Weather – LiveNews.co.nz

Big Oil set to double profits as their emissions fuel deadly heatwaves – Oxfam

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:16:47 +0000

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

Top six fossil fuel corporations expect Q2 profits to nearly double Q1 levels. Annual profits for 2026 are set to exceed the previous 21 months combined.
Emissions from five fossil fuel corporations were enough to cause about 1 in 4 heatwaves between 2000 and 2023, which would have been virtually impossible without climate change.
A tax on the richest oil and gas corporations could raise up to $400 billion in its first year, enough to cover annual climate adaptation costs in low- and middle-income countries.

The world’s six biggest fossil fuel corporations are expected to nearly double their combined net income in the second quarter of 2026, jumping from $23 billion in the previous quarter to $45 billion, reveals new Oxfam analysis ahead of their earnings announcements. New data also finds that the emissions of these corporations have significantly magnified the frequency and severity of heatwaves this century.

The projected full-year profits of BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies amount to $147 billion, more than their combined profits over the previous 21 months (Q2 2024 to Q4 2025). Among the biggest winners, Chevron is expected to report that it has quadrupled its profits to $1,200 a second in the last three months, while ExxonMobil’s profits are expected to have tripled to $1,800 a second.

Oil and gas corporations share an outsized responsibility for the climate crisis. New Oxfam analysis of academic data published in Nature finds that the emissions from BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies were sufficient to cause around 1 in 4 heatwaves reported globally between 2000 and 2023 – heatwaves that would have been virtually impossible without human-made climate change. Using S&P Capital Trucost data, Oxfam estimates that Big Oil was responsible for $60 billion in environmental damage last year.

The findings come as record-breaking heatwaves scorch South Asia, Europe and North America, killing tens of thousands of people. Meanwhile, West African countries are struggling with devastating monsoons and floods that have upended thousands of lives and destroyed vital infrastructure across the region.

Yet rather than scaling back fossil fuel production and accelerating the transition to renewable energy, the six largest fossil fuel corporations plan to increase oil and gas production by 14 percent by 2030 compared to 2024 levels, equivalent to pumping an additional 2.5 million barrels of oil a day.

“Fossil fuel corporations are making a killing, literally and figuratively. As extreme heat, floods and storms devastate communities across the world, the industry is preparing another bonanza of profits. Families are paying the price three times over: through destroyed homes and harvests, through soaring energy prices, and through a cost-of-living crisis worsened by dependence on fossil fuels. Big Oil’s greed is incompatible with a livable planet and unless governments rein it in, they will make a mockery of international climate targets,” said Oxfam’s Climate Policy Lead Mariana Paoli.

Oxfam estimates that a tax on the profits of the largest fossil fuel corporations could raise up to $400 billion globally in its first year, enough to cover annual climate adaptation costs in the Global South. An additional excess profits tax on all corporations could generate up to $681 billion globally.

“While Big Oil fuels extreme weather events, rich countries are refusing to increase the public climate finance that poorer countries urgently need to cope with the climate crisis,” said Paoli. “Until governments make the richest polluters pay, fossil fuel corporations will keep driving us deeper into climate chaos. Taxing the richest polluters could help close the gap in funding for climate adaptation and speed the transition towards renewable energy. Fossil fuel corporations must feel the heat, not us.”

Political momentum for taxing the richest polluters is growing. Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Austria have called for a new windfall tax on energy profits. In Australia, where Oxfam research found that one in three coal, oil and gas corporations are paying no corporate income tax, many members of Parliament are speaking out in support of a 25 percent export tax on gas, with strong public support.

Research in 60 countries found that 28 percent of them have implemented a temporary windfall tax on excess profits from fossil fuel companies in recent years, with a further 13 percent supportive. Just 12 percent are explicitly against the measure.

Oxfam Aotearoa’s Advocacy and Policy Lead, Nick Henry, said, “Fossil fuel companies have a global responsibility for climate change. The New Zealand Government should be holding these rich polluters to account and making them pay the cost of their climate damage.”

Oxfam’s research is based on S&P Capital IQ’s consensus estimates compiled from financial analysts’ forecasts. The six largest fossil fuel corporations are due to publish their second-quarter earnings over the coming week. The projected surge in profits reflects the sharp rise in oil prices following the unlawful US and Israel war against Iran.

Methodology note

Comprehensive investigation

Peer-reviewed analysis

Heatwave deaths and West African flooding

Oxfam estimate

UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2025

Oxfam’s rich polluter profit tax model

EU finance ministers’ letter

Oxfam Australia’s Freeloaders report

Government-support country mapping

MIL OSI

Save the Children – Two thirds of children in Western Europe exposed to extreme heatwaves in record-breaking first half of 2026

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:52:25 +0000

Source: Save the Children

Two thirds of children across Western Europe [1] were exposed to extreme heatwaves between 1 January and 14 July this year, according to new data from Save the Children as temperatures soar and record wildfires ravage parts of Europe. [2]

The child rights organisation said that the number of children impacted by extreme heatwaves during that six-and-a-half-month period was already three times the figure from the whole of 2025 – and more than any entire year since 2003.

Save the Children analysed satellite imagery of surface temperatures covering every part of the world. The aid agency defined an extreme heatwave as three consecutive days experiencing a temperature in the top 1% of all those recorded in that location in the previous 30 years.

The data is particularly stark given the majority of the time period in the analysis covers winter and spring in Western Europe, when temperatures are lower. This suggests that findings for the entire 12 months of 2026 will be even more severe, Save the Children said.

In Germany, the number of children exposed to extreme heat in the first six months of this year was larger than the past five years combined. [3]

In the UK, 10 million children – three quarters of the child population – have been exposed to extreme heat in the first six months of this year. This is more than the total for any single year in the past 30 years. [4]

Children already affected by inequality or discrimination – such as those living in poverty, refugees or children with disabilities or underlying health conditions – are at a unique disadvantage, Save the Children said.

Zainab, 16, a child campaigner with Save the Children UK, said:

“For many people, particularly those living with chronic illnesses, this heat is not simply uncomfortable, it is dangerous. For some, a heatwave means an ice cream, a day in the park or turning on a fan. For others, it’s dehydration, exhaustion, dizziness and pain. Medication can become harder to manage. Existing illnesses becoming more severe.

“I know that because I live it. I have lived with Type 1 diabetes for most of my life. When temperatures rise, managing my health becomes harder. My body does not get to experience extreme heat as a minor inconvenience. The climate crisis does not stay outside my window. It enters through my body. Climate change does not affect everyone equally, but when the temperature rises, inequality rises with it.”

Human-induced climate change is making extreme weather events like heatwaves, drought and wildfires more frequent and severe. Save the Children’s findings reveal that across the globe, extreme heatwaves now reach substantially more children than a generation ago. In the 1990s and 2000s, around one in 10 children worldwide [5] were exposed to an extreme heatwave each year. In the 2020s so far, that average has increased to one in seven children [6]. Two of the four worst years since 1990- the start of the period examined – were in the past three years.

A report by Save the Children and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel last year found that almost a third of the world’s children born in 2020 – about 38 million – would be spared a lifetime’s “unprecedented” exposure to extreme heat [7] if we can meet the 1.5 degrees C warming target by 2100.

The health risks of dangerous heat to young children are acute, due to their ongoing physical development and lower capacity for body temperature regulation. During heatwaves, children are at a high risk of electrolyte imbalance, fever, respiratory disease, and kidney disease. [8]

This kind of unprecedented heat is also disrupting children’s education. In June, schools in France and the UK were forced to close or alter timetables to protect children from dangerous heat as temperatures surged.

Matilde Angeltveit, Senior Advisor and Global Climate Advocacy Lead at Save the Children, said:

“Over the past few months, we have seen the climate crisis unleash unbearable heat on children and families across Europe. Heat like this damages children’s health, disrupts their sleep and schooling, and brings basic services to a standstill. We also fear that crops will fail and food prices surge due to the heat at a time when families are already struggling to cope.

“Children are disproportionately vulnerable to extreme heat, yet they have done the least to contribute to the climate crisis. We know by now that we urgently need to adapt to this situation – but children need us to put their lives, rights and needs front and centre.

“While we need this today, ultimately, in order to safeguard children’s futures, we need to see a rapid phase out of the use and subsidy of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy in an equitable and fair way. We know that this is in our power, and if we do it in the shrinking time window available to us, children’s exposure to these dangers will be curbed dramatically.”

Save the Children is calling for the recognition of children’s unique vulnerabilities to climate change, the delivery of high-quality, affordable funding to lower-income countries, including financing to cut emissions, and the urgent phase out of the use and subsidy of fossil fuels.

As the world’s leading independent child rights organisation, Save the Children works in over 100 countries, tackling climate change across everything we do and putting children at the heart of climate action.

Notes:

More information available here on 28 July.

[1] Countries included in Western Europe in data set: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

[2] Methodology available here – full data available on request

[3] Full data available on request

[4] Methodology available here – full data available on request

[4] an average of 200 to 230 million children

[5] 360 million children

[6] For the research in the Born into the Climate Crisis 2 report by Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Save the Children, scientists have defined a heatwave as: when the daily Heat Wave Magnitude Index of that year exceeds the 99th percentile of pre-industrial Heat Wave Magnitude Index distribution for the specific climate model grid cell. The Heat Wave Magnitude Index measures how intense a heatwave is during a year. It looks at the hottest stretch of at least three days in a row when temperatures are much higher than what was normal before industrial times. The higher the number, the more extreme the heatwave.

[7] Born into the Climate Crisis, Save the Children and Vrije Universiteit Brussel

About Save the Children NZ:

Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.

Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

MIL OSI

The Virtual Island Summit returns for its 8th edition with a new three-day format and first speakers confirmed

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:37:28 +0000

Source: Island Innovation

27 July, 2026: The Virtual Island Summit (VIS), the premier free online conference for island communities worldwide, will return on 15-17 September 2026.

Now in its eighth year, VIS marks a significant shift from previous editions. The three-day event will follow a narrative arc, with each day building on the last and programming spanning time zones from the Pacific to the Caribbean so audiences everywhere can join live at times that work for them.

Day 1, Adapt to Change, looks at how island communities are responding to conditions that have already shifted, from decarbonising marine transport and adapting to coastal erosion, to the generational knowledge and ocean governance practices that have sustained island communities for decades.
Day 2, Transform Systems, examines the models and mechanisms already reshaping island futures: rethinking tourism before pressures become irreversible, turning waste into a circular local economy, reviving indigenous languages, and building food sovereignty in the face of import dependence.
Day 3, Mobilise Action, turns to what moves people, capital and political will: the funding structures, coalitions and leadership approaches that turn plans into results.

The event is free to attend and open to the public, continuing the Summit’s commitment to accessible, Zero-Carbon knowledge sharing between islanders and global partners alike.

“The Virtual Island Summit is our flagship online event and we are proud to deliver a high-level knowledge-sharing platform that puts islands at the heart of global discussions,” said James Ellsmoor, Chief Executive Officer of Island Innovation. “The Summit highlights islands not simply as places facing shared challenges, but as places developing practical solutions with relevance far beyond their own shores. This year we are evolving the format to reflect how island communities actually work through challenges: understanding the problem, finding what works, and mobilising the resources to scale it. We want attendees to leave VIS 2026 with a clearer sense of where islands stand and what comes next.”

The first confirmed speakers for VIS 2026 include heads of government and senior policy leaders such as:

Lourdes Leon Guerrero, Governor of Guam;
Feleti Penitala Teo, Prime Minister, Government of Tuvalu;
Cora Richardson-Hodge, Premier of the Government of Anguilla;
Albert Bryan, Governor of the US Virgin Islands
Jache Adams, Minister of Public Works and the Environment, Government of Bermuda;
Hannah Mary Goodlad, MSP for Shetland Islands & Minister for Public Finance, Scottish Government;
Chris Lee, Senator, Hawaii State
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā, Chief Executive Officer, Hawai’i Green Growth
Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate;
Chris Elmore, MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Multilateral, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, President of the Corsican Assembly & President of the Islands Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR)

They are joined by researchers, educators and sector experts including:

Dr Dai-Yeun Jeong, Director of the Asia Climate Change Education Center;
Maria Ackrén, Director of the Stefansson Arctic Institute;
Laurie Brinklow, Chair, Institute of Island Studies, University of Prince Edward Island, University of Prince Edward Island;
Peter Van Aert, Researcher and Teacher at the Institute of Culture, Society and State, National University of Tierra del Fuego;
Chalapan Kaluwin, Director of Momis Ocean and Climate Research institute & Dean of School of Sustainable Resources Management & Business Studies, PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment;
Olly Newton, Executive Director of The Edge Foundation.

Additional speakers will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Previous editions have brought together heads of state, ministers, and senior practitioners from over 500 island communities across the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, and beyond, drawing more than 10,000 attendees.

All sessions will be available free of charge. Registration is now open at islandinnovation.co/events/virtual-island-summit-2026.

MIL OSI

Severe weather “a clear focus” of NEMA Resilience Fund 2026/27 grants

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 01:52:38 +0000

Severe weather “a clear focus” of NEMA Resilience Fund 2026/27 grants

Source: National Emergency Management Agency

Seventeen projects focusing on community resilience and response to severe weather have been chosen to receive funding through the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Resilience Fund.

The Resilience Fund is administered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and aims to fund projects that will help communities prepare, reduce risk, respond to and recover from emergencies.

