Wildfires in Europe Burn Second-Biggest Area on Record

08.08.2022

fire-požar-njiva-paljenje — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Wildfires raging through Europe this summer have burned the second-largest area on record, even though the region is only halfway through its typical fire season, according to data from the European Union’s Joint Research Centre.

A dozen European countries have suffered major blazes this year, forcing thousands to evacuate and destroying homes and businesses. Countries including Italy, Spain and France still face extreme fire risks.

Wildfires have burned 600,731 hectares in EU countries this year so far, the data showed. That ranks as the second-highest total for any year since 2006 when records began. In 2017, 987,844 hectares were burned.

This year’s burned area is more than double the size of Luxembourg. No other year in the dataset had seen such a high amount of burned land in Europe by August.

The Mediterranean region’s typical fire season runs from June to September.

Climate change is exacerbating fires by increasing the hot and dry conditions that help them spread faster, burn longer and rage more intensely. Hotter weather saps moisture from vegetation, turning it into dry fuel – a problem exacerbated by shrinking workforces in some areas to clear this vegetation.

Victor Resco de Dios, professor of forest engineering at Spain’s Lleida University, said the large fires France and Portugal suffered in early July were “extremely unusual” and demonstrated how climate change is causing the fire season to start earlier last longer.

“Today’s fires in the Mediterranean can no longer be extinguished… Large fires are getting bigger and bigger,” he said.

The JRC data covers wildfires bigger than 30 hectares, so if smaller fires were included, the total burned would be even higher.

Southern European countries such as Portugal and Greece experience fires most summers. Still, hotter temperatures are pushing extreme wildfire risk north, with Germany, Slovenia and the Czech Republic among those hit this season.

Some actions can help to limit blazes, such as setting controlled fires that mimic the low-intensity fires in natural ecosystem cycles.

But without steep cuts to the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change, scientists concur that heatwaves, wildfires and other climate impacts will worsen significantly.

Source: EURACTIV.com

The Future of Panthera Tigris in Thailand and Globally

07.08.2022

tigar — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Edewaa Foster)

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest wild cat species in the world, and is listed as Endangered under the IUCN Red List in 2011. The tiger is also protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, the tiger populations in Thailand and globally are exposed to growing threats, which have raised concerns among conservationists, leading to increased international dialogue and action to conserve and protect the endangered species.

Since the turn of the 20th century, the global tiger population has dropped by 95 per cent, from approximately 100,000 individuals to as low as 3200 in 2010 year. Now there are only 13 recognised tiger range countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam), of which only 10 still have wild functional tiger populations. Today the global population of tigers stands at about 4500.

Thailand is an important habitat for the Indochinese sub-species of Panthera tigris (Panthera tigris. corbetti) and one of the last strongholds for tigers in the Greater Mekong region, however many challenges still remain in protecting and conserving the species.

In 2010, Thailand held an Asian Ministerial Meeting on Tiger Conservation, which was attended by the 13 tiger range countries and ultimately led to the Hua Hin Declaration on Tiger Conservation. A Tiger Summit was also held at St. Petersburg, Russia in the same year, where the tiger range countries adopted the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation, and established a common target to conserve and double the tiger population “TX2” target by the year 2022.

Panthera tigris habitats in Thailand

Currently, there are 17 protected areas situated in the Western Forest Complex of Thailand, of which the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary are specified as core areas for tiger habitats. The tigers in both protected areas have spread to the upper part of the western forest area, which is located nearby Mae Wong National Park, Khlong Lan National Park, Khlong Wang Chao National Park, and Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary.

It is estimated that approximately 17-20 tigers are currently living in the upper part of the western forest complex, while the lower part of the western forest complex is home to around 11 tigers. Additionally, there are approximately 25 tigers living in Thap Lan National Park in the Khao Yai-Dong Phaya Yen forest complex, and a few in the Ta Phraya National Park. However, the restoration of tiger populations continues to be a great challenge, since no sighting reports of tigers have been made in the past 10 years in areas where reports were previously made. This includes areas such as Phu Kieo-Nam Nao Forest Complex, Mae Ping-Om Koi Forest Complex, and Srilanna-Khun Tan Forest Complex.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Fezbot2000)

Forest and ecosystem restoration are essential for conserving Panthera tigris

The establishment of the Si Sawat Non-Hunting Area in the southwestern forest area is currently in the process of becoming an ecological corridor between the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary and the Srinakarin Dam National Park. This will be useful in facilitating the movement of tigers between the forest areas.

