opportunity to invest money in the implementation of the project “Krizevci Sun Roofs” by granting loans to the ZEZ for ten years with a 4.5 per cent interest rate annually. The idea was that the local community would be the most advantageous from the “sunny roofs” so the citizens of Krizevci had a lead over other interested investors. About 30 per cent of the investment came from citizens of the municipality and the surrounding area.

The minimum stake was 1,000 kuna (about 135 euros), and the maximum was limited to 10,000 kuna (about 1,350 euros) in order to include as many “micro-investors” as possible in the project. Fifty-three citizens entirely financed a solar power plant in Krizevci with an average contribution of 580 euros.

The crowning success of the “green energy cooperatives” from Krizevci is a 30kW power plant installed on the roof of the administrative building of the Development Center and the Technology Park. The power plant was put into operation in September 2018. The projected savings for electricity Photographs: ZEZ over a one-year period is 36,000 kuna (about 4,850 euros).

Based on the contract, the user of the power plant pays the consumed energy to the ZEZ. All surplus that is not spent on the site is transferred to the electricity distribution network. Croatian Electric Power Company Opskrba buys the surplus. In three months, the Krizevci solar plant produced 5,039 kWh, of which 250 went into the grid.

Money earned from the electricity retailing is being used for repaying the loan with interest to each investor. After the expiration of ten years, the power plant will be transferred to the ownership of the Development Center and the Technology Park Krizevci.

By investing in this project, besides the financial return of funds with interest, the cooperatives encouraged the development of the local community and created green jobs. They also have made a positive contribution to the health of people and the natural environment by reducing the emissions of harmful gases that are the result of the combustion of fossil fuels – and consequently through reducing air pollution. Actively participating in turning towards the future that is characterised by zero emissions and renewable sources, they increased energy independence and security of Krizevci while at the same time they reduced energy poverty.

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

Prepared by: Jelena Kozbasic

Supermarkets in Thailand and Vietnam Swap Plastic Packaging for Banana Leaves

10.04.2019

bananas-with-sticky-rice-2376741_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Thailand and Vietnam are two of the five countries that account for 60 percent of the plastic in the world’s oceans, according to a 2015 study. Now, Vice reported Friday that supermarkets in both countries are going back to nature to find an alternative to plastic bags: banana leaves.

A March 21 Facebook post showing how Rimping Supermarket in Chiangmai, Thailand had begun wrapping produce in the durable leaves received more than 7,000 positive reactions.

“People seem to like this,” Perfect Homes Chiangmai, the real estate company responsible for the post, wrote in the comments.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, several stores have begun using banana leaves. A Lotte Mart has been trialing wrapping vegetables with the leaves at one outlet in Ho Chi Minh City. The chain said if the trial went well, it would expand the practice to other stores. It also hopes to use environmental wrapping on other products, like meat, VnExpress reported. Responses have so far been positive.

“When I see vegetables wrapped in these beautiful banana leaves I’m more willing to buy in larger quantities. I think this initiative will help locals be more aware of protecting the environment,” Lotte Mart shopper Hoa told VnExpress.

Other stores adopting banana leaves include Saigon Co.op, which is using them in stores in Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet, Tay Ninh, Quy Nhon and Tam Ky. The Big C chain began using them in Hanoi April 1.

Global Citizen explained why banana leaves are such a promising packaging solution for the region: “Banana trees are common throughout Thailand and can yield leaves as big as 9 feet in length. People around the world already use them to cover various types of foods, and their sturdiness makes them an ideal form of packaging for fresh produce that sells quickly (because they’re biodegradable, they can’t sit on the shelf for months).”

Stores in Vietnam are also embracing other solutions, VnExpress reported. Lotte Mart sells paper straws, boxes made of sugarcane waste and eggs wrapped in paper instead of plastic. Big C offers biodegradable shopping bags made from corn powder.

