I got back from SF Climate Week late last night and thought I'd share three quick thoughts, perhaps especially for people considering going next year.

1. It was good for my business

   I made a lot of connections with people and companies that I think are going to present good opportunities to grow our impact together. Being on site. in SF, with peers, was also just good to level up my thinking about my consulting work.

   
   

2. It was good for my heart

   A saw a lot of inspiring speakers and people genuinely motivated to change humanity's relationship with the earth. There was an appropriate sense of urgency. I'm skeptical of scenes like that, frankly, but when I opened my mind to magic, it just walked right up and embraced me, time and time again. Check out the short video profiles of this year's Goldman Prize winners for a sense of it.

   
   

3. I loved San Francisco!

   The Climate Week events were distributed around town. I took a bike helmet and rented Lyft bikes, Google maps navigation in my ears. It was an absolute joy.

   
   

I'm glad to be home, now there's a ton of follow up to do.

And now, our daily summaries of 178 selected updates from around the world of green tech and sustainability.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• 🌾Agriculture (8 stories) - From Solein's CO2-based protein shakes to Compound Foods' beanless coffee alternatives, while global farmers face challenges from North Carolina to Palestine

  
  

• 🪨Carbon (10 stories) - MOL's pioneering DAC deal, Mati Carbon's $50M XPrize win, and Summit Carbon's pipeline setback, while Colombia reveals massive Amazon carbon sink and U.S. coal hits historic lows

  
  

• ♻️Circular (5 stories) - Food waste hydrogel innovation and Italy's 6-category recycling success highlight circular economy advances, while sustainable supply chains deliver business ROI

  
  

• 🌱Ecosystems (21 stories) - From ancient giant kangaroos to dire wolf de-extinction by Colossal Biosciences, plus global coral bleaching crisis and eDNA wildlife detection breakthroughs reshape ecosystem monitoring

  
  

• ⚡Efficiency (8 stories) - ACEEE ranks Oregon's efficiency policies, while building tech firms deploy AI analytics, liquid cooling, and solar window solutions as Amazon slashes emissions through smart facilities management

  
  

• 💰Finance (7 stories) - Silicon Ranch's $500M boost and Palmetto's solar strategy, plus Zevero's AI-driven ESG reporting and utility CEO compensation trends

  
  

• 🔌Grid (9 stories) - Virtual power plants advance in California as SDG&E deploys AI for wildfire protection, while SunTrain demos rail-based batteries and Fresno adds 27MW solar + storage

  
  

• 🌍Indigenous (15 stories) - From Marshallese nuclear activists to Dayak farmers in Borneo, Indigenous women lead environmental initiatives while tribes defend sacred lands and traditional practices against mining and development

  
  

• 🏭Industry (15 stories) - Japanese fusion alliance FAST Project targets 2030s commercialization, while DAS Solar and TOYO expand with new factories in France and Ethiopia; AI-powered robots accelerate solar installations in Australia

  
  

• 📜Policy (54 stories) - Supreme Court weighs California emissions waiver, NY and MN advance "Rights of Nature" laws, while UN and Brazil push for stronger 2035 targets amid global climate policy shifts

  
  

• 🔋Renewables (11 stories) - Major expansions from China's 60GW solar surge to UK's £300M offshore wind push, while Uruguay hits 98% renewable electricity and breakthrough efficiencies emerge in silicon and perovskite cells

  
  

• 🚗Transport (15 stories) - Factorial Energy achieves solid-state battery breakthrough, while Tesla faces competition from BYD and Harbinger; AfricroozE e-bikes transform African mobility and California relaunches e-bike incentives

Agriculture

From Solein's CO2-based protein shakes to Compound Foods' beanless coffee alternatives, while global farmers face challenges from North Carolina to Palestine

• Building Food Sovereignty from a Feminist Economy (Via Campesina) - Global peasant movement advocates for feminist approach to food sovereignty, linking agricultural reform with care work and sustainable living practices.

• Farming Where the World Looks Away | A Note from Palestine (Via Campesina) - Palestinian farmers face intensified land dispossession, resource restrictions, and settler violence in West Bank while fighting to maintain agricultural presence under occupation.

• Compound Foods launches ingredient platform to future proof coffee and cocoa (AgFunderNews) - Compound Foods launches B2B platform offering beanless coffee and cocoa alternatives to manufacturers seeking supply chain resilience amid growing shortages.

• N.C. Farm Bureau Asks State Supreme Court to Strike Environmental Protections From Hog Farm Permits (Inside Climate News) - North Carolina Farm Bureau challenges state Supreme Court to remove environmental monitoring requirements from hog farm permits, potentially affecting 2,000 industrial livestock operations.

• Solar Foods has developed Solein® Shake for daily protein needs (Solar Foods) - Finnish company launches Solein Shake, a sustainable protein powder with salty caramel flavor made from CO2-based protein.

• Expoagro 2025: highlights from Argentina’s leading agribusiness showcase (AgFundNews) - Argentina's Expoagro 2025 draws record 220,000 visitors, showcasing agtech innovations and securing major business deals amid government support for agricultural sector.

• Feeding the world with chestnuts? (Propagate Ag) - Chestnuts produce fewer calories per acre than corn but offer higher nutritional value and sustainable farming benefits as a viable commercial crop in US agroforestry systems.

• Connecting the Dots: Food Highlights From All Over (Bluedot Living) - Multiple U.S. food sustainability initiatives highlighted including Fenway Park's rooftop farm, LA's edible garden movement, and Colorado breweries' environmental programs.

Carbon

MOL's pioneering DAC deal, Mati Carbon's $50M XPrize win, and Summit Carbon's pipeline setback, while Colombia reveals massive Amazon carbon sink and U.S. coal hits historic lows

• New research finds substantial peat deposits in Colombia’s conflicted Amazon (Mongabay) - Colombian Amazon holds newly-discovered vast peatlands storing 70 years of national carbon emissions, with access enabled by fragile peace process.

