California's electricity sector contiues to set record-low CO2 monthly outputs, with renewables making up the largest percentage of the power mix in a year, but grid operator data shows the pace of decarbonisation is slowing down.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has issued a landmark advisory opinion outlining the obligations of states in responding to the climate emergency, marking a significant legal development at the intersection of human rights and environmental protection.

Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands have the capacity to generate 15.8 million REDD+ and 738,000 afforestation, reforestation and revegetation (ARR) carbon credits annually, according to a report published Thursday.

California Carbon Allowances (CCA) prices dipped slightly week-on-week (WoW) ahead of the July 4th weekend and amidst a lack of significant short-term drivers, while Washington Carbon Allowances (WCAs) continued to hold steady above the $61 threshold, traders said.

The UK government is hoping to drive the development of up to 10 GW of onshore wind energy across the country, with a new strategy aimed at rolling back a de facto nine-year ban on wind turbines in England, it announced on Friday.

A Bolivia-based project developer has found through a field study that applying biochar in agriculture can substantially improve soil health and boost yields, potentially decreasing dependence on conventional fertilisers.

Super pollutant pivot - Cascade Climate, a US non-profit focused on advancing enhanced rock weathering (ERW), announced Wednesday that it is expanding its scope beyond ERW to address near-term warming. The non-profit will now also focus on advancing reductions of super pollutant emissions, such as methane, nitrous oxide, tropic ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Methane accounts for about 16% of global emissions, according to the US EPA. And HFCs, a group of synthetic gases often used in cooling systems, comprise around 2% of global GHGs, although its global warming impact is thousands of times more potent than CO2. Cascade says it will begin addressing these super pollutants by unlocking voluntary carbon financing to launch mitigation projects in priority geographies. These proof-of-concept projects can then serve as a stepping stone towards regulatory frameworks, compliance market uptake, and scaled public investment, the non-profit said.

FPIC in Amazon advances – The government of Para has continued to carry out free, prior and informed consultations (FPIC) in the Brazilian Amazon for its jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme, despite a recommendation from the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Para (MPPA) to halt the process. The State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability (Semas) of Para began the consultation process on Tuesday with Quilombola communities in the city of Obidos, located in the Lower Amazon region. This phase of the process is expected to conclude by Friday. In total, the state plans to carry out 47 consultations. Last week, the MPF and MPPA alleged that Semas had violated the federal law which established the emissions trading system, and called for the immediate suspension of the FPIC process.

Revamped regulations - The Climate Change Directorate of Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) unveiled a new regulatory framework this week to govern the country’s domestic carbon market, as part of a workshop on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement held in San Jose. The event gathered national and international stakeholders to discuss the implementation of Article 6 mechanisms, including bilateral cooperation (6.2), international market mechanisms (6.4), and non-market approaches (6.8). The framework aims to align national efforts with international standards, prioritising environmental integrity, transparency, and consistency with Costa Rica’s NDC.

European shipping emissions covered by the bloc's carbon market rebounded in 2024, rising 5.2% in large part due to diversions of container ships to avoid attacks in the Red Sea, according to a Carbon Pulse analysis of preliminary data published this week.

The Dominican Republic has published a technical design report outlining key facets of a pilot emissions trading system (ETS), including 100% free allocation and substantial use of voluntary carbon credits.

Powering ahead - Verra has released VMR0014 Electric and Hybrid Vehicles and Mobile Machinery (AMS-III.C. Revision), v1.0 under its Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Programme. This minor revision updates the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology AMS-III.C., following public consultation held from Apr. 24 to May 26, 2025. AMS-III.C. covers projects introducing new electric or hybrid vehicles to replace fossil fuel-powered transport, aiming to cut GHG emissions, improve air quality, and reduce fossil fuel dependence. The revision broadens the methodology’s scope to include electric mobile machinery (EMM), such as battery-electric and plug-in hybrid construction equipment. With this change, VMR0014 now replaces AMS-III.C., which is deactivated as a standalone methodology under the VCS. Projects wishing to register under AMS-III.C. v16.0 must complete validation by July 31, 2026.

The number of renewable energy projects in the US facing local and state-level restrictions and contestations increased in 2024, according to a new report from Columbia University.

The US House narrowly passed Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Thursday afternoon, overcoming Democrats’ last-ditch effort to delay the vote that ultimately delivered a significant blow to the nation’s clean energy industry.

Washington’s Department of Ecology (ECY) will offer slightly higher allowances at the third quarterly auction of 2025, according to a notice published Thursday.

