Report: Economic Growth, Avoiding Disaster, Will Come From Investing in Sustainability

Photo of giant solar panel array, Barcelona's Pergola Fotovoltaica, by Biel Morro on Unplash. Look at the tiny people there.

Sustainability transition = economic growth and disasters avoided. That's the simplest summary of a new study by the OECD and UN released this week. (Reuters coverage is good.)

The report was published as countries gathered to develop their national plans (NDCs) to be released in September. Will those plans be ambitious enough to meet Paris climate goals?

"Anyone who dismisses climate action in these turbulent times as being expensive, onerous or superfluous cannot count," says German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Here are some key findings from the report:

• Net gain in global GDP by 2040 with Paris-aligned national plans: 0.23% growth

• Losses prevented by changing from current policies to enhanced goals: up to 3% by 2050 and up to 13% by 2100 could be avoided

• Gains in GDP per capita by 2050 under enhanced goals: up 60% from 2025 levels in high income countries, up 124% in low income countries.

In other words, investing in ambitious climate transition is the only way to improve global material well-being and avoid huge losses.

Is that worth a shift away from the short term interests of oil oligarchs?

And now, our daily summaries of nearly 200 selected updates from around the world of green tech and sustainability.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (8 stories) - Klim's $22M Boost, Agrivoltaics in California, and RNA Innovations Highlight Sustainable Agriculture Investments and Policy Shifts

  
  

• Carbon (6 stories) - Twelve, Eion, and Frontier lead innovative carbon transformation and removal strategies across industrial, agricultural, and marine sectors, with Dutch roadmap revealing €429 billion green carbon potential.

  
  

• Circular (5 stories) - Coca-Cola's ocean plastic crisis, RF wireless power, battery recycling innovations, and plant-based leather transforming circular economy landscapes

  
  

• Ecosystems (24 stories) - Global biodiversity crisis unfolds through ocean leadership, glacial loss, forest dynamics, and species conservation challenges across continents

  
  

• Efficiency (3 stories) - Heat pump expansion, global decarbonization roadmap, and AI-powered building efficiency solutions drive sustainable infrastructure transformation

  
  

• Finance (4 stories) - Just Climate's $175M natural climate solutions fund; divestment activist Dan Quinlan; ING's science-based emissions targets; cat-risk.com parametric insurance exchange.

  
  

• Grid (16 stories) - AI, Drones, and Smart Tech Drive Grid Flexibility: Evergy, Percepto, Span, and GridUnity Advance Utility Infrastructure Management and Optimization

  
  

• Indigenous (13 stories) - Indigenous Resistance and Resilience: Lithium Mining Threats, Deep-Sea Mining Challenges, and Land Rights Battles Across Chile, Pacific, Paraguay, and Colombia

  
  

• Industry (19 stories) - AI, Hydrogen, and Nuclear Innovations Drive Green Industrial Transformation, with Sinopec, Oklo, and Differential Bio Leading Strategic Pivots in Energy and Biotech

  
  

• Policy (50 stories) - State-level climate policy innovations drive renewable energy expansion, insurance challenges, and critical mineral mapping amid complex regulatory landscapes

  
  

• Renewables (30 stories) - Solar dominates global power expansion, with China leading record 452 GW installations and IRENA reporting 92.5% renewable energy growth in 2024, driven by innovations from Imeon Energy, Sweetch Energy, and Mondragon Assembly.

  
  

• Transport (11 stories) - Airbus, Nissan, BETA Technologies, and Rivian Drive Electric Aviation and Vehicle Innovation, with Hydrogen, EV Infrastructure, and Micromobility Advances Reshaping Transportation Landscape

Agriculture

Klim's $22M Boost, Agrivoltaics in California, and RNA Innovations Highlight Sustainable Agriculture Investments and Policy Shifts

• What’s next for carbon insetting startup Klim? (AgFunderNews) - German startup Klim raises $22M to help food companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains through regenerative farming platforms.

• Pick for German agriculture minister withdraws after activists storm farm (Guardian) - German agriculture minister candidate withdraws after animal rights activists storm his farm, citing safety concerns and cross-party condemnation.

• Fast Track For One New Agrivoltaic Project In California, More To Follow (CleanTechnica) - California fast-tracks 300-megawatt agrivoltaic project in Fresno County, enabling solar energy production and sheep grazing on non-prime agricultural land.

• Just Climate Invests $25 Million in Sustainable Agriculture Solutions Provider GreenLight Biosciences (ESG Today) - Just Climate invests $25 million in GreenLight Biosciences to advance RNA-based sustainable agricultural solutions targeting crop protection and biodiversity.

• Transcript of EWG podcast ‘Ken Cook Is Having Another Episode' – Episode 28 (EWG) - Investigative podcast explores meat industry's consolidation, environmental impact, and potential for systemic transformation through regional food systems and collective action.

• Small New York Farms Suffer as Federal Funds Freeze (Inside Climate News) - Small New York farms face financial crisis as federal climate-smart agricultural grants are unexpectedly frozen, threatening sustainable farming initiatives.

• California Farmworker Communities Win the Right to Be Notified of Pesticide Applications in Advance (Inside Climate News) - California launches first statewide pesticide notification system, enabling farmworker communities to access advance warning about toxic chemical applications.

• Learn About One of Our Exceptional Volunteers – Janice Lasker (Sustaining Way) - Dedicated volunteer Janice Lasker reflects on two years of impactful community gardening and learning before moving back to Virginia.

Carbon

Twelve, Eion, and Frontier lead innovative carbon transformation and removal strategies across industrial, agricultural, and marine sectors, with Dutch roadmap revealing €429 billion green carbon potential.

• Twelve Named to TIME’s 2025 List of World’s Top GreenTech Companies (TIME) - Twelve recognized as a top GreenTech company for transforming carbon emissions into valuable industrial products.

