VERDE Research Center for Innovation and Sustainable Development

21/08/2026

🎉 We have some amazing news to share: eCOOP 2 has been approved!

The project aims to turn energy awareness into practical vocational skills empowering learners and professionals to contribute to a more sustainable, energy-conscious future.

⚡Discover what’s next for eCOOP 2:
https://verde-center.com/news/ecoop2-approved

eCOOP 2 approved: turning energy awareness into vocational skill - news from VERDE Research Center.

14/08/2026

What is the Blue Economy? If you don't know you have to face the consequences! Three friends discuss on blue economy and some of the opportunities that it offers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Js052kYjgc

🎬 This video is part of the NextGen Blue youth video series, exploring how communities understand and experience the sustainable Blue Economy.

NextGen Blue is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, empowering youth and youth workers for sustainable Blue Economy careers and marine conservation.

🔗 Learn more: https://nextgenblue.mind-spin.com

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

What is the Blue Economy? If you don't know you have to face the co...

14/08/2026

Pick a number from 1 to 10 and now name that many Blue Economy jobs! 💪 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdxIusdKaCs

Sühandan challenges Batuhan to name five career opportunities in the Blue Economy and blue energy... and he comes up with even more: environmental engineer, marine biologist, youth worker, ecotourism, marine guiding and maritime technologies. How many could YOU name? Tell us in the comments! 👇

🎬 This video is part of the NextGen Blue youth video series, created by young people to showcase the wide range of career paths the sustainable Blue Economy offers.

NextGen Blue is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, empowering youth and youth workers for sustainable Blue Economy careers and marine conservation.

🔗 Learn more: https://nextgenblue.mind-spin.com

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Pick a number from 1 to 10 and now name that many Blue Economy jobs...

05/08/2026

Can energy really be made from ocean waves and salt? Is blue energy just a future idea or already here today? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5_ZR9YNeOw

In this True or False challenge, Ausrine quizzes Batuhan on five statements about blue energy: wave power, offshore wind, salinity-gradient energy and how the ocean can help fight climate change. Learn, guess, and challenge what you think you know!

🎬 This video is part of the NextGen Blue youth video series, created by young people to raise awareness of the sustainable Blue Economy and the career opportunities it offers.

NextGen Blue is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, empowering youth and youth workers for sustainable Blue Economy careers and marine conservation.

🔗 Learn more: https://nextgenblue.mind-spin.com

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Can energy really be made from ocean waves and salt? Is blue energy...

29/07/2026

Should polluters pay for the environmental damage caused by their emissions?

Carbon pricing now covers around 30% of global CO₂ emissions—but 71% still have no carbon price at all. Even where pricing systems exist, most charge less than $10 per tonne, far below many estimates of the real social and environmental cost of carbon.

Putting a meaningful price on pollution can encourage cleaner innovation and make sustainable alternatives more competitive.

https://ourworldindata.org/how-much-are-people-across-the-world-paying-for-their-carbon-emissions

23/07/2026

The food on our tables often travels thousands of kilometres before reaching us.

A new interactive tool reveals how food products move between countries—from maize and soybeans to coffee, bananas and palm oil. For example, Brazil and the United States are among the largest maize exporters, while China is the largest importer.

Understanding these connections helps us identify the trade dependencies that can influence food security, prices and resilience during global crises.

https://ourworldindata.org/how-does-food-get-traded-around-the-world

Our interactive tool helps you see where food is exported from and where it goes.

21/07/2026

Artificial intelligence is growing rapidly but how much electricity does it actually use?

Data centres currently consume around 1.5% of global electricity, with AI responsible for approximately one-third of this demand. The greatest challenge may not be global consumption, but the concentration of data centres in specific regions, where they can place pressure on local electricity grids.

The environmental impact will ultimately depend on whether this growing demand is powered by fossil fuels or clean energy.

https://ourworldindata.org/how-much-energy-do-data-centers-and-artificial-intelligence-use

15/07/2026

The ActivAge project may have ended, but our passion for outdoor sports and physical activity is here to stay!

11/07/2026

Our team recently took to the mountains of Grevena for an incredible hiking activity with a community of 35 participants.
Beyond the physical challenge and the stunning landscapes, the core mission of this trek was to promote mountain conservation and foster a deep respect for our natural environment.

We extend our sincere thanks to Christos Rentas, our mountain guide, whose expertise, leadership, and dedication ensured a safe and educational journey for everyone involved.