Latest news with #ETI
African Manager
3 days ago
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia ranks as Africa's 2nd top performer in energy transition
The World Economic Forum (WEF), in partnership with consulting firm Accenture, has released its 2025 Energy Transition Index (ETI), which assesses the energy performance of 118 countries based on 43 indicators grouped under three pillars: energy security, environmental sustainability, and equity in energy access. The ETI also evaluates countries' readiness for energy transition using five key factors: regulation and political commitment, financing and investment, innovation, infrastructure, and human capital. Each country is scored from 0 to 100 per indicator, with an overall score combining current energy system performance (60%) and transition readiness (40%). Tunisia 2nd top performer in Africa Tunisia performed well in this year's edition, scoring 54.6, placing 2nd in Africa and 62nd globally. Nigeria edged slightly ahead with a score of 54.8, ranking 61st worldwide. Nigeria's rise, up 48 places from 2024, is attributed to targeted regulatory reforms, increased investment in clean energy, and transition strategies tailored to local conditions. Following Tunisia in Africa are Namibia (64th globally), Mauritius (69th), Morocco (70th), Egypt (74th), South Africa (79th), Kenya (88th), and Algeria (89th). Côte d'Ivoire rounds out the African top 10 at 90th globally. Sweden global leader in energy transition Sweden leads globally, followed by Finland, Denmark, and Norway, all scoring above 70, thanks to strong political will, resilient infrastructure, and low-carbon energy systems. Switzerland, Austria, Latvia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal complete the global top 10. The report notes a renewed momentum in the global energy transition: 65% of assessed countries improved their scores in 2025, with nearly a third showing gains in all three dimensions: security, sustainability, and equity.
Morocco World
7 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Falls to 70th Place in Global Energy Transition Index
Morocco has ranked 70th out of 118 countries in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2025 Energy Transition Index (ETI), slipping five places from last year. The drop signals persistent obstacles in the country's energy transition efforts. The ETI – which tracks countries' progress toward cleaner, more secure, and sustainable energy systems – evaluates both the current performance of national energy systems and their readiness for future transition. The assessment covers key areas such as energy security, access and equity, environmental sustainability, and structural preparedness, including regulation, innovation, infrastructure, education, and investment. Morocco received an overall score of 53.7 points, placing it in the middle of the global pack. The latest ranking underscores the need for more robust policies and investment to advance energy reforms and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. Global trends The 2025 Energy Transition Index is once again led by Nordic countries, with Sweden topping the list with a score of 77.5, followed by Finland and Denmark. In the Middle East and North Africa region, the United Arab Emirates ranks highest at 43rd globally, while the Democratic Republic of Congo comes in last at 118th. China achieved its best-ever position at 12th, driven by major investments in clean energy and its central role in renewable technology development. The United States, ranked 17th, benefited from enhanced energy security and expanded sustainable infrastructure. The report notes steady global improvements in energy equity and sustainability, largely due to lower energy prices, reformed subsidies, and reduced carbon intensity. However, it also points to growing vulnerabilities. In 2024, global energy demand rose by 2.2%—the sharpest increase in years— fueled in large part by rapid electrification and the energy-intensive expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, particularly data centers. While renewable energy deployment has advanced, CO₂ emissions reached a record 37.8 billion tons, signaling a widening gap between climate goals and current trajectories. Clean energy investment also reached a milestone in 2024, surpassing $2 trillion for the first time—twice the level recorded in 2020. Yet this figure still falls far short of the estimated $5.6 trillion needed annually to stay on track for 2030 climate targets. More concerning is the slowdown in investment growth, which dropped to 11% last year after three consecutive years of 24–29% growth. Moving forward To address these mounting challenges, the WEF calls for more localized and resilient approaches to the energy transition. This includes regulatory frameworks that are both stable and adaptable, upgraded infrastructure—particularly grids, storage, and interconnections—and increased access to finance, especially for developing economies. The report also urges countries to fast-track innovation in clean fuels, smart grids, and energy storage, and to prioritize clean technology deployment in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as heavy industry and maritime transport. Lastly, it stresses the critical importance of human capital development to ensure the workforce can support and sustain next-generation energy systems. In the face of these global and domestic challenges, Morocco is pushing to accelerate its own transition. On Wednesday, Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali and Transport Minister Abdessamad Kayouh met in Rabat to align their departments on shared green ambitions. Their discussion focused on integrating cleaner energy into all modes of transport—land, sea, and air—through the use of renewable energy molecules and updated infrastructure. Beyond decarbonizing mobility, the ministers emphasized Morocco's industrial future, identifying key green sectors such as solar, wind, cables, and batteries as opportunities for investment and strategic independence. The meeting reflected a growing national effort to synchronize energy and transport reform, improve coordination, and position Morocco as a credible regional leader in the green economy. As Benali noted recently, two decades of investment in renewable infrastructure have laid the foundation for this ambition—now the challenge is to scale it, connect it, and sustain it.