• Frontier Signs $33 Million Carbon Removal Purchase with Enhanced Rock Weathering Startup Eion (ESG Today) - Frontier commits $33 million to Eion for enhanced rock weathering carbon removal across U.S. farmlands.

• Comparing Dutch National and Provincial Carbon Removal Roadmaps (Climate Cleanup) - Dutch national and provincial roadmaps reveal €429 billion potential for green carbon removal strategies across agriculture, construction, and ecosystem restoration.

• 2nd Advancing Marine CDR Summit (Energy Central) - Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Summit in Boston aims to establish methodologies, financing strategies, and scaling approaches for ocean-based carbon credit technologies.

• The Carbon Copy: A boulder future for ERW (Carbon180) - Policy roadmap highlights critical research needs for enhanced rock weathering as a promising carbon removal and agricultural strategy.

• The Carbonfuture Perspective: Advancing the CDR Market Together (Carbonfuture) - Carbon removal market poised for breakthrough year with record purchases, diverse buyers, and scalable durable carbon removal solutions in 2025.

Circular

Coca-Cola's ocean plastic crisis, RF wireless power, battery recycling innovations, and plant-based leather transforming circular economy landscapes

• Coca-Cola plastic waste in oceans expected to reach 602m kilograms a year by 2030 (Guardian) - Coca-Cola's plastic waste in oceans projected to reach 602 million kilograms annually by 2030, highlighting massive environmental pollution challenge.

• From Waste to Wireless: How RF Power is Eliminating Disposable Batteries (POWER) - RF-based wireless power technology eliminates disposable batteries, reducing electronic waste and offering sustainable energy solutions across industries.

• Mining is an environmental and human rights nightmare. Battery recycling can ease that. (Grist) - Battery recycling emerges as a critical solution to reduce environmental and human rights impacts of mineral extraction for clean energy technologies.

• What Is Vegan Leather? (Bluedot Living) - Innovative plant-based leather alternatives like apple, pineapple, and cactus leather offer sustainable fashion options that reduce environmental impact compared to traditional animal leather.

• EEA briefing ‘Consumption of clothing, footwear, other textiles in the EU reaches new record high’ (EEA) - EU textile consumption hits a record high, increasing environmental pressures.

Ecosystems

Global biodiversity crisis unfolds through ocean leadership, glacial loss, forest dynamics, and species conservation challenges across continents

• Meet the 2025 Ocean Leaders Fellows (SOA) - Sustainable Ocean Alliance announces 40 young ocean leaders from 34 countries for 2025 fellowship program focused on ocean conservation and leadership development.

• Preserving Africa’s glaciers is protecting our future (CGIAR) - Africa's rapidly vanishing glaciers threaten water security for millions, highlighting urgent climate adaptation needs.

• Beyond reforestation, let’s try ‘proforestation’ (Mongabay) - Scientists propose 'proforestation' as a climate solution, emphasizing letting existing forests grow naturally to maximize carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

• If you want a fast-growing forest to suck up more carbon, pick slow-growing trees (Anthropocene Magazine) - Slow-growing trees outperform fast-growing trees in carbon sequestration across most global environments.

• Manatees in peril as human pressures push gentle giants toward the brink (Mongabay) - Manatees face critical threats from habitat loss, boat strikes, and ecosystem degradation, signaling broader marine environmental challenges.

• Testimony on the Dangers of GE Trees: The Case of the American Chestnut Tree (Global Justice Ecology Project) - Genetically engineered American chestnut tree fails after short trials, revealing risks of unregulated genetic modification in forest ecosystems.

• Cropped 26 March 2025: US birds in peril; UK ecologists ‘job fears’; Finance ‘fuelling’ deforestation (Carbon Brief) - Nearly a third of US bird species face population decline and conservation threats, with grassland and aridland birds experiencing most significant losses.

• Giraffes for Peace (The Revelator) - Kenyan pastoral communities unite to restore Baringo giraffes, transforming decades of conflict into peaceful coexistence through shared conservation efforts.

• South Korea Is Grappling With Devastating Wildfires (Heatmap News) - South Korea battles catastrophic wildfires, with 24 deaths and 27,000 evacuations, highlighting climate change's escalating impact on extreme weather events.

• NOAA issues critical drought warnings during cuts to agency (High Country News) - NOAA warns of intensifying Southwest megadrought amid critical budget cuts, with 40% of U.S. states experiencing drought conditions and heightened wildfire risks.

• Fallow deer releases boost biodiversity in Bulgaria’s Sakar Mountains (Rewilding Europe) - Bulgarian conservationists and hunters collaborate to reintroduce fallow deer, boosting biodiversity and ecosystem health in Sakar Mountains.

• Expedition links Antarctic glacial melting to climate catastrophe in Brazil (Mongabay) - Brazilian researchers' Antarctic expedition reveals rapid glacial melting with potential catastrophic climate implications for Brazil within 30 years.

• The devastating impact of humans on biodiversity (Eawag) - Global study reveals human activities are causing dramatic biodiversity loss across ecosystems, with species numbers declining by nearly 20% and community compositions fundamentally shifting.

• Peru’s rare peatland swamps at risk as illegal gold mining expands (Mongabay) - Illegal gold mining threatens Peru's rare carbon-rich Amazon peatlands, risking massive carbon emissions and ecosystem destruction.

• Biodiversity loss in all species and every ecosystem linked to humans – report (Guardian) - Comprehensive global study reveals human activities are causing unprecedented biodiversity loss across all species and ecosystems, with species numbers dropping nearly 20% in human-impacted sites.

• Microplastics in sea turtle nests could cause a dangerous gender imbalance (Mongabay) - Microplastics in sea turtle nests could skew gender ratios, potentially further endangering already threatened turtle species.

