Sustainability Notice #24 (21 - 27 November)

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World, Countries, Natural Disasters and Conferences: Switzerland, US, Brazil, Nigeria, Vietnam, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa, Extreme Heat, El Salvador, Italy, Wildlife Conference and IEA

Switzerland Adopts Law Requiring Mandatory Climate Reporting for Public Companies, Banks (Source Link)

Large Swiss companies and financial institutions will be required to publicly disclose information on their climate-related risks, impacts and plans, according to new legislation passed by the government’s Federal Council.

U.S. to Sanction Brazil’s Amazon Deforestation Criminals (Source Link)

In a bid to better address climate change, the United States aims to sanction environmental criminals who contributed to the worsening deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest.

California Announces $3.6 Billion in Funding for Zero-Emission Vehicles and Chargers (Source Link)

California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled $3.6 billion in investments aimed at facilitating the transition to zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) in the state, and helping to make electric vehicles (EVs) more accessible and affordable.

Brazil expels US fishing tour company from Indigenous land (Source Link)

Federal courts in Brazil have ordered a New Jersey-based fishing tourism company to leave a remote Indigenous area of the Amazon after prosecutors filed charges of operating without government authorization and manipulating Indigenous people, which is illegal in the country.

Nigeria drills for oil in new field as theft erodes earnings (Source Link)

Nigeria began drilling oil and natural gas in the country’s northern region, anticipating a boost to the nation’s finances even as the new energy supplies face the threat from theft and extremist activity.

Vietnam boosts coal use plan for 2030 as G7 climate offer stalls (Source Link)

Vietnam has increased its coal power target for 2030 under a revised draft energy plan, government documents seen by Reuters show, while renewables goals were scaled back, in a potential blow to rich nations’ funding initiatives for cleaner energy.

Canada to invest C$1.6 bln in first national climate adaptation strategy (Source Link)

Canada published its first ever national climate adaptation strategy , including $1.2 billion in new federal funding commitments to help protect communities against the increasing impacts of global warming.

Mayor of London unveils plans for 100 new ultra-rapid EV charge points (Source Link)

Working with City Hall and TfL, the new EV charge points are set to play a crucial role in the capital's transition to net zero by 2030.

Water chiefs blame UK government for failure to stop sewage pollution (Source Link)

Under-fire water firms, criticised for their part in the scandal, have pointed the finger at the authorities in newly revealed letters. Water company bosses have blamed UK government inaction for a lack of progress in stopping sewage pollution, newly revealed letters show.

Farmers warn of more shortages in supermarkets (Source Link)

Britain’s vegetable industry could be under threat as farmers warn they’re not being paid enough to grow stables, including tomatoes, due to soaring energy costs.

Alok Sharma backs bid to lift ban on onshore windfarms in England (Source Link)

The president of the Cop26 climate summit Alok Sharma has become the latest Conservative party MP to support lifting the ban on new onshore windfarms. Sharma has joined his former boss Boris Johnson, who nominated him for a peerage, in backing an amendment to government legislation in an attempt to drop the moratorium on onshore wind.

UK and South Africa announce clean technology mineral partnership (Source Link)

New Minerals for Future Clean Energy Technologies Partnership will promote responsible exploration, production, and processing of minerals in South Africa. The UK and South Africa have announced they are establishing a new partnership dedicated to the responsible and sustainable exploration of minerals in South Africa for use in clean energy technologies.

Australian court recommends against new coal mine on climate concerns (Source Link)

A land court in Australia's Queensland state has recommended that a new thermal coal project owned by mining magnate Clive Palmer should not go ahead on the grounds that its emissions will contribute to climate change and harm human rights.

Extreme Heat Takes the Field (Source Link)

Billions are watching the World Cup play out in one of the world's hottest spots. It could offer a glimpse of the future.

No place for flowers: El Salvador's biggest lake swamped by trash (Source Link)

A horse wades through a sea of plastic bottles, tin cans and green sludge that fills El Salvador's largest freshwater lake, stark images showing how a key drinking water source goes neglected even as global environmental concerns are on the rise.

