environment

Hungary ranked among TOP countries for reducing carbon emission

Pollution-environment-climate change

The ranking was carried out within the framework of KPMG’s Net Zero Readiness Index (NZRI) that measures the performance of individual countries based on their decarbonisation strategies. Hungary, having reached a maximum score, was ranked among the TOP15 countries. The country has managed to outperform such prominent competitors as the USA, Singapore, or Australia.

The survey was carried out for the upcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The global conference promotes transparency and global cooperation regarding the mission of global decarbonisation. Within the framework of the Net Zero Readiness Index (NZRI), 103 indicators have been examined. Based on these figures, the 25 best-performing countries have been identified and additional 7 countries were placed on the “to be monitored” list. The examined criteria included the legal steps taken by the country’s government, the way how the financial sector handled the region, and the measures businesses implemented to fully reduce their carbon footprint.

Based on the recent ranking, Norway takes the trophy even though the country was used to be known as one of the largest oil and gas exporters in the world. The leading Nordic country achieved its prominent position with the rise of electric transportation, intensive investment in renewable energy, and the Norwegian parliament’s vote to move the zero-emission target from 2050 to 2030.

As the Hungarian news portal Portfolio reports, Norway is followed by the United Kingdom which landed second place with a similarly strong political agenda. The UK plans to implement further measures such as renewable heating solutions and the construction of greener buildings in the future. Sweden claims the third place for being an international advocate for climate policy, green energy, and sustainable technology.

Hungary has also reached a prominent place in the ranking, namely the 13th, and thus it outperformed such competitors as the USA (14th), Singapore (15th), Australia (17th), and Poland (19th).

According to KPMG experts, Hungary really deserves recognition as the 13th place in the overall ranking is the result of serious effort. Regarding the aspect of political will, the analysis of Net Zero Readiness Index mentions that „Hungary’s government has taken significant measures towards carbon reduction over the past 2 years”. The most significant environmental implementations include the decarbonisation of transport through tax benefits, financial aid packages for electric vehicles, and the promotion of intermodal freight junctions for cities. Furthermore, domestic companies were given the opportunity to utilize EU funds for the purpose of decarbonisation and green eco-saving solutions. In addition, several multinational manufacturers run their factories in the country while maintaining very high environmental standards. As far as the financial sector is concerned, the analysis highlights the country’s green program, introduced by Hungary’s Central Bank (MNB), as well as the green guidelines for banks.

As a result, Hungary is one of the five countries that receives the highest score on contribution to global Net Zero.

This is partly credited to its June 2020 climate protection law that was introduced to comply with the 2050 Net Zero target.

Read also: Hungary aims to be greener than ever – Innovation Minister about new technologies

Despite some challenges to overcome in the economy, Hungary is projected to keep its high ranking also in the future. The analysis highlights that approximately 40% of the country’s electricity is generated by the Paks nuclear power plant. The operation of the Paks 4 will also play a central role in energy management in the long term. All this information provides a solid base for the Net Zero emission target. The index also highlights the introduction of the Energy Efficiency Commitment Scheme (EQS) that will introduce sanctions from 2021 for electricity, gas, and fuel traders who fail to meet required efficiency indicators.

In terms of building construction, Hungary ranked 10th thanks to its geothermal heating solutions, mandatory energy certificates, and housing renovation subsidies. The newly built homes reach a high level of energy efficiency; however, the renovation of old buildings is considered to be a significant challenge.

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Hungarian President Áder discusses replacement of plastic plates, cutlery on the podcast

plate plastic cutlery

On his Blue Planet (Kék bolygó) podcast streamed on Tuesday, President János Áder discussed alternatives to plastic tableware with Gábor Vaszkó, the co-owner of Civita Group, a manufacturer of edible, corn-based plates and cups.

While climate change has made most of Europe unsuitable for toxin-free corn farming, Hungary can still deliver good quality products from GMO- and chemical-free corn, Vaszkó said.

Western European countries are willing to pay a higher price for such products, but Hungarian consumers will have to be educated to do so, he said.

