The Colombia-based carbon, biodiversity, and water crediting body BioCarbon Standard launched Wednesday its first methodology for all blue carbon ecosystems for public consultation, aiming to file a previous coastal ecosystem framework from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

A non-profit research group has criticised a lack of disclosure of post-fire reports from California regulator ARB regarding forest carbon offset projects impacted by wildfires on the five-year anniversary of the 2020 Lionshead Fire in Oregon.

Progressing in Para - In Para, Brazil’s REDD+ strategy, launched in 2022, is progressing through stronger dialogue and shared decision-making with traditional forest peoples, the state government said in an online notice. On Sep. 3, the state’s Secretariat for Environment, Climate and Sustainability (Semas) joined an exchange between traditional communities from Para and Mato Grosso, held in Belem, bringing together community leaders, government officials, and civil society to discuss the challenges and experiences of implementing jurisdictional REDD+ with a focus on social participation. Renata Nobre, Semas’ deputy secretary for Water and Climate Management, stressed that Para is at a crucial stage in building its Jurisdictional REDD+ System (SJREDD+), currently in the phase of Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC) with Indigenous, Quilombola, traditional, and family farming communities. The event included dialogue sessions between leaders from Para and Mato Grosso, and contributions from partners such as the Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA) and the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (Ipam). Para’s FPIC process, the largest of its kind in the state, will involve Indigenous peoples, Quilombolas, extractivists, and family farmers, in line with ILO Convention 169, which guarantees consultation of traditional communities on policies affecting their ways of life.

The private sector is unlikely to play more than a limited role in helping developing countries prepare for worsening climate impacts, leaving governments and international donors to shoulder the bulk of adaptation costs, a new report has found.

AI + CCS? - US electricity demand is rising sharply for the first time in decades, driven by the rapid expansion of AI and data centres, putting pressure on tech firms’ climate pledges, E&E News reports. Some energy companies and policymakers are promoting natural gas plants with CCS as a way to provide reliable power while reducing emissions. The Trump administration has encouraged data centre development while repealing Biden-era power plant climate rules and cutting wind and solar tax incentives, though it has preserved and expanded the 45Q tax credit for CCS. ExxonMobil and Chevron are exploring large-scale gas power plants tied to data centres, with CCS integration under consideration, while Tallgrass and Crusoe are developing a 1.8 GW gas-powered AI facility in Wyoming connected to CO2 transport infrastructure. Entergy Louisiana is planning gas turbines for Meta’s new data centre campus that could later incorporate CCS. Google and Microsoft reference carbon capture in their sustainability strategies, with Microsoft also committing to major carbon removal purchases, though Amazon and Meta have so far been less explicit. Supporters argue that CCS can allow hyperscale data centres to meet growing energy needs without undermining net zero targets, with research suggesting gas plants with high CO2 capture rates could achieve lifecycle emissions similar to renewables. A Carbon Direct report estimated natural gas with CCS could meet up to 63% of future US data centre demand, but the technology remains expensive, potentially raising power costs by 50-100%, and has yet to be deployed commercially on US gas plants. Analysts suggest generous subsidies and the deep resources of major tech firms make data centres an ideal testing ground that could help lower costs over time. Critics, however, say CCS prolongs fossil fuel use, is prohibitively costly, and distracts from renewable-plus-storage solutions that are already cheaper in many cases. Environmental groups such as Green America are campaigning against tech firms’ reliance on fossil fuel generation, while Lazard analysis shows renewables remain the most competitive form of new generation. With major projects emerging in states like Wyoming and Louisiana, the future of CCS in powering data centres remains uncertain, hinging on costs, permitting, and the willingness of tech companies to pay for lower-carbon energy.

A developer of next-generation refineries is partnering with a carbon capture technology provider for a process that converts refineries’ CO2 emissions into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), according to a press release.

A decade to go – Petrobras will only prioritise solar, wind, and green hydrogen after 2035, said Magda Chambriard, president of the Brazilian state-owned oil producer. Until then, fossil fuels will remain the focus, including an expansion of diesel production. Earlier this year, Petrobras announced pilot plants for green hydrogen, and under its previous management, offshore wind had been treated as an important investment sector. (Folha de S. Paulo)

Multiple Latin American countries detailed advancements at a recent conference in their efforts to supply Article 6-approved carbon credits, while facing an end-of-year deadline to transition from the Kyoto-era Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Texas from enforcing a recently passed law that would regulate proxy advisory firms when providing shareholder voting recommendations that prioritise environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies.

