Daily Climate News - March 22
Biodiversity; carbon taxes; transmission planning in EU;
Clean Energy Economics - Polysilicon prices may decrease further
The Global Polysilicon Marker, a benchmark for prices outside China, is unchanged from the previous week at $23.813/kg this week. However, prices in China are down by 1.5% from previous week, at CNY60.33($8.34)/kg. Some manufacturers are trying to clear existing inventory at prices as low as CNY55-58/kg.
Biodiversity
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity has published a list of 13 areas - 3 each in Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe and 1 in Oceania - that will serve as regional support centres for technical and scientific cooperation in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Carbon Pulse | CBD Report
The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia, is experiencing its 5th major mass bleaching event - a major environmental threat attributed to rising global temperatures - in 8 years.
In any given year, some reefs escape the heat stress, some turn white but then regain their colour, while some corals will die. Bleaching can make corals more susceptible to disease, slow their growth and impede their reproduction.
The reef is responsible for a significant contribution to Australia’s economy - $6.4 billion annually as per some estimates. The Guardian
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched consultation on its first overarching principles for a UK nature market.
The standard outlines requirements for the design and operation of high-integrity nature schemes, and processes to generate, trade and store nature units.
The standard is intended for use by all nature market participants, especially those involved in creating and trading nature units.
Carbon Pulse | BSI Press Release | BSI Flex 701 Nature markets - Overarching principles and framework
Top Stories
Grid plans for 11 out of 26 electricity networks in Europe do not account for national solar and wind targets as per analysis by Ember Climate. Mercom | Ember Climate
Wildfires are blazing in the Amazon rainforest much earlier than they typically happens in the year - attributed to drought, high winds (from El Niño) and deforestation. Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela have registered a record number of blazes in February.
300 Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plants must be built globally by 2030 to meet climate targets, as per analysis by Rocky Mountain Institute. Some bottlenecks in finding financing for SAF projects are finding reliable feedstock supplies, long review processes for federal loans, and expensive insurance contracts. RMI
Residential heating using wood and coal is a major source of winter-time air pollution and is associated with increased cancer risk, reveals a study conducted in villages in Germany. The Guardian | Article in ACS Environmental
EU and Norway have signed an MoU to collaborate on battery and critical raw materials on R&D, financing mobilisation, skill development and adoption of ESG standards. Innovation News
More than 30 countries, including the Caribbean Island States are asking the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt a carbon tax of $150/tonne of CO2 on emissions from shipping to accelerate the transition to clean energy and sustainable fuels. The IMO has, for the first time, agreed to draft legislation on this. Offshore Energy | IMO Press Release
Europe-based Climate VC fund, World Fund, has raised 30 million euros for its first fund. ECEEE
UK has launched a public consultation to determine how to levy a carbon tax on cheap imports from less Climate-friendly countries from 2027 under its planned Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. ECEEE | Reuters
New Reports
Regulatory Oversight of the Interfaces Between Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Security in Nuclear Power Plants, IAEA (PDF)
You can read over 200 stories from March 22 on Telborg.
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Best,
Soumya Gupta
Founder, Telborg.com | SummaryWithAI.com