Global Climate News

The Government of Canada announced a federal investment of over **$8 million** through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund to support the **Sustainable North: Our Workforce** project led by the Mine Training Society. - **Main action:** The Government of Canada is providing **over $8 million** via the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund to the Sustainable North: Our Workforce project to deliver **in-person skills training** to **nearly 1,850** mid-career and new workers, including **Indigenous people in remote communities** across the Northwest Territories; the project will **establish an advisory committee** of employers, industry stakeholders and community service agencies and is being delivered in partnership with **DeBeers Canada** and **Burgundy Diamond Mines**. - **Background and details:** This project is **one of eight initiatives** funded through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, which will support **more than 10,000 Canadian workers**; the call for proposals for the 2024 application period ran **March 8, 2024 to May 15, 2024** via the **Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS)** portal; the announcement references Canada's interim **Sustainable Jobs Plan 2023 to 2025**, and includes statistics such as **~1.3 million expected retirements** across sectors over the next three years and an RBC estimate of **~400,000 new jobs** demanded by the net-zero transition between 2021-2030.

China announced an absolute emissions reduction target and related clean-tech pledges. - **Main announcement:** China (announced by **Xi Jinping**) will **adopt an absolute emissions reduction target** for the first time: **cut greenhouse gases by 7–10% by 2035** (from an unspecified peak/year); **expand wind and solar capacity more than sixfold from 2020 levels**; and make **new energy vehicles the mainstream of new car sales**. - **Background and related developments:** The **EU missed the UN deadline** to submit updated targets and has issued a **statement of intent** proposing **66.25–72.5%** emissions reductions by **2035** while member states are divided over a **90% 2040** target; the article calls for Europe to agree a credible **2040** target and to back climate partnerships via the next **multiannual financial framework**, **technology-transfer instruments**, and **local content rules** (mentions partner countries **Brazil** and **India** and contrasts China’s export-and-investment model).

The Ministry of Environment and National Cheng Kung University co-hosted the “Net-zero Technology Strategy × Industrial Sustainability Summit” on September 26 at NCKU’s Gezhiy Hall, convening industry, government, academic, and research leaders to discuss concrete policy and technology solutions for industrial low-carbon transition. - **Main announcement/action:** The Ministry of Environment (Minister Peng Chih-ming present) and National Cheng Kung University **co-hosted the summit on 26 September** at **NCKU Gezhiy Hall**, focusing on supporting industry decarbonization through policy, funding, and technology; the Ministry stated **Taiwan's carbon pricing system began this year (Year 114)** and **~90% of obligated entities submitted voluntary reduction plans** to seek preferential rates. - **Background and details:** - **Event details:** Date: **September 26**; Time: **not specified in article**; Location: **NCKU (Gezhiy Hall)**; Agenda/subject: three themed sessions — 1) **Taiwan industry transition opportunities under global green competition** (speakers included China Steel, ITRI, Prof. Chen Zhi-yong from NCKU), 2) **Building low-carbon materials for semiconductor industry** (participants included China Steel, CPC, Formosa Petrochemical, Sheng Yi Chemical), 3) **Urban mining and strategic metals planning** (participants included Taiwan Jingcai, Lianyou Metals, Epoxy Technology, GreenRise International). The Ministry said **carbon pricing revenues will be used to support industrial low-carbon transitions**, and reiterated the **2030 emissions reduction target of 28 ± 2%**.

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.

BRGM has released a series of films illustrating applications of 3D subsurface modelling, produced with the help of l’Esprit Sorcier and published via BRGM's YouTube channel. - **Main announcement:** BRGM released a video series (produced with **l’Esprit Sorcier**) that demonstrates how the organisation uses **3D subsurface modelling** and software to address concrete problems across **groundwater resources**, **geothermal energy**, **mineral resources**, and **risk management**; films are available on BRGM's YouTube channel. - **Background and examples:** The North-Aquitaine model **MONA** has existed since the **1990s** and is described as the product of **30 years of research** to better understand **aquifer recharge**; example films listed include: **water in Nouvelle-Aquitaine**, **geothermal in Orléans**, **French tungsten**, and the **Le Teil earthquake** case.

