Weekly newsletter - 27th April 2020

👋 Hi there, here’s what you need to know from this past week of 27th April in under 5 minutes. 

1. 

Pivot Bio raises $100million to disrupt nitrogen market

🔎 What’s going on?

Agtech startup, Pivot Bio raises $100million series-C funding lead by Breakthrough Ventures Fund and Temasak to disrupt the nitrogen fertiliser market.

🌱 Cool, tell me more!

Over 100 years ago, two chemists, Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch invented synthetic (man-made) nitrogen fertilisers to increase crop yields. The size of the global market for synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is $65bn. Today’s industrial-scale farms would not be possible without them, however, they also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. 

Pivot has created a method to ‘reawaken and rediscover' nitrogen-fixing microbes in the soil so farmers don’t have to apply as much synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. Whilst some crops like peas, beans and soybeans naturally have a link with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Cereal crops like corn and wheat do not. First, to market, the Pivot Bio PROVEN product has sold out with corn farmers in both seasons in the US market. The funding will now enable the startup to expand into wheat crop and enter Latin America and Canada markets.❓Why should I care?

Nitrogen is essential for life on Earth. Like the carbon cycle, a nitrogen cycle exists and it describes how nitrogen moves between plants, animals, bacteria, the air (atmosphere) and soil in the ground. Bacteria helps nitrogen change states so that it can be used by different life forms in different states. For example, bacteria help convert nitrogen into ammonia (called Fixation), then bacteria again convert it into nitrates (called Nitrification) which are then absorbed by plants. 

3% of worldwide global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from the production and use of industrial nitrogen fertilizers. There are three key GHG emissions that come from agricultural crops: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Turns out, nitrous oxide is 298 times more potent than carbon dioxide and is a very important GHG emitted from field crops. 

Over time, the runoff of excess nitrogen fertiliser from farms can cause dead zones in oceans and can pollute water sources, including drinking water supplies.

🚦 Where do we need to be?

We need to drastically reduce global dependency on damaging synthetic fertiliser, whilst also continuing to increase crop yields. 

👤 What can I do about it? #theblueplanetposttips

Buy organic produce where possible - not only is it good for your health but it’s even better for the environment.

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2. 

Petersberg Climate Dialogue: a tide of hope?

🔎 What’s going on?

The eleventh Petersberg Climate Dialogue went ahead virtually this week and brought a tide of hope as ministers from over 30 countries called for a green economic recovery plan. 

🌐 So, what is the Petersberg Climate Dialogue?

It’s a conference that enables open discussions between a small group of countries on key issues relating to international climate policy. It was launched in 2010 by the Government of Germany, after the failure of the Copenhagen Climate Conference and takes place every year. It takes place over two days and the UK was a co-chair this year as president of COP26, with Germany. ✅ Okay, what was achieved at the dialogue?

Sadly, not much in concrete terms. However, world leaders have expressed their climate intentions and ambitions ahead of COP26 which believe it or not, actually counts for something. Because it brings a strong tide of hope, ahead of recovery plan announcements. 

Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel, set out a clear intention at the start of the dialogue “biodiversity and climate protection, particularly at this time of a pandemic is of supreme importance”. She went on to say that carbon pricing, renewable energy technology and achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030 were all key focuses. She also explicitly backed the EU’s plan to introduce a Green Deal, along with increasing the EU’s emissions target to 50 to 55 per cent reduction by 2030.  

The UK’s COP president, Alok Sharma outlined “two key campaigns” the UK would focus on, in the lead up to COP26: net-zero energy and transport. This would involve scaling up renewable energy, batteries, and fuel cells in road transport. ❓Why should I care?

It’s the first major climate meeting this year, involving high-level government officials as the COVID-19 crisis has continued. 

According to a study by Vivid Economics, 11% (or roughly $850million) of global COVID-19 government bailout funds have already been given to carbon-intensive companies. Mostly led by China and the United States of America. Carbon intensive companies include oil, gas, airlines companies which continue to pump out harmful emissions. This action by governments is not aligned to the Paris Agreement. 🚦Where do we need to be?The United Nations (UN) chief, Antonio Guterres presented his six-point action plan of recovery that governments should aim to follow. Here are his exact words:

1. We must deliver new jobs and businesses through a clean, green and just transition. Investments must accelerate the decarbonization of all aspects of our economy.

2. Taxpayers’ money must not be bailing out outdated, polluting, carbon-intensive industries.

3. Fiscal firepower must shift economies from grey to green…public funds should invest in the future.

4. Fossil fuel subsidies must end, and carbon must have a price and polluters must pay for their pollution.

5. The global financial system must take risks and opportunities related to climate into account when it shapes policy and infrastructure.

6. To resolve both emergencies, we must work together as an international community. Like the coronavirus, greenhouse gases respect no boundaries.

👤 What can I do about it?  #theblueplanetposttips

As a citizen, ensure all of the above policies are reflected in whichever political party you decide to vote for in the next elections, in any country.

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👂💬 What else we’ve been hearing this week...

Around the 🇬🇧 UK...

1. Britain breaks record for coal-free power generation 🇬🇧

2. 💨 Nestlé UK bags 15-year wind power purchase agreement with Ørsted

3. UK Government reveals plans to accelerate low carbon heating rollout 🔥

4. 🚌 Wrightbus reveals plans to deliver 3000 hydrogen buses

5. Wildlife spotted during the lockdown 🐦

Around the World 🌎 this week:

1. 'Historic': Carbon emissions set to plunge a record 8% in 2020, says IEA 👣

2. 🐝 'Sweet City': the Costa Rica suburb that gave citizenship to bees, plants and trees

3. Aker Solutions carbon capture approved for use 

4. 🐟 Research finds that LED light halves fish by-catch

5. The bison calf taking the first step to rewild the Canadian prairies 🐂

6. Portugal plansnew hydrogen plant in post Coronavirus future

❤️

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