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Breakthrough For Justice At Bonn Climate Talks - Amidst A System In Crisis
Bonn, Germany, 26 June 2025 - After two tense weeks of negotiations, one breakthrough emerged in the SB 62 climate talks: civil society's Just Transition priorities were officially tabled in the UN climate process, thanks to relentless pressure from social movements, workers, and frontline communities. This vital step opens the door in the fight for transitions that put people first - ensuring climate action centres justice, dignity, and decent work, rather than enabling corporate greenwashing or elite control. But beyond this opening, Bonn laid bare a system in crisis. Even as NATO leaders just 200km away pledged more than US$1 trillion a year in additional military spending, rich polluting countries showed up at the climate talks pleading poverty. The silence on war, genocide, and rising global inequality was deafening. Despite the escalating toll of climate impacts and injustice, these talks revealed a growing chasm between the urgent demands of communities on the frontlines of climate breakdown and the hollow, evasive language of a process struggling to retain relevance. Negotiations on adaptation were little more than a smokescreen. Developed nations dodged their financial obligations towards developing countries once again, and held the process hostage, preventing progress. The ghost of Baku haunted the talks, with developing countries facing fierce pushback when they united in their demand for a formal agenda item on the provision of climate finance by developed countries. And it's clear the so-called 'Baku to Belém' roadmap remains riddled with holes. Without new, additional and grant-based public finance from historical emitters, there will be no money to fund a real Just Transition, no closing of the ambition gap, and no hope of holding the line at 1.5°C. The COP30 Presidency and all parties must put a plan in place to address the critical issue of the provision of climate finance, or risk a blow up. As countries belatedly prepare their new climate action plans (Nationally Determined Contributions), one thing is clear: they will fall far short of what is needed. Despite this, there was a resounding silence around the ambition gap that is so clearly emerging. Countries that hold historic responsibility for the climate crisis continue to expand oil and gas exploration while pushing developing countries to shoulder the burden they themselves refuse to bear - both in cutting emissions and providing climate finance. It's a double standard that deepens injustice and delays real action. Tasneem Essop, Executive Director of Climate Action Network International, said: 'Enough is enough. While bombs get billions and polluters are increasing their record profits, Bonn has once again exposed a system rigged to protect polluters and profiteers - complicit in a global order that funds destruction but balks at paying for survival. "But even in this broken space, people's power shone through. Due to the relentless pressure from civil society, the Just Transition fight finally made it into the formal process, laying the table for a win for workers, for communities, and for every person fighting to build a future rooted in dignity and hope. Decision-makers must come to Belém with the commitment to make this a reality. "As this process drifts further from the real world, it is grassroots movements that continue to lead the way - resisting delay, greenwashing, and false solutions with vision, urgency, and courage. From the streets of Bonn to the heart of Belém, the fight for climate justice is turning into a roar that cannot be ignored." Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada: 'The world is facing a treacherous moment. Political headwinds and unfair economic rules are preventing the level of climate action we need. The UNFCCC feels increasingly disconnected from the real world. 'Amidst the dark clouds of these existential challenges to the planet and to this process, there is a ray of sunshine: parties are finding common ground around a Just Transition. The text forwarded to Belem offers us a fighting chance to a COP30 outcome that truly connects workers, communities and Peoples with the Paris Agreement.' Amiera Sawas, Head of Research & Policy, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative: 'As the Northern hemisphere suffers deadly heatwaves, UN climate talks remain frozen in an out-of-touch process. War and military spending escalated outside, while inside there was no discussion—and no finance. Civil society fought to bring negotiations into the real world, but geopolitics and the fossil fuel lobby kept derailing progress. Even successes, like the draft text for the 'Just Transition Work Programme' informed by workers and Indigenous Peoples, were nearly paralyzed by fossil fuel interests at the end. We are already at risk of breaching the 1.5 temperature limit, there's no time for paralysis. There's