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China unveils largest floating solar plant

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China unveils largest floating solar plant

China has announced that the largest floating photovoltaic (PV) facility on earth has finally been completed and connected to the local power grid. Long reviled for its carbon emission record, this appears to be the Chinese government’s latest achievement in its ongoing effort to lead the world in renewable energy adoption.

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The floating solar power plant

Located in the city of Huainan in the Anhui province, the 40-megawatt facility was created by PV inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ironically, the floating grid itself was constructed over a flooded former coal-mining region.

Floating solar farms are becoming increasingly popular around the world because their unique design addresses multiple efficiency and city planning issues. These floating apparatuses free up land in more populated areas and also reduce water evaporation. The cooler air at the surface also helps to minimise the risk of solar cell performance atrophy, which is often related to long-term exposure to warmer temperatures.

This is said to be the first of many solar energy operations popping up around China. In 2016, the country unveiled a similar 20MW floating facility in the same area. China is also home to the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, a massive 10-square-mile, land-based facility touted as the largest solar power plant on earth.

This transition to solar is in large part due to the rapidly plummeting cost of the technology itself. By 2020, China could reduce prices offered to PV developers by more than a third with solar power plants projected to rival coal facilities. The nation has also announced plans to increase its use of non-fissile fuel energy sources by 20 percent.

That said, the U.S. is no slouch when it comes to renewable power innovation. The University of Texas professor who pioneered the lithium-ion battery technology recently pushed the envelope on batteries again, and Google claims its data centers operate on 100-percent renewable energy.

An annual report released by NASA and NOAA determined that 2016 was the warmest year on record globally, marking the third year in a row in which a new record was set for global average surface temperatures. That said, if we as a species hope to reverse this dire trend, initiatives like this and others will need to be adopted around the globe. And small changes at home may help: Solar chargers for your smartphone are just one way to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels.

By Dallon Adams, Digital Trends

Transfer saga: Madrid boss yet to discuss with Ronaldo

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Transfer saga: Madrid boss yet to discuss with Ronaldo

Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez, says he has not spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo about the player’s future, but will do so after the FIFA Confederation Cup in Russia.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo

The 32-year-old is said to have indicated interest to leave Real Madrid after being accused of tax fraud.

The forward, who is with the Portugal squad in Russia, signed a new five-year contract in November 2016, but has been linked with a move to Manchester United.

Spanish prosecutors have accused Ronaldo of defrauding the authorities of millions of euros in tax, which he had denied.

Meanwhile, Portugal will face host Russia, Wednesday, in their second Group B match at the ongoing Confederation Cup.

The European Champions started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Mexico, while Russia defeated New Zealand 2-0 in its first game.

Mexico will clash with New Zealand in one of the fixtures slated for Wednesday, while African Champions, Cameroon, who fell 0-2 to Chile in their first game, battle it out against Australia on Thursday.

World Champions, Germany, began their campaign Monday, with a 3-2 victory over Australia.

Australia midfielder, Aaron Moore, said the team is disappointed to have lost to the world champions, but hopeful for a better result when it faces Cameroon on Thursday. German’s next Group B game is against Chile on Thursday.

FIFA has defended the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in the Confederation Cup, saying the technology is the future of football.

The system was used five times so far in Russia, causing confusion atimes for spectators. FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, says the VAR has helped referees to make the correct decisions.

By Felix Simire

What Nigeria stands to benefit from youth agric programme, by Adeosun

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What Nigeria stands to benefit from youth agric programme, by Adeosun

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has said that Nigeria will benefit by signing up for the African Development Bank (AfDB) funded Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment (ENABLE Youth) Programme.

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International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Director General, Nteranya Sanginga (right), welcomes Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, to IITA, Ibadan. Photo credit: O. Adebayo, IITA

Nigeria’s signatory to the ENABLE youth programme, according to her, will make the country the third African country coming behind Cameroon and Sudan to benefit from funds under the AfDB Feed Africa initiative.

The ENABLE youth programme is modelled after the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Youth Agripreneur (IYA) programme, which is said to have seen a lot of success.

The programme is expected to create business opportunities and decent employment for 1,000 young women and men along priority agricultural value chains of various enterprises (aquaculture, crops farming, marketing and processing) per state, including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, according to the Director General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga.

Mrs Adeosun said that she was inspired and impressed with the concept and the testimonials of the young agricultural entrepreneurs.

“We came here – IITA – to assess a project (ENABLE Youth) being considered by the Federal Government. From what I have seen today, I am extremely impressed and inspired! We should work on how we can roll out this project nationally,” the Minister said during a visit to IITA in Ibadan, Oyo State, on June 10.

