India has formalised updated climate commitments aiming for a 60% non-fossil fuel share by 2035, balancing domestic energy security with long-term decarbonisation goals amidst international support challenges. India has formalised new mid‑century climate commitments that aim to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels while reflecting cautious domestic planning and…
A new industrial recycling plant in Bavaria marks a pivotal step for Europe’s battery supply chain, promising to reduce reliance on imports and accelerate the continent’s electrification goals through innovative, cost-competitive recovery of critical materials. Europe’s scramble for critical battery materials has found a practical foothold with the start of…
At this year’s ChangeNow summit, industry leaders called for a fundamental overhaul of the fashion sector’s business model, emphasising circularity, transparency, and innovative technologies to address environmental and social challenges. PARIS , At this year’s ChangeNow summit the conversation around fashion shifted from searching for fixes to questioning the sector’s…
Researchers at Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen develop an electrochemical process to reclaim lithium, cobalt, and nickel from recycling water, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional methods while aiming to reduce European resource dependence. Researchers at Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen are advancing an electrochemical route to reclaim lithium, cobalt and nickel…
Cisco’s latest research reveals that while over half of organisations have deployed AI in live industrial settings, infrastructure and security hurdles threaten to impede its full potential for sustainable and operational gains. Cisco’s latest State of Industrial AI research paints a picture of artificial intelligence moving decisively from pilots into…
Singapore and Japan formalise a broad partnership on energy and climate, aiming to accelerate decarbonisation through cross-border collaboration in renewable energy, hydrogen, and CCUS initiatives. Singapore and Japan have formalised a broader partnership on energy and climate that aims to accelerate decarbonisation across hard-to-abate industries and power systems, signing an…
Advances in digital takeoff tools are transforming early-stage planning, enabling the construction industry to cut emissions and waste by delivering more accurate material estimates, tightening procurement, and fostering a culture of sustainability. Construction’s imbalance , the pressure to deliver more, faster, while conserving scarce resources , is finally being addressed…
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The European Commission unveils the Industrial Accelerator Act, aiming to revitalise Europe’s manufacturing capacity, tighten foreign investment controls, and support green technologies amidst debates over protectionism and strategic autonomy. On 4 March 2026 the European Commission tabled a legislative package designed to accelerate the expansion of industrial capacity in sectors deemed critical to decarbonisation and economic resilience. Branded the Industrial Accelerator Act, the proposal seeks to reverse decades of industrial decline by directing more public demand towards European producers, tightening the conditions attached to large foreign investments in clean-technology supply chains, and speeding approvals for major manufacturing projects. The Commission…
Germany’s progress on reducing greenhouse gases has slowed, with rising emissions from transport and buildings threatening its 2030 climate goals amid ongoing policy and sectoral hurdles. Germany’s progress on cutting greenhouse gases has stalled just as policymakers are pressing industry for faster decarbonisation, with competing data and sectoral trends underscoring the challenge ahead. According to the German Environment Agency, total greenhouse gas emissions last year were 649 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, leaving the country roughly half a decade short of the trajectory required for its 2030 goal. Industry observers note that Germany has achieved a 48% reduction against 1990…
Rice University researchers have developed carbon nanotube fibre heaters that could revolutionise industrial heat processes by providing lightweight, resilient, and efficient electric heating solutions, potentially accelerating the shift towards lower emissions. Researchers at Rice University have demonstrated that fibres made from carbon nanotubes can function as high-performance electric heating elements in moving gases, a development that could materially aid efforts to electrify industrial heat and cut process emissions. The team tested arrays of carbon nanotube fibre (CNTF) wires and woven CNTF textiles, finding that for a given mass the materials delivered greater specific power than comparable metal-alloy elements when immersed…
A new study highlights how integrating AI throughout manufacturing operations enhances supply chain visibility, risk mitigation, and supports industrial decarbonisation efforts, contingent upon robust data governance and organisational change. According to a study published in the journal Systems, the greatest value from artificial intelligence in manufacturing supply chains arises not from one-off technology purchases but from embedding AI throughout everyday operations. The research, based on survey responses from 129 Chinese manufacturing firms, finds that organisations which have assimilated AI across functions such as production planning, inventory control, procurement and demand forecasting achieve markedly better visibility of supply and demand and…
