EkoNews
What Hapened on the Environmental Agenda? January 2023
You can listen to our "Eco-List-January'23" list on Spotify while reading monthly econews!
Politics
The Share of Nuclear Energy is Declining
According to reports, the share of nuclear energy in global electricity generation continues to decline. In Europe, Germany is preparing to shut down its last nuclear reactors, while China is leading the construction of new nuclear power plants. In Turkey, public opinion polls show that nuclear energy is the most undesirable form of electricity generation. Three out of every four people say they do not want a nuclear power plant where they live.
The data in the report shows that the share of nuclear energy in global electricity generation declined from 17.6 percent in 1996 to 10.06 percent in 2021. Of the 52 reactors under construction, 19 are delayed. Among the countries building new reactors, China stands out with 16 reactors, while Germany is preparing to join the ranks of nuclear-free countries by closing its three remaining nuclear reactors at the end of the year. Thus, the world's fourth largest economy will continue its nuclear-free path. The number of countries in the G7 that have given up on nuclear will increase to two (Italy and Germany).
Online Education Decision Due to Air Pollution by Tehran Governorate
Tehran Governorate announced that the education will be held online on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in some parts of Iran due to air pollution. The decision covers the capital Tehran, Elborz and parts of the provinces of Isfahan and Qazvin.
In the decision, it was stated that air pollution was around 165 and this number was unhealthy for all groups.
This situation does not only apply to students. At the same time, it was announced that pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 6 or primary school students, over 50, those with heart, lung and respiratory diseases, and employees with diabetes, rheumatism, high blood pressure and cancer will work remotely on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Exhaust gases from old-fashioned vehicles and commonly used motorcycles are among the factors that increase air pollution in Tehran, and Tehran is among the top three cities in air pollution.
A green hydrogen pipeline feeding France from Spain and Portugal will be extended to Germany
The H2Med submarine pipeline project, which is part of a new joint hydrogen roadmap announced by Paris and Berlin to accelerate investments in renewable and low-carbon energies, will be operational by 2030. According to Spanish officials, the pipeline is expected to carry up to 2 million metric tons of green hydrogen per year. This amount corresponds to 10% of the total consumption of the European Union.
In September 2022, the EU Commission approved EU public funding of 5.2 billion euros for hydrogen projects. Although hydrogen is thought to be a cleaner fuel for the future, it is estimated that the transition from natural gas to hydrogen will be quite difficult.
Business
The project, Urban ReLeaf, will develop nature-based solutions to increase urban green spaces and tackle climate change.
The project will pioneer a citizen-driven data ecosystem to adapt to climate change, develop green infrastructure and plan the optimal way to design urban green spaces. This effort could significantly reduce the impacts of global warming and increasing air pollution, and provide health benefits to citizens.
The research group consists of six cities, including Athens, Cascais, Dundee, Mannheim, Riga and Utrecht, as well as academic and private sector partners.
There are several initiatives supporting a nature-based approach to climate change, such as the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal. Despite this, making informed decisions remains a challenge for authorities due to a lack of reliable data. Urban ReLeaf will tackle this through Earth Observation, low-cost sensor networks and wearable technologies. The project kicked off on January 25th with a three-day workshop. Partners from 9 European countries will collaborate to advance citizen-powered science for inclusive urban green planning and policy.
Moonbike: Electric Snow Bike in the Alps
Moonbike, the world's first all-electric snow bike that looks like a snowmobile, has been test-driven in the Alps.
This French-designed vehicle with skis on the front and tractor tines on the back retails for €10,680 and can reach speeds of 26 miles per hour on a battery that lasts for three hours. Not only is this off-road EV three times lighter than a snowmobile, it also serves a circular purpose as you don't have to buy one. A ski resort in the Austrian Alps plans to make this snow bike available to visitors. The bike will not be allowed on regular ski slopes, but will be allowed in closed snow biking areas or on guided trails. Mario Bicocchi, who owns a bicycle rental company in Austria, told EuroNews that the snowmobile is easy to get used to and, because it is electric, it does not produce any noise or exhaust fumes. Dubbed the birth of snowtech by Forbes, the Moonbike is built in partnership with Bosch Marignier and has fewer than 200 parts with no chains or belts for easy maintenance and extremely low noise.
