Sustainability Weekly 27-31 October 2025

Last week, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change published its synthesis report on 64 new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), covering 30% of global emissions in 2019. The report acknowledges some progress but warns of the need to accelerate the pace of emissions reductions. The Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative announced it has reduced the requirements for its signatories in its updated commitment statement. The FAIRR initiative published an analysis of approaches to developing plant-based food offerings in the food and retail sectors, highlighting transition risks and missed opportunities. The European Parliament adopted the EU Soil Health Monitoring Act. The President of the European Commission stated that the European Union is ready to use all instruments provided for under EU law to address recent Chinese restrictions on the export of rare earth elements and battery materials. On the social front, we revisit the job cuts justified by the implementation of artificial intelligence solutions. Philips received a letter from the FDA warning that three of its device manufacturing plants in the United States and the Netherlands did not comply with manufacturing standards. The French Institute of Directors (IFA) noted a widespread adoption of climate-related criteria in the compensation of CEOs of SBF120 companies.