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France’s famous vineyards are vulnerable to absorbing smoke particles
Boards of directors are encouraged to anticipate a renewed focus on corporate responsibility and ethics, which would be grounded at least initially in corporate self-regulation and new governance principles, rather than in new legislation or enforcement policy shifts. The American Bar Association has defined “corporate responsibility” as referring to “behavior by corporate leaders that conforms […]
Researchers argue that certain partnerships enable the beef industry to avoid scrutinizing its role in climate change
The post How a beef industry mentorship program can shape scientific research appeared first on Corporate Knights.
Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia are also grappling with the effects of a series of prolonged heatwaves and low rainfall.
Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia are also grappling with the effects of a series of prolonged heatwaves and low rainfall.
Several councils to stop housing tenants in glass-fronted Britannia Point in London, where tenants were earlier told they could not use air conAs the fourth heatwave of the year hit the UK on Wednesday, Benice Bodah and her three teenage sons braced for more scorching temperatures inside their south-west London home. The two-bedroom flat has a built-in air-conditioning unit, but it has worked only intermittently in the almost three years since the family were placed in temporary accommodation at Britannia Point in Colliers Wood. “It has not been easy, but what can we do?” said Bodah, 48.Several councils have now agreed to stop housing families in emergency accommodation in the glass-fronted block after the Guardian revealed they had been told they couldn’t use the air-conditioning during heatwaves as it had “not been offered as an amenity” for them. The 19-storey building is owned by Criterion Capital, set up by the billionaire property magnate Asif Aziz. The temporary tenancies can last from weeks to years and are managed separately by letting agencies, including the London-based Aura Assets Management. Continue reading...
The White House seems committed to ecocide. The EU should harness the power of the single market to force it to change courseAre we understanding it yet? As Europe burns in the west, the south and the north, are we grasping the fact that our economies, food systems, political stability and even our ability to plan for the future, will all be charred in a world on fire?Paris got a taste of what is in store for us Europeans when, weeks ago, fire ripped through Fontainebleau forest, a bouldering paradise and one of the world’s first natural reserves. But the wildfires currently threatening Bordeaux and Madrid, which experts are calling the most extreme seen in Europe, are apocalyptic in comparison. In the Gironde region around Bordeaux, tens of thousands of hectares have burned, creating an unpredictable “thunderstorm of fire” as the region’s chief administrator called it. More than 200,000 people have been displaced in the largest peacetime evacuations in France’s history. Only the bravery of firefighters, dozens of whom have been injured, is keeping the fires within mere kilometres of Bordeaux and its more than a million inhabitants.Alexander Hurst writes for Guardian Europe from Paris. His memoir Generation Desperation is out now Continue reading...
The likelihood of hot, dry weather that helps wildfires spread has increased sharply in Europe in recent decades, according to a new report.
Hundreds of bases are contaminated with PFAS, which are linked to low birth weight and other risks. Politicians from both parties are demanding explanations.
Cincinnati wants to take in people fleeing climate disasters. Plus, the latest on fires in Europe.
As Europe’s climate warms, even moorlands and forests in the Cairngorms, in the Scottish Highlands, have fallen victim to rapidly spreading flames.
As increased rain makes grasslands and cornfields possible in areas that once were deserts, the world’s largest beef importer is becoming more self-reliant by expanding domestic herds.
Record heat and wildfires are devastating the continent, and scientists warn the climate crisis is getting worse.
SHANGHAI, July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) ("Daqo New Energy," the "Company" or "we"), a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry, today published its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") report.
The 2025 ESG report highlights the Company's key achievements with respect to corporate governance, innovation and R&D, employee rights protection, environmental sustainability and emission reductions, as well as social responsibility. "As we navigate this complex industrial environment, Daqo New Energy, as a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon in China, remains firmly committed to its founding vision of sustainable development. We continue to balance quality with efficiency, harnessing innovation as a driving force for growth. We view sound operations as the foundation of our business, address industry challenges with 'Daqo Commitment,' and empower the energy transition with 'Daqo Solutions,' thereby contributing meaningful green momentum to global sustainable development," said Mr. Xiang Xu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "Looking ahead, Daqo New Energy will remain steadfast in its mission, integrating ESG principles more deeply into its overarching development strategy. We will anchor our governance with higher standards, protect the ecosystem through concrete action, fuel innovation with greater momentum, and empower employees with greater care. By championing the high-quality, sustainable development of the photovoltaic industry and joining hands with global partners to build a green and low-carbon future, we strive to contribute even greater strength to the global energy transition and the sustainable development of humanity."
In the 2025 ESG report, Daqo New Energy disclosed its ESG Development Strategy, which defines its short-, medium-, and long-term sustainable development objectives:
- Short-term objective (2023-2025): Increase the proportion of clean energy used and reduce waste emission intensity per unit of output value; optimize comprehensive energy consumption per unit of product, improve product quality, and achieve a sustainable balance between quality and energy efficiency; improve the recycling rate of raw and auxiliary materials and build a resource-efficient, eco-friendly circular economy system; and leverage industrial advantages to drive innovation and upgrading, so that product, commercial, social and environmental value are mutually reinforcing.
