The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) unveiled how its financial backing for SMEs has taken innovations from concept to frontline military deployments, and how these dual-use technologies are being scaled across the UK.

• Main announcement: DASA has backed projects with £35 million nationwide since July 2024 and will feed into the new UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) organisation which has a ringfenced annual budget of at least £400 million to harness commercial and dual-use innovation. Case studies include QuickBlock (ballistics/blast protection adapted from a civilian product), Trauma Simulation (Swansea University spin-out whole-body medical training models), and Sentinel Photonics (laser-protection rifle-scope attachments integrated into Armed Forces’ KS1 rifles).

• Background and details: DASA-funded companies have generated nearly £1 billion in economic value and 1,800 jobs across the UK; in 2024 DASA-backed firms raised £174 million. The MOD is creating a Defence Office for Small Business Growth and targets increasing spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028; the Strategic Defence Review sets that 10% of MOD equipment procurement will be spent on novel technologies each year.

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has placed a mobile testing unit near the Rawlins Family Recreation Center to monitor air quality downwind of oil and gas operations and will host an open house on Dec. 16 to answer questions about the monitoring.

• Monitoring action & timeline: Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality placed a mobile testing unit near the Rawlins Family Recreation Center, monitoring air quality over the next year after a national group flagged nearby areas for compromised air quality; the agency will host an open house on Dec. 16 to discuss the monitoring.
• Other local government updates: Sweetwater County officials oppose extending or adding new sales tax initiatives (decision to preserve future use of the tax); Governor Mark Gordon is reviewing complaints from electors alleging misconduct by Platte County Commissioners; Teton County Sheriff’s Office deputies are enforcing a new state law that can invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses and allow initiation of ICE holds under a state misdemeanor process.

Peng Li et al. introduce the concept of sequential Efficacy of Information (sequential EOI) and demonstrate it on synthetic 2D and realistic 3D porphyry copper cases to optimize sequences of ambient noise tomography (ANT) surveys and borehole drilling.

• Main announcement: The paper formalizes sequential EOI as a decision-making metric that quantifies expected uncertainty reduction for target variables under proposed sequences of exploration actions; authors demonstrate the approach with Monte Carlo forward modeling, neural-network-based sufficient statistics (ANN), and KDE density estimation, finding that in the 2D test the optimal plan is dense ANT followed by a large-dip-angle borehole, and in the 3D case sequential EOI identifies Pareto-optimal trade-offs across two objectives (alteration volume and alteration center location).
• Background and implementation details: The study uses object-based prior modeling for porphyry systems, evaluates ANT survey spacings of 2000 m (sparse), 750 m (medium), and 500 m (dense) and three borehole design options (including vertical and high-dip trajectories), applies Monte Carlo sampling with forward modeling to produce d1 (ANT) and d2 (borehole) outcomes, reduces data dimensionality with MDS and ANN-derived sufficient statistics, then computes EOI/sequential EOI via Monte Carlo approximations (Equations 11–15). Paper is a preprint submitted to Geophysical Journal International (published on EarthArXiv 2025-12-05); data and code are available on reasonable request to the corresponding author (pli6@stanford.edu).

Governor Gavin Newsom traveled to Capitol Hill to urge congressional leaders to secure long-delayed federal wildfire recovery funding for Los Angeles survivors.

• Main announcement/action: Governor Newsom conducted bipartisan meetings on Capitol Hill (Dec 5, 2025) with leaders including Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Brad Sherman, and Sen. Brian Schatz to press for a supplemental federal disaster aid package for survivors of the Palisades and Eaton Fires nearly one year after the fires; he said federal officials from the Trump Administration refused to meet and emphasized that Los Angeles survivors need federal assistance now.
• Background and details: Newsom highlighted the need for small business disaster loans, long-term housing support, expedited federal action, and federal funding to rebuild schools, childcare centers, homes, water systems, and responder infrastructure; he referenced California’s $60 billion agriculture economy, the C-130 air tanker program, a prior partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA that completed the debris cleanup, and noted Congress is awaiting a formal request from the White House (the Administration has not submitted a disaster aid package, ~11 months since the President’s promise).