Another great hope for tiger conservation is to restore tiger populations at the Khao Yai National Park, after the last sighting was reported in 2001, where 20-28 tigers were found in Thap Lan National Park. However, during 2015-2019, the Thai government had invested in the construction of a tunnel connecting the forest or the wildlife corridor, which showed traces of tigers in the camera traps and SMART patrols.

Source: IUCN

The World Needs More Diverse Solar Panel Supply Chains to Ensure a Secure Transition to Net Zero Emissions

06.08.2022

solar-modules — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Sungrow Emea)

Ensuring a secure transition to net zero emissions will require increased efforts to expand and diversify global production of solar panels whose global supply chains are currently heavily concentrated in China, the IEA said in a new special report released today.

Chinese industrial and innovation policies focused on expanding solar panel production and markets have helped solar PV become the most affordable electricity generation technology in many parts of the world. However, this has also led to imbalances in solar PV supply chains, according to the IEA Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains, the first study of its kind by the Agency.

Global manufacturing capacity for solar panels has increasingly moved out of Europe, Japan and the United States over the last decade and into China, which has taken the lead on investment and innovation. China’s share in all the key manufacturing stages of solar panels exceeds 80 percent today, according to the report, and for key elements including polysilicon and wafers, this is set to rise to more than 95 percent in the coming years, based on current manufacturing capacity under construction.

“China has been instrumental in bringing down costs worldwide for solar PV, with multiple benefits for clean energy transitions,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “At the same time, the level of geographical concentration in global supply chains also poses potential challenges that governments need to address. Accelerating clean energy transitions around the world will put further strain on these supply chains to meet growing demand, but this also offers opportunities for other countries and regions to help diversify production and make it more resilient.”

Meeting international energy and climate goals requires the global deployment of solar PV to grow on an unprecedented scale. This in turn demands a major additional expansion in manufacturing capacity, raising concerns about the world’s ability to rapidly develop resilient supply chains. For example, annual additions of solar PV capacity to electricity systems around the world need to more than quadruple by 2030 to be on track with the IEA’s pathway to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Global production capacity for the key building blocks of solar panels – polysilicon, ingots, wafers, cells and modules – would need to more than double by 2030 from today’s levels and existing production facilities would need to be modernised.

“As countries accelerate their efforts to reduce emissions, they need to ensure that their transition towards a sustainable energy system is built on secure foundations,” Dr Birol said. “Solar PV’s global supply chains will need to be scaled up in a way that ensures they are resilient, affordable and sustainable.”

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Zbynek Burival)

Governments and other stakeholders around the world have begun to pay increasing attention to solar PV’s manufacturing supply chains as high commodity prices and supply chain bottlenecks have led to an increase of around 20 percent in solar panel prices over the last year. These challenges – particularly apparent in the market for polysilicon, a key material for making solar panels – have resulted in delays in solar PV deliveries across the globe and higher prices. The IEA special report argues that these challenges call for even greater attention and efforts by policymakers going forward.

The report examines solar PV supply chains from raw materials all the way to the finished product, covering areas such as energy consumption, emissions, employment, production costs, investment, trade and financial performance. It finds, for example, that the electricity-intensive manufacturing of solar PV is mostly powered by fossil fuels today because of the prominent role of coal in the parts of China where production is concentrated – but that solar panels still only need to operate for four to eight months to offset their manufacturing emissions. This brief payback period compares with the average solar panel lifetime of around 25 to 30 years. Increasing decarbonisation of electricity supplies and greater diversification of solar PV supply chains should both help reduce this footprint in the future, the report notes.

Because diversification is one of the key strategies for reducing supply chain risks worldwide, the special report assesses the opportunities and challenges of developing solar PV supply chains in terms of job creation, investment requirements, manufacturing costs, emissions and recycling. It finds that new solar PV manufacturing facilities along the global supply chain could attract USD 120 billion of investment by 2030. And the solar PV sector has the potential to double the number of PV manufacturing jobs to 1 million by 2030, with the most job-intensive areas in the manufacturing of modules and cells.