By-products of corn processing can be used to manufacture “tasty plates and cups that can be eaten after use, and which decompose within weeks if discarded,” he said.

Ader noted that the product will be showcased at the Planet Budapest 2021 sustainability expo taking place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5.

Read alsoPresident Áder explores Hungarian water management industry in podcast

Green party calls on Budapest Mayor to intensify support for green policies

Máté Kanász-Nagy

The opposition LMP has called on Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony to intensify support for green policies and promote the vision of a more liveable city with a greater deal of dedication, a member of the party’s Budapest board said on Sunday.

Bernadett Bakos told a press conference on Facebook that more cycle lanes need to be built and a congestion charge introduced in order to drastically reduce car traffic.

LMP co-leader Máté Kanász-Nagy told the same press conference that during the past two years with Karácsony in office, some favourable changes have been effected but there were also many shortcomings.

Opposition Rep: LMP is assurance for representation of green issues in Hungary

Terrible! Air quality worsens across Hungary

Steps taken for a more liveable and sustainable city included building cycle lanes along central Budapest’s main avenues, he said. LMP also welcomes the city council’s plans to develop green areas, he added.

At the same time, he said LMP opposed the council’s plan to sell the plot of the former swimming pool of Újpest which he said should be used as a public park instead.

Bakos also criticised the city council for its failure to reduce noise pollution near the Ferihegy airport.

Balázs Fürjes Csepel Island Development 2
Read alsoMesmerising wetland oasis to be built as part of new Budapest park development

Terrible! Air quality worsens across Hungary

Air Pollution Quality

Air quality has deteriorated across Hungary due to a high concentration of airborne particulates, the National Public Health Centre (NNK) said on Saturday.

The National Public Health Centre (NNK) declared air quality to be “dangerous” in Kazincbarcika, Sajószentpéter, Nyíregyháza and Dorog.

Air quality is “unhealthy” in Budapest, Százhalombatta, Tatabánya, Várpalota, Putnok, Miskolc, Oszlár and Debrecen, NNK said.

Insurance covering extra costs due to global warming launches in Hungary

Mesmerising wetland oasis to be built as part of new Budapest park development

Concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) in the air are near the threshold for hazardous classification mainly in the north-eastern parts of the country, it said.

NNK has advised vulnerable groups such as children, people suffering from respiratory diseases and the elderly in those localities to spend less time outdoors as the effects of the air pollution level can be dangerous for them.

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Mesmerising wetland oasis to be built as part of new Budapest park development

Balázs Fürjes Csepel Island Development 2

The Csepel Island wetland and green park is Budapest’s latest and largest park development of the past 50 years. As part of the government’s green effort, the Csepel Island project has taken another step forward towards realisation.

Progress

Balázs Fürjes, State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for the development of Budapest and the agglomeration of the capital, shared the latest news about the project on his Facebook page on Wednesday. He said that the design contract for the construction of a special wetland habitat on Csepel Island was signed.

Dávid Vitézy, THE CEO of BFK (Budapest Development Centre), said that the task of the winner, Realiscon Kft, would be to provide plans for the execution of converting the area to be suitable for an artificial wetland habitat.

Location

Csepel Island is the largest island on the Danube in Hungary. It is 48 km long, and the isle extends south from Budapest. Its northern point is Csepel, District XXI of Budapest.

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Balázs Fürjes Csepel Island Development 8
Map layout of the Csepel Island park
Source: bfk.hu

This development is part of the Budapest South Gate Masterplan, designed by the world-renowned Snøhetta, a Norwegian design company.

Green oasis

The brand-new park and artificial habitat will serve many purposes. Firstly, the area will become a green gem where several species of plants and animals could find a new home, thereby bringing nature closer to the Hungarian capital, 24 reports.

Balázs Fürjes Csepel Island Development 1
Concept of the Csepel Island park
Source: bfk.hu

The habitat being a wetland also has some other benefits. In theory and by design, it will retain large amounts of water by collecting rainwater from the surrounding areas of the island.

