⛰️ Enviro Futures #8

HolonIQ's environment futures coverage for the week ahead.

Our Climate Tech coverage has grown significantly, and due to popular demand, we're splitting it into weekly Energy Futures, Enviro Futures, Infra Futures, and Mobility Futures newsletters over the coming weeks.

This newsletter is 'Enviro Futures,' and you can update your subscriptions to any of the other weekly newsletters here.

Happy Monday 👋

EU farmers are calling on the European Union to expedite the disbursement of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies intended to encourage the transition to organic farming. The EU views organic agriculture as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, but France and other European nations are grappling with delays in these subsidy payments. Meanwhile, the Global Methane Budget 2024 highlights the significant contribution of human activities to global methane emissions, revealing a 20% increase in human-produced sources over the past two decades. In response to the EU's proposed deforestation law, Brazil has requested a delay in its implementation, citing potential disruptions to nearly one-third of its exports to the bloc. ADNOC, the UAE's national energy company, is acquiring Covestro, a German chemicals company, for about $15.9B.

🌱 Food Systems

💰 Delays in EU Subsidies for Organic Farming Transition. Producers are urging the European Union to address delays in the payment of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies for farms transitioning to organic cultivation. The EU considers organic an asset for sustainable agriculture, but countries like France are facing delays in receiving these subsidies.

🥩 Planted Expands Plant-Based Meat Production in Germany. Planted, a Swiss maker of meat analogs, is opening a new plant-based meat factory in Germany, Europe's largest market for vegan food.

🌱 US Lawmakers Push for Sustainable Fibre Industry Revival. A coalition of US lawmakers is urging the US Department of Agriculture to support the production and processing of sustainable fiber crops.

🌊 Oceans and Water

🌍 Nigeria seeks to tap into untapped ocean resources potential. The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyegaa Oyetola, said that Nigeria has vast ocean resources that are still largely unexplored. Oyetola disclosed this in a statement on the sideline of the planned global workshop on deep seabed billed for next week in Abuja. The minister stated that the government had considered the recent extension of Nigeria’s continental shelf.

⚓ EU-Tanzania blue economy partnership deepens. The Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is set to visit Tanzania this week, reflecting the EU’s ongoing commitment to deepening its collaboration with Tanzania in the fisheries and blue economy sectors.

♻️ Environmental Services

🌳 Groundbreaking Carbon Removal Financing Deal for UK Company. UNDO, a UK company focused on enhanced rock weathering for carbon removal, secured a first-of-its-kind debt financing deal and offtake agreement to help scale up its carbon removal activities.

🌏 Partnership to Boost DAC Projects in Africa. Great Carbon Valley and Yama have joined forces to accelerate the development of direct air capture projects in East Africa.

🌱 Alberta Invests in Waste-to-Energy Plant. The government of Alberta announced plans to invest $2M in a plant that will generate electricity from solid waste and capture CO2.

💨 Air Quality

😷 Alarming Rise in Human-Caused Methane Emissions. Researchers have found that two-thirds of global methane emissions now originate from human activities, with a 20% increase in human-produced methane sources over the past two decades despite efforts to reduce emissions.

🐟 Forestry and Fishing

🌳 Brazil Seeks Delay in EU Deforestation Law Implementation. Brazil has requested the European Union to postpone the implementation of its deforestation law and revise it to avoid negative impacts on Brazilian exports.

⛰️ SCDNR Acquires Over 10,000 Acres for Conservation and Recreation. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) acquired 10,570 acres of land in the Lowcountry region to protect critical plant and animal habitats and expand public recreation areas.

🌱 Cambodia Aims to Boost Reforestation Efforts. Cambodia's environment minister, Eang Sophalleth, stated his intention to plant more trees than are being cut down by loggers, to improve the country's environmental record.

👗 Textiles

🧵 Uzbekistan Hosts Textile Industry Gathering. Uzbekistan hosted a major event for the textile industry, bringing together key players and stakeholders in this sector. A global boycott of cotton from Uzbekistan – the world’s sixth-largest cotton producer – was lifted in 2022 after the Cotton Campaign coalition concluded that government-imposed forced labor had been eradicated.

👕 Sustainability Partnership in the Garment Industry. Cascale and BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) formed a partnership to drive sustainability and promote environmentally and socially responsible practices in the garment supply chain.

💰 Environment Deals

💰 ADNOC to Acquire Covestro in $15.9B Deal. ADNOC, the UAE's national energy company, is acquiring Covestro, a German chemicals company, for about $15.9B. Covestro had previously disclosed that it was in advanced talks with ADNOC after receiving an improved takeover bid.

🗑️ Private Equity Firm Acquires Environmental Services Company. Coalesce Capital, a private equity firm, acquired Miller Environmental Group, a leading environmental services and waste processing company.

🌳 Groundbreaking Carbon Removal Financing Deal for UK Company. UNDO, a UK company focused on enhanced rock weathering for carbon removal, secured a first-of-its-kind debt financing deal and offtake agreement to help scale up its carbon removal activities.

♻️ Battery Recycling Startup Doubles Seed Funding Round. Renewable Metals, a battery recycling startup, raised an additional $8.1M in its Seed funding round, doubling the total to $16.1M. The company aims to use the funds for expansion in the UK and scaling up its Australian operations.

🌱 SOLASTA Bio Raises $14M in Series A for Green Insecticides. SOLASTA Bio, an agri-biotech company focused on developing next-generation green insecticides, secured $14M in an oversubscribed Series A funding round.

💰 UK Plant-Based Ingredients Maker Secures £9M Investment. Plant-Ex Ingredients, a UK company producing natural plant-derived flavors, colors, and extracts, secured $11M in funding from the investment firm BGF to drive international expansion.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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