a real risk that the UN climate talks fail to address the crisis's biggest drivers: coal, oil, and gas. We cannot afford any more failure, we must urgently do better. And we will - whether inside or outside the UN. Brazil is talking big but its actions speak louder than words and its recent approval of new oil extraction in the Amazon is the worst possible signal.' Stela Herschmann, Climate Policy Specialist for Observatório do Clima (Brazil): 'This is a party-driven process. What the Bonn meeting showed us is that the parties want to discuss public finance. Despite Brazil's best intentions to streamline the agenda and make progress on other issues, it may not be possible to do so without including a conversation about public finance in the official COP30 agenda. 'Brazil had three priorities for Bonn. One of them, Just Transition, saw good progress and produced a preparatory text with key asks from civil society organizations so this work program can actually deliver justice to the people. The other two resemble Baku. The text on indicators for the global goal of adaptation advanced well but is being held until the last minute due to the discussion around finance and means of implementation. The UAE dialogue on the implementation of the Global Stocktake, did not progress as much. We will leave Bonn with two similar documents because the parties could not agree on a single informal note, and we can expect to see the same disputes over the scope and modalities in Belém.' Mariana Paoli, Global Advocacy Lead, Christian Aid: 'The Bonn climate talks have shown that there's hangover from the chaotic ending at COP29 in Baku. Finance remains the elephant in the room. While negotiators circled around the issue in Boon , limited progress was made. We cannot afford another year of delay - COP30 must deliver where COP29 fell short. 'There has been an over reliance on the illusion that private finance will solve the climate crisis. Its growing presence in these spaces is starting to resemble a Trojan horse. Public grants based finance is essential to deliver climate action, decisions should be done based on the needs of communities and not profits and should be rooted in fairness and science.' Teresa Anderson, ActionAid International: "Rich countries' continued refusal to put real climate finance on the table means that climate talks are facing uncertain times. For once, however, it's not all bad news. Governments are starting to get excited about Just Transition, and shaping energy and food systems in a way that really works for workers, women, farmers and communities. This comes at such a critical time, amid so much economic uncertainty, when many people feel they are being forced to choose between their immediate needs and a climate safe future. If approved at COP30, the Just Transition mechanism will deliver action on the ground, requiring and supporting governments to put people's needs first and foremost at the start of every climate plan. This represents a major evolution in climate action, and the spark of hope that our planet urgently needs." Nithi Nesadurai, Director & Regional Coordinator, CAN Southeast Asia: 'The Bonn climate meeting took place within the backdrop of a continuing genocide in Gaza, a hot war and the NATO Summit. Interestingly, while developed countries blocked decisions on their financial obligations on all the major climate negotiating items, a short distance away in The Hague, NATO members readily agreed to increase their military budgets to 5 per cent of GDP. Easily amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars, it shows finance is available, unlike what they implied in the Bonn negotiations. If not for the progress on the Just Transition Work Programme, which gives civil society a core issue to rally around on the road to Belem, this meeting offered little to get excited about on all other fronts.' Nafkote Dabi, Climate Policy Lead, Oxfam International: 'The Bonn conference exposes the stark injustice between rich and poor countries. The richest, primarily responsible for the climate crisis, are dodging their duty to provide public, grant-based finance for developing countries to adapt and rebuild. As warming spirals toward a catastrophic 3°C, urgent action is critical. Rich countries must own their climate debt and stop pushing private finance, that prioritizes profit over people, as a solution. The Brazilian COP presidency must also step up and champion equity and justice in Belem.' Sanjay Vashist, Director, Climate Action Network South Asia: 'Climate talks in Bonn have failed South Asia once again. While our communities face climate-induced floods, heatwaves, and hunger, wealthy nations dodge their obligations, offering empty words on adaptation and loss and damage finance. The refusal to put public finance on the table is a betrayal. As we pivot to COP30 in Belém, we demand not just promises, but delivery—real, predictable, and equitable finance. The era of evasion must end. The lives of millions in South