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In a world first, Netherlands' Schiphol Airport will implement a flight cap starting in 2023 in hopes of reducing air pollution and noise.

Climate Home reported that Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands will permanently reduce the number of flights to reduce noise and improve air pollution. Environmental campaigners described the decision as a "historic breakthrough" that will help reduce emissions from the aviation industry. A 12% reduction compared to pre-pandemic levels will limit the maximum number of flights per year to 440,000. The Dutch Ministry of Transport stated in a statement on the 24th of last month that starting at the end of 2023, the maximum number of flights per year at Schiphol Airport, Europe's third-largest airport by passenger volume, will be limited to 440,000, a 12% reduction from 2019. Dutch Transport Minister Mark Harbers said in a statement that the purpose of the flight reduction is to "strike a balance between the operational status of international airports, the business environment, and a healthier living environment." The Dutch government said that Schiphol Airport, which is short of staff this year, must slow its growth as the country aims to reduce emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The Netherlands previously reduced the national vehicle speed limit to 100 kilometers per hour to reduce nitrogen pollution. "This is difficult news for the aviation industry, which is still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Habers. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) called the move "very damaging" and said it "does not conform to Schiphol's vision of serving as a strong hub." The airport said it supports a "thoughtful approach to connecting the Netherlands with the world, making Schiphol an increasingly quiet and clean airport." Environmentalists described it as "a world leader in innovation."

2022-07-11

Coca-Cola launches Taiwan's first "label-free" alkaline ionized water

How difficult is it to remove the plastic label from a PET bottle? This summer, Coca-Cola launched a new brand, "bonaqua," an industry-leading, first-of-its-kind "single-bottle, label-free" bottled product. Using innovative laser engraving technology, product information is directly engraved on the bottle, replacing the old bottle label, reducing plastic usage and making PET bottle recycling more convenient. In an interview, Taiwan Watch Secretary-General Xie Helin stated that laser engraving on the bottle does not require additional pigments, which increases recycling efficiency and is likely to be welcomed by PET bottle processors. The Environmental Protection Agency is also optimistic about this approach and has suggested that differential rates may be used to encourage industry adoption. The first label-free product sold in single bottles will have product information laser-engraved on the bottle. On June 29th, Coca-Cola held a press conference to announce the official launch of its first label-free, single-bottle product in Taiwan this summer. This "bonaqua Yi Yang" alkaline ionized water adopts a fully transparent design, with the brand logo presented in embossed form, and the product information is also engraved on the bottle using the industry's innovative laser engraving technology, and the sales barcode is printed on the top of the bottle cap instead. However, where is the sustainable future of "one less label"? Chen Zhengfeng, general manager of Coca-Cola Taiwan, explained that lasering product information on the bottle not only improves the convenience of recycling, but also successfully breaks the threshold that unlabeled products can only be sold in boxes in the past. It is currently the only unlabeled product on the market in Taiwan that can be sold individually. He said that rather than starting with lightweight packaging, the reason for choosing no label is "to give consumers a more intuitive feeling, and see that it is transparent."

2022-07-01

European Parliament approves 2035 ban on gasoline-powered vehicles; three climate bills pass second vote

The European Union has officially established a target of banning the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The European Parliament approved the proposal with a high vote on the 8th. Amidst a flurry of votes on bills related to the Green Deal, the passage of this proposal is a crucial victory for climate initiatives. Members of parliament from different factions proposed their own versions of the bill. For example, the center-right proposed a looser target of a 90% reduction in vehicle CO2 emissions by 2035; the European People's Party (EPP), the most conservative party, sought to exempt hybrid vehicles from the ban; and the Greens wanted to bring the ban forward to 2030. However, all these more conservative and more aggressive proposals were rejected. Pascal Canfin, chairman of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, tweeted: "Cars will be 100% zero-emission by 2035! I am very happy to see the vote on CO2 (emissions) standards. The position expressed by the European Parliament is consistent with our goal of achieving climate neutrality. This is an important victory." The European Parliament voted to firmly ban the sale of fuel vehicles in 2035. Currently, about 12% of greenhouse gases emitted by European countries come from cars. These emissions will exacerbate climate change and lead to more frequent and intense climate disasters such as heat waves, storms and floods. The bill to ban the sale of fuel vehicles, as well as another bill requiring countries to set up millions of charging stations, are both intended to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in Europe.

