Published on 26/11/2025
Tripling financial support towards climate adaptation for developing countries and other key takeaways from Belem COP30
The COP30 United Nations climate summit concluded in Belem, Brazil, leaving the world with a mix of hope, frustration, and unresolved questions. While a major commitment was made to increase financial support for climate adaptation, the summit largely sidestepped urgent global demands to curb fossil fuel use and cut emissions.
Wealthy Nations Commit to Tripling Climate Aid
One of the few clear agreements at COP30 was a pledge by rich countries to triple their funding to help poorer nations adapt to climate change. This financial commitment is crucial for countries already facing extreme weather, rising seas, and food insecurity. However, critics argue that money alone cannot replace the urgent need to reduce the root causes of global warming, primarily fossil fuel consumption.
Fossil Fuels Remain Untouched
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had called for a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, in line with last year’s COP28 discussions. Yet, oil-rich nations and fossil fuel-dependent economies blocked any binding commitments, leading to a voluntary framework that countries could choose to join, or ignore.
Forests and Indigenous Rights Take a Backseat
Hosting COP30 in an Amazon forest city highlighted the importance of the world’s remaining forests and the half-billion Indigenous people who protect these lands. Yet, many Indigenous representatives and environmental activists left disappointed, staging protests and clashing with security over the lack of meaningful engagement. Countries pledged around $9.5 billion in forest funding, including nearly $7 billion for Brazil’s tropical forest initiatives and $2.5 billion for Congo. However, efforts to create a roadmap for zero deforestation by 2030 were dropped, and the protection of Indigenous territories received no formal recognition.
In essence, COP30 was a reminder that global climate action requires both money and meaningful action, and that international unity remains fragile in the face of entrenched fossil fuel interests.
Sources: The Economic Times, Novethic, Reuters
Success in Algeria with the planting of one million trees in 24 hours
With green seedlings and shovels in hand, tens of thousands of Algerians mobilized on Sunday, October 26, to plant one million trees as part of a reforestation campaign initiated by an influencer and supported by the authorities. "Algerians responded massively to our call, next time, we will prepare to plant an even larger number of trees", Fouad Maala, the originator of this 24-hour campaign, rejoiced in the media.
Between 2021 and 2023, the northeastern part of Algeria was ravaged by fires that destroyed nearly 140,000 hectares of vegetation, including more than 41,000 hectares around Tizi Ouzou during the summer of 2021, according to an official report. Almost every year, Algerian forests catch fire due to increasingly high temperatures and decreased rainfall, caused by climate change, according to experts. The objective is to "restore vegetation cover and address climate change," said Djamel Touahria, Director General of Forests, who came to Magtaa Kheira, about thirty kilometers west of Algiers, to plant 4,000 trees. In 1970, Algeria launched the "green barrier" under President Houari Boumedienne, a massive reforestation plan to slow the advance of the Sahara. The project, which was abandoned due to a poor choice of species and insufficient watering, was relaunched in 2023.
Source: Swissinfo
Norway's wealth fund maintains net zero emission pressure amid US climate rollback
Norway's $2 trillion wealth fund is maintaining pressure on companies it invests in to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, despite the growing U.S. backlash against climate-friendly policies. The world's largest sovereign wealth fund first formulated the goal of bringing all 8,500 companies in its portfolio in line with the Paris Agreement target in 2022 and would increase the pressure somewhat, by for instance increasing its scrutiny of companies' lobbying on climate change.
In its newly updated climate plan, the fund said "Climate risk is financial risk". "The fund therefore has an interest in an orderly transition to global net zero emissions." The fund's updated guidelines come at a time when some international investors are backing away from ESG policies on climate change. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is, meanwhile, boosting fossil fuel production, rolling back climate policies at home, and working against international climate initiatives abroad, including withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement.
"The fund's commitment to increased scrutiny of corporate policy advocacy as it relates to climate change is new and very welcome, as is the explicit acknowledgement of voting against boards as an escalation tool," said Brynn O'Brien, Executive Director of the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, an advocacy group. But she and others noted the threshold for the fund to take escalating steps, should engagement with a company not lead to change, was lacking. "The real test for the fund is how they deal with companies not willing to meet expectations. Sadly, the plan is almost devoid of any strategy to influence those companies still unwilling to transition," Diego Foss, Programme Co-Lead at the Nordic Center for Sustainable Finance, told Reuters. In response, the fund says engagement leads to more effective results than divestment. "Engagement is our main tool. Divestment does not take down emissions," Carine Smith Ihenacho, the fund's Chief Governance and Compliance Officer, told a seminar launching the plan.
UK medicines manufacturers to get £54 million green investment
The UK government's Innovate UK program is investing £54 million in eight projects to make medicines manufacturing more efficient and sustainable. According to Frank Millar, CEO of the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), "Sustainability in medicines manufacturing is vital to maintain leadership in the UK life sciences sector." The CPI will support five projects focusing on sustainable materials, digital manufacturing, and automation, worth £44.9 million.
AstraZeneca UK is leading an initiative to future-proof medicines manufacturing using robotics, automation, AI, and data-driven technology. The programme is part of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) to make the UK life sciences sector more competitive. Joe Edwards, director of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said, "The pharmaceutical industry's investment into this programme shows our commitment to modern and sustainable manufacturing practices."
