The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published on 30 September 2019 an Opinion on Sustainability and Solvency II. The Opinion addresses the integration of climate-related risks in Solvency II Pillar I requirements. While Solvency II – as a risk-based, forward-looking and market-consistent framework – is well equipped to accommodate sustainability risks and factors, […]
Big data for small farms enhance resource use and profitability
Feeding the world’s growing population under increasingly extreme environmental conditions is challenging farmers globally. The hand that feeds us needs a helping hand, so EU-funded researchers developed an affordable farm-management platform. Copernicus and Apollo, came together under the auspices of the EU-funded APOLLO project to expand the implementation of precision agriculture. With a focus on […]
New electrical device provides chemical-free weed control
An EU-funded initiative has developed a scalable and sustainable alternative to herbicides for weed control, based on the use of electricity. As the world’s population increases there is a growing need to control weeds to protect agriculture, infrastructure and for aesthetic reasons. This market is currently dominated by herbicide manufacturers, but they are increasingly under […]
How to accelerate the shift towards sustainability?
There is growing recognition that achieving prosperity within environmental limits requires fundamental changes in core systems of production and consumption. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published today, identifies ten focus areas for enabling sustainability transitions. The EEA report ‘Sustainability transitions: policy and practice’ identifies policy options for responding to systemic environmental and […]
Low frequency electromagnetic waves improve structure of irrigation water
EU-funded researchers have developed a novel technology makes the irrigation of cereal crops become more efficient and environmentally friendly. Population growth and climate change are putting growing pressure on water resources, requiring agriculture to become more productive, efficient and environmentally friendly. As water grows scarcer the threat of drought increases along with higher levels of […]
Zero-emission double decker buses to join public bus fleets in Aberdeen
New hydrogen buses will soon go into operation in various cities across the United Kingdom. Eagle-eyed bus spotters will notice an environmentally friendly addition to fleets driving around Aberdeen soon. Partially funded by the JIVE project, the city will see 15 hydrogen-powered double-decker buses introduced to its public transportation system later this year. Aberdeen already […]
H2020: Secure, cleand and efficient energy: Development of next generation biofuel and alternative renewable fuel technologies for aviation and shipping
Reducing carbon emissions in the rapidly expanding aviation and shipping sectors and increasing global consumption of fossil fuels depends on biofuels and renewable fuels. This call (LC-SC3-RES-23-2019), which faces the specific challenge of increasing the competitiveness of the next generation of biofuel and renewable fuel technologies in aviation and maritime transport compared to fossil fuel […]
H2020: Secure, clean and efficient energy: Converting Sunlight to storable chemical energy
This project (LC-SC3-RES-29-2019), which aims to convert solar energy into storable chemical products that provide a sustainable alternative, belongs to the Secure, clean and efficient energy sub-programme of the Horizon 2020 Programme. To replace fossil energy with sustainable alternatives that provide the same flexibility and convenience of use, we need to store sustainable energy on […]
Protecting the world’s forests : European Commission steps up EU action
The European Commission has set out a new framework of actions to protect and restore the world’s forests, which host 80% of biodiversity on land, support the livelihoods of around a quarter of the world’s population, and are vital to our efforts to fight climate change. The comprehensive Communication published today introduces measures for enhanced international cooperation […]