It will then retain that water, filter it, and only let it into the Danube as clean water.

Having a large wetland area near the city centre will also help the capital with the heat issue during the summer. In warm temperatures, the water in the area starts to evaporate and will help regulate the microclimate of the capital, said BFK. It also aims to extend the groves surrounding the edge of the island.

This 36-hectare development is a milestone in Budapest’s increasing green efforts.

In addition to these benefits and the increase of green areas in Budapest, the top of the island will be home to many other venues, such as

extensive rest areas and clearings, cycling paths, promenades, public sports fields (an outdoor fitness park, a climbing wall, a skate park, multifunctional sports fields, treadmills), community gardens, playgrounds, pavilions, and clubhouses.

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Fidesz MEP: Brussels responsible for ‘public utility crisis’ in Europe

István Hollik

Europe currently suffers from a “public utility crisis” for which Brussels clearly bears responsibility, the communications director of ruling Fidesz said on Saturday.

István Hollik said in a video that under the guise of climate protection, Brussels had been making efforts to decrease traditional energy production, while liberalising gas and electricity markets without a transition period.

“This has made European people and companies completely defenceless against energy suppliers,” he said. “And now they are saying that nothing can be done against high prices,” he added.

The Hungarian left-wing shares the same view, a situation well-known from the time before 2010 when public utility fees tripled under the policies of then prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, he said.

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Electricity hikes are currently disguised as climate protection in Brussels, which will mean that the European Union’s emissions trading system is planned to be expanded to public road transport, including cars, and buildings, including family homes, he added.

“They talk about climate protection when they are introducing a new tax which will cost a monthly 32,000 forints (EUR 90) to Hungarian people,” he said.

The Hungarian left wing supports Brussels’ plans but “we will veto the plan for a new EU climate tax together with the V4 countries,” he said. “The costs of climate protection should be borne by multinational corporations doing the damage instead of European and Hungarian people,” he added.

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Budapest World Hunting Expo breaks visitor records

Budapest World Hunting Expo

The “One With Nature” World Hunting and Nature Exhibition in Budapest broke visitor records in many aspects, the government commissioner in charge of the expo said on Friday.

The expo which ran between September 25 and October 14, drew a record daily 35,000 visitors on its last day, Zoltán Kovács said in a video message on Facebook.

The expo’s main venue at the Hungexpo fairgrounds attracted 616,000 visitors, the highest number to ever visit an exhibition dedicated to a particular theme, he said.

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Events organised on the expo’s sidelines outside Budapest will be running in several locations until the end of the year, said Kovács.

Programmes so far have been attended by 1,420,000 people, he added.

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Opposition Rep: LMP is assurance for representation of green issues in Hungary

Máté Kanász-Nagy

LMP and the party’s Green Guarantee programme, is the assurance for representation of green issues, the opposition party’s co-leader said at an online press conference on Sunday.

Máté Kanász-Nagy asked voters to support the opposition’s unified front even though there is no green candidate among those competing in the second round of primaries to pick the opposition’s joint challenger for prime minister in the 2022 general elections.

“LMP’s Green Guarantee programme is the kind of programme that provides an answer to Hungary’s social, economic and environmental crisis,” he added.

He said Hungary must be made free of nuclear energy for a sustainable future and to protect it from the effects of climate change. He added that if there is a change in government, Paks II contracts will not only be “probed”, they will immediately be cancelled.

One of the most important natural wonders in Hungary is in grave danger

Kanász-Nagy said social justice is an important element of LMP’s programme, too, and the party aims to raise salaries of people working in the public, social and cultural sectors, in health-care and in education. The party wants to introduce a multi-rate tax system in which earnings up to the minimum wage are tax fee, and people whose earnings are average take home “tens of thousands of forints” more than they do at present, he added.

Kanász-Nagy said LMP believes every family and every child is equal and aims to “significantly raise” family benefits. He added that the party wants to channel state and European Union funding to Hungarian SMES rather than “supporting assembly plants and multinationals”.

