Nishka Shah (preprint) reports that basal area (proxy for stand age) is the primary predictor of aboveground carbon storage in southeastern U.S. mixed oak-pine forests.

• Main finding and dataset: Using 946 FIA plots (2009–2019) the author reports that basal area had the strongest positive effect on aboveground carbon, tree density had a significant negative effect, and a logarithmically transformed regression model explained 97.6% of variance (model validated with cross-validation).
• Background and methods: The preprint summarizes analyses and literature synthesis comparing structural and species diversity effects; variables include stand age, basal area, DBH, tree density, species and structural diversity, climate (temperature/precipitation), elevation and the author references SEM and regression approaches and comparisons to studies using GEDI lidar and FIA data (U.S. and East Asia examples).

The Ministry of Environment held a 10th anniversary celebration for the nationwide “Green Points” program on 2025-11-02 in Taipei, announcing program milestones, new features, and partner expansion.

• Main announcement: The Ministry reported over 1.11 million members, 227億 green points (22.7 billion points) accumulated, and that the program has created over NT$2.1 billion in green consumption market value; it also launched the “Point-to-Carbon” feature to convert transit consumption into carbon emission data and encouraged point uses like donations, payment of household bills, and plastic-free purchases.
• Event details & background:
  • Date: 2025-11-02
  • Time: not specified in article
  • Location: Taipei Yuanshan Expo Park Music Garden
  • Agenda/subject: “Green Decade - Points Party” (10th anniversary) and Green Consumption Market showcasing low-carbon food, sustainable living, on-site point-earning/redemption activities, and an online 10th anniversary exhibition and “Green Action Challenge” sweepstakes.
  • Partnerships: program works with 11 retail partners, 5 agencies, 22 county/city environmental bureaus, and will expand partners to Giveme (贈物網), OKmart, and iPASS.

Biomolecula published a digest summarizing recent research across biology, medicine, materials science, and paleoclimate.

• Main content: The digest summarizes multiple peer-reviewed studies: IL-33 and IL-4Rα blocking antibodies (itepekimab and dupilumab) modulate overlapping and distinct inflammatory mediators in asthma; a Washington University in St. Louis team showed the gut microbiota prevents MASLD in zebrafish by degrading sorbitol; genomic work on Cuculus canorus and C. optatus links egg pigmentation to mitochondrial and W-linked genes; engineers developed a CLCE-LCE bilayer smart composite inspired by cephalopods; and Chinese researchers used tree rings from 2,200-year-old coffins to reconstruct regional climate from ~270 BCE to 77 CE.
• Details & context: The digest cites studies published in Science Translational Medicine, Science, Science Advances, SciSignal, and PNAS; key specifics include experimental models (mouse models for chemotherapy neuropathy and asthma; zebrafish for MASLD), identification of 15 egg morphs in cuckoos, involvement of researchers from Germany, Norway, the UK, Russia, China, and the USA, and the use of annual tree-ring analysis from ancient coffins to infer a regional humidity increase of ~18–34% relative to modern values over the studied interval.

The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, accompanied Prime Minister Mark Carney to the 47th ASEAN Summit (Malaysia), visited Singapore, and participated in the APEC Ministerial Meeting in the Republic of Korea; Canada agreed to accelerate negotiations on a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement (goal to conclude in 2026) and to launch bilateral FTA negotiations with Thailand and the Philippines.

• Main announcement/action: Minister Sidhu, with Prime Minister Mark Carney, agreed to accelerate negotiations on a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement with a target to conclude negotiations in 2026 and launched negotiations on bilateral FTAs with Thailand and the Philippines; meetings with business leaders and government officials focused on advancing export opportunities, removing trade barriers, and attracting investment.
• Background and details: The trip included participation in the APEC Ministerial Meeting emphasizing digital cooperation and AI; factual trade figures cited include Canada-ASEAN merchandise trade $42.3 billion (2024), Canada-Malaysia $5.2 billion (2024) up from $3.8 billion (2020), Canada-Singapore $3.7 billion (2024), and the Indo-Pacific two-way merchandise trade of $261.4 billion (2024).

Events / meetings (context):

• 47th ASEAN Summit — Location: Malaysia; Date: referenced during the week of the November 1, 2025 news release; Agenda: high-level discussions with ASEAN leaders on trade and investment.
• Visit to Singapore — Location: Singapore; Date: during same regional trip; Agenda: meetings with business leaders and government officials to strengthen economic ties.
• APEC Ministerial Meeting — Location: Republic of Korea; Date: during same regional trip; Agenda: ministerial discussions on trade, digital cooperation, and AI to increase productivity and growth.

