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TOP STORY
BRIEFING: Energy transition remains “unstoppable” despite US pullback, UN chief says
The energy transition is “unstoppable” despite US President Donald Trump’s decision to quit the Paris Agreement and roll back on environmental policies, the UN climate chief said in Davos on Tuesday.
EMEA
Europe’s political leaders cry out for flexibility in meeting EU climate goals
Key political figures in Europe have joined centre-right calls for greater flexibility in meeting EU climate targets, supporting instead a technology-neutral approach that puts renewables, nuclear, and other clean technologies on an equal footing to meet the EU’s decarbonisation objectives.
BRIEFING: UK hoping to avoid overlaps, disparity with EU ETS in Irish Sea shipping
The UK government is looking at how to avoid a disparity in carbon prices in the Irish Sea when it expands its ETS to the domestic maritime sector, according to officials.
Bank of England calls for simplification of climate requirements in bid to spur growth
The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has suggested “there is scope to rationalise” and simplify the climate regulation facing UK financial services in a bid to boost economic growth, in a recent letter sent to Westminster.
Euro Markets: EUAs rally to extend winning streak, matching record after gas spikes on storage news
European carbon prices ended a volatile Tuesday slightly higher, matching the record of nine successive daily increases, after early weakness amid technical signals pointing to an overbought market was brushed aside following a jump in natural gas prices on updated German storage regulations, while UK Allowances steadied after bouncing back from Monday’s record low.
AMERICAS
Quebec considers green economy rollbacks after President Trump’s executive actions -media
Quebec’s green economy plan may shift after US President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders immediately following his inauguration, but the province’s carbon market is not an area of concern, local media reported Tuesday.
US DOE delivers initial $39 mln funding to final two hydrogen hubs
In the waning days of the outgoing Biden administration, the US DOE announced that it had distributed $39 million in early-stage funding to the final two proposals selected as part of the department’s hydrogen hub programme.
EPA grants West Virginia authority over permitting CO2 storage wells
The US EPA has approved West Virginia’s application for primary enforcement authority over Class VI injection wells, enabling the state to regulate CO2 storage projects.
California needs legislative clarity on carbon management, consideration of cost containment, state watchdog says
California’s carbon market watchdog encouraged lawmakers to better elucidate the development of carbon management, environmental justice proposals, and cost containment of the state’s cap-and-trade programme, in a number of recommendations published Thursday.
RGGI Weekly: Frigid weather fuels RGA brief rebound, risks ahead
RGGI allowances (RGAs) in the secondary market stepped higher all through last week as a cold spell blanketed the US Northeast, but traders expect near-term headwinds ahead for prices.
ASIA PACIFIC
Chinese tech giant secures 3 mln nature-based carbon credits
A Chinese tech major has agreed a deal with a California-based climate finance company for the purchase of nature-based carbon removals to 2040.
Australia’s CEFC, Rabobank commits A$200 mln to environmental plantings project developers
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has announced a programme with Rabobank Australia to commit A$200 million ($124 mln) to help reduce upfront costs of environmental plantings carbon projects in the country.
Woodside reports net emissions drop, as it expands South American carbon project
Australian oil and gas producer Woodside Energy says it has reduced its net emissions in 2024 compared to its baseline even as its overall gross emissions rose, as the company expanded a carbon credit project in South America.
INTERNATIONAL
Gas markets to remain tight in 2025, keeping pressure on carbon, IEA says
Global gas markets are expected to remain tight in 2025, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its quarterly market report on Tuesday, suggesting upward pressure on carbon prices will remain in regions like the European Union.
Major economies defend Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in joint statement
Major economies published a joint article to defend the importance of Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) on Tuesday, and to reaffirm their commitment to raising climate finance.
Arab League signs MOU with Qatar-based centre to build Article 6 capacity -media
The Arab League on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Qatari sustainability institution to enhance regional cooperation and build local capacity on carbon markets, according to reports in regional media.
VOLUNTARY
Policy incentives needed to balance CDR development given wide price spreads -survey
More policy incentives are needed to encourage the nascent carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector, given a wide gap in price perceptions among market participants, according to results of a recent pricing survey.
