Global Scans · Decarbonization · Weekly Summary

• [New] A projected decline in the extent of permafrost will have a major impact on the Earth ecosystem, affecting global climate through the mobilization of carbon and nitrogen stored in permafrost. Arctic Portal - The Arctic Gateway
• [New] The exponential rise in AI workloads and hyperscale data center expansion is intensifying global power demand, creating a high-value opportunity for small modular reactors as low-carbon, reliable energy sources. Persistence Market Research
• [New] With gas stockpiles low across the globe and prices at the pump over $4 per gallon in mid-June, experts expect energy demand to remain high and overall costs to plague consumers for some time. The Shop
• [New] Countries have pledged around 2.7 billion tonnes of carbon removal by 2035 and about 3.6 billion by 2050, but climate pathways require much more, especially in the long term. EurekAlert!
• [New] Once warming exceeds 1.5 °C, bringing the global temperature back down will mean removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than we emit, by achieving net-negative emissions to rebalance the global carbon budget. EurekAlert!
• [New] BASF digital tools will help connect growers with biorefineries and document the carbon intensity of their crops. Agroforestry
• [New] The EU Erasmus + - funded MAPPING project, coordinated by Italian non-profit Deafal ETS, will develop a free, open platform for gathering and comparing agroforestry data and best practices across regions. Agroforestry
• [New] The Sasakawa Africa Association is training farmers, researchers, policymakers, and extension workers on agroforestry finance to position them for opportunities in the emerging carbon economy. Agroforestry
• [New] A national hydrogen backbone infrastructure is planned, with the first phase set for 2030 and full deployment by 2050, reinforcing hydrogen's role in industrial decarbonization and cross-sector energy flexibility. World Energy Council
• [New] Scotland's rapid uptake of residential solar and heat pumps demonstrates how households are reducing the embodied carbon of existing homes faster than policy frameworks anticipate, supporting national ambitions for net zero whole life carbon. Whole Life Carbon
• [New] Hydrogen Allocation Round 1: the Low Carbon Contracts Company has signed Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreements with HAR1 green hydrogen projects, which are expected to provide up to 117 MW of low-carbon hydrogen installed capacity once fully operational. Climate Change Committee
• [New] There has been progress on developing CCS and low-carbon hydrogen to service two of the UK's four oil refineries, but risks remain. Climate Change Committee
• [New] The National Wealth Fund announced a £28.6 million investment to support the development of Peak Cluster CO2 transport system, which could support CCS for four cement and lime plants. Climate Change Committee
• [New] Low-carbon heating: the Warm Homes Plan aims for 450,000 heat pumps to be installed per year in the UK by 2030, of which around 250,000 would be retrofit. Climate Change Committee
• [New] The CBGDP pathway reduces emissions by 65% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. Climate Change Committee
• [New] The National Emission Ceilings Regulations legislated a target in England of a 73% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, assessed against the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. Climate Change Committee
• [New] Removing any unnecessary barriers that make a heat pump harder to install than a gas boiler, so that low-carbon heating installations become the default choice by 2035. Climate Change Committee
• [New] Especially in the climate laggard states, decarbonization efforts to implement the Biden Administration's climate policy plans will mean a transition that starts from scratch, as no policy and regulation is in place and new institutions would have to be set up. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The Sustainability Plan requires U.S. government agencies and departments to obtain 100% of their electricity from clean (carbon pollution free) sources by 2030. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Biden has set the target of increasing the share of zero-emission-vehicle (ZEV) in overall automobile sales in the US to 50% by 2030. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Both support schemes and consumer-subsidies should be anchored in the NZIA sustainability and resilience criteria, which already incentivise low-carbon supply chains and mitigate economic-security risks, while remaining WTO-compatible. Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank
• [New] The 'Union origin or equivalent' content rules in support schemes risk delaying decarbonization, inflating costs for consumers and firms, and inviting third-country WTO challenges or retaliation. Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank

Last updated: 28 June 2026