Global Climate News

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has published an intended recommendation to revoke the countervailing measure on imports of continuous filament glass fibre products from Egypt. - **Main action:** The TRA intends to **revoke the countervailing measure** because there is **no current UK production** of the material and therefore **no UK industry suffering injury**; the TRA's Statement of Essential Facts (SEF) is open for comments until **11:59pm GMT on 10 November 2025**. The UK imported **over £35 million** of glass fibre in 2024, **7.5% from Egypt**, and the TRA estimates removing the measure could **save UK users import costs**; the removal would take effect from **26 June 2025** (the date the measure would have expired absent a review). - **Background & process:** The TRA **initiated a transition review** on **20 March 2025** of a measure that was one of **43 inherited from the EU**; the period of investigation was **1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024** (injury assessed from **1 January 2021 to 31 December 2024**). Interested parties can comment on the SEF via the **Trade Remedies Service**. Goods reviewed include **chopped glass fibre strands (≤50mm)** and **glass fibre rovings** (with specified exclusions).

The CNRS has announced the MPsizeBase, a database to align and extrapolate published environmental microplastic (MP) particle number size distributions (PSD) to common size ranges (e.g., 1–5000 μm). - **Main announcement/action:** The CNRS **MPsizeBase** compiles **~50 peer‑reviewed studies (~100 PSDs)** covering **aerosols, atmospheric deposition, surface ocean and subsurface ocean**, fits **cumulative PSDs (C-PSD)** with a **power law** to **extrapolate** and **align** MP number concentrations to user‑chosen size ranges (example: 1–5000 μm), and **estimates size‑aligned mass concentrations** assuming particle shape and volume. The resource is accessible via **https://www.get.omp.eu/mpsizebase/** and **Zenodo (10.5281/zenodo.17380284)**. - **Background and implementation details:** Database entries are limited to **peer‑reviewed studies (sampling years 2010–2023)** and include **QA/QC indicators** (published PSD counts, approximate counts per sample). The MPsizeBase pipeline (digitize PSDs, normalize by bin size, convert to cumulative C-PSD, assign lower and upper LODs, fit linearized power law, extrapolate via Eq.1) addresses **binning bias** and **lower/upper limits of detection (LOD)**; datasets must retain **≥3 bins after LOD assignment**. Users are invited to contribute additional datasets including **soils, sediments and biota**.

The AMF draws listed companies' attention to ESMA's 2025 recommendations on sustainability reporting. - **Main announcement:** The AMF highlights ESMA's publication of the 2025 European Common Enforcement Priorities (ECEP) on **14 October 2025** and presents ESMA's specific recommendations for preparing sustainability statements under the **CSRD/ESRS** framework for the 2025 reporting period. **Key timelines and measures:** European Commission Omnibus published **February 2025** (includes the “Stop the Clock” directive postponing CSRD implementation for large unlisted companies and SMEs by **two years**); ESRS **quick‑fix** extends transitional provisions allowing listed companies to apply simplified ESRS rules for their **second sustainability report**; taxonomy reporting quick‑fix may be voluntarily applied from **2026** if published on time. **Supervision:** 2025 is the first year European regulators supervise listed companies' sustainability statements; the AMF is the competent authority in **France** and adopted a pragmatic approach and **will not** adopt ESMA's GLESI in 2026 due to incomplete CSRD transposition by Member States. - **Background and specific recommendations:** ESMA reconducted two 2024 priorities for 2025: **(1) Materiality assessment** — disclose input parameters (sources, scope, assumptions), materiality thresholds, stakeholder consultation, link results to **company strategy and business model**, and use ESRS topic categories where possible; **(2) Scope & structure of the sustainability statement** — align consolidation scope with financial statements, disclose value‑chain coverage and limitations, explain changes in target scope year‑on‑year, encourage referencing specific Disclosure Requirements (e.g., **"E2-5"**), and ensure **connectivity** between sustainability and financial information.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has announced a partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2025 to promote sustainable production, local manufacturing, circular fashion, and regional value chains across Africa. - **Partnership details:** AFC will be a key partner for **Lagos Fashion Week 2025**, supporting **sustainable production**, **local manufacturing**, and **value addition** across the fashion and textiles value chain. The announcement highlights AFC’s role via its investee **ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP)** and projects such as the **Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ)** in Benin Republic. The 2025 edition will spotlight **circular fashion**, **responsible sourcing**, and **regional value chains**. - **Background & project specifics:** AFC notes **Africa’s apparel and textile exports are projected to reach $15 billion by 2030**; AFC-backed projects have collectively **added over US$50 billion to GDP** and **supported the creation of 7 million jobs** across 36 countries. The GDIZ is described as hosting textile factories that process African cotton into finished garments for global retailers (including **The Children’s Store** in the United States), using **100% sustainably sourced cotton**, running **exclusively on renewable energy**, and **recycling up to 95% of its water**.

The Environmental Protection Administration's Central Regional Environmental Management Center discovered and reported a PU synthetic leather manufacturer in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park for deliberately misreporting materials and evading air pollution control fees; the case is under criminal investigation by the Changhua District Prosecutors Office. - **Main action:** The EPA Central Regional Environmental Management Center, together with Changhua County Environmental Protection Bureau, Changhua District Prosecutors Office, the Investigation Bureau (Ministry of Justice), and the National Police Agency Special Police Corps, conducted a joint enforcement in June 2025 (114年6月) and found the company **emitted toluene at 24× the regulatory limit**, **falsely declared use of water-based resin** while actually using solvent-based resins containing toluene and MEK, and **evaded air pollution control fees**; the prosecutors are handling criminal charges under **Air Pollution Control Act Articles 53 and 54**. - **Details & penalties:** Enforcement began in June 2025 with administrative inspections and sampling; authorities will **pursue back payment of evaded air pollution control fees for up to 5 years**, may **reclaim twice the short-paid amount**, and criminal penalties include **up to 7 years imprisonment** and **fines of NT$1,000,000–NT$15,000,000**; the EPA warns operators to honestly apply for permits and report fee changes.