NEMA’s Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Price says the selected projects reflect the challenges that Aotearoa New Zealand is facing.

“Every year, it seems like severe weather events are more frequent and hit harder than they ever have before. Some communities are getting hammered year after year, and it’s crucial that NEMA’s Resilience Fund supports their efforts,” John Price says.

“This year, NEMA was delighted to receive proposals that build resilience in so many ways, and it was clear that severe weather was a focus for many applicants.

“From planning tools for disabled people, frameworks to tackle post-emergency rises in family violence, business resilience and land drainage networks, these projects showcase once again the knowledge, skills and innovative drive of our communities.

“We’re also delighted to be funding several iwi/Māori initiatives, including efforts to build Māori capability in emergency management.”

The fund has allocated $883,497 to 17 projects, and John Price says he’s delighted once again at the range and depth of the successful applications.

“This year, the Fund focused on applications that specifically supported the National Disaster Resilience Strategy’s aims, particularly building a culture of resilience in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Projects like these generate ideas that will benefit other communities around the country, and together, we will build a stronger and safer Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The successful applications are:

Te Whakapakari i te Whakautu Whakahautanga ā-Hapori (Strengthening Community Emergency Response) – $60,000
Waikato Resilience Video Series – $60,000
Waikato CDEM Group Power Out, Plan On campaign – $38,250
Kaipara Land Drainage Strategic Review – $55,500
Awakino River Flood Modelling – $43,475
Multi-lingual Children’s Storybook – earthquakes and tsunamis – $35,000
Prepared Together – $48,000
Community Emergency Hubs Project – $15,000
Ngati Tamatera – lwi-led emergency preparedness and community resilience – $70,000
Embedding family violence risk mitigation into disaster preparedness planning: A capability uplift for CDEM Waikato and the National Sector – $27,500
Tauranga Moana Iwi Hazard Integration Programme – $100,000
Mataatua CIMS Capability and Emergency Leadership Programme – $37,000
Building West Coast Businesses Emergency Preparedness, Connectivity and Continuity Planning – $50,000
A West Coast Fuel Resilience Project: Review and Update the West Coast Fuel Plan (2022) – $20,000
Te Rāwhiti Marae Emergency Preparedness – $60,000
Kia Kaha Ai Te Kupenga Rauora Civil Defence Plan – $30,772
Tairāwhiti Deployable Emergency Hybrid Energy Systems – $133,000

Notes for editors: about the CDEM Resilience Fund

The CDEM Resilience Fund is a contestable fund to enhance New Zealand’s hazard risk resilience. CDEM Groups, other organisations and individuals are eligible to apply.

Applications were considered by NEMA’s Subject Matter Experts against criteria with emphasis on improved collaboration, improved resilience locally and regionally, and consistent approaches.

The Resilience Fund is distributed on an annual basis. More details are available here: CDEM Resilience Fund – National Emergency Management Agency

MIL OSI

Bankable projects with clear ROI metrics vital to plug Malaysia’s RM130 billion adaptation deficit

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:31:44 +0000

Source: Eco-Business

Bankable projects with clear ROI metrics vital to plug Malaysia’s RM130 billion adaptation deficit

Kuala Lumpur, 24 July: Climate finance will need to shift towards strengthening market capacity and commercial viability to help Malaysia meet its urgent adaptation needs but is strained by a lack of bankable projects, clear metrics and project fragmentation, said regional leaders at the flagship www.eco-business.com/events/unlocking-capital-for-sustainability-2026-malaysia/” style=”color:#1155cc;text-decoration:underline;”>Unlocking capital for sustainability summit in Malaysia yesterday.

Malaysia requires approximately US$32.56 billion (RM133 billion) in disaster risk reduction and resilience in the coming decades to cope with mounting risks such as floods, droughts, coastal degradation and nature loss.

Edward Vrkić, resident representative for UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, said there is a “mismatch between what investors are looking for and how climate projects are currently structured.”

“Nature and climate adaptation is competing for capital against a mitigation story that sells better. Regulatory drivers, ESG pressure and familiar deal structures channel private capital into renewables and electric vehicles, leaving adaptation largely public-led. At the same time, Malaysia’s National Adaptation Plan (MyNAP) remains under development, so financing lacks a unifying framework and a prioritised project list,” he said during his keynote address.

Aligning climate, economic and business realities

H.E. Ajay Sharma, British high commissioner to Malaysia, said in his special address: “One of the roles of international financiers is to address the risks preventing private capital from flowing into viable opportunities. That is why our international climate finance is now more focused on helping markets to work better, strengthening project bankability – especially among SMEs, and helping private capital flow at scale and to the right places.”

“This includes programmes such as the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) to help countries’ transition to a low carbon economy, the Climate Finance Accelerator to support climate enterprises become investment ready and mobilising investments through vehicles such as British International Investment and MOBILIST.”

Meanwhile, companies that treat projects such as decarbonisation as a compliance obligation frequently fall behind, missing out on new and lucrative opportunities, Kati Ferry, chief executive officer for EUROCHAM Malaysia, said.

“The companies that treated it as an engineering, investment and market opportunity began developing cleaner technologies, reducing energy use, redesigning manufacturing processes and creating new products and services. Those are often the companies now winning new contracts, attracting talent, improving efficiency and preparing themselves for the markets of the future,” she said in her closing address.

This includes the TechnipFMC facility in Johor which, though lacking a major upfront investment, became feasible due to a financing model which matched the operational needs of the customer, she said.

“The capital was available. The technology was available. What unlocked the project was the right commercial agreement.”

Asia setting the pace for the transition

Organised by Eco-Business in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside strategic partner, AmBank Group, and supporting partners, Control Union Malaysia, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and TOMRA, the 2026 edition of Unlocking capital for sustainability – Malaysia convened over 230 delegates from government, finance and industry under the theme of “Financing growth for a resilient economy”.

Jessica Cheam, founder and CEO for Eco-Business, said Asia is proving to be a region where sustainable finance is built and not just discussed, with Malaysia itself writing the rules in this space before the investments arrive.

“It has been so encouraging to see that Malaysia has built on the momentum of the Asean chairmanship last year and moved from rhetoric to regulation. The Securities Commission’s Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030 now targets RM90 billion to RM100 billion in cumulative sustainability financing by the end of the decade,” she said in her opening remarks.

“Alongside it, a National Carbon Market Policy has laid the groundwork for a national carbon credit ecosystem, ahead of a carbon tax on iron, steel and energy that government has, for now, chosen to delay given the economic headwinds.”

Fostering connections through tailored, impact-driven sessions

The sustainable finance forum also featured curated dialogues on nature and biodiversity’s role in shaping finance and business strategy, led by PwC Malaysia and AmBank Group; financing Malaysia’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters, led by MyDIGITAL Corporation and PEMANDU Associates and attended by Datuk Dr Haji Hazland Haji Abang Hipni, deputy minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak; helping Malaysian SMEs turn climate risks into business opportunities, led by Funding Societies Malaysia and Generali Insurance Malaysia;

and financing the shift from a linear to a circular economy, featuring supporting partner TOMRA.

It also hosted an exclusive roundtable the next day on the topic of www.eco-business.com/events/making-circularity-work-aligning-policy-markets-and-stakeholders/” style=”color:#1155cc;text-decoration:underline;”>”Making circularity work: Aligning policy, markets and stakeholders”, featuring the participation of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) and exploring how policy, capital and disclosure frameworks can align for circular economy adoption.

Unlocking capital for sustainability is hosted in six markets across Asia in 2026. In addition to Kuala Lumpur, the flagship forum was hosted in Jakarta in June and will be hosted Manila in August, Singapore and Bangkok in September and Hong Kong in November.

For more information on next month’s Philippines’ forum, visit the www.eco-business.com/events/unlocking-capital-for-sustainability-2026-philippines/” style=”color:#1155cc;text-decoration:underline;”>Eco-Business event page.

About Eco-Business

Established in 2009, Eco-Business is Asia Pacific’s leading business intelligence and advisory platform dedicated to advancing sustainable development. We produce trusted, high-quality multimedia content exploring the world’s most pressing challenges—and the solutions driving change. Our work is aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Goals (SDGs) and supported by a 15-year archive of news, analysis, research, and events on sustainable development topics. Headquartered in Singapore, we have a presence in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Beijing, and London.

For more information, visit www.eco-business.com.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Learn more at www.undp.org and www.undp.org/malaysia” style=”color:#1155cc;text-decoration:underline;”>www.undp.org/malaysia.

About Unlocking capital for sustainability

Unlocking capital for sustainability is an annual flagship event organised by Eco-Business in partnership with UNEP FI that brings together high-level decision makers in finance, business, government and civic society to discuss and commit to actionable initiatives that mobilise the capital markets for sustainable development projects. Our full list of knowledge partners – past and present – can be found at www.unlockingcapitalforsustainability.com.

MIL OSI

Hong Kong Disneyland Continues to Enhance Guest Experience Through Flexible Weather Adaptation Measures

MIL OSI — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:24:33 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 July 2026 – As Hong Kong’s summer weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, with periods of extreme heat, high humidity, and occasional rain showers and thunderstorms, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) continues to enhance its facilities and operations to better support guests and cast members throughout the season.

From cooling facilities and shaded rest areas to flexible operational arrangements, the initiatives are designed to provide more choices and added ease for both guests and cast members during the summer months.

Additionally, HKDL has introduced an exclusive “Summer Chill” 4PM Ticket Offer for Hong Kong residents. Guests can enjoy the park from 4:00pm onwards, helping them avoid the hottest hours or periods of heavy rain, with prices starting at just HK$480.

Guests are also encouraged to stay hydrated and explore the resort’s wide selection of indoor attractions and entertainment offerings during the hottest hours of the day.

Weather-Conscious Design for a Better Guest Experience

The guest experience is supported by the resort’s planning and operations through a combination of environmental design and infrastructure enhancements. Disney Imagineers use detailed studies of sunlight, temperature, humidity and wind, supported by advanced computer simulations, to assess conditions across different areas of the park and guide design decisions.

For instance, Wayfinders’ Table in Adventureland was designed with sun exposure and ventilation needs in mind. Through the use of hard roof materials and thoughtful airflow planning, the design helps reduce heat buildup while providing shelter from rain.

Canopies, trees and fans are also used for the outdoor stage show “Moana: A Homecoming Celebration” to provide shade and added relief. The park also preserves and plants trees more extensively to provide additional natural shade.

Enhancing Infrastructure to Adapt to Changing Weather Conditions

HKDL has strengthened its guest-focused infrastructure to help improve airflow and provide added cooling support in various summer weather conditions. Energy-efficient ceiling fans operate at entrances and ticketing areas, while upgraded axial fans enhance airflow in queuing zones.

The park now features approximately 860 fans, with mobile units deployed flexibly to provide cooling support where they are needed most, particularly in high-traffic areas. Portable air-conditioning units have also been added in select outdoor zones to further support ventilation.

Mist cooling systems are also available at multiple outdoor locations, while additional shade structures have been added to queuing and dining areas.

Over 40 free water dispensers are provided across the resort, with nearly half already upgraded to dispense water 50% faster, helping guests rehydrate more conveniently throughout their visit.

Supporting Cast Members Through Changing Weather Conditions

With cast member safety as a top priority, HKDL continuously reviews operational measures to support frontline teams working outdoors in varying weather conditions. Cast members are dressed in outdoor costumes made with breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics, while additional rest breaks, hydration support and access to cooling facilities are provided during periods of extreme heat and humidity.

The resort closely monitors weather conditions and proactively adjusts outdoor show schedules whenever Heat Stress at Work Warnings are issued.

Disney Ambassadors also distribute electrolyte drink powder and chilled water bottles to frontline cast members working in outdoor areas.

Cooling Fun with Pixar Summer Fest

HKDL integrates cooling moments into storytelling. Guests can conveniently transition between a wide variety of indoor attractions, dining venues and entertainment offerings located throughout the resort, helping the magic continue in changing weather conditions.

The newly launched “Pixar Summer Fest” invites guests to beat the heat with immersive entertainment. The “Pixar Water Play Street Party!” welcomes guests to join beloved Pixar characters in a lively water parade, offering refreshing fun as part of the festive atmosphere.

Guests can also chill out with refreshing Pixar-themed treats, including Lime Dole Whip with Pineapple Slush Float at Jessie’s Snack Roundup, Monsters, Inc.-inspired Mike Wazowski Ice Cream Bar, Toy Story Alien Ice Cream Bar, and Sulley-inspired Mint Chocolate Flavored Soft Serve. These playful creations offer visual delight and refreshing summer treats for guests.

Exclusively for Hong Kong residents, the “Summer Chill” 4PM Ticket offers later entry to the park for just HK$480, allowing guests to enjoy an afternoon-to-evening “Pixar Summer Fest” experience.

Hashtag: #HongKongDisneyland

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Business leaders say new Emissions Monitoring Report serves as wake-up call for New Zealand

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 03:11:49 +0000

Source: Sustainable Business Council

The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome the release of the Climate Change Commission’s 2026 Emissions Reduction Monitoring Report, describing it as a significant wake-up call for New Zealand, and supporting its key recommendations.

As illustrated on page 6 of the report, the country’s second emissions budget (2026-2030) is at significant risk, and current plans are insufficient to meet the third emission’s budget (2031-2035) or the 2030 biogenic methane target. According to the Commission New Zealand needs to more than double its current pace of decarbonisation efforts, and if additional action does not occur in the next one to two years, key climate goals will be out of reach.

