• Ahead of the forthcoming UN climate summit, Germany reported its highest-ever international climate financing commitments, positioning itself to lead seven countries on the issue of "loss and damage" funding for developing countries adversely impacted by global warming.
• On Thursday, the Federal Ministry for Economic Development committed to an increase in funding through a G7-backed financial agreement between Germany and the V20 group of vulnerable nations.
• Despite the European energy crisis that has hit Germany hard and prompted an extension of the use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy, the country has vowed to demonstrate that it will keep to its climate goals after taking over the G7 presidency this year.
• Germany's agreement with the V20 group, dubbed the Global Shield, akin to an insurance fund, is distinct from longstanding calls by the world's poorest countries for compensation for the effects of greenhouse gas emissions by the rich through a global loss and damage financing facility. According to Jennifer Morgan, Germany's climate envoy, the Global Shield plan was tailored to provide a quick financial response after disasters, to allow assistance "on the ground immediately."

• On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced it was awarding $2.8 billion in grants to boost U.S. production of electric vehicle batteries and the minerals used to build them as part of a bid to wean the country off supplies from China.
• The grants, which are going to projects across at least 12 states, mark the latest push by the Biden administration to help reduce the country's dependence on China and other nations for the building blocks of the green energy revolution.
• By 2030, Biden aims to have 50% of all new vehicles sold in the United States be electric or plug-in hybrid electric models, along with 500,000 new EV charging stations.
• However, the Biden administration has not endorsed the phasing out of new gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2030, noting that the United States and its allies do not produce enough of the critical minerals and materials used in EV batteries.

• The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to propose a primary drinking water standard for two types of "forever" chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, agency officials announced at the Water Environment Federation (WEF) annual conference.
• The standard would also require monitoring public water supplies as part of the EPA's overall strategy for addressing the prevalence of PFAS in drinking water sources, wastewater, and biosolids.
• The EPA expects to have the proposal completed by the end of the year and hopes to finalize the standard sometime in 2023.
• Additionally, EPA plans to significantly expand monitoring for PFAS in drinking water systems between 2023 and 2025, including, for the first time, small water utilities that previously were exempt. "We're looking forward to initiating that effort and getting more information on PFAS in drinking water," Guilaran said.

• This fall, New York voters will consider a $4.2 billion bond act, which was previously approved by the New York legislature but requires voter approval of bonds to fund its programs.
• The Act aims to provide funding for clean energy, resilience, wastewater treatment, and other green projects to shore up the state's infrastructure and curtail the impacts of climate change.
• The measure's $4.2 billion for capital projects includes up to $1.5 billion for "climate change mitigation;" at least $1.1 billion for restoration and flood-risk reduction; up to $650 million for land conservation and recreation; and at least $650 million for "water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure," according to a New York State Board of Elections summary.
• Proposition One, also known as the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, is the first state environmental bond measure since 1996 and represents its largest environmental investment to date.

GEG Capital Ltd (GEG Capital), a Scotland-based investment company with a diverse portfolio of businesses focused on the renewables, utilities & infrastructure, oil & gas, nuclear, marine & logistics, recruitment and construction markets, has acquired a majority stake in Mabbett & Associates Ltd (Mabbett Ltd), a United Kingdom-based consulting and engineering firm offering Planning, Design, Environmental, Engineering and Safety services and European affiliate of Massachusetts-based Mabbett & Associates, Inc. (Mabbett & Associates). Arthur N. Mabbett, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mabbett & Associates, commented, "The sale and transfer of all my stock in Mabbett Ltd to GEG Capital Midco Ltd (now GEG Capital Ltd) and GEG Capital Ltd (now GEG Capital Investments Ltd) will help enable the firm to continue its growth and expansion throughout the United Kingdom. The GEG companies bring significant depth and assets to Mabbett Ltd, and this will help Mabbett Ltd in its acquisition plans and further geographic expansion."