• Devastating flood forces relocation of 10,000 tortoises at Madagascar sanctuary (Mongabay) - Devastating flood at Madagascar tortoise sanctuary forces emergency relocation of 10,000 critically endangered tortoises after cyclones kill 800 reptiles.

• Nature-based Water Solutions in Colorado (Bluedot Living) - Colorado launches innovative pilot projects to use nature-based solutions for water treatment, potentially saving millions in infrastructure costs.

• Natural Hazards Commission - Toka Tū Ake (New Zealand) (UNDRR) - New Zealand's Natural Hazards Commission leverages low-cost seismometers for advanced earthquake monitoring and potential early detection technologies.

• Vincent van der Merwe (1983-2025), champion of the cheetah (Mongabay) - Pioneering conservationist Vincent van der Merwe dedicated his life to preserving cheetah populations through innovative genetic management and strategic relocation efforts across Africa and beyond.

• The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science (MPG) - Groundbreaking research reveals classical models inadequate in explaining complex mechanisms driving desert locust swarm dynamics.

• Fake dolphins and frantic digging: the army of helpers learning to rescue New Zealand’s stranded whales (Guardian) - New Zealand's unique volunteer network trains hundreds of citizens to rescue stranded whales through innovative community-driven marine mammal conservation efforts.

• A century later, a rare mushroom with a curious shape emerges in Sri Lanka (Mongabay) - Rare stinkhorn mushroom, last documented in 1919, rediscovered in Sri Lankan garden after a century, sparking scientific excitement and highlighting fungal biodiversity.

• PRN Benefit Concert: Mother Nature Supported by J’Lyn Hope (Prairie Rivers Network) - Prairie Rivers Network and Nurtured in Nature present a benefit concert featuring the hip-hop duo Mother Nature, with proceeds supporting PRN's partnership with Nurtured in Nature.

Efficiency

Heat pump expansion, global decarbonization roadmap, and AI-powered building efficiency solutions drive sustainable infrastructure transformation

• It’s Here… Elephant Energy Has Officially Launched in Los Angeles! (Elephant Energy) - Heat pump installation company expands to Los Angeles, targeting home electrification with energy-efficient cooling and heating solutions.

• How to decarbonize every building everywhere — just not all at once (Canary Media) - Comprehensive global strategy outlines four key approaches to decarbonize buildings worldwide by 2050 through energy efficiency, electrification, flexible power use, and low-carbon construction materials.

• Key Features to Look for in an Automated Commissioning Solution (CopperTree Analytics) - Automated commissioning solutions offer advanced fault detection, AI-driven optimization, and comprehensive building performance management through scalable, cloud-based software platforms.

Finance

Just Climate's $175M natural climate solutions fund; divestment activist Dan Quinlan; ING's science-based emissions targets; cat-risk.com parametric insurance exchange.

• Just Climate’s Climate-Led Investing Approach Attracts New, Big Investors (CleanTechnica) - Just Climate raises $175 million to invest in natural climate solutions targeting land restoration, ecosystem health, and sustainable agriculture.

• Dan Moved His Money to a Better Bank. Here’s His Story. (Third Act) - Activist Dan Quinlan shares personal journey of divesting retirement funds and bank accounts from fossil fuel investments to align financial choices with environmental values.

• ING Becomes First Global Bank with SBTi-Approved Financed Emissions Reduction Targets (ESG Today) - ING becomes first global bank with Science Based Targets initiative-validated financed emissions reduction goals, setting new precedent for climate leadership in banking.

• Yokahu (Yokahu) - Launches cat-risk.com, the first independent parametric insurance exchange for the London re/insurance market.

Grid

AI, Drones, and Smart Tech Drive Grid Flexibility: Evergy, Percepto, Span, and GridUnity Advance Utility Infrastructure Management and Optimization

• GridBeyond recognized as an authorized trade ally for Evergy’s business Demand Response Program (GridBeyond) - Energy management firm becomes authorized trade ally for Evergy's business Demand Response Program in Kansas and Missouri.

• Autonomous drone company releases end-to-end AI powered remote inspection solution at DISTRIBUTECH (Renewable Energy World) - Percepto launches AI-powered autonomous drone solution for utility grid inspections, enabling proactive infrastructure monitoring and maintenance.

• System flexibility is key to affordability and reliability (Renewable Energy World) - Grid flexibility and collaboration are crucial for managing increasing electricity demand from data centers and emerging technologies.

• Liquid Hydrogen Storage (Energy Central) - Underground hydrogen storage emerges as a promising solution for large-scale, cost-effective hydrogen energy infrastructure development.

• Span unveils at-the-meter load control device for utilities (Utility Dive) - Span launches SPAN Edge, a smart device enabling utilities to manage grid load and home electrification without costly infrastructure upgrades.

• Charging ahead: AI’s powerful role in EV load management (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) - AI-powered analytics based on smart meter data enable utilities to manage EV charging, optimize grid investments, and improve customer engagement in load shifting programs.

• What’s Really Holding Back New Data Centers (Heatmap News) - Data center electricity demand could surge to 50 gigawatts by 2030, equivalent to half the U.S. nuclear power fleet, driven by AI and tech expansion.

• “Really terrible:” Bad location could triple cost of pumped hydro project favoured by LNP (RenewEconomy) - Queensland's Borumba Pumped Hydro project faces potential cost tripling due to poor site selection, highlighting critical importance of location in energy storage infrastructure.

• A quiet shift: The grid is being redefined by household consumers who no longer need it full time (RenewEconomy) - Australian households are quietly transforming the electricity grid by using rooftop solar, batteries, and EVs to become more energy-autonomous and selectively engage with traditional power infrastructure.

• New 30-Year Warranty on Home Battery Storage Systems (CleanTechnica) - Solar Insure launches groundbreaking 30-year warranty for home battery storage systems, covering parts, labor, and potential replacements.