LMP does not want to join the eurozone “for the time being”, as it believes adopting the common currency would increase Hungary’s exposure to Western Europe, he said.

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Agrarian summit held in Budapest – V4+4 ministers on the challenges of the region

Agrarian Summit V4+4

István Nagy, Hungary’s minister of agriculture, held talks with agrarian leaders of seven central European countries on challenges to the region on the Budapest fairground Hungexpo on Friday.

Addressing top officials of Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, Nagy called for closer cooperation in agricultural research and joint actions so that the member states could implement the EU’s common agricultural policy under national control, in line with their national characteristics.

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Agrarian Summit V4+4
Agrarian V4+4 Summit in Budapest at the World Hunting Expo
Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

Brussels’ will often runs counter to local agrarian interests, he said, adding that the EU partners should understand that rural regions “are not the periphery but the very heart of the European way of life,” he said.

The minister said that food waste and loss were declining in Hungary but still amounted to 88 million tonnes a year in the European Union. The best way to reduce it, he said, would lie in the digitalisation of the food chain.

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Household gas prices will not hike – Hungary has stable supply and large reserves

Attila Steiner

The price of household gas will not be increased in Hungary, Attila Steiner, a state secretary of the innovation and technology ministry, said in Brussels on Friday, adding that the country had an ample supply of gas in storage.

Hungary has its gas reservoirs filled up to 86 percent of their total capacity, which is well above the European Union average, Steiner, who is in charge of the development of the circular economy, energy and climate policy, told Hungarian reporters after a conference organised by Hungary’s Visegrád Group presidency.

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Hungary has 4 billion cubic metres of gas in storage for market purposes and 1.45 billion cubic metres stored in strategic reserves,

Steiner said after the conference focusing on the green transition and climate change. “Current reserves would be enough to supply gas to the entire economy for at least 109 days if for some reason gas deliveries to the country stopped,” he said.

The security of supplies is also ensured by the long-term gas supply deal Hungary has recently signed with Russia, Steiner said.

Green Eco Nature Environment
Read alsoHungarian government launches survey on environmental issues

Hungarian government launches survey on environmental issues

Green Eco Nature Environment

Hungary’s government is canvassing people’s views online on green issues, Zsolt Nyitrai, a prime ministerial commissioner, said in a video on Facebook on Saturday.

So far, citizens have been consulted on 13 occasions and their ideas have been incorporated into policymaking, he noted.

He said that unlike the left, the government took action rather than just talking about the environment.

Meanwhile, István Nagy, the minister of agriculture, made note in the promotional video of Hungary’s new afforestation scheme, adding that more and more people were joining it. The area of woodland will grow from 24 percent to 27 percent of Hungary’s total landmass as a result, he said.

You can find the The 12-question questionnaire HERE and it can be completed by the end of November.

Insurance covering extra costs due to global warming launches in Hungary

The minister said the government was committed to preserving its natural resources, adding that thanks to projects over the past decade carried out on 320,000 hectares of national parks, “the state of our natural environment has improved”.

Attila Steiner, state secretary at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, said the online survey covered issues such as waste recycling, state support for the installation of solar panels and electric transport, the continuation of the tree planting scheme, raising children in an environmentally conscious way, and getting big companies to pay the costs of climate protection.

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Insurance covering extra costs due to global warming launches in Hungary

Pollution-environment-climate change

Europe’s leading insurance and financial services group offers insurance to cover the extra costs due to climate change if the outside temperature exceeds 37 degrees Celsius.

The world is changing day by day, and so are the demands for new and different insurance solutions and services. The insurance sector is often regarded solely as a provider of compensation for losses, but it plays an integral role in the risk-management cycle, for example, this sector develops solutions that contribute both to the mitigation of and the adaptation to climate change (e.g. insurance against weather-related disasters).

During the last few years, several well-known companies, such as Facebook, Google, or Amazon, entered the insurance sector as “alternative providers”, and these companies are undoubtedly changing this market segment, explains You Talk Insurance. For example, the ability to thoroughly understand the customer and implement technology to effectively pre-empt claim situations is becoming a key element.