SBC Chief Executive Mike Burrell says the report serves as significant wake up call.

“We welcome this report and thank the Commission for their important independent, evidence-based advice that helps successive governments, and our businesses, stay on track. Its central finding is one our business leaders are taking seriously, acknowledging current plans are not enough to meet the second or third emissions budgets, and the time available to us to close those gaps is rapidly disappearing.”

Mr Burrell says the Commission’s findings reinforce the economic case SBC and CLC set out earlier this year in their Driving Sustainable Growth report, which the Commission itself has cited in the new report.

“The modelling of our Driving Sustainable Growth report clearly shows that acting now on a focused shift toward an innovation-driven, productivity-led economy, underpinned by affordable and plentiful renewable energy and stable policy settings would add $22 billion a year to GDP by 2035, while also contributing to greater emissions reductions. Closing the budget gaps and unlocking that growth is the same task. The recommendations in our report, from electrification and renewable energy to innovation and productivity, present a practical pathway to do both. What we need now is to act on them.”

CLC Convenor and Genesis CEO Malcolm Johns says the Coalition’s signatories are already moving and are ready to move faster with the right settings in place.

“Our signatories are already investing in the transition right across renewable energy, electrification and in low-emissions technology because they recognise both the risk and opportunity before them. The Commission’s report confirms what our members are already seeing in their own investment decisions – the transition is real, the economic case is stronger than ever, and delaying action is no longer an option. What business needs now is confidence that the country is moving in the same direction, at the pace this new report demands.”

Mr Johns says business leaders stand ready to work alongside government to deliver on the significant task that’s required.

“Ambition alone won’t reduce our emissions; we need investment to make that happen. Investment at the scale this transition requires depends entirely on confidence in the pathway ahead. The Commission has given us an independent, expert and robust assessment of our current state – where the risks lie and what needs to happen next. The task now is to get on and do it, together, so we don’t squander the economic opportunity before us.”

SBC and CLC will shortly release a joint pre-election briefing paper setting out their priorities for the incoming Government. The views represent the 140 businesses making up the two networks, who together contribute 42 percent of New Zealand’s private sector GDP.

SBC’s Mr Burrell says, “Business is not standing still, and neither should policy. The Commission is clear that decisions taken now, or delayed action, will significantly shape whether our third emissions budget and 2050 target remain in reach. Our pre-election briefing paper will set out what we believe the next Government needs to prioritise to give business the confidence to invest at the pace and scale this transition requires, in order to harness the opportunity before us as a nation.”

About SBC

The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) is a CEO-led membership organisation with around 120 businesses from all sectors, ambitious for a sustainable New Zealand. Members represent $170 billion of collective turnover, 38% of GDP, and nearly 255,000 full-time jobs. Our network gives members unparalleled influence and the ability to take large-scale collective action. SBC is part of the BusinessNZ network and is the New Zealand Global Network partner to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. www.sbc.org.nz

About CLC

The Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) was launched in July 2018 with a mission of having business CEOs leading the response to climate change through collective, transparent, and meaningful action on mitigation and adaptation. Coalition signatories collectively represent around 28% of GDP, employ around 8% of NZ’s full-time employees, and have a collective turnover of $126 billion. To be a signatory, organisations are held to accountfor delivering on commitments outlined by a ‘Statement of Ambition’. www.climateleaderscoalition.org.nz

MIL OSI

Climate News – Greenpeace says new report reveals devastating impact of Luxon’s climate policy reversal

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:32:03 +0000

Source: Greenpeace

A new report from New Zealand’s independent Climate Change Commission has shown that efforts to reduce emissions have stalled since the Luxon Government took power, and that New Zealand is no longer on track to meet its emissions reduction targets.

Greenpeace spokesperson Will Appelbe says, “This report is a stark warning – the Luxon Government is undermining climate action, putting everyday New Zealanders at risk.

“From day one, this Government has abandoned New Zealand’s climate credibility – bringing back offshore oil and gas exploration, removing the clean car discount, cancelling the Lake Onslow Battery Project, and letting agribusiness off the hook for their climate pollution. Now, we’re seeing the consequences of this climate denialism.”

The Commission’s report warns in particular that agricultural emissions are a ‘significant risk’ and that New Zealand will not meet existing methane emissions reduction targets without significant action from the Government.

Appelbe says, “Everyday New Zealanders – including farmers – are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. It’s going to get worse, unless we take action now – and this report shows that the Government is falling dangerously short.”

In 2025, the New Zealand Government became the first in the world to change the law to weaken climate targets. They reduced the methane target and adopted the controversial concept of ‘No Additional Warming’, against advice from the international scientific community.

Simultaneously, they confirmed that they would not make the agricultural industry pay for its climate pollution – a move that this report says will limit emissions reduction.

Appelbe says “Methane is our climate emergency brake. Reducing methane emissions from the intensive livestock industry now will give us a fighting chance of preventing the worst of the climate crisis.

“That’s why it’s so concerning to watch this Government recklessly cave to agribusiness lobbyists like Federated Farmers, and undermine any attempt to reduce methane emissions from intensive livestock farming.”

“New Zealanders want to see urgent climate action that keeps us safe and protects future generations. This Government’s war on nature goes against what New Zealanders stand for – and Luxon should expect resistance.”

MIL OSI

Climate News – Aotearoa New Zealand’s rate of emissions reduction needs to more than double

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:31:59 +0000

Source: Climate Change Commission

Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions are gradually falling, but progress stalled in 2024.
The pace of emissions reductions needs to more than double over the next few years; and to get on track for that, action is needed within the next 12-24 months.
Risks to Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate goals for the next decade have increased. The second and third emissions budgets are at high risk, and the 2030 biogenic methane target is unlikely to be met.
The report highlights practical opportunities to reduce emissions and manage future costs, including low-emissions technologies that are already cheaper over time in some households and businesses uses.
The Government has low-cost options to reduce barriers that are preventing businesses and households from choosing low emissions technologies.

Current policy won’t deliver what’s needed, and the window to get on track is closing

Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions are falling, but not fast enough to meet the country’s climate goals, according to the Climate Change Commission’s annual emissions monitoring report released today. The report finds progress stalled in 2024, and the rate of emissions reduction will need to more than double over the next few years to get back on track.

“This is a clear warning sign. Emissions are gradually falling but progress stalled in 2024, and current policy settings are not delivering at the pace needed. Government choices in the next 12-24 months will be critical to getting the country back on track,” says Jo Hendy, Chief Executive of the Climate Change Commission.

New Zealanders are already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate. Choices made now will affect how quickly the country cuts its own emissions, and how well households, businesses and communities are positioned to manage future shocks.

Accelerating decarbonisation can save money and manage future risks

For some common household and business uses, low-emissions choices are already cheaper over time. Electric vehicles, solar and heat pumps can reduce running costs, lower exposure to volatile fuel prices, and make homes and businesses more resilient to future shocks.

The Commission’s report highlights practical examples where available low-emissions technologies can reduce costs. EVs are cheaper to run than petrol vehicles, and upfront costs have dropped. For comparable compact SUVs, EV owners can save about NZ$7,500 over five years. In parts of Australia (where about a third of households have solar), rooftop solar and battery systems are helping reduce regulated electricity prices by up to 10%. It’s now generally cheaper for businesses to buy and run a new industrial heat pump than continue running a fossil-fuel low-temperature boiler.

Separately, research released earlier this year by the Sustainable Business Council and Climate Leaders Coalition estimated that earlier decarbonisation could contribute NZ$22 billion per year to GDP in less than a decade.

“But roll-out in Aotearoa New Zealand is lagging. This isn’t just a missed opportunity to reduce emissions, it means that households and businesses may be paying higher energy costs than they need to. Slow or delayed action also restricts the country’s future options,” says Hendy.

The Government has low-cost options to address barriers

People are missing out on savings and reducing their exposure to future energy risks because upfront costs and other barriers prevent households and businesses from switching away from fossil fuels.

The Government has low-cost options to address these barriers. These include targeted funding and financing mechanisms, stable investment signals for markets and consumers, and better information to support household and business decisions.

“The Government has already taken useful steps to reduce upfront cost barriers, including low-interest loans for EV charging and the gas transition loan scheme. The question now is how to build on them quickly enough to support the scale of change needed,” says Hendy.

“It’s not just about what the Government spends money on, but also the signals it gives. Clear and stable policy settings help households, businesses and investors make decisions with confidence. The goal should be to avoid getting locked into expensive long-run options. Infrastructure and other long-lived investments that support low-emissions choices are generally cheaper to get right early than to retrofit later,” says Hendy.

Resources

The 2026 report is available here, and the following summary resources are also available:

Exec Summary – summary of our findings and recommendations, excerpted from the main report.
One-page summary – overview of the 2026 key findings and recommendations
Sector summaries – covering: energy, industry and buildings; transport; agriculture; waste and fluorinated gases; and forestry.
Whakahekenga rehukino summary – covering key points for emissions reduction actions centred on iwi/Māori. Available in in te reo Māori and English.

About the emissions reduction monitoring report

These annual reports provide an evidence-based, impartial view of whether the country is on course to reach its goals of reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions. They provide insights into the progress made, challenges experienced, and opportunities and risks that need to be considered.

The 2026 report uses the same approach and framework as previously. However, since the 2025 report, the Government has lowered the 2050 biogenic methane target and the Commission has updated its benchmark. This means that the factors that the report assessed against have changed.

2026 key findings and recommendations

Risks to Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate goals for the next decade have increased. The second and third emissions budgets are at high risk, and the 2030 biogenic methane target is unlikely to be met. Risks have increased especially for agriculture, electricity generation, and transport – this is also where some of the greatest opportunities for reductions can be found.

Recommendation 1: We recommend that the Government takes action to address market barriers and failures within the next year to ensure it can meet its emissions goals including:

start determining how to incentivise further emissions reductions and removals in the 2030s given that the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme in its current form will struggle to do this.
for the primary sector: immediately scale up support measures to meet the 2030 biogenic methane target; and reduce barriers for high-value, low-emissions agricultural products for long-term reductions and resilience
expand resource recovery facilities, services and planning, and extend landfill gas capture requirements to class 2 landfills
encourage electric vehicle uptake through strong supply- and demand-side measures, and support greater shifts to public and active transport
address upfront cost barriers to fuel-switching for households and businesses.

Recommendation 2: We recommend that the Government update its approach to emissions projections to ensure they provide a robust indication of likely future policy impact.

In some areas (agricultural technology, forestry on Crown-owned land and LFG capture), the assumptions underlying the projections do not appear to be driven by a realistic assessment of current policy. While scenarios provide useful information, there is a need for robust modelling based on evidence about how much different policies can reduce emissions.

MIL OSI

Thailand cuts 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ through low-carbon cement, accelerating beyond NDC targets and advancing a collaborative Net Zero model

MIL OSI — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:06:04 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – Thailand has achieved a significant milestone in industrial greenhouse gas mitigation, reducing more than 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent since 2019 through the implementation of clinker substitution under the Industrial Process and Product Use (IPPU) sector. This progress has been delivered ahead of the Thailand NDC Roadmap timeline, demonstrating the country’s capacity to translate climate policy into measurable outcomes. Central to this transition is the rapid scale-up of “hydraulic cement,” now serving as the primary structural cement nationwide and a key enabler of low-carbon construction.

The achievement was formally recognized at the “TCMA at 20: The Next Chapter to Net Zero” event, where H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, presided over an award ceremony honoring 34 implementing partners, supported by six ministries, for their collective contribution in driving policy into practice.

H.E. Mr. Varawut stated that the success of clinker substitution reflects the strength of multi-stakeholder collaboration across government, industry, academia, and professional bodies, enabling Thailand to accelerate greenhouse gas reduction while advancing green industry transformation and competitiveness.

“Greenhouse gas reduction becomes possible when all sectors work together; from policy and technology to real-world implementation. The success of clinker substitution is a tangible example of collaboration delivering real impact, and marks an important step toward Thailand’s Net Zero 2050 ambition.” H.E. Mr. Varawut said.

Mr. Surachai Nimla-or, Chairman of Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA), highlighted that the results were made possible through close coordination across sectors, driving national policy into implementation through R&D, standards development, technological advancement, and market adoption mechanisms.

“The reduction of over 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent reflects the collective effort of all sectors in operationalizing national measures. The cement industry remains committed to advancing the transition toward a low-carbon economy.” Mr. Surachai said.

A key driver behind this success is the development and widespread adoption of hydraulic cement (low-carbon cement), which reduces the clinker content – the most carbon-intensive component in cement production – while maintaining performance and structural integrity in accordance with Thai Industrial Standard TIS 2594. Today, hydraulic cement is extensively used across the country in infrastructure projects, public buildings, industrial facilities, and residential construction, marking a systemic shift from alternative material to mainstream low-carbon construction solution.

Performance data underscores the pace of progress. In 2021, clinker substitution delivered over 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ reduction, achieving results nine years ahead of the NDC schedule. Between 2022–2023, an additional over 1 million tonnes of CO₂ reductions were realized. Cumulatively, from 2019 to present, emissions reductions have exceeded 3.8 million tonnes CO₂ equivalent.

This progress has been enabled by an integrated effort among 34 implementing partners, with policy and institutional support from six ministries, covering policy formulation, standards development, market promotion, and enabling mechanisms; underscoring the role of public–private partnership (PPP) in driving systemic transition.