2022-06-29

Taiwan consumes 4 billion beverage cups annually. A NT$5 price difference policy is coming into effect. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates this could reduce the number of cups consumed by 580 million per year.

Bubble tea is a popular drink in Taiwan, and the shaken beverage industry is internationally renowned. However, according to the latest statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency, 4 billion disposable beverage cups are used annually in Taiwan, placing a significant burden on the recycling system. With the implementation of a NT$5 discount on bring-your-own beverage cups starting July 1st, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that this will reduce the use of beverage cups by 580 million per year, up from the current NT$1-3 discount of 150 million. Environmental Protection Agency data also shows that, unlike beverage shops, breakfast shops saw a significant increase in plastic cup use between 2019 and 2020. Environmental groups warn that breakfast shops and street vendors also use significant amounts of plastic cups and will inevitably be subject to future restrictions. They urge the government not to backtrack due to backlash and lobbying from businesses. The Chinese use 4 billion beverage cups annually, more than half of which are plastic cups, with the beverage industry using the most. In 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency calculated that 1.5 billion disposable beverage cups are used in China each year. Ten years later, the Environmental Protection Agency conducted another survey and found that a total of 3.99 billion disposable beverage cups were used in 2020, an increase of more than two times. Wang Yuebin, executive secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency's Recycling Foundation Management Committee, explained that the statistics this time include all usage statistics of "stores subject to regulations on the use of beverage cups" and "unregulated". If only regulated stores are counted, the Chinese use about 2.2 billion disposable beverage cups each year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's "2021 Single-Use Plastic Product Source Reduction Work Plan", about 260,000 businesses were surveyed, including breakfast shops, vendors and other industries that are not regulated but have a high use of disposable beverage cups. Disposable beverage cups are made of plastic (PE, PP

2022-06-29

How to promote recycling containers besides bringing your own eco-friendly cups? Cleaning and reverse logistics systems are still lacking.

Taiwan uses up to 4 billion disposable beverage cups annually. To reduce waste at the source, new plastic restrictions, effective July 1st, will not only impose a NT$5 price difference for bringing your own beverage cups, but also require chain convenience stores and fast-food restaurants to offer free reusable cup rentals starting next year (2023). With only six months left, can reusable containers offer a viable alternative to bringing your own beverage cups? The supply chain for reusable containers encompasses manufacturing, cleaning, and logistics. Song Yizhen, co-founder of "Hao He Qi," a reusable container rental service, told the Environmental Information Center that the biggest shortage currently lies in cleaning services. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores will be required to offer free reusable cups starting in 2023. However, insufficient supply chains are hindering implementation, and Taiwan's plastic restrictions have taken another step toward banning them. Under the Environmental Protection Administration's new plastic reduction regulations, chain beverage stores, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, and supermarkets will be required to offer a price difference of at least NT$5 between customers who bring their own beverage cups and those who don't. Not only that, starting from January 1, 2023, chain convenience stores and fast food restaurants must also complete the first phase of the goal of providing free "recyclable cup" lending services in 5% of stores. This is the first time that the concept of "using recycled containers" has been included in the regulations. At the same time, the industry is also facing a brand new market for recycled containers. At the policy discussion meeting on the restriction of beverage cups held by the Environmental Protection Agency this year, some fast food operators pointed out that the market supply is insufficient and recycled containers may face a "supply shortage" situation. Song Yizhen, co-founder of "Hao He Qi", a recycling container rental service provider, admitted that there had never been regulations in the past that included recycling containers.

