FRANCE’S INCENTIVES FOR REDUCTION OF WASTE AND PROMOTION OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY

03.03.2024

916 — Photo-illustration: Freepik (kstudio)

In January this year, France started implementing several new measures aimed at reducing waste by encouraging, among other things, the application of the circular economy and improving air quality. Several measures from different areas were announced by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion.

In order to extend the life of electrical and electronic equipment, the cost of repairs will be further reduced for consumers. The repair bonus is an amount that is directly deducted from the consumer’s account when they take this type of equipment to an authorized shop for repair. As of this year, the bonus is higher. For five devices that are used daily, the amount of the bonus will be doubled, while the bonus for the number of other products will increase by five per cent. Furthermore, over 20 other devices have now become eligible for bonuses. Apart from these, other bonus novelties have been introduced.

The disposal of used vehicle tyres at tyre distributors will be free of charge from now on. Until now, this was only possible once new tyres were installed. By implementing this measure, tyre disposal in nature and landfills will be reduced.

Large distributors of construction products and materials are obliged to accept free of charge all construction waste brought by tradesmen and other individuals, but under the condition that the waste is properly sorted out. However, starting this year, metal, wood and plastic waste doesn’t need to be sorted out prior to it being brought for disposal.

Another important measure relates to the sorting of bio-waste. Namely, France will implement an efficient system for collecting such waste on a door-to-door basis. Plus, there will be separate collection systems at voluntary disposal sites, as well as devices that enable local bio-waste management. Citizens who want to dispose of bio-waste will be entitled to financial and other types of assistance from the state, as well as given an opportunity to exchange best practice cases with others.

Finally, the ban on the destruction of unsold non-food products comes into full effect. Back in 2022, this measure was introduced in France, but it only applied to certain products such as electrical and electronic devices, batteries, textiles, hygiene and child care products and others. As of this year, the ban extends to all unsold non-food products.

Energy portal

WHAT IS ESG AND WHAT CHANGES DOES IT BRING?

03.03.2024

The increase in society’s awareness of their right to better and safer living conditions and a healthy environment has inevitably led to companies being subjected to stronger pressure on companies that play a significant role in fulfilling these needs. Companies are facing a lot of pressure because being successful no longer depends exclusively on the product or service they offer but also on the impact of their business on the wider social and natural environment. This is why an increasing number of companies are focusing on responsibility regarding environmental, social and management issues, i.e. the so-called ESG principles.

One of the definitions from the Short Guide to ESG, published under the auspices of the project Promotion of Sustainable Investment, implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with other institutions and organizations, says that ESG is a set of factors that concern the environment, social and management issues that companies take into account when managing their business and investors when investing, in terms of risks, impacts and opportunities that these factors bring.

Although there are no universal ESG standards or rules regarding which factors should be classified in which category, there is a general division based on the acronym ESG.

E represents environmental and includes climate change mitigation and adaptation, resource conservation, water, air and biodiversity protection, pollution and waste management, and energy efficiency.

S is the social standard, including working conditions, diversity, equality and inclusion, health and safety, human rights and engagement in the community.

G stands for governance and includes management composition, inclusivity and diversity, executive compensation, control and risk management, shareholder rights, transparency and disclosure of information, as well as issues of corruption, bribery and conflicts of interest and a code of ethics.

IN FOCUS:

ESG reports

Experts say that ESG is a concept that makes a quantified evaluation of the company’s sustainability. Accordingly, companies in the process of implementing ESG principles should write and publish a report on the impact of their operations on the three categories that make up these principles.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Scott Graham)

The European Union is taking this issue seriously, which is why the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) came into effect in January 2023, enforcing the rules regarding the information companies must report.

This year, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its first two global reporting standards for ESG criteria related to climate and sustainable business. These standards should ensure that companies incorporate information on implementing ESG principles into their financial reports.

Also, several organizations dealing with standards related to reports on these topics should be mentioned here. One of them is the Global Reporting Initiative, an international independent standards organization whose idea is to help companies and other organizations communicate their impact on climate change, human rights and corruption.

Another is the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, which provides investors with information on what companies are doing to mitigate their impact on climate change. The third organization is the United Nations Global Compact, a non-binding UN pact encouraging companies to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies while reporting on their implementation.

Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

SWEDEN TO LIFT URANIUM MINING BAN

02.03.2024

image1 (2) — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jonathan Brinkhorst)

Sweden is considering lifting the ban on uranium mining, following an investigation by the Ministry of Climate and Economy to determine the changes that are needed when it comes to the law concerning uranium extraction.

As there is an active ban on uranium mining in the country, which was introduced less than six years ago, the goal now is to determine and examine how this provision will be changed, given that it is deemed unnecessary. The government should set boundaries regarding the purposes of uranium mining, the conditions under which it can be mined and whether to allow uranium mining only when it would be used for nuclear purposes. In any case, officials believe that a blanket ban no longer serves its purpose.

Uranium is often found together with other metals, in rocks, water and soil. All these minerals are needed to create technology that can produce energy without harmful emissions, which, in turn, will help make the concept of a climate-neutral Europe a reality. Due to the current ban, uranium is disposed of as waste and it is possible to use it.

Uranium is used as fuel for nuclear power plants because of its ability to release a large amount of energy. Since Sweden has six nuclear reactors that generate about one-third of its electricity, the country must import most of its nuclear fuel, although it has its own reserves, according to World Nuclear News.

The draft law that allows Sweden to build two more nuclear reactors, in addition to the existing ones, at other locations by 2035 speaks of the need and importance of nuclear fuel for the future of the energy sector of this Scandinavian country.

Energy portal

FROM PRESERVING HISTORY TO AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT TOWN

02.03.2024

Image-by-Michał-from-Pixabay-(2) (1) — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Michał)

Photo: Aleksandar Arsenović (The Prestige)

Trebinje is located at the foot of the Leotar Mountain, along the Trebješnica River, resting in the shade of hundred-year-old plane trees. This is a town of many happy returns with a coastline spirit. The oldest inscription of the town’s current name is carved on the gravestone of the prefect Grda, dating back to the second half of the 12th century. Today, this town proudly shows relics from all eras and rulers under which it developed. We spoke with Mayor Mirko Ćurić about the town’s plans and everything that makes Trebinje the way it is.

Q: You have clearly defined energy efficiency goals. How will you accomplish the set goals, and what has been done so far?

A: In 2010, the Trebinje authorities recognized the importance of the Covenant of Mayors Initiative in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Back in 2011, we adopted SEAP (the Sustainable Energy Action Plan) for Trebinje. In the previous period, many projects and activities were implemented that have resulted in us accomplishing the set goals, such as implementing energy management. In 80 per cent of public lighting fixtures, we replaced inefficient mercury bulbs with efficient LED bulbs, and we have allocated funds in our 2024 budget to complete this process. In this phase of project implementation, electricity consumption was reduced by more than 280,000kWh, which caused a reduction of CO2 by about 1,000 tons. Regarding public buildings, energy efficiency has been improved in several of them, exterior doors and windows have been replaced, building fronts have been repaired, and roofs have been reconstructed. The same was done in kindergartens, elementary and high schools and other facilities. We are moving towards the reconstruction of all public buildings following our energy efficiency goals for these buildings. When issuing building permits, we ensure that new building developers observe energy efficiency measures and obtain an energy certificate.

IN FOCUSE:

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (laurynas-zizys)

We plan and continuously invest in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads. In this way, energy loss is reduced. By building roundabouts in places where it is recommended to do so and in line with the traffic regulation project, we have also managed to reduce exhaust gas emissions. In 2023, the project Digitization of Stationary Traffic Management in the Town Centre was implemented, significantly reducing the time it takes for vehicles to reach free parking spaces and reducing the amount of exhaust gases. We are constantly working to boost awareness and hold training sessions as part of various projects the town’s authorities implement. Energy consumption is also regularly monitored while energy-saving measures are analyzed and implemented (EMIS). Regarding rainwater and sewage management, we have implemented a series of projects – the wastewater treatment plant was reconstructed, the existing sewage grid was extended, and many households were connected to it. Under the auspices of the NAP project, which UNDP implemented, Trebinje authorities drafted the following documents – ‘Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Strategy for Innovative Financing of Investments’ and ‘Adaptation to Climate Change in the Town of Trebinje’. A waste management plan was drafted and adopted, and a project for rehabilitating the existing and constructing a new sanitary landfill to dispose of household waste was also devised.

In the previous two years, we spent over 500,000 euros on the equipment and professional training of fire-rescue units, all aiming to take preventive and timely action and reduce the consequences of fires.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (mujo-hasanovic)

Q: You are a signatory to the Mayors’ Covenant, by which you undertook to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. How do you implement this, and what are your plans for the next period?

