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IT IS NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES

Photo: A1
Photo: ) Courtesy of Dejan Turk

To contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint by using energy from renewable sources, the company A1 Serbia installed more than 3000 solar panels. It became the first telecommunications company on our market whose network infrastructure relies on this technology. Sustainability, along with the quality of the A1 network, which has been declared the fastest mobile network in Serbia for the second year in a row, will be imperative to preserve both the top user experience and the environment.

EP: The Austrian group A1 Telekom, the owner of the company A1 Serbia, has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 through a gradual transition to renewable energy sources, reducing the carbon footprint and increasing energy efficiency. Why is it important for Internet service providers to turn to green energy? 

Dejan Turk: The telecommunications industry is not a big polluter. It is responsible for only 3.7 per cent of global CO₂ emissions. However, it is a large consumer of electricity, being a provider of the Internet and solutions based on its use. Not surprisingly, this 3.7 per cent is predicted to double in the next three years. The need for connectivity at all levels are growing. To meet these needs, it is necessary to introduce new technologies, such as 5G, which are more energy efficient. Preservation of the environment has not been a matter of choice for a long time. I believe that everyone, both industry and individuals, can contribute to efforts to make the world a healthier place to live today and for future generations. With this in mind, we have set ourselves a new quality parameter related to sustainability. We are building a sustainable network whose quality is internet access speed, reliability and coverage, and the careful use of natural resources. This approach enables the further expansion of our infrastructure while at the same time achieving higher energy efficiency and lower energy consumption, increasing efficiency and the possibility for optimization. 

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EP: What concrete steps have you taken in implementing the ESG strategy on the Serbian market? 

Dejan Turk: Since July of last year, we have been using 100 per cent green electricity to power the mobile network, devices, and infrastructure. Thanks to this, we reduced CO₂ emissions by 19 per cent in 2021. This year we went one step further. We have started installing solar panels at all our base stations where there are conditions for it. We currently have close to 3 000 solar panels, and the plan is to install more than 2 500 new panels by the end of next year. We are also planning to install solar panels at our Data Center in Kragujevac because radio base stations and Data Centers have the greatest impact on the total electricity consumption. I am proud that we are pioneers among operators in this field, because currently we are the only ones in Serbia using solar panels to supply part of the network infrastructure with electricity. Bearing all this in mind, we expect significantly better results this year than the previous one. 

EP: What does A1 Serbia’s socially responsible strategy look like in accordance with ESG goals in the field of environmental protection? Dejan Turk: Contribution to solving the problem of air pollution, and protection of natural resources and biodiversity are imperative in our business. I will mention only some of the projects that contribute to the preservation of the environment, whose development and implementation we supported through our social responsibility platform ”The World You Want” – the association “Bašta može svasta” launched the first organic garden. The Internet Society of Serbia launched a project for the development of devices for air quality measurement “Klimerko”, there is also a project of a sanatorium for protected species of wild birds in the environment of Bačka Topola Agricultural School, which the school initiated, and the action “Serbia without illegal landfills” which is dedicated to the reduction of illegal landfills in Serbia.

Interviewed by: Milena Maglovski

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

Italy’s Progress on Energy Efficiency Provides Foundation for Meeting Broader Energy and Climate Goals

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (sasa damjanovic)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Italy is on track to meet its national emissions reduction and energy efficiency targets for 2030, according to a new in-depth policy review by the IEA, which highlights that cutting red tape further to speed up deployment of renewables should be a priority as Italy prepares to pursue more ambitious EU climate goals and reduce reliance on Russian energy supplies.

Since the last IEA review in 2016, Italy has increased its climate ambitions by endorsing the EU-wide goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, as set out in the European Green Deal. While Italy has made progress in a number of areas around energy efficiency and lowering emissions under its national strategy, it will need to make additional efforts to meet the EU’s more ambitious Fit for 55 package, which is yet to be agreed but will include new targets for 2030.

Despite vast natural resources suited to renewables and an industrial base that can drive the phase out of fossil fuels, Italy’s deployment of clean energy technologies has remained relatively slow over the last decade. Electricity generation from renewables more than doubled between 2005 and 2020, but most of this growth occurred in a five-year period (2010-2014), bolstered by generous incentives for solar PV. Since then, lengthy permitting procedures, high administrative costs, availability of land and local opposition have hampered new installations. Reforms made during 2022 and the planned adoption of a new regulatory framework are already addressing these bottlenecks, the IEA policy review notes.

“Italy has made important strides in energy efficiency, helping to improve its resilience to shocks like the global energy crisis and also to advance its strategy for reducing emissions,” said IEA Executive Director Faith Birol. “Accelerating the deployment of renewables and other clean technologies while strengthening energy efficiency further will be essential for making greater progress on energy security and decarbonisation at the same time.”

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Today, Italy is heavily reliant on natural gas for both heating and power, with imports making up the lion’s share of its demand. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Italian government has committed to phasing out gas imports from Russia, its single largest supplier, by 2025. Thanks to investments made over the last decade to diversify gas supply routes, including through the Middle East and North Africa, Italy was able to quickly transition away from Russia. This is a delicate balancing act, with Italian gas demand expected to remain strong and likely to increase further in the short term as new gas-fired plants for electricity production come online.

Italy’s commitment to improving energy efficiency has helped it to achieve a decline in energy demand in the buildings sector. The energy demand reduction from buildings is the result of various policy measures, especially the super bonus scheme that offers tax reductions for expenses incurred improving the energy efficiency of buildings. While the scheme has been successful in delivering energy savings, not all socio-economic groups have been able to benefit from it to the same degree. The IEA report therefore recommends that Italy consider implementing tailor-made energy efficiency policies and instruments that successfully address the energy needs of the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Reducing energy poverty is a key policy concern in Italy, and that focus has intensified in the current era of high energy prices. Italy is implementing several policy measures to improve affordability across the board, but there is scope for more targeted interventions. In parallel, raising consumer awareness of the relationship between energy consumption and costs is needed and could be achieved through increased deployment of smart meters and a greater focus on system flexibility – two areas where Italy has already made substantial progress.

“Italy’s international leadership on power system modernisation is commendable,” said Dr Birol. “I hope this report will provide some valuable insights into how Italy can build on its current successes and deliver a sustainable, secure and affordable energy transition. I am also looking forward to working closely with Italy under its G7 Presidency in 2024 to support these priorities within the international community.”

Source: IEA

A PROFITABLE AND SAFE INVESTMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SOLAR POWER PLANT

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Andreas Gücklhorn)
Photo: Courtesy of Miroslav Lutovac

The new Law on Renewable Energy Sources (RES), and state subsidies for the purchase of solar power plant equipment created the prerequisites for a real market boom. Both individuals and companies have shown great interest i, so the jump in sales of solar panels and construction of solar power plants is almost expected. According to the data collated by the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the prosumer status has been approved for about 5MW of new solar power plants, while almost a hundred megawatts are in the process of obtaining this status. We spoke with Miroslav Lutovac, the energy adviser to the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, about financial benefits for companies with prosumer status and whether the RES Community model is more profitable.

EP: With the passing of a new energy&mining law and bylaws, the prerequisites for companies to build solar power plants as prosumers to cut their business costs have been met. How willing are companies in our country to make such changes?