Other countries in Asia have taken action against plastic bags, Vice noted. South Korea has banned disposable bags and Taiwan charges a fee. In China, a 2008 ban on thin plastic bags has reduced their use by 66 percent, reducing the number in use by 40 billion.

Source: Eco Watch

London Gets World’s First 24-Hour Air Pollution Charge Zone

09.04.2019

london-cars-road — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

London is the first city in the world to implement a 24-hour, seven day a week Ultra Low Emission Zone, inside which vehicles will have to meet tough emissions standards or face a charge.

Monday’s introduction of the zone, known as the ULEZ, aims to reduce toxic air pollution and protect public health, according to a press release from the office of Sadiq Khan, mayor of London.

Vehicles are responsible for around half of harmful nitrogen oxide air emissions in the British capital, contributing to a toxic air health crisis that increases the risk of asthma, cancer and dementia as well as causing thousands of premature deaths every year, the release says.

“This is a landmark day for our city. Our toxic air is an invisible killer responsible for one of the biggest national health emergencies of our generation,” Khan said in the statement.

“The ULEZ is the centerpiece of our plans to clean up London’s air — the boldest plans of any city on the planet, and the eyes of the world are on us.”

Under new rules introduced April 8, polluting vehicles will be discouraged from entering the ULEZ thanks to a daily charge of £12.50 (around $16) for some cars, vans and motorbikes and £100 ($130) for trucks, buses and coaches. The zone will cover the same area as the existing Congestion Charge — collected from drivers in the city center — until 2021, when it will be expanded to cover the area between the major orbital roads known as the North and South Circular.

Drivers can check whether their vehicle meets ULEZ emission standards using an online tool provided by travel authority Transport for London.

The ULEZ is the next stage in a plan to clean up London’s air, which started with the so-called T-charge — an extra charge for highly polluting vehicles in the city center — introduced in February 2017. Since then, the number of vehicles entering the zone has fallen by around 11,000 per day, according to an analysis by academics at King’s College London.

Air pollution disproportionately affects less wealthy city dwellers, according to Khan.

“This is also about social justice — people in the most deprived parts of London, who are least likely to own a car, suffer the worst effects of harmful air pollution.”

And young children will also see major health benefits.

“Air pollution can have major health implications on the developing child, with early exposure proven to increase the risk of asthma and lung infections, and these can be life-threatening,” said Professor Jonathan Grigg of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health in the press release.

However, a November 2018 study questioned the effectiveness of low-emission zones introduced in 2008, finding no evidence of a decline in the number of children with reduced lung capacities or asthmatic symptoms since the implementation of the low emission zones in London.

The authors called for more ambitious control measures to improve childhood respiratory health.

And Daniela Fecht — a lecturer in geospatial health at Imperial College London, who worked on a study looking at asthma and air pollution in the city on behalf of the Greater London Authority — told CNN the ULEZ is expected to bring benefits, but results should be closely monitored.

“The ULEZ is a very good initiative which is needed to bring down traffic-related air pollution levels in London,” Fecht said in an email.

“The effectiveness will have to be carefully evaluated as previous schemes both in London and internationally did not bring down air pollution concentrations as much as expected due to various factors.”

Fecht says she believes the benefits will be felt even by those who do not live or spend a lot of time in the ULEZ, particularly vulnerable populations such as children going to school in central London; individuals with pre-existing health conditions that are worsened by air pollution; and people working, traveling through or exercising in inner London.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo are also working on a congestion pricing model that aims to reduce traffic and fund improvements to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority public transportation network. Details were announced in late February.

Source: CNN

Shell to Invest $300m to Offset Carbon Emissions

09.04.2019

petrol-stations-shell-gas — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Royal Dutch Shell has committed to invest $300 million (£230m) over the next three years in projects that help offset carbon emissions.

It will fund large-scale forest projects in Indonesia, Peru and the US as part of its strategy to act on climate change and will contribute to the energy giant’s three-year target of reducing its net carbon footprint by 2% to 3% starting in 2019.