• First China-made Tesla Megapack batteries on their way to big Australian storage project (RenewEconomy) - Tesla ships first China-made Megapack batteries to Queensland's Western Downs battery storage project, expanding global energy storage capabilities.

• Cloud a viable choice amidst uncertain AI returns (Uptime Institute) - Cloud providers offer cost-effective AI infrastructure solutions that balance performance and investment, challenging the notion of dedicated AI clusters.

• Ratepayer advocates urge FERC to reject proposed Constellation-Calpine deal (Utility Dive) - Ratepayer advocates and PJM market monitor urge FERC to block Constellation-Calpine merger due to potential market power and competition concerns.

• Phantom data centers are flooding the load queue (Latitude Media) - Speculative data center load requests are overwhelming utilities, creating queue backlogs and distorting grid expansion forecasts.

• GridUnity launches new interconnection management solution at DISTRIBUTECH (RenewableEnergyWorld) - GridUnity launches advanced interconnection management software GridSync to streamline grid modernization and accelerate generation project timelines.

• Does customer service ‘ring a bell’? DTECH keynote emphasizes rapid change and growth in energy industry (Renewable Energy World) - DTECH keynote highlights industry transformation, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and customer service in the evolving power grid landscape.

Indigenous

Indigenous Resistance and Resilience: Lithium Mining Threats, Deep-Sea Mining Challenges, and Land Rights Battles Across Chile, Pacific, Paraguay, and Colombia

• Chile’s lithium boom promises jobs and money — but threatens a critical water source (Grist) - Chile's lithium mining boom threatens Indigenous water sources and ecosystem in the Atacama Desert, raising critical questions about sustainable clean energy transition.

• CSU Hosts 32nd Annual Landscape Architecture Days Lecture Series (CSU Source) - Colorado State University's Landscape Architecture program hosts 32nd annual lecture series featuring distinguished professionals discussing environmental design and community impact.

• Mulheres quilombolas lançam comitê para Marcha das Mulheres Negras (Socioambiental) - Quilombola women launch national committee to organize massive Black Women's March in Brasília, demanding reparations and indigenous rights.

• Digging for minerals in the Pacific’s graveyard: The $20 trillion fight over who controls the seabed (Grist) - Indigenous Pacific advocates fight against deep-sea mining, challenging $20 trillion mineral extraction that threatens ocean ecosystems and cultural heritage.

• From the Forest to the Steering Wheel (Revolve Media) - European luxury car manufacturers continue sourcing leather from Paraguay's Chaco region, driving massive deforestation and threatening Indigenous Ayoreo territories.

• 40 years since evacuation due to US nuclear tests, Greenpeace and displaced Rongelap community honour commitment to nuclear and climate justice fight (Greenpeace) - 40 years after US nuclear tests, Rongelap community commemorates evacuation and ongoing fight for nuclear and climate justice.

• Indigenous communities in Indonesia demand halt to land-grabbing government projects (Mongabay) - Indigenous communities in Indonesia demand halt to government land-grabbing projects affecting 103,000 families across strategic national development initiatives.

• Colombia creates landmark territory to protect uncontacted Indigenous groups (Mongabay) - Colombia establishes first-ever protected territory for uncontacted Yuri-Passé Indigenous people in Amazon rainforest, safeguarding 2.7 million acres from economic development.

• Most critical minerals are on Indigenous lands. Will miners respect tribal sovereignty? (Grist) - Over half of critical minerals needed for clean energy transition are located on Indigenous lands, raising urgent questions about tribal sovereignty and consent.

• THE NEED FOR SPIRITUALITY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY: w/host PROFESSOR GRIFF (Happily Natural Day) - Professor Griff explores the critical importance of spiritual reconnection and cultural identity within the Black community.

• Rise Up! Inaugural Show (Rewind) (Happily Natural Day) - Inaugural Rise Up! event showcases diverse cultural and social justice discussions featuring prominent speakers and community engagement.

• Nepal collaborates with neighbors to gain wildlife crime intel but struggles with enforcement (Mongabay) - Nepal enhances cross-border wildlife crime intelligence sharing through regional networks but faces significant enforcement challenges.

• United Women in Faith Board of Directors Meets at Scarritt Bennett (UWFaith) - United Women in Faith Board meets at historic Scarritt Bennett Center, approves grants and discusses Indigenous boarding schools initiative.

Industry

AI, Hydrogen, and Nuclear Innovations Drive Green Industrial Transformation, with Sinopec, Oklo, and Differential Bio Leading Strategic Pivots in Energy and Biotech

• World’s Top Greentech Companies of 2025 (TIME) - Global greentech leaders showcase innovative solutions across carbon capture, AI, insect farming, and sustainable technologies to combat climate change.

• Efficiency Wins | The Hysata Advantage (Hysata) - Revolutionary capillary-fed electrolyser achieves 95% system efficiency, potentially transforming green hydrogen production economics.

• Differential Bio Secures €2M Pre-Seed to Transform Biomanufacturing (Carbon13) - Munich-based AI biotech startup Differential Bio secures €2M in pre-seed funding to develop a virtual scale-up platform that integrates microbiology, lab automation, and AI to optimize and scale bioprocesses, aiming to transform the biomanufacturing industry.

• Oklo reveals 75-MW reactor design, eyes late 2027 commercial deployment (Utility Dive) - Oklo advances small nuclear reactor design to 75 MW, targeting late 2027 commercial deployment at Idaho National Laboratory.

• The Massive Price of China’s Low-Cost Goods (Atmos) - Photographic essay exposes environmental and social costs of China's low-cost global fashion manufacturing in Guangdong province.

• How China’s Sinopec Is Escaping The Gas Utility Death Spiral — And Why The West Should Follow (CleanTechnica) - China's Sinopec strategically pivots from oil to geothermal, demonstrating a scalable model for gas utilities to escape the 'utility death spiral' through renewable heat infrastructure.

• Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, Separating Fact from Fiction (Union of Concerned Scientists) - Expert warns small modular nuclear reactors may compromise safety and cost-effectiveness while failing to solve climate challenges.

• Beneath Greenland’s ice lies a climate solution — and a new geopolitical battleground (Grist) - Greenland's melting ice reveals rare earth mineral deposits, sparking geopolitical competition and potential mining boom amid environmental and Indigenous concerns.

• In the race to find critical minerals, there’s a ‘gold mine’ literally at our shoreline (Grist) - Scientists explore seaweed as a revolutionary method to extract critical minerals from seawater, potentially democratizing and sustainably transforming global mineral extraction.

• The weirdest ways scientists are mining for critical minerals, from water to weeds (Grist) - Scientists explore innovative mineral extraction techniques from unconventional sources like seaweed, weeds, waste streams, and asteroids to support clean energy transition.

• Trade-offs of the green transition: Is mining critical minerals better than extracting fossil fuels? (Grist) - Green energy transition requires critical mineral mining, but offers net reduction in environmental impact compared to fossil fuel extraction.

• DOE Reissues $900M Nuclear SMR Opportunity, Scraps Community Criteria to Focus on Technical Merit (DOE) - Reissues $900M nuclear small modular reactor funding opportunity, removing community benefit criteria to focus solely on technical merit.

• ReGen 🤝 Differential Bio (ReGen Ventures) - Differential Bio raises €2M to build AI-driven digital twin platform for predictable and scalable microbial fermentation in bioeconomy.

• A guide to the 4 minerals shaping the world’s energy future (Grist) - Global demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements is set to quadruple by 2040, reshaping geopolitics and the energy transition.

• How green is Hyundai’s ‘low-carbon’ steel? (Canary Media) - Hyundai plans $6 billion Louisiana steel plant using electric furnace technology to potentially reduce carbon emissions.

• Hyundai’s small step toward greener steel (Canary Media) - Hyundai announces $6 billion Louisiana steel plant using electric arc furnace, marking incremental progress toward greener industrial processes.

• ‘Some things just assemble out of nowhere’: From SF to NYC, Deep Tech Week is ‘Burning Man meets tech’ (AgFunderNews) - Deep Tech Week transforms San Francisco and New York into a boundary-pushing, science fiction-inspired tech conference blending innovation, creativity, and passion across multiple emerging technology domains.

• Differential Bio emerges from stealth with virtual scaleup platform for bioprocess optimization (AgFunderNews) - Differential Bio launches AI-powered platform to optimize and de-risk bioprocess scaleup, cutting costs and time for biomanufacturing across food, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals sectors.

• Non-Fluorinated & Alternative Chemistries In Backsheet Market (TaiyangNews) - Solar backsheet market shifts dramatically with CPC coatings replacing PVDF, driven by cost pressures and battery sector demand, reaching 68% market share in 2024.

Policy

State-level climate policy innovations drive renewable energy expansion, insurance challenges, and critical mineral mapping amid complex regulatory landscapes

• What's going on with public power in New York? (Volts) - New York's Build Public Renewables Act empowers state utility to scale clean energy through public ownership, marking a pivotal legislative breakthrough for renewable infrastructure.

• ECA March National Call: Climate & Insurance with Dave Jones (ECA) - Former California Insurance Commissioner reveals how climate change is driving an insurance crisis, threatening homeowners' affordability and availability of property insurance.

• This is CDR: 2025 State-Level Carbon Removal Policy Action with Chris Neidl (This is CDR) - State legislatures emerge as critical arenas for advancing carbon dioxide removal policy through innovative legislation and citizen advocacy.

• Scholz: US risks missing economic gains from climate action (DW) - Scholz warns US risks missing massive economic opportunities by retreating from climate action and global climate negotiations.

• Leaders must step up to show unity in climate fight and Amazon protection (Greenpeace) - Global leaders urged to unite, accelerate climate action, and protect Amazon at Petersberg Climate Dialogue ahead of COP30.

• Tackling climate crisis will increase economic growth, OECD research finds (Guardian) - OECD research reveals tackling climate crisis will boost economic growth, potentially increasing GDP by 0.23% by 2040 and preventing massive economic losses.

• LiveEO | LiveEO and ACTUM Digital Partner to Protect Business and Forests (LiveEO) - AI-powered satellite analytics platform partners with ACTUM Digital to help companies meet EU Deforestation Regulation compliance requirements.

• Wildfire Recovery and Resilience: Lessons in Seeing, Learning, and Planning (Climate Resilience Fund) - Experts reveal slow, uneven wildfire recovery challenges and propose community-centered strategies for resilience and rebuilding.

• Alaska Wilderness League Criticizes Court Ruling Allowing AIDEA to Retain Arctic Refuge Leases (Alaska Wilderness League) - Court allows AIDEA to retain controversial Arctic Refuge oil and gas leases despite legal challenges and environmental concerns.

• New Women-Centered Climate Action Coalition Launches in Hong Kong (Earth.org) - Pacific Women Climate Leaders Program launches in Hong Kong to empower women in climate action and bridge East-West collaboration.

• SEPA Appoints Lesley Jantarasami as Vice President of Research & Industry Strategy (SEPA) - Lesley Jantarasami appointed as Vice President of Research & Industry Strategy, bringing extensive climate and energy policy expertise to drive clean energy solutions.

• UN, Germany say tackling climate crisis is path to economic and national security (Climate Change News) - UN and Germany argue tackling climate crisis is key to economic prosperity and national security.

• Affirmative Action Quotas--but for fracked gas (McKibben Substack) - Texas proposes controversial legislation mandating equal gas power installation for every renewable energy megawatt, effectively protecting fossil fuel interests.

