Monday Morning Update

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (4 stories) - Microplastic crop impacts, fog-harvesting nets in Morocco/Chile, solar grazing partnerships, and Solein's 6,000-tonne protein facility deals

  
  

• Carbon (3 stories) - Digital tracking advances with WEATS registry, while email waste emissions raise concerns and BASF tackles Scope 3 data

  
  

• Circular (1 story) - Atlanta mosques launch zero-waste Ramadan programs across 24 centers, focusing on composting and waste reduction

  
  

• Ecosystems (7 stories) - Pink dolphins in Colombia's Orinoco face threats, NSW rivers see mass fish die-off, Florida reef predation studied, Yellowstone's bison legacy endures, and European duckweed systems target water pollution

  
  

• Finance (1 story) - ESG label shifts, Northvolt filing, and clean energy funding rounds reshape sustainable investment landscape

  
  

• Grid (2 stories) - NSW seeks operator for 8GW New England REZ as NEM hydro hits 12-year low of 172.1 MW

  
  

• Industry (4 stories) - INL tests microreactor designs while TotalEnergies-RWE plan major hydrogen pipeline; hydrogen economy books face criticism; geospatial tech advances

  
  

• Policy (12 stories) - EC moves to streamline CSRD requirements while US sees mixed policy outcomes: Wyoming net-metering fails, Line 5 fast-tracked, and Texas rejects well-plugging deadline

  
  

• Renewables (4 stories) - Solar and wind overtake US coal; NZ plans thermal phaseout by 2040; Chinese wind vessel enters US market; community solar savings reach 15%

  
  

• Transport (4 stories) - Vingroup's $4T rupiah Indonesia EV plant, Chicago's Bronzeville EV initiatives, and Tesla's market challenges across US-China-Europe

Agriculture

Microplastic crop impacts, fog-harvesting nets in Morocco/Chile, solar grazing partnerships, and Solein's 6,000-tonne protein facility deals

• The Guardian view on microplastics: harmful pollution must be curbed | Editorial (The Guardian) - New research shows microplastics may reduce crop yields by 12% through disrupted photosynthesis, adding urgency to global plastic pollution treaty negotiations.

• Fog harvesting: How to get water from the clouds (DW) - Fog harvesting nets in Morocco and Chile demonstrate viable water collection from clouds, producing up to 35,000 liters daily for rural and urban communities facing water scarcity.

• Solar grazing (AgWeb) - Sheep farmers partner with solar developers to provide sustainable vegetation management through solar grazing, offering benefits for farmers, animals, and solar facilities.

• Solar Foods has signed two MoUs regarding commercialisation of 6,000 tonnes of Solein per year (Solar Foods) - Finnish biotech firm signs MoUs with international customers to supply 6,000 tonnes of Solein protein annually from planned Factory 02 facility.

Carbon

Digital tracking advances with WEATS registry, while email waste emissions raise concerns and BASF tackles Scope 3 data

• Unlocking Data-Driven Decarbonization (a ChatGPT Guest Post) (WattCarbon) - New digital registry system WEATS tracks energy savings and generation at watt-hour level while issuing verified Energy Attribute Certificates for enhanced emissions monitoring.

• Email signatures are harming the planet and could cost people their lives — it’s time to stop using them (The Conversation) - Study reveals email signatures and spam contribute to carbon emissions that could cause premature deaths, urging elimination of digital waste.

• ChoiceEvent #83 – BASF & TfS: Making Scope 3 Data Work (TheClimateChoice) - BASF to host webinar on leveraging Scope 3 emissions data for strategic business decisions and sustainability transformation.

Circular

Atlanta mosques launch zero-waste Ramadan programs across 24 centers, focusing on composting and waste reduction

• A greener Ramadan: How Atlanta-area mosques are cutting food waste during the Muslim holy month (Grist) - Atlanta-area mosques implement zero-waste initiatives during Ramadan, with 24 Islamic centers planning waste reduction programs and composting to combat food and plastic waste.

Ecosystems

Pink dolphins in Colombia's Orinoco face threats, NSW rivers see mass fish die-off, Florida reef predation studied, Yellowstone's bison legacy endures, and European duckweed systems target water pollution

• One Man’s Quest to Protect Pink River Dolphins in Colombia (Inside Climate News) - Colombian marine biologist Fernando Trujillo leads efforts to protect endangered pink river dolphins in the Orinoco River through health assessments and mercury testing while battling illegal hunting and pollution.

