South Africa's Draft Transformation Fund to Support Black-Owned Enterprises

The South African government has published the Draft Transformation Fund concept document, inviting public commentary from March 20, 2025, to May 7, 2025. The fund aims to aggregate R100 billion to enhance the economic participation and sustainability of black-owned enterprises, including small and medium enterprises and cooperatives. The initiative seeks to mobilize financial resources in line with the B-BBEE Act, promoting transformation and addressing inequality as outlined in the National Development Plan Vision 2030.

Cassava to upgrade its data centres with NVIDIA supercomputers to drive Africa’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) future

Cassava Technologies announced plans to build Africa's first AI factory, a highly secure data centre powered by NVIDIA AI computing technology. This facility will provide local businesses, governments, and researchers with the AI computing capacity necessary to develop smarter AI products and streamline operations. The deployment in South Africa is expected by June 2025, with future expansions planned in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. These AI-enabled data centres will also be designed for energy efficiency, utilizing less electricity for AI workloads.

LIBRTI Program Overview by Kyoto Fusioneering

Kyoto Fusioneering announced that they will work on the LIBRTI program under the UKAEA, focusing on tritium breeding technologies. They received contracts for three projects: TRI-PRISM, TRI-BREED, and a hydrogen isotope data provision project. The TRI-PRISM involves collaboration with Birmingham University, ENEA, and CNL while focusing on developing sensors for real-time detection of tritium in LiPb. The TRI-BREED project is led by Lancaster University to create a mock-up of the SCYLLA blanket and conduct neutron irradiation tests. The hydrogen isotope project will support computer simulations led by American research institutions.

Somalia joins Afreximbank to Boost Trade and Economic Growth

Somalia has formally acceded to the Establishment Agreement of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on March 24, 2025, becoming the 53rd member state of the institution. This accession is expected to support sustainable economic transformation and enhance the country’s trade infrastructure, aligning Somalia’s objectives with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The agreement was signed by Hon. Hirsi Jama Gani, who pledged to expedite the ratification process, while Afreximbank's President, Prof. Benedict Oramah, expressed the commitment to support Somalia’s developmental needs as it accesses financing and technical support through this partnership.

Philippines secures financing for climate change initiatives with Japan

The Philippines, represented by Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto, secured financing from Japan for various infrastructure projects and program budget support aimed at health and climate change initiatives during a high-level meeting in Manila on March 24, 2025. This includes JPY 35.0 billion for the Climate Change Action Program to implement climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, among other measures. The financing will also support flood management projects and the health sector, ensuring equitable access to services that address climate impacts.

Green Carbon initiates carbon credit support in Ehime, Japan

Green Carbon Corporation, in collaboration with Iyo Bank and Ehime Prefecture, announced the launch of carbon credit support for Aou Farm in Ehime, Japan. This agreement marks the first project under their pact from December 2024 to promote carbon credit utilization in agriculture. The initiative focuses on extending drying periods in rice cultivation to generate J-Credits, which offer new revenue streams for farmers. This cooperative effort demonstrates the state's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 and aims to leverage around 44,300 hectares of agricultural land for carbon credit creation.

Taiwan implements AI technology for coastal waste management

The Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan has utilized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) combined with artificial intelligence image recognition technology to inspect 15 coastal locations, covering a total area of 13.183 square kilometers. They successfully identified and reported various types of waste, leading to the cleanup of over 582 metric tons. This innovative approach has significantly increased the accuracy of waste identification and reduced response time from a week to just one day for inspections. The program has been in operation since 2024, continuously improving the technology to better classify waste types and enhance coastal cleanliness.

Upcycling Waste A4 Paper into Carbon-based Catalyst for Water Decontamination

Research has shown a methodology for converting waste A4 paper into a calcium carbonate/biochar nanocomposite (CCBN) through hydrothermal treatment and calcination. The end product, CCBN-400, is characterized as a high-efficiency nanocatalyst, which has shown effectiveness in activating PMS for treating antibiotics wastewater. The tests indicated a significant reduction in the bio-toxicity of tetracycline to wheat seeds after treatment with the CCBN-400/PMS system, emphasizing its potential in water decontamination.

Thailand's Stock Exchange (SET) has received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its Net Zero 2050 target. SET is the fourth stock exchange globally to have its short and long-term targets certified, following Bursa Malaysia, Nasdaq, and Deutsche BÖrse Group. The short-term target is a 42% reduction by 2030, and the long-term target is a 90% reduction by 2050. This certification covers all three scopes of greenhouse gas emissions, including direct emissions, indirect emissions from energy use, and other indirect emissions across the value chain. SET plans to increase electric vehicle usage, improve energy efficiency in buildings, and develop green procurement strategies to achieve these goals.

