In line with the recent General Motors intent to focus on building electric vehicles, other auto manufacturers are also stepping into the limelight with a proposed commitment to electric vehicles and fuel cell battery production which suggests a growth in the industry this 2021. Along with General Motors, Kia Motors, as well as Lion Electric and others, have also announced their plans to proceed with rebranding, developing vehicle plants and manufacturing the said electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions. Read the full article by CM Staff on the Canadian Manufacturing website.

EU is said to have a large fleet fishing beyond the European waters. These non-EU waters are predominantly developing countries. EU has set out in several agreements built on the idea of fairness and sustainability which is seemingly difficult to assess as there’s a lack of transparency based on the principles of the agreements. Read the full article by Andrew Frederick Johnson and Ingrid Kelling on The Conversation website

After being inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States of America, President Joseph R. Biden’s first climate action includes rejoining Paris Agreement. This move is noted to be the first step in healing one of the deepest rifts between theUnited States and the rest of the world. This recommitment by the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement that is geared to avert catastrophic global warming and ordered federal agencies to start reviewing and reinstating dozens of environmental regulations that had been weakened or rolled back by former President Donald J. Trump. Read the full article by Coral Davenport and Lisa Friedman on The New York Times website

Synthetic fibres are found pervading the Arctic Ocean finding their way into zooplankton, fish, seabirds and marine mammals. In a recent study published, it states that textiles, laundry and municipal wastewater may be a principal source of Microplastics. Further evidence reveals that clothes washing contributes to the widespread contamination of the world’s oceans with microfibres; both synthetic and natural. Read the full article by Peter S. Ross on The Conversation website

There has been a recent release of the Global Cleantech 100 usually produced yearly by the Cleantech group and one of the key annual events in the cleantech sector. This report features the 100 most promising innovations, technologies, and industries invested in building a sustainable world. This year’s edition is titled “From Chaos to Transformation: The Companies and Themes Delivering Sustainable Innovation” this edition outlines the biggest trends in the cleantech sector and highlights the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic emphasizing the chaos that has led to crisis further resulting in a wake-up call by the government and citizens. Read the full article by Tristan Lebleu on the Solar Impulse Foundation Website

Venus has a surface temperature of 450 degrees known to be the temperature of an oven’s self-cleaning cycle with a density 90 times that of Earth’s.  At present, the surface of the venus is inhospitable. Although Venus had earth like temperature, however, this changed due to a runaway greenhouse effect. It is speculated that an intensive period of volcanism pumped enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to cause the great climate change event. Read the full article by Richard Ernst on The Conversation Website

At the close of 2020, the U.S. energy legislation most awaited for the decade was passed attached to the Coronavirus relief and government funding. This legislation sets aside $35 billion in funding for clean energy, R&D while extending tax for solar, wind, nuclear, and carbon capture. Considering the importance of this bill, it appears to lack discussions centered on it although it is reportedly masked by the possibility of more ambitious legislation. Read the full article by  Stephen Lacey on the Greentech Media Website

To combat the challenges faced in the plastic industry, banks provided $1.7 trillion of finance to 40 companies in the plastic supply chain without imposed requirements to tackle pollution flowing into the world’s rivers and oceans. About 20 global banks that provided the bulk of financing for the plastic packaging do not have in existence a due diligence or exclusion criteria to fulfill its intended sustainable commitment. Read the full article by Matthew Green on the Reuters Website.

Eco-labels are usually aided by credible audits involving inspections of production facilities in-person to ascertain claims are real. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes made to the audit system, such as conducting the audit virtually, casting doubt on the information provided and the eco-labeling process as a whole, especially in low-income countries. Read the full article by Graeme Auld and Stefans Renckens on The Conversation

Canada is playing its part in its commitment to the Paris Agreement to avert fatal outcomes for life on Earth by lessening greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In doing this, Canada is progressing as a leading cleantech innovation nation in the global cleantech economy. A visible threat to this strategic position is an inability to adopt, commercialize, or scale innovations, among other factors. Read the full article featuring Yung Wu, CEO of MaRS Discovery District, by Media Planet on the Innovating Canada website.

