As carbon projects in Mexico generate greater credit supply, consultants said that the nation needs a more diverse mix of project types in order to meet new market demands.

Offshore delayed - The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Wednesday voted to delay the development of transmission infrastructure intended to facilitate the interconnection of offshore wind energy, Utility Dive reported. New Jersey regulators approved the Larrabee Tri-Collector Solution in 2022, in an order directing investor-owned Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) to develop a transmission solution utilising a single onshore point of interconnection to ultimately accommodate three high-voltage direct current circuits. At a Wednesday hearing, BPU staff acknowledged the need to delay offshore wind infrastructure projects, citing uncertainty on the federal level. In July, New York utility regulators also announced a pause on the construction of offshore wind transmission infrastructure due to the Trump administration’s opposition to offshore wind projects.

Brazil puts its foot down – COP30 will be held in Belem and will not be transferred. That was the answer Brazil gave to other UN member countries, according to a 19-page letter seen by Bloomberg. The country has dealing with increasing pressure due to foreign concerns about logistics. The Brazilian government responded to 48 questions from different delegations, with half of them regarding the high costs and limited accommodation. As of Aug. 8, the organiser said there were 53,000 beds available in Belem and the surrounding areas. A COP30 spokesperson refused to confirm the existence of the letter, according to the outlet.

Colombia cash - The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) announced earlier this week that it has approved a Development Policy Operation for $75 mln to support Colombia in implementing reforms aimed at strengthening its climate agenda and the conservation of its strategic ecosystems. Specifically, the funding is intended to support regulating the use of single-use plastics, protecting endangered wildlife species, and improving the traceability of climate finance. It also aims to facilitate the development of systems to monitor GHG emissions and access to reliable climate information. Finally, the operation looks to promote the strengthening of institutional coordination on climate change and the delimitation of temporary reserves in areas under mining pressure, with the aim of protecting strategic areas for biodiversity and ensuring the conservation of natural resources.

Canadian emissions teeter totter - A new report by 440 Megatonnes (440), a policy data platform by the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI), and Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, mandated to guide Canada to its net zero by 2050 goal, reviewed Canada’s climate policy record between 2005 and 2022. National GHGs fell 8% over the period, with Ontario seeing the deepest reductions, but emissions rose in the country’s western provinces. The report concluded pockets of progress have delivered meaningful emission reductions, but there is much more to do. The policy platform has also outlined fixes for Canada's carbon markets.

Truck truce tribulations - The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said it has closed its antitrust investigation into California’s Clean Truck Partnership and secured a settlement under which heavy-duty truck engine manufacturers agreed not to enter future voluntary emissions deals with the state, E&E News reported. The partnership had committed companies to follow California’s zero-emission truck sales targets even if the rule was struck down in court. In a joint statement, the FTC’s three Republican commissioners said the agreement aims to restore competition and prevent similar arrangements.

Canada and British Columbia (BC) are doling out clean technology funding despite aims by federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to scrap the country's EV mandate.

Attaining the Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label for credits generated by a clean cookstoves project will quadruple the breakeven cost, the COO of a developer told Carbon Pulse this week.

EU carbon prices fell to their lowest in a week on Thursday, breaking below some technical levels before finding buying near a trend line support, as energy markets all weakened with traders watching for geopolitical signals ahead of Friday's US-Russia summit.

CDR research hub - CarbonPlan explains its launch of CDRXIV - a preprint server and data repository for research into carbon removal - earlier this year, and the partners behind developing the website. CDRXIV is designed to be a central place for academic and non-academic researchers to share work across CDR fields. CarbonPlan partnered with Janeway as technical partner on its development and with The Office of Ordinary Things on the website's design and branding. Further details here.

Below expectations - RWE posted lower-than-expected first-half core profit on Thursday, which it claimed were due to weak wind conditions and a muted trading business, Reuters reported. First-half adjusted EBITDA fell by more than a quarter to €2.14 bln, missing the €2.24 bln average estimate in a company-provided analyst poll. Germany's largest power producer, which has around half of its installed renewable capacity in the US, still expects adjusted EBITDA of between €4.55 bln-€5.15 bln in 2025 and a dividend of €1.20 per share. Last month, RWE, historically the largest emitter in the EU ETS, posted an 8% drop in EU lignite-fired power generation in H1 2025, though the German utility saw its EU gas-fired electricity generation jump to 5.45 TWh, an 11% rise compared to the first half of 2024. 