• Indonesia defies global coal retreat with captive plant boom (Mongabay) - Indonesia adds third-highest global coal capacity in 2024 at 1.9GW, mainly for metal smelters, defying international phase-out trends and climate commitments.

• Climeworks gains first partner in the shipping industry: MOL (Climeworks) - Japanese shipping giant MOL commits to remove 13,400 tons of CO2 through Direct Air Capture partnership, marking first shipping industry deal.

• Integrating CDR in corporate climate strategies (InPlanet) - Leading companies discuss integrating carbon dioxide removal into corporate strategies, emphasizing portfolio approaches and supplier engagement for achieving net-zero goals.

• CCS | Brazil (Energy Central) - Brazil explores Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) infrastructure development and implementation strategies.

• What the XPrize winners tell us about the state of carbon removal (Latitude Media) - Enhanced rock weathering startup Mati Carbon wins $50M top XPrize for carbon removal technology that boosts crop yields while sequestering CO2.

• U.S. Coal Production Continues Steady Decline as Generation Capacity Falls (POWER) - U.S. coal production falls to less than half of 2008 peak levels as power generators shift to cheaper natural gas and renewables.

• Hotter temps trigger wetlands to emit more methane as microbes struggle to keep up (ScienceDaily) - Maryland wetland experiment shows rising temperatures cause wetlands to emit more methane as soil microbes fail to keep pace with increased production.

• Elon Musk-Backed XPRIZE Awards $100 Million to Carbon Removal Solutions Providers (ESGToday) - Elon Musk's XPRIZE awards $50M grand prize to Mati Carbon and $50M to other finalists for developing scalable carbon dioxide removal solutions.

• Another setback for multi-state carbon pipeline (Canary Media) - South Dakota regulators reject Summit Carbon Solutions' second permit application for $9B carbon pipeline project, citing unviable route through state.

Circular

Food waste hydrogel innovation and Italy's 6-category recycling success highlight circular economy advances, while sustainable supply chains deliver business ROI

• The business case for sustainable supply chains: From cost savings to brand loyalty (Optera Climate) - Companies investing in sustainable supply chains see multiple business benefits including cost savings, operational resilience, brand loyalty and regulatory compliance readiness.

• Sponge made from food scraps produces clean water from thin air (Anthropocene) - Scientists develop food waste-based hydrogel sponge capable of harvesting 14 liters of clean drinking water daily from air.

• How Italy got its citizens — and me — to adopt a rigorous recycling scheme (Grist) - Italy achieves EU's highest recycling rates through rigorous household-level sorting system requiring six waste categories and daily collection schedules.

• Talent Holds 4th Friday Art Walk, Invites Community To Celebrate Art, Local Businesses (RARE Oregon) - Talent, Oregon hosts quarterly Fourth Friday Art Walk featuring local artists, student works, and activities across 12 venues to celebrate community creativity and boost local businesses.

• What We Lose When We Spend to Feel Better (Atmos) - Research shows compulsive shopping fails to deliver lasting happiness while driving environmental damage, as experts advocate for non-material sources of wellbeing.

Ecosystems

From ancient giant kangaroos to dire wolf de-extinction by Colossal Biosciences, plus global coral bleaching crisis and eDNA wildlife detection breakthroughs reshape ecosystem monitoring

• Indian trawlers leave Sri Lankan small-scale fishers a ravaged, bereft sea (Mongabay) - Indian bottom trawlers devastate Sri Lankan fish stocks and marine habitats while local small-scale fishers face severe catch declines and economic losses in northern waters.

• Echoes in the Rotunda: Defending Our Public Lands & Wild Future (Protect Our Winters) - Montana public lands rally draws 1,000 outdoor enthusiasts to State Capitol, highlighting growing threats to federal lands and their role in carbon sequestration.

• Fossil teeth show extinct giant kangaroos spent their lives close to home – and perished when the climate changed (The Conversation) - Ancient giant kangaroo fossils reveal species lived locally in rainforest environments and went extinct due to climate change 280,000 years ago, challenging assumptions about megafauna mobility.

• Cropped 23 April 2025: Beef vs the Amazon; BRICS vs tariffs; Ag alphabet (Carbon Brief) - Global coral reef bleaching hits record levels affecting 80% of world's reefs due to unprecedented ocean heat, scientists warn of "uncharted territory" for marine ecosystems.

• New Jersey Cut Back on Prescribed Burns in the Pine Barrens—and Faces a Wildfire That Charred Thousands of Acres (Inside Climate News) - New Jersey's reduced prescribed burns in Pine Barrens led to 11,500-acre wildfire amid dry conditions, highlighting increased Northeast fire risks.

• New Jersey wildfire forces evacuations and reaches closed nuclear power plant (The Guardian) - New Jersey wildfire burns 12,000 acres near decommissioned nuclear plant, forcing 5,000 evacuations and threatening to become state's largest fire in 20 years.

• Giant icebergs once drifted off the coast of Britain, scientists find (The Guardian) - Scientists discover evidence of massive city-sized icebergs that drifted off British coast during last ice age, offering insights into Antarctic ice shelf behavior.

• Extinction Is Real. So Why Are We Chasing Ghosts? (Earth.org) - Colossal Biosciences' $435M de-extinction project for dire wolves and woolly mammoths draws criticism for diverting resources from urgent conservation of endangered living species.

• 12 books to commemorate the diverse legacy of Earth Month (Yale Climate Connections) - Twelve diverse environmental books released for Earth Month 2025 explore topics from air quality to moral philosophy, reflecting evolution of environmental movement since first Earth Day.

• Paying fishers to release sharks accidentally caught in their nets can incentivise conservation action – but there’s a catch (The Conversation) - Indonesian study finds cash payments to fishers for releasing endangered sharks shows promise but requires careful design to prevent increased catch rates.

