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TOP STORY
INTERVIEW: First pledges to Cali Fund expected before COP17, UN biodiversity boss says
The inaugural contributions to the Cali Fund could arrive before next year’s UN biodiversity summit, though companies are hesitant to act as frontrunners due to unresolved issues, the executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) told Carbon Pulse.
NATURE & BIODIVERSITY MARKET
EU biodiversity chief flags ‘broad interest’ in nature credit roadmap
The European Commission has received positive feedback on its roadmap for building and scaling a market for nature credits, with landowners, companies, and some NGOs welcoming efforts to establish a bloc-wide framework, according to the EU biodiversity chief.
CORPORATE
Philanthropic fund to channel R$250 mln into Brazil’s bioeconomy
A Brazilian project developer will launch a fund this week seeking to raise R$250 million ($46.8 mln) to support bioeconomy projects with local communities across the country, Carbon Pulse has learned.
Brazilian finance coalition reaches $4.5 bln committed for forest restoration, bioeconomy
A Brazilian finance coalition dedicated to forest restoration and bioeconomy announced Tuesday that it has reached $4.5 billion in mobilised funding for these causes – nearly half of its overall goal by 2030.
Private equity ocean fund raises $73 mln
An ocean-focused private equity fund, overseen by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Monaco Asset Management, has raised $73 million.
Food, retail giants partner to scale regenerative agriculture
A US food and beverage multinational and a large retail company have launched an initiative to promote regenerative agriculture, they announced on Thursday.
Mining major partners with CDR platform to issue rock weathering credits
A London-based carbon removal registry has signed an agreement with a major mining company to issue enhanced rock weathering (EW) credits from a project in Brazil, it announced Tuesday.
Fintech firm commits another £1 mln to carbon removals via platform partnership
A London-based fintech firm has expanded its partnership with a carbon removals platform, pledging an additional £1 million to “high-integrity” projects across Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
Global shipper halts Gabon CO2 levy billing after government shifts course
A large international shipping company has suspended the billing of Gabon’s carbon contribution in the wake of a recent government notice signalling a policy change.
Japanese oil refiner invests in US-based climate tech, eyes ocean alkalinity enhancement potential
One of the major oil refiners in Japan is backing a US-based startup that develops ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) solutions, as it aims to accelerate the development of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) business models in North America.
Developer raises $3 mln seed funding for carbon removal projects in India
An Indian project developer on Friday said it raised $3 million in seed funding to expand carbon removal projects, including agroforestry, mangrove restoration, and biochar.
POLICY
Over 30 nations launch new global forest finance roadmap
A total of 34 governments have launched a forest finance roadmap ahead of COP30, aiming to help raise tens of billions of dollars each year that are needed to protect tropical forests for international climate and nature goals, environment ministers said at an event on Tuesday.
NGO sues EU Commission for environmental transparency rollback
A legal NGO sued the European Commission on Monday over its changes to transparency rules, which have far-reaching implications for nature.
BRIEFING: EU countries share concerns on forest carbon sinks, seek escape clause for 2040
Mediterranean countries have joined Nordic and Central EU states in warning about the impact of climate change on their forest carbon sinks, with a growing majority asking for an escape clause in case natural disturbances make the bloc’s 2040 target impossible to achieve.
EU proposes another one-year delay to its anti-deforestation law, citing IT glitches
The European Commission will propose postponing the EU’s anti-deforestation bill for yet another year, it announced on Tuesday, citing technical problems with the IT system.
UN High Seas Treaty reaches ratification threshold to enter into force
A UN treaty aimed at enhancing protection of the open ocean has reached the long-awaited 60-country ratification threshold needed to trigger its entry into force.
EU moves forward with regulation to tackle microplastic pellet pollution
The Council of EU member states signed off a regulation on Monday aiming to cut the amount of microplastic pellet pollution on land and sea, meaning the European Parliament can now cast its final vote.
Australia commits A$16.5 mln to carbon, climate resilient farming projects
The Australian government has committed A$16.5 million ($10.5 mln) in funding towards carbon farming and climate resilient agriculture projects, it announced Tuesday.
