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TOP STORY

EU likely to propose exempting small companies from CBAM in early 2025, senior EU official says

The European Commission is likely to next year put forward a proposal to exclude small companies from the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a senior official told Carbon Pulse on Thursday.

INTERNATIONAL

ANALYSIS: Article 6 breakthrough raises integrity concerns for some, but ‘proof in pudding’, experts say

The historic consensus on Article 6, achieved in November at COP29, may have been broadly welcomed, but some remain cautious that gaps in final decision texts could lead to a lack of integrity in the newly developed, UN-approved international carbon markets, if implementation over the coming years is not sufficiently robust.

BRIEFING: AI-powered global data centre buildout at fork in the road, with energy choices crucial to emissions trajectory

A rise in emissions resulting from the boom in data centre energy demand over the coming years will depend on whether countries can overcome power grid issues, obstacles to renewable expansion, and how much of the added electricity consumption is met with fossil-based generation, industry leaders told a summit in Paris this week.

After Article 6 agreement, still no clarity on when trades will start flowing -panel

With Article 6 rules now in the books following consensus at COP29 in Baku, carbon market watchers said during a Thursday panel that there was still no clarity on when the international market would begin recording its first trades.

AMERICAS

Poor health of former CQC executive Newcombe delays US fraud trial

A US District Court judge on Thursday delayed the trial of former C-Quest Capital executives Ken Newcombe and Tridip Goswami, who both face federal fraud charges, with the ex-CEO to be placed in a protective “bubble” as he undergoes drastic cancer treatment.

First Nations plan legal challenge against Canada’s carbon tax

A coalition of First Nations has announced its intention to file legal action against Canada’s carbon tax, claiming the federal government breached their duty to consult the groups when instituting the carbon pricing scheme.

WCI Markets: CCAs sell-off ahead of option expiry, Q4 auction shapes WCA direction

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) future prices dropped over the past week as market participants positioned themselves ahead of option expiry, while Washington Carbon Allowances (WCAs) continued their decline heading into the final carbon permit auction of the year.

Alberta pitches province open for AI data centre investment

Alberta released its strategy Wednesday, which aims to attract AI data centre investment, availing of the Canadian province’s natural resource abundance, power-generating capabilities, cool climate, and business-friendly regulatory environment.

Watchdog chides US EPA on lack of oversight over clean school bus funding

The US EPA failed to monitor the deployment of $836 million that was spent on helping schools across the country replace existing school buses with zero-emission counterparts, according to a Wednesday report.

Canadian company eyes “lucrative” voluntary carbon market with innovative graphite decarbonisation process

A Canadian climate tech firm is looking to tap the “lucrative” voluntary carbon market to help fund a breakthrough in almost completely decarbonising the production of graphite, which is used to make batteries.

EMEA

EU member states could use Article 6 for ‘above-and-beyond’ mitigation, says senior EU official

EU member states can still use Article 6 for above-and-beyond mitigation, the head of the EU’s international carbon markets diplomacy taskforce told Carbon Pulse at the sidelines of a conference on Thursday, despite the bloc’s current plans to avoid using international carbon credits towards UN climate goals.

UK waters down pledge to decarbonise power grid by 2030

The UK government has watered down plans to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030, setting a new target of achieving at least 95% of clean power by 2030.

French political upheaval threatens EU support for clean industrialisation and investments -expert

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s ousting on Thursday raises new risks and uncertainties for national and EU-wide climate action, particularly for the private finance sector — and it comes just as France begins to show signs of progress in this field, according to an expert.

EU should reconsider giving CBAM exemptions to most vulnerable -report

The EU should reconsider exempting the least developed countries, as well as Ukraine, from its incoming carbon border fee, and use its revenues to help developing countries decarbonise their industries and minimise the blow, a think tank recommended this week.

INTERVIEW: EU 90% climate target should be “emission reductions only”, says Swedish MEP

The EU’s 2040 climate target proposal, due early next year, should make a clear distinction between emission reductions and carbon removals, said Swedish lawmaker Emma Wiesner, denouncing the bloc’s plans to put forward a net target as “a slap in the face” and “a huge betrayal” for the European Parliament.