Verra approves first carbon credits from improved agricultural land management
Verra has approved the first Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) from an offset project developed based on improved agricultural land management (IALM) practices.
Pricing carbon internally is key for corporate climate leadership, says non-profit
Using an internal carbon price is one of the four key levers that companies must pull in order to be a climate leader, although only 41% of corporate frontrunners are doing so thus far, said a non-profit during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Digital verification company expands into ARR carbon projects
A carbon project verification company has announced its expansion to cover afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) activities, it said Tuesday.
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.
Singapore president calls for integrating carbon, biodiversity credit markets
Integrating biodiversity and water credits into the voluntary carbon market (VCM) could help better address the existing funding gap on nature, the president of Singapore told an event at the ongoing World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday.
Australia more than doubles annual land clearing rate in 2024, analysis finds
The Australian government approved the clearing of more than 25,000 hectares of threatened species habitat in 2024, more than double compared to the previous year, according to an analysis published Tuesday.
Expert questions marketing of biodiversity net gain units as voluntary credits
An academic has questioned the marketing of English biodiversity net gain (BNG) units as voluntary biodiversity credits due to issues with the metric.
Microsoft funds Swedish biodiversity credit project
A Swedish project that protects and restores valuable butterfly habitat is able to continue and expand after Microsoft provided funding for a local non-profit to buy all the biodiversity credits generated from the project over a two-year period.
South Australia puts first Biodiversity Act out for consultations
The government of South Australia (SA) has opened public consultations on the draft text of the state’s first Biodiversity Act aimed at enhancing nature protection, including through establishing conservation targets and increasing penalties for environmental crimes.
EU met 70% of its 2030 pledges on soil conservation, analysis shows
Nearly 70% of EU commitments on soil protection and restoration have been fulfilled to date, though some key measures still hang in the balance, according to an assessment released by the European Commission.
Replanet considers landscape-scale biodiversity credit measurements
Project developer Replanet is considering how to make measuring biodiversity credits from landscape-scale initiatives of up to 300,000 hectares affordable, despite a lack of demand.
Biodiversity Pulse: Tuesday January 21, 2025
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).
COMMENT
The UK ETS’ inbuilt advantage means reforms can take more time
This spring, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet to discuss UK-EU relations and future areas of cooperation as the new relationship between the two develops. Linking the UK and EU ETS could be on the agenda.
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EVENTS
Calyx Webinar: 5 Ways to Minimize Environmental and Social Risk – Jan. 29 – As a carbon credit buyer you want to maximize your impact and minimize your risk. Join sustainable development experts as they share strategies for decreasing environmental and social risks in carbon projects so you can make informed purchasing decisions and investments. Register now!
Carbon Forward Asia – Mar. 4-5, Singapore – Our third annual Asian conference will once again be held in Singapore. Like at our past events, we’re excited to bring together experts from Asia Pacific to talk ASEAN markets, regional opportunities, developments in local and global carbon pricing, and all the topics you need to hear about across a stimulating two days. Register here
North American Carbon World (NACW) – Mar. 25-27, Los Angeles – The annual NACW conference addresses the most pressing issues in climate policy and carbon markets to the largest gathering of climate professionals in North America. NACW 2025 will dive into major new policies and developments that will shape and scale carbon markets and climate solutions with integrity and ambition. In addition to outstanding speakers, discussions, and insights, NACW provides premier networking opportunities with an active and engaged audience of carbon professionals. Join us for the content, community, and connections for successfully navigating the low-carbon landscape and advancing market-based climate solutions. www.nacwconference.com
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Premium job listings
- Forest Carbon Sales Manager, Manulife Investment Management Timberland And Agriculture – Boston/Remote
- Assistant Director, Carbon Markets, Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) – Washington DC/at Asia Society Centers in US, India, Korea, Japan, Australia, France, or Switzerland
- Senior Program Officer, Carbon Markets, Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) – Washington DC/at Asia Society Centers in US, India, Korea, Japan, Australia, France, or Switzerland
See all listings or post a job
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ADVERTISING BROCHURE
Carbon Pulse has published its 2025 advertising brochure and media pack, featuring updated offerings and prices. With that, bookings are now open for advertising on our website and in our newsletters.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
INTERNATIONAL