Miroslav Lutovac: There are two basic reasons why companies and households in Serbia decide to invest in constructing a solar power plant to meet their own needs – financial and environmental benefits. Of course, financial well-being is a decisive factor including an acceptable return on investment period of 5 to 6 years and minimal operating costs, i.e. maintenance costs. All this makes the investment very attractive. Practically, this means that you can fulfil your electricity needs for about 25 years, which is the estimated lifetime of the power plant, by paying in advance the total energy spent during this period at a price that is four times lower than the current price.

A less favourable methodology applies to legal entities, that is, companies. It means that the price of surplus electricity delivered to the power grid is lower than the company originally paid for. Despite this, the interest is high, and it will certainly be even greater as the market price of electricity increases.

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Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

EP: The law, for now, allows the establishment of associations or Communities, enabling small producers to organize and offer surplus electricity generated from renewable sources to the market. What are previous experiences with these communities? 

Miroslav Lutovac: Members of a Renewable Energy Sources Community (Community, for short) can be natural or legal persons (provided that the production of energy from renewable sources is not their main or predominant activity), local self-governments or other types of local governments. The main goal of forming the Community is using renewable energy sources to meet the needs of its members. By uniting a number of smaller renewable energy sources, the Community can become a relevant participant in the electricity market, directly or through an intermediary. In this way, the Community members have better financial benefits. 

As far as I know, two Communities have been formed so far, but there are initiatives by various companies to create several more such associations. It is too early to talk about the achieved effects, but we expect the Community model to be more profitable than the prosumer model.

EP: Lack of rain this summer reduced electricity production in Serbia’s hydroelectric power plants. Is the operation of thermal power plants jeopardized by these unfavourable circumstances? 

Miroslav Lutovac:  Hydropower plants account for about 30 per cent of the annual electricity production in the country. The operations of hydroelectric power plants directly depend on precipitation. In this sense, in addition to precipitation, it is also of great importance that the inflow is not extreme (periods of heavy precipitation and periods of severe droughts). This year was quite dry, although the situation improved considerably in November. We can expect with great certainty that, this year, hydropower plants will generate electricity whose quantity is significantly below the multi-year average. In addition to the reduced production from hydroelectric power plants directly contributing to the increase in the average electricity generation price, low inflow greatly affects the flexibility of the power system and to some extent, its stability and reliability.

Photo: Pixabay

EP: How can low water flow threaten thermal power plants, and what is the current situation with water flow? 

Miroslav Lutovac: Large amounts of water are needed for the normal operation of thermal power plants. Our largest thermal power plants, in Obrenovac and Kostolac, use water from the Sava and Danube rivers. Water from rivers is pumped in by special water supply systems, which have suction baskets lowered into rivers at the entry end. When the river level is very low, i.e. close to or at the level of the suction baskets, the operation of the water supply system must be stopped to prevent damage. It causes a thermal power plant to suspend its operations.  The current hydrological situation is such that the river level does not threaten to the safe operation of thermal power plants. With the drop in temperature, inflow will also decrease in the following period, but critically dangerous river levels that could threaten the operation of thermal power plants are not expected.

Interviewed by: Katarina Vuinac

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

AMBITIOUS GOALS ACCOMPANY BIG CHANGES

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo: Schneider Electric

The requirement to move to a sustainable business only a few years ago did not have the same value and importance as it does today. During the height of the energy crisis and with clear indications that more stable solutions must be sought, the transition to sustainable business becomes a true imperative.

Schneider Electric has been on this path for many years, and that’s why we are talking to Ksenija Karić, director of Schneider Electric for Serbia and Montenegro, about whether the transition to sustainable business can be accelerated and to what extent such a transformation can affect the near future.

EP: Given that time plays a key role, in which segments/industries would it be most rational to switch to sustainable processes?

Ksenija Karić: If you consider that buildings and industries are the biggest consumers of energy, the fastest progress can be achieved with digital efficiency, both in buildings, by introducing sensors and systems for monitoring and control and in the industry with energy management systems. As the biggest consumers of energy, buildings and industry could save incredible amounts of energy, up to 30 per cent, with a quick return on investment of around 5 years. The installation of energy-efficient solutions in office buildings should also not be a matter of long deliberation because all technologies are already available and can be implemented quickly. According to the data we have for the retail establishments that already use such solutions in Europe, the savings were 23 per cent, and the return on investment was 2—4 years.

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EP: Sustainable business has long become a measurable category. How do you measure performance in that field?

Ksenija Karić: According to the SSI program 2021—2025, we committed ourselves to action, divided into six segments which are followed by adequate metrics. Since sustainable business cannot be viewed in an isolated context but must refer to all spectrums: social, environmental, corporate and financial, we have divided the operation into six segments. These segments include: acting for a climate-positive world — by continuously investing in and developing innovative solutions that deliver immediate and lasting decarbonization in line with our carbon pledge; developing resource efficiency by acting responsibly and making the most of digital technology to preserve our planet; affirmation of living following our principles of trust by supporting all around us for high social, management and ethical standards; creating equal opportunities, ensuring that all employees are uniquely valued and work in an inclusive environment in order to develop and give their best; harnessing the power of all generations by encouraging the learning, improvement and development of each generation, paving the way for the next generation and empowering the local community by promoting local initiatives and enabling individuals and partners to make sustainability a reality for all.

EP: Is this enough, and does the timing work for us?

Photo: Schneider Electric

Ksenija Karić: Although we are extremely proud of being a recognized leader in sustainable development, these last years have been a reminder that none of this is enough. The goal of reaching zero emission of harmful gases by 2030 is a race against time. According to our company’s research, as a basis for staying on track and limiting global temperature rise below 1.5°C, carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced by 30 to 50 per cent in this decade compared to current levels. Without such engagement, it becomes almost impossible to limit global temperature rise below 1.5°C, as presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The only realistic path to success is the application of proven digital technologies with increased electrification as the fastest way to decarbonize buildings, transport and industry. The advantage of this approach over others is that it buys time to deal with sectors where these changes are more difficult to introduce. All other strategies would overburden consumers and not have a positive effect in an adequate period.

Despite the importance of the current moment in which the importance of sustainability is recognized and the fact that an increasing number of companies are adopting ambitious goals in terms of combating climate change, the need for acceleration is more than clear. At Schneider, we strive to be part of the solution and to support organizations in their pursuit of gradual decarbonization and the fulfilment of climate change strategies. We are accelerating the expansion of our consulting services globally to respond to the growing need for significant progress in the energy transition and climate change goals. We have made big changes with our wide network of partners and this experience tells us that many companies are ready for new industries and positive changes. However, they need a trusted partner who combines strategic planning and goal setting in accordance with proven results in the implementation of solutions to achieve faster and more visible results.

Interviewed by: Milica Marković

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

THE TOWN OF CAPITAL GREEN INVESTMENTS

Photo: Office of the Kragujevac Mayor
Photo: courtesy of Nikola Dašić

To know who we are today, we need to know who we were throughout history. To quote a man who made his mark on humanity: “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquities.” (Cicero)

Throughout its history, the town of Kragujevac has deservedly been called “the first”. Three years after Ottoman rule ended, Kragujevac was declared the capital of the autonomous principality of Serbia. Novine Srbske, the first national newspaper whose editor was Dimitrije Davidović, was also published in this city. Today, resting on its tradition, Kragujevac won the competition for the number one eco-municipality in the Energy Efficiency category. To earn the title of eco-municipality, at a time when ecology represents the most important issue for future survival, was not an easy feat. Just before another successful year for this city ends, we spoke with the Kragujevac Mayor, Nikola Dašić, about the town’s impressive successes.