Like several other African nations, Nigeria is caught in between rising youth employment and food insecurity. In 2012, Dr Sanginga initiated a youth-in-agriculture programme to serve as a model for African nations to emulate and prosper. Under the model, youths are trained – both in theory and practice – and mentored with a view to changing their mindsets towards agriculture. In the end, they key into startups in the agricultural value chains.

Dr Sanginga described the IYA model as a template that would help African countries tackle the challenge of unemployment on the continent and create wealth.

“We have tested it in IITA, Nigeria, and several countries and it is working,” he said.

Testimonials on how the IYA programme is creating jobs, wealth, and transforming agriculture abound. For Mercy Wakawa from Biu, Borno State, the training provided by IYA through N2Africa project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation two years ago had helped her establish a medium scale groundnut oil processing industry that provides employment for seven other youths and supports the local groundnut industry.

Ajibola Olaniyi leads a team of two other young people who ventured into catfish farming. Without prior knowledge about fish farming but with support from IITA, Ajibola and her team resuscitated four abandoned ponds and later expanded to 17 with a capacity of 150 tons of fish production per year. The expansion of the business also created jobs for short-term staff who work with the team in managing the ponds. The business is growing with clients coming from the various geo-political zones in Nigeria to patronise the products.

TOFAN Foods is a subsidiary of IITA Youth Agripreneurs. The business, which is owned by three young people who were trained under the processing unit of IYA, is producing Tidbit. The snack is made from high quality cassava flour and cowpea. TOFAN Foods has been established in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, and will be scaling out the technology learned during the incubation period in IYA.

Oyindamola Asaaju, another Agripreneur, used to serve tables at a restaurant, but after getting involved with IYA, she now leads a group of Agripreneurs in Onne, Rivers State. The group is using the IITA Station in Onne to develop new agribusiness enterprises in poultry, catfish, and micropropagation of plantain, and serve as an incubation centre for young people.

Civil society urges G20 to address global challenges

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Civil society urges G20 to address global challenges

The Civil20 (C20) Summit concluded in Hamburg, Germany on Monday, June 19, 2017 with over 300 civil society groups from around the world urging the world’s largest and richest countries, the G20, to commit to firm and immediate action on global challenges like climate change, inequality and regulation of financial markets.

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Wael Hmaidan, International Director, CAN

This comes three weeks ahead of the G20 Summit on July 7-8 when Heads of State will be hosted by the German Presidency.

The two-day C20 meeting, under the theme “The World We Want”, produced a Statement to advise governments on priority issues that require their joint attention.

Climate Action Network (CAN), a global network of non-governmental oganisations (NGOs), says it welcomes the focus on climate change. The Statement reiterates that the global civil society rejects the recent decision of the United States government to withdraw from the historic Paris Agreement, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from outside and within the US. It calls on the remaining 19 countries to reaffirm and strengthen their commitment to the Paris goals by taking steps to implement it wholeheartedly.

“They must do this by submitting ambitious long-term climate strategies, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, setting effective and fair carbon price signals, shifting the finance flows to promote transformation and resilience and sticking to the promises to ramp up climate financing,” stresses CAN.

Calling for a radical transformation of the current neoliberal economic system, it says: “We can no longer treat the environment, oceans and the atmosphere as though they were limitless sinks for pollution and greenhouse gases.”

Wael Hmaidan, International Director, Climate Action Network, notes: “Climate change has been at the top of the agenda across the Civil 20 Summit here in Hamburg over the last two days, where civil society groups have made it absolutely clear that they expect an ambitious outcome from this year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit.

“The case for acting on climate change is incontestable for the future of our planet and people, but also to make the most of the opportunities of transitioning to a sustainable future that include creating jobs, making economies more resilient and promoting security.”

Recently, the engagement groups of the G20, representing civil society, think tanks, foundations, women, labor and business also put out a joint statement asking countries to stand by their climate commitments despite the US withdrawal and step up ambition in the years to come.

The C20 main objective is to facilitate a structured and sustained exchange of critical reflection and political perspectives amongst civil society in G20 countries and beyond on the G20 agenda.

The CAN says it works to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels.

Campaign highlights how oil exploration impacts sea, fishing

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Campaign highlights how oil exploration impacts sea, fishing

“We are asking for clean waters, we are asking for safe food, we are asking for the right for fishermen to carry out their craft – employment, because the fishing sector employs far more Africans than the structive sector.”