The special report summarises policy approaches that governments have taken to support domestic solar PV manufacturing and highlights priority areas for action to improve security of supply and to address key challenges such as environmental and social sustainability, investment risks and cost competitiveness.

Source: IEA

Driest July in Memory Imperils Europe’s Crops

05.08.2022

kukuruz_sunce — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

As much of Europe bakes in a third heatwave since June, fears are growing that extreme drought driven by climate change in the continent’s breadbasket nations will dent stable crop yields and deepen the cost-of-living crisis.

The European Commission on Wednesday (3 August) urged EU member states to re-use treated urban wastewater as irrigation on the continent’s parched farms after France and parts of England saw their driest July on record.

In France, where an intense drought has hammered farmers and prompted widespread limits on freshwater use, there were just 9.7 millimetres (0.38 inches) of rain last month, Meteo France said.

That was 84 per cent down on the average levels seen for July between 1991 and 2022, making it the driest month since March 1961, the agency added.

Farmers nationwide are reporting difficulties in feeding livestock because of parched grasslands, while irrigation has been banned in large areas of the northwest and southeast due to freshwater shortages.

Environment Minister Christophe Bechu said July’s rainfall represented “just 12 per cent of what’s needed”.

France is the fourth-largest wheat exporter and among the top five exporters of maize globally. Poor harvests due to drought may heap further pressure on grain supplies after war in Ukraine caused global shockwaves.

“Our food system has been under stress for a while, and with the supply issues from Ukraine, that has only gotten worse,” said Shouro Dasgupta, an environmental economist at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change.

“These heatwaves are on top of droughts and will see crops wither faster.”

Dasgupta said that extreme heat driven by climate change contributes to food price inflation for consumers and harsher conditions for producers.

“Droughts and heatwaves impact people’s livelihoods. People will be less able to afford food,” he told AFP.

“And during heatwaves, outdoor workers are only able to work fewer hours, which brings cascading impacts for supply.”

Source: EURACTIV.com

As Fuel Prices Rise, Companies Look to Energy Efficient Solutions

04.08.2022

photovoltaic-system-g94f076ae4_1920 — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay (mrganso)

With fossil fuel prices reaching record highs, companies around the world are focusing on energy efficiency to save money and reduce the emissions driving the climate crisis.

Research shows that a safe future below 1.5°C requires the world to cut 30 gigatonnes greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) annually by 2030. Carbon emissions need to be cut by building smart cities and managing land and resources more efficiently. Transport and buildings are among the largest contributors.

Increasing energy efficiency, particularly industrial energy efficiency, can make a real difference in reducing our need for fossil fuels,” said Patrick Blake, Programme Officer for United for Efficiency (U4E) – a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-led global effort supporting developing countries to move their markets to energy-efficient appliances and equipment.

“This improvement in energy efficiency will also reduce electricity bills for companies and support the scale-up of renewable energy,” he added.

Improving energy efficiency

Energy efficiency can take many forms, with U4E focusing on lighting, refrigeration, air conditioning, distribution transformers and electric motors.

LED lamps, for example, are not only more efficient than conventional lamps, but they also last 20 times longer. Research shows that by switching to LED lighting in 156 developing countries, over 110 terawatt-hours (TWh) could be saved by 2030, nearly the same as the current electricity consumption of the Netherlands.

Similarly, by increasing efficiency in distribution transformers, which adjust voltage and current and are placed between the power plant and the consumer, 60 TWh could be saved by 2040, or the same as the current consumption of the Czech Republic.

“Half of the near-term reductions in emissions in the energy sector can be achieved through energy efficiency, for example, by using more energy-efficient appliances and lighting and more efficient motors,” said Miriam Hinostroza, Head of the Global Climate Action Unit, at UNEP’s Energy and Climate Branch.

Companies have found that energy efficiency is a double win, it’s good for their bottom line but it’s also good for the environment. Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, has been working with U4E to improve the efficiency of distribution transformers in developing regions like Africa.