The UK government has unveiled new measures to fast-track renewable energy projects and permit the sale of plug-in solar kits, aiming to bolster energy independence amid global geopolitical tensions. The UK government this weekend moved to accelerate the deployment of small-scale solar and speed up large renewable projects as part of a wider push to strengthen energy independence amid heightened geopolitical risk in the Middle East. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband set out a package of measures intended to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and broaden access to low‑carbon generation. Central to that plan is a decision to permit the…
The US Department of Energy has announced a significant funding initiative to bolster domestic production and recycling of critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains and accelerate clean energy deployment. The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a competitive funding opportunity intended to shore up domestic capabilities…
AstraZeneca, ERM, and Secaro have launched the Clean Heat Program to streamline the transition to renewable thermal energy across pharmaceutical supply chains, addressing a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and regulatory pressures. AstraZeneca, consultancy ERM and supply-chain platform Secaro have unveiled the Clean Heat Program, a collaborative initiative intended…
As US electricity demand surges from industry and data centres, virtual power plants and behind-the-meter solutions emerge as cost-effective alternatives to new generation capacity, promising to reshape the country’s energy landscape. The United States faces a looming electricity gap as load grows sharply across industry and consumers alike, and solutions…
A new approach to Africa’s energy strategy emphasises reliable, high-capacity power for industry over traditional household electrification, aiming to spark economic transformation and job creation across the continent. For decades African energy policy has largely measured success by how many homes can flick a light switch or plug in a…
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Shell’s recent disclosures reveal that nearly 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2e emissions in 2025 are driven primarily by customer use of its fuels, underscoring the immense systemic challenges faced in reaching global net-zero aims and the need for coordinated sector-wide action. Shell’s recently disclosed footprint , roughly 1.1 billion metric tonnes of CO2e in 2025 , underlines how deeply embedded fossil fuels remain in the global energy system and the scale of the challenge for industrial decarbonisation. According to the company’s reporting and an industry summary of that disclosure, the vast majority of those emissions are Scope 3: the GHG…
Scandlines has launched The Baltic Whale, a €84 million battery-electric freight ferry, marking a significant step towards zero-emission maritime transport on Europe’s busiest short-sea route between Denmark and Germany, with potential to revolutionise ferry operations across Europe. Scandlines has put into service a battery-electric freight ferry on the short crossing between Rødby in Denmark and Puttgarden on Germany’s island of Fehmarn, marking a high‑profile step for maritime decarbonisation on one of northern Europe’s busiest short‑sea links. According to Focus, the vessel, named The Baltic Whale, entered operation this week after an investment of €84 million and is intended to eliminate…
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The global market for nuclear reactor decommissioning is set to grow steadily, driven by ageing fleets, regulatory tightening, and technological innovations, with new fuel production licences signalling a shift towards supply chain resilience for advanced reactors. The global market for retiring nuclear reactors is entering a period of steady, technically driven expansion as ageing fleets, tighter regulation and fresh private capital reshape the economics of decommissioning and spent‑fuel management. According to a market analysis from DataM Intelligence, the nuclear reactor decommissioning market was valued at about US$76.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach roughly US$94.3 billion by 2031,…
The University of Chicago’s Centre for Organic Battery Innovation is pioneering a shift towards earth-abundant, safer, and potentially more sustainable organic batteries, aiming to disrupt the lithium-based industry amid rising demand and supply risks. The University of Chicago’s newly formed Center for Organic Battery Innovation (COBI) is mounting a concerted push to replace conventional lithium-based cells with solid‑state batteries constructed from earth‑abundant organic molecules, arguing the shift is necessary to address mounting safety, cost and supply‑chain risks associated with current chemistries. According to a media release published by the centre on 25 February 2026, COBI’s objective is to develop rechargeable…
