This week‘s edition covers the global race to expand nuclear power, a local push to increase tire recycling, and new data on VC electrification deals. Read on for the latest progress toward net zero.

WE’RE SEEING AN UNPRECENTED GLOBAL DEMAND FOR CRITICAL MINERALS—including lithium, graphite, and rare earths—that are essential for over 200 products, from military and medical equipment to high tech electronics, cellphones, and fiber optic cables (see page 12 of GAO Report, here).

While President Donald Trump has recently made overtures to secure mineral rights in Greenland and Ukraine, which holds one third of Europe’s lithium reserves and 20 percent of global graphite reserves, his statements underscore a deeper reality: Securing critical minerals has become a strategic imperative for global superpowers.

These minerals are also key components of clean technologies, notably EV batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels. As the deployment of clean technologies continues to expand, demand for these minerals is projected to surge 500 percent by 2050. At present, China—a leader in EV innovation and production and the runaway leader in EV sales—controls 60 percent of global mining and 85 percent of global refining.

A number of technologies now on the horizon could help improve the speed and scale of mineral mining–and minimize its negative environmental impacts. Bio-mining and direct lithium extraction will help countries mine without acid runoff. AI and better satellite imaging sensors are speeding up mineral deposit discovery, while undersea mining and asteroid mining are bringing the extraction of new types of deposits closer to reality. On the demand side, improved recycling techniques and new alternative chemistries are promising ways to reduce the global appetite for these minerals.

To meet the growing need for critical minerals, the challenge is to supercharge technological advancements to extract them more efficiently and with less harm.

OKRs in the News

🚗 1.0 – Electrify Transportation

• Nikola’s Final Exit: Once touted as the “Tesla of trucks,” Nikola has filed for bankruptcy after years of financial struggles and leadership turmoil. Despite delivering 200 hydrogen-powered trucks last year, the company couldn’t overcome investor skepticism from dwindling cash reserves and a $1 billion-plus debt load (New York Times).

• EVs Take a Bite Out of Oil: Thanks to surging EV adoption, alternative fuels, and a cooling economy, China’s oil demand has stalled at eight million barrels per day—barely above 2019 levels. The IEA says that China’s oil consumption may have already peaked, with half the country’s new car sales now electric. (Bloomberg).

   💡 2.0 – Decarbonize the Grid

OKR Highlight

China is now the global leader in nuclear capacity under construction, according to a new International Energy Agency report. Within five years, the IEA projects that China will overtake the U.S. and Europe to become the world’s leader in nuclear power.

The U.S., the current nuclear power generation leader, has no reactors under construction (though a number of closed reactors are slated to re-open). But U.S. nuclear development is expected to regain momentum as it vies with China to power the rapidly growing, energy-intensive artificial intelligence industry.

The two nations are also racing to develop nuclear fusion, with China outspending the U.S. by $200-$700 million annually, underscoring the need for greater U.S. investment to stay competitive on both fronts.

Globally, more than 40 countries have concrete plans to launch or expand their nuclear fleets this year. This surge is paramount for meeting Speed & Scale’s key result 2.1: Zero Emissions, which calls for emissions-free sources to generate  90 percent of global electricity by 2035.

• Who Controls Your Utility Bill?: As AI data centers and electrification drive surging power demand, public utility commissions (PUCs) will play a critical role in shaping the energy future of the U.S. On Heatmap’s Shift Key podcast, PowerLines founder Charles Hua warns that without stronger oversight, states doubling down on fossil fuels risk saddling consumers with rising bills and volatile gas prices (Shift Key).

• Natural Gas on a Hot Streak: As cold weather boosted demand and eroded last year’s supply glut, natural gas futures soared 39 percent in February. Prices are now up 164 percent year-over-year, raising costs for grids reliant on natural gas (Wall Street Journal).

🐄 3.0 – Fix Food

• Fake It Till You Make It Healthy: Fake-meat products from Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have less saturated fat and more fiber than traditional red meat, but they also come with significantly higher sodium levels. While early studies suggest potential health benefits to these beef alternatives, experts say that beans, lentils, and other whole plant proteins remain the healthiest choices (New York Times).

• Better Burgers, Fewer Burps: Grill’d’s Gamechanger burger reduces methane emissions by up to 67 percent by feeding cows Asparagopsis, a Tasmanian seaweed that curbs production of this potent greenhouse gas (Grilld).

🌳 4.0 – Protect Nature

• Green, But Not Guaranteed: At a UN biodiversity conference in Rome, more than 140 countries agreed to raise $200 billion annually by 2030 but postponed adoption of a new global nature fund to 2028. While the strategy emphasizes innovative financing and private sector involvement, some developing nations argue that it lacks immediate support for urgent conservation efforts (Bloomberg).

• California’s Call for Recovery: In a letter to Congressional leaders, California Governor Gavin Newsom asked for $40 billion in federal aid for wildfire recovery. The letter emphasized the fires’ widespread devastation and long-term economic impact, and urged immediate support for housing, business relief, and public assistance (CNN).

🧱 5.0 – Clean Up Industry

• Trash Travels First Class: After two years of global investigation, Alexander Clapp reports on how Western nations mask waste exports as recycling and shift environmental harm to poorer countries. Discarded plastics, electronics, and industrial waste travel thousands of miles, often ending up in unregulated dumps or makeshift recycling operations (New York Times).