The Ministry of the Interior’s Architecture and Building Research Institute announced it operates an accredited laboratory to test and verify formaldehyde and VOC emissions from building materials and furniture to protect indoor health.

• Main action: The Institute provides testing and verification services for formaldehyde and VOC emissions using a full-size environmental control chamber; the lab is TAF-accredited and recognized by the Ministry for green building material performance testing. Contact for more information: Performance Testing Center (06) 3300504 ext.2110; press contact: Yan Wei-lun, phone 02-89127890#322.
• Background and technical details: The Green Building Material Label sets emission thresholds at formaldehyde ≦0.05 mg/m2.hr and VOCs ≦0.19 mg/m2.hr, and establishes emission grades E1, E2, E3 to guide industry R&D; the Institute notes formaldehyde is classified by IARC as a Group 1 human carcinogen and recommends choosing certified products and maintaining ventilation after renovation.

The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced Canada’s investments in critical minerals and the referral of several major energy and mining projects to the Major Projects Office (MPO).

• Main announcement & actions: Canada is committing more than $80 million to advance the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, including $10 million from Natural Resources Canada to create a Mineral Skills Network, $20 million to the World Bank’s partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement, and over $50 million to support Canadian critical minerals R&D; Canada also announced referrals to the MPO for the McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project (described as the first net-zero copper project in Canada), LNG Canada Phase Two, and the Darlington New Nuclear Project (SMR). The Critical Minerals Production Alliance will be advanced at the upcoming G7 Meeting and additional projects are expected to be referred to the MPO by Grey Cup Day (November 16, 2025).

• Background & implementation details: The MPO is intended to streamline approvals and integrate environmental and Indigenous commitments from project outset; the Minister noted collaboration with partners (including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, RBC, Japan, Norway, and the United States) on analysis such as an RBC report modelling natural gas supply/demand scenarios to 2040, and mentioned planned critical minerals support for Ukraine with the Ukrainian Energy Minister attending the event.

The Government of Canada (Minister Tim Hodgson) and the Government of Italy (Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin) launched the inaugural Canada‑Italy bilateral Energy Dialogue and released a joint statement announcing next steps.

• Main announcement and meeting details:

  • Launched the first bilateral Energy Dialogue between Canada and Italy and released a joint statement on next steps.
  • Date: October 31, 2025; Location: G7 Energy and Environment Ministers Meeting, Toronto, Ontario.
  • Agenda / subjects discussed: closer partnership on critical minerals and nuclear energy; exploring LNG, sustainable fuels (renewable and low‑carbon hydrogen, sustainable biofuels), clean technologies, decarbonization, and carbon management.

• Follow-up actions and background:

  • Focus on implementation of the Critical Minerals Action Plan and identifying bilateral opportunities under the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, with an emphasis on concrete projects and potential co‑investment opportunities including through the Made in Italy Fund.
  • Ministers reaffirmed commitment to continue scientific, regulatory, and industrial collaboration, advance the dialogue at the senior officials’ level, and pursue business‑to‑business meetings to capitalize on investment opportunities.

The President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva inaugurated upgrades to the Porto de Outeiro and the expanded/modernized Belém International Airport ahead of COP30.

• Main announcement/action: The government delivered Porto de Outeiro requalification (works started 17 April and completed in six months) and the Belém International Airport expansion, executed by Companhia Docas do Pará (CDP) with Itaipu Binacional (port) and concessionaire Norte da Amazônia Airports (NOA) (airport); budgeted investments: R$ 233 million for the port and R$ 450 million for the airport; airport delivery was nearly one year ahead of schedule. The port works included 11 dolphins, 10 metal bridges, pier extension from 261 m to 716 m with 80,000-ton displacement capacity, and the port can host two cruise ships as temporary lodging (up to 5,000 participants) with an estimated 25-minute access to conference sites.
• Background and implementation details: Works were carried out in simultaneous 24-hour fronts across three shifts, generating 745 jobs at the port (382 direct, 169 indirect, 193 third-party) and over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs for airport works; the airport upgrades tripled boarding area, added multisensory room for people with autism (TEA), new climate systems, improved apron and navigation aids, and increased annual passenger capacity from 7.7 million to ~13 million. COP30 schedule: Leaders’ Summit on Nov 6–7; COP30 Nov 10–21. Partnerships and timelines: port executed by CDP in partnership with Itaipu and delivered 6 months after April 17 start; airport works performed by NOA and delivered ahead of initial timeline.

Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, met with Japan’s State Minister Yamada Kenji and released a Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Energy Resources Sector.

