Presenting CP Daily, Carbon Pulse’s free newsletter. It’s a daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world. Sign up here
TOP STORY
PREVIEW: Analysts cautious ahead of UK-EU carbon market linking talks
Carbon market participants hold a cautious outlook ahead of a crunch summit on Monday between the UK and EU at which linking the two emissions trading schemes will be discussed, warning that any “undershoot” of the current high expectations for progress would likely see a sell-off in UK allowance prices.
AMERICAS
Microsoft strikes deal with US carbon firm for 18 mln ARR credits
Global tech giant Microsoft and a California-headquartered carbon solutions provider have struck a deal for 18 million afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) credits, according to a Thursday press release.
FEATURE: Carbon capture major faces turning point as it enters voluntary carbon market
Following 17 years of developing technology to capture CO2 from industrial sources, a Canadian company said that becoming a voluntary market project developer was essential to its scale-up despite the risks, detailing its near-term future plans to Carbon Pulse.
US hydrogen looks to export market as political headwinds dampen domestic outlook
As political headwinds challenge the US hydrogen economy, new forecasting predicts that a large share of domestic hydrogen producers will be finding their demand via exports, especially to Asia, consultants said Thursday.
US bank backs XPrize winner to rapidly expand CDR
The $50 million dollar winner of the Musk Foundation’s XPrize Carbon Removal competition has secured institutional capital to rapidly expand its operations across India and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Oregon offers zero-emissions truck manufacturers enforcement discretion
Regulators in Oregon announced on Thursday that they will refrain from pursuing enforcement of proposed clean truck rules in the state for vehicle models over the next two years.
WCI Markets: Focus shifts to Q2 auction after California’s ETS extension package disappoints
California Carbon Allowances (CCA) weakened after market participants were disappointed that proposals to extend the ETS past its 2030 sunset date were scant on details, with traders turning their focus to next week’s second quarterly permit sale, while trade in Washington Carbon Allowances (WCA) remains illiquid.
US state wins pre-approval for CO2 storage well authority
A fifth US state has won pre-approval for authority over all underground injection wells.
Repeal of US clean energy tax credits could raise electricity prices, shrink state economies -study
A new study warned that repealing technology-neutral tax credits for clean energy investment could significantly increase electricity prices and slow economic growth across the US.
Researchers challenge price assumption of EVs over gasoline vehicles
Authors at a Washington, DC-based research publication are calling on the EV industry and policymakers to streamline charging rates in the sector to protect consumers.
Cost, policy challenges seen to undermine US SAF deployment efforts
The cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the US, combined with policy uncertainty, has continued to stall industry growth, a conference heard on Tuesday.
Investors should continue to target simple carbon capture solutions -panel
Carbon project financiers should prioritise simpler CO2 capture initiatives closer to existing sequestration infrastructure as a foundation for addressing more complex challenges in the longer term, a conference heard Thursday.
Canadian agtech company raises C$6.5 mln in seed funding for agriculture irrigation automation
A Canadian agtech startup successfully raised C$6.5 million ($4.7 mln) in an oversubscribed seed round going toward its work automating agricultural irrigation practices, it announced Thursday.
EMEA
Top EU court upholds finality of ETS transactions, but floats chance of compensation for unfair losses
The EU’s top court on Thursday ruled that ETS allowance transactions recorded in the bloc’s Union Registry are final and irrevocable, even when the permits were surrendered under provisions later declared invalid, but it acknowledged that companies should be able to seek damages for unfair losses.
EU urged to let international credits into its climate goals — or risk being left behind
The EU may need to allow the use of international carbon credits to meet its domestic emissions reduction targets and maintain its competitiveness — or risk being one of the few jurisdictions left outside the growing global carbon market, according to a new report.
EU housing affordability talks overshadow question of ETS2 implementation
The issue of housing affordability dominated the European Commission’s high-level press conference in Brussels on Thursday, while the forthcoming Emissions Trading System for road transport and heating fuels, ETS2, remained conspicuously absent from the discussion.
EU ETS financed Modernisation Fund is falling short of its potential -NGO
The Modernisation Fund, set up under the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to help lower-income member states with their transition, is falling short of its potential, an NGO warned ahead of a deadline next month for approving new financing.
