December 30, 2025

Blockbuster year December 30, 2025 admin Green Assets Attract Record Inflows as AI Fuels Global Power Demand Investors are pouring money into climate-friendly assets this year, defying policy and regulatory rollbacks in the US and Europe, as artificial intelligence drives a surge in demand for energy infrastructure. Global issuance of green bonds and loans has reached a record $947 billion so far this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. The inflows come as renewable-energy stock indexes head for their first annual gains since 2020, outperforming the S&P 500 by a wide margin, while shares of power-grid and energy-infrastructure companies remain firmly in favor. The resilience of green investment is striking given the political backdrop. US President Donald Trump has openly backed fossil fuels while dismantling clean-energy subsidies and climate legislation. In Europe, governments have softened some of the region’s most stringent environmental rules amid concerns over economic growth and competitiveness. Despite those headwinds, investors are responding to clearer long-term policy signals and a structural rise in electricity demand. Global power consumption is expected to increase by nearly 4%, driven by AI data centers, rising cooling needs and broader electrification across industries. “Green investments are increasingly viewed as core infrastructure and industrial opportunities rather than niche ESG trades,” said Melissa Cheok, associate director of ESG investment research at Sustainable Fitch. Capital is gravitating toward assets with “clear revenue visibility, policy support and structural demand,” including grid upgrades and renewables tied to electrification, she said. Asia-Pacific has emerged as a major driver of issuance. Companies and government-linked entities in the region raised $261 billion through green debt, about 20% more than a year earlier, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. China led the surge with a record $138 billion in green bond sales, largely from its largest state-owned lenders, and launched its first sovereign green bond in London earlier this year. India has also stepped up support for renewable-energy deployment. Borrowers are benefiting from the so-called greenium, the lower financing costs associated with green bonds. The pricing advantage is most pronounced in Asia-Pacific, where some issuers secured discounts of more than 14 basis points in November, according to BloombergNEF. Proceeds are typically used to fund renewable power, grid expansion and lower-carbon transportation. BNP Paribas SA and Credit Agricole SA rank as the top global underwriters of green bonds this year, Bloomberg data show. Outstanding green bonds have expanded at a 30% compound annual growth rate over the past five years and now represent about 4.3% of total global bond issuance, according to LSE Group researchers. Lower US interest rates and refinancing needs could further accelerate the market. Global green bond issuance may climb to as much as $1.6 trillion next year, said Crystal Geng, ESG research lead for Asia at BNP Paribas Asset Management. Equity markets are reflecting the shift. Clean-energy indexes tracked by S&P Dow Jones Indices and WilderShares have surged 45% and 60% this year, respectively, though both remain below their peaks reached in 2021. Recommended Article Blockbuster year Another log on the fire Hybrids pick up speed It’s not all bad news Under New Ownership New front in the war on wind Blown away What the end of the F-150 means walking away from coal The Rising Global Energy Demand

Another log on the fire December 30, 2025 admin As Wood-Burning Stoves Boom in London, Clean Cozy Living Faces a Pollution Reckoning On cold winter nights in London’s wealthier neighborhoods, the scent of wood smoke has become almost as familiar as the glow of holiday lights. The bittersweet aroma drifts from wood-burning stoves — once a niche upgrade, now a hallmark of middle-class aspiration. Sleek, compact and neatly fitted into prewar fireplaces, the appliances have surged in popularity among affluent homeowners. Between 2009 and 2024, the number of wood-burning stoves installed in single-family homes in the UK rose by more than 25%, according to industry estimates. For years, the appeal seemed straightforward. Compared with open fireplaces, modern stoves burn more efficiently, produce visible flames behind glass panels, and promise a sense of rustic comfort in an increasingly uncertain world. When fueled with sustainably sourced wood, they are often marketed as carbon neutral — a rare blend of indulgence and environmental virtue. That narrative is now under strain. London authorities are weighing tougher standards for new stoves as part of efforts to curb air pollution, while environmental campaigners have begun warning that wood burners release fine particulate matter into the capital’s already polluted winter air. Some of those particles, including PM2.5, are linked to respiratory illnesses and may carry carcinogenic risks. The shift has caught many stove owners off guard. Appliances once seen as a double win — boosting home appeal while cutting carbon footprints — are increasingly grouped with far less palatable sources of pollution, from private jets to coal-fired power plants. The backlash reflects a broader tension in climate-conscious urban living. Wood burners rose alongside a growing appetite for “cozy domesticity,” particularly during years marked by pandemics, energy shocks and geopolitical turmoil. “Wood burners are one of those aspirational middle-class things now,” said Tabitha Tew, a director at north London fireplace retailer Amazing Grates. “It’s like limiting red meat or owning a low-shedding dog — a lifestyle signal as much as a practical choice.” Technically, modern stoves comply with London’s long-standing smoke control regulations, introduced decades after the city banned coal burning. Their higher combustion efficiency keeps emissions within legal limits. What early adopters underestimated, however, is that legal does not necessarily mean harmless. Wood burners still emit fine particles that can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions. The challenge for policymakers is compounded by a lack of definitive epidemiological evidence directly linking stove use to health outcomes — partly because stove owners tend to be wealthier and healthier than the general population. “In the UK, people who burn wood are often more affluent, which makes it difficult to isolate the health effects of wood smoke,” said Laura Horsfall, a principal research fellow at University College London’s Institute of Health Informatics. The debate has left London caught between competing priorities: preserving personal comfort and lifestyle choices while addressing chronic air-quality problems that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. As governments tighten pollution targets and rethink what qualifies as “green,” wood-burning stoves are emerging as an uncomfortable case study. In an era of climate anxiety, even the simplest pleasures — warmth, firelight, a sense of home — are being reassessed for their hidden costs. Recommended Article Another log on the fire Hybrids pick up speed It’s not all bad news Under New Ownership New front in the war on wind Blown away What the end of the F-150 means walking away from coal The Rising Global Energy Demand

