Search Climate Insights Directory

The report reviews 819 studies on ecotechnologies for nutrient recovery in the Baltic Sea Region, finding that while energy recovery is mature in wastewater and manure-based systems dominate agriculture, economic viability is heavily dependent on global market prices for phosphate rock and natural gas. It argues that current EU policies remain rooted in linear waste management and calls for harmonized regulations to promote a circular economy for nutrients.

The report evaluates different systems for nutrient and carbon recovery in the Vantaanjoki (Finland), Fyrisån (Sweden), and Słupia (Poland) catchment areas. Using a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) involving stakeholder weighting, the study compares baseline management against alternatives such as anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, and source-separation. In Vantaanjoki, anaerobic digestion scored highest. In Fyrisån, source-separation was the most sustainable. In Słupia, nutrient extraction performed best, while source-separation was found to be potentially less sustainable than the baseline due to local context and low adoption rates.

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation and the International Institute for Sustainable Development argue that phosphorus from undertreated sewage is driving toxic algae blooms in Lake Winnipeg. They identify the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) as the largest point source of phosphorus for the lake and the fourth largest phosphorus polluter among Canadian wastewater facilities. While a full plant upgrade is planned, it is estimated to cost $1.8 billion and will not begin for at least 10 years. The authors propose a $5 million interim retrofit that could be implemented quickly to reduce the plant's phosphorus contribution by 70%.

The report identifies significant regulatory and institutional hurdles to phosphorus (P) reuse in the Baltic Sea Region, particularly within the EU's fertilizer and waste frameworks. While the EU's Circular Economy package provides a positive signal, the study finds that 'silo-thinking' across sectors and a lack of harmonized national policies hinder the transition from linear to circular nutrient economies. It highlights a risk of 'lock-in' to sub-optimal technologies, such as mono-incineration in Germany, and recommends mainstreaming circular economy principles at local and national levels to support diverse systemic solutions like source separation.

The report evaluates green economy (GE) investments in Georgia, focusing on buildings, agriculture, and tourism. Using the SAVi methodology, it demonstrates that while traditional financial analysis suggests these investments may not be profitable, incorporating environmental, social, and economic externalities reveals a high sustainable internal rate of return (S-IRR) of 84% and a sustainable net present value (S-NPV) of approximately GEL 20.4 billion.

The report highlights the critical need for green infrastructure investment in Vietnam, estimating a requirement of USD31bn by 2020 to align with NDC commitments. It identifies key opportunities across renewable energy, low carbon transport, sustainable water management, and sustainable waste management, while analyzing the current state of green finance in the country. The document argues that while public funding has dominated, there is a significant opportunity to attract private capital through green bonds, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and the support of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). It provides a sample pipeline of 40 projects and recommends policy changes, such as issuing a green sovereign bond and improving the visibility of green assets, to accelerate the transition.

The report examines the economic feasibility of ecotechnologies, specifically those focused on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) recovery in wastewater and agriculture. It identifies a prevalence of private-cost analyses over social-cost assessments and notes that most recovery technologies are not currently market-competitive without subsidies or the inclusion of social externalities. The document outlines the application of Techno-Economic Assessments (TEA), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), concluding that the social perspective significantly improves the perceived economic efficiency of these technologies.

The report evaluates multiple conservation scenarios for Lake Dal, concluding that a hybrid approach combining grey infrastructure (sewage treatment plants), solar PV power, and natural infrastructure (artificial wetlands) is the most cost-effective way to prevent ecological collapse and maximize economic benefits from tourism and fisheries.

The report critiques the Regenerated Fiber Green Development Alliance's three-year roadmap for Chinese viscose producers, finding it insufficient compared to international standards like the EU BAT. It highlights ongoing pollution from alliance members and recommends adopting more rigorous auditing and emission limits.

The report argues that the Collaboration for Sustainable Development of Viscose (CV) Roadmap lacks the ambition, transparency, and rigor necessary to transform the Chinese viscose industry. It finds that the initiative allows producers to use weak certification standards and fails to mandate the highest production levels, falling short of the European Commission's Best Available Techniques (BAT). The document highlights ongoing pollution at CV member sites and recommends aligning the roadmap with CanopyStyle audits and EU BAT to ensure genuine environmental protection.

The document provides a comprehensive mapping of ecotechnologies used to recover carbon and nutrients from wastewater and agriculture. For wastewater, the evidence base consists of 481 articles, showing a predominance of biological processes and a higher focus on energy recovery over nutrient recovery. For agriculture, 338 ecotechnologies were identified, with manure-based systems—particularly anaerobic digestion—being the most prevalent. The report highlights knowledge gaps in nitrogen recovery and the use of extracted nutrients like struvite in agriculture, noting that current policies still prioritise pollution reduction over resource recovery.