EU urged to neutralise Energy Charter Treaty’s protection of fossil fuel investments

Legal experts are calling on the EU to work with the remaining members of an alliance that protects fossil fuel assets to challenge its problematic ‘sunset clause’, and create a replacement that champions clean energy.

BNP Paribas launches €750-mln low-carbon transition equity fund

French bank BNP Paribas has launched a low-carbon transition equity fund, targeting €750 million from institutional investors such as insurers, pensions funds, and corporates.

Euro Markets: EUAs drift along with TTF gas as traders trim length ahead of weekend

European carbon prices ended slightly lower on Thursday, following the evolution in front-month natural gas as both markets saw length being trimmed amid what has been a weak few days.

Futures growth drives strong EU carbon volumes on EEX in November

Strong growth in futures has driven EEX exchange-traded EU carbon volumes higher in both November and 2024 to date, according to data published Thursday.

French nature-based project verifier lands €5 mln to boost carbon market certification capacity

A Paris-headquartered certifier for nature-based carbon projects has raised €5 million in fresh funding to expand its operations and develop new methodologies, the organisation announced on Thursday.

ASIA PACIFIC

New Zealand climate commission pushes net negative 2050 target

New Zealand’s Climate Change Commission (CCC) has called for more severe emissions reductions across all sectors in its updated advice to government published Thursday, while recommending shipping and aviation emissions to be included in a net negative 2050 target.

Carbon pricing, technology ASEAN’s best answer to CBAM -report

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries must actively implement carbon pricing mechanisms and increase investment to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors in order to effectively respond to EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a report has found.

Rio Tinto calls for global carbon pricing to encourage investments in hard-to-abate sectors

The world will need to embrace fundamental demand drivers, such as more entrenched carbon pricing, in order to drive decarbonisation of hard-to-abate mineral processing work and encourage buyers’ willingness to pay a green premium, global miner Rio Tinto told shareholders Thursday.

AU Market: ACCU price claws back after week of volatility

Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) prices recouped some of their recent losses Thursday after a bout of severe volatility earlier in the week that had seen units trade as low as A$37 ($23.82).

Regional gas lobby releases legal recommendations on cross-border CCS projects

An industry coalition of energy majors has released a set of recommendations for cross-border carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the Asia Pacific, in order to provide the necessary legal clarity in the absence of international regulations.

China seeking comments on steel sector emissions accounting rules

China’s environment ministry is seeking comments on emissions accounting rules for domestic steelmakers, as the sector will soon be included in the national emissions trading scheme.

Chinese emissions exchange launches carbon pledge services for local ETS

An exchange that supports one of China’s pilot carbon markets has unveiled an online financing service targeting carbon pledges in a latest attempt to explore innovative financial instruments.

VOLUNTARY

Canadian tech company partners with Saudi firms to produce low-carbon concrete

A Canadian tech company has collaborated with a concrete producer and a gas distributor in Saudi Arabia to produce low-carbon materials by incorporating captured CO2, the companies announced this week.

Pet care multinational launches soil carbon partnerships to scale regenerative agriculture in Europe

A global food and pet care products manufacturer on Thursday announced several partnerships with suppliers and soil carbon project developers to scale regenerative farming practices across Europe.

BIODIVERSITY (FREE TO READ)

All our nature and biodiversity articles remain free to read (no subscription required). However, we now require that all readers have a Carbon Pulse login to access this content in full. To get a login, sign up for a free trial of our news. If you’ve already had a trial, then you already have a login.

Nomura AM to add corporate nature opportunities to ESG scores

Nomura Asset Management plans to incorporate nature-related opportunity indicators into its proprietary ESG scoring model in the “near future”, an executive has told Carbon Pulse.

Development banks pledge $12 bln for land degradation

Financiers, mostly development banks, at the UN desertification conference COP16 in Saudi Arabia, this week have committed $12 billion towards drought resilience, land restoration, and combatting land degradation.

Biodiversity Pulse: Thursday December 5, 2024

A twice-weekly summary of our biodiversity news plus bite-sized updates from around the world. All articles in this edition are free to read (no subscription required).