EP: Five half-century-old coal-fired boilers were replaced with new gas-fired boilers in the Energetika heating plant in Kragujevac. How much has the carbon dioxide emission been reduced and what are the plans for the rehabilitation of the ash dump?

Nikola Dašić: The reconstruction and changing energy-generating products in the city’s heating plant is one of the most important large-scale projects in Kragujevac. With the installation of new gas boilers, 50-year-old coal-fired boilers, which were serious pollutants, were decommissioned, and this will greatly improve the air quality in the city area. Everything was done according to the relevant global standards and the district heating system in Kragujevac can now compete with heating systems in any European city. The benefits of this were felt when the heating season started. The emission of carbon into the atmosphere was reduced by more than 70 per cent. The next project phase is the rehabilitation of the ash dump that is located on the heating plant premises, which also pollutes the environment as the ash was being scattered all around. We found the best solution in consultations with EBRD experts. The ash will be used as construction material for the construction of 15km of local roads in Kragujevac at the beginning of the next construction season.

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EP: The plan is also to reconstruct a part of the hot water pipeline that supplies consumers in the Kragujevac neighbourhoods of Erdoglija, Lepenica and Centar. Did you manage to put that into practice?

Nikola Dašić: As part of the preparations for this heating season, we completed the overhaul of the main heating pipe, going all the way to the city centre. A total of 3.6km of pipes were replaced, which significantly improved the distribution of thermal energy to the neighbourhoods of Lepenica, Centar and Erdoglija.

EP: So far, 14 unregulated landfills have been removed. In what way will waste be managed in the future so that no new unregulated landfills are created?

Photo: Office of the Kragujevac Mayor

Nikola Dašić: Due to the negligent disposal of municipal and construction waste, every once in a while, an unregulated landfill is created in various neighbourhoods in Kragujevac. The teams from the Šumadija public utility company remove such waste exclusively by order of the communal inspection. In June, under the auspices of a project implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection called “Joint Forces Against Unregulated Landfills in Kragujevac”, as many as 14 of the largest unregulated dumps were removed. The line ministry allocated more than one million dinars for this purpose.

The workers of the Šumadija public utility company visit the most critical locations in the city every day, where, even after cleaning, municipal waste is dumped again in the same place. The citizens themselves can help a lot with this. Anyone who notices accumulated municipal or bulky, construction waste, can submit a report with the exact location of the dump to the local inspection, which, after the inspection, issues an order to the utility company to clean the location. In order to remove bulky waste faster and more efficiently, the Šumadija public utility company organizes free pick-up of old furniture, doors, windows, and the like, every first and third Saturday of the month, as well as on weekdays, by citizens’ invitation.

On the other hand, it is still impossible to completely prevent the emergence of unregulated landfills, and in this sense, we need to educate the citizens on the one hand, but also sanction those individuals who treat nature irresponsibly.

Interviewed by: Katarina Vuinac

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

THE FORMULA FOR GREATER ENERGY SECURITY IN INVESTMENTS, SAVINGS AND RESPONSIBILITY

Photo: Ministry of Mining and Energy
Photo: Ministry of Mining and Energy

As long as the energy crisis lasts, maintaining stable energy production while providing enough energy for the domestic market remain the key to securing supply in the coming months. We spoke with Minister Dubravka Đedović, who helms the strategically important Ministry of Mining and Energy, about the extent to which citizens have listened to the Ministry’s recommendations regarding energy saving, the Ministry’s support for energy-vulnerable households and long-term plans in the energy sector that should help us in the transition to green energy.

EP: We have had quite warm weather in the past period ,which is why the heating season started a bit later than usual. Should we still be optimistic about the energy supply?

Dubravka Đedović: Both people and businesses in Serbia have a safe and stable supply of electricity and gas, which is the most important thing. We are importing certain quantities of electricity that we lack, which costs us a lot, in addition to importing coal. In terms of gas, we have a stable supply via the Balkan Stream gas pipeline. In addition to the natural gas storage in Banatski Dvor, we have more available quantities of gas stored in storage in Hungary. Also, the country’s crude oil and oil derivatives reserves have increased.

Because the weather in October was somewhat better than usual, we did not have to import electricity, for the most part, that month.

The Ministry’s recommendations on how to save energy during this winter in state and public institutions, local self-governments, businesses and households have already yielded the first results in October. We hope that the same will happen in the coming months. According to the data collated by EPS Snabdevanje, the total consumption of electricity in October was 11 per cent lower compared to the same month of the previous year. Out of 3.37 million households, as many as 45 per cent of them reduced their electricity consumption in October, thus making the largest number of households, around 700,000, eligible for a 30 per cent discount on their electricity bills.

Electricity prices on the market rose significantly in November. We are closely following market developments to react promptly and ensure safe supply at the lowest price for both individuals and businesses. Also, the state must take care of socially vulnerable citizens who are more affected than others by fluctuations in electricity and gas prices. We will pass a new regulation on energy-endangered customers quite soon, which will ensure discounts for as three times as many citizens as before.

IN FOCUS:

EP: Your Ministry is also drafting strategic plans that, when implemented, will boost the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the energy mix. Do you think your goals are ambitious?

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (mrganso)

Dubravka Đedović: We are currently developing the Integrated National Climate and Energy Plan and the new Energy Development Strategy, which will set goals related to the share of RES in total energy production, reduction of harmful gas emissions and energy efficiency. It is important that these goals are realistic and sustainable and that they are an incentive for the development the energy sector and the entire economy, which will align with the green economy principles.

The construction of new facilities that use renewable sources should be coordinated with the development of the electricity transmission and distribution grid so that the development of the energy sector is sustainable, efficient, and economical and leads to a higher degree of energy security and safety. Currently, our RES capacities are around 500MW, not including hydropower plants. In the next few years, we will generate an additional 400MW, primarily from wind energy. We are also working on improving the existing regulation so that, in the medium term, our system can accommodate eight times higher capacity. We want the energy produced from renewable sources to remain in Serbia, to be used by our citizens, and to export only the surplus. We are working on finding a model that is in the best interest of citizens, and at the same time, sustainable for investors.

EP: Today, RES makes up 26 per cent of Serbia’s energy mix, and the plan is to almost double the number of so-called green megawatts. Will our electricity distribution and transmission grid be able to support this?

Dubravka Đedović: Increasing the share of Serbia’s energy mix cannot take place at the wanted pace if we do not have a network that can support it. The transmission system is the backbone of the power grid. The construction of the Trans-Balkan Corridor should ensure greater safety and stability of the high-voltage grid, enable new green energy production facilities to connect to the grid, and have a better connection with neighbouring countries. I will continue to work on modernizing the electricity distribution grid, which is the bloodline of our energy system. The total losses in the distribution and transmission grid stand at around 12 per cent annually, which means that investing in the grid’s modernization can significantly contribute to improving energy security, i.e. reducing imports.

