Global Ocean Observing System Report Card Released

27.09.2022

okean_ribe — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Francesco Ungaro)

A new Ocean Observing System Report Card – a high-level annual report providing a deep insight on the state, capacity and value of our Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) – has just been released.

The GOOS Ocean Observing System Report Card was prepared in collaboration with WMO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and other GOOS partners and experts, and produced by its operational centre Ocean OPS.

The report card focuses on how an integrated observing network adds value to society across three delivery areas of climate, operational services and ocean health. It highlights physical, biogeochemical and, for the first time, biological observations, providing a global view of the state of ocean observations and identifying progress, key challenges and opportunities to enhance the system.

The 2022 Report Card includes several key areas:

– Global view of the state of the Global Ocean Observing System

– Monitoring ocean carbon uptake to allow more accurate climate model projections

– Advancing coastal inundation forecasts and early warnings

– Phytoplankton observations – vital for understanding changes in food webs and shifts in marine life

– Involvement of new communities through the GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes

State of the ocean observing network

Despite the long-term impacts of the pandemic and the unforeseen market changes leading to increased costs to implement and maintain the observing network, GOOS stakeholders are working hard to restore pre-pandemic levels of observations.

Most activities are slowly returning to normal and continued automation is supporting increased data delivery. However, a few regions and networks remain affected, and GOOS is catalyzing discussions to address these needs.

“Continued and new targeted investment in ocean observing is vital to ensure we characterize how our ocean is changing, what changes are likely in the future, and how we can mitigate and adapt to our changing earth system”, says David Legler, GOOS Observations Coordination Group Chair.

Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC Executive Secretary, expressing IOC support to the development of the GOOS, says: “I hope the ocean observing system will be able to recover from the pandemic, withstand the inflation, and will keep delivering new bioecological and biogeochemical data, observations in the polar ocean, with the full output of the Argo network. International cooperation is the cornerstone for that capacity and IOC, capitalizing on the opportunities offered by the UN Ocean Decade and the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, stands ready to facilitate continuous efforts around ocean observing”.

Ocean carbon monitoring

In the past 20 years GOOS has developed the capability to observe some aspects of the global ocean carbon, and the number of surface and ocean interior carbon observations is growing. However, Mathieu Belbéoch, OceanOPS Manager says that today the carbon network is immature and only 5 percent of the platforms at sea carry a biogeochemical sensor, including carbon dioxide sensors.

“To help improve our understanding of the carbon cycle, reduce uncertainties about greenhouse gas sources and sinks, thus supporting Paris Agreement mitigation action, WMO is seeking to establish a Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System, strengthening the international observing infrastructure and related modeling and assimilation efforts“, says Lars Peter Riishojgaard, WMO Integrated Global Observing System Director.

Forecasting and early warning of coastal inundation

“GOOS in situ and satellite observations are essential contributions to advance weather and flood warnings for coastal zones and communities which are increasingly at risk from rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storm surges”, reports the Report Card.

Recently, several wave buoys were deployed on the south coast of Fiji enhancing forecasts and warnings of coastal inundation. The Fiji Minister for Infrastructure, Disaster Management, Land and Mineral Resources and Meteorological Services declared that work done by the Fiji Meteorological Service had enabled better planning and sound decisions prior to and during the advent of severe tropical cyclone Harold in April 2020.

Global phytoplankton observations

Marine phytoplankton form the base of marine food webs and support other forms of life, including commercial fish valued at ~USD 401 billion/year.

An important goal of GOOS is to improve forecasting of the ecosystem services provided by phytoplankton that support the Blue Economy, and this can only be achieved through gathering continued global phytoplankton observations.

Currently, a large set of satellite measurements provide information on phytoplankton distribution in the upper layers of the ocean at all times of the day and through the year. Complementary to satellites, in situ observing instruments provide information about the composition of species of phytoplankton, the pigments they contain, and their distribution.

Developing partnerships and capacities through the GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes

Increasing cooperation between observers, modelers and communities, involving the civil society in ocean observing, as well as bridging the gap between technology innovation and user capacity are only some of the focuses of multiple new actions under the GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes, highlighted in the Report Card. All these activities represent an important way to connect people with the ocean and get more ocean data, this way supporting the implementation of the GOOS and maximizing societal benefits.

“Enhanced ocean observations will form the foundation for thriving blue economies and sustainable development. Together the 3 GOOS Ocean Decade Programmes – Observing Together, Ocean Observing Co-Design and CoastPredict – will provide essential support needed to give us the ocean we need for the future we want”, says Emma Heslop, GOOS Acting Director.

The Ocean Observing System Report Card was prepared by OceanOPS, GOOS Observations Coordination Group, GOOS-BioEco and BGC panels, OOPC panel, and the Secretariats of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and of the World Meteorological Organization.

The Ocean Observing System Report Card is available here.

