Daily Digest for

Brazil-based InPlanet has introduced the first certified enhanced rock weathering (ERW) carbon credits, promoting regenerative agriculture. The initiative aims to enhance soil health and increase agricultural yields while capturing carbon. By providing financial incentives and evidence-based results, InPlanet encourages farmers to adopt regenerative practices, showing a potential 6% profit increase for participating farms.

US-based CarbonCapture Inc. announced a $10 million contract with the U.S. Department of Energy for their TA-2 Northwest Louisiana DAC Hub. This project emphasizes carbon capture technology and integrates sustainable aviation fuel development, leveraging Louisiana’s existing CCS infrastructure. The initiative aims to create a 200,000-ton capture facility and advance the state’s capacity for carbon innovation and job creation.

Brazilian Vale announced an investment of R$ 70 billion in the expansion of iron and copper mining in Carajás, to be realized from 2025 to 2030. The program, named “Novo Carajás”, aims to maintain iron ore volumes and expand copper production, which are essential for green steel and the energy transition. The project expects iron ore production to reach 200 million tons per year by 2030 and copper production to grow by 32% to about 350,000 tons. The CEO stated that this initiative positions Brazil as a leader in supplying critical minerals necessary for climate change mitigation.

The S&P 500 demonstrated a significant decarbonization, showing a 73.9% decrease in its weighted average carbon intensity over 20 years. This change highlights the growing adoption of renewable energy sources while reducing fossil fuel consumption. Renewable energy’s role in S&P 500’s energy mix has more than doubled over the past decade, indicating a shift towards cleaner energy and innovative market responses to economic conditions.

Sweden’s geological survey (SGU) received funding from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to implement a new pilot project aimed at testing more sustainable methods for managing highly contaminated soil. The project plans to address soil contaminated with dioxins and the pesticide DDT, commonly found at former industrial sites. By concentrating pollutants at regional facilities, the project aims to reduce climate impacts and cut down transport costs over the next five years, from 2025 to 2029.

South Africa’s Western Cape Government and CapeNature launched two strategies to enhance environmental resilience. The 2023 Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) identifies key areas for conservation and sustainable land use. The Western Cape Protected Areas Expansion Strategy (WCPAES) aims to expand protected areas to secure critical ecological infrastructure and strengthen climate resilience. These strategies align with the Western Cape Biodiversity Act and emphasize the connection between biodiversity and local economies.

Netherlands-based GasTerra announced the closure of the Groningen gas field on April 19, 2024, marking the end of over 60 years of natural gas supply from Europe’s largest gas field. Despite its shrinking portfolio, the company sold 25.6 billion m³ of natural gas in 2024, down from 30.9 billion m³ in 2023, and its revenue decreased from 20.3 billion euros in 2023 to 12.8 billion euros in 2024. GasTerra continues to invest in energy transition projects, including the opening of the REMO lab for renewable molecules research and studies on the role of synthetic natural gas (e-methane).

Netherlands-based SeaO₂ has joined CO₂ Value Europe to enhance its efforts in carbon capture using its Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology. The company demonstrated its technology using a prototype that extracts CO₂ from seawater, ultimately converting it into sustainable concrete with Paebbl. Expecting to scale up operations, SeaO₂ plans to capture 250 tons of CO₂ annually by 2025 and explore applications for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) with Transavia Ventures.

The Net-Zero Export Credit Agencies Alliance (NZECA), launched at COP28, aims to create a framework for export credit agencies to achieve net-zero commitments. The NZECA Target-Setting Protocol provides a science-based approach to align trade finance with climate commitments, accelerating the decarbonisation of international trade. Experts from ECAs and UNEP FI will discuss the Protocol’s impact on sustainable trade finance during the webinar, allowing stakeholders to engage directly with NZECA members.

A new report published by BEUC explores the lived experiences of heat pump users across Europe, highlighting increased thermal comfort and the cooling benefits during warmer months. It reveals that while users are generally satisfied, more efforts are needed for cost competitiveness compared to gas boilers. The report emphasizes the importance of post-installation service, as many users faced teething issues. Policymakers can learn valuable lessons from consumers’ experiences with heat pumps.