The mentoring programme Open Education for a Better World (OE4BW) was held online from 29 June to 2 July 2020. This programme supports the development and implementation of open educational resources (OER). The projects of the OE4BW mentoring programme address topics in relation with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mentees are enrolled worldwide for this purpose. In 2020, they benefited from the guidance of 84 mentors, who helped the mentees to find solutions and foster OER. The mentoring programme supported 82 projects.

Online workshops were held for 4 consecutive days, covering a wide range of topics, such as inclusive education, natural and applied science, art and society, as well as peace and justice.

On Tuesday 30 June, a special Workshop was held on Open Resources for SDG7. Experts shared their views on how to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy. The programme of this session was the following:

• Advancing sustainable energy and climate actions through open online learning;
• Statistical data supporting energy related education and decision-making;
• Importance of sustainable ecosystem for open education;
• Prosumers of the Energy Union;
• How to license Open Educational Resources;
• Energy sector skills needed for the 21^st

This session was preceded by an introductory panel during which OE4BW chairs welcomed the speakers and the participants. Then, the experts panel session was followed by pitch presentations of projects, developed in the SDG7 hub of the OE4BW 2019/2020, and a discussion.

The mentoring programme has been active since 2018 and was founded by the University of Nova Gorica and the  UNESCO Chair on Open Technologies for OER and Open Learning at the Jožef Stefan Institute.

You can watch the webinars held during OE4BW here.

EuChemS is very active concerning the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) which were established in 2015. In 2017, “Future-Oriented Chemistry” side event was co-organised by EuChemS at the EU Pavilion of the United Nations Climate Change conference (COP23). In 2018, a workshop was organised on the topic of SDGs at the 7th EuChemS Chemistry Congress in Liverpool. Finally, in 2019, EuChemS, together with the American Chemical Society (ACS), signed the Joint Framework Agreement on the UN SDGs in Paris, France.

The European Chemical Society attended the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) online meeting of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in June which addressed several pressing issues. Significant topics were discussed, including microplastics restrictions.

On 10 June 2020, after 15 months of joint work together with Member State representatives, ECHA’s Committee on Risk Assessment (RAC) reached a final opinion on microplastics restriction and supports restricting the use of intentionally added microplastics in EU/EEA products, in concentrations of more than 0.01% by weight.

“microplastic” means particles containing solid polymer, to which additives or other substances may have been added, and where ≥ 1% w/w of particles have (i) all dimensions ≤ 5mm, or (ii), for fibers, a length of ≤ 15mm and length to diameter ratio of >3

Comments received through public consultations were considered, as well as a complex evaluation on the derogation of biodegradable polymers with an examination on biodegradability tests and the evaluation of applications, such as infill material on synthetic sports turf pitches).

Since the risk assessment of microplastic is complicated by current uncertainties in relation to hazards, fate, exposure and risks, further research will be needed to address all the identified uncertainties.

More info available here.

The RAC has also adopted its opinion on ECHA’s proposal on the recommendation for a BGV (Biological Guidance Value) for lead and its compounds.

EuChemS is an official accredited stakeholder of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Learn more about it here.

On 1 July 2020, Germany has officially taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Croatia. The COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery plan are at the heart of the 6-months Presidency of Germany, as its motto indicates: ‘Together for Europe’s recovery.’ Hence, research and innovation are put at the forefront of the Germany’s strategic agenda.

In view of the current global health crisis, the German Presidency announced supporting European research and its scientific community by enhancing online platforms and open access.

European research and development play a key role in the prevention of and efforts to overcome healthcare crises. We are therefore committed to making the European Research Area even more dynamic and targeted in a spirit of solidarity with respect to tackling the pandemic. Moreover, we want to discuss how the EU ERAvsCorona Action Plan can be further developed.

– Programme for Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union,
I. Europe’s response to COVID-19 pandemic, p.6.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is at the heart of Germany’s strategy agenda, its representatives will not forget to tackle environmental issues by implementing sustainable solutions in Europe. The German Presidency would like to provide guidance for the EU Strategy on Sustainable and Smart Mobility. Moreover, Germany presented itself as a strong advocate of the European Green Deal. Germany indicated in its agenda its ambition to strengthen international cooperation in research and education areas to successfully implement the European Green Deal. On top of developing open online platforms, supporting green hydrogen initiatives, and further developing civic participation are part of Germany’s Green Deal action plan for Europe.

In the second semester of 2020, the German Presidency of the Council of the EU will also support the Commission’s Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and will work on digital application to cancer treatments, as well as on advancing cancer treatment and prevention.

You can read the full programme here.

Germany’s Presidency will last until 31 December 2020.

For more information, you can visit the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union website.