A: In the coming period, we plan to fully replace mercury lamps with LED lamps. Funds for this project are allocated in the 2024 budget. Also, we plan to spend significant financial resources on expanding the sewage grid over the next two years and connect about 400 more households to it. We have been continuously investing in acquiring additional equipment and providing training for voluntary and professional fire rescue units. We also plan to ban the use of coal by both public entities and individuals in Trebinje and the use of plastic bags.

Q: You are the host of the Energy Summit. How important is a gathering like this for Trebinje? How important is the transition to renewable energy sources for the town, and could you tell us more about the projects in this segment?

A: The Energy Summit is an important event for Trebinje, and every year, it gathers numerous eminent experts from the energy sector, not only from the region but also from all over Europe. Thanks to this event, Trebinje is positioned as an important place in the energy sector, considering that our town has two hydropower plants and is the headquarters of the Electric Power Company of the Republic of Srpska (ERS) and the Regulatory Energy Commission of the Republic of Srpska. Since this has become a traditional event and there is growing interest in other similar events covering different sectors, the Trebinje authorities and ERS agree that Trebinje should get a proper congress centre. ERS has already launched a competition for a conceptual architectural solution for the future centre. I hope that in 2024, we will have the main project of this future building, which will be built in the area included in the Novo Trebinje Zone Plan.

Once the centre is constructed, the Trebinje Energy Summit, similar events, and other large-scale conferences will finally occur in adequate facilities.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

ENERGY SUMMIT INITIATES CONNECTION AND BETTER COOPERATION OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE REGION'S ENERGY INDUSTRY

29.02.2024

Trebinje_Bosnia_i_Hercegovina — Photo: Wikipedia/Diego Delso

The Energy Summit in Trebinje has grown into the most prominent energy- related gathering, said Luka Petrović, Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Electric Power Industry and added that more than 900 participants have registered for this year’s Summit.

Petrović added that the topic of this year’s fifth Energy Summit is coordination and better communication of all energy companies in the Balkans.

,,We think that we bring together all decision-makers, both from the public and energy sectors in the entire Balkans and beyond. All the Summit’s guests and participants in panel discussions will provide guidelines for the next year on activities in the Balkan energy sector and its stabilization”, Petrović added.

The Energy Summit, as the largest and most popular business gathering, opens the door for the development of congress tourism in the south of Herzegovina. Mr Petrović reminds us that the competition for the selection of the conceptual solution for the future congress centre in Trebinje is underway, ending on March 7th.

Some of the summit topics include connecting power companies in the region as a response to the EU’s energy and climate policies, development and management of the electric power system with the aim of increasing the integration of renewable energy sources and accelerating the energy transition, maintenance of existing production facilities, development of the natural gas sector and others.

SET TREBINJE 2024 FROM MARCH 20TH TO 22ND

„The Trebinje Energy Summit has been an important gathering place for business people from its very beginning. This year, we will have representatives from over a hundred companies, who will establish contacts, have discussions and conclude agreements on various projects and deals. For the first time, the directors of all three electricity companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina will gather in one place. We would also like to announce a multilateral meeting of all ministers and government representatives in Trebinje”, said Aleksandar Branković, the Energy Summit director.

The ministerial meeting will be hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska.

,,The Energy Summit is recognized as a place of discussion and agreement, a place where everyone is happy to return. The reason for this is our serious and detailed approach to planning and organization and the work done by our organizational and scientific committees. Preparations for the summit last six or seven months. Of course, the location is also important. Trebinje is very popular with visitors, so when we add all of the aforementioned up, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the number of the summit participants grows year-on-year”, said Branković.

The 5th Energy Summit will be held in Trebinje from March 20th to 22nd. The general sponsor of the Summit is Elnos Group from Banja Luka and the sponsors are the Ministry of Energy and Mining, as well as the Ministry of External Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Source: SET Trebinje

CROATIAN ENERGY MIX – RENEWABLE SOURCES EXCEED NON-RENEWABLES AND NPP KRSKO

28.02.2024

windmills_vetrenjače_wind_park_vetropark — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (American Public Power Association)

The relevant January data showed that renewable energy sources in Croatia were the dominant source of electricity production compared to non-renewable ones.