2022-06-29

Australia's new government raises emissions reduction target to 43%, no longer lagging behind on climate commitments

Reuters reported that under the new Australian Labor government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese submitted a more ambitious emissions reduction target to the United Nations on the 16th, pledging to reduce carbon emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This is more ambitious than the previous conservative government's target of 26% to 28%, and is gradually catching up with the commitments of other wealthy economies in line with the Paris Agreement. The world's largest coal exporter reverses its image as a laggard in climate commitments. Australia is not only one of the world's highest per capita carbon emitters, but also the world's largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas. However, under the previous government, it was long seen as a laggard in climate commitments, lacking clear energy and climate policies to encourage investment in renewable energy. At the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow last year (2021), former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was criticized for failing to propose a more ambitious emissions reduction target. In contrast, the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan have all significantly increased their climate commitments. Canada's goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, while the United States' goal is a whopping 52%. Energy supply issues are driving the pace of emissions reductions, and Australia will increase investment in renewable energy. "For years, the Australian government has been telling the world this is hard," said Chris Bowen, Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, at a press conference in Canberra. "We are now telling the world, our friends, and the world that this is hard."

2022-06-22

Implementing plastic reduction in national parks: Single-use plastics will be banned on 190 million hectares of US public land starting in 2032

The U.S. Department of the Interior recently announced an order (Secretary’s Order 3407) on World Oceans Day (April 8th), requiring a gradual reduction in the purchase, sale, and use of single-use plastic products on national parks and other state-owned lands, with the goal of eliminating single-use plastic products on all state-owned lands by 2032. This new plastic ban will ultimately cover approximately 190 million hectares of state-owned land. The order also states that compostable, biodegradable, and 100% recyclable materials will be used as environmentally friendly alternatives to disposable plastic food containers, bottles, straws, cutlery, and bags. The new plastic ban policy will cover 190 million hectares of state-owned land and reduce 80,000 metric tons of garbage annually. "The Department of the Interior has an obligation to take the lead in reducing the impact of plastic waste on ecosystems and climate. As the manager of state-owned lands such as national parks and national wildlife refuges, the Department of the Interior has the responsibility to protect and manage wildlife habitats. The unique position requires us (the government) to do more for the earth." U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said that this order will ensure that the Department of the Interior implements various sustainable plans such as eliminating single-use plastic products to protect the natural environment and communities around state-owned lands. This new plastic ban policy will eventually cover approximately 190 million hectares of state-owned land and is expected to reduce the amount of garbage generated by the Department of the Interior's land by approximately 80,000 metric tons each year. In fact, among the 63 national parks in the United States, about two dozen have banned the sale of plastic bags since 2011.

2022-06-21

New hope for biodegradation? Australian study: Wheatworms can digest Styrofoam

The Guardian reports that new Australian research has found that the larvae of the mealworm (Zophobas morio), also known as superworms, can shred and consume polystyrene. Their guts contain several enzymes capable of digesting polystyrene, potentially offering an alternative to breaking down and upcycling plastic waste. Superworms fed Styrofoam for three weeks were still able to complete their life cycle. Polystyrene (PS) is a widely used plastic found in solid form in everyday items such as containers, lids, and disposable cutlery. Expanded polystyrene is commonly known as Styrofoam. Researchers at the University of Queensland fed superworms a form of expanded polystyrene, commonly used for building insulation, for three weeks. They found that the larvae fed on plastic were still able to pupate and mature, completing their life cycle, but they were lighter than superworms fed on bran and had less healthy gut microbiota. Australia will phase out styrofoam from July. Microorganisms are expected to help with recycling. One challenge in recycling expanded polystyrene is that it has a low density and is bulky, making recycling economically uneconomical. "Mechanical recycling is not efficient," said Lin Ke. The final products of this recycling method include items such as plastic benches and photo frames. He believes that the microorganisms in the superworm can be the basis of the plastic recycling process, and the products of polystyrene decomposition can be used by other microorganisms.

