Page 54 - Ebook HTKH 2024
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Citizens’ involvement in the decision-making process means that people are aware
of a green economy, why it is necessary to go green, and their role in making the decision
effectively. Citizens are not only the decision-makers but also the executors.
Carefully implement the action plan
The action plan is carefully designed and adopted in various fields.
In the energy field, there are three strategies to boost green electricity. The first
strategy is focusing on diversity. To achieve the target of producing 35 TWh/year, the
European country mobilizes photovoltaic solar to produce 25 TWh/year, biomass and
waste to produce 8 TWh/year, and wind power to produce 2 TWh/year. The second
strategy focuses on solar PV with batteries. The second strategy focuses on installing
solar photovoltaics with storage batteries on house roofs. This method can generate
energy for individuals. Therefore, citizens show their active role in making the economy
green. With a target of 35 TWh/year, solar power should provide 31 TWh/year,
augmented by 4 TWh/year from current biomass and waste-to-energy facilities. The
third energy strategy focuses on productivity by increasing output for wind and solar
systems, such as roofs and open fields. It has the benefit of concentrating installations
on the most productive places while minimizing investments in biomass and waste
treatment facilities. Alpine municipalities, particularly in the cantons of Graubünden and
Valais, appear to be the most geographically suitable.
In the cleantech field, Switzerland also has policies to encourage Greentech
startups. ecoRobotix, Vivent, and AgroSustain are three young enterprises in
Switzerland that have set their sights outside the country. These start-ups have
collaborated with scientists to create technical advances for more sustainable farming
techniques.
EcoRobotix invented a solar-powered robot that helps farmers tackle weeds. The
robot uses GPS to autonomously navigate weeds. It can scan the fields with an integrated
camera and deploy two mechanical arms to apply small doses of herbicide to weeds.
Therefore, farmers can avoid using herbicides by 90% while reducing soil compaction
and protecting soil life.
The Phytl Signs gadget, invented by Vivent startup, can read biological signals
from plants. The electricity produced by a plant is measured using two electrodes put on
a leaf. The electrical signal is amplified, and Vivent's gadget translates it to digital form.
As with a cardiogram, the data is shown on a computer or smartphone screen linked to
Phytl Signs. If the soil is dry, the roots communicate this information up the stem,
reducing the plant's water loss, and farmers will know what to do.
AgroSustain, a company established in 2017, has introduced AgroShelf+, which
lengthens the shelf life of food in storage by approximately one week. This invention is
particularly important as 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted worldwide every year.
This is a significant waste of water and farming land and a source of greenhouse gas
emissions, making it a very large polluter on Earth.
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