As usual, hydropower plants had the biggest share in renewable energy – over 42 percent in January – while other non-renewable sources together participated with over 22 percent, thus surpassing both non-renewable sources (over 19 percent) and Krško nuclear power plant, in which Croatia, as a co-owner, generates about 15 percent of electricity, according to data from OIE Croatia.

Renewable energy sources produced more electricity than thermal power plants (58GWh more) and the Croatian segment of the NPP Krško (133GWh more) and thus took second place in the January energy mix. This was especially owing to wind farms, which exceeded the electricity production from nuclear reactors.

Two days in January show fluctuations from the usual electricity consumption and production.

On January 7th, 97 percent of the total energy generation came from all renewable sources, with hydropower plants responsible for 53 percent of electricity and other RES for 44 percent. Conversely, on January 31st, hydropower plants share was over 34 percent and other RES 7.2 percent, which was the lowest share of RES in the energy mix.

In terms of non-renewable energy sources, gas is still the most dominant fuel. In the last few years, the burning topic in Croatia was the plan to increase the capacity of the LNG terminal on the island of Krk. Natural gas is considered a transition fuel on the way to green transition, because it emits much less harmful gases compared to other fossil fuels, and the additional gasification module enables greater energy security. The plan is to add a new module for converting gas from liquid to gaseous state thus generating a larger quantity of gas for processing – up to 250,000 cubic meters per hour, with an annual delivery twice biggers than before, i.e. between 6.0 and 6. 1 million cubic metres – the official website of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia says.

All in all, the January data indicate that wind energy accomplished the best results so far and the total energy production from wind farms in January 2024 was 294GWh, hydroelectric power plant 741GWh, NPP Krško 260GWh and non-renewable sources 335GWh.

Energy portal

LOW-CARBON ECONOMY IS A LONG-TERM ENERGY POLICY PRIORITY

28.02.2024

Štrbske-pleso_Visoke-Tatre — Photo: Shutterstock

Over 40 per cent of the territory of a small country in the heart of Europe – the Slovak Republic, with a population of 5.5 million – is covered by forests. Slovakia is the seventh most forested country in the European Union judging by size. The country has impressive mountain landscapes with many different natural attractions like the Tatra Mountains, the Danube, high mountain peaks which alternate with deep valleys, vast forests interspersed with meadows and pastures and fast streams flowing into calm rivers. The nature here has a very diverse flora and fauna, which is determined by the geographical location. In a conversation with H.E. Fedor Rosocha, the ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Serbia, we learned how this country faces challenges related to environmental protection and climate change, how much energy they produce from renewable energy sources (RES), how they are reducing their carbon footprint and preserving biodiversity, development of electric cars and what kind of support they provide to Serbia regarding environmental protection.

Q: Rapid technological changes and the energy crisis have created uncertainties when it comes to environmental protection and the fight against climate change. How does Slovakia face these new challenges and what are the most important strategies that the country has implemented to face the latest developments in environmental protection?

A: Environmental problems increasingly affect the economy, employment and the quality of life of our population. Furthermore, just like anywhere in the world, Slovakia is visibly affected by climate change, which will manifest in the form of environmental, economic and health problems in the future. The biggest environmental challenges in Slovakia relate to waste management, air quality and protection of habitats and species, mainly in forest, meadow and wetland ecosystems. The strategic document Envirostrategy 2030 defines our vision until 2030 while taking into account possible and desired future developments. It also identifies basic system problems, defines goals, proposes measures to improve the current situation and contains basic indicators of results that will enable the verification of achieved results. The goal is to achieve a better quality of the environment and a sustainable circular economy, based on the consistent protection of environmental components and the use of as few non-renewable natural resources and hazardous substances as possible, which will improve the population’s health.

IN FOCUS:

Q: How much does Slovakia annually invest in environmental protection and which resources and funds do you use to regulate this area?

A: The share of total environmental protection costs in our GDP is approximately 1.5 per cent. We established the Environmental Fund, via which the state actively supports financial investments in environmental protection based on sustainable development principles. The Fund is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment and primarily provides subsidies to municipalities, e.g. for the construction of wastewater treatment plants, sewage or water supply systems or projects that address climate change. One of the ongoing projects is the utilization of bio-waste. In the period from 2007 to 2020, the Environmental Fund spent 723 million euros, which is 9 per cent of Slovakia’s total expenditures in this area. More than 40 per cent of the support was spent on the construction and modernization of the water supply infrastructure.

