With so much happening in the world of corporate sustainability, SustainabilityOnline has introduced The Sustainability Brief – a regular round-up of some of the top stories making headlines around the world.
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TNFD, SBTN and NPI align corporate nature guidance
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) and Nature Positive Initiative have published coordinated updates covering nature-related assessment, target-setting and reporting. The new material links TNFD’s LEAP 2.0, SBTN’s Science-Based Targets for Nature 2.0 and the new State of Nature metrics framework. ‘For the benefit of the planet and the resilience of their own business, companies and financial institutions increasingly need to understand how they depend on and impact nature, how this gives rise to nature-related risks and opportunities for their organisation, and how to respond effectively,’ TNFD said in a statement.
Earlier net zero would limit long-term Pacific climate changes
Researchers from the University of Melbourne and partner institutions have found through climate modelling that reaching net zero earlier would reduce long-term changes to tropical Pacific and El Niño behaviours. Their simulations indicate that some changes could persist for centuries because of heat stored deep in the ocean. “The longer emissions continue, the more heat accumulates within the climate system and the greater the risk of long-lasting changes,” commented Aditya Sengupta, lead author on the study.
EU e-waste collection reaches 12.3kg per person
EU countries collected 12.3kg of electrical and electronic waste per person in 2024, up from 7.3kg in 2015, according to new data from Eurostat. However, 32.4kg of new electrical and electronic equipment per person was placed on the EU market, up 79% since 2015. Bulgaria recorded the highest collection rate at 18.9kg per person, followed by Czechia at 17.8kg and France at 17.7kg.
Google commits $5m to Irish AI weather and climate research
Google is committing $5 million to a four-year Irish programme combining Google Earth AI, satellite imagery and observations from 560 solar-powered weather stations at schools, according to reports. The funding includes €2.25 million for the AIMSIR Centre and Climate + Co-Centre. Researchers will use the data to improve forecasting of storms, flooding and other extreme weather events in Ireland.
CIP acquires 25% of 1,080MW Five Estuaries offshore wind project
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has acquired a 25% stake in the Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm off Essex and Suffolk. The project has development consent and could generate up to 1,080MW, equivalent to the annual electricity needs of approximately one million UK homes. CIP joins EDF power solutions, ESB and Sumitomo Corporation in the project. “Offshore wind offers the UK a golden opportunity to deploy clean, home-grown energy at scale, to lower and stabilise electricity bills, create highly skilled jobs as well as bolster energy security and deliver economic growth,” commented Kunal Patel, partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
Arevon secures contracts for 200MW Illinois solar project
Arevon has signed three 20-year renewable energy credit contracts with Ameren Illinois, ComEd and MidAmerican Energy for its 200MWac/275MWdc Panther Energy Project in Illinois. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with completion planned for 2028. The project is expected to create around 200 construction jobs and generate approximately $20 million in property tax payments over its operating life.
Lithium Harvest plans geothermal power and lithium project in Alberta
Denmark’s Lithium Harvest has signed an LOI to develop an integrated geothermal power and lithium production facility in Alberta, Canada. At full capacity, the project is targeting 28,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate and 0.67TWh of renewable electricity annually, with first production targeted for 2028. The project would combine lithium extraction and renewable baseload electricity from the same geothermal resource. “This agreement advances our ambition to produce some of the world’s cleanest energy and lithium at low cost,” said Sune Mathiesen, chairman of Lithium Harvest.
Nightpeak brings 300MW battery storage site online in Texas
Nightpeak Energy has brought its 150MW, two-hour Bocanova 2 battery storage project into commercial operation in southeast Texas, completing a 300MW storage site. Bocanova 2 began commercial operation on 17 September and uses Tesla Megapack 2 XL systems. The project provides additional flexibility to the ERCOT electricity grid as demand from data centres and other large loads increases. Paris Hays, co-founder and CEO/CDO, Nightpeak Energy, commented, “We’re seeing large loads come to the grid at a pace and scale that is fundamentally changing how the power sector plans for new demand.”
ReNew secures $100m FMO financing for renewable portfolio
ReNew has secured a $100 million, 10-year financing facility from Dutch development bank FMO to support renewable energy projects under construction across its group. ReNew said the transaction represents FMO’s largest single-ticket investment in India’s energy sector and its largest 2X-aligned corporate financing in Asia.
EU financial supervisors set sustainable finance priorities for 2027
The European Banking Authority, EIOPA and ESMA have published their joint 2027 work programme, identifying sustainable finance as one of the areas requiring cross-sectoral supervisory coordination. The authorities said they will continue work supporting consistent application of the EU sustainability framework across sectors, alongside priorities including digital resilience, technological innovation and financial stability.
