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Flying-V changes the shape of sustainable flying

Aviation accounts for two percent of CO2 emissions. This may seem relatively low, but air travel emits 90 percent more CO2 than travelling the same distance by rail. Rail or road can be an alternative for short-haul flights over land, but what about intercontinental and long-distance destinations. So far, research to make flying more sustainable has concentrated on replacing fossil fuel with electric or hydrogen engines. However, a new design – the Flying-V − may change the shape of sustainable flying.

Building back better for a blue and green future

The Netherlands is the official partner of the world’s largest conference on water issues: World Water Week. The annual conference, organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), covers many different aspects of water management. Every year, it brings experts from all over the world together and seeks to find solutions to pressing issues of too much, too little and too polluted water. At this year's conference, Dutch water envoy Henk Ovink warns we cannot continue making the same mistakes.

E-waste compensation - a way forward in circularity

Business and consumers buy almost three billion mobile phones, tablets and laptops across the world, every year. However, the rapid development of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is also making it one of the fastest-growing waste streams. As demand for sustainable acquisition grows, the technology industry is under pressure to address their sustainable purchasing policies. E-waste compensation could set the standard in the electronics industry in the future. Dutch company Closing the Loop already offers a ‘circular service’ to businesses enabling them to buy their devices in waste-free manner. The service has now been adopted in a new certification programme called TCO Certified Edge which links the purchase of every new device directly to the recycling of an end-of-life device. This type of e-waste compensation is recognised as a way forward in circularity.

Global Pride 2020 launches 24-hour online podium to celebrate diversity

Achieving gender equality is one of the global goals defined by the United Nations, together with empowering all women and girls. Everyone is entitled to equal treatment, opportunities and the right to live in safety. But even today, the LGBTI community still needs to fight for their rights in some parts of the world. For 50 years the Pride movement has advanced LGBTI rights, but this year COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of Pride marches around the world. This spurred the launch of the first online Global Pride event.

Think, move and pay it Forwards

We believe... we need to work together to get past the current crisis and to become resilient for future crises. So let’s celebrate forward-thinking initiatives from all over the world and join hands to move them forwards. Discover Forwards > Help us @moveitfowards and follow us via LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

Reversing desertification through innovation

An estimated 2 million people live in areas susceptible to desertification. Desertification is largely a man-made problem caused by urbanisation, overfarming, deforestation and climate change. Reforestation is the most natural way to halt the process and replenish depleted soil. Trees also absorb CO2, thus slowing down climate change. Together with its partners, the Dutch Land Life Company is on a mission to reforest the world’s 2 billion hectares of degraded land.

Smart software speeds up COVID-19 triage

Speed is vital when triaging COVID-19, as quick detection saves lives. When the WHO declared the SARS COV-2 outbreak a pandemic in early March, Delft Imaging Systems realised their CAD4TB technology used to detect tuberculosis could easily be adapted to triage COVID-19. By the end of the month, they had adapted their artificial intelligence software to be able to detect COVID-19 abnormalities in the lungs.