• ONE QUICK QUESTION: The Chuckanut Landslide (Western Today) - Major landslide closes Chuckanut Drive indefinitely as geology experts analyze causes and impacts of slope failure.

• Sea-turtle conservation is working — but there are still significant challenges (Nature) - Global survey shows endangered sea turtle populations increasing since 2011 despite ongoing fishing net entanglement risks.

• What on Earth is ‘eDNA’? (Conservation.org) - Environmental DNA (eDNA) emerges as revolutionary wildlife detection tool, enabling scientists to identify hundreds of species from water, soil, or air samples by analyzing trace genetic material.

• The wisdom of the elders: Why the oldest animals matter (Mongabay) - Study reveals elderly animals like fish, coral, and elephants play crucial roles in population stability and knowledge transfer, highlighting urgent need for age-focused conservation strategies.

• In West Africa, hooded vultures vanish as abattoirs modernize (Mongabay) - Critically endangered hooded vultures face severe decline in West Africa as modernized abattoirs and changing waste practices eliminate crucial food sources.

• Global agarwood trade heavily dependent on wild, threatened trees: Study (Mongabay) - Global agarwood trade relies heavily on endangered wild tree species despite regulations, with 70% sourced from two threatened species and significant undocumented trade volumes.

• Rewilding efforts lay foundations for Dalmatian pelican comeback in Europe (Rewilding Europe) - Multi-partner conservation initiative leads to 10% population increase and two new breeding colonies of endangered Dalmatian pelicans across southeastern Europe.

• Norfolk bird surveyors find Britain’s oldest known oystercatchers (The Guardian) - Bird surveyors in Norfolk discover two oystercatchers aged 41 and 43 years old, setting new UK longevity records for the species at RSPB Snettisham reserve.

• Two teens and 5,000 ants: how a smuggling bust shed new light on a booming trade (The Guardian) - Two Belgian teenagers caught smuggling 5,000 rare ants from Kenya reveal growing illegal trade in exotic insects for pet markets.

• South Cottonwood Proposed Wilderness Threatened (The Wildlife News) - Forest Service's 8,000-acre logging project threatens South Cottonwood proposed wilderness area near Yellowstone, sparking controversy over forest management practices.

• Destruction for Thee, Habitat for Me (Nautilus) - Florida's endangered Schaus' swallowtail butterflies show surprising population boosts following hurricanes due to increased light penetration and vegetation growth in damaged forests.

Efficiency

ACEEE ranks Oregon's efficiency policies, while building tech firms deploy AI analytics, liquid cooling, and solar window solutions as Amazon slashes emissions through smart facilities management

• Grounded Podcast Episode 47: Energy Efficiency and Oregon’s Top 10 Ranking (Energy Info Oregon) - Oregon ranks 9th nationally in ACEEE's State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, highlighting state's strong policies and programs in energy conservation.

• Building Decarbonization: A Smarter Path to Net-Zero with CopperTree Analytics (CopperTree Analytics) - Building analytics company launches platform combining real-time energy tracking, fault detection, and advisory services to help facilities achieve net-zero emissions through data-driven decarbonization.

• AI embraces liquid cooling, but enterprise IT is slow to follow (Uptime Institute) - AI data centers rapidly adopt liquid cooling systems while traditional enterprise data centers remain hesitant due to reliability concerns and operational complexity.

• The ORENgE-Powered ElectroShade: Smart Shades That Generate Their Own Power (CleanTechnica) - New ORENgE-powered ElectroShade system combines solar-generating window shades with smart automation to produce 100W per unit while reducing building heat gain by 72%.

• Inside Amazon’s blueprint for cutting building emissions (Trellis) - Amazon cuts building emissions through low-carbon materials, natural refrigerants and AI-driven efficiency measures across its global facilities.

• Decarbonize Our Homes! Climate Action Party (Electrify Now) - Nonprofit leader explains how home electrification with heat pumps, EVs and induction cooking can cut household carbon emissions by 50% while saving average families $2,500 annually.

• Rising utility bills are stressing us out (Canary Media) - Survey reveals rising utility bills causing widespread stress among Americans while many remain unaware of regulatory oversight bodies.

• IDC’s 2025 Smart Cities North America Awards Showcases Passion and Partnership (IDC) - Smart Cities North America Awards highlights innovative urban technology projects focused on community needs, partnerships, and sustainability across multiple cities.

Finance

Silicon Ranch's $500M boost and Palmetto's solar strategy, plus Zevero's AI-driven ESG reporting and utility CEO compensation trends

• Utility CEOs get raises as companies roll back diversity, environmental pay incentives and rates increase (Energy and Policy Institute) - Utility CEOs received over $530 million in total compensation for 2024 while companies reduced diversity and environmental incentives amid rising consumer rates.

• Talking the clean energy future with Palmetto’s Chris Keller (CleanTechnica) - Palmetto CEO Chris Keller outlines company's three-pillar strategy focusing on consumer value, business partnerships, and sustainable platform growth in residential solar market.

• Treat yourself (and the planet) 🌎 (VertueLab) - Climate tech nonprofit launches Earth Day auction to support entrepreneurs developing climate solutions, offering free yoga classes to participants.

• CORRECTED - Treat yourself (and the planet) 🌎 (VertueLab) - Climate tech nonprofit launches Earth Day auction to support entrepreneurs developing climate solutions, offering free yoga for registrants.

• Tennessee solar developer sidesteps tariffs (Canary Media) - Tennessee solar developer Silicon Ranch secures $500M investment while avoiding Trump-era tariffs through early domestic supply chain deals.

• Zevero Launches AI-Powered ESG Reporting Solution (ESG Today) - AI startup Zevero launches automated ESG reporting solution to help companies meet sustainability disclosure requirements across global frameworks including B Corp, CDP, and CSRD.

