Category: Energy and Power

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has reduced the retail price of furnace oil by Tk4.44 per liter while keeping the prices of diesel and kerosene unchanged for July.

According to a BERC notifi cation issued on 30 June, the retail price of furnace oil has been lowered to Tk109.10 per liter from Tk113.54 per liter.

The revised price will come into effect from 12pm today, the notifi cation reads.

BERC last revised fuel prices on 18 May, when it set the retail price of furnace oil at Tk113.54 per liter.

C limate – related litigation continues to expand worldwide, with courts increasingly treating climate action as a legal obligation rather than a political choice, according to the ‘Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation: 2026 Snapshot’ released by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change.

The report shows that 249 new climate cases were fi led globally in 2025, bringing the total number of climate lawsuits since 1986 to more than 3,600 across 62 countries.

The United States remains the most active jurisdiction, accounting for 151 new cases in 2025 and more than 2,000 cases overall.

The study notes that international courts, including the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), have reinforced the view that governments have legal responsibilities to address climate change.

The Ministry of Industries, in collaboration with GIZ Bangladesh, has launched a stakeholder consultation to formulate the Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Development Policy 2026, aiming to establish a comprehensive roadmap for the country’s fast-growing electric mobility sector.

The consultation workshop, held at a hotel in Dhaka recently, focused on developing a supportive industrial and regulatory framework to help Bangladesh achieve its target of ensuring that 30 percent of all transport vehicles are electric by 2030.

The workshop was chaired by Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, according to a press release issued by GIZ Bangladesh.

Addressing the event, Khan said Bangladesh must act now to secure its place in the global EV value chain.

‘If we fail to prepare adequately today, we risk missing not only a promising industrial opportunity but also falling behind in the global value chain,’ he said.

‘Our goal is not merely to import electric vehicles, but to establish Bangladesh as an EV manufacturing nation.’

Bangladesh has called for stronger regional cooperation and increased blue carbon fi nancing to protect vulnerable coastal communities, strengthen climate resilience and support sustainable economic growth in delta regions.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo made the call while addressing the international session titled ‘Accelerating Integrated Climate Action in Asia and the Pacifi c: Regional Cooperation for Blue Carbon Finance,’ jointly organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacifi c (ESCAP) and the Landscape Alliance at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok recently.

In his keynote address, the minister urged the international community to recognise blue carbon ecosystems as vital climate, community and development assets, stressing that mangrove forests and coastal wetlands are critical national infrastructure for climate resilience in Bangladesh.

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has surpassed 20,000 megawatts of renewable power generation capacity.

The company, which has achieved this milestone in India’s energy sector, reached this capacity within just a decade of commissioning its fi rst project.

Powering over 9 million households, the company currently generates more than 52 billion units of electricity annually, which is nearly 3 percent of India’s total electricity consumption.

This amount of electricity could meet the demand of New York City for an entire year, or almost fully cover the combined electricity demand of Mumbai and New Delhi.

According to data as of May 31 this year, this generation capacity represents about 14 percent of India’s utility-scale solar installations and around 12 percent of the combined capacity of solar and wind power.

AGEL’s current generation capacity includes approximately 14,200 megawatts of solar power, 2,700 megawatts of wind power, and 3,300 megawatts of hybrid power.

In the 2025-26 fi scal year alone, the company added 5,051 megawatts of new capacity, the highest single-year addition by any company outside China.

India may need an additional 17.7 terawatthours (TWh) of fossil fuel-based electricity generation between July 2026 and June 2027 as the anticipated El Niño weather pattern drives up electricity demand while reducing wind and hydropower output, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The report projects that hotter temperatures associated with El Niño will signifi cantly increase electricity consumption for air conditioning, while weaker winds and lower rainfall are expected to reduce renewable power generation.

Additional cooling demand alone could reach 10 TWh over the one-year period.

CREA estimates that meeting the resulting electricity shortfall through coal-fi red generation could add about 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions.

In a more severe El Niño scenario, additional coalbased generation could rise to 24 TWh.

The ‘COP31 Business Forum Turkish Business Community Consultation Meeting’ was held in Ankara recently, chaired by COP31 President-Designate and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, alongside the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Trkiye (TOBB), M.

Rifat Hisarciklioglu.

Highlighting landmark projects such as the domestic automobile and the Zero Waste Movement at the forum- organized by TOBB, which has been designated the ‘COP31 Private Sector Envoy’-Minister Kurum called for deep cooperation from sector representatives throughout the COP31 cycle.

‘Let us broadcast this vision to the entire world and collectively revitalize Trkiye’s success stories,’ Kurum urged.

‘In the run-up to COP31, let us work together to outline the green transition commitments, best practice models, and the necessary fi nancial and policy instruments required by the Turkish private sector-the crown jewel of our economy.

In the run-up to COP31, let us deliver a collaborative framework that makes the tangible contributions of our private sector visible, establishes Trkiye as a global brand in this fi eld through its participation, workflows, and overarching vision, and reflects the stance, attitude, and vision of our business community.’ Emphasizing that the ministry will work hand-in-hand with the business community throughout the COP31 process, Minister Kurum stated: ‘Today, we are elevating our strong cooperation to an entirely new level as we roll up our sleeves to leave the private sector’s stamp on COP31.

Throughout this process, TOBB will drive broad participation by defi ning the priorities of our business community and establishing a robust national stakeholder base.’ Minister Kurum outlined Trkiye’s COP31 vision to business leaders, which is built on the paradigm of the ‘COP of the Future: COP of Implementation.’ Addressing the green transition in the industrial sector, Minister Kurum stated: ‘In today’s world, global trade rules that have been shaped since the Industrial Revolution are being rewritten around the axis of the ‘Green Transition.’ The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is becoming a prerequisite for our exports, market share, and global competitiveness.

