Global Climate News

The MicroCarb satellite captured its first view of Earth on 28 August, following its 25 July launch. - **First observation details:** MicroCarb collected initial images and spectrometer measurements over the **Amazon Basin** (a region with sparse ground-based CO₂ observations). The **onboard imager** identified cloud-free areas and urban/agricultural/forested interfaces, while the **spectrometer** detected distinct **CO₂ and O₂ spectral signatures**, confirming instrument functionality. - **Background, validation and next steps:** Data were calibrated using **pre-launch characterizations** (including thermal vacuum testing completed in **late 2022**) and **early in‑flight calibrations** (dark current, internal lamp, solar reference). Cross-checks used **Sentinel-2 imagery** for the imager and **4AOP radiative transfer simulations** for the spectrometer, showing both instruments operate **within expected parameters**; the team will now begin **fine calibration** and **tuning of data processing algorithms** to deliver precise space-based atmospheric CO₂ measurements.

RMI authors (Lekhya Vennamaneni, Raghav Muralidharan, Ankit Kalanki) explain that improper refrigerant charging and leaks materially reduce HVAC efficiency, raise household energy costs, and increase climate-warming emissions. The article summarizes evidence from field studies, agency estimates, and scientific literature and recommends accurate charging, leak detection/repair, and maintenance best practices. - **Main findings and recommendations:** Field studies show systems are frequently **undercharged (~15%)**, the **EPA estimates leaks of ~5–11% per year** for residential systems, and a **10–20% efficiency loss** could add **$72–$144** to the 2024 average US summer cooling bill of **$719**; the authors recommend **accurate refrigerant charging at installation**, **systematic leak detection and repair**, and homeowner/contractor maintenance checks (e.g., confirm refrigerant type on the outdoor unit label). - **Background, data sources, and policy context:** The article cites multiple studies (Jeong et al. 2025, Jounay 2024, Domanski 2014, etc.), notes common refrigerant R410A has a **GWP ≈2000**, typical home systems contain **5–20 pounds** of refrigerant, warns of potential **global warming contribution (~0.5°C by 2050)** from unmanaged refrigerant emissions, and cites policy drivers including the **Kigali Amendment** and **US AIM Act** targeting an **85% reduction of high-GWP HFCs by 2036**.

Ferrovia Capital led the completion of a deep retrofit at Tennyson Apartments in Edmonton, financed through CMHC's MLI Select program and third-party financing from Efficiency Capital, achieving substantial energy and emissions reductions. - **Project outcomes & financing:** The retrofit is **estimated to deliver a 32% reduction in energy consumption**, **44% savings on annual utility costs**, and a **33% cut in GHG emissions**. Financing combined **CMHC MLI Select** support and **third-party financing via Efficiency Capital**, with deferred maintenance **amortized over 20 years**. The team used a rapid initial audit due to a **short CMHC application window**, then completed a second detailed audit to meet and exceed targets. - **Systemic barriers & implementation details:** The article highlights **pre-construction bottlenecks** (tight timelines, duplicative audits) and limited delivery pathways; it notes the CMHC MLI Select program **unlocked financing** but could be more effective if timelines allowed more comprehensive audits or if incentives rewarded emissions reductions beyond minimums. The account is an announcement/report-style case study led by Pembina Institute staff documenting a completed retrofit and recommending practices for owners, lenders, and policymakers.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Brazil will invest US$1 billion in the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) and urged global seriousness on climate ahead of COP30 in Belém (November). - **Main announcement:** President Lula announced **Brazil will contribute US$1 billion** to the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) and **invited/expects all heads of state to attend COP30 in Belém in November**. - **Location & timing:** COP30 to be held in **Belém (Pará), in November 2025**. - **Fund design:** TFFF described as an **investment fund (not a donation)** intended to mobilize private/public investment to keep tropical forests standing. - **Background & details:** Environment Minister **Marina Silva** said the US$1 billion Brazilian contribution aims to catalyze roughly **US$125 billion** in mobilized capital and deliver about **US$4 billion per year** in returns earmarked for payments per hectare of protected forest; Lula also noted countries are presenting **"vigorous and reasonable" NDCs**. - **Related actions/events:** Lula opened the 80th UN General Assembly debate (23 Sep), attended the UN Climate Summit and met bilaterally with leaders including **Volodymyr Zelensky** and **Dina Boluarte**, and gave an interview to PBS NewsHour (22–24 Sep).

