EVs Clean the Air, BYD’s Big Boom & Europe’s Emissions Reversal!

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Hey everyone, welcome to FutureProof - my Tech and Sustainability Digest.

It has been a busy few weeks since the last edition of this newsletter. Tariffs have been going up and down like the Assyrian Empire (full marks if you get that reference, without looking it up!), a Spider’s web destroyed a significant portion of Russia’s strategic bombing fleet (the best news in a very long time?), and Mount Etna erupted spectacularly just the other day (no reports of injuries thankfully).

As always this newsletter is dedicated to surfacing and sharing good news stories across tech and sustainability. If good news sounds like something you need, read on. And please share this newsletter with anyone/everyone else you feel could do with a little cheering up!

Tech News

Say Goodbye to Phone Numbers! WhatsApp Usernames Are Here!

WhatsApp is finally stepping out of the Stone Age by letting us create usernames, meaning you’ll no longer need to give away your phone number just to chat. This is a seismic shift in how we connect, no more doling out personal digits like sweets at Halloween. The username era is here, and I, for one, am chuffed!

• Key highlights:

  • Usernames will allow WhatsApp users to find each other without phone numbers.

  • It’s already showing up in the app’s latest Android beta build.

  • Will be a game-changer for privacy and accessibility.

Why This Matters: This could finally break the phone number stranglehold of messaging apps and pave the way for more secure, anonymous comms - hallelujah!

Kismet: Did you know that usernames were the original messaging identifiers way back in the days of ICQ and AIM? What’s old is new again! 👉 Full story here

Artificial Intelligence

Title: “Microsoft Discovery - Your New AI Lab Partner with a Brain!

Hold onto your lab coats, because Microsoft has just dropped a bombshell in R&D circles: Discovery, a new AI agent designed to turbocharge scientific innovation. It’s like having an extra brain in the lab, minus the messy bits.

• Key highlights:

  • Discovery is an “agentic AI” that collaborates with researchers, not just crunches data.

  • It sifts through oceans of data to spot patterns and generate hypotheses, automagically!

  • Promises to supercharge research breakthroughs, making R&D feel less like a slog and more like a eureka moment.

Why This Matters: If Discovery delivers on its promise, we’re talking about a tectonic shift in R&D workflows, like going from scribbling on napkins to discovering new molecules before breakfast!

Kismet: Fun fact: The term “agentic” comes from psychology, meaning an entity that acts with intention. Microsoft’s flipping the script by giving AI agency in research. 👉 Full story here

Electromobility

EVs Don’t Just Cut Tailpipe Emissions—They’re Slashing Brake Dust by 83%!

Get this - EVs are doing more than just giving the middle finger to petrol. A new study says they’re also giving our lungs a break by cutting brake dust emissions by a whopping 83%! Who knew EVs were secret air purifiers on wheels?

• Key highlights:

  • EV regenerative braking slashes harmful brake dust, those pesky particles that contribute to air pollution and respiratory issues.

  • Study from Emissions Analytics confirms the magnitude of this hidden EV benefit.

  • Less brake dust means better air in our cities - score one for the lungs!

Why This Matters: It’s not just about climate change - EVs are cleaning up our filthy urban air, one smooth regen brake at a time.

Kismet: The first patent for regenerative braking dates back to 1936 - turns out, some genius ideas take decades to go mainstream! 👉 Full story here

Europe’s EV Surge: Sales Soar 33% in Just One Year—Boom!

Buckle up, folks! European EV sales are smashing records, leaping a cheeky 33% year-on-year. Looks like we’re finally pulling our weight in the e-mobility revolution.

• Key highlights:

  • Germany’s leading the charge, of course, but France and the Nordics are hot on its heels.

  • EVs now make up a jaw-dropping 25% of all new car sales in Europe, no more excuses, petrolheads!

  • Top sellers? The Tesla Model Y (no surprise) and the spunky little Fiat 500e, proof that size doesn’t matter when it comes to saving the planet.

Why This Matters: The surge in EV adoption is more than a green sticker, it’s a full-throttle shift away from fossil fuels, and brake dust on the streets of Europe.

Kismet: In 1900, 28% of all cars in the US were electric - looks like we’re finally catching up to the past! 👉 Full story here

BYD’s Big Boom: 531% Jump in Commercial EV Sales—Holy Moly!

Hang on to your hats, because BYD’s commercial EV sales just rocketed up by a mind-bending 531% in May - turns out the bus and truck world is catching the EV bug in a big way.