A European Parliament environment committee meeting descended into a heated clash on Thursday over the EU’s proposed 90% emissions reduction goal for 2040, as far-right members revived climate-sceptic arguments to back the lead negotiator's call to scrap the target altogether.

Helsinki and Oslo have taken a step to advance carbon capture and storage in the Nordic region, the latest in a string of early-stage agreements.

A Canadian biochar developer has locked in a new US technology partner with an initial $5 million deal to develop a joint production plant for biochar-based construction materials.

European carbon surged to another 11-week high on Thursday, shrugging off early weakness when initial gains were met with profit-taking and a drop in natural gas prices, while UKAs jumped to reach their highest intraday price in more than two years.

Adopt a DAC machine? - Octavia Carbon has launched an 'Adopt a DAC Machine' model whereby buyers can finance the rollout of new direct air capture (DAC) units and secure guaranteed, multi-year allocations of high-quality carbon credits in return. Climate consultancy Atmosfair is the first adopter. The model "moves beyond simple credit purchasing to a direct, tangible investment in deployment", said CEO of the Kenya-based DAC developer, Martin Freimüller.

Get ahead - Space Intelligence has announced the upcoming release of project screening technology for nature-based solutions (NbS) projects that delivers methodology-aligned eligibility checks and carbon benefit estimates. Designed for investors, buyers, and developers, the tool makes it easy to prioritise the best opportunities across large project pipelines, and should speed up the early stages of building a project and maximising climate impact, the company claims. It's currently in beta stage with select participants and should be available in early Q4 2025. Screening for improved forest management (IFM) and afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) projects will be available in Q4 this year. A demo can be requested here.

One of the UK's first offshore carbon capture storage (CCS) projects is ready for front-end engineering and design (FEED) work following successful CO2 injection testing, according to one of the developers.

Italian sunshine - US renewable energy company Enfinity Global has closed on €316 mln of financing for eight utility-scale solar power plants in Italy, it announced on Thursday. The projects are expected to have a combined capacity of 276 MW, and will be located in the regions of Emilia Romagna, Basilicata, and Lazio. They would generate around 403 GWh a year, reducing CO2 emissions by 109,000 tonnes annually. They are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026.

EU-ASEAN cooperation – The EU and ASEAN countries pledged Thursday to deepen cooperation on carbon pricing and market mechanisms at a high-level side event held alongside their first ministerial dialogue on environment and climate change. Officials highlighted progress on the ASEAN Common Carbon Framework and national pricing systems, with EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra saying the EU stands ready to share its expertise with interested partners in the region. Singapore’s Minister Fu called for stronger collaboration among ASEAN countries on carbon policies and methodologies in order to further institutionalise and scale benefits. Both sides committed to advancing carbon market integration ahead of COP30, according to an EU statement.

Keep it inhouse - Internal carbon price-setting is surging in popularity, according to a new report by Patch, BCG, and Oxford Net Zero of the University of Oxford. Some 1,753 companies across 56 countries reported using internal carbon pricing in 2024 - an 89% increase on the 927 companies that reported using an internal carbon price in 2021. Among them, nearly half of the world’s 500 largest companies, including Microsoft, Orsted, and Mitsubishi Corporation, have integrated it into their business strategies. Many companies begin with shadow pricing as a practical on ramp - helping teams understand the business implications of carbon and build internal support. Over time, leading organisations are evolving toward real internal carbon prices that drive tangible changes in capital allocation, procurement, product design, supplier engagement, and help to prepare organisations for a net zero future, the report states, outlining a five-principle framework for credible internal carbon pricing.

Carbon removal (CDR) standard body Puro.earth has raised €11 million in funding, it announced Thursday, as it seeks to capitalise on expected explosive growth in the sector.

Laudato si - Pope Leo will open a new ecological training center, run by the Vatican, in the Italian countryside on Friday. It will be located in the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo near Rome, with the aim of setting the example for how countries can pursue environmental initiatives. The project is called "Borgo Laudato Si" and was first announced by Pope Francis. Pope Francis was a strong proponent of environmental action, and Pope Leo approved a first of its kind rite allowing priests to celebrate Masses that encourage Catholics to protect the Earth. (Reuters)

The first Article 6.2 trade for sovereign-level carbon credits via a new platform should be announced at COP30, with volumes in the "millions of tonnes" and participation from a global bank, an international negotiator and the broker of the transaction told Carbon Pulse this week.

