Every September, New York City becomes the climate capital of the world. It’s like Davos for people who want to see a change in climate change. Climate Week NYC (September 22 to 28, 2025) brings together thousands of leaders, innovators, and citizens to talk about decarbonization, finance, and future technologies. On paper, it can sound like a policy nerd’s dream — or a regular person’s, yawn, snoozefest.

But here’s the truth: Climate Week doesn’t have to be boring. The official program is packed with hundreds of events — everything from the MIT Climate Innovation Showcase to sustainable food tastings and startup expos. And if the talks feel too heavy, you can make your own Climate Week fun by joining community events, exploring the city differently, or even organizing something yourself.

Here are five confirmed happenings and DIY ideas to help you enjoy Climate Week without obsessing about greenhouse gas numbers — while still making changes in your lifestyle and business.

Check Out a Startup Showcase (Confirmed)

Dozens of startups are opening their doors during Climate Week. The MIT Climate Innovation Showcase is one highlight, bringing together researchers and entrepreneurs with bold new ideas. From AI-powered recycling tools to solar paints, you’ll see where the future is heading — and maybe even find a business partner.

Taste the Future of Food (Confirmed + DIY)

Climate-friendly cuisine is big this year. Expect pop-ups and panels on regenerative agriculture, plant-based proteins, and sustainable supply chains. If you don’t make it to a scheduled tasting, create your own: cook a kelp-based recipe, try mushroom jerky, or host a potluck where everyone brings a low-carbon dish. Food is culture — and change can be delicious.

If you don’t find what you are looking for –– why not create your own pop-ups of “climate-friendly cuisine”?

Make It a Bike Week (DIY)

While Climate Week’s official calendar doesn’t list big group rides, you can turn the week into your own climate-positive bike festival. Ride to events instead of taking cabs, invite colleagues for a “climate commute,” or join existing NYC cycling groups. It’s fun, healthy, and reminds you that personal choices add up. Visit the NY Cycle Club for events and ideas.

Join a Community Event 

Beyond the corporate panels, dozens of community-led meetups are scheduled — from art shows to urban gardening talks. Check the Climate Week NYC events calendar for free or low-cost events across the boroughs. And if you don’t find one that excites you, create your own “block party” — invite neighbors, spin music, and share sustainable hacks and crafts on your street.

Reconnect With Nature (DIY)

Central Park walks, rooftop gardens, and urban farming tours pop up around Climate Week — though not always officially listed. Even if you can’t find an organized outing, make one yourself: bird-watch in Central Park, visit a community garden, or take a kayak out on the Hudson.

Sometimes the best climate inspiration comes from remembering what we’re fighting for.

Climate Week isn’t just for CEOs and policymakers. It’s a chance for anyone to plug in, whether you’re attending an official showcase or just biking to work with a few friends. Fun and climate action aren’t opposites — they feed each other. And when you connect with community, food, music, or nature, you realize: this is what the future can look like.

::Climate Week

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Climate change poses a severe threat to food production, making it imperative to find sustainable methods that complement natural, regenerative, soil based farming. One such method is aquaponics, which grows fish and vegetables together using a water substrate with no added minerals. The fish poop supplies all that the plants need to grow. It’s been hard for dreamers and doers to find that sweet spot that balances several ecosystems at the same time: the fish in the pond, the food in the hydroponics beds, and both those parts together.

Researchers from a desert country, where food growing is limited due to lack of water, offer a new proof of concept for a new closed loop system called aquaponics that produces more fish and vegetables while using less energy than conventional systems.

Their findings were published in the journal Resources, Conservation & Recycling.

Prof. Amit Gross, at Ben-Gurion University has been working with his students and collaborators for the last decade on aquaponic systems. His system uses brackish, or salty water and combines farming with growing fish farms.

As we mentioned above, aquaponic systems grow fish while using the fish waste to grow vegetables hydroponically. Hydroponics was invented by NASA decades ago and later perfected by stealth cannabis growers in Canada who could run grow-ops between walls in their apartment throughout the winter. Now that cannabis is legal in Canada and the US and hydroponics a great method for controlled growing of high value crops, advances are needed to make it even more sustainable.

That’s where this new research steps in: coupled aquaponics are closed loop systems that recycle much of the fish effluent rather than reusing it outside of the aquaponic system. Where typically the fish solid waste is disposed of, Gross managed to treat it by anaerobic digestion and recover energy and nutrients into the system to form a near zero waste unit. This is the path to resolving the ups and downs and headaches of balancing the nutrient load in the system and what the plants need as they grow.