Thus,

insurers have to monitor the rapidly changing consumer needs so they can serve them with unique services and an outstanding customer experience.

The coronavirus pandemic has moved both businesses and consumers out of their comfort zone and showed the practicality and usefulness of personalised products and contents, writes Napi. Companies have learned that it is essential to pay attention to existing customers and to strive to simplify customer processes, involve customers in product development, and respond quickly and efficiently to customer needs.

Insurers can best achieve this goal by collaborating with the above-mentioned “alternative providers” and other companies to leverage their knowledge of the latest technologies and further enhance their product offerings. Thanks to the cooperation of car manufacturers and insurers, for example, customers can often get compulsory insurance or travel insurance when buying a car.

Nowadays, sustainability is a key consideration for customers: sustainable products are not only part of the premium category anymore, but they have become crucial elements for all businesses to ensure long-term success. Younger generations are more concerned with global challenges, and they opt for environmentally conscious options.

Therefore, Europe’s leading insurance and financial services group aims to bring the total greenhouse gas emissions of all its real estate investments in accordance with the target set in the Paris Agreement.

This means that the company will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% compared to 2019, and by 2023, it will double the share of renewable energy use and further reduce the use of disposable plastics.

csepel_park
Read alsoNew, 36-hectare urban green oasis to be built in Budapest! – PHOTOS

Brand new Hungarian-developed electric buses have arrived — PHOTOS

bus traffic

Electric buses, partly made with Hungarian know-how and assembly, were presented in Ráckeve. Together with Singaporean engineers, the Hungarian engineers of Goldi Mobility Kft. developed the vehicle. The performance and quality of the new vehicles are also of a high standard, as well as outstanding in terms of value for money.

One of the consequences of the climate agreement is that Hungary will also reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. In this sense, public transport needs to be radically transformed. In Hungary, one Chinese company, one Polish company and Goldi Mobility Kft. manufacture electric autobuses. However, Goldi Mobility is the only one that makes the vehicles with Hungarian know-how and assembly, writes hellomagyar.hu.

The company unveiled two new electric buses designed for the domestic market on Thursday.

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The GOLDiON E9 is an 8.5 metre, while the GOLDiON E12 is a 12-metre electric bus. Ferenc Kovács, the company owner, said that they provide a free guarantee for up to 300,000 kilometres or four years. The warranty covers service as well as replacement and repair of parts. Replacement of wearing parts is also free, such as the brake pad, wiper, and tire.

One presented bus is HUF 4 million cheaper than their competitors.

“The electric buses, developed jointly with our Singapore colleagues, are of a high standard in the market in terms of both parameters, performance and quality, and they are also at the forefront in terms of value for money. The vehicles are made of EU components, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, from an aluminium body to a digital dashboard to a safe interior. They have a range of 310 kilometres, but you can order a GOLDiOn 120 kW quick charger with a two-year warranty,” said Kovács, writes világgazdaság.hu.

The development took place without state support.

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The company is developing not only a bus but also a drone. Hungary’s first hydrogen fuel cell drone was also presented. This drone flies for up to 4.5 hours at an altitude of 5,000 metres so that it reaches the ground with an accuracy of 1 centimetre. The hydrogen drone features a Thermo, infrared camera, 40 optical zoom, and HD quality video transmission, among others.

The company is working on further developments. Their next development is an 18-metre-long articulated hydrogen bus, which is also unique in Europe.

drone
Photo: Bálint Benedek

Hungary aims to be greener than ever – Innovation Minister about new technologies

László Palkovics Minister of Innovation and Technology 1

Hungary aims to attract the development and manufacture of new technologies spearheading global industrial trends with a view to boosting the Hungarian economy, the minister of innovation and technology said on Friday.

László Palkovics said during a presentation at the GreenTech 2021 expo and conference in Zalaegerszeg, in western Hungary, that green technologies play a key role in areas that are expected to define the Hungarian economy over the next decade.

