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Clever.

Clever.

Clever.

ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 23-06-2026

  • 2 days ago
  • 2 min read

This week’s ESG update highlights how climate finance is moving from ambition into delivery, with new funds and partnerships targeting practical solutions across carbon removal, wildfire detection, nature restoration and industrial decarbonisation. From early-stage climate startups in Asia to satellite monitoring, carbon refineries and nature-based projects, investors and businesses are backing technologies designed to reduce emissions, build resilience and support the transition to a lower-carbon economy.



100×100 launches $100m climate startup fund.


Climate venture builder 100×100 has launched a $100 million fund aimed at creating and scaling 50 climate technology companies across India and Southeast Asia.


The fund will focus on high-emissions sectors including energy, agriculture, transport, land use, buildings, industry and supply chains. Rather than simply backing existing startups, 100×100 uses a venture-building model, working with founders from the earliest stage to identify emissions challenges, develop commercial solutions and launch new companies.



Bezos Earth Fund backs wildfire detection satellites.


The Bezos Earth Fund is committing $26 million to Earth Fire Alliance’s FireSat programme, supporting the development of a satellite constellation designed to detect wildfires before they spread.


The funding will support the launch and operation of FireSat’s first three operational satellites, with early monitoring focused on high-risk regions including the Amazon Basin. By the early 2030s, the full constellation is expected to monitor every point on Earth every 20 minutes or less.



Frontier secures $915m for permanent carbon removal.


Frontier has secured a new $915 million advance market commitment from major technology buyers including Google, Stripe, Salesforce and Anthropic to scale permanent carbon removal.


The funding will support purchases from companies developing technologies such as direct air capture, enhanced rock weathering, biomass-based removal and ocean alkalinity. The commitment builds on Frontier’s original $1 billion programme, launched in 2022, which was designed to give early-stage carbon removal companies clearer demand signals and a route to future revenue.



Australia opens first carbon refinery.


Australia has opened its first carbon refinery on Kooragang Island in New South Wales, designed to turn captured CO₂ into materials used in concrete, paper, glass and other industrial products.


The plant captures carbon dioxide from Orica’s ammonia operations and uses mineral carbonation to lock the carbon into solid materials. The demonstration facility can potentially capture up to 2,500 metric tonnes of CO₂ per year and was developed by MCI Carbon, which is already planning a larger factory-scale carbon refinery in Austria.



Danone and Mars back €150m nature fund.


Danone and Mars are among the backers of a new nature-based solutions fund launched by Livelihoods, targeting a total raise of €150 million.


The Livelihoods Carbon Fund 4 will support community-led projects including agroforestry, mangrove restoration, regenerative agriculture and rural energy. The fund aims to sequester or avoid between 7 million and 10 million tonnes of CO₂ over 25 years, while improving living conditions for around 500,000 people.



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