Global Climate News

US-based Mauser Packaging Solutions has embraced environmentally beneficial practices through its True Sustainability initiatives. The company has committed to using recycled materials in their products and providing solutions for recovering used packaging. They continue to explore sustainable technologies and processes, aiming to reduce environmental impact while meeting customer needs for sustainable packaging solutions.

The EU's expert group on climate change policy (CCEG) is currently accepting applications from organizations to enhance the aviation formation. The CCEG aims to strengthen discussions and effectively implement the EU ETS Directive for aviation. The selected members will contribute to achieving the EU's target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Additionally, a new support mechanism to accelerate the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) has been introduced, allocating 20 million allowances worth an estimated €1.6 billion. The first meetings will begin in 2025.

Thailand-based Unithai Group and CUEL organized the charity run event "UNITHAI-CUEL Run for Charity 2025, 3rd edition" on February 16, 2025, at Nongnooch Garden in Pattaya, Chonburi. The event raised net proceeds of 1,400,000 baht, which will be donated to the Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Sriracha. The run aimed to raise awareness about health care and support cancer patients while encouraging participants to exercise for better health. This initiative aligns with Unithai's commitment to sustainable business practices and community development.

US-based Toyota Motor North America announced efforts to assist communities affected by recent storms in the Southeastern and Eastern United States. They contributed to The American Red Cross and SBP and matched donations made by their employees to support these organizations. Additionally, Toyota Financial Services provided payment relief options to affected customers in the disaster areas, including deferred payments and billing statements adjustments.

PPG, a US-based company, and its foundation invested $18.4 million in 2024 to advance education and community sustainability across more than 30 countries. This included $11.5 million towards building the next generation of STEM leaders, partnerships with the Foundation for Environmental Education, and initiatives like 'Girls in Tech' in Brazil. Furthermore, PPG made commitments towards environmental sustainability education, contributing $1.2 million towards this goal, and supporting disaster relief efforts with $6.4 million.

India's government has committed to reducing carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, recognizing the need for sustainable growth. The upcoming WBCSD India Connect event will focus on practical solutions for supply chain decarbonization, circularity, and renewable energy leadership. India aims for an annual production of 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030, enhancing its position in the clean energy sector. Collaboration with Germany on low-carbon building transition projects underscores India's commitment to sustainable infrastructure.

Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering and Organization (IAO) developed the CYCLOMETRIC project, allowing businesses to integrate sustainability assessments and circular economy concepts early in product development. Their innovative software provides real-time estimates of CO₂ emissions and environmental impacts from the initial idea, promoting sustainable design. They collaborated with an automotive manufacturer and design agency to create an interactive car console demonstrating sustainable materials and designs.

The US government signed three executive orders on January 20, 2025, focusing on climate and energy policies. These orders aim to strengthen energy security and economic competitiveness by accelerating fossil fuel production and infrastructure expansion. Despite federal rollbacks, states like California continue to enforce strict climate regulations. The orders also involve the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and cessation of federal climate finance contributions, prompting corporations to potentially increase their role in climate funding. Microsoft, for instance, remains committed to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2025.

WBCSD and VINCI have launched an online course titled "Fair Recruitment Toolkit in Practice." This interactive e-learning aims to equip employers with knowledge and resources to implement fair recruitment practices. The self-paced course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and builds on the Fair Recruitment Toolkit developed under the Business for Inclusive Growth initiative. The course content, created in collaboration with Control Risks, is structured into six interactive modules focusing on mitigating risks faced by migrant workers.

Norway's parliament (Stortinget) has recently decided to allow development projects in protected waterways, which previously were safeguarded from water power development. This decision has sparked intense debate about the potential loss of valuable natural heritage. Researchers from NTNU and SINTEF are now working to gather new data on the state of these protected waterways and the implications of any developments.