After more than two years of testing, Gross’s system demonstrated 1.6 times higher plant areal productivity, 2.1 times lower water usage and 16% less energy consumption per kilogram of feed than conventional systems.

His calculations suggest that upscaling to about one ton of fish will allow operation of the system with no need for external energy, less than 1% water exchange, negligible waste production as well as significant carbon sequestration.

Net zero, here we come? The next grow system for the spaceship to Mars and the first Mars colony? Sustainable food that can be grown in Antarctica?

“Feeding the more than 8 billion people on the planet while reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require innovative technologies. Those that combine two functions in one are obviously preferable. Fish are a sustainable high-quality source of protein with a far smaller carbon footprint than most other sources. Combining fish growth with vegetable production and preventing waste is a win-win-win,” says Gross who worked with Ze Zhu and Uri Yogev from Ben-Gurion University and Prof. Karel Keesman from Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands.

? Hydroponics, Aquaponics, and Cannabis: Growing Greener with Smart Agriculture

As the world looks for sustainable ways to grow food and medicine, modern farming methods like hydroponics, aquaponics, and even cannabis cultivation are leading a quiet revolution—especially in regions facing water scarcity, like the Middle East and North Africa.

Hydroponics uses nutrient-rich water instead of soil, saving up to 90% of water compared to traditional farming. Aquaponics adds fish into the mix, creating a closed-loop system where fish waste feeds the plants, and the plants clean the water. These systems can be set up in homes, urban rooftops, or greenhouses, making them ideal for future food security.

And yes, cannabis—the once-taboo plant—is gaining ground as a medicinal crop. Grown sustainably in hydro or aquaponic systems, cannabis can provide medical benefits without the environmental damage associated with traditional farming.

This green trifecta—hydroponics, aquaponics, cannabis—is not just a trend; it’s a glimpse into the future of ethical, sustainable agriculture.

? Learn More

Here are 5 useful links to deepen your understanding:

1. Hydroponic Farming in the Middle East

2. What is Aquaponics and Why is it Eco-Friendly?

3. Israel’s Medical Cannabis Revolution

4. Rooftop Farming in the Middle East

5. Smart Agriculture Innovations in MENA

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In the misty folds of the French Pyrenees, something quietly extraordinary is happening.

At a remote site called Comminges in France, Mantle8, a pioneering natural hydrogen exploration company, has unearthed a breakthrough that could shift the balance of Europe’s energy landscape. Their soil-gas readings, peaking at 2,500 parts per million (ppm), have stunned the industry—seven times higher than the standard threshold needed to suggest serious hydrogen potential. If proven on a larger scale, this isn’t just a good day for the company. It’s a potential tipping point for how Europe powers its future.

“The Comminges block represents the perfect combo: an ideal pilot zone to validate our technologies, with a geological setting offering maximum hydrogen potential,” said Mantle8’s Founder and CEO, Emmanuel Masini. “With these highly encouraging early results, we are well on our way to make $0.80/kg hydrogen a reality by 2030.”

It’s not just the numbers that impress— Mantle8’s approach is different. Where traditional explorers search for hydrogen like needles in haystacks, Mantle8 has built what it calls a “hydrogen-generating system” model. Think of it as going beyond the treasure map to understanding the entire geology of the treasure chest, the locks, the keys, and even the pirates who buried it.

Their proprietary method fuses geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and cutting-edge numerical modeling—a first of its kind in the industry. This system doesn’t just find hydrogen; it traces its birth, movement, and entrapment deep underground. The company claims it can predict hydrogen volumes and quality with unprecedented precision, which could save millions in exploration costs and halve development time.

Mantle8 is operating in a space with companies like HyTerra, Natural Hydrogen Energy, and Gold Hydrogen who have made early strides in the race for natural (or “white”) hydrogen. Mantle8’s system-wide exploration model might just put them in pole position.

And the timing couldn’t be more urgent.

Europe, still reeling from geopolitical energy shocks and racing against climate deadlines, and the shutting down of Germany’s nuclear power plants, is hungry for cleaner homegrown alternatives to fossil fuels. Hydrogen—especially natural hydrogen, which occurs underground and requires minimal processing—could be a powerful answer. No electrolysis, no carbon byproducts, just natural H₂, ready to be tapped.