Interviewed by: Nevena Đukić

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

AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR A WEED-FREE LIFE

Photo: courtesy of Miloš Stanković
Photo: courtesy of Miloš Stanković

For some, the first days of July bring the long-awaited signal to start getting ready for the annual vacation, while others are heralding the fight against ragweed pollen. This annual weed produces pollen from early July until the first frost. One stalk of ragweed produces millions of pollen grains and tens of thousands of seeds, which cause a lot of problems for humans.

Almost all of us know at least one person who is allergic to ragweed. People who strongly react to ragweed pollen often complain of a compromised quality of life caused by the allergy in the summer months. Thanks to Professor Miloš Stanković, PhD, a scientist and inventor, they could soon forget about their troubles and start breathing without hindrance. He invented the Ambrozer, a device that uses radio frequency and electricity to recognize and destroy this plant at the root.

“My brother has had a problem with ragweed since he was a small child, as have many people from my environment. I wanted to help them, so I started developing the device. Even the famous Nikola Tesla was trying to make an electric device that would destroy weed. Since then, many people have produced various devices, but they needed to meet numerous safety requirements in the EU and the rest of the world. I succeeded in that”, explains Dr Stanković, who is an electrical engineer by profession.

IN FOCUS:

Photo: courtesy of Miloš Stanković

The device that destroys ragweed consists of electronic components and electrodes. With the help of a certain frequency and current, the weed is destroyed at the root without the use of chemical compounds and pesticides. In this environmentally friendly way, the weed not only disappears but no longer grows at all during the season.

“By regulating the frequency, weed or a specific part of the plant is destroyed. The frequency used to eliminate weed is adjusted to the specific weed type. During the physical contact between the electrodes (on the device) and the weed that is being treated, biochemical and biophysical processes occurring in the weed, due to which it instantly withers. The device should be used while the weed is small, due to less electricity consumption”, explains Dr Stanković.

The device can be set to destroy a group of weeds or to be more selective. According to the inventor, ragweed is the easiest to destroy. As everything is treated physically and selectively, there is no impact on other agricultural crops, useful plants and microorganisms.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

More action needed in the EU to reduce the impacts of chemical pesticides

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (wuzefe)
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (schauhi)

Widespread pesticide use is major source of pollution — contaminating water, soil and air, driving biodiversity loss and leading to pest resistance. Human exposure to chemical pesticides is linked to chronic illnesses, such as cancer, and heart, respiratory and neurological diseases.

The new EEA briefing ‘How pesticides impact human health and ecosystems in Europe’ summarises the latest knowledge on how chemical pesticides impact our health and the environment and presents good practices to reduce their use and risk across Europe. It showcases good practices for how to reduce pesticide use and manage the associated risks without jeopardizing food supply.

Pesticide use and impacts: what we know

Europe’s agriculture sector still relies on using high volumes of chemical pesticides to maintain crop yields, with the volume of pesticides sales having remained stable over the past decade. Pesticides are also used in forestry, and along roads and railways, as well as in public parks, playgrounds or gardens widely used by the public — particularly by children, pregnant women and the elderly, groups more vulnerable to pesticides.

From 2011 to 2020, pesticide sales in the EU-27 Member States remained relatively stable at around 350,000 tonnes per year.

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In 2020, one or more pesticides were detected above thresholds of concern (a risk to human health) at 22 percent of all monitoring sites in rivers and lakes across Europe. In terms of soil pollution, 83 percent of agricultural soils tested in a 2019 study contained pesticide residues.

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Pesticide pollution is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss in Europe. In particular, pesticide use has caused significant declines in insect populations, threatening the critical roles they play in food production, in particular the pollination of most fruit and vegetable crops.

People are mainly exposed to pesticides through diet, including food and drinking water, as well as by spending time in areas where pesticides are applied and, for agricultural workers, at the workplace. A large-scale human biomonitoring study conducted between 2014 and 2021 across five European countries found at least two pesticides present in the bodies of 84 percent of survey participants.

Pesticide levels were consistently higher in children than in adults, with children being particularly sensitive to the negative health impacts of chemicals. Human exposure to chemical pesticides is linked to a range of serious chronic diseases, such as cancer, and heart, respiratory and neurological diseases, as well as developmental delays in children.

Meeting the targets — reducing pesticide use

In 2020, the European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy introduced two pesticide reduction targets: a 50 percent reduction in the use and risk of chemical pesticides and a 50 percent reduction in the use of more hazardous pesticides. The Strategy is a key part of the European Green Deal and aims to make Europe’s food systems fair, healthy and sustainable. Achieving the targets will require more work by EU policymakers and Member States, the briefing notes.

The European Commission recently proposed a new regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides, which would require countries to set their own national reduction targets, ensure that all farmers and other professional pesticide users adopt environmentally friendly systems of pest control, and restrict the use of pesticides in sensitive areas such as urban green areas and protected areas. Other measures discussed in the briefing include training professional users and advisors, incentivizing the transition to organic and precision farming, and taxing the most hazardous pesticides.

To reduce dependency on chemical pesticides and maintain food security, it will also be critical to promote the shift to alternative models of agriculture that apply ecological concepts and principles to agricultural production, the EEA briefing suggests.

Source: EEA

GIVING OLD TOYS A NEW LIFE

Photo: Ivan Kocić
Photo: Ivan Kocić

Ivan Kocić graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, and for years he has been exploring the nuances of his artistic expression in numerous painting techniques and styles. However, today he is best known for his assemblages in which he illustrates female portraits using colorful plastic toys.

“I got the idea seven years ago while working on a larger classic mosaic. I thought it would be interesting to play with a mosaic using different materials instead of the usual stone, glass paste or ceramic. So, the choice fell on used toys that were brightly colored, which made the work easier, and of different shapes and sizes, which at the same time made it difficult to create portraits,” says Kocić and adds that from the beginning, his idea was to emphasize recycling in order to give his work a special social note.

“Today, after several years of work on the series I called ‘Recycling of play‘, it is obvious that the audience has accepted these ideas. Even the audience has become a part of this artistic action, considering that among them, I have a strong base of those who are happy to collect and donate old toys,” explains the artist.

Until now, Ivan has exhibited several times in Belgrade, as well as throughout Serbia and the region. Some works have traveled to distant gallery destinations, even to Mexico. The audience’s reactions are very positive, and the portraits leave no one indifferent.

“I think my works even inspire people to express their artistic ideas through some forms of recycling. That is one of the ideas woven into my works,” explains Kocić.

The youngest are the most active audience

Our interlocutor actively runs workshops for children that give the youngest a unique opportunity to transform their old toys into something new. Kocić explains that children are the most active audience; they are honest and straightforward in their question but also in their reactions to Ivan’s work.

Photo: Ivan Kocić

“Little ones like to touch, to get close. After a short initial shyness, they relax easily because the toys are familiar and close to them as objects. In this way, they become interested and learn about recycling and contemporary art, represented by the portraits. From time to time, in addition to exhibiting works, I also organize workshops where everyone is welcome – from age 7 to age 77. Then, on a practical example, you can see the creation of an assemblage,” Kocić points out.

When it comes to collecting art materials, all old toys are acceptable. Ivan gets them exclusively through donations from children and parents, so they become collaborators in creating works of art.

“Most toys have a part missing. The consequences of their use, such as scratches and deformations, are visible. Quite often, I get new, unwrapped toys, and I give them to some less fortunate children who don’t have so many toys. In any case, the idea is to make assemblages from used objects, so I follow that idea,” adds our interlocutor.