BRIEFING: EU to fine-tune carbon farming rules as experts question draft methodology
The European Commission will update its draft methodology for peatland rewetting, as part of a revisit of its proposed carbon farming certification rules, following questions from experts earlier this week.
Integration of carbon removals in EU, UK ETS a big opportunity for North American developers, law firm says
The integration of carbon removal projects into EU and UK compliance markets could be a big opportunity for North American developers, according to a law firm.
Germany on a wobbly track to 2030 climate goal
Compliance with Germany’s emissions budget for 2030 is “uncertain, but confirmed”, with the country expected to veer off track in the next decade, according to an independent expert body advising the government.
Euro Markets: EUAs erase two days of losses to regain Monday levels as technical support holds
European carbon allowances erased the previous two days’ losses on Thursday to settle level with Monday’s price, as more modest early selling was wiped out by an afternoon rally that took EUAs back to the top of their recent range after a technical support level held firm, while UK carbon fell to a two-week low amid further selling pressure ahead of Monday’s summit.
European oil and gas firms trim down CO2 storage capacity estimate
Oil and gas companies have cut their 2030 estimate for CO2 storage capacity in Europe, citing regulatory uncertainty as the main factor slowing down project development.
Switzerland, poised to lead carbon removals growth, should create a buyers’ club -report
Switzerland offers fertile ground from which to scale up the carbon removal market, both as an investor and driver of innovation and technological development, thanks to its progressive policies, strong research institutions, and existing industry, according to a report published on Thursday.
UK woodland carbon credit prices rose nearly 150% in five years
The average price of UK woodland carbon credits transacted rose to nearly £27/tonne in 2024, up from £11 in 2020, according to data published Thursday by an analytics platform.
French startup raises €5 mln to scale platform for engineered carbon credits
A Paris-based firm has secured €5 million in seed funding to expand its carbon crediting platform for engineered carbon removal (CDR), it announced Thursday.
FSC unveils stewardship standard for DRC to unlock sustainable forestry, carbon market access
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has launched a dedicated Forest Stewardship Standard (FSS) for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aiming to boost responsible forest management and open access to global markets for sustainably certified forest products.
ASIA PACIFIC
Malaysia to auction first domestic tech-based carbon credits in June
Malaysia’s Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) will conduct its first auction of locally generated, technology-based carbon credits in June, featuring 16,000 Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) units from a grouped biogas project targeting methane avoidance.
SK Markets: May auction oversubscribed, trading activity expected to pick up in coming months
South Korea’s latest monthly CO2 permit auction was oversubscribed, with analysts expecting trading activity to pick up in the coming months as clarity on market fundamentals improves.
Australian ACCU market goes cold on national exchange idea, regulator says
The Clean Energy Regulator has noted “issues and challenges” raised by stakeholders on the idea of a proposed national carbon exchange, in response to feedback from a recent consultation.
Voluntary carbon markets fall short for nature projects, Australian govt initiative finds
The Australian government-backed Climate Resilient by Nature (CRxN) programme has found that voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) alone are insufficient to sustain or scale nature-based climate solutions, urging a shift toward more diversified financial models.
Indian biochar startup sells 6,000 removal credits to German registry
An India-based biochar company on Thursday signed an agreement with a German registry to sell 6,000 carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits from its upcoming biochar facility in Maharashtra.
Regulator approves 40 projects for J-Credit scheme
Japan’s domestic J-Credit market has received a boost after the voluntary programme administration on Thursday said it has approved 40 projects capable of creating almost 13 million units over their lifetimes.
HK-listed energy firm in push for building-sector carbon credits
A Hong Kong-listed energy service provider has tapped into the voluntary carbon market, with plans to create credits by reducing emissions in the building sector.
VOLUNTARY
Most forest carbon protocols deemed too weak to guarantee high-quality credits -report
Forest carbon protocols are currently yielding low-quality credits and need to be strengthened, according to a report published on Thursday led by top forest scientists.
Consulting firm signs long-term deals with carbon removals developers
A global IT and consulting firm has signed two long-term offtake agreements with different carbon removal companies.
