In line with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, more and more companies in Slovakia are committing to achieving carbon neutrality. This goal has been set not only by large international corporations operating in our territory, but also by domestic companies across various industries.

Examples of companies

Heineken: Heineken has committed to achieving carbon neutrality globally by 2040. This commitment also includes its operations in Slovakia, where it is implementing measures to reduce emissions throughout the production process, including optimizing energy sources and increasing production efficiency.

PPA Control: PPA Controll is actively implementing future technologies with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality. The company invests in innovative solutions and supports projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including the use of renewable energy sources and the modernization of production processes.

Einpark Offices: In the construction industry, initiatives towards carbon neutrality are emerging. An example is the Einpark Offices building in Bratislava, which is the first carbon neutral building in Slovakia and Central Europe. This project demonstrates that even in the construction industry, it is possible to achieve significant emission reductions through innovative approaches and technologies, such as energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources and sustainable materials.

Certification companies

In addition to individual company initiatives, certification companies such as Bureau Veritas play an important role by providing carbon neutrality verification and certification, helping companies demonstrate their commitment to reducing emissions and promoting transparency in environmental claims.

Strategic approaches to achieving carbon neutrality

Achieving carbon neutrality requires a comprehensive approach that includes changes throughout the value chain – from raw material sourcing, through production, to distribution and consumption. Companies in Slovakia are aware of this challenge and are gradually implementing strategies to reduce their carbon footprint. These efforts not only contribute to environmental protection, but often also lead to increased efficiency and competitiveness in the market.

Government support and regulatory frameworks

The Slovak government also supports carbon neutrality efforts through various initiatives and regulatory frameworks. Renewable energy support programs, energy efficiency subsidies, and tax incentives for green investments are examples of measures that motivate companies to adopt sustainable practices.

Future outlook

Given the increasing pressure from regulators, investors and consumers, it is likely that the number of Slovak companies aiming to achieve carbon neutrality will increase in the future. This trend indicates a positive shift towards a more sustainable economy and society as a whole. Successful examples of current initiatives serve as inspiration for other companies that decide to follow the path of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The transition to carbon neutrality is a key step in the fight against climate change. Slovak companies that commit to this goal not only contribute to environmental protection, but also strengthen their competitiveness and reputation in the market. Together with the support of the government and certification companies, they create a solid foundation for a sustainable future. Spring 

Document is a report on the implementation of the EU's 2040 climate target and identifies the main building blocks and measures needed to achieve a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to 1990. The report highlights that Achieving the target by 2040 is essential to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and subsequently achieving negative emissions.

Key points of the report:

• Basic building blocks: The report identifies several key building blocks for achieving the goal by 2040:
  • Reducing energy consumption: Gross available energy is expected to decrease by approximately 30 % between 2021 and 2040. The largest reduction is expected in transport, followed by industry and the residential and tertiary sectors.
  • Availability of green electricity: Electrifying transport, buildings and industry requires vast amounts of green electricity. The document states that it is essential to increase storage capacity as systems are built on renewable energy.
  • Availability of sustainable biomass: Biomass and waste use is projected to increase by 30 % in IA S2 and S3 scenarios, representing approximately 20 % of gross available energy in 2040. However, the report highlights the uncertainty of biomass availability at this scale and the potential negative impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity.
  • Availability of green hydrogen: A rapid increase in hydrogen consumption is projected, reaching 55-95 Mtoe by 2040 in scenarios S1-S2-S3. However, green hydrogen production is still in its early stages.
  • Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and utilization (CCU): CCS plays a significant role in the IA scenarios, with annual carbon capture ranging from less than 100 MtCO2 in the S1 scenario to around 350 MtCO2 per year in the S3 scenario by 2040.
  • Carbon removal: Removing carbon from the atmosphere through natural and industrial methods is crucial, with up to 400 Mt CO2 expected. However, the report highlights the declining capacity of natural “sinks” and uncertainties surrounding industrial carbon removal methods.
  • Financing and investments: The report stresses the need to ensure sufficient financing for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
• Sectoral measures: The report also addresses specific measures in individual sectors:
  • transportation: Transport emissions must fall by 73 %, with domestic transport falling by 82 % by 2040This requires extensive electrification of road transport, a shift to more environmentally friendly modes of transport and a reduction in traffic volumes. The share of battery electric vehicles should increase to 57-58% of % in 2040.
  • Buildings: A combination of measures is needed to achieve emission reduction targets, including setting minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and renovation obligations for residential buildings, increasing the annual growth of renewable energy, and phasing out the installation of new fossil fuel boilers.
  • Industry: Electrification of industrial processes is key to achieving the goals, which requires large-scale infrastructure investments. In addition, the circular economy and material efficiency need to be improved.
  • Agriculture: Reducing emissions from agriculture requires reducing livestock numbers, changing eating habits, and tax measures on meat and dairy products. Technical measures have limited potential to reduce emissions from livestock farming.
  • Energetics: The report highlights the need to reduce gross emissions from the energy sector by around 100% by 2040. Key measures are expanding the use of renewable energy, using nuclear energy and maintaining the Emissions Trading System (ETS).
• The importance of demand measures: The report points out that demand-side measures (e.g. circular economy, more sustainable consumption, reduction of food waste) are essential to reduce the risk that supply-side measures will not be sufficient.

Finally, the report highlights that Achieving the EU's 2040 climate target requires large-scale and coordinated efforts across sectors, while it is the urgent need to implement existing and new measures a at the same time, it is necessary to take into account environmental, social and economic impactsThe report also points out that Many of the technologies needed to achieve the goal are still in the early stages of development and their widespread deployment requires significant investment and political support.. Spring

Glossary of Key Terms

• BECCS (Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage): Biomass CO2 capture and storage technology.
• BEV (Battery-electric vehicles): Battery electric vehicles.
• CBAM (Carbon Boarder Adjustment Mechanism): A carbon border adjustment mechanism aimed at preventing carbon leakage.
• CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage): Carbon dioxide capture and storage technology.
• CCU (Carbon Capture and Utilization): Capture and use of carbon dioxide, for example in fuel production.
• CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal): Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• CO2e (Carbon dioxide equivalents): Carbon dioxide equivalents, a unit used to compare different greenhouse gases.
• DACCS (Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage): Capturing CO2 directly from the air and storing it.
• ECL (European Climate Law): The European Climate Law, which sets the legal framework for EU climate policy.
• EED (Energy Efficiency Directive): The Energy Efficiency Directive, which sets targets for improving energy efficiency.
• EJ (Exajoules): Unit of energy.
• ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity): European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity.
• ENTSO-G (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas): European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas.
• EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive): The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which sets energy standards for buildings.
• EU ETS (European Emissions Trading System): European Emissions Trading System.
• GAE (Gross Available Energy): Gross available energy.
• GHG (Greenhouse gas): Greenhouse gases.
• HGV (Heavy goods vehicles): Heavy trucks.
• IA (Impact Assessment): Impact assessment.
• ICE (Internal combustion engine): Internal combustion engine.
• LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry): Land use, land use change and forestry sector.
• Mtoe (Million tonnes of oil equivalent): One million tons of oil equivalent.
• NECPs (National Energy and Climate Plans): National energy and climate plans, which set national climate targets.
• NZIA (Net Zero Industry Act): Zero Emissions Industry Act.
• RFNBOs (Renewable fuels of non-biological origin): Renewable fuels of non-biological origin, such as e-fuels.
• RED (Renewable Energy Directive): The Renewable Energy Directive sets targets for the share of renewable sources.
• RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility): A mechanism to support recovery and resilience.
• SAFs (Sustainable Aviation Fuels): Sustainable aviation fuels.
• STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform): Strategic technologies for the European platform.
• TEN-E (Trans-European Networks for Energy): Trans-European energy networks.
• TYNDPs (Ten-Year Network Development Plans): Ten-year network development plans.
• ZEVs (Zero-emission vehicles): Zero-emission vehicles.