2022-06-16

New Zealand to impose greenhouse gas emissions charges on livestock farming in world first

Reuters reported that New Zealand released a draft agricultural emissions pricing plan on the 8th to address its largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The plan would require farmers to pay for the greenhouse gases emitted by cattle and sheep burps. The New Zealand Environment Ministry said the proposal would make New Zealand, a major agricultural exporter, the first country in the world to require farmers to pay for livestock emissions. Nearly half of New Zealand's carbon emissions come from agriculture, and farmer representatives have independently proposed a price on carbon emissions. New Zealand, with a population of 5 million, raises approximately 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep. Agriculture accounts for nearly half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions, with methane emissions from livestock digestion accounting for nearly three-quarters of agricultural emissions. However, agricultural emissions have previously been excluded from the country's emissions trading system, leading to criticism of the New Zealand government's commitment to combating global warming. Recently, the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership, a group of agricultural representatives, proposed to the government that farmers must pay for their greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2025. Short-term and long-term greenhouse gases will be priced separately, but total emissions will be calculated using a single indicator. The Guardian reported that although a price for agricultural carbon emissions has not yet been set, these agricultural representatives emphasized that they would "keep the price as low as possible." According to their estimates, agricultural carbon pricing will help reduce methane emissions from the agricultural sector by 4.5% and nitrous oxide emissions by about 3% by 2030. They believe

2022-06-14

Changhua Bird Club and the Changhua Bird Breeding Association jointly promote local solutions to support the symbiotic relationship between fisheries and electricity.

To increase green energy generation, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is promoting "fishery-electricity symbiosis" in coastal areas. However, the public believes that while the central government has a broad policy direction, it lacks clear regulations and implementation principles. Furthermore, planning often focuses on developers, without necessarily considering fishermen and environmental sustainability. The Changhua County Wild Bird Society and the Changhua County Aquaculture Association have therefore jointly proposed a localized fishery-electricity symbiosis plan, emphasizing that it aligns with the region's aquaculture characteristics and aims to prevent industry from fully dominating the development of fishery-electricity symbiosis. The plan proposes retaining the earthen embankments between aquaculture ponds as bird habitats, concentrating photovoltaic panels on aquaculture ponds with lower light requirements, and paving sidewalks around the site to balance environmental protection, fishermen's rights, and local needs. Support green energy, but it must be worthy of the name: Changhua groups jointly promote the "local version" of fish-electricity symbiosis. The Changhua County Wild Bird Society and the Changhua County Breeding Association jointly proposed a fish-electricity symbiosis plan suitable for the local area. Today (13th), they issued a press release stating that the public expects photovoltaic panels in the "fish-electricity symbiosis" system to protect aquaculture from heavy rainfall and excessively high pond water levels in summer, and to set up windbreaks in winter to resist cold currents. At the same time, for photovoltaic panels to enter Changhua fish ponds, they must take into account the ecological environment, the fishermen's economy and the lives of local people. In recent years, the government has vigorously promoted fish-electricity symbiosis, and many people have a positive attitude because it can increase the diversified use of land. However, at present, fish-electricity symbiosis only has a central policy direction, and local governments can only passively accept development plans led by photovoltaic companies, which may not necessarily achieve sustainable land use. Li Yixin, Secretary-General of the Changhua County Wild Bird Association, said in an interview that the people of Changhua welcome

2022-06-13

ITRI ​​survey: Purchasing energy-efficient appliances is the main carbon reduction activity in Taiwan, while younger generations show a low willingness to reduce carbon emissions.

Net zero carbon emissions have become an international trend. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) today (10th) released the results of a survey on the “net zero sustainable behavior” of Taiwanese people. It was found that the most common carbon reduction behaviors being implemented are “purchasing products with energy-saving labels or energy efficiency labels” and “reducing the number of new clothes purchased each year by half.” The survey also pointed out that the current rate of carbon reduction behaviors and future willingness of young people aged 18 to 24 are both low. ITRI called on the government to strengthen relevant education and publicity in order to achieve the 2050 net zero carbon emission target. Taiwan’s carbon reduction behavior survey: Purchasing energy-saving label home appliances and reducing the number of new clothes purchased each year by half are the most popular behaviors. Taiwan’s goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but whether the entire society can respond and how to successfully transform has become the focus of current discussion. ITRI held the “2022 Taiwan Manufacturing Industry Outlook and Net Zero Sustainability Focus Issues Presentation” today, and released the Taiwan Net Zero Sustainable Behavior Survey [1] at the meeting to analyze the willingness of Taiwanese people to reduce carbon emissions. Lin Zhixun, Director of Energy Strategy at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), said that behavioral changes in people's daily lives are the key to initiating a net-zero transition. In order to achieve the government and industry's net-zero transition goals, it is necessary to first understand the Taiwanese people's cognition and actual behaviors regarding net-zero sustainability. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has drawn up 20 net-zero sustainable behaviors covering aspects of life such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, entertainment, and supplies. It has sent questionnaires to adults of different age groups, asking about the current status of these behaviors and their willingness to implement them in the future. The survey found that the current execution rate of the 20 net-zero sustainable behaviors by Taiwanese people is relatively low. "When purchasing home appliances, only purchase appliances with energy-saving standards.

