Energy and Safety
Australian researchers develop electrochemical oxidation process to clean wastewater
In Australia, researchers from the University of Sydney’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering developed an electrochemical oxidation process to clean up complex wastewater with a toxic cocktail of chemical pollutants. The wastewater, which contained carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, was generated in a pilot plant, designed by the team for the production of biofuels using naturally abundant microalgae. The process involved treating wastewater with electricity using specialised electrodes. They discharged electricity, then drove oxidation reactions near the electrode surfaces, transforming the organic contaminants into harmless gases, ions or minerals.
Sources: biofuelsdigest.com
Peace and Security
Fiji ratifies UN nuclear weapon ban treaty
The Pacific island state of Fiji has become the 39th nation to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The Fijian ambassador to the United Nations, Satyendra Prasad, announced the ratification at an event on July 7 to mark the third anniversary of the adoption of the landmark agreement by a large majority of the world’s nations. He said the treaty has particular resonance in the Pacific since this region has suffered from decades of nuclear testing by colonial powers.
Solidarity
Amid COVID-19 crises, Germany donates to protect African countries with climate insurance
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread into countries already dealing with the impacts of drought, economic crises and conflict, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has provided USD 5.9 million to ensure that the UN World Food Program (WFP) can continue to protect 1.2 million vulnerable African farmers with climate risk insurance. If these countries experience climate shocks that damage crops this year or the next, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be compounded and less food will be available in the markets, which could lead to food crises.
This will create a situation where countries are faced with having to feed more people while at the same time trying to control the spread of COVID-19. (…) The insurance scheme is part of the African Union’s African Risk Capacity (ARC) – an innovative risk management and resilience building institution that helps African Union member States manage climate and disaster risk and adapt to climate change. ARC Member States purchase an index-based drought insurance that guarantees payouts if rains fall below certain levels.
Financial help can reach affected small-scale farmers immediately after the failed harvest. ARC is also offering governments comprehensive technical support for disaster preparedness and disaster risk management. As part of the InsuResilience Vision 2025, Germany and the other G7 countries have committed to ensuring 500 million poor and vulnerable people are covered against climate and disaster shocks by pre-arranged finance and insurance mechanisms by 2025.Sources: wfp.org