Mr. Surachai further noted that the clinker substitution initiative represents a scalable model of translating national climate ambition into implementation, with potential for replication across other industrial sectors and expansion into regional collaboration frameworks.

“Hydraulic cement today is not only a low-carbon material; it is part of Thailand’s broader transition toward sustainable growth. It demonstrates that with strong collaboration, emissions reduction is not only possible, but achievable at scale.” Mr. Surachai said.

The success of clinker substitution reinforces Thailand’s leadership in industry-led climate action, highlighting how coordinated public–private efforts can deliver tangible emissions reductions while strengthening industrial resilience. It marks a critical step toward achieving Net Zero 2050, and offers a replicable model for industrial decarbonization at both national and regional levels.

Hashtag: #TCMA #TCMAat20 #TCMAinAction #TCMAtoNetZero2050 #CementDecarbonization #IPPU #ClinkerSubstitution #ClimateSolutionPartner #HydraulicCement #LowCarbonCement #NetZero2050

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Recommended Podcasts – Season 1 – Precipice: Stories of Cyclone Gabrielle (Podcast) – LIVE NOW

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 01:37:54 +0000

Source: The Public Good

“Precipice is both an archive and a resource – a record of what one community lived through in the face of disaster, and what others may be able to learn from it.”

February 2023: Cyclone Gabrielle engulfed the North Island of Aotearoa, leaving a path of destruction and devastation in its wake.

Over the night of February 13, the small, coastal community of Muriwai was ripped apart by landslides tearing through its landscape – destroying homes, uprooting families and claiming the lives of two local firefighters.

Hosted by Muriwai local Mandy Jakich, the 26-episode podcast Precipice provides a window into what happened that fateful night and in the days, months and years that followed. Told through the voices of residents, volunteers and those involved in the emergency response and recovery effort, Jakich threads together a story of shared loss, upheaval and the community-led initiatives that helped Muriwai find a way forward.

“I am honoured to have been asked by the Muriwai Community Association to create and host this podcast, and to be trusted by my guests to tell their stories and give something back to the community I call home. While Precipice documents Muriwai’s experience, I also hope it becomes a resource for other communities preparing for, or recovering from, climate-driven disasters. If sharing what we lived through helps others feel more informed, connected or better prepared, then these stories will continue to have purpose.” – Mandy Jakich

SEASON 1: Cyclone Gabrielle Hits Muriwai (10 eps): LIVE NOW (ref. https://youtube.com/@precipicepodcast?si=piikno4ttAB-ba7m )

https://youtube.com/@precipicepodcast

SEASON 2: Disaster Recovery and Community Restoration (8 eps): LIVE AUGUST 3

SEASON 3: Community Initiatives after a Cyclone (8 eps): LIVE AUGUST 17

Precipice is available on all podcast platforms and on the Muriwai Community Association website.

ABOUT THE HOST

Mandy Jakich is the creator and host of the Creative Connections podcast, where she interviews Kiwi visual artists about their creative lives, practice and processes. Jakich is a visual artist herself, with an extensive background in primary school education, art education, and small business and community projects. She is interested in sharing stories that inspire, and creating authentic opportunities and resources for people to learn from.

A long-term resident of Muriwai, she experienced first-hand the destructive nature of Cyclone Gabrielle. Just two days after returning home from hospital following open heart surgery, she and her family were evacuated in the middle of the night, and were unable to return home for five days.

LISTEN TO PRECIPICE

YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | MCA

SOCIALS

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

W: www.thepublicgood.co.nz

MIL OSI

Schlumberger Foundation Honors Nine Women Scientists and Engineers with the 2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize

MIL OSI — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:46:25 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

KAMPALA, UGANDA – EQS Newswire – 16 July 2026 – The Schlumberger Foundation (https://SchlumbergerFoundation.com/) is proud to announce the nine recipients of the 2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize, a merit-based award that recognizes Fellows who are translating their scientific and engineering expertise into initiatives with demonstrated potential for wider impact.

Download Document:https://apo-opa.co/457IRvc

For more than two decades, the Schlumberger Foundation’s Faculty for the Future program has supported women scientists and engineers from emerging and developing economies in pursuing advanced STEM research and developing their leadership.

Today, their achievements demonstrate that the program’s influence extends far beyond individual academic journeys. Across countries, disciplines and generations, Faculty for the Future Fellows are turning advanced scientific and engineering expertise into breakthrough solutions that open new pathways, strengthen communities and generate wider change across people and systems.

The Faculty for the Future Impact Prize recognizes proven initiatives and accelerates their next stage of development. Through funding, visibility and connection to the wider fellowship, the scientific and business community it helps recipients extend their reach and deepen their impact.

The 2026 Impact Prize recognizes outstanding initiatives in three areas:

Educational Outreach
Technology Innovation
Social Impact

“Faculty for the Future began by investing in the education and potential of exceptional women scientists and engineers. What we now see is how that investment continues to multiply as Fellows open pathways for others, build institutions and apply their expertise to urgent challenges in their communities. The Impact Prize allows us to recognize this leadership, connect it across the fellowship and help it travel further,”said Capella Festa, President of the Schlumberger Foundation.

2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize Recipients

The Schlumberger Foundation is delighted to announce the nine recipients of the 2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize:

Dr. Darshana Joshi
VigyanShaala: STEM Access for Women and Rural Communities in India

Dr. Angela Tabiri
The Mathsqueen National STEAM Circuit

Dr. Novalia Pishesha
Future Southeast Asian Scientist (FSAS)

Dr. Chao Mbogo
Mentorship Infrastructure for Holistic Technologists

Dr. Hifza Rasheed
Empowering Women and Communities with Climate-Resilient Water

Dr. Edu Inam
Scaling a Research Equipment Database for Equitable Access in Nigeria

Professor Bridget Bannerman
Empowering African Women to Eliminate Cervical Cancer

Dr. Tonthoza Uganja
Profitable Agroforestry for Smallholder Farmers in Malawi

Dr. Zita Nodjikouambaye
Community-Based Screening for Cervical and Breast Cancer in Chad

Selected from 156 applications from 61 countries, the nine winning initiatives reveal the breadth of what Faculty for the Future Fellows are building through science and engineering. They create pathways into STEM, strengthen access to research and healthcare, and develop practical responses to challenges in water, agriculture and climate resilience.

The Impact Prize marks a new chapter for Faculty for the Future. Building on more than two decades of support for advanced STEM education, it strengthens a global fellowship in which the scientific and engineering leadership of Fellows is recognized, connected and amplified.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Schlumberger Foundation.

Download Image: https://apo-opa.co/4pqtJT1

Faculty for the Future Impact Prize Global Press Kit https://apo-opa.co/457IRvc.

Media Contact:
Joan Busingye
SFCommunications@slb.com

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Thailand Advances Net Zero 2050 through Public–Private “ONE MIND” Collaboration TCMA Launches “The NEXT Chapter” to Position Industry as a Climate Solution Partner

MIL OSI — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 08:34:11 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 July 2026 – Thailand is strengthening its transition toward a net-zero economy through enhanced collaboration between government and industry. On the occasion of its 20^th anniversary, Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) announced its strategic initiative, “The NEXT Chapter to Net Zero 2050,” aimed at accelerating implementation across five priority areas under the theme ‘Accelerating Collaborative Action towards Net Zero 2050.’ The initiative reinforces the cement industry’s evolving role as a Climate Solution Partner, aligned with the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap, a collective industry commitment supporting national climate goals.

The TCMA at 20 event was presided over by H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, and brought together senior representatives from government agencies, industry, professional institutions, and international organizations, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing Thailand’s Net Zero 2050 target.

In his remarks, the Minister of Industry emphasized that achieving net-zero emissions requires coordinated action across all sectors under a unified ‘ONE MIND’ approach. The Ministry of Industry continues to advance enabling policies, regulatory frameworks, and economic instruments to support industrial decarbonization, while promoting green industry development, strengthening ESG standards, and enhancing competitiveness. He also highlighted ongoing collaboration with international partners, including UNIDO, GIZ, and the Government of Canada, to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies.

Dr. Chana Poomee, Honourary Chairman of TCMA, noted that Thailand’s cement industry is transitioning beyond its traditional role toward becoming a Climate Solution Partner, contributing to climate mitigation through both emissions reduction and the development of sustainable construction solutions.

Representing the government sector, Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Mr. Sunthorn Kaewsa-ard, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Industry, underscored the importance of public–private partnerships (PPP) in translating policy commitments into measurable outcomes, ensuring that emissions reductions are achieved alongside sustained industrial competitiveness.

Mr. Surachai Nimla-or, Chairman of TCMA, described “The NEXT Chapter” as a strategic inflection point for the industry, guided by the principle of being competitive, sustainable, and low-carbon. TCMA is advancing this transition through five key implementation engines, integrating policy, technology, innovation, energy transition, circular economy, and digitalization to enable systemic change that is measurable, scalable, and aligned with national timelines.

TCMA also continues to advance the SARABURI SANDBOX, a low-carbon city pilot that serves as a platform to test policy instruments, technological solutions, and green financing mechanisms through multi-stakeholder collaboration, with the objective of scaling successful models at the national and regional levels.

The launch of “The NEXT Chapter” underscores the role of Thailand’s cement industry as a key contributor to regional decarbonization efforts and highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing an inclusive and sustainable transition toward a low-carbon economy.

Hashtag: #TCMA #TCMAat20 #TCMAinAction #TCMAtoNetZero2050 #NextChapterNetZero #ClimateSolutionPartner #CementDecarbonization

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Pacific Civil Society Calls for a Genuine Ocean of Peace: The Pacific is NOT a battleground

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:41:37 +0000

Source: Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGO) Alliance

The Pacific Ocean is far more than a strategic waterway; it is the foundation of our cultures, identities, livelihoods and futures. It sustains our communities, connects our islands, and underpins our sovereignty and self-determination. Yet today, our ocean is increasingly being treated as a theatre for geopolitical competition, where strategic interests are too often prioritised over the rights, wellbeing and aspirations of Pacific peoples.

The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGO) Alliance unequivocally condemns the recent test of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the People’s Republic of China across the Pacific Ocean.

We oppose all forms of militarisation and nuclear threats in the Pacific, irrespective of which state is responsible. We cannot condemn missile tests, military build-ups and strategic military expansion undertaken by one power, while remaining silent when comparable actions are undertaken by another.

We equally oppose the recent Chinese ICBM test, and the continued testing of Minuteman III ICBMs by the United States over the Pacific, alongside the expansion of military alliances and strategic military partnerships, including AUKUS, large-scale military exercises such as the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), Valiant Shield, Talisman Sabre, and the continued expansion of foreign military presence and infrastructure across our Blue Pacific.

For Pacific peoples, this is not an abstract geopolitical contest. It is our home.

At a time when the region commemorates some of the darkest chapters in the Pacific’s nuclear history, the continued militarisation of our ocean is a stark reminder that the lessons of the past remain unlearned.

A painful reminder during a month of remembrance

The timing is particularly significant given the major nuclear anniversaries commemorated across the Pacific this month, including the 80th anniversary of Operation Crossroads, when the United States began detonating nuclear weapons at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands; the 60th anniversary of France’s first nuclear detonation at Moruroa Atoll in Ma’ohi Nui (French Polynesia); the 41st anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in an act of French state terrorism intended to silence opposition to nuclear testing in the Pacific; and the ninth anniversary of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

For many outside the region, these anniversaries are history, but for Pacific peoples, they remain a lived memory. These anniversaries are more than moments of remembrance. They are also reminders that today’s security challenges cannot be separated from the unresolved legacies of nuclear colonialism, and that the pursuit of genuine peace in the Pacific must begin with acknowledging, addressing and learning from this shared history.

Another missile crossing our ocean cannot be separated from that history. Nor can it be separated from the continued use of the Pacific as a missile testing-corridor, including the regular testing of United States Minuteman III ICBMs towards Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The Treaty of Rarotonga, the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific movement, and today’s aspiration for an Ocean of Peace were all born from a shared determination that our region should never again become a testing ground for the strategic ambitions of others.

Militarisation is not peace

The Pacific has repeatedly declared its vision of becoming an Ocean of Peace. That vision is not simply the absence of armed conflict, but a Pacific understanding of security founded on justice, sovereignty, self-determination, environmental stewardship and the wellbeing of our peoples.

The recent missile test by China is not an isolated incident. It forms part of a broader pattern of escalating militarisation across our region that includes expanding defence agreements, increasing foreign military deployments, large-scale military exercises such as RIMPAC, Valiant Shield and Talisman Sabre, strategic infrastructure development, and growing geopolitical competition among external powers.

The PRNGO Alliance rejects the notion that military deterrence delivers peace. Escalating military competition is fundamentally inconsistent with the Pacific’s aspiration for an Ocean of Peace.

The Treaty of Rarotonga remains our regional foundation

As the Treaty of Rarotonga approaches its 40th anniversary, Pacific governments should reaffirm and strengthen one of the region’s most enduring commitments to peace and security. Born out of decades of Pacific resistance to nuclear detonations and nuclear colonialism, it declares our region as one of the world’s first nuclear-weapon-free zones and affirms the Pacific’s determination that our region would never again become a nuclear sacrifice zone.

Our call to Pacific Leaders

The PRNGO Alliance’s position is grounded not in the strategic interests of competing powers, but in decades of Pacific regional leadership and civil society advocacy. From the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific movement and the Treaty of Rarotonga to the Boe Declaration, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the collective positions advanced by Pacific civil society, Pacific peoples have consistently articulated a vision of security founded on justice, sovereignty, self-determination, environmental stewardship, and demilitarisation. Recent events reinforce the urgency of translating those longstanding regional commitments into consistent political action.