Fish Not Oil
Nnimmo Bassey of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) (left) and Desmond D’sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), with fishermen during the launch of the Fish Not Oil project in Durban, South Africa

Those were the passionate words of Nigerian activist Nnimmo Bassey on Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Durban beachfront, by the Snake Park in South Africa, venue of the launch of the Fish Not Oil project.

Bassey, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), says fishermen want the right to fish, have a sufficient catch and to fish according to the law.

Bassey was in the company of a group of fishermen who had gathered in solidarity for the project. Fish Not Oil is an initiative which calls for the government to listen to the plight of fishermen and how oil exploration negatively impacts on the sea.

Durban has a large fishing community and a few fish for recreational purposes, while many fish to provide food for their families.

The fishermen were also provided with books that will aid them in becoming better fishermen. One book teaches you everything you need to know about how to fish, especially issues linked to the law, while the other book teaches about the importance of fish and the nutrients contained in it.

“It teaches them about housekeeping, it teaches them about the size of fish they should catch – if they catch smaller fish, what should they do? Throw it back – it teaches them about the equipment – how it should be left, how it should be dealt with, but more importantly, it teaches them to be role models as fishermen,” says Desmond D’sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance.

It was gathered that, in future, the fishermen will engage with the city of eThekwini as well as Transnet, facilitated by the Durban University of Technology.

UN celebrates as climate convention clocks 25

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UN celebrates as climate convention clocks 25

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 appears to symbolise a special day in the history of global climate action as it marks the day when the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened for signing by Governments at the UN in New York.

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Flashback: US President George W. Bush signing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on behalf of his country. Photo credit: UN

This followed its adoption a few weeks before in 1992 by world leaders at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), otherwise referred to as the Rio Earth Summit.

According to the UNFCCC, it signaled a key milestone on the journey to a better, more secure world that, 23 years later, would see the birth of the universal Paris Climate Change Agreement of 2015.

“Over the intervening years, many remarkable foundations were laid and pillars erected that provided the impetus and building blocks towards what became the Paris Agreement. These include the Kyoto Protocol, the establishment of carbon markets under the Clean Development Mechanism and increasing efforts to bring adaptation and resilience to the fore alongside emission reduction measures,” discloses the UN body.

It believes that the world has changed a lot since 1992 – geo-politically, economically, technologically, socially and environmentally, but that the vision established 25 years ago has endured despite many ups and downs and bumps along the way.

It adds: “Today, record amounts of renewable energies are being installed world-wide and costs are tumbling; new kinds of carbon markets are expanding; investors are shifting funds into more sustainable investments and issuing new kinds of instruments like green bonds.

“Electric vehicles are starting to take off and storage of electricity, generated from clean energies, is perhaps on the cusp of a technological breakthrough.

“Increasing numbers of projects and initiatives are factoring the climate but also the wider sustainable development of the natural world into national and global action – from improved management of forests, soils and river systems to coastal ecosystem such as mangroves and sea grasses.

“Support by cities, regions, territories and states, alongside major companies; insurers; pension funds and citizens is unprecedented with so many aligning behind the Paris Agreement.”

The UNFCCC entered into force some two years later – in March 1994. Paris’s entry into force appeared to be more rapid – a development observers say underlies a higher level of urgency but also optimism to address a phenomenon that will define the future of development and perhaps the human race itself over the coming decades and centuries.

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, says: “In marking this 25th anniversary, we are paying tribute to all those leaders from the worlds of politics, science, civil society, local authorities, the private sector and communities who recognised the threats emerging from climate change and laid a fundamental foundation to address this challenge”.

“Over the next 25 years, through the implementation of the Paris Agreement, we must together complete or substantially complete their work and increasingly transform a threat and a major risk into an unprecedented opportunity for every man, woman and child,” she said.

“I also look forward to welcoming as many people as can attend the UN climate conference in Bonn, Germany in November 2017, where we can write the next historic chapter on cooperative climate action,” Ms Espinosa adds.

The UNFCCC says it is marking the 25th anniversary of the opening for signature in New York with the publication of archival images and other communications products.

Similarly, it is urging governments, sub-national governments, business, investors, NGOs and citizens to join in on Tuesday with their own memories, thoughts, pictures and forward-looking statements.

Study clarifies how US cities, states can engage in climate action

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Study clarifies how US cities, states can engage in climate action

President Donald Trump’s stand notwithstanding, U.S. cities and states are increasingly seeking ways to play an active role in international climate change efforts. In an apparent move to complement this role, the Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law of Columbia Law School has released a new resource to help them engage in climate action.

