Japan and European countries are strengthening their collaboration to mitigate geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities stemming from tensions between the US and China. On September 15, 2024, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced expanded cooperation with the European Union (EU), particularly focusing on the battery supply chain, as reported by Yomiuri Shimbun and Nikkei Asia. This move is part of broader partnerships aimed at advancing technology industries, green energy, and satellite sectors.

The Yongin Semiconductor Cluster in South Korea, which is anchored by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, is currently under development. However, experts caution that there are unresolved power grid issues, mainly due to the massive energy demands of the cluster. Additionally, the current energy supply plan may conflict with the national goals for carbon neutrality.

Leading European carmakers have called on the EU to ease strict CO2 emission rules and support various powertrain technologies like hybrids to meet market needs. However, the EU has responded cautiously, postponing any decisions on loosening the targets.

The South Korean government is accelerating the development of its hydrogen economy, focusing on three key policy directions: demand market expansion, supply planning, and infrastructure support. The goal is to become a global leader in the hydrogen economy by 2030, capturing emerging market opportunities.

Chinese wind turbine manufacturers are stepping up their presence in India's wind power sector, but government measures aimed at strengthening domestic players are set to raise costs and complicate operations.

The Indian government is pushing ahead with its national green hydrogen initiative, aiming to meet nearly 10% of the world's renewable hydrogen demand and position itself as a major exporter. Power and Renewable Energy Minister Shripad Naik said that 19 companies have been authorized to produce an annual capacity of 862,000 tons of hydrogen, while 15 firms have been allocated 3,000MW of electrolyzer manufacturing capacity, according to Nikkei.

Kemflo International has completed its activated carbon regeneration plant in Pingtung and is moving forward with environmental certification and licensing as it shifts focus toward circular economy solutions in semiconductor manufacturing. The company aims to establish a new growth area by offering regeneration services for spent activated carbon, widely used in liquid purification processes.

The EU plans to implement the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in 2028. In response, South Korea is accelerating efforts to enact its own Corporate Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Act. The legislation will require companies to identify and address human rights and environmental violations within their supply chains. However, provisions for requiring plans to address climate change have triggered fierce debate between industry players and environmental groups.

The global market for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) has slowed in recent years, with overall sales declining and many multinational automakers scaling back their hydrogen investments. However, Hyundai Motor has been bucking the trend, driven by its industry-leading EV technology, proprietary technological heritage, and confidence in the long-term potential of hydrogen.

Sinbon Electronics, a Taiwanese electronics component design and connector manufacturer, announced on September 2 its strategic collaboration with Berlin-based climate technology startup Swobbee through equity investment. The partnership reflects their shared vision of promoting sustainable urban transportation and accelerating the global transition toward a green market economy.

BoReTech Group, a specialist in environmental and resource recovery engineering, continues to see the bulk of its revenue come from Asia, which accounts for about 74% of total sales. The Americas rank second at 17%, while other regions collectively contribute around 9%.