-The project is included in the United Nations Multi-Stakeholders Energy Compact
-Sardinia is a globally exportable model for electrification and energy transition
Cagliari – WEBWIRE – Friday, January 28, 2022
The exit from fossil fuels for energy production in Sardinia, with the switch to a generation mix based exclusively on renewable sources, combined with the widespread electrification of end uses; a path that will allow Sardinia to take a leap towards complete decarbonization with a view to environmental sustainability, savings and energy efficiency. This is the aim of Green Electrification of Sardinia, the Project included in the United Nations Multi-Stakeholders Energy Compact and considered as a model for the spread of electrification and energy transition at global level.
UN Energy Compacts are voluntary commitments with specific targets to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy systems for all, and therefore meet climate change commitments in line with the Paris Agreement. The UN platform brings together the main commitments of states, companies, NGOs and other actors that will be monitored and receive technical support and access to partnerships through the UN Energy Compact Action Network.
The Green Electrification of Sardinia project was presented at an online event organized by Enel, Roma Tre University – Centre of Economic and Social Research Manlio Rossi-Doria, with the support of the Alleanza Sardegna Rinnovabile (which brings together WWF, Kyoto Club, Greenpeace and Legambiente). The event, introduced by the Mayor of Cagliari, Paolo Truzzu, and Enel Italia Director Nicola Lanzetta, was attended by Professor Nigel Tapper, member of the IPCC Commission and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2007 with the IPCC group, Valeria Termini, Professor of Political Economy at Roma Tre University and member of the UN experts; WWF Italias Head of Climate and Energy for the Alleanza Sardegna Rinnovabile, Mariagrazia Midulla; and Professor of Electrical Systems for Energy and Pro-Rector for Territory and Innovation at the University of Cagliari, Fabrizio Pilo. The event was also attended by representatives of the business world such as Marco Boglione, Founder and Chairman of the BasicNet Group and Libero Muntoni, General Manager, Delphina Hotels & Resorts.
Given the marginal penetration of methane and the local relevance of services such as trade, tourism, agriculture and public administration, which account for 60% of added value, Sardinia offers a unique context for electrification. Most electricity is produced using coal and residues from oil refining processes. In addition, Sardinia has the highest per capita consumption of electricity in the domestic sector in Italy, at around 1.38 MWh per year, but self-production still accounts for less than 1% of the total and is almost exclusively from fossil fuels.
The Green Electrification of Sardinia project envisages achieving a number of objectives by 2030, in particular overcoming the production of energy from fossil fuels by replacing it with renewable plants, mainly photovoltaic and wind power, and at the same time disseminating end-use electrification technologies (SDG 7, targets 7.1 and 7.2) such as electric mobility, space heating and cooling systems, energy efficiency and induction hobs. The islands demographic characteristics and low population density (around 68 inhabitants per km2) will also allow extensive use of distributed generation.
The electrification of consumption and the replacement of fossil fuels with renewables are two strategic levers of the current energy transition, commented Nicola Lanzetta, Director of Enel Italia. Thanks to its special characteristics, Sardinia can accelerate along this development path and achieve a more sustainable energy production and consumption model in advance, generating positive effects for the environment, economy, employment and territory and setting an example at global level. It is a result that we can achieve by building a strategic alliance between the public, private sector, academia, associations and citizens, and by sharing the value generated in the area.
The Mediterranean region is a climate change hot-spot and this project led by Enel is a unique opportunity for Sardinia to be an example to the world of how to reduce emissions to address climate change, comments Professor Nigel Tapper, lead author of the IPCC. The value of this project is to propose for the first time on a regional scale a series of technical solutions to reduce the contributions of everyone, whether they be companies or individual citizens, to atmospheric emissions, while at the same time improving quality of life and respect for the territory.
The green electrification of Sardinia project in the next 10 years has been included by experts of the High Level Dialogue on Energy of the United Nations (of which I am honored to be part of) among the multistakeholder energy compact, said Valeria Termini, Professor of Political Economy at the Roma Tre University. “We have chosen and proposed it as an example of local growth to promote access to clean energy (goal 7 of sustainable development). It is an opportunity for Sardinia and Italy to contribute to the global decarbonization goal with a concrete example, which uses natural sources of energy available locally, and to offer a reference model for the independent development of the most vulnerable countries where 759 million people still live dramatically without electricity.
