India set to mandate climate risk disclosures for banks by 2028
India’s central bank, RBI, is finalizing rules to require banks and financial institutions to regularly disclose and manage climate-related financial risks, Reuters reports. The disclosures will be voluntary from fiscal 2027 and mandatory from 2028, covering exposure to climate risks, mitigation strategies, and scenario-based stress testing for extreme weather events. The move aims to boost transparency and align with global climate objectives.
Singapore and China deepen cooperation on green finance
Singapore and China are advancing joint efforts in sustainable finance, focusing on aligning their green taxonomies and improving cross-border investment, Business Times reports. At their recent Green Finance Taskforce meeting, officials highlighted progress on interoperable standards, deployment of the Multi-Jurisdiction Common Ground Taxonomy, and leveraging technology for emissions monitoring. Initiatives also target green syndicated loans and increased collaboration in green bond issuance, biodiversity finance, and technology-driven solutions.
EU regulators propose including ESG risks in finance stress tests
EU financial watchdogs propose requiring national regulators to add environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks to bank and insurance stress tests for more consistent supervision, Green Central Banking reports. The plan emphasizes climate and environmental factors initially, with social and governance risks added gradually. Experts question if current climate stress tests adequately capture financial losses, highlighting the need for actions beyond analysis.
European climate funding drops 71% in 2025 as big debt deals vanish
Climate tech investment in Europe fell sharply in the first half of 2025, plunging 71 percent year-on-year to €6.2 billion, Sifted reports. This decline follows a surge in 2024 caused by unusually large debt deals, like the €5bn Northvolt round. While late-stage deals disappeared, early-stage investing has stayed steadier. Industry insiders say the market is digesting previous investments and bracing for future opportunities.
Airlines warned of legal risks over greenwashing jet fuel
And UK NGO, Opportunity Green, has warned that airlines risk lawsuits for labelling all alternatives to kerosene as “sustainable” without robust proof, Climate Change News reports. Fraud and greenwashing claims are rising, especially with questionable sustainable aviation fuel supply chains. Regulators have already penalized airlines for misleading environmental claims, urging accurate terminology and transparency on fuel sources and true climate impact.
EV giant Rivian to open London hub focused on AI and autonomy
American electric vehicle maker Rivian is launching its first UK office in London to tap into the city’s “world-class” AI engineering talent, according to Sifted. The hub will accelerate development of autonomous driving and AI technologies for Rivian’s vehicles. This move signals Rivian’s commitment to advanced vehicle tech and expansion into the European market.
Apple to buy $500 million in rare earths from MP Materials
Apple has agreed to purchase $500 million worth of rare earth materials from MP Materials, a Pentagon-supported US producer, TechCrunch reports. The multi-year deal aims to secure key minerals used in iPhones and other devices while reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains. This partnership strengthens US domestic production of critical materials and supports Apple’s commitment to supply chain resilience and sustainability.
Microsoft, Vaulted Deep partner to bury biomass waste deep
Microsoft has struck a deal with Vaulted Deep, an Xprize winning startup, to transform biomass waste into long-term carbon storage as part of the cloud giant’s carbon removal efforts, Bioenergy Insight reports. The process involves safely injecting treated agricultural biomass deep underground, locking away carbon for centuries. This partnership advances scalable, verifiable carbon sequestration solutions and highlights increasing corporate investment in novel carbon removal technologies.
Transvolt raises $20 million from IFC as part of $50 million round
Transvolt Mobility has raised $20 million from the International Finance Corporation as part of its $50 million financing round to expand its electric vehicle (EV) fleet, according to an IFC press release. This is IFC’s first equity investment in an EV platform in India and globally. It will enable Transvolt to scale its electric fleet portfolio to 3,500 vehicles and create 8,200 jobs in the next five years. It will also support the company’s long-term goal of deploying 8,000 heavy commercial EVs such as buses and trucks across India. Transvolt operates an OEM-agnostic EV platform serving both public and private sectors.
Omspace Rocket raises $3 million to advance small satellite launches
Ahmedabad-based space-tech startup Omspace Rocket & Exploration Private Limited has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding led by a family office and angel investors. Funds will finalize and launch the firm’s Infinity One prototype, a modular vehicle for cost-effective satellite delivery to low Earth orbit. Omspace will expand R&D, manufacturing, and hiring.
Japan sees bright future in ultra-thin flexible solar panels
Japanese researchers have developed ultra-thin, lightweight, and highly flexible solar panels that can be attached to a wide range of surfaces, from fabrics to curved structures, Tech Xplore reports. The breakthrough aims to enable energy generation on clothing, vehicles, and buildings without adding bulk. These panels offer promising durability and efficiency, opening new applications for solar technology in everyday life and emerging industries.
New perovskite-silicon solar cell breaks efficiency record
A team of researchers have achieved 34.58 percent power conversion efficiency by layering a self-assembling perovskite monolayer on traditional silicon solar cells, the scientists write in a new paper in the journal Nature. The technique allows for denser, uniform coverage, boosting light absorption and extraction. Although demonstrated under lab conditions on a small scale, this breakthrough could reduce solar costs and assist global renewable adoption if made commercially viable.
New eco-friendly lithium-ion battery recycling boosts sustainability
Scientists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute developed a scalable, energy-efficient hydrometallurgical process to recycle lithium-ion batteries, recovering over 92 percent of critical metals. The recycled cathode powders perform almost as well as new materials, with batteries retaining up to 88 percent capacity after 500 cycles. This innovation addresses battery waste, cuts carbon emissions, and supports a circular economy for clean energy.
Scientists debate shifting global warming limit to 1.7°C
With the world likely to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target, some experts suggest setting 1.7°C as a new focus to maintain momentum on climate mitigation, New Scientist reports. Achieving even 1.7°C would require surpassing current emission pledges. The most optimistic scenario predicts warming stabilizing at 1.9°C by century’s end, highlighting the mounting challenge of reining in global temperatures.
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