In order to integrate electromobility in their Sustainable Mobility Plans, European cities need to equip themselves with a network of electric recharging stations for electric cars and L-category vehicles. This will help the market to grow, as potentially interested consumers tend not to buy electric vehicles because they are not confident enough about the opportunities to recharge them. However, the real business models do not yet exist.
Since the adoption of RES Directive in 2009, most Member States have experienced significant growth in renewable energy consumption and the EU and large majority of Member States are on track towards 2020 RES targets. Considering Member States' current and planned policy initiatives, their current implementation rates and the various barriers to renewable energy development, the need for improvements for some RES technologies, like offshore wind, advanced biofuels, CSP and geothermal, however, becomes apparent.
Arctic permafrost contains twice as much carbon as the atmosphere, stored in the upper metres of the ground. Thawing of permafrost may trigger the release of this carbon and its transformation to greenhouse gases, reinforcing global warming (permafrost carbon feedback). Moreover, permafrost coasts make up 34% of the world's coasts. Increasing sea-level in combination with changing sea-ice cover and permafrost thawing expose these coastal areas to higher risks.
Debris, chemical and microbial pollution and algae jellyfish blooms are huge and increasing problems in the oceans, seas and coasts. For plastics alone, the economic and ecological cost is considerable when including beach clean-ups, tourism losses, and damages to the fishing and aquaculture industries. In spite of strong legislation such as EU directives, sea and coastal pollution remains high, and prevention and innovative coast and sea clean-up schemes remain a challenge.
The sustainability of food systems is challenged by various interrelated factors, such as the changing socio-economic and political context, the scarcity of natural resources, environmental degradation and climate change. These challenges cannot be met by individual action, but require multi-stakeholder action and coordinated initiatives along the value chain. A new holistic, systemic approach to the design of processes within agro-food chains is needed to unlock their full potential and deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.