SORTING WASTE, HELPING PEOPLE INSIDE THE MANGROVE … · clean energy. The process is simple: to...

DRINKING WATER: THE PUDONG CHALLENGE

SORTING WASTE, HELPING PEOPLE INSIDE THE MANGROVE FOREST BIOPLASTICS MADE FROM WASTEWATER

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DRINKING WATER: THE PUDONG CHALLENGE

SORTING WASTE, HELPING PEOPLE INSIDE THE MANGROVE FOREST BIOPLASTICS MADE FROM WASTEWATER


IN POLAND,

POZNAN GETS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!

www.veolia.com

z 2013 January z Planet #01 zzz 3

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Facts Green research: Turning over a new leaf z Sustainable cities: Life is good z European Union: SecurEau combats terrorism z Green fashion: Up and coming eco-design z

Solutions Social solidarity through paper recycling z Drinking water: Pudong goes with the flow z Dairy Crest: Cheddar and the carbon challenge z

Horizons Poland gets a breath of fresh air! z

Views Portfolio: Bangladesh. Mangrove forests by Xavier Desmier z Portrait: Rita Colwell, a tireless campaigner z

VisionsFrom micro-organisms to bioplastics z Sorting plastics z Neswatch: Rare earth elements and shale gas z Upcoming events: Trade fairs, conferences and international summits z

z Because one person’s new idea can inspire someone they have never met; because problem solving in one place can lead to solutions in another halfway across the world; and because answers to seemingly specific problems can be adapted to suit needs worldwide. For all these reasons, Planet offers a look at people across the globe who are helping to build a sustainable future for all of us. This first issue takes us from the green fields of the United Kingdom to a booming metropolis in the Middle Kingdom, with stops along the way in France, Poland and Bangladesh. It takes us to Poznan, in Poland, where the city has chosen a greener future by switching its district heating network over to biomass feedstock. In Pudong, Shanghai’s business district, a steadily rising population benefits from quality water distribution services thanks to a firm commitment to innovation. Dairy Crest, in Cornwall, reveals its secrets to running a successful business that protects the environment. The issue also invites us to share in the work of those who are dedicated to protecting both the environment and their fellow man: Elise fosters social integration through better resource management; the biologist Rita Colwell has been fighting cholera throughout the world for half a century; and Xavier Desmier uses his talents as a photographer to protect the Sundarbans mangrove forest and its inhabitants—animal and human—in Bangladesh. These initiatives all have something in common—they are tackling the great environmental challenges facing today’s society: responsible resource management, urbanization, access to essential services and the fight against global warming. We hope you’ll enjoy this issue and invite you to learn about the next series of ideas and solutions three months from now. z The Planet Team

Here, tHere, everywHere: a sHared vision for a sustainable future

For an even more in-depth experience, try the smartphone extension to the magazine by scanning the QR codes as you read along.

Pla et#01

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zzzzFacts

Turning over a new leafGreen research

A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States has announced a new breakthrough by successfully growing an “artificial leaf”. The amazing sliver of technological sophistication is a few centimeters long and is made of just a few basic materials—mainly silicon, cobalt and a nickel-molybde-num-zinc alloy—each performing a different task. Like its natural counterpart, the artificial leaf relies on sunlight, making it a nearly inexhaustible source of clean energy. The process is simple: to recreate the ef-fects of photosynthesis, the leaf is placed in a container of water and exposed to sunlight, which triggers a reaction between the water and the metals that make up the leaf’s fine layers. This produces a stream of small bubbles from either side of the leaf—oxygen from one side, hydrogen from the other. The two gases are easily recovered and stored for later use as a power source. The tiny slice of technology could eventually replace solar cells, which require rare, expensive materials, involve “dirty” production processes and are difficult to recycle. According to researchers, however, it could be between 10 and 30 years before artificial photosynthesis can produce power on a large scale. z

EUROPEAN UNION ALTERNATIVE STORAGE z By jointly funding the Ingrid project—a large facility designed to store energy from renewable sources for later use—the European Union has helped break down one of the barriers to growth in intermittent renewables. The prototype, developed by a French start-up based in Grenoble, uses solid hydrogen storage technology with magnesium hydride as the medium. Energy from all renewable sources is turned into hydrogen through electrolysis for storage and is later released as electricity using a fuel cell. Ingrid will be built to hold one metric ton of hydrogen, the equivalent of 39 MWh of energy, a capacity on par with a mid-sized wind turbine or solar facility. The project has a total budget of €23.9 million, €13.8 million of which comes from EU funding. z

z In the time of cholera The outbreak of cholera in Haiti after the 2010 earth-quake has infected 600,000 residents of the Caribbean nation and claimed 7,500 lives to date. In this country where only 2% of the popula-tion has access to drinking water, international health leaders have just joined the Regional Coalition on Water and Sanitation for the Elimination of Cholera in the Island of Hispaniola. The Coalition’s members include the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Unicef, the Veolia Environnement Foundation and Veolia Water. More than $1.6 billion are earmarked for the implementation of a 10-year strategic plan for improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene. z

z A world first in carton recycling Finnish company Stora Enso, one of Europe’s leading pulp and paper manufacturers, has managed to recycle every part of milk and juice cartons, even down to the fine aluminum laminate. The technology involved—the result of investment totaling €9 million—uses pyrolysis to “split” the molecules at a temperature of 500° C. z

11% of the world’s population—783 million people—is still without access to safe drinking water, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization and UNICEF. The figure rises to 14% in developing countries, compared with just 1% in developed nations.

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UNITED STATES WHEN NATURE CALLS z At the “Reinvent the Toilet” fair in Seattle, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation presented awards to a number of prototypes for environmentally friendly, economical, sustainable toilets. To be eligible, toilets were required to run without water or electricity, treat excrement and recover useful resources, such as minerals and water—all on a budget of just five cents per user per day! The initiative was part of an attempt to address the problems faced by some 2.5 billion of the world’s people who are still without access to safe sanitation. The challenge pushed entrants to come up with several ingenious solutions, including toilets running on solar power and proto-types producing coal and purified water. The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) came out on top, receiving a prize of $100,000 for a solar-powered toilet able to produce hydrogen and electricity. The toilet is due for initial deployment as part of a campaign to improve slum sanitation in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. z©

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FRANCE DATA CENTERz Although the technology needed to recover the heat given off by data centers has been around for several years now, it had only ever been used to warm one or two buildings. Now, however, it is being funneled into a heating network to supply an entire district: the technology has been brought on-stream at the Val d’Europe business park just outside Paris, where it heats the equivalent of 600,000 square meters of housing units. z

©Ferguson & Katzman Photography/Halo Images


zzzzFacts

Life is goodsustainability awards

P u b l i s h e d b y G e r m a n b u s i n e s s m a g a z i n e Wirtschaftswoche, the official ranking for Sustainable Cities was reported by more than 230 media outlets. The survey used a groundbreaking scientific study to compare Germany’s 50 leading cities on the basis of 56 environmental, economic and social criteria across of range of fields, including energy, transportation, environment, social capital, human capital, economic strength and transparency. To make it easier to collate data on the different sustainable initiatives in these cities and better assess them, experts from the magazine devised a Sustainable City Indicator in partnership with scientists at Christian Albrecht University and the Kiel Institute, along with consultants from Kiel Economics and Veolia Environnement. z

WASTE RANKING EUROPE DIVIDED z Half of EU countries are following the program when it comes to waste man-agement. Such is the verdict of a study published on August 7 by the European Commission. The survey provides a per-formance table for the 27 Member States, ranking each country based on 18 criteria. Austria tops the podium (39 points), followed by the Netherlands (39 points), Denmark (37 points), Germany (36 points) and Sweden (35 points). These countries all have well-developed recycling systems and comply with relevant recommenda-tions. France and Finland share the middle of the table with 31 points, while Italy and a number of Eastern European countries lag behind, with Greece bringing up the rear (3 points). Countries who fail the waste-management test tend to make extensive use of landfills and incineration. The EU strongly advises against these practices, reminding its members that compliance with community legislation could provide annual savings of €72 billion, increase annual revenue in the sector by €42 billion and create more than 400,000 jobs by 2020. Starting this fall, the Commission will provide the leaders of the 10 countries at the bottom of the table with a roadmap containing recommenda-tions they can follow to improve their approach to waste management. z

z A new best practice guide to help major cities around the world promote biodiversity was recently published by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) in conjunction with Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI). The goal is to provide detailed guidelines for preserving biodiversity data and making the information available online. The guide also seeks to raise awareness of tools and protocols designed to publish this type of data. There is a real need for improved structure: information is generally provided through initiatives planned by local authorities and is often lost once reports have been written or relegated to incompatible formats that are hard to archive or share. z

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ROMANIA STURGEONS FIND A NEW HOMEz Nearly 200 sturgeons have been released into the Danube Delta to repopulate the species as part of a biodiversity-conservation and ecosystem-protection campaign in this unique region. The initiative was led by Veolia Water with support from neighboring countries, NGOs and research bodies. As an added incentive, the Romanian Ministry for Maritime Transport and the River Administration of the Lower Danube announced their decision to finance a feasibility study for the design and construction of a first-of-its-kind “fish pass” for sturgeon in the Danube to help them reach their spawning grounds in an area bordered by Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia z

€205 billion

€50 billion

Worldwide investment in renewables in 2011: an increase of 17% over the 2010 level. While China (€42 billion) and the United States (€41 billion) still invest more than any other country in renewable energy, Europe remains the most attractive region for this type of spending, with a total investment of €80.6 billion. z Source: UNEP report published on June 11, 2012.

The value of the massive 25-year investment plan unveiled by Brazil in a bid to modernize its infrastructure in the face of waning national growth.


