AMR (anti-microbial resistance) is a world health issue. Many believe there cannot be too much investment in and coordination globally on this issue. Standards and regulation – across the use by humans and animals of antibiotics and antifungals – are one thing; but are they the only way forward?
The World Bank has approved a $200m concessional credit to support Uzbekistan in modernising its irrigation and drainage infrastructure and improving the quality of irrigation service delivery. The project aims to reduce water losses and increase the energy efficiency of irrigation systems across five regions of the country. The Government of Uzbekistan will provide $23.2m in co-financing.
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) Australia, a developer of sustainable energy solutions, and the Canadian infrastructure fund OMERS have announced the commissioning of the Lauriston Solar Farm, in partnership with Genesis Energy.
The Great British Energy Bill has received legislative consent from all three devolved governments. This will allow Great British Energy to operate more effectively in each devolved nation. Great British Energy will invest in clean power projects across the UK as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change to become a clean energy superpower.
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a $350m grant from the International Development Association to support Malawi’s Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project (MHSP), a large infrastructure operation aiming to transform the country’s energy landscape and its economic development trajectory.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is making a $30m loan available to Obelisk Solar Power, a project company owned by Scatec ASA. The financing facility will finance a new 1GWac solar plant in Egypt with 200MWh of battery storage. It is expected that the project will reduce CO2 emissions by 1.3m tonnes per year.
It is estimated that the private sector requires $1.2tr worth of annual investment in direct and nature-adjacent projects to halt and reverse nature loss, says the World Economic Forum. However, the majority of financial institutions still find that data availability and quality are barriers to allocating capital to nature.
The UK Government has launched plans to strengthen voluntary carbon and nature markets which can help leverage the finance needed to address climate action while diversifying revenue streams.