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EVENTS

Carbon Forward Middle East – Jan. 16-17, Abu Dhabi – Announcing Carbon Forward Middle East in Abu Dhabi, a great new event to explore carbon markets in the MENA region. We’ll be releasing more details about this conference soon. For now, put Jan. 16-17 in your calendar and email info@carbon-forward.com to express interest in attending, speaking, or sponsoring.

European Industrial Carbon Management Summit – Dec. 5, Brussels: The Zero Emissions Platform flagship event will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, civil society and scientific experts to discuss the future of industrial carbon management across Europe. Get ready for insightful keynotes, case studies from pioneering projects, and panel discussions on the deployment of industrial carbon management technologies. The Summit is the perfect space to connect with peers working at the forefront of industrial decarbonisation. Registrations are now open – do not miss your chance to be part of the conversation. 

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SURVEY

CDR.fyi has launched the first-ever durable Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Pricing Survey to gather insights on pricing perceptions within the CDR industry. The survey, now open until Dec. 6, targets both purchasers and suppliers of durable CDR with separate versions for each. It covers 15 CDR methods, including biochar carbon removal, DAC, and mineralisation, and is aimed at gauging optimal pricing and acceptable price ranges for various methods. The survey aims to determine the prices purchasers are willing to pay, the pricing suppliers need to expand operations, and demand signals across methods for 2025 and 2030. Responses will remain confidential, with data reported in aggregate and accessed only by non-conflicted team members. Results will be published post-survey, with a full report available to survey respondents and CDR.fyi premium users. The initiative seeks to provide essential pricing benchmarks to support carbon removal market growth.

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SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

We’re offering new subscriber organisations 15 months of access to our news and intelligence for the price of 12. Purchase an annual subscription by Dec. 20, 2024, and get 3 extra months for free. Have we recently quoted you a price? Our 15-for-12 offer applies to that too, if you purchase your subscription by Dec. 20. Email sales@carbon-pulse.com to inquire.

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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL

Obligation, not charity – Developing nations, including the Solomon Islands, India, and Iran, have urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to recognise that they should not bear the primary burden of addressing climate change, given the industrialised world’s historical emissions. The ICJ hearings in The Hague, prompted by Vanuatu’s UN request, aim to clarify legal obligations of states in combating climate change, though the court’s advisory opinion will not be binding. The Solomon Islands highlighted the intrinsic link between climate justice and human rights, urging industrialised nations to assume greater responsibility for climate mitigation and provide financial and technological support to vulnerable states. Attorney General John Muria called for prioritising “climate justice,” asserting that those historically responsible for emissions must help small island nations cope with rising sea levels and displacement. India advocated for equity and the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’. Its representative, Luther Rangreji, criticised the inequity of expecting developing nations to limit energy use while they continue to face disproportionate climate impacts. India called for fulfilling existing financial commitments, like the $100 bln annual climate finance pledge, and cautioned against imposing new obligations that could hinder developmental priorities. Iran stressed the importance of equity and international cooperation, condemning unilateral measures by developed nations that restrict financial and technological support to developing countries. Representative Sayyid Ali Mousavi argued that addressing climate change requires fair treatment of developing nations and greater responsibility from industrialised states. All three nations underscored the need for robust legal frameworks, financial commitments, and technology transfer to ensure a collective and equitable response to the global climate crisis. (IPS)

Can’t make us – Meanwhile, the US downplayed its obligations for addressing climate change during an ICJ hearing this week. Biden administration officials argued that the 2015 Paris Agreement is the primary mechanism to hold countries accountable for climate action, meaning nations are only required to submit emission targets under that pact — but not necessarily achieve them. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to withdraw the US from the non-binding agreement, a move that would dissolve any obligations the US has under that deal. “The UN climate change regime, with the Paris Agreement at its core, is the only international legal regime specifically designed by states to address climate change,” Margaret Taylor, a legal adviser for the State Department, told the ICJ. Cooperation through those deals, she argued, “provide the best hope for protecting the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations.” Taylor added that the US and other nations can’t be held responsible for the impact of their pollution before those global treaties were created beginning in the 1990s. (Politico)

EMEA

Article 6 and CBAM – The EU is working out how it could incorporate UN-approved Article 6 credits as part of the bloc’s carbon border levy, Bloomberg reports. The European Commission is also analysing how to treat credits carbon offsets allowed in third countries’ compliance schemes as part of its CBAM, Vicente Hurtado Roa, an official of its taxation directorate, told a conference in Brussels on Thursday. No further details were provided.

