Leading organisations are overhauling corporate climate frameworks, with significant updates from B Lab Global, SBTi, GHG Protocol, and ISO shaping a more rigorous, transparent, and enforceable decarbonisation landscape for 2026 and beyond. This year has marked a pivotal period for the evolution of major corporate climate target-setting and carbon-accounting frameworks, with significant updates from leading organisations shaping how companies approach environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities. Looking ahead, 2026 is set to be a crucial year as companies reassess their progress and set new strategic targets beyond 2030, while prominent standards bodies finalise key revisions. Among the most notable developments…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget introduces measures impacting the UK packaging sector, including inflation-linked plastics tax increases, higher minimum wages, and substantial skills investment amidst economic uncertainty and environmental ambitions. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent autumn budget unveiled several measures with significant implications for the UK packaging industry, setting a complex and nuanced economic landscape. Central to the sector’s immediate concerns is the confirmed increase of the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) in line with inflation, alongside a 4.1% rise in the national minimum wage, and a £1.5 billion investment in skills development aimed at addressing labour shortages. The PPT adjustment aligns…

The International Maritime Organization postpones adoption of its crucial Net-Zero Framework by 12 months amid geopolitical disagreements, delaying global shipping decarbonisation efforts until 2028 and intensifying regulatory uncertainty. On October 17, 2025, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) chose to postpone by 12 months the much-anticipated adoption of the IMO Net-Zero Framework, a critical regulatory instrument aimed at decarbonising the international shipping industry. The vote delay, decided during an extraordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held in London, reflects lingering political disagreements and economic concerns among member states, especially outspoken opposition from the United States and several other…

Despite federal funding withdrawals, the United States pushes forward with ambitious plans for industrial emissions reduction, leveraging state initiatives and private investments to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving global green industry. Under the leadership of former President Joe Biden, the United States made significant strides in industrial decarbonization, aiming to transform one of the nation’s most emission-intensive sectors into a driver of clean innovation and sustainable economic growth. The industrial sector, which includes production of chemicals, steel, machinery, and textiles, accounts for roughly one-third of domestic greenhouse gas emissions, making its decarbonization both crucial and challenging. Central to the…

Integrating tax credits into corporate net zero plans is emerging as a vital strategy to unlock capital, accelerate decarbonisation, and navigate complex policy landscapes, turning climate incentives into measurable investment assets. Successfully integrating tax credits into a net zero plan is emerging as a critical strategy for companies aiming to decarbonise industrial operations while maintaining financial rigour. Rather than treating climate policies as unpredictable external forces, leading firms increasingly view them as integral to project financing, using a blend of customer revenues, internal capital, public incentives, and crucially, tax credits to strengthen investment cases. Tax credits represent some of the…

The European Commission has greenlit 235 key projects across electricity, hydrogen, and carbon transport, signalling a bold step towards a resilient, low-carbon energy future for Europe with a projected investment nearing €1.5 trillion by 2040. The European Commission has taken a significant step towards shaping the future of Europe’s energy infrastructure by approving 235 key projects under its latest Projects of Common Interest (PCI) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMI) programme. This move is poised to accelerate the development of critical cross-border electricity, hydrogen, smart-grid, and carbon transport infrastructure, signalling vast opportunities for technology suppliers, system engineers, and power-electronics developers…

Amid rising trade tensions and national interests, France’s attempt to take control of ArcelorMittal’s French assets is challenging the EU’s broader effort to protect and modernise the continent’s steel sector through new tariff measures and trade protections. In recent developments surrounding the European steel sector, the issue of tariffs and national interests has come under intense scrutiny, exposing complex dynamics between politics, industry lobbying, and economic strategy within the European Union. A draft report tied to the ongoing debates on steel tariffs in the EU has stirred considerable discussion, particularly amidst attempts by France to nationalise part of ArcelorMittal, the…

Canada’s recent shifts in its carbon pricing framework, including the removal of consumer taxes and provincial divergences, highlight the challenges and opportunities ahead as the nation aims for climate targets and prepares for international trade pressures. Canada stands at a pivotal juncture in its climate strategy as the nation’s carbon pricing framework undergoes significant transformation. Since 2019, carbon pricing has been the cornerstone of Canada’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly targeting large industrial emitters through the Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS). However, recent shifts in federal policy and mounting provincial divergences have introduced complexities that may affect the…

MIT-originated 247Solar secures funding to advance its concentrated solar power systems combining thermal storage, aiming to revolutionise industrial heat and electricity supply with scalable, zero-emission solutions. 247Solar, an energy technology company originating from MIT, has announced a $25 million Series B funding round aimed at scaling its industrial-grade heat and continuous electricity solutions designed for commercial and industrial sectors. According to the company’s statement, the new capital will accelerate deployment of its technology, which the firm claims can deliver high-temperature process heat alongside round-the-clock clean power, addressing one of the most challenging aspects of industrial decarbonisation. The funding round has…

Experts at the Engine Technology Forum webinar highlight a rising consensus that expanding energy production and reducing emissions can coexist through technological innovation and market-based strategies, signalling a pragmatic shift in U.S. energy priorities. A recent discussion among experts in energy, fuels, and emissions policy underscored that expanding American energy production and advancing decarbonisation efforts are not necessarily conflicting objectives. This perspective emerged during a webinar hosted by the Engine Technology Forum, titled “Seeking Solutions for Sustainable Energy and Technology to Power a Resilient Economy.” The event, which reflects a reassessment of energy policy after years emphasising aggressive decarbonisation, highlighted…