These transformers are a key product in the power value chain, with electricity typically passing through five of them between the power plant and the consumer.

U4E research shows that a transition across the African continent to the most energy-efficient transformers could save 5.7 TWh a year, worth around 400 million US dollars by 2040.

This transition would also reduce CO2 emissions by 4.7 million tonnes a year. The transformers also have the added benefit of being more stable, reducing outages and increasing energy security.

“Transformers are critical for enabling an efficient and safe flow of electricity, operating continuously around the clock,” said Bruno Melles, Head of the Transformer Business at Hitachi Energy.

It is not just in Africa where U4E is helping to drive change. In Türkiye, U4E has been working in the industrial sector to help improve efficiency in motor-drive systems. Around 46 per cent of net electricity consumption in Türkiye comes from the industrial sector, and about 70 per cent of this comes from electric motor-drive systems, many of which are inefficient.

UNEP, through U4E, has been providing technical assistance to the Promoting Energy-Efficient Motors in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Türkiye (TEVMOT) project.

The project, which started in 2017, and has been extended until the end of 2023, will contribute to Türkiye’s intended Nationally Determined Contribution commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 21 per cent from the business-as-usual level by 2030.

Source: UNEP

Mihajlovic: There is no going back to the old ways in energy

03.08.2022

eletrična-energija-struja — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Minister of Mining and Energy, prof. Zorana Mihajlovic, Ph.D., said that in the previous two years, regardless of numerous resistances, the foundations were laid for Serbia to have enough energy and to preserve the environment, and that there will be no return to the old ways.

“It was not easy in the previous two years, we almost had a collapse of the power system, but we did many things that had not been done before. For the first time, with the support of the state, households can replace the carpentry and install solar panels, and we already have about 2.7 MW in solar panels in households that have become buyer-producers in this way. During this ministry, we created the basis for Serbia to progress in the green energy transition, not because it is fashionable, but because the whole world is moving in that direction. We have created a base and I believe that there is no going back to the old ways”, Mihajlovic said in a guest appearance on TV Happy.

She emphasized that a strong energy sector rests on strong companies and that there is still a lot of work to be done in that area because currently companies are not in such a situation and the state has largely taken over to help the energy sector during the crisis.

“The reality is that we do not have enough coal, that unfortunately it is of very poor quality and we need new capacities and new sources of energy. Other countries started this process long before us and started to reduce the share of production from coal and to build large wind and solar power plants. It is a serious regret that today we have to allocate a lot of money as a state, because in the previous period we did not work well”, said Mihajlovic.

Asked about the increase in the price of electricity, Mihajlovic said that this price is still the lowest in Europe, and that the increase was necessary because the prices were increased in the entire production chain.

“The price alone will not solve the problem in EPS, structural changes are needed in that company. Nobody likes to make something more expensive, but energy is a basic branch that we take care of”, she said, adding that the average household’s bill will increase by around 350 dinars.

Minister emphasized that next year, with the completion of the Nis-Dimitrovgrad gas pipeline, Serbia will no longer depend on only one supplier and will be connected to the LNG terminal in Greece and to gas pipelines that deliver gas from Azerbaijan and the Caspian region.

“We plan to build interconnections to other neighbors as well, because that’s the only way we can be energy secure. The total value of all interconnections that need to be built is around 350 million euros, and with that we will provide around eight billion cubic meters of gas that we can get from the environment”, said Minister.

Source: Ministry of Mining and Energy

US Company Bechtel Interested in the HPP “Djerdap 3” Project

02.08.2022

đerdap_hidroelektrana — Foto: Wikipedia/MRY

The president of the US construction giant Bechtel, Stuart Jones said, after talks with the Minister of Mining and Energy, Zorana Mihajlovic, and the US Ambassador to Belgrade, Christopher Hill, that the company is interested in “taking a closer look at the possibilities for cooperation with Serbia in in the field of energy, among other things, through the financing of the previous feasibility study for the HPP “Djerdap 3” project,” announced the Government.

“I believe that there are great opportunities for cooperation in the field of energy, especially when it comes to projects in the field of renewable energy sources and the first hybrid reversible hydroelectric plant “Djerdap 3”, whose total installed power could reach 2,400 MW, with another 400 MW of capacity for production of electricity from wind and sun”, Minister Mihajlovic said.

