What could a sustainable Europe look like in 2050? A European Environment Agency (EEA) web report, published this week, presents four ‘imaginaries’, or scenarios, offering strongly contrasting approaches to achieving Europe’s socio-economic and environmental goals. The report is based on co-creative work by the EEA and its network (Eionet). What could a sustainable Europe … Continue reading New EEA report sets out four engaging, plausible and clearly contrasting images of a sustainable Europe in 2050
Read all about it – important new publications
New JRC report – Prosumerism and energy sustainability This report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre develops a sociotechnical understanding of energy prosumerism to investigate how energy prosumerism can lead to actual reductions of energy and resource demand. The report starts out by explaining what a sociotechnical and broad understanding of prosumerism means. Thereafter, … Continue reading Read all about it – important new publications
The largest ever ban of toxic chemicals announced by European Commission
Thousands of the most notorious chemicals will be rapidly banned in Europe, the European Commission announced last week, as part of the Zero-pollution goal in the EU Green Deal. Michael Warhurst discusses the new roadmap in an article on the Chemtrust website. New EU roadmap proposes action to ban some of the most hazardous … Continue reading The largest ever ban of toxic chemicals announced by European Commission
The world is getting louder, and the rise in noise pollution is hurting people, animals and even plants
The rumble of road traffic and trains, the bustle of the bar downstairs or the roar of a plane taking off – noise is a problem that is increasingly hurting health and disrupting ecosystems. Tim Schauenberg writes on the Deutsche Welle website about the impact and what can be done to lower the noise. … Continue reading The world is getting louder, and the rise in noise pollution is hurting people, animals and even plants
New enzyme invented that breaks down plastic waste in hours
The new recycling process could revolutionise how big industry reuses materials according to an article by Jane Dalton on The Independent website. Scientists invent enzyme that can break down plastic waste in ‘hours instead of centuries’ Scientists have invented an enzyme variant they say can break down plastic waste in just hours or days … Continue reading New enzyme invented that breaks down plastic waste in hours
What African cities need to do to provide children protection from the impacts of the climate crisis
Rongedzayi Fambasayi, Doctoral Researcher: Faculty of Law, North-West University, South Africa, provides a strong argument why cities need to play a stronger role in protecting children from the effects of climate change in an article on The Conversation website. African cities can do more to protect children from climate change Six in 10 people … Continue reading What African cities need to do to provide children protection from the impacts of the climate crisis
Researchers have invented a desalination device that can turn seawater into drinking water at the push of a button
New technology can zap salt water to ensure good quality and do it almost instantaneously. Anthony Cuthbertson discusses the new innovation in an article on The Independent website. New invention turns seawater into drinking water at the push of a button Researchers have invented a desalination device that can turn seawater into drinking water … Continue reading Researchers have invented a desalination device that can turn seawater into drinking water at the push of a button
How human heat can best be used to warm buildings
Amin Al-Habaibeh, Professor of Intelligent Engineering Systems at Nottingham Trent University, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses how human body heat can be used to adjust temperatures. He said we can develop “smart buildings” able to adjust their heating based on the number of people in a room and the expected resulting increase … Continue reading How human heat can best be used to warm buildings
New EEA briefing on carbon storage and sequestration potential of Europe’s many land and marine habitats
What is the carbon storage and sequestration potential of Europe’s many land and marine habitats? A first scoping analysis, published recently by the European Environment Agency (EEA), found that forests and wetlands can play an important role in storing carbon but doing so should take account of potential impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. … Continue reading New EEA briefing on carbon storage and sequestration potential of Europe’s many land and marine habitats
The New Zealand government releases plans to prepare the country for the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis: sea level rise, floods, massive storms and wildfires
Tess McClure writes on The Guardian website about the government’s proposals to prepare the country for more floods, massive storms and wildfires include building away from high-risk areas and protecting cultural sites. New Zealand unveils plan to tackle climate crisis by adapting cities to survive rising seas The New Zealand government has released new … Continue reading The New Zealand government releases plans to prepare the country for the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis: sea level rise, floods, massive storms and wildfires
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 