The potential is enormous.The potential is enormous. Natural hydrogen could reshape global energy systems with clean, abundant fuel sourced directly from the Earth. And Mantle8 is building the tools to unlock it at scale.

Currently awaiting the Permit Exclusif de Recherche (PER)—expected by the end of this year —Mantle8 plans to deepen its study of the Comminges block using low-impact exploration tools. The team aims to map entire subsurface hydrogen systems, from source rock to reservoirs, selecting optimal drill sites with surgical precision.

Mantle8, founded in 2024 and based in Grenoble, France, is redefining natural hydrogen exploration through a unique fusion of earth science and artificial intelligence. Led by geoscientist Emmanuel Masini, the company uses proprietary models to analyze and interpret vast layers of geological, geochemical, and geophysical data. Instead of relying on surface clues or isolated drilling, Mantle8’s system maps complete subsurface hydrogen-generating systems—tracing the journey of hydrogen from deep source rocks to trapped reservoirs.

Their tools simulate underground processes, predict where hydrogen is being generated in real time, and assess the volume and quality of potential reserves with unprecedented accuracy. The simulation of underground processes is performed by the third tool, which does not incorporate AI components, a rep from the company tells Green Prophet: Predicting where hydrogen is being generated in real time is the result of the core algorithm – the neural networks are used to accelerate processing and enable analysis across more potential sites, but they are not themselves making those predictions,” he notes.

Relying on experts in their field, “Assessing the volume and quality of reserves is also not done by AI – this too is handled by proprietary modelling tools without any neural network component.”

Backed by €3.4 million in seed funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures Europe (BEV-E) and Kiko Ventures, Mantle8 is targeting hydrogen production costs as low as €0.77/kg. With competitors like Gold Hydrogen, Natural Hydrogen Energy, and HyTerra in the mix, Mantle8’s tech-led, predictive approach could make it a dominant force in Europe’s race for clean, local energy.

::Mantle8

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The future is knocking, and it demands solutions. Net-zero isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a survival strategy. But the road to a carbon-free world is filled with potholes. Traditional carbon capture technologies? Too expensive. Too bulky. Too difficult to scale. And the worst part? Many rely on chemical solvents that degrade over time, creating hazardous waste. Enter RepAir Carbon, an Israeli startup rewriting the rules of carbon capture with an elegant, scalable, and affordable solution.

Founded in 2020, RepAir Carbon is the brainchild of some serious innovators. Chairman Yehuda Borenstein, a serial entrepreneur, has a track record of building disruptive tech startups, including LIGC, MataGene, Carbonade, and NitroFix. CEO Amir Shiner steers the ship with a keen focus on commercialization. CTO Dr. Ben Achrai leads the R&D, while Professor Yushan Yan brings the academic firepower—his patented innovations from the University of Delaware form the backbone of RepAir’s tech. Their mission? To make carbon capture efficient, affordable, and sustainable at the gigaton scale.

Forget the old-school, energy-hungry carbon capture plants. It’s the same idea as the machines that suck water from air. They require an enormous amount of energy for what they do making the endeavor almost pointless. RepAir’s electrochemical carbon capture system is a game-changer. Unlike conventional methods, it ditches solvents altogether, slashing operating and capital costs while eliminating waste. The process is fully electric—no heat required—meaning it can run on renewable energy with minimal environmental impact.

The numbers are staggering: RepAir’s solution uses 70% less energy than traditional carbon capture (0.6MWh/tCO2). It operates with a carbon footprint of less than 5%, making it one of the cleanest capture methods available. And, crucially, it’s scalable—a modular design allows for mass production and seamless integration into existing industrial sites.

Power Moves: Shell, Mitsubishi, and More

RepAir isn’t just talking the talk—it’s signing major deals. The company recently inked an agreement with Shell US Gas and Power and Mitsubishi Corporation to develop a large-scale carbon removal project in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Europe, RepAir Carbon US Inc. has joined forces with C-Questra to launch the EU’s first onshore carbon removal project in Grandpuits, France. This initiative is about more than carbon capture—it’s about local job creation and sustainable infrastructure development.

But that’s not all. RepAir is tackling diluted point source emissions (1%-5% CO2 concentration)—a segment that could bring in multi-million-dollar contracts. Most carbon capture tech struggles with low-concentration CO2 streams, but RepAir’s system is tailor-made for this challenge, opening up a massive new market.

