Hard decision - Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Minister Chris Bowen says that the government is ‘considering’ the enactment of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent carbon leakage from high emissions-intensity products, including cement. The Australian Parliament committed to 43% national CO2 emissions reduction between 2005 and 2030 in 2022, and capped emitters’ individual carbon footprints in 2023. Final advice from a government Carbon Leakage Review was due after May 2025, and was possibly complicated by ongoing US climate and trade reforms under President Trump. The Australian Cement Industry Federation bemoaned a lack of action on carbon leakage in Mar. 2025. It warned of jeopardy to both decarbonisation and 1,400 jobs in the Australian cement sector. Australia’s construction industry imported 40% of its cement used in 2024. (Global Cement)

Taiwan is planning to introduce its own version of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2027, which will initially apply to steel and cement products.

China’s environment ministry is soliciting opinions from industries to formulate the permit allocation plan for the three newly added sectors under the national emissions trading system - steel, aluminium, and cement.

On site research - Korean steel giant POSCO has opened a research and development lab in Perth, Western Australia, to seek a competitive edge in the steel, battery materials, raw materials, and rare earth sectors, it announced. The company claimed it was the first time a Korean company had established a resource research institute on site where raw materials are located. The Australian Critical Minerals R&D lab will act as a hub for the company's mineral research and development, including low-carbon raw material utilisation technology, and cost reduction technology in lithium and nickel raw materials sectors, it said.

The UN has begun developing a global platform aimed at mobilising billions of dollars in blended and private capital from ocean-dependent industries, it announced Sunday.

ESG Light credits - Synergy ESCO, the Malaysian subsidiary of Hong Kong-based energy services company Unity Group, has launched a new brand of energy efficient light bulb suitable to generate carbon credits, it announced. The "ESG Light" operates at 4.5 Watts, and delivers an estimated 89% energy savings compared to conventional lighting. The company plans to partner with the Selangor state government to retrofit 6,000 apartment units with these lights and earn revenue from the subsequent generation and sale of carbon credits. While the company claimed its bulb to be the world's first to be eligible to generate carbon credits, existing energy efficiency methodologies in Japan and Australian carbon market schemes allow similar activities to be credited.

Interim targets - Japanese railway operator JR East has set new reduction targets for the coming decades, as the company seeks to eventually reach net zero by mid-century, it announced Monday. The new reduction targets for FY2036 Mar. and FY2041 Mar. are set at 60% and 73%, respectively, compared to the FY2014 level. The company said it has been working on the development of renewable energy sources, the introduction of new types of railcars, and the improvement of the efficiency of its thermal power plants.

The New Zealand carbon allowance price has climbed upwards in recent days and is breaking free of its rangebound trend, as the forestry sector is blamed for driving down sheep flock numbers.

Foray - Beijing-based private equity firm InnoVision Capital, which focuses on ESG investments, has tapped into China's carbon markets through the establishment of a carbon asset investment fund, according to Dealstreet Asia, which cited remarks by CEO and founder Lane Zhao. InnoVision has previously said it remains optimistic about the outlook of the Chinese carbon markets and will "strive to grab opportunities in the carbon asset industry", given the implementation of relevant regulations, the expansion of the national ETS, and the introduction of more carbon offset methodologies.        

Hope in rice -  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and non-profit CGIAR on Monday launched a new initiative to boost investments in sustainable and low-carbon rice production, in the hope of improving the lives of millions of vulnerable smallholder farmers across Asia Pacific. ADB plans to invest up to $1.5 bln through the ADB–CGIAR Clearinghouse Facility from 2025–2030 to help farmers adopt high-yield and low-emission farming practices, adapt to harsher climate conditions, and reduce water and carbon footprints. According to the multilateral development bank, initial projects are being developed in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The facility is cofinanced with the Gates Foundation.