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Africa's climate funds are sucked dry by military spending
Climate change is a cost of military spending African leaders prefer grants to loans The private sector is called upon to step up Kim Harrisberg and Joanna Gill African leaders, researchers, and activists made a call to international donors at the second African Climate Summit in Ethiopia, last week. They asked them to help the continent withstand flooding, droughts, and heatwaves. "We are now living in a world where security measures have become prevalent in finance," said Patrick Verkooijen. He is the president of the Global Center on Adaptation, which has offices in Kenya and the Netherlands, and also leads the Africa Adaptation and Acceleration Programme (AAAP). Since 2021, the AAAP has invested billions of dollars in adaptation projects, from mangrove restoration along West Africa’s coastline to organic material recycling in Nairobi. According to the World Meteorological Organization, Africa is the continent that has been most affected by climate change despite its contribution of less than 10% in global carbon emissions. The summit announced the second phase of their adaptation programme, and invited international partners to assist in reaching the goal of $50 billion to expand efforts against climate change. The funding competition has risen due to a reduction in global humanitarian aid, and an increase in defense spending by the United States in Europe. Macky Sall is the chairperson of the Global Center on Adaptation and was the president of Senegal between 2012-2024. According to the research organization Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), Africa needs about $70 billion annually to meet adaptation targets. CPI estimates that this figure will drop to $14.8 billion in 2023 as aid is cut by donors. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military spending has increased across all regions, reaching $2.7 trillion by 2024, up 9.4% on 2023. This is the highest growth rate since the Cold War, and the 10th consecutive annual increase. Florian Krampe is the acting director of SIPRI's Climate Change and Risk Program. He also added that recent violations of Polish and Romanian Airspace during Russian attacks against Ukraine have highlighted the importance. Climate change could intensify the competition for resources, and increase conflict risk in fragile areas. Defence spending should therefore take this into consideration. Krampe suggested that defence departments budget for innovative environmental technologies to ensure long-term resilience of both militaries as well as civilians. Water harvesting is one example. In arid areas, water vapour can be extracted from the atmosphere to provide drinking-water for troops. This innovation could also benefit civilians. ADAPTATION AS AN INVESTMENT The GCA called upon the private sector in order to fill the funding gap for climate adaptation. GCA cites as examples of adaption methods the planting of trees, construction of flood barriers, or desalination plant investments that create jobs and invest in development. The World Resources Institute (a non-profit research organization) found that, for every dollar invested in adaptation over ten years, more than $10 in benefits can be generated. Verkooijen cited a report from Singapore's sovereign fund, which said that investment in adaptation initiatives was a $4 trillion opportunity worldwide. He said African countries should take advantage of this. In Asia, private sector adaptation financing is about 35%. In Africa, it is 6%," Verkooijen said. Attendees of the summit also placed a high priority on the type of investments that would support Africa in its readiness to deal with climate shocks. United Nations data shows that the combined debt load of African countries is more than $1.8 trillion. According to the Institute for Economic Justice, this means that they spend three times as much on servicing their external debt as they do on climate finance. In a press release, Nafi Qarshie, Africa Director of the Natural Resource Governance Institute, said that African states should push for more equitable (financing) models at the COP30.
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Tinubu, the Nigerian president, lifts the emergency rule in oil rich Rivers State
Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president, lifted an emergency rule of six months in Rivers State on Wednesday, reinstating Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other officials. He had said that a crisis constitutional that had paralysed government had been resolved. The emergency rule was imposed on 18 March following a standoff that occurred between Fubara, the governor of the state and the legislature. This conflict disrupted the budget approvals leaving the government in limbo. Tinubu claimed that the emergency rule was necessary to avoid anarchy. Rivers State is located in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta and is a major hub for crude exports. The militants have targeted pipelines before, which has affected output and revenue. Tinubu stated that intelligence reports indicated a "groundswell" of a new understanding among political stakeholders. This would pave the way for democratic governance to return. The governor, his assistant, and the House of Assembly, which consists of 31 members, are expected to return to work on September 18. The declaration of emergency triggered over 40 legal challenges across Abuja Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa. Tinubu justified the emergency declaration as a constitutional instrument to restore order and said dissent is part of democratic practice. (Reporting and editing by Chijioke Ahuocha.)
