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Pollution
From CO2-made milk to phone-charging waste streams: when pollution is an asset From CO2-made milk to phone-charging waste streams: when pollution is an asset

Microbial fuel cell, hydroponics, new-generation membranes, and much more. When “deep tech” turns carbon dioxide and nitrogen compounds into assets and brings us closer to the day when we drink carbon dioxide (CO2)-made milk and recharge our phones from wastewaters.

September 2024
When engaging citizens is a child’s game: the Alkmaar experiment When engaging citizens is a child’s game: the Alkmaar experiment

Residents monitoring pollution with their own sensors and videogames involving children in city planning: Alkmaar pushes citizen engagement into new territory. Additionally, thanks to a “digital twin”, the city fosters a new sustainable mindset and increases residents’ control over local policies.

June 2024
When theatre tackles the effects of climate extremes: the “science-art” approach to disaster risk reduction When theatre tackles the effects of climate extremes: the “science-art” approach to disaster risk reduction

Natural hazards claimed almost 60,000 lives in the first half of 2023 alone, and global warming is  expected to trigger more extreme events in the coming years. “Breaking the silos” by combining theatre and science is one of the strategies being tested to prevent increasing losses and optimize disaster risk reduction.

 

February 2024
Reuse or let die. Crucial for life but threatening if in excess: the nutrient challenge Reuse or let die. Crucial for life but threatening if in excess: the nutrient challenge

Essential for life but threatening for the environment if in excess. The nutrient challenge and the circular response: turning them from waste into biofertilizers to tackle pollution and feed the world’s growing population

February 2024
Flying greener to cut pollution: the hydrogen challenge Flying greener to cut pollution: the hydrogen challenge

Hydrogen is the most promising technology for less polluting aviation. The first flights have proven successful but its production remains very energy consuming, its storage challenging and the existing infrastructure unsuitable. See how industry, researchers, and EU projects are taking up these challenges to get ready for take-off 

November 2023
Targeting Carbon Neutrality: shoot for the moon to land among the stars Targeting Carbon Neutrality: shoot for the moon to land among the stars

They might be shooting for the moon, but many European cities are making huge and concrete steps towards a greener future to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. From the Greek plan for a green hydrogen valley to the Romanian full-electric dream, the inspiring examples of Kozani and Cluj-Napoca.

June 2023
Urban scenarios of decarbonisation: the last-mile logistics challenge Urban scenarios of decarbonisation: the last-mile logistics challenge

Home deliveries generate increasing traffic and carbon emissions in urban centres, particularly in the last mile. The solution? Pool deliveries and use electric vehicles. But cities trying to do so are discovering that this apparently simple transition requires negotiation with multiple stakeholders and a lot of innovation, as proven by the experiences of Trento (Italy) and Gotheborg (Sweden).

How the pandemic highlighted bioplastic benefits How the pandemic highlighted bioplastic benefits

Covid-19 has led to a paradoxical increase in plastic use even as people are more concerned about the pollution the material causes. Yet it has also made some people more aware of sustainability challenges and led to price changes, which could both benefit bio-based products.

May 2022
Sustainable fashion: Young people have the power for change Sustainable fashion: Young people have the power for change

As the spotlight once again falls on global emissions at this year’s COP26 UN climate change conference, attention is focusing on pollution produced by the fashion and textiles industries and the role that the younger generation can play in making them more sustainable

September 2021
How citizens can become co-creators of sustainable food packaging How citizens can become co-creators of sustainable food packaging

The Covid-19 pandemic has driven consumers to order more takeaway food during lockdowns, resulting in increased single-use plastics waste. While momentum is growing among some businesses and governments to tackle the unsustainable use of such packaging, European researchers have called on citizens to help design new eco-friendly products

July 2021
The steel industry’s quest for an emissions-free future The steel industry’s quest for an emissions-free future

As the effects of global warming continue to capture headlines around Europe, many of the region’s major industries from steelmaking to chemical production are responding to the European Union’s call to radically reduce emissions sooner rather than later

April 2021
Passports to defend the rights of the building materials Passports to defend the rights of the building materials

The construction industry is a major source of pollution and building materials should not be wasted but recycled. Architect Thomas Rau even proposed a UN Declaration of Material Rights in this respect. New material passports aim at bringing circular economy to buildings

March 2021
Air pollution in Skopje: how citizens spurred policymakers towards the change Air pollution in Skopje: how citizens spurred policymakers towards the change

The air in Skopje, North Macedonia, is one of the most polluted in the world because of the city’s natural position and people's reliance on fossil fuels. However, over recent years, many citizens have started demonstrating against this plague, pushing policymakers to follow their new will

December 2019
Oceans: they pollute, they pay Oceans: they pollute, they pay

In an effort to combat ocean plastic pollution the EU has just adopted ambitious new legislation targeting ten of the most common single use plastic products, washing up on beaches and imposing greater responsibility on plastic manufacturers for their clean-up

June 2019
The fight on plastics heats up in the EU The fight on plastics heats up in the EU

The new year has put plastic bags centre-stage in Europe. New measures in Italy and Greece to fight the use of non-biodegradable bags have sparked heated debates, while the EU has launched its ambitious Plastics Strategy

February 2018
Ridding the sea and land from toxic plastics fragments Ridding the sea and land from toxic plastics fragments

New ways identified to tackle the presence of small fragments of plastics in the environment, to prevent toxic chemicals absorbed into them from entering the food chain

September 2014
Speeding up nature’s oil spill cleaners Speeding up nature’s oil spill cleaners

Bacteria in the sea slowly break up oil naturally. But artificially providing them with thriving growth conditions could accelerate oil spill mop-ups. 

September 2014
Polar zone ozone and UV exposure, under closer scrutiny than ever Polar zone ozone and UV exposure, under closer scrutiny than ever

The most-detailed atmospheric observation system available to date finds applications in forecasting ozone and UV emissions in the Arctic and Antarctic 

July 2014
Greater granularity on anthropogenic emission Greater granularity on anthropogenic emission

Improved estimates of anthropogenic emissions contribute to better overall air quality forecasts, thus allowing people to manage health conditions associated with air cleanliness.

June 2014
Johannes Kaiser - Estimating the impact of fires on the atmosphere Johannes Kaiser - Estimating the impact of fires on the atmosphere

European scientists globally monitor wildfires with the help of satellites. The emission data are important for globally and regionally forecasting air quality.

May 2014
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