Cold War 2.0? U.K. Fears Nuclear and Cyber Attacks from Russia

Today’s ESG Updates

• U.K. to Invest Billions in Defense Upgrades: U.K. announces significant defense spending, including 12 nuclear subs, amid rising threats from Russia.
• Pittsburgh Airport to Host First On-Site SAF Plant: Pittsburgh International partners with Avina to open first on-site sustainable aviation fuel plant in the U.S.
• China’s E-Scooters Shift to Salt Batteries: Yadea adopts sodium-ion batteries, promoting clean transportation and reducing reliance on lithium.
• Delivery Hero and Glovo Fined €329M after EU Investigation: EU issues its first no-poach sanction, fining online food delivery services.

U.K. to invest billions in new military equipment as threats from Russia increase

On Monday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the country would increase military spending amid “growing Russian aggression. ” 12 new attack submarines are the focus of the billions of pounds intended to strengthen the country’s defense system. In addition to bolstering its underwater infrastructure, the United Kingdom plans to invest in drones and around 7,000 long-range weapons manufactured in Britain. The government also intends to invest £ 1 billion (approximately $1.35 billion) in digital security and £1.5 billion in military housing. Starmer said that the biggest threats to the U.K. right now are “war in Europe, new nuclear risks, [and] daily cyberattacks.” In a world of such uncertainty, companies can mitigate risks and strengthen data security with ESG solutions. 

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Further reading: U.K. Faces Most Serious Military Threat Since Cold War, Starmer Says

First on-site SAF plant in the United States to open at Pittsburgh International Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania, USA, is partnering with Avina, a synthetic aviation fuel company. They plan to open the first on-site sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in the United States. The location south of the terminal will make it the first plant to be fully integrated with the operations of the airport, revolutionizing SAF production and distribution capabilities. U.S. engineering company KBR will play a crucial role in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as the airport and Avina intend to utilize the company’s PureSAF alcohol-to-jet technology. Carbon emissions from SAF-fueled aircraft are estimated to be 65% less than those fueled with traditional jet fuel. The carbon emissions of the airline industry are expected to be significantly reduced in Pittsburgh, as the developers of the new plant anticipate producing around 100 million gallons of SAF each year.

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Further reading: Pittsburgh airport to host first on-site SAF plant in US with Avina

Salt batteries: the scooter industry’s next big thing

Chinese electric scooter manufacturer Yadea is switching from traditional lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries to sodium-ion batteries. The main component of these batteries, sodium, can be extracted from sea salt, an element which can be found abundantly across the globe. As the country shifts to clean energy, Yadea isn’t the only electric vehicle company making the switch. A prominent lithium battery company in China, CATL, recently announced plans to produce sodium-ion batteries for cars and heavy-duty trucks at a commercial scale. While the price and energy performance of sodium-ion batteries are still being developed for larger vehicles, they are increasingly being used in the scooter sector. Zhou Chao, Yadea’s senior vice president, said that utilizing sodium-ion batteries and improving charging infrastructure throughout China would “enable hundreds of millions of people to enjoy green transport.”

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Further reading: How electric scooters are driving China’s salt battery push

Food delivery service hit with €329 million antitrust fine

Glovo, a Spanish food delivery service operating across Europe, and its larger, German counterpart, Delivery Hero, are facing €329 million ($376 million) in antitrust fines. These fines were prompted by a year-long investigation into the companies’ involvement in a cartel from 2018 to 2022, which included a no-poach agreement and illegal information sharing. This is a historic moment for the European Union, as it marks the first time the EU has imposed sanctions on no-poach deals, which are believed to limit workers’ opportunities. Both companies admitted their wrongdoing in exchange for reduced penalties. In the end, Delivery Hero’s fine totaled €223 million, while the smaller company, Glovo, received a fine of €105.7 million. Businesses can avoid antitrust and other penalties by using ESG tools. 

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Further reading: Delivery Hero, Glovo hit with $376 mln EU antitrust fine

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit:  Jonathan Cooper