Hybrids pick up speed December 30, 2025 admin As EV Sales Stall in the US, Hybrids Emerge as the Market’s New Sweet Spot Like many car dealers across the US, Scott Kunes was caught off guard by the rapid rise of electric vehicles. In the third quarter, EVs were selling “like ice cream on the beach,” he said. But after federal purchase incentives expired at the end of September, demand cooled sharply across the roughly 50 Midwest dealerships operated by his company, which sells about 20 brands ranging from Mitsubishi to Mercedes-Benz. That slowdown didn’t translate into a return to gas-guzzlers. Instead, buyers pivoted toward hybrids — a shift playing out nationwide. While fully electric cars and trucks accounted for about 10% of total US auto sales in the third quarter, another 15% of transactions involved hybrid vehicles. The US EV market is losing momentum, but analysts expect hybrid sales to keep climbing. CarGurus Inc., a digital listing platform covering most of the US auto market, forecasts that nearly one in six new vehicles sold next year will be a hybrid, as automakers greenlight more models using the technology. While hybrids still rely on gasoline, they are quietly reshaping emissions trends and smoothing the transition toward fully electric transportation. With the Trump administration eliminating federal EV purchase incentives of up to $7,500, electric vehicle sales are expected to drop as much as 30% in the fourth quarter and remain largely flat through much of next year. Cost-conscious Americans increasingly view hybrids as a pragmatic way to cut fuel expenses and emissions without the higher upfront prices or charging concerns associated with EVs. “They offer a bit of everything to consumers,” said Peter Nagle, associate director of demand forecasting for the Americas at S&P Global Mobility. Demand is likely to keep rising, he added, with hybrids proving particularly appealing in rural areas and in Republican-leaning states. CarGurus has dubbed hybrids the success story of 2025. The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is the best-selling vehicle in the US this year, spending less than 14 days on average on dealer lots. Of the roughly 390 vehicle models available in the US, about 87 now come with hybrid powertrains — nearly 50% more options than drivers had five years ago, according to Edmunds.com. Even as automakers struggle to make EVs profitable, analysts say investments in batteries and electric motors are paying off by improving hybrid offerings. “We’ve invested heavily in EV and battery technology, and we need to find the best way to leverage it,” Kunes said. “There’s a strong case that hybrids could become the dominant powertrain in the market — and that shift could happen sooner than people expect.” Ford Motor Co. this month said it would halt production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning and repurpose its assembly line to build a new long-range hybrid pickup, in part because of its substantial investment in battery capacity. By 2030, Ford expects half of its global sales to come from vehicles that are fully or partially electric. Toyota Motor Corp. is already at that level, driven largely by strong demand for hybrid versions of the RAV4. Honda Motor Co. is moving in the same direction, anchoring its business around hybrids at least through 2030. In the long run, hybrids may prove nearly as effective as federal incentives in nudging consumers toward fully electric vehicles. About one-third of hybrid owners switch to EVs when replacing their next car. In September, roughly 57% of car buyers said they were considering a fully electric vehicle, according to JD Power. Among hybrid households, that figure climbed to nearly 70%. Recommended Article Hybrids pick up speed It’s not all bad news Under New Ownership New front in the war on wind Blown away What the end of the F-150 means walking away from coal The Rising Global Energy Demand