Global Climate News

The Nature Returns programme, led by Natural England in partnership with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, has published results demonstrating nature-based solutions' carbon and flood benefits. - **Programme achievements and interventions:** Over four years the six Local Partnership Projects across England delivered **800 hectares of habitat created**, **95,000 trees and shrubs planted**, **16 km of hedgerow restored**, **2.5 km of watercourses improved**, and engaged **over 7,000 people** with **400 volunteer days**. Projects trialled **3D laser scanning** to measure hedgerow carbon (finding hedgerows can rival woodlands) and identified **soil fungi** as an indicator for soil carbon; practical interventions included **leaky dams** that reduced peak flows by **12%** in Plymouth’s Seaton Valley. - **Funding, partnerships and monitoring:** The programme was funded by **HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund** and **Defra’s Net Zero R&D budget**, and worked with partners to develop **blended public-private finance models**. Sites will be monitored for **10 years** to track long-term carbon storage and biodiversity, with lessons feeding into England’s forthcoming **Land Use Framework**.

The fifth ASEAN Economic Ministers Consultation was held on 25 September 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, co-chaired by H.E. Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz (Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia) and Minister Liz Lloyd (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, UK). - **Main announcement/action:** The meeting reviewed ASEAN-UK economic cooperation and progress under the **ASEAN-UK Work Plan**, noting **UK-ASEAN trade of £53.9 billion** (four quarters to end Q1 2025) and **UK FDI into ASEAN of USD 18.7 billion in 2024**; the meeting recorded that **95 activities** across **11 priority areas involving 22 ASEAN Sectoral Bodies** were completed since 2024 with **an additional 80 activities planned**, and noted that **all three pillars of the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP) are now operational**. - Date: 25 September 2025 - Time: not specified in the source - Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Agenda/subject: review of the ASEAN-UK Work Plan and Joint Ministerial Declaration on Future Economic Cooperation; discussions on trade, FDI, EIP implementation, supply chain resilience, digital innovation, MSMEs, sustainable finance, and semiconductor supply chain initiatives. - **Background and implementation details:** The meeting highlighted UK support programmes and initiatives including **ASPIRE** (impact analysis for AEC Blueprint 2025), **ARVC II**, **AIPBI**, the **ASEAN Green Investment Catalyst** (launched December 2024), support for **AFISS** and semiconductor industry workshops, promotion of **DEFA**, skills and education programmes (ASLIP, ASEAN Chevening, ASEAN Women in STEM, RIDA, ASEAN i-Teams), and MSME/women entrepreneur support (SheTrades Outlook, AWEN). The meeting agreed to **review and update the Work Plan in 2026**, referenced cooperation on **WTO reform** ahead of **MC14 in Cameroon in March 2026**, and reaffirmed support for **Timor-Leste’s Roadmap to full ASEAN membership** with continued capacity building and technical assistance.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that distributed solar generating capacity is the fastest-growing power source in Brazil, reaching **40 GW** installed through **June 30, 2025**, and accounting for **43% of all electricity capacity additions since 2019**. - **Main finding & figures:** Distributed solar grew from <1 GW in 2018 to **40 GW** by June 30, 2025; utility-scale solar was **17.9 GW** at the same date; total solar represented **23%** of Brazil’s total electric generating capacity. The EIA cites ANEEL data showing **>3.7 million** renewable distributed generation systems installed as of June 30, 2025 and **99%** of distributed capacity is solar. - **Policy and project context:** Brazil’s **net metering** framework (ANEEL rules from **2012**, updated **2015**, and a **2022–2023** law/regulation) shaped eligibility and capacity limits (initially up to **1 MW**, raised to **5 MW** for solar in 2015; limits for systems with storage set at **3 MW** in 2022/2023). ANEEL lists **122 GW** of planned utility-scale solar projects in its data as of June 30, 2025, with **6 GW** currently under construction; the largest state distributed capacities are **São Paulo (5.8 GW)**, **Minas Gerais (4.9 GW)**, **Paraná (3.7 GW)**, **Rio Grande do Sul (3.4 GW)**, and **Mato Grosso (2.6 GW)**.

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne hosted a virtual meeting with provincial and territorial finance ministers to coordinate economic priorities ahead of Budget 2025 (meeting held September 26, 2025). - **Main announcement/action:** Minister François-Philippe Champagne provided updates on **trade negotiations with the United States** (noting **over 85 per cent of Canada-U.S. trade tariff-free**), discussed Canada’s response to **U.S. trade measures** and the **ongoing review of current surtaxes on imports from China**, and **highlighted the recently launched Major Projects Office** that will **fast-track nation-building projects — five of which are already under review**; he also noted **Budget 2025 will be tabled on November 4, 2025** and ministers discussed **joint procurement** to obtain better pricing/terms for governments. - **Background and other details:** The meeting included remarks from **Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem** and **Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers** on the economic outlook; related initiatives and links include the Prime Minister’s announcements on projects to be reviewed by the Major Projects Office and the **Build Canada Homes** launch (Associated Links: PM announcements).