According to her, energy security is currently the most important topic for all countries in Europe, including Serbia, which is why it is important to make progress in the energy transition process and be much more efficient in building new energy capacities.

Source: eKapija

Historical success – Nepal doubled the number of wild tigers

02.08.2022

WWF is delighted to congratulate Nepal for successfully doubling its tiger population to an estimate of 355 individuals – an increase of more than 190 per cent since 2009. Those are the results published in Nepal’s National Tiger and Prey Survey 2022.

Tigers are the world’s largest cat and an apex predator, which is why they play a significant role in the structure and function of the ecosystems on which both humans and wildlife rely. They are a “landscape” species, needing large areas with diverse habitats, free from human disturbance and rich in prey. One of the main threaths they face is habitat fragmentation that forces them into small areas where they don’t have enough food, causing them to come into conflict with the local population. The second biggest threat that leads them towards extinction are poaching and illegal trade of live or killed tigers, their cubs and parts of their bodies.

The survey highlights the importance of maintaining and rigorously protecting core habitats, partnering with communities to ensure long-term conservation success and expanding conservation interventions to include corridors and habitats beyond extant Protected Areas.

Stuart Chapman, Tigers Alive Initiative Leader, WWF said “The doubling of Nepal’s tiger population is an extraordinary achievement and is the result of sustained conservation effort over many years. Nepal has demonstrated the highest conservation standards in reaching this historic milestone. There is clearly much to learn from Nepal’s tiger population recovery over the last 12 years. ”

While the future of Nepal’s tigers across vast landscapes has always been a challenge in the face of various threats, the latest estimate indicates the relevance of the conservation measures that have been implemented by the Government, WWF and other organisations working in the sector. The target to double wild tigers, also known as Tx2, was set by governments in 2010 at the St.Petersburg International summit on tiger conservation. With this announcement Nepal is the first country to release updated tiger numbers during the Year of the Tiger. Tiger range countries are meeting next month to begin discussions on the next 12-year commitments for tiger conservation under the Global Tiger Recovery Program.

“Success or failure means more than securing the future of a single iconic species – it sets a precedent for how we will consider and prioritise the health of nature in global development and in a changing climate going forward”, said Snježana Malić-Limari from WWF Adria.

Source: WWF Adria

Global Coal Demand is Set to Return to its All-Time High in 2022

01.08.2022

ugalj - coal — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Eduardo Jaeger)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bart van Dijk)

The world’s consumption of coal is set to rise slightly in 2022, taking it back to the record level it reached nearly a decade ago, according to an IEA report, which notes that significant uncertainty hangs over the outlook for coal as a result of slowing economic growth and energy market turbulence.

Based on current economic and market trends, global coal consumption is forecast to rise by 0.7 per cent in 2022 to 8 billion tonnes, assuming the Chinese economy recovers as expected in the second half of the year, the IEA’s July 2022 Coal Market Update says. This global total would match the annual record set in 2013, and coal demand is likely to increase further next year to a new all-time high.

The new report highlights the significant turmoil in coal markets in recent months, which has important implications for many countries where coal remains a key fuel for electricity generation and a range of industrial processes. At the same time, the world’s continued burning of large amounts of coal is heightening climate concerns, as coal is the largest single source of energy-related CO2 emissions.

Worldwide coal consumption rebounded by about 6 per cent in 2021 as the global economy recovered rapidly from the initial shock of the Covid pandemic. That sharp rise contributed significantly to the largest ever annual increase in global energy-related CO2 emissions in absolute terms, putting them at their highest level in history.

Global coal demand is being propped up this year by rising natural gas prices, which have intensified gas-to-coal switching in many countries, as well as economic growth in India. Those factors are being partly offset by slowing economic growth in China and by the inability of some major coal producers to ramp up production.

Demand for coal in India has been strong since the start of 2022 and is expected to rise by 7 per cent for the full year as the country’s economy grows and the use of electricity expands. In China, coal demand is estimated to have declined by 3 per cent in the first half of 2022 as renewed Covid lockdowns in some cities slowed economic growth, but an expected increase in the second half of the year is likely to bring coal consumption for the full year back to the same levels as last year. China and India together consume double the amount of coal as the rest of the world combined, with China alone accounting for more than half the world’s demand.