UN agency ICAO has formally urged governments to "expedite" the authorisation of carbon credit supply for the CORSIA international aviation offsetting scheme, in a letter sent to states towards the end of last month.

New hands at the helm - The government of Sweden has appointed Caroline Asserup as the new director general of the Swedish Energy Agency. Set to assume the role as of Friday, she will succeed Robert Andren, whose term ended on Aug. 31, 2024. Asserup has been serving as acting director general since Sep. 1 last year and has 20 years of experience at the agency. Most recently, Caroline Asserup held the position of head of the climate department, and before that held managing roles with responsibility for both energy systems and energy use and analysis. Her appointment runs until Aug. 2031.

Watt’s the delay - Two members of New York’s Climate Action Council have urged the state Public Service Commission to hold a hearing to delay deadlines under the 2019 climate law, which mandates 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and a zero-emissions grid by 2040, E&E News reported. The request follows Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) acknowledgment that the state will miss its renewable targets, citing federal opposition from President Donald Trump’s administration and affordability concerns. The law allows the commission to postpone targets if they threaten safe and adequate electric service.

The introduction of a carbon border tariff will "surprisingly" hurt German industries with a high share of imported and emissions-intensive goods, according to a new study on the country's readiness of EU climate policy.

Greening process heat - Decarbonising process heat in German industry can bring the sector in line with climate targets, whilst boosting competitiveness and benefitting jobs, consultancy Prognos found. Process heat accounts for almost half of Germany's heat consumption and so far has mostly been produced using fossil fuels, but renewable electricity and alternative fuels such as hydrogen could step in, replacing fossil fuels and curbing emissions. Direct electrification could replace most fossil fuels used to provide process heat for producing industrial goods by 2035, according to think tank Agora Industry. The green process heat sector has grown substantially in recent years, employing many more people, and with a gross added value estimated to reach €25 bln by 2030. (Clean Energy Wire)      

The largest award from the EU’s latest European Hydrogen Bank funding round will go unused, after the developers confirmed on Thursday that they are pulling their joint 500 MW Dutch electrolysis project from the scheme due to pipeline delays.

Crime in the Amazon is increasingly pivoting from drug trafficking to environmental damage – but carbon projects could incentivise local peoples to ward off criminal organisations, if they are well-managed with strong carbon prices, according to experts.

Malawi has officially submitted its initial report under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement to the UNFCCC, detailing plans to transfer more than 1 million Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs).

Renewables surge - Electricity generation from renewable sources increased by 6% year-on-year (+20.2 TWh) in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in May, according to the IEA. Meanwhile, generation from fossil fuels decreased 4.8% year-on-year in the group of 37 countries. Generation from natural gas decreased by 6.3% (-15.4 TWh), and generation from coal decreased by 1.3% (-1.6 TWh). There was also a 1% decrease in nuclear power generation (-1.4 TWh). Total net electricity generation in the OECD reached 860.6 TWh. Of this total, 356.6 TWh (41.4%) was produced from fossil fuels, 358.5 TWh (41.7%) from renewable sources and 141.6 TWh (16.5%) from nuclear power.

A South Korean construction company has begun a 42-month research project to develop a floating concrete carbon capture and storage (CCS) system, aiming to cut emissions from depleted offshore oil and gas fields in Southeast Asia.

The Solomon Islands on Thursday submitted its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC, under which it has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to 34% below business-as-usual levels by 2035, with plans to leverage revenue from international carbon markets and REDD+ to close the funding gap.

Airlines will need to offset roughly 79 MtCO2e in 2027 under the next phase of CORSIA, but a shortage of eligible credits could drive a surge in prices, according to an aviation consultancy.

The price of carbon removals credits issued under a voluntary standard has fallen in July, according to new data published on Thursday.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has reported that, between the end of 2023 and the end of the second quarter of 2025, the number of companies with validated near-term science-based targets almost doubled, growing by 97%.

Speedy AI - AlliedOffsets is partnering with artificial intelligence (AI) provider Cedar to allow corporate clients to access climate data faster. Using AI, Cedar will integrate AlliedOffsets’ corporate data directly into their platform, allowing sustainability teams to get faster and more affordable access to the data they need, stated the carbon market data provider on LinkedIn.

