Innovation is a political priority across Europe that can deliver many benefits for society but also generate costs that are often unaccounted for. A European Environment Agency briefing, published this week, looks at how innovation can respond to sustainability challenges and how Europe needs to look for solutions beyond technological innovation. Innovating for sustainability … Continue reading New EEA briefing on the importance of innovation for sustainability
Category: environment
Forty years of conflict have left many Afghans on the edge of survival — and highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change
The past 30 years have brought flood, drought and hunger to Afghanistan. With the Taliban sweeping to power, many within and outside of the country wonder how to deal with looming climate disaster. Jennifer Collins discusses the situation in Afghanistan in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Amid Taliban takeover, climate change could … Continue reading Forty years of conflict have left many Afghans on the edge of survival — and highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change
The impact of bottled water on natural resources is 3,500 times higher than for tap water
In the US, 17m barrels of oil are needed to produce the plastic to meet annual bottled water demand. In addition, bottled water in the UK is at least 500 times more expensive than tap water. Drinking tap water is worse for local health in Barcelona, but when you weigh both, what you gain from … Continue reading The impact of bottled water on natural resources is 3,500 times higher than for tap water
From the EEA: waste generation and decoupling in Europe
Between 2010 and 2018, total waste generation increased by 5% (114 million tonnes) in the EU-27 according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). When major mineral wastes are excluded from the total, it increased by 7% (50.3 million tonnes). This means that the EU-27 is not on track to meet its policy goal of reducing … Continue reading From the EEA: waste generation and decoupling in Europe
New EEA assessments on urban environmental change
European cities have the potential to lead the way towards green, sustainable future, according to two assessments on urban environmental change, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) recently. Cities play pivotal roles in shifting to green, sustainable future Cities face huge challenges in trying to shift to a greener future in the wake … Continue reading New EEA assessments on urban environmental change
Lessons from conflict and environmental pressures in the Eastern Mediterranean region
Andrea Duffy, Director of International Studies at the Colorado State University and an environmental historian discusses the lessons learned from episodes in Mediterranean history that share key features that offer a warning for the future in an article on The Conversation website. What the Ottoman Empire can teach us about the consequences of climate … Continue reading Lessons from conflict and environmental pressures in the Eastern Mediterranean region
Many buildings could be transformed or redeployed through adaptive reuse for much-needed housing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we use buildings has changed. Many have been working from home. Shops and other buildings have closed or become unused for one reason or another. Norman Day, Lecturer in Architecture, Practice and Design, At Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology writes on The Conversation website about how these buildings can … Continue reading Many buildings could be transformed or redeployed through adaptive reuse for much-needed housing
Impact of environmental taxes in the UK
A report from the UK National Audit Office acknowledges the benefits of taxation on organisations but questions what specific effects they achieve. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, discusses the issues in an article in the April 2021 issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Environmental taxes work – but we’re … Continue reading Impact of environmental taxes in the UK
Sustainable development starts with our health
An EiD follower recently wrote that this article about men’s health is vitally important for EiD readers. It isn’t on energy but it certainly covers sustainable development that is important to all of us. Erin Brokovich, the well-known an American legal clerk and environmental activist, writes on The Guardian website that toxic chemicals are harming … Continue reading Sustainable development starts with our health
Tackling “planned obsolescence” of electric goods
Britain is considering how it can tackle the number of products that end up in landfill. Ministers are also looking at laws to force manufacturers to make spare parts available for at least seven years and encourage repairs rather than replacement of broken products. Andrew Ellson discusses latest developments in an article on The Times … Continue reading Tackling “planned obsolescence” of electric goods
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 