Several high-profile initiatives to stimulate private financing for climate mitigation launched this week during the Fourth Financing for Development Conference (FFD4) in Seville between June 30 and July 3, while critics panned outcomes for debt and global financial reform.

The European Commission’s newly proposed target to cut emissions by 90% by 2040 has triggered fresh calls to overhaul how carbon removals are treated under EU law.

RGGI Allowance (RGA) futures fell over $2 or above 9% on Thursday following the release of results of the Third Program Review, a move long-awaited by market participants that concludes a multi-year reform process.

The rollback of US climate policies under the Trump administration carries serious implications both for tackling climate change and piling economic pressures on the US, but it could strengthen climate alliances among countries and heighten activism, according to a new report.

Price floors, “right of first refusals” clauses, and call options for jurisdictional emissions reduction crediting programmes should be integrated into carbon contracts for REDD+ and other AFOLU sectors, the World Bank recommended this week.

European carbon prices consolidated on Thursday after prices hit a six-day high amid more aggressive buying after the daily auction saw the strongest bidding in six weeks, before easing off and handing back most of the gains as traders appeared to be waiting for next week's end of the 90-day grace period ahead of possible US tariffs on EU goods.

The Scottish government has released a draft environment strategy setting out goals such as to restore biodiversity and end its contribution to climate change, with proposed policies including a carbon tax on agricultural estates.

Microsoft led the charge again last month in the carbon removals (CDR) market, accounting for the bulk of the buying amid a slow down from May, according to the platform CDR.fyi.

Offshore petroleum emissions - The Norwegian Environment Agency has put a new regulation up for consultation, which would require companies on the country's continental shelf to reduce their GHG intensity from ships used for petroleum activities, it announced Thursday. The move will help direct shipping towards zero emissions by 2050, requiring significant emissions cuts and technological developments, the government said. By encouraging demand for alternative fuels, it will also help to encourage investments. Offshore vessels account for over 20% of the country's domestic shipping emissions.

Updated biochar methodology - Finnish certifier Puro.earth has formally approved Edition 2025 edition of its biochar methodology, and set out a timetable for transition, it confirmed on Thursday. Certified Facilities can continue to operate under Edition 2022 until the end of their crediting period, or upgrade earlier if desired. Facilities registered prior to Aug. 15 and still preparing for the first Facility Audit against Edition 2022 have until Dec. 15 to submit a complete audit package. Alternatively, they can also request certification against Edition 2025. Facilities registered on or after Aug. 15 must be certified against Edition 2025.

The share of coal in Poland's power mix fell to a record low of 56% in 2024, reflecting an accelerating but poorly planned energy transition in the country, a Polish think tank found in a report this week.

New agriculture production models are needed to shift the sector away from land-intensive practices towards ones that reduce deforestation, a World Economic Forum (WEF) executive has said.

Norway’s move to include international carbon credits in its 2035 climate plan could raise demand for Article 6 units, though the market impact will depend on who executes the trades and the quality of credits used, a carbon removal (CDR) expert told Carbon Pulse.

Biodiesel production in the EU has flatlined despite the need for a major scale-up in renewable fuels to meet 2030 climate goals, while waste-based feedstocks have overtaken crop-based sources for the first time, according to a report published Thursday.

Debt be gone - Carbon Done Right, a Vancouver-headquartered company focused on nature-based carbon credit projects, has completed a debt settlement involving the issuance of about 11.5 mln common shares at C$0.015 per share to satisfy some C$172,5oo ($125,000) in debt owed to an arm’s length creditor. The debt originated from a 2024 promissory note, and the move aims to preserve cash for working capital. The issued shares are subject to a four-month hold period.

An investment of €3.66 billion from the EU's Modernisation Fund, funded by its Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), will support 34 energy-related projects in nine member states, the European Commission and European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on Thursday.

Megabill incoming - US President Donald Trump's (R) "big, beautiful" energy and tax megabill is all but assured passage in the House of Representatives after securing support from moderate and conservative holdouts, reported E&E News. Passing the Senate Wednesday, the bill accelerates the phase out of numerous tax credits for clean energy and energy efficiency, while also maintaining support for CCS - including equalising credit values for CO2 utilisation - and existing nuclear facilities, and even extending credits for clean fuel production.

