In the past, all three planets were rocky planets, the surface of which was composed of solid metals and silicates. Among them, our Earth is the largest planet, the mass and radius of Venus is only about 82% and 95% of the Earth, respectively, the mass and radius of Mars only account for about 11% and 53% when compared to our planet. Over the past few decades, humans have launched many unmanned probes to Venus and Mars, and it turns out that the environments on these two planets are very harsh. Venus is too hot, and Mars is too cold, and there is no oxygen on either planet, so life on Earth could not exist in such an environment, and astronomers could not find it. see any other traces of life there. So, how were Venus and Mars 4 billion years ago? Why are Venus and Mars now barren, and only our planet is habitable? Calculated based on the radiant power of the sun, Venus and Mars also operate in the same habitable zone as Earth, which means they can receive just the right amount of solar radiation to water. on their surface can still be in a liquid state. Astronomers speculate based on current signs on Venus and Mars and surmise that there may have been an ocean of liquid water on both Venus and Mars 4 billion years ago. For the first few hundred million years, Venus was a warm and humid planet. In the primordial oceans of Venus, life was fully qualified to evolve. They could be carbon-based life like life on Earth or could be other life forms. However, Venus’s habitable period did not last long. Because Venus is so close to the sun, and the temperature of the sun gradually increases over time, making Venus hotter and hotter, and a large amount of liquid water has also been evaporated. At the same time, the volcanic activity on Venus is also gradually becoming more active and continuously releasing carbon dioxide, causing a strong greenhouse effect. Without oceans, carbon dioxide would not be neutralized. They enter the atmosphere and cause a severe greenhouse effect, which will increase the temperature on Venus. Meanwhile, on Earth, the oceans, plants and minerals absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, so the Earth will not become too hot due to the strong greenhouse effect during that period. Eventually, Venus’ greenhouse effect was completely out of control, liquid water completely evaporated, and life could have been destroyed. According to data returned by the Venus probe, the current concentration of carbon dioxide in Venus’s atmosphere is as high as 96.5%, and the surface atmospheric pressure is 91 times higher than the Earth’s surface. Under the influence of this extreme greenhouse effect, Venus has essentially reached thermal equilibrium, and the average surface temperature is as high as 464 degrees Celsius. Although it is essentially impossible to have life on the surface of Venus today, some astronomers speculate that there may be some strange life in the atmosphere of Venus. In the sky high enough above the surface of Venus, the atmospheric pressure will be moderate, and the temperature will not be high, possibly for the synthesis of organic matter and the evolution of life. On the other hand, ancient Mars was probably also a habitable planet. Currently, on Mars there is a large amount of water-washed terrain, and there are some iron ores that can only be generated in the aquatic environment, which is strong evidence for the existence of a large amount of water. liquid water on ancient Mars. So, how did Mars become such a uninhabitable planet as it is? At present-day Mars’ North Pole, there is a giant basin whose surface is equivalent to two-fifths of the surface of Mars. This huge Arctic basin was formed by a massive collision. Studies have shown that about 3.9 billion years ago, a dwarf planet (about the size of Pluto) with a diameter of about 2,000 km collided with the north pole of Mars. This massive collision completely changed the core of Mars, causing activities inside Mars to quickly stop, and the Martian magnetic field also gradually weakened and finally almost disappeared. lost. Without the protection of the magnetic field, the solar wind gradually strengthens and melts the atmosphere of Mars, liquid water continues to evaporate, causing Mars to quickly become a barren land. Currently, there is almost no atmosphere on Mars, but there is still some water ice in the polar regions. In addition, there may be a seasonal amount of liquid water in some areas of Mars, which has a high salt content and may be temporarily liquid in the low-temperature Martian environment. At the moment, the temperature on Mars is very low, the average temperature is only -63 degrees Celsius. If humans want to settle on Mars in the future, the first thing to do is to strengthen the star’s magnetic field. Mars and produces large amounts of greenhouse gases to “heat” Mars and melt the solid water that exists on Mars. Mars is much smaller than Earth, so it would have cooled from its molten state at its inception faster than Earth, so liquid water on Mars may have appeared earlier, which could This means that life on Mars may have formed and evolved earlier than our planet. Therefore, there are conspiracy theories that, when celestial bodies collided with Mars, the rocks that were thrown into space by the collisions could have carried the germ of life on Mars into space, and then some someday fall to Earth, becoming the source of life on Earth. And perhaps by coincidence, life on Earth also began to form around the same time that Mars’ North Pole collided. From the point of view of time, this is consistent. In addition, astronomers have discovered traces of suspected life in meteorites on Mars that have fallen to Earth. Life on Earth may have originated on Mars, but this has so far required more convincing evidence. In the past, the Curiosity rover has detected some carbon-containing organic substances in the rocks on Mars, which may be evidence that ancient Mars once had a few living things. Even now, it is still possible for life on Mars, they did not go extinct billions of years ago, but moved into the Martian underground and developed a unique survival mechanism to adapt to the harsh environment. harsh on this planet. Compared to Venus and Mars, our planet is very lucky. For billions of years, Earth has always been a habitable planet, so hundreds of millions of species have appeared here. Our Earth is like a “chosen planet”, a moderate distance from the sun, with a magnetic field that can resist solar radiation so that all kinds of life can continue to multiply and develop. Although it cannot be ruled out that some planets in the solar system (such as Europa) also harbor life, the environments of those planets are very different from those of Earth, and most life on Earth is not ruled out. Soil cannot exist there. In the near future, Earth will still be the only planet inhabited by humans in the universe.