AUSTRALIA SYDNEY FERRIES RIDE WAVE OF SUCCESSz Ferries have become a real fixture here, in what is one of the world’s most beautiful bays. The fleet is a seamless part of the city’s public transportation system: its 31 vessels and 37 docks carry more than 14 million passengers a year and employ a workforce of some 560 people. Keen to continuously improve mobility and committed to a new customer-oriented culture underpinned by pride, respect, competence and creativity, the government of New South Wales has awarded Harbour City Ferries—in which Veolia Transdev Australasia and Transfield Services each hold an equal stake—a contract to manage Sydney’s ferries. z

©Dean Sewell.Smh.news


zzzzFacts

SecurEau combats terrorism

european union

A European research program—SecurEau—is taking steps to prevent potential terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure such as power plants and drinking water networks. As part of this initiative, the EU has chosen the multi-parameter KaptaTM 3000 water sensor, developed by Veolia Water. The main advantage of the device is its ability to measure temperature, chlorine, pressure and conductivity, and transmit key data on the quality of water in the pipes and the performance of relevant parts of the network in real time. The technology is a result of innovative advances in the use of physico-chemical measurements, materials, electronics and communications. KaptaTM 3000 has proven its reliability in full-scale testing at major international events. z

z Urban heat islands (UHI) have now reached an unprecedented level of operability. Continued worldwide urbanization is associated with localized rises in temperature in densely populated areas, creating what is known as Urban Heat Islands (UHI). Much is to be gained by studying the differences in temperature between urban and rural areas. Though the scientific community has long been aware of the phenomenon, researchers have yet to measure the impact on the average global climate in the long term. To remedy this problem, two professors at the University of British Columbia in Canada—Iain Stewart and Tim Oke—have developed a Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification system covering different types of zones found around the world (architecture, green spaces, etc.). Their work identified 17 standard types, each unique in its combination of surface structure, human activity, etc. Their work provides an extremely useful framework for the many stakeholders (developers, architects, etc.) involved in tackling urban issues, who can now better identify solutions and bring in the appropriate operators. www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v2/n7/full/ nclimate1624.html z

WORLD BETTER ESTIMATES OF THE FRESH WATER RESOURCESz Estimates of the world’s water resources are still extremely vague, according to findings by two researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research in Germany. Their study reveals huge inconsistencies between the results of climate models (oceanographic and atmospheric) and direct observa-tions (e.g. acoustic probes), making it extremely difficult to provide any real assessment of the planet’s freshwater resources. The two scientists believe these tools must be optimized to provide a more accurate picture of the world’s major water cycles. z

320of gold are used annually to make new electronic and electrical products worldwide, according to a study by the United Nations University, representing 7.7% of the world’s supply of the metal in 2011.

UNITED STATES OUT OF THE ASHESz Veolia Environnement’s West Carrollton hazardous waste treatment facility in Ohio is now back on-stream after three years of renovations following the fire that destroyed the plant in 2009. Veolia injected $50 million into acquiring the facilities needed to ensure strict compliance with building standards and tighten safety standards. West Carrollton now has an annual capacity to recycle some 2,000 metric tons of waste oils, paints, solvents and other materials. More than 70% of this waste comes from the state of Ohio, with other sources in Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. z

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FRANCE: AN OLD SHIP GETS A NEW BEGINNINGz Docked at Bordeaux-Bassens (France) for ship breaking, the Matterhorn is about to begin a new life. Veolia Environmental Services subsidiary Bartin Recycling purchased the cold-storage cargo ship—weighing nearly 3,000 metric tons and measuring 142 meters in length—from the French government for just one euro. After emptying the vessel of its fuel and other hydrocarbons, Bartin had it towed from Brest. The next step: begin the second phase by removing the asbestos and separating the remaining materials. The Matterhorn is a bountiful source of recyclable materials for future use. Stainless steel, bronze and copper (from electric wiring) are collected and sent to foundries, while scrap metal finds a new home in steel mills. z

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zzzzFacts

Up and coming eco-design

Green fashion

Created from recycled materials, the innovative Liora Lassalle collection won the 2012 Esthetica/Veolia Re-Source Competition for its inspired, uplifting take on sustainability. Organized by the British Fashion Council, Veolia Environnement and a group of British waste management companies in partnership with Saint Martin’s College, the competition aims to support the work of cutting-edge fashion design students committed to sustainability in the world of couture.Born in Kent in 1988, Liora hails from a family of artists—her mother is a sculptor and her father a musician. This recent graduate of Saint Martin’s College designed a collection directly inspired from her trips to Mexico. Natural, sustainable fabrics readily available in the UK (made from hemp and hessian, for example) and recycled household waste, like tin cans and plastic bags, are the stars of her remarkable collection. Liora’s next step will be to create capsule collection, which will be unveiled at London Fashion Week in February 2013. z

z The European parliament is continuing the drive to reduce the carbon footprint of its real estate. With initiatives already underway in Brussels and Luxembourg, Strasbourg is now rising to the occasion. And, as for the two previous sites, the parliament has brought in Dalkia to help optimize its facilities, promote improved technology, implement more energy-efficient solutions better in tune with the environment and raise staff awareness of best practices to promote a healthier environment. z

z Global demand for coal has reached new highs, driven almost exclusively by the Asia-Pacific region. This comes as no surprise. Between 2000 and 2010, coal consumption in Asia—mostly in China—more than doubled, soaring from 1.157 to 2.385 billion metric tons oil equivalent (TOE). To put that in context, consumption in Africa and Central America stood at 95 million TOE and 24 million TOE, respectively. These emerging countries are expected to add to growth in demand. z

EUROPE WATER: LESS THAN SPARKLING RESULTS z Only 52% of Europe’s waters will have attained good ecological status by 2015 according to a study by the European Environmental Agency (EEA), “European waters—current status and future challenges,” published in November 2012. 104,000 rivers, 19,000 lakes and 4,000 transitional and coastal water zones were evaluated by the report. The document explains that while water quality is improving, it is not doing so fast enough to meet the targets laid out in 2000 by the Water Framework Directive, which stated all European waters were to attain good ecological and chemical status by 2015. z z http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/european-waters-synthesis-2012

RIO+20 SUSTAINIA AWARDz This “Nobel Prize” of Sustainable Development—launched in 2012 and backed by a committee chaired by Arnold Schwarzenegger—seeks to reward those who create new ideas and support technology and initiatives designed to tackle environmental problems. Two Veolia projects were recognized in 2012: a joint initiative by Veolia Environnement and Renault to build a zero-carbon, zero-effluent automotive plant in Tangier, Morocco; and Veolia’s program to help the city of Monteria, Colombia implement a climate plan. z

5.9% Denmark’s 2009 environmental tax

receipts (as a percentage of GDP). Europe’s highest. France’s environmental tax pales in comparison, at just 2.1% of GDP.

$871.5 billion 2010 revenue from trade between developed countries in 164 “green” products on an EU list submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Sales are growing by nearly 13% annually.

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HAITI WATER NETWORKz Work is now underway to rebuild the water network in Petit-Goâve, a coastal city 58 kilometers from Port-au-Prince, which was destroyed by the earthquake on January 12, 2010. Following interim repairs to quickly restore access to water for 40,000 people, the goal is now to bring the city’s drinking water supply up to standard. The program is a cornerstone of the partnership between the Veolia Environnement Foundation, the French Red Cross and the Haitian public authorities. z

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InformatIon on cIty plannIng worldwIde•

User’s gUIde to the sUstaInable cIty•

solUtIons to Urban challenges

d e s t i n a t i o n

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solutionsz In Lille, France, the social solidarity company Elise provides steady

employment collecting office paper for those who traditionally have

the least access to the job market. z Pudong, Shanghai’s business

district and one of Asia’s major economic and financial hubs, has

been innovating for more than 10 years to ensure water services

management keeps pace with the city’s growth. z At the Davidstow

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solutions SocIAL IntegrAtIon

z The movement is precise; the eyes focused. It’s noon. We’re in the middle of “rush hour” for the arrival of containers of recycled paper. Christopher is deputy manager in

charge of container weighing at Elise, a company in the social and solidarity economy specializing in collecting and sorting office waste paper, based in Wambrechies, near the city of Lille in northern France. It is Christopher’s job to thoroughly check the origin of containers to be weighed, carry out an initial visual inspection and scan contact details to bill for services. This morning, the paper and cardboard is from the offices of insurance companies and bank branches.Christopher is 26 years old and suffers from a slight cognitive impairment, meaning he is officially a disabled employee. When he was younger, he had to go to a special needs school.

z Elise is a company that promotes social responsibility and solidarity by hiring those who have had trouble finding work or who have special needs. The company is also a pioneer in collecting and sorting office waste paper. We traveled to the outskirts of Lille, in northern France, to find out more about this exemplary initiative. z

An accomplished athlete, he is also a member of the French disabled table tennis team. “I’ve been in weighing for a year now,” he says. “I’m pleased people have faith in me but I need to stay focused and attentive to avoid making mistakes. Before this, I spent four years in paper sorting. I liked it. It felt a bit like a game.” Like Christopher, the 40 employees working locally for Elise are on permanant contracts. All have had issues related to health, disabilities or trouble finding work, including the long-term unemployed and young people without qualifications.“We are proud to offer long-term jobs and provide ongoing support to

Elise: waste not, want not

A helping hand

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By HuBert Kernéïs. PHotos: CHristoPHe Majani d’inguiMBert for Veolia PHoto liBrary

z Why did you choose Veolia Environmental Services

as your exclusive partner to sell the recycled paper you

produce?

In the past, the paper we sorted was then handled by a number of different companies. From now on, we aim to take things further by forging a real partnership to better meet the needs of customers. We hope to benefit from Veolia Environmental Services’ commercial clout and logistics capability nationwide as Elise seeks to expand on its paper and cardboard collection and sorting activities in France’s major cities. Together, we intend to increase office paper collection to 50,000 metric tons a year, creating 500 jobs by 2017 as part of our commitment to fostering solidarity.Our two companies complement one another: it takes a versatile organization like Elise to collect such widespread

resources, while Veolia Environmental Services has the expertise and influence needed to win over industrial customers and bring significant volumes to market.

z Do you think Elise will ever become a for-profit company?