Shell says from April 17th, drivers in the Netherlands will be able to buy carbon offsets for one cent per litre when they fill up at Shell stations, making their driving carbon neutral – a similar scheme is to be rolled out in the UK later this year.

It is also stepping up its investments in low carbon options, with plans to install 200 new rapid charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) – powered by renewable energy – at its forecourts in the Netherlands.

That’s on top of 500 ultra-fast chargers being installed across Europe, in partnership with IONITY.

Customers currently have access to 100,000 EV charging points in Europe through New Motion, a Shell company.

Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell said: “There is no single solution to tackling climate change. A transformation of the global energy system is needed, from electricity generation to industry and transport.

“Shell will play its part. Our focus on natural ecosystems is one step we are taking today to support the transition towards a low carbon future. This comes in addition to our existing efforts, from reducing the carbon intensity of oil and gas operations to investments in renewable sources of energy.”

Source: Energy Live News

Skyscrapers Are Killing up to 1bn Birds a Year in US, Scientists Estimate

08.04.2019

new-york-2722988 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Scientists estimate that at least 100 million and maybe as many as a billion birds die each year in the US when they collide with buildings, especially glass-covered or illuminated skyscrapers. And, in a new report, conservationists now have a better idea which American cities are the deadliest for those on the wing.

Chicago, with its many glass superstructures that spike into what is the busiest US avian airspace during migration, is the most dangerous city for those feathered travelers. More than 5 million birds from at least 250 different species fly through the Windy City’s downtown every fall and spring.

They journey twice a year, many thousands of miles, going north in the spring from Central and South America, across the Great Lakes to Canada, and back south in the fall.

The famous skyline of Manhattan is another death trap for birds, especially those migrating.

“They wind up landing somewhere that’s unfamiliar, like a sidewalk somewhere,” said Susan Elbin, director of conservation and science at New York City Audubon, a leading bird advocacy organization. “Then when daylight comes, and they want to get more food, they’ll fly into a tree that they think is a tree, and it’s really a reflected tree in some glass building … Then they’ll slam into the glass, and then they die.”

Most birds migrating through the US do so at night, when the airspace is cool and calm – and often end up veering through cities because their glow stands out. Scientists have long known that birds are attracted to light, so when they fly over a bright city at night, they are naturally drawn toward it, unaware they are in dangerous territory.

Any city with glass structures and bright lights at night is a culprit, but some are more dangerous to birds than others.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology published a study this week that ranks cities based on the danger they pose to migrating birds.

Houston and Dallas, which also lie along some of the most popular migration paths, round out the top three most deadly cities after Chicago. New York, Los Angeles, St Louis and Atlanta also pose risks during migration.

Kyle Horton, an author of the Cornell study, said that the researchers were not trying to criticize cities per se.

“We’re trying to raise awareness – trying to provide data and insight that could help,” he said.

As the experts admit, it’s hard to get reliable statistics.

New York City Audubon conducts “collision monitoring studies” in September and April each year, sending dozens of volunteers into the city streets to track fallen birds. The organization estimates about 90,000 to 200,000 birds are killed via building collision in the city each year. Local Audubon chapters and other bird conservation groups around the country coordinate similar data collection exercises.

On a national scale, the Smithsonian’s migratory bird center estimated the number of deaths to be between 100 million and one billion birds annually, using data from a wide variety of different groups across the country.

Certain species of birds are more susceptible to building collisions. A separate study from the University of Michigan published this week found that songbirds, such as sparrows and warblers, are more likely to suffer collisions. Songbirds tend to emit “flight calls” during migration and are more likely to chirp when they see the bright lights of a city, potentially luring other birds into the treacherous skyline.

Though the studies bear sad news about the effects cities have on birds, conservationists see them as opportunities to target their activism.

“Every time new scientific literature comes out, we learn more about the problem, and … we can pinpoint the best solutions using the science,” said Kaitlyn Parkins, a conservation biologist at NYC Audubon.