• 💼 How Commercial Property Owners Can Find & Apply for Incentives | IncentiFind 3-Step Walkthrough 💸 (IncentiFind) - Online platform launches 3-step process helping commercial property owners identify and secure financial incentives for sustainable building improvements.

Grid

Virtual power plants advance in California as SDG&E deploys AI for wildfire protection, while SunTrain demos rail-based batteries and Fresno adds 27MW solar + storage

• California Assembly Energy Committee Recognizes Potential in Virtual Power Plants and Advances Key Bills (Advanced Energy United) - California Assembly committee unanimously advances two bills supporting virtual power plants to enhance grid reliability and reduce peak electricity demand.

• Wildfire Resilience as a Grid Imperative: Lessons from SDG&E’s Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center (SEPA) - San Diego Gas & Electric's Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center demonstrates advanced wildfire mitigation strategy using weather monitoring, AI-driven inspections, and risk quantification to protect grid infrastructure.

• Major blooper on wind output has stranded some of Australia’s best projects with no grid access (RenewEconomy) - Major wind resource miscalculation in Australian Energy Market Operator's planning has blocked grid access for high-potential wind projects in NSW's southwest renewable energy zone.

• Large Solar Power + Energy Storage Projects Completed at Fresno Department of Public Utilities (CleanTechnica) - Fresno completes 27MW solar and 4.3MW battery storage project across multiple public utilities facilities, expected to save $122 million by 2045.

• Shipping solar power at the speed of a freight train (Anthropocene Magazine) - Startup SunTrain demonstrates rail-based battery system to transport renewable energy between grid-congested regions using converted freight trains.

• What’s next for the battery storage boom? (Latitude Media) - Battery storage CEO argues US-China partnerships crucial for scaling domestic energy storage market despite policy uncertainties.

• How Tesla bootstrapped the Powerwall 2 (Latitude Media) - Former Tesla SVP reveals how the company bootstrapped Powerwall 2 by repurposing vehicle parts and building a scrappy engineering team despite resource constraints.

• The POWER Interview: Hitachi Energy’s Massimo Danieli on Grid Transformation and the Path to Electrification (POWER Magazine) - Hitachi Energy's Grid Automation director outlines company's focus on power electronics and digital systems to support global power grid transformation and renewable integration.

• Calpine, Constellation, others seek settlement talks over PJM colocation rules (Utility Dive) - Power companies seek 90-day settlement talks with FERC over PJM's data center colocation rules at power plants, citing need for regulatory clarity.

Indigenous

From Marshallese nuclear activists to Dayak farmers in Borneo, Indigenous women lead environmental initiatives while tribes defend sacred lands and traditional practices against mining and development

• Stories Project: Guardians of Biodiversity (Meli-bees.org) - Indigenous women from diverse ethnic groups collaborate to write children's stories about native flowers and biodiversity, sharing traditional knowledge with German youth.

• Proyecto de Historias: Guardianas de la Biodiversidad (Meli-bees.org) - Indigenous women from diverse ethnic groups collaborate to share biodiversity stories and traditional knowledge with German children through flower-based storytelling project.

• In Borneo village, Indigenous Dayaks leave farming amid stricter fire rules (Mongabay) - Indigenous Dayak farmers in Borneo abandon traditional rice farming due to strict anti-fire regulations and rising costs, threatening food security.

• How a remote diner in India is fueling a culinary and ecological revival (Mongabay) - Remote Indian diner run by Monpa women revives traditional mountain cuisine while promoting sustainable farming and forest preservation.

• Meet 6 Marshallese Women Activists Who Are Changing the World (Greenpeace) - Six Marshallese women activists lead fight against nuclear legacy and climate change through political leadership, poetry, and advocacy.

• Faith Investors Demand Accountability on Indigenous Rights ahead of Citi and Wells Fargo AGMs (Stand.earth) - Faith investors challenge Citi and Wells Fargo at upcoming AGMs over Indigenous rights violations in fossil fuel project financing, while JPMorgan reaches agreement on Indigenous rights policies.

• Oak Flat is sacred to Western Apache. The Trump administration intends to approve a plan to destroy it. (Grist) - Trump administration moves to approve copper mine on sacred Apache land in Arizona despite pending Supreme Court case and tribal opposition.

• The Eastern Shoshone are reclassifying buffalo as wildlife instead of livestock (High Country News) - Eastern Shoshone tribe votes to reclassify buffalo as wildlife instead of livestock on Wind River Reservation, aiming to restore traditional relationship with the species.

• Gathering for Song & Solidarity w/ Candace Goodwin and Arielle Rivera Korman | Dayenu (Dayenu) - Jewish musicians lead post-election gathering for climate activists, combining traditional songs and original compositions to build spiritual resilience and solidarity.

• A maior mobilização indígena do mundo coloriu Brasília | ATL 2025 #shorts (ISA) - Over 7,000 indigenous people from 200 tribes gathered in Brasília for Brazil's largest indigenous mobilization, protesting against anti-indigenous legislation and celebrating 20 years of APIB.

• Tallgrass Institute Spring 2025 (Tallgrass Institute) - Indigenous economic center releases Spring 2025 report highlighting FPIC due diligence resources, mining standards analysis, and Indigenous investment insights.

• Blue River Rebuilds and Keeps Librarian’s Legacy Alive (KLCC) - Rural Oregon town Blue River celebrates rebuilding progress with new library opening, honoring 1928 founder Frances O'Brien's legacy after devastating 2020 Holiday Farm Fire.

• Omer Songshare- Gevurah (Justice Strength) | Dayenu (Dayenu) - Jewish climate movement shares spiritual song "Time of Change" for Earth Day and Omer period, emphasizing collective action and environmental justice.