The PRNGO Alliance therefore calls upon Pacific Leaders to:

Unequivocally condemn all missile tests conducted in or across the Pacific Ocean, regardless of whether they are undertaken by China, the United States or any other military power.

Reject the continued militarisation of the Blue Pacific, including expanding military alliances, foreign military basing, strategic deployments, nuclear deterrence policies and large-scale military exercises such as RIMPAC.

Reaffirm and strengthen the Treaty of Rarotonga as the cornerstone of Pacific regional security and fully implement its objectives.

Ensure that any future Ocean of Peace framework is genuinely Pacific-led, centred on human security, environmental protection, Indigenous rights, decolonisation and demilitarisation – not great-power strategic competition.

Support the universalisation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, including urging Australia and all Pacific partners that remain outside the Treaty to sign and ratify it.

Recognise that true regional security requires addressing climate change, ecological degradation, economic inequality and the unfinished business of nuclear justice, rather than expanding military competition.

Ensure that the future of Pacific security is determined by Pacific peoples, through Pacific institutions, and according to Pacific priorities. Build on an Ocean of Peace founded on human security, regional solidarity and environmental stewardship, and respect for Pacific sovereignty, not on the strategic calculations of external powers.

The Pacific has already paid the price of being treated as a testing ground, a military frontier, and a dumping ground for other nations’ ambitions.

The Pacific Ocean is not a theatre for great-power rivalry. It is our home. It is the foundation of our cultures, identities, livelihoods and futures.

If the Blue Pacific is to become a genuine Ocean of Peace, then militarisation must give way to justice, cooperation, and Pacific-led security founded on sovereignty, self-determination and the wellbeing of our peoples.

This statement is issued by the Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGO) Alliance and, at the time of publication, is endorsed by:

Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC)
Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)
Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN)
Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG)
Oxfam in the Pacific.

MIL OSI

Oxfam – Rich countries exaggerating “true value” of climate finance by around $100 billion

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:22:34 +0000

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

Rich countries have again inflated the “true value” of the climate finance they provide to low- and middle-income countries, overstating it by around $100 billion in 2024, according to new analysis by Oxfam. This exceeds the $88 billion by which climate finance was overstated in 2022.

Governments reported mobilizing nearly $137 billion in climate finance in 2024 to help Global South countries cut emissions and cope with the worsening impacts of climate breakdown. While $106 billion of the reported amount was provided as public finance, $69 billion (65 percent) was delivered as loans. Many of these loans are provided on market terms, requiring little or no financial effort from rich countries while increasing the debt burdens of countries in the Global South.

Oxfam estimates that the “true value” of the climate finance provided by rich countries in 2024 is between $33 billion and $45 billion, equivalent to no more than one-third of the amount reported. Only $15 billion to $18 billion was allocated to adaptation.

The findings come just weeks after the Bonn climate talks, where rich governments refused to strengthen the commitment they made at COP30 in Brazil to triple adaptation finance by 2035. Oxfam estimates that even tripling adaptation finance would meet only one-third of poorer countries’ adaptation needs.

Oxfam calculated the “true value” of climate finance by estimating the grant equivalents of climate-related loans and other non-grant instruments, rather than at their face value, in order to gauge rich countries’ real financial effort. Oxfam accounts for the difference between loans at market rate and those at preferential terms, while also considering the overly generous claims about the climate-related significance of these funds.

“New Zealand is outperforming other richer countries by giving all our climate funding as grants, not loans,” said Oxfam Aotearoa Policy and Advocacy Lead Nick Henry. “New Zealand’s climate grants are an essential lifeline for our Pacific neighbours and we need to keep our promise to increase the funding over time.”

“Once again, the richest and most polluting countries are inflating the value of the climate finance they provide, creating the illusion of solidarity while delivering far less than they claim,” said Oxfam Climate Policy Lead Mariana Paoli. “Instead of helping poorer countries withstand a crisis they did little to cause, rich countries are pushing them deeper into debt through loans, many offered on profitable commercial terms. It is a cruel irony: those most responsible pay less -and even make a profit- while those least responsible pay more.”

“What is needed is public, grant-based climate finance at the scale the climate crisis demands -not accounting tricks, not loans that worsen debt, and not empty promises. Grants are lifelines that enable countries to adapt to a changing climate, cut emissions, protect lives, and respond to devastating loss and damage. At COP31, rich countries need to drastically increase grant-based climate finance and finally deliver on the commitments they have made.”

Notes

Download Oxfam’s methodology note. Calculations are based on original research by INKA Consult and Steve Cutts using the latest OECD climate-related development finance datasets for 2023 and 2024. Figures are rounded to the nearest 0.5 billion.

According to the OECD, rich countries say they mobilized $136.7 billion in climate finance for Global South countries in 2024.

In 2022, rich countries overstated the “true value” of their climate finance by up to $88 billion.

According to the UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2025, the estimated adaptation finance needs of low- and middle-income countries range from $310 billion to $365 billion per year by 2035.

At the Bonn climate talks last month, rich governments refused to strengthen the commitment they made six months ago at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to triple adaptation finance, which Oxfam estimates would still provide only one-third of the finance needed to meet the needs of poorer countries.

MIL OSI

BANGLADESH: Deadly landslide kills seven more children in Rohingya camps

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:22:40 +0000

Source: Save the Children

A landslide triggered by monsoon rains has reportedly killed seven students and a teacher at a school in the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, with more children being pulled from the rubble in the second deadly incident this week, Save the Children said.

The landslide came after at least eight people – including five children – died in flooding and landslides on 6 July in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee settlement, that is home to more than one million Rohingya refugees, most of them women and children.

Several Save the Children learning centres have been damaged by heavy rain and flash floods, forcing their temporary closure. Homes, clean water sources and latrines and washing facilities have also been damaged.

Rohingya refugees mostly live in shacks made of bamboo and plastic sheets that cling to steep, bare hills. Flooding has further worsened their living conditions along with an overall deterioration of conditions inside the camps due to aid cuts in 2025 and donors scaling back funding for the protracted crisis.

Golam Mostofa, Head of the Cox’s Bazar Area Office at Save the Children in Bangladesh, said:

“The deaths of these students are a devastating reminder of the dangers children in the Rohingya camps face when extreme weather strikes. They are living in one of Bangladesh’s most climate-vulnerable regions, where crowded camps cling to landslide-prone hillsides.

“With the monsoon far from over, the risks remain acute. Continued rainfall is threatening to trigger further landslides, disrupting learning, damaging fragile shelters and leaving children exposed to serious health threats, including dengue, cholera and diarrhoea.

“Save the Children is working with partners and government authorities to strengthen disaster preparedness, anticipatory action and early warnings in the Rohingya camps.

“Protecting children from increasingly severe weather must be a priority. Communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis in Bangladesh need stronger infrastructure, safer learning spaces and sustained support to reduce the risks they face year after year.”

Save the Children has been working in Cox’s Bazar since 2012 and significantly increased its activities following the 2017 exodus of refugees to Bangladesh, with programs in education, health and nutrition, food, water, shelter, and child protection services.

About Save the Children NZ:

Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.

MIL OSI

Infrastructure – Some regions expected to be hit harder than others, as flood damage to infrastructure is expected to grow

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:07:49 +0000

Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

New research by Earth Sciences New Zealand, commissioned by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, explores how flood damage to infrastructure could change under different climate scenarios. It shows that, across the scenarios modelled, flood damage is expected to increase over the coming decades, with the impacts felt unevenly across the country.

The Commission’s cover note, ‘When waters rise: Climate change, regional risk and infrastructure investment’, summarises the research and highlights that flood-related financial losses are expected to increase significantly under these scenarios and, in most regions, exceed those from any other natural hazard over the coming decades.

“Infrastructure decisions made today will shape New Zealand for decades. While we cannot predict exactly how the future will unfold, scenarios help us consider a range of plausible futures, understand the implications of different choices, and build infrastructure that is more resilient to uncertainty,” says Graham Campbell, Director – Economics and Research, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission.

“Financial losses to infrastructure rise significantly under any modelled climate scenario. Under a scenario with high greenhouse gas emissions, the annual cost of inland flood damage to New Zealand’s infrastructure – our roads, our powerlines and other critical services – is estimated to increase from $300 million per year in 2025 to around $465 million in 2075. Coastal flooding damages are expected to almost double: from $165 million per year in 2025 to around $325 million in 2075.”

Dr Nick Horspool, Senior Natural Hazard Risk Scientist, Earth Sciences New Zealand, says the flooding will not be experienced evenly across the country.

“Some regions, like Hawke’s Bay and Manawatū-Whanganui, face high expected losses relative to the overall size of their infrastructure networks – around double the national average. Regions such as Auckland, Wellington, and Taranaki tend to face lower losses proportionate to infrastructure exposed.

“The research shows that most of the increase in inland flooding losses under a high greenhouse gas emission scenario occurs over the coming decades, while coastal flooding losses grow gradually but at an accelerating rate over time,” Horspool says.

“We also modelled future losses to private buildings like homes and businesses, helping Te Waihanga assess the need for future flood protection investments. Like infrastructure, this modelling also finds that annual flood damage to private buildings is forecast to grow significantly over the next 50 years. This is particularly true in places like the West Coast, Hawke’s Bay, and the Bay of Plenty.”

Campbell says that making the right decisions requires knowing the size of the risk and the cost of inaction.

“If we don’t size the risk, investment decisions risk being either too cautious or too costly. The research shows that flood losses are real and growing, but also that they can be best managed with strong asset management practices, using insurance costs to help assess options, and prioritising cost-effective flood protection infrastructure. The right response will differ by region, sector, and hazard,” Campbell says.

This work provides a high-level understanding of the scale of potential damage to our infrastructure networks from natural hazards. It provides an evidence base to support one of the National Infrastructure Plan’s top ten priorities – identifying cost-effective flood risk infrastructure.

Notes:

The research, research note and associated data book will be available on the Te Waihanga website from 5.00am 9 July.
Average annual losses (AAL) are the expected financial cost of damage from natural hazards each year, averaged over many years. In some years, damages will be much higher than the AAL, while in other years it will be lower.
Under the SSP3-7.0 climate scenario, average annual losses for infrastructure from inland flooding are expected to grow from about $300 million per year in 2025 to almost $465 million by 2075. Coastal flooding losses are expected to grow from $165 million per year in 2025 to $325 million in 2075. These losses reflect the financial book value losses to infrastructure, not the full replacement value.
Key regions with highest increases in flood losses to infrastructure relative to their network size under the SSP3-7.0 climate scenario:
Hawke’s Bay: From $43 million in 2025 to around $89 million by 2075
West Coast: From $12 million in 2025 to around $24 million in 2075
Nelson-Tasman: From $13 million in 2025 to around $25 million in 2075
Manawatū-Whanganui: From $53 million in 2025 to around $85 million in 2075
Bay of Plenty: From $45 million in 2025 to around $78 million in 2075.
In 2025 and in total dollar terms, Auckland is the region with the highest flood losses at around $66 million. However, by 2075, climate change sees Auckland flood losses (around $97 million) overtaken by Canterbury (around $113 million) and Waikato (around $107 million) in the SSP3-7.0 scenario.
Average annual flood (inland and coastal) losses to private buildings are expected to grow from $270 million per year in 2025 to around $420 million per year by 2075 in the SSP3-7.0 scenario. These losses reflect the replacement value of private buildings.
Regions with highest private building losses as a share of asset value include West Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Nelson-Tasman.
These flooding estimates do not include the losses related to rainfall-induced landslides or predict future growth or development patterns.

MIL OSI

NZ Super Fund – STAKEHOLDER UPDATE JULY 2026 – Global recognition for Guardians

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 05:56:43 +0000

Source: NZ Super Fund

The NZ Super Fund has for the third year in a row been awarded a perfect score in the annual GSR (governance, sustainability, resilience) scoreboard published by international sovereign wealth fund experts GlobalSWF.  

First introduced in 2020, the GSR scoreboard assesses 200 state-owned investors against 25 criteria covering each entity’s governance structure and processes, responsible investment policies and practices, and ability to manage liquidity and operational risk.

The Super Fund is one of nine investors to achieve a perfect score.

CEO Jo Townsend says GlobalSWF’s scoreboard is a valuable guide to industry best practice for state-owned investors.

“We are delighted to have performed well against these criteria again,” Ms Townsend said.

Ms Townsend said the increase in sustainability and resilience scores globally reflected the increasing awareness among investors of how relevant these criteria were for long-term success.

“Our discussions with peers show a strong ongoing commitment to these areas, in keeping with our shared focus on creating long-term value for stakeholders.”

The Super Fund is also one of 13 New Zealand investors recently recognised as Responsible Investment Leaders by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA).

RIAA said Responsible Investment Leaders were required to demonstrate leading practice across four pillars: Responsible Investment commitment and transparency; ESG integration and screens; Stewardship; and Allocation of Capital.

Guardians co-Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin said RIAA recognition was an important benchmark.

“The RIAA’s four pillars are well aligned with what we consider to be best-practice portfolio management,” said Goodwin.

“Integrating these considerations into an investment strategy is not an optional extra, it is absolutely fundamental to achieving strong, sustainable risk-adjusted returns.”

