New nuclear in the Garden – New Jersey state lawmakers have introduced a bill to establish a programme that could lead to the construction of a new nuclear power plant in the Garden State. Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chair Bob Smith (D) introduced the New Jersey Energy Security and Affordability Act last week, which would create an incentive programme to add 1.2 gigawatts of nuclear power, according to a draft text obtained by E&E News. The full text of the bill has not yet been published. The bill would also instruct the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to establish distributed energy storage and demand optimisation programmes, according to the legislature’s website.

Turquoise in Texas – ExxonMobil is teaming up with German chemical producer BASF to advance a methane pyrolysis technology at the oil and gas major’s facility in Baytown, Texas. The technology is used to produce low-carbon hydrogen using a methane feedstock. Known as “turquoise hydrogen”, methane pyrolysis can be used where traditional CCS solutions are less viable, the companies said. They plan to construct a demonstration plant in Baytown capable of producing up to 2,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually, along with 6,000 t of solid carbon – a co-product generated via the pyrolysis process.

Renewable plus natural gas – Natural gas proponents want to see Virginia's Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) embrace natural gas to deliver on her campaign promises to lower energy costs, according to E&E News. The outlet reported Bruce McKay, chair of the Natural Gas Coalition of Virginia, as saying Spanberger believes in all forms of energy, including gas. He said natural gas has a place beside renewable energy.

EPA headcount cut – About 2,620 US EPA employees – roughly one fifth of the agency’s workforce – have accepted President Donald Trump’s deferred resignation offer that was used to reduce the federal government’s payroll. According to E&E News, these employees have already left the agency or will leave by the end of 2025 as part of the resignation programme. All federal employees were offered the opportunity to opt into the deferred resignation programme during Trump's first days in office.

A global coalition of more than 250 governments and international institutions launched a roadmap for implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) on Monday at COP30, complete with millions in funding to support the group from two countries.

Mexico’s NDC – Mexico released its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 Monday, affirming the climate targets already previewed by Environmental Secretary Alicia Barcena. The nation has set an unconditional goal to cut economy-wide emissions by 2035 to between 364-404 MtCO2e, and a conditional goal of 332-363 MtCO2e. It is also the first time Mexico has expressed its target in absolute terms rather than a percentage, a measure aimed at improving transparency, the nation says. Mexico has also added a security component to its NDC 3.0 in order to strengthen its capacity for responding to human security issues linked to climate change. This component will form the basis of the development of Mexico’s first National Adaptation Policy, which is slated to be published in 2026. (UNFCCC NDC Registry)

US legislators hoping to attend COP30  in Belem did not receive support from the State Department, having instead to make alternative plans for credentials to the Blue Zone through participating non-profits, international organisations, and through overflow from the Ukraine delegation.

COP30 talks resumed on Monday with cautious optimism, based on a Brazilian proposal that tended to favour the developing world’s position on contentious issues such as climate finance and trade. 

The EU insisted its carbon border fee is not a "unilateral" trade measure on Monday, addressing criticisms from countries such as China that have again brought CBAM to the forefront of multilateral discussions inside the negotiating rooms of COP30.

Global methane emissions are continuing to rise and remain inconsistent with international temperature goals despite a rapid increase in national pledges, according to a new UN report released on Monday.

As the COP30 climate summit in Belem heads into its second week, India is seeking progress on climate finance, adaptation, and more loss and damage funding, even as calls for its overdue national climate pledge for 2035 grow louder.

The Brazilian COP30 presidency shifted into "task force mode" on Monday, extending negotiating hours to make headway on a proposed Belem Package that it hopes to gavel through by Wednesday.

New technology developed in Texas by chemical engineers could cut carbon capture technology costs for hard-to-abate industries by half, inventors say.

A new, longer document on Article 6 non-market approaches (NMAs) published Sunday still finds the whole text in brackets, as other COP30 debates play out symbolically in the typically uncontroversial text, according to observers.

A Brazil-based agricultural technology company has signed an exclusive agreement with a UK-based project developer to advance enhanced rock weathering (ERW) projects in the South American country, aiming to generate carbon removal (CDR) credits, they announced Monday.

The Amazonian state of Para submitted new documents to ART TREES, taking a further step towards its planned issuance of the first 38 million carbon credits under its jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme.

More than 35 governments and philanthropies pledged on Monday to support Indigenous, local, and Afro-descendant communities in reversing forest and biodiversity loss and land degradation through a $1.8 billion fund over the next five years.

Using hemp as a biochar feedstock could remove 10 billion tonnes of CO2 per year by 2035 at low costs without requiring extensive land use or major investments, according to a new study.

A senior Australian bureaucrat said the government was assessing how the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion could affect government policies, as the country signs on to NDC partnership and industrial decarbonisation initiatives

Denmark's climate and energy minister announced at COP30 on Monday a proposed emissions reduction target of between 82%-85% from 1990 levels by 2035, which would be the most ambitious national target to-date.

The latest text on closing the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), being negotiated at COP30, still lacks a sum of funds to transfer from the Kyoto Protocol-era system, in order to ease an urgent finance shortage in Article 6 markets.

A total of 11 governments now endorse recently released shared principles that are designed to help scale responsible use of carbon credits to meet global climate goals.

A Swiss climate consultancy and carbon investor on Monday signed a letter of intent (LoI) for a credit offtake agreement with an Indonesian project developer at the COP30 climate summit in Belem.

Scientists are sending up flares that carbon removals (CDR) do not deliver equal-and-opposite climate effects when matched tonne-for-tonne with CO2 emissions, highlighting how carbon cycle asymmetry complicates net zero accounting in a recent webinar on the climate impacts of CDR.

