Global Climate News

The federal government is investing in retrofits and energy upgrades for the Canora Community League building in Edmonton through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program. - **Main announcement/action:** The Government of Canada is investing **$679,513** (GICB) to support retrofit works at the Canora Community League hall in Edmonton, including **improved insulation**, **solar features**, **geo-thermal heating**, widened entryway, upgraded bathrooms, new flooring, improved signage, and other **climate resilience enhancements**; the Canora Community League is contributing **$169,533**. - **Background and additional details:** These enhancements are expected to **reduce energy consumption by an estimated 100%** and cut **greenhouse gas emissions by 50.6 tonnes annually**; the GICB program launched in 2021 with an initial **$1.5 billion** over five years and Budget 2024 added **$500 million** to support projects through 2029; at least **10% of GICB funding** is allocated to projects serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

The Government of Canada, together with the Government of New Brunswick and the Town of Grand-Bouctouche, has announced funding to renew Bouctouche Rotary Park's natural environment and protect its shoreline (news release dated September 26, 2025). - **Main announcement/action:** The three levels of government are providing a **combined investment of $1.2 million** to restore the park's riparian zone and shoreline, including planting **more than 700 trees, shrubs, and plants**, and creating **accessible green spaces** with walkways, trails, signage, lighting, and benches; federal contribution is **$835,000 via the Natural Infrastructure Fund**, New Brunswick is contributing **$104,375**, and the Town is contributing **$260,625**. - **Background and implementation details:** Funding is provided through the **Natural Infrastructure Fund** which supports natural/hybrid approaches to climate resilience and biodiversity; federal funding is **conditional on Indigenous consultation and environmental assessment requirements**, and the announcement links the project to the federal **Atlantic Growth Strategy**.

The National Treasury has published the Section 71 fourth quarter report for the 2024/25 municipal financial year ending 30 June 2025 (published 26 September 2025). - **Main publication and high-level results:** The report covers **financial and MFMA Circular No. 88 non-financial performance** for **257 municipalities**, reporting **aggregate spending of R597.2 billion (89.8% of adjusted expenditure R665.5 billion)**, **aggregate billed revenue R617.3 billion (93% of adjusted revenue R663.5 billion)**, **capital expenditure R52.1 billion (65.2% of R79.9 billion adjusted capital budget)**, and **49 municipalities with negative cash positions** as at 30 June 2025. It also details conditional grants: **R43.2 billion allocated for direct conditional grants, R42.0 billion transferred, R1.2 billion returned to the NRF**, NTO reported spending R36.1 billion (83.6%) and municipalities reported spending R28.6 billion (66.1%). - **Background, specific grant and debt details:** The publication highlights **aggregate municipal consumer debt R427.7 billion** (R307.5 billion household component), **outstanding creditors R156.1 billion (72.8% >90 days)** with provinces listed for highest >90 day creditors (Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West), **underspending patterns** (total underspending R86.5 billion), and **capacity/disaster grants**: R2.3 billion transferred for capacity grants with municipalities reporting 64.3% expenditure including a **Municipal Disaster Response Grant (MDRG) of R378.4 million** disbursed across six provinces. The report functions as an **in-year management and early warning tool** and provides detailed Annexure A tables and downloadable schedules on the National Treasury website.

KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) has announced the third KIT Science Week 2025 themed **"City of the Future"**, running from **14–19 October 2025**, combining a scientific congress with participatory public events and the InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital. - Main announcement and format details: **KIT Science Week 2025** is a week-long, participative event mixing a top-level scientific conference and public programming focused on **sustainable architecture, smart mobility, urban planning, digital innovations, and AI**; **InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital** will take part to showcase digital solutions and startups. More than **half of the events target children, adolescents, families, and school classes**; KIT is presented as **The Research University in the Helmholtz Association** with about **10,000 employees** and **22,800 students** (institutional background). - Event highlights, dates, times, locations and agenda/subject (verifiable facts): - **Official Opening / Keynote** — Tuesday, 14 Oct 2025, **19:30 hrs**, KIT Audimax, Straße am Forum 1, 76131 Karlsruhe; keynote by **Sabine Knierbein** (TU Vienna); exhibition opens 18:00 hrs. - **Scientific Conference: "Urban Transformation"** — Wed 15 Oct to Fri 17 Oct 2025; researchers present and discuss urban-space research; public "Keynote in Dialogue" on Wed 15 Oct at 18:30 hrs. - **Science on the Rocks** — Wed 15 Oct 2025, starting **18:00 hrs**, Karlsruhe Oststadt (three bars: Gazebo 18:00–19:00, Maschinenhaus 19:30–20:30, Gottesauer Eck 21:00–22:00); topics include **AI, nutrition, mobility, architecture**. - **Autonomous Driving debate ("13 Questions")** — Thu 16 Oct 2025, **19:00–21:00 hrs**, TOLLHAUS cultural center, Alter Schlachthof 35; interactive debate on autonomous local transport. - **InnovationFestival @karlsruhe.digital** — Fri 17 Oct 2025, **14:00–19:00 hrs**, ZKM Media Theater and via Live Stream; spotlight on digital sovereignty, AI in cities, mobility, energy supply, and urban infrastructure. - **Lecture: Christian Ude — "Nachhaltigkeit ist mehr – Städte in Zeiten des Klimawandels"** — Fri 17 Oct 2025, **17:00–18:30 hrs**, KIT Audimax; admission free, no prior registration required. - **Dialogue with citizens: "Turbulenzen global, mitgestalten lokal"** — Sat 18 Oct 2025, **14:00–18:00 hrs**, TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum, Kaiserstraße 93; prior registration required. - **Nerds at Work (MAITHINK X-Science podcast recording)** — Sat 18 Oct 2025, **20:00–22:30 hrs**, Kulturzentrum TOLLHAUS; presenters Dr. Jens Foell and Dr. Christian Scharun; prior registration required.

