⛰️ Enviro Futures #25

Happy Monday 👋

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi introduced soil contamination regulations to enhance risk management and promote sound environmental practices. In China, the nation's largest tunnel boring machine was deployed for a critical water diversion project, addressing water scarcity in northern regions. A catalytic breakthrough now enables the recycling of non-recyclable plastics, advancing the circular economy. Meanwhile, 24% of freshwater species face extinction due to habitat loss and climate change. New York's Climate Superfund Law targets polluters, while the Netherlands invests $25.76M to advance cellular agriculture, driving sustainable food innovation. These developments highlight global efforts in environmental conservation and innovation.

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

🌎 EAD Issues Resolution on Soil Contamination Risk Management. The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) issued a resolution to regulate procedures for assessing and managing risks related to soil pollution and outlining corrective measures for sound environmental practices.

🌱 Germany Considers Meat Tax to Cut Emissions. Germany is considering implementing a carbon tax on meat and dairy products to reflect their environmental impact, which could reduce food emissions by 25% and generate $8.2B in annual revenue.

🥛 Global Butter Shortage Boosts Dairy Exports. The global butter shortage led to increased dairy exports as countries look to meet demand. The shortage is primarily driven by reduced production in major butter-exporting regions, prompting businesses to turn to alternative markets for supply.

🌊 Oceans and Water

⚒️ China's Massive Tunnel Boring Machine Tackles Ambitious Water Project. China deployed its largest dual-shield hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM), Jianghan Ping’an, for the Yangtze-to-Hanjiang Water Diversion Project. Spanning 10.3 miles of a 121-mile tunnel, this initiative is part of the South-to-North Water Diversion project to address water scarcity in northern China aiming to bring water to millions of people.

🌊 Saudi Arabia Takes Lead in Global Coral Reef Conservation. Saudi Arabia officially overtook the secretariat of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) for its 14th term, taking the lead in global coral reef conservation efforts.

🐚 Oyster Shell Recycling Supports Coastal Protection. Oyster shell recycling transforms waste into ecological resources by restoring reefs, protecting coastlines, and enhancing biodiversity. Initiatives like New York’s Living Breakwaters use discarded shells to create natural barriers, reducing erosion, mitigating storm impacts, and promoting sustainability within a circular economy framework.

♻️ Environmental Services

🌍 Catalytic Technology Transforms Plastic Waste Management. A pioneering organization developed a groundbreaking catalytic technology that can break down plastic waste into valuable chemical components, enabling the recycling of previously non-recyclable plastics and promoting a circular economy.

♻️ IKEA Invests $1B in Recycling for Circular Economy. Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, plans to invest $1B in recycling companies to mitigate waste from discarded IKEA products, particularly textiles, as part of a broader effort towards a circular economy aligned with EU environmental regulations.

🌱 Corn Next Introduces Breakthrough Biodegradable Solution for Plastic Pollution. Corn Next, a leader in sustainable innovations and biodegradable solutions, officially launched CornNext-17, a breakthrough sustainable solution to address plastic pollution.

🐟 Forestry and Fishing

🐟 Freshwater Species Facing Extinction Crisis. A study by IUCN revealed that 24% of freshwater species like fish, dragonflies, and crabs are at high risk of extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, and climate change. It calls for action to prevent further losses.

🧊 Climate Change Impacting Ice Fishing in Midwest. Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns linked to climate change disrupt ice fishing in the Midwest. Reduced ice thickness and shorter freezing seasons make traditional fishing spots less safe and accessible, impacting local communities and tourism-dependent economies.

💨 Air Quality

🌎 New York Passes Climate Superfund Law. New York passed the Climate Superfund Law, requiring companies that contributed significantly to climate pollution to pay for climate damages, joining a coalition of Northeastern states while addressing emissions and air quality impacts. The fossil fuel industry is opposing the law.

🌫️ Delhi's Air Pollution Levels Improve, Stage-III Measures Lifted. Delhi's air pollution levels dropped, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to withdraw Stage-III measures. This development reflects reduced particulate matter concentrations, but ongoing efforts remain vital for sustainable air quality management.

🛠️ 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.

⚡ $28M investment in Gigapark to boost UK green skills. The Coventry and Warwick Gigapark, a pivotal UK green energy hub, secured $28M from the West Midlands Combined Authority. This funding will enhance energy infrastructure to support battery manufacturing, creating up to 6,000 EV and energy storage jobs. Anchored by Greenpower Park, the site will drive innovation in electrification, clean energy, and battery technologies. Positioned as a global leader, it supports regional growth and the UK’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

🏢 1M1B launches Green Skills Academy for Andhra youth employment. The 1M1B Foundation, a UN-accredited nonprofit, has launched a Green Skills Academy in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with the the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA). Inaugurated by Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the academy aims to train youth in green and professional skills, including e-waste management, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. Digital skills such as AI, communication, and leadership are also offered to prepare participants for green jobs, fostering regional innovation and sustainability.

🏜️ Deloitte Middle East introduces transformative green skills training program. Deloitte Middle East, in collaboration with IEMA, has launched the “Green Skills for a Green Economy” program, offering foundational training in sustainability and green job competencies. Since its debut in the UAE, the program has trained over 350 participants, including students, entrepreneurs, and professionals. This initiative supports regional sustainability goals by empowering individuals with eco-conscious skills and fostering green career pathways. Aligned with Deloitte’s WorldClass and WorldClimate strategies, it addresses the global green skills gap, driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

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

🌱 Netherlands Invests $25.76M in Cellular Agriculture Facilities. The Netherlands government invested $25.76M to establish two facilities aimed at helping cellular agriculture and precision fermentation startups scale up their operations.

🐟 Regional Fish Secures $25.3M Series C for Climate-Resilient Aquaculture. Regional Fish, a pioneer in genome-edited aquaculture, raised $25.3 million 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 $23.18M in funding from the European Investment Bank to expand its technology for removing PFAS, a group of harmful chemicals.

💰 Funding and Valuation Updates in AgriFoodTech. The agriculture-focused data science company Fermata closed a $10M funding round to scale AI-based greenhouse solutions, while the vertical farming company Plenty faced a valuation cut. 

🏗️ Tangible Raises $3M to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Construction. Tangible, a construction decarbonization software startup, raised $3M to reduce embodied carbon emissions from building materials and construction processes.

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