Carbon credit seller returns to profit after $20-mln loss
A Canada-headquartered offset project financier has posted a small profit in Q1 after losing nearly US$20 mln a year earlier.
Methane project player hit with payment notice amid drop in revenues, wider net loss
A methane-plugging project developer has been hit with a payment failure notice linked to a 2023 acquisition, as the firm posted lower revenues and a wider net loss in its latest quarterly earnings.
Climate tech startup Maya Climate to wind down operations
Maya Climate, a Berlin-based climate tech startup, has announced plans to wind down operations by the end of 2025.
INTERNATIONAL
1.5C targets not able to limit the transgression of climate change planetary boundary -study
The planetary boundaries related to climate change, and nitrogen and phosphorus balances will continue to worsen in the long run—even in the best-case scenario—due to the inertia of current and future pollution trends, according to a new study.
AVIATION/SHIPPING
US lawmakers introduce bill to allow civil supersonic flight, potentially increasing aircraft emissions
US Republican lawmakers introduced a bill on Wednesday seeking to overturn a half-century ban for airline operators to fly aircraft at supersonic speeds, potentially paving the way for increased aviation emissions.
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.
ANALYSIS: Corporate action on nature following shareholder proposals doubles in 2025
Many more corporations have voluntarily acted on nature this year following a steady stream of nature-related shareholder proposals, despite growing US opposition to environmental action.
NGO accuses Santander of financing deforestation in Latin America
NGO Global Witness has accused Spain-headquartered bank Santander of funding deforestation through backing an Argentine agribusiness firm allegedly responsible for the destruction of 170,000 hectares of forest on its farms across Latin America.
Nature data and analytics platform adds NGO’s forest datasets
A Swiss-based nature data and analytics company has added two forest datasets to its platform with the aim of helping banks and investors manage deforestation risks, it announced this week.
INTERVIEW: New consultancy looks to tap Asia Pacific’s biodiversity market potential
A Sydney-headquartered consultancy launched this week aiming to advance investments in nature projects across the Global South, with a focus on helping scale the biodiversity credit market in the Asia Pacific region, its founder told Carbon Pulse.
Biodiversity Pulse: Thursday May 15, 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).
—————————————————
EVENTS
Carbon Removal Investment Summit – June 3, London – cCarbon is hosting this exclusive, one-day conference with the goal of accelerating carbon removals through a data and modelling-driven discussion. It will bring together a distinguished group of investors, capital providers, carbon removal buyers, leading developers, and other key stakeholders to unlock investment and create partnering opportunities. An invite-only investors’ conclave will take place during the summit to explore pathways for unlocking and chanelling capital into carbon removals. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in high-impact sessions to discuss the business case for nature- and technology-based removals. cCarbon will unveil a data-driven benchmarking tool designed to assess carbon removal providers based on key factors like feasibility, scalability, and maturity. Register here
Climate Action for People and Nature (Gold Standard) – June 5-6, Paris – Join climate leaders, policy makers, innovators, and corporate trailblazers committed to bridging the gap to net zero. This two-day event offers practical insights and tools to help your organisation navigate evolving climate targets, carbon markets, environmental attribute certificates (EACs), and other impact-driven mechanisms. Don’t miss the chance to network, learn, and lead credible climate action that drives real impact for both people and planet. Purchase your ticket today: https://conference.goldstandard.org/
—————————————————
ADVERTISE WITH US
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.
—————————————————
BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
INTERNATIONAL
EMEA
SAF funding – The UK ETS should be used to finance the planned Revenue Certainty Mechanism for sustainable aviation fuel to ease cost pressures on airlines, the International Airlines Group (IAG) said in a blog post. Using ETS revenues, which are projected at £1–4 bln over the next decade, would support domestic SAF production while avoiding further financial strain on carriers already paying higher fuel, tax, and carbon costs, argued Jonathon Counsell, group sustainability officer at IAG.
