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Zaragoza, Benidorm and Estarreja named European Green Cities for 2028
The European Commission has named Zaragoza European Green Capital 2028, awarding it €600,000, while Benidorm and Estarreja will share the European Green Leaf titles and receive €200,000 each. The awards assessed 27 cities across seven environmental areas, including air quality, water management, biodiversity, waste, circular economy, climate mitigation and adaptation. “Our cities are at the heart of Europe’s environmental transition,” commented Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.
South Korea’s proposed ESG disclosure framework lacks urgency
While South Korea’s proposed mandatory ESG disclosure framework is a ‘step in the right direction, it could do more to encourage sustainable finance’, IEEFA has said. The framework plans to introduce phased reporting from financial year 2027, initially covering KOSPI-listed companies with consolidated assets of at least KRW10 trillion (€6.2bn), with the threshold falling to KRW5 trillion in FY2028 and potentially KRW2 trillion in FY2029. IEEFA says gaps remain in emissions reporting: in 2025, 68% of companies publishing sustainability reports disclosed Scope 3 emissions, but only 49% explained their calculation methods and 13% specified reporting boundaries or assumptions. IEEFA recommends stronger emissions measurement guidance, a mandatory green taxonomy and incentives to expand sustainable finance.
FC Bayern publishes 2024/25 sustainability report
FC Bayern München has published its sustainability report for the 2024/25 season, covering environmental, social and governance activities across the club and its associated organisations. The report is the third published under the club’s Mitnand sustainability strategy. It places particular focus on the 20th anniversary of the Allianz Arena and outlines measures covering energy efficiency, renewable energy, mobility, and waste and resource management. Among the initiatives highlighted are a heat pump partnership with Viessmann, the Bike Matchday programme and a new electric vehicle charging station at the Allianz Arena.
EU Ecolabel recognition reaches 46% among European consumers
A Eurobarometer survey of 25,566 people across the 27 EU Member States found that 81% of consumers believe EU Ecolabel products have a lower environmental impact than comparable products, up from 75% in 2023. Recognition of the label’s flower logo reached 46%, an increase of eight percentage points. As of September 2026, the scheme covered 121,083 products under 3,665 licences. Some 46% of respondents said they often or sometimes buy EU Ecolabel products.
Turkish Airlines and Zero Waste Foundation to hold sustainable aviation forum at COP31
The Zero Waste Foundation and Turkish Airlines have signed a cooperation protocol covering resource efficiency, waste management, food-waste prevention, circular economy and carbon-emissions reduction in aviation. The partners will organise a Global Sustainable Aviation Forum on Energy and Transport Day at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. Planned activities include sharing practices on sustainable aviation fuels, operational efficiency, waste reduction and passenger awareness.
EU adopts new emissions framework for pig and poultry farms
The European Commission has adopted uniform operating rules for pig and poultry farms under the Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive. The framework establishes minimum requirements to reduce ammonia emissions to air and nitrogen and phosphorus excretion, using measures covering manure handling, animal housing and feeding. Member States can approve alternative techniques where scientific evidence demonstrates equivalent environmental performance. The rules will begin applying between 2030 and 2032, depending on farm size, according to the Commission.
Doral Renewables brings remaining 900MW of Mammoth Solar towards commercial operation
US-based Doral Renewables has announced the imminent commercial operation of the Mammoth South, Mammoth Central I and Mammoth Central II solar phases in Indiana, with combined capacity of 900MWac. Their completion will bring the Mammoth Solar complex to 1.3GW, making it one of the largest operational solar developments in the United States. Construction of the three phases took 18 months, with approximately 1,800 workers on site daily at peak activity.
Cascades secures approval for 67.2% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035
Canadian packaging company Cascades has received Science Based Targets initiative approval for its new greenhouse-gas reduction targets. The company aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 67.2% by 2035 against a 2019 baseline, alongside a 41.3% reduction in selected Scope 3 categories covering purchased goods, fuel and energy, upstream transport and end-of-life treatment of sold products. Scope 1 and 2 emissions fell 32.6% between 2019 and 2025.
Lightstar advances 3.5MW community solar project in Illinois
Lightstar Renewables has announced a 3.5MW AC, or 4.54MW DC, community solar project on approximately 30 acres in Atlanta Township, Logan County, Illinois. The facility will connect directly to the local distribution grid under Illinois’ community solar programme, allowing subscribers to save approximately 10% on electricity costs. The project will use single-axis solar trackers and is expected to generate local construction employment and tax revenue. “Every Lightstar project starts with the land and the people who live around it,” commented senior development manager Kyle McAdam.
Chinese researchers develop membrane targeting lower-cost industrial carbon capture
Researchers led by Tianjin University have developed an all-organic mixed-matrix membrane designed to separate carbon dioxide from industrial exhaust gases with lower energy requirements, according to reports. In tests using simulated flue gas, the membrane achieved a tenfold increase in CO₂ permeability and approximately 70% of the theoretical value predicted for a pure covalent organic framework membrane. The team estimates preliminary capture costs of about $38 per tonne of CO₂ and reported stable performance in tests involving moisture, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides.
California Waste Solutions proposes $500m waste-to-energy facility in Vietnam
California Waste Solutions has proposed a waste-to-energy facility at the Da Phuoc Integrated Waste Treatment Complex in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, requiring more than $500 million in new investment. The proposed plant would process 3,000 tonnes of waste daily and generate 60MW of electricity. The company says technical and financial planning and technology selection are complete, but investment-policy approval remains outstanding. “Investing heavily in the places you operate is one of the core differentiators of California Waste Solutions and its Vietnamese subsidiary,” said David Duong, founder and CEO of California Waste Solutions.