The Wire
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Wire
India Slips to Rank 71 on World Economic Forum's Energy Transition Index
From a rank of 63 in 2024, India has now slipped to rank 71 on the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Energy Transition Index (ETI), which ranks countries on their progress towards energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. However, the report that compared the annual progress of 118 countries also noted that India had advanced in energy efficiency and investment capacity. The ETI is a tool developed by the WEF, an international non-profit for public-private cooperation set up in 1971, to quantify the yearly progress of nations in energy transition – the move from high carbon-emitting fuels such as coal to what are generally considered cleaner and renewable fuels such as solar power. The Forum takes into account two main aspects to put together the Index. One is 'system performance', which includes three factors – energy security (the presence of a stable and resilient energy supply through developing a diversity of energy sources as well as grid and power supply reliability), equity (wherein there is access to energy for all, including consumers and industries) and sustainability (promoting energy sources that have lower impacts on the environment such as lower carbon footprints). The second is 'transition readiness', which includes regulation (legal structures that facilitate energy transition), infrastructure, education, innovation and investment capacities. The Index used 43 indicators under these broad categories using data from multiple sources and organisations, and scored countries on a scale of 0 to 100. In 2025, 77 out of 118 countries (65%) recorded an increase in their overall ETI scores, with an average gain of 1.1% that signals 'a broad, though uneven, recovery in transition momentum', the Index report published on Wednesday (June 18) said. Overall, advanced economies dominated the ETI rankings, accounting for 16 of the index's top 20 performers. The top four are all Nordic countries: Sweden, followed by Finland, Denmark and Norway. Sweden, ranked first in the Index, scored 77.5, and had a system performance score of 77 and a transition readiness score of 78.1. How India fared At rank 71, India scored 53.3 on the Index. India's system performance score was 60.4 and transition readiness score 42.7. Major economies 'showed selective gains with potential to lead', the Index report noted. China topped the 'Emerging Asia' category which India is also part of, with a 2.2% year-on-year ETI score gain and the fifth-highest transition readiness score globally, which per the report, was 'driven by strong innovation ecosystems and financial capacity'. The report noted that in the 2025 Index, India advanced in 'energy intensity, methane emissions and regulations and financial investments'. It also claimed that over the past decade, India had made 'significant strides in increasing equity through greater access to energy and clean fuels, while also improving energy regulations and investment in renewable and other clean-energy technologies'. However, it does not provide details on how India did this. Among the challenges that India faces are a consistent improvement in grid reliability, energy access for rural areas and further reducing dependence on imported energy. 'Further investment in infrastructure, renewables, labour force development and financing conditions could help boost the country's energy transition,' the report noted. Overall, the report noted that one of the main challenges that several nations in Asia still face is their huge reliance on fossil fuels. 'While the ETI top ten continue to offer strong examples of long-term leadership, it is the top five largest economies – China, the US, the EU, Japan and India – that will ultimately determine the pace and direction of the global energy transition due to their sheer size,' the report said. The report also underlined that several 'disruptions' – geopolitical, economic and technological – exposed vulnerabilities in global energy systems, thus 'heightening the urgency of securing more resilient, adaptive energy strategies'. These included geopolitical tensions that have intensified, including in the Middle East and Africa. Top among the global risk factors affecting energy transition are armed state conflicts, followed by extreme weather events and geoeconomic confrontation (such as the use of sanctions, tariffs and investment screening).
