Critical coal - The US Department of Energy has designated metallurgical coal - a key input for steel production - as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020, aligning with President Trump’s executive order to support the coal industry. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the move highlights the importance of metallurgical and anthracite coal to national energy and industrial security, particularly in steelmaking, which underpins manufacturing, infrastructure, and defence. A DoE analysis confirmed that metallurgical coal meets the criteria for critical material status due to its essential role in blast furnace and electric arc furnace steel production methods. With over 150 metallurgical coal mines across the US employing tens of thousands, the sector’s shared infrastructure with thermal coal is facing strain from declining investment and capacity, threatening domestic steel production. The DoE said the designation aims to bolster US industrial resilience amid challenges such as foreign competition, fragile supply chains, and upstream underinvestment, while also reinforcing steel’s strategic role in energy infrastructure and broader national security goals.

A key takeaway from recent discussions on the link between Article 6 and the VCM is the persistent confusion surrounding Corresponding Adjustments (CAs), particularly regarding project eligibility, conditional NDCs, and the limited supply of CAs, with concerns emerging over pricing distortions, voluntary buyer behaviour, and the need for clearer frameworks to ensure environmental integrity and mobilise finance at scale.

Operational aluminium offsets - Aluminum Bahrain (Alba) has launched a new product line featuring carbon offsets from its own operations, reported AL Circle. The EternAl-AC line features carbon offset mechanism and a tiered carbon classification system spanning net-zero footprint (EternAl-ACO) to up to 4 tonnes CO2e/t (AC4), intending to help customers’ carbon reduction goals. Spanish aluminium extruder Alueuropa is the first company to adopt the new line.

Populus choice - Populus Seattle, part of the Populus Hotels group, opened as the second carbon positive hotel in the US. The project has secured 2,000 Verra-certified forest carbon credits from King County's Forest Carbon Program to offset its embodied carbon footprint of 1,630 tCO2e. Developed through an adaptive reuse of the 1907 Westland Building, the 120-room boutique hotel incorporates sustainable practices including reduced embodied carbon (down 36%), renewable energy use, composting food waste, and partnerships with local farms for regenerative agriculture. The reuse of the historic structure avoids new carbon-intensive construction and encourages pedestrian access in lieu of an on-site parking facility. The property also participates in Populus Hotels’ "One Night, One Tree" initiative, planting a tree for each night stayed, and has committed to 100% renewable electricity via Seattle City Light’s Green Up programme, alongside participation in a renewable natural gas programme from PSE. Populus Seattle builds on the approach pioneered by Populus Denver, applying a full Life Cycle Assessment to achieve a net negative carbon outcome across construction and operations. (Travel Daily News)

Swede deal - Munich Re’s asset management arm MEAG has led a €900 mln acquisition of 175,000 hectares of Swedish timberland from Stora Enso, accounting for 12.4% of the wood group’s forestry holdings. The deal involves a consortium in which MEAG holds a 44.4% stake and Soya Group — a diversified company active in shipping, real estate, and agriculture — holds 40.6%. Stora Enso retains a 15% stake in the newly formed company, which has also signed a 15-year wood supply agreement with Stora Enso, with an optional 15-year extension. This acquisition marks MEAG’s first forestry transaction in Sweden. MEAG cited the resilience and value stability of forestry as key investment drivers, noting that Sweden offers one of the few remaining European markets where forestry assets are still available on attractive terms. MEAG launched its first forestry fund, the Sustainable Forestry Equity Fund, in 2022 and reached a $207 mln first close in Feb. 2024. The 15-year closed-end vehicle targets $500-700 mln in capital. MEAG has managed forestry assets since 2009 and agriculture since 2014, accumulating a global forestry portfolio of 400,000 hectares. Its Finnish forestry acquisition in Mar. 2024 was valued at €166 mln. MEAG currently manages €360 bln in assets, including €62 bln on behalf of external investors.