Source: WMO

The Clean Energy Economy is Gaining Ground, But Greater Efforts are Needed now to Get on Track for Net Zero by 2050

26.09.2022

cape-ortegal-vetar-vetroelektrana — Photo-illustration: Pixabay (makunin)

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Zsuzska321)

Despite encouraging signs of progress across a number of sectors, stronger efforts are needed to bring the world on track to reach net zero emissions by mid-century, according to the IEA’s latest appraisal of global progress on clean energy technologies.

The annual Tracking Clean Energy Progress (TCEP) update assesses 55 components of the energy system – sectors, technologies, infrastructures and cross-cutting CO2 mitigation strategies – and evaluates their progress in 2021 towards reaching key medium-term milestones by the end of this decade that are set out in the IEA’s pathway to Net Zero Emissions by 2050. The TCEP analysis is available as a comprehensive online resource on the IEA’s website.

Recent technology developments and policy actions suggest momentum is accelerating in some important regions and sectors. Initial estimates point to 2022 being a record year for renewable electricity capacity additions, with an increase of about 340 gigawatts, roughly equal to the entire installed power capacity of Japan. China accounts for about half of those additions. This year is also expected to see another all-time high for electric vehicle sales, lifting them to 13 percent of total light duty vehicle sales globally. The pipelines for both hydrogen projects and carbon capture and storage facilities continue to expand, and last year saw record sales of heat pumps. A pilot project last year used hydrogen to produce fully fossil-free steel, and the first commercial production of sodium-ion batteries without lithium is set to start next year.

“There are more signs than ever that the new global energy economy is advancing strongly,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “This reaffirms my belief that today’s global energy crisis can be a turning point towards a cleaner, more affordable and more secure energy system. But this new IEA analysis shows the need for greater and sustained efforts across a range of technologies and sectors to ensure the world can meet its energy and climate goals.”

On the policy front, the United States’ historic Inflation Reduction Act – enacted in August – provides USD 370 billion in energy security and climate change investments, giving a boost to a huge array of clean energy technologies, from solar, wind and electric vehicles to carbon capture and hydrogen. Meanwhile, with its REPowerEU plan, the European Union is raising its renewables and energy efficiency targets and putting significant resources behind achieving them.

Governments are also spending more on clean energy research and development, which could reach USD 35 billion in 2022, while venture capital investments in clean energy start-ups reached an all-time high in 2021. Governments are supporting major R&D and demonstration projects through measures such as the US Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EU Innovation Fund, Japan’s Green Innovation Fund and China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, with an increasing focus on heavy industry, hydrogen, and carbon capture.

Despite these positive signs, this year’s TCEP, which evaluates the state-of-play in 2021, found that only two components – electric vehicles and lighting – were fully on track for their 2030 milestones in the IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 Scenario, the same two as the previous year. EV sales doubled worldwide last year to account for almost 9 percent of the car market, while over 50 percent of the global lighting market now uses LED technology. Of the remaining tracking areas, 30 were rated as “more efforts needed” and 23 were “not on track”. Areas not on track include improving the energy efficiency of building designs, developing clean and efficient district heating, phasing out coal-fired power generation, eliminating methane flaring, shifting aviation and shipping to cleaner fuels, and making cement, chemical and steel production cleaner.

Along with TCEP, the IEA is also releasing an expanded clean energy innovation tracker, which includes an update of the Clean Technology Guide, as well as a new publicly available global database of clean energy demonstration projects that provides project-by-project information including location, sector, technology, technology readiness, status, funding and timeline of operations. The database responds to the need to monitor how public and private support for demonstration projects translates into projects on the ground.

Clean energy transitions will require a diversity of technologies and fuels across all parts of the energy system, calling for comprehensive and ambitious policy packages that adequately support transitions in all sectors, the TCEP analysis shows. This current decade is a critical time for laying a strong foundation for achieving longer-term goals.

Source: IEA

How is Air Quality Measured?

26.09.2022

driving-school-saobraćaj-auto-zagađenje — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Pixabay (Maruf_Rahman)

Air pollutants come from a variety of sources, including human-caused emissions – like fossil fuel use in vehicles and cooking – and natural sources, such as dust storms and smoke from wildfires and volcanoes.

Air quality monitors are outfitted with sensors designed to detect specific pollutants. Some use lasers to scan particulate matter density in a cubic metre of air, while others rely on satellite imaging to measure energy reflected or emitted by the Earth.

Pollutants tied to human and environmental health impacts include PM2.5, PM10, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. The greater the density of pollutants in the air, the higher the Air Quality Index (AQI), a scale that runs from zero to 500. An AQI of 50 or below is considered safe, while readings above 100 are deemed unhealthy. According to UNEP partner IQAir, only 38 of 117 countries and regions averaged healthy AQI readings in 2021.

How is air quality calculated?

Air quality databanks process readings from governmental, crowd-sourced and satellite-derived air quality monitors to produce an aggregated AQI reading. These databases may weigh data differently based on reliability and the type of pollution measured.

UNEP, in collaboration with IQAir, developed the first real-time air pollution exposure calculator in 2021, which combines global readings from validated air quality monitors in 6,475 locations in 117 countries, territories, and regions. The database prioritizes PM2.5 readings and applies artificial intelligence to calculate nearly every country’s population exposure to air pollution on an hourly basis.