The BONUS RETURN project focuses on the implementation of eco-technologies in three river basins: Vantaanjoki (Finland), Słupia (Poland), and Fyrisån (Sweden). During its first year, the project established a broad definition of 'eco-technologies' as "human interventions in social- ecological systems in the form of practices and/or biological, physical, and chemical processes designed to minimise harm to the environment and provide services of value to society." Key activities included a systematic review of 77 articles to define the term, a search of nearly 35,000 records to identify existing technologies in agriculture and wastewater treatment, and the establishment of stakeholder platforms in the three catchment areas. Additionally, the project launched the 'Nutrients and Carbon Reuse Challenge', attracting 15 European applicants and selecting three winning innovations for pre-commercialization planning. Technical work included collecting data for SWAT modelling to establish baseline phosphorus (Ptot) and nitrogen (Ntot) loadings in the case study areas.

The document is a legal complaint alleging racial discrimination in the provision of public health services in Lowndes County, Alabama. It argues that ADPH and LCHD have failed to abate insanitary conditions caused by failing or non-existent sewage systems, which disproportionately affect black residents. The complaint specifically highlights the agencies' dismissal of a 2017 peer-reviewed study that found hookworm in 34.5% of participants, and the historical criminalization of poverty through arrests of black residents for lacking permitted septic systems.

The document describes Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) as artificial platforms that enable aquatic emergent plants to grow in deep water. These systems are designed to treat wastewater, industrial contaminants, and storm water runoff by transforming pollutants into harmless byproducts. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is currently exploring the application of FTWs in Canada and at the IISD Experimental Lakes Area.

The BONUS RETURN project launched the Nutrients and Carbon Reuse Challenge in December 2017 to identify eco-technologies capable of transforming nutrients and carbon into benefits. Out of 13 applications, three winners—Biophree, TerraNovaUltra, and Ravita—were selected based on criteria including relevance, sustainability, and market potential. These technologies focus on recovering phosphorus and carbon from wastewater and agricultural sectors to support the Baltic Sea Region's environmental goals.

The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) identifies a state of "institutional crisis" within the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), citing severe financial mismanagement, human resource challenges, and a failure to maintain water infrastructure. The document highlights the critical risk posed by 212 wastewater treatment plants and the lack of water quality reporting since 2013. SAWC urges the Ministry to prioritize the establishment of nine Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs), protect 22 strategic water source areas, and address the R60 billion estimated cost for treating acid-mine drainage from approximately 5,906 derelict and ownerless mines. The letter also calls for water allocation reform to address inequities where industrial agriculture receives 60% of water but Black emerging farmers receive only 3% of that allocation.

The report examines the transition from linear to circular resource use in wastewater management, focusing on the socio-cultural barriers to recycling sewage sludge as fertilizer. It analyzes historical practices in the EU and provides detailed case studies from three river basins in Sweden, Poland, and Finland, highlighting how perceptions of risk and regulatory gaps hinder the adoption of eco-technologies.

Suez has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 from a 2014 baseline, a target approved by the Science Based Target initiative. The company focuses on transitioning customers to a "use-and-recover approach" through circular economy practices, such as diverting waste from landfills to reduce methane and converting wastewater treatment plants into carbon-neutral "bio-factories." To manage financial risk and guide technology choices, Suez employs an internal carbon price based on the EU ETS and IEA scenarios. By 2017, the company reported a 5.69% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2014 and supported nearly 200,000 jobs worldwide through its activities and supply chain.

The project aims to enhance Jordan's resilience to climate change through a systemic 'water-agriculture-energy-climate change nexus' approach. It targets three regions—the Northern Highlands, Central Badia, and Southern Highlands—focusing on diversifying water supply, improving agricultural productivity via climate-smart practices, and integrating solar-powered irrigation. With an indicative total cost of USD 245 million (USD 50 million requested from the GCF), the project seeks to benefit 540,000 people, particularly rural poor and women, while reducing GHG emissions through solar energy and forest restoration.

South Africa is overexploiting its renewable water resources, with more than 60% of its rivers currently overexploited. Forecasts indicate that demand will increase across agricultural, industrial, and municipal sectors through 2035, driven by population growth, urbanisation, and industrial expansion. The report highlights critical vulnerabilities, including deteriorating wastewater treatment facilities—where nearly 25% are in a 'critical state'—and high levels of non-revenue water (approximately 36% of municipal consumption). To avoid a national crisis, the authors recommend implementing tiered water pricing, expanding the use of treated wastewater, and increasing sustainable groundwater extraction. The report also notes that transitioning from coal-based energy to renewables would reduce industrial water demand. While large-scale infrastructure projects are planned, the report argues they are insufficient without aggressive demand reduction and efficiency measures.