2022-06-10

Sewage sludge reuse isn't sustainable, but rather pollutes farmland. Study: European farmland has become a reservoir of microplastics.

Farmlands across Europe are becoming the world's largest repository of microplastics due to high concentrations of microplastics in fertilizers made from sewage plant sludge, a new study from Cardiff University in the UK shows. Microplastics, originally released into the environment from car tires, synthetic textiles, paints and personal care products, do not disappear in sewage treatment plants but reappear on farmland, in the depths of the ocean and on the world's highest mountains. 710 trillion microplastic particles are dumped back into European soil every year "Our study wanted to know whether sewage treatment plants are completely removing microplastics, or if they are actually still transferring the pollution into the environment," said lead author James Lofty, a graduate student in Cardiff University's School of Engineering. "Water companies clearly lack a strategy to manage microplastics in sewage plant sludge, which means these pollutants are being transported back into the soil and ultimately into aquatic environments." This practice of returning microplastics to soil and water runs counter to the EU's goals for managing microplastics. On May 12, 2021, the European Commission adopted an action plan for "zero pollution in air, water and soil," a key achievement of the European Green Deal. The plan sets a target of reducing microplastics released into the environment by 30% by 2030. Scientists at Cardiff University, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Manchester, estimate that 31,000 to 42,000 tons of microplastics—or as many as 710 trillion microplastic particles—are dumped back into European soil every year.

2022-06-07

Japan shifts stance, G7 announces for the first time to phase out coal and end overseas fossil fuel financing

Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) reached an agreement on May 27th last month, declaring for the first time that they would phase out coal burning, and said that the energy shortage caused by the Russo-Ukrainian war should not affect the work of responding to climate change. Although environmental advocates were disappointed that they failed to set a specific timetable for phasing out coal burning, this commitment also marked a major shift in Japan's position. "We also further committed to achieving the goal of significantly decarbonizing the electricity sector by 2035, and taking concrete and timely actions to achieve the goal of eventually phasing out domestic unabated coal-fired power generation," the G7 statement said. It is reported that due to opposition from the United States and Japan, the final statement deleted the 2030 target. The statement issued at the end of the three-day G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers' Meeting held in Berlin, Germany was weaker than the previous draft - the original draft included a specific target of ending unabated coal-fired power generation by 2030. People familiar with the matter said that both Japan and the United States said they could not support this schedule. But this is still the first time that the G7 has committed to phasing out coal-fired power generation. Coal is the fossil fuel that causes the most carbon dioxide emissions, and its use must fall sharply if the world is to avoid the worst damage from climate change. Environmental campaigners hailed the pledge as a victory for climate protection. "The G7's commitment to end public financing of fossil fuels and transition to clean energy is a huge victory," said Oil Change International, a pressure group.

2022-06-06

Healthy eating changes: Study: Pesticide residues in fresh fruit and vegetables in the EU increased 53% in nine years

The Guardian reported that a study of nearly 100,000 samples of the most common domestically grown fruits in Europe found a sharp increase in fresh fruit containing highly toxic pesticide residues between 2011 and 2019. Overall, toxic pesticide contamination increased by 53% over nine years. The most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables in Europe are blackberries and celery. The European Pesticide Action Network (PAN) analyzed European government data and found that as many as one-third of apple samples and one-half of blackberry samples contained highly toxic pesticide residues, some of which have been linked to cancer, heart disease, and congenital malformations. Residue levels in kiwifruit increased from 4% in 2011 to 32% in 2019. Over the same period, the contamination rate in cherries more than doubled, from 22% to 50%. Among the samples, the fruits most contaminated with pesticides were blackberries (51%), peaches (45%), strawberries (38%), cherries (35%), and apricots (35%); the vegetables were celery (50%), celery root (45%), and kale (31%).