As founder, I am determined to avoid turning Elise into a capital-intensive company. We are above all driven by environmental and social concerns. To help make firms and their employees more aware of the importance of collection, we will soon be providing 6,500 waste baskets made of starch-based bioplastic, available in six colors based on the type of product they are designed to contain: batteries, paper, cans, bottles, bulbs and ink cartridges. They were created by Philippe Starck, who was kind enough to volunteer his services and really get behind the campaign. z

Bruno Meura

chairman and founder of Elise

ElisE AND VEOliA ENViRONMENTAl sERViCEs: sAViNG PAPER, HElPiNG PEOPlE

InterVIeW


solutions SocIAL IntegrAtIon

each week, elise employees make their rounds to client businesses (banks, insurance agencies, etc.). Vardan, who immigrated to france from armenia about 10 years ago, writes out and follows a precise schedule as he collects the office paper, cardboard, bottles and cans. z

A day with Vardan


help people overcome difficulties in finding work,” says Bruno Meura, founder of Elise (which is also the name of one of his daughters). The former “adman” has always had a thing for the environment... and a passion for soccer: he used to oversee Lille’s soccer club, LOSC, and helps run an association with former French international player Patrick Vieira in support of young athletes in Africa. “When we set up Elise in 1997, I was determined to avoid turning it into a profit-making scheme: that was never one of my goals. When we started out, the companies we approached about recycling office paper—no easy task given the way it is naturally dispersed—looked at us as if we were mad,” admits Mr. Meura. “It was a struggle just to get a meeting.”Since 2006 and the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)*, which also applies to paper producers, Elise’s potential clients have become more aware of environmental

oFFIce PAPer

issues. They no longer throw away so-called “waste” without a second thought. “Companies now come to us, and even ask if we can recycle other products, such as cans, plastic bottles and confidential documents for disposal. They are keen to demonstrate a more socially responsible approach.” Some have also come to realize that by offering long-term jobs to disadvantaged and disabled people, they can comply with targets related to France’s 2005 disability law or meet their own commitments to corporate social responsibility. When environmental, social and economic issues come together in a win-win situation, isn’t that the very definition of sustainable development? z

*EPR is based on the “polluter pays” principle: national manufacturers, importers and own-brand distributors are required to bear finan-cial costs and other liabilities linked to sort-ing, recycling and treating waste resulting from their products. They can cover these costs either individually or jointly, through an environmental services company.

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a resource for recycling z The amount of office paper left uncollected in France is estimated at 500,000 metric tons a year—and given that overall office paper represents a potential annual weight of 900,000 metric tons, it is an untapped source of recycled paper with significant growth potential. It also requires major collection capabilities, since the paper used in companies and government offices is inevitably dispersed and sometimes found only in limited amounts.

alexis Pelluault, Elise’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, has been steadily working on expanding the company in France for several years through cooperation with social integration and disability-friendly work placement organizations. Today Elise is present in 10 large French cities, including Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Saint-Etienne, Strasbourg and Paris. The company’s most recent branch has just opened in Bordeaux. Since 1997, the association has created more the 140 permanent positions and distributed nearly 250,000 paper recycling bins to more than 4,500 clients (companies or municipalities). Elise has helped save 1.8 billion liters of water and 230,000 metric tons of oil equivalent, and avoided 33,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Up to seven different kinds of paper are sorted at Elise and channeled back into the paper cycle. From now on, Veolia Environmental Services sales teams will be helping them do it.

eLISe In A nUtSheLL

z A win-win partnership: with Veolia Environmental Services’ 98 branch offices in France, Elise will have access to an extensive national network of work placement organizations by 2015. z

Work placement network 2015 target

z “We believe in putting people and the community at the top of our list of priorities for the company and are committed to taking the time to train our employees and support their career development. These are values we share with Veolia Environmental Services.” z

alexis Pelluault, Ceo elise


high-quality infrastructure is needed to underpin rapid growth in the pudong business district (background below), one of asia’s major economic and financial hubs. z

solutions ShAnghAI

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Pudong’s speedy metamorphosis was spurred by Deng Xiaoping in 1992. For China’s central government, the challenge was twofold: establishing Shanghai as one of the world’s leading financial and economic centers while making Pudong a modern showcase for ongoing reform. As a result, the former stretch of wetlands was declared a “special economic zone”, making it eligible for funding in line with its ambitions (€3 billion from 1990 to 1995, and €12 billion between 1995 and 2000). Investors came flocking to this new land of opportunity, where, as one entrepreneur remembers, “anything was possible because everyone had a very open mind and the authorities were quick to ‘encourage’ fresh initiatives.” Beijing introduced a number of tax breaks and soon began changing regulations to make things easier for companies seeking to set up offices in the city. By the turn of the New Millennium, Pudong was already home to 7,000 companies; today it hosts over 10,000. The brand new district attracted people in search of new horizons, swelling the number of inhabitants by two million between 2000 and 2010. This new population density led to increased demand for services like drinking water production and supply. In this respect, Pudong was also aiming to become a Chinese showcase for solutions on the cutting edge of world technology. “The city of Shanghai was looking for an international partner able to offer and ensure long-term compliance with the full range of international standards in comprehensive service management for drinking water distribution,” explains Régis Calmels, Managing Director of

Even the informed visitor would find it hard to believe that Pudong—Shanghai’s ultramodern business district—was little more than marshland just two decades ago. Today, the rice growers’ huts, workers’ camps and other buildings left over from the old shipyards are a thing of the past.

Those looking for that “authentic” Chinese feel should cross the River Huangpu to stroll around Puxi, the historic center to the west. Long landlocked due to a lack of transport, the Pudong skyline is now an impressive array of mirror-laden icebergs, blue-tinted spires and golden columns. By night, the frenetic pace of urbanization—the pride of Shanghai and a powerful symbol of the economic boom now synonymous with China as a whole—is startling. By the light of day, the sheer enormity and technological sophistication of Pudong’s towering buildings and the swarms of business folk in the streets below is captivating. In less than a generation, this district—which is as big as Singapore—has undergone a modern rebuilding program on a par with similar efforts in major cities like London, New York and Paris from 1850 to the present day. zzzz

Pudong goes with the flow

Between 1992 and the first few years of the New Millennium, Shanghai’s Pudong business district underwent a radical transformation. In 2002, in a bid to meet ever increasing demand for drinking water from the local population and ensure a level of quality and services in line with international standards, the mayor’s office embarked on an unprecedented undertaking.

By PatriCia Coignardr


solutions ShAnghAI

shanghai pudong Veolia water corporation ltd., established by Veolia and the city, is the first chinese joint venture to cover distribution and customer service. this innovative partnership managed water supply for world expo 2010 (french pavillion pictured above), which welcomed over 70 million visitors over a six-month period. z

Veolia Water Asia Pacific. Following the call for tender, Beijing approved the establishment of Shanghai Pudong Veolia Water Corporation Ltd., the first 50-50 joint venture involving a public-private partnership in the Chinese water industry. The five-year “turnkey” contract covers water production (construction, extension and modernization of plants), distribution (network management, service continuity and water quality) and customer service (billing, call centers and call-outs). For the Chinese authorities, in addition to responses to technical and technological challenges, the operator’s ability to successfully tackle the human resources and management issues inherent in this pioneering outsourcing project was a key factor. Hence the decision to propose joint management—another first in China—through a balanced team of local managers and expatriates (see interview). “Imagine a municipal authority having to introduce a foreign partner without the proper command of the relevant language or cultural practices! On a daily basis, we had to be flexible and adapt to the needs of Chinese employees and local expectations with regard to human resources,” explains Li Hao, Managing Director of Veolia Water Greater Shanghai. At the same time, the Chinese investor provided support by ensuring smooth relations and streamlining communications with the Shanghai mayor’s office and local government. Feedback from Pudong residents gives clear insight into the impact of the new drinking water system. “Water quality is a lot better now. Before, we had to buy bottled water. Now, we just turn on the tap!” says Wang Huihua. “If there is a problem, the building manager tries to fix it first. If he can’t do it, then a technician is quickly on site. We’ve hardly had any interruptions in the water supply lasting more than three hours. The service is excellent. There are several ways to pay bills: at the post office, online, by cell phone or through the bank. It’s really easy,” adds Zhou Genbao. It has taken the joint venture just 10 years to meet its main targets in terms of network management, water quality and customer service (see p. 22). Not to mention ensuring compliance with the full range of international standards. “In

10 years, the company has doubled its productivity,” explained Julia Gu, Managing Director of Shanghai Pudong Veolia Water Corporation Ltd. The methods employed are in keeping with the task at hand: production capacity for the five existing plants increased by 28% from 2002 to 2011, which represents a 7% improvement in efficiency; the network was also expanded by an unprecedented 115%, using state-of-the-art treatment technology; finally customer relations have been optimized for the end customer. Yet there are still plenty of challenges ahead. One involves creating a new reservoir for untreated water in the Huangpu River, which will need to be secured. “Because water quality is an ongoing concern for the Shanghai authorities, we are working to ensure comprehensive compliance with ISO 22000 and HCSP1 standards. That is why Veolia Water’s expertise is crucial. With their help, we are saving a significant amount of time and introducing unprecedented standards in China,” says Nelly Cannesson, Technical Director at Shanghai Pudong Veolia Water Corporation Ltd. This approach is in keeping with the ambitions of a city seeking to establish itself as the country’s financial capital by 2020. z

1- Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique (French High Council for Public Health).

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z Joint management of Shanghai Pudong

Veolia Water was an unprecedented

undertaking in the country. How did it

come about?

Up until 2002, joint ventures in China were far from convincing because of problems provoked by insufficient understanding of local management methods and cultural differences. Before Veolia Water came along, Chi-nese employees were usually replaced by expats. Veolia marked a turning point by retaining its Chinese work-force and introducing a real campaign to transfer skills. Step by step, the com-pany successfully instilled the trust needed to convince its partner of the relevance of its technological solutions and its ability to rise to the challenges involved in water management. Yet the partnership still had to overcome initial hurdles, since Shanghai Pudong Water is a state-owned company and Veolia Environnement is one of the top 500 companies in the world. Our internal management processes and methods were completely different but in the end we successfully bridged the gap between our business cultures.

z How exactly does the joint manage-

ment approach work?

The four managing directors—two Chinese and two French—on the management committee take turns as acting chairman to promote more stable management. Whether related to human resources or technical and financial issues, all decisions are made as a group. Human resources policy focuses on developing local skills and incorporates an employee transfer pro-gram to ensure individual job security. It has also added a performance-based bonus to employee compensation. The joint venture’s internal incentive scheme has proven far more effective than the one favored by the Chinese partner in terms of management and internal control. As a result, other state-owned companies are now looking to draw on these methods to improve their own HR management policy. Yet another area in which the joint venture has become a pioneer! z

Ms. Dai Jie

Director of Shanghai Pudong Veolia Water Corporation Ltd., tells us more.