Stressing that the COP31 process represents a major opportunity for all stakeholders, Minister Kurum said: ‘COP31 must not be viewed merely as a bureaucratic exercise run by governments.

Instead, you must see it as a climate and development mobilization with our business community leading the charge.’ Minister Kurum concluded his address with a call to the business delegates: ‘Let us broadcast this vision to the entire world and collectively revitalize Trkiye’s success stories.

In the run-up to COP31, let us work together to outline the green transition commitments, best practice models, and the necessary fi nancial and policy instruments required by the Turkish private sector- the crown jewel of our economy.’ In his opening remarks, TOBB President Rifat Hisarciklioglu noted that under Minister Kurum’s directive, TOBB has been tasked as the ‘COP31 Private Sector Envoy’ to coordinate the global business community.

Underscoring that Trkiye aims to lead the way in the green transition, Hisarciklioglu said: ‘The climate struggle is no longer purely an environmental issue; it is the industrial and competitive arena of the 21st century.

Whoever dictates the factories, supply chains, and technology standards of the green transition will command the industrial hierarchy of this century.

Speaking at the forum, the Director of Climate Change, Prof.

Halil Hasar, addressed technical inquiries from delegates regarding verifi cation and reporting frameworks.

The forum was widely attended by business executives, representatives of non-governmental organization, presidents of various chambers and commodity exchanges, and numerous invited guests

Ten residents of Indonesia’s Bali island have fi led the region’s fi rst climate lawsuit, accusing the government of failing to prevent climaterelated disasters and calling for an immediate moratorium on new fossil fuel projects.

Filed in the Denpasar District Court, the lawsuit links the devastating floods of September 2025-which killed 18 people, affected more than 6,000 households and caused an estimated US$1.6 million in economic losses-to years of climate inaction, environmental mismanagement and poor land-use planning.

The plaintiffs, backed by the PULIHKAN Bali Coalition and 350.org Indonesia, argue that Bali’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions is undermined by continued plans to expand fossil fuel infrastructure.

They are seeking a freeze on new fossil fuel developments and stronger policies to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

The case names 14 state institutions, including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, alleging violations of citizens’ constitutional rights to a healthy environment, personal safety and protection from climate-related disasters.

All fi ve units of the Karnaphuli Hydroelectric Power Station in Kaptai have resumed operation following a rise in the water level of the Kaptai Lake due to several days of heavy rainfall.

The fi ve units have been operating simultaneously, producing a total of 144 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

Confi rming the development, plant Manager Engineer Mahmood Hasan said continuous rainfall and increased rush from upstream signifi cantly raised the water level of the Kaptai Lake, enabling the authorities to operate all fi ve units.

Of the total output, Units 1 and 2 are each generating 32 MW, Unit 3 is producing 30 MW, while Units 4 and 5 are each generating 25 MW, bringing total production to 144 MW.

The plant has an installed generation capacity of 230 MW.

Anew Japan Climate Fund has been launched to support communityled agrivoltaic projects aimed at strengthening climate resilience, promoting renewable energy and improving the livelihoods of farming communities across Japan.

The fund, established under the Public Resource Foundation, begins operations with an initial contribution of ¥20 million (approximately US$130,000) from the Singapore-based Tara Climate Foundation, which supports clean energy transition initiatives across Asia.

The inaugural funding program, titled ‘Solar Sharing Grant Program: Connecting Agriculture and the Future,’ offi cially opened applications on July 6.

The initiative seeks to promote agrivoltaics-also known as solar sharing-a system that allows agricultural land to be used simultaneously for crop production and solar power generation.

The approach is expected to provide farmers with more stable incomes while contributing to Japan’s renewable energy expansion and climate goals.

According to the organizers, farming communities across Japan are increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate change through declining yields, unpredictable weather patterns and growing fi nancial uncertainty.

The new fund aims to strengthen locally driven solutions that combine sustainable agriculture with clean energy development.

Sachiko Kishimoto, Co-founder and Chief Operating Offi cer of the Public Resource Foundation, said the fund is designed to support climate solutions developed by local communities.

She noted that agrivoltaic projects can create signifi cant benefi ts when designed around farmers’ needs, helping strengthen rural economies while advancing Japan’s clean energy transition.

The Japan Climate Fund is intended to serve as a catalytic fi nancing mechanism, with its founders inviting additional philanthropic organizations and donors across Asia to contribute and expand the program in the coming years.

Junichi Sato, Program Director for East Asia at Tara Climate Foundation, said community-based initiatives are essential for achieving an inclusive energy transition.

He expressed hope that the fund would help Japanese organizations and local communities develop agrivoltaic projects that deliver lasting environmental and economic benefi ts for farmers.

Under its fi rst grant program, the fund will support initiatives that improve farmers’ resilience to climate change, strengthen regional agricultural economies and expand the use of renewable energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Eligible projects include developing partnerships among local governments, businesses and farming communities; providing technical assistance and training for farmers interested in agrivoltaic systems; documenting successful projects for wider dissemination; creating local renewable electricity markets; and preparing environmental and community-based guidelines for agrivoltaic development.

Project proposals must demonstrate both climate adaptation benefi ts for farming communities and measurable contributions to greenhouse gas emission reductions through renewable energy deployment.

Applications will be evaluated by an independent panel of experts based on technical merit, community impact and alignment with the program’s climate and sustainable development objectives.

The launch of the Japan Climate Fund reflects growing efforts across Asia to promote innovative fi nancing mechanisms that integrate climate resilience, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy development through locally led initiatives.