Clean Fuels Alliance America and the California Advanced Biofuels Alliance (CABA) submitted formal comments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) following CARB’s public forum on biofuels and land use change.

• Main action: Clean Fuels Alliance America and CABA filed formal comments urging CARB to initiate a land use change model modernization effort in 2026, to apply updated agricultural productivity, economic and carbon modeling, to maintain appropriate treatment of waste-based feedstocks, and to provide clarity for emerging oilseed crops. The filing and full comments are available at the PDF on cleanfuels.org.
• Background and details: The filing states the organizations’ members represent the majority of the clean diesel fuel used in California and includes a quote from Cory-Ann Wind (Director of State Regulatory Affairs) supporting model modernization. Contact provided: Heather Buechter, phone 479-651-7301, email hbuechter@cleanfuels.org. The association notes funding from private companies and associations including the United Soybean Board and state checkoff organizations.

FENOGE and Metalcof presented the “Estufas que Transforman: Montes de María #CeroHumo” project to residents of María La Baja, Bolívar.

• Main action: FENOGE and Metalcof held a socialization of the project in María La Baja, engaging 150 inhabitants (130 women); the initiative will introduce Metalcof’s ERGONATURA ecoefficient cookstove technology and is intended to benefit 150 families in the Montes de María territory (stoves to be delivered soon).
• Background and roles: The project aims to replace polluting stoves and reduce household smoke; FENOGE leads the social process and guarantees implementation while Metalcof provides the eco-efficient stove technology and technical support; community participation and appropriation were emphasized during the event.

Metalcof and FENOGE announced the delivery and socialization of eco-efficient stoves as part of the project “Estufas que Transforman: Montes de María #CeroHumo” in San Jacinto, Bolívar.

• Main announcement: The partnership between FENOGE and Metalcof socialized the project in San Jacinto and will deliver eco-efficient ERGONATURA stoves to 133 beneficiaries (90 women and 43 men); the article states these families will soon receive the stoves to replace traditional smoky fires.
• Background and details: FENOGE leads the social and territorial component while Metalcof provides the technology, the activity emphasized the role of women in household cooking and described the intervention as part of the broader “Estufas que Transforman / Colombia Cero Humo” programme; no monetary values or fixed delivery dates were provided.

ACET published a policy brief recommending Ghana leverage AfCFTA and targeted interventions to grow tourism and drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

• Main announcement/action: ACET’s DEPTH policy brief (authors: George Boateng, Lawrence Adu Asamoah) recommends that Ghana channel targeted funding into underdeveloped regions, strengthen community-based tour operators, enhance value chain linkages with local economies, and position new experiences under a cohesive national brand to unlock new revenue streams and reduce seasonality in visitor arrivals. The brief reports 2023 international arrivals: 1.15 million and 2023 tourism revenues: $3.81 billion.
• Background and supporting details: The brief is part of ACET’s Growth with DEPTH series, draws on a multi-country AfCFTA case study funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, and situates tourism policy within the African Transformation Index (ATI) analysis. Concrete implementation actions recommended include targeted funding, community-operator support, and value-chain linkages; no specific nationwide implementation timeline is provided in the brief.

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy reissued approval for Commonwealth LNG’s permit on Nov. 18, allowing construction to proceed after a judge previously suspended the permit.

