Global green logistics, transition risk solutions and the UK's lifted ban on onshore wind developments

UK lifts ban on onshore wind developments 

The UK’s newly elected Labour Government has lifted the de facto ban on onshore wind developments and committed to doubling Britain’s current onshore wind capacity by 2030. This change in planning policy aims to facilitate the expansion of onshore wind farms, which had been hindered by stringent regulations and local opposition since 2015. By easing these restrictions, the government hopes to accelerate the development of wind energy projects, contributing to its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Wind has grown to be the UK’s largest source of renewable energy and second-largest low-carbon source – behind nuclear – accounting for 29.4% of the country’s energy mix in 2023. Environmentalists and industry leaders have welcomed the decision, highlighting its potential to drive innovation, stimulate green investment and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Transition risk solutions need to move beyond using GHG emissions proxies

Climate transition risks are the policy, legal, technological and market risks that emerge as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy. These risks are front of mind for many businesses, but digital solutions for managing transition risk are scarce. Most use GHG emissions as a proxy, assuming that high emissions correlate with high risk. But this neglects the nuances of how new policies and technologies are implemented and the complexity of market dynamics. Thus, firms should consider whether emissions are a good indicator of their transition risk. Although few and far between, there are some digital solutions that go beyond quantifying GHG emissions. By simulating how markets, policies and technologies evolve and how societies respond to these changes, these solutions provide a more realistic representation of transition risk. This more comprehensive view enables better risk management, and the market would be well-served if more vendors offered these types of analytics.

DHL partners with Envision to enhance SAF use and advance global green logistics

Over 90% of DHL's emissions are related to its aviation activities. DHL has recently developed a portfolio of green logistics services (GoGreen), aimed at providing low-emissions services to customers. For example, GoGreen Plus enables customers to inset their Scope 3 transportation emissions, while supporting DHL in reducing its largest emissions contribution by paying extra to fund sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) investment. DHL has previously committed to purchasing 800 million litres of SAF from BP and Neste by 2026. In July, DHL announced a partnership with Envision to purchase SAF and develop renewable feedstock sources and technology routes for the air transportation sector. This will support DHL reach its goal to increase the SAF mix to 30% by 2030, and promote Envision’s international expansion.

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