Howdy EkoFam,

It's the beginning of a new summer month, and if you're like Eko who loves to read during free time on the weekends, we’ve got an edition filled with amazing climate news for you to enjoy. From hydrogen innovations to carbon credits and ESG reporting, we've got you covered! 🌞📚🌱

💚Hydrogen Revolution

🌍 SSS

🍁Corporate Emissions

🌲 Carbon Removals

📝 ESG Corporate Principles

Shell's Green Hydrogen Revolution! 💚

Shell is making waves with a new 100MW renewable hydrogen electrolyzer at its Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland in Germany, set to start operations in 2027. This project, REFHYNE II, aims to produce up to 44,000 kg of green hydrogen daily, significantly reducing the site’s carbon footprint.

Key Highlights:

• REFHYNE II Expansion: Scaling up from 10MW to 100MW, making it Europe’s largest Proton-Exchange Membrane electrolyzer.

• Green Hydrogen Production: Expected to generate ~15,000 tons of green hydrogen annually.

• Strategic Investment: Backed by the EU’s Horizon 2020 and supported by favorable policies, REFHYNE II aligns with Shell’s commitment to the hydrogen economy and its low-carbon goals.

This initiative is part of Shell’s broader strategy to transform its Energy and Chemicals Parks into sources of lower-carbon products. The electrolyzer will use renewable energy to produce green hydrogen and oxygen, which will be integrated into existing refinery systems to reduce emissions.

For the full story and to dive into the details, check out the post on CarbonCredits 🌍✨

Sustainability Sentiment Score (SSS)

With the beginning of August upon us, the SSS is back up this week, and with some interesting developments. Our Regulated Carbon market is on a high, taking a lovely jump up on July 31st.

However, our other three indices are experiencing some steep falls as of August 1st. This may have come as expected from the Voluntary Carbon market. It held unusually steady for over the last week - leaving analysts wondering when its characteristic volatility would return. After finishing one of their highest days since February, our Growth Climate and Mature Climate markets took to steep drops as the market opened on August 1st.

The July 31st gains came in just as the Fed signaled that the central bank may cut rates at its September meeting, if the data continues supporting the narrative that inflation is easing. For the time being though, the Fed is holding key policy interest rates steady.

Corporate Emissions and Decarbonisation 💡🌍

Curious about corporate emissions and how businesses are tackling climate change?

Dive into the different types of emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3), learn how they’re measured, and explore effective decarbonisation strategies. 🌱 

From setting ambitious targets and reducing emissions across all scopes to investing in renewable energy and carbon offsets, there's a lot to uncover!

Learn More: Get detailed insights and practical tips at our blog. Explore Now! 🚀

🌍 Microsoft Buys 80,000 Tons of Carbon Removals 🌲

Microsoft has purchased 80,000 tons of carbon removals from the Western Rivers Conservancy’s Blue Creek Project in Northern California.

This project, facilitated by 3Degrees, rejuvenates old-growth habitats and supports the Yurok Tribe through sustainable land management.

The initiative is part of Microsoft's goal to become carbon negative by 2030, expanding their diverse carbon removal efforts. 🌿

ESG Corporate Principles and Reporting 📝 

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are essential for assessing a company's sustainability and ethical impact.

These criteria guide investment decisions, enhance corporate reputation, and improve risk management. We’ve crafted a short blog post to help you easily understand how ESG works.

Our goal is to keep simplifying climate language. Feel free to reply to this email with feedback or suggestions for ESG topics you'd like us to cover. 🌱

THOUGHTS ON TODAY’S ISSUE?