He cited the growing number of investments mainly in the vicinity of car plants which are expected to enable Hungary to develop the second largest production capacity in Europe in the area of battery technologies within two years.

A number of supported projects have been launched that aim to make the economy greener, including energy storage solutions and ways to reduce carbon emissions in public transport, he said.

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Starting from next year, only carbon neutral buses can be introduced in cities with more than 25,000 residents and tests are under way to operate them with synthetic fuels such as hydrogen, he added.

László Palkovics Minister of Innovation and Technology 2
László Palkovics Minister of Innovation and Technology in Zalaegerszeg
Photo: MTI/Varga György

One of the most effective ways of making transport greener is to develop rail transport, and this is a part of the Hungarian government’s strategy, Palkovics said.

Hungary plans to spend some 2,000 billion forints (€ 5.7 billion) on trains in the next eight years and the majority of these will have to be emission-free, he added.

Another priority is to make steel manufacturing more environmentally friendly, he said. Electricity and hydrogen must be given an greater role in order to maintain the competitiveness of Hungarian steel manufacturing, he added.

Storage and transport are important elements of Hungary’s hydrogen strategy, with the option of storing hydrogen. He also cited areas of innovation required to create a circular economy, including transferring waste storage to concessions in order to enable well-controlled and efficient waste recycling.

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Innovative sustainability initiatives to be developed at Budapest Airport

budapest airport
 

Budapest Airport is a member of the consortium which won nearly 25 million euros of support from the European Commission, as part of a sustainability project called STARGATE. As part of the project, Budapest Airport can implement developments to a value of 1.53 million euros, 70% of which (1.07 million euros) is provided by the European Union, with the rest funded by Budapest Airport. The airport operator’s task will be to develop and put in place a cloud-based, paper-free air cargo handling system, together with other sustainable projects concerning mainly the terminal, energy efficiency and traffic developments.

Continuously reducing carbon emissions is a key pillar of Budapest Airport’s sustainability efforts.

In recognition of this, it has been awarded ACI’s carbon neutral certification for the fourth year running. In line with its objectives, the operator of Budapest Airport thus joined a consortium consisting of Brussels Airport, Athens Airport and Toulouse Airport, along with 18 other non-airport members, which submitted a successful EU funding application dedicated to tackling sustainability in the aviation sector. Following several months of preparatory work, the contract between the consortium and the European Commission was signed on 6 September 2021.

The consortium, comprising the above airports, as well as companies, government bodies, scientific and research institutions, participated in the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 framework program with a project entitled STARGATE (SusTainable AiRports, the Green heArT of Europe), and emerged as a winner from 16 entrants.

Consortia were invited to submit proposals, to contribute innovative solutions to the European Commission’s Green Deal, a long-term scheme aimed at carbon neutrality and a greener Europe.

read alsp: Budapest Airport shuttle to operate more frequently!

STARGATE’s mission is to develop, test and implement innovative solutions which make the airport ecosystem significantly more sustainable. It will offer specific, short and medium-term green solutions for European airports at the level of day-to-day operations, thus creating smart, multimodal transport hubs and setting an example for other airports in Europe and beyond. Such green solutions include, for example, the development of digital twin technology, which is able to map operational processes by generating 3D models of airports, based on which new objectives, called “Bold 2050 Vision”, are defined. Another flagship solution is the creation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), for which economic analyses and business models will be prepared, which can later be customized by the airports, in line with their own needs. Other initiatives include the development and implementation of a cloud-based, paper-free air cargo handling system, together with other sustainable projects concerning mainly the terminal, energy efficiency and traffic developments.

Joining the STARGATE project is only one among numerous efforts Budapest Airport has undertaken for the sake of a sustainable future.