• Día Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual. Entrevista con Yoloxochitl Alvarado, artesana otomí (Cultural Survival) - Indigenous Otomi artisan Yoloxochitl Alvarado discusses collective intellectual property rights and cultural appropriation of Indigenous artistic creations on World Intellectual Property Day.

• Volume 15: Indigenous Language Revitalization, Issue 1: Meaningful Assessment for Indigenous Languages (University of Oregon) - New guidelines promote community-based assessment methods for Indigenous language preservation, emphasizing cultural authenticity and elder involvement in learning evaluation.

Industry

Japanese fusion alliance FAST Project targets 2030s commercialization, while DAS Solar and TOYO expand with new factories in France and Ethiopia; AI-powered robots accelerate solar installations in Australia

• Armed groups and junta profit as toxic mines devour southern Myanmar (Mongabay) - Lead mining in Myanmar's Tanintharyi region doubles since 2021 military coup, causing severe environmental damage as armed groups and junta profit from bribes and illegal operations.

• Kyushu University, Starlight Engine, and Kyoto Fusioneering Unite to Accelerate Fusion Power Development (Kyoto Fusioneering) - Japanese research institutions form alliance to accelerate fusion power development through FAST Project, targeting commercial fusion energy by 2030s.

• DAS Solar Launches the Construction of the 3 GW Photovoltaic Module Factory in France (TaiyangNews) - Chinese solar manufacturer DAS Solar breaks ground on 3GW photovoltaic module factory in Mandeure, France, marking its first overseas manufacturing facility.

• China Solar PV News Snippets: RETC ‘High Achievement’ Certification For Canadian Solar’s Module & More (TaiyangNews) - Canadian Solar's CS7N-TB-AG module achieves industry-leading degradation rates under 0.5% for LID/LeTID and under 1.0% for DH/PID tests, earning RETC's High Achievement certification.

• TOYO Begins Production At 2 GW Solar Cell Factory in Ethiopia (TaiyangNews) - Japanese manufacturer TOYO launches 2GW solar cell factory in Ethiopia, plans expansion to 4GW amid US tariff shifts and growing market demand.

• Tariffs Are Dominating Clean Energy Earnings Calls (Heatmap News) - Major clean energy companies report significant cost impacts from Trump-era tariffs, particularly affecting battery supply chains and manufacturing costs.

• Energy Insiders Podcast: China and green steel (RenewEconomy) - ANU researcher discusses China's growing demand for green steel production and potential opportunities for Australian industry in new podcast episode.

• Chinese robot does job of three to four humans installing thousands of panels at Australian solar project (RenewEconomy) - Chinese AI-controlled robot installs 10,000 solar panels at Australian solar farm, performing work of 3-4 humans and reducing project time by 25%.

• Coalition’s nuclear gambit will cost Australia trillions – and permanently gut its industry (RenewEconomy) - Analysis reveals Coalition's nuclear power plan would cost Australia $4.3-5.2 trillion and severely reduce industrial capacity through 2050.

• Cool solar tech: Who’s ready for AI-powered construction robots and quantum dots? (Renewable Energy World) - AI-powered construction robots and quantum dot technology promise to revolutionize solar installation efficiency and panel performance through new funding rounds.

• Drivers of Oil Demand in the Middle East: Navigating Growth Beyond the Barrel (EnergyCentral) - Middle East oil demand projected to reach 9.1 mb/d by 2026, driven by economic diversification, increased mobility, and petrochemical sector growth.

• Study: Over 90 per cent of UK industrial firms pursuing decarbonisation measures (BusinessGreen) - Survey reveals 90% of UK and European industrial SMEs are actively pursuing decarbonisation initiatives, with British firms leading clean tech adoption.

• Q1 2025 in Line for Enphase Energy; Expects Tariff Impact In Q2 (TaiyangNews) - Enphase Energy meets Q1 2025 revenue targets with $356.1M despite US market slowdown, warns of Chinese tariff impact on battery business.

• Dragonfly Energy Announces First Quarter 2025 Preliminary Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA (Dragonfly Energy) - Battery technology firm reports Q1 2025 net sales of $13.4M and adjusted EBITDA of -$3.6M, exceeding previous guidance.

• Enphase to absorb bulk of China tariff hit this year: CEO (Utility Dive) - Enphase Energy plans to absorb most China tariff impacts while seeking non-Chinese battery suppliers by early 2026, amid trade policy uncertainty.

Policy

Supreme Court weighs California emissions waiver, NY and MN advance "Rights of Nature" laws, while UN and Brazil push for stronger 2035 targets amid global climate policy shifts

• Progress and challenges in implementing non-market approaches (CGIAR) - Global climate agreement's non-market approaches face implementation hurdles with only one registered project despite 20+ support providers, highlighting need for clearer guidelines and capacity building.

• “A Bright Spot Amidst the Chaos” – From New York to Minnesota, the Rights of Nature are Growing (CELDF) - New York and Minnesota advance landmark "Rights of Nature" legislation, granting legal protections to Great Lakes waterways and wild rice, amid growing environmental movement.

• An Earth Day Message from Acadia Center (Acadia Center) - Environmental advocacy group reaffirms Earth Day commitment to clean energy solutions while highlighting bipartisan history of US environmental protection.

• Supreme Court Hears Arguments Related to California’s Clean Air Protections (EDF) - Supreme Court hears fuel industry challenge to California's Advanced Clean Car standards' EPA waiver, focusing on legal standing while core pollution protections remain intact.

• Remembering Pope Francis and his visit to typhoon-hit Philippines (Mongabay) - Pope Francis's 2015 visit to typhoon-ravaged Philippines influenced his landmark environmental encyclical and climate activism legacy.

• DRC’s Kinshasa could see deadly rain and floods every 2 years: Study (Mongabay) - New study predicts Kinshasa will face catastrophic floods every two years due to climate change, threatening 18 million residents in vulnerable informal settlements.