In April 2021, the Prime Minister issued a document assigning the Ministry of Science and Technology to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in, soon finalizing and promulgating national technical regulations on gasoline, diesel fuel, and biofuel corresponding to emission standards at level 5. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for directing petrol and oil suppliers to have a plan to supply gasoline and diesel at level 5 to ensure that they meet demand for use and are in sync with the application roadmap. emission standards level 5. According to the Vietnam Register, with this regulation, the Euro 5 emission standard only applies to new cars when the vehicle type approval certificate is issued. The emission test method for new vehicles is carried out in a dedicated laboratory. Euro 5 emissions do not apply when periodically checking with cars in circulation. For cars in circulation, the emission standards are applied according to the rapid test method at the registration facilities according to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 16 on the roadmap for applying emission standards of cars participating in traffic and automobiles. Imported used. This standard stipulates that cars with gasoline and diesel engines manufactured after 2008 will apply the level 2 emission standard from January 1, 2020. Thus, raising the automobile emission standard from level 4 (in 2017) to level 5 in January 2022, Vietnam becomes one of the top countries in ASEAN in terms of controlling emissions that have an impact on the environment. In addition, the improvement of automobile emission standards will reduce the cost of disaster recovery due to the greenhouse effect and the cost of medical examination and treatment for the community.

On May 21, G7 pledged to completely stop funding coal-fired power plants. On May 21, environment ministers from the Group of Top Industrialized Countries (G7) agreed to take concrete steps by the end of the year to stop government funding for coal-fired power plants as part of efforts to curb global warming. In a statement after the two-day video conference, the G7 environment ministers said: “(We) are committed to taking concrete steps towards an absolute end to the new direct government assistance. for international coal-fired power generation by the end of 2021, including through Official Development Assistance (ODA), export finance, investment, financial support and trade promotion” . However, the statement did not mention the possibility of phasing out coal-fired power generation, leading analysts to believe that the G7’s call would have little impact on global efforts to tackle the problem. climate change issue. The removal of government support for fossil fuel financing, which emits large amounts of greenhouse gases that warm the Earth, is seen as essential to limiting the growth of fossil fuels. global temperature increase at 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels. (according to Kyodo)