Eurasia-Pacific biodiversity finance talks kick off in Vietnam
Biodiversity credits are on the agenda as 46 countries gather in Da Nang, Vietnam for a three-day meeting, aiming to discuss innovative financing mechanisms for protecting nature.
Japan to host Global Nature Positive Summit next year
Japan’s Kumamoto city will host the second Global Nature Positive Summit in July next year, announced the Nature Positive Initiative (NPI) on Monday.
Forest tenure pledge exceeds $1.7 bln goal ahead of schedule -report
Government and philanthropic donors have delivered $1.86 billion since 2021 to strengthen the land rights and forest stewardship of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, surpassing a 2021 pledge to provide $1.7 bln over five years, according to a report released Tuesday during Climate Week NYC.
Peru outlines key mitigation activities for 2030 NDC, agriculture sector leads
Peru has released a new official list of climate mitigation actions that form part of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2030, targeting allocation of rights to unclassified lands in the Amazon and commercial forestry plantations as the activities with the highest potential for emissions reduction.
Wales weighs policy options for voluntary carbon market, drawing lessons from abroad
The Welsh government has been urged to develop a clear, high-integrity approach to supporting a domestic voluntary carbon market that channels private finance into peatland restoration, afforestation, and other land-based removals, while embedding strong social safeguards and avoiding over-reliance on international credits.
Uganda validates national forest restoration strategy
Uganda announced plans to include carbon credit programmes in its newly-confirmed National Strategy on Integrated Forest Landscape Restoration (IFLR), set to cover the years 2025-50.
COP Action Agenda to include carbon removal for the first time
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) will be added to the COP30 Action Agenda in relation to agriculture and extractive industries, a global coalition of CDR advocates said Thursday.
Nicaragua sets tougher climate goals with renewables, forest protection in updated NDC
Nicaragua has submitted a new NDC, pledging to sharply increase renewable power generation, curb deforestation, and reduce consumption of potent industrial gases, while stressing that delivery hinges on international finance and technology transfers.
Indonesia to market 60 mln carbon credits at COP30
Indonesia will present up to 60 million carbon credits at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November, the environment minister said this week, as the Southeast Asian country ramps up efforts to open its carbon market for exports.
NZ passes farm-to-forestry conversion bill
New Zealand parliament passed its farm-to-forestry legislation Thursday, with the coalition government saying it strikes the right balance between protecting New Zealand’s agricultural land and maintaining ETS confidence.
Finland, Sweden press EU to relax 2025 and 2030 targets on forest carbon sinks
The prime ministers of Finland and Sweden have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that the two countries are set to miss their upcoming objectives under the EU regulation on land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) unless the rules are relaxed.
NATURE-BASED CARBON
INTERVIEW: US non-profit launches $1 mln award to bridge early-stage carbon project funding gap
A US-based non-profit is launching a $1 million award to help early-stage carbon projects overcome long timelines and high financial risks that often prevent them from reaching the voluntary carbon market (VCM), the organisation’s CEO told Carbon Pulse.
Cookstove carbon project launches in Nigeria, aims for Article 6 trades
A project developer launched a new cookstoves carbon project on Tuesday, targeting international trades under the Paris Agreement and nearly 500,000 credits per year once fully operational.
Carbon markets a double-edged tool for Indigenous communities -panellists
Carbon markets can both harm and empower Indigenous communities, with extra care that should be taken to ensure benefits among host proponents, panellists said during a discussion that highlighted the risks of exclusionary rulemaking and the need for direct financing.
INTERVIEW: Renoster pivots from ratings agency to carbon removal project developer
Renoster is looking to take its experience in rating nature-based carbon projects to supplying carbon removal (CDR) credits, announcing its first offtake agreement Thursday, the company’s founder told Carbon Pulse.
Global net zero commitments grow despite US federal retreat -report
Global commitments to reach net zero emissions are rising among companies, regions, and cities, even as the US federal government stepped back from its own climate pledges, according to analysis released Tuesday during New York Climate Week.
