Bloomberg to fund UN climate body in lieu of US

Spanish Market: Emissions
23/01/25

Bloomberg Philanthropies and "other US climate funders" will ensure that the US meets its funding and reporting obligations to UN climate body the UNFCCC, after President Trump withdrew the country from the Paris climate agreement earlier this week.

This is the second time that Bloomberg Philanthropies has "stepped in to help uphold [the US'] funding and reporting commitments… amid a lack of US federal climate leadership", the organisation said today. Trump pulled the US out of the Paris accord in his first term as US president, although then-President Joe Biden signed the agreement once more in early 2021.

Bloomberg will "work to ensure US subnational climate leaders track and report on US climate progress over the next four years", the organisation said today.

"Bloomberg Philanthropies has made significant investments in empowering local leaders, providing businesses with the data to track emissions while driving economic growth, and building coalitions across public and private sectors", founder Michael Bloomberg said. He is also a UN special envoy on climate ambition.

UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell welcomed the support, also noting that "government funding remains essential" for the climate body.

The finance referred to is not the international climate finance often discussed at UNFCCC talks, but funding which helps the climate body operate and host events such as the annual Cop climate summits.

It appears likely that the previous US administration had foreseen a lack of financial contributions from the Trump government. The US last year paid its arrears for the UNFCCC core budget in full — just under €3.4mn ($3.5mn) — leaving it in a minority of countries with no outstanding payments, UNFCCC accounts show. The US also contributed just under €7.3mn for 2024 — 22pc of the total contributed — again for the body's core budget, UNFCCC accounts show.

Bloomberg Philanthropies contributed $4.5mn to the UNFCCC in 2024 for "supplementary activities", while the US provided $2.74mn, UNFCCC accounts show.

Trump, in one of his first acts upon returning to office, on 20 January ordered the US to withdraw from the Paris agreement. That decision will take effect one year after the US gives formal notice to the UNFCCC.

By Georgia Gratton

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17/02/25

Frustration over delays to UK CCS and H2 programmes

London, 17 February (Argus) — Companies are growing increasingly frustrated with the UK government over unclear timelines and inadequate funding for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and clean hydrogen projects. The government has drawn strong praise for the design of its contracts-for-difference style production subsidies for electrolytic hydrogen and CCS systems to underpin low-carbon hydrogen from fossil fuels. But too few projects have been able to access the schemes and developers are losing confidence that the UK will match their ambition with sufficient and timely funding. "It's like building a great motorway with five lanes but very few, or no junctions," industry body OEUK's head of energy policy Enrique Cornejo said. "We have a great policy framework, but we don't have access, apart from a very small number of projects," he told the UK CCUS and Hydrogen Decarbonisation Summit in Leeds, northern England this month. Cornejo welcomed a recent final investment decision (FID) for the Teesside CCS system and progress made on northwest England's HyNet cluster, which is expected to reach FID this year, but he urged the government to set out funding and timelines for the Scottish "Acorn" and Humberside "Viking" CCS projects that are supposed to be next in line. "It's been a really long wait for these projects and the risk is very clear that if we don't hear some positive news from the government" there could be "lost investment", he said. It is a view shared by Norway's Equinor, which owns 45pc of the Teesside CCS project and a portfolio of Humberside hydrogen proposals that are in limbo having been overlooked in initial government selections. "Keeping projects on life support costs a lot of money," said the company's director of UK low-carbon solutions hydrogen, Dan Sadler. Equinor has spent "hundreds of millions" on its proposals for CCS-based hydrogen production, electrolytic hydrogen production, transport and storage infrastructure, he said. Sadler made the same appeal 12 months ago but has still received no update on the timing for the so-called "track 1 expansion process" which would allow its CCS-hydrogen project to move ahead. Optimism over the "fantastic" Teesside FID and contracts signed with three electrolytic projects must be balanced against concerns that HyNet has not reached FID nor have any of the UK's CCS-based hydrogen plants , Sadler said. On electrolytic hydrogen, the UK missed its deadline to shortlist winners of second round projects in 2024. Multiple electrolysis-focused developers at the Leeds conference talked of "standstill" in the sector, while financiers echoed the importance of the UK's second hydrogen allocation round (HAR2) shortlist. "We're waiting with bated breath for HAR2 so we know which projects we can look to finance," UK-based National Wealth Fund's managing director of banking and investments, Emily Sidhu, said. Opening applications for the UK's subsidy scheme for hydrogen pipeline and storage infrastructure has slipped to the fourth quarter of this year, which means it could be many months into 2026 before winners are selected and years until the projects get built. UK pipeline operators envy the government support that peers in continental Europe have received and have been trying to alert London about what companies perceive to be unduly arduous permitting processes, one pipeline firm told Argus . Emperor's new clothes The funding appeals come at a difficult time. The Labour government, which was elected last year, is reviewing spending across all departments, creating extra doubt. The total cost of the UK's ambitions for hydrogen and CCS would surpass several times over the £21.7bn ($27.3bn) for CCS and £2bn for electrolytic hydrogen that the government has confirmed for the first rounds. While raising funds from the government, the Emissions Trading System (ETS) or the so-called gas shipper obligation are possibilities, it is not sufficiently clear to give confidence to investors, Equinor's Sadler said. Moreover, the Labour administration has not said if it will stick to the former Conservative government's targets, Sadler noted. "It's rhetoric. Government policy for hydrogen and CCS? There isn't any. People quote 10GW [hydrogen production] and four [CCS] clusters by 2030 and 30mn t/yr [CO2 sequestration] by 2030. That's the Tory [Conservative] policy, the Labour government hasn't got a policy at the moment," Sadler said. The industry's belief in the UK as an investment proposition cannot be sustained forever, he said. The UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has not responded to questions about the Labour government's hydrogen targets. By Aidan Lea Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Canada sets out climate plan to hit 2035 emissions goal

