Firms join WEF, GenZero Asia-Pacific SAF initiative

Spanish Market: Biofuels, Emissions
23/09/26

The Singapore Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company (SAFCo) and US-based non-profit Center for Green Market Activation (GMA) have joined Singaporean investment platform GenZero on the steering committee of the Green Fuel Forward (GFF) initiative.

The GFF initiative was jointly launched by the World Economic Forum and GenZero last May, and aims to scale corporate demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Asia-Pacific. GenZero will continue to lead this initiative alongside GMA and SAFCo from 1 October.

The company additions were announced on 22 September as part of the ongoing New York Climate Week, and marks GFF's shift from building SAF awareness and procurement readiness to facilitating more corporate participation in Asian SAF and SAF certificate (SAFc) transactions, according to a joint press release.

SAFcs enable companies to provide demand signals at scale and claim associated emission reductions towards their climate targets, even where there is no or limited access to physical SAF. GFF will work with industry, policymakers and standards bodies to establish a trusted framework for corporate engagement, to support the development of a robust Asia-Pacific SAFc market, it said.

GMA's chief executive Kim Carnahan expressed interest in bringing their book-and-claim model to Asia to scale SAF uptake, while ensuring it complements existing global initiatives like the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance.

US technology giant Amazon, management consulting firm Bain & Company, and Singapore's Temasek Holdings' philanthropic arm Temasek Trust have also joined the GFF initiative, bringing its total membership to 48. Temasek Trust will provide funding to offset SAF procurement costs as well. The organisation did not reply to Argus' queries by the time of publication regarding funding amount, or a start date.

GFF's members span three key groups: companies with a significant business-travel footprint, those with substantial logistics and air-cargo operations, and international corporations looking to decarbonise their value chains in Asia.

Corporate interest in SAF is growing, but buyers still face practical barriers to procurement. Questions remain around how SAFc purchases can be reported under international standard Greenhouse Gas Protocol, while buyers may also have limited visibility on credible regional supply and lack dedicated in-house procurement capabilities.

Through GFF, participating companies can better understand the SAF market, explore credible procurement pathways, and stay updated on accounting and reporting mechanisms for SAFcs. Cost offsets and co-matching for select first-time buyers can also help lower cost barriers and support early participation.

By Sarah Giam

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22/09/26

IEA sets pathway to 35pc electrification by 2035

Edinburgh, 22 September (Argus) — The IEA today released a new high electrification scenario (HES) setting out a pathway to a global electrification rate of 35pc by 2035. This could add 1,400TWh to annual electricity demand and reduce oil demand by 18mn b/d, according to the agency. By 2035, "faster electrification could mean the world is using 18mn fewer b/d of oil than it would have done otherwise, mainly the result of a rapid uptake of electric vehicles in this scenario", the IEA said. This compares with around 10mn b/d of oil demand avoided through electrification by 2035 under current market trends and policies, according to the organisation. Because very little oil is used in electricity generation globally, electrifying transport under the HES would also reduce oil imports "regardless of the electricity generation mix", the IEA said. The HES considers three electricity supply mixes based on the IEA's Net Zero Emissions, Stated Policies and Current Policies scenarios. Under the HES, the increase in annual electricity demand would be twice that recorded over the past decade, according to the IEA. The scenario could reduce energy bills for fuel-importing countries by more than $400bn by 2035, it said. The IEA said CO2 emissions from transport, buildings and industry fall by 40pc by 2035 under the HES, in line with international climate goals. Electrification supports commitments made at Cop 28 to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements and triple renewable capacity, it said. In regions lacking full access to modern energy, improving access to electricity and clean cooking has the greatest effect on raising the electrification rate. The decline in emissions from the three sectors would be sufficient to put total energy-related CO2 emissions on a downward trajectory, regardless of the electricity generation mix, the IEA said. But accelerating electrification will require "scaling up investment in generation and grids, alongside the implementation of smarter and more flexible power systems", while threats to energy security will also need to be addressed. These include concentrated supply chains for key technologies and critical minerals. "Efficiency, renewables deployment and electrification are three mutually reinforcing goals; alongside other technologies, these are critical to pathways that return temperatures to below 1.5°C in the longer term", the IEA said. After 2035, electrifying additional end uses will require technological innovation, while aligning electricity supply with a pathway to net zero by 2050 "would multiply the emissions benefits of electrification", it said. "Net zero pathways ... also require action on technologies like nuclear power, bioenergy, carbon capture and storage, and low-emissions fuels like hydrogen and its derivatives", the IEA said. The report will serve as the basis for discussions during a high-level energy transition dialogue later today on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It was produced at the request of the Turkish presidency of the UN Cop 31 climate summit and Australia, which is presiding over the climate negotiations. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Turkey lays out Cop 31 ‘action agenda’

21/09/26

Turkey lays out Cop 31 ‘action agenda’

Houston, 21 September (Argus) — The head of the upcoming Cop 31 climate summit in Turkey wants the talks to result in new actions to toward electrification, energy efficiency and waste reduction. Cop 31 president-designate Murat Kurum on Monday unveiled new details of Turkey's "action agenda" for the summit, which the country hopes will lead to "measurable, implementable and bankable actions" by Paris Climate Agreement signatories. "We are positioning Cop 31 as an implementation Cop", Kurum said during a UN event at the start of New York Climate Week. The agenda, which he previewed in April, calls for action in four main areas. At the top of the list is a goal of increasing electricity to reach 35pc of global final energy consumption by 2035. It also calls for slashing the projected increase in municipal waste generation by more than half, reducing the energy intensity in buildings by 25pc and increasing the use rate of circular materials to 15pc, all by 2035 as well. If sufficient action is taken across all four areas, they have the potential to reduce global emissions by 8.5bn-10bn metric tonnes, according to Kurum. "This is a very remarkable number", he said. One issue the agenda does not directly touch on is finance, a fact that officials from developing nationals raised following the announcement. The agenda and the Cop must lead to a "meaningful increase in financial resources, technology and technical assistance supporting development in developing countries" said Fitsum Assefa Adela, planning and development minister for Ethiopia, which will host Cop 32. Kurum said a goal of the Cop agenda is to provide developing countries with the opportunity to pursue "green industrialization". Turkey separately launched its Antalya Pledge on AI, with the goal of getting countries to take steps to ensure artificial intelligence is developed in sustainable way but that the technology can also support the development of clean energy. "We must openly discuss AI's growing energy consumption and it is time for governments to start setting the terms", Kurum said. "We expect companies to be transparent about their energy use and to power their operations with clean energy. " IEA tomorrow will launch new report on electrification, looking at how to achieve the 35pc by 2035 goal. It also plans to release future reports related to Turkey's goals for Cop 31. By Michael Ball Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Australia climate target achievable with renewables: PM

21/09/26

Australia climate target achievable with renewables: PM

Edinburgh, 21 September (Argus) — Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said today his country's "ambitious" climate target is "achievable" thanks to its "abundant renewable potential firmed by gas". Australia has committed to cut emissions by 62-70pc by 2035 compared with 2005 levels. "Electrification is the way to reduce emissions while maintaining economic growth," Albanese said at the opening of New York climate week, adding the country is backing global efforts for electrification. Australia will preside over official negotiations at the upcoming UN Cop 31 climate summit in Turkey. Cop 31 climate summit president-designate Murat Kurum, who will oversee the summit's action agenda, has proposed a target increasing global electricity's share of final energy demand to 35pc by 2035, from around 20pc today. The world remains off-track to meet the goal of tripling installed renewable capacity by 2030 set in 2023 at Cop 28 . Albanese said today that renewables accounted for half of Australia's electricity generation at the peak of last summer, compared with around a third four years ago. He said Australians have installed more than 500,000 home batteries in the past year and the country has enough wind and solar capacity to power 6mn households. The Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) recently lowered its near-term electricity supply risk assessment for eastern and southern Australia, as utility-scale storage and household battery capacity is growing. The pipeline of committed and anticipated projects in Australia has expanded to 40GW — more than half the National Electricity Market's (NEM) current total capacity, it said. And gas-fired power generation can play an important role in supporting reliability during extended periods of low wind and solar output, according to the operator. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

German Rhine water levels too low for barges this week

21/09/26

German Rhine water levels too low for barges this week

London, 21 September (Argus) — The Rhine River in Germany will be largely unnavigable for standard barges this week because of continued dry weather, shipowners said. The gauge at the critical bottleneck of Kaub measured 15cm on 21 September and is forecast to fall to around 6cm by 25 September, according to the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration. The lowest ever recorded is 5cm, in August. At these levels standard barges on the Upper Rhine, between Bingen and the Swiss border, will have to stop. Water levels at Duisburg, north of Kaub, are forecast to fall to 136cm this week, and at Cologne they are forecast to drop to 51cm. This will restrict loads to 400-500t for Duisburg and Lower Rhine destinations by the end of the week. Loading standard barges at Cologne will then be impossible, shipowners said. Loading restrictions comes as heating oil demand is rising in Germany, ahead of the colder winter months. Demand has risen nationwide since early September because of low consumer tank stocks, and traders expect further buying interest from early October. Barge freight rates are elevated, but yet to hit the levels seen in August. Shipowners said most Rhine destinations are already unable to receive standard barges without risks that operators will not take. Storage facilities on the Upper Rhine can be supplied only by a few specialised vessels. By Marc Hauschild Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

CDRs needed for 1.5°C, AI needs to 'come clean': UN

21/09/26

CDRs needed for 1.5°C, AI needs to 'come clean': UN

Edinburgh, 21 September (Argus) — Policies need to support investments in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, and "energy guzzling" AI firms need to "come clean" and start powering data centres with renewable energy, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) executive secretary Simon Stiell said today. He said CDR is needed in addition to phasing out fossil fuels as the world is on course to exceed the 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels temperature limit . But despite some isolated initial efforts, the world "is nowhere near ready to deliver", partly because of fears CDR would hand polluters a "free pass to continue business as usual", Steill said at the Industry Acceleration summit, during New York climate week. CDR technologies include direct air capture, biochar production and biomass carbon removal. "More policy leaders, investors and innovators need to start tackling this issue, supporting investment and innovation — while recognising that transitioning away from fossil fuels can never be circumvented," Stiell said. The UN Environment Programme (Unep) warned that CDR "can only contribute credibly to a return to below a 1.5°C [increase] within the 21st century if peak warming remains well below" the 2°C upper limit of the Paris Agreement goal. Stiell also said "tech titans" in the AI sector needed to show the benefit of the technology outweighs its "skyrocketing costs". "Energy guzzling AI is driving up planet-heating pollution from coal, oil and gas, while ratcheting up energy costs for households and businesses," he said. He called on AI firms to set and deliver credible climate targets, saying the industry needs to respect the science and urgently start aligning with global climate efforts. Stiell said they needed "coming clean about their energy and water use, and powering data-centres with renewable energy", reiterating a statement by UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. Stiell called on AI companies to do more to help with climate challenges, including grid efficiency and early warning systems, as well as addressing the obstacles faced by developing countries. He said it was time to double down on climate multilateralism, which he deemed "the bedrock of the world's progress so far". "UN-convened co-operation — and national efforts — have reduced the projected global temperature rise — from well over 4°C, to 2.6°C — undeniable progress but not enough to avoid catastrophe," he said. A central focus of Cop 31 in Turkey and Cop 32 in Ethiopia will be to "narrow the gap between pledges and action on the ground", he said. The Cop's Action Agenda "can also drive much needed real-world progress", he said citing Turkey's proposed target for electricity to reach 35pc of global energy use by 2035. He said the UNFCCC is committed to finding ways to help the international process to deliver more, including having country representatives co-ordinate across governments and the private sector. He said the UNFCCC is also looking into providing spaces to support action, including a closing plenary for the Action Agenda, alongside the negotiation closing plenaries. The Action Agenda took a larger role at the 2025 Cop 30 in Brazil, as negotiations on key topics such as mitigation — actions to cut emissions — and finance have stalled in official negotiations. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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