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).

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.