It is known that the ‘O-tower’ will be the venue for OPPO’s large-scale programs, a lush urban landscape in the middle of the city. This design is inspired by the letter O and fingerprints, when combined, it will produce an extremely unique and novel shape. The design company is the Bjarke ingels group (BIG), the building designed to reduce energy consumption and demonstrate OPPO’s commitment to endless innovation by connecting ‘ground and sky’ in a unified ring. cooperation continuously. BIG started working with OPPO in early 2019 to develop the design for the R&D headquarters and the overall plan for the site. It will be located along the main access road of the city, between a natural lake, the urban center, and a 10,000 square meter park. With this prime location, BIG and OPPO want the O-tower as a new symbol and gateway to the future science and technology city of Hangzhou. Brian Yang, partner at BIG, said: “The best technology should be a seamless life extension. OPPO’s new R&D headquarters embodies this concept, located inside a stunning geographic location of Hangzhou, combined with dense urban and natural landscape on one side, this will be an ant symbol. architecture of OPPO with elegant philosophy, while improving the quality of life for people in the city ”. BIG looked at how to create the optimal workspace with plenty of natural light while optimizing energy use. From that. The south side of the building will have a central courtyard, the inner facade shaded from solar energy. The slopes create a series of gaps three times the usual height and the courtyards where OPPO employees can interact and socialize. The building will be surrounded by adaptive wind vents oriented towards the angle of the sun. The architects said this would reduce solar energy by up to 52%, thereby reducing energy consumption, glare, reflection and the greenhouse effect. Bjarke ingels, Founder and Creative Director of BIG said: ‘We have been trying to envision OPPO’s future work environment as sustainable on three key points: economic, ecological and social. . ‘, The building has large flexible floors illuminated by the sun and fresh air. The facade has an adaptive roof that removes sunlight ‘. Most of the building will be occupied by OPPO but the first three floors are devoted to public programs including exhibition space, conference center, cafeteria and a garden for outdoor seminars. This urban oasis will provide fresh air, retain water and support a biodiversity public area connected to the daily life of the city. Through this project, Hangzhou will become one of OPPO’s most important research and development centers in China. Going forward, we believe that through our cooperation, OPPO’s R&D headquarters will not only perfectly represent OPPO’s brand identity and culture, but also become an iconic landmark. most in Hangzhou. This will represent a key cornerstone of OPPO’s hundred-year plan. Said Jin Le Qin, Vice President of OPPO.

Flag of the European Union at headquarters in Belgium. Photo: Reuters Reuters recently released a document showing that the European Union (EU) will introduce a series of conditions that force the transport, industry and construction industries to meet in order to be classified into the category. Sustainable investments in Europe. Besides, the EU has yet to decide whether to label gas and nuclear power as a “green” label. According to the document, the EU’s “sustainable financial classification” is a long list of economic activities and regulations that industries must meet in order to be labeled as a sustainable investment in the EU from 2022. This landmark regulation aims to make “green” activities more attractive to investors, while at the same time ensuring that a sustainable investment label is only granted to economic activities that comply. meeting the EU’s targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas is not mentioned in the draft regulations. European nations are divided over whether gas-fired power plants should be considered “green”, and the European Commission (EC) plans to tackle the fuel issue, along with electricity. kernel, in a separate proposal later this year or not. Draft regulations on “green labeling” include detailed definitions of what is considered sustainable investment in different sectors including transportation, energy generation from sources such as wind. and hydroelectricity, building rehabilitation and manufacturing of cement, steel and batteries. For example, emissions at cement plants must be below 0.72 tons CO2 equivalent to each ton of gray cement produced. Meanwhile, car production from now until the end of 2025 will be considered a sustainable investment if these vehicles emit less than 50g of CO2 per km. After 2025, only the production of zero-emission cars will be green-labeled./.