2022-05-30

Even those ordering food delivery are concerned about the environment. Global survey shows that simpler packaging is more appealing to consumers.

With rising environmental awareness and consumer demand for low-carbon ingredients and eco-friendly packaging, this trend is not only driving the development of plant-based meat and sustainable grain foods, but is also gradually spreading to the catering industry. What new challenges will this bring to restaurant services? Deliverect, a multinational company that develops digital catering order integration systems, released an exclusive report on April 20, 2022. After conducting a dietary survey of 7,000 consumers worldwide, they found that environmental protection and sustainability awareness are influencing consumers' demand for food. Therefore, Deliverect uses the survey results to provide restaurants with four ways to respond to improve their competitiveness. 43% of consumers are willing to pay more for restaurants to "increase sustainable ingredients." Deliverect found that although 65% of consumers believe that healthier or more sustainable ingredients are more expensive, 43% are still willing to pay for them, and 47% will even change their original orders and choose more sustainable meals. In other words, nearly half of consumers are willing and happy to pay more for environmental sustainability. Therefore, Deliverect recommends that restaurants offer more local ingredients. "Based on our order data, whether a restaurant is keeping up with the sustainability trend is becoming a key consideration for consumers when choosing a restaurant," Deliverect believes that if the restaurant industry can develop in a sustainable direction, it will align with current consumer trends and help increase restaurant sales and profits.

2022-05-27

When an aging power grid meets extreme weather, blackouts double in the US, clouding the path to green energy.

After decades of hard work, the United States is experiencing a boom in clean energy, with soaring electric vehicle sales and rapid growth in wind and solar power generation, offering hope for climate change mitigation. However, experts say the country's outdated power infrastructure will hinder green energy development without a major overhaul, a massive undertaking costing more than $2 trillion (approximately NT$59 trillion). The current network of transmission lines, substations, and transformers is experiencing numerous problems due to aging and underinvestment, and with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, large-scale failures are becoming more common. U.S. power grid operators underestimated climate risks, leading to a doubling of power outages over the past six years. Reuters found that seven regional power grid operators in the United States underestimated the growing threat of severe weather as they underestimated climate change. The risk models they used to guide their transmission and distribution network investments were based on weather patterns from the 1970s and failed to factor in recent scientific research examining how extreme weather can disrupt power generation, transmission, distribution, and fuel supplies. Recent extreme weather events have exposed the vulnerabilities of the U.S. power infrastructure. New Orleans's power grid was built in the 1970s, when hurricanes like Hurricane Ida, with winds reaching 241 kilometers per hour, were uncommon. Most of the grid was designed only to withstand peak winds of 152 kilometers per hour. Hurricane Ida caused power outages for weeks. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the grid regulator,

2022-05-26

To end dependence on Russian energy, the EU proposes a new 9.5 trillion dollar plan to accelerate energy transition

Euractiv reported that the European Commission formally proposed the "REPowerEU" plan last Wednesday (the 18th), which will invest €300 billion (approximately NT$9.5 trillion) to achieve the goals of ending energy imports from Russia by 2027 and accelerating the energy transition. However, the Commission also acknowledged that replacing Russian oil and gas would require short-term EU investment in new fossil fuel infrastructure, a move that has drawn criticism from environmental groups. Focusing on renewable energy: increasing the share of electricity generation by 5% and making solar panels mandatory for new homes. The REPowerEU plan consists of three main components: energy conservation, promoting renewable energy, and diversifying Europe's oil and gas supply. Specific proposals include increasing the EU's target for renewable energy generation by 2030 to 45%, up from 40% proposed last year; and raising the energy efficiency target to reduce energy consumption by 9% by 2030 (based on a 2020 baseline) to 13%. Furthermore, REPowerEU proposes mandatory solar panels for public buildings and new homes by 2025 and 2029, respectively. A senior EU official said that under the plan, the EU's use of Russian natural gas will be reduced by two-thirds by the end of this year (2022). Subsequently, as it takes time to build renewable energy production capacity, the EU will gradually and linearly reduce its use. According to the proposal of the European Commission, the rapid and large-scale deployment of renewable energy, especially solar energy,