Document focuses on how to reduce CO2 emissions from transport, especially in the context of short and long journeys. The European Union (EU) has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050. Transport is responsible for almost a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, and more than 70 % of these come from road transport.

The document proposes several solutions to reduce emissions from transport, including:

• Transition to electric vehicles: The document highlights the growing interest in electric cars in Europe and their lower environmental impact. The EU is proposing regulations that would require countries to install charging stations at regular intervals on major roads.
• Cycling support: The document promotes cycling as an ecological and healthy mode of transport, especially for short distances. Cycling also helps reduce air and noise pollution.
• Improving public transport: The document emphasizes the importance of accessible, reliable and environmentally friendly public transport in cities.
• Air travel restrictions: The document recognises that aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of emissions. The EU is working to reduce emissions from flights within Europe and is supporting the development of similar measures around the world.

The document also discusses options for reducing emissions from long journeys:

• Support for train travel: The document emphasizes that train travel is an environmentally friendly alternative to flying, especially if the trains are powered by green electricity.
• Reduction in train ticket prices: The document proposes subsidies for train tickets to make train travel more affordable.
• Building a European rail network: The document describes the EU's efforts to create a pan-European rail network that would make train travel easier and simpler.

In addition, the document highlights the importance of sustainable business travel and proposes measures to reduce emissions from business travel, such as:

• Replacing in-person meetings with virtual ones.
• Switching to more environmentally friendly modes of transport.
• Introduction of ecological fleets.
• Remote work support.

Finally, the document calls on people to join the effort to achieve climate neutrality in Europe.

NEUTRALPATH aims to support cities in their transition to climate neutrality by designing a collaborative roadmap for a more sustainable future for all. To this end, the project will:

• Design two PCEDs in beacon cities to show that they are valid solutions to achieving climate neutrality.
• Establish five CN-Labs in the lighthouse and other cities, which will act as innovation centers to coordinate and facilitate co-creation processes.
• Implement innovative management strategies, which will enable the transformation of cities towards climate neutrality.
• Define metrics to evaluate PCED , annual energy and CO balance ₂ .
• Support upscaling and replication through PCED.
• Support urban networks to build on existing knowledge, technologies and financing, and on the other hand to provide a tangible contribution to climate goals

(more…)

This document  discusses the importance of cooperation between cities in achieving climate neutrality. Cities are responsible for 75 % of global CO2 emissions, therefore their role in the fight against climate change is crucial. The article highlights that stand-alone actions are not enough and cities need to work together and share their experiences and strategies.

Cooperation allows cities to:

• Exchange knowledge and experience.
• Learn from both successes and failures.
• To solve challenges together and achieve common goals.
• Be inspired by examples of successful cities.
• Gain access to technologies and European funds.

The article provides examples of projects and networks that support cooperation between cities, for example: NetZeroCities, NEUTRALPATH and EurocitiesThese projects connect cities from different countries and help them implement solutions to reduce emissions and achieve climate neutrality.

The article emphasizes that Cooperation between cities brings many benefits, including accelerating the transition to climate neutrality, increasing innovation and strengthening the impact of their activities.

Even cities with different sizes, climates and political environments face common challenges., therefore their cooperation and exchange of experiences is always beneficial.

Document summarizes the main topics, ideas and facts from multiple sources focused on the decarbonization of transport in the EU, with an emphasis on intermodal mobility, especially in the context of rural areas and a shift to rail and bus transport.

Main findings:

• The importance of rural mobility: Rural areas play a key role in achieving transport decarbonisation goals, as around two-thirds of short-distance passenger car kilometres are on non-urban roads.
• Potential of intermodal mobility: Intermodal mobility, combining different modes of transport, such as rail, bus and cycling, has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.
• Challenges in the development of intermodality: Existing regulatory frameworks and cultural factors pose barriers to the development of intermodality, especially in rural areas. For example, public transport and public procurement laws often limit the participation of smaller operators and community transport services.
• The need for targeted policies: Targeted policies and financial instruments at EU level are needed to overcome these obstacles and promote intermodal mobility.