Source: UNEP

Agriculture Commissioner Lends Support for new EU-Wide Fertilisers Strategy

24.09.2022

tractor-traktor-poljoprivreda — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Zoe Schaeffer)

EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has offered tentative support to creating an EU-wide fertilisers strategy to help protect farmers against potential future shortages.

A potential initiative to boost domestic production of fertilisers to reduce reliance on third countries – particularly Russia- was discussed in August during a meeting between Spanish agriculture minister Luis Planas and his French counterpart Marc Fesneau.

At the time, the French stressed the need to set up “an EU strategy for fertilisers like the energy strategy,” concerning the REPower EU plan to limit reliance on Russian fossil fuels. At the same time, Planas highlighted the importance of regaining strategic autonomy in the production of fertilisers.

The topic was again in the spotlight during the informal meeting of EU-27 agriculture ministers in Prague on Friday (16 September), where calls to address the issue holistically were reiterated.

“We need to seriously consider this strategy,” the Commissioner told reporters ahead of the informal meeting, calling the prospect “very interesting”.

He added the situation is “now so complex,” and there is a problem with ensuring an adequate supply of fertilisers and substitution mineral fertilisers while reducing livestock numbers and changing animal production.

A representative of the EU farmers’ association COPA-COGECA backed the move in a press conference on 12 September to help secure a steady supply of fertilisers across the EU.

According to data from the industry association Fertilizers Europe, Russia and Belarus provide 60 per cent of the EU’s fertiliser. Sanctions introduced in March on imports of potash from Belarus and interruptions to trade with Russia have put significant pressure on supplies.

This has left the sector scrambling for other sources, prompting mines in Eastern Germany to start test drilling for additional potash and look to alternative suppliers, such as Morocco.

Source: EURACTIV.com

Renewable Energy Jobs Hit 12.7 Million Globally

23.09.2022

solar — Foto-ilustracija: Freepik Photovoltaic photo created by senivpetro - www.freepik.com

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Science In Hd)

Worldwide renewable energy employment reached 12.7 million last year, a jump of 700,000 new jobs in one year despite the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the growing energy crisis, according to a new report.

Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2022 identifies market dynamics as major factors influencing employment generation in renewables, along with labour and other costs. Solar energy was found to be the fastest-growing sector. In 2021 it provided 4.3 million jobs, more than a third of the current global renewable workforce.

The new report was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) during the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh, USA.

With rising concerns over climate change, post-COVID-19 recovery and supply chain disruption, national interest is growing in localising supply chains and creating jobs at home. The report describes how strong domestic markets are key to anchoring a drive toward clean energy industrialisation. Developing renewable technology export capabilities is also dependent on this, it adds.

Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General, said: “In the face of numerous challenges, renewable energy jobs remain resilient, and have been proven to be a reliable job creation engine. My advice to governments around the world is to pursue industrial policies that encourage the expansion of decent renewables jobs at home. Spurring a domestic value chain will not only create business opportunities and new jobs for people and local communities. It also bolsters supply chain reliability and contributes to more energy security overall.”

The report shows that an increasing number of countries are creating jobs in renewables. Almost two-thirds of all these jobs are in Asia, according to the new report. China alone accounts for 42 per cent of the global total, followed by the EU and Brazil with ten per cent each, and the USA and India with seven per cent each.

ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder said: “Beyond the numbers, there is a growing focus on the quality of jobs and the conditions of work in renewable energies, to ensure decent and productive employment. The increasing share of female employment suggests that dedicated policies and training can significantly enhance the participation of women in renewable energy occupations, inclusion and ultimately, achieving a just transition for all. I encourage governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations to remain firmly committed to a sustainable energy transition, which is indispensable for the future of work.”

Source: IRENA

S Stands for Solar Power, Stability, Sun

21.09.2022

Who would have thought that in the 21st century, we would face an energy crisis whose end is still not in sight, which has caused trouble to even the most developed economies in the world? It is clear that there is no time to wait – industries, households, and public energy companies must turn to renewable energy sources as soon as possible and ensure energy independence and stability as well as survival in times of crisis like this.

Every kilowatt of green energy, whether a few solar panels on the roof of a house or large solar farms, leads us closer to the goal that by 2040, the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix of Serbia will be 40 percent. The domestic company MT-KOMEX, which is soon celebrating its thirtieth birthday, greatly contributes to the energy transition goals. They help citizens and companies step into the world of solar energy, start producing electricity themselves, and significantly reduce electricity bills.

MT-KOMEX has many satisfied customers whose roofs and estates are now equipped with solar panels from renowned global manufacturers. The list of locations is expanding every day, and we will try to present what the whole process looks like in practice.