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Copper falls to a one-week low before US Fed rate decision
The price of copper fell to a new low on Wednesday, as traders reduced their positions in anticipation of the Federal Reserve's decision on U.S. rates. Meanwhile, the demand for metals from China - the world's largest consumer - was muted due to the recent rally. The benchmark three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange dropped 1.3% by 1600 GMT to $9,999 per metric ton, but remained above the 21-day moving median, which keeps it at $9.912. Metal, which is used for power and construction, reached its highest level in 15 months on Monday, at $10,192.50. Alastair Mudro, Marex's senior base metals analyst, said that China has been offering copper this week. It was the absence of a systematic bid, and even bearish mean-reversion sell signals that triggered weakness in the complex. State data released on Wednesday showed that China's copper output rose 15% in August compared to the previous year. Neil Welsh, Britannia Global Markets' head of metals, said that traders are waiting for clarity from the Fed, not only on the rate reduction expected, but also the direction of the future policy. The dollar is down about 10% for the year to date and the labour data has softened. Traders are looking for signs that this could be the start of a series. Aluminium, among other LME metals fell 1.1%, to $2,686 per ton. The price of aluminium reached a new six-month record of $2,720, on Tuesday. This was when the spread between the cash contract and the three-month contract increased to $16 per ton. It was the highest level since March. This was a sign of tightness within the LME during the current settlement period, as short positions holders were forced to reduce or rollover their contracts. The premium for buying aluminum tomorrow and selling it a day later - also known as tom next - fell to $2 per ton on Tuesday. From Tuesday's $13 per ton, the price has dropped to zero. According to LME data, there was a long position holder who held more than 40% open interest in LME September Futures. There were also several short positions. LME zinc fell 1.7% to 2,941, while lead climbed 0.2% to $2,000, tin dropped 1.4% to $34,380 and nickel declined 0.1% to $15,405. (Reporting and editing by Ed Osmond, Vijay Kishore and Amy Lv. Additional reporting by Amy Lv.
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Gold prices ease after reaching record highs, Fed rate decision looms
Investors locked in profits on Wednesday after gold prices had risen to $3,700 in the previous session. The Federal Reserve policy decision is now in focus. As of 10:49 AM EDT (1449 GMT), spot gold was down by 0.1%, at $3,685.39 an ounce. It had hit a record-high of $3,702.95 per ounce on Tuesday. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery dropped by 0.1% to $3720.70. After retreating the previous session, the U.S. Dollar grew a little. Gold priced in greenbacks is less attractive to other currency holders due to a stronger dollar. The recent gains in gold are putting "some pressure on the price of gold" ahead of FOMC. Jim Wyckoff is a senior analyst with Kitco Metals. He said that fundamentals and technicals are still bullish on gold. The next price target is $3,800. A major price target would be $4,000 in the future. At 2 p.m., EDT, the most political Fed meeting in recent years will conclude. The speech of Chair Jerome Powell will follow. The markets are pricing in a rate cut of a quarter point. The focus will be on whether officials discussed a 50-bps reduction, given that President Donald Trump’s economic overhaul initiative raises new questions about the independence of the central bank. When interest rates drop, gold is often more attractive as the lower yields reduce the cost of holding this non-yielding investment. While raising its gold forecast, Deutsche Bank said that even though the bullion had screened as richer than fair value, it was largely due to strong official demand which is expected continue. In India, a key hub, the supply of used gold coins and jewellery, which is usually released when investors make profits, has been limited as many people expect prices to rise. Silver spot fell by 1.3%, to $42, platinum dropped 1.3%, to $1372.26; and palladium slid 1.5%, to $1158.88. (Reporting and editing by Shreya biswas in Bengaluru, Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru)
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Democratic lawmakers call on Trump to abandon plan to eliminate vehicle emission standards
In a letter seen by, 102 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives urged the Trump Administration to drop plans to repeal vehicle emissions rules. In a letter, led by Representative Doris Matsui, 102 members of Congress called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to abandon its plan to repeal all greenhouse-gas emission standards for heavy-duty, light-duty and medium-duty engines and vehicles. In a letter to the editor, the lawmakers stated that repealing vehicle pollution standards could hamstring the growing automotive industry by killing thousands of well-paying American. The EPA didn't immediately comment. If we turn away from clean vehicles "The next generation of American cars will be more expensive to maintain and repair, due to the new technologies," said the letter, which was also signed by Representatives Rick Larsen and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. According to the letter, EPA's analyses "suggest that the proposal to remove vehicle pollution standards could result in $1.3 trillion of lost fuel and maintenance savings." Trump's administration has attacked vehicle environmental regulations on several fronts. Trump signed the Environmental Protection Act in June. A resolution of disapproval is a Congressional Resolution. Review Act to prohibit California's landmark Plan to end the sales of gasoline-only cars by 2035, and two other vehicle regulations. NHTSA has released its June 2016 NHTSA Report. Fuel economy in the U.S. is now more flexible By declaring that the former president Joe Biden’s administration exceeded their authority, by assuming a high uptake in electric vehicles when calculating rules. Trump has also signed legislation eliminating penalties Automakers who fail to meet U.S. Fuel Economy Standards as far back as 2022. The EPA announced in July that it would be implementing a new program to help reduce the number of EPA-related deaths. The long-standing Finding that greenhouse gas emission endanger the health of humans, removing all legal foundations for U.S. regulations on greenhouse gases, which would mean a complete end to current limits in greenhouse gas pollution coming from vehicle exhaust pipes, power plants and smokestacks. (Reporting and editing by Lisa Shumaker, Franklin Paul, and David Shepardson)
