Global warming is the biggest threat to mankind in the 21st century as the ongoing battle against CO2 emissions takes many forms. Throughout Europe there is the growth and development of windfarms, research into wave energy, the focus on recycling, waste reduction, and prototypes of electric engines or engines fuelled by alternative energy technologies.
IMPRINTS project allowed the research team to integrate in an Early Warning operational platform developments such as hydrological warnings based on the rainfall anticipated by meteorological models and by weather radar networks.
Timely flood alerts and real-time monitoring of flood emergencies can save lives and prevent damage to property, infrastructure and the environment. Imprints, WeSenseIt and UrbanFlood are just three examples of EU-funded projects that have developed unique forecasting and alert systems to warn communities of impending floods.
Asthmatics already know that certain weather conditions can leave them short of breath. If sufferers of this and other diseases had access to an alert system warning of environmental conditions that could put them at risk, lives might be saved. The EO2HEAVEN project has done the groundwork for such a system. It is already in use to some extent in Germany, South Africa and Uganda.
Europe takes a leading role in combatting climate change, cutting its emissions and helping forge global consensus to address the problem. European action on this front includes research to learn more about weather systems across the planet, as two recent European Union (EU)-funded projects show.
ImpactMin project team developed new methods and tools for monitoring the environmental impact of mining using remote sensing.
Air and noise pollution are among the most insidious threats to our health. But what if we could monitor both from our smartphones? The AirProbe and Widenoise apps, developed by an EU-funded research project called EVERYAWARE, have made this possible. Partners from Belgium, Germany, Italy and the UK have developed this system to increase people’s awareness of their environment.
EU-funded researchers have developed a smart irrigation system that calculates the exact amount of water crops need each day. The technology allows farmers to save time, effort and water and achieve the best yield possible – drop by drop.
Climate modelling is fundamental to predicting, or estimating, future trends in our planetary environment. Yet it is a science based on observations, assumptions about likely effects, and with many potential uncertainties. Reducing the number of uncertainties improves the accuracy and capability of climate models – which was the goal of the European Union (EU)-funded research project COMBINE.
Although home to 18% of the global population – around 1.15 billion people – India only has around 4% of the world’s fresh water resources. With climate change and urbanisation increasing the pressure on a scarce resource, an EU-funded project’s improvement of natural water treatment systems couldn’t come at a better time.
Some 380 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste are generated every year and most of it ends up in landfills. Re-using and recycling components and materials is good for the environment and saves money, but industry has been less than enthusiastic. An EU-funded research project has laid the foundations for change – it is promoting concrete, ceramics, gypsum and plastics recycling around Europe.
Odours from industry, chemical plants or livestock breeding can be a nuisance for people living in the surrounding areas. Those affected have in the past been asked to help tackle the cause of the problem, but in the majority of cases their input has seldom been used. Until now that is. The European Union (EU)-funded project OMNISCIENTIS brings together state-of-the-art information and communication technologies as well as Earth observation applications to help reduce odour annoyance.
Forest fires are one of the greatest threats to Europe’s woodlands, and their incidence is expected to increase as a result of climate change. Successfully preventing forest fires has become more important than ever. However, it remains a challenge for governments – also because forest fires tend not to respect national borders.
The stakeholder consultation for the Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 5 (Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials) closed on 23 June 2014. A short analysis provides the findings.
Recent earthquakes in Europe and surroundings areas have led to enhanced efforts to improve the ability of buildings to withstand temblors. Among these efforts is the EU-funded SHARE project (Seismic Hazard Assessment in Europe). This landmark project worked to ensure that earthquake risks are more expertly factored in when buildings are constructed. It is expected that this risk-prevention innovation will reduce the number of buildings damaged or destroyed when earthquakes hit.
A new road surface cuts tyre noise to one-tenth of that produced on today’s asphalt. EU-funded researchers have now moved tests from the lab to Europe’s roads, with the aim of providing a quieter, less stressful life for those living next to lots of traffic.
CAPS2014 is a two-day international event, organised under the aegis of the European Commission. On July 1, the CAPS2014 OFF part of the event, held at The Egg, will offer a dynamic schedule of talks, unconferences, workshops, hands-on sessions and networking moments. On July 2, the CAPS2014 Conference part, held at the European Commission, will provide participants with an overview of current projects and initiatives, and with detailed information of the upcoming CAPS Call under Horizon 2020.
Brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) are chemicals containing bromine that are added to materials such as plastics and textiles to make them less flammable. The wide application of flame-retardants, for example in equipment such as smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices, as well as in special plastics, paints and textiles has grown considerably over the past 30 years. Combined with the increasing environmental impact of these compounds, this has raised potential toxicological and ecological concerns.
ESOF2014 offers a platform where researchers, journalists, policy makers, students and organisations can meet and debate European research and global challenges.
The 2014 meeting is entitled “Science Building Bridges”. The aim of this event is to raise awareness of science in the public and to strengthen the effective “bridges” between science and society.
The scientific programme, covering 8 themes, consists of keynote lectures, seminars, workshops and engaging formats for debating the latest research.
In the hunt for sustainable solutions to problems arising when humans interact with the nature around them, having the local community on board is a must. The EU-funded COMET-LA project is studying environmental challenges in local communities in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina to understand and come up with solutions that could be applied anywhere.