• Trump executive order threatens transmission, interconnection initiatives: former FERC commissioners (Utility Dive) - Trump executive order threatens FERC's independent transmission and interconnection initiatives, raising legal and regulatory uncertainty.

• Why Biden and Trump both support this federal mineral mapping project (Grist) - Biden and Trump both support the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative to comprehensively map critical minerals across the United States for clean energy and national security purposes.

• Guest Post – Interoperability: The Missing Link in Global Sustainability Efforts (ESG Today) - Global sustainability efforts hindered by regulatory fragmentation and lack of interoperability across different markets and reporting standards.

• To address the environmental polycrisis, the first step is to demand more honesty (The Conversation) - Addressing the environmental polycrisis requires demanding radical honesty from political, business, and media leaders to improve decision-making and societal progress.

• Suffering from Delusions of Nuclear Grandeur and Amnesia, TN Senators Recklessly Step into TVA Leadership (SACE) - Tennessee Senators recklessly push TVA towards risky nuclear expansion, ignoring historical financial failures and current operational challenges.

• How to comply with CSRD (Optera) - EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) undergoes significant revisions through Omnibus Proposal, reducing reporting requirements while maintaining core sustainability objectives.

• LiveEO | Choosing the Right EUDR Software: A Comprehensive Guide (LiveEO) - Comprehensive guide helps businesses navigate EU Deforestation Regulation software selection to ensure supply chain compliance and avoid market penalties.

• LiveEO | EUDR FAQ: Everything You Need to Know (LiveEO) - EU updates deforestation regulation FAQ, providing clearer guidance for businesses on traceability, due diligence, and compliance for commodities like coffee, cocoa, and timber.

• Trump’s ‘climate’ purge deleted a new extreme weather risk tool. We recreated it (The Guardian) - Trump administration deleted a critical FEMA climate risk tool, which The Guardian has now recreated to show county-level projected economic losses from extreme weather events.

• Share Your Vision: A Just Energy Future (350.org) - 350.org calls for public visions of a just energy future centered on community leadership and accessible clean energy, inviting submissions across various media.

• Guest post: How human behaviour shapes effective climate policies (Carbon Brief) - Behavioral science insights reveal that context-focused interventions are more effective than individual-focused approaches in driving climate policy and behavior change.

• New York State Proposes Reporting Guidance for Major Polluters (EDF) - New York State proposes mandatory greenhouse gas reporting rules for major polluters to support climate law implementation.

• EPA Rollbacks of Clean Air and Water Protections Will Cost 200,000 Lives and Harm America’s Economy (Environmental Protection Network) - EPA's rollback of 31 clean air and water regulations will cost 200,000 lives and $254 billion in economic damages, disproportionately harming vulnerable communities.

• The Clean Air Act Is in Jeopardy (Moms Clean Air Force) - Senate may allow toxic industrial polluters to permanently bypass Clean Air Act protections, risking public health and environmental safety.

• Groups will sue to stop Asheboro’s toxic pollution of drinking water supplies for 900,000 North Carolinians (SELC) - Environmental groups plan lawsuit against Asheboro for toxic 1,4-dioxane pollution threatening drinking water for 900,000 North Carolinians.

• Labor woos landowners with developer ratings pilot, land potential website (RenewEconomy) - Australian government launches developer rating pilot and land potential website to improve renewable energy project negotiations with landowners.

• Localities, Rural Lawmakers Win in Halting Solar Siting Reform in Virginia (Inside Climate News) - Virginia lawmakers block solar siting reform bill, preserving local control over utility-scale solar project approvals.

• NOAA Hired an Anti-Wind Activist as Its Top Lawyer (Heatmap News) - NOAA quietly hired Anne Hawkins, a former anti-wind activist from the fishing industry, as its top legal counsel, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest in offshore wind development.

• EnergyAustralia fined and convicted over fire at Yallourn brown coal generator (RenewEconomy) - EnergyAustralia fined $170,000 for workplace safety breach during 2021 Yallourn power station fire.

• New project Enercracy has started! (Green Net Finland) - Enercracy project launches three-year Interreg Baltic Sea Region initiative to develop community energy and climate plans through transnational collaboration.

• Reforming Energy Efficiency Programs to Increase Heat Pump Adoption (RMI) - Energy efficiency programs can drive heat pump adoption by simplifying incentives, aligning with market needs, ensuring program durability, and prioritizing equitable access.

• Lawmakers, Labor, Advocates Call for $200 Million Investment in Thermal Energy Networks in State Budget (Building Decarbonization Coalition) - New York lawmakers and advocates push for $200 million budget investment in Thermal Energy Networks to decarbonize SUNY campuses and municipal utilities.

• Farmers in Trump country were counting on clean energy grants. Then the government moved the goalposts. (Barn Raiser) - USDA freezes renewable energy grants for rural farmers and businesses, demanding compliance with Trump's fossil fuel-focused energy priorities.

• Critics target Wisconsin utility’s $2 billion gas plan (Canary Media) - Wisconsin utility We Energies faces sharp criticism from clean energy advocates over a $2 billion gas infrastructure expansion plan.

• Pound Buildings Report (Appalachian Voices) - Community-led inventory in Pound, Virginia identifies 16 dilapidated properties with potential for downtown revitalization through targeted redevelopment strategies.

• Action Alert: Supplement for March 26-28, 2025 (Texas Impact) - Interfaith organization mobilizes religious communities to engage with lawmakers on public policy issues during 89th Texas Legislative Session.

• Welcoming the Stranger (UW Faith) - United Women in Faith platform provides member login and community engagement resources for spiritual, leadership, and advocacy initiatives.

• Women’s Group Plans Assembly, Calls for Justice (UMNews.org) - United Women in Faith plans 2026 Assembly in Indianapolis, calls for urgent action on racial justice and institutional change.

