Global Climate News

The MicroCarb satellite captured its first view of Earth on 28 August, following its 25 July launch. - **First observation details:** MicroCarb collected initial images and spectrometer measurements over the **Amazon Basin** (a region with sparse ground-based CO₂ observations). The **onboard imager** identified cloud-free areas and urban/agricultural/forested interfaces, while the **spectrometer** detected distinct **CO₂ and O₂ spectral signatures**, confirming instrument functionality. - **Background, validation and next steps:** Data were calibrated using **pre-launch characterizations** (including thermal vacuum testing completed in **late 2022**) and **early in‑flight calibrations** (dark current, internal lamp, solar reference). Cross-checks used **Sentinel-2 imagery** for the imager and **4AOP radiative transfer simulations** for the spectrometer, showing both instruments operate **within expected parameters**; the team will now begin **fine calibration** and **tuning of data processing algorithms** to deliver precise space-based atmospheric CO₂ measurements.

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture jointly signed an MOU with National Pingtung University of Science and Technology to establish a campus-based demonstration center for sustainable energy and climate change. - **Main announcement/action:** On 114-09-26 (Minguo calendar), the **Ministry of Environment**, **Ministry of Agriculture**, and **National Pingtung University of Science and Technology** signed an **MOU** (witnessed by Legislators 鍾佳濱 and 蘇清泉 and the **Pingtung County Government**) to build the "Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Demonstration Center" on **about 300 hectares** of campus land; agreed activities include **waste collection**, **energy conversion (biomass-to-energy)**, and **resource reuse** to create a circular economy pilot on-site. - **Background and implementation details:** The project will leverage Pingtung’s agricultural scale to pilot a **Taiwan biomass energy model**, develop **natural carbon sink and carbon capture technologies**, and offer professional training courses to cultivate **green-collar talent**; the MOU sets collaboration scope (research, demonstration, replication) but **no specific multi-year implementation timeline** is specified in the announcement.

The Ministry of Environment launched the Child and School Air Quality Protection Network and held a press conference with Taoyuan City Government to start inspections of key Taoyuan industrial zones on 114-09-26. - **Main action:** The Ministry announced the **"School Air Quality Four-Layer Protection Network"**, selecting **Zhongli Industrial Area** as a demonstration site, installing monitoring instruments at **Qiying High School**, and initiating a systematic **industrial-zone air pollution inspection** including monitoring, source-tracing, enforcement, guidance for improvement, and follow-up. The Ministry identified **22 "priority concern" industrial zones this year**, of which **5 are in Taoyuan**. - **Background & implementation details:** The Ministry and **Taoyuan City Government / Taoyuan Environmental Protection Bureau** will conduct detailed investigations and **reduction negotiations with park firms**, prioritizing Zhongli (about **800 firms**, second-largest VOC contribution in Taoyuan). One industrial site (CPC Taoyuan Refinery) already has a **long-term monitoring station**; the inspections and follow-up actions will be used as a demonstration for further remediation.

The Department of Health will commemorate World Environmental Health Day to raise awareness on air pollution and promote clean air policies, in collaboration with WHO and other stakeholders. - **Main action:** The Department of Health will hold a **two-day commemorative event** to advocate for **clean air policies** and honour environmental health professionals, in collaboration with **WHO**, **International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH)**, **South African Local Government Association (SALGA)** and the **National Association of Environmental Health in South Africa**; the campaign theme is **"Clean Air, Healthy People"**. - **Background and event details:** The release cites WHO findings that **99% of the global population** breathe air exceeding WHO guideline limits and references the **World Health Assembly's 2015 resolution on air quality and health**; event logistics and contacts are: - Date: **Thursday, 25 – Friday, 26 September 2025** - Time: **09h00** - Venue: **Birchwood Hotel & O R Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg** - RSVP: **Tlou Tlhako** at tlou.tlhako@health.gov.za - Media contacts: **Foster Mohale**, Departmental Spokesperson, Cell: 072 432 3792, Foster.mohale@health.gov.za; **Sello Lediga**, Health Ministry Spokesperson, Cell: 082 353 9859, Sello.Lediga@health.gov.za

Nature reports that bacterial toxins increase the harmfulness of a ubiquitous air pollutant based on a referenced study by Yu et al. in Environmental Science & Technology (2025). - **Main finding:** Nature's News item highlights that **bacterial toxins** can **amplify the harm** of a **ubiquitous air pollutant**; the item cites Yu, J. et al., Environ. Sci. Tech. (2025) with DOI **https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c07255** as the primary research reference. - **Context and references:** The piece provides access options and references (including a DOI link and a downloadable reference file) and is published on Nature's platform; ancillary content on the page includes **Nature Careers** job listings for institutions such as **Shenzhen Bay Laboratory**, **City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)**, **Tulane University School of Medicine**, **IIGM**, and **Capital Medical University**.