• Main action: The department issued updated reasons on Nov. 18 reapproving Commonwealth LNG’s permit, concluding that the project’s benefits “outweigh the costs”; the approval relied on an “independent analysis” of documents from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The company estimates an average of 800 construction workers per month (peak 2,000) over a three-year period; the state noted the project would destroy around 90 acres of coastal wetlands and said impacts would be mitigated. The proposed facility would be built 750 feet from resident John Allaire’s property line.
• Background and context: The permit had been suspended by Judge Penelope Richard of the 38th Judicial District Court after a Sierra Club lawsuit argued the state failed to consider climate change, cumulative LNG impacts, and disproportionate pollution on nearby communities. Plaintiffs include Sierra Club, Turtle Island Restoration Network, and Louisiana Bucket Brigade; Sierra Club attorneys are reviewing whether to pursue further legal action. The state cited the federal government’s prior abandonment of certain environmental justice analysis tools and the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda as part of its justification.

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada has issued a media advisory for a public announcement in Longueuil, Quebec.

• Event details: Media announcement to be held in Longueuil, Quebec on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. [EST], featuring the Honourable Joël Lightbound (Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant), Caroline Desrochers (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure), Sherry Romanado (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and MP for Longueuil—Charles‑LeMoyne), and Catherine Fournier (Mayor of Longueuil). Media attendance requires contacting Media Relations to receive the event location and confirm attendance.

• Contacts and logistics: Media Relations (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada) can be reached at media-medias@infc.gc.ca or 613-960-9251 (Toll free: 1-877-250-7154). Press contact: Renée LeBlanc Proctor, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary (Renee.Proctor@infc.gc.ca). Follow updates on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn via the department links provided.

Clean Fuels Alliance America and Farmers Fueling the Future released a study finding California’s indirect land use change (ILUC) assumptions for U.S. soy-based biodiesel and renewable diesel are outdated and that updated modeling yields substantially lower ILUC emissions.

• Study findings: Life Cycle Associates’ report “Land Use Change Emissions Associated with Soybeans: Considerations for California’s LCFS” uses updated GTAP modeling, recent global data, and improved yield responsiveness, and finds ILUC values well below CARB’s 2018 soybean ILUC assumptions.
• Context and next steps: The report was commissioned by Clean Fuels Alliance America and Farmers Fueling the Future (a biofuel research initiative of the American Soybean Association and the Iowa Soybean Association); the full study is available on cleanfuels.org. Contact: Heather Buechter, 479-651-7301, hbuechter@cleanfuels.org.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have committed to concluding FTA negotiations this year and holding a summit in the first quarter of 2026 to set a new strategic direction for EU-India relations.

• Main announcement/action: The commentary calls for making the green economy the centre of EU-India bilateral engagement, proposing concrete steps including cooperation on carbon pricing (linking the Indian Carbon Credit Trading System - CCTS - with the EU CBAM), digital public infrastructure to verify and track emissions (to reduce compliance burdens for MSMEs), and discussing revenue-sharing modalities so CBAM-generated resources support decarbonization projects in India; it expects leaders to agree a summit in Q1 2026 and to appoint sherpas to lead next steps.
• Background and implementation details: Recommends a new financing architecture to support green investments (combining public banks, private finance, foreign-exchange and insurance pools), identifies priority sectors (renewable energy, electric vehicles, chip design, power electronics, green iron ore), proposes an investor facilitation mechanism in an investment agreement for regulatory dialogue, and foresees establishing a high-level joint working group to prepare action-ready recommendations for the 2027 EU-India summit, led by sherpas and consulting private sector, academics and think tanks.

ICCT India released a video titled “How emissions based GST could give India clean air” on December 5, 2025.

• Main announcement: ICCT India published a video on December 5, 2025 examining the policy idea of an emissions-based Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a mechanism to improve air quality in India.
• Background/details: Format: video; Publisher: ICCT India; Subject focus: emissions-based GST and links between tax policy and clean air. No monetary values, timelines beyond the publication date, or partner organisations are specified in the source.

Constellation Energy announced final regulatory clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice for its acquisition of Calpine on December 5, 2025.

• Final regulatory clearance: Constellation reported that a resolution with the U.S. Department of Justice has been reached, which paves the way for closing the Calpine transaction and is described as delivering benefits for customers and communities across America. (Press release dated 2025-12-05)
• Background and documentation: The announcement is an official press release hosted on Constellation’s newsroom; no transaction value, closing date, or additional implementation timeline is provided in the release. No emails or contact details were included in the text.

