Market Updates
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© Copyright – Welhunt Materials Enterprise Co. Ltd.
Disclaimer/Terms conditions
Market Updates
© Copyright – Welhunt Materials Enterprise Co. Ltd. | Disclaimer/Terms conditions
© Copyright – Welhunt Materials Enterprise Co. Ltd.
Disclaimer/Terms conditions
New Study Links Microplastics To Reduced Ocean Carbon Absorption
A new study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics reveals microplastics (under 5mm) reduce ocean CO₂ absorption by disrupting phytoplankton photosynthesis and zooplankton metabolism in the biological carbon pump, while the “plastisphere” microbial communities on plastics emit GHGs during degradation. This pollution weakens oceans—the planet’s largest carbon sink—exacerbating warming, acidification, biodiversity loss, and coastal food insecurity. Researchers from China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and UAE urge curbing plastic production, better waste management, and further study on microplastic-climate interactions.
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#Microplastics #OceanCarbonSink #MarineEcosystems #ClimateImpact #PlasticPollution #CarbonCycle
China’s CNPC Hits One Million-Ton Carbon Injection Milestone In Oilfield Push
China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) reports injecting over 1 million metric tons of CO₂ into one of its flagship oilfields in a single year, up from just 100,000 tons in 2022, with cumulative injections now exceeding 2 million tons. The achievement underscores China’s push to scale carbon capture and utilization (CCUS) as both a climate tool and energy security strategy. Analysts note China’s capture costs could fall to $30–$40 per ton, far below Europe’s $300, highlighting a competitive edge in industrial-scale deployment.
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#China #CCUS #OneMillionTons #CaptureCosts #IndustrialDeployment #EnergySecurity #Oilfield#CNPC
Japan to back clean-energy users with $1.3 billion in investment subsidies
Japan will allocate $1.34 billion over five years to subsidize up to 50% of capital investment for companies using fully decarbonized electricity, including data centers. The program aims to accelerate renewable energy adoption, cut reliance on imported fossil fuels, and anchor new industrial growth in regional areas. This initiative signals Japan’s intent to link clean power demand with economic competitiveness and energy security as part of its GX 2040 vision to achieve 50% renewable electricity supply.
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#Japan #CleanEnergySubsidy #GX2040 #DataCenters #DecarbonizedElectricity #CapexSupport #RegionalGrowth #EnergySecurity #Competitiveness
ADB Approves $500 Million Policy Loan to Anchor Philippines’ Blue Economy Strategy
The Philippines is advancing marine protection through a new National Blue Economy Framework backed by over $1 billion in international funding, including a $500M ADB loan and co-financing from France and Germany.
The initiative aims to restore coastal ecosystems, curb pollution, and strengthen resilience for inclusive growth. With oceans underpinning fisheries, tourism, shipping, and energy—critical to livelihoods for over half the population—the program positions marine health as central to the nation’s economic future amid intensifying climate risks.
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#Philippines #SoutheastAsia #BlueEconomy #ADB #PolicyLoan #MarineProtection #CoastalResilience #PollutionControl #InclusiveGrowth #InternationalFinancing
Economic growth no longer linked to carbon emissions in most of the world, study finds
A report by the UK’s Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) finds that countries representing 46% of global GDP have achieved significant carbon reductions while maintaining consumption-based economic growth since 2015, with progress concentrated in major emitters across the Global South. Latest carbon budget data shows developed economies increasingly decoupling growth from emissions, led by the UK, Norway, and Switzerland. China, the world’s largest emitter, has sharply reduced its reliance on coal and fossil fuels; from 2015 to 2023, its consumption-based emissions grew only 24%, far below its economic growth rate, signaling a shift toward stabilization.
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#LowCarbonTransition #ConsumptionEmissions #UK #Norway #Switzerland #China #CoalDecline
Australia looks to pension funds to fuel Southeast Asia clean energy expansion
Australia is leveraging its pension funds and blended finance to drive clean energy expansion in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia as a key focus through initiatives like the Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership (KINETIK). Australia provided a $15 million concessional loan for the Muara Laboh geothermal project’s Unit 2 expansion in West Sumatra, part of a $92.6 million ADB financing package expected to power 435,000 households by 2027. The project emphasizes gender equality, local jobs, and community benefits, supporting Indonesia’s net-zero goals and harnessing its vast geothermal potential while unlocking private capital for low-carbon infrastructure.
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#Australia #SoutheastAsia #CleanEnergy #PensionFunds #BlendedFinance #Indonesia #Geothermal
Taiwan study finds soil holds most forest carbon reserves
Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI) research reveals that soil holds the largest carbon reserves in Taiwan’s forests, accounting for about 45% of total ecosystem storage, surpassing tree trunks. A study in Nantou’s Renlun Forest Road found deep soil under Taiwanese China fir has the highest carbon concentration among artificial forests, outperforming Chamaecyparis formosensis and Taiwania cryptomerioides, with differences of 10-20 metric tons per hectare. Selecting optimal tree species for afforestation could boost Taiwan’s carbon sink competitiveness, while long-term management, including non-commercial thinning, sustains sequestration despite typhoons and heavy rains.
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#Taiwan #Forest #CarbonSink #SoilCarbon #Afforestation #TFRI #Ecosystem
Starbucks Workers United launches 65-store strike
Starbucks Workers United has launched an open-ended strike involving over 1,000 workers across at least 65 stores in 40 cities, during the company’s annual Red Cup day. This escalation follows a union vote with over 92% support for striking and recent stalled bargaining talks, highlighting ongoing labor disputes over wages and working conditions. The strike could become the longest in Starbucks history, surpassing previous 64-day actions, with union leaders emphasizing preparations and internal organization efforts. Starbucks disputes the scale of the strike, claiming fewer stores and workers are involved, while protests reflect deeper issues related to labor law violations and bargaining failures.
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#Starbucks #US #Labor #Strike #Union #WorkersRights #SocialESG #RedCupDay