A subcommittee under Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has proposed a permit allocation method for the country's emissions trading scheme, which uses three-year averages to determine baseline activities.

It's electrifying - The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €264-mln Hungarian measure to support Hungary Sunwoda Automotive Energy Technology Kft in building an electric vehicle battery plant. The aid, in the form of a cash grant and tax credit, will support Sunwoda Hungary’s €1.43-bln investment in a greenfield plant in Nyiregyhaza. The project aims to encourage the company to locate its investment in Hungary, fostering local economic development by creating over 2,500 direct jobs and over 470 indirect jobs. The plant will produce lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles, supporting the shift to a low-carbon economy.

Divided opinion - Construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland should be authorised again, the government has stated. The Swiss Federal Council has proposed amending Switzerland's Nuclear Energy Act to allow this, though no concrete projects are currently planned and expanding renewable electricity should still be consistently pursued. The plan was opposed by the Green Party, Social Democrats, the Liberal Greens, and environmental groups.

Austria’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.6% last year, which corresponds to a reduction of 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to preliminary data published this week.

No link here - Rainforest Foundation US, Rainforest Foundation UK, and Rainforest Foundation Norway have stressed they have no connection, past or present, with Germany-0wned private business Rainforest Foundation Pastaza that is buying land in Ecuador to generate carbon credits and encroaching on Indigenous territories, according to reports from indigenous organisations. Community members have reported road closures, gated access, and armed guards, which they say is land dispossession disguised as conservation. The three organisations support the Wayuri community and the Kichwa peoples of Santa Clara in their efforts to defend their ancestral land, and stress they do not and have never purchased land or generated or sold carbon credits. The organisations' purpose is to defend Indigenous Peoples’ land rights and support them protect their territories.

Biochar partners - Developer Sayari Earth and Stellenbosch University are partnering to advance biochar technology in South Africa. They will use mobile biochar technology to convert invasive alien plants into a stable biochar, thereby restoring local ecosystems and sequestering carbon. The research will run from Aug. 2025 to July 2026 and will assess biomass and soil carbon content, analyse the economic and biodiversity benefits of the process, and develop a robust value chain for biochar markets. (Biochar Today)

Free Swiss travel - Switzerland is making public transport temporarily free of charge in Geneva, as part of a series of measures aimed at tackling the city's pollution spike. Geneva is experiencing a severe peak of ozone pollution, which can affect breathing and trigger headaches and asthma attacks, with concentrations exceeding the environmental health safety threshold of 180 micrograms per cubic meter over 24 hours. High temperatures and low cloud are exacerbating ozone pollution too. In response, public transport was made free for the first time on Wednesday, with ticket checks suspended until pollution improves. (Reuters)

Digitalisation for net zero - Digitalisation, especially with e-books and AI translation, can significantly reduce the UK's electricity consumption compared to their physical or office-based alternatives, according to research conducted for the British government. The study looked at three examples of digitalisation - so video streaming vs. Blu-ray discs, e-books vs. printed books, and AI-powered translation vs. translations made by humans. Overall, it provides initial evidence that digitalisation can help to achieve net zero emissions, by reducing power use. However, the researchers cautioned, more examples need to be examined before drawing robust policy conclusions.    

The South Korean government is planning to set up a voluntary carbon exchange in the hope of boosting credit demand and encouraging the development of low-carbon solutions.

H2 roadmap - A roadmap by the Global Green Growth Institute has laid out a $4-8 bln plan for Nepal to use its abundant hydropower for green hydrogen production. The institute said if the plan is implemented, it could replace a quarter of coal, a fifth of diesel and 15% of LPG use, and meet 60% of fertiliser demand by mid-century. But success hinges on attracting public, private, and climate finance while tackling high upfornt costs and infrastructure gaps.

Australia’s climate change minister on Thursday said the country’s six planned sectoral decarbonisation plans will act as a roadmap of how the transition to net zero emissions will unfold after 2030, but will not be prescriptive policy documents.