Trump’s CAFE - The Trump administration announced Thursday that it has rewritten the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules to reverse rules previously implemented by the Biden administration. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy accused the previous administration of illegally using the CAFE standards as a “backdoor electric vehicle mandate” and said that his department has submitted its reinterpretation of the rule to “ensure the American people can purchase the cars they want". The reinterpreted rule has been submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review. It has not yet been made public.

The US Senate voted Thursday morning to revoke three waivers the EPA granted to California that allowed the state to set stricter vehicle emissions standards, including one that blocks California’s ability to phase out gas-powered cars and require EV sales.

Climate action de(Prime)nt - Amazon investors rejected the three shareholder resolutions meant to address climate change impacts from the company. The proposals failed to get sufficient votes to be enacted, and included resolutions to require additional reporting on overall climate emissions from Amazon, addressing the climate impact of data centres, and calling for further disclosure about packing materials for the retail giant. The company deemed its existing climate disclosures as sufficient, Reuters reported.

A proposed US carbon tariff policy would boost domestic production of covered products and generate billions in revenue, but have limited effects on global GHG emissions, according to a new report.

The administration of US President Donald Trump dampens prospects for the country's carbon removal (CDR) market, but some positive signs remain intact despite the federal rollback of wider climate efforts of prior governments, stakeholders said this week at a conference in New York City.

California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit values declined in the absence of certainty on implementation of proposed programme changes, while other US clean fuel schemes largely stabilised throughout May following regulatory and legislative actions in Oregon and Washington.

Olympic-sized deal - Microsoft signed an offtake agreement with UK-based investor Climate Asset Management (CAM) for up to 700,000 nature-based CDR credits through 2035. The agreement is the first part of a larger deal signed earlier in May between CAM's operating partner EFM and the tech giant to deliver up to 3 mln improved forest management (IFM) credits over the next three years. EFM finalised this latest agreement of IFM credits involving Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula forest acreage. This will be CAM’s first US forestry asset within its Natural Capital Fund I.

CO2 case curtailed - The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit on Wednesday by environmental groups seeking to overturn the US EPA’s decision to grant Louisiana oversight of CO2 injection wells, E&E News reported. The court ruled the groups lacked standing, with Judge Andrew Oldham stating their claims were too speculative. Judge Kurt Engelhardt joined the opinion, while Judge James Graves concurred in the outcome but said the majority applied a stricter standing standard than the Supreme Court requires.

Credit prices from the world's largest soil carbon project have crashed, a Maasai leader representing the community of Northern Rangelands Trust told an event in Nairobi, as he lashed out at the media for negative coverage.

European carbon allowance prices eased for a second successive session on Thursday, tracking gas lower as sources again highlighted a returning correlation to the TTF as well as a relatively calm market in the wake of several bumpy months, while UKAs slipped 3%, shedding some of the gains made since a UK-EU ETS linking announcement on Monday.

Net zero no-go - Canada Pension Plan Investments (CPP Investments), the Crown corporation managing over C$714 bln ($514 bln) in pension assets for Canadian contributors and beneficiaries, announced it will no longer maintain a commitment to achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050. The corporation cited recent legal developments in Canada that are allegedly increasing pressure to adopt standardised emissions metrics and interim targets, which it said do not reflect the complexity of its global portfolio. CPP Investments stated that forcing alignment with rigid milestones could lead to decisions misaligned with its investment strategy, and it will instead prioritise delivering long-term results.

Protections passed - Illinois lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1723 (SB 1723) on May 20 through both Houses of the state legislature. The bill, which previously passed the State Senate 55-0 with bipartisan support, prohibits CO2 sequestration activities that overlie, underlie, or pass through single-source aquifers or primary sources of drinking water. The bill includes provisions specific to the Mahomet Aquifer, where a 2024 CO2 leak led to a federal violation notice against multinational agribusiness Archer-Daniels-Midland. The bill also established the Mahomet Aquifer Advisory Study Commission, tasked with assessing safety protocols of carbon capture and storage in the region.