2022-05-25

Study: 9 million people die each year from environmental pollution, with air pollution being the biggest cause

The Washington Post reported that new research published in Lancet Planetary Health on the 17th shows that pollution remains the world's leading cause of disease and premature death. From 2015 to 2019, air pollution, water pollution, or toxic chemical pollution caused 9 million deaths annually, with over 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries. This exceeds the annual death toll from war, terrorism, road injuries, malaria, drugs, and alcohol. Air pollution causes the most premature deaths, while indoor pollution sources have decreased. The study, which analyzed data on the global burden of disease, injuries, and risk factors in 2019, found that air pollution was the largest cause of premature death, causing 6.7 million deaths. Water pollution caused 1.4 million deaths, while lead poisoning caused nearly 1 million. Lead author Richard Fuller and his team have been conducting similar analyses since 2015 and are now analyzing them through 2019. While the total number of pollution-related deaths has remained unchanged over the past five years, the sources of pollution have shifted in some regions. In the past, most of the deadly pollution came from indoor and household air pollution, including fine smoke released by indoor stoves burning wood or dung. Unclean water and untreated sewage also killed more than 1 million people. Fuller said this source of pollution has decreased in recent years because many families in China and India have switched to cooking with gas. The rise of modern pollution sources: fossil fuels,

2022-05-24

Denmark invests 37 million euros in food climate label to encourage low-carbon diets

With the rise of environmental awareness in recent years, consumers are increasingly interested in environmentally friendly products and low-carbon footprint labels when shopping, even influencing their purchasing decisions. According to a 2021 study published in Nature Food, 34% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 came from the food system. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also stated in its 2019 Special Report on Climate Change and Land that approximately 21% to 37% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from the food system. These data suggest that the food we rely on for survival accounts for a quarter of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions! The world's first: The Danish government develops a "food climate label." On April 16, 2022, Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Rasmus Prehn stated that in response to climate change, the Danish government will invest 9 million Danish kroner (approximately NT$37.31 million) to develop a "food climate labeling system," becoming the world's first country where the government uniformly manages food climate labels. At the same time, a special task force will be established, and further promotion is expected before the end of this year. The Danish government believes that environmental standards must be formulated and managed uniformly by the state to avoid the emergence of various environmental labels with different standards on the market that confuse consumers and cause confusion. According to the Danish Consumer Council, 75% of Danes do not understand the climate footprint of products, but according to statistics from the Danish Food Culture Organization, about 60% of Danes hope to be able to buy

2022-05-18

New York's Javits Convention Center overcomes its reputation as a leading bird killer by improving window shades and building a green roof.

The Independent reports that the Javits Center in Manhattan, New York, once had a reputation as "New York City's leading bird killer" due to its dark, mirrored glass exterior. However, after a transformation, it has become a haven for local wildlife, boasting the second-largest energy-efficient green roof in the United States and a soon-to-open urban farm. A $40 billion renovation has transformed it into Manhattan's largest rooftop solar farm. Alan Steel, president and CEO of the Javits Center, said in an interview, "We started this irreversible transformation with the green roof. Every time we implement environmental and sustainable measures, our clients ask us to do more, so I think this is a truly beneficial development." Named after the late New York Senator Jacob Javits, the convention center is located on Manhattan's West Side Highway, overlooking the Hudson River. Annually, 2.5 million people visit for events such as Comic Con, auto shows, and travel expos. Last year, the center hosted the Sustainability Summit during New York Climate Week. Over the past decade, the Javits Center has undergone a $1.5 billion (approximately NT$44.4 billion) renovation, expanding by 18,580 square meters and adding sustainable facilities. As New York strives to achieve its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, improving the eco-efficiency of the Javits Center is one of the city's top priorities. The Javits Center will be equipped with more than 3,000 solar panels, making it the largest rooftop solar power station in Manhattan.

2022-05-09
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