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
13 Press Releases You Need to See This Week
Including Warner Bros. Discovery's plans to split into two companies, a pride vinyl collection from Urban Outfitters and the launch of SmartLess Mobile. NEW YORK, June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Warner Bros. Discovery to Separate into Two Leading Media CompaniesThe Streaming & Studios company will consist of Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, and HBO Max, as well as their legendary film and television libraries. Global Networks will include premier entertainment, sports and news television brands around the world including CNN, TNT Sports in the U.S., Discovery and Discovery+. Forbes Travel Guide Unveils 2025 Hotel Star Bars ListStar Bars were selected using data from FTG's 2024 and 2025 Star Ratings, with inspectors visiting incognito to assess service, ambiance and beverage quality across more than 1,500 hotels worldwide. The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) Fell in May"The ETI in May continued to slow relative to the start of 2025," said Mitchell Barnes, Economist at The Conference Board. "But despite general tariff wariness, the ETI is currently above the 2017-19 average, suggesting that the labor market broadly remains on solid footing." Two Icons Unite: Post Malone Announces Global Partnership with the Legendary Food & Drinkware Brand, Stanley 1913Post's affinity for the brand's timeless Originals line is evident in the inclusion of a premium Lunch Box and Classic Bottle set, marking a first-time collaboration for these iconic products. Honeywell Completes Acquisition of Sundyne to Expand Process Industry CapabilitiesThe acquisition of Sundyne—a leader in the design, manufacturing, and aftermarket support of highly-engineered pumps and gas compressors for process industries—is expected to be immediately accretive to Honeywell's sales growth and segment margins as well as to adjusted EPS in the first full year of ownership. Wilson Sporting Goods and Caitlin Clark Unveil Year Two Signature Basketball CollectionThe latest collection was developed by a team of women product designers at Wilson who collaborated closely with Caitlin throughout the process. They gathered key insights to create unique designs, highlighting the elements that keep Caitlin motivated and centered. U.S. News Acquires Sups AI to Supercharge College Admissions with AISups was created to provide resources for students who want feedback in their college-essay-writing process. Sups doesn't write essays for students — it acts as an advisor, brainstorming ideas, helping students research college-specific offerings and leaving thoughtful comments in Sups' custom-built document editor. Urban Outfitters Unveils First-Ever Pride Vinyl CollectionCreated to honor the deep connection between music, identity, and culture, the 18-title lineup features legendary releases from RuPaul, Kesha, Britney Spears, and a new drop from Frankie Grande. Bold, expressive, and unapologetically fun, the collection channels both high-energy beats and nostalgic anthems. SmartLess Mobile Wants You To Stop Overpaying - And They're Not Exactly Subtle About ItJason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, the minds (and mouths) behind the wildly popular SmartLess podcast - are taking on a new role: mobile entrepreneurs. With the launch of SmartLess Mobile, the trio is serving up a new kind of wireless service: direct-to-consumer, data-sane, and refreshingly BS-free. 2025 Hotel Price Index Reveals the Best Value Stays, 4-Star Sweet Spots, and Where Prices are FallingThe new report analyzes hotel pricing trends, finding international 5-star hotels are 27% cheaper than U.S. stays with luxe options under $200 in Hanoi, Pattaya and Auckland. Drink Up, Collect 'Em All - Whataburger Releases Limited-Edition Commemorative CupsStarting Tuesday, June 10, Guests can collect a rotating lineup of designs from four different collections that will launch throughout the rest of the year. Expect iconic Whataburger themes, some festive fun for Halloween and Christmas, plus something a little extra special for National Whataburger Day. OnePay and Synchrony to Launch New Industry-Leading Credit Card Program With Walmart; Credit Card to Be Powered by Mastercard and Set to Go Live This FallAs part of the program, OnePay and Synchrony will introduce both a general-purpose card, which will serve as the program's signature card and be available to use anywhere Mastercard is accepted, and a private label card, which will be exclusively for Walmart purchases. BOXABL Announces Intent to Merge with a SPAC, Targeting Nasdaq ListingThe Proposed Transaction represents a significant step forward in BOXABL's mission to revolutionize affordable, sustainable housing. BOXABL currently has over 50,000 investors, representing an aggregate investment of over $200 million, who have shown support for BOXABL's mission and vision. Read more of the latest releases from PR Newswire. Do you have a press release to distribute? Sign up with PR Newswire to share your story with the audiences who matter most. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world. For questions, contact the team at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE PR Newswire Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Looming tax deadline and glitches cause frustration