ONE MANAGEMENT TEAM, TWO CulTuREs

InterVIeW

z Trust, transparency, cultural awareness and employee training ensure long-term service quality. z

6 drinking water treatment plants

8 pumping stations

10 reservoirs

950,000 meters meters of pipes

4.07 Population served

MilliON PEOPlE

386 Annual water supply

MilliON CubiC METERs

1.1 Daily water consumption

MilliON CubiC METERs

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solutions ShAnghAI

z A state-of-the-art control center z z Over the past 10 years, the world’s most innovative mapping, geographic information and hydraulic modeling systems have been brought into play in Shanghai. A state-of-the-art control center has been equipped with infrastructure monitoring software, geographic information systems and hydraulic modeling technology to provide accurate mapping and simulation solutions for the entire network. This creates a real-time snapshot of each network sector to optimize daily management—by limiting waste—and allows for long-term development forecasts. In 2012, the joint venture opened a new Personal Digital Assistant facility to oversee technician call-outs across the network in real time. The main goal is

to reduce illegal connections.z Water quality: creating an independent laboratory zz In 2005, Shanghai Pudong Veolia Water began its own program to monitor water quality. In 2011, a new milestone was reached with the creation of an independent laboratory able to analyze 106 standard national parameters: 126,000 test results were provided for 3,850 samples that year. Equipped with the latest real-time monitoring devices for the four criteria crucial to ensuring constant water quality throughout the network (temperature, chlorine, pressure and conductivity), the laboratory also has a remote transmission system to send data every to the central system through

Ten years of innovation a GSM module every two hours. These solutions were successfully put to the test for the 2010 World Expo in the form of a pioneering pilot solution to provide real-time water traceability from the point of production to the point of supply.

z Smooth, responsive CRM zz For the past 10 years, the number of people benefiting from the overall improvement in water services has grown from 2.65 million to 3.6 million. Increased metering (+99%) has made it possible to accurately—and often remotely—determine consumption for households and businesses. These solutions have also helped control service costs. To meet the needs of an increasingly young and demanding customer base, the joint venture offers a range of multi-channel service management and payment solutions (cell phones, banks, online, etc.). The call center opened in 2004 is available to assist users 24/7. z

Network management and water quality

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the shanghai pudong Veolia water plant provides modern water services, including traceability and 24-hour customer service. z

Operator: Shanghai Pudong

Veolia Water Corporation Ltd., a

50-50 joint venture between

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of Shanghai (through the company

Shanghai Chengtou)

Founded in 2002

1,210 employees. z

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Cheddar and the carbon challenger

z Dairy Crest, the UK’s largest dairy, is aiming to achieve a 28% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. The company has already reached the first real milestone on the road to achieving this goal by commissioning a biomass-fired plant burning wood pellets at its Davidstow site. z

z Just a stone’s throw from the captivating coastline of northern Cornwall, the Dairy Crest site in Davidstow is surrounded by rolling hills typical of England’s southwestern landscape. “Davidstow is an amazing

showcase for our business,” says Mark Allen, Chief Executive of Dairy Crest Ltd. “It gives us a full-scale environment in which to test our production methods. Our farmers supply high-quality milk, which we use to make the delicious cheddar our customers have come to love. We are proud of the virtuous circle we have created, which allows us to market competitively priced products that offer real added value, putting us in a position to commit more effectively to the entire supply chain.”The new boiler, built in just under 10 months in 2011, supplies the site with around 100,000 metric tons of steam each year from wood residues, a carbon-neutral energy source. “Climate change is one of our biggest

challenges,” explains Chris Terret, Davidstow’s General Manager. “We take the threat very seriously and are working hard to reduce Davidstow’s carbon footprint by using more environmentally friendly fuel sources, developing more efficient energy systems and financing renewable-based technology.” This is a challenge that affects the entire dairy market, as Mark Allen explains: “We need to create a sustainable production chain, because our business is shaped by our ability to innovate in terms of best practices that favor the environment.”Steam is a vital heat source for the creamery. It affects every part of the site: from steam generators to the noise made by the machines. It is essential to meeting customer requirements. zzzz

By EmmiE PEryEr and annE Béchirir


As Chris Terret explains, “Major retailers are pushing their suppliers to make further improvements, which means energy efficiency and renewables are the way to go. Tesco asked for a 30% carbon-footprint reduction and Marks & Spencer 20%, with renewables accounting for 50% of the energy mix. We set out to meet these goals by breaking them into three categories: energy efficiency, cost reduction and implementing new initiatives.”Of the many avenues explored regarding on-site energy solutions, it immediately became clear that Davidstow’s best bet was to use life expired wood from sources near the

site. Dalkia offered the most creative solution, involving the construction of a 10 MWth steam plant and fuel handling facility, using woodchips as its primary energy source. Mr. Terret is all for the decision to outsource: “We specialize in producing high-quality cheese, not in servicing biomass boilers! In addition to its expertise in the field, Dalkia has skills that span the entire energy chain, from woodchips to heat production. That gives us a real competitive edge.”The steam plant is now meeting every expectation: it is used to pasteurize cheese and dehydrate whey, covering everything that

contributes to product quality. The key to the contract was the viability of the facilities, ensuring the most cost-effective production chain possible, paired with the maintenance needed to safeguard continuous steam production. “We expect a return on investment in four years and have already curbed our emissions by 60%, which represents an annual CO2 reduction of 20,000 metric tons for Dairy Crest. These are already impressive savings for the year and our choice will continue to pay off in the future. Davidstow is our benchmark for all other sites, where we aim to secure the same results,” concludes Chris Terret. z

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When Prince Charles inaugurated the new biomass plant in July 2011, he also launched production of a special edition cheddar, profits from which will benefit charity. z

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z 100,000 metric tons of steam supplied by the biomass plant z

z 18,000 metric tons of pellets burned each year z

z £4.2 million overall cost of the project z

Against a backdrop of heated national debates on the price of milk, Dairy Crest launched its new sustainable development strategy last August, focusing on 40 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments. For John O’Maoileoin, Corporate Responsibility and Internal Communications Manager, “our strong ethical commitments should help us come out on top of these negotiations.” Dairy Crest’s 40 CSR commitments cover a large range of sustainable development issues, from improving the nutritional value of products to securing an ethical supply chain and implementing health and safety measures aimed at the company’s employees and the communities where it operates. For example, Dairy Crest has committed to reducing the CO2 emissions from its production process by 30% by 2020. The company has already achieved a 19% reduction. “We’ve been able to make remarkable progress in terms of carbon emissions by undertaking bold projects like the biomass boiler at the Davidstow site, which is a first among dairies,” explained Mr. O’Maoileoin. The initiative even received royal praise when Prince Charles, a fervent environmentalist, did the honors at the site’s official opening in July 2011. Another major goal for Dairy Crest is to dramatically reduce water use. The company’s sights are set on a 20% reduction by 2015. The project also encourages similar reductions among the company’s suppliers, through the use of the new WaterWell audit tool, brought on stream in April 2012. Dairy Crest predicts savings of 25% by April 2013 and expects its dairy farmers to comply with a wildlife- and habitat-protection plan. Lastly, several other goals have been set for 2015: discontinue landfill use, attain 30% recyclable material in all plastic milk bottles (50% by 2020) and reduce packaging materials by 10%. z

40 commitments

spotlight Key FigUres

PiCKing The righT wooD PelleTs z Wood pellets are produced locally from wood otherwise earmarked for landfill. That means the feedstock does not come from trees felled specifically for that purpose, and that it is completely free of chemicals. The production facility uses 18,000 metric tons of this feedstock each year, in compliance with the highest quality standards (Class A waste).CO2 Emissions are limited further by a fine-tuned combustion system using state-of-the-art filters. Ash from the firebox is given to farmers in the region, who use it to fertilize their soil. As a result of these upgrades, the site is now eligible to apply for subsidies under the UK government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which is designed to encourage the installation of heating and heat-production facilities that use renewable energy. z

60%reduction in Co2 emissions from the Davidstow site

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Poland gets a breath of fresh air!

horizons


IllustratIon by MarIette GuIGal


horizons Poland gets behind green energy for its district heating systems

On an early fall afternoon, we caught up with Blazej, who manages a promotional organization for the city of Poznan. For the past few months, he has been living alone in an

apartment measuring 50 square meters in Jezyce, a neighborhood near the downtown area. The walls are bare. In these sparse, functional surroundings, the windows immediately catch the eye. They are brand new. So why the modern touch? “Last year, my landlord decided to invest in a new heating system, which included state-of-the-art glazing,” says Blazej. That was a blessing for the thirty-year-old tenant: “The heating system in my old apartment burned coal and I had to stock up once a year. The trouble was, the price could sometimes rise sharply from one order to the next. Not to mention the fact that the water heater stopped working last year and it cost me 2,000 zlotys (€500) to have it repaired... In this new place, with its central heating system, the monthly bills are predictable and—more importantly—they are not as high. I’m also trying not to overheat

the apartment the way I used to, so there’s no need to have the windows wide open!” Blazej has reason to smile. Nearly 75% of the 230,000 homes in the city have already benefited from heating improvements, and his building will soon be next in line. Poznan is setting the pace for progress in the country. Its heating network and more than 400 kilometers of pipes meet 60% of the city’s heating demand, covering more than 7,000 buildings. Yet the real revolution began 10 years ago, when production and distribution were privatized. That was a first for Poland. It was a risky venture, but one that the mayor, Ryszard Grobelny, believes was warranted. “In 2002, we needed to modernize the heating company run by the local authority, but the city had just made improvements to its entire road network and couldn’t afford to undertake both projects. So we decided to work with a partner on the heating system. We privatized the utility, since it wasn’t profitable, and use the proceeds to increase the municipal budget. Constantly improving network performance allows us to push down prices in Poznan. That was a challenge Dalkia was ready to accept. We chose the company because it was the best fit for our needs.” This pioneering energy policy was bolstered by a move to commission a boiler wholly dedicated to biomass. “Dalkia now offers energy at rates that are below the ceiling set when we negotiated the contract. Although one of our goals is zzzz

antoIne Faure (WarsaW correspondent) and Hubert Kernéïs. pHotos: salaH benacer For VeolIa pHoto lIbrary.