Landslide kills at least seven on Italy's Ischia island (Source Link)

At least seven people, including a newborn baby and two children, were killed on the southern Italian holiday island of Ischia after a landslide caused by torrential rain devastated a small town, an official said.

Wildlife conference boosts protection for sharks, turtles (Source Link)

An international wildlife conference moved to enact some of the most significant protection for shark species targeted in the fin trade and scores of turtles, lizards and frogs whose numbers are being decimated by the pet trade.

IEA chief sees energy crunch for Europe next winter (Source Link)

Europe should be able to cope with the natural gas supply crunch in the coming months thanks to considerable reserves although the continent could face a bigger energy crisis next winter, the head of the International Energy Agency said.

Business: Mercedes-Benz, Get Mooving, Microsoft, Google, Swell Energy, Siemens, DHL, FCA, MSCI, Experian, ICE, SEC, ESMA, Amundi, Schroders, DOL and Decarb Fast Track

Mercedes-Benz Becomes First Automotive Company to Issue a Green Panda Bond in China (Source Link)

Mercedes-Benz announced the issuance of a €68 million Green Panda Bond in China, the company’s first green bond offering outside of the European market.

Get Mooving: New partnership aims to boost access to London's EV charging network (Source Link)

EV fleet provider Moove has teamed up with tech firm Paua to build a new app to help facilitate charging across the capital

New Microsoft Wind and Solar Deals to Contribute Nearly 30% of Ireland’s Renewable Energy Target (Source Link)

Microsoft announced a series of new renewable energy contracts for more than 900MW of onshore wind and solar power in Ireland.

Google to Reach 90% Carbon Free Energy in UK and Spain Through New Wind & Solar Deals (Source Link)

Google announced two new renewable energy power purchase agreements in the UK and Spain, enabling the company to operate at or near 90% carbon-free energy (CFE) in each region by 2025.

Swell Energy Raises $120 Million to Build Out Virtual Power Plant Program (Source Link)

Energy management and smart grid solutions provider Swell Energy announced that it has raised $120 million, aimed at supporting the expansion of its virtual power plant program (VPP) to reach 600 MWh, helping combat rising energy costs, power outages and grid pollution.

Siemens-led consortium aims to crack the code for green ammonia and hydrogen (Source Link)

Siemens Energy, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), and GeoPura announces plan for £3.5m ammonia cracking prototype which could deliver hydrogen at industrial scale.

DHL Develops 400,000 Square Meter Carbon Neutral Logistics Warehouse Portfolio (Source Link)

DHL Supply Chain, a division of logistics and shipping giant Deutsche Post DHL Group, announced the development of a 400,000 sqm carbon neutral warehouse portfolio, aimed at supporting customer growth needs and sustainability demands in key European markets.

UK Regulator to Develop Code of Conduct for ESG Data and Ratings Providers (Source Link)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the conduct regulator for financial services firms and financial markets in the UK, announced the formation of a working group to develop a code of conduct for ESG data and ratings providers.

MSCI Launches Solution for EU Banks to Meet Upcoming ESG and Climate Disclosure Requirements (Source Link)

Investment data and research provider MSCI announced the launch of a new solution aimed at helping banks meet the European Banking Authority’s (EBA) upcoming ESG and climate-related risk disclosure requirements.

Experian Launches Solution Providing Lenders with ESG ratings, Emissions Estimate for SMEs (Source Link)

Data services provider Experian announced the launch of ESG Insight, a new solution aimed at providing lenders with an understanding of ESG risk within their SME portfolios

ICE Launches TCFD Reporting Solution for Asset Managers (Source Link)

Global exchange and clearing house operator Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced the launch of a new solution aimed at helping asset managers and financial institutions meet the requirements of the Task Force for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

SEC Charges Goldman Sachs for Not Following ESG Investment Policies (Source Link)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it has charged Goldman Sachs’ asset management division for failing to implement and follow policies and procedures for some of its ESG funds. Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has agreed to pay a $4 million penalty to settle the charges, without admitting or denying the SEC findings.