Not going to be easy – A report by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and Consentec, commissioned by Germany’s economy and climate ministry, predicts a steep rise in electricity demand for German industry during its decarbonisation, even with significant hydrogen use. The study examines two scenarios: one dominated by electricity and another focusing on hydrogen technologies. In the hydrogen-focused scenario, hydrogen demand is projected to reach 442 TWh by 2045, with electricity demand rising 40% to 300 TWh. In the electrification scenario, electricity demand nearly doubles to 425 TWh, while hydrogen demand rises to 201 TWh, due to its essential role in sectors like steel and chemicals where electrification is less feasible. The report concludes that near carbon-neutral industrial production is achievable under both pathways. However, challenges remain. Electricity and hydrogen costs are prohibitively high, regulatory frameworks are insufficient, and investment uncertainty persists, as inadequate grid connections and high electricity prices are hindering electrification. The hydrogen market’s development is also in its early stages, and current investment levels fall short of what is required to decarbonise industry by 2045. The report stresses the urgent need to adopt climate-friendly production processes, aiming for all sectors to operate such plants at scale by 2030. (Clean Energy Wire)

We’re not going to pay – New Zealand’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay said the government would not be buying overseas carbon credits to meet the government’s 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Radio NZ reported. New Zealand is expected to need to purchase around 90-100 million credits to meet its international NDC to cut emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030, however McClay insisted the country was “working very hard” to ensure that it didn’t and that it was “politically unpalatable” to buy credits overseas. Asked about the comments, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts reiterated previous comments that the country would have to be “realistic” about how it met its target. He also said that offshore mitigation was not just about buying credits from overseas, but also about assisting partner countries achieve their climate goals. Many observers have noted the issue around meeting the country’s 2030 target has become politically intractable, with multiple governments failing to come up with a strategy. This is despite analysis showing the longer New Zealand waits to purchase credits, the more they will likely have to pay for them.

New partnership – Indian multinational conglomerate Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), has partnered with climate tech startup n0c tech to deploy innovative, low cost and compact carbon capture and storage technology across industrial sectors, Business Standard reported. Under the collaboration, the entities will aim to provide cost-effective and compact decarbonisation solutions to industries including steel, cement, oil and gas, chemical, marine, and energy-from-waste facilities. Experimental trials on n0c’s technology have demonstrated 93% carbon removal efficiency with 20% lower energy consumption. The technology achieves 50% smaller plant size and 90% reduction in height, requiring 40% less steel compared to traditional carbon capture players. This flow brings financial cost and risk to negligible while decarbonising industries, the newspaper added.

HMC takes Neoen assets – Australia’s HMC Capital told the local bourse Thursday it would buy Neoen’s entire Victorian portfolio and take over management of its four existing assets with nameplate generation capacity of 652 megawatts and a further six projects under development for A$950 million ($611 mln). The six in-development assets will add another 2,800 MW. The first tranche of cash of A$750 mln is due on financial close of the deal in July 2025 and the rest by December that year. 

Please stop – A coalition of 64 individuals and groups, including 15 members of parliament from around the world and global civil society organisations, has called for an end to South Korea’s public financing of fossil fuel projects, according to non-profit Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC). The country, currently the second-largest public financier of fossil fuels globally, provided nearly $10 bln annually to such projects between 2020 and 2022, accounting for over 21% of all G20 fossil finance.

Low-carbon buildings – South Korea’s Hyundai Steel has decided to build a business model for low-carbon buildings by expanding the use of greener steel products with Hyundai E&C, according to a statement released this week. The two Hyundai companies will be also working with Sampyo Cement to develop greener building materials, with plans to introduce the products to construction sites next year.