• Main action: Released a Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Energy Resources Sector committing to cooperation on LNG, nuclear power, and the battery value chain; Minister Hodgson emphasized positioning Canada as a key partner in Japan’s energy transition and highlighted government support for LNG Canada Phase Two.
• Details & context: Reaffirmed the Critical Minerals Production Alliance as a framework to build critical minerals supply chains and discussed measures to boost Japanese investor confidence and encourage Canada–Japan business ties; meeting held October 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario at the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting.

Canada hosted the 9th Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA9) in Toronto, Ontario, on October 31 and November 1, 2025.

• Main announcement: Canada (through Environment and Climate Change Canada and Minister Julie Dabrusin) convened MoCA9 to advance international climate action ahead of COP30, co-convened by Canada, China, and the European Union; discussions targeted mobilizing climate finance and facilitating the transition to low-carbon, resilient economies. The release states that since 2015 Canada has provided over $8.7 billion in climate finance (all sources) contributing to the collective US$100 billion goal under the Paris Agreement.
• Event details & background:
  • Date: October 31 and November 1, 2025
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Agenda/subjects: mobilizing climate finance, implementing real-world solutions to climate change, transition to low-carbon resilient economies, and enhancing outcomes at COP30.
  • Related: MoCA9 was held on the heels of the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting; COP30 is scheduled for November 10–21, 2025 in Belém, Brazil.

The authors (Zhen Zhang et al.) present a new global 30 m, annual mangrove extent and Fractional Canopy Cover (FCC) dataset (1984–2023) and report that global mangrove extent has shifted from net loss to net gain since ~2010.

• Main finding and dataset: The paper introduces a 30 m annual global mangrove FCC product (1984–2023) and reports a rebound to 153,961 km2 by 2023 (95% CI: 145,085–158,206 km2), yielding a marginal net loss of ~848.8 km2 across 1980s–2023; between 2010–2023 new growth of 8,307 km2 (6,660–9,492 km2, 95% CI) outpaced losses of 6,275 km2 (4,539–7,696 km2), and expansion accounted for 5,364 km2 (64.6%) of observed gains (2010–2023).
• Background and methodological details: The study distinguishes loss, gain (expansion vs regeneration), degradation, and growth using Landsat composites and spectral unmixing (SMA) to derive FCC; reported trends include a decline in global degradation rate from ~0.64% yr−1 (1980s) to ~0.24% yr−1 (recent decade) and an increase in closed-canopy area from 77,643 km2 to 88,772 km2 (1980s→2023). The authors emphasize halting deforestation as a priority and provide open data and code (Zenodo, GitHub, Earth Engine app) for replication and policy use.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will inaugurate the renovated Porto de Outeiro and the expanded Belém International Airport on 1 November.

• Main announcement: The President participates in the delivery of the Porto de Outeiro requalification and the expansion/modernization of Aeroporto Internacional de Belém (Val-de-Cans); the port project was executed by Companhia Docas do Pará (CDP) in partnership with Itaipu Binacional, and the airport works were carried out by concessionaire Norte da Amazônia Airports (NOA). Key figures: R$ 233 million invested in the Porto de Outeiro; R$ 450 million invested in the Belém airport; airport annual capacity increases from 7.7 million to ~13 million passengers.

• Background and implementation details: Porto de Outeiro construction began 17 April and was completed in six months with simultaneous 24/7 work fronts; scope includes 11 dolphins, 10 metal bridges, and pier extension from 261 m to 716 m with an 80,000-tonne movement capacity. The airport delivery was advanced by nearly one year, includes triplication of boarding area, PAPI and ALS navigation aids, improved aircraft apron and night lighting, a multisensory room for people with ASD, and generated ~1,500 jobs (direct and indirect); port works generated 745 jobs (382 direct, 169 indirect, 193 third-party). COP30 dates: 10–21 November; Leaders’ Summit (Cúpula do Clima): 6–7 November.

The Energy Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs held its annual school energy-saving theater competition on Nov 1 at Taipei Zoo.

• Main announcement/action: The Energy Bureau (Ministry of Economic Affairs) hosted the “114th National Elementary & Junior High School Energy-Saving Creative Theater Competition and Awards” on 2025-11-01 at Taipei Zoo, featuring 10 finalist teams from across Taiwan; Taichung Daya Junior High School won 1st place with the play “The Nutcracker’s Energy-Saving Night.” The event combined energy-saving creativity, energy-education drama, and parent-child booths and promoted practical tips such as refrigerator loading, turning off lights, and replacing old appliances.
• Background & details: The bureau promoted the event alongside government programs including the Deep Energy Savings Promotion Plan and appliance replacement subsidies to encourage upgrading to energy-efficiency grade 1 products; event materials and photo highlights are available at the Energy Education Information Network (https://energy.mt.ntnu.edu.tw). Contact persons: Deputy Director Wu Chi-Wei (cwwu@moeaea.gov.tw) and Section Chief Kao Shu-Fang (sfkao@moeaea.gov.tw).