Coal consumption in the European Union is expected to rise by 7 per cent in 2022 on top of last year’s 14 per cent jump. This is being driven by demand from the electricity sector where coal is increasingly being used to replace gas, which is in short supply and has experienced huge price spikes following war in Ukraine. Several EU countries are extending the life of coal plants scheduled for closure, reopening closed plants or raising caps on their operating hours to reduce gas consumption. However, Europe only accounts for about 5 per cent of global coal consumption.

As soaring natural gas prices have made coal more competitive in many markets, international coal prices have risen in turn, hitting three all-time peaks between October 2021 and May 2022. Sanctions and bans on Russian coal following war in Ukraine have disrupted markets, and issues in other major exporters have contributed to supply shortages. With other coal producers facing constraints in replacing Russian output, prices on coal futures markets indicate that tight market conditions are expected to continue well into next year and beyond.

Source: IEA

ABB Formula E London E-Prix Showcases Sustainable Transport Down By The River

31.07.2022

Following the latest rounds in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in New York City, the series has crossed the Atlantic in a return to the ExCeL London exhibition center.

With changes in surface and elevation, in addition to a shift in lighting, the drivers are in for another challenging race weekend in London. The ExCeL circuit will again see the field move from indoors to outdoors on the 22-turn, 2.141km track, which has been slightly modified for Season 8 with a new chicane complex around turns 10-13.

Theodor Swedjemark, ABB’s Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, said: “In a city where combatting air pollution is a focal point, sustainable transportation is a key part of the solution. Showcasing the technology and potential of e-mobility in London is a great way to change perceptions of EVs and drive increased adoption – something ABB is proud to support in helping to create a more sustainable future.”

Transportation of people, goods and raw materials currently accounts for 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, and is a focal point for change around the world.

David Hughes, Country Managing Director, ABB UK, said: “ABB is helping businesses accelerate decarbonization by delivering complete electrical powertrain solutions for a range of industrial vehicles, transportation and marine vessels. Electric motors can achieve 95 percent efficiency, while diesel engines only reach 45 percent efficiency in the optimum load range, so this technological development – from electrification of powertrains to implementation of effective and comprehensive charging infrastructure – is crucial.”

The past few years has seen a dramatic increase in the number of public EV charge points in the UK – growing by an average of 44 percent per year since 2015. ABB is working alongside its customers to help facilitate this necessary increase. Currently, the company has around 1,500 chargers in operation in the UK and is continuously working to improve access.

ABB’s Ultrafast DC and Fast DC EV chargers will support the new GRIDSERVE Electric Highway charging network across the UK. This comes as both companies seek to drive the adoption of electric vehicles, especially by making charging easier and more accessible. GRIDSERVE’s Electric Highway will include coverage for 85 percent of the UK’s motorway network, as well as in towns and cities across the country.

The resulting increased energy demand focuses attention on renewable energy and grid stability – and this is another area in which ABB technology is delivering sustainable solutions in the UK. One example is a pounds 25 million “Greener Grid Park” scheme, which is currently in the final stages of construction, and will increase the amount of green energy being used throughout Liverpool. ABB is supporting Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, in the project with technology, operations and long-term maintenance services.

The London E-Prix will also host an FIA Girls on Track event, of which ABB is global partner. FIA Girls On Track offers girls aged 8 to 18 the opportunity to explore multiple aspects of the motorsport industry through a range of activities and workshops. One of these will focus on ABB Robotics and feature the GoFa collaborative robot.

Ahead of the London E-Prix, ABB has released a new video in its series as part of the company’s partnership with FIA Girls on Track. Featuring Hannah Brown, Formula E Chief of Staff, the video explores her views on the increase in women in engineering roles in the sport and the importance of closing the gap in belief she feels potentially still exists with young girls.

Following London the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship makes its debut in Seoul, South Korea, for the final two rounds of Season 8 on August 13 and 14.