Experts stated that for survival, changes need to occur for both endangered ecosystems and the forestry industry. To attain these changes, there will be a need to establish a government-to-government relationship with First Nations by bringing them into the decision-making process in a more effective way. Read the full article by Kieran Oudshoorn on the CBC News Website

In a bid to combat the climate change effect, governments have adopted the idea of planting more trees as a way of fighting climate change. These planted trees increase photosynthesis which leads to converting carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen. The creation of genetically engineered plants that resist pests have also been created to grow twice as fast as normal trees. Read the full article by Jade Prevost Manuel on the CBC News website

Pani Energy is selected among five other Canadian companies to present at CII International’s exclusive event. The Canada-India Partnership Opportunities in the Water Sector session is aimed at technologies that involve artificial intelligence for optimization of treatment plants, disruptive membrane technology, onsite water quality detection, decentralized wastewater treatment, and environmental solutions. Read the article and more on the event on Pani Energy’s LinkedIn page

Canada has adopted emissions reduction targets at international climate change summits which include adding more electric vehicle charging stations, improving the energy of homes and buildings, and raising the price of carbon by 2030. Read the full article by Kathryn Harrison on the Canadian Manufacturing website

Nature-based solutions have been researched to help solve human-caused problems like land disturbances. This includes several studies evaluating plant growth on oilsands tailings, with research suggesting that the addition of plant growth-promoting supplements may help overcome some of the challenges faced by native species. Read the full article by Victoria Collins on The Conversation’s website

The Pembina Institute, in conjunction with some of Canada’s largest shipping companies, calls for a national strategy to facilitate the industry’s transition to zero-emission vehicles — a shift the groups say can not happen without significant financial incentives from all levels of government. Read the full article by Joe Terrett on the Canadian Manufacturing website

Compared to the 16th century in North America when seabirds could be heard cackling and moving in large groups, the current seabird population has plummeted. Research conducted using amounts of bird poop that’s washed through the rain into the sea suggests this decline in population. Causes are linked to industrialization and other factors. Read the full article by Matthew Duda and John P. Smol on The Conversation’s website

Due to the present level of industrialization and its effects on climate change, the UN challenged world leaders to make 2021 the year humanity ends its war on nature, committing to a future free of the planet-warming carbon emissions in an effort to reduce climate change and its catastrophic global effects.  Read the full article by Seth Borenstein and Frank Jordans for the Associated Press

Post-mortem exams conducted on killer whales that died between 1925 and 2011 generated a limited amount of information, but did reveal that many died from human-caused injuries. Ingested fishing hooks and blunt -force trauma consistent with ship and propeller strikes were common causes of death in northern and southern resident killer whales. Read the full article by  Stephen Raverty and Joseph K. Gaydos on The Conversation’s website

 The Trudeau cabinet first approved Trans Mountain in 2016 and again in 2019. Currently, it is estimated it will cost about $12.6 billion to expand the pipeline to nearly triple its total capacity, but new environmental policies, such as an expanded carbon tax, may no longer make the project feasible.  Read the full article by Mia Rabson on the Global News website

Bill C-12 is put in place to set targets in pursuit of a net-zero emissions path by 2050. However, the plan is yet to specify targets. To move to net-zero emissions over a 30-year timeframe means that Canada needs to start targeting emission reductions of three percent to four percent each year. Read the full article by Warren Mabee on The Conversation’s website

General Motors says a pending breakthrough in battery chemistry will cut the price of its electric vehicles. The announcement on November 19 suggests that electric vehicle technology is evolving and has the potential to become the primary fuel for transportation. Read the full article by Tom Krisher on The Associated Press website

The expansion of the Accelerator Centre program is directed at providing additional support to novel solutions addressing COVID-19 digital health, the future of work, social innovation, community safety, education, diversity, equity, and poverty reduction. In addition to this, tech organizations like Kids Code Jeunesse, the Royal Bank of Canada, and Amplify Capital have also made new commitments to uphold these goals in their activities. Read the full article by Isabelle Kirkwood on the Betakit website

Recent federal funding of  over $2M is aimed at researching the impact of plastic pollution on natural health and the environment after a recent assessment suggested that gaps in knowledge remain. Read the full article by CM Staff on the Canadian Manufacturing Website