The investment aims to improve the competitiveness of the UK life sciences sector and support economic growth. However, the VPAG scheme has been a contentious issue, with companies having until December 16 to decide whether to leave the scheme. Key figures include the £54 million investment and the £44.9 million funding for the CPI-supported projects.
Sources: Pharmacy Business, GOV.UK
Crédit Agricole sets 90/10 green to brown financing target as part of 2028 transition strategy
- Company: Credit Agricole SA
- Sector: Banks
- Clover rating: 3/5
Crédit Agricole has announced its ACT 2028 strategy, aiming to achieve a 90/10 green-to-brown financing ratio by 2028. As Dominique Lefebvre, Chairman of Crédit Agricole S.A., stated, the plan responds to "societal, geopolitical and transitions-related shifts". CEO Olivier Gavalda added that the group aims to be "a leader in transitions and new technologies".
The plan includes key targets such as €240 billion in transition financing and 600,000 home energy-efficiency renovations supported. Eric Campos, Chief Sustainability and Impact Officer, said the bank is shifting from mitigating impact to regenerating ecosystems. "In 2025, we are taking a decisive step forward. We are willing to move towards an economy that regenerates, rather than simply reducing negative impact," he said.
The implementation of the ACT 2028 plan is expected to have significant implications for investors and C-suite decision-makers, with key figures including €240 billion in transition financing and €1 billion in sustainable finance revenue. A clear roadmap on how to achieve such goals remains yet to be disclosed.
Source: ESG News
Samsung enters carbon capture market with E&A – Carbon Clean alliance
- Company: SAMSUNG E&A LTD
- Sector: Industrials
- Clover rating: 5/5
Samsung E&A and Carbon Clean have announced a strategic alliance to deliver modular, scalable carbon-capture systems. According to Aniruddha Sharma, Chair and CEO of Carbon Clean, the partnership aims to make carbon capture "as standard and repeatable as solar and wind deployment." Hong Namkoong, CEO of Samsung E&A, described the alliance as an opportunity to "advance practical solutions for a sustainable future."
The alliance will focus on delivering the CycloneCC C1 Series, a compact carbon-capture system that can capture up to 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The modular format allows for rapid replication across multiple sites, making it a cost-efficient and scalable solution. With Samsung E&A's global footprint and Carbon Clean's technology, the partnership is well-positioned to meet rising demand driven by climate-policy frameworks.
Key figures include a reduction in height by 70% and steel use by 35% compared to traditional installations. The partnership aims to standardize carbon-capture solutions, making them more predictable and financeable infrastructure assets. As Aniruddha Sharma noted, the goal is to make carbon capture a standard and repeatable solution, and the alliance is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
Sources: Yahoo Finance, ESG News
Tesla’s engineering exodus comes amid shift from core EV mission
- Company: Tesla INC
- Sector: Automobiles
- Clover rating: 4/5
Tesla is experiencing an engineering exodus, with several high-profile engineers leaving the company amid a shift in focus from electric vehicles (EVs) to AI-powered businesses. Emmanuel Lamacchia and Siddhant Awasthi, both eight-year veterans, recently announced their departures. As a former Tesla executive noted, "There are no new models on the horizon. There's just a focus on cost reduction... This isn't exciting at all."
Ross Gerber, a Tesla investor, thinks the company should focus on releasing new models and features, rather than prioritizing AI-powered businesses. "The thing about how car companies work is people want new models, new features and they want new designs for their car that's not too different than the original, but is different," Gerber said. Tesla's sales are down about 6% so far this year, and the company is facing increased competition in the EV market.
Gautam Mukunda, a professor at the Yale School of Management, noted that Tesla's valuation is heavily dependent on Musk's leadership, and that the company's board is betting everything on him. "I cannot imagine a scenario where the valuation of Tesla does not collapse following Elon Musk's departure," Mukunda said. Key figures include Tesla's capacity to produce 2 million vehicles annually, and plans to build a "million-unit production line" for its Optimus robot.
Source: Forbes
Warming lakes could double methane emissions by 2100
A recent article published in November 2025 finds that climate change itself can drive a major surge in methane emissions from natural sources. As global temperatures rise, lakes and reservoirs are projected to emit 24-91% more methane by late century. If high-emission pathways continue, methane released from inland waters could become so large that it pushes planetary warming beyond even the IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) current worse-case projections, highlighting the dangerous cycle in which warming accelerates methane release, which then accelerates warming further.
Warmer water boosts microbial activity exponentially, leading to much higher methane release. If the hottest IPCC scenario occurs, current methane emissions from lakes and reservoirs could increase by about 100% by 2080-2099, which would raise global methane emissions by about 10% above present levels. On a hopeful note, researchers stress that cutting human GHG emissions now has an outsized payoff: any reduction has a doubling effect, it prevents the direct warming and stops a future increase in methane from lakes.
Methane emissions increases or decreases have a strong potential to enhance or dampen global warming and the study shows that this process can be self-reinforcing. It's an additional argument for financial and insurance actors to address GHG emissions (including methane) to help mitigate the feedbacks of higher reservoir emissions, and to integrate resilience into their investment and risk frameworks.
Source: Nature