It was with particular attention and interest that I took part in this important meeting, said the Mayor of Cagliari, Paolo Truzzu. The UN-awarded Green Electrification of Sardinia project deals with topics that are wholly current and close to our administration, such as energy transition, environmental sustainability and electric mobility in public transport. These days we are busy defining very important projects for the whole metropolitan area of Cagliari.
The measures and activities envisaged by the Green Electrification of Sardinia project will provide useful ideas for the energy transition of other areas, both in Italy and in other countries, and will contribute to the dissemination of concrete solutions that can also be applied in developing countries. The electrification process in Sardinia will be monitored for the United Nations by Roma Tre University – Rossi-Doria Centre.
Jan 14, 2022 | Business
The Government of India has launched a 75-week long campaign Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav; to celebrate the achievements of the country and its people. The University Grants Commission (UGC) as part of this campaign is conducting a series of activities beginning with the a sensitisation webinar on “Cyber security Empowerment of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)”an effort towards making cyber security more accessible, available, and adaptable for HEIs.
Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Rajnish Jain, Secretary, UGC welcomed and introduced all panelists. He set the context for the webinar, stressing on the need for cybersecurity awareness with the increased dependence on IT post pandemic. He emphasised on the fact that the pandemic has put Higher Education in the cyber space which has led HEIs to be subject to increased cybersecurity issues. He said that there is a need to understand how cyber security issues may be addressed and how cyber hygiene may be managed.
The keynote address was delivered by Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Rajesh Pant, Chief (retd.), National Cyber Security Coordinator, National Cyber Coordination Centre, PMO. He emphasized and reiterated the threat cybercrime poses to economy and national security. He focused on cybersecurity for HEIs that are base of personal information and intellectual property. He highlighted the structure of institutions that make them susceptible to cybercrimes and the measures to be taken to address these issues. He shared the ongoing and proposed government initiatives of cyber swacchta kendra and the malware posh and national blockchain project given to IIT Kanpur. He concluded with two mantras for survival in the new normal: personal hygiene and cyber hygiene.
Shri Abhishek Singh, CEO, My Gov and President & CEO NeGD, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology delivering his address emphasised on the importance of cyber security due to the increased dependency and use of the cyber space. He focused on the issues of cybersecurity; cyberattacks, frauds and use of cyber warfare, further emphasising the steps and measures to be taken by HEIs to stay safe. He touched upon the various aspects of cybercrimes and measures to be taken and the processes for reporting cybersecurity issues. He spoke of Cyber Surakshit Bharat of Government of India aimed at educating people on cybersecurity.
Shri Deepak Virmani, Deputy Secretary, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) , Cyber & Information Security, Division, Ministry of Home Affairs spoke about the initiatives of Ministry of Home Affairs’ CIS and its efforts in controlling Cybercrimes. He shed light on the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre schemes (I4C) of MHA that aims to prevent cybercrimes. He discussed in detail the 7 verticals of the scheme that also involve the training of police personnel and government functionaries. He further shared about the various portals and helpline numbers that can be availed by the citizens and the initiative Cyber Jaagrookta Diwas, celebrated every month since October 2021. Further delivering his address, he hailed UGC for its initiatives for promoting and sensitizing HEIs regarding Cyber security through the proposed handbook on cyber hygiene and cybersafe curriculum.
Dr. Charru Malhotra , Coordinator, Centre of e-Governance, Indian Institute of Planning and Administration, New Delhi brought out the findings on Cybersecurity through analysis of a pre webinar questionnaire which had been shared with HEIs. She highlighted the current status amongst HEIs about cyber security and their preparedness.
Prof. Naveen Chowdhary, National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar through his address shared the cybersecurity threat landscape highlighting cases of compromises on cybersecurity in Educational Institutions, research facilities. He provided a detailed outlook and a framework for cybersecurity.
Dr. Atul Kumar Pandey, Chairperson , Rajiv Gandhi National Cyber Law Centre, NLIU, Bhopal spoke about the threat landscape in HEIs and the importance of cybersecurity in HEIs. In his address he shed light on various components like content protection and privacy and capacity building for addressing cybersecurity.
The address by the panelists was followed by a Question and Answer session from the faculty members from HEIs.
The webinar discussed pertinent issues of cyber security with prioritizing its impact on HEIs and the necessary. The Webinar was the first step towards Cyber security empowerment of HEIs and provided an opportunity for sensitization and awareness on cyber security.