Doctoral student Jibin Antony at NTNU has tested methods to make bismutite more effective as a solar photocatalyst for water purification. - **Main announcement:** Antony tested three modification methods on **bismutite (bismuthite)** to enhance solar-driven photocatalysis: **silica (SiO2) modification** which improves adsorption and creates structural defects; **plasmonic gold nanoparticles (elongated shapes)** that act as light "antennas" and markedly improve photocatalytic activity; and **basic etching** which alone gave limited gains but can amplify the other methods. Experiments targeted degradation of dyes (referenced: methylene blue) and results are reported in papers published in **2023** (Catalysis Today; Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences). - **Background and details:** Bismutite occurs naturally and is available in parts of **Norway**, but is initially active mainly under **UV light**; the goal is to enable activity under broader **solar spectrum**. The work is experimental research published with specific references (DOIs provided); no financial figures or commercial deployment timelines are given.

MIT CSAIL and Adobe Research introduced Refashion, a modular clothing design tool that produces blueprints for reconfigurable, reusable garments (lead author: Rebecca Lin). - **Main announcement:** MIT CSAIL (Rebecca Lin, EECS PhD student) and **Adobe Research** released the Refashion software system that breaks garment design into **modular building blocks**, automatically generates assembly diagrams, and enables 3D simulation; the work was presented at the **ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology** and supported by **MIT Morningside Academy for Design**, an **MIT MAKE Design-2-Making Mini-Grant**, and the **Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)**. - **Details & features:** Refashion's **Pattern Editor** lets users connect grid points to create panels and modules (examples: **pleat**, **gather**, **dart**), offers connector options (metal **snaps**, **Velcro dots**, **brads**), auto-numbers pattern blocks for assembly on a 2D mannequin, supports 3D model simulation (uploadable models), and in a **preliminary user study** designers and novices produced prototypes (e.g., asymmetric top to jumpsuit or formal dress) often **within 30 minutes**; the team plans to add support for **durable fabrics**, **curved panels**, material-minimizing optimizations, and patchwork/color/texture tools.

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of Taiwan is participating in the 2025 Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) Smart Sustainability Pavilion to showcase resource-circulation innovation. - **Main announcement/action:** The EPA (Resource Circulation Agency) is exhibiting a resource-circulation themed booth under the curation concept **"AI innovative technology combined with green design"**, inviting industry participants and naming TV host **Wu Yi-pei** as resource-circulation promotion ambassador; Deputy Director **Xu Zhi-lun** highlighted that the EPA successfully secured a **"Green Growth Fund"** of **百億元** from the National Development Council to subsidize circular-innovation projects and support policy implementation. - **Background and program details:** The exhibition gathers multiple industry showcases: **AI-enabled recycling** (Ruicheng Plastics, Yike Recycling), **AIoT agricultural circular solutions** (Womu Technology), **sustainable materials** (Cheng Shin Rubber bicycle tires using sustainable materials; Aixinhua Technology/RhinoShield 100% recycled phone cases; Wuyang Enterprise recycled fiberboard), and processes such as **low-carbon recycled casting sand** (Li-Lian Resource Technology). The EPA also noted ongoing policy work including the **Resource Circulation Promotion Act**, the **8+N Resource Circulation Alliance**, and the **Circular Re-Design Center** to link technology, market, and finance. Event details: - Date: October 16–18, 2025 (Taiwan year 114, 10/16–10/18) - Location: Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1, Xinyi District, Taipei (Taipei City, Xinyi Rd. Section 5, No. 5) - Agenda/subject: Smart Sustainability Pavilion showcasing circular economy technologies, AI-enabled recycling solutions, green materials demonstrations, and public engagement including live broadcasts with the ambassador.

The Industrial Technology Division of the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced the opening of the Taiwan Innovation Expo (TIE), showcasing 65 technologies across six fields at the Innovation Economy Pavilion. The exhibition runs from October 16 to October 18 at Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1, Pavilion D. - **Main announcement:** The MOEA Industrial Technology Division presented **65 innovations** spanning **AI computing, smart manufacturing, net-zero sustainability, next-generation communications, semiconductors, and precision health** at TIE; marquee exhibits include a **5.5 m 'technology waterfall'** from ITRI (originally at the Osaka Expo) that can drive **>500 displays and robotic arms** with **~20 ms** synchronization precision, and ITRI's **large AI model edge computing integration** that improves edge performance **4.2×** while reducing memory use to **30–40%**. - **Additional details / background:** Highlighted technology transfers and partnerships include: textile institute tech licensed to **Peide Sustainable Technology Co.** for a **multispectral AI textile sorter** (95% accuracy, **0.5–1 second** per garment, **up to 900 kg/hr**); an **Itaconic-acid–based bio softener** reducing carbon emissions **40%** with an annual CO2 reduction claim of **32,000 tonnes**, commercialized with **Eclat (Ruhong)** and **Jiahe Industrial**; and **MIRDC's multi-channel rTMS system** technology transferred to **Taisuo Heavy Industry** with clinical trials to be executed with **Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital** and **Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital**. Event details: - Date: October 16–18 (exhibition open through Oct 18) - Location: Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1, Innovation Economy Pavilion D - Agenda/subject: public showcase of 65 R&D outcomes across six sectors with interactive demos and media briefings