COP-a-Lago – Brazil has appointed veteran climate diplomat Andre Aranha Correa do Lago as president of the COP30 UN climate summit, set to take place in November in Belem. Correa do Lago, a career diplomat and experienced climate negotiator, brings extensive knowledge of multilateral climate processes and sustainable development. Ana Toni, secretary of climate change, will serve as COP30 CEO, while Environment Minister Marina Silva will have no formal role. Correa do Lago’s appointment has been well-received by climate advocates, with observers praising his expertise and respect within the international climate community. However, Indigenous leaders have called for stronger inclusion of Indigenous voices, given the Amazon’s significance in climate discussions. COP30 will be pivotal, marking the first assessment of new national climate commitments since the Paris Agreement’s adoption. Brazil has pledged to cut emissions by 59-67% from 2005 levels by 2035, mainly by preserving its forests, though concerns remain about its ongoing fossil fuel expansion. Key issues on the COP30 agenda include transitioning from fossil fuels, enhancing global adaptation efforts, and advancing climate finance. Wealthy nations are expected to channel $300 bln annually to developing countries by 2035, with a larger $1.3 trillion goal for total climate finance under the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’. Do Lago’s presidency breaks a recent pattern of COP leaders with ties to the fossil fuel sector, contrasting with his predecessors at COP28 in Dubai and COP29 in Baku. (Climate Home)
EMEA
Backpedalling – European asset managers are following their US counterparts in backstepping on a public show of climate action while still quietly assessing risks and new regulations, said industry stakeholders speaking to the FT. At a recent meeting to discuss putting pressure on Shell over its oil and gas growth strategy, there was a notable lack of asset managers who had joined in filing climate resolutions in the past, according to those present. European financial institutions have largely gone further and faster than US counterparts on climate pledges, but are now grappling with the difficulty of putting into practice commitments to cut GHG emissions across their balance sheets, as the wider economy is slower to wean itself off fossil fuels than previously expected. The financial industry is now scrutinised more than ever on these issues and the balance of risk on ESG has also changed, said one executive. European investors are now less willing to back climate resolutions at annual meetings, though several top European asset managers say a focus on climate will continue to be a priority.
New backer – Athens has joined the growing call for the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, becoming the 18th major world capital and 130th local government worldwide to formally back the proposal. The international mechanism framework would aim to end the expansion of fossil fuels and phase out oil, gas, and coal extraction by managing and financing a global just transition for workers and communities to benefit from a sustainable energy transition. In a recent survey about climate change conducted in January in Athens, 61% of respondents said that climate change is now evident in the city all year round, 80% agreed that inter-municipal cooperation is needed to tackle the new reality, and 90% of participants were in favour of cooperation with other cities in the world through such a treaty. Athens is experiencing more intense and frequent heatwaves and a higher risk of flooding due to climate change, while the risks to health, social cohesion, and the economy are also growing. Athens joins cities including London, Paris, Rome, Dublin, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam in backing calls for the treaty, said the statement Tuesday.
Airport solar – The operator of Rome Fiumicino airport opened a solar farm on Monday designed to cut its CO2 emissions by more than 11,000 tonnes annually. The facility built by Enel and network service provider Circet extends for almost 2.5 km and has a peak capacity of 22 MW, aiming to reach 60 MW in the next five years with further panels. This makes it the largest self-consumption photovoltaic system in a European airport, and one of the largest systems in the world within an airport perimeter, Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) claims. ADR, which manages Fiumicino, said the project was worth around €50 mln, part of its broader €200 mln plan of investments on renewables and sustainable mobility. The Italian government aims to add more than 35 GW of green energy capacity by 2030 through photovoltaic plants. The project was praised by Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin for not using land of high agricultural value to achieve the goal of decarbonisation. (Reuters)
Wind farm tax – The Swedish government on Tuesday proposed raising the property tax on wind farms to 0.5% of the taxation value from 0.2% currently, bringing it in line with that of other forms of electricity generation. The law’s amendment is proposed to enter into force on Jan. 1 of 2026, Sweden’s finance ministry said in a statement. (Reuters)
Market activation – Nigeria is hoping to activate a $2 bln carbon market there by 2030, helping to create job opportunities and generate lots of revenue through offsets in the forestry, agriculture, and energy sectors. “It will also help to sustain the environment in terms of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem,” said Nnaemeka Chukwuone, director, resource and environmental policy research (REPRC), UNN, Environment for Development (EfD) initiative, Nigeria, at a one-day workshop in Abuja on Monday. The workshop was tagged “Exploring the Potentials and Voluntary Carbon Market” and was organised by the REPRC/EfD initiative. Carbon markets are key to transitioning to a low-carbon economy, said a speaker from REPRC, which was established to advance research on environmental economics. Efficient implementation of a carbon market in Nigeria would help the country achieve its NDC and would bring economic and environmental benefits to the nation, the event heard.