Main recommendations:

• Defining minimum standards: Introducing a directive that would require regions in Member States to develop clear minimum standards for access to mobility in rural areas, based on the size, population density, employment and service profile of the region.
• SRMP support: Supporting the development and implementation of Sustainable Regional Mobility Plans (SRMPs) in EU regions.
• Making bus transport more attractive: Supporting the development of more attractive and integrated infrastructure for bus terminals, for example through updated SUMP guidelines and the exchange of best practices.
• Targeted support for railway infrastructure: Identification and targeted support of investments in sections of railway infrastructure that represent obstacles to the development of rail transport.
• Financial incentives: Introducing financial incentives to support intermodality, such as subsidies for the use of intermodal infrastructure and investments in sustainable intermodal transport solutions.

The role of financing:

• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund (CF): These funds can support the development of SRMPs, minimum standards for mobility services in rural areas and the promotion of low-carbon modes of transport.
• Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): The CEF can finance investments in intermodal infrastructure, such as rail terminals and logistics centres.
• Social Climate Fund (SCF): The SCF can support measures targeting vulnerable households, vulnerable transport users and vulnerable micro-enterprises in the context of intermodal mobility.

Decarbonising transport in the EU requires a comprehensive approach that includes targeted policies, financial instruments and behavioural change. Intermodal mobility, especially in rural areas, has huge potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to achieving the EU's climate goals. Spring

Our vision of “progress for humanity” is based on our commitment to universal mobility while supporting a zero-emission society. From the electrification of our models, to the launch of the IONIQ model range and our more than 20 years of research into hydrogen technology, we have continuously advanced on the path to more sustainable value creation. We firmly believe that the automotive industry has a great responsibility and an opportunity to take proactive steps against climate change. We promise to continue on the path we have taken for humanity and future generations – a path of continuous improvement in four key areas. (More on hyundai.com)

For the final edition of this year’s Green Deal Funding Alert, we bring you exciting news about the EU’s Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. The mission, which aims to achieve 100 climate neutral cities by 2030, is now extending its support to all cities across Europe. Read on to learn more about the Cities Mission’s latest funding calls and training opportunities.

1. The EU Cities Missions Platform offers all EU cities opportunities for mutual learning and access to online resources!

We are happy to announce that the Cities Mission Platform is now extending its support to all cities across Europe and Horizon countries. This is a great opportunity for cities striving to achieve climate neutrality. (More on cor.europa.eu)

Document summarizes the main themes and key insights from the policy brief "Towards climate neutrality and a resource-efficient economy: Policy progress in rich democracies" by Christof Schiller and Thorsten Hellmann.

Main topics:

• Evaluating the effectiveness of policies aimed at transitioning to a resource-efficient and climate-neutral economy in 30 OECD and EU countries.
• Analysis of progress in three key areas:Implementation of climate policy frameworks
• Implementing strategies to build a decarbonized energy system by 2050
• Adopting circular economy approaches
• Identification of opportunities and barriers affecting the success of transformation policies.

Key findings:

• Climate action:
• Rich democracies that have implemented ambitious and consistent climate policy frameworks have often also developed effective policies for the transition to a decarbonized energy system or circular economy.
• However, even leaders such as Sweden, Finland, Spain and Denmark still face challenges in aligning policy objectives, institutions and policy measures or in developing safeguards to ensure the effective implementation of their ambitious climate policies.
• All 30 OECD and EU countries assessed are just beginning to prepare for the transition to a circular economy.
• "So far, none of the 30 countries surveyed have demonstrated full commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050."
• The average score for ambition and policy direction (6.5) is lower than the average score (6.7) for past policy outcomes, highlighting the urgent need to identify and address obstacles to progress.
• Decarbonized energy system by 2050:
• The energy sector is responsible for almost three quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Achieving climate neutrality by mid-century depends crucially on the successful decarbonization of national energy systems.
• The average score of 6.0 across all key indicators suggests that the 30 EU and OECD countries assessed still have a long way to go in the transition to a zero-emission energy system.
• Denmark, Latvia and Finland have made the most progress towards the goal of a net-zero energy system.
• Canada, the United States and Australia have made the least progress in decarbonizing their energy systems.
• Circular economy:
• The development of a circular economy strategy is still in its early stages in most countries.
• The limited available policy outcome indicators suggest that Italy, Germany and Spain are relatively well prepared to start the transition to a circular economy.
• With an average score of 6.1, industrialized countries face a long way to go in decoupling economic growth from resource consumption.

Conclusion and outlook:

• Assessing the extent to which rich democracies are moving towards climate-neutral and circular economies requires more than just examining past policy outcomes.
• Countries with more ambitious and cohesive climate strategies have often also developed effective policy approaches to transform their energy systems and, to a lesser extent, to develop a circular economy.
• The transition to a circular economy is largely in its early stages.
• No country is fully prepared to achieve a climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy in the foreseeable future. Even leaders face significant challenges.
• For transformational policies to succeed, it is essential to consider the broader political context.

Recommendations:

• Better alignment of policy objectives with existing regulations.
• More robust safeguards to ensure effective implementation of climate transition policies at all levels of governance.
• Considering the broader political context and strengthening the legitimacy of transformation policies.

This document provides an overview of the key themes and findings from the aforementioned policy brief. For a more detailed analysis and further information, please read the original document. Spring

A carbon offset credit is a certified unit that corresponds to one metric ton of CO2 or its equivalent of another greenhouse gas. These credits are created through projects that either reduce emissions or capture them. Examples include renewable energy projects such as solar and wind power, afforestation and conservation of existing forests, energy efficiency improvements, and landfill methane capture projects.

Organizations that cannot directly reduce their emissions to the required level can purchase these credits to offset their emissions. In this way, they support projects that contribute to the overall reduction of global emissions.

"No institution, no company will be carbon neutral without the use of carbon offsets. There is literally no way to reduce emissions to zero.” 

Carbon credit market mechanism

The market for carbon offset credits is divided into two main segments: the regulated and the voluntary market.

1. Regulated market: This market is defined by international and national regulations, such as the Emissions Trading System under the Kyoto Protocol or the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Organizations in these jurisdictions are required to meet emission limits and must purchase carbon credits if they exceed them.

2. Voluntary market: This market allows individuals and organizations to offset their emissions voluntarily, outside of legislative or regulatory frameworks. Many companies use this market as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

Certification and credibility

The credibility of carbon offset credits is essential. Therefore, there are several certification programs and standards that ensure that emission reductions are real, measurable and additional (ie, emission reductions would not have occurred without the project). Some of the most well-known certification standards include Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard and The Climate Action Reserve.

Criticism and challenges

Although carbon offset credits are a valuable tool for mitigating climate change, they also face some criticism and challenges. Critics say they allow polluters to "buy off" their carbon footprint without actually reducing emissions. Another concern is that not all emission reduction projects have the same impact, and some might even proceed without support from offset credits.

There is also the question of how effectively and transparently these projects are evaluated and monitored. However, without offset credits, many sectors would face a huge challenge in achieving net zero emissions. This is especially true for industries where the technologies required for full decarbonization are not yet available or economically viable.