• From Greenland to Fort Bragg, America is caught in a name game where place names become political tools (The Conversation) - U.S. place names become political battlegrounds as leaders use renaming to assert power, challenge cultural narratives, and signal ideological shifts.

• Is there something fishy about Labor’s environmental amendments? | Fiona Katauskas (Guardian) - Political cartoon satirizes Labor's environmental amendments as potentially compromising ecological protections.

• Exclusive: NIH to cut grants for COVID research (Nature) - NIH begins cancelling billions in COVID-19 research grants despite ongoing disease risks and scientific concerns.

• Answers to common questions about the EU Omnibus proposal (Watershed) - EU's Omnibus proposal seeks to simplify CSRD reporting requirements, potentially reducing data points and aligning with global standards while delaying implementation timelines.

• Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group DACAG Meeting 20250321 2004 1 (CEC/CPUC) - Southern California Edison unveils comprehensive community engagement strategy for 2026 Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment, focusing on disadvantaged communities and resilience metrics.

• World Meteorological Day 2025 - Ceremony (WMO) - World Meteorological Organization celebrates 75th anniversary, highlighting critical role in climate science, early warning systems, and global resilience against extreme weather events.

• Global population data is in crisis – here’s why that matters (The Conversation) - Global population data collection is critically compromised by declining census response rates, eroding government trust, and shrinking international funding, threatening accurate policy-making and resource allocation.

• Nearly Half of the Country’s Attorney Generals Make Legal Effort to Restore FEMA Funds (Inside Climate News) - Nearly Half of US Attorneys General Sue to Restore Frozen FEMA Disaster Relief Funds Amid Trump Administration Freeze.

• South Korea: La Via Campesina is in solidarity with peasant movements in their struggle to build a new society (La Via Campesina) - Global peasant movement supports Korean farmers' protest against President Yoon Seok-yeol's anti-democratic actions and calls for his impeachment.

Renewables

Solar dominates global power expansion, with China leading record 452 GW installations and IRENA reporting 92.5% renewable energy growth in 2024, driven by innovations from Imeon Energy, Sweetch Energy, and Mondragon Assembly.

• Renewables Accounted for More Than 90 Percent of New Power Globally Last Year (Yale e360) - Renewables dominated global power expansion in 2024, with solar accounting for 77% of new capacity and China leading installations worldwide.

• IRENA: A Record 452 GW Solar Capacity Installed In 2024 (Taiyangnews) - IRENA reports record 452 GW solar capacity installed in 2024, with renewables accounting for 92.5% of global power expansion, led by China.

• ‘Renewables are renewing economies’, UN chief tells top climate forum (UN News) - UN Secretary-General highlights record renewable energy growth in 2024, urging global climate action and ambitious emissions reductions.

• Getting To 50 GW Of Offshore Wind Power In The United Kingdom (CleanTechnica) - UK aims to accelerate offshore wind capacity to 50 GW by 2030, facing significant technical, financial, and regulatory challenges.

• Kimberly-Clark to Reach 100% Renewable Energy at Kleenex Manufacturing Site (ESG Today) - Kimberly-Clark plans to transition Koblenz factory to 100% renewable energy by 2029, reducing carbon emissions by 50,000 tons annually.

• AI for Home Solar+Storage — Do We Need This? (CleanTechnica) - French company Imeon Energy launches AI-powered home solar+storage system with intelligent energy management and predictive optimization.

• Solar Canals Are Coming For Your Fossil Fuels (CleanTechnica) - California researchers explore solar panels over irrigation canals to generate clean electricity while reducing water evaporation and preserving land resources.

• Osmotic Power: The Next Wave of Renewable Energy (Earth.Org) - French startup Sweetch Energy pioneers breakthrough osmotic power technology, promising to generate clean electricity from salinity gradients between freshwater and seawater with unprecedented efficiency.

• Mondragon Assembly: Tailor-Made Production Tools To Nurture Values Beyond €/Wp (TaiyangNews) - Mondragon Assembly develops customized PV production tools for specialized solar module applications like BIPV, AgriPV, and flexible modules, targeting growing niche markets beyond traditional €/Wp metrics.

• India Solar PV News Snippets: Reliance Industries At TaiyangNews Solar Manufacturing Conference & More (TaiyangNews) - India's solar sector sees significant financial and strategic developments, including IREDA's bond raise, Ecofy's loan, Actis's solar portfolio acquisition, and NaBFID's renewable energy financing.

• DAS Solar Presents France with N-type DAS Black Series at BEPOSITIVE 2025 (TaiyangNews) - DAS Solar showcases advanced N-type solar modules with high efficiency and aesthetic design at BEPOSITIVE 2025 exhibition in France.

• Biggest Solar Project in the World Gets UK Investment Boost (CleanTechnica) - UK investment firm Actis commits $600 million to world's largest solar and battery storage project in Philippines, targeting 3,500 MW capacity by 2027.

• Developing 100 GW of Nuclear Energy by 2047: A Comprehensive Overview with Statistical Facts (Energy Central) - India sets ambitious target to develop 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047, expanding from current 8.18 GW to enhance energy security and reduce fossil fuel dependence.

• China Solar PV News Snippets: Astronergy ASTRO N7s Modules HW4 Hail Resistance Certified & More (TaiyangNews) - Astronergy's ASTRO N7s solar modules pass rigorous TÜV Rheinland HW4 hail resistance test, withstanding 40 mm hailstones at 27.5 m/s without damage.

• 'Massive increase': World adds record levels of new renewables capacity in 2024 (BusinessGreen) - Global renewable energy capacity surges to unprecedented 585GW in 2024, driven primarily by China's massive clean power expansion.

• Clean energy is powering local economies in Texas (Yale Climate Connections) - Texas solar and wind farms generate $12 billion in local tax revenue and $15 billion in landowner payments, transforming rural economies.