Q: How far along are you in implementing your plans for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and what are your further plans in that direction? How much energy do you produce from renewable energy sources annually?

A: Slovakia is one of the leaders in reducing the carbon footprint in the EU. Between 1990 and 2021, we almost halved greenhouse gas emissions. This was achieved in part due to the closure of many industrial enterprises that were major polluters and also due to an increase in energy efficiency in the economy and the implementation of stricter national legislation. Establishing a competitive low-carbon economy is a long-term priority of Slovakia’s energy policy. The key to achieving a low-carbon economy is the optimal use of RES, nuclear energy, decarbonized gases and innovative technologies that will contribute to the efficient use of energy sources. In 2021, Slovakia’s share of RES in the overall energy mix was 17.4 per cent. Electricity production from renewable sources amounted to 7,241GWh. Hydropower plants had the largest share (62.9 per cent), followed by wood with an 18.3 per cent share. Solar photovoltaic systems had a 9.3 per cent share and biogas 6.7 per cent. The share of waste energy utilization was 2.8 per cent. Geothermal energy is another suitable option for increasing the share of RES in the overall energy mix. Also, several geothermal power plants are currently being developed.

Q: The Danube is one of the biggest rivers that run through Slovakia and one of the country’s main symbols. How much do you invest in the Danube’s preservation and protection? How did you regulate the construction of mini hydropower plants (MHE) in the context of long-term environmental consequences?

A: The Danube is an important international river that connects many nations and creates a unique natural heritage with a range of water-dependent organisms. It supplies quality water to Žitný Ostrov, our largest underground drinking water reservoir. The Danube is one of the most valuable and endangered natural heritages in Europe. That is why it is extremely important to pay attention to the protection and restoration of the Danube’s nature and the preservation of its biodiversity, while at the same time, using the Danube economically, in accordance with European strategies. Small hydropower plants are relatively simple, technically undemanding energy structures. However, they are also associated with serious environmental and socio-economic impacts, which directly depend on the location and type of hydropower plant. Of course, the goal is to use the hydropower potential of watercourses with minimal negative impact on aquatic organisms and water-dependent ecosystems. Currently, the utilized hydropower potential of Slovakia is at 57.5 per cent.

Interviewed by: Mirjana Vujadinović Tomevski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

NORTH AFRICA’S RENEWABLE POTENTIAL AND STRATEGIC LOCATION REINFORCE ITS ROLE IN ENERGY TRANSITION

27.02.2024

africa-afrika — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

North Africa – Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Sudan – faces significant challenges due to climate change, which increasingly disrupts the region’s economies that rely on agriculture, fishery and tourism. Climate mitigation efforts, including renewable energy deployment is therefore crucial for the region’s climate resilience, while further developing their economies. Fortunately, the region is endowed with immense renewables potential, especially solar and wind power, making it a prime candidate for a renewables-based energy transition.

As the African continent’s largest energy market, the region – apart from Sudan – is characterised by notable socio-economic development, industrialisation and access to modern energy. These characteristics, combined with its vast renewables potential, could enable North Africa to lead at the forefront of the global energy transition.

North Africa’s business case for renewables is strong; costs of solar and wind technologies have come down significantly. As a result, North Africa leads the African continent in new utility-scale wind and solar deployment, and is home to almost half of Africa’s total installed wind power generation capacity, as well as a fifth of its grid-based solar power generation capacity.

North Africa is also well-positioned to be a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen. With high renewables potential that can be tapped at low costs, and geographical proximity to Europe where demand for renewables-based or green hydrogen is rising, many North African countries have entered into agreements with other countries and private companies to explore pilot projects for green hydrogen production and exportation.

Investments in the region need to increase, however. Apart from 2017 when investments peaked at USD 5.7 billion, investments have remained below the USD 3 billion mark, falling to USD 2.4 billion in 2021. Investments also need to be more equitably distributed. So far, most of the investments are concentrated in Morocco and Egypt.

Contrary to the global trend in the period of 2013-2020 which shows private sector financing as the primary source of funding for renewables development, North Africa sees public finance play a far more important role. Multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, export credit agencies, guarantee funds and private reinsurance have provided direct funding, risk mitigation support and technical assistance, to help build a regular pipeline of future renewable energy projects in the region.