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Ukraine and US Launch Fund for Critical Mineral Projects with $150 Million Investment
Officials said that Ukraine and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation each will commit $75 million towards a joint fund as part of Kyiv’s mineral deal with Washington, first signed in April. In a press release, Prime Minister Yulia Shvyrydenko stated that the U.S. Development Finance Corporation has committed $75 million as a pilot project. Ukraine will match this amount. DFC stated that the investment will support Ukraine's economic recovery, and also strengthen U.S. supply chains for natural resources. Svyrydenko stated that the initial focus will be on energy, infrastructure and critical minerals. In April, Ukraine and the U.S., who had been promoted to do so by President Donald Trump signed a deal that gave the United States access to new Ukrainian mineral projects in exchange of investment. Since the Russian invasion of February 2022, the U.S. is Ukraine's largest military donor. Trump has said that after his return to the White House in this year, the U.S. must get something back from its aid to Kyiv. The fund would receive half of the revenues Ukraine earned from the new mining extractions under the agreement, with profits being split between Kyiv & Washington. Three large-scale government projects are planned to be implemented by the end of 2026. "American partners pay particular attention to gas project," Economy Minister Oleksiy Solobolev said, adding that these projects could be implemented faster than minerals exploration. This month, DFC's team visited Ukraine to scout for potential projects. Sobolev stated that the delegation visited sites in central Kirovohrad, which had deposits of zirconium and titanium ore. The EU considers 22 minerals in the Ukraine to be critical for industries like defence, high-tech devices and green energy. The country also has ferro alloys, which are needed in the steel industry and non-ferrous materials used in construction. It also contains some rare earths. (Reporting and writing by Yuliia Dyesa; Editing by Bernadette B. Baum)
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Perenco Launches Reactivation Program for Two Mothballed Capos Basin Fields
Perenco has started active field reactivation program for the Cherne and Bagre fields in Campos Basin, acquired from Petrobras earlier in 2025, helping meet the industry’s mature field challenges and unlocking in excess of 50 mmstb of reserves.The multi-dimensional, two-year, reactivation program was designed to be executed in three linked stages with operational safety as the main guideline.The first step, which is already underway, entails the full integrity revitalization of the PCH-1 and PCH-2 platforms, systems and associated equipment.This integrity revitalization effort will take place throughout the two-year program, with workstreams ranging from the replacement or renovation of turbines and the water treatment systems to the modernization of the metering systems and maintenance or replacement of the upper deck flowlines. The main objective is to prepare for production resumption in a safe environment.The second phase will consist of installing a new 10-inch pipeline connecting the 27 km distance from PCH1 to the Pargo platform, and from there to the FSO Pargo through the existing export line.As part of the plan to upgrade the water injection system, Perenco will also install a water injection line between the PCH1 and PCH2 units. The third stage will focus on well interventions and re-entries to enable the resumption of production with 36 wells set to come back onstream. This will include 21 workover campaigns and a further evaluation effort for the best application of gas lift or ESP methods, the company said.This ambitious redevelopment plan of Cherne and Bagre has an anticipated 2025-2027 CAPEX of circa $250 million and will achieve a mid-term production from zero to 15,000 barrels of oil per day from the two concessions which were hibernated in 2020 ahead of their originally proposed decommissioning. “The work to safely resume production from the dormant Cherne and Bagre Concessions has now begun. This two-year program will lead to direct and indirect jobs being created, as well as the economic contribution from royalties and taxes.“We are very pleased to be able to invest and build upon our footprint in Brazil, where production from the new fields combined with Pargo will be 35,000 barrels of oil per day,” said Damien Szyszka, General Manager Perenco Brazil.Petrobras Completes Divestment of Cherne and Bagre Fields to Perenco
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SRE Picks Siemens Gamesa Turbines for Formosa 4 Offshore Wind Farm
Synera Renewable Energy (SRE) Group has selected Siemens Gamesa to supply 35 of its 14 MW wind turbines for the 495 MW Formosa 4 offshore wind project, off the west coast of Taiwan.The turbines will be provided from Siemens Gamesa’s industrial nacelle factory in Taichung, Taiwan.Formosa 4 was awarded capacity in the first auction round of Phase 3 Zonal Development in late 2022.The project marks SRE’s third offshore wind farm in Taiwan since entering the sector in 2012, and represents the company’s third partnership with Siemens Gamesa.Formosa 4, planned off the coast of Miaoli County, obtained its establishment permit in late 2024, becoming the first project among all first-round winners to achieve this milestone.Once completed, the wind farm is expected to generate enough clean energy to power around 500,000 households annually.“Over the past six years, we have delivered Formosa 1, Taiwan’s first offshore wind farm, and Formosa 2, the first among Phase 2 projects to reach commercial operation. Now we’re building on that success with Formosa 4.“Given the strong partnership forged with Siemens Gamesa during Formosa 1 and 2, we’re pleased to have them on board again for Formosa 4, deepening the collaboration and advancing sustainability together. With projects spanning every phase of Taiwan’s offshore wind journey, we have firmly established ourselves as the country’s leading offshore wind developer,” said Lucas Lin, Chairperson at SRE.