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Oct 30, 2021 | Business
Methodist University has received a gift of more than $14 million, the largest gift in school history. More than $12 million of the gift will go directly to student scholarships.
The record-setting gift – with all but $1.5 million being endowed – was given through the estate of Robert J. Chaffin of Fayetteville, who died in late May of this year at the age of 93. Chaffin’s professional career was with Commercial Credit Corporation in Lumberton and Fayetteville, Cross Creek Savings and Loan in Fayetteville, and East Coast Federal Savings and Loan in Fayetteville.
The gift includes $1.5 million designated for the renowned Nursing Program at MU and its state-of-the-art facility, which will be named in honor of Chaffin.
“This remarkably generous gift demonstrates the extent to which the path we are taking as a faith-based university, rooted in the liberal arts but with strong professional programs, is both appreciated and valued,” said MU President Stanley T. Wearden. “Our willingness to adapt to workforce development and professional needs, while also holding strong to our mission and values, has put Methodist University in a position to succeed for decades.
“This gift also gives MU an even greater opportunity to offer scholarships that open doors for students who seek MU’s unique combination of a tight-knit, inclusive community with a top-tier education.”
Humble service to causes in which he believed was typical of Chaffin, and Wearden spoke to that exceptional humility in the way he established the gift for MU.
“Mr. Chaffin clearly was not looking for attention to his generosity during his lifetime. Quietly, very much behind the scenes, he was working on building a highly successful financial portfolio for the purpose of one day making a transformative gift to the University,” said Wearden. “While we knew he had established a bequest for the University, Mr. Chaffin never shared the full extent with us nor asked for any thanks in return.”
In addition to his successful career, Chaffin served on the Administrative Board and the Board of Trustees for Camp Ground United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, and was a long-time member of the church. He also served in the U.S. military and graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
“The Board of Trustees at Methodist University has long wanted to grow our endowment and Mr. Chaffin’s gift is foundational as we launch a campaign for that purpose and continue to make MU affordable to all who desire our commitment to a mission-based education that prepares students to be both successful professionals and capable moral actors in the world,” said Mac Healy, chair of the Methodist University Board of Trustees. “This gift and others through the campaign will support all of our students, including greater scholarship support and improved campus facilities.”
With more than 80 areas of study across undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs – offered on campus and online – MU degrees include Forensic Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Professional Golf Management, Sciences, Liberal Arts and several programs in the Health Sciences.
“The Nursing Program at MU is continually expanding along with the need for highly trained nursing professionals,” said Shannon Matthews, director of the MU Nursing Program. “For more than a decade we’ve been offering students a hand’s-on learning environment – including a nursing building with its own 10,000-square-foot simulation hospital – and we couldn’t be more grateful for this gift to help us make this unique, state-of-the-art program even more affordable through additional scholarships for our outstanding students.”
With expanding programs for military students and new partnerships with community colleges in the state – plus a growing number of 100-percent online degree programs – MU’s footprint is expanding and additional scholarship funds through this gift allow for increased opportunity.
“I’m one of 97 percent of the MU students who receive financial aid from the University already, and to see our school have the chance to reach out and help future Monarchs even more is really encouraging,” said MU Student Government President Daniel Magen ‘22. “That a private institution with one of the best faculty-to-student ratios in the state can be as affordable as the big state schools shows me we’re investing in our students, both in our present and in our futures. MU students are so grateful to all who make Methodist University such an amazing value for us.”
The $14-million gift comes on the heels of other recent donations and grants to Methodist University resulting in a ribbon-cutting this fall for the Nancy and Murray Duggins Soccer Stadium, completion of work on the Price Softball Fieldhouse, installation of lights at Monarch Stadium, major renovations to the Green & Gold Dining Hall in the Berns Student Center, construction of the Matthews Ministry Center, construction of the Union-Zukowski Lobby & Gallery, a critical stream restoration, numerous golf course upgrades, a new endowment and naming of the Dr. Darl H. Champion Center for Excellence in Justice Administration, and in 2022, the anticipated completion of the Linda and Ralph Huff Concert Hall.
About Methodist University
Methodist University is an independent, four-year institution of higher education with approximately 2,000 students from across the U.S. and more than 40 countries. MU offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs (including doctoral-level options) on campus and online. MU features more than 150 student clubs and organizations, plus 20 NCAA intercollegiate sports.
To learn more about Methodist University, please visit methodist.edu.
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