Turning out the lights in buildings at night for a few weeks during peak migration is a simple first step and would make a big difference, Parkins said. The National Audubon Society runs Lights Out, a coordinated effort with local chapters to advocate reducing light during migration. States such as New York and Minnesota have participated in the program, turning out lights in state-operated buildings during migration.

Conservationists also advocate that buildings adopt more “bird-friendly” designs, for example using patterned glass and dimmer lighting. San Francisco and Toronto have already adopted some bird-friendly guidelines, while city council members in New York and Chicago have introduced legislation to adopt similar measures. A bipartisan bill in Congress introduced in January, called the “Bird-Safe Building Act”, would require new federal buildings to adopt designs that keep migrating birds in mind.

“We need to coexist with the ecosystem because we’re part of it, and so are birds,” Elbin said. “What’s good for birds is good for people.”

Source: Guardian

Poor Diets Killed 11 Million People in 2017

07.04.2019

breakfast-690128_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Poor diet killed 11 million people in 2017, making it a more deadly health risk than smoking, a major new study has found.

The finding is part of a Global Burden of Disease Study published in The Lancet Wednesday that looked at dietary habits in 195 countries between 1990 and 2017. It concluded that one in five deaths per year worldwide could likely be prevented by a better diet. In 2017, poor diet led to 10 million deaths from cardiovascular disease, around 913,000 from cancer and around 339,000 from type 2 diabetes.

“Diet is an equal-opportunity killer. People — independent of age, gender, country of residence and socioeconomic status — to some extent are affected by poor dietary habits,” study co-author and assistant professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Dr. Ashkan Afshin told Time. “Low intake of healthy foods and high intake of unhealthy foods is the leading cause of mortality, globally and in many countries.”

Researchers drew their conclusions by looking at 15 types of foods or nutrients, assessing the ideal and actual intake of each food, determining how consuming it increased or decreased health risks and then calculating each food’s contribution to global health outcomes. In general, the researchers found that not eating enough healthy foods was more of a problem than eating too many unhealthy ones. While eating too much sodium was a major risk factor for mortality, and the leading risk factor in the East Asia and wealthy Asia Pacific regions, eating too few whole grains was the leading risk factor for death in the vast majority of regions studied. Not eating enough fruit was also a major risk factor. Overall, diets high in sodium and low in whole grains led to around three million deaths each in 2017, while diets low in fruits contributed to around two million. Taken together, the three were responsible for more than 50 percent of deaths caused by poor diet.

Other factors were also important: diets low in vegetables, nuts and seeds and omega-3 fatty acids was responsible for more than two percent of global diet-related deaths each. Afshin told Time that results had important implications for crafting health policy and advice, since people might be more likely to add a healthy item to their diet than subtract an unhealthy one.

IHME Director and study co-author Dr. Christopher Murray agreed.

“While sodium, sugar, and fat have been the focus of policy debates over the past two decades, our assessment suggests the leading dietary risk factors are high intake of sodium, or low intake of healthy foods, such as whole grains, fruit, nuts and seeds, and vegetables,” Murray told The Guardian. “The paper also highlights the need for comprehensive interventions to promote the production, distribution, and consumption of healthy foods across all nations.”

On a nation-by-nation basis, no country is getting it exactly right. Israel had the lowest number of diet-related deaths at 89 per every 100,000. France, Spain and Japan filled in the top four spots for lowest number of diet-caused deaths. The U.S. ranked 43rd and had 171 diet-caused deaths per 100,000. Uzbekistan had the most diet-related deaths at 892.

Afshin told The Guardian that countries with a Mediterranean diet, long touted for its health benefits, did have the best outcomes.

“But no country has an optimal level of consumption of all the health foods. Even in countries that have a Mediterranean diet, the current intake of many other dietary factors is not optimal,” he said.

