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 European Commission’s Joint Research Centre releases detailed sector factsheets highlighting technology routes and policy priorities to decarbonise energy-intensive industries by 2050, amid a surge in public funding and strategic investments. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has published seven sector factsheets setting out technology pathways for decarbonising the EU’s most energy‑intensive industries , steel, cement, ammonia, pulp and paper, aluminium, ceramics and glass , and assessing how readiness for key solutions may evolve between 2025 and 2050. Compiled with the Commission’s Directorate‑General for Research and Innovation and refined with input from policymakers and industry stakeholders, the work is intended…
A new analysis from the Climate Change Committee suggests that a carefully managed transition to net zero could cost the UK significantly less than ongoing fossil fuel crises, highlighting the financial and strategic benefits of decarbonisation. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) says that a carefully managed shift to net zero could cost the UK far less than the economic hit from a single large fossil‑fuel price shock, underlining the financial logic of rapid decarbonisation for industry and policymakers. According to the CCC’s analysis, the net additional cost of transitioning between 2025 and 2050 in a scenario the committee calls the…
New EU, Australian, and North American packaging laws are forcing the coffee sector to innovate, with early adopters poised to gain a competitive edge amid shifting global standards on recyclability and producer responsibility. The quiet calculus behind a takeaway cup is being rewritten. Regulators from Brussels to Canberra are erecting mandatory rules that will reshape how coffee is packaged, sold and managed at end of life, forcing roasters, brand owners and packaging suppliers to re-evaluate materials, supply chains and compliance strategies or risk exclusion from key markets. According to the European Commission, the new EU Regulation on Packaging and Packaging…
China’s latest Five-Year Plan eases emission reduction targets while prioritising energy security, posing challenges for its climate commitments and industrial decarbonisation efforts. China’s freshly published 15th Five‑Year Plan frames a dual thrust: an accelerated roll‑out of renewables while loosening the metrics used to judge emissions progress, a recalibration that places energy security and system reliability at the centre of policy choices. According to the plan, Beijing aspires to “lead global climate governance.” Yet it has removed the long‑standing energy intensity targets that once underpinned performance assessment, signalling a switch to monitoring carbon outcomes in ways that critics say reduce transparency…
Lenzing Group’s Brussels roundtable highlights the potential of bio‑based cellulosic fibres to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy, reduce microplastic pollution, and accelerate the shift from fossil-based materials amidst calls for clearer regulatory signals. The Lenzing Group convened a Brussels roundtable with policymakers, industry and civil society to argue that bio‑based cellulosic fibres can bolster Europe’s industrial resilience while accelerating the shift away from fossil feedstocks. According to the company, participants included officials from the European Commission and the UK Mission to the EU, alongside academic and non‑governmental voices, and the discussion focused on scaling alternatives to synthetic materials in applications such…
Malaysia’s move to implement carbon pricing from 2026 marks a significant shift in its climate strategy, with industry and policy experts urging clarity on rules and scope as government prepares to introduce the Climate Change Bill. Malaysia’s decision to introduce carbon pricing from 2026 represents a pivotal shift in the nation’s approach to managing climate transition risks and aligning industrial policy with international decarbonisation pressures, according to analysis by Kenanga Research. The measure, to be anchored by the forthcoming Climate Change Bill (RUUPIN), is expected initially to target energy‑intensive sectors and to evolve into a broader pricing architecture over time.…
The New South Wales government has launched two $40 million grant streams to accelerate decarbonisation in mining and manufacturing sectors, part of a broader $80 million initiative to reach net zero by 2050. The New South Wales government has opened two $40 million grant streams intended to help mining and manufacturing firms cut greenhouse gas emissions and hasten the shift away from fossil fuels as the state pursues net zero by 2050. According to the report by Sustainability Matters, the funding is being delivered under a new Industrial Decarbonisation Initiative that consolidates industrial emissions grants to simplify access for businesses.…
The EIB pledges more than €1 billion to boost solar, wind, and hydropower projects across Africa, supporting efforts to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030 amidst a broader push for sustainable infrastructure. The European Investment Bank, through its EIB Global arm, has pledged in excess of €1 billion to back renewable energy and grid projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, signalling a stepped-up push by European development finance to close the continent’s power deficit. The commitment, announced by EIB Group President Nadia Calviño at the bank’s forum in Luxembourg, is intended to support a portfolio of solar, wind and hydropower…
Daimler Truck unveils the Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2, a long-haul fuel-cell tractor featuring liquid hydrogen storage and advanced refuelling standards, targeting limited series production from late 2026 to accelerate hydrogen-powered freight transport. Daimler Truck has unveiled the Mercedes‑Benz NextGenH2 Truck, a long‑haul fuel‑cell tractor that the company says will enter a limited series production run at its Wörth plant from late 2026 with 100 units destined for customer deployment. According to Daimler Truck, the vehicle builds on lessons from the first‑generation GenH2 programme while incorporating a suite of series components already proven on the battery‑electric eActros 600 to speed maturation and customer…
A new analysis highlights the potential for lightweight solar modules to access over 85 GW of European rooftop capacity, transforming underused industrial and commercial buildings into key players in the continent’s decarbonisation efforts amid evolving policies and innovative technologies. Across Europe’s industrial and commercial roofscape lies a large, underused source of clean energy that simple scale models fail to capture: thousands of older warehouses, distribution centres and retail sheds whose structures cannot safely bear the weight of conventional solar panels. New analysis from the Becquerel Institute, published by pv magazine, estimates that more than 85 GW of rooftop PV capacity…
