Climate Tech Newsletter: October 27, 2025

Welcome to last week’s edition of the CBKNY’s Weekly News Highlights. Explore the latest policies, innovations, and market trends driving the future of climate tech.

Climate Tech Insights

Coal use reached record highs in 2024, underscoring energy setbacks. Yet, geothermal commercialization and thermal battery breakthroughs show growing low-carbon potential. A $5B U.S. critical minerals fund aims to secure clean tech supply chains, while global investors managing $3T urge stronger deforestation curbs. Record U.S. disaster losses and Hurricane Melissa’s surge intensified climate urgency.

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1. Geothermal Energy Inches Toward Commercial Breakthrough
   October 23, 2025 – The Wall Street Journal

   Alaska to Build Road in Wildlife Refuge, Opening Path for Drilling
   October 23, 2025 – The Washington Post

2. Data Center Growth Threatens Grid Reliability, FERC and NERC Warn
   October 22, 2025 – Utility Dive

3. Global Use of Coal Hit Record High in 2024
   October 22, 2025 – The Guardian

4. Thermal Batteries Could Transform Energy Storage
   October 23, 2025 – MIT Technology Review

5. UK PM Keir Starmer to Attend COP30 in Brazil, Spokesperson Says
   October 20, 2025 – Reuters

6. Who Pays the Price? U.S. Government Shutdown’s Impact on Climate Funding
   October 24, 2025 – Reuters

7. UN Weather Agency Reviews Priorities as Funding Falls Short
   October 25, 2025 – Reuters

8. Trump Reverses Biden-Era Pollution Rules for Copper Smelters
   October 27, 2025 – Reuters

9. Investors Managing $3 Trillion Urge Stronger Deforestation Action
   October 21, 2025 – Reuters

10. Google Backs U.S. Gas Power Plant With Carbon Capture for Midwest Data Centers
    October 24, 2025 – Reuters

11. FERC Ordered to Fast-Track Large Load Interconnection Projects
    October 23, 2025 – Latitude Media

12. Sustainability Across Supply Chains Now a Priority, MIT Finds
    October 23, 2025 – ESG Dive

13. Climate-Related Financial Risk to More Than Triple by 2050, LSEG Warns
    October 21, 2025 – ESG Dive

14. U.S. Investors Launch $5 Billion Critical Minerals Fund
    October 23, 2025 – E&E News

15. The Obvious Economics of Preserving the Amazon
    October 23, 2025 – The Economist

16. Interior Department Expands Energy and Land Access in Alaska
    October 23, 2025 – U.S. Department of the Interior

17. Michigan Pulls Plug on Gotion EV Battery Parts Plant
    October 23, 2025 – Crain’s Detroit Business

18. UN Shipping Decarbonization Rules Delayed Amid Trump Pushback
    October 17, 2025 – Canary Media

19. Electra, Meta and Nucor Team Up for Clean Iron Production
    October 21, 2025 – Canary Media

20. Rondo Builds First Big Heat Battery for Oil Refinery in California
    October 22, 2025 – Canary Media

21. Storm Melissa Threatens Jamaica, Could Reach Category 4
    October 22, 2025 – Bloomberg

22. Wildfires and Severe Weather Drive Record U.S. Disaster Losses
    October 22, 2025 – Bloomberg

23. AI Takes Over Weather Forecasting
    October 21, 2025 – IEEE Spectrum

24. China Broadcasts Climate Progress Amid Global Tensions
    October 25, 2025 – CGTN

25. Trump’s Cancellation of Environmental Justice Grants Faces Lawsuit
    October 23, 2025 – Inside Climate News

26. Advancing the Circular Economy: Key Takeaways from Nest Climate Campus
    October 25, 2025 – ESG News

27. UN Endorses First Article 6.4 Carbon Credit Methodology, Unlocking Billions for Global Markets
    October 25, 2025 – Carbon Credits

28. How Nvidia, Microsoft, Musk’s xAI and BlackRock Are Driving the Next $60 Billion AI Energy Wave
    October 17, 2025 – Carbon Credits