However, shifting the whole world to a healthier diet cannot be a matter of individual choice. A study recently published in PLOS One in October 2018 found that if everyone ate the recommended amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, there would not currently be enough of the healthy items to feed everyone. That is because global agriculture currently produces too many fatty, starchy or sugary foods.

“We simply can’t all adopt a healthy diet under the current global agriculture system,” co-author of the PLOS One study and director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph Evan Fraser told NPR. “At a global level, we have a mismatch between what we should be eating, and what we’re producing.”

Changing production in line with nutritional guidelines would also be good for the planet. Another Lancet study published in January found that transforming the global food system to shift diets towards fruits, vegetables, whole grains and pulses and away from meat and sugars could feed 10 billion people by 2050 while fighting climate change.

Source: Eco Watch

Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans ‘Costs up to $2.5bn a Year’

06.04.2019

waters-plastic-pollution-poor-bear-polarni-medved-polar-bear — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans costs up to $2.5 billion (£1.9bn) a year in damaged and lost resources.

That’s according to a new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, which suggests industries such as fishing, aquaculture and recreation, as well as global wellbeing in general, are all negatively affected by bottles, bags, fibres and other forms of plastic entering marine environments.

The report suggests this pollution could be responsible for the benefit humans can gain from oceans falling by 5% and could cost up to $33,000 (£25,000) per tonne in reduced environmental value.

The estimates do not take into account the impacts on sectors such as tourism and transport or the related damage to human health.

An estimated eight million tonnes of plastic pollution enter the world’s oceans every year – researchers say due to its buoyant properties, it can float as far as 3,000 kilometres from its origin, spreading bacteria and algae and in doing so, carrying invasive species and disease.

Dr Nicola Beaumont, Environmental Economist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, who led the study, said: “Recycling a tonne of plastic costs us hundreds against the costs of thousands if we let it into the marine environment.

“We now trade carbon to reduce emissions to the atmosphere, so we should be able to do something similar with plastics. We hope this study will highlight the reality of the plastic problem in human terms.”

Source: Energy Live News

“If Everyone Does a Little, We Will Achive Only a Little”

05.04.2019

solar panel foto unsplash — Foto: Unsplash

Do you think that small acts of individuals plunge into the river of synergy and reflect onto the society as a whole? You are not lonely in perceiving our world functioning this way. We are prone to comfort ourselves into the self-sufficiency of our small deeds for which we would like that they can indeed move mountains. However, contrary to this general opinion, there are as well those who believe that thinking that we would achieve a great progress if every individual gives a small contribution is misleading.

This is how our interlocutor Mirko Popovic feels about decisions that we are making on both personal and social level. He is an independent consultant on environmental protection, sustainable development and good management.

Instead of making small steps such as turning off our computer when we are not using it, Mirko talks about the right measurements that give more significant results so we could thrive towards a low-carbon economy.

EP: What is the biggest obstacle for Serbia in environmental protection?

Mirko Popovic: It is hard to give a simple answer to this question. Nevertheless, it is important to reassess what is the biggest obstacle in protecting and preventing environmental degradation. I would remind you that about 2.5 million of citizens of Serbia inhale excessively polluted air, that almost a half is not connected to the sewage system, that 123 local governments are using dumps or, to put it nicely, non-sanitary landfills for waste disposal and that 40 local governments have not sent their data to Serbian Environmental Protection Agency. Around 70 per cent of those dumps are not included in the planning documents. The system of the regional centres for waste management is not working. Only 7 per cent of our land is under protection. So, the biggest problem is irresponsibility; degradation and pollution of the environment are only the consequences. The regulations in the field of environmental protection are disrespected and the institutions and authorities that are in charge of law enforcement do not bear any responsibility. There is no doubt that this is the biggest issue. Ever since 2009, when we adopted a set of environmental protection laws, we have had 4 structural changes in the ministry and 5 ministers. It is impossible to accomplish any significant positive change in such conditions. The environmental protection has not been a priority of a single government for the last 6 year. The regulations are created and implemented in order to satisfy the interest of capital and not the citizens’ interest. There is not enough money to be invested in the environmental protection, still two thirds, collected through an environmental fee, are being spent for other purposes. We are a society that is developing contrary to the principles of sustainable development, which nowadays means that we have chosen not to develop. One community could make such choice but, in that case, it has to face the terrible consequences.