London heat network – The UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has awarded £21 mln to the London heat network — the South Westminster Area Network (SWAN). The project aiming to curb CO2 emissions and improve air quality in Westminster is being led by the SWAN Partnership, in association with Westminster City Council, DESNZ, and London Heritage Quarter. SWAN is developing the heat network, which will develop out from two centres, one around the Strand, and one around Millbank and St James’ Park, with buildings in these areas able to connect from 2028. Several landmark buildings are planning to connect, including Somerset House and the London Transport Museum. Natural heat from the River Thames will be used as the heat source, with the temperature upgraded using a heat pump. Over time the network could expand to include heat from the tube or sewers, and to serve homes too, stated the partners Thursday in a release.
Protect to invest – Steelmaker ArcelorMittal has reconfirmed its plan to invest in a first electric arc furnace (EAF) in Dunkirk, requiring investment of about €1.2 bln. The decision follows the European Commission’s Steel and Metal Action Plan of March 2025 that provides optimism the bloc will implement efficient trade defences such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to restore a level playing field for European steel. Since Apr.1, under revised steel safeguard measures, the European steel industry now requires effective limitation of imports at 15% of market demand as well as an effective CBAM that prevents resource shuffling. ArcelorMittal reiterated its dedication to a thriving and sustainable steel-making business in France. The company has recently warned of trade disruptions impacting steel demand.
ASIA PACIFIC
Settled – Activist group Parents for Climate Action have settled with EnergyAustralia in the NSW Federal Court after the launch of its greenwashing court challenge that claimed companies were being misled, the AAP reported. The group alleged the gentailer’s “Go Neutral” programme which used Australia’s Climate Active scheme to purchase and surrender carbon credits on behalf of customers was deceptive. However, the court was told Thursday the activist group would file to discontinue proceedings as a settlement had been reached between parties. A statement on the agreement is set to be issued Monday.
Finance flow – Singapore-based battery storage developer VFlowTech has raised $20.5 mln in its latest funding round, it announced on Wednesday. The money, from 11 investors including venture capitalist Granite Asia, EDBI, MOL Plus, and Antares Ventures, will be used to scale production and manufacturing of VFlowTech’s proprietary vanadium redox flow batteries for long duration energy storage. The firm will also use the influx of capital to strengthen its AI-driven cloud energy management system and to develop critical supply chains, including vanadium recycling. It will also expand its operations across Asia, the Middle East, and other global markets.
We made it – A rice-focused project operated by Tokyo-based developer Faeger has generated nearly 136,000 credits under the J-Credit scheme, the company announced Thursday, citing credit issuance results from a certification committee meeting in March. Faeger said it plans to create 300,000 credits through partnerships with 5,000 producers nationwide this year. The company has set a goal of reducing 1 mln tonnes of emissions in 20% of Japan’s rice paddies (300,000 ha) by 2027.
Growing pipeline – Japanese oil company Inpex has signed a collaborative agreement with Aero Asahi Corp. and a foundation in Gunma prefecture to pursue the creation of J-Credits, it announced Thursday. The companies did not provide a specific target for credit generation. Meanwhile, developer ByWill said it has been entrusted by Misawa Homes to manage a J-Credit project that aims to reduce emissions by introducing solar power generation equipment. The solar initiative is expected to cut emissions by 17,000 tonnes during the project period. ByWill also said it will support the promotion of Idemitsu Kosan’s new low-carbon fuel product using offsets.
Partnership – Japan’s environment ministry has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with its counterpart in Oman to advance mutual cooperation on environment and climate, according to a statement Thursday. The two sides will cooperate on a wide arrange of topics, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation as nature-based solutions, and environmental monitoring. Officials from Oman last year already visited Japan to learn about carbon credits and waste disposal.
Helping hand – New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment has released its 2025 guide for organisations to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions. The guide includes the Emissions Factors Workbook, which contains a summary of changes from last year’s publication. The Ministry said it was refreshing the guide and creating a new digital product which will include information comparable to the 2024 detailed guide.
AMERICAS
Credit controversy – Researchers from Boston University and the Clean Air Task Force, a global environmental non-profit organisation, found that most North American forest carbon credit programmes lack strong governance and often fail to deliver real climate benefits. In a study published on Thursday in Earth’s Future, they rated 20 protocols and found none exceeded a “median score of robust or higher”. The authors recommended reforms including stronger risk management and better tracking of emissions leakage. They said improving these programmes is critical to restoring confidence in carbon markets and maximising forests’ role in mitigating climate change.
