Global Climate News

The COP 16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity will take place in Rome, Italy from February 25 to 27, 2025. The meeting aims to reach a consensus on important outstanding matters and will focus on mobilizing $200 billion annually for biodiversity protection by 2030. The parties will explore the establishment of a global financial tool to effectively mobilize and allocate resources, utilizing private funds and dedicated funds like the Global Environment Facility and the Kunming Biodiversity Fund.

US-based 6K has developed new microwave plasma technology called UniMelt that eliminates toxic waste while recycling all byproducts. The company is scaling up production of battery materials and critical minerals processing, with a new 100,000-square-foot facility set to begin construction in Jackson, Tennessee, expected to produce 13,000 tons of material annually. This technology addresses U.S. national security concerns by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

At COP29 in Baku, Prof Wang Can from Tsinghua University discussed the new study from the Institute for Carbon Neutrality, which evaluates countries' progress on climate targets and identifies gaps in implementation. He highlighted the urgency of developing countries in tackling climate change compared to developed nations, and shared insights on China's upcoming climate pledge for 2035 and the challenges of increasing renewable energy adoption amid trade barriers.

Netherlands hosted Cisco's participation supporting the COP29 event, showcasing how the UN and Cisco collaborated to build the infrastructure necessary for a significant global political event. The preparations and successful execution took only six months, illustrating the dedication to sustainability goals in technology and infrastructure development.

US-based Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) has conducted extensive research on optimizing building decarbonization, evaluating 126 unique scenarios across nine geographic regions. This research emphasizes the integrated use of four technological elements: energy efficiency systems, rooftop solar, battery energy storage, and heat pumps to achieve reduced emissions and energy costs. The report highlights that by integrating these technologies, building owners can manage energy effectively, minimizing carbon footprints while lowering operational costs.

The UK government is convening an Investor Taskforce to increase private investment for climate and development in global markets. They announced up to £100 million of additional funding for the MOBILIST initiative, aimed at mobilizing $250 million for climate-focused projects. Furthermore, the World Bank's recent bond issuance on the London Stock Exchange is expected to raise $7.5 billion over ten years for clean energy investments in developing countries.

The UK government announced a partnership with the financial sector to enhance efforts addressing the climate crisis. Minister Anneliese Dodds introduced up to £100 million for the MOBILIST programme, aiming to deliver the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative is expected to generate between £400 million and £600 million in investments across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, promoting sustainable development and climate action. Additionally, the government celebrated raising $500 million for clean technology projects through the issuing of a Climate Investment Fund bond.

Taiwan's President Lai has presided over the third meeting of the National Climate Change Committee, emphasizing the country's commitment to address climate change. The committee aims to formulate strategies and actions to mitigate climate impacts and enhance resilience. This meeting marks an important milestone in Taiwan's ongoing efforts to tackle climate issues and aligns with its sustainability goals.

US-based RMI is focusing on advancing multiple solutions to mitigate methane emissions in the year ahead. They are conducting analysis using the Oil Climate Index plus Gas to quantify and compare emissions and identify the lowest leakage suppliers, emphasizing that policy and market actions are essential to achieve a commitment of 0.2% methane leakage. Recent efforts by more than 50 companies have resulted in a commitment to end routine flaring and achieve net-zero upstream methane by 2030, significantly impacting both energy security and environmental sustainability.

The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit occurred in Tanzania, gathering over 1,000 attendees, including heads of state. The summit aimed to provide electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, as approximately 600 million currently lack access to reliable energy. Development banks have committed to delivering at least $40 billion. The UK government submitted its national climate pledge, targeting an 81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. A Scottish court ruled the greenlighting of new oilfields by the UK government as unlawful, citing the need to consider emissions from burned oil. Lastly, climate refugees from Kenya’s Dadaab camp, driven by drought and famine, continue to seek assistance amid severe conditions.

Ghana has focused on energy efficiency due to resource constraints and rising energy demand. The government has increased the tally of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)-covered appliances and introduced policies to facilitate the penetration of energy-efficient appliances, including a rebate scheme for refrigerators and a distribution of compact fluorescent lights. These efforts have resulted in significant energy savings, improvements in energy access, and reduced carbon emissions.

The Council on Sustainability Transformation was launched by ERM, convening senior leaders from various sectors to drive action on sustainability challenges. The Council provides practical guidance to corporate executives on overcoming barriers to achieve sustainability targets while maintaining financial value. Key figures in the Council include former executives from IKEA, Anglo American, EU Climate Action, and others, with publications stemming from the Council's discussions forthcoming.

The Australian new energy sector is undergoing significant changes as multiple factors influence its evolution in 2025. The introduction of the $22.7 billion ‘Future Made in Australia’ (FMA) package in the 2024 Federal Budget highlights the commitment to renewable energy, with support for critical mineral processing, renewable hydrogen, and offshore wind industry developments. Meanwhile, international dynamics, particularly from the US, present opportunities and challenges for Australia’s energy landscape. Overall, the country is positioned as a potential ‘Renewable Energy Superpower’.

US president Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders affecting climate and environmental policies, including a withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and a halt to new federal leases for offshore wind projects. In the UK, a report by the Office for Environmental Protection revealed that the government is not meeting its environmental targets and the urgency to reverse the decline of nature is increasing. In Colombia, farmers' organizations are promoting agrarian reform focused on land rights and sustainable practices as part of their demands in the upcoming conference on land reform scheduled for early 2026.

Czechia is pushing for a detailed evaluation of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as part of a review of the legislation due to take place before the end of 2025. This call aims to reduce administrative burdens associated with the implementation of this mechanism, reflecting Czechia's commitment to improving operational efficiency within the EU's carbon regulation framework.

The Kyoto climate treaty, while hailed on stage, is showing a different reality in practice. The Guardian article highlights this discrepancy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that nuclear energy prevented around 70 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions over the past five decades and continues to avoid more than 1 Gt CO2 annually. More than 20 countries declared to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. The IAEA is assisting countries in establishing or expanding nuclear power plants, providing technical expertise and capacity building. The UAE's Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is expected to supply around 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity, reducing carbon emissions by 22 million tonnes annually. France gets over 90% of its electricity from low-carbon sources, 70% from nuclear power. Sweden gets 94% from low-carbon sources, more than a third from nuclear.

The UK government implemented a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, aiming for 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans to be zero-emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035. The Labour government intends to accelerate this transition, potentially restoring the ban on Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars to 2030. A consultation is underway to refine the mandate's implementation.

The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) convened several events in 2024, including a Global Leadership Summit, a Chief Sustainability Officer Forum, and a Green Growth Summit, bringing together over 40,000 members from business, academia, and civil society to discuss challenges and opportunities for a sustainable economy. In 2025, CISL plans to expand its network geographically and create more opportunities for members to share insights and solutions.

South Africa expressed profound regret over the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The US played an important role in negotiating the agreement, and its withdrawal is seen as damaging to multilateralism and international law. South Africa urged the US administration to take its commitments seriously and consider the ramifications of its withdrawal. South Africa remains committed to the goals of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.