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TOP STORIES
LEAK: Clean Industrial Deal looks to support energy-intensives in decarbonisation
A draft of the Clean Industrial Deal, obtained by Carbon Pulse, promises “a new chapter of European industrial history” focused on supporting energy-intensive industries in their decarbonisation efforts while scaling up the EU’s clean tech sector to reach net zero emissions.
California administrative body rejects LCFS November regulatory revisions
The administrator responsible for reviewing rules put forth by California’s state agencies disapproved the latest amendments to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), according to an after-hours market notice posted on Tuesday.
EMEA
INTERVIEW: Nigeria project expects to generate up to 6 Mt worth of Paris-aligned carbon credits per year
A new entity is being launched to spearhead a project in Nigeria aiming to generate 5-6 million tonnes of carbon removal and avoidance credits related to mangroves and seagrass restoration, with government assurance given that credits can be aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and traded internationally.
EU consults on Finland’s request to expand ETS2 to new sectors
The European Commission on Tuesday put forward a draft decision allowing Finland to unilaterally expand the scope of its Emissions Trading Scheme for road transport and heating fuels (ETS2) to new sectors.
EU lagging behind on carbon removal policies and funding, research shows
The EU and its member states are still lagging behind in establishing the policies and funding mechanisms needed to scale up carbon removals in line with reaching net zero emissions by 2050, according to new research.
EU urged to align its Clean Industrial Deal with moving geopolitics
The EU’s industrial policy choices must reflect evolving geopolitical dynamics and could be used as a platform to develop relations with like-minded nations when it comes to trade in clean technologies and transition minerals, a think tank has said.
Greens warn Commission against merging EU funds for agriculture, regional policy
The Greens in the European Parliament are sounding the alarm over suggestions to merge the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget with EU funds allocated to regional cohesion policy, warning the move could spell disaster for the sustainability of the sector.
Europe’s LNG imports drop as gas demand falls to 11-year low -data
European imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) decreased by 19% in 2024 as gas demand reached an 11-year low, according to fresh data published on Tuesday, suggesting the EU’s gas demand reduction measures adopted in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war are working.
EU approves €2 bln Finnish state aid scheme for industrial decarbonisation
A €2.3 billion Finnish scheme to help industrial companies reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, including via carbon capture and storage, has been approved by the European Commission.
French oil major announces partnership to decarbonise two of its European refineries
A French oil and gas major has teamed up with a gas technology firm to decarbonise its refineries with green hydrogen, in a bid to reduce its CO2 emissions by 450,000 tonnes annually, the companies announced on Tuesday.
Carbon capture pilot to launch at UK energy-from-waste facility, support CCS cluster
A UK waste management company will launch a carbon capture pilot at an energy recovery plant in preparation for the full-scale deployment of new carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at another facility, which will be the first of its kind in the country.
Euro Markets: EUAs continue slump as Brussels clean industrial policy leak sparks late gas volatility
European carbon prices continued their downtrend on Tuesday, breaching several key technical support levels, as the weight of a TTF gas market sell-off for most of the session kept pressure on EUAs, though a leak of the draft EU Clean Industrial Deal Communication that emerged in the afternoon, containing a more flexible approach to gas storage, spurred some late gas volatility.
AMERICAS
PREVIEW: LCFS kerfuffle could impact sub-$30 clear expected for Q1 WCI auction absent regulatory clarity
Most market participants and analysts polled expect California-Quebec’s first quarterly current vintage carbon allowance sale of 2025 to clear between the programme’s floor and $30, amidst uncertainty regarding the timeline of programme updates, with after-hours complications from Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) stalled regulatory updates.
RGGI Market: Compliance demand drives up RGAs amidst cold front
RGGI allowance (RGA) prices rose around 2% last week amidst a cold weather front in the US Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, while ongoing rulemaking uncertainty clouds outlook, market participants said.
Iowa energy bill stirs CO2 pipeline opposition as it advances through subcommittee
An Iowa bill designed to advance the state’s energy systems passed through a subcommittee Monday while attracting grassroots pushback in response to certain provisions related to carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).
US-based low-carbon cement startup raises $82 mln in Series B funding
A US-based low-carbon building materials company has secured $82 million in Series B equity commitments from a consortium of financial and strategic investors to accelerate the deployment of its technology.
US renewable fuels industry supports reciprocal tariffs to combat over 90% drop in ethanol exports to Brazil
A renewable fuels industry group voiced support last week for President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on Brazilian ethanol as US exports to the South American country have plunged over 90% since 2018 faced with a high barrier to entry.
Paraguay unveils regulation of carbon market law
Paraguayan ministries unveiled Tuesday a decree regulating a national carbon market law they expect to spur investment in the country.
BRIEFING: Canadian investors step up support for climate resolutions amid global withdrawals
An assessment of select Canadian investors found an increase in support for climate-related shareholder proposals through 2024, amid global departures from such activist resolutions and decarbonisation-focused alliances.
Canadian tech company offers C$5 mln in equity to finance diesel engine efficiency add-on
A Canadian green tech company placed an offering of up to C$5 million ($3.5 mln) in shares on Friday to finance the sale of its hydrogen-on-demand device for diesel engines.
Alberta announces C$55 mln towards reducing emissions, improving industry competitiveness
The Government of Alberta has announced an investment of nearly C$55 million ($39 mln) in 15 projects aimed at reducing GHG emissions and improving the competitiveness of the province’s industries.
ASIA PACIFIC
Japan releases NDC, energy policy to 2040
Japan has approved three sets of policies that will shape the trajectory of the country’s emissions trends and energy development through 2040, including finalising its next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
INTERVIEW: ACCU futures interest grows despite slow start, CME executive says
Behind-the-scenes work is underway by entities looking to use futures contracts in Australia’s carbon market as demand is expected to grow, despite the current lack of liquidity, according to the head of one such futures exchange.
New Zealand’s Fonterra announces cash payments to farmers that cut emissions
New Zealand dairy co-op Fonterra will introduce payments for farms that achieve emissions reductions below certain thresholds, it announced Tuesday.
INTERNATIONAL
Investor backing for climate resolutions hits new low as top asset managers reject proposals -report
Major asset managers opposed most climate resolutions in 2024, with only two out of 73 passing in their worst voting performance yet, a report released on Tuesday said.
VOLUNTARY
Voluntary carbon integrity initiative seeks views on host country support scheme
A voluntary carbon integrity initiative has opened a call for proposals to help it evaluate its support programme for host countries that are looking to scale international market engagement.
Carbon removal standard updates registry, certification platforms
A carbon removal standard has unveiled a series of updates to its registry and certification platform, including new durability labels on issuances.
Standards-setter approves dMRV pilots in effort to boost verification
A carbon standards-setter has approved three new digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (dMRV) pilot projects aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and access to climate finance in its projects, it announced on Tuesday.
Carbon market veteran debuts app for individual investors
A carbon market veteran on Tuesday announced the launch of a new mobile app that will allow retail investors to participate in what has historically been a corporate-dominated market.
First marine carbon removal tests show “minimal” impacts on wildlife, but more needed
Early monitoring, reporting, and verification findings for a marine carbon removal project suggest “minimal” environmental impact from the removal process, although further large-scale testing is needed, according to the California-based developer.
More investment funds to launch carbon credit portfolios in 2025, predicts trade body
There stands to be more investment funds moving in develop carbon credit portfolios this year, according to the head of a carbon industry body.
BRIEFING: Collaboration between cities vital to accelerate CDR deployment -experts
Shared knowledge and strategies between cities can serve as a crucial tool for advancing CO2 removal (CDR) efforts to deliver a gigatonne-scale impact, experts said at a webinar Tuesday.
AVIATION
Available CORSIA credit supply pool around 200 mln, says ratings agency
Some 200 million credits currently available in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) are likely to be eligible for CORSIA Phase 1 (2024-26), according to analysis published on Tuesday by a ratings agency.
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.
Voluntary biodiversity credit sales hit $5.6 mln, report estimates
Sales of voluntary biodiversity credits have hit almost $5.6 million globally, with Australasian projects dominating the transactions, according to analysts.
Marine biodiversity credits attracting high interest, alliance says
Marine biodiversity credits are attracting a lot of interest from market actors, though transaction values are growing slowly, a Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA) executive has said.
National biodiversity plans falling short of key UN targets, study shows
No country has so far released a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that meets all the requirements for conserving and restoring 30% of lands and waters by 2030 as required under UN targets, a study has shown.
French govt eyes expansion of national biodiversity credit scheme
A committee brought together by the French government gathered this week to lay the groundwork for expanding the national biodiversity credit market, with five organisations ready to generate units over the next couple of years.
Biodiversity Pulse: Tuesday February 18, 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).
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EVENTS
Webinar: How to do offtakes right with Frontier, DLA Piper, and Supercritical – Feb. 20 (1700 GMT/1200 EST) – Join us for a free practical session on securing carbon removal to meet your net zero goal. This expert-led webinar will explore the key considerations for designing high-quality offtake agreements that support both climate goals and business priorities. Whether you’re new to offtakes or looking to refine your approach, you’ll gain actionable insights into building agreements that de-risk early-stage technologies, maximize impact, and align with your net zero strategy. Register
Carbon Removal Day – Feb. 27, Ottawa – Carbon Removal Canada invites you to Policy to Progress: Carbon Removal Day 2025, a conference dedicated to exploring the opportunities and challenges in advancing Canada’s carbon removal sector. Join us to discuss current solutions in action, how we can continue to drive innovation, and create the conditions for scaling carbon removal technologies. Register
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
EVision 2025 – Mar. 5-6, Brussels – An energy system transitioning to net zero requires more flexibility. Electric vehicles can be a great source of flexibility for Europe’s energy system, but their potential remains largely untapped today. Eurelectric together with EY will quantify EVs potential, benefits to the power sector and costs savings for consumers at EVision 2025: power sector accelerating e-mobility at Autoworld. Register
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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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
INTERNATIONAL
GCF approvals – The UN Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved eight projects, allocating $483.1 mln in climate funding across 31 developing countries, Argus reported. Of the approved projects, five are focused on climate adaptation and three on adaptation and mitigation. The GCF will consider four more projects — which would allocate around $253.7 mln — during its board meeting, taking place from Feb. 17-20. The GCF is the world’s largest climate fund and was originally capitalised with $10.3 bln in 2015. However, the US rescinded “outstanding pledges” to the fund earlier this month, thought to amount to around $4 bln.
EU-Mexico – The EU and Mexico agreed to cooperate on tackling climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss at a meeting on Feb. 13 in Mexico City, the EU Commission said in a press release. Discussions covered carbon pricing, the protection of biodiversity and forests, and water resilience. Participants also explored sustainable use of natural resources in line with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and agreed to work together this year to combat deforestation.
EMEA
CCS workers – Most carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the UK are in the early development stages, awaiting financial investment decision (FID), meaning most CCS roles (91%) are office-based, according to a workforce census conducted by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB). CCS employers expects a 12% increase in their workforce numbers over the next three years as the industry expands, it found, even though FID delays have slowed the sector down. Between Dec. 2023 and Dec. 2024, the average announced FID date for projects was delayed by seven months, it found. London and the surrounding areas are the primary workforce hotspot for CCS due to its development phase, though other important locations include the outskirts of Liverpool up to Manchester, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, and Winchester. Key roles include process, mechanical and project engineers, professionals in procurement, planning, estimating, and project managers. The CCS sector has a higher proportion of workers under 30 (22%) and also employs a higher proportion of women compared to the broader ECI workforce (21% versus 17%). The sector now accounts for 1.2% of the overall engineering construction industry workforce.
Different approach – The almost £22 bln pledged by the UK government to support CCS development will only cover about a quarter of the carbon storage needed – and just 2% of the UK’s total emissions, according to a Feb. 7 report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, and highlighted by co-founders of the Carbon Balance Initiative. They argue new policy approaches are needed to protect public finances while accelerating essential carbon storage development. Transitioning from subsidies to market mechanisms like the UK ETS to support CCS will be insufficient to drive private investment in storage infrastructure, they say, as carbon prices aren’t high enough, leading to a risk of missed climate targets. Instead, they propose a mixed policy approach that combines existing market mechanisms with a carbon storage mandate, specifically a Carbon Takeback Obligation (CTBO), which would require fossil fuel producers and suppliers to permanently store a rising percentage of their CO2 emissions. Doing so would enable a reduction of taxpayer subsidies while costs are fairly distributed across the fossil fuel value chain, they argue in the letter published on the University of Oxford website.
Bavarian coal goodbye – Southern German state Bavaria will retire its last major coal plant this week as the plant situated in Zolling near Munich has been used less and less, public broadcaster BR reported. The plant with a capacity of 500 MW will be taken off the grid on Feb. 21. The decision to retire the plant was already made in 2022, after operator Onyx Power was awarded more than €46 mln in an auction by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) in return for transferring the Zolling plant into Germany’s reserve, where it will remain ready to be used as backup capacity if needed until 2031. The plant had a utilisation ratio of only 24% in 2024, half as much as 10 years before, BR said. Also, the decommissioning of the nearby Isar 2 nuclear plant did not change the shrinking need for using the coal plant. Germany’s total coal use in 2024 was at its lowest level in decades and the country aims to end coal-fired power production in 2038 at the very latest.
Germany’s manufacturing woes – Germany has lost almost a quarter of a million manufacturing jobs since the start of the Covid pandemic due to the effects of high energy costs, consumer malaise, and fierce competition from China, the FT reports. The trend has piled pressure on political parties to find a solution, with German voters preparing to go to the polls on Sunday, and Friedrich Merz, tipped to be next chancellor and leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), warning that the country risks deindustrialisation with industrial groups going abroad. German manufacturing decline has been masked by strong employment growth in sectors such as communications, real estate, healthcare, and defence. But among the hardest-hit industrial sectors such as automotive, the loss has been significant, with some 11,000 jobs lost last year alone among German car suppliers. Automotive companies have fallen significantly in market value over the period. Energy-intensive companies such as chemical producers have been hit by high energy costs, leading some plants to cut capacity or shut down, faced with cheaper imports from abroad.
CBAM money – France, Italy and Poland have called for expanding the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to new sectors as part of ongoing EU budget talks, saying the bloc needs fresh money to repay its Covid-19 debt, reports E&E news. The three countries argue that the EU desperately needs new revenue streams and that the carbon border tariff could be a solution as part of talks on the EU’s next seven-year budget for 2028-2034. The EU’s CBAM currently covers six sectors: aluminium, cement, electricity, fertilisers, hydrogen, and iron & steel. The European Commission was due to publish a report this year looking at the potential for expanding the mechanism to downstream products and indirect emissions, as well as organic chemicals and polymers. But the EU executive recently indicated that the proposal would be delayed until 2026. CBAM is being phased in over an eight-year period running from 2026 to 2034, at the same time as free allowances under the EU EU ETS are being phased out.
Market partners – Government leaders from Pakistan and Germany met this week at the former’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) to advance Pakistan’s carbon market policies and infrastructure. The discussions focused on leveraging climate financing to support Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Secretary of the MoCC&EC, Aisha Humaera, expressed optimism about Germany’s technical and capacity-building support, highlighting Pakistan’s goal of completing its first carbon market transaction and signing bilateral agreements under Article 6 this year. Germany has been assisting Pakistan through the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) programme, led by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The initiative, implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and other partners, aims to enhance Pakistan’s regulatory framework and institutional capacity for carbon trading. Germany reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s carbon market integrity, noting that market-based climate action could drive emissions reductions and sustainable growth. Discussions also covered developing viable carbon market projects, such as the Lakhodair Landfill Project in Punjab, and establishing bilateral agreements for carbon transactions. (APP)
Old cars – The Global Impact Coalition (GIC) launched on Tuesday a pilot project to recycle plastics from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the Netherlands and Germany. The initiative, designed in partnership with seven companies in the chemical and recycling industries, seeks to dismantle, shred, and sort plastic fractions from 100 ELVs, which will then be recycled with specific technologies. “This pilot aims to validate the scalability of solutions capable of achieving these targets, ensuring significant impact, and reducing the current reliance on landfilling and incineration,” GIC said in a press release.
African launch – The Women in Carbon network has expanded into South Africa, with the official launch happening on Tuesday, it told Carbon Pulse in an emailed statement the same day. Shelley Estcourt (CEO of TASC) and Mushra Hartley (global operations manager at IETA) are leading the launch. More inclusive leadership and diverse skills and perspectives in carbon markets can foster innovation and drive impactful environmental and social benefits, the email stated.
Dying to join – Sustainable dye startup SeaDyes has joined the James Hutton Institute, securing £75,000 from Scottish Enterprise to advance its innovative seaweed-based dyes.Founded in July 2023, SeaDyes aims to provide an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic dyes, which contribute 140,000 tonnes of pollution annually and make the textile industry a major source of CO₂ emissions and wastewater pollution. By collaborating with the James Hutton Institute, SeaDyes will benefit from its research and facilities, accelerating the commercialisation of its sustainable dye technology. The funding will support the scaling-up of production and contribute to Scotland’s growing bioeconomy, the company said.
ASIA PACIFIC
Pho-ssil free – Vietnam has approved a plan to transition from coal to clean energy, starting with two plants which will cease operations by 2030: the 440 MW Pha Lai facility in Hai Duong province and the 100 MW Ninh Binh plant, given they fail to reduce emissions. During this period, the country will pilot carbon capture systems and increase its renewable energy share to 29-38%, whilst completing the Ninh Thuan nuclear project within five years. Between 2030-2040, Vietnam will halt approval of new coal plants and require existing facilities to gradually transition to co-firing with biomass and ammonia. By 2045, the country plans to develop 1,160 MW of clean energy to replace three specific coal plants (Pha Lai 2, Na Duong, and Formosa Dong Nai), whilst converting 18,642 MW of coal capacity to co-firing and another 6,990 MW to run entirely on biomass and ammonia. By 2050, all remaining coal plants must either switch to clean fuels or add carbon capture systems, with coal power being completely phased out.
Nuclear budget – Singapore will invest S$5 billion ($3.7 bln) into its Future Energy Fund to support capacity building as the city-state is ramping up efforts to secure clean energy by expanding electricity imports and exploring nuclear power, prime minister Lawrence Wong said during his budget speech to the parliament. The country is also studying the potential deployment of small modular reactors. Agreements have been signed with the US on civil nuclear cooperation, with further partnerships planned, Wong added. The country expects that about 1/3 of its projected electricity demand by 2035 will be met through electricity imports. Additionally, Singapore will inject S$5 bln into the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund, with Wong highlighting the nation’s vulnerability to rising sea levels. (Business Times)
Largest of its kind – The energy storage arm of Chinese batteries and electric vehicles maker BYD has signed what it claims to be the world’s largest grid-scale energy storage project (12.5GWh) with Saudi Electricity Company, according to a company statement released this week. Combined with the previously delivered 2.6GWh project, the total cooperation now has amounted to a massive 15.1GWh of contracts, BYD said.
Attention – Seven of the eight largest delivery companies in China have established internal frameworks to respond to climate risk, according to a report released Tuesday Greenpeace East Asia. Most delivery majors, except YTO Express, have included climate risk as an ESG issue with governance frameworks under the board of directors. The report also highlighted the need for a stronger assessment of physical risk from extreme weather, stronger disclosure, and more scientific management of risk.
Expo e-Gas – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Osaka Gas have launched a digital platform for CO2 trading to make transfer and management of Clean Gas Certificates easier. These certify the environmental value of e-methane, MHI said Tuesday. These will be used during the six-month Expo 2025 held in Osaka from April. The CO2NNEX platform will be used during the Expo to support Osaka Gas’ e-methane production and utilization demonstration by accumulating data and providing visibility on the amount of e-methane biogas produced, as well as its raw materials like CO2 and hydrogen, and CO2 emissions throughout the life cycle, it said. E-methane typically uses renewable electricity to bind waste CO2 to hydrogen, creating an indistinguishable ‘synthetic’ methane.
Malaysia offers new oil blocks – Malaysia’s last oil and gas acreage offer closed this week with 14 production sharing contracts (PSCs) signed and the launch of the 2025 bid round. PSCs govern revenue sharing between the state and oil and gas operators. The last two PSCs from the prior round were signed by a consortium made up of state oil company Petronas, Inpex, and SMJ Energy. The upcoming bid round offers five blocks in the Malay and Penyu basins offshore the coast of Sabah.
AMERICAS
Deleted docs – The Trump administration has removed public documents from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) websites detailing plans to allocate $1.35 bln in federal funds for climate mitigation and racial equity efforts, E&E News reported. The documents, which outlined funding priorities for major disaster grant programmes, were taken down as the administration moved to scale back government climate and diversity initiatives. Originally published before President Trump took office, the documents reflected efforts by the Biden administration and Congress to expand funding for projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure against disasters. One of the removed documents warned of increasing climate hazards and encouraged adaptation measures.
LNG liftoff – The US DOE has granted a conditional export authorisation to the Commonwealth LNG project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, allowing it to export LNG to non-free trade agreement countries. This marks the first such approval since the Trump administration lifted a pause on LNG export permits imposed under the Biden-Harris administration. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the move aligns with President Trump’s agenda to expand US energy exports. Commonwealth LNG, owned by Kimmeridge Texas Gas, is expected to export over 1.2 bln cubic feet per day once operational. The DOE anticipates issuing a final order later this year.
EV busses blocked – A Missouri school district’s plan to add 24 electric buses using a US EPA grant has been stalled due to a federal funding freeze imposed by the Trump administration. The Ritenour School District, located in northwestern St. Louis County, received three buses on Feb. 4, but cannot access funds to pay for the remaining 21. The funding, provided through the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, is currently suspended as the administration halts payments for the EPA’s electric bus programme, leaving the buses stranded at a supplier’s lot in Illinois. (E&E News)
Primacy granted – The US EPA has approved West Virginia’s request to regulate Class VI wells for CO2 injection, granting the state primacy under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Signed by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the decision allows West Virginia to oversee underground carbon storage while ensuring groundwater protection. This marks the fourth state to receive such authority since 2018 and the third under the Trump administration. The move is part of the administration’s broader effort to expand state control over environmental regulations and advance energy production. The rule will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Arctic research melts away – The Arctic Ice Project, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to preserving Arctic sea ice to mitigate climate change, has announced it will conclude its research and wind down operations after more than a decade of studying surface albedo modification to slow Arctic ice loss. While climate simulations showed promising results, ecotoxicological tests indicated further study was needed, extending the research timeline beyond what was feasible given financial constraints and scepticism toward geoengineering. COP10 established a moratorium on climate-related geoengineering efforts. Geoengineering involves large-scale interventions in the earth’s oceans, soils, and atmosphere in order to address the symptoms of climate change, often on a temporary basis. In the coming months, the organisation will publish its final scientific findings, make research publicly available, and distribute remaining assets to other climate research organisations.
Clean hydrogen round – Vema Hydrogen has raised $13 mln of fresh capital in an over-subscribed seed round, co-led by Extantia Capital with Propeller Ventures, and with further participation from Zero Carbon Capital, Pace Ventures, and existing investor Grantham Foundation, according to a press release. The startup working on stimulated geologic hydrogen (SGH) has technology to harness naturally occurring reactions that produce hydrogen underground. A brine solution containing catalysts is injected into shallow geological formations, where it reacts with iron bearing minerals to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen is then extracted and can be used to generate electricity, heat, or green chemicals, and fuel. The funds from this round will primarily be used for the development of the first clusters of full-scale SGH pilot wells in North America. It aims to produce clean hydrogen for under $1/kg. Hydrogen demand reached 97 mln tonnes in 2023, equivalent to about 2.5% of global final energy consumption and about 3% of GHG emissions per year.
Funding future fuels – Hydron Energy, a Canadian renewable natural gas and hydrogen company based in British Columbia (BC), has secured funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program and Innovate BC through the BC Fast Pilot Program to advance its direct air capture (DAC) and rare gas production technology. The funding aims to support the development and demonstration of Hydron’s Intensified Regenerative Upgrading Platform Technology (INTRUPTor), a gas separation system designed to extract CO2 and rare gases at low cost for renewable fuel production. The technology is expected to be piloted with a US aviation company and a Canadian e-fuel producer.
Brazil NbS boss – The Brazil NBS Alliance – a group of carbon project developers and NGOs involved in NbS – announced Monday Julie Messias as its new executive director. According to the group, Messias has held senior positions at the environmental secretariat of the state of Acre and the national biodiversity office of the national environmental ministry. She has also chaired the Forum of Secretaries of the Environment of the Legal Amazon, the Steering Committee for Brazil of the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force, and the Technical Chamber of the Environment in the Legal Amazon Consortium. Last week, the Brazil NBS Alliance called upon the Brazilian government to include private sector voices and several other considerations when converting the country’s new ETS law into regulation.