Most carbon removal technologies could fall under $100/t by 2035, says consultancy
The cost of a majority of durable carbon removals could fall below $100 per tonne within 10 years, an expert from a global consultancy told an event Monday, given the focused nature of technological development across the different strands of the supply side.
Biotech company partners with carbon developer to deliver 500k tonnes of removals
A producer of bio-based crop treatments has partnered with a North American project developer to deliver and market about 500,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits within three years from the application of mycorrhizal fungi on farmland that boosts crop yield and soil carbon sequestration.
VCM Report: CORSIA futures volatile after hitting record highs mid-week
Nearby CORSIA futures started to reflect a market moving from expectations to actual demand last week, with the price not only hitting a record high but also seeing volatility.
BRIEFING: JCM credits likely to trade between $15-30 as demand exceeds supply
Credits issued under the Japan-led Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) are expected to trade between $15-30 per unit, considering the robust demand outlook and current policy progress, a webinar heard Friday.
Global asset manager takes stake in US peatland carbon project developer
The alternative investments arm of a global asset management giant has acquired a stake in a newly-launched nature-based solutions firm developing carbon credit projects from the restoration of peatlands in the US.
BRIEFING: Revised carbon permanence standard in PACM would still exclude forest-rich countries, experts say
The latest permanence standard proposal under discussion for new Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) rules risks excluding countries that could provide huge volumes of forestry credits, which would weaken wider Article 6 participation, market stakeholders have reiterated, while UNFCCC experts this week defended their approach to the crucial document.
Blue carbon credits are gaining traction, but integrity, financing hurdles persist -panellists
Blue carbon projects are beginning to gain ground in carbon markets, but financing shortfalls and questions about credit quality remain barriers to scale, panellists said during a webinar on Wednesday.
Draft protocol for forestry-based carbon removals opened for public feedback
A removals registry has released a draft protocol for carbon removals via improved forest management (IFM) for public consultation.
Swiss DAC developer forecasts rapid shift from NbS to engineered CDR
A Swiss-based direct air capture (DAC) firm has released modelling showing that carbon removals (CDR) will need to shift sharply from nature-based solutions (NbS) to engineered technologies by mid-century as land and resource limits are reached.
SCIENCE & TECH
New financial mechanisms needed to back community-based conservation in the Amazon -study
New financial mechanisms should be deployed to support community-based conservation in the Brazilian Amazon due to its key role in enhancing the region’s environmental protection, a paper has said.
China’s forestry carbon sinks grew 68% in two decades despite efficiency gaps, shifting hotspots
China’s forestry carbon sinks grew by nearly 8 billion tonnes between 2003 and 2022, but with sharp regional disparities in efficiency and shifting hotspots, according to new research that calls for refined policies and market mechanisms to underpin the country’s carbon neutrality pledge.
Coalition flags actions for local communities needed to fulfil GBF
Five opportunities for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples should be addressed if countries are to deliver on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), according to a report led by a coalition of stakeholders.
Non-profit flags ways to boost corporate investment in US sustainable agriculture
Collaboration across companies, and the creation of new financial products, would help support investment in US sustainable agriculture, a non-profit has said.
Report sets out measures to enhance protection of key rainforests
Governments worldwide should take urgent measures to conserve the Amazon, Congo, and Southeast Asia rainforest basins, as failing to do so could jeopardise over half of the world’s food production and up to 8% of global GDP, according to a new report.
Nature intelligence company launches free biodiversity risk screening tool
A company specialising in digital nature analytics has launched a screening tool allowing organisations to assess their biodiversity risks for free.
Report urges govts to include UNESCO biosphere reserves in national biodiversity plans
Governments should include UNESCO biosphere reserves in their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), as this could help advance efforts to meet global targets on nature protection and restoration, a report has said.
Climate change could more than double forestry disturbance costs in Europe, scientists warn
Climate change could drive disturbance-related losses in Europe’s forestry sector to as much as €247 billion by the end of the century, more than doubling today’s costs, according to new research.
Study warns fragmented rules ill-suited to govern ocean CO2 removal, urges systemic approach
Existing governance frameworks are unprepared to manage the social, ecological, and technological complexities of marine CO2 removal (mCDR), according to a new review that calls for system-aware, justice-oriented approaches to overseeing the emerging field.