Prepared by: Milena Maglovski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management. 

Heavy Industry’s Transition to Clean Energy

Photo: SolarEdge
Photo: Christian Carraro, SolarEdge 

With governmental pressure in most countries ramping up and bold deadlines to phase out fossil fuel within the upcoming decades, many companies and industries are adapting to the large-scale transition to clean energy. For traditional heavy industries such as manufacturing and logistics, the shift is a big one, and identifying how to achieve that objective can seem like a very complex challenge. Here, Christian Carraro, General Manager South Europe at SolarEdge Technologies, a global leader in smart energy technology, shares his insights on the key issues that manufacturing and logistics companies need to consider to achieve their sustainability goals, and the business opportunities they can bring.

In Europe, there are some 300 industries – many of them international – that have set due-dates to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The years commonly range from 2025 to 2035, and for some, 2050, depending on the country. Promises have been made by companies to shareholders and communities, and pledges posted on websites. While genuine commitment to ‘play their part’ is a key factor, action is also spurred by incentives from regional utilities to encourage adoption of renewable energy – as well as the incoming carbon taxes on industries that do not meet legislated emissions levels.

Among the companies leading the cause are the heavy industries historically perceived as major polluters, such as oil and gas, chemical and automotive, logistics and large-scale industrial manufacturing. I have been working closely with companies in these industries for over a decade, helping them to transition to renewable energy, specifically solar. These operators typically have large premises and potentially acres of empty roof space, and solar modules provides a very visible demonstration of their commitment to sustainability. At the same time, the flexible nature of solar means it does not typically require planning permission, and, thanks to improvements in solar technology and fluctuating energy prices, the ROI period for solar projects is becoming ever more attractive.

For organisations whose business has never been power generation, making the transition to solar can present a challenge, and certainly there are several considerations that need to be taken into account. For example, there may be variations in national or even regional regulations that dictate the maximum size allowed for a PV system. Sometimes, the buildings used by companies may not have suitable rooftops, or the buildings may only be leased or rented making the landlord’s commitment to installations problematic. Landlords are often reluctant to allow a solar installation with a return on investment (ROI) of less than the occupier’s lease.

Within large industrial corporations there can also often be complexity in the decision-making process. This may involve corporate-level management, investors, regional management, plant managers, risk assessment officers, energy managers, sustainability managers, insurance officers, local officials (including fire departments), and often risk, insurance and energy consultants. The challenge here is to ensure all stakeholders in the decision-making process understand what the end-goal is and that they can work together to achieve it.

Addressing concerns before taking the road to transition

Once a company is aligned internally, the next step is to find competent partners who can help it navigate the transition and minimise risk. These are likely to include a mix of companies, from consultants and EPCs to technology providers who can provide expertise based on decades of installing solar systems. These providers could be either local or global depending on the needs of the company, though many companies that have made the transition often find that the involvement of local partners who know the regulatory and operational conditions is very important.

In a recent meeting with a large chemical company, I was asked in jest, ‘if our tree has always been fruitful, why take it down and grow a new one?!’. Referencing their long standing use of traditional energy supply, they knew the answer to the analogy, but it does exemplify a wider industry consensus that while the transition to solar is needed, it comes with a lack of understanding of its value and how to best implement it.

The transition to solar requires a solid understanding of the requirements and risk factors involved. First, the financial case needs to be considered. Solar provides a very attractive ROI over the total lifetime of a system, having saved many of our longsta nding customers millions. However, companies will have to bear the majority of the cost up front as CAPEX. The next step is the process of putting solar panels on the roof of buildings and achieving the promised energy supply, which is a relatively simple and low risk exercise.

Safety and Risk Management

With chemical, oil and gas, and automotive companies, the main concerns are around safety and risk. These concerns come from a variety of sources, from risk and safety officers, to building managers (and owners), local councils and fire departments, and the companies’ insurance managers. The insurance element is, itself, complex as it includes building insurance, insurance of the solar system, business insurance and general liability.

As the solar industry matures and the number of installations increase, stricter safety standards and regulations are now commonplace. These safety standards often outline that should maintenance on the roof be necessary, or in case of an emergency, the solar inverter must be able to reduce the DC current produced by solar panels to a touch-safe voltage within a specified amount of time.

Overcoming fear of risk takes time and requires the right experts to provide credible data-backed input and proper due diligence. We work with Marsh LLC, who are global experts in risk management and insurance-focused brokerage. Our partnership with such a highly-respected company with a long track record provides a lot of reassurance for enterprises that are considering investing in solar.  

Cross-industry collaboration is key

Once the first PV installation has been successfully completed, we find that companies quickly move on to the next one, often accompanied by the question ‘why didn’t we do this sooner?!’. The completion of each successful solar project becomes the model for the next, albeit local adjustments may need to be made. For example, in some countries excess solar energy cannot be fed into the grid. However, we can help implement energy storage systems so that excess energy can be managed and used to further reduce the dependency on the grid.

It’s important to recognize that every industry has its own unique set of challenges which must be taken also be taken into account to ensure a smooth transition away from fossil fuels. One of the ways we do this is to bring together different companies from within the same industry, for example chemicals, to discuss their requirements and concerns. This helps us to better understand the specific needs of each industry and best guide them on what steps are required to effectively make the transition. You’d be surprised at the level of cooperation these often-competing companies can achieve in order to find the best sustainable energy solution to power their business.

Transitioning to a brighter future

While COP27 certainly shone a spotlight on the need to accelerate change, the reality is that the dial is slower than most of us would like. For heavy industries, the introduction of solar energy requires a shift in mindset on many levels. For example, it requires greater collaboration between separate departments and responsibilities. It also requires stakeholders to move away from thinking about risk reduction centred around initial CAPEX, to recognizing the opportunities to future-proof businesses, especially against the recent energy pricing volatility we’ve seen in many countries. I’ve spoken to many companies who now view solar as a valuable asset that not only helps meet corporate sustainability goals, but can also be turned into a revenue stream. When that suddenly clicks and the mindset changes, it really is a magical thing to see.

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Source: Solar Edge

SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay
Photo: courtesy of Tamara Spasenović

The large amounts of waste we create affect the emergence and expansion of landfills, which leaves a strong negative impact on the environment. Landfills occupy large areas of land, rubbish is deposited in such places for years, and its composition consists of all types of waste, from municipal and medical to hazardous waste.

Currently, in addition to sporadic recycling places, which number is insufficient, almost all hazardous waste ends up in landfills and illegal dumps, where it decomposes, releasing huge amounts of harmful chemical substances that penetrate the Earth’s crust. We talked about waste management, recycling and ways to overcome numerous problems in this area with Tamara Spasenović, regulatory reform associate at NALED.

EP: What can you tell us about the Increasing the Recycling Rate for Batteries and Light Bulbs project?

Tamara Spasenović: We launched this project to shed light on the problem of these waste streams, while pointing out the shortcomings of the existing legal regulations and, through piloting the system, showing that a separate collection of waste batteries and light bulbs is possible. For this reason, and in addition to the comprehensive analysis of the situation that we carried out and recommendations for improving the legislative framework, we successfully established cooperation with the line institutions in Belgrade and Kragujevac.

