Circular investment conditions, SBTi dashboard changes and Norway's 2027 power-price question
Circular-economy investment conditions, target-tracking rules and Nordic state support schemes all shifted this week: WCEF2026 outlined what circular markets need to attract capital, SBTi updated its dashboard categories for companies tracking supply-chain targets, and Norway's fixed household power price faces an uncertain cost and level for 2027. Elsewhere, Sitra restructured its operations and Brussels presence, economists proposed a carbon-pricing club for heavy industry, and researchers examined how data-centre growth could support rather than strain electricity grids.
World Circular Economy Forum sets out what circular investment needs
The tenth World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF2026), co-organised by Finland's Sitra in Gandhinagar, India, from 15 to 18 September, concluded that investment in circular solutions requires predictable policies, functioning markets, reliable data and integrated value chains. Businesses at the forum pointed to growing demand for valuable materials as an opportunity for circularity. The UN's International Resource Panel estimates that material extraction could rise by almost 60 per cent from 2020 levels by 2060 without urgent action. The next forum will be held in New York on 8–11 June 2027.
SBTi's Target Dashboard now shows expanded company status categories
From 24 September 2026, the Science Based Targets initiative's Target Dashboard uses revised terminology and new commitment- and target-level status classifications. At the same point, the new Commitment and Target Status Document replaces the previous Commitment Compliance Policy. The dashboard covers SMEs as well as large companies and is used by businesses tracking target-setting in their supply chains. Under SBTi's five-year review guidance, companies whose review has been triggered must submit a review form by a set deadline if they want an extension or waiver.
Cost and level of Norway's fixed household power price for 2027 remain uncertain
Norgespris, Norway's state-funded fixed household electricity price of 50 øre per kWh, runs until the end of 2026. Households must actively re-order it to stay on the scheme in 2027, and the new price level will be set politically in the autumn state budget. One analyst told NRK the scheme could cost the state between 0 and 55 billion kroner next year depending on prices, and the government's estimate for 2026 support has already risen from 11.5 to over 21 billion kroner. Business premises are not covered by the scheme, which applies only to homes and holiday homes.
Finland's Sitra opens change negotiations and adds an EU affairs post in Brussels
Sitra's review of May–August 2026 reports that it announced change negotiations on 10 September covering almost all of its domestic operations. Veera Heinonen will become head of EU affairs in Brussels on 1 October. Critical raw materials remain a central theme of the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre, which Sitra leads.
Economists in Science propose a carbon-pricing club for four heavy industries
A group of economists writing in Science propose a coalition of countries that price industrial emissions at home and apply border adjustments to imports from non-members. The coalition would initially cover iron and steel, aluminium, cement and nitrogen fertilisers, which the authors say together account for roughly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers set out conditions for data-centre growth that supports the grid
An analysis in The Conversation, published 17 September, argues that without planning, data centres will secure electricity, water and land at the expense of the economy, nature and communities. It suggests they could instead help stabilise the grid by shifting some computing to off-peak times, and says building them in regions with spare capacity would ease grid pressure and use renewable power that might otherwise go to waste. The piece focuses on Australia, where national rules are expected in early 2027.