Additional measures were implemented to help taxpayers stay compliant – and if not for the 'procrastinators' the problem 'could have been fixed' by now. The chances of an extension to Friday's deadline are slim. Picture: AdobeStock In the run-up to this year's filing season, employers are battling to meet the deadline for submission of their annual employer reconciliation declarations to the South African Revenue Service (Sars). The deadline is Friday. Employers experienced glitches after Sars released an updated version of e@syFile, the software used to reconcile and validate the payroll data and electronic employee tax certificates submitted to Sars. Employers submit monthly declarations, and the annual declaration (EMP501) reflects all the payments made in terms of employee pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax, Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) contributions, and employee tax incentive (ETI) and skills development (SDL) levies. ALSO READ: 'Sars needs to play catch up,' says Kieswetter as tax collector goes digital System issues The system error forced Sars to make additional channels and measures available to enable employers to submit their information on time, says Ettiene Retief, independent tax specialist. The new version created 'unexpected' issues where employers were unable to submit their EMP501 returns. Following complaints from several recognised controlling bodies that represent tax practitioners, Sars acknowledged the problems. It gave employers access to the older version when they could not solve their issues with the new version, and addressed issues through a dedicated email support channel. Retief says the newer version might have been incompatible with specific anti-virus programmes used by employers or tax practitioners. System updates by employer payroll systems may also have caused the incompatibility with e@syFile. 'There are also procrastinators. We have had two months to deal with issues – if people started engaging earlier, the problem could have been fixed already,' he adds. ALSO READ: Sars beats expectations by collecting R1.855 trillion in 2024/25 tax year The go-between The Sars e@syFile software plays 'middleman' in the validation and reconciliation of the employer's payroll system and the validation of the electronic IRP5 tax certificate that is submitted to Sars. This enables Sars to pre-populate the tax returns of almost four million individual taxpayers, and those with more complicated tax affairs can submit their tax returns with correct tax information. According to Sars, the three elements that must reconcile for employer submissions include: Monthly employer declarations submitted (PAYE, SDL, UIF and ETI); Payments made (excluding penalty and interest payments); and IRP5/IT3(a)s generated. The chances of an extension of Friday's deadline are slim. Sars only has a month to process the information and start pre-populating tax returns for the start of the July filing season. 'If one deadline moves, it moves everything and that causes its own complications,' says Retief. Another system glitch that frustrated taxpayers and practitioners last month was the inability to upload documentation relating to value-added tax (Vat) returns. 'As far as I am aware the issues were addressed.' ALSO READ: Sars records increase in taxpayers who filed returns Refund delays André Daniels, head of tax controversy and dispute resolution at Tax Consulting SA, says taxpayers and tax practitioners alike are reporting a surge in delayed refunds. Sars is citing 'pending verifications or audits' – but only after a manual status check is performed. 'This is not a procedural glitch – this is a systemic failure with serious financial implications,' Daniels said in a recent statement. In many cases Sars has requested further verification documentation without issuing any formal notification through eFiling or via email. 'Making matters worse, there is often no link available to upload the required documents because no verification or audit letter was ever generated.' Daniels says even if the link is provided and documentation uploaded, additional assessments are subsequently issued, stating that the 'burden of proof' was not discharged. His advice to taxpayers is to act proactively and to confirm whether any verifications or audits have been raised behind the scenes. He also advises taxpayers to use the dispute resolution steps to correct assessments where appropriate. Retief notes that Sars is constantly upgrading, adding and changing its systems and programmes as part of its modernisation and digitalisation drive. It is normal that there will be glitches. Sars is generally alerted to problems and issues through the different representative bodies. 'I know there were issues, but Sars was quick to respond and solve some of it.' This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