Stony Brook-led researchers launched GOTHAAM, an NSF-funded airborne campaign led by John Mak (SoMAS) to measure precursors to smog over the New York metropolitan area using the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft. - **Campaign details:** GOTHAAM is the largest airborne campaign in the area, conducted over **six weeks** from a base at **MacArthur Airport**, performing **over 20 research flights** (each 6–8 hours) aboard the **NSF/NCAR C-130** (capable of carrying **13,000 pounds** of instruments); the team includes researchers from **more than seven universities**, NCAR, and Stony Brook scientists Daniel Knopf, Paul Shepson, and Christine Gilbert. - **Scientific focus and timeline:** The project targets **VOCs**, daytime and **nighttime chemistry** (including nitrate radicals and chlorine from sea salt), and uses instruments such as **mass spectrometers, particle analyzers, and laser sensors** to detect hundreds of compounds in real time; data processing will take **months**, with results expected to begin emerging within a year; background context notes **2021 ozone exceedances** in the region (7 of 11 stations above federal standards).

Governor Gavin Newsom announced two new international climate partnerships with Brazil and Kenya at Climate Week in New York. - **Main announcement:** Governor Newsom launched new partnerships **between California and Brazil** and **between California and Kenya** to scale cooperation on **climate action, clean energy, cutting pollution, and boosting trade**, announced on the sidelines of Climate Week/UN General Assembly in New York; the Brazil partnership is positioned ahead of **COP30 in November 2025** and the Kenya partnership included a bilateral meeting with **Kenyan President William Ruto**. - **Background & additional facts:** California reported **nearly 23% of new medium- and heavy-duty truck sales were ZEVs in 2024**, **201,180 fully public and shared EV charging ports** statewide, **more than 11.5 million households** will automatically receive **electric bill refunds in October** via the **California Climate Credit**, and the historic legislation signed last week anticipates **up to $60 billion** for the electric Climate Credit through **2045**; Governor Newsom also met delegations led by **Ambassador Kevin Rudd and Chris Bowen (Australia)**, **Ed Miliband (UK)**, and **Wopke Hoekstra (EU Commissioner)**, and highlighted state metrics including **20% GHG reductions since 2000**, **~15,000 MW battery storage**, and **over 25,000 MW of new resources** added to the grid.

The Government of Canada is launching a public consultation on Phase 1 of the proposed risk management for the class of PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers. - **Main action:** The Government of Canada is **consulting on Phase 1** of a phased PFAS risk management approach focused on **PFAS in firefighting foams (e.g., "C6 AFFF")**; the **consultation document** is open for public comment **until November 25, 2025**. The Phase 1 consultation follows the March 2025 **State of PFAS Report**, which concluded the class (excluding fluoropolymers) is **toxic under CEPA** and proposed adding the class to **Part 2 of Schedule 1 to CEPA** to enable risk management instruments. - **Background and related actions:** The Government published a **Risk Management Approach** (March 2025) proposing three phases (firefighting foams; non-essential consumer uses; uses requiring further consideration). Recent actions include: **163 PFAS** added to the **National Pollutant Release Inventory (2025)**; Health Canada final **drinking water objective (Aug 2024)** for PFAS; **CFIA interim standard (June 2024)** on PFAS in biosolids; a **2024 information collection notice** covering **312 PFAS**; updates planned to the **Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012**; ongoing federal contaminated sites actions and international work (e.g., Stockholm Convention).