Despite these challenges, carbon offset credits remain an important tool on the path to a carbon-neutral future. To achieve optimal efficiency, they require thorough evaluation and continuous improvement of standards and certification processes, as well as innovation in emission reduction technologies. Spring

Green transformation is currently being tackled by all large corporate entities on the market. How to meaningfully invest in decarbonization while maintaining competitiveness are questions that most major industrial companies across Europe are dealing with. Decarbonization, or reducing the carbon footprint, however, is not only solved by clients, but also by banks. In the case of the banking sector, the effort is even more complicated, since the carbon footprint of banks is created primarily indirectly, by loans provided to bank clients. (This article is PRestige, commercial content created in collaboration with the client and the team Forbes BRANDlab,)

It is generally expected that the achievement of net zero global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) with decreasing emissions of other greenhouse gases will stop global warming. CO emissions ₂ they will continue to drive warming until it is fully balanced by active anthropogenic CO removal ₂ . However, for practical reasons, many GHG accounting systems allow some "passive" absorption of CO to be included in the definition of net anthropogenic emissions ₂ , such as increased vegetation growth due to CO fertilization ₂ . By including passive CO absorption ₂ would nominally net zero emissions not stop global warming, undermining the Paris Agreement. Here we discuss measures to address this problem to ensure that the use of residual fossil fuels does not cause further global warming: land management categories should be disaggregated in emissions reports and targets to better separate the role of passive CO sinks ₂ ; if possible, the claimed removal should be in addition to passive income; and targets should recognize the need for Geological Net Zero, which means one ton of CO ₂ permanently renewed on the solid Earth for every tonne still generated from fossil resources. We also argue that a scientific understanding of net zero provides a basis for assigning responsibility for the protection of passive carbon sinks during and after the transition to geological net zero. (Myles R. Allen, David J. Frame, Kirsten Zickfeld , more at nature.com)

The global push for net zero emissions has gained unprecedented momentum in recent years, driven by the urgent need to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences. As nations, industries and organizations around the world commit to ambitious carbon reduction goals, chemistry plays a critical role in achieving these goals.

Net zero country

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, set the stage for global climate action to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. As of 2023, more than 70 countries, including major economies such as the US, China and the EU, have set net zero targets, with many committing to achieve net zero emissions by the middle of this century. (AJIT SHARMA, more at chemistryworld.com)

As the world moves towards sustainability, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming central to reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change. Nations and industries have committed to the transition to electric cars, signaling a giant step towards a greener future. While the benefits of electric vehicles are promising, this shift comes with challenges that need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of a carbon-neutral future.

Electric vehicles offer a range of environmental and economic benefits. Foremost among them is the potential to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional combustion engine vehicles are among the biggest contributors to air pollution, with transport accounting for nearly 30 percent of global CO2 emissions. By replacing fossil fuel powered cars with electric cars, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, especially when combined with renewable energy sources for charging. (More on  tribune.net.ph)

The Commission has today selected 85 innovative net-zero projects to receive €4.8 billion in grants from the Innovation Fund, which will help bring cutting-edge clean technologies to life across Europe. For the first time, as part of the call for proposals until 2023, projects of various scales (large, medium and small, in addition to pilot projects) and with a focus on the production of clean technologies are awarded. This is the largest amount since the launch of the Innovation Fund in 2020, which the total amount of support increased to EUR 12 billion and the number of projects increased by 70 % .

The selected projects are located in 18 countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and Norway. They cover a wide range of sectors from the following categories: energy intensive industries, renewable energy, energy storage, industrial carbon management, zero mobility (including maritime and aviation) and buildings. (More on ec.europa.eu)

Based on the directive (EU) 2023/2413, which was revised on November 20, 2023, the framework of renewable energy within the European Union was revised, while this updated regulation, (more…)

The research article presents a comprehensive model called CLEVER, which deals with the energy transformation of Europe with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The model points to the importance of the concept of sufficiency in reducing energy consumption and emphasizes that this strategy is key to achieving a sustainable transformation of the energy system in Europe. CLEVER proposes to reduce final energy consumption by 50 % by 2050 compared to 2019, with at least 40 % of this reduction attributed to measures to promote sufficiency. The article also emphasizes the need cooperation between countries at the level of energy exchange and transmission of hydrogen and electricity, in order to reduce dependence on energy imports from third countries and ensure greater energy security and resilience of the entire system. (More on nature.com)