• Key highlights:

  • BYD’s buses, trucks, and vans are flying off the lot, with sales spiking from 2,700 in May 2024 to over 17,000 in May 2025.

  • The company’s hitting the sweet spot of commercial fleet electrification, a sector that’s been stubbornly diesel-heavy until now.

  • China’s domestic EV boom is no longer just about cars, it’s electrifying entire fleets.

Why This Matters: This isn’t just a spike, it’s a tectonic shift in how we move goods and people, turbocharging the path to zero-emissions logistics.

Kismet:BYD’s name stands for “Build Your Dreams”, and with these sales numbers, looks like they’re building everyone else’s dreams too! 👉 Full story here

Electric Planes, but Hold the Hydrogen: MIT’s Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Takes Flight

Right then, MIT’s latest trick is a fuel cell for aircraft that doesn’t rely on hydrogen - finally, a breath of fresh air! This new solid oxide fuel cell chews through carbon-neutral biofuels and spits out juice for electric flight, bypassing the leaky, inefficient hydrogen circus entirely.

• Key highlights:

  • MIT’s new fuel cell uses carbon-neutral liquid fuels instead of hydrogen, no messy tanks or flammable drama.

  • A whopping 67% efficiency at cruising altitude, goodbye to jet fuel emissions.

  • Could slash aviation’s carbon footprint without retrofitting planes for hydrogen.

Why This Matters: This is a big step forward for electric aviation, letting us sidestep the hydrogen hype and still cut emissions from those pesky plane engines.

Kismet: Solid oxide fuel cells were first tested in the 1930s, yes, the ‘30s! MIT’s just given them an electric aviation twist. 👉 Full story here

Clean Energy

EU Inches Towards 2030 Climate Goal, Despite the Green Backlash!

Here’s a nice win for the EU: it’s this close to slashing emissions by 55% by 2030, despite a chorus of naysayers and economic headwinds. Like a climber clinging to a cliff’s edge, Brussels is holding its green line, barely.

• Key highlights:

  • EU emissions have dropped about 54% since 1990, just a whisker shy of the 2030 target.

  • Energy sector leads the charge, thanks to renewables like wind and solar.

  • But agriculture and transport? Still lagging, and not playing ball.

  • Heavy industries worry that much of the reduction comes from plant closures, not actual green upgrades.

  • Pressure mounts as the EU eyes a 90% cut by 2040 - cue the fireworks at COP30 in Brazil.

Why This Matters: The EU’s near-miss is a shot in the arm for climate action, proof that even a continent battered by crises can inch towards meaningful change.

Kismet: Despite the EU’s progress, its global share of emissions has shrunk to 6% - reminding us that the rest of the world needs to catch up, pronto! 👉 Full story here

California’s Battery Boom: Megapacks, Megawatts, and a New Grid Game

Well, well, well, California’s at it again! This time it’s not avocado toast or surf’s up vibes, but a jaw-dropping ramp-up in giant batteries. The Golden State’s becoming the ultimate grid-level battery boss.

• Key highlights:

  • In the past year alone, California’s battery capacity has tripled, now hitting over 10GW.

  • These batteries, are grid saviours, storing surplus solar for late-night Netflix binges.

  • It’s not just about tech, this boom’s also a job creator and a boon for grid reliability.

Why This Matters: With this battery arsenal, California’s grid is showing the world how to stay lit even when the sun goes down.

Kismet: These giant batteries have roots in 19th-century lead-acid batteries, proving that old ideas, supercharged by new tech, can power the future. 👉 Full story here

CATL Rewards Suppliers Who Slash Emissions—The Future Is Green!

CATL, the world’s battery giant, isn’t just making clean power, it’s pushing suppliers to join the party, offering juicy incentives to those who trim their emissions. From copper foil to graphite, those who go green stand to gain the most!

• Key highlights:

  • CATL’s supply chain emissions account for a whopping 95% of its total carbon footprint.

  • Suppliers hitting tough ESG targets are rewarded with more business, green is officially in vogue.

  • The firm’s decarbonisation push includes direct support to suppliers, blending carrot and stick with serious clout.

  • CATL aims to be net zero across its entire supply chain by 2035, no ifs, buts, or maybes.

Why This Matters: This isn’t about warm fuzzies, CATL’s strategy is a wake-up call for suppliers everywhere: go green or risk losing your biggest customer.

Kismet: CATL’s founder says green upgrades won’t add costs in the long run, proof that sustainability can be a bottom-line boost, not a burden. 👉 Full story here

Latest Publications

Blog

Meet ChatNetZero and ChatNDC: Finally, AI Climate Tools We Can Trust!