Tree targets missed - Only 15,700 hectares of trees were planted across the UK over the past year - around half the annual target of 30,000 hectares by 2025 that was set by the previous Conservative government, according to Forest Research. Over the past five years, tree-planting shortfalls equate to a forest area equivalent in size to the Isle of Wight not being planted, Carbon Brief analysis found. Tree planting is a devolved issue, so collectively, UK nations have repeatedly missed their annual goal since 2020, with Scotland the biggest contributor the shortfall.

The start up of Japan's mandatory emissions trading system (ETS) next year is already pushing up the price of carbon credits in the country, as the government weighs up details like free allowances and the use of offsets – while working to boost private sustainable finance more broadly, a government official said in London this week.

Germany should prioritise direct payments to households, affordable public transport, and targeted building renovation subsidies when spending revenues from the EU’s new Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport, a policy briefing recommends.

Trading on Indonesia’s national carbon exchange tumbled to its lowest level in six months in June, ending the first half of the year on a subdued note despite some initial minor bursts of activity earlier in 2025.

Fossil fuel subsidies cost the world economy an estimated $7 trillion a year, but removing them and properly pricing the local damage from burning fossil fuels could cut global CO2 emissions by nearly a third while boosting welfare and government revenues, according to new research.

Greener and cheaper - Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) has cut green electricity prices by 80% and introduced a single pricing system in efforts to make access to certified green power simpler and cheaper, the Edge Malaysia reported. The government has also launched Green Electricity Tariff (GET) Greenpath – a new version of the programme for data centres and industrial users that need renewable energy certificates (RECs) to meet their sustainability goals. GET is a government programme that lets customers of Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), the only electric utility company in the country, buy green electricity to reduce their carbon footprint. Introduced in 2021, the programme has delivered over 10,500 GWh of green electricity to over 3,500 users to date.

Bundling or stacking biodiversity and carbon credits may face obstacles due to issues with additionality, cost, and ecological complexity, according to a paper released this week.

Large volumes of CORSIA and Core Carbon Principle (CCP) integrity-stamped cookstove credits are set to appear in the market after a project developer this week started to distribute around 250,000 biomass cookstoves to households in Madagascar.

The robust accounting system of blockchain is helping carbon credit buyers carry out due diligence and driving higher prices, according to an Isle of Man-based carbon credit exchange that has sold 1.6 million tonnes of credits so far this year – and is pushing back on scepticism of the technology.

Dotz for DAC - Australian company Dotz Nano said Thursday it has signed an MoU with CarbonCapture Incorporated (CCI) for the latter to use its DAC sorbent material for kilogram-scale lab testing. CCI recently completed gram-scale testing of Dotz’ sorbent, which can capture CO2 from the air. The eventual plan is deployment at CCI’s yet-to-be-built DAC hubs. Sorbents are frequently used to capture CO2 from natural gas streams and post-combustion sources, such as power plants. Dotz told the Australian exchange its powdered, polymer-based material has been engineered to capture as much CO2 as possible from the air and could ultimately lead to much lower costs.

Transitioning through - The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has said that its gas-centric transition strategy aims to eliminate routine flaring by 2030 and reduce methane by 60% by 2031, local media outlet Punch Nigeria reported. According to the government officials, Nigeria is building LNG capacity, deploying floating infrastructure, and leading cross-border pipeline development to fuel the whole of Africa’s industrial revival. Other initiatives include Nigeria’s Upstream Decarbonisation Framework, which integrates emissions tracking, MRV systems, carbon capture technology, and access to climate finance through carbon markets. The West African country announced the finalisation of its Carbon Market Activation Policy as part of an energy reform package in April, which is intended to unlock up to $2.5 bln in revenue from carbon credits and other investments by the end of the decade.

The European Commission is looking into applying a “conversion factor” for carbon removal (CDR) credits when they are traded on the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), among the wide range of options Brussels is considering to include CDR in the EU carbon market.

Table to tarmac - The Malaysian state of Sarawak is partnering with Swiss firm Sulzer and Singapore-based Apeiron Bioenergy to develop a 15,000-tonnes per annum SAF biorefinery, the companies announced Thursday. The project will convert used cooking oil and other feedstocks into SAF. A feasibility study is underway, with project commissioning expected in 2026.

Hydrogen first - Constellation Resources announced Thursday it had a first-of-its kind opportunity to explore for natural hydrogen at its Edmund-Collier project that had seen no deep drilling to date, but interpretation of seismic lines suggested potential for large amounts of naturally occurring hydrogen in Western Australia. It holds several early-stage projects across three basins in the large state. Nascent ‘natural’ hydrogen could offer lower costs than produced hydrogen, though Constellation’s frontier acreage is far from demand centres or transport. Separately Thursday, the more established Gold Hydrogen said three Japanese companies have invested a collective A$14.5 mln ($9.52 mln) into a capital raise to develop its Ramsay project in South Australia after strong drilling results.