Funding and Expansion

Tech like this doesn’t come cheap, but investors are paying attention. In December 2022, RepAir closed a $10 million Series A funding round, led by Extantia Capital and joined by Equinor Ventures, Shell Ventures, and Zero Carbon Capital. Before that, a $1.5 million seed round in 2021 got the ball rolling. The capital is fueling expansion, R&D, and global partnerships.

With headquarters in Yokneam Illit, Israel, and operations extending to the U.S. (Florida) and Europe, RepAir is positioning itself as a global leader in carbon capture. The vision? A world where CO2 is pulled from the air efficiently, affordably, and at a scale that makes a real impact.

The carbon capture space is heating up. Companies like Carbon Clean, Captura, Charm Industrial, and Agreena are all vying for dominance, each bringing unique solutions to the table. But while others focus on costly infrastructure or niche applications, RepAir’s lean, scalable, and cost-effective model puts it in a league of its own.

Achieving a net-zero future is impossible without carbon capture. But until now, the solutions have been too expensive, too complicated, or too slow to scale. RepAir Carbon is proving that there’s a better way—one that’s ready for the real world. The question isn’t if this technology will transform the industry. It’s when.

::RepAir

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Most countries are relying on a combination of technological advances and infrastructure changes to meet their goals for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. However, a new model from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev environmental researchers shows that will likely not be enough and additional factors must be considered.

Their model was presented in Nature Sustainability.

Rising global populations and their increased consumption indicate technological and infrastructural changes will not suffice, according to Prof. Raziel Riemer, Prof. Meidad Kissinger and Dr. Na’ama Teschner.

Despite significant investment in technology and infrastructure, population growth and accompanying rising individual consumption will likely offset reductions leading countries to miss their 2050 targets.

The global population is expected to grow by 20% by 2050.

Israel is a particularly interesting case study because of the steady demographic growth the country experiences. However, the model is applicable to all countries.

The model examined the expected implications of population growth, changes in personal consumption habits in Israel, and the implementation of technological developments to reduce emissions related to areas such as electricity, transportation, water, food, and construction.

The findings indicate that despite the large investments in technology and infrastructure, the accepted steps are expected to contribute to reducing emissions per person by 65%, but due to the continued expected population growth, Israel’s carbon footprint will decrease by only 33% while water and land use will increase.

“Despite significant achievements in technology and infrastructure, the expected population growth and the increase in personal consumption may neutralize the reduction in emissions,” explained Prof. Riemer. “Our model shows that achieving 100% electricity generation from renewable sources is an essential step, but additional categories such as food production must also be addressed immediately.”

In addition, the model reveals that demographic processes will increase Israel’s dependence on food imports from abroad in an era when most food already comes from external sources and despite global food insecurity, which is increasing, among other things, because of the climate crisis.

These results emphasize the need to develop innovative agricultural solutions that will help reduce emissions and strengthen national food security.

The post Net Zero by 2050 a pipe dream with current tech advances and population growth appeared first on Green Prophet.

The breakdown of climate concerns

• Concern about climate change crosses political lines.
• 77% of the Israeli public is concerned about climate change; the difference between right-wing and left-wing voters is smaller than expected: 72% of right-wing voters and 89% of left-wing voters express concern about climate change.
• There is an understanding that the climate crisis is man-made.
• There is high trust in science and scientists (63%) compared to very low trust in social media (only 14%).
• There is a willingness to change behavioral habits for the sake of environmental protection (36% are willing to eat less meat, 33% are willing to travel more by public transport).

One-third of survey participants expressed a willingness to change their behavior for the sake of environmental protection. 36% are willing to eat less animal-based food; 33% are willing to travel more by public transport; 24% are willing to fly less and only 13% are willing to pay higher taxes to promote environmental protection.

“It seems that the public is readier to change their habits than policymakers believe,” said Tamar Zandberg, head of the National Institute for Climate Policy Research at Ben-Gurion University and former Minister of Environmental Protection.

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The Emirates Development Bank (EDB) has signed a financing agreement of $27 million USD with Yellow Door Energy (YDE), a leading sustainable energy partner in the MENA region, to support the development and operation of over 60 solar photovoltaic (PV) plants across the United Arab Emirates.

EDB’s financing will expand YDE’s portfolio of solar PV systems, enhancing its capacity to lease solar power plants through solar leases, also known as power purchase agreements (PPAs) tailored for industrial and commercial enterprises. Under this strategic collaboration, Yellow Door Energy will offer leasing opportunities to major industrial players in the UAE.

