EBRD Backs Serbia’s Upgrade of Agricultural Infrastructure

27.12.2021

irrigation-zalivanje-voda-hran — Photo-illustration: Pixabay

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is supporting Serbia’s efforts to upgrade its agricultural infrastructure and make it more climate resilient. A EUR 15 million EBRD loan will finance the construction of modern irrigation infrastructure in Vojvodina region, making agriculture in Serbia’s “breadbasket” more resistant to weather factors.

The financing will enable the introduction of efficient irrigation technology near Borkovac and Pavlovac reservoirs in Fruska Gora, as well as fresh water supply from the Sava River with restoration of the reservoirs ground. The new infrastructure will enable top-up irrigation during the peak dry season and provide sufficient water for around 3,500 hectares of land in the Ruma and Sremska Mitrovica municipalities, which is mostly covered by orchards and vineyards.

This is the second loan the EBRD is extending to the country for upgrades to its agricultural infrastructure, following a EUR 15 million loan in 2019 for the construction of irrigation services in Svilajnac and Negotin, scheduled for implementation in 2022.

Miljan Ždrale, Regional Head of Agribusiness, South East Europe, EBRD, said: “Building climate resilient infrastructure will allow the farmers in Vojvodina to better plan their production and with more security. Better access to irrigation services will also allow them to increase their expected crop yields and their income.”

As part of the project, the EBRD will help the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management to develop a new training programme on efficient irrigation technology for local farmers, also targeting women, with a view to increasing their employment potential and creating new job opportunities for them.

The investment also entails the preparation of the first irrigation strategy in Serbia, aiming to ensure sustainable, demand-driven and efficient irrigation for enhanced and climate-smart agriculture. The national strategy, developed for a ten-year period, will be complemented by a five-year action plan and priority irrigation investments for the period until 2030. The assignment is implemented jointly with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Formal approval of the Irrigation Strategy and the Action Plan is expected by mid-2022. Once adopted, the Strategy will pave the way to pursuing a meaningful reform agenda by improving efficiency in managing the irrigation sector and introducing more commercial principles.

Accounting for 9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and 17 percent of employment, the agricultural and food-processing industry plays a vital role in the Serbian economy. However, the sector suffers from underinvestment and outdated technology, while water supply systems are often vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as drought, flooding or exceptionally harsh winters.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Serbia. The Bank has invested more than EUR 6.9 billion in 296 projects in the country to date. The Bank’s focus in Serbia is on private-sector development, improving public utilities and facilitating the country’s transition to a green economy.

Source: EBRD

Dragonflies Threatened as Wetlands Around the World Disappear

26.12.2021

The destruction of wetlands is driving the decline of dragonflies worldwide, according to the first global assessment of these species in today’s update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Their decline is symptomatic of the widespread loss of the marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers they breed in, mostly driven by the expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation around the world.

With today’s update, the number of species at risk of extinction on the Red List has exceeded 40,000 for the first time. The IUCN Red List now includes 142,577 species of which 40,084 are threatened with extinction.

“By revealing the global loss of dragonflies, today’s Red List update underscores the urgent need to protect the world’s wetlands and the rich tapestry of life they harbour. Globally, these ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests,” said Dr Bruno Oberle, IUCN Director General. “Marshes and other wetlands may seem unproductive and inhospitable to humans, but in fact they provide us with essential services. They store carbon, give us clean water and food, protect us from floods, as well as offer habitats for one in ten of the world’s known species.”

The assessment of the world’s dragonflies and damselflies reveals that 16 percent out of 6,016 species are at risk of extinction, as their freshwater breeding grounds increasingly deteriorate. In South and Southeast Asia, more than a quarter of all species are threatened, mostly due to the clearing of wetland and rainforest areas to make room for crops such as palm oil. In Central and South America, the major cause of dragonflies’ decline is the clearing of forests for residential and commercial construction. Pesticides, other pollutants and climate change are growing threats to species in every region of the world, and are the greatest threats to dragonflies in North America and Europe.

“Dragonflies are highly sensitive indicators of the state of freshwater ecosystems, and this first global assessment finally reveals the scale of their decline. It also provides an essential baseline we can use to measure the impact of conservation efforts,” said Dr Viola Clausnitzer, Co-chair of the IUCN SSC Dragonfly Specialist Group. “To conserve these beautiful insects, it is critical that governments, agriculture and industry consider the protection of wetland ecosystems in development projects, for example by protecting key habitats and dedicating space to urban wetlands.”

Source: IUCN

Plastic Planet: How Tiny Plastic Particles are Polluting our Soil

25.12.2021

zemlja_biljke — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Jan Kopřiva)

The millions of tons of plastic swirling around the world’s oceans have garnered a lot of media attention recently. But plastic pollution arguably poses a bigger threat to the plants and animals – including humans – who are based on land.

Very little of the plastic we discard every day is recycled or incinerated in waste-to-energy facilities. Much of it ends up in landfills, where it may take up to 1,000 years to decompose, leaching potentially toxic substances into the soil and water.

