On October 1, 2024, Conor Murphy, the Economy Minister of Northern Ireland, announced the formation of the Net Zero Advisory Board. This initiative aims to enhance Northern Ireland's leadership in green technology and facilitate entry into the U.S. market. The board is composed of notable members, including Moira Loughran, Kevin Devlin, Joe Kennedy III, James Applegate, Andy Marsh, Kathryn Ellis, and Rachel Sankannawar. Andy Marsh, the CEO of Plug Power, will chair the board, which is expected to play a pivotal role in driving the region's green economy forward.
Joe Kennedy III emphasized the importance of the partnership between the U.S. and Northern Ireland, highlighting the collaborative efforts needed to address climate change and promote sustainability. Rachel Sankannawar pointed out the significant potential for Northern Ireland to contribute to the global net zero transition, suggesting that the region could become a leader in green technology innovations.
In addition to the establishment of the advisory board, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Philippines has been actively working on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law. This law mandates large corporations to recover or divert a percentage of their plastic packaging footprint, starting at 20% by the end of 2023 and increasing annually until at least 80% is recovered or diverted by 2028. The DENR has received EPR programs from 745 obliged enterprises and expects more submissions as awareness grows about compliance options available to businesses.
Furthermore, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto of the Philippines is advocating for the implementation of carbon pricing instruments to hold individuals and companies accountable for their pollution. He is exploring options such as carbon taxes and emissions trading systems to incentivize behavioral change and promote sustainability. Meanwhile, businesses in the Philippines can now utilize an AI-powered tool for climate accountability called the Rapid Emissions Profile (REP), launched by NZero. This tool assists companies in understanding their carbon emissions and compliance status while providing insights for reducing financial risk.
In the corporate sector, Philip Morris International (PMI) has been recognized as a leader in sustainability, ranking first in Forbes' 2024 Net Zero Leaders list. PMI's commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040 demonstrates its proactive approach to addressing climate change-related risks and opportunities. The company's CEO, Jacek Olczak, expressed pride in this recognition, underscoring PMI's dedication to building a sustainable future.
These developments reflect a growing global emphasis on sustainability and the collaborative efforts needed to transition towards a net zero economy, both in Northern Ireland and beyond.
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