Czech that out! – Iraq continued its succession of carbon markets overtures to Western countries on Monday when Iraqi Environment Minister Halo Askari received Czech Ambassador Jan Snaidauf in Baghdad to discuss reducing environmental pollution. The two officials discussed mechanisms for Iraq to benefit from Czech carbon markets expertise and cooperation with EU countries, among other topics (Iraqi News Agency). The meeting comes on the heels of a UK-Iraq Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last week regarding energy transition and carbon markets, as well as reports that Iraq is working toward operationalising the Paris Agreement by reviewing sustainable development-oriented carbon projects and discussing ‘cooperative approaches’. Last summer, then-Iraqi Environment Minister Nizar Amidi also met with the Canadian ambassador to discuss a potential MOU on carbon markets cooperation.
ASIA PACIFIC
Steel and coal – China led global coal consumption in steelmaking in 2022, using 508 Mt of coking coal and 221 Mt of thermal coal, followed by India, Japan, and South Korea, according to a report published Tuesday by Global Efficiency Intelligence. At the company level, leading steelmakers such as China Baowu, ArcelorMittal, and Nippon Steel are among the largest consumers of coal. The steel industry is the dominant consumer of coking coal, accounting for around 75% of global coking coal usage while consuming around 5% of the global thermal coal supply. In 2022, steel production used around 755 Mt of coking coal and 389 Mt of thermal coal. All coking coal and most thermal coal are used by plants adopting the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) steelmaking method, the report showed.
Fundraising – Tokyo-headquartered project developer Faeger has raised 1.17 billion yen ($7.5 mln) in its latest fundraising round, according to a company statement released this week. Faeger, which established its Vietnamese subsidiary last year to expand agricultural carbon offset projects, said it will continue its overseas expansion in Southeast Asia with the investment.
Passed the test – Hazer Group, an Australian company focussing on the production of low-carbon hydrogen and graphite through a patented process, said it had completed the test programme of its Commercial Demonstration Plant (CDP) in Perth. The company said in a quarterly update to the ASX Tuesday its CDP achieved over 1,250 hours of production in total for the year, describing its Hazer Process as de-risked and commercially ready. The next generation of the reactor at its plant is designed to demonstrate large-scale commercial levels of more than 20,000 t/hydrogen per year, with installation and testing of the reactor to begin in 2025, co-funded by the Western Australian state government. The company is also pursuing project and business development of its patented technology, which it says has a lower levelised cost of hydrogen compared to electrolysis or steam methane reforming, in Canada and Japan.
Win against logging – An Australia logging company has withdrawn plans to log rainforest in the Solomon Islands after lengthy protests from the local community. Domavola was given permission by the government in 2022 for its planned operations in Vangunu, Marovo, Western Province, according to the Solomon Star. The decision against was confirmed last week. Protests against the plan began in 2020 to protect forest described by locals as a ‘precious relic’.
Solar Arrow – Arrow Energy, a coal seam gas exploration and production company jointly owned by Shell and PetroChina, has lodged plans with Australia’s federal environment watchdog for a solar farm development it hopes will cut operational emissions. Arrow has been developing the large Surat Gas Project in Queensland to feed one of the three LNG export consortia in the state, Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) operated by Shell. The SCP North Solar Farm will be a 17 megawatt peak facility within 62 hectares on the project site in the Surat Basin, one of Australia’s most prolific CSG provinces.