INSIGHT-Losing hope of rescue, some European solar firms head to United States
European governments due to relocate to support their solar power makers today will be too late to stop solar panel maker Meyer Hamburger leaving a German factory to send out production to the United States.
The plant in Freiberg in eastern Germany closed in mid-March with the loss of 500 jobs, as the Swiss-listed company joined a. growing list of European renewable resource production. factories closing down or moving. In the previous year, at least 10. have stated they remain in financial problems.
On a recent check out to the site, giant white robotic arms hung. dormant over empty wooden pallets as employees prepared the last. assembly line for shutdown. Talks with the German federal. government to attempt to secure a future for the factory ended. without success in late March, a business spokesperson told. .
Germany's economy ministry stated it knew the extremely. serious circumstance of German companies and has actually been analyzing. funding choices with the market for over a year. It agreed to. offer Meyer Hamburger an export credit guarantee for equipment. produced in Germany to be utilized at the U.S. factories, which will. assist a website nearby but won't save the Freiberg one.
The closure, which in one sweep minimized European photovoltaic panel. production by 10%, comes regardless of a boom in wind and solar power. in Europe. Additions to renewable energy capacity, consisting of. photovoltaic panels, are running at record rate, according to information from. the International Energy Firm.
But Europe-based producers that supply those panels are. being squashed by competition from China and the U.S., whose. governments provide more assistance to their manufacturers.
The circumstance postures a predicament for European federal governments. keen to combat environment modification: Either offer more assistance to. ensure local production can stay competitive, or enable the. unfettered circulation of imports to maintain the rate of setups. A conference in Brussels between European energy ministers on. Monday will make a gesture of support for the struggling. market.
China is broadening solar output and now accounts for 80% of. the world's solar manufacturing capability. The cost of producing. panels there is around 12 cents per watt of energy produced,. compared with 22 cents in Europe, according to research study company. Wood Mackenzie.
U.S. aids revealed as part of the 2022 Inflation. Decrease Act enable some renewable energy producers and. job designers to claim tax credits, which are bring in. businesses from within the European Union and beyond.
Meyer Burger says its plans include a photovoltaic panel factory in. Arizona and a solar battery factory in Colorado.
We made a vibrant relocation in the lack of any market policy. support in Europe and shifted a solar battery growth project. from Germany to the U.S., its president Gunter Erfurt. told in an interview.
Likewise, battery business Freyr which runs mostly in. Norway, has actually quit working at a half-finished plant near the. Arctic Circle and is focusing on prepare for a plant in the U.S. state of Georgia after Washington announced the policy.
Freyr stated in February it had changed its registration to. the U.S. from Luxembourg.
We did invest quite a bit of time trying to truly make sure. that we weren't devoting an error, stated Birger Steen, chief. executive of Freyr: The company initially looked for assistance from. Norwegian or European federal governments.
We got to the point where we concluded that type of. policy level response was not forthcoming.
Asked to comment, Norway's ministry of trade and market. said that it had introduced an industrial policy framework. targeting energy shift technologies including solar and. batteries, however did not directly attend to questions about. additional financing for the companies in this story.
CHARTER
At Monday's meeting, the European Commission will launch a. voluntary charter for governments and business to sign in. support of solar factory. Industry association. Solar energy Europe will coordinate business signatories. However the. charter, which says that purchasers of solar panels need to include. some domestic production in what they purchase, is not enforceable,. Solar energy Europe said.