The HKMA announced a set of actions to build a transition finance ecosystem in Asia, including taxonomy updates, guidance for banks on transition planning, enhanced disclosure alignment, and scaled capacity-building programmes. - **Main actions by the HKMA:** Published Phase 1 of the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance and launched a consultation on the prototype of **Phase 2A taxonomy** (expanding sectors, increasing activities from 12 to 25, adding **transition elements** such as interim decarbonisation targets, supportive measures, and sunset dates, and introducing a new environmental objective on **climate change adaptation**); issued **good practices** for bank transition planning (Dec 2024) and is revising **draft guidelines** after industry consultation; will align banking disclosure requirements with **ISSB Standards** and the **Basel disclosure framework** (Basel framework issued June 2025); administers the **CBSS** (since 2022) with **>7,600 reimbursements** approved amounting to **over HK$42 million**, and launched the **ECF-GSF** Professional Level module (Nov 2024). - **Background and implementation details:** HKMA framed the need with IMF estimates that **emerging and developing Asia needs at least US$1.1 trillion per year** for climate actions and faces an **investment shortfall of about US$800 billion**; the HKMA is the first Regional Anchor with the **IFC's Alliance for Green Commercial Banks** (Alliance has 18 member banks); event context: keynote delivered at the **CASI Sustainability Forum**, Hong Kong, **12 September 2025** (part of Hong Kong Green Week).

The Ministry of Economic Affairs published the "Annual National Power Resources Supply and Demand Report for Year 113" on 9/26, presenting a 10-year demand projection and supply planning for years 114–123. - **Main announcement:** The report projects an **average annual electricity demand growth of ~1.7%** for Years **114–123 (ROC calendar; roughly 2025–2034)** and plans to continue deploying **renewable energy and gas-fired generation** to ensure stable supply; it estimates a **net increase of 12.2 GW of gas generation capacity from 2025–2034** and sets **renewable share targets of 20% by 2026 and 30% by 2030**. - **Background and implementation details:** The assessment incorporated **AI demand, semiconductor expansion timing adjustments, and deep energy-saving measures**; it notes **first-half GDP growth of 6.75% and electricity consumption down 1.1% YoY**, reports the **Hsingta (興達) gas pipeline leak on Sept 9** which delayed the Hsingta new gas Unit 2 dispatch to **May of Year 115**, and includes updated private gas generation plans from **Guoguang Power** and **Mailiao Cogeneration**; daytime solar will be prioritized with **high-efficiency gas units, energy storage, and hydropower** used to meet night peak demand.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of a South Africa-US Trade and Investment Forum; its inaugural session will take place next year in South Africa alongside the South Africa Investment Conference. - **Main announcement/action:** **Establishment of a South Africa-US Trade and Investment Forum** with inaugural session **next year in South Africa**, intended to provide structure and continuity for addressing trade obstacles and pursuing investment opportunities. The speech also called for support to renew **AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act)**, which **expires later this month**, and noted **more than 600 US companies** already operate in South Africa. - **Background and details:** The address highlighted specific sectors for US investment and collaboration: **renewable energy projects**, **green hydrogen economy**, **digital infrastructure**, **advanced manufacturing** (including **automotives/EV and battery production**), **agro-processing and high-value food production**, **pharmaceuticals and healthcare manufacturing**, and **aerospace and defence**. It referenced the **African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)** as a market of **1.4 billion people**, and mentioned continuity of priorities from **B20** including the **green economy**, **SME support**, and the **digital transition**.

Ministry of Mines publishes an archive of press releases covering initiatives on critical minerals, auctions, MoUs, workshops, and campaigns from 2023–2025. - **Main announcement / scope:** The Ministry of Mines has compiled press releases documenting **auctions of critical & strategic mineral blocks (multiple tranches, including first-ever offshore auction)**, the launch and details of the **National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an outlay of Rs.34,300 crore over seven years**, and a **Cabinet-approved Rs.1,500 crore incentive scheme** for critical mineral recycling; entries span formal **MoUs, seminars, roadshows, and hackathons** held between 2023 and 2025. - **Background & supporting details:** Archive entries record **MoUs and cooperation** (e.g., with the IEA on critical minerals, GSI-CNR-IRPI Italy for landslide forecasting, India–Chile and India–Argentina cooperation on lithium and mining), **events/workshops** (critical minerals summits, AI-driven mineral targeting hackathon in Goa, national workshops on offshore mining), and **auction activity** (Tranche I–V completed; Tranche VI and EL auctions announced/ongoing) with dates and linked press documents in the archive.