And renewables investment yields substantial job creation benefits, surpassing fossil fuels by two to five times per dollar invested. With its sizable and educated workforce, North Africa has an opportunity to benefit from the job creation potential, driven by appropriate labour market and education policies including technical and vocational training programmes. While competitive auctions are becoming the primary instrument to drive investments in renewables, in the future, add-on policies such as net metering and feed-in-tariffs could further drive investments, leading the region closer to its socio-economic goals, including the Agenda 2030.

Source: IRENA

DO WE SUFFICIENTLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN ACHIEVING CLIMATE GOALS?

27.02.2024

eko — Photo-illustration: Freepik (freepik)

The exploitation of various natural materials and their further use in economic production has a great impact on the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. The circular economy has been promoted worldwide as a solution to the reduction of these emissions. Despite this effort, the circular economy is still underrepresented in national climate policies and measures, according to a new briefing by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Data collated by the International Resource Panel indicate that the extraction and processing of natural materials such as fossil fuels, biomass, metals and non-metallic minerals account for nearly half of global greenhouse emissions.

The term circular economy usually implies reusing resources that should have ended up as waste. However, it goes beyond that and it encompasses the entire value chain – from sustainable design and efficient production, through to sustainable consumption, longer and better use of products and finally using waste as a resource.

Awareness of the importance of the circular economy is still not sufficiently developed and the concept is not always properly understood. As stated in the briefing, there is a lack of adequate inclusion of climate benefits arising from the inclusion of a circular economy in policies and reporting on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The reason for this is a gap between the strict sectoral reporting structure that adheres to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines and the cross-cutting nature of the circular economy. More precisely, this means that the circular economy goes beyond the boundaries of traditional sectors and extends through different stages of the product life cycle. It doesn’t apply to only one part of the chain but includes the entire process – from production to recycling.

We can use, for instance, glass waste to illustrate the benefits of the circular economy. The report would most likely take into account only the data on how many emissions were reduced by the fact that this waste did not end up in a landfill. However, the circular economy plays an even more significant role in the production process of a new glass product. Thanks to the use of glass waste, instead of newly sourced raw materials, significant amounts of energy are saved. The problem is that such benefits from the application of the circular economy are more difficult to accurately determine in the production process itself, which is why they are often not included in the said reports.

EEA data show that the importance of the circular economy in its full capacity is still not sufficiently understood. Namely, in 2023, 148 circular-economy-related activities were reported, of which about 60 per cent pertained to waste. A much smaller number covered all stages of the circular economy, i.e. utilizing its full potential.

The briefing offered six step-by-step explanations for including the circular economy in climate change mitigation reports and policy-making. This ought to improve the understanding and develop awareness of the importance of its implementation.

The first step involves the gathering of circular economy and climate change experts. Awareness of the connection between these two areas should be increased and a strong, transparent and coordinated national system should be set up for future reports. The second step is using certain models to identify key circular economy measures that have the potential to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The third step could be explained as achieving synergy between waste reduction measures and circular economy policies in climate change mitigation reports. The last three steps concern the analysis of whether additional legislative proposals are needed, followed by monitoring the progress of adopted policies and finally continuing to further develop the previous five steps.

Energy portal

Melting of the cryosphere cryosphere – changes and consequences

26.02.2024

led — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Tetiana Grypachevska)

The cryosphere is the area of our planet where water freezes into snow or ice. The cryosphere is divided into snow, ice, glaciers, ice shelves or icebergs, sea ice and permafrost. Some of them freeze and thaw seasonally, while other areas have been frozen for thousands of years and are classified as permafrost. Data compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) show that 70 per cent of fresh water on Earth is in the form of snow or ice and that about 10 per cent of the planet’s surface is covered by glaciers or ice sheets. The melting of such surfaces can lead to important changes such as the loss of habitats for various plant and animal species, either by the disappearance of ice areas or by the rise of sea levels, which would flood coastal areas as a result. Furthermore, changes in the salinity of seas and oceans and ocean currents should also be noted. Humankind is the villain here as it has caused climate change and global warming.

The special report on the ocean, cryosphere and changing climate, prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), shows how important the preservation of such areas is and how the aforementioned environmental problems affect their disappearance, thus jeopardizing the living world.

The communities that inhabit coastal areas, small islands, polar regions and high mountains are particularly exposed to changes that occur in the cryosphere and thus in the oceans. The available data show that the low-lying coastal area is inhabited by about 680 million people, while predictions are that by 2050, this number will increase to more than one billion. When it comes to high mountain areas, available data indicate about 670 million people, while predictions show that it will increase to about 800 million by 2050.