New carbon database unveiled to track food and agriculture emissions
A sustainability intelligence platform has launched a new database in a bid to make tracking carbon emissions from materials in the food and agriculture sector easier.
New digital tool aims to reduce pricing information gap from blue carbon projects
An international NGO launched a digital tool to estimate costs of blue carbon projects, aiming to increase pricing transparency and boost investor confidence, it announced on Wednesday.
Biochar continues to dominate carbon removal deal-making, say experts
Biochar projects are still dominant in terms of current carbon removal deals struck, according to developers, analysts, and other industry participants, though the wider sector still needs to massively scale to help the world meet climate goals.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKETS
Time is money – Developers working on land use, forestry, and blue carbon can apply to extend their project’s crediting period under standard setter Gold Standard. This means projects that initially opted for shorter crediting periods, and may still be generating valuable benefits, now have the opportunity to extend the crediting period. The extended period cannot go beyond 50 years from the project start date and applying for an extension is considered a design change. More details here.
CORPORATE
Farm funding – UK farmers can tap into a new scheme from Barclays bank to help transition to regenerative agriculture and make nature-friendly changes, Farming Online said. Farm Transition Finance (FTF) offers eligible farmers a 0.3% interest rate reduction, structured as standard term debt, with flexible terms, on loans to fund sustainable changes across their land. Eligible activities include emissions reductions, biodiversity enhancement, and soil health improvement.
POLICY
At sea – Algeria signed the UN High Seas Treaty at the end of last week, in a first step towards ratifying it. Minister Ahmed Attaf signed the agreement on Saturday at the headquarters of the UN in New York, the government said. Brunei has also recently committed to the agreement, according to the High Seas Alliance. The treaty has reached the long-awaited 60-country ratifications, meaning it will become legally effective from Jan. 17 2026. (Carbon Pulse)
BBNJ boost – Fiji and Samoa’s ocean conservation efforts are set to receive a boost from the UK High Commission in Fiji, the Pacific Ocean Governance Commission, and Conservation International, the global non-profit announced. A new Sustainable Blue Pacific Initiative will help the two Pacific island countries implement the BBNJ Agreement, or High Seas Treaty, to protect areas of the open ocean beyond national jurisdiction – which reached its long-awaited ratification threshold over the weekend.
Cross-continent partners – Sri Lanka signed an agreement with the EU on Tuesday, confirming the European bloc’s commitment to help the country conserve its biodiversity, Sri Lanka’s finance ministry announced. The partnership aims to boost Sri Lanka’s economy through biodiversity conservation, better waste management, and more sustainable land-use practices. This follows Sri Lanka’s step forward in marine conservation, having recently ratified the UN High Seas Treaty.
Kenyan protection – Kenya has published 10-year management plans for wildlife conservancies Mara Ripoi, Mbale Transfrontier, Mbokishi Mara, and Dawida, according to gazette notices dated Aug. 8 to Sep. 12. The plans aim to integrate biodiversity protection with community priorities like water access, health, education, tourism, and carbon credit projects.
Ghost bats – The Australian government has conceded it has failed to make mandatory recovery plans for key species and agreed to fix the breach, in what Wilderness Society, an NGO, has hailed as a landmark legal case that will deliver stronger protections for threatened wildlife. The NGO was represented by Environmental Justice Australia, with the win meaning the government will create recovery plans for the greater gliders, ghost bats, sandhill dunnarts, and Australian lungfish. The Wilderness Society said the outcome sets the important national precedent that recovery plans are binding under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Committed relationships – Chile, the UK, and Madagascar committed to the Blue NDC Challenge at a Climate Week NYC event. The initiative now has 11 members including Brazil, France, Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Seychelles. Launched in Nice at the UN Ocean Conference earlier this year, the group urges coastal nations to integrate ocean-focused actions into their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30.
Blue and green deal –The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation on blue economy and green growth initiatives across the Caribbean, the organisations announced on Sunday. The partners will focus on mobilising public and private investment to advance marine conservation, climate resilience, and nature-based economic development. It also plans to support national and local governments in improving planning and institutional frameworks.
Dramatic rise – Honduras has committed to a 16% reduction below a business-as-usual (BAU) baseline that doubles 2021 GHG levels by 2030 – from 23 MtCO2e to 50 MtCO2e – according to the country’s updated NDC, uploaded by the UNFCCC on Monday. It did not state 2035 emissions targets. The Central American country noted that it is maintaining this preexisting 16% goal, which covers the energy, agriculture, industrial processes, and waste sectors. That would correspond to some 4.6 mln tonnes CO2 equivalent in mitigation. However, the updated NDC newly includes the land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector, tacking on a goal to cut emissions by 1% more below BAU through land use and forestry means – equivalent to further mitigation of 214,300 tCO2e, conditional on Paris-aligned financing.
SCIENCE & TECH
Environmental violence – At least 146 environmentalists were killed or disappeared around the world last year, according to a report by Global Witness. Some 117 of these cases were documented last year in Latin America, with 48 in Colombia – which had the most globally for the third year in a row. This was followed by Guatemala, with 20 people in 2024, Mexico with 18, and Brazil with 12. Indigenous Peoples made up a third of the cases. The total number of defenders affected from 2012-24 has reached at least 2,253, it said.
Mapping Namibia – A Namibian university partnered with the country’s government to launch an ecosystem map to underpin its National Biodiversity Action Plan, local media reported. The map, produced by Namibia University of Science and Technology, logs 218 different species and is integrated with the IUCN’s assessment and categorisation of endangered species. It covers ecosystems across the country, from the Namib Desert to the Cuvelai wetlands.
Data sharing – A US-based data company has announced it is adding London’s Natural History Museum’s Biodiversity Intactness Index to its digital platform. Companies using Dunya Analytics’ nature risk tool will be able to tap into a global dataset, based on information related to 76,000 species, to understand their impacts on ecosystems. This follows news that Cecil, an Australian data provider, is also embedding the Biodiversity Intactness Index into its platform.
EU know it – A knowledge sharing centre for European biodiversity launched on Tuesday that will contain information relating to National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. The new European Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre (TSC) aims to enable scientific collaboration among European countries to support progress towards the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including through the establishment of new marine protected areas.
Dark chocolate – A study released today by UCLouvain University in Belgium, in partnership with non-profit Trase, found that the expansion of cocoa production is responsible for more than half of all forest loss in Ghana. Using satellite maps and land-use data, researchers quantified deforestation and forest degradation over 2000-19, focusing on six regions in the high forest zone of southwest Ghana where cocoa is grown. The results showed that cocoa replaced 848,000 ha of forest, representing 57% of total deforestation and degradation, making it the leading direct driver of forest loss over the period. The next most significant drivers were food crops and logging at 39%, mining (3%), tree plantations (2%) and settlements (less than 1%).
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EVENTS
Carbon Forward Expo London: Oct. 7-9, London – Europe’s premier carbon markets conference. Our flagship event takes place in London once again, and will celebrate its 10th year analysing global carbon markets. Over three information-packed days, we’ll bring you leading experts, thought-provoking content, trailblazing organisations, lively discussions, and innovative thinking across the compliance, voluntary, removal, and renewable energy markets. This year’s edition will feature more side events, workshops, and our inaugural Startup Pitch Hub! More details and a call for proposals to follow. Super Early Bird discounts now available. Register
Nat5 Live Marketplace: Oct. 6-7, Mexico City – Nat5 announces the Nat5 Live Marketplace, the first global event fully dedicated to certified Nature Positive Credits under the aOCP standard. On Oct. 6–7, 2025 in Mexico City (IMJUS), corporates, investors, and project developers will gather to experience the future of biodiversity, water, soil, and carbon markets. With 20+ certified projects from 17+ countries already in play, the event offers unmatched access to live transactions, pioneering methodologies, and exclusive networking shaping the next wave of nature finance. Don’t miss the chance to be in the room where this new market takes shape. Register
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