The World Bank Group, in partnership with multilateral development banks, development finance institutions and key partners, has launched Water Forward, a global platform to help improve water security for 1bn people by 2030. The platform will align policy reforms, financing, and partnerships to expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods, essential conditions for job creation.
Features
JP Morgan addresses climate and “under-modelled” tipping points
Climate decision-making requires acting on long-term scientific signals with imperfect estimates of financial and societal impact, sometimes well before markets fully price in the risks. Leaders make strategic choices under this uncertainty, which may only become visible to the broader market years later, writes Dr Sarah Kapnick, Global Head of Climate Advisory, Commercial & Investment Bank, J.P. Morgan.
Canada’s Carney launches C$3.8bn strategy to protect nature
To protect Canada’s lands and waters, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has launched 'A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature'. With an investment of C$3.8bn, Canada’s new nature strategy will protect and restore critical habitats, ensure industrial strategies complement our conservation efforts, and mobilise new capital for nature.
Hormuz shipping disruptions raise risks for energy, fertilizers and economies
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released a rapid analysis – Strait of Hormuz disruptions: Implications for global trade and development – examining the implications of recent disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade corridors.
Europol: large-scale operation targeting waste and pollution crime
Europol has successfully coordinated a large-scale operation targeting organised crime networks involved in waste and pollution crime. The global operation, code-named ‘Custos Viridis’, took place between January and December 2025 on five continents, with Europol working alongside partners from 71 countries and numerous international organisations.
Updates
Energy
Commission acts to protect Europeans from the fossil energy crisis
AccelerateEU is the Commission's toolbox to bring immediate relief to European households and industries, especially the most vulnerable ones, while putting Europe on a steady pathway to energy independence. Since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, the EU has spent an additional €24bn on energy imports due to higher prices – without receiving any extra energy.
UK Government to reduce impact of gas prices on electricity costs
The UK Government is setting out new measures to reduce the impact that volatile gas prices have on the price of electricity. These measures will further reduce the share of electricity exposed to gas price shocks and provide generators the economic incentive to move on to fixed contracts not linked to volatile gas. This will be done by two means.
Eurostat identifies significant increase in fuel prices in March 2026
UUntil February 2026, the price of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in the EU was generally decreasing, for the EU average and for most of EU countries. However, it increased significantly in March 2026, according to Eurostat. In March 2026, the price of fuels and lubricants in the EU increased by 12.9% compared with March 2025.
MDBs work together to help build critical minerals to manufacturing value chains
The Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have issued a statement recognising the importance of working together to help build diversified, resilient and responsible critical minerals to manufacturing value chains, in order to scale up support for clean, affordable and reliable energy access, as well as the digital and economic transformation of their client countries.
First hydrogen transmission network operator on path to independence
The European Commission has issued a positive opinion in the process of certifying GAZ-SYSTEM as a hydrogen transmission network operator. The company is the first in Europe to undergo the certification procedure in this area, securing confirmation of compliance with EU regulations. This is the next big step in building a new energy market and confirms the company’s role in the energy transition taking place in the region.
The EU has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% since 1990
The European Union's greenhouse gas emissions fell a further 3% between 2023 and 2024, bringing the EU’s total emission reductions to 40% below 1990 levels, according to official EU data sent to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis. The EU greenhouse gas inventory was prepared and submitted to the UN body by the EEA on behalf of the EU on 15 April.