Researchers in Germany are warning that the impact of microplastics in soils, sediments and freshwater could have a long-term negative effect on such ecosystems. They say terrestrial microplastic pollution is much higher than marine microplastic pollution – estimated at four to 23 times higher, depending on the environment.

The researchers conclude that, although little research has been carried out in this area, the results to date are concerning: fragments of plastic are present practically all over the world and can trigger many kinds of adverse effects.

The study estimates that one third of all plastic waste ends up in soils or freshwater. Most of this plastic disintegrates into particles smaller than five millimetres, known as microplastics, and these break down further into nanoparticles (less than 0.1 micrometre in size). The problem is that these particles are entering the food chain.

Sewage

Sewage is an important factor in the distribution of microplastics. In fact, between 80 percent and 90 percent of the plastic particles contained in sewage, such as from garment fibres, persist in the sludge, says the study. Sewage sludge is often applied to fields as fertilizer, meaning that several thousand tons of microplastics end up in our soils each year. Microplastics can even be found in tap water.

Moreover, the surfaces of tiny fragments of plastic may carry disease-causing organisms and act as a vector for diseases in the environment. Microplastics can also interact with soil fauna, affecting their health and soil functions. “Earthworms, for example, make their burrows differently when microplastics are present in the soil, affecting the earthworm’s fitness and the soil condition,” says an article in Science Daily about the research.

Toxic effects

In 2020, the first-ever field study to explore how the presence of microplastics can affect soil fauna was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. The paper notes that terrestrial microplastic pollution has led to the decrease of species that live below the surface, such as mites, larvae and other tiny creatures that maintain the fertility of the land.

Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources, and also the ecosystem. This can cause a range of potentially harmful effects on the species that drink the water.

Generally speaking, when plastic particles break down, they gain new physical and chemical properties, increasing the risk that they will have a toxic effect on organisms. And the larger the number of potentially affected species and ecological functions, the more likely it is that toxic effects will occur.

Chemical effects are especially problematic at the decomposition stage. Additives such as phthalates and Bisphenol A (widely known as BPA) leach out of plastic particles. These additives are known for their hormonal effects and can disrupt the hormone system of vertebrates and invertebrates alike. In addition, nano-sized particles may cause inflammation, traverse cellular barriers, and even cross highly selective membranes such as the blood-brain barrier or the placenta. Within the cell, they can trigger changes in gene expression and biochemical reactions, among other things.

The long-term effects of these changes have not yet been sufficiently explored. “However, it has already been shown that when passing the blood-brain barrier nanoplastics have a behaviour-changing effect in fish,” according to the Leibnitz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries.

How do microplastics get into our water?

One of the main sources is our clothing. Minuscule fibres of acrylic, nylon, spandex, and polyester are shed each time we wash our clothes and are carried off to wastewater treatment plants or discharged to the open environment.

According to a recent study cited by Water World in 2016, more than 700,000 microscopic plastic fibres could be released into the environment during each cycle of a washing machine. This has not yet been studied in the case of handwashing, which is more common in developing counties, but the effects could be significant there as well.

Another study commissioned in the same year by clothing company Patagonia and conducted by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that washing a single synthetic jacket just once released an average of 1.7 grams of microfibres.

In 2019, it was estimated that 1.5 million trillion microfibers were present in the oceans around the world.

Microbeads

Microbeads are solid plastic particles that typically range from 10 micrometers (0.00039 inches) up to 1 millimeter (0.039 inches).

Numerous countries around the world have introduced legislation to ban the manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads. Such laws have already been passed in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

In May 2018, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its Global Soil Partnership, the World Health Organization, the Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) organized the Global Symposium on Soil Pollution (GSOP18) to bring together science and policy to understand the status, causes, impacts and solutions to soil pollution. The outcome document of the symposium, ‘Be the solution to soil pollution’ paved the way to the implementation of a coordinated set of actions to #StopSoilPollution.

In 2021, FAO and UNEP teamed up again to launch the Global Assessment of Soil Pollution, which details the risks and impacts of soil pollution on human health, the environment and food security.

Source: UNEP

IMMOFINANZ to reach emission-free status by 2040

24.12.2021

IMMOFINANZ is making an important contribution to the fight against climate change with its new Net Zero Emission Strategy. Plans call for a reduction of 60 percent (below the 2019 level) in all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 – and by 2040, this leading European commercial real estate company intends to be emission-free along the entire value chain. That means IMMOFINANZ will clearly exceed the goal set by the European Union to attain climate neutrality by 2050.

The real estate sector plays a decisive role in the fight against the steadily progressing climate change. Roughly 40 percent of worldwide emissions are attributable to the construction or operation of buildings. In order to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C, numerous measures are urgently needed. IMMOFINANZ, as one of the leading commercial real estate companies in Europe, has accepted this responsibility and intends to become emission free by 2040.

“The acute climate crisis and the related ecological impact are the most pressing challenges of our time, and we are all called on to act. We have therefore set an ambitious goal to become emission-free in all areas of our company by 2040. That reflects our commitment to accept responsibility for mankind and our environment as well as our intention to play a leading role in the sustainable transformation of our industry”, commented Dietmar Reindl, COO of IMMOFINANZ, on the company’s ambitious sustainability programme.