These companies will benefit from long-term access to clean electricity, significant energy cost savings, and promotion of sustainable energy usage across the nation.

Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Development Bank, said: “Our strategic collaboration with Yellow Door Energy marks a new milestone in our mission to enhance the UAE’s renewable energy landscape and accelerate its journey towards a net-zero future.”

Jeremy Crane, Group CEO of Yellow Door Energy stated: “As a company founded and headquartered in the UAE, we deeply value our relationship with the nation’s leading federal bank. Together, we are committed to supporting businesses in reducing their energy costs, enhancing resilience, and achieving their sustainability and Net Zero goals.”

EDB’s plan to provide AED 30 billion in financing to support five priority sectors, including renewables, underlines its crucial role in driving economic growth and fostering a more resilient economy.

Since the launch of its strategy in 2021, EDB has provided a cumulative total of AED 12.97 billion in financing, including more than AED 1.78 billion to empower the renewable energy sector, further consolidating its position as a leader in sustainable finance. Seems like the UAE is a hot place to be for financing and developing renewable energy projects.

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As the former CEO of NatWest Group, Dame Alison Rose often inspires entrepreneurs by speaking about leadership challenges and her experiences overcoming these in the banking sector.

Many have heard her speak on James Harding’s ThinkIn podcast, where she delves into several leadership topics, from opening opportunities for female founders to supporting small businesses through Entrepreneur Accelerators.

On this podcast, she also explains how, as NatWest’s CEO, she managed the activity happening throughout the UK’s biggest business and commercial bank and kept track of its emissions-related goals.

She goes on to discuss the UK’s entrepreneurial position in the wider global economy and shares how she stayed calm while holding such an influential position.

Here are some highlights from the episode.

Alison Rose on Staying Afloat of Activity Throughout NatWest

As NatWest’s CEO, it was essential for Alison to stay afloat of activity throughout the bank. She oversaw both technical and ethical measures, carving out regular time to communicate with customers, review complaints, and track all emissions activity.

Communicating with customers was a cornerstone of her leadership approach. She often hosted round tables with customers to hear their updates, considering it important to “spend time with customers and talk to them. To ask what’s really going on, so that you get a feel, rather than just looking at the data.”

She would also “get home every weekend with a pile of complaint letters” to personally read and review. On top of this, she monitored NatWest’s whistleblowing process, which encouraged colleagues to share information openly. “We set very high standards of conduct and culture,” she says.

Alison also monitored activity from a sustainability, climate, and emissions perspective. This was “much easier to track” because of NatWest’s “credit policies, appetite policies, and guidelines of lending.”

She gives an example of a balance sheet at the time, which showed that NatWest only lent 0.8% of their funds to oil and gas. She and her colleagues could track and monitor that percentage, “flexing it up and down” as they aligned credit risk policies.

Working Towards NatWest’s Net Positive Goal

In 2020, Alison launched “a very clear strategy on climate” that mapped a route to NatWest becoming net zero by the end of the year. The organisation achieved this goal and aims to be net positive by 2025.

To reach these goals, Dame Alison and her colleagues identified the exposure to oil, gas, and coal on their balance sheet. They decided to phase out coal by 2030, then move on to phasing out oil and gas. The approach was to get their own house in order and then provide the tools and support to guide customers through the transition. They achieved this by:

• Partnering with leading carbon management solution companies like Cogo.
• Providing consumers with information about emissions from their spend via the app.
• Creating tools for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and suppliers to measure their environmental impact and help come up with solutions to minimise this.

Sharing information and offering support was critical to this wholesale rewiring of the economy and management of risk.

Introducing The Transition

To introduce the transition, NatWest’s relationship managers told customers in these sectors about the new goals. They asked the customers to provide a credible transition plan by the end of the year to continue receiving funds. Alison and her colleagues also introduced incentives to reduce fees when customers hit sustainable goals.

Having analysed major sectors for emissions — “which was about 46% of our balance sheet” — Alison and her colleagues decided how to halve these emissions. They knew this would “need collaboration across the public and private sectors” and a focus on global targets.

Alison notes that it was crucial to “start by being very clear about what we were doing, and then, most importantly, funding the transition.” In 2020, she set a target to secure £20 billion of renewable financing by 2021. They were already at £12 billion by May 2021. Demand was so high that she and her colleagues extended the target to £100 billion and, at last results, had reached £78 billion.