Under the microscope – The US DOE announced on Thursday it will review 179 financial assistance awards totalling over $15 bln as part of a new oversight process aimed at ensuring projects meet standards for financial soundness, technological viability, and compliance with federal law. The action follows a Secretarial Memorandum issued by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, which directed the DOE to conduct case-by-case evaluations of financial awards, citing concerns identified during a review of spending authorised in the final days of the Biden administration. Projects that do not meet the established criteria may be modified or terminated.
Reporting for duty – The US Senate confirmed Sean Donahue on Thursday as General Counsel for the US EPA, following his nomination by President Donald Trump. Donahue, who previously served at the EPA from 2018 to 2021, will lead the Office of General Counsel, advising on the agency’s implementation of environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Donahue most recently worked as associate counsel for a solar energy company.
Unlocking environmental justice – Stanford University climate policy professor Michael Wara presented analysis of previous research on adjustments to make California’s cap-and-trade system more equitable on Thursday, during a presentation at the monthly meeting of California air regulator’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC). EJAC members voiced their continued opposition to the cap-and-trade scheme, arguing that the programme itself does not lower emissions for the state while driving up prices for lower income residents. Wara shared past research about redistributing the credit that investor-owned utility ratepayers get twice a year, from high-income coastal customers to lower-income ratepayers living in the warmer parts of the state. He also analysed the efforts of unlocking grid upgrades in the state through the private sector, instead of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, in order to free up funding for environmental justice applications.
Alberta AI – AI data centre development company Beacon AI Centres aims to develop Alberta as the next hub for hyperscalers. Beacon has committed to develop an initial 4.5 GW of data centres in the province, a move Tech Minister Nate Glubish called a vote of confidence in Alberta’s abundant energy resources and growing tech talent. Beacon said the decision to develop in Alberta comes as hyperscalers are facing critical infrastructure and power constraints across North America. The company has planned centres near Chestermere, High River, Acheson, Sturgeon County, Langdon, and Beaumont. The investment is priced at about C$10 bln ($7.2 bln). Beacon also announced Josh Schertzer as its new CEO. AI growth is expected to contribute to increased electricity demand in coming years.
Delayed decision – Argentina’s government has delayed scheduled tax increases on liquid fuels and CO2 emissions through Decree 296/2025. Originally planned to take effect on May 1, the tax adjustments—accounting for updates from late 2023 and all of 2024—are now postponed until Jun. 1. Argentina first introduced a carbon tax on most liquid fuels, coal, and petroleum coke in Jan. 2018.
VOLUNTARY
CDR prices – Demand for CDR and biochar carbon removals has remained strong so far in 2Q 2025, with the price on the CORC Carbon Removal Index moving from €150.98 to €143.51 from March to April. CORC Carbon Removal Indexes were created through a partnership between Puro and Nasdaq to track the price of sequestering carbon through engineered carbon removal. The aim is to improve carbon market transparency and help companies understand the true cost of neutralising their emissions.
Right direction – Corporate climate ambition is trending upwards despite policy uncertainty and uneven decarbonisation across economies, MSCI Sustainability Institute’s Transition Finance Tracker has found. As of Mar. 31, 2025, some 14% of listed companies have SBTi science-based targets, nearly five percentage points up on the year before. Further, private-capital climate funds are channelling 40% of investments to the emissions-heavy utilities sector. And in developed markets, company emissions fell nearly 25% between 2015 and 2023, even as company revenues grew by 49%. Yet only 12% of listed companies are aligned with a 1.5C pathway and climate-related risks are trending up for many major cities. To support more corporate action on the climate, SBTi is revising its Corporate Net-Zero Standard with a public consultation open until June 1, 2025. The full transition finance tracker is here.
Removals partners – Biomass-based removals developer Residual announced a partnership with removals registry Isometric on LinkedIn. It will work with industrial and agricultural partners to turn waste biomass into high-quality carbon removal projects that meet Isometric’s standards for scientific integrity and transparency, the statement said.
Carbon integration – Ratings and insights hub Calyx Global has made a further update to its Calyx Global Platform, bringing integrated pricing and inventory data to around 6 mln tonnes of rated carbon credits. The development means buyers have greater price transparency, can make faster decisions, and take a long-term perspective on the voluntary carbon market, it said on LinkedIn.