Poznan warms to new technology z Poland is shrugging off its image as a gray, industrial nation by success-fully embracing a new, more modern approach. Poznan, is the country’s fifth-largest city and home to half a million people. It is also a place where development goes hand in hand with a drive to promote efficient energy use and enhance the capacity of the heating network—a move that is helping bring Poznan up to speed with the most environmentally friendly cities in western Europe. time for a guided tour. z


Poznan is a vibrant metropoplis known for its professional fairs, history and architecture, which is particularly well-preserved in Old Town. z

Culture is a big part of daily life. The Stary Browar shopping, arts and business center is a perfect example. Artists work in the perfectly restored grand old buildings as passers-by look on. z



to develop high-end services, keeping prices low is crucial for both residents and investors, especially when it comes to energy.”

Poznan’s location and population make the city one for the region’s most dynamic economic hubs. Foreign investment in industry, tourism, business and logistics has brought in a total of $6.6 billion since 1990. Adam Mickiewicz University is an integral part of the boom, with its 50,000 students and staff of 4,900 people. Spread between 27 buildings, nine of which are listed as historical monuments, the university has a huge influence on the region. Yet it also needs to manage its real estate effectively to avoid excessive energy bills. Krzystof Notecki, assistant manager of the technical department, acknowledges that efforts have mostly focused on the older buildings, which is a real challenge, given their inherent diversity. “Energy loss has been kept under control. Since we’ve been connected to the network, we have found new ways to achieve energy savings, such as conducting regular building inspections, choosing windows with integrated ventilation

systems, and implementing thermal insulation and heating improvements. This has probably been the most difficult aspect, since we can’t make any huge changes to building design.”

Effectively managing energy loss from buildings is a crucial issue in Poland. Although the country is modernizing at an impressive pace, many buildings are no longer compatible with current requirements. Yet, as an EU member since 2004, Poland is obliged to meet European standards. Here again, Poznan is paving the way. Through its committed policy, the city has received two awards in the past 10 years from the Environment Ministry for improving air quality and organizing the UN Climate Change Conference in 2008. “Polish people are increasingly aware of environmental issues, especially when it comes to energy,” says Beata Owczarek, New Products Coordinator at Dalkia, the company managing the district heating network. “We are now in a position to show them that economic growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand, especially since we are able to implement energy savings plans on a city-wide scale. As a result, the right renovations can even restore older buildings to their former glory and value.” Of late, Poznan’s elder inhabitants have been taking great pride in talking about how “the sky is clearing and the air becoming more breathable.” z

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z Where does Poland currently stand with

regard to district heating?

Poland’s primary goal is to maintain energy independence. Hence the importance of using local resources, such as black coal and lignite, which represent nearly 87% of the country’s feedstock. These local resources make it possible to keep prices relatively low for the end user, which is Poland’s second goal, and one that our own policy is designed to support: since winters can be very cold, it is vital to have a pricing policy that leaves nobody by the wayside and meets the needs of families when it comes to fuel costs. Poland’s third objective is to meet the environmental targets set by the European Union for 2020, including a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases and a 20% increase for renewables in the energy mix. That is why, in 2003, the government introduced market mechanisms known as “Green Certificates” to encourage operators to pursue a policy of promoting alternatives to coal, including technology such as CHP and biomass production, as well as gas. Eventually, the country will also need to increase its production capacity to meet demand, which may involve drilling for shale gas.

z In this context, what kind of added value

can a private operator bring to the table?

P o l a n d b o a s t s a n i m p r e s s i v e infrastructure of heating networks, which, when modernized, will provide an incredibly effective means of improving energy efficiency. In 2008, a UN study showed that Poznan’s heating network had kept CO2 emissions 14% below those of comparable cities elsewhere in Poland. These heating networks—including the Warsaw system, which is the largest in the EU—are also an excellent catalyst for the switch from coal to alternative fuel sources. As part of this campaign, we will be opening a 150 MW gas-fired CHP plant in Warsaw by 2014. Since 2004, Dalkia Polska has boosted biomass from 0 to 18% of its energy mix. 80% of that biomass comes from forestry by-products, sourced locally. In all, largely thanks to our CHP plants in Lodz and Poznan, 700,000 metric tons of biomass are used instead of coal or in addition to coal, through co-firing. That will eventually prevent 460,000 metric tons of CO2 each year while creating jobs locally. z

Jean-Michel Mazalerat

Veolia environnement delegate for Poland*

THE ENERGY TRANSITION IN POLAND

interView

Mr. Mazalerat is also Dalkia Executive Vice President in charge of continental Europe.

For the time being, the Karolin plant still burns coal for 63% of its production. The goal is to reduce this percentage gradually, replacing coal with biomass. z

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z A self-service bike system, courses in responsible driving, pro-environment competitions in schools with a chance to win bicycles, the acquisition of 45 modern trams, the replacement of an entire bus fleet... These are just a few ways in which Poznan is pursuing a long-term approach to reducing its carbon footprint. At least, that is the stance taken by the city’s elected officials. And there is already proof that they are “walking the talk”, as Poznan begins to reap the rewards of 20 years’ intensive development i n l i n e w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l standards. A number of studies have shown dramatic improvements in air quality. Take sulfur dioxide content, for instance, which has been divided by 30 in the past two decades. Leszek Kurek, who heads the city’s Environmental Protection Department, sees Hanover, Germany as the act to follow when it comes to air quality: “Each of Poznan’s people

has 120 square meters of greenery: our standards are as high as those of German cities, at least from a quantitative point of view.” The city has come a long way, but there is still a lot of work to be done. “We have three years to finish a range of projects such as the acoustic mapping initiative, which is designed to help reduce noise pollution, and the new waste incineration and treatment facility.” Yet Mr. Kurek also admits the city must continue to focus on improving air quality: “Our main concern involves airborne particles smaller than 10 micrometers, which are subject to extremely stringent European standards. We need to concentrate on reducing the use of coal-fired stoves in households not connected to the heating network.”The program introduced in the nineties to combat gas emissions is beginning to pay off: “Since 1995, we have gone from an annual 13 metric tons of CO2 emissions per capita to just over eight. And we are continuing in the same vein, especially with regard to suspended particles, which are mainly a result of having more cars on the road in and around the city; there are now 530 cars for every 1,000 inhabitants.”

Leading by example

Without the support of private partners, it would not be as easy to get the message across to the general public. “As part of the campaign that we launched in every school in the city, from kindergartens to high schools, we distributed 100,000 energy-saving light bulbs and showed students and teachers how best to use them. This educational initiative—conducted in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Dalkia and Philips—has led to improvements equivalent to 600 fewer truckloads of coal burned each year,” enthuses Mr. Kurek.And that’s not all. For the past three winters, armed with infrared cameras, the city council has been conducting assessments of individual households, providing each resident with a report showing areas most prone to heat loss. The initiative has been a real success: “We have already photographed 1,200 individual homes and shared the results with the owners. Those involved are then free to choose whether they want to go through with the relevant home renovations.” There has been keen interest in the scheme: following the official presentation last season, the sign-up list filled up in only 45 minutes! z

z Reducing the city’s CO2 emis-sions by providing its people with relevant, effective resources—an approach that is working. z

Carbon footprint: making strides


Following the example of Europe’s capitals, Poznan now boasts a self-service bike system. z

The Warsaw Heat Center

Opened in July 2012, the Dalkia Heat Center in Warsaw is a Veolia-Dalkia research hub specializing in heating networks. Drawing on an R&D partnership with Warsaw University of Technology, it provides expertise that will help improve the efficiency of heating networks all over the world. Boasting state-of-the-art technology used to assess and inspect facilities, the Warsaw research center will be a benchmark for heating networks around the globe. The goal is to improve the call-out capability of Dalkia teams, along with the performance and quality of networks, focusing initially on the quality of the 800 networks currently operated by Dalkia worldwide. To this end, the center is testing an inspection robot able to detect even the smallest leaks in pipes, which can seriously reduce the energy efficiency of networks if left unchecked. z

sPotlightfigures

6,137people.

Dalkia Polska employs

z With more than 1,700 km of pipes, the Warsaw district heating system is the largest in the European Union... z

z … and the 3rd largest in the world, after

Moscow and Saint Petersburg. z

z Dalkia is the 1st to have earned the new iSO 50001 certificate in Poland thanks to its energy management system, which contributes to considerable energy savings. z



z How do you switch from

total reliance on fossil

fuel to a wholly plant-

based alternative?

Through testing. The first trials date back to 2004. At

the time, they were conducted on dual-fuel boilers burning 88% coal and 12% biomass. The results were convincing, so we decided to construct a dedicated biomass boiler. It now produces up to 110 metric tons of steam an hour. In 2011, we also refitted the site by build-ing storage silos and an enclosed ramp to bring the fuel directly to the boiler; it is nearly 800 meters long and is one of the biggest in Europe. Thanks to 120 freight cars supplying feedstock on a weekly basis, the facility runs 24/7 year-round.

z How did you handle the transition

from the old way of doing things to the

more modern approach?

It wasn’t easy. The hardest thing was getting people to think differ-ently, especially our suppliers. We had to make sure they understood the concept of seasonal demand.For example, our biomass comes

from several different sources—from the Poznan area for industrial forestry waste, from small producers of agricultural- and forestry-based biomass pellets, and from Dalkia crops in Poland for miscanthus straw. The challenge for our suppliers is consistently meeting our quality standards, set by the Energy Regula-tory Office, which oversees the green certification process in Poland.

z Could Poznan one day rely entirely

on biomass for its heating?

Technically, that could happen. We could switch the other three boilers

At first glance, there is nothing special about the Karolin CHP facility: it looks just like any other coal-fired plant. Yetthere is one essential difference, explains Wieslaw Lehnhardt, our guide for the day, who is taking time out from his “day job” as an engineer at Dalkia, in charge of construction, commissioning and operation of biomass facilities in Poznan.