Setting A Clear Culture and Policy Suite to Best Protect Customers

Alison believes a bank like NatWest must find the “balance between supporting the economy and not being the moral arbiter of the economy.” To achieve this, a bank needs a clear ethical policy, sustainability policy, and culture.

This means deciding what types of businesses to support and setting environmental, social, and ethical criteria that the bank is prepared to lend by. Having laid this groundwork at NatWest, Alison and her colleagues could ensure they provided “the right support for customers within an ethical and social background.”

Alison gives data protection as an example, noting that NatWest has “huge amounts of data on customers that [it] collects from being in their lives and seeing their payments.” As CEO, she considered NatWest’s “ethical responsibilities as important as [its] data protection responsibility.”

This meant not using or selling the data in any way. “We [didn’t] do any of that,” Alison says. “We [had] a very clear, ethical policy around our use of data for what we [thought was] appropriate in terms of protecting our customers. We almost [viewed] that in the same way as their money. Our job [was] to keep that safe for them as well.”

Alison and her colleagues also “put a lot of systems and controls in place” to prevent financial crime.” Alison managed 4,000 people who specifically managed crime prevention, and NatWest invested almost half a billion pounds in systems and controls to make this possible between 2019 and 2021 alone.

The UK’s “Resilient” Position in the Global Economy

Alison considers NatWest “a bellwether of the UK economy” due to its position as the third-largest retail bank and number-one business bank. This makes it “inherently linked to the success of [its] customers.”

She notes that “regional economies are very different.” NatWest has “regional boards around the country that tap into the local economies,” which “have different dynamics,” she says.

Overall, she considers the UK’s business community “amazingly resilient” and “incredibly entrepreneurial,” as proven by its response to Covid-19. Even with the economy “put into a hard stop for effectively six months,” Alison saw “entrepreneurs and small business owners cope and pivot their businesses” in a way that she considers “really positive” and with “incredible resilience and ambition.” 

Today, “this country still attracts a huge amount of inward investment in terms of fintechs and startups and entrepreneurialism,” Alison says. With many SMEs creating jobs, these “are the lifeblood of the economy.” 

Because of this, Alison believes “there’s a huge amount to be optimistic about in terms of a nation of SMEs and real strengths in our economy through biotech, bioscience, manufacturing, entrepreneurism, and the different sectors.”

She also believes “the ability to export and import talent is a really important one, and we need to make sure we continue to be a place that is vital for skills coming in and being exported.”

“I think that’s a critical part of a thriving global economy,” Alison says. “We’re still one of the global financial centres [that] services the economy more broadly and a big contributor to tax receipts, which drives that.”

How Alison Rose Carried the Weight of CEO Responsibilities

Serving as the CEO of a major bank comes with a huge level of responsibility. A purpose-led strategy, strong team, and customer communication all helped Alison carry the weight of this responsibility.

“When banks get it wrong, I can see the damage we do in people’s lives,” Alison says. This is “because we’re so embedded in people’s lives and providing capital to the economy.” As a result, “having a purpose-led strategy… and knowing that we should be a force for good rather than bad is really important.”

To stay calm running such a big organisation, Alison turned to her “great team,” remembering that running a bank “is a team sport.” She recognises that “sometimes we all make mistakes” and prioritised only focusing on controlling the things she could control.

She also spent “as much time as possible talking to customers and colleagues” so that she and her team could “react quickly and respond quickly like we did during the pandemic.”

“Working really closely and being honest about what we [were] doing” was crucial, as was “trying to make sure we [were] always doing the best job we possibly [could],” Alison says.

Lastly, recognising that she held a “privileged position” helped Alison manage her CEO responsibilities. She would remember, “I have a fantastic job, and I’m very privileged to do it, and I love my job.” This helped “ease the days when you’re lying awake at night wondering what you need to do,” Alison says. “That’s how I [did] it.”

About Alison Rose

The former CEO of NatWest, Alison Rose is the first woman to lead a major UK bank. Having joined the organisation in 1992 as a graduate trainee, she progressed her career within the bank and became CEO in 2019. That same year, she launched the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, which has supported hundreds of thousands of women with their entrepreneurial ventures. 

The government commissioned this seminal report, which highlights the challenges that many women in business face and explores the opportunities they can leverage to overcome these barriers. Alison also served as chair of the Rose Review Board until 2023, when she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to the financial sector. 

