Sustainability

In a world threatened by climate change, the drive towards a more environmentally friendly economy is not an option, it is an obligation. To achieve such sustainable development, the bioeconomy, which the FAO defines as "knowledge-based production and the use of biological resources, processes and methods to provide goods and services in a sustainable manner in all economic sectors", becomes essential.

Considered the lungs of the world, the Amazon rainforest has lost an area of forest larger than the size of France since 1970, according to Greenpeace. Behind this massive disappearance of tropical forest is deforestation, largely caused by man's hand. Here are the worrying facts, the consequences for the planet and mankind, and what solutions are being considered.

The electrolyser is an apparatus that produces hydrogen through a chemical process (electrolysis) capable of separating the hydrogen and oxygen molecules of which water is composed using electricity. Hydrogen produced in this sustainable way, i.e. without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, can be the basis for a decarbonised economy.

Since the beginning of the space era in 1957, tons of rockets, space ships and satellites have been launched into space and, at least initially, no one foresaw what to do with them at the end of their useful life. The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that there are some 900,000 objects over one centimetre in size that have no use orbiting the Earth. This fact, according to the UN, endangers future missions and even terrestrial communications.

Why is it warmer in a large town or city than in a village located only a few miles outside it? The answer lies in what are known as heat islands. This thermal phenomenon, which raises the temperature in urban areas —especially at night—, can be attributed to several factors: elements that give off heat, such as HVAC systems, or the construction materials used, including asphalt. In addition, they exacerbate climate change and negatively affect health.

After centuries of research, the species that populate the Earth are well known, at least those that are within our reach. Because there are others, present in remote and practically inaccessible places, which are largely unknown. These include those found in the deep sea. Below, we take a closer look at the abyssal creatures that inhabits the seas and oceans of our planet.

The steel industry is responsible for 8 % of the CO2 emissions caused by mankind worldwide. For this reason urgent action is needed to initiate a decarbonisation process which also has the potential to be a massive economic opportunity. Iberdrola is committed to creating a more sustainable world and is already working on projects designed to minimise its impact with major players in the steel sector.

Groundwater is the natural water stored beneath the Earth's surface and it is essential because it supplies a third of the world's population. As with other of our planet's elements, it also finds itself under threat from contamination. In fact, a recent study undertaken at the Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg (Germany) warns this threat could be greater than at first thought.