Approved – India’s biggest project developer EKI Energy has received approval from the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its emission reduction targets of aligning with the 1.5C climate scenario. Under SBTi’s standards EKI has committed to a 42% reduction in its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 2030, using 2023 as its base year in the near-term and will also set ambitious net zero target in future in line with global target, the firm said in a statement.
Greenwashing database – Malaysia has more corporate and state greenwashing cases than its neighbours Singapore and Brunei, data from environmental watchdog RimbaWatch has found. According to the Zero Greenwashing Alliance Guidelines and Database released Monday, Malaysia recorded 12 of the 17 cases observed among the three nations since Jan. 1, 2020, and of the of the remaining cases, three were detected in Singapore and one in Brunei. The newly-launched database is benchmarked against international standards and even though Malaysia has been ranked as the highest, the rankings may change as the database is increasingly populated in the coming months, RimbaWatch Director Adam Farhan said.
AMERICAS
LNG law in limbo – A federal appeals court last week struck down a Trump-era rule permitting the transport of LNG by rail without special permits, E&E reports. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) failed to adequately assess the public safety and environmental risks of transporting the highly flammable fuel. Judge Florence Pan, writing the unanimous opinion, highlighted catastrophic risks of LNG transport, including potential explosions, fires, and release of freezing, flammable vapour clouds. The prior Biden administration had paused the rule in 2023, but the court’s decision sends the matter back to PHMSA for a more thorough risk evaluation before any future rulemaking on LNG rail transport proceeds.
Efficiency rule rift – A coalition of 21 state attorneys general, along with several business groups, filed a petition on Friday challenging the DOE’s new energy efficiency standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. The DOE, in its final rule, determined that the amended energy conservation standards would result in significant energy savings and emissions reductions over a 30-year period. The petition, submitted to the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals, includes attorneys general from states such as Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, alongside industry groups such as the National Propane Gas Association, the American Gas Association, and the National Association of Home Builders. (E&E)
Race heats up – Karnia Gould, federal Liberal MP for Burlington, Ontario, and former leader of the Government in the House of Commons, has announced her Liberal Party leadership bid as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exits. Gould told local reporters she will look to freeze the carbon tax and cancel an increase scheduled for the spring. She adds her name to a growing list of leadership hopefuls including frontrunners Chrystia Freeland, former finance minister and deputy prime minister, and Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, as well as Chandra Arya, Liberal MP for Nepean, Ontario; Jaime Battiste, Liberal MP for Sydney-Victoria, Nova Scotia; and Frank Baylis, former Liberal MP for Pierrefonds-Dollard, Quebec.
VOLUNTARY
Don’t leave home without it – American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has launched an emissions-based carbon pricing tool for its clients. This feature allows companies to apply carbon fees to travel based on their chosen carbon methodology rather than a flat rate. Travellers can view the fees while booking, and they can also appear on invoices, helping users stay informed about their carbon impact. The tool supports sustainability goals by directing funds toward initiatives such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), electric vehicles, and research and development. Sanofi, a pharmaceutical and healthcare company, is among the early adopters, using the fees to align economics, sustainability, and technology within its travel programme. Amex GBT highlights this innovation as a step towards empowering clients to address their carbon footprint and invest in decarbonisation efforts. (BTN)
Treefera for farming – AI-enabled data management platform Treefera begun working with Royal Family Farming (RFF) in 2024 to supply the operation with transparent data and usable insights to accelerate regenerative farming efforts. The transparency has helped them refine their practices, certify, and sell carbon credits on the Grow blockchain in record time, and attract buyers to their business, they explained in a video. Historically, it took RFF two years to mint carbon credits, but Treefera was able to mint over 50,000 carbon credits into an NFT (non-fungible token) applied to the blockchain in less than two months, RFF explained.