The project officially lasts until December of this year. For the next period, along with the continuous collection of batteries and light bulbs, the plan is to carry out an analysis of the collected quantities so that, based on the data, we gain additional recommendations for further solving the issue of hazardous waste flows.

Also, an important aspect of the project is educating both school-age children and adults.

IN FOCUS:

EP: How are used batteries and light bulbs managed in our country?

Tamara Spasenović: Currently, our country doesn’t have an adequate systemic solution for collecting, disposing and recycling of batteries. Only one company operating in the Republic of Serbia collects and stores batteries and then exports them to Germany for treatment. The main reason for the non-existence of a collection network for this waste stream is the lack of state incentives, which would motivate the largest generators of hazardous waste to hand over used batteries to the system operator. With the support of incentives, they can dispose of those quantities and treat them adequately.

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Visor69)

Regarding light bulbs, the situation is somewhat better because there are state financial incentives in place, as well as a facility for recycling and processing used light bulbs in the Republic of Serbia. The problem lies in the fact that the recycling centre for light bulbs. However, it is completely equipped with the latest technology, does not have a sufficiently developed collection network, and therefore not enough quantities that it could dispose of and treat (the facility also has the capacity to treat imported waste light bulbs too).

In addition to the lack of incentives, a recycling centre for batteries and an underdeveloped collection network, it is necessary to boost and systematically organize the opening of recycling yards additionally. Plus we need more containers and bins, as well as have stations we can direct people to, who are also interested in this topic. Furthermore, there is a need for continuous campaigning and education, starting from an early age.

EP: How can we increase the recycling rate in our country?

Tamara Spasenović: To increase the recycling rate in the entire country, we must first analyze the current situation in terms of different types and streams of waste, so that we can identify the key problems for each of them. We have already done this for food waste and hazardous waste streams (batteries and light bulbs, electrical and electronic waste). An initiative to solve the issue of packaging waste will soon be launched. By analyzing the current situation, and through cooperation with experts from the mentioned fields, companies, citizens and, as well as by using previously acquired experiences, we have identified key shortcomings in these areas, based on which we were able to offer proposals for adequate solutions.

Different waste streams carry different problems and require different approaches and solutions, but they all have one common denominator — the lack of a systemic solution. One of the ways to solve the issue of special waste streams to establish a collective operator based on the model that works for packaging, which would be an incomparably less burdensome model for the state, administration-wise. In this way, the rate of fee evasion would be reduced, the administration would be freed from the burden of issuing a large number of decrees, and the relevant inspection would focus on the work of the system operator.

Interviewed by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

Leading NGOs Launch Coalition to Advocate for Food Waste Policy

Photo-illustration: Pixabay
Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Dan Gold)

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), and ReFED have partnered to launch the Zero Food Waste Coalition, a national effort focused on informing and influencing policy at the local, state, and federal levels and sharing policy updates and opportunities for engagement with partners and stakeholders around the country. The coalition will bring consumers, businesses and government together to advocate for ambitious food waste policy solutions that contribute to the U.S. goal of halving food waste by 2030, reduce methane emissions from landfills, improve food access and nutrition security, and build more sustainable food systems.

“Changing behavior from food waste to food recovery is achievable,” said Regina Anderson, Executive Director of the Food Recovery Network. “We can reduce would-be food waste by half by 2030 if we all work together. The Zero Food Waste Coalition provides the resources we all need at any level to begin doing the right thing with our surplus food and Food Recovery Network is proud to provide step-by-step support. In time, we will be shocked that we ever threw food away at all!”

“It’s disgraceful that as millions of Americans—many of which are children—go hungry, perfectly good food is ending up in landfills. This waste is not only counterproductive to our fight against hunger, but it is also harming the environment and costing our economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year. In Congress, I have taken on this growing crisis, introducing bills to reduce food waste and correct arbitrary and confusing policies in our food system,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), co-founder of the bipartisan Congressional Food Recovery Caucus. “The scale of the food waste crisis demands action on all fronts. So as my colleagues in Congress and I work to enact federal legislation, it’s important to have organizations on the ground engaging with and educating communities across the country to reduce waste. With the launch of the Zero Food Waste Coalition, I am confident that together, we can achieve our collective goals: reduce food waste, end hunger, and protect our planet.”

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The U.S. produces and imports an abundance of food each year, but approximately 38 percent of it goes unsold or uneaten. The Zero Food Waste Coalition works to deliver on the economic, environmental, social, and public health benefits of reducing food waste. Food waste solutions can reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced throughout the lifecycle of food, conserve natural resources such as water and land which are used in the production of food, increase access to quality food, and create jobs and economic opportunity by using food as the resource that it is.

“To stop massive food waste—40 percent of America’s production—we need better labeling and more donations, as this coalition will fight to achieve,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut). “We’ll be fighting together for measures like my Food Date Labeling Act, which will help counter food insecurity and hunger as well as environmental harms.”

Photo-illustration: Pixabay

One of the coalition’s priorities is to mitigate food waste via the 2023 Farm Bill, a multi-year package of legislation that impacts agriculture and food issues across the U.S. Each year, farmers, food manufacturers, households, and businesses spend $444 billion to grow, process, transport, and dispose of food that is never eaten. Today, the Zero Food Waste Coalition released its top priorities for the Farm Bill, including provisions that expand federal administrative research and funding, increase grants and loans for infrastructure that eliminates food waste from landfills and for proven state and local policies that prevent wasted food, and standardize and clarify food date labels.

These priorities are included in the coalition’s April 2022 report on Opportunities to Reduce Food Waste in the 2023 Farm Bill, which provides 22 recommendations to prevent food waste, rescue surplus food, recycle food scraps, and coordinate food waste policy through the 2023 Farm Bill, based on feedback and input from more than two dozen organizations, government officials, and businesses.

“So much of the fresh produce grown on America’s farms never makes it to market, often due to small blemishes that don’t diminish its nutritional content one bit,” said Reverend Eugene Cho, President/CEO of Bread for the World. “That’s why Bread for the World endorses the Zero Food Waste Coalition’s call for the 2023 farm bill to support food recovery organizations that work with farmers to collect that produce to address hunger and improve access to healthy foods in undeserved communities.”

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Jesse K)

“The creation of the Zero Food Waste Coalition is an exciting step towards achieving zero food waste in the United States,” said Ben Crook, Vice President/GM, Hellmann’s Dressings & Condiments (NA) at Unilever. “When like-minded people, companies and governments come together to introduce programs such as these, we will ultimately be able to help change people’s behavior and have a positive impact on food waste reduction, so that we can reach our ambitious net zero goals and protect our planet for future generations.”

The founding organizations of the coalition began working together in 2020 to engage with and inform policymakers on opportunities to prevent and reduce food waste. Together, they developed and launched the U.S. Food Loss and Waste Action Plan, endorsed by over 60 companies, NGOs, and local and state governments, which recommends overarching actions the federal government can take to reduce food waste. Subsequently, coalition founders hosted a listening session in June 2022 to gather stakeholder input on priorities related to food waste, food donation, and food recovery for the 2022 White House Conference and Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.

The coalition is committed to broadening engagement on its efforts and working together with policymakers, national and local advocates, food producers, retailers, and consumers to develop and implement strategies to reduce food waste at all stages of the food supply chain.