EU Markets Regulator Proposes ESG Labelling Rules for Funds (Source Link)

EU markets regulator the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced the launch of a consultation for proposed rules on the use of ESG or sustainability-related terms in the names of investment funds.

Amundi Reclassifies Almost All of its $45 Billion Article 9 Funds to Lower Sustainability Level (Source Link)

Leading European asset manager Amundi has chosen to reclassify nearly all of its sustainable investment funds previously categorized as Article 9 under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) to the less stringent Article 8 level.

Schroders Launches Real Estate Impact Fund (Source Link)

Global investment manager Schroders announced the launch of the UK Real Estate Impact Fund, aimed at delivering social impact outcomes, including addressing social inequality in deprived locations across the UK.

DOL Allows Climate and ESG Investing in Retirement Plans (Source Link)

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the release of a final rule allowing for the consideration of climate and ESG factors in private employer-sponsored retirement plans (ERISA).

'Decarb Fast Track': Amazon-backed consortium aims to tackle industrial emissions across Europe (Source Link)

New initiative aims to help European industrial firms deploy energy efficiency measures. A consortium of companies including Amazon Web Services, French clean tech firm Metron, renewable developer Dalkia, and banking giant BNP Paribas have joined forces to launch a new platform

Climate Activism: Black Friday, Climate Activists, COP27, COP15, Campaigners and Palm Oil

Black Friday faces green backlash in Belgium (Source Link)

Black Friday deals have prompted a backlash in Belgium where some businesses rejected promotions and chose to close for the day or even offered to repair used clothes for free.

Amazon workers use Black Friday to protest working conditions and growing carbon footprint (Source Link)

Thousands of Amazon workers have walked off the job, a mass protest timed to coincide with the lucrative Black Friday sales. Amazon employees across 35 countries - including Germany, the UK, the US, and Japan - are demanding better working conditions and higher wages as inflation bites.

Swedish activists sue state over its climate policies (Source Link)

Hundreds of activists, among them Greta Thunberg, marched through the Swedish capital to a court Friday to file a lawsuit against the Swedish state for what they say is insufficient climate action.

Activists aggravate art insurers' climate headache (Source Link)

Climate activists' attacks on some of the world's most precious paintings have added to insurers' worries about the threat to art from climate change itself, concerns seen as leading to higher art insurance premiums.

‘We are represented by laptop farmers’: Inside the UN summit that could have fixed the food crisis (Source Link)

For farmers like Christine Nabwami from Uganda, there is no doubt about the damage that greenhouse gas emissions are wreaking on the world’s life support systems.

Defra urged to publish environmental targets ahead of COP15 Biodiversity Summit (Source Link)

In an open letter from the Environmental Audit Committee, Defra has been urged to publish its delayed environmental targets ahead of next month's COP15 Summit

Security review after protesters disrupt Berlin air traffic (Source Link)

Authorities in Germany were reviewing security measures at Berlin’s airport a day after six climate activists invaded the grounds and briefly disrupted flights.

'Hazardous to the environment': Campaigners call on government to ban disposable vapes (Source Link)

Open letter from environmental and health groups calls on Environment Secretary to move early to tackle ‘rapidly escalating threat’ from disposable vape units. The government has been urged to move early to tackle the worsening blight of disposable vapes, with campaigners warning single-use e-cigarettes are leading to a surge in electrical waste.

Palm oil buyers accused of failing to police zero-deforestation pledges (Source Link)

Over half of the world's most significant palm oil consuming companies are failing to publicly assess their suppliers' commitments to sustainability and zero-deforestation, a new assessment by ZSL has found.

Research, Report and Other: COP27, COP15, Clean Energy Sector, Climate Protesters at Museums, UK, Air Pollution, Climate Change Words, Greenpeace, Heatwave, Riyahd, Qatar and New Jersey

Disappointed by COP27? You expected too much (Source Link)

Another COP has come and gone, and the best response to what transpired is a shrug.