- Medium-term objective: Achieve carbon peaking, with clean energy accounting for over 80% of total energy consumption by 2030. Notably, Inner Mongolia Daqo New Energy already exceeded this target in 2025 by achieving an 85% clean electricity ratio in its annual electricity consumption.
- Long-term objective: Achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
To read the report in full, please visit the Company's investor relations website at: https://www.dqsolar.com/ESG
About Daqo New Energy Corp.
Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) ("Daqo" or the "Company") is a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry. Founded in 2007, the Company manufactures and sells high-purity polysilicon to photovoltaic product manufacturers, who further process the polysilicon into ingots, wafers, cells, and modules for solar power solutions. The Company has a total polysilicon nameplate capacity of 305,000 metric tons and is one of the world's lowest cost producers of high-purity polysilicon.
For more information, please visit http://www.dqsolar.com/.
BEIJING, July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yiren Digital Ltd. (NYSE: YRD) ("Yiren Digital" or the "Company"), a leading company specializing in financial technology and artificial intelligence innovation across multiple industries in China and global markets, today announced the publication of its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") Report, the Company's third annual ESG report.
Covering the year ended December 31, 2025, the report provides a comprehensive overview of Yiren Digital's progress across ESG governance, responsible innovation, inclusive financial services, low-carbon operations, employee development and community engagement.
"Sustainability is increasingly embedded in how we innovate, govern our business and serve our customers," said Mr. Ning Tang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yiren Digital. "In 2025, we continued to strengthen AI governance, expand inclusive and green finance, and invest in our environment, people and communities. As we advance our 'All-in-AI' strategy, we will continue to pair technological development with responsible practices that create durable value for our customers, employees, partners and shareholders."
The report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and benchmarked against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Key Highlights from the 2025 ESG Report
Responsible AI and governance: In 2025, Yiren Digital advanced its AI model capabilities while tightening control over how those models are built and used. Its proprietary Zhiyu and Yizhi large language models completed the applicable regulatory filing process, and its MagiCube Agent Platform was upgraded to version 2.0 and expanded across six core operating areas. The Company also strengthened responsible AI controls through lifecycle model monitoring, restricted access to sensitive facial- and voice-recognition features, implemented human review in applicable risk-management scenarios, and created traceable records for AI-generated content and AI-driven decisions. Oversight sits within a newly established, three-tier ESG governance structure comprising the Board-level ESG Committee, Company management and an ESG working group. Female directors represented 28% of the Board, and business ethics training covered 100% of Board members and employees.
Inclusive and green finance: The Company maintained its focus on underserved borrowers and environmentally-conscious businesses. It facilitated RMB19.46 billion in unsecured credit loans for over 596,500 small business owners across more than 10 categories, including RMB2.70 billion in credit loans for more than 80,000 female business owners and RMB650 million for 17,400 agricultural business owners. The Company also facilitated RMB214 million in loans for 4,399 business owners in energy-efficiency-related industries and RMB41.01 million for 891 business owners in environmental protection monitoring.
Environmental and community responsibility: Beyond its core business, Yiren Digital worked to reduce its environmental footprint and widen its contribution to underserved communities. On operations, the Company's Beijing headquarters holds LEED Platinum certification, 100% of its servers, network equipment and office electronics met green environmental protection standards, and total greenhouse gas emissions fell 6% year over year, continuing a multi-year decline. On the community front, the Company's Taihua Campus rural revitalization program, run jointly with the CreditEase Foundation, has built 52 campuses across five provinces and reached more than 75,000 rural children since inception, with 85 teachers and nearly 17,500 rural students supported in 2025 alone. Also, in response to the July 2025 flooding in Beijing's Miyun District, Yiren Digital and the Beijing CreditEase Foundation contributed RMB200,000 toward emergency supplies, road repairs and home rebuilding for affected residents.
The report underscores Yiren Digital's growing contributions to responsible AI development and innovation, financial inclusion, environmental protection and social impact. The Company remains dedicated to promoting sustainability and strengthening ESG management and disclosure while advancing its AI-native strategy.
To view Yiren Digital's full 2025 ESG Report, please visit: https://ir.yiren.com/ESG-Reports.
About Yiren Digital
Yiren Digital Ltd. is a leading company specializing in financial technology and artificial intelligence innovation across multiple industries in China and global markets. The Company leverages advanced artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to enhance customer experience, optimize capital efficiency, and expand financial inclusion. Following the regulatory filing of its in-house developed Large Language Model Zhiyu, and the significant enhancement of its MagiCube Agent platform, Yiren Digital is establishing a new growth engine to accelerate its evolution into an AI-native, multi-industry operating platform extending beyond traditional financial services. For more information, please visit https://ir.yiren.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "hope," "going forward," "intend," "ought to," "plan," "project," "potential," "seek," "may," "might," "can," "could," "will," "would," "shall," "should," "is likely to" and the negative form of these words and other similar expressions. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "confident," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions, and assessments of current market and operating conditions. These statements involve inherent risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors and other risks described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no, and expressly disclaims any, obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.