Source: WWF

DOMESTIC COMPANY’S INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION AND EXTINGUISHING OF FIRES AT LANDFILLS

Photo: Tekon
Photo: Tekon

In the summer months, the entire region, and a good part of Southeastern Europe, are exposed to the constant threat of open fires. They have a devastating effect, but they are not the only threat during the summer heat. Fires at local landfills pose a huge risk to the health of people and all living things in the environment. One of the biggest fires at the local landfill happened in August 2021 in Vinča. The smoke cloud from the landfill covered Belgrade for almost three days. That summer, landfills in Valjevo, Kovin, and Niš, as well as several landfills in Montenegro and throughout the region, were burning. According to statistics, around 200 fires break out in landfills and open spaces every year in the south of Serbia.

Combustion products of municipal waste are very toxic. Depending on the composition and structure of the waste, as well as the amount of fuel and the wind direction, they can, to a certain extent, affect the health of the population that is kilometres away from the fire site, even up to a distance of 20km. Given that most of the landfills in Serbia and the region are near large towns, it is clear that the direct harmful effects of accidents at landfills on the health of the population are extremely large.

IN FOCUS:

Photo: Tekon

“It’s like having an outdoor waste incinerator that has no filters, so all toxic gases as a product of incomplete combustion of municipal waste, depending on how the wind blows, are directly released in the direction of the population and businesses. A fire can last for hours or days, even weeks”, says engineer Darko Tonić, B.Sc.,TEKON’s fire diagnostics and extinguishing consultant.

A large number of fires at landfills sometimes burn imperceptibly deep, like smouldering or underground fires. They are difficult to spot, but when they surface, they are very difficult to contain and cause great problems for fire departments.

“We have all witnessed that the fire at the landfill in Vinča has been lasting for years, maybe even decades and that the fire brigades are often powerless since extinguishing with water and foam does not give good results. Sometimes it seems that applying water to the mass of burning waste causes additional fracturing of the body of the landfill, which creates new fire zones,“ explains Mr Tonić.

The outbreak of landfill fires is one of the most serious risks that landfills are exposed to during their lifetime. Landfill fires can seriously damage the existing landfill infrastructure and can threaten the lives and health of landfill employees and the population in the immediate vicinity.

Depending on the type of landfill and the type of fire, landfill fires present unique challenges for the industry and fire services. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the types of fires at landfills, their characteristics and their causes. For a landfill fire to break out, fuel, a heat source and a sufficient concentration of oxygen should be present.

New fire diagnostics and prevention technologies

Photo: Tekon

Considering the current situation of a large number of landfills in the region, the number of fires and problems faced by local authorities, as well as those who manage waste at landfills, the conclusion was that it was necessary to work on projects that would alleviate and completely eliminate these problems.

The TEKON Company implements new technologies for diagnosing the state of landfills for preliminary identification of possible problems and fire prevention, which include precise measurements such as:

 – the thermal measurement from the air
 – measuring the concentration of landfill and flue gases
 – measuring temperature in and on the landfill’s body

Measuring the landfill’s body temperature, deep and on the surface, is a generally accepted method for identifying landfill fires.

By acquiring the latest equipment that TEKON installs on its industrial drones, as well as all the required software for processing the obtained images, thermal imaging can be carried out at a number of landfills in the region.

TEKON thus uses a non-contact temperature measurement method that measures the level of infrared radiation, because it has been established that all bodies with a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15°C) emit infrared radiation, even ice. Thermal imaging cameras are specially adapted to “see” that part of the infrared spectrum that is visible to the human eye, which is why they are also called infrared cameras.

How do those cameras work?

Photo: Tekon

The infrared camera, which is mounted on the drone, contains an optical system that focuses infrared energy on a special detector chip (an array of sensors) containing thousands of detector pixels arranged in a grid. Each sensor pixel reacts to infrared energy and produces an electronic signal. The camera’s processor takes the signal from each pixel and applies a mathematical calculation to create a colour map of the objects’ apparent temperature. Each temperature value is assigned a different colour. The obtained colour matrix is sent to the memory and the camera screen as a temperature image (thermal image) of that object.

Many infrared cameras also include a visible spectrum camera that automatically captures a standard digital image. Combining these images make it is easier to connect problematic areas on the thermal image with the actual equipment or the area being monitored.

Temperatures up to 50°C indicate that the landfill is operating normally. Temperatures above 50°C are considered elevated and indicate potential hot spots and fire problems. During thermal imaging from the air, the camera records the material in the internal memory, which is later processed. During this type of recording, a large number of thermal images are generated (several thousand per recorded hectare), so appropriate licensed software is a must. The results of non-contact and direct measurements are combined to give a unique temperature picture.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management. 

How small grants are helping to rescue marine habitats around the world

Photo: Unsplash/marek-okon
Photo-illustration: Pixabay (dimitrisvetsikas1969)

In recent years, fishing communities in Madagascar have seen their catches dwindle, a byproduct of chronic overfishing, especially in sensitive coastal habitats like seagrass meadows.

But in some communities, fish stocks have started to rebound, thanks in part to the work of the marine conservation group Blue Ventures.

Blue Ventures has worked with national and local governments to establish locally managed marine areas, protected zones that have become a haven for undersea life.

“The communities on the tropical coast of southwest Madagascar depend on mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs to establish a network of interlinked ecosystems that act as a base for maintenance of the rich marine biodiversity and fisheries,” said Javier del Campo Jimenez, Blue Ventures’ seagrass resident expert.

Blue Ventures is one of the recipients of a series of small grants from the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The grants, which were first handed out in 2019 and have totalled USD 560,000, are funding innovative, nature-based solutions designed to protect and restore marine ecosystems, including those threatened by climate change.

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The grant programme, say those involved, is a tell-tale example of how investing in the natural world can produce big dividends for both people and the planet.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark deal adopted by 196 countries with critical goals that the world must meet by 2030 if it is to halt and reverse nature loss, also calls for the acceleration of nature-based solutions and finance to address the alarming declines in biodiversity.

A 2021 report from UNEP found that the world will need to close a USD 4.1 trillion financing gap in nature-based solutions if it is to meet its targets for climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation. UNEP’s Finance for Nature report calls for investments in nature-based solutions to triple by 2030 and increase four-fold by 2050.

Photo-illustration: Pexels

The ICRI/UNEP small grants programme has supported seven projects in developing and small island states. These grants have helped to rehabilitate fast-disappearing marine and coastal ecosystems, including seagrass meadows, mangrove forests and coral reefs.

Experts say, these habitats have been under siege from a triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

“The health of interconnected habitats, such as mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs is closely linked to the health of the ocean as a whole,” said Leticia Carvalho, the Head of UNEP’s Marine and Freshwater Branch. “On this International Mother Earth Day, let’s remind one another how vital a healthy ocean is to the well-being of all life on Earth.”

The pressures on both marine and terrestrial ecosystems are pushing an estimated one million species towards extinction, a decline that researchers have called “unprecedented.”

One of those species under threat is the scalloped hammerhead shark. The animals, which are endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, often become fatally tangled in fishing nets.

To help save the animals, Mision Tiburon, another recipient of the UNEP/ICRI grant programme, has helped to restore degraded mangrove forests in the northern Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica. The mangroves – salt-water loving trees that sit partially submerged in the ocean – are a habitat for juvenile scalloped hammerheads.

