Global Climate News

Germany-based Formo, a food tech company, received a €35 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to scale up its fermentation processes for producing dairy and egg alternatives. The loan, backed by the EU’s InvestEU guarantee, brings Formo’s total funding to over €135 million. Formo’s products are already sold in German and Austrian supermarkets.

The nova-Institute, together with award sponsor GIG Karasek, has announced the six nominees for the Cellulose Fibre Innovation of the Year 2025 award. Nominees include Fibers365 (Germany), Releaf Paper France, SA-Dynamics (Germany), Sci-Lume Labs (US), TMG Automotive (Portugal), and Uluu (Australia), showcasing innovative cellulose fibre products for various applications.

Danish startup EIVEE, providing carbon accounting solutions, attended Nordea’s investor speed dating. They help companies reduce their carbon footprint by calculating scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions. EIVEE had eight meetings with investors and received positive feedback.

India has organized India Energy Week 2025 (IEW’25) from February 11-14 in New Delhi, focusing on decarbonization, energy equity, and low-carbon economies. The event featured 70+ CEOs from major energy companies, 20+ foreign energy ministers, and discussions on clean power pathways, grid-scale energy storage, and methane mitigation. IEW’25 also highlighted India’s advancements in renewable energy and technologies like green ammonia and hydrogen production.

The Norwegian company Farmforce has developed a software solution to trace agricultural goods, helping its 70 customers meet sustainability targets by tracing crops of 1.1 million small farmers across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Farmforce, with financial support from Nordea, focuses on documenting the absence of child labor and deforestation in production. The company aims to improve farmers' living standards and empower them in the international market. The EU's deforestation-free regulation further emphasizes the importance of Farmforce’s work.

UK-based Cellcycle, part of The SER Group, developed a new direct recycling process for lithium-ion batteries using green solvents. This process recovers over 95% of cathode active material at temperatures below 80 degrees, reducing carbon emissions and eliminating the need for hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. Cellcycle also partnered with CL Refurbishments Ltd for a recycling solution for lithium thionyl chloride batteries.

Norwegian SINTEF and Heimdall Power have developed "Neuron", a sensor-equipped device that increases power line capacity by up to 35 MW for some lines, and 40% on average. This reduces the need for expensive and controversial new power lines, enabling faster electrification and renewable energy connection, and potentially avoiding environmental impact from new constructions.

US-based Emvolon, an MIT spinout, has developed a technology that repurposes automotive engines into modular chemical plants to produce green fuels like methanol and ammonia from methane emissions. The company has partnered with Montauk Renewables to build a commercial-scale demonstration unit in Texas, initially producing up to 15,000 gallons of green methanol per year, scalable to 2.5 million gallons. Emvolon also received a Department of Energy grant to adapt its process for solar and wind power sources.

India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) held a webinar on "Biomanufacturing for Climate Resilient Agriculture," focusing on sustainable biomanufacturing solutions for agriculture under the BioE3 Policy. The webinar included discussions on leveraging bioresources, sustainable practices, and technologies like synthetic biology and AI/ML to improve plant productivity and create bio-based solutions for climate-resilient agriculture.

The UK government announced a plan to unleash artificial intelligence across the UK, including initiatives to create AI Growth Zones, build a new supercomputer, and boost AI adoption in public and private sectors. The plan includes £14 billion investment from three tech companies (Vantage Data Centres, Nscale, and Kyndryl) and aims to create 13,250 jobs. A key focus is on sustainable energy for powering AI ambitions, with Culham, Oxfordshire, selected as the site for the first AI Growth Zone, leveraging the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority’s expertise in fusion energy.

India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy (500 GW by the end of this decade) and net-zero carbon emissions for the railway by 2030. The Prime Minister highlighted India's commitment to green energy, noting that India was the first country to meet the Paris Agreement commitments, nine years ahead of schedule. He also mentioned the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030, which India is set to achieve well before the deadline.

US-based MIT chemical engineer Zachary Smith is developing highly efficient filters to replace energy-intensive gas, liquid, and ion separation processes. His company, Osmoses, aims to reduce energy consumption by up to 90 percent in industrial processes by using room temperature membranes.

Swedish startup WorldFavor has created a platform used by over 20,000 organizations to access and share sustainability data, highlighting the role of digitalization in the transition to a sustainable future.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) Hub, a Masdar initiative, participated in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025 (ADSW 2025) from January 14-16 at ADNEC. The program focused on youth innovation in sustainability, STEM skills, and utilizing AI for climate solutions.

India's Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue focused on sustainable future with sessions on sustainable farming, and steering India towards a sustainable future. Experts from various fields shared their insights, and the event highlighted youth-focused initiatives in education, skill development, and entrepreneurship.

India's Vice President addressed Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)'s R&D Award Function, emphasizing the need for increased research and development in crucial sectors like defense and green technologies. He highlighted the importance of import substitution, collaboration between industries and academia (IITs, IIMs), and focusing on the Green Hydrogen Mission. A fiscal allocation of 6000 crores for quantum computing was mentioned.

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen established fourteen Project Groups to deliver on political priorities. One of the Project Groups focuses on Clean Industrial Deal and is jointly chaired by three Commissioners. Other Project Groups cover Artificial Intelligence, External Action, Skills, Jobs and Social Rights, and other crucial areas.

US-based Algaeo, founded by Nick Sokol, has developed a technology to produce organic fertilizers from microalgae. This reduces reliance on petroleum-based synthetic fertilizers, decreasing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Algaeo is part of the Innovation Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, utilizing ORNL resources to optimize its fertilizer production.

Wales-based green energy firm Haush has opened a new green hydrogen production facility in Pembroke Dock. By 2026, it will produce 5,000 kg of green hydrogen daily, increasing to 25,000 kg by 2028. The company is also investing in training programs to develop a skilled workforce for the green energy sector. The project received support from the Welsh Government.

India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue from January 10-12, 2025. One of the ten identified themes was \"Steering India Towards a Sustainable Future.\" 3000 young leaders presented innovative solutions for a developed India to policymakers and the Prime Minister.