Beachlands South development moves to next phase

Beachlands South Limited Partnership (BSLP), the company behind the development of a master-planned community in East Auckland, is moving to internalise the management of its flagship project as preliminary earthworks get under way at the 255 hectare site.

BSLP has announced the appointment of Ian Passau to head the project’s new management team. Passau has held senior executive roles with NZX-listed property company Kiwi Property Group, Arvida and Foodstuffs, and helped to design and implement Auckland Airport’s commercial property development programme.

BSLP has also named Guy Milburn as Chief Operating Officer. Milburn has more than 20 years’ experience in the property and construction sectors in New Zealand and Australia, most recently as COO at Lime Global. He previously held various GM roles at Ngāi Tahu Property.

The Super Fund is the majority shareholder in BSLP, alongside local iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, property fund Hāpai, and interests associated with construction and property organisation Russell Property Group.

Taranaki Offshore Partnership welcomes new legislation

Taranaki Offshore Partnership (TOP), a joint venture between the Super Fund and global infrastructure investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners that wants to develop New Zealand’s first offshore wind farm, says the recent passing of the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill is a significant step towards harnessing a world-class fuel source that will generate both sustainable energy and significant downstream economic benefits.

Read TOP’s full announcement here.

Guardians supporting development of award-winning New Zealand Taxonomy

Guardians investment team members Greg Munford and Terina Williams are among a group of industry, investment and sustainability experts creating a sustainable finance framework that is gaining international recognition.

The New Zealand Taxonomy project was last month awarded the 2026 Climate Bonds Initiative Award for Most Innovative Taxonomy. The citation said the project, which is being led by the Centre for Sustainable Finance with support from the Ministry for the Environment, was providing “global leadership in the development of science-based criteria for agriculture and forestry, two of the most difficult sectors for taxonomy development.”

The New Zealand Taxonomy is intended to identify economic activities that either meet sustainability criteria or are actively transitioning towards doing so, thereby helping qualifying New Zealand businesses access global and local green finance.

It is also recognised as one of the first such initiatives to explicitly incorporate climate change adaptation and resilience measures.

Terina Williams (pictured above), a member of the Forestry & Agriculture Technical Advisory Group, said that as well as encouraging investment in local primary industries, the Taxonomy will also help New Zealand exporters maintain access to important overseas markets.

“A growing number of countries are introducing carbon border adjustment mechanisms or mandatory climate-related disclosures. The Taxonomy provides a practical mechanism for exporters to demonstrate their environmental credentials.”

The broader New Zealand Taxonomy project covers agriculture and forestry, energy, buildings and construction, and transport. It will be submitted to the Government to consider for endorsement in December 2026.

Established in 2010, Climate Bonds Initiative is a UK-based non-governmental organisation focused on developing a large and liquid Green and Climate Bonds market that will help drive down the cost of capital for climate projects and improve access to lower-cost debt in emerging markets https://www.climatebonds.net/

More information about the New Zealand Taxonomy can be found on the Centre for Sustainable Finance website: https://sustainablefinance.nz/nz-taxonomy/

Super Fund features as case study in new ICPM study

The Super Fund is one of five funds profiled in a paper that looks at the various ways in which the Total Portfolio Approach to investing is being implemented. Guardians Head of Asset Allocation Charles Hyde was one of the contributors to the study, which was published by the Toronto-based International Centre for Pension Management and is available on their website.

Annual Report wins Gold

In June, the Guardians’ 2025 Annual Report won Gold at the Australasian Reporting Awards, our 13th consecutive Gold Award, and was named best report in the Financial Services sector.

Latest SOI and SPE now available

The Guardians’ 2026-31 Statement of Intent, and 2026/27 Statement of Performance Expectations, have been published and are available on our website.

People News

The Guardians recently announced the appointments of Will Fletcher as Head of Private Equity and Alternatives and Dr Anastasia Moskvina as Head of Data Analytics.

Dean Hill, formerly of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, has been appointed Strategic Relationship Manager, overseeing some of our most important external partnerships, including with Northern Trust and Bloomberg.

Finally, Eleanor Morrison has been appointed Fund Finance Manager, leading financial accounting and reporting for the NZ Super Fund.

And special congratulations to former Guardians’ staffer Joe Margison, recently appointed CEO of Virgin Hotels Collection.

Co-CIOs in the Media

Brad Dunstan tells Investment Magazine’s Darcy Song how our assessment that equity risk premia are likely to reduce has led to us lowering the long-term expected return for our benchmark reference portfolio.

Will Goodwin writes in the NZ Herald that sustainability is fundamental to risk, return, and portfolio resilience over decades, making it a core component of any long-term investment strategy.

MIL OSI

Legislation – NZ Government taking the country down a chilling path – Amnesty International

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:23:02 +0000

Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

“We are once again seeing the Government rush through legislation without adequate oversight and the opportunity for us all to have a say. The Climate Change Response Amendment Bill has just been introduced under urgency. This change is constitutionally significant, yet people have been given a very small window to share their views. This is not what happens in a healthy, thriving, representative democracy.”

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand’s Movement Building and Advocacy Director, Lisa Wood said in a statement today.

Woods says the Conservation Amendment Bill and the Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Bills should be stopped.

“When the people we elect to govern limit communities being heard on the things that impact us, when the powerful decide in situations of such significance like this that they don’t need the transparency, accountability and participation we should expect, they erode the foundations of a stable society. These Bills risk people losing trust in our government and institutions to listen or to do the best for us.

“Good decision making comes from a foundation based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi that provides a place for us all to belong, one that includes a diversity of perspectives. We need decision makers to actively maintain this foundation to build a stable home for all of us.

“However, this is not what we’re seeing. The Climate Change Response Amendment Bill would bar people from taking climate-related tort claims to court, cutting off an important avenue for access to justice. The Conservation Bill risks weakening protections for public conservation land, and both Bills threaten to undermine Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the rights of tangata whenua.

“New Zealanders must seriously question what path this is all leading us down. We strongly encourage people to have a say on these Bills and take a stand for the kind of society we want.”

Submissions on the following Bills are due 13 July 2026.

Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill (the Bill). This Bill amends the Climate Change Response Act 2002 creating a bar on the ability of people to bring claims against greenhouse gas emitters for climate-related harm.

Conservation Amendment Bill proposes significant changes to how public conservation land is managed.

Read the submissions made by Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand here:

https://amnesty.org.nz/submission-environment-committee-conservation-amendment-bill/

https://amnesty.org.nz/submission-climate-change-response-tort-liability-amendment-bill/

MIL OSI

Property Market – Affordability trumps climate risk as buyers drive greater value resilience in flood-prone properties – Cotality

LiveNews Publisher — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 22:26:39 +0000

Source: Vitality

New analysis from Cotality has revealed a striking affordability paradox within New Zealand’s housing market.

Despite a recent and unprecedented surge in the severity and cost of extreme weather events, buyers are increasingly overlooking long-term flood hazards in favour of lower entry prices, causing flood-affected properties to outgrow the broader market in value.

Cotality New Zealand Chief Data Officer Craig Dargusch explained that while buyers face undeniable climate risk, immediate financial pressures are dictating purchase decisions.

“Our data shows that flood-affected properties trade at an initial discount, but the market is buying them anyway and growing their value faster than the rest,” Mr Dargusch said.

“Affordability wins today, but risk shapes tomorrow.”

“Buyers are actively accepting known flood exposure in exchange for a lower price point, which inadvertently accelerates the rate of value growth in these vulnerable zones.”

The research utilises Cotality’s advanced property-level pricing model, customised with granular flood-extent flags and 500-metre buffer rings to isolate the precise impact of climate hazards on property values.

The local dynamics: Auckland vs Hawke’s Bay

In Auckland, where the median dwelling value sits at $1.05M, purchasing a home in a flood-susceptible pocket of a suburb like Mount Albert offers an upfront discount of $70k to $100k.

This price variance has driven more intense demand among budget-conscious buyers.

Consequently, cumulative house value growth in Auckland’s impacted zones reached 18.4% since 2020, leaving nearby comparable buffer zones behind at 13.0%.

A similar pattern emerged in Hawke’s Bay following Cyclone Gabrielle. While the disaster generated a devastating $14.5B economic impact and displaced more than 10,000 people nationally, the local shock was heavily felt in the regional property market, triggering a 10% to 15% median rent spike in Hawke’s Bay due to a sharp 30% contraction in local rental listings.

Post-Gabrielle, impacted properties in Hawke’s Bay outperformed surrounding areas by up to 5 percentage points. While that gap has since narrowed, impacted zones retain a higher cumulative growth rate since 2020 at 24.3%, compared to 22.7% for properties situated within a 500-metre buffer ring.

Mr Dargusch noted that smaller regional markets demonstrate a slightly less pronounced divergence than metro areas.

“With median values in Napier and Hastings sitting well below Auckland at $703k and $710k respectively, buyers have a different starting point,” Mr Dargusch said.

“Furthermore, in a tighter-knit regional market, local buyers often possess sharper, localised knowledge of exactly which streets flood, allowing them to price risk more precisely.”

National trends and shifting credit realities

Nationally, the trend remains highly consistent, displaying the sharpest divergence at the geographical and statistical extremes. Properties designated with a Cotality FloodScore of 5 (Very High risk) recorded a 26.1% increase in total growth change since January 2020. Conversely, properties classified with a score of 0 (No risk) saw total growth of a more modest 19.8% over the same period.

However, Cotality warns that this divergence in long-term growth faces an impending friction point as insurance providers refine their property-by-property asset risk profiling.

“While the consumer market is currently absorbing these properties, the credit lens is evolving rapidly,” Mr Dargusch warned.

“Insurance availability is becoming the de facto pricing mechanism for climate risk at the property level. Because insurance is a non-negotiable prerequisite for mortgage lending, any future retreat by insurers means no loan and no liquidity.”

“Lenders inherit what insurers leave behind, leading to uncollateralised exposure if an industry-wide cliff edge is not avoided through collaboration and cross-sector alignment.”

Mr Dargusch closed by noting that Cotality would continue to support the entire property ecosystem, connecting data and climate hazard analytics across credit, valuation, and lending workflows to help build a more resilient society.

MIL OSI

Samsung Brings Back Solve for Tomorrow 2026 to Spark Youth-led Innovation and Drive Social Change

MIL OSI — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 06:03:01 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026, the highly-anticipated youth innovation competition, is back for its 10th edition in Singapore! As the world looks to navigate the uncertainties ahead, Solve for Tomorrow provides a platform for young changemakers to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to shape a better tomorrow for all. By inspiring youths in Singapore to rise up to the challenge and address key societal issues via innovation and technology, the competition encourages them to turn their creativity, ingenuity and passion into tangible solutions that can drive meaningful change in their communities.

“At Samsung, we believe that youths hold the key to shaping a better tomorrow for all. When given the right platform and opportunity to utilise their critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as their knowledge in STEM and artificial intelligence, they have the potential to devise groundbreaking innovations that can make a positive impact on our society and the world,” said Jeffrey Hahn, President, Samsung Electronics Singapore.

He added: “Solve for Tomorrow 2026 aims to be the catalyst that inspires meaningful change and positive action among our youths. This year, we are calling for youths in Singapore to join us in igniting the change for a better future. As they come together to dream big and turn ideas into action, we believe that they will find their place in our society and be equipped to make the change that they want to see in their future.”

Bella Teo, a member of Team BuddyBot, the Grand Prize winner of the Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition, shares her experience: “Participating in the Solve for Tomorrow competition has truly expanded our horizons. The trip to Samsung’s innovation facilities in South Korea was an eye-opening experience that taught us how innovation that combines vision, fundamental values and the desire to solve real-world problems can create long-lasting impact. Seeing Samsung’s remarkable innovation journey, as well as the passion and inventiveness of other teams, spurs us on to continue our innovation journey. I am confident that we can achieve so much more if we set our minds to it, especially with the right support, mentorship and partners.”

Solve for Tomorrow 2026 will provide the opportunity for youths to develop interdisciplinary skills like critical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, as well as to expand their Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) and AI knowledge, elevating their potential while preparing them for the workforce.

Ignite the Change Together for a Better Future

Samsung has identified four key themes for this year’s competition, to encourage submissions that can shape a better future for Singapore in 2026. Participants can develop their ideas around these themes:

1. Environmental Sustainability

Climate change is one of the most critical challenges of our time, and each person has a role to play in shaping a more sustainable future. Whether it’s conserving energy, reducing resource consumption, or improving recycling efforts, your actions can make a real difference. This is your moment to innovate, take action, and help build a better future for your nation and the world.

2. Sport, Health and Technology

Health is the foundation for a fulfilling and productive life—and innovation can make it more accessible for everyone. In a fast-changing world, sport and technology play a powerful role in supporting physical, mental and emotional well-being. By making it easier to stay active, reduce stress and build healthier lifestyles, your ideas can drive lasting impact for those around you.

3. Inclusivity and Social Harmony

Our society is constantly evolving, and everyone has a role in shaping a more inclusive and harmonious future. From creating solutions that remove existing barriers for people with disabilities, to fostering social inclusion for disadvantaged communities, you have the opportunity to make an impact by building a Singapore where everyone feels at home.

4. Trust, Security and Privacy

As AI reshapes our world, it presents powerful opportunities as well as new responsibilities. Building trust in the AI era requires a strong commitment to security, fundamental respect for privacy, and the skills to optimise the technology safely. By empowering society with these foundations, we can unlock innovation while shaping a secure and inclusive digital future for all.

