This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories – 14 June

Does the EU have new target renewables and energy efficiency yet? What breakthrough has there been in sucking CO2 out of the air? And how is big finance driving climate action in other big companies?

This, and more, in the week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories.

  1. ‘Game-changer’: Major European banks partner for green mortgage pilot

Some 37 of Europe’s leading banks, including BNP Paribas, ING Bank, and Société Générale, have teamed up with the World Green Building Council to run a pilot initiative to see if so-called ‘green mortgages’ – where households get better deals for the most energy efficient homes – are a viable offer for the European housing market.

The idea is that lower energy bills make energy efficient homes a less risky investment for both buyer and lender. Banks will trial the use of preferential interest rates.

Read more on www.businessgreen.com

  1. EU agrees 32 percent renewables target for 2030

The EU has a new target of 32 percent renewables by 2030, but an agreement on energy efficiency will be delayed. Green groups have warned that the target is insufficient to meet Paris commitments and could slow-down the roll-out of renewable energy investments.

A total ban on palm oil in transport was agreed for 2030, but questions remain about the sustainability of biomass – the biggest source of renewable energy in the EU.

Read more on Reuters

  1. Norway wants all domestic flights to be electric by 2040

Airbus together with Rolls-Royce and Siemens is working on aircraft that uses both batteries and conventional fuels. A test model is expected to fly in 2020. Boeing-backed startup Zunum expects its 12-passenger hybrid-electric plane to first fly in 2022. Norway is counting on those kinds of aircraft to handle flights under 90 minutes in length.

Read more on POLITICO.eu

  1. These eight nature-based start-ups from around the world are going to save it

ECOSTAR has selected eight start-ups to attend its accelerator program this summer. Sintala Design makes products out of solid wood from fallen trees, pruning’s and remains of other manufacturing processes. Crické is another that produces healthy, eco-friendly and tasty insect-based products.

Read more on GreenBiz.com

  1. World can safely store billions of tonnes of CO2 underground

Storing billions of tonnes of CO2 underground would be a safe and effective way to help limit the effects of climate change. Large amounts of CO2 could be stored under the ground or sea with only a small risk of surface leakage in the following 10,000 years. However, if CO2 storage is poorly managed, higher amounts of leakage can be expected. The findings help dispel common “misconceptionsâ€

 
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