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President Donald Trump has pulled the country out of the Paris Agreement, but U.S. cities and states are increasingly seeking ways to play an active role in international climate change efforts

The report, entitled “Act Locally, Reflect Globally: A Checklist of Options for U.S. Cities and States to Engage Internationally in Climate Action,” aims at helping cities and states to demonstrate leadership in climate action, to exchange best practices, and to join the global movement towards low-emission and resilient communities.

While U.S. cities and states cannot join the Paris Agreement as Parties, the agreement emphasises the role of “non-Party stakeholders,” promoting climate actions by cities, regions and the private sector. The Sabin Centre report highlights opportunities for them to engage in international climate action.

Interested U.S. cities and states can register their commitment through the NAZCA portal, which references over 12,500 climate-related initiatives, coming from a wide range of non-Party stakeholders, including cities and regions.

The UNFCCC secretariat has also developed its interaction with non-Party stakeholders over the last few years. It hhas invited U.S. cities and states to participate in non-Party stakeholder activities and to submit their views on the dedicated UNFCCC website.

According to thhe UNFCCC, cities and states can also join the 2050 Pathways platform, which aims at supporting both Parties and non-Party stakeholders seeking to devise long-term, net zero-greenhouse gas, climate-resilient and sustainable development pathways.

Cities interested in taking on a commitment as part of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, an international alliance of cities and local governments which support voluntary action to address climate change.

U.S. cities and states also have the option of participating in the U.S.-China Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Initiative and identify their own commitments, or in the Under2 Coalition, which sets out minimum standards in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to taking on commitments to specific climate action or strategies, U.S. cities and states can also indicate their support for the Paris Agreement in the form of legislation or policy statements, or establish cooperative arrangements with counterparts in other countries.

Sweden legislates for carbon neutrality by 2045

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Sweden legislates for carbon neutrality by 2045

Sweden last week passed a legislation which legally binds the country to reach net-zero emissions by the year 2045, five years earlier than previously planned.

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Sweden is aiming at net zero emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by 2045, and thereafter negative emissions

The new Climate Act, passed in parliament with an overwhelming majority vote (254 against 41), is believed to be more ambitious than what Sweden pledged under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The Paris Agreement commits countries to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by limiting the global rise in temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This means that global greenhouse emissions must peak soon and then be driven down very rapidly, so that by the middle of the century, only emissions which can be safely absorbed by soils, forests and oceans remain.

Sweden is aiming at net zero emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by 2045, and thereafter negative emissions. Negative emissions mean that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from activities are less than, for example, the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by nature, or less than the emissions Sweden helps to reduce abroad by investing in various climate projects.

The new Climate Act is part of Sweden’s new climate policy framework, which contains climate goals and plans for a climate policy council. The legislation will provide the long-term conditions for business and society to implement the transition needed to solve the challenge of climate change.

Sweden now has long-term climate goals which go beyond 2020 and an independent climate policy council that reviews climate policy.

How world can prevent 1.4m yearly environment-related deaths in Europe, Central Asia

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How world can prevent 1.4m yearly environment-related deaths in Europe, Central Asia

As some 1.4 million people in Europe and Central Asia die prematurely each year from polluted environments, United Nations agency heads at high-level meeting have called on regional leaders to scale up action to stem environmental deaths and diseases.

Zsuzsanna Jakab
Zsuzsanna Jakab, Regional Director, World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe

“In the era of Sustainable Development, we can prevent the 1.4 million environment related deaths by making health a political choice across all government sectors,” said Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, World Health Organisation Regional Director for Europe (WHO/Europe), at the opening of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

European citizens annually lose 50 million years of healthy life due to environmental risks, corresponding to at least 15 per cent of Europe’s total deaths – around half of which are due to outdoor and indoor air pollution.

“We urge all European leaders to take this opportunity for more sustainable policies to address the health challenges of the 21st century,” he underscored.

WHO/Europe, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), joined approximately 500 representatives from the 53 countries of the European Region together with international and non-governmental organisations, to commit to prioritising action on environmental risks to health.

“We have enough evidence. We have solutions at hand. What we need is action,” agreed Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of UNECE. “Examples of solutions developed over the past 20 years by UNECE and WHO/Europe with a proven track record include the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, the Protocol on Water and Health and the joint Programme on Transport, Health and Environment. But we must do more to fulfil their potential to clean the air and water and promote smart cities and clean transport systems. And while doing more, we must build on the synergies embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals.”