The German government’s Power Plant Strategy – for which gas-fired support auctions have yet to launch – foresees insufficient dispatchable capacity to secure electricity supplies for the next decade, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) said on Wednesday.

German industry outcry – One of Germany’s largest industry lobby warned Wednesday that the country’s energy transition could saddle the economy with up to €5.4 trillion in costs by 2050 unless policymakers reduce electricity prices and ramp up grid investments. The German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) said the current framework risks eroding competitiveness and risks pushing energy-intensive firms abroad. The group urged Berlin to accelerate electricity grid expansion, promote international carbon trading, lower regulatory burdens, and use existing gas networks for hydrogen and decarbonised gas. (Reuters)

Deep pockets - Norway has hit its goal of doubling climate finance for the third year in a row, reaching NOK 18.7 bln ($1.8 bln) in 2024, an increase of NOK 1.9 bln from 2023. Climate finance is crucial for developing countries to curb emissions, adapt to climate change, and restructure their economies, and for the world to achieve the Paris Agreement goals, said Minister for International Development Åsmund Aukrust. During COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, Norway pledged to double its climate financing from NOK 7 bln in 2020 to NOK 14 bln by 2026. A large part of Norwegian climate finance growth last year came from mobilising private capital through Norfund’s investments.

Love motels – With hotels fully booked ahead of November’s UN COP30 climate summit in Belem, visitors are resorting to Amazonian “love motels” as alternative lodging, The Guardian reports. The establishments, typically rented by the hour and outfitted with mirrored ceilings or themed decor, have become a fallback for delegates, civil society groups, and journalists scrambling for accommodation. Local officials say the city of 2.5 million has only about half the 45,000 hotel rooms needed for the world’s largest diplomatic gathering this year, forcing organisers and residents to seek solutions ranging from homestays to repurposed short-stay facilities. (The Guardian)

COP30 pressure – The United Nations on Wednesday urged countries to submit stronger climate pledges this month, warning that current plans remain far off track to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5C warming limit. The call comes ahead of a Sep. 24 deadline for nations to file updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that will shape discussions at November’s COP30 summit in Brazil. In a letter to all parties and observers to the UNFCCC, UN climate chief Simon Stiell urged governments to file their plans before Sep. 24, noting that the window to avoid the worst climate impacts is rapidly closing. Most major emitters have yet to submit new targets, including China and the EU. (Reuters)

The EU has not committed to changing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to benefit US companies, but intends to make it easier for all companies to apply the incoming fee to their exports into the bloc, a European Commission spokesperson told Carbon Pulse.

Ethiopia announced this week it will bid to host the UN’s 32nd flagship annual climate summit in its capital, Addis Ababa, in 2027.

A Finnish pulp and paper company has started looking into construction of an industrial-scale carbon capture demo plant at one of its pulp or bioproduct mills, with capacity of as much as 100,000 tonnes of captured CO2.

Healthy decision - PFZW, the Dutch healthcare workers’ pension fund managing €248 bln, has withdrawn about €14 bln from BlackRock, ending a major mandate as it shifts towards a sustainability-focused investment strategy, the Financial Times reports. The fund is divesting from thousands of companies and will now balance financial returns, risk, and sustainability equally in its approach. This marks one of the largest European pension fund moves away from the world’s biggest asset manager and highlights a widening divide between Europe and the US on responsible investing, as per the reporting. European institutions are seen as increasingly prioritising environmental and social factors alongside traditional financial metrics in their long-term asset management strategies.

Turkish wind - Chinese green tech company Envision Energy will partner with Turkish wind and storage developer ERN Holding & Yildizlar Group to develop a 232 MW wind power project in the southern city of Karaman, it announced on Thursday. The project will set the foundation for Envision's plan to be involved in Turkiye's energy transition in the long term, and set a benchmark for its expansion across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Chinese company said. Turkiye has the potential to host 30 GW of wind power by 2035, according to the Turkish Wind Energy Association. The country had over 13 GW installed as of May, supplying more than 11% of its electricity demand.

