Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) standards will not make or break the voluntary carbon market (VCM), but sabotaging the commoditisation of carbon credits could, according to the co-founder of a PACM-accredited validation and verification body (VVB).

With COP30 right around the corner, Brazil is rushing to prove that the $125 billion global fund it proposes to reward the conservation of tropical forests is financially viable and attractive, and to respond to criticism about its complexity and risk-sharing model.

A Helsinki-based think tank has predicted that coal power emissions in China, India, and Indonesia will peak by 2030, driven by rapid expansion of renewable energy.

Credits sold from a now deactivated REDD methodology re-opened concerns about integrity last week, at a time when the EU is debating whether to allow the use of international credits under the Paris Agreement into the ETS, and delegates are preparing for UN climate talks in Brazil.

A coming surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity is expected to reshape world energy markets and raise new challenges for global decarbonisation efforts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its annual Gas 2025 report.

Bhutan is taking the "costly" and "moral" decision to remain carbon-negative over the next decade, and intends to advance international carbon trading to finance both emissions reductions and adaptation to climate change, according to its updated Paris Agreement commitment.

Thailand’s upcoming Climate Change Act could drive up to 98% demand for the Southeast Asian country’s carbon credits as compliance mechanisms such as an emissions trading system (ETS) and carbon tax are brought into force, according to a recent report by the market regulator.

Malaysia's upcoming national carbon tax, announced last year and due in 2026, could launch at a starting rate of RM 10 ($2.36) per tonne of CO2e, potentially raising RM 2 billion a year in new revenue while supporting its climate and fiscal goals, according to recently published research.

Indonesia on Monday submitted a new climate plan that opts for absolute emissions caps for the first time, setting a 2030 peak, but with a hefty price tag that Jakarta hopes to pay for by using Article 6 carbon trading and foreign finance.

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has agreed with a standard-setting body to collaborate on strengthening the integrity and effectiveness of global carbon markets, using joint certification tools and methodologies, they announced on Monday.

Extreme droughts could turn peatlands from long-term carbon sinks into sources of greenhouse gas emissions, according to research by US, Swiss and Australian scientists published last week.

Member countries of the Japan-led Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) reasserted their commitment to addressing climate change while ensuring economic growth.

Indonesia’s forest carbon projects have failed to deliver lasting improvements in rural household incomes and may even have reduced earnings from agriculture, a study looking at some of the country’s flagship Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) schemes has found.

Record installations - Australia has now seen 100,000 batteries installed in households and businesses through the government's Cheaper Home Batteries scheme, it announced Sunday. The programme achieved the milestone in just four months, totalling 2 GWh of storage capacity according to the government, increasing Australia's home battery capacity by more than 50%. A report in August said electricity emissions could be slashed by some 21 MtCO2e by 2035 if installation rates were maintained at current levels.

An Australian landfill gas operator has raised A$51.2 million ($33 mln) to go towards projects that it says will boost its generation of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Cement methodology - KCCI Carbon Standard (KCS), run by South Korean business lobby KCCI, is seeking feedback on a new proposed methodology that encourages the use of low-carbon concrete products, according to a recent notice. The proposal, submitted by Daewoo E&C, requires developers to use early-strength slag cement concrete to replace Portland cement, a greenhouse gas-emitting raw material used in conventional concrete production. There are around 30 eligible methodologies under the KCS programme.    

The biggest Japanese automaker’s retreat on battery electric vehicle (BEV) targets could derail global decarbonisation efforts and lock Asia into a high-emissions future, a report released Monday has warned.

Agri pilots - Vietnam will pilot at least 15 carbon credit farming models between 2025 and 2035, targeting key crops such as rice, coffee, cassava, sugarcane, and bananas, Net Zero VN reported, citing a government official. The scheme aims to cut agricultural emissions by 15% from 2020 levels by 2035 and develop low-emission certification for major crops. It will start with pilot projects in 34 provinces, focusing on rice-based and crop rotation systems.

Climate warning - Asian civil society groups have urged Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to stop backing fossil fuels and align with regional climate goals at the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Summit in Kuala Lumpur. In a joint statement signed by 36 organisations, campaigners said AZEC must become a genuine platform for accelerating the region’s energy transition, not a vehicle to prolong fossil fuels. They criticised Japan’s support for ammonia co-firing, hydrogen blending, and carbon capture, warning such projects delay renewables and lock Asia into high-carbon dependence. The groups called on Japan to redirect finance toward community-based clean energy and help unlock Southeast Asia’s 99% untapped renewable potential. Launched in 2023 by Japan, AZEC is a platform for cooperation towards net zero emissions in Asia, however, experts warn its gas-heavy focus risks locking Southeast Asian nations into costly and volatile fossil fuel pathways.