Late-night fossil fuel fight leaves bitter taste after Cop27 (Source Link)

After two grueling nights of overtime in Sharm el-Sheikh, the blame game began, with allegations of stonewalling and hypocrisy. After a late-night battle over fossil fuels, climate negotiators and observers left Cop27 accusing each other of “bad faith” and hypocrisy.

UN nature pact nears its ‘Copenhagen or Paris’ moment (Source Link)

Cop15 biodiversity negotiations in Montreal next month will determine how the world halts and reverses nature loss.

The clean energy sector needs more young people (Source Link)

What do we need to build a clean energy workforce? The Powering Jobs Census from Power for All has some answers.

How do you tell a vandal from a visitor? Art museums are struggling (Source Link)

It’s not easy to stop a determined climate protester, museum directors say, even as they fear for their masterpieces.

We found Britain’s greenest city centre – and its least green (Source Link)

Some of Britain’s city centres are filled with trees and parks, while others have little vegetation to break up the bricks, tarmac and concrete. Such differences aren’t just aesthetic: they affect whether animals can move around, and they have implications for human health and social equity.

Why the UK needs to stop exporting plastic waste (Source Link)

The UK, lacking capacity itself, exports 60% of its plastic waste abroad. But in a recent report, the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee – the group of MPs responsible for improving and protecting the environment – have called on the government to stop the export of UK plastic waste by the end of 2027.

'Every breath you take': Air pollution stifles Europe's health targets (Source Link)

Air quality in Europe is improving but still poses high risks, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Thursday, as fine particles exposure led to at least 238,000 premature deaths in the 27-nation EU in 2020.

From Gretini to Colapsistas: How Europeans talks about climate change (Source Link)

Do you know what Gretini means? How about Ilmastohumpp? or Colapsistas? From net-zero to eco-anxiety, countless previously unused terms have entered common usage. But these are all English phrases-and climate change is a global issue. Different languages have different ways of describing the problems of the warming crisis, from eco-anxiety to extreme weather. Many of these have no direct English-language equivalent.

SHEIN: Fast fashion giant’s clothes breach EU chemical regulations, Greenpeace claim (Source Link)

Clothes sold by fast-fashion giant SHEIN contain ‘hazardous chemicals’ breaching EU regulations, environmental campaigners have claimed.

Europe's heatwave may have caused more than 20,000 'excess' deaths (Source Link)

Summer heatwaves in France, Germany, Spain and Britain led to more than 20,000 "excess" deaths, a report compiling official figures said. Temperatures hit nearly 40 degrees Celsius or above from Paris to London in 2022 and climate scientists from the World Weather Attribution group found that such high temperatures would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change.

France's summer heatwaves likely to have caused 2,816 additional deaths (Source Link)

Three successive heatwaves and COVID-19 are likely to have caused more than 10,000 additional deaths in France during this summer, the health ministry said. A total of 10,420 excess deaths were registered between June 1 and Sept. 15 in France’s second hottest summer since 1900, data from the public health agency showed.

How to green a city: Riyadh’s ambition to become a sustainable hub (Source Link)

On the first day of the Saudi Green Initiative, running alongside Cop27 in Egypt’s Sharm el Sheikh, Majid Allahu Gael, Saudi minister of municipal and rural affairs and housing, William McDonough, architect and CEO of McDonough Innovation and Carlo Ratti, director MIT, Senseable City Labs, came together to explore the principles and practices needed to green a city.

Energy-rich Qatar faces fast-rising climate risks at home (Source Link)

At a suburban park near Doha, the capital city of Qatar, cool air from vents in the ground blasted joggers on a November day that reached almost 32 degrees Celsius. The small park with air-conditioned paths is an apt illustration of World Cup host Qatar’s answers, so far, to the rising temperatures its people face.

Fire plan would cut 2.4 million New Jersey Pinelands trees (Source Link)

New Jersey environmental officials say the plan to kill trees in a section of Bass River State Forest is designed to better protect against catastrophic wildfires, adding it will mostly affect small, scrawny trees — not the towering giants for which the Pinelands National Refuge is known and loved.