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A cornerstone of our planet's vitality: An intricate tapestry woven from a diverse array of life forms, along with their ecosystems.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, biodiversity provides a bedrock of crucial services, from pollination and pest control to the intricate cycling of nutrients, underpinning the stability of ecosystems and the sustenance of life on Earth. Regrettably, this intricate balance is unravelling at an unprecedented pace, fuelled by a complex interplay of human-driven factors.
Changes in land and sea use, resource overuse, pollution, the spread of invasive species, and the threat of climate change are driving biodiversity loss and the rapid degradation of ecosystems. Without a comprehensive response, our unsustainable exploitation of nature may threaten the foundations of our economies, health, and overall well-being.
Population of vertebrate species have declined by 60% since 1970.
85% of wetlands have been lost.
33% of the world’s topsoil has been degraded.
Population of freshwater species have declined by 83% since 1970.
50% of the world’s coral reef system has been destroyed.
32% of the world’s forest area has been destroyed.
You can’t protect what you can’t measure: the emergence of new technologies is revolutionizing our ability to monitor and analyse biodiversity and its intricate interdependencies.
These monitoring technologies encompass eDNA, satellite imagery, bioacoustics, and others, enabling the mapping of biodiversity on a significantly larger scale than previously feasible. Furthermore, the emergence of dedicated blockchains for storing biodiversity data ensures transparent storage practices while creating novel market opportunities for local communities, enabling revenue generation through data collection.
Artificial Intelligence harnesses these datasets, offering fresh insights into the dynamics within the biodiversity realm. It aids in more effectively assessing the current state or evolution of ecosystems. Fondation Valery actively promotes the development and deployment of these innovative technologies.
A Key Player In Combatting Climate Change And Securing Our Energy Future
Renewable energies are sustainable sources of power derived from nature, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and ocean energy. They're eco-friendly, replenishable, and play a crucial role in addressing climate change, reducing pollution, and ensuring a more secure energy future.
Most energy consumed in Switzerland is in the form of petroleum and motor fuels (43%), followed by electricity (26%) and gas (15%). Switzerland heavily relies on energy imports accounting for 70% of its domestic energy consumption. Domestically, electricity is mainly produced using hydropower (62%), nuclear power (29%), and renewables-driven and conventional thermal power plants (9%).
Sources:
OFEN
Average Swiss energy consumption over the past 5 years.
29% of Switzerland consumption comes from renewable energy. 90% of these are produced by hydroelectric or nuclear power while solar surged to around 6%.
per capita Swiss electricity consumption
70% of Switzerland’s energy consumption comes from imports.
Switzerland's Energy Strategy 2050 supports the expansion of renewable energies, currently at 29% of total consumption, set to rise through campaigns, incentives, and research.
Achieving Climate Neutrality hinges on three key factors: maximizing renewable energy production, minimizing energy consumption, and enhancing infrastructure efficiency.
Fondation Valery addresses these aspects through various projects. It supports the development of promising facilities like Agro-PV and advocates for servitisation as an alternative business model to overcome the financial challenges associated with high initial investments.
By embracing the Servitisation model (also known as ‘as-a-Service’ or XaaS), clean and energy-efficient solutions are deployed rapidly. Rather than selling technologies outright, they are offered as services, with customers paying based on usage, consumption, or outcomes. This approach not only delivers economic advantages but also reduces emissions and energy consumption. By making clean and efficient technologies accessible through services, users are more inclined to adopt them. Additionally, this model creates new market opportunities for solution providers, fostering innovation and sustainability.
An Economic System That Aims To Minimize Waste, Maximize Resource Efficiency, And Promote Sustainability
In contrast to the traditional linear economy, where products are manufactured, used, and then discarded as waste, the circular economy aims to create a closed-loop system where products, materials, and resources are reused, repaired, remanufactured, and recycled to extend their lifespan and minimize environmental impact.
Switzerland uses only 6.9% of renewed materials for production purposes. Despite low local extraction, Switzerland meets its material needs through foreign extraction, contributing to waste and emissions elsewhere accounting for 71% of its carbon footprint. Material consumption is critical as it drives 70% of greenhouse gas emissions and over 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress globally.
If everyone on Earth were to live like the average Swiss resident, we would require the resources of almost 2.75 planets earth.
93% of material inputs to the Swiss economy— used to satisfy residents’ needs and wants—come from virgin sources.
Switzerland consumes 19 tonnes per capita - higher than the European average, at 17.8 tonnes per capita yearly.
One Man’s Thrash Is Another Man’s Treasure: The Art Of Transforming Waste Into Resource.
In recent decades, our economies have been constructed upon the erroneous assumption of inexhaustible resources. This fallacy led to the development of inefficient value chains, where production residues, deemed worthless, were discarded as waste. The growing scarcity of resources necessitates a fundamental reassessment of our value chains, encouraging the profitable transformation of by-products into reusable resources.
The emergence of new technologies facilitates a more economically viable transformation, thereby generating fresh opportunities to derive value from waste. Fondation Valery actively backs projects that enhance efficiency within these value chains, fostering sustainable practices and resource optimization.
A Wide Variety Of Complex Issues That Affect The Lives Of Millions Of People Across The Globe
In an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, the landscape of public health is marked by complex and far-reaching challenges that transcend borders and impact the lives of people across the globe. These challenges encompass a diverse array of issues, ranging from infectious diseases and inadequate healthcare access to the rise of non-communicable diseases and the consequences of environmental degradation.
yearly cancer related death worldwide.
number of people with diabetes around the world (2021)
number of pollution related deaths worldwide per year (2019).
Technology as a beacon of hope for a healthier future
Amidst this backdrop, technology emerges as a potent tool in addressing these challenges.
The rapid advancements in digital health, telemedicine, data analytics, and artificial intelligence have reshaped how we diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. Technology not only enhances our ability to respond to health crises but also improves healthcare delivery in underserved regions, facilitates real-time monitoring of epidemics, and empowers individuals to take charge of their health.
As we delve into an exploration of global health challenges, the role of technology stands as a beacon of hope, offering novel avenues to navigate the complex web of issues and usher in a healthier future for all.