12/02/25

Canada sets out climate plan to hit 2035 emissions goal

London, 12 February (Argus) — The Canadian government has released a new climate plan for the country, detailing actions it plans to take to reach its 2035 emissions reduction targets, with several references to the outcome of the UN Cop 28 climate summit in 2023. The Canadian government announced the country's 2035 target in December . It aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45-50pc by 2035, from 2005 levels. This builds on its target to cut emissions by 40-45pc by 2030, from the same baseline, although the country is currently "on track" to reduce emissions by 34pc by 2030, from 2005 levels, the government said. Many of the plans outlined today are in line with the first global stocktake — the key outcome from Cop 28 in December 2023 . These include phasing out unabated coal-fired power, increasing renewable energy capacity, improving energy efficiency and cutting methane — a powerful GHG. The government plans to reduce methane emissions from Canada's oil and gas sector by 75pc by 2030, from 2012 levels. It will also "explore the transfer and use of ITMOs", which are internationally transferred mitigation outcomes, or emission credits. And the country will "explore the potential" for carbon removal technologies, although the plan warned on "potential risks that must be carefully managed". The document included detailed plans from several of Canada's provinces and territories, as well as the Assembly of First Nations. But the province of Saskatchewan — for which agriculture, oil and gas production and mining are key — pushed back on federal climate policies. Canada's government based its plans on the "best available science" and included recommendations from the independent Net-Zero Advisory Body. Insured losses from severe weather in Canada hit a record high of C$8.5bn ($6bn) in 2024, the government noted. And estimates suggest that "economic losses will rise to roughly 6pc of Canada's GDP by the end of the century", it added. Canada will need investments of between C$125bn and C$140bn annually to reach its legally binding goal of net zero emissions by 2050, according to the plan. The transition "will require substantial public and private sector investment and expertise", the government said. The plan released today is known as a nationally determined contribution (NDC). Countries and jurisdictions party to the Paris climate agreement are required to submit new plans every five years, ideally increasing in ambition. Canada committed at Cop 29 in November to an NDC aligned with Paris agreement temperature goals . The Paris accord seeks to limit the rise in global temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and preferably to 1.5°C. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil plans Amazon forest concession sale

11/02/25

Brazil plans Amazon forest concession sale

Sao Paulo, 11 February (Argus) — Brazil's environment ministry will auction concessions in the Jaturana national forest, in northern Amazonas state, as part of government efforts to prevent deforestation. The government will sell four forest management concession areas with a combined 453,000 hectares (ha) in the Apui municipality. The concessions will require roughly R430mn ($7.4mn) in infrastructure investments and R3.4bn in operating investments over the 37-year concession period. The auction is scheduled for 21 May and will be held at the B3 exchange, in Sao Paulo state, to guarantee transparency and boost competition, the ministry said. The government plans to hold a roadshow to promote the concessions. The government estimates that the auction will generate concession payments of R32.6mn/yr, which will be split between federal environmental protection agencies, Amazonas state and the Apui city government. The winning bidders will be allowed to harvest up to six trees/ha for lumber from the concession area, according to the auction's terms elaborated by the Bndes development bank. Other select activities, including the production of açai fruit, Brazil nuts and tropical tree oils, such as copaiba and andiroba, will also be permitted. The concession terms stipulate that the winning bidder will not have control over the mineral or water rights of the region and will be required to invest in research and environmental education. With the sale of the Jaturana concessions, Brazil will increase the total amount of forest managed by the private sector — now at 1.31mn ha — by 35pc. Brazil has 23 concession contracts for nine national forests in five Brazilian states. The goal is to award a total of 5mn in forest concessions over the next three years. The Brazilian forestry service (SFB) is developing concessions for 11 other national forests, the head of the SFB Garo Batmanian said on Monday. Limiting deforestation is one of President Luiz Inacio da Silva's goals for his administration and a flagship of the country's ambitions for the UN Cop 30 summit, which will be held in Belem, the capital of northern Para state, in November. Brazil has been targeting reforestation as part of its efforts to meet its emissions-reduction target. But wildfires in the country are still a major concern, as they rose by 79pc in 2024 from a year prior , according to environmental network MapBiomas' fire monitor researching program. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Singapore sets new emissions reduction target for 2035