Today, Dame Alison is a senior adviser to the private equity firm Charterhouse and a member of the Board of Trustee Directors of Business in the Community (BITC). She also advocates for industry action on climate change and has served on the Net Zero Council and the government’s Energy Efficiency Taskforce.

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Turkey says it will be Net Zero by 2053 and has declared a significant advancement in its renewable energy sector, allocating 7,500 megawatts (MW) of renewable capacity for industrial use this year. Net Zero by 2053 seems arbitrary and a long way off but consider Canada has declared it will be Net Zero by 2050.

Turkey is emphasising the role of renewables in reducing foreign oil and gas dependence and lowering the current account deficit, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. He stated that $5 billion USD in investments would be made for renewables starting immediately.

With an addition of over 2,800 MW in renewable energy capacity installations last year, Turkey increased the share of renewables in electricity production to 42% of its total energy needs. Bayraktar highlighted the national target of 5,000 MW of annual renewable energy additions, aligning with Turkey’s strategy to address the current account deficit and tackle climate change.

As the carbon border adjustment looms in 2026, he urged manufacturers to cut carbon emissions, underscoring the crucial role of renewable energy in this effort.

Solar power is a growing part of renewable energy Turley, with 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels generating 5% of the country’s electricity. Solar thermal is also important. These are the solar panels that heat water on home roofs. Although similarly sunny as Spain, Turkey has installed far less solar power than Spain.

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In a world increasingly concerned about the health of our planet, it is important to recognize positive environmental news that showcases efforts to protect and restore the Earth. 

From conservation breakthroughs to sustainable innovations, here are ten uplifting environmental stories that bring hope for a brighter future!

Reforestation Success in Brazil: 

In Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, a massive reforestation project has led to the recovery of 500,000 acres of land, equivalent to the size of Singapore. By planting native tree species and employing sustainable agricultural practices, the initiative is reversing deforestation and providing habitat for endangered wildlife.

Solar Power Surpasses Global Milestone: 

In 2023, the world celebrated a remarkable achievement as solar power surpassed 1 terawatt (1 trillion watts) of installed capacity. This milestone represents a significant step towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels and achieving a more sustainable energy future.

Net Zero Laws in Switzerland 

Swiss citizens have scored a climate victory by voting in favor of a new climate law. The law aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, addressing the alarming glacier melt and paving the way for climate neutrality. This significant step shows how people in Switzerland are taking charge of their future and working towards a better environment for future generations.

Ocean Cleanup Success: 

The Ocean Cleanup Project, a nonprofit organization focused on removing plastic debris from the ocean (remember Boyan Slatt), reported a significant reduction in plastic waste. Their innovative system deployed in the Great Pacific. Garbage patch has successfully collected millions of pounds of plastic, contributing to cleaner oceans.

Cities Pledge to Go Carbon Neutral: 

Several major cities worldwide, including Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki, have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Through renewable energy adoption, sustainable transportation, and energy-efficient buildings, these cities are leading the way in the fight against climate change.

New Marine Protected Areas: 

In a joint effort, over 50 countries recently established the largest marine protected area in the Atlantic Ocean, covering 4.5 million square kilometers. This conservation initiative aims to safeguard biodiversity, marine habitats, and critical ecosystems.

The Biden Administration Efforts to Safeguard Endangered Species 

The Biden Administration is making efforts to safeguard endangered species from the threat of extinction caused by human activities. They have taken important actions to restore endangered species regulations, ensuring the protection of habitats and at-risk wildlife. This move is vital for preserving biodiversity and securing healthy ecosystems for future generations. Although more work remains, it marks a significant achievement for the protection of US ecosystems.

Record Growth in Electric Vehicles: 

The electric vehicle (EV) industry experienced a record-breaking year, with global EV sales surpassing 10 million units. This surge signals a shift towards sustainable transportation and decreased carbon emissions from the automotive sector.

Wind and Solar Energy’s Global Power

Wind and solar energy are set to become a significant source of global power, making up 33% of electricity production by 2030, according to a report from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). This development indicates that the energy sector is on track to meet the necessary changes to address global climate objectives. Sultan al-Jaber, president of COP28, the next UN climate summit, previously urged a threefold increase in renewable energy generation by 2030 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the targets set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

Stay positive and hopeful! Together, we can make a real impact in preserving our planet for generations to come. Let’s celebrate these achievements and stay dedicated to sustainable practices, creating a more resilient and balanced world for all.

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