Biomass

POzNAN GOES GREEN

over to biomass, as we did with the first. Of course, we’d have to be able to ensure availability of sufficient quantities of biomass feedstock. Biomass currently accounts for only 27% of overall fuel burned (biomass boiler and co-combustion combined). We aim to significantly increase that contribution if it proves cost-effective. Everything will depend on Brussels, which has begun looking at ways to regulate how farmland is split between food supply and energy crops. Whatever the future holds, we’ll be ready: we have quite a few projects in the pipeline.

z Is it fair to say that biomass

has been a success?

That’s almost an understatement! Since 2004, with the ongoing drive to upgrade the site, Karolin has come to set the standard in Poland. The fig-ures speak for themselves: by burning 240,000 metric tons of biomass each year, we cut CO2 emissions by 196,000 metric tons. This kind of success has allowed Dalkia to markedly surpass European objectives. z

interView


The 100% biomass boiler (80% of the feedstock is from forestry by-products) has brought the percentage of green energy used to produce heat up to 18% z


views

The mangrove forest and its inhabitantsAmphibious living:

Photo Essay by XaviEr DEsmiEr

The Sundarbans is the largest continuous mangrove forest in the world. This exceptional ecosystem, created by the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and the Bay of Bengal, covers 140,000 hectares. Photographer Xavier Desmier invites us on a journey of discovery into this mysterious sanctuary.

views MANGROVE FOREST


The mangrove foresT: a Treasure Trove of biodiversiTyz Though long imagined as a collection of impenetrable swamps of opaque, stagnant water, we now know the mangrove ecosystem is much more –

a veritable treasure trove of biodiversity. These saltwater forests develop on tropical coastlines, taking over brackish regions like estuaries, lagoons and river deltas. They constitute a natural barrier against tsunamis, absorb large quantities of CO2, and are nature’s supermarkets, providing fish,

wood, rice, salt and more. Mangrove forests are both environmental havens and at the crossroads between the natural and human worlds. z

The mangrove foresT – a human habiTaT z Some 3.5 million people have made the area surrounding the Sundarbans their home, and 350,000 of them also rely on the ecosystem to earn a living. And yet, only the men venture into the forest to cut the high grass and the golpata (the Nypa fruiticans palm) used to cover the roofs and walls of their homes, make mattresses and more. zz The women stay in and around the villages to take care of their families, and catch young shrimp that they sell to fish farmers to contribute to the household income.z


an animal preserve: The Challenges of CohabiTaTion z This mangrove forest hosts three environmental preserves. Scores of animal species furtively tread the forest and the whole of the Ganges Delta, making finding them a trial of patience. Among these reclusive inhabitants one might find a chital deer, a woodpecker perched upon its branch or even the tracks of the King of the Sundarbans – the Bengal tiger. Despite prayers recited to the protective divinity Bon Bibi, each year around 200 people become the victims of its stealthy attacks. z

oTTer fishing: a TradiTional TeChniQuez Deep within the mangrove forest, a rare sight: one of the last 12 boats still practicing traditional fishing with the help of trained

otters. Just four years ago, there were more than 100. This ancient technique is losing popularity because the cost of raising a family of otters has become prohibitive. z


There’s no mistaking it: Xavier Desmier, 52, is a member of the generation that cheered for Jojo the grouper – the one and only fish to have achieved movie-star

status – in Cousteau’s 1956 Oscar-winning film The Silent World. This unconditional fan of the underwater world was just 10 years old when he went diving for the first time. At 16, he left school to pursue his second passion: photography. At 21, with his degree in hand from Lyon’s prestigious photography school, Efet, he set sail on the Calypso under the command of the famously red-capped Cousteau. The Amazon, the Antilles, the Gulf Stream and more were all his for the photographing. Even when his time with Cousteau drew to an end, Desmier refused to put down anchor: from 1986 to 1992, he filmed around 40 underwater programs for the documentary series Thalassa. Photography remained his true passion, however, and he gradually turned away from film to indulge in it. Desmier joined the Rapho Agency and the world of photojournalism in 1993. Trusty camera by his side, he traveled the world snapping shots of amazing sites including Annecy Lake, shipwrecks in Micronesia and the Scandola Nature Reserve in Corsica. In 1996 he temporarily returned to underwater filming as cameraman for three 52-minute documentaries on the Titanic. In the meantime, his underwater photos gained worldwide recognition and regularly appeared in leading national and international pub-

lications. As the new millennium dawned and large-scale naturalist expeditions enjoyed a renaissance, Xavier Desmier ventured to Clipperton Island along-side Jean-Louis Étienne, to Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu with The National Museum of Natural History in Paris and the NGO Pronatura International, to Mozambique and Madagascar and more. And in October 2012, he’s heading to Papua New Guinea! Over the years, environmental protection and bio-diversity have become central themes in Desmier’s work. His most recent project focuses on the relation-ship between mankind and nature in the planet’s mangrove forests. His goal is to share slices of life from these mysterious ecosystems with the world, in order to raise awareness about the importance of protecting them. The project includes four separate series, each dedicated to a continent: North America, Africa, Australia and Asia. In 2011, Guinea was the site of the first expedition. In 2012 Xavier continued the project in the Sundarbans. He is absolutely driven to do justice to this unique environmental haven, which has harbored human settlements since the beginning of the Common Era. More than a simple inventory of biodiversity, this project is about accu-rately depicting the full spectrum of the interac-tions between this unique natural environment and the humans who live and work there, sustain-ing themselves on its riches. Preserving the world’s mangrove forests is a geopolitical and environmen-tal imperative. z

Xavier Desmier The sundarbans, located in the ganges delta on the bay of bengal, is the largest mangrove forest in the world. Life in the Sundarbans is the second installment of Xavier desmier’s monumental project on the inhabitants of the planet’s mangroves and the intersection between human activities and the natural environment. read on to learn more about this adventurous photojournalist. z

z Praise for The World’s Mangrove Forests: in 2011 Xavier desmier won the first annual Photo par Nature competition, organized around the theme “man and nature” by the national museum of natural history in paris and the national geographic Channel. The €10,000 grant, financed in part by the veolia environnement foundation, funded Life in the Sundarbans: The World’s Largest Mangrove Forest, a portion of his project The World’s Mangrove Forests: A Treasure for Humanity. z z Book Dans les pas de Paul-Emile Victor. paris: michel lafon, 2007.

annE béchiri


views RiTA cOlwEll

Rita Colwell

a tireless campaignerby Patricia coignarD

z after 60 years of outstanding contributions to global research, professor rita Colwell is still working full time. infused with an unconditional love of science and nature, she has been driven by an insatiable desire to “under-stand how things work” since her childhood. yesterday france, tomorrow italy, next week Japan, then on to alaska... professor Colwell travels the world monitoring the work of her multifaceted research teams, who are seeking to unlock the microscopic secrets of the sea in search of future medical and industrial applications. z

The world’s leading figure in marine biotechnology1, Rita Colwell has called upon a holistic scientific approach to revolutionize our comprehension and prevention of water-borne infectious diseases—especially cholera. “We need

to think of the world as a single entity,” she explains. Over the course of her career, Rita Colwell has focused on breaking down barriers between all areas of science, mathematics and information technology. She holds degrees in bacteriology, genetics, and oceanography. In the 1960s, she wrote computer programs to analyze bacteriological data, which was an unprecedented move at the time. Fifteen years later, she and a NASA team were the first to employ satellite imaging to track cholera outbreaks in Bangladesh. This became an archetype for global monitoring of infectious diseases. A pioneer in each of her chosen research

directions and always ready to challenge conventional wisdom, Rita Colwell describes herself as a stubborn woman who “overcomes difficulties and never gives up.” Her most outstanding achievement to date was becoming the first scientist to put forward the theory—in the 1960s—that the causative agent of cholera (Vibrio cholerae) was not solely transmitted from person to person but also naturally present and transmitted through untreated water. The idea that the cholera bacterium was naturally occurring in the aquatic environment contradicted generally accepted views at the time. Instead, she suggested that the bacterium could reside in estuaries, rivers, and oceans attached to zooplankton2. “We had many detractors within the scientific community, but we continued to focus our research on the natural environment.” Ten years later, her suspicion was confirmed when she and her team isolated the cholera bacterium from the zzzz


views RiTA cOlwEll

zzzz Chesapeake Bay, on the Atlantic coast of the United States (even though the last epidemic of cholera in the country dated back to sometime around 1911). “Once again, the idea that cholera bacteria could ‘cruise’ off the coast of major US cities and live in estuaries and rivers was deemed absurd.” However, her determination to convince the scientific community was unshaken. She extended the results of ecological and epi-demiological studies to include epidemics frequently occurring in India and Bangladesh. During the 1991 pandemic in South America, she took her investigation there as well, because her team had developed a method for rapid identification of the cholera bacterium that proved useful in the hospitals. In addition, by using chlorophyll as a marker to track the blooming of phytoplankton as a precursor of zooplankton blooms and employing satellite sensors, she and her team established a link between the spread of the disease, the seasons and climate. She believes her greatest scientific achieve-ment to date has been proving that cholera bacteria, like those of some two dozen other infectious diseases, can to a significant extent be controlled simply by filtering water. “In impoverished villages in Bangla-desh, we taught women to do just that, using noth-ing but sari fabric. In less vulnerable communities, we are now helping set up drinking water kiosks. The long-term goal is to build water purification and also wastewater systems similar to those found in western countries, but for now we are employing the simplest possible methods in the remote villages

where the water supply is untreated river and pond water.” Through the Global Alliance Against Cholera3, of which she is a founding member, Rita Colwell closely monitors results of the pilot initiative tested in some 10 villages in the Great Lakes region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which covers epidemiology, water, sanitation and hygiene. She works tirelessly to remind the world’s major powers and economic decision-makers that access to drinking water and sustainable sanitary conditions are two cor-nerstones of global health: “Children survive, parents work, and the economy prospers while social stability and even national security are safeguarded.” And what about vaccination, a modern but expensive method of protecting the health of citizens? “That helps prevent the disease from spreading but does not eliminate the source of the problem because the cholera bacteria are natural inhabitants of aquatic ecosystems. However, when paired with sustainable access to drinking water, use of vaccines is an incredibly effective way of saving thousands of lives.” As Rita Colwell herself sums it up, when asked how she could manage so many projects, including raising a family: “My husband and I have always made a fantastic team.” We’re pretty sure we can take her word for it. z