Asia depend on it, however the UNFCCC process appears to have succumbed to fossil fuel lobbyists and private sector forces.' Romain Ioualalen, Global Policy lead at Oil Change International: 'Bonn saw the Global North further retreat from its responsibilities to provide public finance for climate action, instead promoting fabricated narratives on private finance filling the gap - despite evidence the market-led approach is not delivering. On top of blocking finance, rich countries failed their homework on fossil fuels with four Global North countries responsible for 70% of projected oil and gas expansion, which made calls from developed parties to center the fossil fuel phaseout in the negotiations continue to ring hollow and hypocritical. An outcome on just transition in Belém is within reach and could provide momentum for centering justice in the transition.' Ife Kilimanjaro, U.S. Climate Action Network: 'Bonn confirmed the UNFCCC feels dangerously out of touch with global crises—war, inequality, and a climate already past 1.5 degrees. The fight for public climate finance was an uphill battle; rich nations diverted responsibility, pushing risky private solutions that won't close the ambition gap. Yet, a vital glimmer of hope emerged: civil society secured demands in the Just Transition text. This shows organized people can make progress even in disconnected spaces. For USCAN, it's clear: we must keep bridging the gap between power and lived realities, demanding genuine accountability and justice.' Fernanda de Carvalho, WWF Global Climate and Energy Policy Lead:"The breakthrough we achieved in Dubai is at stake. Developed countries who should be leading the way, continue to explore for, and use fossil fuels while deforestation is on the rise. We need them to step up at the global level and commit to phasing out all fossil fuels, putting some much-needed momentum into the international climate talks. We also need strong measures to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. We look to Belém as a political course-correction moment, and we count on the Brazilian Presidency and the political will of all countries to deliver that." Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India: 'We do not see appetite to uphold multilateralism from developed countries, and Bonn made that clear. The refusal to dive deeper into Article 9.1 and hear out concerns from developing countries about unilateral trade measures, symbolise the imbalance of power that persists in this space. While civil society is driving momentum on issues like just transition, all other spaces remain paralysed by inequity, and refusal of the Global North to support, fund and enable climate action in the rest of the world in line with its historical duty.' Ann Harrison, Climate Justice Policy Adviser, Amnesty International: 'Human rights references and protections were again sacrificed at the altar of consensus which drives down ambition. UNFCCC reform must be on the table, including greater protections for free speech and peaceful protest which were further restricted, particularly for actions protesting the genocide in Gaza and solidarity actions for imprisoned defenders. Fossil fuel producers continue to undermine progress towards the full, fast, fair and funded fossil fuel phase out and just transition we need. And let's be clear, providing adequate public, grants-based climate finance, especially for adaptation and loss and damage is also a human rights obligation for developed countries and it must be massively scaled up to contribute towards climate justice.' Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Global Policy and Campaigns: 'Bonn was bogged down by political divisions and bruised by global tensions, with results that leave much to be desired. A serious injection of energy and urgency is required as we look ahead to COP30 in Belém. Negotiators must make progress on implementing the Global Stocktake, closing the ambition gap, and delivering the finance needed to turn ambition into action. 'Civil society must hold the line on the agreement to triple renewables and phase out fossil fuels, and rich countries must course correct after Baku's shortcomings. COP30 has much to make up for, and for it to be a success, the Presidency must lead with the integrity, diplomacy and flexibility this crisis demands.' Gaïa Febvre, Réseau Action Climat France, International Policy Lead: 'As the Bonn climate talks come to a close, it is shocking to see France, once the proud 'guardian' of the Paris Agreement, actively blocking a more ambitious EU NDC. 'What's the point of hosting summits and delivering grand speeches if, behind closed doors, France stalls the very commitments needed to keep 1.5°C alive? The Paris Agreement doesn't need more ceremony, it needs leadership. It needs a France that pushes the EU to step up, not one that defends the status quo or fossil interests. The window to act is closing. France must choose: will it honor the legacy of Paris, or betray it?'