Source: ABB

As Heatwaves Blanket Europe, Cities Turn to Nature for Solutions

30.07.2022

wildfire_požar — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

Heat records continue to topple across the globe as concurrent heatwaves bake multiple countries.

From the United States to Europe and China to Japan, extreme temperatures have soared for weeks, killing hundreds of people, sparking wildfires in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece and displacing thousands of residents, as many seek refuge in public cooling centers.

Close to 90 cities have issued heat alerts, including several Japanese cities that broke heat records dating as far back as 1875, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency. Meanwhile, in the United States, more than 100 million people are under heat alerts as wildfires rage in California, leading President Joe Biden to consider declaring a climate emergency.

The epicenter of the current global heatwave is Europe, where millions of people continue to suffer, leading to commuter chaos in France, Italy and the UK due to train delays.

The high temperatures have been particularly hard on urban areas. Cities are 5°C to 9°C warmer than rural areas as concrete buildings and sidewalks soak up and radiate sunlight. The concentration of people, cars and machinery also act to elevate temperatures.

“We are worried about cities because that’s where the majority of the population is,” said Eleni Myrivili.

UN-Habitat recently appointed Myrivili as its Global Chief Heat Officer to spearhead heat response and resilience measures in cities around the globe.

Myrivili also works with the Arsht-Rock on the Heat Action Platform, a tool for city officials to reduce the human and economic impacts of extreme heat, developed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

As seen earlier this year in India and Pakistan, the heatwaves baking so many countries are becoming hotter, longer and more frequent as a result of a changing climate.

Climate experts have long warned of rising temperatures and increased risks for human health and infrastructure. The 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report painted a grim picture of what unchecked global warming looks like: increased heatwaves, longer warm seasons and shorter cold seasons.

According to the Cool Coalition, a global effort on efficient, climate-friendly cooling assembled by UNEP, extreme temperatures kill 5 million people a year, with heat-related deaths rising.

“At 1.5°C of warming, 2.3 billion people could be both exposed and vulnerable to heatwave events, with negative impacts on health and productivity,” said Mark Radka, Chief of UNEP’s Energy and Climate Branch. ”Without action, in 2030, an estimated 80 million full-time jobs could be lost worldwide due to heat stress, resulting in economic losses of USD 2.3 trillion.”

Myrivili sees the challenges facing cities as two urgent priorities that need to be pursued simultaneously. The short-term goal, she says, is to save lives by helping vulnerable communities stay cool during heatwaves. Moving forward, the long term goal is building resilience to climate change by cooling cities sustainably and bringing nature back into urban areas.

“Trees are the protagonists when it comes to cooling,” said Myrivili. “Creating forests within cities and green corridors are an effective way to shift airmass to cool large areas within a city.”

UNEP data finds that simply planting trees on city streets would give 77 million people a 1°C reprieve on hot days.

“Redesigning urban landscapes with more vegetation and water and implementing passive cooling strategies to improve thermal performance and reduce energy consumption in buildings are key to making cities more resilient to heatwaves,” said Jonathan Duwyn, head of the Cities Unit at UNEP.

UNEP has long championed sustainable solutions for cooling urban areas, working with cities in India, VietNam and Cambodia to develop environmentally-friendly cooling strategies and supporting district-level cooling systems in countries such as Egypt.

The buildings and construction sector is considered key to achieving the climate mitigation and adaptation targets set out in the Paris Agreement by 2050.

Keeping cities at livable temperatures whilst dealing with the climate crisis is one of the biggest issues facing governments. From cooling pavement in Tokyo to green eco-roofs in Toronto, cities around the world are experimenting with new and sustainable ways to keep cool.

Meanwhile, in the Greek capital Athens—hit hard by multiple droughts and ever-increasing temperatures—city officials are renovating a historic aqueduct that dates back to the Roman era to irrigate green corridors in the city.

However, these construction projects require not only great political will on the part of elected officials, but also considerable public and private investments.

Myrivili says her work as UN-Habitat’s first Global Chief Heat Officer will be guided by the question: How do we use our natural resources much more cleverly and more sustainably to increase heat resilience in cities?

These are difficult questions whose answers will require not only a whole-system approach to sustainable urban cooling but reimagining our very notion of what a city looks like, she said.

Source: UNEP

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