Net zero – site de știri și informații utile

More than 60% of European soils are unhealthy, and the situation is deteriorating. Poor management, pollution, and climate change are major causes, leading to significant costs in terms of lost services and biodiversity. Degraded soils limit vital services like food production, carbon storage, and water regulation, impacting farmers and food quality. This strains healthy soils and hinders disaster response, climate goals, biodiversity, food security, and public health. Urgent action is needed. Unlike air and water, soils lack equivalent legal protection in the EU. The European Parliament, stakeholders, and citizens urge the Commission to create a legal framework for soil protection. The EU Soil Strategy for 2030 commits to proposing legislation in 2023, aiming to...

The global situation involves a triple crisis: biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, accompanied by rising worries about people's physical and mental health. Nature provides essential services like pollination and crop growth, as well as intangible benefits such as quality of life, well-being, and happiness. Access to green spaces and exposure to biodiversity-rich environments contribute to well-being. The quality of engagement with

The Biden administration plans to allocate $1.2 billion to construct the first two commercial-scale carbon dioxide vacuuming plants, aiming to combat global warming. This technology shows promise for some scientists, but skeptics view it as wasteful spending. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm revealed plans to finance two pilot projects for direct air capture technology.

The EU Commission is providing €3.6 billion to 41 clean tech projects through the EU Innovation Fund. These projects align with the REPowerEU Plan and aim to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuel imports. Industries like cement, steel, advanced biofuels, sustainable aviation fuels, wind, solar energy, and renewable hydrogen will benefit from this funding. The initiative will facilitate the transition to green practices in challenging-to-decarbonize sectors of the European economy. The chosen projects span 15 EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain ,Sweden) and Norway. These projects, set to be operational by 2030, could collectively prevent 221 million tonnes of CO2 emissions within their initial decade of operation. The 41 projects...

Europe is experiencing more extreme weather due to climate change, raising concerns about this summer's potential for heat waves, droughts, floods, and forest fires. The outlook is pessimistic based on recent trends. Adapting to climate change and improving preparedness are essential in light of these challenges. Heatwaves. Heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent, intense, and widespread in Europe, as observed in the summer of 2022. This trend is projected to persist in all climate scenarios. Southern Europe could experience over 60 days of summer with health-risk temperatures, leading to more deaths and hospitalizations, especially among the elderly and vulnerable. Urgent adaptation measures are needed due to...

Based on ERA5 data from Copernicus C3S (Copernicus Climate Change Service), July's initial three weeks are the warmest ever recorded, with the month likely to be the hottest July and month on record. This extreme heat has caused heatwaves across North America, Asia, and Europe, leading to health, environmental, and economic consequences, coupled with significant wildfires in Canada and Greece. July 6 marked the hottest day ever recorded, surpassing the 2016 record, with July 5 and 7 also very warm. Global temperatures briefly exceeded the 1.5°C threshold above preindustrial levels in the first and third weeks. Since May, sea surface temperatures have been consistently higher than...

According to new research, an area of tropical forest roughly the size of Switzerland was lost in 2022 alone. This staggering discovery shows that the political commitment of world leaders at COP26 to end deforestation is falling woefully short. The study reveals that approximately 11 football pitches of forest were lost every minute last year, with Brazil being the primary contributor to deforestation. However, there was a significant reduction in forest loss in Indonesia and Malaysia, demonstrating it is possible to buck the trend. The COP26 meeting in 2021 saw over 100 world leaders, including former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, sign the Glasgow Declaration on forests, pledging to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. Despite...

Air pollution is a major cause of premature death globally. It contributes to various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including lung cancer, asthma, and heart attacks. Health risks associated with air pollution disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and low-income communities. What’s more, air pollution has significant socioeconomic implications. It leads to reduced labor productivity due to increased sick days and decreased cognitive function. Additionally, the healthcare costs associated with air pollution-related illnesses can strain healthcare systems and hinder economic progress. Addressing air pollution requires collaboration and coordination among countries, stakeholders, and international organizations. The World Bank emphasizes the importance of partnerships to share knowledge, best practices, and resources. This includes research, technological innovation, ...

The government of India has given approval for the installation of 10 new nuclear reactors in five states. The decision was made to enhance the country's nuclear power capacity and address its growing energy demands. The reactors will be set up in the states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka. Power plants at Kaiga, Chutka, and Gorakhpur will each receive two new reactors. Meanwhile Mahi Banswara will see itself equipped with as many as four reactors. Other sites have also been approved ‘in principle’ by Indian authorities for future nuclear power plants. The installation of these new reactors is expected to significantly boost India's nuclear power capacity. Nuclear energy is considered a clean and reliable source of electricity generation, and it plays a crucial role in reducing...

The fashion industry has long lacked in sustainability for its heavy reliance on fossil fuel-based materials. To combat this problem, scientists and researchers are actively working on developing alternative fibers that are more eco-friendly. One approach is the exploration of plant-based fibers. Fibers derived from plants, wood and even fruits are gaining popularity due to their renewable nature and lower environmental impact compared to traditional, fossil fuel-based materials. These plant-based fibers are also noted to require fewer pesticides, fertilizers, and water to grow, making them overall more sustainable options for clothing production. Another exciting avenue is the development of lab-grown or bioengineered fibers. For instance, spider silk...