SHANGHAI, July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In Shanghai, China's city with the deepest aging population, a national competition focused on silver economy innovation has just concluded. The AID Silver Economy Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, held by Shanghai Aging Industry Development Co., Ltd., drew 753 entries from 19 provinces, with 26 projects winning awards. The winning solutions offer a clear window into China's elderly care market, which is rapidly shifting from basic caregiving toward technology-driven, cross-sector integration, and consumer-grade experiences.
From automotive vision to smart reading glasses: cross-industry technology floods the elderly care track
Much of this year's winning technology originated outside elderly care. The Gold award in Entrepreneurship & Technology, a "Computer Vision-Based Health Monitoring" project, repurposed automotive imaging algorithms for contactless health surveillance. A Bronze-winning "Smart Zoom Reading Glasses" uses AI to recognize scenarios and adjust focal length, eliminating the hassle of multiple pairs. In Innovative Products, an "accessible 3-day quick-install integrated bathroom" compresses weeks of construction into 72 hours via factory modules. "Smart Guardian" uses unobtrusive sensing for privacy-safe monitoring.
From "passive retrofitting" to "active adaptation": a shift in living concepts
The Gold in Creative Design, "Home Companion," envisions living space as modular units with an AI steward that learns residents' habits. The "Rural-Friendly Elderly Housing Case" addresses affordable retrofitting for rural seniors, combining supply-chain cost control with diversified payment mechanisms—a reference for economies facing urban-rural care gaps.
2026 competition upgrade: putting older adults at the center of judging
Organizers announced the 2026 edition, jointly hosted by seven municipal bodies (civil affairs, economy, commerce, education, science, housing, and Youth League) with a RMB 300,000 prize pool. Each of the three tracks will be split into university and enterprise categories to attract young innovators.
More significantly, the judging will add an elderly user review panel and frontline institution scenario-based assessments. This means older adults will shift from being passive recipients of services to direct judges of innovation solutions.
Winning projects will receive incubation support, promotional exposure, and the opportunity to be showcased at AID 2027(International Exhibition of Senior Care, Rehabilitation Medicine and Healthcare, Shanghai). The submission deadline is December 31, 2026. For more details, please follow the official WeChat account (yinfadasai) or visit the website of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.
AID point of contact: Echo Tao
Tel: +86-21-6076-9523
E-mail: taoxintian@shaid.org.cn
WEDA, Indonesia, July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- XCMG (SHE: 000425) held an inauguration ceremony for its Indonesia New Energy Manufacturing Base (the "Base") on July 27 at Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in North Maluku Province. With the first batch of new energy equipment rolling off the production line and being delivered to strategic partner Tsingshan Holding Group's IWIP, XCMG's first overseas new energy factory commenced production.
XCMG is accelerating its five-pronged transformation toward high-end, intelligent, green, global and service-oriented development, with global operations and green industrial development as two core strategic priorities. The launch of XCMG's first overseas new energy factory represents a strategic move integrating these priorities.
The Base integrates complete equipment manufacturing, localized R&D tailored to operating conditions, and local services, shortening delivery lead times and serving applications across Indonesia's mining, infrastructure and industrial park logistics sectors.
Leveraging local smart manufacturing capabilities, the Base enables the large-scale supply of electric construction machinery to support the low-carbon transition of key industries in Indonesia. XCMG is developing a used-equipment circulation and parts remanufacturing system to maximize resource efficiency.
The delivery of the first batch of new energy equipment demonstrates a collaborative model between XCMG and IWIP that combines technology with application scenarios and manufacturing with market demand. Drawing on XCMG's expertise in intelligent new energy manufacturing and IWIP's industrial ecosystem and application scenarios, the two parties completed construction and commenced production in a short timeframe. The cross-sector collaboration also offers a new model for global partnerships among Chinese enterprises.
With over 30 years in Indonesia, XCMG has built a comprehensive localized business and service system comprising a network of sales and service outlets, more than 100 specialized service vehicles, and a three-tier spare parts and maintenance support system, ensuring the reliable operation of more than 30,000 units of XCMG equipment across the country.
The commissioning of the plant completes XCMG's integrated R&D, production, supply, sales and service chain in Indonesia. Locally manufactured new energy equipment is poised to become a key pillar supporting the high-quality development of green infrastructure in the country.
Local employees account for nearly 80% of XCMG's workforce in Indonesia, while the Group continues to create jobs and develop skilled talent. In 2026, XCMG Machinery was again named to the Fortune China ESG Impact List, remaining the only construction machinery company on the list.
For the first time, a great power has moved to price transboundary climate-driven harms–massive wildfires–and extract compensation unilaterally.
Singapore's National Adaptation Conversation will shape the country's first climate adaptation plan, due in 2027.
A Thai member of parliament has called for the formation of a new committee to scrutinise the development of new data centres.
Bangladesh’s shipbreaking industry faces a pivotal treaty dispute. The country’s interim government last year decided that both Basel Convention and the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) will apply simultaneously to the local shipbreaking operations.