Kyrgyzstan has announced the establishment of a new ecological corridor spanning 800,000 hectares – the largest protected area of its kind in the country as a measure to help snow leopards and their food chain adapt better to climate change.

Biodiversity credits must address ownership rights as a first step to be defined as high integrity, especially when it comes to marine environments, an expert told Carbon Pulse.

A food and beverage multinational has pushed back its goal for net zero emissions across its value chain to 2050, from 2040, in response to the "realities" of systemic barriers such as lacking power grids and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, it announced on Thursday.

A group of organisations this week issued six principles for land sector insetting, calling for more recognition in existing climate frameworks such as the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Big Spanish solar - TotalEnergies has inaugurated its largest cluster of solar power plants, near Seville, Spain, the French company announced on Thursday. The plant consists of five solar projects with a combined installed capacity of 263 MW, and is expected to produce 515 GWh per year. In so doing, it will avoid 245,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, Total said. Most of the power will be sold through long-term purchase agreements, and the rest on the wholesale market.  

Tax bill triumph - US President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax bill narrowly passed the US House of Representatives on Thursday, with a final vote tally of 215-214. The bill included amendments such as early termination of clean electricity and energy storage tax credits under Sections 45Y and 48E, repeal of credit transferability provisions, and new restrictions on solar and wind leasing arrangements. The amendments also introduced an expedited permitting process for natural gas infrastructure under the Natural Gas Act. Additional provisions overrode the 2024-29 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program and appropriates $100 mln to review regulations from agencies including the EPA and the DOE. The bill has yet to pass the US Senate.

A UK-based carbon removals platform has launched a new product to turn long-term offtake agreements into immediate upfront cash, rather than use venture capital.

New partners - Climate consultancy Klimate is partnering with carbon removal standard Riverse, the two announced Thursday. The collaboration will enable smoother integration of Riverse-certified credits into Klimate portfolios, enhanced buyer transparency, and connecting corporates to quality projects, backed by credible standards, Klimate stated.

EU co-legislators broadly agree not to limit carbon offsetting to residual emissions in the Green Claims Directive, but to instead allow companies to offset while simultaneously reducing emissions, sources close to the file have told Carbon Pulse.

Efforts to integrate biodiversity into financial decision-making are faltering due to unreliable data, inconsistent metrics, and a lack of ecological grounding, according to new research.

The South African government is reforming the power sector by boosting renewables deployment, but with the continued expansion of fossil fuels and delay in coal phaseout plans, the country's climate targets may be in jeopardy, an analysis has found.

An initiative led by Brazil aims to develop a first-of-its-kind financial structure that funnels billions of dollars into the fight against deforestation, with a focus on local people.

The European Commission has published a benchmarking system that will accompany the EU's anti-deforestation regulation, classifying countries according to their 'level of risk'.

There are indications that China is ramping up its capacity to produce green, synthetic fuels for shipping, with potential for it to scale the market for e-methanol and ammonia much like it did with solar and battery production, said an expert on a briefing Thursday.

Standardisation of offtake agreements for carbon removal (CDR) projects would help scale the emerging market faster, experts said this week at a conference in New York City.

EU and LNG – The EU’s reliance on spot LNG is likely to continue without stronger decarbonisation, warned European energy regulators on Thursday. ACER’s 2025 monitoring report found that LNG’s share of total EU gas supply rose to 40% in 2024, from 23% in 2020. It remained the world’s largest LNG importer with 112 bcm, despite a 17% drop compared to 2023. The US supplied nearly 50% of EU LNG imports, while Russian LNG imports increased by 22% despite sanctions. Over 550 EU spot LNG trades were reported to ACER, totalling 45.5 bcm, 55% of which were priced below €35/MWh. The EU bought 30 bcm of LNG on the spot market, more than any other major importer. It could need an additional 30 bcm of LNG by 2030. As Europe moves away from Russian fossil fuels, ACER recommends faster decarbonisation through renewables and efficiency to reduce structural gas demand.

