Daily Digest for

Australia’s Coalition released a nuclear power policy costing, claiming a $263 billion saving compared to Labor’s renewables-only plan. The Coalition’s Progressive Change scenario involves a slower transition with nuclear power, leading to higher emissions than Labor’s Step Change scenario. Frontier Economics’ report suggests nuclear is cheaper due to delayed coal replacement and longer plant lifespans, but CSIRO and Lazard studies show renewables are more cost-effective.

Ecuador, with support from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Inter-American Development Bank, The Nature Conservancy, and Bank of America, announced a debt conversion with $1 billion in political risk insurance. This conversion refinanced $1.53 billion of Ecuador’s bonds, generating $800 million in savings and $460 million for the Amazon Biocorridor Program to conserve the Ecuadorian Amazon.

US-based Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) approved the largest transmission investment in U.S. history, with a package serving MISO North states. The plan will deliver up to $101 billion in benefits and allow 100 GW of new clean energy to connect to the grid. The investment includes three portfolios, with Tranche 2.1 expanding the grid for increased demand and supporting clean energy shifts.

New Zealand has confirmed a 50% reduction in the annual charge for forest owners in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), reducing it from $30.25 to $14.90 per hectare per year. This decision aims to rebuild confidence in the forestry sector and support emissions targets, affecting over 4,300 forestry participants.

MIT researchers developed a model to assess the climate impact of hydrogen leakage, finding it less impactful than previous studies but still significant. Their 66-equation model shows that leaked hydrogen affects atmospheric methane levels, emphasizing the need for leak prevention in hydrogen infrastructure. The study suggests hydrogen’s climate impact is about a third of natural gas, advocating for minimal leakage to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The UK government announced a devolution plan to empower local regions with more control over economic growth and sustainability initiatives. New clean energy jobs are being created in the East Midlands, and North Yorkshire is on a path to become England’s first carbon negative region. Funding for retrofit projects will be included in integrated settlements by the end of the Parliament.

UK-based United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has conducted final scientific experiments at the Joint European Torus (JET), leading to significant advancements in fusion energy research. The experiments focused on deuterium-tritium fuel, achieving a world record by producing 69 megajoules of energy over five seconds. The findings have resulted in 96 research papers and have informed the design of future fusion machines.

The UK government launched a consultation on implementing the UN’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) to reduce the climate impacts of flying. The scheme, overseen by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), requires airlines to offset CO2 emissions on international routes through initiatives like renewable energy and reforestation. The UK is working to align CORSIA with its emissions trading scheme to avoid double regulation and price increases for passengers.

The EU-funded B-WaterSmart project has concluded after four years, focusing on innovative solutions for water scarcity and pollution in Europe’s coastal regions. The project involved six Living Lab communities in Spain, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, and Italy, developing water-smart solutions through collaboration with local municipalities, water utilities, businesses, and academic experts. Four policy briefs were produced, addressing nutrient recovery, circular water infrastructure, energy recovery, and the EU Water Reuse Regulation.

Central Europe has implemented the X4ITS project to enhance cross-border traffic using Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The project, funded with over €32 million from the CEF Transport programme, involves collaboration among public authorities, cities, and transport operators across Eastern and Central Europe. It aims to develop a connected ITS road network along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) corridors, improving traffic management and real-time information services.

Kenya-based Data Science Africa (DSA) has supported the development of the International Computation and AI Network (ICAIN) with two pilot projects aimed at improving local weather forecasting and enabling African farmers to detect plant diseases early using smartphones. These projects address the challenges of rainfed agriculture and cassava disease, which can affect up to 70% of production in bad years.

New Zealand has introduced legislation to facilitate the construction of offshore wind farms, as part of its Q4 Action Plan. The government passed the Fast Track Approvals Bill to expedite regional and national projects and introduced amendments to the Resource Management Act to reduce regulatory burdens in infrastructure, energy, housing, and farming sectors. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the government’s commitment to economic growth through improved infrastructure.