Keep it simple stupid - As corporate climate practices have matured over the last decade, a specialised industry of climate experts has materialised. This industry evaluates climate performance within and outside firms of all kinds – looking at GHG footprinting, decarbonisation methods, and other corporate practices. While frameworks around these forward-looking transition plans add rigour, they are becoming increasingly complex. Yet this complexity risks alienating decision-makers, argues Ilmi Granhoff, a senior fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Terms like “1.5°C targets” and “transition plans” remain abstract to many in finance. Granhoff argues for a simpler approach: focusing on a company’s capital asset mix to gauge current climate performance, and on its capital expenditures to understand its climate trajectory.

The Supervisory Body for the Article 6.4 Mechanism (SBM) has adopted a new standard that addresses when and how inadequate local living conditions are recognised in project baselines under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM).

Marine CO2 removal (mCDR) projects such as ocean alkalinity enhancement and biomass sinking should be regulated under the London Convention and London Protocol in a way that advances climate goals while safeguarding the marine environment, according to new legal guidance.

Not much - Carbon Brief analysis finds that US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs are likely to have only a minimal impact on global CO2 emissions, despite some suggestions they could slow economic activity enough to cut emissions. The study estimates the measures – including a 10% universal levy on all imports and additional “reciprocal tariffs” on selected countries – would reduce 2025 emissions by just 110-150 Mt of CO2 (0.3-0.4%) compared to pre-tariff forecasts. In 2026, the effect could rise slightly to 190-300 MtCO2 (0.5-0.8%). The calculation uses changes in GDP growth projections from the IMF, OECD, and World Bank between late 2024 and mid-2025 to estimate the knock-on effect on emissions from fossil fuels and cement. Although headline rates from the April “liberation day” announcement have since been lowered through deals with the EU, UK, Japan, the Philippines, and others, US import levies remain at their highest since the 1930s, sustaining uncertainty over trade and growth. Experts warn that any short-term climate benefit would likely be outweighed by longer-term harm, as tariffs risk slowing investment in clean-energy projects, particularly by disrupting supply chains for low-carbon technologies. Carbon Brief notes that since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repealed multiple climate policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act, and is set to miss the previous US 2030 emissions target by a cumulative 7 bln tonnes of CO2. While tariffs may slightly dampen global GDP growth and thus emissions in the near term, Carbon Brief concludes that their overall climate impact is small and likely negative over the medium-to-long term.

West African cocoa farms could more than offset the sector’s production emissions by boosting tree cover to modest levels without hurting yields, according to new research that maps the “unrealised” carbon storage potential of agroforestry when utilised in agricultural commodities.

Biomass-derived biochar applied to soils could sequester between 0.7 and 1.8 billion tonnes of CO2e each year, provided production methods and field application are optimised, a comprehensive scientific review has calculated.

European carbon allowances shrugged off a weak start on Thursday morning, with prices moving in their narrowest range for more than four years, and surged in the afternoon to a one-week high on a steady flow of buying while energy markets were comparatively little changed as traders eyed geopolitical developments.

The European Commission said it will carry out an impact assessment on the use of international carbon credits as part of reaching the bloc's 90% emissions reduction target by 2040, but confirmed that this was not done prior to the proposal being put forward.

Auction open - The UK government's renewable energy auction (AR7) is open with about 29 GW of capacity eligible to apply and no technology-specific caps on the amount to be awarded. At least 12 GW will need to be secured in AR7, AR8, and potentially AR9 to be in with a chance of reaching the goal of 95% clean electricity in Britain by 2030. The application window for AR7 closes on Aug. 27 and under the shortest possible timeline sealed bids could be submitted from Oct. 21-27. If rejections are appealed, the longest scenario would see sealed bids submitted on Jan. 5-9, 2026. This auction will extend the contract guarantees to 20 years, up from 15 years previously, and will allow offshore wind projects without full planning consent to enter. (Solar Power Portal)

South Pole, one of the largest developers and financiers of carbon projects, has revealed a sharp slowdown in new credit certification last year as it pivoted towards a new approach to the market.

Verra has partnered with a global insurance firm to assess whether specific insurance products meet the requirements for carbon credits intended for use under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

Analysts have raised their price expectations for 2025 EU carbon allowance prices by 10%, they said this week.

A ratings agency has assigned its first score to a direct air capture (DAC) activity, giving the project a low assessment due to the possibility of over-crediting, though deeming it to have strong additionality and low non-permanence risks.

Switzerland has hired a ratings agency to evaluate Article 6 carbon projects in the wake of criticism over the additionality of the first-ever Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) transferred under the Paris Agreement.

Perseverance - Paris-based carbon credit developer and trader Aera Group has reported a €11 mln net profit in its financial results for 2024, marking the strongest performance in its history despite subdued market conditions such as constant drop in prices, uncertainties around methodologies and certification from registries, as well as sluggish demand, it said in a press statement. The company delivered 5.6 mln carbon credits in 2024, compared to 4.7 mln in 2023, from 46 projects in 25 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, it said.

Back in business - India’s Bureau Veritas has been re-approved as validation and verification body (VVB) by the Global Carbon Council under its latest approval cycle, it said. Bureau Veritas has met the necessary requirements in line with the rigorous criteria set out in the UNFCCC/CDM Track, the standard said. This re-approval authorises the verification body to conduct validation services for projects seeking registration under the GCC programme, as well as for verifying GHG emission reductions for already registered projects.

The European Commission may delay some elements of its carbon border fee until global trade tensions ease, particularly as developing countries question the way that revenues will be spent and consider their own retaliatory instruments, experts say.

Uniper reported Thursday a heavy drop in coal-fired generation covered by the EU's carbon market, also slashing its clean energy investment plans nearly 40%.