• Thousands of fish die in cyclone-hit northern rivers amid reports of eels and crabs fleeing ‘blackwater’ (The Guardian) - Thousands of fish die in northern NSW rivers as post-cyclone flooding triggers oxygen-depleting 'blackwater' event, forcing marine life to flee or perish.

• "New Creation" (2 Cor. 5:16-21) (Creation Justice Ministries) - Theological scholars explore how 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 reframes humanity's relationship with creation through Christ's reconciling work, emphasizing hope and renewal amid environmental challenges.

• Underwater ‘doorbell’ helps scientists catch coral-eating fish in Florida (The Guardian) - Scientists use underwater camera system to identify three fish species responsible for eating 97% of coral during Florida reef restoration efforts.

• The Last Wild Bison (The Wildlife News) - Yellowstone National Park harbors America's last truly wild bison herd, with historical tribal hunting and later commercial exploitation reducing continental population from millions to just 25 park animals by 1872.

• How Nature-Based Solutions Can Help Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (Earth.org) - Scientists develop nature-based wastewater treatment systems using biofilm and duckweed to combat growing antimicrobial resistance crisis in Europe.

• Like to fish? Dr. Andy Danylchuk studies catch and release #shorts (UMass Amherst) - Marine biologist Dr. Andy Danylchuk researches catch-and-release fishing impacts to improve fish survival rates and population sustainability.

Finance

ESG label shifts, Northvolt filing, and clean energy funding rounds reshape sustainable investment landscape

• ESG Today: Week in Review (ESG Today) - Major sustainability news includes CFA dropping "ESG" label, Northvolt bankruptcy, increased corporate sustainability revenues, and multiple clean energy funding rounds.

Grid

NSW seeks operator for 8GW New England REZ as NEM hydro hits 12-year low of 172.1 MW

• Network partners sought to build poles, wires and community trust in hotly contested renewable zone (RenewEconomy) - New South Wales government launches search for network operator to deliver 8GW New England Renewable Energy Zone amid local opposition and community trust challenges.

• Hydro output hits lowest level on Australia’s main grid since market records began (RenewEconomy) - Australia's National Electricity Market records lowest hydroelectric output since 2010 at 172.1 MW amid high renewable generation and low market prices.

Industry

INL tests microreactor designs while TotalEnergies-RWE plan major hydrogen pipeline; hydrogen economy books face criticism; geospatial tech advances

• From Death Stars to Warp Drives: Debunking Hydrogen’s Techno-Utopia (CleanTechnica) - Literary analysis critiques hydrogen economy books by Rifkin and Rakhou as oversimplified techno-utopian narratives that ignore real-world implementation challenges.

• INL is Microreactor Central for Testing Designs & Fuels (Energy Central) - Idaho National Laboratory emerges as central testing hub for nine microreactor designs and fuels, offering validation services for next-generation nuclear technology under 20MW capacity.

• TotalEnergies and RWE join forces on green hydrogen to decarbonize the Leuna refinery (Energy Central) - TotalEnergies partners with RWE to supply 300,000 tons of green hydrogen annually to Germany's Leuna refinery via 600km pipeline, cutting CO2 emissions by 300,000 tons from 2030.

• Groundwork 02 (Development Seed) - Tech firm unveils five open-source geospatial innovations including STAC API improvements, AI knowledge management, and GPU-accelerated data analysis tools.

Policy

EC moves to streamline CSRD requirements while US sees mixed policy outcomes: Wyoming net-metering fails, Line 5 fast-tracked, and Texas rejects well-plugging deadline

• Answers to common questions about the EU omnibus proposal (Watershed) - European Commission's omnibus proposal aims to simplify CSRD reporting requirements by reducing data points, focusing on quantitative metrics, and aligning with global standards.

• SOCAN Comments on the USFS Draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the 1994 Northwest  Amendment (SOCAN) - Environmental group submits detailed critique of US Forest Service's Northwest Forest Plan amendment, highlighting climate concerns and carbon sequestration priorities.

• Global Newsletter #93: Resistance and Hope (Extinction Rebellion) - Global climate activists confront government inaction through coordinated protests in Argentina, UK, Italy and Netherlands, highlighting escalating state repression against environmental defenders.