What changes have been observed and what consequences do they bring?

In the last few decades, under the influence of global warming, there has been a widespread reduction of the cryosphere, which includes mass loss of ice sheets and glaciers, reduction of snow cover and the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice, while permafrost temperature has been growing. For instance, between 2006 and 2015, the Greenland ice sheet lost mass at a rate of about 270 gigatonnes per year, while the Antarctic ice sheet lost about 155 gigatonnes per year.

Regarding the world’s oceans, since 1993, the warming rate has more than doubled. Estimates show that the rate of global mean sea level rise from 2006 to 2015 was about 2.5 times higher than that from 1901 to 1990. If the Antarctic ice sheet melts completely, it will lead to a rise in sea level by 58 meters. Depending on different scenarios, which include the impact of global warming emissions, the global mean sea level is predicted to rise between 0.43 and 0.84 meters by 2100 compared to the period between 1986 and 2005.

Such changes have a direct impact on the functioning of the ecosystem. With the melting of ice surfaces, many plant and animal species lose their habitats, which is why they die out or move to other habitats, causing a shift in the food chain. Phytoplankton blooms occur earlier in the year, indicating changes in sea ice and nutrient availability. The report’s data also show that almost 50 per cent of coastal wetlands have been lost in the last 100 years, which is a result of sea level rise and global warming. All the previously mentioned changes have a negative impact on food and water security, especially in the areas that are most threatened by these changes. As a final example of dangerous consequences, one could cite an increased risk of disease. The melting of glaciers and permafrost releases various microorganisms and mercury, which continue to circulate in the environment through water, soil and food.

Previous years were record-breaking in terms of temperature and January 2024 continued the trend because it was the warmest month in the recorded. An additional problem is the fact that, for example, the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet.

Katarina Vuinac

STATE OF EMERGENCY, RESTRICTIONS AND EMPTY TANKS DUE TO DROUGHT

26.02.2024

Mediteran_more — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Dimitris Panagiotaras)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sébastien Goldberg)

In recent years, the world has witnessed some of the most severe droughts ever, affecting different continents and millions of people.

In 2021, Madagascar experienced one of the worst droughts in its history, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis, while in the summer of 2022, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia experienced severe droughts that caused food and water shortages. Many livestock died, agriculture and crops were destroyed and the number of people who were affected by the food crisis exceeded 20 million. It did not rain until the middle of the year in the mentioned parts of East Africa and according to the information at the time, it did not rain in the north of Kenya for over two years.

Amazonia, the United States, Canada, Argentina and Paraguay were also hit, with the droughts in the latter two countries negatively affecting hydropower and agricultural production.

The Mediterranean and southern Europe are other critical points, where the temperature is rising faster than average. North Africa, Italy, Spain and Greece are suffering from a lack of rainfall, so last summer Greece had several weeks of raging forest fires, while certain areas in Spain declared a state of emergency. If we consider that rainfall has been below average for three years now and that temperatures are rising, the problem becomes much more obvious.

The Drought in the Mediterranean – January 2024 report, published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Drought Observatory (EDO), looks in detail at the impact of droughts on these regions.

Prolonged droughts, caused by a combination of above-average temperatures, hot spells and a lack of rainfall, have caused severe conditions in the Mediterranean region, including parts of Italy, Spain, Malta, as well as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The report also points to seasonal forecasts predicting a warmer spring, which could further worsen the situation.

This January, a state of emergency was declared in Catalonia, accompanied by stricter restrictions on water use, after water supplies fell below 16 per cent. In the same context, the water reservoirs in the Algarve, in the south of Portugal, reached their lowest levels, which necessitated restrictions on water consumption, according to the European Commission’s website.

Photo-illustration: Freepik (kdekiara
kdekiara)

The situation was equally alarming in Italy, where reservoirs in Sicily recorded below-normal levels, which again led to the rationalization of water consumption to ensure that basic needs were met.

Estimates showed that Sardinia’s water reservoirs were at less than half their capacity in December 2023.

Morocco has experienced six consecutive years of drought, which has led to drastically low water levels in its reservoirs. In response to the crisis, the Moroccan government banned the use of water for washing streets, and irrigating public parks and certain agricultural areas.

As we wrote earlier, last summer the average temperature of the planet was the hottest on record – above 17 degrees Celsius.