Thailand-based Tata Steel Manufacturing (Thailand) Public Company Limited received the CSR-DPIM Award 2024 on February 14, 2025. Their NTS Plant earned the CSR-DPIM Continuous Award 2024 (Platinum Level) for demonstrating continuous CSR efforts for over five years. The SISCO and SCSC Plants also received the CSR-DPIM Continuous Award 2024, recognizing their sustained commitment to corporate social responsibility. The awards were presented during a ceremony attended by Mr. Aditat Wasinnon, Director-General of the Department of Primary Industries and Mines, at the Rama Gardens Hotel in Bangkok.

The report titled 'Decisions That Define: Executive Strategies Driving Corporate Sustainability' highlights that sustainability is now a core business strategy. In 2025, the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Directive (CSRD) will require standardized ESG reporting from thousands of companies. Many organizations, including Palo Alto Networks, aim to reduce Scope 3 emissions, with the goal of a 90% reduction by 2040. Dell has implemented liquid cooling technology to enhance performance and reduce energy consumption, while HP Renew Solutions refurbishes over three million devices annually.

US-based Avnet Cares awarded seven community grants focusing on environmental initiatives. One recipient, Stardust Non-Profit Building Supplies in Phoenix, has diverted nearly 80 million pounds of usable building material from landfills through its deconstruction activities. Stardust completes approximately 400 salvage jobs each year and supports 36,000 individuals by making recovered materials available at discounted prices for low-income homeowners.

US-based Microsoft has made significant progress on its sustainability journey, aiming to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030. They have contracted a 34-gigawatt renewable energy portfolio across 24 countries and have exceeded their land protection goal by protecting 15,849 acres. Innovations in energy and resource efficiency are part of their strategy, alongside a $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund launched in 2020.

US-based Pivot Bio has engineered nitrogen-producing microbes to reduce dependency on synthetic fertilizers. Their product allows farmers to replace up to 40 pounds per acre of traditional nitrogen, effectively minimizing nitrogen runoff and enhancing crop sustainability. As of 2023, Pivot started the N-Ovator program, connecting sustainable farming companies with growers using their microbial nitrogen, significantly impacting hundreds of thousands of tons of CO2 equivalent reduction. The program has already paid out millions of dollars to farmers for adopting these sustainable practices.

US-based Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team partnered with Chestnut Carbon to restore 200 hectares of forest in the Southeastern US. The project involves planting 260,000 native trees, aiming to sequester 5,500 tons of CO2 by 2030. This initiative supports the team's goal of achieving Net Zero by 2030.

The U.S. government has committed to achieving net-zero emissions from commercial aviation by 2050. Current projections indicate that U.S. commercial aviation could produce nearly 500 million tons of CO2 per year by mid-century without intervention. Strategies include utilizing new airplane designs, improving air traffic management efficiency, and transitioning to 100% sustainable aviation fuels.

Thailand-based Unithai Shipyard & Engineering Ltd. received the CSR-DIW Continuous Award for the 13th consecutive year, recognizing its commitment to corporate social responsibility. This award highlights the company's initiatives in promoting social and community responsibility standards as part of the sustainable community economic development project. The company emphasized human rights, labor practices, environmental concerns, and community development through various projects, such as vocational training for students and supporting local fishery groups.

Netherlands-based Meatable has collaborated with Pelagen to enhance the production of animal-free leather using opti-ox™ technology. This partnership aims to improve the efficiency and scalability of sustainable leather manufacturing. The collaboration includes generating effective media compositions and processes to lower costs, enhance speed and quality. Meatable's CEO highlighted the company's commitment to a sustainable future and its impact beyond the food industry.

US-based PPG Industries has completed a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project in collaboration with Heart of America, revitalizing the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This initiative marks the 10-year anniversary of the COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® program, which aims to enhance learning environments. PPG committed $15 million to extend the program for another decade, highlighting their long-term dedication to community engagement and education for youth. They also distributed $1 million in celebration grants this year to support partner organizations globally.