Who is responsible? – India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), and state pollution control boards of New Delhi, Haryana, UP, Punjab, and Rajasthan seeking reports on pollutants emitted by thermal power plants in the National Capital Region (NCR). The NGT took action after a recent report found that coal-fired power plants in the NCR huge amounts of sulphur dioxide annually and are responsible for creating 16 times more air pollution than caused by stubble burning, the Times of India reported. The study also found that if 12 coal-based thermal power plants within a 300-km radius of New Delhi fully installed the flue gas desulphurisation system (FGD), it could reduce annual sulphur dioxide emissions by an estimated 67%, significantly benefiting both air quality and public health.

AMERICAS

Relief for developers – The US Department of the Treasury and the IRS released on Wednesday final rules for the investment tax credit for clean energy projects. By finalising the rules offering a tax credit worth 30% of the project cost, the Treasury created certainty for clean energy developers, through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury said in a statement. The rules retain the core framework of the proposal issued in Nov. 2023 while clarifying what is an integral part of biogas properties that qualify for the Section 48 credit. Other changes include a definition of energy projects, offshore wind farms and geothermal heat pump credit claims, a clarification that the credit may be claimed for co-located energy storage, and that energy storage credits could be claimed for hydrogen used for energy and other purposes.

Retirement pushed – One of Wisconsin’s largest coal-fired power plants is getting a new lease on life after its owners decided to push its retirement date, according to a report from E&E News. The 1,100MW Columbia Energy Centre – owned by Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric, and Wisconsin Public Service – said that the plant will continue to run through the end of the decade in order to ensure grid reliability. The companies said they would also evaluate the plant, which was originally slated for closure in 2024, for coal-to-gas conversion in one of its two units. That conversion would satisfy the company’s future capacity needs while “contemplating its renewable resources”, the utilities said.

CBAM struggles – Trinidad and Tobago is set to suffer due to the introduction of CBAM, local media has reported, due to the fact that the country is the second biggest exporter of ammonia to Europe. At a recent climate change forum held in the country’s capital, Port of Spain, attendees heard warnings that Europe accounts for 12-14% of the country’s total exports, with more than 90% of those exports set to be covered by CBAM. At the same forum, Sheena Gosine, adviser to the Minister of Energy, said that in the ministry’s view, natural gas – in which Trinidad and Tobago is abundant – “will be what drives energy transition”, despite the fact that gas is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change. 

In the billions – Helder Barbalho, governor of Para State in Brazil, has predicted at the second Brazil Forum this week that the quantity of carbon credits certified in the state could fetch proceeds of up to R$40 bln ($6.7 bln). These revenues will be returned to “the most vulnerable populations”, he said. Barbalho moreover predicted that by 2027, Para will have issued 300 mln carbon credits. Para has in recent months signed an Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) with the LEAF Coalition, becoming the first Brazilian state to do so. This announcement was followed by criticism by Indigenous groups alleging that they were not consulted, and a rebuke from public prosecutors – and a pledge by Para’s government to do outreach. Para, which is increasingly visible in forestry-based voluntary carbon markets, has also launched a forest concession valued at $44 mln, with successful tenders expected to generate carbon credits from the reforestation process.

Bolivian budget – Bolivian legislators are racing to get a 2025 budget bill over the finish line before the new year, but the legislation contains carbon markets provisions that have prompted opposition by some officials (La Razon). Article 18 of the budget concerns “operations in carbon markets” and empowers the Ministry of Economy and Public Finance to administer carbon markets, transfer credits, and strike deals – including futures – on behalf of the Bolivian government. It also exempts any state payments to carbon market legal or financial consultants from taxes on corporate profits. Notably, the bill states that the finance ministry may or may not opt to engage with carbon trading, in line with treasury needs and the state of contemporary carbon markets. Bolivia has recently undergone a carbon markets ‘U-turn’ since its constitutional court struck down a ban on the sector over the summer. This culminated in a November announcement that the South American government is soliciting help establishing a baseline for the country’s GHG emissions and carbon stock from Laconic, a US-based company. The 2025 Bolivian budget is set to be debated again in the national legislature on Friday.