1- A discipline that she helped establish, which combines molecular biology, genetics, biology, epidemiology, botany, zoology and oceanography.2- Animal plankton feeding on living matter.3- The Global Alliance Against Cholera (GAAC), sponsored by the Veolia Environnement Foundation, comprises contributors from the public and private sectors, including international decision-makers and experts.

brief bioz Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland and at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Healthz Joint author of 17 books and over 700 scientific publications zz Awarded 55 honorary degrees in the United States and abroad zz 1998-2004: first woman and first biologist to head the influential National Science Foundation in the United States zz 2010 recipient of, she received the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize z

of a busy womanIn the footsteps

Retirement? That is something Rita Colwell is not even considering! For many years, she got up at 5 am to go jogging and now it is 6 am. On weekends, she took part in regattas with her husband, Jack, a physicist. “He is a terrific skipper, so we won a lot of trophies!” she says. Nowadays, she devotes her free time to her three grandchildren. She also is writing a book about women in science who have “helped create a better world.” z

chOlERA AROuNd ThE wORld

There are an estimated

3 to 5 million cases of cholera worldwide each year, leading

to 100,000 to 120,000 deaths.* 98% of cholera cases are in africa.**

*Source: World Health Organization**Source: GAAC


visionsz Producing bioplastics from wastewater may sound like science

fiction, but it’s a reality! The idea is revolutionary: specialized bacteria

are used to consume “pollution”. z In Rainham, United Kingdom, a new

plastic sorting center can treat up to nine different types of polymers. z

Newswatch: The latest on intense debates over rare-earth elements—in

China and in the rest of the world. And shale gas—should “fracking” be

authorized to ensure energy independence or outlawed to protect the

environment? z

©Cor

bis


The future of sludge

Whether they are produced from corn, sugar cane or casein, bioplastics are already considered promising competitors to hydrocarbon-based

polymers. In the future, wastewater sludge will undoubtedly prove an invaluable resource in the continued growth of the “green” plastics sector.

The bacteria used in processing wastewater have the remarkable ability to naturally produce biopolymers from pollutants that contain carbon. This capability will soon be exploited on an industrial scale thanks to an innovative technique (see illustration) that will transform wastewater treatment plants into biorefineries while simultaneously optimizing the recycling of their own waste products. The process, which is still in the pilot phase, was introduced in a wastewater treatment plant in Belgium in 2011. Although the current output of this first pre-industrial unit is less than 10 kilograms per week, a treatment plant for a city of 100,000 could, in a few years, produce up to 500 metric tons of biopolymers annually.

Even if production capacities remain

z The production of polymers from wastewater—a new idea primed for industrial-scale use—is making waves as it gains a foothold in the nascent bioplastics sector. z

zzzz

In goes waste…out comes plastic

modest—carbon is not present in large quantities in wastewater—this new source is likely to interest major industries for more than one reason. Once these biodegradable plastics have been processed and transformed, they have characteristics similar to conventional polymers. When used in the manufacture of plastic components, they can also modify the properties of the plastic, depending on the formulation. Moreover, compared to bioplastics of agricultural origin, the cost of producing bioplastics from sewage sludge should prove very attractive.

To guarantee a sustainable market, however, these products must also meet industrial requirements and gain public acceptance: despite thorough treatment and impressive environmental benefits, some people may have a hard time accepting bioplastics produced from waste for certain applications. However, this new class of bioplastics can be used in the manufacture of all types of objects: pens, computer mice, packaging, bank cards, car bumpers and much more. Are these the makings of a solid alternative? z

By Guillaume Frolet


Veolia wastewater treatment plant

WastewaterTreated

wastewater

Industrial biorefinery (production of bioplastics)

Water treatment system for recovery of

suitable bacteria(selected biomass)

Collection of biopolymers

Characterization of polymers

Sludge fermentation

Automobile bumpers and trim

Biodegradable plastic

Ball point pen barrels

Bioplastic balls

Biopolymers(PHA)

Bacteria

Organic carbon (sludge and fats)

Volatile fatty acids


BiogasBiological treatment

of wastewater

ClarificationSifting and filtering

Pumping

DesiltingDegreasing

Sand for use in

construction

Fats

PILOT ZONESludge treatment

Products made with biopolymers

Urban area

Sludge

Bacteria

Synthesis of biopolymers

visions BIOPLASTICS

illustration By PhiliPPe mouche


How do bacteria produce biopolymers? The idea is revolutionary. Starting with the conventional biological process for treating wastewater, bacteria are used to consume the “pollution” thanks to the natural ability of certain bacteria to absorb a number of fatty acids produced during the fermentation of sludge. They are provided with ample quantities of suitable food, which they happily digest. Their metabolism then produces polymers, including PHA (polyhydroxylalkanoate), a sort of bacterial “fat”. The process has several major advantages. It reduces oxygen consumption and sludge volume while providing the basic elements for the production of biodegradable plastic.This state-of-the-art technology, which has been trademarked Cella™, is the result of 10 years of research. Since 2002, the Swedish company AnoxKaldnes (a Veolia subsidiary since 2007), has oriented its R&D in two directions: perfecting the technology that produces PHA as part of wastewater treatment and evaluating the product’s characteristics for potential commercial use. With a bioplastics market that is growing by more than 30% a year, the materials produced from wastewater and sludge now represent a viable alternative and are quickly broadening the range of resources available to the plastics engineering sector. z

hungry little gluttonsBacteria:

SPOTLIGHT

Veolia wastewater treatment plant

WastewaterTreated

wastewater

Industrial biorefinery (production of bioplastics)

Water treatment system for recovery of

suitable bacteria(selected biomass)

Collection of biopolymers

Characterization of polymers

Sludge fermentation

Automobile bumpers and trim

Biodegradable plastic

Ball point pen barrels

Bioplastic balls

Biopolymers(PHA)

Bacteria

Organic carbon (sludge and fats)



BiogasBiological treatment

of wastewater

ClarificationSifting and filtering

Pumping

DesiltingDegreasing

Sand for use in

construction

Fats

PILOT ZONESludge treatment

Products made with biopolymers

Urban area

Sludge

Bacteria

Synthesis of biopolymers

54 zzzz Planet z octobre 2012 z

visions SORTInG


The “Parrot’s” new tricks

Nicknamed “the Parrot” (because it treats POLY-mers), Veolia’s new plastic sorting plant in Rainham (UK) is the first such facility worldwide equipped to handle nine different types of the material—from bottles to yogurt containers by way of food trays. The center is a particularly interesting innovation for the United Kingdom, where up to 180,000 metric tons of plastic bottles are collected each year, accounting for approximately 30% of the 550,000 metric tons of waste produced annually. The Rainham plant should prove to be an important model for municipal authorities as they roll out mixed-plastic collection services for their residents. Estimates suggest that if all of the cities in the UK adopted this form of collection, 300,000 metric tons of CO

2 would be avoided

annually—the equivalent of removing 75,000 vehicles from circulation.The plant, which treats waste from up to nine Veolia sites and for several clients outside the company, will process up to 50,000 metric tons of plastic per year. To achieve this impressive figure, Veolia has developed an innovative industrial technique based on cutting-edge technology that can even adapt to new types of plastic products. Thanks to this revolutionary invention, consumers no longer have to worry about knowing whether or not a given plastic product is recyclable. Once separated from the rest of the waste, clear plastic bottles undergo closed-loop recycling. The other materials (e.g. colored plastic bottles) are part of an ad hoc Veolia study on potential uses. z

SORTInG CEnTER, RAInHAM (UnITED KInGDOM)

By anne Béchiri

© Ve

olia

pho

to li

brar

y - A

lexi

s Duc

los

© Veolia photo library - Jean Marie Ramès


RaRe eaRTh: the rush is on

Faced with rocketing demand, soaring prices and fears that China may further restrict exports, now is the time to find alternatives. In response to the constant threat of an embargo since 2010, Japan is seeking to reduce its reliance on China by developing substitutes and exploiting offshore deposits. In the US, the Mountain Pass mine in California is the process

of reopening, following its closure in 2002. The situation is similar in Canada and India. Reserves in Brazil, South Africa, Vietnam and Greenland are coveted by heavyweights in the mining industry. A plant built in Malaysia—the first outside of China since the seventies—now processes rare-earth shipments imported from Australia. z

z Rare-earth elements are vital to high-tech industries. They are also the source of a major dispute between China, the world’s leading producer, and the rest of the world. The situation has escalated to such a point that the United States, Japan and Europe have filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, which is not expected to rule on the matter before 2014.zzzz zzzz zzzz

visions nEwSwATCH zzzz

z In a bid to ease tensions, China slightly increased its rare-earth export quotas to 30,966 metric tons in 2012. However, these figures have little credibility: in 2011, the country exported only 18,600 metric tons, even though the government had agreed to 30,184 metric tons.

z Neodymium, samarium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium are used to make powerful magnets, and are the rare earths most in demand. Supply shortages are expected to become critical in the next 10 years.

GLOBAL wATCH

LATEST nEwS

Mecanoblog z In 2010, China suddenly cut its rare-earth exports on the pretext that it was seeking to protect the environment and promote a sustainable economy. This led to global panic, compounded by looming difficulties: “American industry has long assumed that these materials would be plentiful and inexpensive,” wrote Mecanoblog. While it is true that rare-earth minerals are quite widely available on every continent, reserves have yet to be accurately assessed: the US Geological Survey (USGS) put total global stock at 99 million

metric tons in 2010, a figure that has since been revised to 110 million.z mecanoblog.wordpress.com, September 23, 2012minerals.usgs.gov, 2012.

diploweb.com z According to the website, “China has at best only 38% of estimated reserves, compared with 19% in the former Soviet Union, 13% in the United States, 6% in Australia and 3% in India.” Europe is not thought to have sufficient resources for use on an industrial scale. Other regions have revealed surprising potential, such as the Mount Weld mine in

Australia, which, according to French weekly magazine Le Point, has “the world’s largest deposit of rare-earth elements, nearly double that of Chinese mines.” What is more, UK magazine Nature believes the ocean floor could hold more rare-earth elements than do land-based reserves,” in concentrations 1,000 times greater than today’s known resources.z diploweb.com, April 2, 2012 Le Point, October 4, 2012nature.com, July 3, 2011 Wall Street Journal (wsj.com), September 11, 2011.

