Global Climate News

Brazilian and Swedish companies Vale and GreenIron signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on decarbonization projects. They will develop a feasibility study for a direct reduction facility in Brazil using green hydrogen and explore supplying Vale’s iron ore to GreenIron’s Swedish operations.

The United States hosted a technical program on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) from March 3-5, 2025, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. The event featured presentations and discussions on various themes including subsurface storage, site selection, injectivity challenges, and global CCUS implementation. Companies like Net Power, ExxonMobil, and Chevron participated, highlighting advancements in CO2 storage and utilization technologies. The program also included discussions on policy innovations for CCUS in India and a model for developing oil and gas regions globally, such as the Niger Delta.

Researchers at MIT assessed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) options for six Latin American countries. Under an ambitious scenario, SAF could reduce aviation emissions by 60% by 2050, requiring $204 billion in investment. The study recommends government policies to support SAF production and a regional collaboration to achieve decarbonization goals.

Chile's InvestChile agency reported a record US\$56.2 billion in foreign investment projects in 2024, a 68% increase from 2023. Green hydrogen projects accounted for US\$25.6 billion of this total. The energy sector led with US\$36.8 billion in investment, followed by mining (US\$8.6 billion) and global services (US\$5.4 billion). The United States was the leading source country with US\$20.5 billion in investment.

US-based Stony Brook University's Collaborative for the Earth (C4E) released the second season of its podcast, "C4E Presents." The podcast features conversations with Stony Brook researchers and scholars on climate change, including discussions on fossil fuels, genetically modified crops, and the roles of policymakers and corporations in fighting climate change. The podcast involves students and faculty from the School of Communication and Journalism.

Japan and Guyana discussed strengthening bilateral economic relations focusing on disaster prevention, climate change, and achieving carbon neutrality. They also confirmed continued cooperation towards the success of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

UK-based Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Stockholm Environment Institute have jointly developed and updated the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption (GEIC) Indicator tool. The tool provides data on biodiversity loss, water use, and deforestation associated with a country’s consumption and has been upgraded to a fully-fledged Official Statistic.

US-based Climate Program Office’s Adaptation Sciences (AdSci) and Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) programs supported a paper on co-producing knowledge systems for resilient coastal cities. The paper uses case studies in Miami, San Juan, and Baltimore to show how co-produced knowledge systems can improve responses to climate change in coastal areas.

In Zambia, GIZ, on behalf of the BMZ, enabled small-scale farmers to access weather-based insurance, pre-financing contributions and deducting them from farmer earnings. In Peru, GIZ, with Munich Re and the BMU, created a state-assisted agricultural insurance scheme covering over 310,000 farmers.

Mexico and Peru have implemented energy-efficient water purification methods, resulting in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. One Peruvian company reduced emissions by 20%, equivalent to 5,300 tonnes of CO2 annually, and aims for further reduction through biogas conversion. A Mexican company almost halved its emissions while doubling sewage treatment plant connections, achieving a 25% energy cost reduction despite increased service.

Colombia created a natural version of its national anthem using sounds of its biodiversity, including 41 birds, 3 amphibians, 1 jaguar, and whales. The project, sponsored by Sura and created by McCann Colombia and composer Miguel de Narváez, aimed to highlight Colombia’s biodiversity at the COP16 summit. Biologist Santiago Monroy and producer José Álvarez led a 12-day expedition across Colombia to record the sounds.

VINCI Airports exceeded its pre-COVID traffic levels in 2024, with over 318 million passengers (+3.7% compared to 2019 and +8.5% compared to 2023). Several airports within the network, including Lisbon, Santiago, Edinburgh, and Belgrade, reached record passenger numbers. Significant traffic acceleration was observed in Asia, particularly in Kansai airports (Japan) and Cambodia.

Peru-based Lima Expresa, a subsidiary of VINCI Highways, has reduced accidents by 74% since 2016, avoiding over 270 accidents. In 2024, accidents decreased by 8%. Improvements are due to AI-powered incident detection, partnerships with ATU and PNP, and road pavement investment.

Audubon has expanded its Audubon Photography Awards to include Chile and Colombia. The expansion will showcase bird photography and videography from these countries, highlighting the importance of bird conservation and migratory bird habitats. New awards, such as the "Aves sin fronteras" and "Conservación" awards, will focus on migratory species and conservation efforts. Audubon's work in the Americas addresses climate change and biodiversity loss.

The National Audubon Society announced the expansion of its 2025 Audubon Photography Awards to include Chile and Colombia. The competition will focus on migratory birds and the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, with new awards emphasizing conservation efforts. The entry fee is free for Chilean and Colombian residents, while it costs $15 per image/video for US and Canadian participants.

The National Audubon Society expanded its 2025 Audubon Photography Awards to include submissions from Chile and Colombia, in addition to the US and Canada. The contest aims to highlight bird conservation efforts in these biodiverse regions, focusing on the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on migratory birds. The awards include prizes for migratory species, habitats, and conservation. Entry is free for residents of Chile and Colombia, and $15 per image/video for US and Canada residents.

Audubon has expanded its Photography Awards to include Colombia and Chile, showcasing bird species and highlighting the challenges of migratory birds and their habitats. New prizes, including the Birds Without Borders Prize and the Conservation Prize, were introduced to emphasize the importance of international cooperation in bird conservation. Audubon's work in Colombia and Chile focuses on habitat protection, combating climate change impacts, and promoting sustainable practices.

The article discusses the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, highlighting the impact on wildlife, agriculture, and parks. It also covers the cancellation of a dredging project in Brazil for COP30 due to environmental concerns, Brazil's plans for Amazon shipping channels, and the legal challenge to a soy moratorium. Furthermore, it details the illegal rewilding of Eurasian lynx in Scotland and various other climate-related news and scientific findings.

The USDA published an interim rule on technical guidelines for climate-smart agriculture crops used as biofuel feedstocks. This will facilitate the recognition of climate-smart agriculture within clean transportation fuel programs, creating new market opportunities for biofuel feedstock producers while enhancing climate benefits.

Milbank LLP announced 17 new partners, effective January 1, 2025. Rachel Croft, Seyda Duman, and Kristine Wang are among the new partners specializing in the Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance Group. Miguel Duran focuses on renewable energy and infrastructure projects in the US and Latin America. Thomas Goslin focuses on environmental and social concerns in M&A and other transactions. Rhys Howard specializes in project financings across various sectors.