• Jane Fonda stands with Greenpeace to defend the oceans at United Nations global oceans talks (Greenpeace) - Actor Jane Fonda joins UN Global Ocean Treaty meeting to advocate for ocean protection and criticize Trump administration's environmental stance.

• Greenpeace comment on Joint Leaders Session on Climate and Just Transition (Greenpeace International) - UN Secretary-General and Brazil's President convene climate leaders meeting, emphasizing clean energy momentum and calling for stronger 2035 emission targets ahead of COP30.

• LIHEAP in Crisis: State Leaders, Advocates Warn HHS Cuts Put Low-Income Families at Risk of Utility Shutoffs and Health Emergencies (Chesapeake Climate Action Network) - State leaders and advocates warn that HHS staffing cuts to LIHEAP program threaten utility assistance for 6.7 million low-income households facing potential shutoffs.

• RESET and PRESS: Pennsylvania Introduces Clean Energy Bills to Power Up the Economy (Advanced Energy United) - Pennsylvania introduces RESET and PRESS bills to streamline clean energy project approvals and increase renewable portfolio standards to 35% by 2035.

• Canada’s Elections Will Be The First Verdict On Trump’s Tariffs (Forbes) - Canada's upcoming national election becomes referendum on Trump's proposed 25% tariffs and US trade relations, with PM candidates offering opposing responses to economic threats.

• Advocating for Future Generations at the ISA30: March 2025 Council Meeting (Sustainable Ocean Alliance) - Youth advocates challenge deep-sea mining regulations at International Seabed Authority's 30th Session, emphasizing scientific gaps and intergenerational equity concerns.

• UK Wants Forced Labor-Free Solar Supply Chain (TaiyangNews) - UK government to amend Great British Energy Bill preventing state investment in solar supply chains linked to forced labor, particularly targeting concerns over China's Xinjiang region.

• Donald Trump’s Fossil Fuel Executive UK Ambassador Donated $4 Million to President’s Inauguration Fund (DeSmog) - Trump's UK ambassador Warren Stephens donated $4M to inauguration fund on same day as nomination, while holding significant oil and gas interests through investment firm Stephens Inc.

• ‘There’s No Good Answers’: State Lawmakers on Climate Policy Under Trump (Heatmap News) - State lawmakers from NY, WA, MA, and NJ grapple with protecting climate initiatives amid Trump administration threats to block funding and challenge state environmental programs.

• Australia election 2025: Where parties stand on climate change, energy and nature (Carbon Brief) - Australian election pits Labor's renewable energy push and COP31 bid against Coalition's nuclear plans and fossil fuel expansion, while Greens advocate complete fossil fuel phase-out.

• Canada election 2025: What the manifestos say on nature, energy and climate (Carbon Brief) - Canada's upcoming election sees climate policy divide deepen as Conservative leader opposes net-zero targets while Liberal leader Carney maintains climate commitments amid US trade tensions.

• Analysis: Conservative election win could add 800m tonnes to Canada’s emissions by 2035 (Carbon Brief) - Conservative victory in Canadian election could add 800m tonnes to national emissions by 2035 through planned carbon pricing and climate regulation rollbacks.

• On Earth Week, LCV Action Fund Announces First Round of Endorsements of House Champions (LCV Action Fund) - Environmental advocacy group announces first wave of 2026 House endorsements for 60 Democratic candidates during Earth Week, backing climate and environmental protection champions.

• LCV and IEC Statements on Announcements from Senator Durbin and Representative Schakowsky (LCV) - Senator Durbin and Rep. Schakowsky receive praise from environmental groups for their leadership on climate, voting rights, and environmental justice initiatives in Illinois.

• Judge Asks Trump Administration for More Evidence That Funding Freeze Is Constitutional (Inside Climate News) - Federal judge gives Trump administration 7 days to justify constitutional authority for freezing climate funding while ordering funds already released cannot be refrozen.

• Solar and battery proposal sails through EPBC and into a storm of objections – some of them wild (RenewEconomy) - 100MW solar and battery project in NSW clears federal environmental approval but faces 81 local objections citing environmental and agricultural concerns.

• Electricity demand is skyrocketing; US manufacturers don’t have time for a trade war and tax credit uncertainty (RenewableEnergyWorld) - US solar manufacturers face severe disruption from escalating trade tariffs and tax credit uncertainty amid surging electricity demand.

• New solar grassroots advocacy platform launched to protect clean energy tax credits (Renewable Energy World) - SEIA launches 'Solar Powers America' grassroots platform to defend clean energy tax credits amid Congressional budget negotiations.

• Meet the new American refugees fleeing across state lines for safety (The Guardian) - Americans forced to flee across state lines due to political persecution, abortion bans, anti-trans laws, climate disasters and academic censorship under Trump administration become internal refugees.

• Trump administration has set Noaa on ‘non-science trajectory’, workers warn (The Guardian) - Trump administration's cuts and restructuring at NOAA threaten decades of climate and environmental research, with scientists warning of severe impacts on US air and water quality monitoring.

• Wood-burning stoves to be allowed in new homes in England despite concerns (The Guardian) - England to allow wood-burning stoves in new homes despite evidence showing significant health and climate impacts from toxic emissions and carbon output.

• Labour’s great nature sellout is the worst attack on England’s ecosystems I’ve seen in my lifetime | George Monbiot (The Guardian) - Labour's new planning bill eliminates key environmental protections, allowing developers to bypass habitat preservation requirements through simple offsetting payments.

• Yes, Your Friends and Neighbors Want to Talk to You About Climate Change (Bluedot Living) - New research shows majority of people want to discuss climate change but remain silent due to misconceptions about others' views, creating self-reinforcing cycle of inaction.

• The European Green Deal’s Secret Weapon: Education (REVOLVE) - EU expert calls for comprehensive 'Green Deal Education Initiative' to boost energy literacy and technical skills across member states.

