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Amazon Introduces Carbon Credit Sales for Suppliers and Customers

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Amazon has launched a carbon credit program, allowing its suppliers, business customers, and other companies to purchase credits to offset their carbon emissions. The move comes amid ongoing debates over the role of carbon credits in corporate decarbonization efforts and concerns about ensuring their environmental integrity.

The retail giant emphasized that it follows industry-leading standards where available and is actively involved in shaping more rigorous verification processes when needed. Amazon has previously invested in projects related to forest conservation, land restoration, and carbon removal, but this marks its first direct venture into selling carbon credits.

Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer, highlighted the company’s ability to use its scale and high vetting standards to drive further investments in nature-based solutions. Early participants in the initiative include Flickr, real estate advisory firm Seneca, and electronics company Corsair.

The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a key authority on corporate climate goals, recently stated that carbon credits should be limited to offsetting residual emissions—those that remain after a company has made substantial reductions. However, SBTi stopped short of endorsing broader reliance on carbon credits to meet decarbonization targets.

Amazon’s program requires participating companies to have a net-zero target that includes emissions from their supply chains and to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative comes after the Bezos Earth Fund, founded by Jeff Bezos, discontinued its $18 million grant to SBTi in late 2023.

Chinese Astronauts Achieve Breakthrough in Space by Producing Oxygen and Rocket Fuel via Artificial Photosynthesis

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Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have made a significant advancement by successfully producing oxygen and rocket fuel using artificial photosynthesis. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in space exploration, as it offers a potential solution for sustainable resource generation during long-term missions. By utilizing water and carbon dioxide, the astronauts were able to simulate the natural photosynthesis process, producing not only breathable oxygen but also hydrocarbon fuel components. This breakthrough could be particularly beneficial for China’s ambitious plans to establish a lunar base, as it would reduce reliance on Earth-based supplies, enabling astronauts to generate essential resources directly on the Moon.

The experiment, carried out by the Shenzhou-19 crew, employed a system that mimics the photosynthesis process found in plants, with the aid of a semiconductor catalyst. The compact apparatus, designed like a drawer, facilitated the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and fuel. This artificial photosynthesis method is a step forward in creating self-sustaining habitats for space travelers, where resources like oxygen and fuel can be generated locally, thus reducing the challenges and costs associated with transporting them from Earth.

One of the most notable aspects of this experiment is its energy efficiency. The artificial photosynthesis system requires significantly less energy compared to the electrolysis method currently used on the International Space Station (ISS) to generate oxygen. Electrolysis, while effective, can consume up to a third of the ISS’s power supply, a considerable amount for long-term space missions. The new method developed by the Chinese astronauts offers a more energy-efficient alternative, potentially making future space explorations more sustainable and cost-effective.

Looking ahead, the implications of this technology could extend beyond the Tiangong space station. Researchers believe that by adjusting the catalyst used in the reaction, this artificial photosynthesis system could be fine-tuned to produce different types of fuel, such as methane or formic acid. These fuels could play a vital role in supporting missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, contributing to the development of space stations, lunar bases, and interplanetary travel, all while minimizing the need for supply shipments from Earth.

SingTel Secures $476 Million Green Loan for Data Centre Development

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Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) announced that it has secured a green loan worth S$643 million ($476.16 million) to fund the development of a new 58-megawatt (MW) data centre in Singapore. The loan, which spans five years, has been provided by a consortium of lenders, including DBS Group, OCBC, Standard Chartered, HSBC, and United Overseas Bank.

Green loans are specifically designated to finance projects that support environmental sustainability, reflecting the increasing focus on aligning data centre growth with climate goals, especially as industries like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing drive rising demand for such facilities. SingTel’s new data centre, located in Tuas, is expected to be operational by 2026 and will feature a high-density environment ideal for handling the growing AI workloads.

Arthur Lang, SingTel’s group chief financial officer, emphasized that this green loan would help the company contribute to Singapore’s digital economy while aligning with its long-term net-zero objectives. SingTel had previously secured a S$535 million green loan in December 2023 to refinance debt and fund the development of two other data centres in Singapore.