All posts by : Prachi Jain

Spain is emerging as a leader in green hydrogen, leveraging its renewable energy strengths. Over 50% of its electricity comes from wind and solar. By 2030, Spain aims to achieve 11 GW of electrolyzer capacity, the highest target in the EU, though current projections estimate 5 GW.

Additional government subsidies will be crucial for Spain to meet its goal. Spain’s favourable conditions and strong policies make it one of the most cost-effective regions for green hydrogen production. Key projects, like the Puertollano green hydrogen plant and BP’s investment in the Castellón refinery, signal promising growth, with the potential to reach 2 GW of capacity by 2035. Read More

News Credit: SOLARQUARTER

Indonesia’s President-elect, Prabowo Subianto, has unveiled plans to create a $65 billion green fund by 2028 through the sale of carbon credits. The fund aims to finance environmental initiatives such as rainforest preservation, according to a report by Reuters.

Ferry Latuhihin, Prabowo’s climate adviser, stated that a new regulator will be established to oversee carbon emissions and manage the green fund, which is in line with Indonesia’s Paris Agreement commitments. This regulator will create a “special mission vehicle” to manage carbon offset projects, including forest conservation, reforestation, and mangrove restoration. This vehicle will generate carbon credits for both domestic and international sale.

Leveraging Indonesia’s vast natural resources, the fund is expected to grow to 1,000 trillion rupiah ($65 billion) by 2028. The plan is part of Indonesia’s broader goal of reaching net carbon neutrality by 2060. As one of the top 10 global emitters and home to the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest, Indonesia’s role in global carbon markets is critical.

Challenges include fierce competition in the global carbon credit market and the need for credibility in its projects. Despite these hurdles, the initiative is projected to deliver substantial economic benefits, including job creation. Read More

News Credit: Carbon Herald

Image: Mufid Majnun/Pixabay

The term “tipping point” often conjures up catastrophic climate scenarios, but new research suggests it could be reframed positively. A report from the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute argues that governments can trigger “positive tipping points” by introducing regulatory mandates that require key industries to shift to clean energy.

These mandates, with specific deadlines, would accelerate the transition from fossil fuels, slash carbon emissions, and lower consumer costs. The study, based on data from 70 countries, found that mandates are more effective than taxes or subsidies in driving the rapid adoption of clean technologies in sectors like energy, transport, and heating.

Recommendations include phasing out coal power for developed countries by 2035 and requiring 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. Experts stress the urgency, with global CO2 emissions needing to be halved by 2030 to avoid severe climate impacts. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: John Walton/PA

Growing concern over the fossil fuel and plastics industries’ alleged deception about recycling has led to increased public support for accountability. A recent poll shows that 70% of American voters, including 54% of Republicans, support holding these industries responsible for misleading claims about plastic recycling.

Research reveals that plastic producers have known for decades that recycling is not a feasible solution, yet promoted it to the public. Despite rising plastic production, no lawsuits have been filed regarding this alleged disinformation campaign. The poll, conducted by the Center for Climate Integrity and Data for Progress, reflects widespread public dissatisfaction with corporate dishonesty. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit:  Lauren DeCicca/The Guardian

Abu Dhabi’s G42, a leader in AI and cloud computing, has partnered with NVIDIA to advance climate technology. The partnership focuses on improving global weather forecasting accuracy. This collaboration builds on NVIDIA’s Earth-2 platform, which uses AI to accelerate climate predictions with high-resolution simulations.

G42 CEO Peng Xiao emphasized the initiative’s aim to tackle global challenges through AI innovation, while NVIDIA’s founder Jensen Huang highlighted the partnership’s potential to revolutionize climate prediction and environmental strategies. Together, G42 and NVIDIA will integrate advanced AI and computational tools to create transformative climate solutions benefiting industries and ecosystems worldwide. Read More

News Credit: Middle East Economy

Soldiers, emergency workers, and volunteers in Wrocław, Poland, worked through the night to reinforce flood defences as the EU warned that simultaneous floods in central Europe and wildfires in Portugal show the reality of climate breakdown.