The London Assembly Environment Committee has published the report "Parks: Under pressure" (published 26 September 2025) following an investigation into funding challenges for London’s parks, climate adaptation needs, and inclusion. - **Main announcement/action:** The Committee calls on the **Greater London Authority (GLA)** to fund the **creation of new parks**, support **sustainable drainage systems** and climate-adaptive planting in existing parks, and to fund **Parks for London** to develop resources (including case studies on innovative funding such as **habitat banks for biodiversity net gain**) and to create stronger links between parks and **NHS** health provision. The report notes **London's population has grown by over two million since 2000**, cites a target of **88,000 new homes a year**, and says **local authority parks budgets have fallen by approximately 8% since 2008** while the capital's population has risen by **over 15%**. - **Background and implementation details:** The report recommends the **new London Plan** include **minimum standards** for green space per person and reaffirm access to high-quality green space within **800m** (ten-minute walk). It also recommends the GLA fund a **biennial (every two years) London-wide survey** of parks users and volunteers to track diversity and barriers to volunteering, and highlights examples and resources to address strategic challenges facing parks. (Leonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is noted as available for interview.)

The Western Cape Government completed a benchmarking engagement with São Paulo ahead of the 12th Regional Leaders’ Summit (RLS). - **Main action:** The Western Cape conducted a benchmarking visit to **São Paulo (population ~20 million)** to study advanced **infrastructure and logistics** (road networks, port management, urban planning) and to gather lessons to adapt for the Western Cape in preparation for the **12th RLS in November 2025**. - **Background & focus areas:** Engagement covered **economic development and tourism**, **innovation and technology (including artificial intelligence and digitalisation)**, **climate change and sustainability**, and **safety and security** (including study of **São Paulo’s State Military Police model**). - 12th Regional Leaders’ Summit (RLS): - Date: **November 2025** - Location: **Cape Town, South Africa** - Theme/Agenda: **"Growth through Economic Resilience"**

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.

Great British Energy and the UK government have announced the rollout of rooftop solar panels for schools and NHS sites funded by a £180 million programme to cut bills and reinvest savings into frontline services. - **Main announcement/action:** Great British Energy (publicly owned) and government are funding rooftop solar for schools and hospitals with **£180 million total funding** (England: **£80m** for ~200 schools; **£100m** for nearly 200 NHS sites). So far **5 NHS sites** and **11 primary schools** have been fitted (5 NHS + 3 schools completed over summer, with **8 more schools due in autumn**). The installations completed to date have a combined NHS project cost of **£704,332** and capacity **474 kW**, and a combined schools project cost of **£1,269,133** and capacity **626 kW**. All schools and hospitals under the scheme are expected to have Great British Energy solar power up and running by **April**. - **Background and details:** The programme includes a **£10 million** Great British Energy grant fund for Mayoral Authorities and separate devolved government allocations totalling **£9.35 million** (Scotland **£4.85m**, Wales **£2.88m**, Northern Ireland **£1.62m**). Current estimates: completed NHS installs are projected to deliver yearly average net savings of **£63,200** and lifetime savings of **£1.894 million** (30-year lifetime assumption); schools completed projects show yearly average net savings **£63,200** and lifetime **£1.8967 million**. The Energy Secretary expects Great British Energy to produce a **strategic plan within 6 months**.

The federal government is investing $1,390,850 through the Natural Infrastructure Fund to support natural infrastructure enhancements in five Alberta communities (Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Nanton, Brooks) announced on September 25, 2025. - **Main action:** The Government of Canada is providing **$1,390,850** via the **Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF)** to fund water system improvements, ecological restoration, urban forestation, green roofs, stormwater retention/diversion, and other naturalization projects across **five Alberta communities** (Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Nanton, Brooks). Municipal and other contributors are providing **$887,713** toward these projects. Funding examples include establishing native Aspen Parkland grasses and Boreal shrub/tree plantings at the Edmonton Valley Zoo and converting **2.1 acres** of parkland in Calgary to an urban forest with stormwater grading. - **Background and conditions:** NIF supports nature-based and hybrid approaches to **climate resilience, carbon mitigation, and biodiversity**; a minimum of **10% of the overall program envelope** is allocated to **Indigenous-led projects** and federal funding is **conditional on fulfilling consultation requirements with Indigenous groups**. The release references PrairiesCan's prior commitment of **$100,000,000 over three years** under the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy (launched December 18, 2023).

The federal government is investing more than $1.3 million through the Natural Infrastructure Fund to support five natural-infrastructure projects across Alberta. - **Main announcement:** The Government of Canada (through the Natural Infrastructure Fund) is providing **more than $1.3 million** in federal funding to five Alberta projects: **Brooks (École Le Ruisseau Parent Society) – $200,000; Calgary (Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Community Association) – $200,000; Edmonton (The Valley Zoo Development Society) – $622,770; Grande Prairie (Grande Spirit Foundation) – $168,080; Nanton (Town of Nanton) – $200,000**. These amounts are listed as **Federal Funding** for each project. - **Project and funding details:** Projects include creation/renaturalization of urban forest and natural recreation areas, stormwater retention grading, boreal ecosystem planting and green roof restoration, creek bank stabilization, community garden and a pocket park with a rain garden and bioswale. **Municipal funding** listed: Brooks $0; Calgary $0; Edmonton $220,000; Grande Prairie $26,520; Nanton $50,000. **Other funding** listed: Brooks $330,500; Calgary $80,000; Edmonton $155,693; Grande Prairie $25,000; Nanton $0.