• Clean Energy Crosses the Political Aisle (RMI) - Clean energy adoption spans political divides, with solar and wind now providing over 17% of US electricity and offering economic benefits across red and blue states.

• Election Watch: No nuke comeback as renewables on a global tear: Plus, Labor’s budget climate resilience fail (RenewEconomy) - Global renewable energy capacity surges while nuclear power growth remains minimal, challenging claims of a nuclear renaissance.

• Austria Installed 2.22 GW Solar PV Capacity in 2024 (TaiyangNews) - Austria's solar PV installations declined to 2.22 GW in 2024, marking first drop in 8 years due to policy uncertainty and economic challenges.

• JA SOLAR and Borussia Dortmund Announce Partnership and Joint Major Project (TaiyangNews) - JA SOLAR partners with Borussia Dortmund to install world's largest stadium rooftop solar system, generating over 4 MWh annually and reducing CO₂ emissions by 1,800 tons.

• The Nuclear Industry Loves This Geothermal Startup (Heatmap News) - Nuclear industry veteran backs XGS Energy's innovative geothermal startup with $13 million funding round to expand clean electricity generation.

• Is climate science the next power source for renewable energy? (UN News) - Climate science emerges as critical tool for optimizing renewable energy generation and grid resilience amid increasing global climate variability.

• Apple’s New RMB 720 Million Investment Fund For RE (TaiyangNews) - Apple launches second RMB 720 million China Clean Energy Fund to add 550,000 MWh of renewable energy capacity annually.

• Biggest generator in New Zealand presses go on first solar farm, next to big battery (RenewEconomy) - New Zealand's largest electricity generator Meridian Energy launches first 130MW solar farm alongside big battery in Northland region.

• Germany Awards 317 MW In Oversubscribed Solar Auction (TaiyangNews) - Germany's February solar auction awards 317 MW of rooftop and noise barrier solar projects at an average bid of €0.091/kWh, with North Rhine-Westphalia securing the most capacity.

• 92.5% of New Power Capacity Added Worldwide in 2024 Was from Renewables (CleanTechnica) - Renewable energy dominated new global power capacity in 2024, with 92.5% of additions coming from renewables, primarily solar and wind, signaling accelerating clean energy transition.

• France’s CARBON To Raise Up To €2.5 Million Through Crowdfunding (TaiyangNews) - French solar startup CARBON launches €2.5 million crowdfunding campaign to establish 500 MW solar panel assembly plant in Fos-sur-Mer.

• Incorporating customer feedback drives Nextracker’s  innovation strategy (Latitude Media) - Nextracker's customer-centric innovation strategy drives solar tracking technology leadership through continuous product improvement and direct customer feedback.

• Renewable Energy Resources Will Be Stressed By A Hotter Climate (CleanTechnica) - UN warns climate change is stressing renewable energy resources through unpredictable weather patterns affecting hydro, wind, and solar power generation.

• U.S. biodiesel use increases outside of the transportation sector (EIA) - Biodiesel consumption expands beyond transportation, with growing use in heating and electricity sectors in northeastern states and Hawaii.

Transport

Airbus, Nissan, BETA Technologies, and Rivian Drive Electric Aviation and Vehicle Innovation, with Hydrogen, EV Infrastructure, and Micromobility Advances Reshaping Transportation Landscape

• Airbus Reconfirms Commitment to Develop Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft (ESG Today) - Airbus commits to hydrogen fuel cell technology for zero-emission commercial aircraft by 2035, targeting aviation decarbonization.

• Governor Youngkin’s Veto of Rural EV Program Leaves Rural Economies Behind (CCAN Action Fund) - Governor Youngkin vetoes bipartisan Rural Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, potentially hindering rural Virginia's economic development and EV adoption.

• Nissan & INFINITI Outline Bold New Products & Next-Generation Technologies to Excite Customers in the U.S. & Canada (CleanTechnica) - Nissan and INFINITI unveil ambitious electric and hybrid vehicle strategy for North American market, including reimagined LEAF, new EV SUVs, and next-generation e-POWER hybrid technology.

• Airports Ready for Takeoff: BERTL Project Finds Strong Support for Electric Aviation Infrastructure (VAERIDION) - BERTL project reveals 75% of regional airports confident in electric aircraft infrastructure adaptation within five years.

• The Hidden Savings in EV Charging (CleanTechnica) - EV charging app ev.energy helps drivers save hundreds annually by optimizing charging times with utility incentives and renewable energy periods.

• Rivian Is Spinning Off a New Micromobility Company (Heatmap) - Rivian has spun off a new micromobility company, Also, with $105 million in Series B funding, to develop electric bikes, scooters, and golf carts.

• Porsche Unveils AC Battery Technology (CleanTechnica) - Porsche Engineering develops innovative AC battery technology integrating multiple electric vehicle power components into a single, more efficient system.

• Quit ‘Driving’ Us Crazy. Start Biking Instead! | UnF*cking the Planet (UnF*cking the Planet) - Cycling offers a transformative urban solution to reduce carbon emissions, improve health, and reclaim city spaces from car-centric infrastructure.

• America’s Top Greentech Companies of 2025 (TIME) - BETA Technologies leads 2025's top greentech innovators with battery-powered aircraft, transforming short-haul flight with 75-84% lower emissions.

• Velotric Fold 1: A Folding E-Bike That Gets It Right — CleanTechnica Tested (CleanTechnica) - Velotric Fold 1 e-bike offers powerful performance, 55-mile range, and robust build at $1,199, challenging typical folding e-bike limitations.

• Electric cars are going mainstream – Elon Musk won’t change that (The Conversation) - Electric vehicles are rapidly becoming mainstream, driven by affordability and broader market appeal beyond early tech adopters.