Denmark’s government has agreed to take a 51% stake in a £25bn (US$34b) 120,000m² artificial “energy island” to be built 50 miles (80km) offshore, in the middle of the North Sea to provide 3m households with energy as part of a Public-Private Partnership.

Protected from North Sea storms on three sides by a high sea wall, it will include a dock for service vessels on the remaining side. It is geared towards realization of the enormous potential for offshore wind technology, building on an agreement to construct two wind energy hubs, one artificial and another centered on the Baltic island of Bornholm. The two hubs will initially support 5GW of wind generation and will later be expanded to as much as 12GW, with completion intended before 2033.

 

For additional details on the enormity of the project, please visit the link below:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/04/denmark-strikes-deal-on-25bn-artificial-wind-energy-island 

Posted on - 2021-02-04

While the most recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the sea level was unlikely to rise by more than 1.1m (3.6 feet) by 2100, climate researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute believe levels could rise as much as 1.35 metres by 2100 under a worst-case warming scenario. Using historical data on sea level rise to validate various models relied on by the IPCC to make its assessment, they found a discrepancy of about 25cm, which they've published in the most recent article of the journal, Ocean Science.

They claim the models used to base predictions of sea level rise are not sensitive enough, and they hope their testing method could be used to constrain models, make them more credible, and reduce uncertainty. The IPCC sea level scientists have been sent the paper for review.

This is alarming news for low-lying island states, and underscores the need for rapid action to address changing climate trends and curb global temperature rise.

 

For additional details, please find the article at the link below:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/02/sea-level-rise-could-be-worse-than-feared-warn-researchers 

Posted on - 2021-02-04

The Commander says when people are found floating out at sea, many require psychological support, which highlights the need for strengthened provision of mental health services in Pacific Island Countries. 

 

For additional details, visit the link below:

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/tc-ana/245-lives-saved-by-fiji-navy-in-2020/ 

Posted on - 2021-02-04