IMMOFINANZ‘s Net Zero Emission Strategy includes solid and specific targets and milestones. The most important goals are to reduce all climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. CO2, methane etc.) by 60 percent below the 2019 level by 2030 and to make the common areas and portfolio space managed by IMMOFINANZ emission-free. The entire value chain is projected to be emission-free by 2040, i.e. including construction and refurbishing measures.

Tenants will be supported in reaching net zero emission status. All greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced, and only technologically unavoidable residual emissions will be neutralised through compensation measures. The timetable will be reviewed at five-year intervals up to 2040 to drive the related measures, utilise opportunities and give customers, tenants and investors a clear impression of the status of target attainment.

Green technologies for more energy efficiency IMMOFINANZ has defined a wide-ranging programme of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, in doing so, meet these ambitious goals. For example: Each year; at least 5 percent of the property portfolio will undergo extensive energy efficiency refurbishment.

IMMOFINANZ will also significantly increase its own renewable energy production by installing photovoltaic equipment on the rooftops of the STOP SHOP retail parks and equipping all new locations with photovoltaic systems.

The myhive office buildings and VIVO! shopping centers will be outfitted with photovoltaic equipment where possible and depending on the location. External electricity supplies will be converted to 100 percent renewable energy sources and the purchase of fossil fuels will be terminated.

Energy-saving lighting systems will be installed throughout the entire portfolio in the future, and refrigerants with a high greenhouse gas potential will be replaced. The use of smart technologies for all properties will be massively expanded, including the digitalisation of consumption in all areas.

IMMOFINANZ is in close contact with its tenants and will support them in converting to sustainable utilization. Transition to a circular economy The transformation to a circular economy is a further key element of the Net Zero Emission Strategy. In the future, recycled materials that can be purchased locally will be used in our renovation, refurbishment and new construction projects. A broad-based waste management system will be introduced to precisely review existing disposal contracts and develop new guidelines.

IMMOFINANZ is also preparing emission-free application standards that will drastically reduce the amount of released carbon and so-called “grey emissions” during project development and extensive renovations. Biodiversity and careful resource management IMMOFINANZ has set a goal to significantly reduce water consumption. Water-saving fittings will be installed throughout the entire portfolio and rainwater utilisation systems will be integrated in all new projects.

The biodiversity programme includes the design of green areas at the IMMOFINANZ properties to support the local ecosystem. These plans will be part of new property development in the future, whereby no pesticides will be used to maintain the green areas. Innovative real estate solutions for more sustainability IMMOFINANZ expects to implement its sustainability activities through specific real estate projects in the office, retail and residential businesses.

Initial projects include the myhive Urban Garden in Vienna and the first TOP on STOP apartments in Austria, Slovakia and Serbia. My hive Urban Garden: The successful myhive office brand will be expanded to include an “urban garden” concept. It is characterised by numerous green areas, state-of-the-art economical technologies and the highest possible sustainability certification (BREEAM).

Green facades, terraced landscapes, gardens and green oases in the offices will create a feel-well atmosphere and an attractive microclimate for tenants, who will also be asked to commit to careful energy consumption and the minimisation of waste. The myhive Urban Garden will offer tenants a perfect work & life balance and, at the same time, support IMMOFINANZ’s efforts in the interest of the Net Zero Emission Strategy.

TOP on STOP: IMMOFINANZ is creating affordable, sustainable living space with its TOP on STOP concept. On the single-storey STOP SHOP retail parks, up to 12,000 apartments will be built in modular wood construction according to the highest sustainability and energy saving standards and with affordable rents for many residents. This resource-conserving approach will make an important contribution to the fight against climate change, ground sealing and the explosion in housing costs. International Science Based Target Initiative as a guideline to reduce emissions As part of its Net Zero Emission Strategy and a commitment to the internationally recognised Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), IMMOFINANZ has agreed to set scientifically based emission reduction goals for the entire value chain which will limit global warming to 1.5°C over the pre-industrial level.

The scientific approach applied by SBTi includes a validation programme. In agreement with the requirements defined by SBTi, IMMOFINANZ has focused its Net Zero Emission Strategy on the latest scientific findings. “We are convinced that we are on a very ambitious – but also a very right course with our net zero emission strategy. However, we realise that we can only meet these targets together with all our stakeholders. A focus on sustainability will strengthen our portfolio performance, protect our competitive advantages on the market, and generate long-term value for our shareholders. We are aware of our responsibility and well prepared to consistently implement this strategy”, added Dietmar Reindl in conclusion.

Source: Executive Group

A Healthy Environment as a Human Right in Coastal East Africa

24.12.2021

Afrika_drvo — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Damian Patkowski)

In October 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council recognized that having a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a human right. So what does this mean in practice – especially in places where economies, food security, and cultural identiy are interwoven with the ecoystems they depend on?

For the 12.3 million people employed in African fisheries and aquaculture—and whose work feeds millions more—it means they have greater standing to demand economic, social, and environmental policies that uphold their rights.