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Alexander Dennis: FM warned a year ago over firm 'reconsidering' Scotland
The First Minister was also told they had already been 'forced' to offshore certain manufacturing functions to China. The Labour MP for Falkirk, Euan Stainbank, said it was 'absolutely astonishing that John Swinney' had been informed of the risk to hundreds of Scottish jobs and 'done absolutely nothing to avert this'. Notes seen by The Herald show the First Minister intervened after learning of potential redundancies at the firm, suggesting 'further capital support' and advising Scottish Enterprise to 'exhaust all options to support the business'. Scottish Government records show ADL has received £58 million in public 'subsidy' for green vehicles since 2020 under two schemes aimed at transitioning Scotland to green buses. Some £30m in job grants for research and development over 10 years came from the Scottish Government's economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise. A delivered Alexander Dennis bus (Image: Pic supplied) Despite this, ADL said there was not enough support from government and issued a stern warning about its future in Scotland in August last year. READ MORE by Martin Williams "We are regretfully left with the impression through recent developments that the Scottish Government has little regard for domestic bus manufacturing jobs in Scotland and we have no choice but to reconsider our entire investment in the Scottish operations of Alexander Dennis," the Canada-based executive told the First Minister. "In fact, in an attempt to enhance our price competitiveness we have already been forced to offshore certain fabrication functions to China. "I would appreciate an urgent face-to-face meeting with you and key members of your Government to further discuss this critical situation." The First Minister and Deputy First Minister set out the economic case for Scottish independence in 2013 at the Alexander Dennis Falkirk plant. (Image: NQ) He said that in Canada and the United States, governments and transit agencies are 'incredibly proud' of their domestic manufacturers and support them accordingly. "Alexander Dennis operates in a market that had left them with the impression that governments do not seem to care about domestic economic importance," he added. "Indeed, this seems to fly in the face of Scotland's flagship policy plans for a Just Transition, which aims to deliver a fairer, greener future for all, delivered in partnership with those impacted by the transition to net zero. "Alexander Dennis is a key manufacturer in Scotland assisting in delivering a Just Transition through the manufacturing of zero-emission buses with their workforce. "Alexander Dennis should be considered a business of strategic economic importance to Scotland." ADL expressed frustration in May 2023 over the Scottish Government's Zero Emissions Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). A Scottish Government memo to the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, revealed a series of letters from ADL and NFI raising concerns about the outcome of the fund. While a Scottish Government memo said ADL received orders for 363 zero-emission buses – more than any other manufacturer – a separate briefing stated ADL was awarded only 17%, or 44 buses, from phase two. A meeting was set up between the First Minister and Mr Soubry in August last year over levels of support rooted in Scottish Government schemes launched in 2020 to accelerate zero and low emission bus manufacture and 'help drive a green recovery out of the Covid pandemic', worth £155.8m to date. The relationship between Alexander Dennis and the SNP goes back to 2013, when then First Minister Alex Salmond and then Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon used its Falkirk base to launch the economic case for Scottish independence. He said while ADL received 17% of the orders under ScotZEB2, no other UK manufacturer benefitted — despite all being part of the Scottish Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce. He expected 83% of the 252 buses ordered under ScotZEB2 to go to manufacturers based in either China or Egypt. He said there was a 'further disappointing revelation' in the final round of ScotZEB — that the winning bid would leverage £3.20 of private sector investment for every £1 from the Scottish Government for 252 vehicles. Mr Soubry said 'this was surprising to read' as the unsuccessful Alexander Dennis-led Phoenix consortium bid planned to deliver up to £3.94 of private investment per £1 of ScotZEB2 funding for a volume of 300 zero-emission buses. "With recent decisions by UK bus operators to acquire largely imported buses with no domestic economic, technology or labour requirements or benefits, we feel we have no choice but to now begin preparations to put a number of people within our team at risk of redundancy, which could decimate the communities we operate in and have important historic ties with," he said. (Image: Alexander Dennis) Mr Stainbank said the letter to the First Minister was a damning indictment of the SNP's failure to act. "It is absolutely astonishing that John Swinney was informed of the real risk to Alexander Dennis's Scottish operations close to a year ago," he said. "He appears in the interim to have done absolutely nothing to avert this. "This is a monumental failure of SNP industrial policy. Greater Manchester bought more than five times as many buses from Alexander Dennis than the SNP did - operating under the exact same legal framework. John Swinney should be embarrassed by that." A month after Mr Soubry's letter, a further