EARSC’s Post

📢✍️ We’re kicking off our #JPAC Public Consultation on our new trilateral initiative: “Reaching Horizon 2030: An Environmental Outlook for North American Cooperation (H-2030)!” 🌊🌄 The CEC invites individuals, communities, experts and organizations to provide comments and recommendations to the experts and environmental officials behind this work.   This initiative focuses on three priority topics identified by the Governments of #Canada, #Mexico and the #UnitedStates:   🗺️ Earth Observation Technologies and Geographic Information Systems (#GIS) Tools 🚗 #SustainableTransportation 🐟 #Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Use/Management of Biodiversity   By participating, your input will inform the development of strategies that help address the triple planetary crisis of #ClimateChange, #biodiversity loss and #pollution, all while working to achieve North America's climate and biodiversity goals. 🌎🌿   📅💡If you have suggestions or connections in your network that could make this initiative more effective, please share your thoughts by Friday 17 January!   To learn more visit: 👉https://lnkd.in/gxXqpUGi

Curious how Western methodologies and Indigenous traditional knowledge come together to drive environmental change?🌎Check out our chat with NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) to discuss insights from their 2024 Polytechnic Showcase session. Read the full blog: https://lnkd.in/evfsFubh

🌿 **LIFE Programme: Call for Proposals for Environmental Projects** On April 18, the European Commission launched a call for proposals under the LIFE programme, with a total budget of €571 million. This funding is intended for projects focused on nature, biodiversity, combating climate change, energy transition, and circular economy. This call is open to businesses, academic institutions, national, regional, and local governments, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the EU and working on nature conservation, environmental protection, climate change, or transition to clean energy. The indicative budgets cover various areas such as nature and biodiversity (€155 million), circular economy and quality of life (€65 million), as well as grants for clean energy transition (€77 million). The total funding for the LIFE programme for the period 2021-2027 amounts to €5.4 billion, including a sub-programme dedicated to transitioning to clean energy. #LIFEProgramme #Environment #ClimateChange #EnergyTransition #CircularEconomy 🌍💡

📄A new report by the DOWN TO EARTH project sheds light on environmental risks linked to rural demographic challenges: https://bit.ly/3U2pe1N 🌱The report overviews the dynamics in the project’s regions and gives a set of recommendations to improve decision-making in relation to environmental risks and demographic challenges. #RuralPact #RuralVisionEU

📢 Let's Talk About ULEZ Expansion... and Why It's a Bad Idea 📣 The 2023 expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has sparked intense debate, particularly regarding its impact on low-income individuals and communities. Here's why we believe the ULEZ expansion poses significant challenges and deserves a closer look. Share your thoughts below: 💸 Financial Burden: The ULEZ disproportionately affects working-class families, imposing steep daily charges on older vehicles and exacerbating financial hardships amidst rising living costs. 🚌 Limited Alternatives: In areas with inadequate public transport options, residents are left with few alternatives to access essential services, forcing them to bear the brunt of ULEZ charges. 🌱 Environmental Effectiveness: Despite its environmental objectives, doubts have been raised about the ULEZ's efficacy in reducing air pollution, highlighting the need for a more equitable and efficient approach. 🤔 Questionable Justification: The ULEZ's accelerated implementation and lack of democratic input have raised concerns about transparency and accountability in policymaking. 👥 Join the Conversation: We invite you to share your thoughts and perspectives on the ULEZ. Do you believe it's an effective solution to combat air pollution? Are there alternative approaches we should consider? Let's engage in a constructive dialogue to explore the best path forward. Your voice matters in shaping policies that impact our communities. Let's work together to ensure that environmental initiatives like the ULEZ are fair, effective, and inclusive for all Londoners. Read more on our blog: https://lnkd.in/evJqsWtB #ULEZ #Fellowship #Sustainability #Policy #Opportunity #CommunityDialogue #EnvironmentalEquity #LondonTransport #SustainableFuture #London #Khan #Election

The Peace Circle™ concept is gaining support at the EU level 🌍🌱 At the request of the EU's environmental commission, Mika Vanhanen recently spoke with the Team Leader of Urban Environment Policy at the European Commission, who showed strong support for the Peace Circle™ concept. "Fantastic idea!" that fits perfectly with many EU-level themes. Peace Circle™ combines environmental protection, peacebuilding, and community engagement – practical solutions for sustainable development. EU views on the Peace Circle™ concept: 🔹 Brussels as one of potential locations: The city of Brussels was highlighted as an excellent place for a future Peace Circle park. 🔹 Ecosystem services: Peace Circle™ is a place for recreation and supports biodiversity, climate change mitigation, as well as mental and physical well-being. 🔹 Urban green spaces: The concept works especially well in urban areas, where forests and trees offer numerous benefits. 🔹 EU-level support: The European Parliament and its members could be significant supporters of the concept, which aligns with the European Green Deal and the urban targets of the nature restoration law. 🔹 Perfect timing: Cities are currently measuring and monitoring their green spaces – now is the perfect time to advance a project like this! European Commission Aura Salla Mika Aaltola Maria Guzenina #greendeal #EU

KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNITY ON WATER, MARINE AND MARITIME 🌊 📅 17.04.2024, Brussels + online Seas, oceans and inland waters play a central role in the preservation of critical ecosystems, climate-related dynamics, biodiversity, and energy efficiency, as well as in the provision of food, renewable energy and the needs of the industry. This workshop will present the preliminary findings of the study that provide essential insights for the establishment of WaterKIC and its alignment with EU climate goals. It aims to inform policymakers about the establishment of the WaterKIC, reinforce the case of strengthening the network of stakeholders active in these fields, and ultimately contribute to the Commission's ongoing work. More information 👉 https://shorturl.at/gpQV5 (SK) 👉 https://shorturl.at/ahzGT (EN)

Our latest piece on Mongabay, by Robert Nasi and I, edited by Rhett Ayers Butler: “The Earth does not recognize our administrative boundaries or bureaucratic distinctions; neither should our response to environmental crises. The time has come to abandon this inefficient and ineffective approach in favor of a unified, coherent response to environmental challenges. The stakes are too high, and our resources too limited, to continue maintaining artificial divisions in our fight to protect the Earth’s systems. The question is not whether we should integrate these conventions and their funding mechanisms, but how quickly we can overcome institutional inertia to do so. Every day we maintain this fragmented approach is another day we handicap our ability to effectively address the environmental crisis that threatens our planet’s future. One thing is clear: the current fragmented approach to environmental governance and funding is not working. Our planet’s increasing temperature and the dire state of biodiversity today have provided enough evidence.” https://lnkd.in/gywuXbYH

🤝 #Partnerships are a crucial part of the National Environmental Science Program. Working in partnership ensures projects deliver applied #research, resulting in real-world impacts. 🌏 Scientists partner with Traditional Owners, government, community and industry. Together they design projects for #environment and #climate research. 🌱 🔎 Find out more: https://brnw.ch/21wP0vF 🎥 NESP Marine and Coastal Hub

The GEO-7 will not be another doom-laden tome laying out the problems. It will be a guide for policymakers, key stakeholders and implementers on how to transform social and economic systems to achieve environmental sustainability in an equitable way.