Coastal rights continue to be challenged by competing uses and increasing users. Similar to a “land grab”, wide-scale “ocean grabbing” is growing, as previously public or community-held ocean spaces and resources are reallocated, enclosed, and privatized. On the African coast, distant water fleets are already overfishing African waters—hurting small-scale fishers and exploiting the limited domestic or regional capacity to monitor the activities of these trawlers and enforce the law. Other industrial projects such as port development and oil and gas infrastructure have led to the displacement of fishing communities.

If policymakers commit to the right to a healthy environment as a policy goal, they would prioritize protection and restoration of the coastal ecosystems that underpin economic development and food security for these communities. Fulfillment of that one right could kick-off a beneficial cycle of prosperity, resilience, and opportunity. But it won’t happen by accident; targeted policies and investments are needed to ensure rights are secured and resilient economic development goes hand-in-hand with coastal protection.

Finding common ground

Across the coastal east Africa region, governance frameworks vary from one country to the next, but common to every country is the recognition of a co-management approach to deliver rights of small-scale fishers. As the name suggests, it involves sharing the responsibility and authority between governments and communities.

While co-management has been customary of many coastal communities for thousands of years and a living example of participatory democracy, policies are only now being adopted nationally. In Madagascar for example, the fisheries department adopted regulations in 2017 that empowers communities to manage coastal resources. Compared to a top-down approach, co-management relies on transparency and trust, merging science and traditional knowledge. This can be a challenge to achieve, but it rewards the additional effort with benefits for both people and nature.

WWF is proud to have supported coastal communities in securing their rights to resources and improving their management of those resources. Communities in Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar and Mozambique temporarily closed fisheries of octopus, a fast growing species. After the pause, which allowed the octopus to mature and reproduce, the communities saw massive increases in their catch and revenue during reef openings. This year, a fishery in Tanzania was able to sell its harvest for a 100-fold profit on previous years. “This is my first time ever to get a lot of money from fishing activities since I started fishing in 2019,” said one fisher.

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (jean wimmerlin)

In addition to sustainable fishing, a co-management approach can be applied to other economic activities like aquaculture and seaweed farming, as well as conservation and blue-carbon capture projects like protecting coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass. Coupled with microfinance tools, financial literacy and access to finance, such projects can help reduce communities’ dependency on dwindling inshore fisheries.

But there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Networks of coastal community-led organizations, nonprofits and governments need to come together to implement transformative approaches that will deliver large-scale, rights-based outcomes for both Africa’s people and the coastal ecosystems that support them.

The threat of ocean grabbing is real and imminent. It carries the risk of greater inequity, unfairness and exploitation of resources hidden under the guise of development. That threat must be met with a non-negotiable commitment to human rights — including the newly enshrined right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

WWF aims to help make that case until this right is a reality.

Source: WWF

The first scientific conference within the Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube

23.12.2021

trees-drveće-priroda — Photo-ullustration: Pixabay

The lifelineMDD online mid-term conference, organized by the project team at the end of November, gathered over 100 researchers, scientists, nature conservationists, water management representatives and other participants from Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia. The aim was to present the first results of the scientific studies commissioned within the project framework and conducted in the biosphere reserve and to discuss how those results can contribute to the management of biosphere reserve.

The first results of the field survey and analysis of collected data on fish and river birds in the 5-country river corridor were presented. Also, preliminary results of the studies on sediment balance and sediment mobilization were summarized and their implications explained. The first results of the combined hydrology and climate change study focused on the river system formed by the Mura, Drava, and Danube, have shown wide-ranging changes due to climate change effects to be expected throughout the biosphere reserve if no action is taken.

“We were excited to present and discuss the first results of our project’s scientific studies and were happy to see so many participants gathered from different sectors of the UNESCO 5-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube. Upon discussion of the results from such varying fields, but all connected to the biosphere reserve’s function as wetland lifeline and ecosystem corridor, we saw participants mainly agreeing on one key point: the urgent need for joint action towards integrated river restoration. The panel discussions bringing together experts of the different fields highlighted that there is plenty of evidence that river restoration can be very successful. This reinforces the fact that there is a high potential for recovery of the rivers if targeted restoration action is taken towards their improvement”, says WWF Adria project manager Ivana Korn Varga.

Scientific studies are the basis for the development of an integrated river restoration strategy and consequently for future restoration projects, while planned pilot restoration actions will have the direct and hopefully visible effect of improving connectivity and river dynamics. A direct effect of such connectivity improvement is the restoration or creation of typical riverine and wetland habitats within the UNESCO 5-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube.

A conference report and all presentations of the conference are available on the link – https://www.interreg-danube.eu/news-and-events/programme-news-and-events/7023

Source: WWF Adria

Santa Travels Electric!

22.12.2021

ABB charging stations are part of the country’s charging infrastructure which will power the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck as it travels from the north to the south of Italy, demonstrating e-vehicles can be a viable sustainable transport option.

Running from December 7th to 20th, as part of the Magic Tour Coca-Cola, the first 100 percent electric Coca-Cola truck tour will cover 1,300km, including stops in Milan, Bergamo, Naples and Catania. The state-of-the-art all electric Volvo truck will also stop at ABB sites to recharge in a sustainable way: a recharge of energy that comes from 100 percent renewable sources that have powered all ABB sites in Italy since 2019.

