It is estimated that an enourmous quantity of plastic has been discarded in the oceans, around 150 million tonnes. Then, the challenge is to prevent more plastic from going in the sea but also in removing that already present. These materials threaten marine ecosystems and enter the food chain, reaching also humans.
The European Commission have published the first grant opportunities for the LIFE 2021-2027 initiative, with the purpose to move toward a more sustainable and circular economy in order to protect the environment within european members’ countries The first 8 calls are part of the 2021-2024 multi-year program and they will be managed by the European Executive Agency for Climate (CINEA).
On 22 and 23 July 2021, the G20 "Environment, Climate and Energy" meetings were held in Naples with the aim of strengthening the shared vision and partnership to accelerate the transition to clean energy and tackle the problems of climate change.
After 7 years from the previous one, on Monday the 9th of August the latest report of the Working Group I of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was published. The Working Group I takes care of the physical science basis of climate change, while the Working Group II assesses the vulnerability of natural and socio-economic systems, the impact of climate change and adaptation options and the Working Group III assesses mitigation options for climate change.
On the 30th of June, the European Commission registered a citizens' initiative to request an eco-score that highlights the ecological impact of various products.
Last week Confservizi Piemonte alerted that by 2025 in Piedmont the maximum capacity of current landfills will be reached, while the waste-to-energy plant of Turin (which dispose 530thousand tonnes for year) won't be able to satisfy all regional needs.
There are four reuse models:
The recent transposition of the SUP Directive by Italy has renewed the attention on our consumption model and the resulting excessive waste production, in particular considering single-use products.
Some scientists recently made a call on Science for the creation of a global treaty to stop the production of virgin plastic by 2040. Moreover, the solicitation regards the incentivisation of a circular economy based on reuse and the adoption of global cleaning measures for the removal of plastic pollution as well.
Every year 88 million tonnes of food waste are produced in the European Union. The loss occurs along the whole food supply chain, from the production to the consumption. For the latter it is registered the highest percentage of loss, which amounts to 40% of the total.