Mundus Nordic Green News – 18 March, 2021

Nordic governments struggling to live up to their climate ambition

Last week the UN Environment Program released the results of a global study, which asked "Are we on track for a green recovery?” Unfortunately the answer was “Not yet”. In our latest blog we look at how Nordic promises of climate action stack up against reality. Not that well remains the answer. (Mundus blog, UNEP)

PostNord to be fossil free within 10 years

PostNord, the Swedish and Danish state-owned postal service, has reached its climate target for 2020, having reduced its climate footprint by 40% compared with 2009. The next goal is fossil freedom by 2030. Achieving this will require innovations in several areas, everything from efficient logistics and e-commerce to increased electrification and secured access to biofuels in all markets. (Åkeri Tidning)

Finnish start-up plans to build low-carbon hydrogen pilot plant

Finland’s Hydrogenius has developed a method to produce low-carbon hydrogen via a thermocatalytic process generating pure hydrogen from natural gas or biogas by removing the carbon, leaving hydrogen. The carbon can also be used as a raw material in the battery and electronics industries, 

The Kokkola company is now moving from a laboratory to testing the technology in practice. The pilot plant will be built in the Kokkola large-scale industrial area. Hydrogenius expects that it will take 2-3 years before the company’s technology is ready for industrial use. (YLE)

Norwegian innovation center for sustainable aviation established

Norway's Climate Plan 2021-2030 states that the government will facilitate that Norway becomes an arena for testing and development of zero- and low-emission aircraft. Now, Luftfartstilsynet, Avinor, Norsk Industri and SINTEF will join forces to establish an innovation and test centre to promote the development of sustainable aviation, and thereby reduce emissions from Norwegian aviation and contribute to creating new Norwegian jobs. The centre will offer an ecosystem where infrastructure, energy carriers, dedicated airspace and a regulatory test regime are in place, facilitating commercial players who are in different phases of aircraft development and aircraft-related technology. This ecosystem will be an arena where national and international professional expertise is linked.  (SINTEF)

WeDontHaveTime.org closes oversubscribed financing round

WeDontHaveTime.org “the world’s largest social network for climate action” has raised $3.3 million USD (27.8 million SEK) in its Pre-Series A funding.

Since its inception three years ago in Sweden, WeDontHaveTime AB has become the world’s largest social network focused on climate change. Via its self-developed social networking and review platform, the network provides unique features to host a climate dialogue between organizations, businesses, and stakeholders. We Don’t Have Time has a monthly social media reach of over 25 million.

Among its subscribing partners are companies and organizations like Ericsson, UNDP, and the Nordic Council. Participants in the financial round included some of the world’s top investors. (WeDontHaveTime)

New initiative aims to mobilise talent into climate tech

Traditionally, entrepreneurship has been reserved for those who are risk-takers, ideas people and innovators. But as the urgency for action increases, there is a greater need for the mobilisation of talent to join in and help. One Danish initiative, Massive.challenge is beginning the process of transferring talent from the old economy, to a new and more sustainable one.

The approach is scalable climate action. Rather than motivating individuals to pursue individual action, such as eating less steak or not flying, Massive wants to help dedicated people find ways that scale with the number of people who adopt it. Massive.challenge will help people form, accelerate and launch both society- and market-oriented projects "into the wild”. The initiative has been launched with the help from experienced entrepreneurs and climate experts, such as Katherine Richardson, a Professor, Oceanographer, and Member of the Danish Climate Council and Connie Hedegaard, a former EU Commisioner for Climate Action

The challenge begins with a kickoff event on March 22 and runs until June. Please spread this within your networks. (Massive.earth)

Vestas wins Polish order of 56MW

Vestas has been awarded a contract in Poland for turbines with a total capacity of 56MW. The agreement covers 16 V126 3.45MW  turbines and includes a 20-year service agreement. (Vindkraftsnyheter)

What we’re reading

• India considering net zero target (Bloomberg)
• Spain’s Vortex Bladeless one of Equinor’s “most exciting energy start-ups” (Guardian, Equinor, Vortex Bladeless)