Deep Fission has selected Parsons to support a U.S. Department of Energy-backed nuclear reactor project (announcement dated December 5, 2025).

• Main announcement: Deep Fission has appointed Parsons to work on a DOE-backed nuclear reactor project (announced 5 December 2025). The article names the parties but does not specify contract value or implementation timelines.
• Background/details: The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); no further technical specifications, financing amounts, or delivery schedules were provided in the article.

ICCT and IIT Roorkee released a study showing electric vehicles reduce India’s passenger car emissions.

• Main announcement: The study, published by ICCT in collaboration with IIT Roorkee and released on December 5, 2025, presents findings on how EVs slash India’s car emissions (content published as a Video by ICCT India).
• Background/details: The content is authored by ICCT India; it is presented as a video-format related content summarizing the research partnership between ICCT and IIT Roorkee. No specific emission reduction quantities, timelines, or monetary figures are provided in the available metadata.

Deep Fission has announced construction of its first nuclear reactor a mile underground at a Kansas site (reported December 5, 2025).

• Project announcement: Deep Fission will build its first nuclear reactor located a mile underground at a site in Kansas, United States, according to the report dated December 5, 2025.
• Project details and status: This is described as the company’s first reactor and specifies subterranean construction (one mile depth) at the Kansas site; no financing, timeline, partner organisations, or capacity figures were provided in the available text.

A Kansas site has been selected for an underground reactor demonstration.

• Kansas site selected for an underground reactor demonstration (reported 5 December 2025). The announcement states the site in Kansas will host a demo of an underground reactor; the article headline is the sole specific project detail provided.
• No selecting authority, timeline, technical specifications, or funding amounts were provided in the article. The report does not name the government agency, developer, reactor design, safety measures, or project schedule.

MTN Nigeria and Huawei have completed the world’s first commercial deployment of the RuralCow solution in Lagos, Nigeria on Dec 5, 2025.

• Deployment details: The partners completed a commercial rollout of RuralCow, an all-in-one, rapid-deployment mobile base station that combines baseband, radio, and transmission equipment; it cuts overall power consumption by about 85%, reduces equipment quantity by roughly 70%, requires no heavy machinery, supports multiple frequency bands and radio access technologies, operates without fiber or microwave links, and achieves non-line-of-sight transmission distances of about 30 kilometers. Live network data show RuralCow shortens ROI for villages of 1,000–3,000 people from 5–10 years to around 3 years. Location: Lagos, Nigeria. Status/timeline: commercial deployment completed (Dec 5, 2025).

• Background and rationale: Nigeria has ~105 million rural residents (World Bank, 2024) and many villages have dispersed settlements and low ARPU, making traditional base stations commercially challenging. Huawei positions RuralCow as a green, cost-effective solution to accelerate rural communications infrastructure and “connect the unconnected”, while MTN Nigeria cites rapid extension of wireless coverage to remote areas as the partnership’s mission.

Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) published a study showing microplastics can contaminate ocean carbon measurements and distort understanding of the ocean carbon cycle, urging a re-evaluation of laboratory practices.

• Main announcement/action: SoMAS researchers published a paper in PLOS One demonstrating that routine analytical tools cannot distinguish carbon released from microplastics during combustion from natural organic carbon, meaning particulate organic carbon measurements can be unintentionally impacted by microplastics; the work was supported by NSF grants OCE-2023115 and NSF-MRI OCE-1336724 and reported on December 5, 2025.
• Background and details: The study applied standard analytical methods to compare carbon yield from microplastic contaminants and sedimentary organic matter, notes that contamination can come from rivers, wastewater, runoff, sampling/storage/processing gear, claims to be the first quantitative documentation of plastics’ impact on environmental organic matter analysis, and calls to re-evaluate best practices for processing organic matter samples for carbon analysis.