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Sustainable Switch

Climate Focus

By Sharon Kimathi, Energy and ESG Editor, Reuters Digital

Hello!

We begin today’s newsletter on a positive note as I head off to celebrate my nuptials, leaving you in Ross Kerber’s capable hands over the next two weeks.

First up are the winners of the Earth Prize 2026 for young people aged 13-19 years which is run by The Earth Foundation, a non-profit based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded during the School Strike for Climate in 2019.

Winners from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and Southeast Asia have been announced, with only two more regions to be revealed and then a final public vote on May 18.

I’ve got birth nation pride for the Africa winners – two 17-year-olds from Kenya – who won for their invention of a low-cost vehicle exhaust system that captures harmful emissions using filters made from maize, agricultural waste, discarded batteries, coconut shells and algae.

In Europe, an 18-year-old in Ireland won for creating a biodegradable plastic that breaks down safely, and two sisters based in Gaza won for their recycling project that turns rubble into reusable bricks in the Middle East.

A 17-year-old in Thailand won for her vital seed dispersers in forests for Oceania and Southeast Asia, while a 16-year-old in India took the prize in the Asia region for a powder made from waste tamarind seeds that clumps microplastics.

Next up is the WWF’s joint project with the government of Yucatán, Mexico, that aims to protect pristine natural areas and safeguard unique ecosystems and wildlife.

Herencia Maya is the first Project Finance for Permanence initiative led by a state government. PFPs are designed to secure long-term funding for conservation while prioritizing the well-being and livelihoods of local communities.

And finally, a shoutout to Britain for announcing an Energy Independence Bill in the King's Speech, alongside a forthcoming Water Reform Bill. Click here for a Reuters guide to the new proposed laws.

“The government has shown the right ambition,” said James Alexander, CEO of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF).

“Energy independence is not just a means to protect businesses and households from damaging fossil fuel volatility. It’s a chance to drive billions of pounds of capital into our wider economy,” he added.

Non-profit environmental group Friends of the Earth welcomed the news of the Water Reform Bill but said “it must pay more than lip service to addressing the crisis blighting our rivers and seas through much tougher measures to curtail pollution.”

Climate Buzz

1. Storm tears through India's most populous state, killing more than 100

A ‌deadly storm brought rain and hail in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, killing more than 100 people, injuring 59, damaging 87 homes and killing 114 livestock, rescue officials and authorities said.

A worker installs a patch of grass to be used as part of the pitch at SoFi Stadium, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, in Inglewood, California, U.S. REUTERS/Caroline Brehman

2. Dangerous heat warning for 2026 World Cup as climate risks grow

An ‌analysis by World Weather Attribution found that roughly a quarter of the 104 matches at the FIFA World Cup tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada are likely to be played in conditions exceeding safety limits recommended by FIFPRO, the global football players' union – almost twice the risk seen at the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.

3. Parts of Somalia face famine risk for first time since 2022

Cuts to foreign aid and the impact of the Iran war are complicating efforts to respond to food shortages caused by multiple failed rain seasons ⁠and ongoing insecurity, two global food security monitors said. Click here for the full Reuters report.

4. EU's rising reliance on US gas brings risks, regulators warn

The European Union's ‌growing reliance on U.S. gas carries risks, including rising dependence on a single supplier, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators said. Severe disruption to energy markets caused by the Iran war underlined the need to cut Europe's exposure to external shocks, it said and urged the bloc to diversify its supply sources.

5. EPA speeds clean air permits for power plants, delays vehicle pollution rule

The Environmental Protection Agency said it would speed up the process for large polluters to obtain clean air permits. Under the U.S. Clean Air Act, the EPA has up to 45 days to object to a proposed permit after receiving it, but the agency said its new guidance makes clear it does not have to use the full period.

The EPA also proposed a delay in enforcement of a regulation requiring ‌significant cuts in air pollution from vehicles. Environmental groups said this would lead to an increase in preventable illness and premature deaths.

What to Watch

Miners took to the streets of La Paz demanding the resignation of centrist President Rodrigo Paz, greater access to explosives and fuel, revisions to contracts and the implementation of mining regulations as Bolivia’s fuel crisis worsens due to ⁠a shortage of U.S. dollars and falling domestic energy production. Click here for a video and click here to learn more about the protests.

Climate Commentary

What comes next after the Santa Marta, Colombia, fossil fuel conference? Click here for a few follow-ups and recommendations by Ethical Corp Magazine contributor Angeli Mehta.
- Leaders of three of the biggest U.S. public pension systems said they have major concerns over SpaceX's "extreme" ownership and control set-up in its upcoming public stock listing . Click here to read the full article by Reuters U.S. sustainable business correspondent Ross Kerber .

Climate Lens

Ivory Coast and the EU deforestation law: The amount of Ivorian cocoa that can be traced back to where it was grown remains at just under half, new analysis released by the non-profit Trase shows. Only 48% of Ivory Coast's 2024 cocoa exports can be traced back to the farming cooperatives that grew ⁠the beans, largely because the rest of the supply chain is "indirect" or composed of several intermediaries, the report said.