Call for Entries Now Open, Ends 18 September 2026

From now till 18 September 2026, students can submit their entries for the competition by forming groups of two to four and submitting their innovative ideas or solutions on the Solve for Tomorrow 2026 website.

Eligibility: Full-time students aged 12 to 18 years old, enrolled in a secondary or international school in Singapore, including:
- Secondary 1 to Secondary 5 students if they are enrolled in the following schools:
  - Government schools (including autonomous schools)
  - Government-aided schools (including autonomous schools)
  - Independent schools
  - Specialised independent schools (SIS)
  - Specialised schools
  - Special education (SPED) schools

Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 students if they are enrolled in IP (Integrated Programme) secondary schools with 6-year IP programmes.
Students studying in equivalent levels in International Schools in Singapore

The top three teams will receive the following prizes:

First Prize Winning Team
- S$10,000 worth of Samsung products
- S$7,000 cash prize
Second Prize
- S$6,000 worth of Samsung products
- S$4,000 cash prize
Third Prize
- S$3,000 worth of Samsung products
- S$2,000 cash prize

For more information visit the Solve for Tomorrow 2026 website or reach out to the organising team at samsungsolvefortomorrow@infom.asia.

Hashtag: #Samsung #SFT_SG_2026 #TogetherForTomorrow #ShapeTheFuture #SolveForTomorrow #SFT26

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Competition, Workplace Safety and Financial Pressures Shape Risk Agenda for Korean Businesses, Aon Survey

MIL OSI — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:18:06 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

Competition rises as the top risk, reflecting intensifying markets, while workplace safety accountability remains high amid a stricter regulatory environment
Liquidity and natural catastrophe risks point to growing pressure on financial resilience

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 June 2026 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today released the findings from South Korea for its 2025 Global Risk Management Survey, revealing that competition, workplace safety accountability and financial pressures are shaping the country’s risk agenda.

The survey, which gathered responses from nearly 3,000 organisations across 63 countries and 16 industries, highlights a risk environment shaped by digital transformation, economic uncertainty, geopolitical pressures and climate exposure.

Competition Tops the Risk Agenda in Korea

According to the survey, “Increasing competition” is the number one risk for organisations in Korea, compared with fifth globally. It also ranks as the top future risk over the next three years. The findings point to pressures in Korea’s market environment, where a relatively concentrated domestic market and high industry density are driving sustained competition.

Half of Korean respondents report financial losses linked to competition, above both the Asia Pacific (APAC) benchmark of 44.1 percent across APAC and global benchmark of 42.8 percent. Despite this impact, only 17.4 percent of Korean organisations report having a formal plan or review in place for competition risk, highlighting an opportunity to strengthen preparedness relative to exposure.

For Korean businesses, competition is no longer just a commercial issue – it is becoming a material driver of financial outcomes, with implications for margin pressure, investment capacity and long-term growth. This dynamic is closely linked to financial resilience, with sustained competition increasing the importance of liquidity and capital allocation decisions as businesses invest to maintain market position.

“Korea’s risk profile shows how structural market pressures are translating into tangible business impact,” said, Terence Williams, head of Commercial Risk for Aon in APAC. “Competition, regulation and financial volatility are converging, increasing the need for more connected risk strategies that link resilience with capital and growth decisions.”

Workplace Safety Accountability Remains a Major Concern

“Workplace accidents” remain among the top risks for Korean organisations, driven by stronger regulatory enforcement and increased accountability for organisations and senior management under the expanded Serious Accidents Punishment Act. Survey responses show that 64.3 percent of Korean organisations have a plan or formal review in place for work injuries, while over half (57.1 percent) are evaluating insurance or risk transfer solutions for this exposure. This suggests that workplace safety is being treated not only as a compliance requirement, but as a material governance and financial priority.

Financial Resilience Is Increasing in Importance

Natural catastrophe and liquidity risks are increasing in importance within Korea’s risk profile. “Weather and natural disasters” rank sixth among current risks, while “cash flow and liquidity risk” returns to the top 10 for the first time since 2019.While Korea is less exposed to large-scale catastrophe events than some APAC markets, recent extreme weather has still resulted in significant economic losses, including wildfires and flooding in 2025.

At the same time, cash flow and liquidity pressures are intensifying amid macroeconomic volatility, trade uncertainty and sustained competitive pressure. Survey data show that 78.6 percent of Korean organisations have a plan or formal review in place for liquidity risk – the highest level of preparedness among all top risks. The findings indicate that liquidity is closely linked to competitiveness, with sustained investment in talent, expansion and technology critical to maintaining market position.

2025 Top Ten Business Risks for Korea

The breadth of risks shaping Korea’s business environment is reflected in the current top ten rankings:

Increasing Competition
Economic Slowdown/Slow Recovery
Business Interruption
Work Injuries
Property Damage
Weather/Natural Disasters
Regulatory/Legislative Changes
Exchange Rate Fluctuation
Cash Flow/Liquidity Risk
Cyber Attacks/Data Breach

Future Risks Outlook

The findings suggest that Korean businesses are navigating an increasingly complex risk landscape shaped by both domestic pressures and global disruptions. “Increasing competition” remains the top future risk, while “cyber attacks and data breaches” continue to rise as organisations adapt to evolving operating environments.

Looking ahead, the survey highlights how these risks are expected to evolve as businesses position for growth:

Increasing Competition
Economic Slowdown/Slow Recovery
Work Injuries
Regulatory/Legislative Changes
Cyber Attacks/Data Breach

A Greater Need for Structured, Data-Led Risk Management

The findings highlight a clear opportunity for Korean organisations to strengthen how risk is measured, managed and linked to strategic decision making. Compared with global peers, adoption of enterprise-wide risk management frameworks and quantitative analysis remains relatively limited. For example, only 22.2 percent of Korean organisations report that they have assessed increasing competition risk, and the same proportion report having developed continuity or risk management plans for it.

Cyber risk appears more mature, with 33.3 percent of organisations having developed continuity plans for cyber exposures.

More broadly, only 25 percent of Korean organisations report using a structured, enterprise-wide process to identify major risks, and just 2.9 percent use quantitative analytics tools to model risk scenarios and insurance strategies.

“The survey highlights a clear opportunity for Korean organisations to strengthen enterprise risk management and analytics capabilities,” said Kevin Kim, CEO of Korea for Aon. “By building stronger internal data, processes and expertise, businesses can move from reacting to risk toward making more confident, forward-looking decisions that support growth and capital efficiency.”

Hashtag: #Aon

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Environment – Rotorua company fined for illegally releasing synthetic greenhouse gases

LiveNews Publisher — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:56:50 +0000

Source: Environmental Protection Authority

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) welcomes the recent fines for a Rotorua-based company and one of its employees for illegally releasing a synthetic greenhouse gas.

On 25 June 2026, the Rotorua District Court fined G.B Teat Limited and an employee, Cole Wicks, following their guilty plea to a single charge each under the Climate Change Response Act 2002. G.B Teat Limited was fined $6,700, and Mr Wicks was fined $3,350.

The EPA laid charges related to the deliberate release of a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) into the atmosphere during an incident on December 20, 2024, while Mr Wicks was providing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) services.

Acting General Manager of Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement, Brian Ruiterman, says the successful prosecution highlights the importance of properly handling substances with high Global Warming Potential.

“The Court’s decision is a good reminder to all businesses working in the HVAC industry of their obligations under the Climate Change Response Act and to ensure they are correctly handling greenhouse gases.

“The Act provides mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and establishes the legal framework for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet our international climate change obligations.

“It is an offence to knowingly release any HFC into the atmosphere when installing, operating, servicing, modifying, dismantling, or disposing of refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment. They are potent greenhouse gases and their handling is tightly controlled.

“It is essential that everyone follows the rules around how greenhouse gases with high Global Warming Potential are handled. The EPA will take action to protect people and the environment from the harm these gases cause.”

For more information on HFCs and their Global Warming Potential please visit: Taking the heat out of coolants – what you need to know about hydrofluorocarbons | EPA

MIL OSI

Results of the IX Digital Asset Industry Classification System (“DAICS®”) 1H 2026 Review

MIL OSI — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:15:46 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 June 2026 – IX Asia Indexes today announced the 1^st Half 2026 Review of the IX Digital Asset Industry Classification System (“DAICS^®“), aiming to provide professionals worldwide with a transparent and standardized classification scheme to determine sector and exposure of particular digital assets. DAICS^® classifies digital assets into 2 main categories: a) Cryptocurrencies and b) Asset Backed Tokens (ABTs) in a 3-tier system for each category. For Cryptocurrencies: Tier 1-Industry/ Tier 2-Sector/ Tier 3-Sub-sector; and for ABTs: Tier 1-Asset Type/ Tier 2-Branch/ Tier 3-Sub-branch. The results are as follows:

DAICS^® coin coverage: As of 31^st May, the top 50 coins by average market capitalization across the past 90 days
DAICS^®market capitalization coverage: 97.45%*
The % coverage of market capitalization of the 50th ranked coin: 0.06%**
Member changes within the Top 50 Coins in DAICS^®: seven coins added and six coins deleted
Additions: Canton (CC), Tether Gold (XAUT), Pax Gold (PAXG), Global Dollar (USDG), Aster (ASTER), Ripple USD (RLUSD), USDD (USDD)
Deletions: Ethena (ENA), Aptos (APT), Worldcoin (WLD), Polygon (POL), Story (IP), Arbitrum (ARB)
7 Green Coins labelled: Internet Computer (ICP), Binance (BNB), Hedera (HBAR), Solana (SOL), Sui (SUI), XRP (XRP), Canton (CC)

*Special currency treatment of DAICS^® applies, where any wrapped or second-level cryptocurrency is not considered in the calculation for the market capitalization of DAICS^®
**Based on 31^st May 2026
G: Green Coin

The rankings of additions and deletions for the DAICS^® top 50 cryptocurrencies are listed in Appendix 1. All classification changes, including the ixCrypto Infrastructure Index and ixCrypto Stablecoin index, will take effect on 24^th July 2026, with market capitalization, rankings, and weightings available at www.ix-index.com.

1. Cryptocurrencies
1.1 Structure and Definitions

Tier 1: Industry Changes
The industry groups remain unchanged, with 5 industries and the respective weightings as follows:

Industry	Weighting (%)
Payment (110)	77.76%
Infrastructure (120)	16.60%
Financial Services (130)	4.31%
Tech & Data (140)	0.12%
Media & Entertainment (150)	1.00%
ABT – Natural Resources (265)	0.21%

Tier 2: Sector Changes
The number of sectors remains unchanged at 18.

1.2 Reclassification Changes
This review doesn’t have any reclassification of the existing coins. The DAICS® 1H 2026 cryptocurrencies classification is available in Appendix 2.

1.3 Green Coin Label
This review identifies 7 Green Coins, classified based on their energy-per-unit-transaction, which is defined as the amount of energy consumed for a successful single unit transaction of the coin in the blockchain network. The coins selected rank in the top 15 percentile of the least energy-consuming cryptocurrencies out of the 50 DAICS^® constituents. The table below lists these low-energy coins.

Industry	Cryptocurrencies
Payment (110)	XRP^G
Infrastructure (120)	ICP^G HBAR^G CC^G	SOL^G SUI^G
Financial Services (130)	BNB^G
Tech & Data (140)	NIL
Media & Entertainment (150)	NIL

Note: G as ‘Green Coin‘ labelling for cryptocurrencies that adhere to the principles of sustainability

2. Asset Backed Tokens (ABT)
2.1 Structure and Definitions

Tier 1: Asset Type Changes
The asset types remain unchanged at 6 as follows:
1) Culture (205),
2) Real Estate (215),
3) Financials (235),
4) Entertainment (255),
5) Natural Resources (265), and
6) Green Economy (275)

Tier 2: Branch Changes
The number of branches remains unchanged at 32.

2.2 Classification Changes
This review doesn’t have any reclassification of the existing assets.

2.3 Coverage of DAICS^®
IX Asia Indexes has classified 2 ABTs in 1H 2026, which are Tether Gold (XAUT) and PAX Gold (PAXG). As of May 31, 2026, ABTs comprised 2.05% of the total market capitalization of digital assets, a rise from 0.91% in the 2025 2H review, which shows that ABT’s presence in the market has become more significant.

With accelerating growth and dominance of stable coins in the past two half yearly reviews, the IX Asia Tokenisation Advisory Committee has decided to expand the coverage to “50 coins + stablecoins within top 50” starting from the next review.

A classification summary and definition table of both cryptocurrencies and ABTs are available in Appendices 3 and 4. For further information regarding the methodology of the DAICS^®, please refer to the “IX Digital Asset Industry Classification System”- principle and guiding methodology on the company website https://ix-index.com/daics.html.