A recent public consultation on the EU’s 2040 climate target has revealed strong support for the inclusion of carbon removals in the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), according to a factual summary released this week.

The integrity of voluntary carbon credit supply has risen to record highs so far this quarter, according to analysis from a rating agency, as the market continues its upward trajectory in terms of improving quality.

An Italian company has begun tree planting activities as part of a 30-year plan to generate carbon credits in classified forests in West Africa to offset emissions from an oil and gas project, it has announced.

CO2 capture pilot - UK energy from waste operator Enfinium has launched Nuada’s next-generation carbon capture pilot plant at its Ferrybridge-1 facility in West Yorkshire, it announced in a release Thursday. Running for at least six months, the technology trial uses metal-organic framework (MOF) technology that captures CO2 from point sources through a vacuum swing process. The process could deliver significant efficiencies when deployed at commercial scales, the company has claimed. The pilot represents a key step towards Enfinium's goal of deploying carbon capture at scale across its portfolio of six facilities and marks the second such pilot to occur at its Ferrybridge-1 facility, following the first launched in Sep. 2024.

The Open Carbon Protocol (OCP) has signed off on a new carbon accounting framework for plugging methane-leaking orphaned oil and gas wells in the US, marking the third methodology to clear its independent expert panel.

Diversification - Coal India, which accounts for a majority of the South Asian country's coal output, has issued a tender to build out 5 GW of renewable power capacity, Reuters reported this week. In a bid to diversify revenue sources and counter falling demand for the fossil fuel, the company will develop 3 GW of solar and 2 GW of wind power plants. Currently, it only has a capacity of 0.2 GW, with plans to increase it to 9.5 GW by 2030.

Nuclear struggles - A new Global Energy Monitor (GEM) report finds nuclear power struggling to play a major role in decarbonisation due to ageing infrastructure, cancellations, delays, and high costs. Nearly 40% - or 566 GW - of all nuclear capacity ever proposed worldwide has been cancelled, more than what is currently operational (401 GW) or retired (116 GW) combined. In Europe alone, 122 GW of planned capacity has been scrapped, 68 GW retired, and 90% of remaining reactors are over 35 years old. Meanwhile, more than 600 GW of wind and utility-scale solar projects are under development in Europe - 14 times nuclear’s pipeline - with far shorter lead times. Nuclear’s slow, uncertain deployment leaves renewables better positioned to meet urgent climate targets, the study suggests. (GEM report)

Oyster farming could become an unexpected ally in the fight against climate change, according to new research published this week.

A group of Japanese companies have completed what they claimed to be the country's first successful demonstration featuring natural gas co-firing in a commercial cement kiln, a solution that can help decarbonise cement production.

Funding opportunities - The UK has opened the application for grants on projects that advance sustainable fisheries and nature-based coastal solutions in the Philippines, according to a release from the British embassy in Manila. The Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) Facility and Innovation Grant Fund, part of the UK government’s Blue Planet Fund, aims to strengthen partnerships around nature finance, oceans, and biodiversity. Local organisations are invited to apply for grants up to £500,000 to support innovative projects that promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, innovative blue finance, and nature-based coastal solutions, the release said.

Think before you act - A committee led by the Philippines' Department of Energy (DOE) has begun discussions on the environmental impact of nuclear power in the country, according to a government release. It recently organised a technical workshop for government agencies to tackle the environmental regulations for nuclear power projects, as the government is working to put in place a process to ensure that environmental risks are addressed before projects are rolled out. The country aims to have a nuclear capacity of at least 1,200 MW by 2032, doubling it to 2,400 MW by 2035, and further to 4,800 MW by 2050.          

New facility - Japan's Osaka Gas (Daigas) this week unveiled a research and development facility for advanced decarbonisation technologies, including solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) methanation, it said in a statement. SOEC methanation is a technology that does not require external hydrogen as a raw material and can produce e-methane directly from water and CO2, according to the company. Osaka Gas, aiming to establish the SOEC technology by 2030, said its bench-scale testing facility was completed in June.        

The committee steering Japan's J-Credit programme is seeking to add methodologies that allow for generating credits from rail transport and a special feed additive for cattle.