Portel portal – Three Verra-listed REDD+ projects in the Portel area of Para state, Brazil, have seen deforestation rise in and around the project sites since activities were suspended in 2023, according to data from Chloris Geospatial. These projects were VCS 977, VCS 981, and VCS 2252. The REDD+ initiatives have previously appeared in 2023 litigation by the Para Public Defender’s Office against several entities involved in their development, which cited potential violations of Brazilian legal process as well as potential failure to obtain free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) from affected communities. Verra ultimately suspended the projects, prompting a suit for financial damages by local beneficiary communities involved in VCS 2252 against the voluntary carbon standard. VCS 2252 and VCS 977 were also downgraded by ratings agency BeZero Carbon in early 2023 in response to over-crediting concerns. BeZero stated at the time that baseline assumptions may have overestimated the threat of deforestation.
Mark to market – Carbonmark has launched Carbonmark Direct, a blockchain-enabled platform designed to simplify and accelerate carbon credit issuance for project developers. The platform supports developers using emerging carbon removal methodologies, such as ocean fertilisation, DACCS, BECCS, and enhanced rock weathering. Key features of Carbonmark Direct include faster credit issuance within 2-3 weeks with third-party verification, cost savings by bypassing traditional market infrastructure, enhanced transparency through blockchain-based tracking, and access to a marketplace for listing and managing credits. Carbonmark said its platform addresses challenges faced by emerging technologies, which currently account for a small fraction of global carbon removal but are rapidly growing. By enabling faster and more transparent credit issuance, Carbonmark Direct aims to accelerate the adoption of innovative carbon removal solutions and drive progress toward global net-zero goals.
Lanza bonanza – LanzaTech Global has announced plans to establish LanzaX, a new business unit focused on its synthetic biology platform, as a joint venture with Tharsis Capital LLC. The spin-out aims to accelerate project development in sustainable chemicals while allowing LanzaTech to concentrate on its core biorefining operations, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). LanzaTech expects to complete the spin-out in 2025, reducing annual costs by $8 mln and transferring over 30 employees to LanzaX. LanzaX will benefit from LanzaTech’s existing synthetic biology contracts, a portfolio of over 100 molecules, and commercial expertise in scaling ethanol production. Tharsis Capital will support the venture by exploring investment opportunities. The move is designed to advance biomanufacturing projects, including acetone and isopropanol, leveraging LanzaTech’s global gas fermentation assets. Additionally, LanzaTech has appointed Justin Pugh as Interim CFO. Pugh’s priorities include cost reductions and resource optimisation to bolster SAF production momentum. The company is actively searching for a permanent CFO.
INVESTMENT
Series A raise – Carbon accounting and energy management platform Gravity has raised £13 mln in a Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to over $20 mln, it said in a release Tuesday. The round was led by Ansa Capital, with participation from existing investors Eclipse, Hanover, and Caffeinated Capital, along with new investors Communitas Capital, Buoyant Ventures, and WEX Venture Capital. As part of the round, Marco DeMeireles, co-founder and managing partner of Ansa Capital, will join Gravity’s board of directors. Gravity helps companies by automating data collection and reporting on carbon, while empowering them to reduce their emissions. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force at the start of January.
AND FINALLY…
Extra, extra – New research has revealed that scepticism about the existence of climate change has nearly vanished from British national newspaper opinion pages over the past decade. However, scepticism about policies addressing the climate crisis has slightly increased, the Press Gazette reports. The study, conducted by academics including James Painter of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, analysed 303 editorials and opinion pieces mentioning “climate change” or “global warming” in nine UK newspapers between 2013-14 and 2023-24. Evidence scepticism (denying climate change or questioning its science) dropped from 20% of articles in 2013/14 to 5% in 2023/24. Process scepticism (doubting scientific models or methods) fell from 20% to 1%, while response scepticism (criticising climate policies) rose slightly from 23% to 24%, with criticisms shifting from specific technologies to broader net-zero policies. The Telegraph was singled out for maintaining a strong platform for sceptical views. While evidence and process scepticism in the paper’s articles significantly decreased, response scepticism increased sharply, appearing in 60% of its relevant pieces by 2023-24. Separately, Carbon Brief found 2024 to be the third consecutive record-breaking year for UK newspaper editorials opposing climate action, largely due to concerns about economic impacts. However, over twice as many editorials supported climate action, primarily in left-leaning and centrist publications, with The Guardian leading in supportive coverage. Right-leaning newspapers showed a brief pivot toward supporting climate action in 2020 and 2021 but have since reverted to their earlier sceptical stance.
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