Dear readers,
Greenpeace organized a protest against the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement by the new US President Trump in front of the US Embassy in Berlin on 21 January.
At the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the European heads of state and government spoke out against the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement and declared that they would remain firmly committed to the global climate agreement.
Regarding the Paris Climate Agreement, Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) said that “Europe will stay the course and continue to work with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUIIA1CahHY
The global agreement aims to limit long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or at least well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in order to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
At a panel discussion ahead of the COP30 climate talks in Belém, Brazil, in November, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said the “door is open” for the US.
“The world is in the midst of an unstoppable energy transition. Last year alone, over 2 trillion dollars were invested in the transition to clean energy. In comparison, one trillion was invested in fossil fuels.”
In response to Trump’s decision, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo emphasized the importance of unity in tackling the climate crisis during a meeting in Davos to discuss Europe’s transition to clean energy.
“The world is full of uncertainty, which has become even greater after yesterday, and perhaps there will be even more uncertainty tomorrow. As Europeans within the European Union, please let us not add to the uncertainty by being vague about our goals,” said De Croo.
Wopke Hoekstra, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, described it as a “truly regrettable development that the US is pulling out of the Paris Agreement in the fight against climate change”. Activists from the global South
“Globally, Trump’s decision undermines the collective fight against climate change at a time when unity and urgency are more important than ever. But the most tragic consequences will be felt in the developing world,” said Harjeet Singh, director of global engagement for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, as reported by The Associated Press. “These vulnerable nations and communities that have contributed the least to global emissions will bear the brunt of increasing floods, rising seas and crippling droughts. China also expressed concern about the US pulling out of the agreement.
“Climate change is a common challenge,” said Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. “No country can escape it. No country can be immune to it.”
The global bioethanol yeast market is expected to reach a value of USD 56.50 billion by 2033. According to the report, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.27% during the forecast period 2025-2033. The report highlights that bioethanol production is showing remarkable momentum as both established and emerging players are introducing specialized strains and refined production methods.
The Indian Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that India would achieve its target of 20% ethanol (E20) blending in the next two months. According to the report, ethanol blending with petrol began as a pilot project in 2001. “We will achieve the 20% ethanol blending target in the next two months. The use of E20 will help reduce pollution”. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/india-to-achieve-20-ethanol-blending-target-in-2-months-nitin-gadkari/articleshow/117268603.cms?from=mdr#google_vignette
According to UFOP, the International Energy Agency (iea) updated and published its country reports in December 2024. For a country-specific overview (EU) of the national framework conditions and the development of the use of biomass for energy recovery (heat, electricity and biofuel production), we recommend visiting the website: www.ieabioenergy.com/blog/publications/2024-country-reports/
Greenergy recently announced the successful closing of its new revolving secured credit facility and term loan in the UK. Together with the existing receivables purchase facility, this brings Greenergy’s total credit facility to USD 1.4 billion. The refinancing is supported by Greenergy’s parent company, Trafigura, and includes a new USD 500 million revolving secured credit facility that provides a high degree of flexibility to meet Greenergy’s growing working capital needs. The facility will be provided by a syndicate of banks including Lloyds Bank plc, Natixis, Societe Generale, MUFG and NatWest Bank Plc. https://www.greenergy.com/greenergy-closes-the-refinancing-of-its-credit-facilities
SAF-One, a company focused on developing global sustainable aviation fuel solutions, announced the acquisition of Green Biotrade, a United Arab Emirates-based feedstock and biofuel trading company. The company noted that this strategic acquisition will strengthen its supply chain capabilities and secure critical feedstock for its sustainable aviation fuel projects. https://www.saf-one.co/
Adif and Exolum have signed a cooperation agreement to study the creation of a rail logistics network that will facilitate the transportation of CO2, ammonia, methanol, biofuels and other raw materials by connecting Exolum’s facilities to the Adif network. In this way, the market can be offered an immediate, versatile and environmentally friendly solution for the transportation of the energy products of the future, and it will contribute to the objective of increasing the share of rail by directing new traffic to the Atlantic corridor. https://www.adif.es/en/-/adif-y-exolum-sellan-un-acuerdo-para-estudiar-la-creaci%C3%B3n-de-una-red-log%C3%ADstica-ferroviaria-de-graneles-l%C3%ADquidos
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) recently announced $13.7 million in federal funding for four projects that will advance large-scale conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into environmentally responsible and economically valuable products. With funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, projects will help develop conversion technologies that feasibly produce crucial fuels, building materials, and other carbon-based products from captured carbon emissions. https://www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/doe-invests-nearly-14-million-advance-technologies-transform-carbon-emissions
Corn Next has launched CornNext-17. A bio-based material derived from renewable corn starch and a fully biodegradable material used to combat the global plastic pollution crisis. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/corn-next-launches-cornnext-17-a-groundbreaking-sustainable-solution-to-plastic-pollution-302348401.html
Kenyans wrote the president has ordered the Agriculture, Energy, and Treasury to draft rules that would see molasses converted into ethanol in an effort to reduce fossil fuel imports. The ministries have 90 days to submit to the president their suggestions for next steps. To promote domestic production, the president aims to ban molasses exports as a way to ensure sufficient feedstock. He has threatened that those who do not deliver on his policy demands in the timeframe stipulated with suffer consequences. https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/108210-ruto-orders-action-local-ethanol-production-cut-fuel-imports
India’s AM Green has partnered with Dubai-based global port and logistics company DP World to develop infrastructure to export one million metric tons per annum (MTPA) each of green ammonia and methanol. According to the report, the partnership includes the construction of infrastructure in the European Union, the Far East region and the United Arab Emirates. https://www.manifoldtimes.com/news/am-green-and-dp-world-partner-to-develop-green-ammonia-methanol-bunkering-infrastructure/
Neste said it is partnering with Italian fuel distributor Firmin to make Neste MY Renewable Diesel available for the first time in Italy to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emission in the transport sector. Neste MY Renewable Diesel is available in Italy from the beginning of January, 2025, the firm said. https://www.neste.com/news/neste-my-renewable-diesel-introduced-to-the-italian-market-in-collaboration-with-fuel-distributor-firmin
Boeing has become a key project development partner of Norsk e-Fuel, supporting one of Europe’s first industrial scale Power-to-Liquids (PtL) facilities. Boeing’s investment will accelerate the production and availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the Nordics and globally. It is also intended to support the commercial aviation industry’s and ICAO member states’ common goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131517
A report by the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) develops and analyzes three future scenarios for the demand for carbon-based fuels up to 2050 – each a possible development under the current political rules. The results show that the demand for second-generation biomass biofuels will increase significantly, mainly due to increasing quotas for aviation fuels and shipping. This projection not only highlights potential risks to the ecological balance and sustainability of resources that need to be carefully managed, but also poses significant barriers for other sectors that require renewable carbon to defossilize their products. In particular, the chemical and materials sector is dependent on biogenic and sequestered carbon as a feedstock in the long term. https://renewable-carbon.eu/news/biomass-demand-for-transport-fuels-aviation-and-shipping-up-to-2050-and-implications-for-biomass-supply-to-the-chemical-sector/