Deep potential - The New Zealand government has appointed an international review panel for the country's supercritical geothermal exploration project, it announced. The project, the site of which was announced last month, aims to prove the viability of supercritical geothermal energy. Geothermal expert professor Roland Horne will chair the panel, according to the government, which will assist in developing the well. Supercritical geothermal is theoretically designed to tap energy sources some 1-3 km underground while managing high pressures and temperatures than current conventional geothermal energy projects.

A growing pipeline of fossil fuel developments could emit over 11 times the world’s remaining carbon budget for 1.5C, according to data published Monday by a group of non-profit researchers.

Hydro pertners - Indonesia’s state utility PLN signed last week an MoU with Brazilian conglomerate J&F SA to study the development of up to 11.7 GW of hydroelectric power plants in the country, according to a press release. The deal came among a flurry of other MoUs across as energy and mining during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to the Southeast Asian country. The deal aligns with Indonesia’s 2025–2034 electricity plan which seeks to develop over 40 GW of renewable energy capacity.

Forest surge - India has climbed to 9th place globally in total forest area and retained its 3rd-rank for annual forest area gain, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 report. The report highlighted India’s progress in expanding forest cover over the past decade, contributing to global reforestation efforts. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the findings reaffirm India’s commitment to its NDC under the Paris Agreement, including a pledge to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 bln tonnes of CO2e through forest and tree cover by 2030. (Mint)

Green grid - Singapore's renewable energy firm Sembcorp on Monday said it will build two major clean energy projects on Jurong Island, including the city-state's largest ground-mounted solar farm and an expanded energy storage system. Separately, Singapore's Economic Development Board said it will allocate more land Jurong Island for renewable energy facilities and a data centre park. About 300 ha of land, roughly 10% of Jurong's total area, will be reserved for renewable power projects and low-carbon fuel production, Reuters reported, citing the agency.

Battery on rails - Australian freight rail operator Aurizon has signed an agreement with Alcoa to conduct a battery electric tender trial on one of its routes in Western Australia, it announced. The tender sees a battery-powered unit coupled with a modified locomotive. The tender is designed to operate as a hybrid system, using both diesel and battery-electric power sources, as a way to reduce emissions. It follows Aurizon receiving funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to support its tender project. The tender is expected to be on track in the second half of 2026, Aurizon said.

Starting up - ASX-listed renewable energy developer Delorean Corporation announced the start up of operations at its Lilydale Bioenergy Facility in Victoria. The project takes 55,000 tonnes of food waste annually and generates 39,000 KWh of renewable electricity per day, resulting in an emissions reduction of 24,700 tCO2 per year. Delorean is operating the project under a two-and-a-half year contract valued at around A$8 mln ($5.2 mln). It is the fourth commercial-scale bioenergy project completed by Delorean in Australia and New Zealand.

First close - Astarte Capital Partners and Toesca Asset Management have reached a first close of $100 mln for their new regenerative agriculture fund, which will invest primarily in permanent crops through a mix of greenfield and operating assets. The vehicle, which was launched in Q4 2024, was seeding with $45 mln from both firms.  With an overall $350 mln fundraising target and an IRR goal of 17%, Toesca Permanent Crops II aims to promote sustainable land use and soil health by owning and managing farmland under regenerative practices, with around 70% of capital expected to go toward developing new projects and 30% into existing operations. The firms said they are looking into the contribution soil carbon credits can make to the fund's financial returns, but this has not been factored into the strategy's target returns. The fund has attracted institutional investors from Europe, North America, Australia, and Chile, reflecting growing global appetite for farmland and nature-based investments that align financial returns with environmental outcomes. Roughly 80% of the fund will be deployed in Chile, with Peru accounting for 20%. (Agri Investor)

A Tokyo-based climate tech has acquired a new subsidiary to accelerate its growth in North American markets, eyeing rising demand for emissions monitoring solutions. 

Swap trial - Rio Tinto and China's State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) have launched a trail to use battery electric haul trucks at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, it announced. The trial aims to test how the trucks having their batteries swapped out affect operations. Rio and SPIC have delivered and installed eight, 91-tonne Tonly trucks together with 13, 800 KWh batteries, as well as a battery swapping station and charger. The companies said the technology allows electric mining trucks to replace their batteries in less than seven minutes, without the need to charge the vehicle, minimising downtime. The trial will run until the end of 2026 to identify opportunities for wider rollout.

Finance through Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) is starting to flow, according to a draft progress report, as the programme shifts its focus to electrification and energy efficiency projects.