I’m tired of all the greenwashing and AI nonsense out there, so I dug into two tools that actually deliver: ChatNetZero and ChatNDC. No hype, just rock-solid data for your climate strategies!

• Key highlights:

  • ChatNetZero: Your trusted sidekick for navigating carbon footprints, energy shifts and tricky decarbonisation goals, no more guesswork!

  • ChatNDC: Think of it as your climate policy whisperer, decoding Nationally Determined Contributions and policy pathways with the accuracy of a laser beam.

  • Both are built with transparency at their core, no black boxes, just robust data-driven insights.

Why This Matters: These tools are proof that AI can actually be a force for good in climate work, if we use it wisely.

Kismet: ChatNetZero and ChatNDC might be digital brains, but their potential impact? As real as the carbon you’re trying to cut! 👉 Read the full post here

Climate Confident Podcast:

What’s Your Climate Legacy? Lessons from Sangeeta Waldron

This week on the Climate Confident podcast, I’m chatting with Sangeeta Waldron, PR powerhouse and climate action champion, about why your climate legacy matters more than ever. It’s not just about reducing carbon; it’s about leaving the world a better place.

• Key highlights:

  • We unpack how businesses can pivot from greenwashing to real impact, with bold examples from around the globe.

  • Sangeeta shares tips for turning your personal and professional brand into a force for good, no excuses!

  • We tackle the big question: how do you want to be remembered when it comes to climate action?

Why This Matters: It’s high time we all asked ourselves: what kind of mark are we leaving on this planet?

Kismet: Sangeeta’s insights prove that climate leadership isn’t just for the boardroom, it’s for everyone, every day. 🎧 Listen to the full episode

Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast:

Tackling Food Waste & Agri-Trade Chaos with Tech!

In the latest episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I sat down with Gary Loh, founder of DiMuto, to unravel how tech - IoT, blockchain, AI, is slicing through the stubborn silos of global agri-trade. From Singapore to the world’s supermarkets, Gary’s transforming data deserts into lush, data-driven oases.

• Key highlights:

  • DiMuto’s tech breaks down agri-trade silos, tracking everything from seed to store to slash food waste.

  • Blockchain-backed data verification keeps everyone honest and cuts wasteful “just-in-case” discards.

  • Financial services tailored for smallholder farmers, bridging that digital divide to unlock much-needed capital.

  • Dream tech on the horizon: predictive AI tools to boost resilience in the face of climate chaos and trade disruptions.

Why This Matters: Food waste isn’t just a supply chain problem, it’s a planetary one, and this episode shows there are practical, data-driven ways to fix it.

Kismet: Gary’s team found that a single rejected container of oranges can waste the carbon-absorbing power of ten mature trees - fascinating, and a stark reminder that every box of produce matters. 🎧 Listen to the full episode

Coming Soon to the podcasts

In upcoming episodes of the podcasts I will be talking to René Schrama, CCO of Peak Technologies, Pierre Laprée, CPO of SpendHQ, Ciaran Flanagan, Global Head of Siemens Data Centre Solutions, and Stuart Thompson, President of ABB Electrification Services.

Don’t forget to follow the podcasts in your podcast app of choice to ensure you don’t miss any episodes.

Featured Charts

In April of this year solar power generated more electricity than nuclear power for the first time in history. Upwards, and onwards!!!

These two charts are obviously related! It is a beautiful virtuous circle. As the price of solar panels falls, they become more attractive to buy, more people buy them, and then economies of scale, and the Learning Effect mean the price falls further, making them more attractive to buy, and…

And China is really leading the way in the rollout of solar power - and the pace of that rollout is nothing short of breathtaking!

In other news, if you hear people asking “but what about all the minerals needed to make EVs?” here is your reply.

Misc stuff

As an Irishman, I was very proud to see this one.

Ok, this one made me laugh!

Too soon?

Engage

If you made it this far, very well done! If you liked this newsletter, or learned something new, feel free to share this newsletter with family and friends. Encourage folks to sign up for it.

Finally, since being impacted by the tech layoffs, I'm currently in the market for a new role. If you know someone who could benefit from my tech savvy, sustainability, and strong social media expertise, I'd be really grateful for a referral.

If you have any comments or suggestions for how I can improve this newsletter, don’t hesitate to let me know. Thanks.

*** Be aware that any typos you find in this newsletter are tests to see who is paying attention! ***

And Finally

In honour of Pride Month check out this kid’s coming out humour

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