Global Climate News

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.

Thailand has unveiled initiatives to become a global leader in agriculture, using gene editing (GEd) to modernize its sector, combat climate change, and improve food security. The plan includes developing GEd crops like maize, soybeans, sugarcane, and medicinal herbs, reducing import reliance and creating high-value products. International collaborations with the US and Japan are supporting research and regulatory frameworks.

The Audubon Society's 125th Christmas Bird Count in Central Park, NYC, collected data on bird populations. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service use this data in reports on climate change and biodiversity loss. The count revealed a banner year for Tufted Titmice (283) and a record number of Red-tailed Hawks (25).

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s finalized power plant greenhouse gas standards will deliver significantly more emissions reductions by 2040 than predicted, at relatively small costs to industry. The standards ensure coal use continues to decline and cut carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 68-390 million tons annually in 2040.

Canada's Polar Knowledge Canada opened a new office in Whitehorse, Yukon, to strengthen relationships with researchers and Indigenous knowledge holders. Since 2021, it has provided over $4 million in grants for 25 Yukon projects and over $470,000 to 119 students for research. Research includes testing clean energy technologies to reduce fossil fuel dependence and understanding diseases affecting wildlife sustainability.

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.

India's ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region has developed over 100 climate-resilient crop varieties, increasing food grain and horticultural crop production by 30% and 40% respectively in the last 10 years. The focus on agri-based enterprises has led to a 25% increase in agri-entrepreneurs in the last five years. The President highlighted the climate resilience of tribal farming systems and urged the conservation of germplasm resources for agricultural sustainability.

\"International parties discussed marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) activities under the London Convention and Protocol. While some progress was made, no concrete action was taken. Differing opinions on commercial activity and governance were expressed among parties including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. The parties agreed to continue work and evaluate options for appropriate action, including considering both potential risks and benefits of mCDR techniques.\"

The UKAEA’s NEURONE consortium has achieved a breakthrough in producing fusion-grade steel on an industrial scale, potentially reducing production costs by up to 10 times and improving the efficiency of future fusion power plants. The ~£12M project involved universities and organizations across the UK and Australia.

The Pew Charitable Trusts, in collaboration with 32 international scientists, conducted a horizon scan identifying 15 significant issues shaping environmental conservation. Four key issues highlighted include: macroalgae as a sustainable source of rare earth elements; record low Antarctic sea ice impacting marine ecosystems; human impact on seabed carbon stores; and offshore wind farms altering ocean processes. The study was published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution and partially funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

France has experienced significant glacier melt, impacting Mont Blanc's stability and causing increased rockfalls. Geomorphologist Ludovic Ravanel's research highlights the link between climate change and these events, emphasizing the need for safety measures and route reassessment for mountaineers. The mayor of Saint-Gervais proposed a €15,000 deposit for climbers, covering rescue and funeral costs.

India launched the Genome India Project, sequencing the genomes of 10,000 individuals to understand India’s genetic landscape and develop effective treatments for diseases like sickle cell anemia. The project, involving over 20 research institutions, makes genomic data available at the Indian Biological Data Center. India also aims to boost its Bio Economy, recently launching the Bio E3 Policy to become a global biotech leader.

A Chinese research team, including researchers from Donghua University, Fudan University, and Inner Mongolia University, demonstrated the use of lithium titanium phosphate (LTP) with negative thermal expansion properties as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. This addresses the issue of declining battery performance in cold environments by facilitating lithium ion diffusion even at low temperatures. The research was published in Angewandte Chemie.

A survey revealed that concern about the climate crisis increases with age, with 23.4% of 18-24 year olds citing it as a main concern, rising to 37.8% for the 65-74 age group. Younger respondents prioritized concerns about food, fuel, electricity prices, and employment. The survey also showed a correlation between age and the importance placed on sustainability, with higher income individuals rating sustainability as more important.

The European Central Bank (ECB) analyzed the short-term effects of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) on European investment. The study found that while carbon price increases temporarily dampened domestic investment and shifted global FDI away from Europe, long-term benefits outweigh these short-term effects. High-carbon sectors, particularly construction, transportation, and manufacturing, were most affected. The analysis covered 2003-2019, excluding the pandemic.

Great Britain's battery energy storage revenues reached a two-year high in December 2024, driven by high wholesale prices and record Balancing Mechanism dispatches. Revenues increased 65% from November to £84k/MW/year. The new Quick Reserve service, launched December 3rd, contributed to record-high reserve revenues, five times higher than the previous record. Wholesale price spreads increased to £96/MWh on average, with peaks of £260/MWh and £409/MWh on December 11th and 12th, respectively.

A study across seven European neighbourhoods examined the impact of neighbourhood interventions on collective climate action. The interventions, including workshops and interactive events, aimed to strengthen collective motivation. While the small sample size limits conclusiveness, the study indicates potential for increasing social norms, neighbourhood identification, and reducing perceived barriers to action.

Germany's 2023 fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions reached 7.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with 8,096 tonnes of fluorinated greenhouse gases used. The most used fluorinated greenhouse gas was R 1234yf (2,007 tonnes). Fluorinated greenhouse gases accounted for 1.4% of all greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.

German Fraunhofer UMSICHT is showcasing mushroom materials as a bio-based, sustainable building material at the 2025 BAU trade fair. They are exhibiting applications like a 1 x 1.2-meter facade element combining photovoltaics and mushroom material insulation, developed with Fraunhofer ISE. The institute also offers a mycelium pilot plant for material production and prototype construction.

Germany-based Fraunhofer UMSICHT presented its expertise in the field of mushroom materials as a bio-based material at the BAU trade fair 2025. The institute showcased applications of materials made from fungal mycelium, including a facade element combining integrated photovoltaics, power generation, weather protection, and thermal insulation. The presentation highlighted the potential of mycelium materials for resource and climate protection in sustainable products.