Support - The UN's Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has recently adopted a refrigeration project in Senegal as a project utilising the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), according to a statement released by Japan's environment ministry. UNIDO plans to support the early formation of JCM projects using advanced decarbonisation technologies in African JCM partner countries, with contributions from the Japanese ministry. The Senegal initiative is expected to generate 1,305 credits per year.  

Money is ready - South Korea has established a new fund worth KRW 259.2 billion ($190 mln) to support companies seeking to invest in overseas environmental projects such as carbon reduction and circular economy, following the setup of a first fund (KRW 158 bln) previously, the country's environment ministry said Thursday. The government is planning a third fund (KRW 92 bln) and seeks to accelerate the discovery of investment projects with the goal of approving KRW 100 bln in investment this year, the ministry said.

Advancing research - UK-based Carbon Clean, has opened a Global Innovation Centre (GIC) in Navi Mumbai, India, to advance the generation of its CCUS technologies, ANI News reported. The GIC will house two carbon capture plants alongside state-of-the-art laboratories for solvent development, analysis, and testing and will serve as a hub for research, innovation, and technology demonstration. The company already has pilot partnerships with Indian companies including BHP, JSW, NTPC, and Tata Steel, it added.

Another percent – Norway on Thursday announced new regulations for biofuels that it said will cut emissions by 450,000 tCO2e over the next two years, around 1% of its total annual GHG output. Biofuel requirements for road vehicles will increase to 20% in 2026 and 21% in 2027, with shipping facing shares of 7% and 8%, respectively, for the two years. For aviation, Norway is aligning its requirements with those of the EU, meanwhile the government said it is continuing work to integrate ReFuelEU Aviation into domestic legislation as soon as possible.

Colombia-based voluntary carbon standard Cercarbono has partnered with a Malaysian state to strengthen its carbon and biodiversity market ecosystems.

Vietnam will participate in the voluntary phase of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) starting 2026, according to a government directive published Wednesday.

New bid - Chinese energy giant CNOOC is recruiting developers to work on a new afforestation project in Inner Mongolia that can create credits under China's national voluntary CCER programme, according to a tender notice shared by information portal TL Carbon. Work will include the preparation of project design documents and emission accounting reports, the notice showed. Interested companies are required to submit their proposal by July 9, CNOOC said, without disclosing the potential size of the project.  

Japan is contemplating setting a 10% upper limit for the use of carbon credits and narrowing the scope of eligible projects under its emissions trading system, as the country seeks to better regulate the emerging market.

In effect - The Australian government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard came into effect on July 1, it announced this week. The efficiency standards were passed in May last year and set CO2 emissions targets for new light passenger and commercial vehicles under 4.5 tonnes. Each year the emissions target is lowered, meaning entities are encouraged to supply more fuel-efficient or low emissions vehicles. The scheme is being overseen by the NVES regulator. Before it was passed, Australia was one of only two developed countries not to have fuel pollution standards, the other being Russia.

Sinking feeling - Israeli startup Gigablue, which sold 200,000 carbon credits for ocean-based carbon removal earlier this year, has drawn scrutiny from scientists over its lack of transparency and unproven tech, as per a recent report by the Associated Press. The company disperses engineered particles into the sea to stimulate phytoplankton growth and trap carbon on the ocean floor, claiming minimal environmental impact. However, experts who talked to AP questioned the effectiveness and safety of the method, likening it to controversial iron fertilisation which also claims to stimulate phytoplankton blooms that absorb CO2. Ideally, when these organisms die, they should sink and trap carbon in deep waters. But most carbon doesn't make it to the deep ocean and is respired back into CO2 higher up the food chain, according to the scientists.

Taking wings - Australian tech firm Licella aims to reach a final investment decision in H2 2026 for its planned 60 mln litre a year biorefinery in Queensland’s Bundaberg region, which will produce low-carbon fuels including 40 mln litres of SAF, it announced Thursday. The project, located near the Isis Central Sugar Mill, aims to convert sugarcane residues into fuel. It is backed by an A$8mln ($5.25 mln) Australian Renewable Energy Agency grant and is advancing through engineering and site investigations.

Pakistan is actively seeking international buyers for its methane offsetting projects, particularly from the waste sector which is struggling with data inadequacies and financial barriers.

