Today’s ESG Updates
- China Expands Carbon Trading: China adds steel, cement, and aluminium smelting to its carbon market, covering 60% of emissions.
- Airbus Stays Committed to Hydrogen: Airbus reaffirms focus on hydrogen-powered aircraft despite delays, with new concepts and a revised roadmap.
- UBS, UniCredit, and Nomura Lose EU Case: European Court upholds €371 million in fines against the banks for antitrust violations.
- Japan Unveils Turquoise Hydrogen: Japan announces turquoise hydrogen, a clean, cost-effective energy, set for commercialization by 2026.
China forces firms to cover carbon emissions with carbon market expansion
China released plans on Wednesday to expand its carbon trading market to include steel, cement and aluminium smelting industries. The expansion will increase the trading scheme’s carbon emissions to 8 billion metric tons, 60% of its total emissions. The move will force a further 1,500 firms to cover their carbon emissions with credits. China, at the end of last year, expanded its ETS scheme to also cover these sectors, clearly accelerating its carbon ambitions. Companies can stay in the race with the use of ESG solutions.
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Further reading: China to expand carbon trading market to steel, cement and aluminium
Airbus reconfirms commitment to hydrogen at Aircraft Summit 2025
Airbus announced its continued commitment to hydrogen-powered aircraft despite its recent development delay of hydrogen aircraft to 2035. The aviation industry, specifically Airbus, has made huge leaps in sustainable technology recently with its NEO programme and SAF efforts. At this year’s Airbus Summit, the firm announced new concepts for single-aisle aircraft along with a revised ZEROe roadmap. The roadmap summarised by Head of Future Programmes Bruno Fichefeux as “Hydrogen is at the heart of our commitment to decarbonise aviation. While we’ve adjusted our roadmap, our dedication to hydrogen-powered flight is unwavering.”
Photo Credit: Airbus
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Further reading: Airbus showcases hydrogen aircraft technologies during its 2025 Airbus Summit
UBS, UniCredit, and Nomura lose court fight against EU over bond cartel decision
Following the 2021 EU executive’s decision to fine UBS, UniCredit, and Nomura a collective €371 million, the court has now overruled the three firms’ attempt to drop the fines. Judges in the first court on Wednesday found that there had been one single and continuous antitrust infringement of EU competition law due to the exchange of commercially sensitive information. Both Nomuna and UniCredit lowered their fines by €4 million but still disagreed with the EU’s findings. The banks could still fight their case to the European Union’s Court of Justice, with the banks’ spokespeople communicating potential challenges to the EU’s decision. Businesses can avoid legal pitfalls around emerging financial requirements with ESG tools.
Photo Credit: Claudio Schwarz
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Further Reading: UBS, UniCredit, Nomura lose court fight against EU bond cartel decision
Japan discovered a new source of energy with huge implications for hydrogen development
Hydrogen has the potential to be a hugely accelerative power source to break the carbon emissions barrier. Now, Japan thinks it has found the solution with a new form of hydrogen called turquoise hydrogen. It is 100% clean, long-lasting, easier and more cost-effective to produce than green and blue hydrogen. Turquoise hydrogen uses a technology called methane pyrolysis to mitigate any carbon emissions. In fact, the technology is so promising that a Japanese industrial machinery maker called Ebara has set the goal to commercialise the tech by 2026. Either way, Japan is on the road to setting itself up as a leader in clean energy, eager to move away from its nuclear and fossil fuel dependence.
Photo Credit: Hari Nandakumar
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Further reading: Japan discovers totally-new source of energy: It’s turquoise, 100% clean and infinite
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Ant Rozetsky