The Government of Canada is publishing the consultation document for Phase 1 of its proposed Risk Management Approach to address PFAS in firefighting foams. - **Phase 1 action:** The consultation document proposes to **address all remaining uses of PFAS (excluding fluoropolymers) in firefighting foams (AFFF)** that are not already regulated, with public comments invited **until November 25, 2025**; comments will be considered in the development of proposed regulations under **CEPA**. - **Background and regulatory details:** The Government previously published the **Risk Management Approach for PFAS** on **March 8, 2025** and the **State of PFAS Report** concluded the class (excluding fluoropolymers) is harmful; the government has proposed adding the PFAS class (excluding fluoropolymers) to **Part 2 of Schedule 1 to CEPA** and has proposed related regulatory changes (e.g., **Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2022** and prior PCTSR rules) including phased restrictions and limited time‑bound exemptions for certain AFFF uses.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State of California and the Government of Kenya at Climate Week in New York (MOU text available: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FILE_7102.pdf) on Sep 24, 2025. - **Main action:** The MOU commits **California and Kenya** to collaborate on **cutting pollution**, **cleaner transportation**, **low-carbon development**, **policy research for sustainable transportation and clean energy**, **sustainable land use and urban planning**, and **promoting trade and public-private partnerships**; the agreement was signed during **Climate Week in New York** (announced Sep 25, 2025). - **Background and details:** The Newsom Administration has formal partnerships with **28 countries**; recent related facts cited include **GHG emissions down 20% since 2000**, **California battery storage >15,000 megawatts**, **>25,000 megawatts of new resources added to the grid**, and **California powered by two-thirds clean energy in 2023**. The release references recent MOUs with **Brazil (CBV, 21 state governors)**, **Denmark**, **China (multiple MOUs with national and provincial authorities)**, and others.

The Department of Health is celebrating World Environmental Health Day with a two-day event to advocate for clean air policies and honour environmental health professionals. - **Main announcement/action:** The **Department of Health** is running a **two-day event** (started today) in **Boksburg** to promote the **"Clean Air, Healthy People"** theme and to **advocate for clean air policies** in collaboration with **WHO**, **IFEH**, **SALGA**, and the **National Association of Environmental Health in South Africa**. - **Date:** 25–26 September 2025 (event started the day of the article). - **Time:** not specified. - **Location:** **Birchwood Hotel and O R Tambo Conference Centre**, Boksburg. - **Agenda/subject:** explore strategies for improving air quality, reducing pollution, and advancing evidence-based, community-led policies that promote clean, healthy, and sustainable environments. - **Background and details:** The campaign highlights that **"Almost all people globally (99%) inhale air that exceeds the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines"** and notes that **low- and middle-income countries** experience the highest exposure; it references the **World Health Assembly** resolution on air quality and health adopted in **2015** and states the event will bring together **academics, environmental health experts, policymakers, and health professionals**.

Ferrovia Capital led the completion of a deep retrofit at Tennyson Apartments in Edmonton, financed through CMHC's MLI Select program and third-party financing from Efficiency Capital, achieving substantial energy and emissions reductions. - **Project outcomes & financing:** The retrofit is **estimated to deliver a 32% reduction in energy consumption**, **44% savings on annual utility costs**, and a **33% cut in GHG emissions**. Financing combined **CMHC MLI Select** support and **third-party financing via Efficiency Capital**, with deferred maintenance **amortized over 20 years**. The team used a rapid initial audit due to a **short CMHC application window**, then completed a second detailed audit to meet and exceed targets. - **Systemic barriers & implementation details:** The article highlights **pre-construction bottlenecks** (tight timelines, duplicative audits) and limited delivery pathways; it notes the CMHC MLI Select program **unlocked financing** but could be more effective if timelines allowed more comprehensive audits or if incentives rewarded emissions reductions beyond minimums. The account is an announcement/report-style case study led by Pembina Institute staff documenting a completed retrofit and recommending practices for owners, lenders, and policymakers.

The UK government announced that two carbon capture projects — Padeswood (Heidelberg Materials UK) and Protos (Encyclis) — have signed final contracts with the Low Carbon Contracts Company and are ready to begin construction. - **Main announcement and actions:** The projects have **signed final contracts with the Low Carbon Contracts Company** and are expected to **move into the construction phase shortly**, together securing **500 skilled jobs** (part of **2,800 jobs** across the wider HyNet network). Padeswood (cement) will capture **~800,000 tonnes CO2/year** and Protos (waste-to-energy) will capture **~400,000 tonnes CO2/year**, totaling **1.2 million tonnes CO2/year**. Both projects will connect to **Eni’s Liverpool Bay Transportation & Storage** as anchor projects of the **HyNet** cluster. - **Background, financing and timelines:** The announcement follows the Prime Minister’s April green-light for HyNet and the government’s **£9.4 billion** commitment to Carbon Capture made in the Spending Review (funding stated **over this Parliament**). The projects are positioned as **shovel-ready**, with contracts now in place to provide certainty to proceed; Padeswood will deploy capture at the existing cement works to produce **evoZero net zero cement**, and Protos is described as a first full-scale carbon capture-enabled waste-to-energy facility.