Several Japanese industrial heavyweights have piled into an Australian smallcap hydrogen and helium player this week, investing a total of A$14.5 million ($9.52 mln) hoping to capitalise on its plans to develop hydrogen at lower cost as a plank to realising their own low-carbon ambitions.

Electric beverage - The Victorian state government is opening grants totalling A$10 mln ($6.5 mln) to support a shift to electrification over fossil fuels sources in the food and beverage sectors, it announced. The funding comes from Round 3 of the Energy Innovation Fund, with up to A$2 mln available per business. It aims to capture the benefits of new and innovative technologies required to transition to zero and low emissions manufacturing, the government said, and support deployment and demonstration of high impact, replicable, and scalable solutions. Applications will begin to be accepted from September.

Battery trade funded – Climate tech firm Dexter Energy has raised €23 mln in a Series C funding round, it announced on Wednesday. The Amsterdam-based company intends to use the capital to further develop and scale its AI-powered forecasting and trade optimisation service for renewables and battery storage, particularly for wind and solar power across Europe. It will also use the funding to fast-track its battery trade optimisation solution, initially focused on the Netherlands before expanding to other European markets. The funding round was led by Klima – the energy transition fund of financial services firm Alantra – and joined by French sustainable asset manager Mirova and existing investors, including environmental VC firm ETF Partners, independent VC company Newion, and investment manager PDENH.

Major CCS status - One of Australia’s largest CCS projects has been awarded major project status by the government, it announced Thursday. The Bonaparte CCS project is operated by Japan's Inpex with partners TotalEnergies and Woodside Energy and entered preliminary engineering work in April. In a statement, Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayers described it as a "renewable energy project", adding that it would support emissions reduction in hard-to-abate sectors like metal and chemical refining and will "potentially" enable the development of low carbon industries in the region. It is the first offshore CCS project to win major project status, and the most developed of the offshore 15 offshore CCS projects awarded permits since 2022. Inpex plans to sequester up to 10 MtCO2 a year from domestic sources and import third party emissions from other nations. In the same announcement, the minister awarded major project status to a silica production project in Queensland that will produce 3-5 mln tonnes of the product used in domestic solar PV manufacturing and electronics. Being awarded major project status provides companies with extra support to navigate the regulatory system.

Mail delays – NZ Post has walked away from the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), saying its target is no longer feasible, technically nor economically. The mail delivery firm – which was the third New Zealand organisation to adopt a target under SBTi – was aiming to reduce its emissions to 42% below its FY23 baseline by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. However, current projections means it no longer has a credible pathway to that interim target, nor is it in a position to adopt a replacement target at present, it said in a press release. NZ Post pointed to the availability and affordability of sustainable aviation fuel as one challenge leading to its decision, as well as the complexity of transportation mode shift, flagging the road to rail shift in particular.

The New Zealand government has issued a request for proposals to provide auction services for its cap-and-trade scheme from next year.

O Canada - Canada is home to at least 40 organisations across 18 projects working on carbon removal, according to data analytics portal CDR.fyi. At least C$7.6 bln in tax credits underpin the work, furthered by other elements of government policy in support of carbon removal. Other highlights in recent years include purchases from banking giants BMO, Scotiabank, and RBC; startup support from NorthX Climate Tech and Mars Discovery District; and broad durable CDR development from companies Deep Sky and Carbonity.

Small fish in big pond - The Republican-led proposal for US carbon tariffs, known as the Foreign Pollution Fee Act (FPFA), is unlikely to have any effect on trade in cement and would have small impacts on iron and steel as well as aluminium, new research commentary from MIT has found. The analysis, published by authors from the university’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, found that FPFA would have small effects on prices and producer revenue for US firms and would likely collect little or no tariffs, and though US emissions would fall, global emissions would be unaffected.

Climate action can be transformed into a business opportunity for European farmers through a package of targeted incentives and investments, according to a new policy paper calling for sweeping reforms to EU agricultural policy.

First times a charm - Julie Dabrusin made her first funding announcement as Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announcing that the federal government will invest C$13.3 mln ($9.79 mln) from the Low Carbon Economy Fund toward low-carbon technologies and energy efficiency. Among the companies allocated funding include renewable natural gas producer, Taurus RNG, which will receive C$3.4 million to construct what Environment and Climate Change Canada called "the world’s first" small scale biogenic carbon capture and storage project. Nearly C$7 mln of the total funding is being deployed to projects in the Northwest Territories through partnerships with First Nations communities.