German National Railway Company Deutsche Bahn (DB) high-speed train at the station in Munich, Germany, February 10, 2020. Photo: AFP / VNA The joint announcement stated that the BDL and DB aim to attract about 4.3 million passengers shifting from air to rail for domestic travel in the medium term. The program will also seek to increase the number of trains connecting to international flights, make the transfer between aircraft and train travel easier, and shorten the transit time by mid-rail. major cities of Germany. Through this partnership, the BDL and DB hope that CO2 emissions from Germany’s domestic air traffic can be reduced by a sixth. According to the German Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the country’s transport sector emissions in 2020 will decrease by 11.4% year-on-year, mainly due to the low Use a car more – especially for long-distance journeys – in the first blockade. The ministry noted that the COVID-19 pandemic also had a significant impact on Germany’s domestic aviation industry. By 2020, the CO2 generated by the sector is 60% less than the year before, thanks to travel warnings, blockades and canceled vacations. The German government is aiming to reduce emissions in the transport sector by almost 42% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Polar bear, one of the animals facing extinction due to the impact of climate change (Artwork: kinhtemoitruong.vn)

Climate change, if left unchecked, could destroy natural treasures in “biodiversity hotspots” around the world, scientists warn.

A global team of scientists has analyzed nearly 300 biodiversity hotspots on land and at sea. These are locations with a particularly high concentration of plant and animal species. Many of these hotspots include ‘endemic’ species, inhabiting only a single geographical location, such as an island or a country.

They found that if the planet heats above 3 ° C, one-third of the endemic species that live on land and about half of the endemic species living in the sea will face extinction. In mountainous regions, 84% of endemic animals and plants face extinction at these temperatures, while on islands it reaches 100%. Overall, 92% of terrestrial endemic and 95% marine endemic species face negative consequences at a 3 ° C increase, such as a reduction in numbers. Current policies are moving the world in this direction of about 3 ° C warming.

Among endemic species, there are some of the world’s most iconic animals and plants. Endemic species threatened by climate change include all lemurs that only exist in Madagascar; the blue crane – which is the national bird of South Africa; and the snow leopard, one of the most unique animals of the Himalayas.

Research shows that compared to widely available species, endemic species are 2.7 times more likely to become extinct if the temperature rise is not controlled. Since they are only found in a certain place, and if climate change changes their separate habitats, these species will inevitably disappear from the Earth’s surface. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, places like the Caribbean islands, Madagascar and Sri Lanka may see most of their endemic plant species go extinct as soon as 2050. The tropics It is particularly vulnerable, with more than 60% of tropical endemic species facing extinction under the effects of climate change alone.

But everything is not necessarily over. If countries cut their emissions in line with the Paris Agreement then most of these endemic species will persist. In total, 2% of endemic soil species and 2% of endemic marine species face extinction if the temperature rises to 1.5ºC, and 4% at 2ºC. Strong commitments from global leaders ahead of the Glasgow climate change summit later this year could put the world on track to meet the Paris Agreement, and avoid the risk of treasures. The world’s most precious nature was destroyed on a large scale.

“Climate change threatens areas that are so rich in unique species of organisms,” said Stella Manes, study lead author and researcher at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Found anywhere else in the world. The risk of permanently disappearing these species will increase more than 10 times if we miss out on the goals of the Paris Agreement. Biodiversity has more value than just seeing. The higher the species diversity, the better the health of nature, while also protecting against threats such as climate change. Healthy nature will provide indispensable sources of life for humans, such as water, food and materials, protect us from natural disasters, provide value for recreational relaxation and cultural connectivity, and morale.”

“Our research shows that a one-color and possibly very boring world awaits them,” said Wolfgang Kiessling, a marine expert from Friedrich-Alexander Erlangen- Nürnberg University and author of the study. We are ahead due to climate change. Organisms will benefit, while native species that contribute to the distinctive look of hot spots will disappear. ”

“This study found that species are geographically rare, especially those that live,” said Mark Costello, a marine expert from the University of Nord and the University of Auckland and author of the study. on islands and mountains, which are already in danger of extinction due to current climate change, these species cannot easily migrate to more favorable environments by their natural characteristics. that 20% of all species will be threatened with extinction by climate change in the coming decades, unless we act now. ”

According to Shobha S. Maharaj, an island expert from the Caribbean Journal of Environmental Science and Renewable Energy, and author of the study: “This study shows the relative risk of extinction due to climate change. with rare species living in the island area, it is 8 times higher than that in the mainland. The geographic rarity of these species makes them of global value to nature. Such species cannot easily migrate to more favorable environments and their end to extinction could lead to a global decline in disproportionate species.

