UNEP Warns, Global Warming Will Breach 1.5°C Within Years

UNEP warns that global warming will breach 1.5°C within years

Today, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) warned that global warming will exceed the critical 1.5°C threshold within just a few years as climate overshoot becomes increasingly unavoidable. The report cautions that intensifying heatwaves, glacier loss, and coastal flooding risks will accelerate unless nations act decisively.

While reversing this climate overshoot to below 1.5°C remains “possible but highly uncertain,” UNEP stressed that this demands aggressive mission cuts alongside large-scale carbon dioxide removal efforts. Even if the most optimistic pledges are undertaken, the warming could still peak at 1.8°C, though current policies point toward a bleaker 2.6°C by 2100.

UNEP emphasized that every year of delay compounds irreversible damage. Reforestation and carbon capture are vital tools, it noted, but cannot substitute for deep, immediate emissions reductions.

SLB acquires Kelvion for $4.1 billion to boost AI data center cooling capacity

In a move to strengthen its position in AI data center cooling, global oilfield services and energy technology firm SLB has agreed to acquire thermal management specialist Kelvion for $4.1 billion. The deal includes $3.4 billion in cash and roughly $700 million in assumed debt. It also includes SLB acquiring 100% of Kelvion from Apollo-managed funds and Triton-advised investors.

Driven by the growing AI infrastructure, Kelvion’s thermal management systems address rising energy and cooling demands. SLB CEO, Olivier Le Peuch, called the deal a step toward becoming an integrated infrastructure partner for the data center industry, more than doubling SLB’s revenue opportunity per gigawatt delivered.

Apollo, which invested in Kelvion in January 2026, expanded its workforce and data center focus during its ownership. The acquisition highlights AI investment shifting beyond chips toward physical infrastructure as a critical constraint on scaling computing capacity. The deal is expected to be completed in early 2027.

Brazil’s deforestation-free biomass push stalls as eucalyptus investment faces uncertainty

Brazil’s plan for deforestation-free biomass has been delayed as an agreement to phase out native forest wood in Mato Grosso’s corn ethanol plants is on hold. Governor Otaviano Pivetta has postponed the decree needed to enforce it, leaving eucalyptus investors uneasy.

Many ethanol mills burn native Amazon wood as fuel, which further raises concerns about illegal deforestation. Industry group Arefloresta says the delay is hurting long-term forestry investment, especially after Mato Grosso requested a legal review allowing large consumers to source up to 5% of energy from native wood.

The original goal was zero native wood consumption by 2035. Arefloresta estimates that 10 billion reais ($1.94 billion) is needed to scale eucalyptus supply for the state’s 14 existing and 10+ planned ethanol plants. This will expand the plantation area to 400,000 hectares by 2030.

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Oracle faces EU antitrust scrutiny over cloud licensing practices

As reported by a source to Reuters, Oracle’s licensing practices have come under EU antitrust scrutiny. The European Commission is gathering information from third parties. This mirrors a similar case involving German rival SAP, which was settled in July.

SAP avoided a fine of up to 10% of its global turnover by agreeing to make it easier for customers to switch providers or exit contracts. A commission spokesperson said there is no formal investigation into any company yet. Regulators will continue to monitor potential anticompetitive conduct in the sector.

At the time of this news, Oracle hadn’t yet responded to a request for comment.

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