Bonjour EkOlympics! 🇫🇷🏅

Australia and Singapore are joining forces with an undersea power cable longer than a marathon. As global energy demand skyrockets—like everyone left their lights on at once—Meanwhile, Canada is making sure Indigenous communities lead the way in sustainability efforts.

🔌 Massive Cable

🌍 SSS

🍁Indigenous Partnership

⚡ Energy Demand

🌞 EkOpinion

Ready, set, go Eko…

Massive Clean Energy Cable from Australia to Singapore Gets the Green Light! 🌏🔌

The world’s largest renewable energy project just got a thumbs-up! 🌞⚡

The Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink), led by SunCable, will soon send Aussie solar power to Singapore via 4,300 kilometers of undersea cables.

Key Points:

• Project Overview: AAPowerLink will start with a colossal solar farm in Northern Australia, aiming to provide continuous clean power to Darwin and Singapore.

• Recent Approvals: The Northern Territory Government approved the construction of a solar farm at Powell Creek (up to 10 GW) and an 800-km transmission line to Darwin.

• Power Conversion: A converter facility will switch electricity from high-voltage direct current to alternating current, supplying up to 4GW of green power to industrial customers in two phases.

• Undersea Cables: 1.75 GW of power will be sent through 4,300 km of subsea cables to Singapore, marking a significant step in global clean energy distribution.

Challenges Ahead:SunCable, now under billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, still faces major hurdles, including land negotiations, route agreements, and project financing. But with environmental approvals in place, they're one step closer to a greener future.

Timeline: If all goes to plan, the first clean power will flow by the early 2030s. The ultimate goal? Up to 20 GW of peak solar power and 36-42 GWh of battery storage at Powell Creek.

Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking project!

👉 Dive deeper into the details and watch the video

Sustainability Sentiment Score (SSS)

The SSS is holding mid range again this week - Q3 is still avoiding the slumps of Q2!

Our Growth Climate market, in particular, has had a lovely climb since July 11th. Our Mature Climate market has not had such luck, facing a turbulent week.

As we continue to follow the ever-exciting world of voluntary carbon credits, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) is being urged to quickly issue clear guidance on using carbon credits to mitigate Scope 3 emissions.

This call comes amid concerns that the SBTi, a key standard-setting organization, may not provide this crucial direction until late 2025, potentially leaving companies in a state of uncertainty for up to 18 more months.

This emphasizes the urgent need for definitive guidance to help businesses effectively address their indirect emissions and meet their climate targets during this period of ambiguity.

Indigenous Partnership in Canada's Carbon Reduction Efforts 🍁

Canada's federal government is taking steps to ensure indigenous communities are included and respected in the country's national carbon offset projects.

In line with reconciliation efforts, Canada's federal government is consulting on how carbon offset projects on government or public land can better include indigenous communities and secure their consent.

Key points include:

• Clear evidence of provincial or territorial approval for project activities.

• Ensuring only the project initiator can claim GHG reduction credits.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is also seeking input on:

• Documenting indigenous consent.

• Preventing multiple claims on GHG reduction credits.

Key Proposals

1. Focus Group: To develop improved forest management protocols where indigenous peoples have residency rights.

2. Capacity Building: Enabling indigenous participation in offset projects.

Consent Documentation:

• Resolutions from peoples' councils

• Memoranda of understanding

• Letters of support from indigenous leadership

• Benefit-sharing agreements

📅Comment Deadline: November 12

✉️ For Indigenous Nations Requiring Funds to Comment: Contact this email by August 2.

🌲 Funding Announcements

On Thursday, Canada announced CAD89.1 million in funding for 10 nature-based projects nationwide.

This includes CAD37 million to the BC Parks Foundation to protect around 4,000 hectares of private land in British Columbia.

📅Goal: Meet emissions reduction targets and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

🤝 Connect with Unify Partners to Drive Impact!

Ready to make a difference? Join forces with Unify Partners today to empower Indigenous communities through funding and capacity building. Let's fuel a brighter future together!

Microsoft and Google Use More Power Than Over 100 Countries ⚡🌍

Did you know? In 2023, Microsoft and Google each consumed a whopping 24 TWh of electricity!

That’s more power than over 100 countries, including Ghana and Tunisia. 🌐🔌

Key Points:

• Massive Consumption: Combined, these tech giants used 48 TWh of electricity.

• Renewable Energy Champions: Both companies are leading the charge in adopting renewable energy for their advanced tech needs.

• Power-Hungry Data Centers: Their data centers, crucial for cloud services and AI, are major power consumers.

• AI's Impact: The surge in generative AI across various sectors has significantly increased electricity demands. Fun fact: AI also needs a lot of water for cooling—about one bottle per query!

As AI technology evolves, so does its energy appetite. Stay tuned for more insights on how these advancements are reshaping our world!

👉 Read the full story[here].

Solar Panels in Parking Lots: A No-Brainer 🌞🚗

Solar panels in parking lots are an absolute game-changer. They provide shade, generate clean energy, and make use of space that's otherwise just sitting there. So, why aren't they everywhere?

Key Points:

• Efficient Use of Space: Parking lots are vast and open, perfect for capturing solar energy without taking up additional land.

• Energy Generation: These panels can power nearby buildings, reducing overall energy costs and carbon footprints.

• Enhanced User Experience: Shaded parking means cooler cars and a more pleasant experience for drivers.

It’s time we push for more solar-powered parking lots to maximize this untapped potential. What’s your ekopinion? 🌍

👉 Reply back to eko with your thoughts!

THOUGHTS ON TODAY’S ISSUE?

🌿 Wrapping Up Ekonews...

Remember, Eko is your ultimate source for the latest climate updates and support on your sustainability journey!

Au revoir! 🇫🇷🥖🗼🥐🇪🇺🏰

– Eko