• Xi vows China will 'not slow down its climate actions' (BusinessGreen) - Chinese President Xi Jinping pledges continued climate action commitment and confirms China will submit updated national climate plan this year.

• As wildfires intensify, residents of fire country must act fast (Yale Climate Connections) - Colorado fire chief warns of increasingly rapid wildfire evacuations as extreme fires and urban development in fire-prone areas put more communities at risk.

• Ohio’s HB 6 utility scandal gets true-crime treatment in HBO film (Canary Media) - HBO documentary exposes $60M utility bribery scandal in Ohio that secured $1.5B in ratepayer subsidies for coal and nuclear plants.

• Rising utility bills have Americans worried (Canary Media) - Poll reveals 73% of Americans worried about rising utility bills amid regulatory concerns, with most unaware of public utility commissions' role in price control.

• The Trump administration says it wants a ‘nuclear renaissance.’ These actions suggest otherwise. (Grist) - Trump administration's nuclear energy ambitions face setbacks as TVA board changes and policy decisions undermine nuclear development plans.

• A forthcoming Supreme Court decision could limit agencies’ duty to consider environmental harms (Grist) - Supreme Court case on Utah oil railway could limit federal agencies' requirements to consider climate and environmental impacts in infrastructure project approvals.

• Canadian Regulators Hit Pause on Mandatory Climate Reporting Requirements (ESG Today) - Canadian securities regulators pause development of mandatory climate disclosure rules, citing need to adapt to global regulatory changes.

• Guest Post – Reset with Purpose: Navigating CSRD and the Next Chapter in Sustainability (ESG Today) - European Commission's Omnibus Package aims to streamline sustainability reporting requirements while maintaining decarbonization goals, as financial sector urges against diluting CSRD standards.

• Can Trump bring back ‘clean, beautiful coal’? (High Country News) - Trump's executive orders to revive coal industry likely to fail as market forces and cheaper alternatives continue driving coal's decline despite regulatory rollbacks.

• Commerce finalizes tariff rates on solar imports from Southeast Asia (Utility Dive) - US Commerce Department sets record-high 3,400% tariff rates on Southeast Asian solar imports to counter Chinese tariff circumvention.

• U.S. Aid Cuts Are Hitting Global Conservation Projects Hard (Yale E360) - Trump administration's dismantling of USAID eliminates billions in global conservation funding, impacting wildlife protection and environmental projects across 60 countries.

• US and Europe set for clash on what “energy security” means (Climate Change News) - US and European leaders clash over energy security definitions at London summit, with Trump administration promoting LNG exports while EU emphasizes renewable transition.

• White House says not taking aim at green group tax status (Climate Change News) - White House official confirms no plans to revoke tax-exempt status of climate-focused non-profit organizations despite widespread concerns.

• Xi contrasts China’s clean energy promises with Trump turmoil (The Guardian) - China's Xi Jinping pledges continued climate action while criticizing Trump's protectionist policies during UN climate meeting with world leaders.

• ‘An outlier’: why does the US rank low on demands for climate action? (The Guardian) - US ranks among lowest globally in climate action support despite 74% wanting more action, due to partisan divides and fossil fuel industry influence.

• Keynote address: "Graduating in the Age of Climate Crisis" (Gonzaga University) - Climate Institute director urges graduates to pursue idealistic climate action, arguing that realistic solutions require worthy ideals rather than status quo thinking.

• April National Call: Make Polluters Pay (Third Act) - Big Oil companies face mounting state-level climate superfund laws and lawsuits demanding payment for climate damages, prompting industry pushback and Trump administration efforts to grant fossil fuel immunity.

• The latest from Day 3 of 89 Percent Project Coverage (Covering Climate Now) - Global media collaboration reveals 89% of people worldwide want increased government action on climate change, launching coordinated coverage to amplify this "silent majority".

• The Rising Nepal (The Rising Nepal) - Nepal's first English broadsheet daily outlines integrated approach combining science, policy, and community action to combat landslide disasters.

• Project Leadership and Society (Elsevier) (Project Leadership and Society) - Research examines stakeholder management strategies for implementing innovative flood control projects in Kenya's weak institutional contexts.

• New Report Charts Vision to End New York City’s Foster Care to Homelessness Pipeline (HR&A Advisors) - New report outlines 5-year plan to create 800 housing units for NYC foster youth aging out of care, aiming to prevent homelessness through $30M annual funding and public-private partnerships.

• EPN Celebrated Earth Day 2025 with Gratitude for EPA Staff (Environmental Protection Network) - Former EPA staff and volunteers gather in Washington DC to show appreciation for current EPA employees through metro station rallies and courtyard events on Earth Day 2025.

• Programme Management Officer (Deputy Chief of Regional Office), P-4, Cairo (UNDRR) - UN seeks Deputy Chief for Arab States Regional Office in Cairo to lead disaster risk reduction initiatives and coordinate regional platforms.

• When they created a reverse bounty for threatened species, scientists got the opposite outcome they wanted (Anthropocene) - Indonesian program paying fishers to release endangered sharks and rays backfired, leading to increased fishing efforts and higher mortality rates.

Renewables

Major expansions from China's 60GW solar surge to UK's £300M offshore wind push, while Uruguay hits 98% renewable electricity and breakthrough efficiencies emerge in silicon and perovskite cells

• Uruguay’s iconic renewable energy transition (350.org) - Uruguay achieves 98% renewable electricity through rapid transition led by Energy Secretary Ramon Mendez, halving costs and creating 50,000 jobs without battery storage.

• Solar strong (Environment America) - Rising extreme weather events drive surge in home solar-plus-storage installations as Americans seek energy independence and resilience against power outages.