“The restored mangroves in Golfo Dulce area are nursery grounds that offer food and protection to the juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks from predators,” said Ilena Zanella, the Director of Mision Tiburon. “The societal awareness on shark conservation via mangrove restoration and ocean literacy provides [local communities] with an opportunity to protect these endangered species for the future of our planet.”

Source: UNEP

SCOBY — INSPIRATION IN A GLASS OF KOMBUCHA

Photo: Pexels/Kind
Photo: With kindness ADRIENN ÚJHÁZI

Chances are you’ve heard of kombucha, a drink made from green or black tea with added sugar and bacteria or yeast. You may have even wanted to check out its widely known medicinal properties, which referential laboratories now confirm. Or, during preparation, you were repulsed by the gelatinous lump that formed on the surface of the container as a result of the fermentation process. This gelatinous mass gave a completely different ecological idea to an artist from Novi Sad.

Adrienn Újházi is a painter who examines the relationship between man and nature in her artwork. She also advocates a special artistic practice called bio-art, which implies using of biotechnology and organic material suitable for different media such as painting, drawing, video and installation. Her goal is not only artistic but also ecological. Adrienn wants to create, but in such a way that synthetic materials are used only when necessary and that her artwork creates minimal waste. In her interview for Energy Portal Magazine, Adrienn reveals her research journey from kombucha to SCOBY and what she learned along the way.

EP: How did you come up with the idea to make SCOBY? 

Adrienn Újházi:  Every summer I spent at least 2 to 3 months with my grandparents in the countryside. For most of that time, I was surrounded by plants and animals that became the main inspiration for my creation in the field of visual art. 

I wanted to use as few synthetic materials as possible in my work and produce as little waste as possible. That’s how I came across the kombucha drink. This drink was mostly consumed in the second half of the 20th century, and in almost every house, there were several bottles of this liquid with the SCOBY culture. My further research into this material officially began when I made the first round of this drink. 

IN FOCUS:

EP: Could you describe how is this material made and its use? 

Adrienn Újházi: Kombucha is obtained through fermentation, usually of black or green tea. During this process, microorganisms are activated, and a bio-film is created on the liquid’s surface, resulting in the SCOBY material, an acronym that actually means ‘symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast’. Another name for this material is bacterial cellulose. The material can be treated in a number of ways — dyed with different pigments, dehydrated and transformed into a fixed state, as well as mixed with other, different natural materials. 

The goal of this process and research is to find suitable biodegradable resources, like SCOBY. The choice of material is correct if, through a natural process and with the help of bacteria, the mushroom becomes degradable, i.e. after a certain time, it starts to decompose. This kind of processed material can be used for different purposes. One example of its potential global application is the alternative to “vegan leather”, which is made exclusively from plant and organic materials. The material can be used in different spheres of design such as packaging and interior design.

Photo: Biofabrika

EP: How do you plan to present it to the general public? 

Adrienn Újházi:  The material has been presented in different forms so far. I started to promote it through my artistic practice and present its character in different media. It mainly includes two-dimensional works in smaller and larger formats, photo and video documentation, audio, light boxes, prototypes like bio hats and smaller experimental pieces in Petri dishes, ready-made objects and more. 

Opportunities for promotion were mainly at cultural events and other types of events in Serbia and abroad. These were mostly activities that were realized in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, institutions, curators and artists in the form of individual or group exhibitions, biennials, art fairs, open discussions, panel discussions, lectures and workshops.

EP: Do you expect this material to be widely used in the future? 

Adrienn Újházi:  Disseminating information and education is necessary for people to understand the benefits of such materials. We are currently working on it, and we have noticed that there is, albeit a small, circle of interested people who are ready to explore. That is why I believe that the SCOBY material has the potential for widespread use. At the same time, more experts, time and resources are needed to achieve this goal. I am very grateful that, thanks to the cooperation with my friends and colleagues, I can implement the first project based on promoting sustainable materials like SCOBY. The project is called BIOFABRIKA and was implemented through the ReAktor Citizens’ Association and is supported by the European Capital of Culture — Novi Sad 2022 Foundation.

Prepared by: Milica Radičević

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine Waste Management.

Air pollution levels across Europe still not safe, especially for children

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

While emissions of key air pollutants have declined over recent decades, air pollution levels in Europe are still not safe. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because their bodies, organs and immune systems are still developing. Air pollution damages health during childhood and increases the risk of disease in later life, according to the EEA ‘Air pollution and children’s health’ briefing.

Air pollution is estimated to cause over 1,200 premature deaths every year among those under the age of 18 across the EEA’s 32 member countries. Although the number of premature deaths in this age group is low relative to the total for the European population estimated by EEA each year, deaths early in life represent a loss of future potential and come with a significant burden of chronic illness, both in childhood and later in life.

Children’s lung function and lung development are affected by air pollution, especially by ozone and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the short term, and by fine particles (PM2.5) in the long term. Maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight and risk of pre-term birth. After birth, ambient air pollution increases the risk of several health problems, including asthma, reduced lung function, respiratory infections and allergies. It also can aggravate chronic conditions like asthma, which afflicts nine percent of children and adolescents in Europe, as well as increasing the risk of some chronic diseases later in adulthood.

Until air pollution is reduced to safe levels overall, improving air quality around settings like schools and kindergartens and during activities like school commutes and sports, can help reduce children’s exposure.

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EEA monitoring update 2022: air pollution levels remain persistently high

In 2021, upwards of 90 percent of of the EU’s urban population was exposed to harmful levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Ella Ivanescu)

PM2.5 is one of the most damaging pollutants to human health, with exposure to PM2.5 a leading cause of stroke, cancer and respiratory disease. In 2021, 97 percent of the urban population was exposed to concentrations of PM2.5 above the 2021 WHO annual guideline of 5 µg (microgram) /m3.

According to preliminary data from 2022, central-eastern Europe and Italy reported the highest concentrations of both PM2.5 due primarily to the burning of solid fuels like coal for domestic heating and their use in industry.

The EEA briefing ‘Europe’s Air Quality status 2023’ presents the status of concentrations of air pollutants in 2021 and 2022 for regulated pollutants, in relation to both EU air quality standards and the 2021 WHO guideline levels.

How clean is your city? Portuguese, Swedish cities score cleanest air

Faro, Portugal, and the Swedish cities of Umeå and Uppsala were ranked as the cleanest European cities and had the lowest average levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, over the past two calendar years, according to the updated EEA city air quality viewer. Cities are ranked from the cleanest city to the most polluted, on the basis of long-term average levels of fine particulate matter.

Background

Under the European Green Deal’s Zero Pollution Action Plan, the European Commission set the 2030 goal of reducing the number of premature deaths caused by PM2.5 (a key air pollutant) by at least 55 percent compared with 2005 levels. To this end, the European Commission published in 2022 a proposal to review the ambient air quality directives, aiming, among other things, to align the air quality standards more closely with WHO recommendations.

The EEA’s air quality assessments highlight pollutants deemed to be most harmful to human health or that exceed the EU air quality standards and WHO guideline levels most frequently. The concentrations are obtained from measurements in over 4,500 monitoring stations across Europe that are officially reported to the EEA by its member and other collaborating countries.

Source: EEA

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