There is a pressing need to adapt strategies for water management and sectors that depend on freshwater, such as agriculture and drinking water production, as well as to invest in drought early warning systems, increase the efficiency of water use and switch to more drought- resistant crop varieties.

Energy portal

RECYCLING PACKAGING AT LIDL: DONATE OR REDUCE THE BILL

25.02.2024

Dobro-se-reciklažom-vraća_Foto — Photo: Lidl

Until now, as part of Lidl’s pilot project, Recycling – because one good turn deserves another, in Novi Sad and Niš, consumers have had the opportunity to donate 5 dinars to the Be Humane foundation for every returned Lidl PET and ALU packaging, and from now on they can also provide a voucher that reduces their bills in the amount of 5 dinars for each returned packaging. In addition, two more new recycling machines were installed in stores in Belgrade.

As part of the expansion of Lidl’s ecological and humanitarian project, in addition to consumers in Novi Sad and Niš, from the end of September, Belgrade residents can also recycle at Vidikovac at Kneza Višeslava Street 61V and in Borča, at Bratstva i Jedinstva 2D.

The project, Recycling – because one good turn deserves another, has not yet been applied to all stores in Serbia. Still, the pilot phase in which the project is located has shown experience and solutions from Germany and other European Union countries can greatly contribute to a faster and more efficient introduction of the circular economy model to the Serbian market.

IN FOCUS:

How to use recycling machines?

Using the devices, which consumers will notice at the entrance to one of the five stores where they are installed, is very simple — it is necessary to insert into them PET packaging with a volume of 0.2 to 0.3 liters or cans of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages purchased in Lidl stores, one by one.

When all the packaging has been inserted, you need to click on the button on the screen and choose whether you want to download the voucher or donate. For the packaging to be accepted, besides having a visible barcode, it is necessary to be empty and without damage. Packaging made of cardboard, glass, milk and non-aluminum cans will not be accepted.

The Project: Recycling – because one good turn deserves another was created intending to test citizens’ readiness for today’s environmental challenges and grew out of Lidl’s global strategy REset Plastic, which seeks to involve and educate consumers through various initiatives.

Lidl

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SOLARISE PRECISELY CALCULATES THE NUMBER OF PANELS NEEDED FOR ONE ROOF

24.02.2024

aerial-view-private-house-with-solar-panels-roof — Photo-illustration: Freepik (wirestock)

Clean forms of energy are a topic that has been often discussed lately which is why it seems to us that we are sufficiently familiar with it. Yet if we were to decide to install solar panels on the roof of our home, the first question we would need to answer would be how many panels we would need.

A team of final-year undergraduates and young software engineers, Uroš Poček, Tamara Ilić, Tina Mihajlović and Milica Sladaković, devised a way to simplify at least one segment of this procedure. Their story begins in November last year when RE:HACK was organized by Science & Technology Park in Novi Sad and GIZ.

This hackathon required a solution and a simple business model for the use of solar energy in households to be found in 48 hours, which none of them had encountered before. That’s when the idea for the development of the SolaRise startup began to simmer. The third place they won at the hackathon and the mentoring support they received for further work prompted Uroš, Tamara, Tina and Milica to develop their own business models for product launch. Although this proved to be the most difficult part of the job, no obstacle was insurmountable, they say in a good team spirit fashion.

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What is the SolaRise software?

As Tamara explains, their software performs measurements and generates an offer for the installation of solar panels on people’s properties in just three clicks of a mouse. The client needs to enter the address where they plan to install the panel and everything else is done by this team of young people thanks to their artificial intelligence (AI) model which they developed using satellite images of locations in Serbia and several other European countries. Based on a satellite image of the location that is entered, their software recognizes the facility and accurately measures the area, offering information on how many panels are needed to cover the average electricity needs of the household.

The complete analysis, calculations and offer are generated in about 15 seconds, which includes information about the price of panel installation, the amount of energy produced, the return on the investment, etc. The whole process, including entering data and the address, lasts about 60 seconds. Although there are similar ideas in the market, this one stands out for its speed and simplicity, advanced AI model and competitive price.

Companies that install solar panels have recognized the benefits of cooperating with the Solarise startup. If they decide to provide access to this software through their website, they will make their services more qualitative and competitive. In this way, potential clients will be able to check whether the installation of the panels is worthwhile for them and whether they want to consider it more seriously, while the company will be able to do the initial planning faster and more efficiently, and then dedicate its full time and services to those people who really want to become their clients.

Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY

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