 

Environment-related non-communicable diseases

Environmental risk factors are responsible for around 26 per cent of ischemic heart disease, 25 per cent of strokes and 17 per cent of cancers in Europe. Cardiovascular deaths and diseases from environmental exposures are three times higher in low and middle income countries than in high income ones.

Air pollution is Europe’s leading environmental killer, responsible for 620,000 deaths every year from both outdoor and indoor exposure.

“Successful cooperation among UNECE member States has led to significant reductions of air pollution in the region – thereby saving lives,” stressed Ms. Algayerova. “All recent studies show that this work needs to continue and be strengthened, and lessons learned should be shared with other regions,” she added.

Other environmental factors, such as chemical pollution, occupational risks and unsafe water and sanitation account for more deaths and diseases and road traffic injuries kill 85,000 people per year.

Extreme weather events from climate change, rapid urbanization and unprecedented levels of migration further exacerbate Europeans’ health.

 

Investing in cities

By 2030, eight out of 10 Europeans will be living in cities, making them one of the main priorities in Europe’s agenda at the Ministerial Conference.

A new WHO report, Environment and health for European Cities in the 21st century: making a difference, developed jointly with UNECE and UNEP, makes the case for investing in cities to improve people’s health and reduce inequalities.

The Environment and Health Ministerial Conference in Ostrava, organised by WHO/Europe, in partnership with UNECE and UNEP is hosted by the Czech Republic ended on Thursday, June 15, 2017.

World Blood Donor Day: Nations urged to strengthen advocacy for blood donations

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World Blood Donor Day: Nations urged to strengthen advocacy for blood donations

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, on the occasion of the World Blood Donor Day, says that this year’s theme raises awareness for voluntary, regular blood donations to maintain sufficient stock of blood and blood products in blood transfusion services

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. Photo credit: pbs.twimg.com

Every year on 14 June, the African Region joins the global community to commemorate World Blood Donor Day. The theme of this year’s celebration is focused on blood donation in emergencies, specifically for those who want to help. “What can you do? Give blood. Give now. Give often”.

Everybody can play a role in emergency situations by giving blood. Blood transfusion is an essential component of emergency healthcare. This year’s theme raises awareness for voluntary, regular blood donations to maintain sufficient stock of blood and blood products in blood transfusion services. It is also an opportunity to thank and appreciate voluntary blood donors for their valuable blood gifts.

The choice of this theme is particularly significant for the African Region which is most affected by crises and outbreaks, such as the Ebola virus disease epidemic, road traffic accidents,  armed conflicts, natural or manmade disasters. Such emergencies increase the demand for blood transfusion and make its delivery challenging. Many victims of these crises die because of lack of blood and blood products, or risk infection when transfused with unsafe blood. The serious humanitarian crises facing Africa in recent decades have revealed inadequacies of national health systems in most countries to manage health emergencies, including the timely availability, security and the accessibility of blood.

However, significant progress has been made recently in improving the availability and safety of blood in the African Region. The 2016 report on the status on blood safety and availability in the WHO African Region shows that several countries have improved their blood availability and safety in terms of the World Health Assembly and Regional Committee resolutions on blood safety. Collecting blood from voluntary, unpaid and regular blood donors has been shown to be safer, more effective and more efficient than family replacement donations. The number of blood donations in the Region increased between 2013 and 2016, from 3.9 million units to 4.5 million units. However, this meets only about 50% of the annual need for blood and blood products.

Despite this progress, there are still major gaps in some countries and sub-regions, including policy implementation rate, coordination of blood services and legislation. The Region is still falling short of meeting its blood needs and the proportion of blood units collected from family replacement donors is still high. Five countries are still not screening all units of blood for major transfusion transmitted infections such as hepatitis C and syphilis due to a lack of essential reagents and consumables for blood safety, and the lack of quality management systems in several blood services in the Region.

As we commemorate World Blood Donor Day, I urge countries and all the stakeholders involved in blood donations to support and strengthen advocacy for voluntary, unpaid blood donations to maintain adequate supplies of safe blood. This will allow national blood transfusion services to respond in time to the increase in blood demand, especially during emergencies.

I thank all voluntary blood donors and encourage them to continue giving this valuable gift regularly to ensure sufficient blood stock before emergencies arise. I congratulate and express my support to blood donor associations and other non-governmental organisations and all those who are working to make safe blood available in healthcare facilities.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa will continue to support all appropriate initiatives aimed at ensuring that safe, life-saving blood and blood products are available for all, particularly those in emergency situations. Give blood. Give now. Give often!

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