Expansion - Japanese project developer Green Carbon is aiming to expand its presence in Cambodia's growing carbon market, with plans to promote the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technique for rice cultivation. Following its initial progress in Battambang province, the company plans to expand the coverage of its AWD projects to more than 500,000 ha across Cambodia, it said in statement released Thursday. Green Carbon also said it is seeking to get its offset projects registered under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) framework between Japan and Cambodia.

The cost of CBAM - India’s GDP could decline by 0.03% between 2026-30, if EU’s CBAM becomes effective without a domestic carbon pricing in place, an analysis published by the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) has found. The think tank’s analysis suggested that introducing a domestic carbon tax and retaining the revenue could raise up to 1% of India's GDP by 2030, and could significantly blunt CBAM’s economic impact, cushioning households and industries, while supporting green subsidies and industrial decarbonisation efforts.

Vietnam potential - Seoul-based Ecoeye will provide capacity building training to government officials from Vietnam, as the Southeast Asian country is set to launch the pilot phase of its emissions trading scheme this year, according to a recent statement. In addition to its refrigerant business, Ecoeye is conducting a feasibility study on several potential solutions, including biochar technology using agricultural by-products, methane reduction technology featuring cultivation of rice seeds with eco-friendly microorganisms, and recycling of waste plastics. Once the feasibility study is complete, additional follow-up projects will be launched in Vietnam, the South Korean company said.

Australia's Origin Energy on Thursday warned of a slower and bumpier transition than previously thought, but said it remains committed to its climate targets despite the challenge.

Australia on Wednesday released the exposure draft of one of its savanna fire management methods, as the government hit back against complaints over delays to carbon credit method development.

New partners – Japanese project developer Bywill has signed a collaboration agreement with the Hyogo Prefectural Shinkin Bank Association and a branch of the Shinkin Central Bank to promote regional decarbonisation, it announced Thursday. Similar to the partnerships Bywill previously secured, the cooperation will focus on the creation and distribution of environmental values, including domestically issued J-Credits.

Shot in the arm – The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded A$9 mln ($5.9 mln) to BluVein to support its first-of-its-kind dynamic charging technology for heavy haulage electric mining vehicles. In a press release on Thursday, ARENA said the grant will enable BluVein to trial its so-called hammer and rail technology, in which a hammer is attached to the vehicle and connects to a rail containing electrical contacts, allowing the vehicle batteries to charge while in motion. BluVein will be developing a 40-60 tonne prototype with the technology integrated, for underground mining, the agency said. It would then seek to expand to ultra-class heavy surface haulage tracking. The funding came via the second round of ARENA’s Industrial Transformation Stream, and covers approximately half of the Queensland-based project’s cost, according to the agency’s website. A third round of funding under this programme is expected to open in Q4.

Check-up – Carbon credit seller CNaught published its portfolio assessment tool for buyers on Wednesday which provides a free, instant assessment of carbon credit portfolios, including insights into diversification, project-level integrity screens, and areas for improvement. The company noted that the AI-powered tool could make mistakes and shouldn't be a buyer's sole assessor of a portfolio.

A federal judge rejected an effort by US business groups to prevent implementation of California’s emissions reporting laws, in a decision published on Wednesday.

The president of the young Southeast Asian nation of Timor-Leste has voiced pessimism about the possibility of better outcomes coming from the UN COP process.

California regulator ARB issued over 960,000 credits over the last three weeks, a 4.5% drop from the previous period, state data released Wednesday showed.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) approved on Wednesday a proposal to unify its accounting standards for environmental credits, carbon offsets, and renewable energy credits (RECs), according to media reports.

Exchanges Minh-ted – Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed the establishment of a carbon exchange, as well as one for green financial products, Vietnam+ reported on Wednesday. The carbon exchange will enable the trade of carbon credits, and offer transparent measuring, reporting, and verification mechanisms, the news outlet said. Meanwhile, only green financial products meeting criteria issued by the finance, agriculture, and environment ministries will be listed on that exchange. The two exchanges are part of a six-bourse proposal and will be hosted by the planned International Financial Centre, set to launch later this with locations in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Vietnam is set to launch the pilot phase of its ETS later this year, covering thermal power plants, iron and steel production facilities, and cement producers, before expanding to other heavy industries.

An alternative approach to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) could facilitate the mechanism’s combination with carbon credit trading under Article 6 and emission trading systems (ETS), according to a report.