Greenpeace International said leaders of the world’s biggest polluters failed to present sufficiently ambitious 2035 climate plans at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in New York. - **Main announcement/action:** Greenpeace issued public statements (multiple regional offices) criticizing national 2035 targets presented at the UNSG Climate Summit as insufficient against the **Global Stocktake benchmark** that calls for **60% global greenhouse gas cuts by 2035 vs 2019**; the NGO called for **developed countries to go beyond the 60% global average** and urged stronger NDCs ahead of COP30. - **Background and details:** Statements from named spokespeople include **Tracy Carty (Climate Politics Expert, Greenpeace International)**, **Thomas Gelin (Climate Campaigner, Greenpeace EU)**, **Yao Zhe (Global Policy Advisor, Greenpeace East Asia)**, **Carolina Pasquali (Executive Director, Greenpeace Brazil)** and **An Lambrechts (Biodiversity Politics Expert, Greenpeace International)**; the release references **COP28** (Global Stocktake concluded in Dubai), **COP30** (Brazil as presidency responsible for advancing outcomes), and calls to progress the UNFCCC target to **halt and reverse deforestation by 2030**.

The UN Secretary-General is holding a Climate Summit on 24 September 2025 at UN Headquarters to press nations to raise or update their NDCs ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. - **Main action:** The summit convenes Heads of State, government leaders, businesses and civil society to present **new or updated NDCs**, show implementation plans, and feed a **Chair’s Summary** into COP30; the event is explicitly positioned as a launchpad for COP30 and takes place on **24 September 2025** at **UN Headquarters**. - **Background and specifics:** **Scientific urgency** noted (WMO: 2024 was the hottest year on record, ~1.6°C above pre-industrial levels); key finance and investment figures highlighted include **clean energy investment: $2 trillion in 2024** and the **Loss and Damage Fund: just under $789 million in pledges** so far; the summit is not a negotiating session but includes thematic Solutions Dialogues on **Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance, Information integrity,** and **other cross-cutting areas**, whose outputs will be summarized in the closing Chair’s Summary. Event details: - Date: 24 September 2025 - Location: UN Headquarters, New York (General Assembly high-level week) - Agenda/subject: urging stronger NDCs ahead of COP30; Solutions Dialogues on mitigation, adaptation, finance, information integrity and related topics.

The UN convened a high-level climate summit where nearly 100 countries announced or reiterated new national climate action plans (NDCs) ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil on 24 September 2025. - **Main announcement:** Nearly **100 countries** announced or reiterated **new NDCs** and economy-wide targets, with concrete commitments including **China** pledging a **7–10%** reduction in economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions from peak by **2035**, **Brazil** committing to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by **59–67%** across all sectors and to end deforestation by **2030**, and **Belize** committing to **80% renewable electricity by 2035**, restoring **25,000 hectares** of degraded forest and planting **1 million trees over three years**. - **Background and implementation details:** The summit (part of the UN General Assembly high-level week) was convened by **UN Secretary-General António Guterres** and **President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva** (host of COP30); **European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen** said the EU would remain a leading provider of climate finance and mobilize **up to 300 billion Euros** to support the global clean energy transition. The event highlighted five priority areas—clean energy acceleration, methane cuts, forest conservation, heavy industry emissions reductions, and climate justice—and urged new **2035** plans with faster timelines. Event details: - Date: 24 September 2025 - Location: High-level special event on Climate Action, part of the UN General Assembly week (lead-up to COP30 in Belém, Brazil) - Agenda/subject: National climate action plans (NDCs), accelerating clean energy, methane reductions, forest protection, heavy industry emissions, climate finance and justice.

McKinsey has published an analysis highlighting the role and potential of ocean carbon dioxide removal (ocean CDR) and calls for urgent, coordinated R&D, regulatory, philanthropic, and industry action to build a foundational ocean CDR ecosystem over the next decade. - **Main announcement and findings:** The report outlines **five major ocean CDR approaches** (coastal ecosystem restoration; direct ocean capture (DOC); ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE); algae cultivation and harvesting; open-ocean microalgae fertilization), estimates the ocean could support **more than ten gigatons** of annual CO2 removals, and notes **pilot DOC costs of $900 to $3,000 per ton**. It highlights **high efficiency** and **high scaling potential** but warns of scientific uncertainty and ecological risks that require R&D and robust methodologies. - **Background, evidence, and specific details:** Authors include **Emma Parry, Mark Patel, Gualtiero Jaeger, Jonathan Scott, and Shruti Badri** (McKinsey offices: London, Bay Area, Nairobi). The report cites bodies such as the **IPCC**, **London Convention and London Protocol** (which flagged possible "deleterious effects that are widespread, long-lasting, or severe" for some approaches), and research collaborators including **CarbonPlan** and **[C]Worthy**. It calls for **shared research results, regulatory frameworks, Indigenous and community engagement, and stakeholder funding** to derisk and scale ocean CDR within the next decade.