Aerospace major Boeing along with a California-based carbon removal company have teamed up to develop a seawater-based CDR pilot facility in the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Shell’s Jackdaw – Shell has submitted a revised environmental impact assessment for its Jackdaw gas field project in the UK North Sea, as regulators re-examine the project following a legal challenge by Greenpeace, the BBC reported. A Scottish court annulled consent for the project in January after critics argued the original assessment understated climate impacts. Shell said it remains “committed to delivering” Jackdaw, which it calls vital for domestic energy security. The revised environmental impact assessment was not made public but is expected to be released by the UK government. (BBC)

Spot Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) traded at year-to-date high over the past week, closing on Wednesday at A$37.75 ($24.66) as trading activity picks up.

Verra is considering licensing deals, intellectual property sales, and fundraising as potential ways to make its revenue streams more sustainable, as it seeks to recover from a few years of integrity scandals, its CEO and chair told Carbon Pulse.

Zesty zeal - Australian minerals processor and low-carbon hopeful Calix has signed an agreement with an undisclosed aluminium company to jointly develop its electric calcination technology for Zero Emissions ALumina (ZEAL) and have signed an agreement to undertake a pilot-scale material testing programme and pre-Front-End Engineering Design study. This follows a July government grant of A$45 mln ($29.4 mln) for its Zero Emissions Steel (ZESTY) development. Calix also works on low carbon concrete. All three products have high emissions footprints and are considered difficult to decarbonise. Calix and its partner expect to deliver around A$1 mln ($650,000) in revenue.

Pine to plastic – Investors are eyeing turning New Zealand’s plentiful radiata pines into biochemicals to replace plastic, RNZ reported this week. In an interview with the outlet, NZ Bio Forestry founder Wayne Mulligan said that biorefineries could provide an economic boost to foresters, instead of exporting logs for overseas processing. This followed a deal last month between NZ Bio Forestry and Taiwan’s PanCycle and Inspira Applied Bio Solutions to develop biorefineries in New Zealand to manufacture biodegradable cups, food packaging, and utensils.

One of Europe’s major financial institutions remains committed to its net zero ambitions, it said in an update to its transition plan which also showed a drop in its financed emissions.

Biofuels Shell-ved – Oil major Shell has shelved plans to build a biofuels refinery in the Netherlands, the company said on Wednesday. Work on the Rotterdam-based plant, which would have used waste cooking oil and animal fat to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), was halted last year. Following an in-depth commercial and technical evaluation to reassess the project's competitiveness, the company decided to definitively pull the plug because the project wouldn't be sufficiently competitive to meet customer needs for affordable, low-carbon products. This follows Shell scrapping similar plans in Singapore in 2023, and a watering down of its emissions targets last year.

Single-person and childless households across Europe are set to face disproportionately high financial burdens under the EU’s upcoming carbon market for buildings and transport (ETS2), with researchers warning that without targeted support these groups risk being pushed into energy poverty.

Ship it – An Australian junior with plans to ship hydrogen by compressing it, rather than liquefying it or converting it to a shippable fuel like ammonia or methanol, has signed with engineering major Baker Hughes in what it called a “significant step” on Thursday. Perth-based Provaris is also looking at CO2 transport for CCS, and under its previous name GEV spent years developing compressed natural gas carriers that were certified by the American Bureau of Shipping in 2021 but never built. The new collaboration hopes to use Baker Hughes’ compression experience and replaces an MoU signed a year ago. Provaris plans to ship hydrogen around Europe.

Solar shot in the arm – Australia’s renewable energy agency on Thursday launched the second round of its A$1 bln ($650 mln) Solar Sunshot programme, designed to build a solar panel manufacturing industry in Australia, which is currently largely reliant on Chinese panels. This round offers A$150 mln to sections of the overall supply chain including framing, solar glass, junction boxes, and deployment technologies. The first round offered A$550 mln, with A$500 mln for module manufacturing and A$50 mln for feasibility and engineering studies, and has been extended to November 2026. Submissions for round two open Sep.23.

An industry taskforce working on the integrated farm land management (IFLM) method has pushed back against claims made about its development in a letter shared earlier this week.

The New Zealand government has awarded almost NZ$11 mln ($6.5 mln) to a supercritical geothermal energy research project as it moves to bolster the country's future energy supply.

The complexity of the voluntary carbon market (VCM) process and upfront costs are deterring family forest owners in the US from engaging in the carbon economy, a webinar heard on Wednesday.

The world can safely store far less CO2 underground than previously assumed, with the true potential capped at around a tenth of industry estimates, according to a new study.