Fenwick & West LLP issued a securities law update summarizing recent SEC actions and related regulatory developments.

• SEC policy and operational updates: The update highlights the SEC’s September 18, 2025 policy statement reversing its long-standing position on mandatory issuer-investor arbitration clauses (SEC will focus on “the adequacy of the registration statement’s disclosures”), the EDGAR Next transition deadline (Sept 15, 2025) and related enrollment rules (legacy codes unusable for enrollment after Dec 22, 2025; Form ID reviews averaging at least six business days), a filing fee reduction effective Oct 1, 2025, and a no-action letter to ExxonMobil (Sept 15, 2025) permitting a Retail Voting Program under described conditions.
• Other factual developments and timelines: The update notes the U.S. federal government shutdown (since Oct 1, 2025) and limited SEC staff availability (fee and emergency filing relief contacts CFEmergency@sec.gov and IMEmergency@sec.gov); President Trump announced 100% tariffs on certain pharmaceuticals, trucks, household goods and films (announced late Sept, to take effect Oct 1, 2025); the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 0.25% on Sept 17, 2025; the FDA released 89 CRLs on Sept 4, 2025; and CARB proposed a June 30, 2026 implementation deadline for SB 253 reporting with proposed rulemaking expected on Oct 14, 2025.

The Ministry of Environment co-hosted the “114 National Environmental Volunteers Gathering” in Yunlin with the Yunlin County Government on 114-11-01 (ROC calendar; 2025-11-01 Gregorian), bringing together over 2,000 volunteers from 22 counties and announcing a handover to Miaoli for next year.

• Main announcement: The Ministry of Environment and Yunlin County Government held the national volunteer competition on 114-11-01 (ROC) / 2025-11-01, featuring 2,000+ volunteers from 22 counties/cities, 95 awards across competitions, and a formal flag handover from Yunlin EPB Director Zhang Qiaowei to Miaoli EPB Director Chen Hua-sheng to host next year’s event.
• Background and event details: The event was attended by Minister Peng Qiming, Yunlin Magistrate Chang Li-shan, legislators Chang Chia-chun and Liu Chien-kuo, and Deputy Minister Hsieh Yen-ju; activities included four competitive events (“Environmental Brain”, “Resource Sorting King”, “Resource Slam Dunk”, and “Cleaning Relay”), promotion of eat-local, seasonal food, use of reusable cups and tableware, and reduced single-use items to address food-waste issues. No monetary values or contracts were reported.

Nestlé has announced continued commitment to support the coffee sector in Côte d’Ivoire through the Nescafé Plan, focusing on farmer training, improved seedlings, direct sourcing and entrepreneurship support.

• Main announcement/action: Nestlé’s Nescafé Plan supports more than 21,000 coffee-producing families in Côte d’Ivoire with agronomist training (aligned to 4C standards), distribution of high-yield Robusta seedlings from its R&D Centre in Zambakro, direct sourcing via Farmer Connect, and entrepreneurship support through My Own Business (supporting >600 urban vendors and providing carts/equipment; currently 80 coffee stands run by young vendors).
• Background and concrete details: Côte d’Ivoire has seen production fall from nearly 380,000 tonnes (2000) to ~47,000 tonnes (2023) due to ageing plantations and climate change; Nestlé’s Abidjan factory has operated >65 years (won a national award in 2022 for waste/energy/responsible operation). Projected 2025 domestic consumption is ~1.38 million kilograms, generating $32.13 million in total revenue across at-home and out-of-home markets. Partnerships include the Coffee-Cocoa Council (CCC) and CNRA for implementation of seedlings and training.

The Youth Development Administration co-hosted the National Youth Advisory Organizations Exchange in Kaohsiung on Nov 1–2 to convene youth advisory committee members and youth affairs representatives from across Taiwan.

• Main announcement/action: The Youth Development Administration (YDA), jointly with the Kaohsiung City Government Youth Bureau, held the “National Youth Advisory Organizations Exchange” on Nov 1–2 in Kaohsiung to gather over 100 youth advisory members and youth affairs unit representatives from 22 counties/cities; event theme: “Issue Exploration Market × Youth Action Station”.