In 2019, the airport operator joined ACI’s NetZero by 2050 initiative; however, it has set itself an even more ambitious target: it plans to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions to zero much sooner than 2050, with the creation of a detailed net zero roadmap, currently under preparation. To this end, it uses more and more of the latest technologies and energy-efficient solutions, such as modern insulation and heating systems, LED lights, solar panels, as well as electric or hybrid vehicles and ground service equipment. Thus, in ten years, the airport operator managed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per passenger to nearly one-third of what it used to be. Budapest Airport is not alone in environmentally conscious operation; its Greenairport program now involves more than 40 organizations operating at the airport, working together to reduce the airport’s environmental impacts. This is and will continue to be a major focus for Budapest Airport over the coming decade, as it races to net zero.

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President Áder explores Hungarian water management industry in podcast

President János Áder on Monday discussed the activities of Hungarian water management companies at home and abroad with Bálint Horváth, the CEO of Pureco, a Hungarian-owned company installing water purifying systems in African countries.

Áder noted that 90 percent of waste water is dumped uncleaned into natural waters in Africa, which is an “enormous strain”. Water resources are also overused, which is expected to lead to lack of water in a few decades, he said.

Horváth noted that Pureco installed a waste water purifying system in Ghana in May.

The company’s self-developed purifying system allows the waste water handled there to be let back into natural waters without posing infection risks, he said. Experts of the Danube Regional Waterworks are currently training local professionals in operating the system, he said.

Pureco has been present at all Budapest Water Summits, and has used the forum to develop its network in Egypt and other countries, in line with the government’s southern opening strategy, Horváth said.

Áder noted that Budapest is organising the Planet Budapest 2021 sustainability expo, an extended version of the summits, between November 29 and December 5. The event is expected to draw more than 160 exhibitors from the Visegrad Group countries, he said.

The president’s Blue Planet (Kék bolygó) podcast will air weekly until then, presenting one of the participants each week, he said.

As we wrote before, the third-largest lake in Hungary, Lake Velence, is dying. Due to extreme water levels, massive fish and bird deaths, and uneven rainfall, Lake Velence has been in the news recently, details HERE.

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One of the most important natural wonders in Hungary is in grave danger

swan lake velencei

The third-largest lake in Hungary, Lake Velence, is dying. Due to extreme water levels, massive fish and bird deaths, and uneven rainfall, Lake Velence has been in the news recently. Due to the destruction of wildlife, many are thinking of deteriorating water quality, but the water quality of Lake Velence remains good. With the help of Dr Tibor Bíró, Dean of the Faculty of Water Sciences of the National University of Public Administration, we’ll showcase the situation of Lake Velence.

Dr Tibor Bíró told Napi that the Pátka and Zámoly reservoirs help to regulate the water level of Lake Velence. The catchment area of Lake Velence is more than 600 square kilometres. However, the water of the lake depends mainly on the precipitation that falls on the catchment areas. 

The low water level can be attributed to the low rainfall.

Although precipitation has not decreased significantly over the past 30 years, average temperatures have risen significantly.  Higher temperatures bring more evaporation and leakage. Unfortunately, this is a self-perpetuating process. After all, the lower the water level, the easier it is to heat up and evaporate.

Hungary’s third largest lake is in great trouble!

However, there is no complaint about the water quality of Lake Velence. The mass fish mortality experienced in the summer was probably due to a lack of oxygen; however, studies have not yet fully supported this theory. “The relatively sudden rise in temperature, the concomitant decrease in oxygen concentration, and the coincidence of the spawning period may have caused a state of stress that led to fish death,” said Dr Tibor Bíró.

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Recently a recreational fisherman with a kayak sent reports to Pecaverzum about the strange behavior of grass carps. According to the angler, many of them were near the surface and some of them around the rocks on their backs in bad shape even though they were quite sizeable. The strange thing is that they did not try to gasp for air, which would indicate low levels of oxygen.

They almost seemed to be in agony.

Water level change is a natural process.

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According to the expert, tourism and private investments on the coast do not endanger the water level. The best solution would be a complete reconstruction of the Pátka and Zámoly reservoirs. After the renovation, a larger and better quality water mass can be retained. According to Fmc’s information, the reduced amount of water is being replenished from the Zámoly reservoir.

New, 36-hectare urban green oasis to be built in Budapest! – PHOTOS

csepel_park

The suburbs of the Hungarian capital will be expanded with a new green park which will be opened in the 21st district of Budapest. In addition to its environmental role, the 36-hectare urban green oasis is also significant, as no new public park of more than 20 hectares has been established in Budapest in the last 50 years.

Dávid Vitézy, the CEO of the Budapest Development Centre, announced on Facebook that the contract had been signed with the construction company (s73 Construction Studio). A 36-hectare park will be established on the North Csepel archipelago, next to Soroksár-Danube. The CEO also added that the 36-hectare urban green oasis is a very significant development, as no new public park of more than 20 hectares has been established in Budapest in the last 50 years.

As Hungarian news portal Telex reports, the public park will include

gallery forest next to the Danube, extensive rest areas and clearings, hiking and cycling paths, promenades, wooded groves, community sports fields (outdoor fitness park, climbing wall, skate park, multifunctional sports fields, treadmill), community gardens, playgrounds, and wetland.

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Photo: www.facebook.com/vitezydavid/

The latter is an entirely new element, a water management system whose function is to collect the rainwater falling on the surrounding areas, roads, and roofs, and then drain the excess into the Soroksár-Danube by passing it through a natural filter layer. Accordingly, it can be avoided that the green areas – which often do not get enough moisture – dry out or need artificial irrigation.

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Photo: www.facebook.com/vitezydavid/

Its further environmental role is to provide natural wetlands for many plant and animal species, thereby increasing the biodiversity of the area. In addition, it plays an important role in improving the urban microclimate, and its evaporating effect contributes to the reduction of urban heat islands. According to preliminary ideas, in the middle lane of the public park, which is slightly lower than the surrounding areas, the water surface interwoven with plants would meander along from south to north, in an area of ​​about 3 hectares. It will be up to the designer to work out in detail exactly how water management works in the wetland in both rainy and dry weather, writes the post.

The preparatory work for the park started four years ago. Since then, a high-quality master plan was drawn up in the summer of 2020, with the involvement of experts from the capital and district municipalities and a number of recognised experts who designated the location, use, approach, internal road network, and typical land-use units and main functions of the planned new public park.

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Photo: www.facebook.com/vitezydavid/

The post also points out that the establishment of new parks in Budapest is indispensable, as there have been fewer and fewer tidy, well-functioning green spaces since the change of regime. Therefore, the expansion of urban parks is of primary importance.

Read also: 5 parks in Budapest you must see if you visit the Hungarian capital – PHOTOS

The post also reveals that in the 19th century, the city’s designers dreamed of a green stripe surrounding today’s city centre in the form of a ring. On the Buda side, it has been realised with the Buda Hills; however, from Óbuda to the Pest side to South Buda, this green ring could not be implemented in a coherent way, only large parks, such as Margaret Island, City Park as part of the Budapest Liget project, and Népliget are lined up separately in this curve.

The Csepel public park fits into this system logically, and it will be an important green area of ​​the South Budapest region.

Meanwhile, another project has reached a milestone in the 21st district of Budapest. At the beginning of September, within the framework of the construction of the National Athletics Stadium, the H7 (Csepel) HÉV track was rebuilt on a section in order to take a new route to the facility.

During the works, the old freight underpass was demolished, and a new, 40-metre-long railway bridge was built, which will also function as the new pedestrian main entrance to the Stadium, as well as a 14.5-metre-long railway bridge (Kvassay subway), which will get motor traffic to the Stadium area.

National Athletic Stadium
Photo: www.facebook.com/napurarchitect/

As Magyar Építők reports, within the framework of the construction, new railway tracks were laid on the 500-metre section of the double track, a new crushed stone bed was laid, a new overhead line was built, new optical cables were installed, the interlocking cable was replaced, and a new fence was built.

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Photo: www.facebook.com/napurarchitect/

Presumably, the stadium will be ready for the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

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Photo: www.facebook.com/napurarchitect/