OMV’s Chief Executive Alfred Stern cautioned at the World Economic Forum in Davos that excessively rigid regulations governing plastic recycling risk stifling early-stage technologies before they become commercially viable. He said balanced policy, regional considerations, and targeted financial incentives are essential to build functional plastics circular economies.

Wind and solar power generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the European Union last year, marking a structural shift in the bloc’s energy system. The milestone reflects accelerated renewable energy deployment, declining fossil fuel generation, and increasing pressure to align power markets with climate and energy security objectives.

OpenAI has unveiled a plan to manage the rapidly growing energy costs of its data centres as demand for artificial intelligence accelerates. The strategy highlights efficiency gains, infrastructure planning, and closer alignment with energy markets amid mounting pressure on power grids.

A data-focused agreement involving AVEVA is showing how digital platforms can help accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel in a sector under growing regulatory and climate pressure. The deal underlines the importance of transparency, traceability, and robust reporting in scaling clean technologies across complex value chains.

The UK risks falling behind global competitors in battery manufacturing unless it rapidly scales domestic capacity, skills, and supply chains. With electric vehicles and energy storage central to net-zero goals, policy certainty and timely investment are becoming decisive.

A new analysis finds that record-low costs for solar power and other green technologies are enabling India to bypass much of the fossil-fuel-intensive development trajectory experienced by China and other major economies. Rapid renewable capacity expansion could reshape India’s energy transition and its climate impact.

The European Commission has formally adopted its first set of EU-wide carbon farming certification methodologies with minimal changes from earlier drafts, advancing the operational rollout of the Union’s voluntary Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) framework. The decision provides detailed accounting rules for quantifying, verifying, and certifying climate-beneficial agricultural practices such as soil carbon sequestration and peatland restoration.

Global Finance has unveiled the regional winners of its 2026 Sustainable Finance Awards, recognising banks and financial institutions that are integrating sustainability, climate risk management, and transition finance into core operations. The awards highlight how financial markets are responding to the accelerating demand for credible net-zero pathways and sustainable investment frameworks.

The Australian government has offered three new offshore wind permits for projects off Western Australia that could deliver up to 4 gigawatts of renewable energy to the region’s grid, renewing momentum in a sector that has faced setbacks. The move highlights policy shifts and ongoing challenges as Australia seeks to expand its renewable energy mix and meet national emissions targets.

A biodiversity credit pilot project has started in Formentera, Spain, with the planting of 1,000 trees under an emerging UK urban biodiversity standard. The initiative could illustrate how private capital and nature finance tools mobilise investment for biodiversity restoration at a local scale.

Trane Technologies has introduced a structured set of circularity impact metrics designed to enhance resource efficiency, minimize lifecycle emissions, and support net-zero goals across its operations and value chain. The framework links product design, material use, and end-of-life management to measurable sustainability outcomes.

UK-based energy technology company Cloover has secured $1.2 billion in capital commitments to accelerate the deployment of its AI-driven financing platform for distributed energy assets. The funding aims to expand access to clean energy technologies by simplifying financing, risk assessment, and asset management across global markets.

Singapore is scaling up its approach to high-integrity nature-based carbon solutions by launching new initiatives focused on blue carbon ecosystems and sustainable biomass. The measures aim to strengthen carbon credit quality, support regional climate action, and reinforce the city-state’s net zero strategy.

ENGIE has signed a 10-year biomethane supply agreement with PepsiCo to support emissions reductions across PepsiCo’s UK operations. The deal will inject renewable gas into the UK grid, helping to decarbonize industrial energy use and advance corporate net-zero targets.

A new corporate-backed carbon accounting initiative is drawing criticism from climate and sustainability experts who fear it could fragment global emissions measurement. At the same time, investors are injecting significant capital into AI-enabled geothermal exploration, highlighting divergent strategies within the energy transition.

Global green steel markets are entering a decisive phase in 2026 as regulatory pressure, carbon pricing, and uneven access to clean energy reshape production economics. While Europe advances through strict climate rules and subsidies, regional divergence is widening as Asia and the Americas follow different transition pathways.

Google has signed an agreement with Clearway to secure 1.2 GW of carbon-free power to supply its U.S. data centre operations. The deal expands corporate renewable procurement at utility scale and has implications for energy sourcing, grid integration, and compliance strategies for large electricity consumers.

Canada has announced the removal of tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, a move that could significantly lower EV prices and accelerate adoption. The decision has wide-ranging implications for automakers, trade relations, and the pace of transport decarbonization in North America.

Global manufacturing services provider Jabil is embedding sustainability across its operations by using data-driven tools to measure emissions, improve transparency, and guide decarbonisation decisions. The company’s approach highlights how large industrial players can turn operational complexity into an advantage in the transition to net-zero.

The 2026 Mexico City E-Prix will showcase how electric motorsport can act as a testing ground for low-carbon innovation, renewable energy use, and sustainable event management. Formula E is using the race to demonstrate practical climate solutions that extend beyond the circuit.

The European Union plans to introduce new public procurement rules prioritising European-made clean technologies from 2026. The proposal aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce strategic dependencies, and accelerate the bloc’s net-zero transition.

Indonesia plans a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining, which is affecting nearly 190,000 hectares of forest land, aiming to restore ecosystems and strengthen environmental governance by 2026. The initiative has implications for mining companies, supply chains, and investors exposed to deforestation and regulatory risk.

Abu Dhabi has launched BARQ, an ultra-fast electric vehicle charging network capable of delivering up to 100 kilometres of driving range in just three minutes. The initiative aims to accelerate EV adoption, cut transport emissions, and strengthen the emirate’s clean mobility infrastructure.

Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister has outlined a strategy to strengthen farm resilience while cutting emissions, focusing on productivity, soil health, and climate-smart practices. The vision positions farmers as central actors in the region’s net zero transition.

Amazon Web Services has agreed to source copper produced using Rio Tinto’s Nuton low-carbon heap leach technology for its US data center infrastructure. The deal highlights growing efforts to reduce embodied emissions in critical materials used to support the rapid expansion of digital and AI-driven infrastructure.

Microsoft has signed a long-term carbon dioxide removal agreement with Varaha to purchase biochar-based carbon credits generated in India. The deal reflects growing corporate demand for durable carbon removal solutions that complement emissions reduction strategies and support rural, nature-based supply chains.

Waitrose has appointed DHL Supply Chain to operate a new regional distribution centre at Mountpark Bristol 360. The 33,445 m2 facility, opening in 2027, will serve about 50 shops, create more than 550 roles and is expected to cut annual supply chain emissions by about 2,225 tonnes of CO2. The site includes energy efficiency measures and more than 1,200 solar panels.

eBay has published a detailed Climate Transition Plan outlining its intentions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and supply chain. The strategy focuses on renewable energy, logistics decarbonisation, supplier engagement, and circular economy principles embedded in second-hand commerce.

In 2026, corporate sustainability is shifting from aspirational pledges toward measurable business impact and operational execution. CEOs will need to align climate, energy, and ESG strategies with financial and risk frameworks to stay competitive as investors, regulators, and customers demand real outcomes.

Meta has signed nuclear energy agreements with developers and utilities, including TerraPower, Oklo, and Vistra, as it seeks up to 6.6 gigawatts of firm, carbon-free power to support rapid growth in artificial intelligence. The deals highlight how large technology companies are increasingly looking beyond renewables to ensure reliable, low-carbon electricity at scale.