• Germany Awards 2.64 GW In Ground Mounted Solar Auction (TaiyangNews) - Germany's latest ground-mounted solar auction awards 2.64 GW capacity with winning bids averaging €0.0466/kWh, showing continued price decline and high competition.

• Lead-Free ‘Perovskites-Only’ Solar Cell Reaches 16.65% Efficiency (TaiyangNews) - University of Queensland researchers achieve 16.65% efficiency with lead-free tin halide perovskite solar cells, marking progress toward eco-friendly alternatives.

• IEA PVPS: Global Floating PV Capacity Hit 7.7 GW In 2023 (TaiyangNews) - Global floating solar PV capacity reached 7.7 GW in 2023 with Asia dominating 90% of installations, led by China at 50% market share.

• Localized Front Contacts Boost HJT Solar Cell Efficiency To 23.4% (TaiyangNews) - Delft University researchers achieve 23.4% efficiency in silicon heterojunction solar cells using novel localized front contact design that reduces material use and improves performance.

• Meanwhile, in China, 60 GW of new solar capacity added in first quarter of 2025 (RenewEconomy) - China adds record 60GW of solar capacity in Q1 2025, marking 43.4% increase from previous year as nation accelerates renewable energy deployment.

• 'Clear signal of intent': Government pulls forward £300m in offshore wind supply chain funding (BusinessGreen) - UK government fast-tracks £300m investment in offshore wind supply chains through GB Energy to boost domestic industry and attract international investors.

• Why one major solar developer isn’t worried about tariffs (Canary Media) - Tennessee-based Silicon Ranch secures $500M investment, leveraging domestic solar supply chains to bypass tariff concerns while meeting AI-driven power demand.

• Exowatt Raises $70 Million for 24-Hour-a-Day Solar Power Solution (ESG Today) - Renewable energy startup Exowatt raises $70M to scale production of innovative 24/7 solar power system that stores energy as heat for on-demand electricity generation.

• How do we achieve the success we need in the energy sector? #climateaction (Hydro Quebec) - State utility plans $150 billion investment to double capacity with 11,000 megawatts of new renewable energy over next decade while serving Quebec and New England markets.

Transport

Factorial Energy achieves solid-state battery breakthrough, while Tesla faces competition from BYD and Harbinger; AfricroozE e-bikes transform African mobility and California relaunches e-bike incentives

• Stellantis and Factorial Energy Reach Key Milestone in Solid-State Battery Development (Stellantis) - Automaker validates solid-state EV battery cells achieving 375Wh/kg energy density and 18-minute charging time in partnership with Factorial Energy.

• Back to the fuel guzzlers? Coalition plans to end EV tax breaks would hobble the clean transport transition (The Conversation) - Coalition's plan to end EV tax breaks in Australia threatens to reverse growing electric vehicle adoption rates and increase transport emissions.

• Alberta’s First Commercial Hydrogen Fuelling Station Removed Ahead of Edmonton Expo (DeSmog) - Alberta's first commercial hydrogen fueling station removed and owner Nikola files bankruptcy weeks before national hydrogen conference, undermining province's hydrogen infrastructure plans.

• Why Peter Dutton won’t stop backflipping on electric vehicles (RenewEconomy) - Opposition leader Peter Dutton repeatedly shifts stance on electric vehicle tax policies ahead of Australian election, highlighting Coalition's struggle to maintain consistent position on clean transport incentives.

• Tesla Misses The Electric Truck Boat, Again (CleanTechnica) - Tesla loses ground in electric truck market as startup Harbinger begins production of medium-duty electric chassis with 4,690 pre-orders worth $500 million.

• BYD Keeps Delivering on Tesla’s Unkept Promises (CleanTechnica) - BYD outperforms Tesla in delivering affordable EVs, growth targets, autonomous driving, and sports cars while maintaining profitability and expanding product lines.

• The US States Where You Can Save The Most Money With An Electric Car (CleanTechnica) - Washington, Nevada, and Oregon EV owners can save over $14,000 in fuel costs compared to gas vehicles over 10 years, with Washington leading at $18,055 in potential savings.

• ​The AfricroozE Bike Could Revolutionize E-Mobility Across Africa​ (CleanTechnica) - Purpose-built AfricroozE e-bikes with solar charging stations transform mobility across Africa through rugged design, multiple cargo options, and affordable financing.

• New Wheels, Less Cash: California’s E-Bike Vouchers Are Back (CleanTechnica) - California relaunches E-Bike Incentive Project offering up to $2,000 in instant point-of-sale vouchers for low-income residents to purchase electric bikes.

• Sleek, Stylish Curbside EV Charging (Bring Your Own Cable), Coming Soon To A City Near You (CleanTechnica) - New York startup It's Electric launches sleek curbside EV charging stations with bring-your-own-cable model, while Ford extends home charger incentives amid improving public charging infrastructure.

• Tesla Supercharger Network Still Growing (CleanTechnica) - Tesla expands Supercharger network by 14% to 7,131 stations despite earlier staffing turmoil, benefiting both Tesla and non-Tesla EV drivers.

• An Excellent Adventure For Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, & Nissan In Shanghai (CleanTechnica) - Major automakers Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, and Nissan unveil new electric vehicles and announce investments at Shanghai Auto Show, highlighting China's dominance in global EV market.

• Tesla’s Competitors Move Ahead with Affordable EVs — Not Skimpy Promises (CleanTechnica) - Tesla's competitors gain market share as company delays affordable EV launch amid brand damage from CEO Musk's political activities and declining sales.

• Reuters Events: Automotive Europe 2025 (Reuters Events) - Major European automotive industry conference in Stuttgart to gather OEM leaders for setting future industry agenda in April 2025.

• Amex GBT Launches New Tool to Help Companies Identify Low Carbon Travel Options (ESG Today) - Amex GBT launches digital travel management tool providing companies with carbon emissions data and recommendations for lower-emission travel options.