The Volvo FL Electric, chosen for its quietness and versatility in the urban environment, for its maneuverability and fluidity when driving, is perfect for the quick delivery of Christmas presents, up to 16.7 tons, thanks to the power of 200 kW (equivalent to 272 hp) provided by the four batteries that deliver 265kWh.

The Coca-Cola Christmas truck will utilize different charging technologies – from the fastest available in the world today, which ABB produces in its Italian factory in Valdarno for the global market, to fast chargers and wall boxes that can recharge electric vehicles during long stops, typically at night.

ABB will donate two charging stations to local municipalities where the Magic Tour will stop to support their transition to sustainable transport. The initiative is an integral part of ABB’s commitment to its 2030 Sustainability Strategy, which calls for a global transition to emissions reduction through the adoption of renewable energies, site energy efficiency improvements and the full electrification of its car fleet, which now numbers more than 10,000 vehicles. Alongside this commitment is the goal of supporting customers to reduce their emissions by 100 megatonnes of CO2 annually – the equivalent of taking 30 million combustion cars off the road.

Source: ABB

New Funds for Saint Nikola Wind Farm

21.12.2021

vetroelektrane_vetar — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Andrew Schultz)

To boost Bulgaria’s renewable energy sector, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has committed new funds to the 156 megawatt (MW) Saint Nikola wind farm located in the Kavarna region of northeast Bulgaria.

The Bank had supported the construction of Saint Nikola, Bulgaria’s largest wind farm, in 2008, with a EUR 119 million loan. The project was completed in 2010. The new EUR 32 million financing package, will refinance the remaining exposure on that loan and extend a new commitment of EUR 16 million.

The new EBRD funds will be complemented by an additional EUR 32 million in financing, split equally between two commercial banks.

In anticipation of the phase-out of coal in Bulgaria, Saint Nikola has committed to participating in a renewable energy studies programme at the Technical University of Varna.

With a focus on bringing about a greener, smarter energy future, the company will help develop a new, accredited course, in which its employees will share practical aspects of designing, constructing and operating a large wind park. Saint Nikola also plans to fund scholarships and offer internships to young people, with an emphasis on support for female students.

The EBRD is a major investor in Bulgaria, where it focuses on making local firms more competitive, both at home and abroad, financing modern, sustainable infrastructure and developing financial products and capital markets in light of the country’s plans to adopt the euro.

To date, the EBRD has invested more than EUR 4.2 billion in Bulgaria’s economy through more than 270 projects.

Source: EBRD

Sustainable Plastic Management is key to achieve Green Growth for Bangladesh

21.12.2021

plastic-plastika — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Sustainable management of plastic will be crucial for Bangladesh to tackle the increasing plastic pollution and ensure green growth, says a new World Bank Report.

The ‘Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh’ report provides a blueprint for managing plastic pollution over the short term (2022–2023), medium-term (2024–2026), and long-term (2027–2030), which will require an integrated cross-sectoral approach.

The National Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management focuses on circular use of plastic based on a 3R strategy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. A circular economy will help create new value chains, green skills, employment, and innovative products while addressing social and environmental challenges.

“With rapid growth and urbanization, Bangladesh faced a sharp increase in both plastic use and pollution. The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the problem of mismanaged plastic waste,” said Dandan Chen, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh. “Going forward, sustainable plastic management—from designing a product, to minimizing plastic use, to recycling—will be critical to ensure green growth for the country. We commend the government’s commitment to implement a National Action Plan to beat plastic pollution.”

The country’s annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas tripled to 9.0 kg in 2020 from 3.0 kg in 2005. Dhaka’s annual per capita consumption of plastic is 22.5 kg, significantly higher than the national average. COVID 19 pandemic has worsened plastic pollution, especially from single-use plastic used in masks, gloves, and Personal Protective Equipment. A large part of the plastic waste is dumped in water bodies and rivers.

The National Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management sets a target of recycling 50 percent of plastics by 2025, phasing out targeted single-use plastic by 90 percent by 2026, and reducing plastic waste generation by 30 percent by 2030 from 2020/21 baseline.

The plan, which is aligned with the 8th Five-year plan, was based on needs collectively identified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Department of Environment, private sector, and other stakeholders.

Source: The World Bank

From Birth to Ban: A History of the Plastic Shopping Bag

20.12.2021

mačka_plastične_kese — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Daniel Romero)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Roberta Errani)

A novelty in the 1970s, plastic shopping bags are now an omnipresent product found in every corner of the world. Produced at a rate of up to one trillion bags per year, they are showing up in the darkest depths of the ocean to the summit of Mount Everest to the polar ice caps. Being so widespread, plastic bags are intensifying some major environmental challenges.

So where did they come from and how did we reach this point?

1933 – Polyethylene, the most commonly used plastic, is created by accident at a chemical plant in Northwich, England. While polyethene had been created in small batches before, this was the first synthesis of the material that was industrially practical. Seeing its potential, it was initially used in secret by the British military during World War II.

1965 – The one-piece polyethylene shopping bag is patented by the Swedish company Celloplast. Designed by engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin, the plastic bag quickly begin to replace cloth and plastic in Europe.

