IU ready? - Verra will launch version 0.9 of its Scope 3 Standard (S3S) Program by the end of 2025, offering a new framework to address Scope 3 emissions through publicly listed interventions on the Verra Registry. The initial rollout will allow project proponents to register early-stage interventions using adapted VCS methodologies, such as improved agricultural land management and CO2 use in concrete. A second public consultation will accompany the release, building on feedback from over 30 stakeholders during the first consultation earlier in 2025. Version 1.0, expected in Q2 2026, will support validation, registration, and issuance of verified emission reductions - called Intervention Units (IUs) - to pilot projects and program sponsors. A broader rollout is planned with version 2.0 by end-2026, introducing a “right-to-report” framework that enables shared reporting and investment in emissions reductions along the value chain via Scope 3 Intervention Units (S3IUs).

Summer surge – As a heat dome drives high temperatures across much of the eastern US this week, the Trump administration has issued an emergency order allowing Duke Energy – a North Carolina headquartered electric and natural gas company – to exceed emissions limits at specific power plants in the Carolinas to maintain grid reliability. The US DOE’s order, reported by E&E News, is effective through Wednesday evening, and follows widespread heat advisories and early summer demand surges that have already caused outages in parts of New York City.

Steel strategy - Hyundai presented a $6 bln plan for a hydrogen-integrated steel mill in Ascension Parish to Louisiana’s Clean Hydrogen Task Force on Monday, aiming for operations to begin in 2029. The company described the facility as a step toward building a statewide hydrogen economy, with a phased strategy involving industrial adoption and ecosystem development. Hyundai acknowledged key challenges, including high hydrogen production costs and uncertainty surrounding federal tax credits. The company plans to begin with blue hydrogen and eventually shift to green hydrogen to produce low-emissions “green steel”.

Coal continues - The Trump administration is moving to approve Falkirk Mining Company’s request to extract lignite coal from approximately 800 acres of federal land in McLean County, North Dakota, reversing a halt under the Biden administration due to climate concerns, E&E News reported. Falkirk Mining, which operates the adjacent Falkirk Mine, supplies coal to Coal Creek Station, the state’s largest coal-fired power plant. The Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement issued an environmental assessment supporting the proposal, citing alignment with President Trump’s energy policy. The assessment is open to a 14-day public comment period.

Electrifying debate - US House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves (R) said Tuesday he will continue pushing for new annual fees on electric and hybrid vehicles, even though the Senate Finance Committee omitted them from its version of the GOP’s budget reconciliation package, E&E News reported. The House-passed version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” included $250 fees on electric vehicles and $100 fees on hybrids. While the Senate package is still under negotiation, Graves indicated he would seek to reinstate the fees if the House has another opportunity to amend the legislation.

Nuclear news - New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans for the New York Power Authority to build at least one new nuclear plant providing 1 GW of electricity, citing the need to meet rising energy demands and ensure grid reliability amid business growth in upstate New York. The proposal, supported by labour unions and manufacturers, aims to prevent future power disruptions, though environmental groups remain cautious, E&E News reported. While the state’s grid operator has flagged narrowing reliability margins, it does not currently predict a statewide energy shortfall within the next decade.

Wilting in the sun - A study examining India’s voluntary carbon market has found that half of the reviewed tree-planting projects have failed to endure, raising concerns about their long-term effectiveness and community benefits. Of six forestry and land-use initiatives assessed, only three — in Araku, Bagepalli, and the Sundarbans — remain operational, with success attributed to strong local NGO partnerships and tangible livelihood support. While tree cover rose by 48% in project areas, gains were often lost when projects became unprofitable or land was repurposed, highlighting the fragility of short-term funding models. The study warns that long-term community engagement, economic incentives, and reliable funding are critical to sustaining forestry-based carbon interventions. It also emphasises the need for transparent, technology-driven monitoring to reduce phantom credits and improve accountability. Experts urge that carbon offsets, while helpful, must not divert attention from the core priority of reducing emissions at source.