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Greencoat Renewables generates 1,851GWh of renewable electricity in first half
Greencoat Renewables generated 1,851GWh of renewable electricity in the six months to June 2026, 6% below budget because of lower wind resources, mainly in the first quarter. Net cash generation reached €59.8 million, while profit for the period after tax increased to €11.9 million. “The first half of 2026 demonstrated the resilience of Greencoat Renewables’ portfolio and business model,” commented Bernard Byrne, non-executive chairman.
UN climate chief calls Europe’s climate crisis an economic security emergency
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has warned European lawmakers that climate impacts could cost Europe €180 billion this summer through lost labour productivity and disruption to food, energy and transport, equivalent to about 1% of EU GDP. “Climate is sometimes seen as a partisan issue: as territory in culture wars,” Stiell noted. “That is palpably false. And we’ve just seen why: Europe’s summer has been hot as hell. This is the price of global fossil fuel addiction hitting home.”
Himalayas approach water-security tipping point as glacier melt accelerates
A new assessment by Systemiq, the Integrated Mountain Initiative, ICIMOD and India’s G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment says the Hindu Kush Himalaya is approaching ‘peak water’, after which glacier-fed river flows are expected to decline, according to reports. Only 21 of about 40,000 glaciers in the region are currently monitored, while nearly 200 Indian glacial lakes are classified as high risk, including 56 rated very high risk.
Researchers identify enzymes capable of degrading polyurethane and nylon
Researchers at Aarhus University and the Danish Technological Institute have identified 12 enzymes capable of degrading polyurethane and nylon after screening millions of bacteria from a Kenyan landfill, tropical zoo, compost heap and insect larvae. The strongest candidate, CCPUR1, degraded just under 1% of polyurethane mattress foam in three days; an engineered version subsequently degraded about 1.4% of polyurethane from a shoe sole without pretreatment. “The research highlights the strength of enzymes,” commented lead author Rosie Graham.
Australia introduces climate-disclosure requirements for Commonwealth entities
Australia’s Department of Finance has published its Commonwealth Climate Disclosure policy requiring non-corporate Commonwealth entities to report publicly on exposure to climate risks and opportunities and actions to manage them. Corporate Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth companies not otherwise required to prepare sustainability reports are encouraged to participate. The requirements are aligned with Australia’s AASB S2 climate-related disclosure standard and support the government’s 2030 net-zero target for the public sector.
PFAS producers plan expansion as data-centre demand grows
A ChemSec survey reported by The Guardian found that almost all of the 10 largest PFAS producers are planning to expand production in Europe, Asia or North America as demand rises from semiconductor manufacturing and data-centre cooling. The companies named by the paper include Daikin, Arkema, Chemours and Gujarat Fluorochemicals. ChemSec identified only a small number of companies, including BASF and Archroma, as pursuing PFAS-free alternatives.
350.org calls for faster fossil-fuel transition after August temperature record
350.org has called for faster investment in renewable energy and climate adaptation after August 2026 matched the global record for the hottest month, at 16.96°C, with temperatures 1.65°C above the 1850–1900 average. The campaign group cited heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and floods in Europe, the Pacific, Caribbean and Indonesia, and urged governments preparing for the UN General Assembly to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. “There’s no more room for doubt – the deaths and devastation we’ve witnessed in the past few months are the imprints of a planet on fire,” commented Anne Jellema, 350.org executive director.