1982 – Safeway and Kroger, two of the biggest supermarket chains in the United States, switch to plastic bags. Though they are yet to be fully accepted by shoppers, single-use plastic bags are cheaper than alternatives, and more stores begin to follow Safeway and Kroger’s switch. By the end of the decade, plastic bags will have almost entirely replaced paper bags around the world.

1997 – Sailor and researcher Charles Moore discovers the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest of several gyres in the world’s oceans where immense amounts of plastic waste have accumulated. Threatening marine life, this immense collection of marine litter and plastic pollution showcases the long-lasting and harmful effects of single-use plastic products.

2002 – Bangladesh is the first country in the world to implement a ban on thin plastic bags, after it was found they played a key role in clogging drainage systems during disastrous flooding. Other countries begin to follow suit.

2011 – Worldwide, one million plastic bags are consumed every minute.

2018 – As of July 2018, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that 127 out of 192 countries reviewed have enacted some form of national legislation to address the problem of plastic bags.

2018 – #BeatPlasticPollution is chosen as the theme of World Environment Day, hosted by India. Companies and governments around the world continue to announce new pledges to tackle plastic waste.

2019 – The European Union’s (EU) Directive on single-use plastics takes effect as the EU aims to lead the fight against marine litter and plastic pollution.

2020 – Recognizing its massive waste problem, China commits to strengthening national plastic pollution control, ushering in an era of single-use plastic reduction.

2022 – A major milestone turning the tide on plastic, the United States agrees to support a global treaty to combat ocean plastic pollution, setting the stage for international cooperation and action.

Source: UNEP

Coal power’s sharp rebound is taking it to a new record in 2021, threatening net zero goals

19.12.2021

coal_dumper_ugalj_kamion_mining_rudarstvo — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Bence Balla-Schottner)

The amount of electricity generated worldwide from coal is surging towards a new annual record in 2021, undermining efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and potentially putting global coal demand on course for an all-time high next year, the International Energy Agency said in its latest annual market report.

After falling in 2019 and 2020, global power generation from coal is expected to jump by 9 percent in 2021 to an all-time high of 10,350 terawatt-hours, according to the IEA’s Coal 2021 report, which was released today. The rebound is being driven by this year’s rapid economic recovery, which has pushed up electricity demand much faster than low-carbon supplies can keep up. The steep rise in natural gas prices has also increased demand for coal power by making it more cost-competitive.

Overall coal demand worldwide – including uses beyond power generation, such as cement and steel production – is forecast to grow by 6 percent in 2021. That increase will not take it above the record levels it reached in 2013 and 2014. But, depending on weather patterns and economic growth, overall coal demand could reach new all-time highs as soon as 2022 and remain at that level for the following two years, underscoring the need for fast and strong policy action.

“Coal is the single largest source of global carbon emissions, and this year’s historically high level of coal power generation is a worrying sign of how far off track the world is in its efforts to put emissions into decline towards net zero,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Without strong and immediate actions by governments to tackle coal emissions – in a way that is fair, affordable and secure for those affected – we will have little chance, if any at all, of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.”

Source: IEA

10 Ways You Can Help Fight the Climate Crisis

18.12.2021

sijalica_svetlo — Foto-ilustracija: Pixabay

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Callum Shaw)

The evidence is irrefutable: unless we act immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we will not be able to stave off the worst consequences of climate change.

The world is already 1.2°C warmer than pre-industrial times and every fraction of a degree counts. Research shows that with 2°C of global warming we will have more intense droughts and more devastating floods, more wildfires and more storms.

As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said at the recent UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), “Our fragile planet is hanging by a thread. We are still knocking on the door of climate catastrophe. It is time to go into emergency mode — or our chance of reaching net-zero will itself be zero.”

The outlook can seem depressing. But the good news is that there is a lot we can still do as individuals to change this narrative.

“The climate emergency demands action from all of us. We need to get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and everyone has a role to play,” said Niklas Hagelberg, UNEP’s Climate Change Coordinator. “We, as individuals, must change our consumption habits and pressure those who represent us – our employers, our politicians – to move rapidly to a low-carbon world.”

Here are 10 ways you can be part of the climate solution

1. Spread the word

Encourage your friends, family and co-workers to reduce their carbon pollution. Join a global movement like Count Us In, which aims to inspire 1 billion people to take practical steps and challenge their leaders to act more boldly on climate. Organizers of the platform say that if 1 billion people took action, they could reduce as much as 20 percent of global carbon emissions. Or you could sign up to the UN’s #ActNow campaign on climate change and sustainability and add your voice to this critical global debate.

2. Keep up the political pressure

Lobby local politicians and businesses to support efforts to cut emissions and reduce carbon pollution. Count Us In has some handy tips for how to do this. Pick an environmental issue you care about, decide on a specific request for change and then try to arrange a meeting with your local representative. It might seem intimidating but your voice deserves to be heard. If humanity is to succeed in tackling the climate emergency, politicians must be part of the solution. It’s up to all of us to keep up with the pressure.

