Plastic-Free Month & Recycling Education: Durban’s eThekwini Waste Collection and teachers’ union Naptosa are turning recycling into a lifelong habit, with 12 schools already collecting 21+ tonnes of recyclables. Smart Waste Tech: Bahrain is studying smart reverse vending machines that pay residents instantly for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, with local pilots needed. EU Plastic Enforcement: Germany’s DUH says banned single-use plastic items are still being sold online, calling it a “political failure” and urging tougher enforcement. Clean Cooking in Nigeria: The federal government launched Phase II work to scale e-cooking, aiming to move from policy to implementation via the National E-Cooking Steering Committee. Climate Finance Boost: The Green Climate Fund will free nearly $6bn more by loosening reserve rules, as donors’ pledges lag. AI’s Climate Cost: Google and Amazon report big emissions jumps tied to AI data-centre buildouts, raising concerns about missed neutrality goals. Energy Transition Tensions: Business leaders warn of a “disorderly climate transition” as costs rise and policy shifts get abrupt. Oil & Pipelines: Canada’s Carney secured a deal with B.C. for a major Alberta-to-Pacific pipeline, while activists push back on environmental and community impacts. Climate Risk & Adaptation: Tanzania ordered climate-proof sanitation infrastructure, warning waste dumping into drains worsens floods and pollution. Heat & Extremes: The WMO warns El Niño is likely to strengthen quickly, increasing odds of extreme weather. Blue Carbon & Oceans: Sri Lanka urged Asia-Pacific cooperation on blue carbon financing, highlighting mangroves and seagrass as fast carbon stores.