VOLUNTARY

Digital Gold (Standard) – Gold Standard debuted a new digital assurance platform on Thursday as part of its wider digital strategy which is designed to allow project developers “deliver verified impact more efficiently while maintaining integrity,” it said. The platform helps manage documents and workflow and allows for ease of decision making and engagement. Any company that has contracted and paid for a review before December 5 will be able to conclude their review with the current process, it said. It follows on from the  launch of the SDG Impact tool and  digital Measurement, Reporting and Verification (dMRV) pilot programme. Under the updated system the final certification decision will be taken by a Gold Standard approved Validation and Verification Body (VVB), following a quality check of the project documents and validation or verification report by a reviewer, and a public consultation period.

The lowdown on LoCI – LoCI Controls, which specialises in real-time monitoring and control technology for landfill methane capture, has reported significant results from its portfolio of 10 environmental attribute (EA) projects. The company has reduced emissions by over 436,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. Over the past three years, LoCI said its projects have achieved a 17% average increase in methane capture. LoCI leverages the voluntary carbon market to create revenue streams through offsets issued for these reductions, calculated using an approved methodology. Founded in 2012, LoCI uses patented technology combining on-site measurement and cloud-based software to optimise gas capture at over 65 US landfills.

Howdy partner 1 – Isometric has partnered with seven leading digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (dMRV) providers in carbon removal. Mangrove Systems, Carbonfuture, Cula, Alcove, Offstream, Terraspect, and Bluelayer are all now providing real time data to Isometric, according to an announcement Thursday. Their users can now access Isometric’s platform to issue credits.

Howdy partner 2 – Catona Climate, through its subsidiary Compassionate Carbon, is partnering with the non-profit Eden: People+Planet to finance large-scale nature-based agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) projects. These initiatives aim to restore hundreds of thousands of hectares across the Global South, remove millions of tonnes of CO2, and deliver significant ecological, community, and biodiversity benefits. Catona Climate highlighted the partnership’s potential to scale high-quality carbon credits, attract investment, and create economic and environmental benefits globally.

Howdy partner 3 – The National Audubon Society’s Audubon Conservation Ranching programme has partnered with carbon project developer Kateri to provide ranchers with financial incentives for adopting regenerative land management practices. This collaboration aims to enhance biodiversity, improve bird habitats, and promote soil health through comprehensive grassland restoration. Ranchers managing Audubon Certified bird-friendly lands can now access Kateri’s carbon credit programme, which rewards measurable soil carbon sequestration achieved through managed grazing. This partnership integrates economic and ecological benefits, supporting ranchers while restoring habitats for grassland birds, the organisations said.

SCIENCE & TECH

Concrete jungle – Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), in a project managed by the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), developed and demonstrated a new approach for reducing CO2 emissions in cement production, the lab announced Thursday. The process uses calcium hydroxide for mineralisation in the cement-making process, which removes CO2 from the atmosphere for permanent storage. It also reduces the use of higher-emissions Portland cement in concrete production. NETL Project Manager Kanchan Mondal said the technology is already being commercialised at concrete masonry plants.

AND FINALLY…

Mad cow (additive conspiracy) disease – Social media users in the UK are protesting the trial of Bovaer, a feed additive designed to reduce methane emissions in dairy cows by 30-45%. The additive, tested on 30 Arla Foods farms and approved by UK regulators, has sparked controversy. While experts confirm its safety and claim it does not affect milk or meat, critics have raised concerns over its ingredients, particularly 3-NOP, and unfounded conspiracy theories linking it to Bill Gates and population control. Arla Foods is working with major supermarkets like Tesco, Aldi, and Morrisons to stock products from cows fed Bovaer. Despite assurances from the National Farmers Union and experts, misinformation has spread online, leading to consumer boycotts and farmers distancing themselves from the trial. Videos on platforms like TikTok show users discarding milk in protest, while some MPs have called for further review. DSM-Firmenich, Bovaer’s manufacturer, denies the allegations, emphasising rigorous testing and safety approvals worldwide. Bovaer has been approved by regulators in other countries, including Canada and the US, as farmers in those countries hope to earn carbon offsets for cutting their cattle’s emissions. (BBC)

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