Global Climate News

Robeco, a Dutch asset manager, has expanded its engagement in climate and nature, focusing on natural resource management, deforestation (expanding from palm oil to soy, beef, leather, paper and pulp), biodiversity, and human capital management. They are also initiating new themes on transition minerals (supply chains in electric vehicle batteries) and protecting shareholder rights from weakening regulations.

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 Environment Agency in England issued an environmental permit (EPR/BQ1972IR/V007) to Young’s Seafood Limited for their Humberstone Road Fish Processing facility in Grimsby under the Industrial Emissions Directive.

The UK government published guidance on landfill and deposit for recovery: aftercare and permit surrender. The guidance helps operators understand aftercare procedures and permit surrender applications. Updates were made on January 13, 2025, and March 30, 2022, to improve clarity and address specific landfill types.

Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration clarified that hotels must provide liquid toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion) in containers of 180ml or larger, and that other personal hygiene items (combs, toothbrushes, etc.) may not be displayed but can be provided upon request.

Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and the Junior Chamber International (JCI) signed a memorandum of understanding to reduce cigarette butt litter. The initiative will involve public awareness campaigns, encouraging businesses to install cigarette butt collection facilities, and promoting environmental responsibility. The goal is to improve public spaces and align with UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 14.

The Environment Agency in England is consulting the public on an environmental permit application submitted by Old Knowle Square Management Limited for waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators in Farnham, Surrey.

The UK Environment Agency has provided low risk waste positions (LRWPs) for landspreading waste operations, allowing certain activities without environmental permits if conditions are met. LRWPs may be reviewed or withdrawn; the agency replaced LRWP 13 (zoo manure) with RPS 313 and added waste type 03 01 05 to LRWP 61.

Jeremy Collins has submitted an environmental permit application to the Environment Agency for Meridon House in Bishops Sutton, UK. The application concerns waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators.

The Environment Agency in England is consulting the public on an environmental permit application submitted by Indurent Strategic Land Ltd for land off Junction 1 of the A50 in Leicestershire. The application concerns waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators.

The Environment Agency in England is consulting the public on an environmental permit application submitted by Richard Pearson-Wood for White Farm Stables in Kingsdown, Kent. The application concerns waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge, groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) provided a €4.7 million loan to Lviv, Ukraine, to reclaim the Hrybovychi landfill. This is part of the EIB’s Ukraine Solidarity Urgent Response package and the Ukraine Municipal Infrastructure Programme (UMIP). The project will improve waste management, minimize ecological impact, and transform the landfill into a green zone and park. Earlier phases received €6.04 million from EIB and co-financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The UK Environment Agency published a regulatory position statement (RPS 247) on using unbound incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) in construction, extending its validity to September 30, 2025. The RPS clarifies that while an environmental permit is legally required, enforcement action will not normally be taken if requirements are met.

Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has pledged to eliminate all visible illegal dumping of garbage by the end of 2026. The plan includes central and local government cooperation, digital management, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives. The government will invest \\$120 million over three years to support this effort.

Researchers are developing various bio-based methods to degrade PFAS, including silk-based membranes (MIT), fungi (Texas A&M), and PFAS-eating microbes (Northern University, Princeton). These methods aim for sustainable and low-cost solutions to remediate PFAS contamination in soil and water, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical treatments.

Oregon DEQ awarded $1.2 million in Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine grant funds to 14 recipients across 11 counties. The grants support waste prevention projects focusing on reusable foodware, construction material reuse, deconstruction programs, and reusable goods markets. The program aims to reduce environmental and human health impacts of materials throughout their lifecycle.

UK-based Sellafield Ltd. engaged a 17-year-old student, Matthew, from the Energy Coast University Technical College, in a 6-week engineering project to find solutions for additional space in its waste management facilities. The project was conducted at the Sellafield Engineering Centre of Excellence.

The Environment Agency in England is consulting the public on RIG Scorrier Ltd's environmental permit application for land near Redruth, concerning waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge, and combustion plants.

US-based NRDC supported over 20 cities diverting over 35,750 tons of food waste, preventing nearly 62,000 metric tons of emissions. $11.5 million in USDA grants funded 38 composting projects. California banned confusing food date labels. Illinois mandated organic waste collection at large events. Michigan aims to halve food waste by 2030. The National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste was released. The Zero Food Waste Coalition grew to over 250 members. EPA invested $39 million in a national campaign.

The Environment Agency in England has issued an environmental permit (EPR/FP3090SZ/V011) to The Maltings Organic Treatment Limited for their facility in South Milford. The permit and decision documents are available online.