According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) sustainable development scenario, energy efficiency represents more than 40 % of emission reductions needed by 2040 ¹ . The IEA says: “Energy efficiency is 'the first fuel': mastering the scale of this unprecedented challenge, supporting net-zero energy targets at lower costs and delivering a wide range of benefits for society. Furthermore, "According to the IEA Efficient World Scenario, currently existing cost-effective technologies are sufficient to double global energy efficiency by 2040". Heat exchangers are just such an existing, cost-effective technology. Technologically proven for over a century, developments in materials and design mean that many types of heat exchangers, such as those using corrugated tubes and energy recovery, are now more energy efficient than ever before. The greatest efficiency benefits of heat exchangers arise when they facilitate the reuse of as much of the heat energy generated or used during a process (such as heating, cooling, pasteurization, evaporation, etc.) as possible. More efficient heat distribution in production facilities is considered a key factor in improving efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in industries including chemical refining, water treatment and manufacturing. (Matt Hale)

Global X bolstered its lineup of exchange-traded funds on Thursday with the addition of the Global X Carbon Credits Strategy ETF ( NYSEARCA: NTRL ). NTRL's objective is to provide investors with access to carbon futures in various geographic regions to limit emissions in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement. NTRL takes long positions in futures contracts that involve the physical delivery of emission allowances issued under cap and trade regimes. Global X highlighted that global expectations of tighter emission limits have led to demand for carbon quotas around the world. The ETF issuer noted that between 2018 and 2022, the total value of regulated carbon markets more than quadrupled, from $186 billion to $856 billion. "Pressure to meet emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement is intensifying and regulators around the world are seeking to tighten emission caps, potentially increasing the scarcity and price of carbon allowances," said Pedro Palandrani, director of research at Global X ETF. Additionally, NTRL comes with a 0.39% expense ratio. NTRL will also find itself trading alongside other ETFs focused on carbon credits, such as the KraneShares Global Carbon Strategy ETF ( FIREPLACE ), KraneShares California Carbon Allowance Strategy ETF ( KCCA ) and KraneShares Global Carbon Offset Strategy ETF ( KSET ).

The company said that through machine learning and full integration with various third-party software providers, the tool automatically calculates the carbon footprint of print and packaging products, which is then communicated to the customer through quotes or press releases. CarbonQuota co-founder Dominic Harris said: “CarbonQuota Essentials has changed the carbon footprint industry due to its short implementation period and ability to create footprints that are consistent and exceed international standards virtually instantly. "As well as future-proofing the environmental reporting of the printing and packaging sector, this product ensures compliance with all current and future UK, EU and international regulations." CarbonQuota Partner Channel Manager Freddie Ward for Printweek said: “The CarbonQuota Essentials calculator is designed to be as easy to use as possible. Because we are integrated with software providers, we use high-quality user-entered data that already resides within these platforms. “This means that no additional steps are required to obtain high-quality carbon footprints from the end user. “What's more, the user manuals supplied with the module mean that all end users are equipped to fully understand their carbon footprint values and talk about carbon with confidence. "The benefit of the product is to provide customers with accurate carbon footprints, enable them to make green decisions about which products to use and provide them with an added value USP for their business." (Richard Stuart-Turner)

Photocatalysis using light-emitting diodes could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by industrial chemical processes. Already as a teenager, Chern-Hooi Lim was worried about the consequences that climate change would have on his generation. Now armed with a doctorate in chemical engineering, Lim leads New Iridium, a company in Boulder, Colorado that hopes to harness the power of light to remove a significant portion of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from chemical manufacturing processes—and even some of it into useful products. (Neil Savage)

Marine heat waves (MHWs) are long-lasting extremely warm water phenomena in the ocean that have a devastating effect on marine ecosystems. A comprehensive knowledge of the physical processes governing the life cycles of MHWs is crucial for improving the forecasting capacity of MHWs, but is still lacking. Here, we use a historical simulation from an eddy-resolved global climate model with improved MHW representation and show that heat flux convergence by oceanic mesoscale eddies acts as the dominant driver of MHW life cycles in most parts of the global ocean. In particular, mesoscale eddies contribute significantly to the growth and decay of MHWs, whose characteristic spatial scale is comparable or even larger than that of mesoscale eddies. The effect of mesoscale eddies is spatially heterogeneous, increasingly dominant in the western boundary currents and their extensions, in the Southern Ocean, as well as in the eastern boundary upwelling systems. This study reveals the key role of mesoscale eddies in driving global MHW life cycles and highlights that using ocean models to resolve eddies is necessary, although not necessarily entirely sufficient, for accurate MHW predictions. Marine heat waves (MHWs) are extremely warm water phenomena in the ocean. They cause serious environmental and socio-economic impacts, including loss of biodiversity, reductions in catch rates, damage to aquaculture, as well as changes in species behaviour. Satellite observations have revealed significant increases in the frequency, duration, and intensity of MHWs over the past few decades in most parts of the global ocean, primarily due to gradual sea surface warming caused by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. (Ce Bian, Zhao Jing, Hong Wang, Lixin Wu, Zhaouhi Chen, BOlan Gan, Haiyuan Yang, Nature Communications)

