Europe bans 10 most common single-use plastic items

On July 3rd, European Commission provided guidance on the EU rules on single-use plastics and adopts an Implementing Decision on the monitoring and reporting of fishing gear placed on the market and waste fishing gear collected.

With the Single-Use Plastics Directive, the EU is reducing the quantity of waste generated, tackling 10 single-use plastic items and fishing gear that account for most littered items found on Europe’s beaches, and promoting circular economy transition and sustainable alternatives.

The Member States have had 2 years to implement the measures of the directive in national law. Some have already done so early, for example France banned the first SUP items in the beginning of 2020. But not all countries have submitted a law draft to the Commission.

“There is no reason why citizens should already take responsibility for plastic pollution [now] and some industry players are guaranteed some more years,” says Gaëlle Haut, project manager for EU affairs at Rethink Plastic, an alliance of European NGOs fighting plastic pollution.

Long-term vision for rural areas: for stronger, connected, resilient, prosperous EU rural areas

On Friday 2nd of June,  the European Commission has put forward a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas, identifying the challenges and concerns that they are facing, as well as highlighting some of the most promising opportunities that are available to these regions.

A Rural Pact will mobilise public authorities, and stakeholders to act on the needs and aspirations of rural residents. The accompanying EU Rural Action Plan will foster territorial cohesion and create new opportunities to attract innovative businesses, provide access to quality jobs, promote new and improved skills, ensure better infrastructure and services, and leverage the role of sustainable agriculture and diversified economic activities.

The contents of this pact will revolve around the following topics:

♦ Trends and challenges in EU’s rural areas today: essential services and related infrastructure – such as water, sanitation, energy..  are key to guaranteeing social and economic inclusion + climate change and environmental degradation

♦ Opportunities in rural areas: When well-managed, rural landscapes covered by forests and natural areas help regulate water flows, prevent soil erosion and provide ecosystem services. The green transition will require the development of partnerships in all economic activities in rural areas, between businesses of all sectors, local authorities, researchers and services based on innovation, knowledge sharing and cooperation, including within smart specialisation processes.

♦ A vision for rural areas toward 2040: 4 areas of action, supported by flagship initiatives: Stronger rural areas: focus on empowering rural communities, improving access to services and facilitating social innovation. Connected rural areas: to improve connectivity both in terms of transport and digital access; Digital technologies & resource optimisation.

♦ Resilient rural areas: preserving natural resources and greening farming activities (taking into account its impact on waters) to counter climate change while also ensuring social resilience through offering access to training courses and diverse quality job opportunities;

♦ Flagship initiatives: climate action in peatland through carbon farming (restoration, rewetting and conservation of wetlands and peatlands), the proposed EU mission on soil health and food.

♦ Prosperous rural areas: to diversify economic activities and improve the value-added of farming and agri-food activities and agri-tourism.

Find out more here.

HYDROUSA new policy brief will contribute to the EU Green Deal and the battle against the pandemic

HYDROUSA consortium has developed a policy brief on how it supports the implementation of the European Green Deal and the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

HYDROUSA project objectives are:
– Supports the just and inclusive transition through smart water management;
– Promotes climate-neutral systems within the water value chain;
– Supports the farm to fork principle with the onsite treatment of water and valorization of resources;
– Contributes to decarbonizing the water systems;
– Promotes the concept of producing and consuming locally.

Read the full policy paper to learn more.

Registrations are open per the Summer Edition of Water Knowledge Europe 2021

As global temperatures increase a new Report calls for better management of the risk of severe droughts

As climate change brings increasing global temperatures and disrupts rainfall patterns, a new report published by JRC, calls for better coordination to manage the risk of severe droughts.

The report highlights the deep and widespread impacts of droughts, beyond the already high direct costs. Costs stemming from indirect impacts on societies and economies, and on the environment including on ecosystems, biodiversity, soils and wetlands, are often not included in reported loss estimates.

Drought disproportionally affects the poor and vulnerable, and the wide-ranging and cascading impacts can pose a systemic risk to entire societies, especially in the context of compound events such as heatwaves and forest fires. To tackle these challenges, the report calls for better and more systematically recorded data on drought consequences, as well as analysis of the factors driving vulnerabilities to drought.

The report also emphasises that while drought poses a significant threat to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, this threat can be reduced by applying prospective, proactive and innovative approaches to drought risk management. Recent JRC research shows that, in the absence of action to limit and adapt to climate change, the direct economic impact of droughts on Europe could reach over €65 billion a year by 2100.

Read more and download the report here.

AquaSPICE project launches its official website

The AquaSPICE project has launched today its new website. Here you will discover the purpose and the goals of the project. Did you know the AquaSPICE had 6 case studies across the EU and beyond? Only by visiting the website, you will have a digital tour inside the 6 sites located in Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Slovenia, Romania, and Turkey.

Are you curious about how the project is performing? On the results page, you will explore how the project is materializing circular water use in the EU Process Industries, fostering awareness in resource-efficiency and delivering solutions for industrial applications. Check the website here.

Water Knowledge Europe 2021 – Summer edition is coming up on July 18!

The EC has just adopted the work programmes of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022, which outline the objectives and specific topic areas that will receive a total of €14.7 billion in funding in this two-year period.

These investments will help accelerate the green and digital transitions that see water an essential factor for the achievement of the current priorities of the EC.

Water Europe organises a special Summer Edition of Water Knowledge Europe to support and facilitate the water stakeholders to participate to the calls of proposals and create winning consortia.

Why should you join Water Knowledge Europe?

– Receive the latest information from the European Commission about Horizon Europe Work Programmes 2021-2022
– Learn about the new setting of the EC Executing Agencies
– Present your project ideas
– Meet with future project partners from across industry and research at our dedicated space for B2B meetings
– Ask questions to the speakers by using the chat and interactive means available now during the live sessions

How to register to WKE2020 Horizon Europe?

_ Register as a Presenting participant (max 6 will be admitted) & fill in all the requested details for your project – Project Ideas registrations are open just until the 10th of March;
– Register as an Attending participant and publish your collaboration wishes;
– Browse the participant list and book meetings with other participants of your interest (meetings will be accepted automatically – you can Cancel what meetings do not suit you from your profile);

Discover the Winners of Water Innovation Europe 2021

🏆 Water-Smart MEP Award: Christophe Hansen
🏆 SME Award: H2OLL
🏆 Water Governance Award: Central Solutions
🏆 Water Technology & Infrastructure Award: BIOAZUL
🏆 Digital Water Award: AM-TEAM
🏆 Global Water Challenges Award: KWR

See the full announcement to explore their outstanding innovations.

The European Commission has opened the 1st calls for proposals for the Work Programme 2021-2022 of Horizon Europe for all pillars!

The European Commission adopted the first calls from the programme and more details about the calls will be shared during the EU R&I Days. ERRIN continues to closely follow Horizon Europe and has already organised two matchmaking events relating to the programme. Learn more here.

On June 16, the Commission has adopted the main work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022, which outlines the objectives and specific topic areas that will receive a total of €14.7 billion in funding.

Processes4Planet launch event on June 23 to commit for climate-neutrality

The Processes4Planet co-programmed Partnership launch event to celebrate their new vision for a climate-neutral, circular and competitive process industry.

The event is scheduled for June 23rd and it will host an exclusive line-up of speakers to kickstart the #Processes4Planet adventure. The objective of this event will be to showcase the pledges to achieve climate neutrality and the engagement of A.SPIRE companies to the climate neutrality goals of the European Green Deal, while also portraying the three ambitions of Processes4Planet. For more info about the event, visit the official website.