Singapore urges businesses to act as climate rules tighten

Singapore's Ambassador for Climate Action has advised businesses to accelerate their climate transition efforts in light of tightening regulatory requirements and increased market demand for sustainability. The country is targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and plans to raise the carbon tax while importing low-carbon electricity to cover one-third of its energy needs by 2035. New rules will compel listed companies to report under International Sustainability Standards Board guidelines starting in 2025, with larger firms required to report Scope 3 emissions from 2026. In 2023, nearly 6,000 firms disclosed climate transition strategies, a figure expected to grow as sustainability becomes paramount.

UK Government Announces £600 Million Investment in Construction Skills

The UK Government has announced a £600 million investment to train up to 60,000 skilled construction workers by 2029. This funding will support the establishment of 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges and additional training places, aimed at addressing the skills shortages in the construction sector. The investment will help build 1.5 million homes and enhance Britain's infrastructure by providing resources for training placements, foundation apprenticeships, and expanding Skills Bootcamps.

Government discusses trade measures to protect Canadian steel industry

The Government of Canada announced a 30-day public consultation regarding potential trade measures to prevent the diversion of steel products from third countries into Canada due to U.S. tariffs. Canadian steelworkers face risks from increased imports prompted by a 25% tariff imposed by the U.S. on steel products from all countries. The government has already imposed reciprocal tariffs worth $29.8 billion on U.S. steel and aluminum imports and additional tariffs on imports from China, aimed at protecting local industries from unfair competition.

Canada to Remove Consumer Carbon Price by 2025

The Government of Canada has announced the removal of the federal fuel charge, effective April 1, 2025. This decision will cease requirements for provinces and territories to maintain a consumer-facing carbon price. Although the consumer carbon price is being removed, Canada will continue to enforce carbon pricing systems for larger industrial emitters to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The Canada Carbon Rebate will provide eligible Canadians with a final rebate payment, with families of four receiving up to $456 depending on the province.

Federal government invests in greener public transit projects across Quebec

The federal government of Canada has announced an investment of over $400 million from the Zero Emission Transit Fund to support 11 public transit projects across Quebec. Key projects include the conversion of the St-Omer Garage to electric propulsion in Lévis, which is funded with $7,625,369, and the electrification of various transportation centres in Montreal, receiving significant funding of approximately $284 million. The wide range of projects aims to enhance the sustainability of public transit in Quebec through electrification and infrastructure improvements.

Role of Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors in Wastewater Treatment and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction

This review critically evaluates the role of anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) for wastewater treatment while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. AnMBRs are particularly suited for treating high-strength wastewater with elevated organic content, achieving COD removal efficiency of 87~99%. Despite their effectiveness, full-scale AnMBR applications remain limited to high-strength wastewater from a few industries due to system complexity, large space requirements, and lack of industrial operational experience. The study suggests that AnMBRs have the potential to play a greater role in treating industrial wastewater in efforts to reduce GHG emissions.

Canada’s industrial carbon pricing system delivers support for clean technology projects

The Government of Canada announced that nearly $150 million from the Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) Proceeds Fund is being allocated to 38 projects under the Decarbonization Incentive Program (DIP). This funding aims to support the development of clean technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The OBPS Proceeds Fund collects money from pollution proceeds within provinces such as Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Notably, projects such as McCain Foods' retrofit of their Carberry facility are highlighted, aiming for significant emissions reductions by improving energy efficiency.

Government of Canada partners with MDS Coating Technologies Corporation to advance innovative aerospace nano-coating technologies

The Government of Canada partnered with MDS Coating Technologies Corporation to support a $100 million project aimed at expanding the company's facility in Prince Edward Island, doubling its production capacity. This initiative, backed by a $7 million loan from the Province of PEI, will enable MDS to produce environmentally friendly nano-coating technologies for aircraft components, aiming to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. This investment is part of a broader effort to strengthen the aerospace supply chain and promote sustainability within the industry.

Government of Canada supports Electra Battery Materials' cobalt sulfate production proposal

The Canadian federal government has welcomed Electra Battery Materials' proposal to transform its facility in Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, into a cobalt sulfate refinery. This development is part of a broader effort to expand Canada’s critical minerals value chains to support the transition to a net-zero economy. The cobalt sulfate produced will be vital for the automotive sector, particularly in electric vehicles, and the project is backed by $10 million in support from Natural Resources Canada and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.

California launches satellite project to detect methane emissions

California has launched a satellite project to track and reduce methane emissions due to a $100 million investment from its Cap-and-Trade program. This initiative is part of a broader effort led by Governor Gavin Newsom, who recently became Co-Chair of the subnational climate coalition America Is All In. The project leverages innovative satellite-mounted sensors to identify and monitor large emissions of methane that could otherwise go undetected, enabling more effective mitigation actions in partnership with local agencies and industry stakeholders.

Accelerate2Move: Supporting Startups in Sustainable Urban Mobility

The EIT Urban Mobility's Accelerate2Move (A2M) program has announced its support for startups focusing on advanced technologies that promote sustainable urban mobility. The program includes six months of tailored acceleration, 80 hours of online mentoring, and a five-day bootcamp in Latvia, with all costs covered. Selected startups will receive a microgrant of €2,500. The call for applications is open from February 3 to April 21, 2025.