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CERAWEEK

CERAWeek: UK developer acquires stakes in two US CCS projects, looks to speed deployment

A London-based developer has acquired stakes in two carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in the US, as it looks to expand its geographic range in an attempt to speed deployment, its CEO told Carbon Pulse on the sidelines of CERAWeek.

CERAWeek: Engineered CDR projects more often relying on “financial muscle” of tech companies

Engineered carbon removal (CDR) projects are more often selling voluntary credits via direct bilateral agreements than exchanging them over the voluntary carbon market (VCM) through registries, S&P Global analysts said during the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston.

AMERICAS

WCI Markets: ARB’s latest ISOR tangle crushes CCAs again, WCA ride high post Q1 sale

California regulator ARB shifting goalposts in releasing the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR) signalling formal ETS rulemaking once again pummelled California Carbon Allowances (CCA) prices, while Washington Carbon Allowances (WCA) gained momentum after a strong first quarterly permit sale earlier this week.

US think-tank estimates IRA costs upwards of $2 trillion by 2035, recommends full repeal

A US think-tank estimated Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) costs to top out at almost $2 trillion over the next ten years and continued to advocate for a full repeal of the landmark legislation.

US solar, wind power outstripped coal in 2024 -report

Wind and solar generated a record 17% of US electricity in 2024, surpassing coal for the first time, but a surge in electricity demand in the world’s largest carbon emitter was largely met by gas, analysts reported this week.

New US construction technology undergoes emissions testing

A CO2 reduction technology significantly slashed emissions from the US road construction process, initial findings from a trial showed.

BRIEFING: Trump could tip compliance carbon markets in either direction

Even as sub-national US compliance carbon markets sit outside the purview of the federal government, the new direction of the administration under President Donald Trump could have wide ranging impacts, a webinar heard Thursday.

Canadian university receives C$24 mln for ocean-based CDR research

A Canadian university has received C$24 million ($16.6 mln) over six years to advance its ocean-based carbon removal (CDR) research.

Multinational developer tours Brazilian state to identify promising carbon projects

A Brazil-based multinational that offers integrated solutions for sustainability and circular economy initiatives is touring a Brazilian state this week to scope out potential carbon projects.

Drop in Brazilian sugarcane harvest to tighten market for biofuels carbon credits

Anticipated sugarcane crop failures for the 2025-26 harvest are expected to tighten the supply of ‘CBIO’ carbon credits within Brazil’s RenovaBio biofuels scheme.

ASIA PACIFIC

INTERVIEW: Methodologies under Bhutan’s Article 6 positive list is a work of “constructive ambiguity”, official says

Bhutan has published a ‘positive list’ of activities eligible to generate carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, though the methodologies that can be applied have been deliberately kept unspecified in an effort to attract more project proposals, an official told Carbon Pulse.

Rio Tinto signs large solar-battery deal to slash aluminium smelter emissions

Australian miner Rio Tinto has signed two large power agreements with Edify Energy for clean energy supply to one of its largest emitting facilities in Queensland covered by the Safeguard Mechanism.

Australia may miss green iron opportunity, think tank says

The world’s largest iron ore exporter may miss the jump on greening its product into a higher-quality product thanks to lower gas supplies and gas high prices, a think tank has suggested.

NZ issues tenders to beef up remote sensing understanding

The New Zealand government has issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) to help it improve the measurement of carbon stored in forests via remote-sensing.

Majority of New Zealanders support mix of domestic, intl cooperation to met NDCs, govt polling suggests

Research conducted by the New Zealand government showed the large majority of respondents are supportive of a combination of both domestic action and offshore mitigation to meet the country’s Paris climate goals.

Japan selects five JCM projects for subsidies

Japan’s environment ministry has decided to subsidise five international emissions reduction projects under the bilateral Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

Ricoh Australia partners with PrintReleaf to offset corporate paper consumption

Ricoh Australia has partnered with sustainability platform PrintReleaf to help businesses offset their paper consumption by funding global reforestation projects, the companies announced this week.

EMEA

EU announces Strategic Dialogue on chemicals to keep production in Europe, achieve decarbonisation

The European Commission on Wednesday announced it will launch a “strategic dialogue” with the EU chemicals industry later this month, acknowledging the crisis faced by the sector, which is coming under growing pressure to decarbonise at a time when the industry is facing “fierce and sometimes unfair competition” from China.

German government negotiations start, as Greens force climate up the agenda

Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU and centre-left SPD are set to kick off negotiations for a new coalition government, as they look to the Greens to get a historic debt brake reform for defence and €500 billion infrastructure fund approved by the outgoing Bundestag.

INTERVIEW: EU military buildout will come at a cost to climate, expert warns

The European Union’s commitment to boost military spending risks derailing its climate commitments, as rising defence budgets drive up carbon emissions in sectors like steel already responsible for a significant share of global pollution, an environmental expert has warned.

CBAM threatens European technology sector, study warns

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) could significantly weaken the European technology industry’s competitiveness by increasing production costs nearly 50% for some sectors, leading to carbon leakage and job losses, a new study has warned.

Nordic bank signs multi-year BECCS deal as part of new CDR strategy

A Helsinki-headquartered bank announced Thursday it has signed a multi-year agreement with a Norwegian firm to capture and permanently store at least 68,000 tonnes of CO2 using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

French company secures first contract for biomass-based hydrogen and biochar plant in Switzerland

A French biomass gasification company has signed its first contract for a biomass-based hydrogen, electricity, and biochar production plant in Glovelier, Switzerland, the company announced on Wednesday.

Egyptian aluminium producer strikes clean power deal to soften the EU’s CBAM blow

Egypt’s largest aluminium producer has struck a 25-year deal for renewable power supply, which it says will be instrumental in helping the company meet the requirements of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

South Africa raises its carbon offset allowance, extends timeline for use of older credits

The government of South Africa has increased the carbon offset allowance in its carbon tax, even as it extended the utilisation period for use of older projects until 2028, it announced in a revised budget presented this week.

Bahrain officials propose carbon pricing in national budget package

Bahraini representatives in charge of the General Budget (2025-26) have proposed a carbon pricing system for businesses to support financial sustainability and achieve the country’s goal for net zero emissions.

Euro Markets: EUAs extend gains on March option hedging before gas plunge trims day’s advance

European carbon resumed its close correlation to natural gas price movements on Thursday, as prices advanced to an eight-day high amid sustained early strength in April TTF gas and helped by robust demand from March options hedging, before news headlines in mid-afternoon triggered a massive sell-off in gas that pulled EUAs down from their highs.

VOLUNTARY

Regulatory, financial pressures mount on food industry to slash livestock methane, report warns

Food companies must act swiftly to reduce methane emissions from livestock supply chains or risk financial, regulatory, and reputational fallout, a major sustainability advocacy group has warned.

Standards should do more to enable smallholders to set up forestry projects, says developer

Carbon standards should do more to support small-scale project developers and small-scale landowners who wish to capitalise on demand for forestry carbon credits, a carbon project developer has told Carbon Pulse.

AVIATION/SHIPPING

US energy corporation targets geothermal eSAF production

A US-based clean fuels developer is planning to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with geothermal energy.

INTERNATIONAL

UPDATE – Road to Belem: Highway project to COP30 cuts through Amazon, as Brazil’s Atlantic Forest sees “alarming” illegal deforestation

(Updates throughout, adding comments from COP30 Extraordinary Secretariat) – A new 13-km (8-mile) four-lane highway being built through Amazon rainforest on the perimeter of Brazil’s Belem, a throughway reported to be aimed at accommodating visitors for this year’s COP30, is not part of the 33 federal infrastructure projects planned for the climate summit to be held later this year.

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.

Larger forests are richer in biodiversity than fragmented habitats, study says

Nature conservation efforts should focus on protecting and restoring large, undisturbed forests as they are better for hosting biodiversity than fragmented landscapes, according to a paper released this week.

Spanish port rolls out new phase of artificial reef programme for carbon, biodiversity benefits -media

A Spanish port and a Mediterranean nature project developer have joined forces to roll out the first post-pilot phase of a programme that places reef-like structures on the walls of port quays.

Canadian non-profit joins Re:wild in $1 mln Madagascar conservation effort

A Canadian non-profit is joining up with Leonardo DiCaprio’s global conservation group Re:wild to spend $1 million to help protect biodiversity in Madagascar.

FEATURE: US insurers seen to ignore the nature-based wildfire solutions that could save communities

Nature-based solutions can reduce the risk of wildfires in the US, but insurers would rather abandon at-risk areas than acknowledge their benefits, experts have told Carbon Pulse.

BRIEFING: Experts call on private markets to plug public funding gap to restore UK environment

This week’s pause in England’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) applications could signal a wider cut in public funding for the environment in Britain, leaving a vacuum for private markets like carbon and biodiversity credits to fill, experts told a webinar Thursday.

BioCarbon updates biodiversity credit methodology

BioCarbon has released an updated version of its biodiversity credit methodology, including a more detailed process for quantifying biodiversity gains.

Biodiversity Pulse: Thursday March 13, 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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NEW REPORT

How offtake agreements are shaping the future of biochar: Long-term offtake agreements are transforming the biochar carbon removal market — securing supply, stabilizing prices, and providing financial certainty. Supercritical’s latest report, Locked in or Left Behind?, explores key shifts in procurement strategies and what they mean for the future of carbon removal. With 62% of high-quality biochar credits for 2025 already committed and prices rising 18% in 2024, securing an offtake could be the key to guaranteeing supply and price stability.

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EVENTS

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

European Climate Summit – Apr. 1-3, Lisbon – To kick off our Annual Regional Climate Summit Series of this year, we at IETA look forward to welcoming delegates this Spring to our flagship European Climate Summit (ECS) 2025, taking place at the Pavilhao Carlos Lopes. ECS will take place amid a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, even as carbon markets in the EU and globally continue to mature and expand. A new political cycle for EU climate action has begun, and the task of preparing carbon markets for their next stage presents both new challenges and opportunities. In this dynamic context, competitiveness, integrity, and innovation will be at the heart of our discussion. Be part of the conversation driving the next phase of carbon market evolution. Join us at ECS to engage with policymakers, business leaders, and climate market pioneers who are shaping the future of carbon markets. Organised by IETA, ECS is an in-person event. Register

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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL

EU-South Africa – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled  a €4.7 bln investment package for South Africa during a bilateral summit in Cape Town on Thursday. “The biggest bulk of the package – €4.4 billion – will be invested in projects supporting a clean and just energy transition in the country,” the Commission said in a statement, adding that the package will consists of EU grants (€303 mln), leveraging loans from the European financial institutions (€4.4 bln) and South Africa’s development banks. Earlier in the day, von der Leyen also announced the launch of negotiations on the first-ever Clean Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and South Africa. A Commission memo highlighted four objectives related to clean tech and energy: 1) Green hydrogen, 2) Critical raw materials, 3) Green logistics & renewable energy, and 4) The “just” part of the energy transition.

EMEA

90% gentle reminder – Ahead of the upcoming European Council and Environment Council meetings, the Coalition for Higher Ambition is urging EU leaders to support a net domestic emissions reduction target of at least 90% by 2040 and to finally submit an ambitious NDC, in line with the recommendations of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. An ambitious NDC, says the group, would reflect the EU’s responsibility as a historic emitter, including a 2035 target no lower than at least 72.5% net domestic emissions reductions. The EU should have a target by COP30 next autumn.

Dutch ETS revenues fall – The auction of EU ETS emissions allowances in the Netherlands raised €928 mln in 2024, or 28% less than almost €1.3 bln in 2023. The drop in revenue was due to a significantly lower average auction price and fewer allowances auctioned in the country. The energy transition, a drop in industrial production, a lower gas price, and extra allowances sold in the EU as a whole to fund REPowerEU all contributed to lower prices. The average price of allowances in 2024 was €64.69, some 22% lower than in 2023. On Feb. 26, the price dropped to €50.65 – its lowest point since Jun. 2021. The rest of the year, the price fluctuated between €60 and €75. In total, 14.3 mln allowances were sold in the Netherlands, 7% fewer than in 2023, due to the declining EU emissions cap, market stability reserve, and a larger share of allowances reserved for European funds. These funds earned €14 bln from the sale of emissions allowances in 2024. (Dutch Emissions Authority)

Forests forever – WWF France has launched its second Nature Impact call for projects, targeting French forest owners dedicated to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. The initiative aims to protect 15,000 ha of forest and sequester an additional 400,000 tonnes of CO2. With a goal of raising €40 mln over 10 years, the outreach follows a first call in 2023 that enabled five projects to be funded for a total of €3 mln.

ASIA PACIFIC

Fomenting shareholder revolt – Activist shareholder group the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) has recommended shareholders vote against the election or reelection of all directors to Woodside Energy’s board at its upcoming annual general meeting. The ACCR led the charge against the gas company’s Climate Transition Action Plan (CTAP) last year, which saw a massive shareholder vote against it of close to 60%. It recommends against the directors based on their “collective responsibility for the company’s failings, which include Woodside’s chronically poor shareholder returns and its ongoing failure to manage climate risk”. It noted the board’s failure to engage shareholders after the CTAP revolt. Last month the company put out a short release on its website outlining the ‘no’ vote was not really 58% given that it just took in those who voted, not abstaining votes. However, under Australian corporate law this is not a factor and any vote over 50% constitutes a ‘strike’. Woodside’s AGM will be held in Perth in early May. 

A common grid – Singapore and Vietnam endorsed a joint report on offshore wind power trade cooperation this week. The deal advances a 1.2 GW offshore wind power import project led by Singapore’s energy firm Sembcorp and Petrovietnam. If realised, it will be ASEAN’s first offshore wind power trading initiative, according to the press statement. The report facilitates regulatory approvals for cross-border energy trading, infrastructure collaboration, and research between the two countries. It also supports ASEAN’s goal of a regional power grid by 2045 by aiming to develop a framework for sub-sea power cables.

Falling like dominos – Japan’s Nomura Holdings is exiting the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), following a Wall Street-led exodus that has gone global. Nomura said it is adapting its decarbonisation approach to regional policies but will maintain its $125 bln sustainable finance target through Mar. 2026. The UN-convened NZBA is now asking members to vote on a proposal to loosen its membership requirements, essentially dropping a pledge to align their combined $54 trillion of assets with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Sumitomo exited the alliance last month, leaving Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho as the only Japanese megabanks in the group.

More batteries – Thailand approved a $1 bln EV battery cell project by China’s Sunwoda Electronic, the Board of Investment (BOI) said on Thursday. The plant, to be built in Chonburi province within the Eastern Economic Corridor, will supply EV manufacturers and support Thailand’s push to become a regional EV hub, according to a press release. Sunwoda is making its first EV-related battery investment in ASEAN. Thailand, Southeast Asia’s largest auto producer, has drawn major Chinese EV makers, including BYD and Great Wall Motor, with subsidies and tax incentives.

Rooftop solar milestone – India’s domestic rooftop solar scheme has reached 1 mln installations as of this week, the government announced Thursday, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which translates to prime minister’s solar home free electricity programme, was launched in February last year to help households access collateral-free loans up to ₹200,000 ($2,300) to install rooftop solar. The programme has received 4.73 mln applications and disbursed subsidies to 613,000 beneficiaries, the government said. The scheme targets 10 mln homes by 2027, with an aim to add 30 GW of capacity.

It’s mine now  – Japan’s Asuene and SBI Holdings have jointly invested an additional 300 mln yen ($2 mln) in Carbon EX, which operates a carbon credit marketplace and exchange, according to a company statement released Thursday. In just a year and a half since its launch, the marketplace has registered over 1,500 companies, secured more than 5 mln tradable carbon credits, and seen steady growth in credit transactions, the statement said. This investment makes Carbon EX a consolidated subsidiary of Asuene.

New platform – NatureMark Systems, a sustainability company based in India, is planning to launch Sustain360, a suite of sustainability management tools that intends to help businesses efficiently monitor, trade, and comply with carbon emission targets, it announced on LinkedIn. The platform will also provide carbon tracking, compliance, trading, and corporate sustainability reporting solutions, aligning with key global and national frameworks such as India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and EU’s CBAM.

AMERICAS

Downsized – Breakthrough Energy, the climate group funded by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has laid off dozens of employees in the US and Europe as it scales back public policy advocacy, according to a Bloomberg report. The group cut all staff in Europe, its US public policy team, and partnership roles, a source told the agency. The move comes as Republicans consider rolling back parts of President Joe Biden’s climate law, which Gates helped pass in 2022. A spokesperson said Gates remains committed to advancing clean energy solutions. The fund recently stumped up $40 mln to invest in a carbon removal startup aiming to create a Canadian testing ground for multiple direct air capture technologies.

Car clash – California ARB refuted claims from the auto industry’s Calibrate media campaign, which argues that the state’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate is unfeasible and will harm consumers. ARB asserted that ZEV sales remain strong, infrastructure development is on track, and manufacturers have significant flexibility to meet regulatory targets. The agency also disputed assertions that automakers will withdraw from the California market or face heavy fines. ARB maintains that California’s ZEV policies will continue to drive economic growth and environmental benefits. Separately, an Environment Justice Advisory Committee meeting Thursday heard that one in five charging stations is not working, according to a 2023 study from data analytics company JD Power.

Climate crackdown – The FBI, under the Trump administration, is investigating climate organisations that received US EPA grants under the former Biden administration for alleged criminal violations, including conspiracy to defraud the US, The New Republic reported. Citibank disclosed in a court filing that it froze the accounts of multiple non-profits, including the Appalachian Community Capital Corporation, a community development financial institution, and the Coalition for Green Capital, a non-profit advisor on clean energy finance, at the FBI’s request. Earlier this week, the EPA terminated $20 bln in awards from federal grant recipients following a review that found alleged financial mismanagement.

They never learn – The Trump administration took a wrecking ball environmental regulations in a rollback of 31 regulatory actions on Wednesday, including lifting restrictions on toxic air pollution and climate policies in a bid to revive the coal industry, Politico reported. One of the most significant moves is an attempt to revoke the 2009 scientific finding that GHGs endanger public health, which serves as the foundation for climate regulations. Legal challenges are expected, but the administration’s efforts could still disrupt and delay US climate policies. During Trump’s first term, courts repeatedly blocked EPA attempts to dismantle Obama-era regulations for failing to follow legal rulemaking procedures. However, some legal scholars suggest the administration may be repeating past mistakes. Coal has been a major focus of US environmental policy for decades, but market forces, including cheaper natural gas and renewables, have led to its decline. Once generating nearly half of US electricity, coal now accounts for just 15%. Despite this, coal advocates within the administration are pushing for policies to keep aging plants operational, citing energy reliability and national security concerns. Coal industry groups are urging rapid action, while environmental advocates vow to fight the policy shifts.

Subsidy standoff – A coalition of US farmers and environmental organisations filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and President Donald Trump, challenging the indefinite freeze on funds appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The plaintiffs, represented by Earthjustice, a non-profit environmental law organisation, argue that the funding suspension violates the US Constitution’s separation of powers, the Take Care Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The lawsuit claims that the freeze has halted payments for agricultural conservation, renewable energy, and forestry programmes, causing financial harm to grant recipients who had already committed resources based on promised funding. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to compel the release of funds and prevent further disruption to their operations.

Guil-bye – Steven Guilbeault is set to be removed as Canada’s environment minister as Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney prepares to take office, signalling a shift away from Justin Trudeau’s climate policies. According to Radio Canada, Guilbeault will be reassigned to a much smaller cabinet as Carney moves to distinguish his leadership from Trudeau’s nine-year tenure. Carney and his cabinet will be sworn in on Friday, with the new government expected to reduce the number of ministers from 36 to no more than 20. Seven ministers have already announced they will not seek re-election. One of Trudeau’s key policies – the consumer carbon tax – appears to be on the chopping block with Carney’s campaign promise to scrap it. Guilbeault, a long-time climate activist and environment minister since 2021, has been central to the Liberal government’s climate agenda. Speaking to CBC on Thursday, Guilbeault declined to confirm his removal but said cabinet decisions are at the PM’s discretion and expressed pride in his tenure. (National Post)

Finance under fire – A coalition of 57 climate-focused organisations published an open letter addressed to Prime Minister-designate Carney urging the prioritisation of climate-aligned finance policy. The signatories, including Ecojustice and the David Suzuki Foundation, criticised Canada’s six big banks for their continued fossil fuel financing and called for stronger regulations to future-proof the economy. The letter highlights the C$25 ($17.3) bln in climate-related economic losses since 2015 and urges Carney to introduce legislation that ensures banks and pension funds shift away from short-term fossil-fuel-driven profits. The letter calls out major Canadian bank, RBC, for ranking last place in clean to dirty energy financing among major banks, and asks Carney to align finance with a climate-safe future.

Light editing – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality voted to approve new language for the state’s Climate Protection Program – a temporary rulemaking for the scheme with proposed updated language by the state’s Environmental Quality Commission. While stakeholders were interpreting programme language as intended, DEQ agreed that the potential for a misunderstanding was against public interest, and could lead fuel suppliers to overestimate the amount of excess compliance instruments available. The change, at the DEQ’s Thursday meeting, was necessary as the state is scheduled to distribute 2025 compliance instruments by June 30.

VOLUNTARY

Verra seeks proposals – Verra has Tuesday issued a request for proposals from validation and verification bodies (VVBs) to assess a draft module for reduced impact logging in the northern part of the Republic of Congo. Developed by The Nature Conservancy, the module aims to extend the applicability of VM0035 under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) to quantify emissions reductions from climate-friendly logging practices. The assessment is part of Verra’s methodology review process. Public consultation on the draft is ongoing, with proposals due by Mar. 26.

SHIPPING

Drifting without direction – Uncertainty over the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) proposed carbon levy is causing hesitation in shipping industry investments, according to Christopher Wiernicki, Chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Speaking at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, he described the levy as a “wild card”, citing potential rates between $18 and $150 per tonne as a source of market instability, gCaptain reports. Despite this uncertainty, shipowners are adopting short-term efficiency measures while preparing for long-term fuel transitions. Wiernicki highlighted digital optimisation, wind-assisted technologies, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) as key developments that could support decarbonisation while maintaining fossil fuel use in a net zero scenario. The IMO aims to achieve net zero emissions from international shipping by around 2050, with intermediate targets of at least a 20% reduction by 2030 and 70% by 2040, compared to 2008 levels. Its 2023 GHG Strategy includes technical fuel standards and an emissions pricing mechanism. Key measures are set to be finalised in April at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), with formal adoption expected in autumn 2025 and implementation in 2027. An intersessional working group is currently discussing fuel intensity regulations, economic mechanisms, and the structure of the proposed ‘IMO Net Zero Fund.’

Compliance partners – Nisshin Shipping Co., a provider of bulk and chemical cargo transport, has selected OrbitMI to provide vessel reporting and compliance solutions across its fleet. Nisshin Shipping has already engaged with the provider of maritime software through a pilot programme on a newly built vessel, evaluating its effectiveness in optimizing fleet operations. Following the successful pilot, the deployment expanded to 14 vessels with future expansion to be considered, they announced in a release Thursday. Using OrbitMI, operators can monitor emissions, track voyage performance, and generate reports for regulations such as the EU ETS and FuelEU. It also gives real-time alerts on speed and fuel consumption.

SCIENCE & TECH

Purity is key – A group of researchers at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KETI) have developed a technology that directly captures CO2 from the atmosphere and recovers it at high purity, according to Chosun Biz. They succeeded in capturing CO2 using a newly developed dry absorbent and recovering it at an average high concentration of 96.5%. The research team plans to conduct more experiments and achieve commercialisation by 2030.

AND FINALLY…

Zuck’s bucks – Centibillionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have the financial capacity to significantly increase their philanthropic giving without affecting their wealth, yet they appear unlikely to do so, particularly in climate philanthropy. Their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) recently appointed Alicia Seiger as director of climate, who has expressed scepticism about the ability to effectively allocate large sums of money for climate impact. Seiger, an expert in sustainable finance, argues that simply injecting vast amounts of funding without strategic planning is not an effective approach. She believes the climate sector needs better investment tools and carbon accounting methods to drive real change. This perspective places her in contrast with many climate philanthropy advocates who call for urgent, large-scale funding. CZI’s climate giving has been relatively limited, with $103 mln spent over four years. Despite their wealth doubling to over $200 bln, the couple’s climate grant-making has declined since their initial contributions to carbon removal efforts. While Seiger aims to refine CZI’s strategy, the organisation does not yet have a clear budget or defined focus for the future. This shift comes as Zuckerberg and Chan scale back CZI’s broader social initiatives, including diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes. Their approach to philanthropy, particularly in climate, remains uncertain, raising questions about their long-term commitment. (Inside Philanthropy)

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