🌏Renewables Surpass Coal in Global Electricity Generation for the First Time
A Historic Shift in Global Power Generation
Renewable energy has overtaken coal as the world’s largest source of electricity for the first time. According to Ember’s latest data, renewables generated 5,072 TWh in the first half of 2025, surpassing coal’s 4,896 TWh—a landmark moment in the century-long evolution of global energy.
The surge was driven by China and India, which together added the majority of new solar and wind capacity. China expanded solar output by 43% and wind by 16%, while India saw gains of 31% and 29%, offsetting fossil-fuel rebounds in the U.S. and EU.
Solar power led the growth, meeting 83% of new electricity demand, propelled by a 99.9% cost decline since 1975. Meanwhile, Western markets saw temporary fossil rebounds—U.S. coal up 17%, EU gas up 14%—due to policy shifts and weaker hydropower.
“Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity.”
— Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, Senior Electricity Analyst, Ember
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⚡ Renewables surpass coal: 5,072 TWh vs 4,896 TWh
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🌏 Asia leads transition: China & India dominate new capacity
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🌞 Solar supplies 83% of demand growth; costs –99.9% since 1975
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🇺🇸🇪🇺 Western fossil rebound: U.S. coal +17%, EU gas +14%
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💰 Investor outlook: Renewables confirmed as the central, scalable pillar of global energy markets
The Takeaway:
The world has entered a new energy era—one powered by sunlight and wind. Whether this momentum continues will depend on policy stability and infrastructure investment, but the direction is clear: the future of electricity is renewable.
2.EU Council Approves Simplified Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Brussels Signs Off on CBAM Reform
The EU Council has adopted a regulation simplifying the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) ahead of its full implementation in 2026. The revised rules reduce compliance complexity for importers—particularly SMEs—while preserving 99% coverage of embedded emissions, maintaining the mechanism’s environmental integrity.
The headline change introduces a 50-tonne de minimis threshold, exempting smaller importers from CBAM reporting and pricing obligations. The reform also streamlines declarant registration, emissions calculation, verification, and penalty procedures, reducing administrative and legal costs for businesses.
“If we want to succeed with the green transition and boost Europe’s competitiveness, we must reduce unnecessary burdens,”
— Marie Bjerre, Minister for European Affairs, Denmark
Transitional measures will allow importers awaiting registration to continue operations in early 2026, preventing trade bottlenecks at EU borders.
For policymakers, the reform balances climate ambition with competitiveness. For investors and multinational firms, it offers a clearer regulatory pathway and improved predictability. SMEs benefit most from reduced reporting exposure, while larger importers gain efficiency through simplified procedures.
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🌍 99% emissions coverage retained under simplified framework
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⚙️ 50-tonne annual import exemption eases SME compliance
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🧾 Simplified registration, calculation, and penalties
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🚚 Transitional rules to prevent 2026 trade disruptions
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💰 Clearer regulatory outlook for investors and supply chain planners
The Takeaway:
The EU’s CBAM reform underscores Europe’s dual pursuit of climate integrity and industrial resilience—a critical balancing act as the bloc prepares for the world’s first full-scale carbon border regime in 2026.
3.Nestlé Steps Away from Global Methane Pact
Nestlé has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, a coalition launched in 2023 by the Environmental Defense Fund to curb methane emissions across dairy supply chains. The company cited a “routine review” of memberships but reaffirmed its 2050 net zero commitment and reported a 21% methane reduction since 2018.
The move underscores growing corporate hesitation toward voluntary climate alliances amid rising political and investor scrutiny. Methane, 28–30 times more potent than CO₂, remains a key focus for agricultural decarbonization efforts. The EDF-led alliance had sought to boost transparency and accountability among major dairy buyers, including Danone, Kraft Heinz, and Starbucks.
Nestlé’s exit follows a broader trend of corporate retrenchment from global climate commitments, particularly in the U.S., where political backlash and legal concerns have triggered a pullback from ESG initiatives.
“When major members leave, it risks slowing collective momentum and undermining investor confidence,” said an environmental advocate.
