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Climate & global change

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Young people are essential in the fight against climate change. But making impactful decisions requires knowing how best to reduce your environmental footprint. Through community energy initiatives and an Energy Tracker app, the EU-funded AURORA project empowered students to strive for a ‘near-zero emission’ way of life.
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Air pollution is usually worse in urban centres, though residents are often less aware of its potential harm. The EU-funded CompAir project gave citizens the knowledge and tools needed to monitor and tackle air pollution – a solution that is particularly helpful for lower socio-economic groups throughout Europe.
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The continuous rise of mobile communications has transformed how we work, live and play. But the power needed to deliver this growing data infrastructure has an equally large carbon footprint. Through 15 fellowships, the EU-funded GREENEDGE project aims to design energy-efficient technologies and combine them with the efficient management of ambient energy sources to reduce the impact of data services.
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Agriculture accounts for 25 % of the world’s total carbon emissions. To help the sector reduce its carbon footprint, the EU-funded AgriCapture project is turning to a process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in soil. Not only can this reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, it also improves soil quality.
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Many of the precursor chemicals essential to our everyday products are derived from fossil fuels. A breakthrough in molecular engineering made by the EU-funded CATACOAT project could help industry transition towards renewable sources of carbon, such as plants. This could help to reduce our carbon footprint, and create new green business opportunities.
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Our cities are home to the vast majority of Europeans, but they are under pressure from the complexities of climate change and rapid urbanisation. The EU-funded CURE project leveraged the power of Earth Observation satellites to address these issues, aiming to create safer, more sustainable cities for EU citizens.
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Energy costs more on islands, as they are typically isolated from the national grid. While greater use of renewable energy could lower these costs, most European islands don’t have the necessary grid infrastructure. The EU-funded INSULAE project’s demonstrations showcased the technical and economic viability of decentralising island energy supplies, paving a way to affordable, sustainable energy.
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A 4-year study funded by the EU has revealed the presence of a climate feedback loop that threatens to push marine ecosystems beyond critical thresholds. Researchers in the COMFORT project say action is needed now to prevent rising temperatures, ocean acidification and falling oxygen levels causing irrevocable changes to ocean habitats.
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Permafrost coasts are one of the most dynamic ecosystems on Earth and they are undergoing rapid change. The EU-funded Nunataryuk project assessed the impacts of thawing coastal and subsea permafrost on the global climate. Their work on adaptation and mitigation strategies is also helping to build resilience in Arctic coastal populations.
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Reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a critical element in the fight against climate change. This is why EU researchers have pioneered a novel method of capturing emissions and storing them underground as rock. This could help Europe meet its climate targets.