VOLUNTARY
New appointment – South Pole has appointed Dara Olufon as co-head of its global climate advisory arm, effective Mar. 2025, it announced in a press release. Dara will join the climate consultancy from McKinsey, where he served as partner in the UK office, where he was a leader within the global energy and materials practice. He has over 15 years of experience in sustainability, decarbonisation, and large-scale business transformation, and a track record of advising executive teams and financial investors on energy transition strategies, including clean hydrogen, biofuels, carbon capture, e-mobility, and renewables. Dara’s appointment follows a series of strategic leadership investments made in 2024 including Board Chair Dame Inga Beale, CEO Daniel Klier, CFO Nadia Kaddouri, and CRO Leila Kamdem. Dara will co-lead the firm’s climate advisory alongside Franziska Sinner. Klier was appointed to front South Pole in May 2024 after former CEO Renat Heuberger stepped down in the wake of a scandal linked to the REDD+ Kariba project.
Devil in the detail – Verra has issued a clarification regarding the effective date of versions 4.1 and 4.2 of the Non-Permanence Risk Tool (NPRT) for Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) projects, it said Tuesday. The clarification allows projects to continue using version 4.0 of the NPRT for verification approval if they requested registration before Aug. 29, 2023 or are verifying only for vintages of 2022 or earlier. This clarification ensures a smoother transition for projects prepared for verification under version 4.0, Verra said. However, only version 4.2 aligns with the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) Assessment Framework by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). Projects can still choose version 4.2 if they seek CCP labels for their Verified Carbon Units. Eligible projects using version 4.0 must adhere to the guidance outlined in Verra’s clarification document.
Soil data reaches new heights – California based soil carbon project developer Boomitra registered its flagship Northern Mexico Grasslands project under Verra’s soil carbon methodology VM0042. The project spans 800,000 acres (324,000 ha) in Mexico and promotes regenerative grazing practices that enhance carbon sequestration, improve biodiversity, and restore fragile ecosystems. The project leverages Boomitra’s AI-powered remote sensing technology, which measures soil carbon stocks at a 10m resolution using satellites and is estimated to reduce nearly 7.3 mln tonnes of CO2 annually.
SCIENCE & TECH
Marine carbon sinks – More than 100 scientists from the research mission ‘Marine carbon sinks in decarbonisation pathways’ (CDRmare) will meet Wednesday in Berlin-Dahlem for their third annual conference. The three-day conference will focus on overarching issues relating to processes for targeted ocean-based CO2 removal and storage, to be discussed by experts from 16 German research institutions. The participants aim to develop strategies to improve the communication of scientific uncertainties and engage in a self-critical debate about their role as experts in the public discussion of targeted CO2 removal. In the CDRmare research mission of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM), various methods of marine CO2 removal and storage such as alkalinity enhancement are being looked at with regard to their potential, risks, and trade-offs and brought together in a transdisciplinary assessment framework. Read more here.
AND FINALLY…
Out come the wolves – Researchers suggest that reintroducing grey wolves to the Scottish Highlands could help native forests regenerate and support climate targets. Wolves would naturally control red deer populations, which hinder forest growth by consuming young trees. Wolves were eradicated from Scotland around 250 years ago, leaving deer with no predators, and their numbers have since surged to 2 mln. A study by Leeds University proposes that introducing about 160 wolves to regions including the Cairngorms and Highlands could significantly reduce deer numbers, allowing forests to expand. This could result in the storage of an additional 1 Mt of GHGs annually, equating to 5% of the UK’s woodland carbon removal target. The research, published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence, acknowledges potential opposition, particularly from farmers concerned about livestock. The authors emphasised that extensive public consultation would be necessary before any reintroduction is considered. The study also suggests financial incentives for landowners through carbon offsetting schemes. The proposal comes amid wider European debates on wolf conservation, with a recent downgrade of the species’ protected status following farmer concerns. While western Europe’s wolf population has reached 12,000, deer numbers in Britain have grown rapidly, prompting calls for increased venison consumption as a sustainable solution. Scotland, with only 4% woodland cover, remains one of Europe’s least forested areas. (Sky News)
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