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.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published Working Paper No.1292 on 26 September 2025 analysing the macroeconomic effects of weather disasters across up to 151 countries for 2000–24. - **Main analysis and findings:** The paper uses **panel local projections** to estimate cumulative effects on GDP over **16 quarters** and on prices over **12 months**, studying seven disaster types (cold waves, droughts, floods, heat waves, landslides, storms, wildfires). It reports **average-sized droughts, landslides and wildfires** reduce GDP by **−2%**, **−1%** and **−0.4%** respectively over four years; and finds **larger, more persistent increases in food prices** versus other CPI components. - **Scope, data and policy-relevant details:** Sample sizes vary by analysis: **89 countries** for quarterly real GDP growth (2000–24), **54–131 countries** for sectoral annual output, and **151 countries** for monthly inflation components. The paper highlights affected sectors (agriculture-forestry-fishing; mining-construction-water-energy) and notes that **fiscal space and insurance** can mitigate disaster impacts.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 9th AEM-Hong Kong, China Consultation held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. - **Main announcement:** The Meeting discussed the progress of implementation of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China FTA (AHKFTA) and the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Investment Agreement (AHKIA), **looked forward to the early signing of the First Protocol to Amend the AHKIA**, and **welcomed the first extension** of the AHKFTA Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH) Work Programme for **2025-2029**. - **Event details and background:** Participants included the ASEAN Secretary-General and AEM-Hong Kong, China representatives; **location:** Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; **date:** described as "today" in the release (exact date not specified in text); **agenda:** review AHKFTA and AHKIA implementation, advance the AHKIA First Protocol, and extend the ECOTECH Work Programme.

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 African Energy Week (AEW) announced that Invictus Energy will lead the Invest in Zimbabwe Energies Closed Door Summit, hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe, at AEW: Invest in African Energies in Cape Town (Sept 29–Oct 3, 2025). - **Main announcement/action:** Invictus Energy will lead the **Invest in Zimbabwe Energies Closed Door Summit** (hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe) during **AEW: Invest in African Energies (Sept 29–Oct 3, 2025, Cape Town)** to showcase opportunities across **gas, mining and energy**; Invictus has **green light in 2025 to begin pilot production**, including supplying gas to the **Eureka Gold Mine**, and is preparing to drill **Musuma-1 in H2 2025** (Musuma-1 targets **up to 1.2 trillion cubic feet** of gas). - Event sub-details: **Date:** Sept 29–Oct 3, 2025; **Location:** Cape Town, South Africa; **Agenda/subject:** Invest in Zimbabwe Energies Closed Door Summit — gas exploration & production, mining investment, cross-sector gas utilization. - **Background and additional details:** The Government of Zimbabwe holds a **Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement** with Invictus and has granted **National Project Status** to the **Cabora Bassa Project**; in **August 2025** Invictus signed a deal with **Al Mansour Holdings (AMH)** for AMH to acquire **19.9%** of Invictus and **mobilize up to $500 million** in conditional future financing to support exploration; Zimbabwe expects **coal production to rise 10.5% to 6.3 million tons in 2025** and has multiple hydropower projects (Lake Mutirikwi, Batoka Gorge, Osborne Dam Mini-Hydro).

Seventeen African governments committed to reforms and actionable National Energy Compacts under Mission 300 at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum to expand electricity access and help connect 300 million Africans by 2030. - **Main announcement/action:** Seventeen countries (Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Principe, Sierra Leone, and Togo) endorsed **National Energy Compacts**—practical blueprints integrating **infrastructure, financing, and policy**—aimed at expanding electricity access, guiding public spending, triggering reforms, and attracting private capital. The Mission 300 partnership (led by the **World Bank Group** and **African Development Bank Group**) reports **30 million people already connected** and **more than 100 million in the pipeline**, with the overarching target to connect **300 million Africans by 2030**. - **Background and implementation details:** Development partners supporting implementation include the **Rockefeller Foundation**, **GEAPP**, **SEforALL**, and the World Bank's **ESMAP** trust fund; many **development finance institutions** are providing co-financing and technical assistance. Earlier this year additional countries (Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, DRC, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia) endorsed Compacts and together pledged **more than 400 policy actions** to strengthen utilities, reduce investor risk, and remove bottlenecks. São Tomé and Principe's Compact specifically targets raising **US$190 million** from the private sector to finance its objectives, and multiple Compacts set the implementation timeline of achieving **universal access by 2030**.

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.