call between the First Minister and NFI and ADL showed that Mr Swinney advised and asked that Scottish Enterprise 'exhaust all options to support the business'. A note of the meeting cleared by Mr Swinney stated that he requested that 'all options are exhausted before any final decision is taken by ADL'. An official note of a meeting between Mr Swinney and representatives of Alexander Dennis from 12 August says the First Minister 'noted the potential for further capital support should be explored'. By then Alexander Dennis had already benefited from taxpayer-funded grants and support from the Scottish Government worth £90m since 2005. In the same year of the 2023 ScotZEB2 launch, Scottish Enterprise sanctioned a £13.2m grant on top of a £49.7m ADL investment into the development of zero emissions technology for battery-electric and hydrogen fuel powertrains. Some £11.2m was drawn down. John Swinney (Image: PA) Last week, Mr Swinney told MSPs he was 'deeply concerned' about the proposed job losses and said the government was 'exploring all viable options' to support the workforce. He defended the government's record, stating that Alexander Dennis had received more orders than any other manufacturer under the first phase of ScotZEB and was supported with significant research and development funding. However, he acknowledged that UK-wide subsidy control rules limit what the Scottish Government can do to directly support or prefer domestic manufacturers. 'We must work within the law,' he said. 'But we are trying to find a way through the Subsidy Control Act to ensure we can support manufacturing in Scotland.' Union leaders are calling for more urgency. Unite Scotland estimates that up to 1,600 jobs could be at risk when supply chain roles are included and warned of a 'devastating' impact on communities already reeling from the Grangemouth oil refinery closure. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We are exploring all viable options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain their hard-working employees and manufacturing and production facilities at Falkirk and Larbert. 'Since 2020, ADL secured orders for more zero emission buses than any other single manufacturer through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund and its predecessor the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme. "ADL has received £58m of Scottish Government subsidy for vehicles under these programmes. ADL have secured orders for more than 360 vehicles through Scottish Government zero emission bus funding programmes, compared to the 160 currently on order from Manchester. 'In response to correspondence in August 2024, the First Minister met with the company that same month, and Scottish Enterprise have been supporting the company with additional supportive measures.'
The Herald Scotland
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Alexander Dennis: FM warned a year ago over firm 'reconsidering'
The First Minister was also told they had already been 'forced' to offshore certain manufacturing functions to China. The Labour MP for Falkirk, Euan Stainbank, said it was 'absolutely astonishing that John Swinney' had been informed of the risk to hundreds of Scottish jobs and 'done absolutely nothing to avert this'. Notes seen by The Herald show the First Minister intervened after learning of potential redundancies at the firm, suggesting 'further capital support' and advising Scottish Enterprise to 'exhaust all options to support the business'. Scottish Government records show ADL has received £58 million in public 'subsidy' for green vehicles since 2020 under two schemes aimed at transitioning Scotland to green buses. Some £30m in job grants for research and development over 10 years came from the Scottish Government's economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise. A delivered Alexander Dennis bus (Image: Pic supplied) Despite this, ADL said there was not enough support from government and issued a stern warning about its future in Scotland in August last year. READ MORE by Martin Williams "We are regretfully left with the impression through recent developments that the Scottish Government has little regard for domestic bus manufacturing jobs in Scotland and we have no choice but to reconsider our entire investment in the Scottish operations of Alexander Dennis," the Canada-based executive told the First Minister. "In fact, in an attempt to enhance our price competitiveness we have already been forced to offshore certain fabrication functions to China. "I would appreciate an urgent face-to-face meeting with you and key members of your Government to further discuss this critical situation." The First Minister and Deputy First Minister set out the economic case for Scottish independence in 2013 at the Alexander Dennis Falkirk plant. (Image: NQ) He said that in Canada and the United States, governments and transit agencies are 'incredibly proud' of their domestic manufacturers and support them accordingly. "Alexander Dennis operates in a market that had left them with the impression that governments do not seem to care about domestic economic importance," he added. "Indeed, this seems to fly in the face of Scotland's flagship policy plans for a Just Transition, which aims to deliver a fairer, greener future for all, delivered in partnership with those impacted by the transition to net zero. "Alexander Dennis is a key manufacturer in Scotland assisting in delivering a Just Transition through the manufacturing of zero-emission buses with their workforce. "Alexander Dennis should be considered a business of strategic economic importance to Scotland." ADL