A Canadian developer of nature-based agricultural solutions is set to launch its first verified carbon offset credits — framing carbon sequestration as just one small piece of the credits’ larger benefits, which aim to prevent biodiversity loss and preserve ecosystems.

Land rush - Land rights are key to achieving just climate action, according to a new report 'Net Zero and Land Rights' by Robert Bosch Stiftung and TMG Research. Up to 1 bln ha of land by 2060 (nearly the size of China) is required to realise net zero climate pledges, which will require an equitable approach to land rights. The report highlights that voluntary carbon projects are expanding in particular across Africa where land tenure is often insecure, with local communities facing growing pressure from offset projects that lack proper safeguards. The report calls for legitimate land rights to be recognised and protected; for carbon market stakeholders to treat Indigenous and local communities as equal partners; that projects only proceed after the “free, prior and informed consent” of local communities; and that gender equality and customary tenure recognition are embedded in all land use. It also calls for the integration of land rights into national climate strategies, including NDCs.

German financial fears – The €100 bln that has been set aside in Germany for climate action by the new government may end up financing regular budget items rather than additional low-carbon investments, warned two trade associations on Wednesday. The BDEW and VKU, which represent the energy and water industry, and local utilities respectively, cited new information from the Federal Ministry of Finance. The special infrastructure fund should not be used to fund existing spend, nor subsidise electricity prices, they argued. Rather, it should be used for investments in power plants, heating networks, hydrogen ramp-up and digitalisation. "Of course, the budget will be short of revenue if the state lowers the electricity tax. But this relief must come from the regular budget, not from the KTF [special fund]," said Ingbert Liebing, VKU's general manager.

Meeting decarbonisation targets under the EU’s upcoming Emissions Trading Scheme for road transport and heating fuels (ETS2) will require ramping up electric vehicles and heat pumps up to 10 times, according to new market projections unveiled on Thursday, with some analysts revising their price outlook higher amid the slower-than-expected decarbonisation progress in the two sectors.

Land and sea – CO2 removals from land and sea do not interfere with each other and can be combined, suggest three LMU Munich researchers in a study published in Nature Communications on Wednesday. Until now, it was unclear whether a combination of afforestation/reforestation and ocean alkalinity enhancement for example, could impair CDR effectiveness, as removing CO2 in one location could theoretically lead to reduced uptake elsewhere. Now, the scientists provide initial evidence to show that the efficiency of CDR is insensitive to both the amount of CDR and the CDR portfolio. This can reduce pressure on land, they write, though they called for more research into marine CDR and its environmental impacts.

Cement and CCS - Carbon capture will be key to decarbonising the cement and concrete sector, Jan Theulen, group lead of CCUS at Heidelberg Materials told Clean Energy Wire. But in addition to technical innovation, a coordinated approach to CO2 transport and storage infrastructure is also critical, he said. The cement maker's strategy combines the use of biogenic waste as fuel with CO2 capture to pave the way for climate-neutral concrete. Its cement plant in Brevik, Norway will be the first to deliver net zero cement and concrete to the market in large volumes.

Rising voices - Concerns over the impacts of forest carbon offset projects have been raised by a group of indigenous leaders from Brazil, Indonesia, and Malaysia, who visited the UK Parliament last week to call for stronger forest protection. In meetings with MPs from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Deforestation and UK civil servants, the delegation called for direct funding to local communities, legal recognition of Indigenous territories, and more ambitious UK legislation to tackle deforestation. They warned that forest carbon projects often bypass communities and enable land grabs by the same companies driving deforestation. A key message was for the UK to deliver on its promises for forests, people, and climate following the government's announcement to cut the international development budget to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI).

The European Parliament has endorsed the European Commission's plan to completely phase out Russian energy imports by 2027, with most MEPs supporting the plan and only a few criticising the potential economic implications.

One of the premium projects, in terms of credit price value, in the voluntary carbon market has been downgraded by a ratings agency.

The more companies worldwide track and report their emissions, the more disparate the information and methodologies are becoming — fuelling the need for a UK carbon regulator to set professional standards and ensure the data is consistent and coherent, according to an influential research body. 

A Boston-area startup will supply up to 622,500 tonnes of low-carbon cement over nine years under a long-term deal with Microsoft, the company announced Wednesday.

A London-headquartered climate consultancy will require its suppliers and partners to commit to science-based emissions reduction targets, after its own indirect emissions more than doubled between 2018 and 2024, it said this week.

Microsoft and a US-based carbon management firm released a new guide to high-quality environmental attribute certificates (EACs) in the concrete and steel sectors, seeking to reduce the tech giant’s Scope 3 emissions.

Going low-carbon is set to transform the fortunes of one of the world’s largest pulp and lumber companies as it embarks on a pioneering 'green glue', as well as a bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) plant, the CEO told Carbon Pulse.

A blue carbon initiative funded by the government of Japan, implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia, and backed by the ASEAN Secretariat Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy was launched this week in Jakarta, with an aim to unlock regional climate finance.

The local government of Misiones, Argentina, has launched an insurance policy aimed at protecting jaguars while safeguarding livestock producers across the province, in an initiative claimed to be the first of its kind in the world.

Green H2 imports – Germany and the Netherlands will launch a joint tender this year via the H2Global Platform for the import of renewable hydrogen to northwest Europe, Dutch climate and green growth minister Sophie Hermans told a World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam on Wednesday. Producers of “sustainable” hydrogen worldwide can register for the tender. Germany and the Netherlands are each making €300 mln available for it. Germany created the H2Global public-private partnership in 2021 to promote hydrogen imports. The Netherlands is signing on to realise its renewable hydrogen import ambitions.

The European Parliament on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in support of simplifying the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), paving the way for talks with EU member states to finalise the law before the summer.

Blended finance needs to scale fast or biodiversity goals risk collapse, panellists warned at an event in Bangkok on Thursday, as the Asia Pacific struggles to build an investor ready nature project pipeline.

Belgium has released an updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), encouraging the development of biodiversity credit markets to meet targets, but cautioning against the misuse of offsetting.

Urban removals - The Centre for Science and Technology Innovations (CSTI), a research organisation and a registered scientific trust in Kenya, has joined the City CDR Initiative as a supporting partner to scale CO2 removal activities, the initiative announced in a LinkedIn post. CSTI will bring its expertise around biochar even as the partnership as a whole will seek to investigate biochar-focused urban CDR pathways to address embodied carbon. CSTI will also help examine the African Cities Carbon Removal Hub as a template for regionally clustered capacity building under the next phase of the City CDR Initiative, the statement added.

Saving time and money – Gprnt, launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and backed by the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN), has announced the launch of the world’s first nationwide utility which will enable companies to automatically generate their basic sustainability metrics. This will let companies in Singapore retrieve their utilities data, including water, town gas, and electricity consumption values, and convert it into basic sustainability metrics, such as Scope 1 and 2 emissions values, on the Gprnt platform within minutes and without cost. Gprnt also announced the completion of a seed funding round, under which it has raised $4.62 mln, to be used to strengthen its digital infrastructure, enhance AI capabilities, and accelerate the onboarding of partners in Singapore and across the region.

Lifeline for dying field - Timor-Leste is mulling pulling the last gas from the Santos-operated Bayu Undan gas field that straddles its and Australia’s jurisdictions and has been the main source of revenue for the young new country for years. The oil company produces small volumes of gas for the Australian domestic market after finishing LNG production. It plans to transition the field to a CCS hub, sending CO2 from its Barossa gas field to the depleted reservoirs for permanent sequestration. However, Upstream reports the Timor-Leste government is planning to redevelop the field and build a new pipeline that would head to the south coast, hitting other gas fields on the way. The south coast is where Dili has long hoped to build an LNG export facility for the Greater Sunrise gas field.