In Poland, over five times the average September rainfall in five days has led to widespread flooding, killing 22 people across Poland, Austria, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Emergency crews fortified riverbanks with sandbags as the Oder River continued to rise, while €395m in aid was allocated to rebuild damaged infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Portugal declared a “state of calamity” as wildfires raged, killing seven and destroying thousands of hectares of forest. Both disasters highlight the increasing severity of climate-induced extreme weather events across Europe. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is set to visit Wrocław to meet with political leaders to address the crisis. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: Maciej Kulczyński/EPA

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investing $291 million, sourced from the Inflation Reduction Act, to help the aviation industry reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This funding is focused on advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other low-emission technologies through two critical grant programs.

The FAA’s FueAviation’sion’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) grants will allocate $244.5 million to 22 projects aimed at scaling SAF production, transportation, and storage while increasing accessibility. Another $46.5 million will go toward 14 projects focused on developing and applying low-emission aviation technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon pollution.

Despite SAF’s potential to be used with minor adjustments to existing aircraft and infrastructure, it currently accounts for less than 0.1% of all aviation fuel. This low supply, coupled with higher costs, presents challenges for airlines, as switching to SAF could drive up ticket prices. While the UK is set to implement an SAF mandate in 2025, requiring 2% of jet fuel demand to be met by SAF, airlines like Lufthansa and British Airways have already warned of higher fares due to the shift to cleaner fuels. Read More

News Credit: E+T (Engineering and Technology)

A new study by the University of Leeds reveals that 52 million tonnes of plastic entered the environment in 2020, with two-thirds stemming from uncollected waste. The research highlights that 1.2 billion people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India, Nigeria, and Indonesia, lack access to proper waste collection.

These nations contributed over half of the world’s plastic pollution, with 30 million tonnes burned in the open, posing severe risks to human health due to harmful chemical additives in plastics. This study underscores the urgent need for global waste management reforms. Read More

News Credit: E+T (Engineering and Technology)

Heavy rains have turned tranquil streams into raging rivers across central Europe, causing deadly floods that have killed at least 15 people and devastated towns from Austria to Romania. This comes after similar flooding in Myanmar and Nigeria, where millions have been affected.

Climate scientists are not surprised by the intensity of the floods, citing that warmer air holds more moisture, leading to more extreme rainfall. Sonia Seneviratne of ETH Zürich noted that warmer seas, such as the Black and Mediterranean, contributed to the increased water vapour fueling the heavy downpours. The events highlight how unprepared the world remains for climate-induced disasters. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: Action Press/Rex/Shutterstock

Southeast Asia faces significant climate threats, and digital solutions are crucial to enhancing resilience. A recent Google and Deloitte report highlights that digital transformation can help the region prepare for weather-related disasters, reduce economic losses, and strengthen climate defences. The report, Digital as a Key Enabler for Climate Action: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Perspective, stresses the interconnectedness of climate change and digital progress, particularly in developing APAC nations with fewer resources.

In 2022, nearly 13 million people in Southeast Asia were affected by floods, typhoons, wildfires, and extreme temperatures, and the region is recognized as the most hazard-prone globally. Southeast Asia’s dual challenge is adapting to climate change driven by emissions from advanced economies while also rethinking development strategies that exacerbate global warming.

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) highlights digital transformation as essential to future-proofing cities and economies. Failing to embrace digital technologies will hinder disaster preparedness and socioeconomic progress. Weather-related disasters are projected to reduce Southeast Asia’s GDP by 11% by the end of the century, with markets facing severe economic losses if climate change remains unchecked. In the worst scenario, countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand could lose more than seven times their 2019 GDP by 2050. Read More

News Credit: Eco-Business

Picture Credit: Toomas Tartes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Unsplash