expressed frustration in May 2023 over the Scottish Government's Zero Emissions Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). A Scottish Government memo to the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, revealed a series of letters from ADL and NFI raising concerns about the outcome of the fund. While a Scottish Government memo said ADL received orders for 363 zero-emission buses – more than any other manufacturer – a separate briefing stated ADL was awarded only 17%, or 44 buses, from phase two. A meeting was set up between the First Minister and Mr Soubry in August last year over levels of support rooted in Scottish Government schemes launched in 2020 to accelerate zero and low emission bus manufacture and 'help drive a green recovery out of the Covid pandemic', worth £155.8m to date. The relationship between Alexander Dennis and the SNP goes back to 2013, when then First Minister Alex Salmond and then Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon used its Falkirk base to launch the economic case for Scottish independence. He said while ADL received 17% of the orders under ScotZEB2, no other UK manufacturer benefitted — despite all being part of the Scottish Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce. He expected 83% of the 252 buses ordered under ScotZEB2 to go to manufacturers based in either China or Egypt. He said there was a 'further disappointing revelation' in the final round of ScotZEB — that the winning bid would leverage £3.20 of private sector investment for every £1 from the Scottish Government for 252 vehicles. Mr Soubry said 'this was surprising to read' as the unsuccessful Alexander Dennis-led Phoenix consortium bid planned to deliver up to £3.94 of private investment per £1 of ScotZEB2 funding for a volume of 300 zero-emission buses. "With recent decisions by UK bus operators to acquire largely imported buses with no domestic economic, technology or labour requirements or benefits, we feel we have no choice but to now begin preparations to put a number of people within our team at risk of redundancy, which could decimate the communities we operate in and have important historic ties with," he said. (Image: Alexander Dennis) Mr Stainbank said the letter to the First Minister was a damning indictment of the SNP's failure to act. "It is absolutely astonishing that John Swinney was informed of the real risk to Alexander Dennis's Scottish operations close to a year ago," he said. "He appears in the interim to have done absolutely nothing to avert this. "This is a monumental failure of SNP industrial policy. Greater Manchester bought more than five times as many buses from Alexander Dennis than the SNP did - operating under the exact same legal framework. John Swinney should be embarrassed by that." A month after Mr Soubry's letter, a further call between the First Minister and NFI and ADL showed that Mr Swinney advised and asked that Scottish Enterprise 'exhaust all options to support the business'. A note of the meeting cleared by Mr Swinney stated that he requested that 'all options are exhausted before any final decision is taken by ADL'. An official note of a meeting between Mr Swinney and representatives of Alexander Dennis from 12 August says the First Minister 'noted the potential for further capital support should be explored'. By then Alexander Dennis had already benefited from taxpayer-funded grants and support from the Scottish Government worth £90m since 2005. In the same year of the 2023 ScotZEB2 launch, Scottish Enterprise sanctioned a £13.2m grant on top of a £49.7m ADL investment into the development of zero emissions technology for battery-electric and hydrogen fuel powertrains. Some £11.2m was drawn down. John Swinney (Image: PA) Last week, Mr Swinney told MSPs he was 'deeply concerned' about the proposed job losses and said the government was 'exploring all viable options' to support the workforce. He defended the government's record, stating that Alexander Dennis had received more orders than any other manufacturer under the first phase of ScotZEB and was supported with significant research and development funding. However, he acknowledged that UK-wide subsidy control rules limit what the Scottish Government can do to directly support or prefer domestic manufacturers. 'We must work within the law,' he said. 'But we are trying to find a way through the Subsidy Control Act to ensure we can support manufacturing in Scotland.' Union leaders are calling for more urgency. Unite Scotland estimates that up to 1,600 jobs could be at risk when supply chain roles are included and warned of a 'devastating' impact on communities already reeling from the Grangemouth oil refinery closure. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We are exploring all viable options throughout the consultation period to allow the firm to retain their hard-working employees and manufacturing and production facilities at Falkirk and Larbert. 'Since 2020, ADL secured orders for more zero emission buses than any other single manufacturer through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund and its predecessor the Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme. "ADL has received £58m of Scottish Government subsidy for vehicles under these programmes. ADL have secured orders for more than 360 vehicles through Scottish Government zero emission bus funding programmes, compared to the 160 currently on order from Manchester. 'In response to correspondence in August 2024, the First Minister met with the company that same month, and Scottish Enterprise have been supporting the company with additional supportive measures.'
