Global Climate News

The Japanese government showcased its Japan Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, highlighting exhibits on microbial functions in waste decomposition, creating water and energy; a biogas plant utilizing microorganisms to generate energy from food waste; and the display of a world-largest Martian meteorite and samples from asteroids Itokawa and Ryugu. The exhibition involves collaborations with several companies and research institutions.

The article compares Starlink satellite internet and 5G home internet, highlighting their benefits, coverage, performance, capacity, security, and cost. It mentions EcoFlow portable power stations as an alternative energy source for routers, with prices ranging from around $50 for the RIVER 3 to more for the DELTA series.

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen established fourteen Project Groups to deliver on political priorities. One of the Project Groups focuses on Clean Industrial Deal and is jointly chaired by three Commissioners. Other Project Groups cover Artificial Intelligence, External Action, Skills, Jobs and Social Rights, and other crucial areas.

India's ISRO plans key 2025 missions including Gaganyaan's uncrewed orbital test, two GSLV missions, a commercial LVM3 launch with AST SpaceMobile, and the NISAR Earth observation satellite collaboration with NASA. The NISAR satellite will provide data on agriculture, natural disasters, and climate monitoring.

India's Ministry of Science and Technology, under Dr. Jitendra Singh, highlighted the newly launched BIO-E3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment) Policy, aimed at boosting India’s biotechnology sector for economic growth, employment, and environmental sustainability. The Ministry also emphasized ongoing initiatives like the Deep Sea Mission and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) to foster innovation. India shared an ambitious timeline for space missions, including advancements in NAVIC, the Gaganyaan mission, and plans for a space station and moon landing.

India has launched the BIO-E3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment) Policy to boost its biotechnology sector and improve environmental sustainability. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), passed in 2024, is set to foster innovation in 2025. India also shared an ambitious timeline for space missions, including the Gaganyaan mission and the development of its own space station, Bharat Antariksh Station.

MIT's Associate Professor Matteo Bucci and his team have developed new experimental techniques and a unifying principle to address the boiling crisis in nuclear reactors, enhancing efficiency and preventing failures. Their research also focuses on two-phase immersion cooling for data centers, aiming to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions significantly. This work has implications for efficient energy production, electronics cooling, and more.

Taiwan's Executive Yuan has launched the \"Greater South New Silicon Valley Promotion Plan\" to integrate the Southern Taiwan semiconductor S-shaped corridor. The plan aims to upgrade AI technology and system development capabilities, driving digital and net-zero transformation across industries. It includes the construction of science and technology parks in Tainan, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung, focusing on semiconductors, biomedicine, precision machinery, optoelectronics, green energy, drones, space industry, and smart agriculture.

Taiwan announced the official start of its carbon fee system on January 1, 2025, as a step towards its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. The government also launched the Trillion NT Dollar Investment National Development Plan, including six major regional flagship projects to invest in public infrastructure and develop local industries, aiming to reduce urban-rural and wealth gaps.

Taiwan announced the official start of its carbon fee system on January 1, 2025, as part of its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The government also launched the Trillion NT Dollar Investment National Development Plan to expand investment in public infrastructure and local industries, aiming to narrow urban-rural and wealth gaps.

Malaysia, through a working visit by its Prime Minister to Shanghai and Beijing, has strengthened its investment ties with China. Several Chinese companies, including Jiangsu Longda Superalloy Co. Ltd., SICC Co., Ltd., and SEMCORP Co., Ltd., announced plans to expand operations in Malaysia, focusing on sectors like aerospace, semiconductors, and renewable energy. These investments are expected to create high-skilled jobs and boost Malaysia’s supply chains.

The US-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has made several advancements in clean energy and sustainability. ORNL researchers have achieved a world record in wireless power transfer (270 kilowatts), developed a new method for efficient lithium extraction, and are leading manufacturing initiatives for hydropower components. Their research also includes advancements in understanding plant carbon uptake and developing eco-friendly construction materials.

The UK Space Agency's National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) has funded two projects that use space technology to address climate change. SatVu, a UK SME, received £5.9 million to develop a satellite-based system for detecting heat loss, which will help the UK reach its Net Zero ambitions. Northumbria University received £4.98 million to develop a laser-based communication system for small satellites, improving data transmission capacity and security for future mega-constellations. NSIP funding also leveraged significant additional investment, creating jobs and boosting the UK space sector.

Japanese Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) was included in the \"World Index\" of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the second consecutive year. MHI scored in the 97th percentile within its industry, reflecting strong ESG initiatives and high-quality disclosure reports. The company actively pursues ESG measures to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability.

Globally, the space industry is generating increasing amounts of debris, posing a significant threat to various sectors. Astroscale, along with other aerospace companies, space agencies, and researchers, is working to address space debris and promote sustainable space practices. Initiatives like \"Space Trash Signs\" aim to raise public awareness of space pollution's consequences.

US-based Antares Nuclear Inc. chose Manufacturo’s integrated software solution to enable the production of its microreactors for terrestrial and space applications. These microreactors will be a critical asset for the Department of Defense and will also play an important role in commercial markets for providing clean energy.

Researchers have developed a comprehensive model for simulating the energy yield and temperature dynamics of hybrid perovskite solar cell-thermoelectric (PSC-TE) tandem devices. The study demonstrates significant efficiency improvements, with PSC-TE tandems achieving 5% higher efficiency under normal conditions, up to 35.4% in Antarctica, and reaching 76% efficiency in space applications. The research provides valuable insights for optimizing these devices for various real-world conditions.

Japan and US space agencies (MOE, JAXA, NIES, and NASA) have signed an Implementing Arrangement to continue and expand their collaboration on satellite data comparison of trace gases. The cooperation includes cross-calibration of data from Japan's GOSAT satellites and US's OCO satellites, and has been expanded to include GOSAT-GW and TEMPO satellites. The collaboration aims to improve observation accuracy and understanding of global trace gases distribution for climate change monitoring.

The UK and Switzerland have updated their science and research agreement to focus on green energy transition and other challenges. Innovate UK and Swiss innovation authority Innosuisse have awarded £8 million in joint funding to 11 UK-Swiss research projects, including work on CO2 emissions capture. The agreement includes commitments to deepen collaboration in space, AI, and climate research, with Lord Vallance visiting the University of Berne Climate Research Centre.

US-based NASA has launched multiple climate and Earth observation satellites in 2024, including PACE for monitoring ocean health and air quality, and TEMPO for neighborhood-level air pollution monitoring. The agency has also opened its second Earth Information Center and introduced a Disaster Response Coordination System for tracking extreme weather events. These initiatives aim to provide comprehensive data about climate change and environmental conditions to scientists and the public.