Global Scans · Climate Action · Weekly Summary

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In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

• [New] The U.S. withdrawal from climate commitments and the promotion of fossil fuels have polarized global actors, with allies recalibrating their energy strategies to mitigate U.S. policy risks. Ainvest
• [New] Improving water efficiency must become a national priority if England is to tackle escalating climate risks and deliver on a legally binding environmental target. illuminem
• [New] Hydrogen, Industrial Energy Costs and Decarbonization Electricity used for electrolysis in hydrogen production and natural gas used for CO2 in sodium bicarbonate production to be exempt from the Climate Change Levy by Spring 2026, subject to approval. Cogent Skills
• [New] National labs such as Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are expected to play a central role, using AI to optimize reactor designs, model complex physical systems, and simulate grid and climate scenarios that would otherwise take years. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] The global water crisis, driven partly by climate change, could leave two-thirds of humanity facing water stress by 2026, with water scarcity becoming a critical issue for an increasing number of countries. NewsBreak
• [New] In 2025, climate change remains the top risk overall for both experts and the general population. AXA.com
• [New] Alongside NDCs, leaders will grapple with mobilising climate finance, including for the Brazil-led important Tropical Forests Forever Facility, finalising the rules of Article 6 on carbon markets, advancing adaptation amid worsening climate impacts and driving a just global energy transition. NewClimate Institute
• [New] Over the next decade, carbon capture will evolve from a climate mitigation tool to an integral component of industrial processes and a significant economic sector. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) capacity needs to increase by over 40 times by 2030 to meet global climate targets. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Countries would call to triple the financing available to help nations adapt to climate change by 2030, from 2025 levels. Chronicle.lu
• [New] California's 2024 Climate Accountability Package will require emissions and climate-related financial risk reporting for thousands of US companies, including multinationals with US subsidiaries, beginning in 2026. Passle
• [New] Turkey has been confirmed as the host of COP 31 (2026 UN Climate Change Conference) after a diplomatic compromise with Australia reached during discussions at COP 30 in Brazil. Guidely
• [New] If President Lula secures a roadmap in Belem, it would likely be developed in greater detail at 2026's talks and beyond as countries hash out measures to phase out fossil fuel production and consumption in the national climate plans required under Paris Agreement obligations. The Conversation
• [New] Meeting climate goals to decarbonize the world by 2050 requires building around 300 terawatt-hours of storage. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] India must adopt region-specific, data-driven adaptation strategies to strengthen resilience across agriculture, cities, and public health systems in the face of escalating compound climate risks. Current Affairs | Vision IAS
• [New] International scrutiny-driven in part by China's shifting posture on climate leadership - amplifies pressure on Korea to accelerate timelines even as domestic critics warn of rushed policymaking and uneven economic impacts. Fault Lines
• [New] South Africa, which holds the G20 presidency, is expected to push for consensus and action on priority issues for African countries, including debt relief, economic growth, climate change and transition to clean energy. Al Jazeera
• [New] Belem could be a turning point for making sustainable cooling one of this decade's highest-impact climate solutions. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] At COP 30 in Belem, governments have taken a major step forward in confronting one of the world's fastest-growing climate risks: extreme heat. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] Italy highlighted its increased climate finance and commitment to scaling 3DEN globally, while UNEP stressed that digitalization could save $1.2 trillion in grid efficiency by 2050. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] Under CORSIA's First Phase (2024-26), airlines are expected to purchase more than 200 million credits-equivalent to USD 4-5 billion in climate finance - with demand projected to rise sharply through 2035 as nearly 2 billion credits are expected to be offset. ESG Post
• [New] To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, governments must reaffirm ICAO's role as the single global authority, fully implement CORSIA, and operationalise Article 6 to unlock climate finance for developing nations. ESG Post

Last updated: 30 November 2025