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Can emerging markets balance climate goals and jobs? IEEFA says it's time for co-investment push
New Delhi: What happens to coal workers when the last mine shuts down? How will small rural livelihoods survive the shift to clean energy? A new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis ( IEEFA ) warns that as emerging economies transition away from fossil fuels, millions of workers and communities face the risk of being left behind—unless targeted co-financing models and just transition strategies are adopted. According to the report, ensuring vulnerable workers and communities are not excluded during the energy transition is one of the biggest challenges for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). At the same time, the shift opens up new job opportunities and avenues for economic growth if planned with social equity in mind. 'Combining climate action with social equity can facilitate the energy transition in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) without disrupting sectors that rely solely on fossil fuels,' said Shantanu Srivastava, IEEFA's research lead, sustainable finance and climate risk. 'A Just Transition aims to manage this change fairly by protecting affected workers and communities, creating opportunities for economic growth and ensuring the benefits of the transition are shared widely,' Srivastava said. While fossil fuel industries face the risk of stranded assets, large companies often have the resources and access to capital to adapt. The report noted that the greater risk for governments lies in the potential economic disruption to entire communities dependent on fossil operations. The report proposes a 'co-investment' approach to support asset closures and community resilience. This includes combining investments in renewable energy with Just Transition activities such as labour reskilling, social support, and micro-enterprise development. These programmes often require concessional or grant-based finance. 'Just Transition activities encompass a mix of hard energy transition assets, such as renewable energy, climate smart agriculture, and climate-resilient infrastructure, and 'softer' Just Transition aspects like responsible coal asset closures, stakeholder capacity building, labour reskilling, support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and community resilience,' said Soni Tiwari, energy finance analyst at IEEFA. The report draws on case studies from India, the Philippines, Ethiopia and South Africa to illustrate how targeted planning and coordinated intervention can enable a socially inclusive energy transition. In the Philippines, the Accelerating Coal Transition (ACT) investment plan demonstrates how securing early-stage grant commitments for Just Transition support helped mobilise concessional and commercial capital for fossil fuel asset closure and repurposing. South Africa's Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) highlights the importance of institutional coordination, governance frameworks, and dedicated platforms that link funders with project developers. In India, a targeted programme for MSMEs enabled coordination among domestic, multilateral, and philanthropic investors to drive clean energy adoption. Another programme, Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), focused on capacity-building to create self-sustaining, low-carbon agricultural models for vulnerable communities. In Ethiopia, a rural water programme financed by the United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) demonstrated the role of grant-based funding in fragile contexts and the importance of empowering local institutions. 'With fiscal pressures mounting and fossil fuel revenues expected to decline, EMDE governments should look beyond their own budgets to a diverse set of capital providers, including multilateral development agencies, private investors, development banks and philanthropies,' Tiwari said. 'The financing challenge is not only about scale, but also about targeting suitable forms of capital for the right activities based on their risk-return profiles and developmental impact,' Srivastava added. The report concludes that by strengthening monitoring systems, aligning national schemes and fostering partnerships, EMDEs can mobilise funding more effectively and advance a just and inclusive transition to clean energy.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Will support German companies eyeing investments in state, CM tells ambassador
Ranchi: German Ambassador to India, Phillip Ackermann, on Wednesday called on chief minister Hemant Soren. The CM's office said the discussions were held on various developmental initiatives. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Highlighting Germany's similarities with the state, particularly in coal mining, Ackermann experessed Germany's interests in enhancing cooperation with the state govt for development of coal-based industries. Soren informed Ackermann about Jharkhand's investment potential and stressed that the state govt is actively engaging with industrial groups both in Indian and overseas to fetch investments and gaining positive response. The CM assured Ackermann that the state govt will extend full support to German investors interested in investing in the state. Ackermann extended an invitation to Soren to visit Germany. Later in the day, the ambassador took part as a keynote speaker at the 8th edition of the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) conversation series, which was also attended by officials of Jharkhand govt, German Embassy, European Union, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, alongside civil society leaders and development practitioners. Organised under the framework of the GSDP between India and Germany, the event focused on sustainable and inclusive strategies for the repurposing of coal mines and economic diversification in coal-dependent communities. Ackermann said Germany is honoured to partner with Jharkhand in the conversation on Just Transition.