An Alberta non-profit organization reports there is a gap between the education students receive in schools regarding energy and the environment. Survey results showed a high percentage of students are concerned about climate change and the future. Read the full article by The Canadian Press on the CBC News website

The Government of Canada announced $4 million to support the EcoAction Community Funding program centered around the health and quality of water and creating habitat for wildlife while supporting good local jobs. Read the full article by CM Staff on the Canadian Manufacturing website

Shell is launching a Drive Carbon Neutral program for customers with the intent to reduce carbon emissions created through producing, refining, and burning of fossil fuels, as well as other CO2-producing activities.

Read the full article on CBC News.

In achieving decarbonization globally, developing a roadmap that catalyzes a sustainable energy economy through the use of hydrogen, renewable energy, and natural gas reserves is critical.

Read the full article by CM staff on the Canadian Manufacturing website

To meet the Paris Agreement goals by 2030, the global voluntary carbon credit market needs transparency to promote market integrity, clear standards, and a measure of verifiable projects that are distinct in their purpose to avoid or reduce carbon emissions. Read the full article by Susanne Twidale on the Reuters website

Just like the evolution of cell phones to smartphones, “green tech” is at a tipping point for explosive growth, but a change in mindset when it comes to power generation is paramount to drive a revolution in renewable energy solutions. Read the full article by Justin Rowlatt on BBC News

The government of Canada announced an investment of  $100M to support clean energy initiatives, adding 3,100 jobs by focusing on made-in-Alberta solutions aimed at energy efficiency and clean tech innovation. Read the full article by CM Staff on Canadian Manufacturing

With a shift in current policies and fundamental program designs, next-generation Energy Efficiency (EE) programs are considered a crucial tool for attaining extensive carbon reduction goals and increased electrification. Read the full article by  Val Jensen on Green Tech Media

Irish companies have been making waves in the cleantech sector in the UAE and Saudi Arabia through major deals in the region and via exciting expansion plans. Read the full article by Kasun Illankoon on the Construction Business News website

New investments in cleantech ecosystems are focused on establishing a Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative technologies and processes, with a goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Read the full news release on the Government of Canada’s website

Electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions, but do have higher production and manufacturing emissions than conventional vehicles. Scaling down on the number of vehicles manufactured, accompanied by investment in public transit infrastructure, can fast-track the path to decarbonization. Read the full article by Alexandre Milovanoff on The Conversation’s website

For low-carbon innovations, commercialization becomes a valley of death in the transition of prototypes into products due to intensive capital needs and a risk of uncertain returns. Support from clean energy foundations that help stakeholders collaborate is needed. Read the full article by David M. Hart on The Conversation’s website

A recent $1.2M investment into a Toronto-based company is set to scale up the production of a new lightweight wood-fiber-based composite thermoplastic material to create automotive parts that are strong, lightweight, and have more uniform and improved properties. Read the full article via Canadian Manufacturing

There are over 125,000 abandoned or orphaned wells between British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan and the cost to cleanup and remediation is only increasing, as is the time needed for reclamation of the land for other uses. Read the full article by Kevin Kemball on The Conversation’s website

Armed with funding announcements, new partnership deals, and projects in the works, these 10 Canadian cleantech leaders are helping tackle some of most challenging environmental issues of our time with homegrown solutions that fight climate change. Read the full article by Barry Chong and Veronica Sheppard on MaRS

Pani Energy receives $2.8M from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to grow its technology and business development teams, working with consortium partners to deploy their AI solution at large-scale public and private plants in North America and the Asia Pacific region. Read the full article on Pani Energy’s website

Canada’s procurement incentives and policies are missing the mark for Canada’s high-growth cleantech startups, according to a new report released by the Innovation Economy Council (IEC). The report notes that Canadian cleantech companies tend to do better outside of Canada than within. Read the full article by Isabelle Kirkwood on BetaKit

Liberals’ 2021 single-use plastic ban includes grocery bags, takeout containers made of hard to recycle plastics, straws, stir sticks, plastic cutlery, and six-pack rings as the federal government announces regulations to be implemented by the end of next year. Read the full article on CBC.ca