EP: Which of the topics in Chapter 27 represents our weakest spot and why?

In 2017, the Minister of Environmental Protection announced that this negotiating chapter should be opened during June or December of 2018. December has come and that did not happen. Mid-year, the state secretary in the Ministry predicted different deadlines and announced that negotiations should start during 2019. I am reminding you that negotiations with the European Union were officially opened in January of 2014. The constant shift of deadlines does not contribute to the predictability of public policies and responsibility. Just the opposite. The most demanding areas are waste and wastewater management, industrial pollution and air pollution. In the same time, those are the most expensive areas. However, I believe that lack of finance is not the biggest barrier. It is necessary to make brave and visionary political decisions.

The European Union has clearly established that decarbonisation is a key development concept. Serbia did not make such a decision. The dependence on fossil fuels and the energy system based on the exploitation of poor-quality lignite are essential obstacles. They should be eliminated at the political level. Technology and standards already exist. It is only necessary to apply them.

That is not easy and cannot happen during the night. We have already lost 5 years, counting from the moment when the work on a new energy development strategy began. We have adopted a strategy that represents a defensive wall for further intensive coal exploitation. The contribution to reducing thserbe greenhouse gas emissions that Serbia submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an unambitious framework. According to this document, emissions are not reduced, but increased. Environmental policy and negotiations with the European Union cannot and must not be managed with the help of a shell game.

EP:There are numerous studies of the harmfulness of each individual sustainable source of energy. It is certainly minor in comparison to fossil fuels. Yet, looking at all the advantages and disadvantages of pure energy sources, which one would you consider to be the cleanest?

Mirko Popovic: Allow me to disagree with you. There are even more studies pointing to the harmfulness of use of fossil fuels. Look at the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Every intervention in the nature affects the quality of the environment and facilities for the production of renewable energy are not an exception. Nevertheless, these effects are incomparable with the impact resulting from the exploration of coal and other fossil fuels. Furthermore, Serbia is dependent on the import of Russian gas. A poorly planned and poorly implemented wind power plant or hydroelectric power project can inflict irreparable damage.

For this reason, attention should first be paid to the process of project planning and implementation, plus – compliance with standards, especially those relating to environmental impact assessment, should be ensured. Serbia has the potential to use wind, solar and biomass energy that can provide energy transition and decarbonisation of the energy sector.

These are three key resources whose further exploitation should facilitate the transformation of the energy sector. Key barriers are not in the domain of ecoenomy or availability of resources, their nature is administrative. Without investing in the development of the network it is possible to install about 900 MW wind farms in this moment. The focus should be on biomass utilisation. Biomass is a locally available resource that could, first of all, be used by the local community to transform the district heating system, reduce pollution and cut costs. Energy transition does not only include the electricity generation. At the moment, Serbia has a negative balance when it comes to gas imports and exports of raw wood. Instead of creating opportunities for the exploitation of wind, solar and biomass, Serbia has chosen to pay attention to the development of small hydropower plants. How and when we, as a society, have chosen to follow this strategic development direction? Small hydropower plants make up the production of renewable energy in a negligible percentage and, on the other hand, they inflict irreparable damage to local natural resources, primarily due to the lack of data necessary for project planning.

Prepered by: Jelena Kozbašić

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

City Of Sydney Announces 100% Renewable Energy Target

05.04.2019

Sidnej-Australija — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The City of Sydney, on Australia’s east coast, announced last week that it intends to further cut its greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to 100% renewable energy to meet all its electricity needs starting next year.