Michael Bloss, EU parliament member for Greens, launched a. petition previously this month requiring action at a European. level to rescue panel makers.
Bloss states he is pushing for the European Commission to set. up a 200 million euro ($ 213 million) fund to buy up unused. European-made solar panels, however Europe has hesitated to. pursue that. The European Commission declined to comment.
We are-- in headings and Sunday speeches-- very much in. favour of producing our own solar industry, however then in action,. nothing occurs, Bloss informed .
The charter will be more like a political declaration. signed by member states, solar companies and the Commission,. it's more long term, it has no instant impact.
In February, European policymakers adopted the Net-Zero. Market Act, a set of procedures consisting of a target to produce. 40% of the region's tidy tech needs by 2030.
The previous month, the EU also authorized nearly $1 billion. of German state help for a Swedish battery. manufacturer, Northvolt, to help it establish a production plant in. Germany after Northvolt threatened to take its company to the. United States. It was the first time the bloc used an. exceptional measure allowing member nations to step in with. help when there's a danger of financial investment leaving Europe.
But aid for ongoing operations has not been upcoming,. amid political difference over just how much public funds ought to go. to having a hard time businesses.
Choices about supporting markets or firms like Meyer. Burger are down to member states, a spokesperson for the. European Commission told . Germany's economy and climate. ministry thinks help to keep an existing business like Meyer. Hamburger would not be legal if there is a lack of market. prospects from the business's perspective, a spokesperson told. .
Prospective clients-- renewable resource installers that. depend heavily on inexpensive Chinese imports-- have likewise pressed back. against any brand-new subsidies for regional panels, arguing such relocations. could harm them by triggering customers to postpone orders as they. await the subsidies to start.
INTERTWINED
More than a year's worth of low-price imported panels sit in. European warehouses waiting for setup, according to. consultancy Rystad Energy and photovoltaic panel makers. could. not individually validate that quote.
That backlog could grow as Chinese capability continues to. broaden, Rystad states: If all the plans Chinese companies have. announced proceed, China's industry will have the ability to make twice. as many panels as are anticipated to be set up worldwide in. 2024, said Marius Mordal Bakke, senior analyst at Rystad.
Dresden-based Solarwatt is carrying 6 to 9 months of. stocks, up from around 6 weeks, its chief executive Detlef. Neuhaus told in March.
The company laid off around 10% of its employees last year. and says its regional panel production is running at approximately. one-third of capability.
This industry is so crucial for the future, we can not. permit that we are losing all our skills, stated Neuhaus.
Analysts say it's unclear what support could actually. assistance, since companies like Meyer Burger produce a fraction of the. volumes made by those in China, or prepared in the U.S.
They are tiny, so they will always have problem with volume,. not just to take on Chinese producers but also with U.S. manufacturers, said Eugen Perger, senior analyst at Research study. Partners AG.
And regional clean innovation markets are so worldwide. intertwined it's tough for European manufacturers to envision a. totally independent supply chain.
Norway-based NorSun, which produces solar wafers-- thin. silicon movie utilized in panels-- stated Chinese devices is vital. to both its plant in Norway and a proposed facility in the U.S . The company has halted production at the Norway plant while it. chooses whether to upgrade it.
Most of the devices for either project would need to come. from China. There's essentially no other option, said Carsten. Rohr, primary commercial officer at NorSun.
DEJA VU
Freiberg has been here before. Considering that the 1990s, companies. setting up operations in the area have actually taken advantage of federal. funding programs to restore east Germany and help it close the. gap with western Germany's success.
New markets sprang up, including in solar and. semiconductors. Freiberg took a big hit in the 2010s after. China's solar market increased production and undercut. competitors.
In 2020, the German federal government eliminated a cap on aids. for solar power installations which helped lift demand. In 2021,. the EU's Green Offer signified political support for future. need, and Russia's full intrusion of Ukraine likewise helped solar. release.
Meyer Hamburger, which is headquartered in Gwatt, Switzerland,. only set up production in Freiberg in 2021 as the market. began coming back to life. It refurbished an insolvent solar. business's plant that had stood unused for nearly three years.
For a while it became one of the town's largest employers,. mayor Sven Krueger verified.
This is the second time the German solar industry is at. danger. They stopped working once currently, said apprentice Max Lange, 19,. welcoming coworkers with a silent nod as they cleaned idled. equipment on the factory floor.
If it stops working again, I doubt that I will be able to pursue a. profession in the European solar industry, due to the fact that I do not think it. will come back, he said, wondering aloud if he may instead. find work in the U.S. solar market.
(source: Reuters)