⛰️ Enviro Futures #24

Happy Monday 👋

China advances agricultural biotechnology by approving genetically modified crops to enhance yields and strengthen food security. In Finland, the government bans the privatization of its water supply over security concerns, citing risks to the nation's water infrastructure. CARBIOS innovates with a polyester recycling technology that can create reusable materials from waste, promoting circular economy practices. Scottish whisky distilleries adopt a sustainable Omega-3 alternative, helping prevent overfishing. Meanwhile, the EPA delays ozone standard updates, leaving public health risks unchanged. Stacked Farms secures $150M for its automated vertical farming project, using AI to grow pesticide-free crops.

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

🌾 China Advances Agricultural Biotechnology Leadership. China approved five gene-edited crop varieties and 12 genetically modified soybean, corn, and cotton varieties to enhance yields and reduce pest impact. The country utilizes 31 experimental zones and extensive field trials to bolster food security and mitigate agricultural imports. These measures aim to establish China as a global leader in sustainable farming innovation.

🐄 Genetically Modified Calf to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Scientists have created a genetically modified calf that produces less methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This breakthrough could significantly reduce emissions from the UK dairy industry, potentially improving its environmental footprint.

🌳 KIND Launches Regenerative Almond Project in California. KIND introduced a regenerative almond-growing initiative in California, aimed at improving sustainable farming practices. This project seeks to combat climate change by enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and water management in almond cultivation, aligning agricultural practices with environmental stewardship.

🌊 Oceans and Water

🚰 Finland Bans Private Water Supply Over Security Concerns. Finland decided to ban the privatization of its water supply on security grounds, citing concerns over potential risks to the nation's water infrastructure.

🌱 Freshwater Canal Disputes in Bangladesh Harm Local Communities. In Bangladesh, conflicts over freshwater canals are negatively impacting local communities. The disputes, primarily over canal grabbing, threaten water availability for agriculture and daily consumption, exacerbating socioeconomic issues for those dependent on these water sources.

🐬 Massive oil spill kills marine mammals in Russia. An oil tanker spill in Russia has resulted in the death of over 50 marine mammals, including dolphins and whales, highlighting severe environmental damage, and drawing attention to marine ecosystem vulnerabilities in the region. 

♻️ Environmental Services

♻️ CARBIOS Develops Breakthrough Polyester Recycling Technology. CARBIOS, a French company, developed a breakthrough technology that uses enzymes to break down polyester into its basic building blocks, which can then be reformed into virgin-like material that can be recycled up to 10 times, according to Emmanuel Ladent, the company's CEO.

🌍 Carbon Vanish Unveils Rapid CO2 Removal Method. Carbon Vanish introduced a novel technology for accelerated carbon dioxide removal. The system leverages advanced materials and optimized chemical processes to efficiently capture and store CO2, addressing scalability and cost barriers. This innovation aims to enhance global carbon removal efforts and contribute to achieving net-zero emissions.

🌍 Indonesia Introduces CCS Regulations. The Indonesian government issued regulations to govern the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, aimed at promoting growth in the industry. The framework outlines requirements for implementation, monitoring, and accountability, fostering investment and innovation in CCS projects.

🐟 Forestry and Fishing

🐟 Scottish Whisky Distilleries Help Prevent Overfishing. A Scottish entrepreneur developed a sustainable Omega-3 alternative, now adopted by whisky distilleries. This innovation helps reduce reliance on fish-derived Omega-3, supporting global efforts to prevent overfishing while gaining international recognition.

🐟 Centre Invests in Northeast Fisheries Development. The Indian government is investing 5.8M to promote self-sustained fisheries in the Northeast region under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana scheme. The initiative aims to boost local fish production, enhance livelihoods, and improve the region's aquaculture infrastructure.

💨 Air Quality

🌍 EPA Delays Updating Ozone Standards. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a 2030 completion date for reviewing ozone standards, meaning the current 70 parts per billion (ppb) limit will remain unchanged despite expert opinions that it is inadequate for protecting public health. 

😷 Bangkok Faces Hazardous Air Pollution. Bangkok experienced hazardous levels of air pollution on January 7 across all districts, with the Air Quality Index exceeding safe thresholds). Authorities are urging citizens to take precautions, especially vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. 

🌎 Environmental Group Sues EPA Over Air Quality Standards. The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), accusing it of failing to implement air quality standards that protect endangered species from the harmful effects of pollutants. The suit argues that inadequate regulation of air pollutants could drive species to extinction.

🛠️ 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.

🧑‍🔧 Suzlon and Andhra Pradesh Launch Green Skill Development Initiative. Suzlon Group and Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) have partnered to establish India’s largest skill development program. This initiative will train 12,000 individuals, including 3,000 women, in renewable energy skills over four years. Focus areas include wind power manufacturing and operations. The program also introduces a structured curriculum for engineering institutions and global content integration, aiming to bridge the renewable energy skill gap and foster a future-ready workforce.

💡 Argonne Hosts Global Women Energy Leaders Training Program. Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with the DOE’s Net Zero World Initiative, hosted the Climate Smart Women Energy Leaders (CSWEL) program, training 12 women leaders from partner countries in sustainable energy. The program featured technical sessions on advanced technologies, leadership workshops, and faculty tours, equipping participants to advance energy solutions tailored to their nations. Emphasizing collaboration and capacity building, CSWEL fosters a global network of women leaders poised to drive sustainable energy innovation and policy implementation worldwide.

⚡ DOE Expands Workforce Development with Spring 2025 Internship Programs. The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced that 164 undergraduate students and six faculty members will engage in workforce development programs at 11 national labs and a fusion facility this spring. Participants will gain hands-on research experience through the SULI, CCI, and VFP initiatives, fostering careers in science and technology. Notably, 29% of students and 50% of faculty represent Minority Serving Institutions.

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

🌱 Stacked Farms Gets $150M for Automated Vertical Farming. Stacked Farm Solutions, a vertical farming startup backed by investors, secured $150M to build an automated 12-story facility in Queensland to grow pesticide-free vegetables using robotics and AI.

💰 Inari Raises $144M for Long-Term Growth. Inari, a SEEDesign company, announced the completion of a $144M fundraising round led by Flagship Pioneering's Federated Nutrition Opportunity Fund and existing investors to fuel its growth and technology development.

🐟 Regional Fish Secures $25.3M Series C for Climate-Resilient Aquaculture. Regional Fish, a pioneer in genome-edited aquaculture, raised $25.3M in Series C funding to develop climate-resilient aquaculture species and enhance production.

🌱 Swedish Cleantech Startup Secures EU Funding for PFAS Removal Tech. Chromafora, a Swedish environmental technology company, received $23.4M in funding from the European Investment Bank to expand its technology for removing PFAS, a group of harmful chemicals.

🌱 Fermata Raises $10M Series A for Plant Disease Detection. Fermata, an agricultural robotics company, raised a $10m Series A funding round to advance its automation technology. The company aims to develop intelligent systems to revolutionize agriculture by enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.

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