Sydney had already set significant climate targets for itself, including a 50% renewable electricity target by 2030 and a 70% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, moving to net-zero emissions by 2050, but with the City’s existing energy contract set to expire at the end of 2019, it decided to dive “head first into Sydney’s renewable future” by increasing its renewable electricity target to 100%. Specifically, Sydney will purchase only 100% renewable energy that’s generated by wind or solar starting next year, with new contracts to be negotiated over the next few months.

“We’re increasing our renewable electricity target and achieving it earlier because our residents and businesses are demanding it, it reduces emissions and it will soon be cheaper than coal,” the City of Sydney’s sustainability director, Chris Derksema said. “The shift to renewable electricity is happening much faster than anyone imagined. We’re leading by example, with the hope of inspiring local residents and businesses to take action themselves.

“Visitors to our swimming pools, libraries, childcare centres and even Sydney Town Hall will know we’re playing our part.”

The new commitment has already been endorsed by the City Council and is expected to cut Sydney’s emissions by around 18,000 tonnes each year — equivalent to the power consumption of around 4,000 households.

“Acting on climate change is the City’s top priority,” said the City’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore. “We were among the first to set science-based targets in 2008 and since then we’ve reduced our emissions by 20% on 2005 levels.

“This decision by Council will allow us to achieve our commitment to reduce emissions by 70%, ten years ahead of our own 2030 deadline, well on the way to net-zero by 2050,” she added. “The City’s strong economic position and the money we’ve saved by investing in energy efficiency allows us to act responsibly by committing to 100 per cent renewable energy.”

The new commitment builds on the city’s pioneering climate work which saw it become the first local government in Australia to achieve carbon neutral certification all the way back in 2011. The City of Sydney is also a member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group — a network of 94 of the world’s largest cities representing more than 700 million people worldwide — and, through its existing targets and ambition, has reduced its emissions by 25% based on a 2006 baseline and is now on track to achieve a further 10,000 tonnes of direct reductions through efficiency initiatives over the next five years.

“For too long, our state and federal governments have failed to take action to address accelerating climate change. That’s why cities must lead the way,” said Clover Moore. “We’ve reduced our own emissions, and continue to work with our business community through the Better Buildings Partnership. This successful program has assisted members to save $33 million a year on power costs and reduce their emissions by 52 per cent since 2001, well over halfway to their 2030 target of a 70 per cent reduction.”

The City has also reduced electricity usage by 26% since 2006 through its investments in energy efficiency initiatives such as replacing 6,500 street lights with LEDs — which saved the city AU$800,000 a year in energy costs and reduced carbon emissions by 2,400 tonnes a year — and installing solar panels on more than 30 of its office buildings, pools, libraries, and community centers on its way to installing over 7,800 solar panels by mid-2021.

Source: Clean Technica

EU Grants €6m for Energy Efficient Solutions

05.04.2019

flag-european-union — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

An investment totalling €4 million (£3.4m) has been granted for further development of energy efficiency services and renewable energy solutions in Europe.

Resalta offers tailored energy efficiency solutions to public and private organisations through the Energy Service Company (ESCO) model, covering everything from project design, implementation, operations and maintenance to financing.

It has so far helped save 300GWh of energy and reduced 30,000 tons of carbon emissions a year in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

The company, based in Slovenia and founded by Gorenje, Geoplin and Energetika Ljubljana, will use the grant from the European Investment Fund (EIF) to evolve from being a start-up and implement a business plan for greener services.

EIF Chief Executive Pier Luigi Gilbert said: “Companies like Resalta are proof that businesses can be successful and environmentally conscious at the same time. There is a business opportunity in making Europe a better place for generations to come and Resalta has benefitted Slovenia and the EU by seizing that opportunity.”

Source: Energy Live News

Let Nature Heal Climate and Biodiversity Crises, Say Campaigners

04.04.2019

italy-1587287_960_720 — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The restoration of natural forests and coasts can simultaneously tackle climate change and the annihilation of wildlife but is being worryingly overlooked, an international group of campaigners have said.