11/02/25

Singapore sets new emissions reduction target for 2035

Singapore, 11 February (Argus) — Singapore submitted its new emissions reduction target on 10 February, aiming to reduce emissions to 45mn-50mn t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2035 as part of its nationally determined contribution (NDC). This is a progression from its first NDC which targeted a reduction in emissions to around 60mn t of CO2e in 2030. Singapore's emissions totalled 58.6mn t of CO2e in 2022, according to the country's National Climate Change Secretariat. The nation aims for net zero emissions by 2050. Countries party to the Paris agreement were supposed to submit their new climate plans — NDCs — for 2035 to the UN climate body the UNFCCC by 10 February, as part of the ratchet mechanism which requires them to review and revise plans every five years. But only a few countries have submitted their plans as of 11 February. Singapore's second NDC is an economy-wide absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target, and the key sectors covered are energy, industrial processes and product use, agriculture, land use, land-use change and forestry and waste. The NDC was formulated based on the outcomes of the first global stocktake (GST) that took place at the UN Cop 28 climate summit in 2023. "Singapore is contributing to the first GST's call to triple global renewable energy capacity and double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030," according to the NDC. The country is also supporting efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Singapore has increased the share of natural gas in its energy mix to 95pc, compared to around 18pc in 2000. The country's Energy Market Authority's latest emissions standards also require new fossil fuel generation units to be at least 30pc hydrogen-ready by volume, with the ability to be retrofitted to be 100pc hydrogen-ready in future. Singapore has raised its target for clean electricity imports from around 4GW to around 6GW by 2035. This is expected to meet one-third of the country's energy needs. The country is also looking into cross-border green electricity trading with its neighbours. Singapore is actively exploring the possibility of a cross-border carbon capture and storage project, as it is land-scarce and dependent on bilateral co-operation to sequester CO2. Singapore has additionally attempted to mobilise finance to support Asia's decarbonisation efforts through programmes such as the Financing Asia's Transition Partnership , a blended finance initiative under which the country has pledged up to $500mn in concessional capital to match concessional capital from other partners in the scheme dollar-for-dollar. By Prethika Nair Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Most nations miss NDC deadline, while ambition varies

10/02/25

Most nations miss NDC deadline, while ambition varies

London, 10 February (Argus) — The majority of countries that are party to the Paris climate agreement have missed the deadline to submit new national climate plans, while research group Climate Action Tracker (CAT) found that several are not aligned with Paris accord goals. Just 12 countries had submitted new climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), by time of writing today — the UAE, Brazil, the US, Uruguay, Switzerland, the UK, New Zealand, Andorra, Saint Lucia, Ecuador, Singapore and the Marshall Islands. UN climate body the UNFCCC had set 10 February as the deadline for countries to submit their third NDCs, setting out climate action and targets up to 2035. CAT said that of the six NDCs it analysed, just the UK's was aligned with the Paris agreement. The UK plan is "about the only bright spot" among the countries it tracks, CAT noted. But it warned that the UK government "has inherited a vast implementation gap" and must take "urgent action" to introduce and strengthen policies to ensure emissions reduction targets are reached. The UK aims to cut emissions by 81pc by 2035, from a 1990 baseline. The country should support its goals with more international climate finance to be "a fully 1.5°C aligned contribution", CAT said. The Paris agreement seeks to limit the rise in global temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and preferably to 1.5°C. CAT noted "a significantly more ambitious" target for 2035 from the UAE , compared with its 2030 goal, but flagged the need for details on the country's planned emissions cuts. It noted a "lack of transparency" in Brazil's NDC and found that, despite an increase in ambition, New Zealand's 2035 NDC "falls short". Switzerland's new NDC "is diverging from a 1.5°C aligned pathway", CAT said. And it said that while the US is leaving the Paris agreement, the country"s NDC "can still be a guiding document for the roughly half of the US states who support continued climate action." But many climate policy observers have emphasised that higher ambition and comprehensive plans are far more important than timeliness. The EU, Canada, Mexico and Norway committed to new, Paris-consistent NDCs at the UN Cop 29 climate summit in November. Climate Action Tracker tracks around 40 countries and the EU, covering around 85pc of global emissions and 70pc of global population. The Paris agreement has a ratchet mechanism, which requires countries to review and revise climate plans every five years, increasing ambition. The UNFCCC deadline for NDC submissions is not enforceable. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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