Construction in two phases for over one megawatt of solar energy

For example, the last solar power plant completed by MT-KOMEX was built in two phases, the first with a capacity of 490 kW and the second with 600 kW. The construction of the first phase was preceded by a careful assessment of radiation on the horizontal plane, which ensured optimal conditions for the construction of the plant, as well as a thorough analysis of the roof. The new 490 kW of solar capacity will provide the investor with 596,700 kWh of green electricity per year. The return of the invested 330,000 euros is expected in six and a half years, and the cost for the maintenance of the solar power plant will be 500 euros per year. And that’s not all; the mentioned investment will provide benefits to the client of the company MT-KOMEX and the entire society, since the CO2 savings will amount to 477,360 kg per year.

In focus:

An engineer at MT-KOMEX, Ivan Kićanović, explained that every construction site brings new challenges that need attention, but that a well-coordinated team solves all obstacles in the shortest possible time and with the best results.

“In this particular case, well-arranged roof surfaces were a mitigating circumstance for installing photovoltaic panels themselves, while a slightly longer DC and AC distribution was performed without major problems. The power plant was built and put into operation before the scheduled deadline, so we can certainly say that we have met the client’s expectations”, says Kićanović.

The second phase of stronger capacity was built within the same power plant but on a facility that is slightly away from the facility where the first phase was built. For an additional 600 kW of the solar power plant, 454,223 euros have been invested, and the expected annual production will be 751,093 kWh. The maintenance costs here are 500 euros a year, while the return on investment is expected in about six years. The second phase of the solar power plant brings benefits in the form of annual CO2 savings of 600,639 kg.

Equipment is important

MT-KOMEX takes care to carefully select the solar panels and all the accompanying equipment of the solar power plant to maximize the solar potential of the facility.

Every power plant is different, and in the specific case mentioned, MT-KOMEX engineers opted for 1,458 single-crystal Canadian Solar Half-Cells 370W solar panels for the first phase and 1,632 Luxor Solar single-crystal solar panels LX410M/182-108+(410W) for the second phase. For both phases, Fronius inverters, AC distribution cabinets, a monitoring system and “Smart meter” smart meters were used as additional indispensable equipment that makes this solar power plant maximally efficient.

When maximum attention is paid to every detail of the solar power plant, the result will follow: “According to the client, and according to the monitoring system which shows that the power plant produces electricity greatly, we can proudly confirm that the client is satisfied. In addition, he has already recommended us to new clients”, says Kićanović.

He adds that over 80 solar power plants built by MT-KOMEX will soon be joined by another in Novi Sad. With a power of 1,140 kW, the power plant is in the final phase of construction. When it is put into operation, its production will contribute to saving a total of 1,020 tons of CO2 , our interlocutor explains. Firmly believing in a sunny future, MT-KOMEX continuously builds solar power plants diligently, thus building a future with no air pollution and electricity shortages. Over 100 satisfied customers and more than 20 MW of installed capacity of solar power plants speak for themselves, and this seems to be just the beginning for the MT-KOMEX expert team.

Prepared by: Milena Maglovski

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

Modernisation of Heating Plants for More Efficient Heating, Better Air Quality

21.09.2022

Photo: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlovic signed memorandums of understanding in Kragujevac, within the framework of the project “Renewable energy sources of districts in Serbia”, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and 11 cities and municipalities participating in the development of the project.

The memorandums were signed in the presence of representatives of the EU Delegation in Serbia, and the project, whose total value is EUR 40.5 million, includes Becej, Bogatic, Vrbas, Vrsac, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Nis, Novi Pazar, Pancevo and Paracin.

On that occasion, Mihajlovic pointed out that, thanks to the greater use of RES in the production of thermal energy, the citizens of the aforementioned local governments will receive better heating and a healthier environment, and the local governments will have a more stable district heating system.

The Deputy Prime Minister specified that the EBRD finances the project with a EUR 30 million loan, and the Swiss government and the EU donate EUR 7.5 million and EUR 3 million respectively, noting that all projects will be completed in the next four years.

These projects will enable other cities to use renewable sources for the production of thermal energy, as Priboj and Mali Zvornik have been doing since last year, and as Novi Pazar will do starting from this heating season, Mihajlovic noted.

Source: The Government of the Republic of Serbia

What Role Can Young People Play in Tackling the Climate Crisis?

20.09.2022

climate_strike_klimatski_štrajk — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

The impacts of the climate crisis are already widespread: from increased floods, droughts and wildfires to more devastating storms and temperature extremes.

Scientists estimate the world is experiencing a global temperature increase of 1.1˚C over pre-industrial levels and if CO2 emissions are not reduced in line with the Paris Agreement, this could rise to 3˚C by 2100, with devastating consequences for humanity.

Given that the effects the climate crisis will intensify over time, young people stand to pay in full with their futures. But their unprecedented mobilization shows the power they possess to hold decision-makers accountable, say experts.

In the second episode of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) Uncommon Ground web series, host Juan Pablo Garcia is joined by two panellists, Shanik Aspe, a media personality from Mexico and Mitzi Jonelle Tan, an environmental activist from the Philippines. They talk about the difficulties the world faces in transitioning to renewable energy and the steps young people can take to get their elected representatives to take the climate crisis seriously.

They also examine how people can reduce their carbon footprint while looking at the structural issues related to how we grow our food, travel through our cities and the fashion we consume.