Integration of Renewable Energy into the Grid Project
The iPLUG project under Horizon Europe is developing power electronics solutions to integrate renewable energy, energy storage systems and loads into the distribution grid.
The iPLUG project aims to design a new generation of multi-port converters and develop methodologies to locate, size, operate and control multiple converters in distribution networks with high penetration of renewable energy sources and various alternating or direct current loads.
The results are expected to have a positive impact not only on the energy sector, but also on transportation and buildings.
Life
Eco-Anxiety as an increasingly widespread disorder
Following a record-breaking summer heatwave and dire warnings from the UN, 68% of Brits surveyed by YouGov said they were worried about climate change and its impacts. Looking at this survey in the UK and reactions from around the world, it is safe to say that eco-anxiety continues to spread around the world as a major concern.
*What is eco-anxiety and why do we experience it?
Defined as the feelings of stress and fear that many of us feel about the future of the planet, eco-anxiety is a rational response to crisis.
World's First Vertical Forest
Located in the heart of Milan's Porta Nuova district, Bosco Verticale, two residential towers in active use since 2014, is home to more than 21,000 trees, shrubs and perennials. The vegetation converts an average of 44,000 pounds of carbon each year, while reducing noise pollution from traffic on the street below. In an interview this month with Stefano Boeri, the architect of the Milan apartments where 300 people live in harmony with 21,000 trees, he described his fascination with trees with an analogy:
"When I was a child, I used to quote Italian writer Italo Calvino's novel 'The Baron in the Trees', which tells the story of a young duke who, at the age of 12, decides to leave his family and spend the rest of his life living in the branches of a forest."
This analogy may better explain the 64-year-old architect's fascination with nature - a fascination that led him to design the world's first vertical forest.
How to be Eco-Friendly in Coffee Consumption
Capsule machines have emerged in recent years as an easy way to prepare coffee at home. However, many people do not consider them environmentally friendly due to the difficulty of recycling disposable plastic or aluminum capsules. Researchers at the University of Quebec investigated the carbon footprint of a cup of coffee, taking into account its entire life cycle.
"Focusing the discussion on coffee pods obscures the most effective ways to reduce the carbon footprint associated with coffee consumption at the individual level," says Luciano Rodrigues Viana, one of the study's authors. "This is why assessments based on life cycle assessment (LCA) are of interest." Coffee capsules stand out as the greenest option because they ensure the optimum amount of coffee and water is used.
"I don't think capsules are a miracle solution, but they are a good example of our cognitive biases," says Luciano.
It is estimated that around two billion cups of coffee are consumed every day worldwide. Compared to traditional filter coffee, drinking one capsule of filter coffee (280 ml) saves between 11-13 grams of coffee, researchers say. Producing 11 grams of Arabica coffee in Brazil emits about 59 grams of CO2. This is much higher than the 27 grams of CO2e emitted for the production of coffee capsules and sending the resulting waste to landfill. These figures give an idea of the importance of avoiding the overuse and waste of coffee.
The researchers made the following recommendations to coffee consumers:
- Agriculture is the most polluting stage. For consumers to take action, they need to know where the problem lies. We need to ask ourselves what is behind our products.
- Not wasting coffee, water and energy is the most low-carbon path consumers can take.
The researchers added that while coffee consumers have a role to play in reducing their carbon footprint, the governments of coffee-producing countries and multinational corporations are primarily responsible for change.
References:
https://ekosfer.org/yeni-rapor-nukleer-enerjinin-elektrik-uretimindeki-payi-dusuyor-220426/
https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/urban-releaf-project-to-optimise-urban-green-spaces/29249/
https://inhabitat.com/worlds-first-electric-snowbike-hits-the-alps-this-year/
https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/distributing-renewable-energy-into-the-power-grid/29197/
https://theconversation.com/heres-how-your-cup-of-coffee-contributes-to-climate-change-196648
Elif Aslan
Cofounder
Elif Çora
Cofounder