3. Transform your transport

Transport accounts for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and across the world, many governments are implementing policies to decarbonize travel. You can get a head start: leave your car at home and walk or cycle whenever possible. If the distances are too great, choose public transport, preferably electric options. If you must drive, offer to carpool with others so that fewer cars are on the road. Get ahead of the curve and buy an electric car. Reduce the number of long-haul flights you take.

4. Rein in your power use

If you can, switch to a zero-carbon or renewable energy provider. Install solar panels on your roof. Be more efficient: turn your heating down a degree or two, if possible. Switch off appliances and lights when you are not using them and better yet buy the most efficient products in the first place (hint: this will save you money!). Insulate your loft or roof: you’ll be warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and save some money too.

5. Tweak your diet

Eat more plant-based meals – your body and the planet will thank you. Today, around 60 percent of the world’s agricultural land is used for livestock grazing and people in many countries are consuming more animal-sourced food than is healthy. Plant-rich diets can help reduce chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

6. Shop local and buy sustainable

To reduce your food’s carbon footprint, buy local and seasonal foods. You’ll be helping small businesses and farms in your area and reducing fossil fuel emissions associated with transport and cold chain storage. Sustainable agriculture uses up to 56 percent less energy, creates 64 percent fewer emissions and allows for greater levels of biodiversity than conventional farming. Go one step further and try growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs. You can plant them in a garden, on a balcony or even on a window sill. Set up a community garden in your neighbourhood to get others involved.

7. Don’t waste food

Photo-illustration Unsplash (Chantal Garnier)

One-third of all food produced is either lost or wasted. According to UNEP’s Food Waste Index Report 2021, people globally waste 1 billion tonnes of food each year, which accounts for around 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Avoid waste by only buying what you need. Take advantage of every edible part of the foods you purchase. Measure portion sizes of rice and other staples before cooking them, store food correctly (use your freezer if you have one), be creative with leftovers, share extras with your friends and neighbours and contribute to a local food-sharing scheme. Make compost out of inedible remnants and use it to fertilize your garden. Composting is one of the best options for managing organic waste while also reducing environmental impacts.

8. Dress (climate) smart

The fashion industry accounts for 8-10 percent of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined – and ‘fast fashion’ has created a throwaway culture that sees clothes quickly end up in landfills. But we can change this. Buy fewer new clothes and wear them longer. Seek out sustainable labels and use rental services for special occasions rather than buying new items that will only be worn once. Recycle pre-loved clothes and repair when necessary.

9. Plant trees

Every year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed and this deforestation, together with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We can all play a part in reversing this trend by planting trees, either individually or as part of a collective. For example, the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative allows people to sponsor tree-planting around the world.

Check out this UNEP guide to see what else you can do as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global drive to halt the degradation of land and oceans, protect biodiversity, and rebuild ecosystems.

10. Focus on planet-friendly investments

Individuals can also spur change through their savings and investments by choosing financial institutions that do not invest in carbon-polluting industries. This sends a clear signal to the market and already many financial institutions are offering more ethical investments, allowing you to use your money to support causes you believe in and avoid those you don’t. You can ask your financial institution about their responsible banking policies and find out how they rank in independent research.

Source: UNEP

Clear Opportunities to Decouple Europe’s Waste Generation From Economic Growth

17.12.2021

smeće-plastika-otpad — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Brian Yurasits)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Jasmin Sessler)

In most European countries and in the EU as a whole, waste generation is growing but at a slower pace than the economy. However, there are no signs that the overall objective of reducing the total generation of waste is close to being achieved, according to a European Environment Agency report published today. The report’s findings highlight opportunities to more effectively prevent waste, with textiles in the spotlight.

Preventing waste is a key part of Europe’s strategy in shifting to a resource-efficient and climate-neutral circular economy. Waste generation across Europe increased by 5.2 percent between 2014 and 2018, while GDP increased by 14.8 percent in the EU according to the EEA report ‘Progress towards preventing waste in Europe — the case of textile waste prevention.

The same data trends also show that the adoption of the first waste prevention programmes by countries, applicable in most EU countries from 2013 or earlier, was insufficient to decrease the amount of waste generated.

The analysis shows that waste generation is still very dependent on developments in the economy, but, overall, the EU has been able to achieve a waste generation growth lower than the economic growth, or a so-called relative decoupling. Still, more needs to be done to ensure that waste decreases in real terms in a growing economy. The adoption of concrete targets — a strong driver of policy making — would help consolidate prevention policy at EU and national level.

The EEA analysis looked at national waste prevention programmes and specifically waste streams in focus, indicators, targets, and measures to prevent waste. The review revealed that, as of this year, 10 out of the 32 countries examined do not have a waste prevention programme in place, as required by EU legislation.

Textile waste in focus

Textile waste would benefit greatly from improved measures to prevent waste , as this is a fast-growing, environmentally impactful waste stream associated with unsustainable consumption patterns. The average European generates approximately 11 kg of textile waste per year.

Preventing textile waste has great potential, mainly through reducing textile consumption, eco-design and ultimately reuse. To facilitate this, emphasis should be put on product design to promote durable and long-lasting materials, while support should be given to repair (e.g. with use of tax breaks) and reuse (e.g. through regulations).