Additions and Deletions in DAICS^® Top 50 Cryptocurrencies

Additions

Current Rank	Cryptocurrencies
17	Canton (CC)
32	Tether Gold (XAUT)
34	PAX Gold (PAXG)
35	Global Dollar (USDG)
42	Sky (SKY)
43	Aster (ASTER)
44	Ripple USD (RLUSD)
50	USDD (USDD)

Deletions

Prev. Rank	Cryptocurrencies	Current Rank
34	Ethena (ENA)	60
41	Aptos (APT)	65
45	Worldcoin (WLD)	57
47	Polygon (POL)	54
48	Story (IP)	133
49	Arbitrum (ARB)	68

G: Green Coin

Classification of the Top 50 Coins by Industry and Sector

Category	Industry	Sector	Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies (1)	Payment: Blockchain based money, designed for transactional purposes. This includes daily transactions usage and stablecoins.	Transaction & Payment	BTC XRP^G BCH XMR ZEC	XLM LTC CRO PI
		Stablecoin	USDT USDC DAI USDE WUSD	PYUSD USDG RLUSD USDD
	Infrastructure: Bedrock blockchain that facilitates the operation of other decentralised applications. This includes the creation and running of dedicated blockchain platforms, achieving interoperability between networks, increasing the amount or speed of transactions etc	Application Development Protocol & Smart Contract	ETH SOL^G TRX HYPE ADA CC^G AVAX	HBAR^G TON SUI^G NEAR ASTER ICP^G ETC
		Interoperability	LINK	DOT
		Scaling & Sharding	MNT
		Supporting System	NIL
	Financial services: Tokens that provide on-chain asset management services, crypto-exchange services, funding, lending and other capital markets related services	Exchange Tokens	BNB^G LEO UNI	OKN BGB KCS
		Lending & Borrowing	AAVE
		Staking	NIL
		Financial Asset Tokenization	ONDO
	Tech & Data: Provision of data management and storage, and development of innovative crypto technology	Storage & Sharing	NIL
		Data Management	NIL
		Artificial Intelligence	TAO
		Identification	NIL
	Media & Entertainment: Recreational and media services. Including content creation and distribution, advertising through crypto-asset incentive mechanisms, gaming and collectibles	Social Media & Community	DOGE SHIB	M PEPE
		Streaming	NIL
		Gaming	NIL
		Metaverse	NIL

Category	Asset Type	Branch	Cryptocurrencies
Asset-Backed Tokens (2)	Culture: (205) Real asset relating to sports, art, cultural drama, festive collectibles and design IPs etc.	Art (20510)	NIL
		Sports (20520)	NIL
		Festive Collectibles (20530)	NIL
		Design IPs (20540)	NIL
		Drama and Play IPs (20550)	NIL
	Real Estate:(215) Assets that mainly derived its valuation from property, real estate, and land	Commercial Property (21510)	NIL
		Residential Property (21520)	NIL
		Governmental Property (21530)	NIL
		Residential and Commercial Land (21540)	NIL
	Financials: (235) Real financial asset including listed company shareholdings on regulated centralised exchanges and private company shareholdings; debt instruments; property trusts and derivatives that settled on regulated exchange (CeFi and DeFi).	Tokenised Securities (Company Securities, ETF) (23510)	NIL
		Tokenised Debts (23520)	NIL
		Tokenised REITs (23530)	NIL
		Tokenised Funds (23540)	NIL
	Entertainment: (255) Ownership of the IPs assets in the area of entertainment in real world such as concert, play, shows, circus, musicals, songs, movies, games, events and programs, and souvenir collectibles that is derived from the above areas.	Movies (25510)	NIL
		Songs (25520)	NIL
		Concerts (25530)	NIL
		Gaming (25540)	NIL
		All Other Entertainment Events and Collectibles (25550)	NIL
	Natural Resources: (265) Natural resources asset that derived directly from sea, sky, atmosphere and underground and can be classified as a commodity with standardisation such as precious metals, agricultural, energy and metals.	Precious Metals (26510)	XAUT	PAXG
		Agricultural (26520)	NIL
		Energy (26530)	NIL
		Metals (26540)	NIL
	Green Economy (275) Ownership of Projects Asset that falls under the definition of the UN 17SDG²s, with over 80% of the income or jobs provided on these 17 initiatives.	No Poverty & Zero Hunger (27510)	NIL
		Good Health and Well-Being (27520)	NIL
		Quality Education (27530)	NIL
		Gender Equality (27540)	NIL
		Clean Water and Sanitation/Affordable and Clean Energy (27550)	NIL
		Decent Work and Economic Growth/ Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure/ Partnerships for the Goals (27560)	NIL
		Reduced inequalities/ Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (27570)	NIL
		Sustainable Cities and Communities/Responsible Consumption and Production (27580)	NIL
		Climate Action (27590)	NIL
		Life Below Water & Life on Land (27500)	NIL

Note: NEW for newly added branch

² United Nations 17 sustainable development goals covering 1) No Poverty 2) Zero Hunger 3) Good Health and Well-Being 4) Quality Education 5) Gender Equality 6) Clean Water and Sanitation 7) Affordable And Clean Energy 8) Decent Work and Economic Growth 9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 10) Reduced inequalities 11) Sustainable Cities and Communities 12) Responsible Consumption and Production 13) Climate Action 14) Life Below Water 15) Life on Land 16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and 17) Partnerships for the Goals https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Note:
G as ‘Green Coin‘ for cryptocurrencies that adhere to the principles of sustainability
NEW for newly added sector

DAICS^® Industry and Sector Definition

Category	Industry	Sector	Sector definition
Cryptocurrencies (1)	Payment: (110) Definition Blockchain based money, designed for transactional purposes. This includes daily transactions usage and stablecoins.	Transaction & Payment (11010)	Cryptocurrencies that are used for store of value, unit of account, medium of exchange
		Stablecoin (11020)	Cryptocurrencies where price is pegged to a / a basket of, reference asset
	Infrastructure: (120) Definition Bedrock blockchain that facilitates the operation of other decentralised applications. This includes the creation and running of dedicated blockchain platforms, achieving interoperability between networks, increasing the amount or speed of transactions etc.	Application Development Protocol & Smart Contract (12010)	layer-1 blockchain network that facilitates DApp creation and smart contract execution and smart contract
		Interoperability (12020)	Network that increases inter-connectivity and integration of the fragmented cryptocurrency ecosystem
		Scaling & Sharding (12030)	Networks that increase the ability to cope with the influx of many transactions at a time and blockchain network that can be split into smaller partitions, to improve scalability and process transactions quicker
		Supporting System (12040)	Networks/sidechains that improve functionality of layer-1 network
	Financial services: (130) Definition Tokens that provide on-chain asset management services, crypto-exchange services, funding, lending, and other capital markets related services	Exchange Tokens (13010)	Cryptocurrencies that represent the stable coin in the exchange ecosystem and allow users to covert from digital asset on decentralised or centralised system int fiat currencies
		Lending & Borrowing (13020)	Borrowing and lending crypto assets with interest in return and other secondary financial tools derived from primary underlying asset, such as crypto futures and options
		Staking (13030)	Holding and “staking” of certain amount of cryptocurrency in a wallet to facilitate network operations
		Financial Asset Tokenization (13040)	Cryptocurrencies/protocols that focus on the tokenized issuance and management of financial assets
	Tech & Data: (140) Definition Provision of data management and storage, and development of innovative crypto technology	Storage & Sharing (14010)	Crypto protocols that provide decentralized storage and/or sharing of data filing and resources.
		Data Management (14020)	Networks/Protocols that facilitate the indexing and querying of data from blockchain(s), enabling efficient data retrieval and management for decentralized applications
		Artificial Intelligence (14030)	Cryptos/Protocols that facilitate the use of AI powered apps or projects directly using blockchain platform.
		Identification (14040)	Cryptocurrencies that facilitate decentralized identity authentication and/or blockchain-based validation of digital intellectual property rights. The classification emphasizes trust, data consent, and privacy as core architectural features while the crypto by itself is not an identity token.
	Media & Entertainment: (150) Definition Recreational and media services. Including content creation and distribution, advertising through crypto-asset incentive mechanisms, gaming and collectibles	Social Media & Community (15010)	Cryptos that provides mast social community and followers without a close secondary industry sector
		Streaming (15020)	Cryptos that provides rights to access decentralised video-streaming sites
		Gaming (15030)	Cryptos which mainly used in gaming or gaming supporting industry
		Metaverse (15040)	Cryptos that is commonly used in collective virtual open space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality. This includes the use of VR and/or AR and/or 3D.

Note: NEW for newly added sector

DAICS^® Asset Type and Branch Definition

Category	Asset Type	Branch	Sub -branch
Asset-Backed Tokens (2)	Culture: (205) Definition Real asset relating to sports, art, cultural drama, festive collectibles and design IPs etc.	Art (20510)	This shall be further developed in the future with more digital assets available in the market
		Sports (20520)
		Festive Collectibles (20530)
		Design IPs (20540)
		Drama and Play IPs (20550)
	Real Estate:(215) Definition Assets that mainly derived its valuation from property, real estate, and land	Commercial Property (21510)
		Residential Property (21520)
		Governmental Property (21530)
		Residential and Commercial Land (21540)
	Financials: (235) Definition Real financial asset including listed company shareholdings on regulated centralised exchanges and private company shareholdings; debt instruments; property trusts and derivatives that settled on regulated exchange (CeFi and DeFi).	Tokenised Securities (Company Securities, ETF) (23510)
		Tokenised Debts (23520)
		Tokenised REITs (23530)
		Tokenised Funds (23540)
	Entertainment: (255) Definition Ownership of the IPs assets in the area of entertainment in real world such as concert, play, shows, circus, musicals, songs, movies, games, events and programs, and souvenir collectibles that is derived from the above areas.	Movies (25510)	This shall be further developed in the future with more digital assets available in the market Following definition of the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals²
		Songs (25520)
		Concerts (25530)
		Gaming (25540)
		All Other Entertainment Events and Collectibles (25550)
	Natural Resources: (265) Definition Natural resources asset that derived directly from sea, sky, atmosphere and underground and can be classified as a commodity with standardisation such as precious metals, agricultural, energy and metals.	Precious Metals (26510)
		Agricultural (26520)
		Energy (26530)
		Metals (26540)
	Green Economy (275) Definition Ownership of Projects Asset that falls under the definition of the UN 17SDG²s, with over 80% of the income or jobs provided on these 17 initiatives.	No Poverty & Zero Hunger (27510)
		Good Health and Well-Being (27520)
		Quality Education (27530)
		Gender Equality (27540)
		Clean Water and Sanitation/Affordable and Clean Energy (27550)
		Decent Work and Economic Growth/ Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure/ Partnerships for the Goals (27560)
		Reduced inequalities/ Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (27570)
		Sustainable Cities and Communities/Responsible Consumption and Production (27580)
		Climate Action (27590)
		Life Below Water & Life on Land (27500)

Note: NEW for newly added branch

Hashtag: #IX #DAICS

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

MET Group’s Climate Impact Report Confirms The Company’s Contribution to Profitable Decarbonisation

MIL OSI — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:19:29 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 June 2026 – MET Group has published its Climate Impact Report 2025, highlighting how the company continues to balance decarbonisation, security of supply, and affordability through an integrated portfolio of gas, LNG, renewables, and energy storage solutions.

Executive Summary of MET Group Climate Impact Report 2025

The report comes amid European debates about how to preserve climate ambition while also maintaining industrial competitiveness and investment attractiveness. It describes the way MET Group’s integrated gas, LNG, power, renewables, and battery storage portfolio supports Europe’s efforts to address the energy trilemma.

The Climate Impact Report reflects a year of continued progress in MET Group’s climate journey, including growth in green electricity generation, an increased share of energy transition investments in the company’s capital allocation, and the first GHG inventory subject to third-party limited assurance.

In 2025, the Group increased the proportion of its CAPEX directed toward renewable energy and BESS projects to 39%. Renewable generation reached 625 GWh, supported by new solar parks in Germany and Italy, including the Group’s first Agri-PV project. MET also inaugurated one of Hungary’s largest BESS facilities at Dunamenti Power Station, supporting grid flexibility and renewable integration.

MET Group’s average grid emission factor across its retail power markets improved from 279 to 255gCO₂e/kWh, which was primarily driven by significant portfolio growth in cleaner markets such as Spain.

For the first time, MET Group’s greenhouse gas inventory has been subject to limited assurance by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Zurich.

MET Group’s climate approach strives to achieve alignment with the EU Fit for 55 framework and integrates climate-related risk management into long-term strategic planning and investment decisions. The report outlines MET’s approach to managing both physical and transition risks, while reinforcing the role of diversified assets, flexible infrastructure, and integrated trading operations in supporting resilience across evolving energy markets.

In his first Climate Impact Report statement as Group CEO, Huibert Vigeveno emphasised: “Our ambition to be a European energy champion, able to provide our customers with cleaner energy, positions us to support Europe in addressing the energy transition trilemma of decarbonisation, security of supply, and affordability – advancing the transition in a way that is commercially sustainable, operationally reliable, and affordable for the customers and stakeholders we serve.”

Huibert Vigeveno added: “Europe should move beyond framing the energy transition primarily as a climate obligation and instead position it as an industrial and technological opportunity. Sustained leadership in climate action will ultimately depend on Europe’s ability to remain an attractive hub for investment, foster innovation, and enable the large-scale industrial deployment of new solutions.”

https://met.com/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/met-group/

Hashtag: #METGroup #ESG #ClimateImpactReport

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

MET Group

MET Group is an integrated European energy company, headquartered in Switzerland, with activities and assets in natural gas, LNG, power, and renewables. MET serves customers in 24 countries through subsidiaries, and is present in 33 national energy markets as well as 51 international trading hubs. The company’s 1,400+ employees represent close to 60 nationalities. MET has extensive experience operating renewable and flexible assets, thus providing the widest possible support to energy transition. In 2025, MET Group’s consolidated sales revenue amounted to EUR 28.5 billion, with a total transacted volume of natural gas amounting to 241 BCM and total traded electricity of 160 TWh.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.