The Endgame: Climate News - June 2025
- Thomas Panton
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
June brought a wave of momentum to Climate Tech: Europe doubled down on fusion funding, global clean energy investment hit new highs, and governments launched fresh initiatives on early climate warning systems and ocean protection.
But tough challenges persist: the metals industry sounds pricing alerts, the chemical industry isn’t decarbonising quick enough, and US regulation continues to be shaky.
This edition of The Endgame breaks down the bright spots, the sticking points, and the signals you should watch.
The good 👇🏻
🏭 EU eases in industrial decarbonisation support
The European Commission finalised its Clean Industrial Deal state aid framework, making it easier for heavy industries to access up to €200 m in grants, tax incentives, and energy relief - on condition they invest in decarbonisation.
Why it matters: This de‑risking move accelerates deployment of clean manufacturing and grid upgrades. This could revitalise Europe's industries and help them better compete with U.S. and Chinese rivals, encouraging them to stay put in Europe. this tied with the incoming academic influx from the US can only mean positive innovation to come.
Source: Reuters
⚡️ European Investment Bank lifts energy-grid lending ceiling
The European Investment Bank has increased its annual lending now to a record €100bn, with €11 bn earmarked for energy grids. The EIB Group shareholders also launched the largest EU programme to fund Europe’s technological leadership and approve first wave of new instruments to support cleantech.
Why it matters: This capital helps unlock smart-grid and storage plays, facilitating the integration of renewable energy into the grid and the delivery of affordable power to EU businesses and households - a key step in the journey towards electrifying on renewables.
Source: European Investment Bank
🌲 Smarter Boreal reforestation is paying off
New research shows that mixing 25-40% deciduous trees into Canada’s boreal reforestation projects can boost carbon sequestration by 15–30% compared to conifer-only stands - without raising ecological risks.
Why it matters: These mixed forests grow faster early on, retain more carbon long-term, and are more resilient to fire and pests - storing 4.6–4.7t CO₂e/ha/year. This shift makes large-scale reforestation efforts like Canada’s Two Billion Trees program more impactful and efficient. It's a reminder that nature-based solutions can be just as data-driven and strategic as tech-heavy ones.
Source: Cornell University
The challenges 👇🏻
👨🏼🏭 Metals industry warning: support falls short
Even with new EU state aid, European metal-makers warn that energy costs and green regulation are squeezing competitiveness vs. China and the U.S. Heavy industry is stuck paying for expensive fossil fuels because it can’t tap into the EU’s growing renewable supply - often located far away and fluctuating by the hour.
Why it matters: If frameworks don’t move faster, we risk losing critical materials capacity - threatening the very supply chain we rely on. Importantly, whilst new regulation is important to move industry forward, we need to look at solutions which make industry more efficient in its current format too.
Source: Reuters
🧪 Chemicals sector lagging on clean tech
The chemicals industry is falling behind on climate commitments. While standout projects like Denmark’s new e-methanol plant show promise, most chemical producers across Europe still lack credible plans to decarbonise - particularly in key areas like hydrogen and carbon capture.
Why it matters: Chemicals are a foundational part of decarbonisation, and the sector is one of the hardest to decarbonise. Yet the capital and technology needed to shift away from fossil feedstocks remain under-deployed. This highlights the capital intensity and execution gaps in hard-to-abate sectors - even when urgency is clear.
Source: Ethical Corporation Magazine
👩🏻⚖️ U.S. rollback threat: EPA climate rule downgrades
The U.S. EPA is moving to weaken key Biden-era regulations on CO2 and mercury emissions from power plants. The rollback would loosen limits on carbon pollution and toxic metals, threatening recent progress in cleaning up America’s power sector.
Why it matters: Policy stability is critical for climate project finance. Uncertainty - especially in the world’s second-largest emitter - risks chilling investment, delaying infrastructure buildout, and undermining trust in long-term market signals.
Source: US EPA
Ones to watch 👇🏻
☢️ Europe's fusion startups gain momentum
Investor interest in fusion is heating up across Europe, with startups (e.g. First Light, Renaissance Fusion) raising capital and gaining support. German Proxima Fusion raised €130 million in largest private fusion investment round in Europe.
Why this matters: Fusion remains a moonshot…for now - but increased Europe-based investment could reshape energy infrastructure in the next decade; affordable fusion would provide virtually limitless, zero-carbon energy, slashing reliance on fossil fuels and drastically cutting global greenhouse gas emissions whilst also keeping costs low.
Source: EU Startups
🌊 Brazil and France integrate oceans into climate plans
At the UN Ocean Conference, Brazil and France introduced the "Blue NDC Challenge," urging countries to incorporate ocean-focused actions into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30 in Belém. The initiative has already garnered support from eight countries, including Australia, Fiji, and Kenya.
Why this matters: Oceans play a crucial role in regulating the global climate, and integrating ocean conservation and restoration into national climate strategies can enhance resilience and biodiversity, contributing to more comprehensive climate action.
Source: World Resources Institute
🔬 UK invests in early warning system for climate tipping points
The UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has allocated £81 million to 27 teams developing an early warning system for climate tipping points. The program aims to monitor critical thresholds such as the collapse of the Greenland ice sheet and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation using advanced technologies like drones, AI, and cosmic-ray sensors.
Why this matters: Early detection of potential climate tipping points can provide valuable time for mitigation and adaptation strategies, helping to prevent irreversible environmental changes and safeguard ecosystems and communities.
Stay sharp. Stay optimistic. The momentum is real.
Follow The Endgame for the signals that matter most in the race to decarbonise.