All of India, is not enough evidence, a new study suggests a dangerous possibility. Climate change could cause huge tsunamis in the Southern Ocean by triggering underwater landslides in Antarctica, a new study says. Scientists drilled into sediment cores beneath the sea floor and found that during previous climate changes (between 3 million and 15 million years ago), loose layers of sediment built up, which then triggered huge tsunamis that swept toward South America, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. How climate change can trigger tsunamis According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications On May 18, warming oceans caused by climate change could again cause similar tsunamis. "Undersea landslides are a major geohazard with the potential to trigger tsunamis that can lead to massive loss of life," she said in statement by Jenny Gales from the University of Plymouth in Great Britain. "Our findings highlight how urgently we need to improve our understanding of how global climate change may affect the stability of these regions and the potential for future tsunamis."

(Bharat Sharma)

The solution proposed by the gas companies is "business as usual" Since THE COMMONWEALTH is moving forward with its ambitious mandate to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it is imperative that we have  real  plan for implementation the real one  solutions. Failure to adopt a concrete plan means, at best, gradual, uncoordinated and ineffective action. At worst, it could mean major disruption and damage to workers and ratepayers. A full 27 percent of the state's emissions come from buildings, mostly from burning gas for heating, cooking and hot water, meaning any plan to significantly reduce emissions must address the construction sector. Climate-damaging emissions are not the only problem caused by the use of gas in buildings. It is unhealthy - when it is burned, harmful pollutants and carcinogens are released into the air inside and outside the home. It's not safe—explosions caused by old, deteriorating gas lines have caused several recent tragedies in Massachusetts and elsewhere. It's getting more expensive—not just in the bills ratepayers now have to pay for expensive gas, but also in the fees we'll have to pay (billions of dollars, I mean) for pipeline replacements that are already scheduled for the distant future. The global consensus is that we must stop using the gas quickly to avert catastrophic warming. But knowing we need to disconnect two million Commonwealth households from gas and figuring out how to do it are radically different beings. (Cynthia Creem, Jennifer Armini, Steven Owens, CommonWealth)

Without global awareness, Europe's transition to a "net zero" will be a zero-sum game. What have you done for the planet today? Did you turn off the lights or turn down the heat? Did you pay a bit more for carbon neutral eggs and look for vegetables in season? Have you given up meat this week or forever? For many Europeans concerned about sustainability – around 93 percent according to recent figures – such questions are a constant and disturbing presence. Ninety-six percent may have taken at least one action to combat climate change, but there's still a lingering sense of guilt about not doing enough—of over-indulging, of momentarily forgetting about the looming dangers of the air. The basic framework for global climate action is the nationally declared contributions that UN member states submit every five years to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Climate Action Tracker ranks their ambitions - from "critically inadequate" by Turkey, Iran, Thailand, Mexico and others to "nearly adequate" efforts by Nepal, Norway, Ethiopia and the UK. The member states of the European Union fall somewhere in the middle and as a whole are only considered "inadequate". Nevertheless, the continent's leaders inform us that we are on the right track. The European Commission declares the European Green Deal will mean "no net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050", with "economic growth decoupled from resource use" and "no person and no place left behind". The EU has achieved its goal of reducing emissions by 20 percent between 1990 and 2020, reversing more than half a century of increases. So it might seem that the promises are being fulfilled and we can feel less anxious. But that's not the whole story. (Laurie Parsonová, Social Europe)

What is carbon leakage? How will the new policy affect trade between India and the EU? Story so far: On May 10, co-legislators in the European Commission signed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It was described as an "indicative tool" to set "a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU and to promote cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries". The reporting system under the regulation would apply from 1 October for certain goods to facilitate smooth implementation and dialogue with third countries. Importers would start paying the financial levy from 2026. Its main objective is to prevent "carbon leakage". It refers to the phenomenon when a producer in the EU moves carbon-intensive production to countries outside the region with less strict climate policies. In other words, to replace products produced in the EU with imports with a higher carbon content. (Saptaparno Ghosh, The Hindu)