• Mining the Final Frontier: The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the rapid progress of space mining, a stark contrast to the regulatory challenges that hinder domestic mining. Discussions focused on U.S. mineral dependence, permitting reform, and space mining’s potential to bolster supply chains and national security (House Committee on Natural Resources).

🧹 6.0 – Remove Carbon

• Now Boarding – Carbon Capture: United Airlines is investing in direct air capture startup Heirloom, securing rights to 500,000 tons of CO2 for sequestration or cleaner jet fuel. As aviation emissions grow, the deal marks United’s first DAC investment under its Sustainable Flight Fund, which supports scalable carbon removal solutions (Axios).

• Rethinking Carbon Removal: Defining just what qualifies as carbon dioxide removal (CDR) remains a challenge, as many approaches store carbon without directly removing it from the atmosphere. Experts propose evaluating CDR investments based on their contribution to a net-zero future, their ability to become net-negative, their quantifiability, and their potential for innovation (Carbon Plan).

🏛️ 7.0 – Win Politics And Policy

• India’s $1B Solar Shield: India is finalizing a $1 billion subsidy to boost domestic solar manufacturing and cut reliance on Chinese imports. Targeting the silicon wafers used in solar cells and the large blocks from which wafers are cut, the plan aims to replicate India’s mobile manufacturing success while strengthening energy security (Bloomberg).

• Go with the Hydro Flow: Charles Yang, founder of the Center for Industrial Strategy, reasons that a proposed federal “hydropower czar” could streamline permitting, modernize aging dams, and expand U.S. hydropower to meet rising electricity demand. By leveraging federal control, hydropower could also boost domestic manufacturing and strengthen critical energy and defense supply chains (Utility Dive).

• Rise of Conservative Eco-Warriors: The New York Post highlighted a new wave of right-leaning environmentalists pushing for market-driven climate solutions, chiefly nuclear, carbon capture, and energy independence. While avoiding the “C” word, these groups aim to shape policy under Trump. They’re showing that sustainability isn’t just a left-wing issue (New York Post).

🏃 8.0 – Turn Movements Into Action

• Harvesting the Truth: Farmers and environmental groups are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture for deleting climate data and freezing conservation funding, actions that they say disrupt agricultural planning. The lawsuit argues that the data purge violates federal law and denies farmers critical resources to adapt to extreme weather and climate risks (New York Times).

• Reporting Rules Get a Trim: In a move to cut red tape and boost competitiveness, the EU is scaling back corporate climate reporting, exempting 80 percent of affected companies and delaying requirements by two years. Officials insist they aren’t abandoning Green Deal goals, but critics see the move as a step back from sustainability commitments (New York Times).

• BlackRock’s Exit from ESG: Facing political and legal pressure, BlackRock has exited climate coalitions, scrapped DEI targets, and halted ESG fund launches. Once a leader in sustainable investing, the $11.6 trillion asset manager is now focused on distancing itself from “woke capitalism” while maintaining strong financial results (Wall Street Journal).

  
  

💡Local progress spotlight!

Residents of Polk County, Florida, took advantage of a free tire collection event, helping to reduce waste and prevent illegal dumping. With Americans discarding approximately 280 million tires each year—about one per person in the U.S.—local initiatives provide a convenient and eco-friendly option that promotes recycling and keeps tires out of landfills.

Check out this Instagram reel from Business Insider on how one Nigerian company is recycling millions of tires to create rubber bricks!

⚡ 9.0 – Innovate!

• Ice, Ice, Battery: Once limited to commercial buildings, ice batteries are now poised to enter homes as a cheaper, longer-lasting alternative to lithium-ion storage. By freezing water when energy is cheap and using it for cooling when prices spike, they help cut costs and emissions while easing strain on the power grid (Washington Post).

• AI Eyes on Wildfires: AI-powered cameras are transforming wildfire detection, spotting blazes faster than 911 calls and enabling quicker firefighter response. Already deployed in high-risk areas, these systems’ 24/7 monitoring helps prevent disaster by alerting emergency teams before fires spread (Wall Street Journal).

• Grid Gets a Glow-Up: Venture capital investment in electrification has surged since 2018, with a sharp rise in deals across clean energy, grid modernization, and digitalization. As AI, EVs, and energy demand grow, startups developing smarter, more efficient power solutions are attracting record funding to boost grid capacity without costly expansion (Bloomberg).

💰 10.0 – Invest!

• Banking on a Green Future: The World Bank’s climate-focused funding—set to reach 45 percent of its portfolio—faces uncertainty as a second Trump administration could pull U.S. support. At risk are 18 percent of the World Bank’s budget and its AAA credit rating. To retain critical backing, President Ajay Banga is emphasizing the Bank’s gas and nuclear investments. Meanwhile, emerging economies are preparing to turn to China for funding (New York Times).

• Sustaining Sustainability: Despite a new administration in Washington that is openly skeptical of ESG, a survey found that 77 percent of CFOs plan to maintain or increase sustainability investments, with their focus shifting from ESG to business operations and stakeholder priorities. Companies that integrate sustainability into strategy are reporting higher expected revenue and profitability. CFOs increasingly view ESG risk as a significant risk management factor (ESG Today).

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