Daily Digest for

India allocated 862,000 tpa of green hydrogen production capacity across 19 firms and 3,000 MW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity to 15 firms under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, targeting ~10% of global demand by 2030.

UNEP and ICAO have launched the FIRE (Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment) project to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foams at major airports in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

• Main action: UNEP and ICAO launched the FIRE project to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foams at major airports in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, implemented by UNEP, executed by ICAO, and funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
• Funding and scope: The project has an $82.5 million budget (including a $10 million GEF grant and $72.5 million co-financing), and will support the transition to fluorine-free foams, including the safe removal of 4,500 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated material from fire trucks and safe disposal of 130 tonnes of PFAS-based foam concentrate.

The UK Government has announced planning and environmental reforms under the Plan for Change to accelerate infrastructure delivery and homebuilding while safeguarding the environment.

• Main announcement: The government commits £500 million to environmental planning reforms (including the Nature Restoration Fund and Marine Recovery Fund) and aims to deliver 1.5 million homes this Parliament and fast-track 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects by the end of this Parliament; the Lower Thames Crossing will pilot a single Lead Environmental Regulator (Natural England) with the Defra Group Infrastructure Board set to accelerate at least 50 major infrastructure projects including Hinkley Point C, East West Rail and Heathrow expansion.
• Background and implementation details: Measures implement fast-track recommendations from the Corry Review (29 recommendations, 9 already fast-tracked); funding will boost capacity in Natural England and the Environment Agency, use spatial planning and digital technologies, and pilot single-point contacts, streamlined data sharing and escalation routes; the Lower Thames Crossing is described as approximately 14.5 miles (23km) with two tunnels connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex (A2/M2 to M25).

The Google blog post announces a three-party power purchase agreement (PPA) enabling the first U.S. utility purchase of electricity from an advanced GEN IV reactor: Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge.

• Agreement specifics: Google will procure clean energy attributes via Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) from Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 Plant, enabling 50 megawatts (MW) of nuclear energy on TVA’s grid to help power Google data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee and Jackson County, Alabama; the Hermes 2 plant is scheduled to begin operations in 2030.
• Program context and scale-up: Google previously agreed with Kairos Power to unlock up to 500 MW through multiple small modular reactor deployments; the project includes workforce programs with the University of Tennessee and other local universities to grow local talent for plant operators and engineers.

Ghana officially launched the FLEGT licence, issuing Africa’s first FLEGT timber licence.

• Launch details: Ghana’s FLEGT licence system went live on 15 August 2025 and the formal launching ceremony was held on 18 August 2025; the country is the first in Africa and second globally after Indonesia to issue a FLEGT licence, and Parliament ratified 131 Timber Utilisation Contracts (TUCs) the month prior as the final regulatory step.
• Implementation and compliance: The rollout follows ~16 years of reform, collaboration and investment, includes training of more than 350 industry operators, and ensures FLEGT-licensed products automatically comply with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and support compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation.