⛰️ Enviro Futures #22

Happy Monday 👋

The latest global developments highlight urgent climate and environmental challenges. COP16 on desertification ended without a binding agreement on drought, emphasizing the need for unified action. Antarctic sea ice decline raises concerns over intensified storms and climate impacts. The ICJ's landmark climate case could hold industrialized nations accountable for climate disruption, with a ruling expected in 2025. The Climate Trust secured $7M for forest conservation projects, while Delhi's GRAP-IV plan combats rising pollution. A $45M initiative aims to eliminate toxic chemicals from fashion supply chains, and Rebel Foods raised $210M in Series G funding for growth.

What's new?

HolonIQ’s new Green Skills Map and Workforce section reveal industry-wide sustainability skills and jobs, as well as workforce development initiatives, supporting upskilling for a sustainable economy.

HolonIQ's new skills newsletter is here! Get updates on emerging skills, workforce shifts, and industry insights across impact sectors. Subscribe now to stay ahead.

🌱 Food Systems

🌍 COP16 on Desertification Ends Without Binding Agreement on Drought Response. COP16 on desertification concluded without a binding agreement on addressing drought. While discussions focused on land and soil management to combat desertification, no concrete commitments were made, reflecting global divisions on resource allocation and strategies, and highlighting the ongoing need for unified action to protect land resources in the face of climate change.

🌾 Historically Poor UK Harvest in 2024. Defra confirms that 2024 marked one of the worst years for UK crop production since modern records began in 1984, with wheat, barley, oats, and oilseed rape yields among the lowest recorded. Extreme weather and climate challenges contributed significantly to the decline, raising concerns over food security and the resilience of the agricultural sector.

🌲 Climate Change Impacting Christmas Tree Farming. Climate change challenges Christmas tree farming, prompting shifts toward smart farming solutions. Farmers explore genetic adaptations, adopt heat-resistant tree varieties, improved irrigation, and sustainable practices to maintain production amid rising temperatures and extreme weather.

🌊 Oceans and Water

🌊 Antarctic Sea Ice Decline Worsening Storms. Antarctic sea ice continues to shrink at record-breaking rates, raising concerns about worsening storms and accelerating global climate impacts. Scientists emphasize the growing vulnerability of ecosystems and human systems as the changes disrupt weather patterns and amplify sea-level rise.

💧 NUS researchers develop advanced aerogels for autonomous atmospheric water harvesting. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) developed novel aerogel materials that can autonomously harvest water from the air. The aerogels absorb moisture from the air and release it as water when exposed to sunlight, allowing for atmospheric water harvesting to address global water scarcity.

🌍 Perca develops eco-friendly wastewater treatment using earthworms. Perca developed an innovative wastewater treatment system that utilizes earthworms and microbial processes for water regeneration,  enhancing eco-friendly practices for water management.

♻️ Environmental Services

🌍 Landmark ICJ Climate Case Hearing Concludes, Opinion Expected in 2025. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded hearings for its landmark climate change case, which could hold major industrialized nations accountable for their role in climate disruption. The case is the first of its kind, with an opinion expected in 2025.

🌳 44 Organizations Call for Carbon Removal in EU Clean Industrial Deal. An open letter by 44 organizations urges the inclusion of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal. The signatories emphasize that integrating CDR technologies is critical for achieving net-zero goals and addressing industrial emissions effectively. This call aims to drive policy alignment on decarbonization and innovation across the EU.

🌍 ESA EO Africa Facility Announces 10 New African-European Earth Observation Research Projects. The ESA EO Africa Facility launched 10 collaborative Earth observation research projects involving African and European teams. These initiatives focus on leveraging IoT and advanced Earth observation technologies to address challenges in agriculture, water resource management, and climate resilience across Africa.

🐟 Forestry and Fishing

🌳 The Climate Trust Receives $7M in U.S. Forest Service Grants. The Climate Trust received two grants totaling $7M from the U.S. Forest Service to support forest conservation and carbon sequestration projects. The funding will aid in forest restoration efforts and enhance climate resilience in vulnerable regions.

🐟 US Updates Aquaculture Strategy After Four Decades. The National Science and Technology Council described a new document as the first comprehensive framework for U.S. aquaculture since the early 1980s. The new approach includes enhancing domestic aquaculture technology, improving supply chain management, and focusing on environmental sustainability, as well as outlining plans to support infrastructure development and expand the aquaculture workforce.

🐟 ESA Continues Protections for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead. The European Space Agency (ESA) announced that protections will continue for Pacific salmon and steelhead after five-year reviews found some recovery progress but 'many challenges' ahead for the species.

💨 Air Quality

😷 Delhi's Air Quality Crisis: GRAP-IV Implemented Amid Rising Pollution Levels. Delhi's GRAP IV (Graded Response Action Plan) was activated across the NCR region due to rising air pollution levels. The plan includes measures such as restrictions on construction, truck entry, and the closure of schools to address the deteriorating air quality.

🌫️ Punjab Province Unveils Smog Mitigation Plan, Experts Skeptical. The government of Punjab province in Pakistan launched an ambitious plan to address smog issues, targeting industrial emissions, stubble burning, and vehicle pollution. However, experts have raised doubts about its long-term effectiveness and implementation challenges.

👔 Textiles

🌍 Eight nations unite to transform fashion supply chains for sustainability. Eight countries launched a six-year initiative with a $45M budget to eliminate toxic chemicals from fashion supply chains. The project aims to promote sustainability and reduce environmental harm in the global apparel industry.

🌱 Lululemon-backed startup aims to remove fossil fuels from fashion. Samsara Eco developed a groundbreaking process using enzymes and AI to enable the infinite recycling of Nylon 6. This innovation addresses key sustainability challenges in the textiles sector, aiming to reduce waste and promote circularity in apparel manufacturing.

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

HolonIQ is now tracking reskilling and upskilling initiatives that are critical in bridging workforce gaps. Impact industries are rapidly evolving, fueled by technological advancements, decarbonization, geopolitical dynamics, and socio-economic factors. These sectors require considerable workforce/professional development initiatives to enhance workers' capabilities, boost economic growth, and promote social well-being. Read on for this week’s insights, and discover more in HolonIQ's latest Skills newsletter.

🚗 The Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) has received nearly $1 million in funding for its Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE). The grant, part of the K12 Strong Workforce Program, will help community colleges expand career technical education and workforce training, preparing students for high-wage employment in sustainable industries such as EV technology and clean diesel technologies.

🛠️ Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vishwakarma Institutes and University. This initiative aims to advance concept development, skill-based training, and education. The partnership will provide hands-on training, practical exposure, and real-world experience, while VI&U will adapt its curriculum to meet industry needs.

💰 The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments have allocated $50 million to launch the Melbourne Polytechnic Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence. This center will focus on advanced construction training and Modern Methods of Construction, aiming to enhance workforce productivity and serve as a hub for applied research in the sector.

HolonIQ has launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated for cataloging, evaluating, and contextualizing the different components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

💰 Environment Deals

💰 Rebel Foods Raises $210M in Series G Funding Round. Rebel Foods, a Mumbai-based foodtech firm, raised $210M in a Series G funding round led by Temasek, comprising a mix of primary and secondary share sales.

🌱 Marcegaglia secures $105.2M from EIB for green investments. Marcegaglia, an Italian steel company, raised $105.2M from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support its $176.5M investment plan aimed at decarbonization and innovation.

🌳 Climate Company Terradot Raises $58.2M in Funding. Terradot raised $58M in a Series A funding round to expand its carbon market solutions and enhance environmental data capabilities. The funds will support scaling its platform for carbon credit trading and sustainability initiatives across industries.

💻 Swiss Startup Artem Receives $1.6M Seed Funding for CBAM Compliance Software. The Swiss B2B startup Artem received $1.6M in seed funding for its compliance software with an integrated hardware device to help companies ensure compliance with the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

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