A postponed EU legislation aimed at boosting clean manufacturing faces industry pressure to accelerate its launch, with debates over local content rules and market integrity intensifying among stakeholders. A major European metals trade body has urged the European Union not to postpone the launch of the bloc’s Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), warning that further slippage would undermine efforts to scale up clean manufacturing across strategic sectors. The Commission postponed publication of the IAA to 4 March 2026 after member states failed to reach an internal consensus on how far the legislation should require locally sourced inputs, according to Euronews. The…
Africa’s solar industry is entering a rapid expansion phase driven by policy reforms, falling costs, and rising demand, but faces major hurdles in financing, grid integration, and local manufacturing as it aims to transform its energy landscape by the end of the decade. Africa’s solar sector is entering a phase of rapid commercialisation that could reshape the continent’s energy mix and create new markets for decarbonisation technologies across industry, utilities and project finance. After a surge in 2025, policymakers, developers and equipment suppliers are positioning solar and battery systems as central to meeting rising power demand and improving energy security.…
Germany plans to declare hydrogen production projects of “overriding public interest” to fast-track approval processes, broadening the scope to include blue hydrogen amid concerns over slow progress and long-term decarbonisation targets. Germany is set to declare hydrogen production projects to be of “overriding public interest”, a legal escalation intended to speed approvals as the country confronts a widening gap between ambition and delivery on its hydrogen strategy. According to Tagesspiegel Background, the government has agreed to broaden the scope of the Hydrogen Acceleration Act to bring more projects under fast‑track treatment, a move that acknowledges the original roll‑out has been…
The Villum Foundation’s largest-ever grant launches a decade-long international initiative to radically reduce the carbon footprint of the global construction sector through innovative research, digital integration, and collaborative industry-practice transformation. The Villum Foundation’s decision to commit 1 billion Danish kroner to a decade-long research programme marks a major escalation in efforts to decarbonise the global construction sector. Launched on 1 January 2026, the Civil Engineering and the Green Transition in the Built Environment (CEBE) initiative sets out an integrated research agenda intended to tackle the full lifecycle of buildings and infrastructure , from material extraction and manufacture, through design and…
As EU industry ministers convene, divisions emerge over protectionist measures, funding priorities, and strategies to strengthen Europe’s heavy industry in the face of global competition and climate goals. EU industry ministers meet against a backdrop of intensifying debate over how Brussels should revive the bloc’s industrial base, with sharp divisions emerging over protectionist measures, competition policy and targeted support for heavy, energy‑intensive sectors. At the heart of the discussion are competing visions for competitiveness. According to the Financial Times, France has pushed for “Buy European” preferences in public procurement and state support to shield strategic industries, while several more liberal…
Achieving net zero in sectors like cement and steel hinges on integrating engineering, logistics, finance, and policy into comprehensive systems, moving beyond technological gimmicks to scalable solutions. Forget technological gimmicks: scaling carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is principally a systems challenge , aligning engineering, logistics, finance and policy to manage the emissions of heavy industry. With the International Energy Agency identifying CCUS as a component of decarbonisation strategies, the debate has moved from whether the technology will be needed to how to deliver it across entire industrial value chains. Cement and steel exemplify the urgency. Cement manufacturing alone emits…
Glass Futures has achieved a significant milestone in decarbonising high‑temperature manufacturing, completing pilot trials of biofuels, electric boosting, and hydrogen, demonstrating their technical feasibility at industrial scale and shaping the future of sustainable glass production. Glass Futures has reported a major step forward in efforts to decarbonise high‑temperature manufacturing after completing a series of pilot trials that tested biofuels, electric boosting and hydrogen on its 30 tonnes‑per‑day line in St Helens, UK. The multi‑pathway campaign, which Glass Futures says began in October 2025, has, the organisation adds, proven the technical feasibility of several low‑carbon fuel routes at a scale close…
While the Middle East advances its solar capacity and manufacturing capabilities, substantial fossil fuel investments and policy gaps highlight the region’s complex journey towards net zero by 2060, balancing ambition with economic reliance on hydrocarbons. The Middle East’s pathway to decarbonisation is gathering momentum in its power systems and manufacturing base, even as broader economic incentives and ongoing fossil fuel investment leave the region far from the emission trajectories implied by many national pledges. According to Wood Mackenzie’s Energy Transition Outlook, closing that gap would demand roughly US$5.3 trillion of cumulative spending to hit net zero by 2060; under the…
