Green Top 10 – February 2025

1- It’s Going To Be A Bumpy Road To EV Adoption, Study Shows

A global study by Tata Consultancy Services reveals that while 64% of consumers are likely to consider purchasing an EV, enthusiasm varies by country, with 72% in the U.S. compared to only 31% in Japan. Despite a surge in EV sales in the U.S. in 2024, affordability remains a significant barrier, with 56% of consumers willing to pay up to $40,000 for an EV. Manufacturers are less optimistic, with 54% seeing demand “cooling” and citing charging infrastructure and battery technology as major challenges. The study also predicts consolidation in the EV charging industry to improve economic viability and compatibility. Despite these hurdles, experts believe the transition to electrification is inevitable but will require transition technologies for a smoother shift to carbon-free mobility.

Source: Forbes

2- EU Supply Chain Sustainability Regulations Are Reshaping Business—Here’s What You Need To Know

New EU regulations, CSRD and CSDD, require companies to actively reduce carbon emissions, impacting around 50,000 businesses, including non-EU firms with operations in Europe. The challenge lies in complex global supply chains and outdated data collection methods, leading to “survey fatigue” among suppliers. ctrl+s offers a solution by using statistical models to estimate carbon emissions, minimizing data requests from suppliers and providing actionable insights. Industry collaboration and shared platforms are crucial for scalable sustainability, with companies urged to align incentives and strategies. While challenging, these regulations present an opportunity for competitive advantage through smarter tools and collaborative efforts.

Source: Forbes

3- Growth in Global Electricity Demand Set to Accelerate as Power-Hungry Sectors Expand

Global electricity consumption is expected to grow by nearly 4% annually through 2027, driven by increased demand in industrial production, air conditioning, electrification in the transport sector, and the rapid growth of data centers, according to a new IEA report. Emerging and developing economies, particularly China, are projected to account for 85% of this growth, with China’s electricity consumption growing at an average rate of 6% per year. Low-emission sources like solar PV and nuclear are anticipated to meet the rising demand, with solar expected to contribute roughly half of the global growth. The report also highlights challenges in energy security and system flexibility due to extreme weather events and volatile electricity prices. Despite the surge in demand, carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation are predicted to plateau, supported by increased renewable and nuclear energy adoption.

Source: IEA

4- BP Cuts Clean Energy Investment and Boosts Oil and Gas in Major Strategy Shift

BP announced a significant strategy shift, cutting planned annual investment in renewable energy to between $1.5 billion and $2 billion while increasing oil and gas spending to $10 billion to enhance earnings and shareholder returns. This change marks a departure from its previous goal to reduce oil and gas output by 40% by 2030, now lowered to a 25% reduction target. The move aligns with a broader industry trend of returning focus to hydrocarbons as fossil fuel prices rebound. BP is also targeting $20 billion in divestments by 2027 and plans to raise dividends by at least 4% per share annually. The company’s shift aims to restore investor confidence after recent underperformance and pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management.

Source: CNN

5- EU Vows to Slash Red Tape but Stick to Climate Goals

The EU announced plans to simplify environmental regulations to boost business competitiveness while maintaining its commitment to decarbonization, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) will be delayed and limited to 10,000 large companies instead of the initially planned 50,000. The changes aim to ease the regulatory burden on businesses, but climate groups criticized the move as weakening climate action. The EU will also launch a €100 billion “Clean Industrial Deal” to support clean tech and reduce energy costs. The proposals are expected to face significant debate in the European Parliament.

Source: Phys.org

6- ‘Green Grab’: Solar and Wind Boom Sparks Conflicts on Land Use

The rapid expansion of solar and wind farms worldwide is causing increasing land use conflicts, particularly with rural communities, Indigenous groups, and environmentalists. Critics argue that renewable energy projects are leading to “green grabbing” by taking land from smallholder farmers, ecosystems, and traditional communities. Innovative solutions like agrivoltaics (growing crops or grazing livestock under solar panels) and floating solar farms on lakes are emerging to mitigate land conflicts. However, disputes over land rights continue globally, with legal battles in Norway, the U.S., India, and Kenya. Experts emphasize the need for sustainable designs to balance renewable energy growth with biodiversity conservation and community rights.

Source: Yale

7- The 8 Talking Points Fossil Fuel Companies Use to Obstruct Climate Action

New research published in PLOS Climate reveals that fossil fuel companies use coordinated communication strategies on social media to deny climate change and delay solutions. Analyzing over 125,000 tweets from the oil and gas, plastics, and agrichemical sectors, the study identified eight talking points: four focused on outright denial (claiming climate change isn’t happening, isn’t that bad, isn’t caused by fossil fuels, or is already being managed) and four aimed at delaying action (redirecting responsibility, promoting non-transformative solutions, emphasizing regulatory downsides, and claiming mitigation is unfeasible). The coordinated messaging reinforces existing fossil fuel infrastructure and obstructs climate policies. The study highlights the continued strategic use of social media to shape public perception and influence climate action narratives.

Source: Grist

8- Climate Reporting Presents Brands with an Opportunity – If It’s Done Right

The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) mandates that around 50,000 companies disclose Climate Transition Plans (CTPs), offering a strategic opportunity to communicate net-zero roadmaps effectively. Although 96% of marketers are aware of CTPs, only a third have a communications plan, largely due to concerns about greenwashing and the perceived complexity of the topic. CTPs can enhance investor confidence by translating net-zero strategies into compelling investment narratives while engaging employees as change agents and aligning with broader sustainability goals. Effective communication requires transparency, storytelling, and showcasing genuine partnerships to inspire stakeholders and drive systemic change across value chains.

Source: The Drum

9- BBVA Raises Sustainable Finance Goal to Over $700 Billion by 2029

BBVA announced a new target to channel €700 billion ($735 billion) in sustainable finance from 2025 to 2029, doubling its previous goal in a shorter timeframe. The bank exceeded its earlier target of €300 billion a year ahead of schedule, having mobilized €304 billion by the end of 2024. The new goal focuses on climate change, natural capital (water, agriculture, circular economy), and social initiatives, including educational and health infrastructure and financial inclusion. From 2018 to 2024, 78% of funding supported climate projects, with the Corporate and Investment Banking unit leading at 59%. BBVA sees sustainability as a strategic growth driver, anticipating increased investments in infrastructure and clean technologies.

Source: ESG Today

10- Bloomberg Launches MARS Climate to Help Investors Assess Portfolio Climate Risks and Opportunities

Bloomberg introduced MARS Climate, a new tool within its Multi-Asset Risk Management (MARS) suite, designed to help financial firms evaluate climate risks and opportunities across investment portfolios. The launch responds to rising regulatory demands for climate risk assessment due to the growing economic impacts of climate change, with global natural catastrophe damages reaching $280 billion in 2023. MARS Climate uses BloombergNEF’s Transition Risk Assessment Company Tool (TRACT) to analyze climate scenarios and assess financial impacts down to the security level, categorizing risks into physical acute, physical chronic, and transition risks. The solution supports portfolio and risk managers in integrating climate risk analysis into their financial assessments and regulatory reporting.

Source: ESG Today