A new “idea” of planting fruit trees such as mango, jackfruit … in the premises of the factory and the roads is gradually becoming a reality when the seeds have been nurtured. Mr. Nguyen Khac Thanh, General Director of Tin Nghia Industrial Park Joint Stock Company – Phuong Dong – investor of Dat Do 1 Industrial Park, said that the company has invested more than 36 billion VND for a green area of ​​62.48 ha, accounting for 13 % of the whole area is to create a green area for the industrial park, building an eco-friendly industrial park. Currently, the occupancy rate in Dat Do 1 Industrial Park has reached over 60%. Dat Do 1 Industrial Park is continuing to improve its infrastructure to attract secondary investors, striving to increase the occupancy rate to 100% by 2022. In particular, in the development process, Dat Do 1 Industrial Park continues to build a green, environmentally friendly industrial park in harmony with the rural safety network.

Facing the current trend of industrialization 4.0, building green industrial zones is indispensable, especially in the locality where there are 15 industrial zones such as BR-VT. Many industrial zones such as Phu My 3, Da Bac, Sonadezi … also pay attention to and prioritize the use of high technology and ensure green, clean and environmental protection factors. Because, enterprises are aware that an important part of the goal of creating a green industrial park is not only an environment-friendly landscape with lots of green trees, but also eliminates the dryness, noise, and heat. factories and emissions to the outside. From there, minimizing the greenhouse effect and contributing to the fight against climate change. The construction of infrastructure of green industrial zones is the basis to attract green FDI inflows, to select industrial production projects applying advanced technology, without harming the environment. Green IP development is also the optimal direction to create industrial urban areas, meeting the living and working needs of experts and workers.

In the context that industrial production has long had a serious impact on the ecological environment, a measure of the capacity, prestige and brand name of enterprises, the current infrastructure investor is not merely in productivity, product quality, but also how they respond to the environment. In particular, the Green Industrial Park has important implications for the sustainable industrial development – one of the four economic pillars of BR-VT. Greening production, reducing pollution and moving towards sustainable development are the prerequisites to enhance the competitiveness of BR-VT in the current context.

(Source: koreaittimes)

POSCO, the world’s fifth-largest steel producer by production, said on April 14 that it would build a factory in Korea to extract lithium hydroxide, a key ingredient in electric vehicle battery (EV).

POSCO’s announcement said last week that the Board of Directors approved a plan to complete a factory in the industrial city of Gwangyang in southern Korea by 2023.

The plant, which will start construction in the first half of this year, is expected to have an annual production capacity of 43,000 tons of lithium hydroxide, enough to produce about 1 million electric vehicle batteries.

POSCO said they plan to import spodumene for the extract lithium hydroxide at the factory above from Australia.

In addition, POSCO plans to start building another plant near the Salar del Hombre Muerto salt lake in northern Argentina in the coming months. The plant is expected to have an annual capacity of 25,000 tons of lithium.

POSCO purchased lithium mining rights in Argentina from Australian mining company Galaxy Resources for $ 280 million in 2018. Currently, the steel producer has the mining rights for 22,800 hectares of the area.

According to POSCO, the site is confirmed to have lithium reserves of 13.5 million tons, enough to produce batteries for about 370 million electric cars.

The South Korean giant steel giant has stepped up its activities in the electric vehicle segment in recent years as part of its business diversification strategy.

In February 2021, POSCO Chemical, a subsidiary of POSCO, announced plans to invest 275.8 billion won ($ 248 million) to expand the production capacity of cathode, a key component for batteries. EV for a factory in Gwangyang.

In addition, POSCO Chemical also plans to set up factories in China and Europe to promptly supply cathode to EV battery manufacturers.

The EV battery market is on a strong momentum as automakers around the world are racing to convert to electric and eco-friendly vehicles.

This wave comes in the midst of tightening regulations on greenhouse gas emissions by governments – which scientists say is the cause of global warming.