Animal populations have fallen by 60% since 1970, suggesting a sixth mass extinction of life on Earth is under way, and it is very likely that carbon dioxide will have to be removed from the atmosphere to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Trees and plants suck carbon dioxide from the air as they grow and also provide vital habitat for animals.

“The world faces two existential crises, developing with terrifying speed: climate breakdown and ecological breakdown,” the group writes in a letter to the Guardian. “Neither is being addressed with the urgency needed to prevent our life-support systems from spiralling into collapse.

“We are championing a thrilling but neglected approach to averting climate chaos while defending the living world: natural climate solutions. Defending the living world and defending the climate are, in many cases, one and the same.”

The signatories include the school strikes activist Greta Thunberg, the climate scientist Prof Michael Mann, the writers Margaret Atwood, Naomi Klein and Philip Pullman and the campaigners Bill McKibben and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury, Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, and the musician Brian Eno are also among the signatories of the letter, which was instigated by the Guardian writer George Monbiot.

The group emphasises that natural climate solutions are not an alternative to the rapid decarbonisation of energy, transport and farming. Both are needed, the campaigners say.

The United Nations announced a Decade of Ecosystem Restoration at the start of March. “The degradation of our ecosystems has had a devastating impact on both people and the environment,” said Joyce Msuya, the head of the UN Environment Programme. “Nature is our best bet to tackle climate change and secure the future.”

Recent research indicates that about a third of the greenhouse gas reductions needed by 2030 can be provided by the restoration of natural habitats, but such solutions have attracted just 2.5% of the funding for tackling emissions.

The greatest impact is likely to come from the restoration of forests, particularly areas in the tropics that were razed for cattle ranching, palm oil plantations and timber. But natural climate solutions must not compete with the need to feed the world’s growing population, the letter says, and must be implemented with the consent of local communities.

Effective ways of restoring habitat often overlap with the conservation of wildlife, the group says. Boosting the populations of forest elephants and rhinos in Africa and Asia would help spread the seeds of trees that have a high carbon content, for example, while more wolves would lead to fewer plants being eaten by moose.

The fastest accumulation of carbon occurs in vegetated coastal habitats such as mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass beds, research shows, which also protect communities from storms. Here, carbon can be sequestered 40 times faster than in tropical forests. Peatlands must also be protected and restored, the group says, as they store one-third of all soil carbon despite covering just 3% of the world’s land.

Other suggested ways of removing carbon dioxide from the air include burning wood to generate electricity and burying the emissions, but to work at scale this would require vast amounts of land.

A website, Natural Climate Solutions, is launched on Wednesday calling on governments to back such measures and “to create a better world for wildlife and a better world for people”.

“Our aim is simple: to catalyse global enthusiasm for drawing down carbon by restoring ecosystems,” said Monbiot, who has written a report for the website. “It is the single most undervalued and underfunded tool for climate mitigation.”

Source: Guardian

EVs Made Up Almost 60% of Norway’s New Car Sales in March

04.04.2019

charging — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (John Cameron)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (John Cameron)

More than half of the passenger cars sold in Norway during March were electric.

New statistics released by the Norwegian Road Federation show the market share for electric vehicles (EVs) hit 58.4% for the month, breaking the halfway barrier for the first time ever.

The share of EVs in total car sales also hit record quarterly highs of 48.4% during the first three months of the year overall.

Tesla Model 3s accounted for nearly half of the 10,732 zero-emission vehicles registered, with 5,315 rolling out onto the nation’s roads.

The Norwegian Parliament has set a target of selling only zero emission cars saying by 2025, with aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles up until this date.

Almost a third of new cars sold in Norway last year were fully electric.

The country’s capital city of Oslo is to become the first city to enable wireless charging technology for electric taxis.

Source: Energy Live News

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

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