• ‘An Unlikely Coalition’ Failed to Expand Rooftop Solar in Wyoming. Lawmakers Plan to Try Again (Inside Climate News) - Wyoming's bipartisan net-metering expansion bill fails in Senate despite unusual coalition of Freedom Caucus Republicans, ranchers, and environmentalists pushing for increased rooftop solar capacity.

• Battery and solar projects waved through federal queue, but giant wind plan will need approval (RenewEconomy) - Two major battery and solar projects bypass federal environmental approval in Australia while large Queensland wind farm faces full review process.

• Line 5, a Trump donor, is profiting off a pipeline deal threatening pollution (The Guardian) - Trump administration fast-tracks controversial Line 5 pipeline project in Michigan, with $1m campaign donor Barnard Construction awarded contract despite environmental concerns and lack of tunnel-building experience.

• Wild Bison, Victim of Politics and Political Correctness (The Wildlife News) - Yellowstone's last wild bison face ongoing slaughter by tribal hunters at park boundaries despite questionable treaty rights and conservation concerns.

• Key Role of Local Elected Officials Seen as Lynchpin to Successful New Nuclear Projects Highlighted in ECA Report (Energy Central) - ECA report highlights crucial role of local officials and former nuclear site communities in advancing new nuclear energy projects across US.

• 400 Olympians Call For Bold Climate Action From the Next IOC President (Earth.org) - 400 Olympians from 89 countries urge incoming IOC president to prioritize climate action as rising temperatures threaten future Olympic games' viability.

• Sweep x Deloitte : Webinaire CSRD - Résilience et compétitivité derrière l’exigence de conformité (Deloitte/Sweep) - European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) faces major simplification under Omnibus reform, raising thresholds and reducing reporting requirements while maintaining core sustainability principles.

• Can clean energy keep up the pace?  (Canary Media) - Despite record-breaking clean energy deployment in 2024, industry growth faces uncertainty due to Trump administration's regulatory rollbacks and potential IRA tax credit changes.

• Texas lawmakers punt orphaned oil and gas well bill (Canary Media) - Texas lawmakers reject bill to set 15-year deadline for plugging 150,000 inactive oil and gas wells due to concerns about impact on small operators.

Renewables

Solar and wind overtake US coal; NZ plans thermal phaseout by 2040; Chinese wind vessel enters US market; community solar savings reach 15%

• Solar ain't bothered (yet) (Keep Cool) - Solar and wind energy surpass coal in US electricity generation for first time in 2024, with solar growing 27% year-over-year and poised for massive 2025 expansion.

• Graph of the Day: New Zealand heads towards 100 pct renewables (RenewEconomy) - New Zealand's electricity grid projected to phase out all thermal generation by 2040 through major expansion of wind, solar, and battery storage while maintaining hydro and geothermal base.

• Don’t Worry, China Will Help Build US Offshore Wind Farms (CleanTechnica) - Chinese-built offshore wind vessel heads to US amid Trump administration's suspension of federal offshore wind leasing program, highlighting continued development despite policy setbacks.

• Your timeline to savings (Nexamp) - Community solar program offers 10-15% savings on electricity bills through solar farm credits after utility approval and farm activation.

Transport

Vingroup's $4T rupiah Indonesia EV plant, Chicago's Bronzeville EV initiatives, and Tesla's market challenges across US-China-Europe

• Vingroup’s Ambitious Green Vision Finds a New Frontier in Indonesia (CleanTechnica) - Vingroup plans $4 trillion Rupiah EV factory in Indonesia with 50,000 vehicle annual capacity and 100,000 charging stations, while exploring wind and solar investments.

• Reliving EV history (Canary Media) - Chicago's historic Bronzeville neighborhood continues EV leadership role despite federal policy setbacks, building on century-long legacy as electric vehicle hub.

• Boosting EVs in Chicago environmental justice communities (Canary Media) - Chicago community development group launches initiative to boost EV adoption and charging infrastructure in environmental justice communities on city's South Side.

• Where Does Tesla Face the Most Sales Risk: China, USA, or Europe? (CleanTechnica) - Tesla faces significant sales risks across its three major markets due to increasing competition, political controversies, and slower product innovation compared to rivals in China, USA, and Europe.