The EVP for the European Green Deal will organize bilateral meetings with the Minister of the Environment Union Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh, Minister for Coal Prahlad Joshi and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hrdeep Singh Puri. New Delhi: European Commission Chief Climate Officer Frans Timmermans will arrive in India on Thursday on a two-day key diplomatic mission to discuss the latest developments at the national level on emissions reduction and clean energy transition. Environmental protection and the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai later this year will also be included. According to a statement by the Delegation of the European Union to India, the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal will hold bilateral meetings with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh, Coal Minister Prahlad Joshi and Petroleum and Renewable Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri . The aim of these meetings is to promote cooperation and explore potential avenues of cooperation between the EU and India in addressing pressing climate challenges. (EnergyWorld)

Industry produces 23 % of US greenhouse gas emissions, making cleaning up businesses a key part of the fight against climate change. Evaluating such efforts is complex and daunting, requiring deep dives into multiple, sometimes conflicting, metrics. Even how companies should measure their carbon footprint is a work in progress.

To help cut through the confusion that companies have cut their greenhouse gas emissions, market research firm Statista has compiled USA TODAY's inaugural list of America's Climate Leaders. It's a data-driven recognition of companies that have reduced their carbon footprint in recent years, a remarkable achievement for investors, customers and anyone trying to understand these ever-evolving measures. "The business sector is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions. That makes them a prime point of potential improvement,” said Magali Delmas, professor of management and faculty director of the Center for Impact at UCLA. (Elizabeth Weiseová)

Practically every country in the world has set a goal to reduce emissions within of the Paris Agreement . As part of their climate treaty obligations, they have also pledged to report regularly on their efforts. In the race to reduce fossil fuel consumption and preserve a carbon-rich country, it is imperative that governments understand the greenhouse gas flows that fall under their jurisdiction.  Without reliable reports, it will not be possible to know whether states are fulfilling their obligations under the Paris Agreement. Currently, many developing countries have limited emissions reporting capacity, despite efforts to build such capacity over two decades. The treaty therefore reaffirms the importance of providing developing countries – especially smaller and lower-income nations – with the money and technical support they need to accurately report their emissions. (DR CHISA UMEMIYA)

Campaigners have hit out at the UK government over its assessment of a looming free trade deal with Australia, which critics say ignored the full climate impact of meat farming and consumption. Activists from the NGO Feedback launched a formal legal challenge against the UK government, arguing that it risked breaching its international climate commitments by failing to properly assess the deal's environmental impacts. The UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement which takes effect at the end of the month, giving Australian producers better access to the UK market to sell beef, lamb and dairy products.

(Isabella Kaminski)

By replacing energy-intensive building materials and sequestering carbon in the atmosphere, building with sustainable wood could save more than 100 Gt CO₂ by the end of the century – but there's a catch. Vflow of buildings and construction it's still going in the wrong direction on climate. Despite the boom in investments in increasing energy efficiency and lower energy intensity, emissions and energy consumption from buildings and construction rebounded from the pandemic levels to an all-time high. According to the latest assessment the sector accounts for 34 % of energy demand and 37 % of CO₂ emissions related to energy and processes. Energy-related operational emissions reached ten gigatonnes (Gt) of CO₂ equivalent in 2021 – 5 % from 2020 levels and 2 % from the pre-pandemic peak in 2019. Similarly, demand for operational energy for heating, cooling, lighting and equipment increased in buildings by 4 % from 2020 and 3 % from 2019. Decarbonisation of the sector is a priority if there is to be a chance of limiting global warming to even 2°C to avoid the most cataclysmic impacts of climate change. The industry desperately needs to further improve the energy performance of buildings, reduce the carbon footprint of building materials, multiply political commitments alongside actions and increase investment in energy efficiency. (Oliver Goron, Energy Monitor)

A new study published in Geology concluded that an extinct volcano off the coast of Portugal could store up to 1.2 to 8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of about 24 to 125 years of the country's industrial emissions. For context, in 2022, 42.6 megatons (0.0426 gigatons) of carbon dioxide were removed from the atmosphere by international carbon capture and storage efforts, according to the Global CCS Institute. A new study suggests that carbon capture and storage in submarine volcanoes at sea could be a promising new direction for removing and storing much larger volumes of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. "We know that most countries, including Portugal, are making efforts to decarbonize the economy and our human activities, it's news that this can be one of the tools to solve the problem," says Ricardo Pereira, a geologist at the NOVA School of Science and Technology and co-author studies. The deposition of carbon dioxide in an extinct volcano would relied on a process known as “in situ mineral carbonization'. In this process, carbon dioxide reacts with elements in certain types of rocks to form new minerals that store carbon dioxide safely and permanently. Elements such as calcium, magnesium and iron combine with carbon dioxide to form the minerals calcite, dolomite and magnesite. Rocks that contain large amounts of calcium, iron and magnesium are ideal candidates for this process – such as the volcanic basalts that make up most of the sea floor. Scientists knew this and focused on a coastal volcano for several reasons – the structure of the volcano could provide an ideal architecture for carbon injection and storage, the rocks are the right type for the reactions involved, and the location is not too close to a large population, but not too far either. (Laura Fattaruso, Geological Society of America, PHYSORG)