  • Date: Nov 1–2 (article date shows ROC year 114, corresponding to 2025); Location: Kaohsiung City.
  • Agenda/subjects (group discussion topics): Marriage, childbearing and population sustainability; Resilient society and sustainable development (climate/extreme weather); Digital literacy and AI-related risks; plus five other youth-concern topics.
  • Program and statistics: YDA highlighted the Youth Overseas Dream Fund; 8,877 applicants this year, 1,463 youths assisted to travel to 67 countries (domains: culture, technology, arts); follow-up results will be referenced in the Youth Policy White Paper.

• Background and implementation details: The event is part of ongoing efforts by the Executive Yuan, YDA, and local governments to institutionalize youth advisory bodies and deepen youth participation in public affairs; the hosting duty for ROC year 115 will be transferred to the New Taipei City Government Youth Bureau.

  • Participants conducted city walking tours (site visits to Yancheng market, Hamasen Railway Cultural Park, Pier-2 Art Center, former Dagou Station) to observe Kaohsiung’s entrepreneurship incubation, port transformation, and sustainable space planning.
  • The YDA encouraged youth committee members to continue advocacy in their home jurisdictions and to integrate discussion outcomes into actionable regional linkages.

The Ministry of Environment (Taiwan) responded to a civil-society “Walk for Climate, Build Resilient Taiwan” march and summarized five collaborative climate action outcomes for 2025.

• Main announcement/action: The Ministry presented five 2025 climate action outcomes including introduction of carbon pricing (carbon fee first year) with a projected 3.7 million*? wait: the text actually states 3,700万公噸 CO2e (37 million tonnes CO2e) reduction by 2030, and establishment of a Green Growth Fund with NT$100 billion capital from the National Development Fund; it also launched the Green Growth Alliance to mobilize private sector participation and accelerate carbon market alignment with international systems.

• Background and additional details: The government set new national targets (NDC 3.0) and proposed 2030/2032/2035 reduction goals; Taiwan signed a carbon-credit cooperation memorandum with Paraguay and arranged enterprise exchanges with Germany on cap-and-trade systems; youth engagement measures include sending Taiwanese youth delegates to COP30 in Belém, Brazil under a youth overseas program, and climate adaptation actions include the Taiwan Heat-resilience Alliance which published an ‘anti-heat cooling map’ of 3,300 cooling sites and an anti-heat action exhibition attended by over 40,000 people.

The Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) organized and hosted the “2025 Overseas Taiwanese Circular Economy Training Course,” a five-day program starting on October 27, with a closing ceremony and luncheon attended by OCAC Chair Hsu Chia-ching.

• Main announcement/action: OCAC launched a 5-day training course (starting Oct 27) titled “2025 Overseas Taiwanese Circular Economy Training Course”, attended by 25 participants from 12 countries; the closing ceremony and luncheon were attended by Chair Hsu Chia-ching. The opening ceremony on Oct 27 was attended by Vice Chair Chang Liang-min.
• Background and details: The program was hosted with academic support from National Chung Hsing University (whose representative Lin Jin-xian noted the university houses the only Circular Economy Research Institute in Asia) and featured speakers including Lin Jin-xian and Huang Yu-zheng (Chairman, Circular Taiwan Foundation); topics covered included resource reuse, waste reduction, renewable energy, and applying circular-economy practices in overseas Taiwanese business communities.

Canada concluded the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Toronto and announced multiple measures to advance critical minerals, energy security, and AI in energy under Canada’s Presidency.

• Main announcement/action: Canada announced steps including 26 new investments, partnerships and measures to accelerate and unlock $6.4 billion in critical minerals projects, up to $20.2 million for international R&D collaborations on critical minerals, endorsement of the G7 Energy and AI Work Plan, a G7 Call to Action on Enhancing Energy Security, and expedited the final portion of a $70-million contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (with $10 million disbursed early) to help repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
• Background and additional details: The meeting included announcements of funding and partnerships: $3.4 million via NorthX Climate Tech into four Canadian carbon removal ventures (CarbonRun, Skyrenu Technologies, NULIFE Greentech and pHathom Technologies); an Arca Climate Technologies–Microsoft offtake for nearly 300,000 tonnes of durable CO2 removal over 10 years; more than $11 million for carbon utilization and storage R&D announced Oct 29; and $5 million in federal funding to Nano One Materials Corp. to commercialize LFP production targeting over 800 tonnes of LFP per year. Co-hosted events and timelines:
  • IEA/Canada will co-host the 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency: June 29–30, 2026, Montreal, Quebec — agenda: advance energy efficiency, bring senior leaders from civil, finance and business sectors.
  • IEA announced a roadmap for the Energy and AI Observatory to provide up-to-date energy demand data and best practices on AI applications for efficiency and resilience.