Both Aspe and Tan agree that education is vital, which is why UNEP was part of the Transforming Education Summit held in New York during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) from 16 to 19 September 2022. The event focused on the cross-sectoral nature of education and its power to contribute to confronting environmental challenges.

Source: UNEP

Power-sector Emissions are Set to Fall in 2022. – Thanks to Renewable Energy

19.09.2022

photovoltaic-system-solarni-paneli — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sungrow Emea)

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered an unprecedented global energy crisis, the world has been turning to other sources of power, besides oil and gas, to meet demand.

Renewable energy has seen a promising uptick over the last few years, growing by more than 10 percent in 2022, according to the IEA, and this has led to a small reduction in global CO2 production from the electricity sector overall.

Last year, the world added a record 295 gigawatts of new renewable power capacity. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can come from renewable energy sources by 2050. The below chart shows which renewables are set to grow fastest over the coming years.

To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C, emissions need to be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050, the UN states.

So how do we increase take-up of clean-energy technology in the race to achieve this?

According to IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol: “Cutting red tape, accelerating permitting and providing the right incentives for faster deployment of renewables are some of the most important actions governments can take to address today’s energy security and market challenges, while keeping alive the possibility of reaching our international climate goals.”

As well as helping the world to achieve sustainability targets, the declining cost of renewables is also a factor in their growth. In 2020, renewable energy was the world’s cheapest energy source. Global solar and wind costs have fallen during the last decade and onshore wind is also now 68 percent less expensive than 10 years ago, IRENA reports. Meanwhile, costs for electricity from utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) fell 85 percent. The chart below shows the scale of falling costs per kwh over this period.

To accelerate further, industrial decarbonization will require innovative technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels and green ammonia, among others.

The Financing the Transition to a Net-Zero Future initiative, a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and knowledge partner Oliver Wyman, was launched in June 2020 to accelerate the mobilization of capital towards these breakthrough technologies.

While IRENA points out cheaper renewables and new technologies give developed and developing countries an opportunity to phase out coal, 2022 has seen its use rise due to the war in Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis.

Coal production currently causes about a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IEA. The Financial Times reports average daily consumption at coal-fired power stations in China was 15 percent higher than a year ago, in the first two weeks of August, at 8.16mn tonnes.

Some European countries have also delayed coal phase-out plans, due to supply issues following the war in Ukraine, and emissions are likely to increase by 3 percent in the region as a result, according to the IEA.

However, major economies like China and India, historically heavily reliant on coal, have increased their solar energy capacity. This is thanks to large-scale projects like Bhadla Solar Park, in India, the largest solar farm in the world, and Huaneng Power International, in China, the largest floating PV project.

The IEA also reports that China will surpass Europe at the end of 2022 to become the market with the biggest total offshore wind capacity in the world.

Meanwhile, Europe has scaled up its rooftop solar installations. Earlier this year, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced a mandate for rooftop solar on commercial and public buildings by 2027, and for residential buildings by 2029.

While the war in Ukraine is clearly complicating the green energy transition, “energy market developments in recent months – especially in Europe – have proven once again the essential role of renewables in improving energy security, in addition to their well-established effectiveness at reducing emissions,” says Birol.

Source: World Economic Forum

EU Lawmakers Vote to Include Maize, Meat Imports in Anti-Deforestation Rules

19.09.2022

kukuruz — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Christophe Maertens)

The European Parliament has voted to extend the agricultural goods covered by the bloc’s new law against imports linked to deforestation to include maize, poultry and pig meat in a move hailed by campaigners, but criticised by industry representatives.

The proposal, initially presented by the European Commission in November last year, aims to ensure that products and commodities imported into the EU are ‘deforestation-free’ – that is, that they do not contribute to deforestation anywhere along the value chain.

The Parliament plenary adopted a compromise text tabled by centre-right rapporteur Christophe Hansen on Tuesday (13 September), which set out that the agricultural commodities and inputs covered by the law should be extended beyond those included in the Commission’s original proposal.

The original proposal included six commodities: palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef, soy, and timber.

Among other things, the lawmakers want maize and palm oil derivates added to the list – both products which were left out of the initial proposal, despite the fact that an impact assessment conducted by the Commission had concluded their inclusion would help fight deforestation.

According to the assessment, maize “has an impact, but it is less important than the other six commodities that they have proposed,” Hansen explained during a press conference after the plenary vote.

However, their impact is still “non-negligible,” he added.

The inclusion of maize had been pushed for by the Green and Socialist party groups, but remained a contentious question due to the key importance of the product for the animal feed industry.

“If we want to tackle the EU’s deforestation footprint in a comprehensive way, these key deforestation drivers [maize and rubber] need to be included,” socialist MEP Delara Burkhardt told reporters ahead of the vote.

Warm words and warnings

The parliamentary vote was welcomed by many lawmakers as well as green campaigners.

“Today is a good day for the protection of international forests!” Green MEP Martin Häusling said in a statement, adding that, all in all, the parliament’s position turned out “very ambitious.”

Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, senior forest policy officer at WWF, said the Parliament voted “for a strong deforestation law” and called on the member states to follow suit.

However, industry representatives voiced concerns over the position.

In a joint statement, COCERAL, FEDIOL, and FEFAC, representing the EU grain and oilseed trade and animal feed industry, warned the parliament’s text “risks fuelling supply chain shortages and price inflation in the EU.”

The organisations called on the legislators to work with supply chain actors in order to better preempt practical problems that could arise during the implementation of the new legislation.

Source: EURACTIV.com

Greenpeace: Our transport system is fuelling the multiple crises we’re facing

18.09.2022

traffic-jam-saobraćaj-auto — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

With extreme heat, floods and fires, the highest inflation in decades, unprecedented energy price-hikes, a looming energy shortfall and a war on European soil, the world feels like it’s at a crossroads. We certainly need all hands on deck to confront the multiple crises we face together. In the midst of these chaotic times, there is one area in our society where all the threads come together: our transport system. It is one of the roots of our oil dependence, causing many of the problems we face.

Let’s take a closer look at how our mobility system connects to these crises and how we and our governments must use it to confront them.

Climate and nature crises

With record heat waves, massive droughts, floods and raging fires, this summer the damaging consequences and costs of the climate crisis have been more visible than ever before.

Our oil-guzzling transport system is a major driver of the climate crisis – accounting for almost 30 per cent of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions and 23 per cent of global emissions – with high costs for our health and well-being from air pollution and noise to our environment.

The direct exploitation of our natural resources, including the extraction of oil, is one of the biggest threats to our natural world. Transport is the main reason for oil extraction and production worldwide, with around 60 per cent of oil used for transport globally, and almost 70 per cent in the EU. The production of agro-fuels for cars, or the construction of new infrastructure for polluting transport like airports and highways further threatens wildlife habitats and forests.

Despite these grim impacts on our climate and nature, governments give transport and fossil fuel industries financial and policy privileges to help them make huge profits at the expense of people. Meanwhile, these companies are betting mainly on false solutions like carbon offsetting or ramping up the production of agro-fuels which are largely fuelling deforestation, biodiversity loss, environmental destruction and human rights abuses.

Source: Greenpeace

How do Countries Measure Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

18.09.2022

power-plant-zagađenje — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

With the 2022 Emissions Gap Report due to be released in October this year ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt, the focus is on how fast countries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis.

So, how do countries measure their emissions, and how are those measurements checked for accuracy? We took a deep dive to find out more:

What are greenhouse gas emissions and why are they important?

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere – hence the ‘greenhouse’ name. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and the fluorinated gases still commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners. When greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, they trap heat which changes our climate in multiple ways.

These changes will affect everything from surface air and ocean temperatures to precipitation and sea acidification. A warmer climate brings a host of risks from increased drought and wildfires to rising sea levels and heat-related illnesses and deaths. If warming increases 2°C to 3°C by the end of the century, it is likely that there will be irreversible changes to our climate systems.

What causes these emissions?

While many greenhouse gases are naturally occurring, it is the increased emissions from human activities that are causing global warming. The main emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, for the energy that we rely on to heat (and cool) our homes, power our cars and buses, cook our food and make many of the products we take for granted.

Why do countries need to measure their greenhouse gas emissions?

As the saying goes, what doesn’t get measured doesn’t get managed. It is vital that countries understand where their emissions are coming from so they can reduce them. Under the Paris Agreement, countries collectively agreed to reduce their emissions, and each country submitted a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). NDCs are essentially national climate action plans that include different types of targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Some plans define how to reach specific targets by 2030, while others indicate a date their emissions will peak but don’t include specific emissions reduction targets.

The Paris Agreement has a strong focus on transparency so countries can monitor, verify and report on their NDC implementation progress, with the first national transparency reports due in 2024. In addition, the Paris Agreement includes provisions for countries to update their NDC every five years.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Daniel Moqvist)

However, during COP26 in Glasgow last year, countries agreed to speed up cuts in their emissions before 2030, with the aim of keeping the average global temperature rise to below 1.5°C. And while many countries submitted new or updated NDCs with slightly increased ambitions, these are still not enough to keep global warming at or under 1.5-degrees.

How do countries calculate their emissions?

Countries report their emissions through what is known as a ‘bottom up’ approach, where national emissions are estimated by combining data on types of activity with the emissions typically produced by those activities. So, if you know how much carbon dioxide steelmaking produces, and you know how much steel is produced in your country, you can estimate the total quantity of emissions from the steel sector.

Are those calculations accurate?

There are internationally agreed guidelines developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that specify how this kind of accountancy should be done.

Are emissions being cut quickly enough?

In short, the answer is no. As laid out in UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2021, new national climate pledges combined with other mitigation measures put the world on track for a global temperature rise of 2.7°C by the end of the century, which would lead to devastating consequences for the planet. All countries, but particularly those in the developed world, need to cut emissions faster.

What needs to happen now?