America's Climate Leaders list, according to USA TODAY and Statista, recognizes companies' efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pindustry produces 23 % of US greenhouse gas emissions, making cleaning up businesses a key part of the fight against climate change. Evaluating such efforts is complex and daunting, requiring deep dives into multiple, sometimes conflicting, metrics. Even how companies should measure their carbon footprint is a work in progress. To help cut through the confusion that companies have cut their greenhouse gas emissions, market research firm Statista has compiled USA TODAY's inaugural list of America's Climate Leaders. It's a data-driven recognition of companies that have reduced their carbon footprint in recent years, a remarkable achievement for investors, customers and anyone trying to understand these ever-evolving measures. "The business sector is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions. That makes them a prime point of potential improvement,” said Magali Delmas, professor of management and faculty director of the Center for Impact at UCLA. After months of investigation and data crunching, the original lineup of 2,000 U.S.-based companies was narrowed down to 400 U.S. companies to reduce their emissions intensity between 2019 and 2021. The ranking uses multiple indicators to get a picture of how good a job is society is doing well in this part of the climate solution. The rating gives consumers and investors a sense of a company's trajectory along an increasingly important metric of success. While emissions reductions may not immediately affect profitability, such measures will become more important in the long term as governments, including the United States, begin to require entities to contribute to reducing global warming or at least report their exposure to its threats. (Elžbeta Weiseová, USA TODAY)

"Winter is coming!" warned the Stark family in Game of Thrones, and with it came a time of famine and despair. While the realm of Westeros may be a fantasy, the threat of drought and its devastating effects are all too real in many parts of the world. Changing climate patterns around the world are leaving many communities desiccated and struggling for survival. But it's not just drought we have to worry about, as some areas experience heavier rainfall and increased flooding, climate change threatens our understanding of water and security. Natural disasters follow each other. As the planet's temperature rises, more water from the oceans evaporates into the atmosphere, leading to more precipitation for most of the world. However, as the atmosphere warms, so does its ability to hold moisture for longer, leading to longer dry spells and more intense rain. Such intense rainfall poses a great risk to our current infrastructure, which has been designed to handle certain volumes of rainfall without causing major flooding or landslides. However, a prolonged drought caused by a prolonged period of low rainfall is a risk to life itself. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted that heat waves and droughts will become more frequent and severe in many regions in the coming decades, with devastating effects on agriculture, ecosystems and human populations. In fact, climate change is already having a significant impact on droughts around the world. Rising temperatures led to increased evaporation, which in turn reduced soil moisture levels, making it more difficult to grow crops. (YeniSafak)

Kľúčové základné sektory, ktoré vyrábajú železo, oceľový cement, sklo a základné chemikálie, nedostali politické nástroje potrebné na uskutočnenie hlbokých obmedzení dekarbonizácie, varuje nový výskum, ktorý tvrdí, že Spojené kráľovstvo zaostáva za ostatnými krajinami v odomykaní životne dôležitých riešení zelených technológií. Nový brífingový dokument Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) skúmal snahy o dekarbonizáciu kľúčových „základných“ odvetví. Dekarbonizácia týchto priemyselných odvetví je nevyhnutná na to, aby umožnila ostatným odvetviam znížiť zahrnuté a vnorené emisie z kľúčových materiálov, akými sú železo, oceľ, cement, sklo a základné chemikálie. Výskum CISL však zistil, že súčasné politiky, ako napríklad britský systém obchodovania s emisiami, „nestačia na to, aby podporili hlbokú dekarbonizáciu“. Výskum vyzýva vládu Spojeného kráľovstva, aby prilákala „dlhodobé investície a nové technológie“, ktoré pomôžu dosiahnuť hlbokú úroveň dekarbonizácie a nasmerovať kľúčové priemyselné sektory na dosiahnutie nulových čistých emisií do roku 2050. Beverley Cornaby, riaditeľka CISL pre spoluprácu v oblasti politiky a zmeny systémov, uviedla, že výskum naznačuje, že Spojené kráľovstvo zaostáva za EÚ a USA a potrebuje zintenzívniť mobilizáciu finančnej podpory a dopytu po nových technológiách. (edie)