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🥛 Nestlé exits the Dairy Methane Action Alliance after internal review
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🌍 Methane 28–30x stronger than CO₂, with livestock as a major source
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📊 21% methane cut since 2018, 2050 net zero target reaffirmed
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🔄 Corporate climate retreat seen across financial and energy sectors
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⚖️ Signal for investors: Voluntary alliances face credibility strain amid shifting political and market pressures
The Takeaway:
Nestlé’s withdrawal reflects a pivotal moment for voluntary corporate climate coalitions. As regulatory fragmentation grows, the question is whether global food companies can sustain credible, transparent methane-reduction efforts without the backing of multilateral frameworks.
4.🧱 LEGO Advances Global Effort to Eliminate Natural Gas from Factory Operations
A Global Strategy Built on Local Innovation
LEGO Group is advancing its “Zero Impact in Operations” plan by phasing out natural gas from all factories and deploying renewable heat systems across key sites in Europe and Asia. The move targets full decarbonization of Scope 1 and 2 emissions—core to LEGO’s ambition of achieving operational net zero.
In 2023, natural gas contributed about 16,000 tonnes of CO₂e to LEGO’s footprint. The company is now pursuing region-specific solutions:
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🇭🇺 Hungary: A geothermal system tapping 84°C groundwater aims to eliminate gas use entirely by 2028.
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🇩🇰 Denmark: LEGO’s Billund HQ joined the city’s 92% renewable district heating network, cutting 1,064 tonnes of CO₂e annually.
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🇨🇳 China: A waste heat recovery system in Jiaxing has already halved natural gas consumption, with expansion underway.
These projects exemplify LEGO’s approach of local energy innovation under a global framework, aligning with SBTi and EU sustainability directives. As energy costs and carbon prices rise, LEGO’s diversified model—combining geothermal, district, and recycled heat—offers a scalable roadmap for manufacturers worldwide.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable future for children—where making every LEGO brick leaves no carbon footprint.”
— LEGO Group
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🔋 Natural gas phase-out across all factories by 2028+
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🌡️ Geothermal, district, and waste-heat systems deployed globally
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♻️ Over 1,000 tonnes CO₂e cut annually in Denmark alone
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🧠 Local solutions, global standards for decarbonization
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🧱 LEGO proves sustainability can be engineered—brick by brick
The Takeaway:
LEGO’s natural gas phase-out marks a turning point in sustainable manufacturing. Through innovation both above and below ground, the company is redefining how global brands localize climate action while keeping creativity—and responsibility—at the heart of their operations.
5.🤖 Google.org 2025 Impact Report Reveals $6B Drive to Scale AI-powered Social and Climate Solutions
A $6B AI-Driven Philanthropic Ecosystem
Google.org’s 2025 Impact Report details nearly USD 6 billion in philanthropic investments since 2004, alongside 4.4 million volunteer hours from Googlers supporting 3,600+ organizations across 160+ countries. The report highlights how AI-enabled initiatives cut delivery time by two-thirds and costs by half, reflecting a strategic shift toward technology-powered social and climate solutions.
The report’s three pillars—Knowledge & Learning, Scientific Progress, and Stronger Communities—have yielded broad outcomes:
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🎓 Education: 28M students reached, 4.1M people trained, 456K SME jobs supported.
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🔬 Science: 16K research awards to 1.7K institutions in 99 countries.
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🌍 Community: 140M people supported in crises, 15M in media literacy, 1.5M in digital safety.
In-kind support totaling $18B in products and ad grants generated 14B website visits for nonprofits. Notably, India’s CottonAce AI app improved farmer profits by 20% while cutting pesticide use by 25%, showcasing scalable climate solutions through localized tech.
Still, the report invites scrutiny over AI governance, impact measurement, and ethical oversight. ESG analysts urge greater transparency and third-party validation to ensure credibility as Google expands its $120M AI Opportunity Fundand global partnerships.
“AI can accelerate impact—but accountability and local trust must keep pace.”
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💵 $6B in funding and 4.4M volunteer hours since 2004
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⚙️ AI-enabled programs: –66% time, –50% cost
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🧑🎓 28M learners, 4.1M trained, 456K jobs created
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🌐 $18B in in-kind donations, 14B nonprofit visits
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⚖️ ESG challenge: balancing scale, ethics, and verification
The Takeaway:
Google.org’s philanthropic scale blurs the line between charity and strategic ESG capital. As AI transforms impact delivery, the next frontier lies not in bigger numbers—but in verifiable, ethical, and locally governed outcomes that define credibility in tech-driven philanthropy.
