The biodiversity hit to economies is estimated at up to US$25 trillion a year, according to The Financial Times (behind a paywall). This is equivalent to one-quarter of global GDP lost annually because industries fail to factor in the damage their operations cause across systems. “Tackling biodiversity loss, climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 22, 2024
Category: environment
New EEA briefing on monitoring water quality in Europe
Concerns about PFAS pollution have increased in many European countries but comprehensive monitoring data are often limited. Published recently, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment shows that most monitored rivers, transitional and coastal waters and a large part of lakes in Europe are polluted with at least one of the many extremely persistent chemical compounds … Continue reading New EEA briefing on monitoring water quality in Europe
New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans
Extending product lifespans helps reduce demand for new products and their related environmental impacts. This briefing aims to improve our understanding and provide novel insights on trends in product lifespans in Europe. This assessment is based on seven indicators developed specifically for the EEA’s Circularity Metrics Lab’s thematic module on product lifespans. Product lifespans — monitoring trends … Continue reading New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans
New EEA assessment on Europe’s air quality health impact
Just under 240,000 deaths per year in the European Union can be attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, a key air pollutant, according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality health impact assessment published this week as the new EU rules enter into force. The latest data also confirm, yet again, that … Continue reading New EEA assessment on Europe’s air quality health impact
New briefings from the EEA on the status of the circular economy in Europe and highlighting the need for improving recycling quality
Europe has set ambitious goals to create a competitive circular economy that can be key in supporting innovation, decarbonisation and security. The transition is also needed to halt biodiversity loss and wasteful use of natural resources. Published this week, two briefings from the European Environment Agency show the status of circular economy and highlight the … Continue reading New briefings from the EEA on the status of the circular economy in Europe and highlighting the need for improving recycling quality
Blog by Sophie Elizabeth Carter: A look at important sustainability initiatives in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
For travel enthusiasts, exploring more of our wonderful planet falls high on the priority list. But tourism takes its toll on the environment, with global travel accounting for around 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. Luckily, more and more destinations are beginning to step up and boost the eco credentials of their tourism infrastructures, helping … Continue reading Blog by Sophie Elizabeth Carter: A look at important sustainability initiatives in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Pioneering the use of theatre, music and visual arts to research issues around plastic pollution
The global plastics treaty negotiations meeting this week remain on a knife edge. In an article on The Conversation website, Cressida Bowyer, Associate Professor in Arts and Sustainability, University of Portsmouth and Erika Hughes, Professor of Theatre for Social Change, University of Portsmouth discuss how creative arts can disrupt this process and bring about a … Continue reading Pioneering the use of theatre, music and visual arts to research issues around plastic pollution
New EEA briefing on first state of play on national surveillance for heat-related health impacts
Collecting timely and reliable data on the number of deaths and illnesses associated with heat are vital to deploy targeted emergency responses during heatwaves. Twenty of the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) 38 member and cooperating countries currently monitor heat impacts on health, according to an EEA briefing published this week. Impacts of heat on … Continue reading New EEA briefing on first state of play on national surveillance for heat-related health impacts
Energy in Demand News, November 17, 2024
It has been quite a first week at COP29. Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, defended Azerbaijan’s current exports of gas and plans to expand production told world leaders gathered in his country for COP29 that natural gas was a “gift from God” and he shouldn’t be blamed for bringing it to market. Kicking off the leaders’ … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 17, 2024
Energy in Demand News, November 10, 2024
The IEA’s Energy Efficiency 2024 report was published this week, just before COP29. Energy intensity improvements have decreased in the past year, even though nearly 200 countries agreed at COP28 to the goal of doubling the rate of progress, which would mean increasing intensity from 2% in 2022 to 4% by 2030. Yet, the IEA … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 10, 2024