US-headquartered asset manager Federated Hermes will close its biodiversity fund next month following the withdrawal of a shareholder.

New Zealand released its 2025 national budget Thursday, cutting annual funding for building a domestic voluntary carbon market by 35% while allocating NZ$200 million ($118.6 mln) for natural gas development amid a steep decline in domestic supply in recent years.

Analysis published by the Clean Energy Regulator this week shows soil carbon projects are opting for shorter permanence periods and deferring their crediting periods.

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) market looks set to continue on last year's growth, as LNG infrastructure expands and the number of participants increase — but the sector also faces geopolitical risk, despite some governments saying it can help to reduce emissions and enhance energy security, a report has found.

Cashback - Australian climate tech firm Sphere has partnered with DCS Card Centre to allow Singaporean credit card users to convert rewards into carbon offsets and biodiversity investments from June. The programme enables Visa Platinum cardholders to use up to 8% of spend on accredited environmental projects via a linked app. The launch follows Sphere’s carbon action tech rollouts with banks in Vietnam and Malaysia and comes as the company seeks new funding. Sphere is also working with merchants and financial platforms across APAC to integrate automated emissions tracking.

The European Commission on Wednesday evening published key details of draft legislation for oil and gas producers who are legally obliged to contribute to an EU-wide target of CO2 storage capacity under the bloc's Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), naming 44 of them as falling under the obligation. 

The proposed reforms to the landfill gas method could boost Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) volumes, but may fail to address structural supply issues in the market, according to analysis published Thursday.

An enhanced rock weathering (ERW) startup this week announced it has raised $12 million in seed funding to accelerate CO2 removal from Indian agriculture.

Tubestock rising -Australian state Victoria has expanded Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation's native plant nursery, thanks to a A$500,000 ($322,000) grant, it announced. The funding has supported a native plant nursery with a new greenhouse, polytunnel, shade house, and has increase its tubestocks to 80,000 from 4,000. The funding was sourced from the state government's A$31 mln BushBank programme, an initiative to support private landholders restore 20,000 ha of land, assist biodiversity efforts and support threatened species.

Carrots - China’s CATL will reward suppliers who cut emissions as the battery giant aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its supply chain by 2035, according to its latest sustainability report. Scope 3 emissions, from upstream suppliers, constituted 95% of its total 118.3 MtCO2e in 2024. The company, which supplies EV batteries to major car makers across the globe, listed its shares on the Hong Kong Exchange this week in a blockbuster IPO.

Let it flow - Singapore’s VFlowTech has raised $20.5 mln to develop its batteries, with investment led by Granite Asia and new investors Antares Ventures, EDBI, MOL PLUS and PSA Ventures, they announced. VFlow’s AI platform allows customers to optimise their energy use, trade energy, and improve energy storage systems, it said. VFlow plans to scale manufacturing of its vanadium redox flow batteries, develop vanadium recycling to improve supply chains, and strengthen its AI-driven energy management platform. Vanadium batteries are an alternative to lithium-ion and can operate in higher temperatures. The new investors join Holding, UntroD Capital, Pappas Capital, Wavemaker Partners, SEEDS Capital, and Entrepreneurs First.

Energy expansion - AGL Energy-invested Kaluza has bought energy software company Beige Technologies which doubles its Asia Pacific team, Kaluza announced. Australian energy giant AGL spent A$150 mln ($96.50 mln) to take a 20% stake in 2024. Beige’s software can deliver customer quotes for solar, battery and grid within two minutes, a task that can take days with legacy systems, Kaluza said. Kaluza services the commercial and industrial sector, rather than household energy users.

A high-ranking Iraqi official on Wednesday called for the creation of a regional carbon credit exchange led by Iraq, building upon recent momentum for state-backed carbon market development in the Middle Eastern country.

Canada’s newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney faces pressure from carbon market participants to stabilise climate policy amid recent turbulence, a conference heard Wednesday.