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EU climate finance reaches €32.3 billion in 2025
The EU and its 27 member states contributed €32.3 billion in public climate finance to developing countries in 2025, while mobilising a further €9.3 billion in private finance. The Council said 48% of public funding supported climate adaptation or projects combining adaptation and emissions reduction, while 41% of public contributions were provided as grants. The figures were published ahead of COP31, which takes place in Türkiye in November.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s win top sustainable seafood supermarket awards
Tesco and Sainsbury’s have retained their respective supermarket of the year titles at the 2026 MSC and ASC UK Sustainable Seafood Awards. Tesco won the MSC Gold award for the second consecutive year, while Sainsbury’s secured the ASC title for the fifth year running. Aldi received MSC Silver and Iceland Bronze, with all three MSC supermarket winners having more than 80% of their own-brand wild fish and seafood ranges MSC-certified for the first time. Waitrose and Iceland also collected two awards each, while Co-op was named ASC Newcomer of the Year for progress towards its target of 100% ASC-certified own-brand farmed seafood by 2027.
Grundfos calls for water and energy efficiency standards in UK Data Centre Covenant
Grundfos has called for stronger water and energy efficiency requirements under the UK Government’s proposed Data Centre Covenant, following its announcement in the Budget. Inge Delobelle, CEO of Grundfos’ Industry division, said a single hyperscale data centre can require up to 19 million litres of water per day for cooling during peak demand periods. “Any framework that encourages operators to improve energy and water efficiency, adopt more sustainable cooling technologies and explore opportunities such as heat reuse can help ensure digital growth supports both economic competitiveness and local resilience,” Delobelle commented. “Additionally, water and energy need to be managed together, as the two are intrinsically linked through cooling systems.”
Nestlé and BirdLife Europe launch biodiversity research partnership
Nestlé and BirdLife Europe have announced a three-and-a-half-year partnership to measure the impact of regenerative agriculture practices on biodiversity across European farming landscapes and supply chains. The research will monitor selected bird populations as indicators of changes in farmland biodiversity. According to the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme, European farmland bird populations declined by 58% between 1980 and 2024, with agricultural intensification identified as the main contributing factor.
UN report identifies 252 million hectares undergoing ecosystem restoration
A new UN assessment has found that 252 million hectares across 149 countries are undergoing ecosystem restoration, creating more than one million green jobs. However, annual restoration finance needs to increase more than fourfold, from $64 billion to $296 billion by 2030, to meet international commitments. The report highlights particularly slow progress in freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems, with just 11 million hectares of freshwater and 5.7 million hectares of marine and coastal environments documented as undergoing restoration.
EIB backs 569 MW solar and battery project in Egypt
The European Investment Bank will provide up to $90 million towards the first phase of the Dandara solar photovoltaic and battery storage project in Egypt. The development in Qena Governorate will include a 569 MWp solar plant and a 100 MWh battery energy storage system, supplying electricity to aluminium producer EgyptAlum under a long-term power purchase agreement. The project is supported by the EU’s Global Gateway programme and will contribute to Egypt’s target of generating 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. “The Dandara project is a major step forward for Egypt’s green transition,” said EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti.
Masdar begins construction of 200 MW floating solar project in Malaysia
Masdar, Citaglobal and TIZA Global have marked the start of construction of the 200 MW Chereh Dam Floating Solar PV Project in Pahang, Malaysia. The development is expected to generate enough electricity to supply approximately 100,000 homes and create around 1,500 jobs during construction and development. The project is expected to begin operations in 2028. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, commented, “Malaysia is a strategically important market for Masdar, with rising electricity demand, strong renewable energy potential and growing investment in advanced industries and digital infrastructure.”
Germany approves stricter sustainability rules for biofuels and biomass
Germany’s federal cabinet has approved amendments to its biofuel and biomass electricity sustainability regulations, implementing requirements under the revised Renewable Energy Directive. The changes strengthen controls against fraudulent sustainability certificates, expand inspection powers for the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food and increase greenhouse gas savings requirements for bioenergy power plants. The measures are intended to improve verification of the environmental credentials of biofuels and biomass used in Germany.
SPIE reports growth in energy and infrastructure services across Central Europe
French technical services group SPIE reported revenue of €8.04 billion for the first nine months of 2026, an increase of 7% year on year. Central European revenue increased by 15.8%, while Germany recorded growth of 10.4%. The company cited demand for electrification, grid modernisation and energy-efficiency services as important market drivers. SPIE also reported placing a €500 million sustainability-linked bond in September to support its financing requirements.