Strong potential – Voluntary carbon markets can make a decisive contribution to mobilising private capital for nature-based climate mitigation and biochar carbon removal in Germany, a new report by consultancy Climate Focus and the German Association for Negative Emissions (DVNE) has found. However, the sector is held back by confusing policy signals and negative reporting discouraging private investment. The researchers called for smart policies to build trust in a credible carbon market in Germany and create a supportive environment for investment. This requires clarifications on double counting, permanence, and climate claims. Further, facilitation and incentives for developers, higher demand, and removal of legal hurdles are needed. View the report here.
Note the oats – Oatly has unveiled an ambitious Global Sustainability Plan aiming to slash emissions intensity by 89% per litre of product by 2050 and achieve net zero through carbon removals. The oat drink company has set interim targets of a 40% reduction by 2030 and 70% by 2040, all against a 2020 baseline and covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Key decarbonisation actions include transitioning to 100% renewable electricity and thermal energy, and shifting to sustainable ground transport in Europe by 2030. A Climate Transition Plan will be published later this year, developed in partnership with Ecoact to align with the Carbon Law’s pathway to halving emissions each decade. Beyond climate targets, Oatly plans to cut water use to 2.2 litres per litre of product, adopt fully renewable or recycled packaging, and promote regenerative agriculture – supporting at least 100 oat farmers and covering a third of its supply acres by 2030. It also aims to maintain avoided emissions of 0.5 kg CO₂e per litre sold by displacing dairy consumption. On the social side, Oatly wants 90% of revenue by 2030 to come from low-climate-impact products, ensure workforce diversity aligns with local populations by 2027, and strengthen employee well-being initiatives. It is piloting a new “Spheres of Influence” model to track wider systemic impact, and has been named a “Climate Solutions Company” by the Exponential Roadmap Initiative. (edie)
Hack n’ snack – The food service industry continues to struggle with food waste, largely driven by inaccurate demand forecasting and inefficiencies in inventory and meal preparation. To tackle this, UST is hosting the Zero Waste Hackathon v2.0 on May 22 in London, inviting teams to develop scalable tech-based solutions across the food supply chain. The event will focus on innovations in procurement, inventory management, and consumption practices, with participants presenting their ideas to a panel of judges. Top teams will receive certificates and a share of a prize pool (to be announced). The hackathon will take place at UST’s London office on 7 Seymour Street from 1530-1700, with a virtual option available upon RSVP.
SCIENCE & TECH
Mass produced carbon capture – Carbon Clean has announced successful factory testing of carbon capture technology called rotating packed bed (RPB), for which it claims to have developed the world’s largest. The technology uses centrifugal force to enhance CO2 absorption and can capture up to 285 tonnes of CO2 per day, the release stated Thursday. The UK-based company has finalised a verification programme at Thomas Broadbent and Sons and is now ready for commercial deployment at industrial scale. The progress marks a key milestone for Carbon Clean’s modular CycloneCC C1 series, which combines RPBs with its proprietary APBS-CDRMax solvent to increase efficiency. It represents a more than 20-fold RPB scale-up from the first industrial demonstration of CycloneCC, which was designed to capture up to 10 tonnes of CO2 per day. Carbon Clean’s carbon capture units are designed to be mass produced, reducing the cost and time of rolling out units significantly.
AND FINALLY…
Corn crop crisis – A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, projected that climate change could double the frequency of insurance-triggering corn crop failures in the US Corn Belt by 2050, straining the federal crop insurance programme. Using a machine learning model based on a moderate warming scenario from the IPCC, the researchers showed that rising temperatures will likely increase yield volatility, leading to greater losses for both farmers and the government. Although the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) already faces mounting costs, with payouts rising by $27 bln from 1991 to 2017, the study suggested that future risks could surpass current projections unless changes are made. The researchers recommended that the FCIP adjust policies to incentivise regenerative agriculture practices, such as cover cropping and crop rotation, which could improve crop resilience to extreme weather, although implementation challenges remain.
Got a tip? How about some feedback? Email us at news@carbon-pulse.com