SPOTLIGHT

FIGURES

$4which equates to production of 130,000 metric tons.

BIllIon

95% of the world’s rare-earth elements, up from 27% in 1990.

600% between March 2010 and March 2011.

In addition, the Wall Street Journal has suggested that the majority of companies could reduce their consumption by between 10% and 80% simply by revamping their production processes. Yet none of these alternatives are easy to implement in the short term. Even recycling is problematic from an economic standpoint, with some observers pointing to the issue of pollution from the industry. z

China produces

The market for rare-earth elements is worth a total of

Neodymium prices increased by more than

200,000180,000160,000140,000120,000100,000

80,00060,00040,00020,000

2006

2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Resources in China Demand in China

Year/metric tons


Shale GaS:pros and cons

In 2011, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated global shale-gas resources at 185,000 billion cubic meters*. Such forecasts are seen as somewhat optimistic given the inherent difficulties in carrying out estimates: “Exploratory drilling is needed to provide more accurate assessments since each field is different,” explains one geologist in a column published in French daily newspaper Le Monde. France is thought to have “5,100 billion cubic meters of recoverable shale-gas reserves,” suggests another French daily, Les Échos. Poland, which was initially thought to have similar reserves, “recently discovered that its fields were only half as

large as expected,” reports La Tribune on its website. According to The Economist, shale-gas fields in the semi-desert region of South Africa could be “the fifth largest in the world”. The third-largest reserve is thought to be in Argentina, while China is seen as the country with the biggest potential, home to an estimated 25,000 billion cubic meters. “To put that in context, reserves in the United States (the world’s leading producer) are estimated at 13,600 billion cubic meters,” according to L’Expansion. * According to a survey carried out in 32 regions, not including Russia, Central Asia and most parts of Africa.

The United States, has been committed to the shale-gas gold rush for the past 15 years, but can the country learn from its experience? Although the US has regained its position as a net exporter of oil products partly thanks to the shale boom, staunch opponents of hydraulic fracturing—commonly known as “fracking”—are campaigning hard to

z Some have vaunted shale gas as a rare economic opportunity: “How can we turn our backs on a plentiful and cheap source of energy?” Others have condemned it as an environmental disaster in the making: “The environ-mental cost is unacceptable!” Whichever way you look at it, the issue is clearly divisive, and a number of questions have been left unanswered. zzzz zzzz zzzz

z Fracking is banned in Germany and France (except for scientific research) but is allowed in the UK, the US, the Middle East and Asia. Australia and New Zealand impose strict regulations, whereas South Africa recently lifted its moratorium. z

z Methane hydrates, gas pockets trapped in ice crystals, are thought to be 10 times more plentiful than conventional gas reserves around the world. Development of a viable method of extraction in the next 10 years could revolutionize the energy mix. z

LATEST nEwS

SPOTLIGHT

FIGURES

50to produce the same amount of gas as one well in the North Sea.

Shale-GaS wellS

870,000:the number of jobs created in the United States by 2015 as a result of shale-gas drilling (according to IHS Global Insight).

600%

prevent such practices or at least make them subject to stringent regulations. As a result, while Texas and Pennsylvania continue to drill unfettered, the state of New York has slapped a moratorium on fracking and Vermont has banned it outright. Can we afford to wait for an alternative? According to La Tribune, the industry claims there is none. z

In France, “senior civil servants and industrial players have underestimated the importance of social acceptance when it comes to fracking,” suggests one lawyer speaking to French daily Libération. Indeed, as soon as shale-gas advocates begin extolling the virtues of energy independence, foes of fracking remind them of the environmental costs. z

z Le Monde, September 14, 2012. z Les Échos, September 14, 2012. z latribune.fr, July 24, 2012. z economist.com, October 18, 2012. z lexpansion.com, April, 17, 2012. z liberation.fr, August 22, 2012. z La Tribune, July 25, 2012.

It takes

Drilling of each fracture can demand up to 49 MIllIon

lITeRS of water.

200,000180,000160,000140,000120,000100,000

80,00060,00040,00020,000

2006

2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Resources in China Demand in China

Year/metric tons

Major reserves (estimated values)Major reserves (con�rmed values)Countries included in the survey

By Guillaume Frolet


visions UPCOMInG EvEnTS

InTERnATIOnAL COnFEREnCES

JANUARY 2013z International Conference on Pollution and Treatment Technology, Sanya, China z Jan. 2 - Jan. 4 The conference will present various methods for treating wastewater and polluted water, air pollution, contaminated soil, etc. The latest results and the methods used will be discussed and shared at a workshop.

z 2nd Water Research Conference , Singapore z Jan. 20 - Jan. 23 Two major topics will be covered: urban water management for sustainable cities and a presentation of the latest research on the microbiological treatment of drinking water and wastewater.

FEBRUARY 2013z 2nd Annual International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Sciences, Singapore z Feb. 25 - Feb. 26 SEES 2013 is held by the Global Science and Technology Forum. It aims to provide academics and researchers with a platform for discussion and an opportunity to network and publicize the conclusions of their work on sustainable energy, ecosystem and environmental assessment, and waste management.

MARCH 2013z Environmental Health 2013: Science and Policy to Protect Future Generations, Boston, United States z Mar. 3 - Mar. 6 The conference will present the most recent scientific results on interactions between the environment and human health and discuss how to incorporate them into research strategies and public policies. Topics discussed will include air pollution, climate change and environmental justice.

z European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2013, Hamburg, Germany z Mar. 18 - Mar. 20 This conference for scientists and technical specialists will cover a broad range of issues related to climate change while stressing one main theme: “Integrating climate into action”. Specific topics to be covered include climate vulnerability assessment, risk assessment, the economics of adaptation, decision-making under uncertainty and the role of tools and knowledge in adaptation, among others.

z 23rd Annual International Conference on Soil, Water, Energy and Air, San Diego, United States z Mar. 18 - Mar. 21 This conference hosted by the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences Foundation (AEHS) offers attendees an opportunity to exchange findings, ideas and recommendations in a professional setting. The strong and diverse technical program is customized each year to meet the changing needs of the environmental field. Poster sessions feature case studies and the presentation of new programs. There will also be applied technology demonstrations and specialized workshops providing participants with extensive practical information.

APRIL 2013z 7th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns, Geneva, Switzerland z Apr. 17 - Apr. 19 This event aims to make strides towards achieving sustainable solutions at every level. The conference aims to identify new approaches to resolve the financial crisis while advocating for sustainable development, and to improve international and local governance by promoting sustainability. It will draw on the conclusions of the previous European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns, held in Dunkirk, France in 2010, and on the results of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

FORUMS AnD SUMMITS

JANUARY 2013z 4TH ANNUAL SMART GRIDS SUMMIT

z This event will bring together Europe’s leading power grid specialists, investors and regulators to share insights into upcoming challenges and projects already under way.

z Jan. 28 - Jan. 30, Berlin, Germanyz http://thesmartgridssummit.com?mc=EL

MARCH 2013z WORLD FORESTS SUMMIT

z Organized by The Economist, this summit gathers leading experts from around the world, including CEOs, ministers, scientists and environmental advocates, to discuss a framework for the sustainable management of invaluable forest resources.

z Mar. 5 - Mar. 6, Stockholm, Swedenz http://cemea.economistconferences.com/event/

world-forests-summit

z INTERNATIONAL SPRING UNIVERSITY ON ECOSYSTEM SERVICES MODELING z This is the first session of a two-week intensive class to train a new generation of specialists in research, politics and administration to use ecosystem modeling tools to better address sustainable development issues. It is organized by a consortium comprising the Basque Center for Climate Change (BC3), the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development and Environmental Education and the University of the Basque Country, in collaboration with Conservation International, the University of Vermont and the Bilbao City Hall.

z Mar. 11 - Mar. 22, Bilbao, Spainz http://www.bc3research.org/springuniversity

z INTERSOL 2013: INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION-EXHIBITION ON SOIL, SEDIMENTS AND WATER z The papers presented will deal with the essentials of the polluted site and soil market. They include technical assessment of sites, legal issues, the regulatory framework (including regulations in Europe), remediation specifications, anticipation of potential flaws or failures of the parties involved, timeframes and insurance. Four sessions are planned. They will cover certification and feedback; soil excavation and alternative equipment; the impact of contaminated sites and soil on the air; and innovative cleanup techniques.

z Mar. 26 - Mar. 28, Lyon, Francez www.intersol.fr


Cities & Environment, creating sustainable wealth

Creative Solutions for Citizens: Keys for a Green Economy

Developed with support from the Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDv), this book praises

sustainable practices in cities throughout the world. It is available in English and French.

This exclusive publication has been available online at www.veolia.com since last summer, in both English and French. now you can also access it with your smartphone.

Kios

k

Available online at www.veolia.com

Pla et is a publication of Veolia enViron nement(38, avenue Kléber – 75116 Paris – France)

z Publication Director: Florence Mairal. Editorial Director: Christophe Valès. Editorial Manager: Christian Dexemple. Editor-in-Chief: Françoise de Voronine. z Image content: Laure Duquesne, Gilles Hureau. z With special contributions from: Benoît Bardon, Arnaud Jean, Sandra Vedel. Dominique Boizeau, Nick Burchett, Delphine Cuny, Stéphane Deleris, Sybille Derbes, Stéphanie Freynet, Marina Julien, Sylvaine Leriquier, Aurélia Vincent, Karolina Walkowiak. Copyright: January 2013. ISSN number: 1761-4996. z Production Consultancy: Jean-Claude Le Dunc. z Translation: Sémantis. z Cover photos: Xavier Desmier, Imagebroker/TPG. Veolia photo library: Salah Benacer, Stéphane Lavoué, C. Majani d’Inguimbert.

published by bords de loir z Editorial Advisor: Étienne Collomb. Assistant Editor: Anne Béchiri. Art Director: Jean-Jacques Farré. Coordination: Sylvie Roussel. Production Manager: Caroline Lagaillarde. z Printed by: SIEP PEFC-certified z Packaging, sorting and mailing by Log-ins, a disability-friendly company. z

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