Barcelona begins work on connecting its two separate tram systems
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The transport sector’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 46% as people began to work from home in 2020
The outbreak of the pandemic negatively impacted nearly all aspects of our lives, from our physical health and mental wellbeing to our careers and finances. Despite this, the Danish Municipality of Aarhus points out that COVID has had a positive effect on one thing: the climate.
More specifically, it revealed that its net greenhouse gas emissions decreased significantly in 2020, following the enforcement of restrictions and lockdowns. Expanding on this, the municipality shared that the transport sector witnessed the biggest change as its emissions reportedly fell by 25,000 tonnes (a whopping 46%) compared to the previous year.
In a press release, the municipality notes that the 2020 climate accounts act as proof that minor changes to our daily lives can make a big difference. Commenting on this, the Mayor of Aarhus Jacob Bundsgaard explained:
“We must use these accounts as motivation for us to be able to collectively change society’s emissions. Of course, we must not shut down society, but we must use experience from the lockdowns to streamline workflows and establish new habits that can both provide a good quality of life and reduce our climate footprint as individuals.”
The outbreak of COVID changed the way companies operate as many resorted to working from home. Remote work then quickly proved to be beneficial for employers as they could reduce their businesses’ operating costs and for employees as they no longer had to spend time stuck in traffic. As such, working from home also positively impacted the environment.
Now, the municipality advises companies to continue operating remotely as this allows them to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Giving concrete examples of how working from home can help the environment, Climate Manager at Aarhus Municipality Henrik DH Müller shared:
“If a commuter who drives 20 kilometres in a petrol car every day chooses to work from home two days a week, they can save 255 kilograms of CO2 annually. If approximately 25% of the commuters in Aarhus do this, it could save 4.2 tonnes of CO2 per year – and of course, some money on transport costs.”
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Many municipalities instituted privileges for EVs to promote sustainable mobility. Now, a lot more people are driving electric, so maybe it’s time to normalise legislation
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
Last week, the Chinese app was banned for Belgian federal employees for an initial period of six months
Authorities have published two maps, one of the roofs and the other – of facades so that locals can make the right decision when choosing green energy
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
The product launch will mark the 10-year anniversary since the city started working with ethically sourced products
The city has developed its own way to teach young people how to react when they witness unjust treatments
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Find out which European region has the highest longevity, and which one the lowest
The new itineraries are part of the DiscoverEU programme, which lets 18-year-olds travel by train between important European sites
The European Commission has published its first progress report charting the achievements of the socio-cultural movement that combines beauty, inclusion and sustainability
The 2023 edition of the creative initiative promises to be bigger, bolder and more inclusive
A talk with the head of Mission Zero Academy on the benefits for municipalities if they go the zero waste way
A talk with Nicolae Urs, one of the key figures behind the city's new data platforms and online services strategy
Veni Markovski’s take on dealing with disinformation in the European Union's poorest country – Bulgaria