New EEA briefing: trade of recyclable waste across Europe

A separate EEA briefing ‘Linking cross-border shipments of waste in the EU with the circular economy’, also published, looks at the state of play for the trading of non-hazardous, recyclable waste within the EU. The briefing, besides supporting the ongoing review by the European Commission of the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation, offers insights on recyclables trading in the EU as well as potential solutions to help ensure that waste is treated in the best possible way in line with the principles of the waste hierarchy.

More than 90 percent of waste generated in the EU is treated in the country in which it was generated, respecting the EU’s ‘proximity principle’ underpinning EU waste law. However, cross-border trading of non-hazardous, recyclable waste offers opportunities to find the environmentally-optimal treatment options, allowing good-quality secondary raw materials to be produced and respecting the principles of a circular economy.

Source: EEA

Energy Transition: from Commitment to Action

16.12.2021

The energy transition grounded in renewables delivers jobs and economic growth, underpins sustainable development, improves health and is among the most effective responses to climate change.

However, the transition must move much faster and international promises made at the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy and COP26 have to translate into concrete implementation and action.

The 12th IRENA Assembly will take place under the overarching theme of “Energy Transition: From Commitment to Action”. In this context, IRENA has launched a global campaign that aims to raise awareness about the transition, and encourage leaders and citizens to #ChooseAction.

IRENA invites everyone to join this campaign by showcasing how they #ChooseAction, retaining a laser sharp focus on how to accelerate the transition and pursue concrete, material progress towards a 1.5-degree future.

How can you take part in the #ChooseAction campaign?

1) Print out this image. Alternatively, you can write the hashtag #ChooseAction on a paper, a screen, an object, your hand… totally up to you! Just make sure that it’s visible on your photo!

2)Pose alone or together with your colleagues, family, friends.

3) Take a picture holding the image.

4) Head to Twitter and don’t forget to include #ChooseAction when tweeting your pic. Tell us how you have decided to choose action – do you drive an electric car? use solar lights in your garden? installed rooftop PV? Share your current actions or your plans with us.

Source: IRENA

Serbia Opens Energy, Environment and Climate Change Chapters Under EU Accession Process

16.12.2021

srbija — Foto-ilustracija: Unsplash (Ivan Aleksić)

The Energy Community Secretariat congratulates Serbia for its progress in the EU accession negotiation process and the opening of Cluster four (Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity) at the EU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference held yesterday in Brussels.

This cluster comprises four negotiating chapters: Chapter 14 on Transport Policy, Chapter 15 on Energy, Chapter 21 on Trans-European Networks and Chapter 27 on Environment and Climate Change.

The Secretariat will continue to provide support to Serbia in fulfilling its commitments under the Energy Community Treaty, and to promote its energy sector reforms on the pathway to further integration and decarbonisation.

The 2021 Annual Implementation Report published recently by the Energy Community Secretariat shows Serbia’s progress (and that of other Energy Community Contracting Parties) in implementation of the energy, environment and climate acquis, highlights the key challenges and makes recommendations for addressing these.

Source: Energy Community

EBRD Invests 5 Million Euros in Lithuanian Green Bond to Accelerate Regional Renewables

15.12.2021

solar-panel-renewable-energy — Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Andreas Gücklhorn)

Photo-illustration: Unsplash (Andreas Gucklhorn)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing 5 million euros in a 25 million euros Green Bond issued by UAB Atsinaujinančios Energetikos Investicijos (AEI). AEI is a Lithuanian fund and renewable energy developer managed by Lords LB Asset Management, with an operating portfolio of 68.1MW of solar assets in Poland and Lithuania and a project pipeline nearly ten times that size for construction in 2022-2024.

This is the first issuance under a 100 million euros AEI Green Bond Framework, to be listed on the Nasdaq Vilnius Stock Exchange. The EBRD’s participation will be 20 per cent of the first issuance of 25 million euros. The proceeds will finance renewable projects in Poland and Lithuania.

This will be one of the Bank’s first bond investments into a renewables developer at the holding company level, supplementing traditional project financing at the asset level. There is a growing demand for this type of instruments from both regional and local renewable energy developers, where corporate level indebtedness allows the developers to move up the life-cycle, taking construction risk and gradually becoming independent power producers.

Dynamic growth of the renewables sector is vital if EBRD countries of operation within the European Union, which are more carbon-intensive than the EU average, are to play their part in ambitious EU greening plans. The dominant theme in the European energy sector is the drive towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The EU has committed to a binding target of a net domestic reduction of at least 55 per cent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990, and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.The European Commission is aiming for a 40 per cent share of renewables in final energy consumption by 2030. These goals require massive investment in renewables in the coming decade, notably from the private sector.

EBRD participation should send a positive signal to other investors given the development bank’s strong credentials as a green investor. The EBRD aims to align all its investments with the goals of the Paris Agreement on limiting global warming to 1.5C by 2023, and make more than half its investments green by 2025.

The EBRD investment in AEI’s bond will support its roll-out into competitive mediumsized wind and solar projects in Poland and Lithuania, thus advancing AEI’s ambition to become a competitive mid-sized regional renewables player.

Source: EBRD

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