The Emissions Gap Report highlighted the fact that global emissions need to fall by 45 to 50 percent by 2030 in order to ensure temperatures don’t rise above 1.5°C by 2100. In short, the world needs to act — and quickly.

Source: UNEP

EBRD Helps Montenegro to Scale Up Investments in Renewables

17.09.2022

Montenegro plans to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix with a comprehensive programme of renewable energy auctions that will bring private investment into the sector.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is helping the Ministry of Capital Investments of Montenegro to implement the programme with dedicated technical assistance, financed by grants from the EBRD, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance through the High-Impact Partnership on Climate Action (HIPCA) and Italy through the Central European Initiative (CEI).

The aim is to assist Montenegro in boosting the use of clean energy and in building a sustainable and diversified power sector by creating an enabling business environment for private investment. The country, which has strong wind and solar energy potential, will be able to benefit from these resources at competitive prices.

The programme, which was presented today in Podgorica, will first support the authorities in developing a comprehensive legal framework in the form of a new renewable energy law that will lay the foundation for accelerating the growth of renewable energy sources. This will be followed by support for the design and implementation of a competitive bidding process to award market-based support for renewable electricity generators.

Remon Zakaria, Head of the EBRD in Montenegro, said: “We are very pleased to support the introduction of best international standards for scaling up renewable energy investments in the country. By reforming the energy sector, Montenegro will be able to harvest its rich sources of renewable energy and positively contribute to the environment and the economy.”

“Considering that our country has significant potential for renewable energy, such as hydro, wind, solar energy and biomass, our priority was and remains the production of renewable, clean energy. We want to turn climate and environmental challenges into our opportunities and competitive advantages, by ensuring a fair and inclusive transition towards climate neutrality. In line with its priorities in energy sector, Montenegro will continue activities to ensure secure energy supply, the development of a competitive energy market and sustainable energy development, with active cooperation with everyone who has the same goals,” said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Capital Investments Ervin Ibrahimović.

The majority of electricity in Montenegro is produced at the Pljevlja lignite-fired thermal power plant and the Perucica and Piva hydropower plants. Competitive procurement processes for renewables will allow the country to increase its share of solar and wind projects and decrease its reliance on coal.

In addition to environmental benefits, boosting investments in renewables could potentially help the country diversify its economy, which currently relies heavily on tourism. The existing underwater electricity cable that connects Montenegro with Italy, as well as other interconnections with neighbouring countries, could help position the country as clean energy exporter.

The EBRD has been supporting Montenegro in developing a sustainable and diversified energy sector through policy dialogue, technical assistance and investment. To date, the EBRD has invested more than €700 million in the country.

Source: EBRD

ABB Expands US Manufacturing Footprint with Investment in New EV Charger Facility

16.09.2022

ABB E-mobility, a leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, today announces the continued expansion of its global and US manufacturing footprint with new manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina.

The multi-million dollar investment will increase production of electric vehicle chargers, including Buy America Act compliant ones, and create over 100 jobs. The new facility will be capable of producing up to 10,000 chargers per year, ranging from 20kW to 180kW in power, which are ideally suited for public charging, school buses, and fleets.

The operation builds on ABB E-mobility’s existing US manufacturing operations which produce transit bus chargers that range from 150kW to 450kW. This expansion will increase responsiveness to US market demand, create a more efficient localized supply chain, and reduce delivery lead times.

“The need for investment in the US e-mobility sector has never been greater, as 18 million EVs are expected to be on US roads by 2030. Expanding our US manufacturing operations will allow us to better serve our customers and help advance the adoption of EVs from private vehicles to public transportation and fleets,” said Bob Stojanovic, Vice President for ABB E-mobility in North America. “Our facility in South Carolina is another example of how we are driving the American e-mobility economy forward with high-quality and reliable EV charging solutions that meet the needs of every part of a sustainable transportation ecosystem.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act make transformational investments in transportation electrification including personal vehicles, school buses, transit buses, commercial fleets and the building of a national network of public chargers. The United States, along with vehicle OEMs, set the ambitious target that half of all new US vehicle sales are to be electric by 2030.

With this investment, ABB E-mobility adds to its capabilities to meet the US’s goals of building up the domestic manufacturing base for EV charging. EV chargers produced in South Carolina will meet the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) proposed Buy America Act framework for EV chargers as well as requirements of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.

This manufacturing expansion is the latest in a series of significant US focused announcements from ABB E-mobility with continued investments planned for 2024 and beyond. In addition to the South Carolina facility, ABB E-mobility announced in July 2022 the launch of a training center in Sugar Land, Texas and an R&D facility in Southern California.

This year ABB also acquired a controlling interest in EV commercial charging infrastructure solutions company, InCharge Energy, expanding ABB’s smart and connected EV offering. In addition, ABB invested in EV charging software provider, ChargeLab.

Since 2010, ABB has invested 14 billion dollar in the U.S. with plant expansions, operational improvements, state-of-the-art equipment, products, and people, making it the company’s largest market. With approximately 20,000 employees in more than 40 manufacturing and distribution facilities, ABB is investing, growing, and serving across America through industries that create jobs, encourage innovation, and achieve a more productive, sustainable future.

Source: ABB

Travel With KLM Without a Guilty Conscience

14.09.2022

We all look forward to travelling, whether for business or pleasure but in moments of relaxation or warming up for an important meeting, few people will think about the carbon footprint of their vehicle. Driven by daily responsibilities, I often forget how much fossil fuel vehicles pollute the environment until the black smoke of the car in front of me catches my eye. However, as staying in a beautiful place can make stress and fatigue disappear but not climate change, our conscience tells us to combine the beautiful and the useful – travel and ecology. Finding an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional vehicles is not always easy. For short destinations, there is a train, but if you wish to visit Paris or Amsterdam, traveling by rail, which can take several days, is not a particularly tempting option.

And what do we do now? We live fast and are in constant motion, so we are forced to use air transport as one of the fastest and safest modes of transport. However, there is a difference in the airline you travel with because while some do not deviate from traditional fuels, others can boast a high index of sustainable development. One is the Group Air France – KLM, which works tirelessly to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Although they form a group, each of these companies has its programs that they have launched to protect the environment and reduce their environmental footprint. KLM, as the oldest company in the world that still flies under its original name, has launched programs related to environmental protection. Within the “Fly Responsibly” initiative, which reduces, replaces, or compensates for the impact on the environment, there is the program CO2ZERO (naturalization of carbon footprint and pollution caused by KLM flights) and SAF Program (SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuel), which includes work on the development of sustainable aviation fuel and its use in aviation, sets them apart from other companies in this industry. Flying with KLM is no longer a pleasure solely because of comfort, reliability, and speed but also because of the knowledge that by traveling with this airline, I contributed to the protection of the environment, which, although it must not remain the only one, is by no means negligible. My recent trip to Amsterdam only confirmed this thesis.

In focus:

High-level ecology

Observing the sea of clouds as I flew from Belgrade to Amsterdam, I remembered what it used to be like to travel with all the renowned airlines that today have become almost low-budget, but not KLM. That is why I am not surprised that they were the winners of the APEX award in December last year, as the airline with the best service in the world, according to passengers. In addition to health protection, service, comfort, in-flight service, as well as the professionalism of employees during the summer were also assessed. And everything is just like that, at a high level, as it used to be. Even those for whom environmental protection is the least important thing will undoubtedly enjoy the top service on the plane, free internet exclusively for sending messages via Viber and WhatsApp applications, and food and drink included in the ticket price. If you are not one of those who doze off on a plane, free internet will make the time fly by in correspondence with dear people. Your internet access will also be important for the person who is impatiently waiting for you because it will shorten the boring time spent at the airport. On top of all that, KLM offers you essential information at all times, so you can see at what altitude and speed you are flying and what kind of weather awaits you at your final destination. It was interesting to follow all these data, which were especially useful for me since I was greeted by rain in the city of tulips, but also since I did not have that opportunity on the flights of other airlines. Delighted with the flight and the service, I began to share my impressions with people who fly often and explore other ways. Apart from the programs mentioned above that are pretty important, this company contributes to nature protection. I was utterly taken aback and decided to put my impressions on paper.

An airline that encourages you not to fly

At the very beginning of the text, I mentioned that the railway is imposed as a means of transport with the most negligible impact on nature, and KLM knows that. Putting conscience and care for the environment before profit, KLM does one incredible thing for the airline – it encourages passengers not to fly but to replace short-haul flights with rail. In cooperation with the Dutch government, KLM supports a long-term plan to replace flights of up to 700 kilometers with high-speed international trains, such as destinations to Brussels, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Berlin. Fortunately, this is not a film about superheroes but an example of a responsible and sustainable business that guarantees us the comfort and lifestyle we are used to while respecting all environmental standards. According to the Dow Jones report for 2019, Air France – KLM Group is the airline with the highest sustainable development index and a leader in sustainable business in the aviation industry. Everything they have done in the sustainability field exceeds the capacity of this text, and I will mention only the most important ones that have made me no longer have a dilemma as to which company I will fly.

Namely, in 2019, the Group reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 31 percent per passenger per kilometer compared to 2005, while the inevitable carbon footprint was significantly compensated. Flights with Air France – KLM Group are now accompanied by 31 percent less non-recyclable waste and 43 percent less pollution. Of course, all with the use of biofuels. The planet is surrounded by an ocean of clean air (oxygen). Each jet consumes up to 120 tons of atmospheric oxygen when flying over the ocean, which would be about 0.004 percent of that air per capita. If this calculation is complicated for you, we can do this: the airline industry is currently responsible for two to three per cent of total CO2 emissions. And that’s because it uses fossil fuels. That is why KLM’s primary goal is to focus on the sustainable future of the aviation industry and reduce CO2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 Although the paper endures everything, I will leave some more interesting initiatives for the next issue. I hope that this small part was enough for you that the next time you choose which flight to go on, consider and opt for Air France – KLM because you are certain that you are contributing to the reduction of our planet’s pollution!

Prepared by: Nevena Đukić

Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

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