The UK government has announced a further £16.9 million ($22.2 mln) in long-term finance for the FAO-run Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests (AIM4Forests) programme, lifting its total contribution to £48.4 mln and reinforcing its support for digital forest-monitoring systems.

The European Commission has slashed the emissions benchmarks that will underpin the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from 2026, according to draft documents seen by Carbon Pulse, unveiling proposed values that sharply tighten the carbon costs facing importers while stopping short of the ultra-strict regime many in industry had braced for.

Over 383 million tonnes of CO2 have been abated by carbon capture and storage (CCS) since 1996, claimed a report published Monday.

Integrity continued to drive prices last week, after the pre-COP30 tide that had lifted the market ebbed away, and the forestry sector was left battling again to be included in Article 6.4.

Ghana has proposed a new revenue-sharing framework to channel 5% of proceeds from Article 6 transactions into climate action, green industry support, and government administration, according to a senior environment official.

EU carbon prices slumped back to a key price level on Monday as traders digested an analyst report suggesting that the European Commission will relax emissions-intensity benchmarks for industrial plants, paving the way for higher free allocation of allowances between 2026 and 2030 and potentially cutting EUA prices by up to one-third next year.

The European Commission has published a draft regulation setting annual limits for net greenhouse gas (GHG) removals by EU member states until 2029, putting national governments under pressure to meet their targets under the bloc’s land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) regulation.

Companies and financial institutions are unwittingly exposed to at least $279 billion of financial risk due to the continued destruction of the world’s forests, according to a report published by an environmental disclosure non-profit on Monday.

Smallholders at the centre - Social Carbon Foundation has launched a new methodology that recognises frontline communities as essential climate stewards, and makes sure to reward them fairly. SCM0011 - a methodology for avoided deforestation on smallholdings - is now open for public consultation until Dec. 17, and is being piloted with Quilombola communities in Brazil, the foundation said on LinkedIn. The methodology maps deforestation pressure using comparable neighbouring smallholder land, uses a Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) to ensure the most climate-vulnerable farmers are prioritised, and guarantees a 50% revenue share to participating smallholders.

A group of countries, civil society representatives, and the private sector launched a new coalition to support jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programmes gain scale at COP30 on Monday.

The potential supply of credits available to buyers in Russia's carbon market should reach 100 million tonnes, according to the CEO of the country's registry operator, speaking at a side event in Belem.

G20 countries are failing by a wide margin to deliver the emissions cuts needed to keep the 1.5C target within reach, a report published Monday has warned, calling for an immediate, binding global response plan from the world's richest nations.

RGGI retreat - Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) agreement to withdraw the state from RGGI as part of a deal to secure Republican support for a $50 bln budget package has reopened Democratic divisions over climate strategy, undermining recent signs of unity after moderates in NJ and VA won by tying clean energy to affordability, E&E News reported. Shapiro’s decision to trade the long-pursued cap-and-trade entry for roughly $2 bln in additional spending has sparked concerns that Democrats may continue sidelining climate policy in both campaigns and governance, a development that could influence national messaging as the governor is increasingly viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender.

Surplus shift - A new proposed Quebec government bill seeking to allow the C$1.8 bln ($1.3 bln) surplus in the province’s Green Fund to be diverted to non-climate uses, including debt repayment and potential fuel-tax relief, has raised doubts about the government’s climate commitment. Ministers said the entire surplus will go to reducing provincial debt, while any future excess could support road infrastructure before public transit. Critics argued the move undermines emissions-reduction efforts and comes as Quebec remains off track to meet its targets. (CBC News)

Hold my carbon - Alberta's United Conservative Party (UCP) is set to debate two controversial energy resolutions that challenge the province and Canada's core climate goals, the National Observer reported. A UCP riding association is calling on the provincial government to reverse all net zero policies, giving rationale that denies climate change. Another motion seeks opposition to federal industrial carbon emissions caps, including launching a constitutional challenge. An advocate warned the UCP's stance risks economic and ecological vulnerability

Sold out - Indonesian energy firm Pertamina on Monday said it sold 32,060 carbon credits from its biogas power plant to banks, trading firms, and extractive industries. Out of a total 35,475 credits from the power plant, 90% have already been sold, the company said. Indonesia is organising buyer-seller sessions at COP30 in Belem, where Pertamina signed a deal for 13,000 credits from the same power plant last week. Overall, the government intends to use the summit to sell over 90 mln units.

Indonesia on Monday launched its blue carbon action guide and roadmap to support the government integrating blue carbon ecosystems, such as seagrass and salt marsh, into later Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Going backwards - Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) will debate a series of policy resolutions at its convention that seek to roll back, weaken, or openly oppose climate policies, prompting sharp criticism from environmental advocates. One riding association wants the provincial government to reverse all laws and agreements related to net zero, advancing climate-denialist arguments that downplay the role of GHG emissions. Another proposal urges the province to resist any federal regulation of industrial carbon pollution, potentially through constitutional challenges and the Alberta Sovereignty Act, even as it suggests strengthening Alberta’s own pricing scheme to offer an alternative. Critics argue that the party’s approach undermines credible climate action, particularly given Alberta’s history of limited progress without federal alignment. Further resolutions call for reviving “clean coal”, despite Alberta having fully phased out coal generation ahead of schedule. Environmental Defence Canada warned that the UCP’s stance reflects an attachment to past resource development that fails to recognise both the energy transition and the escalating impacts of climate change, leaving the province economically and environmentally exposed. (National Observer)

A coalition of companies involved in palm oil, cocoa, rubber, coffee, and wood urged EU policymakers to resist calls to delay the bloc’s anti-deforestation law and instead introduce it with a grace period at the end of the year.

Dozens of Japanese companies have endorsed a government-led initiative to support the overseas deployment of Japan’s emission reduction technologies for the agricultural sector while utilising the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

A major European bank has unveiled a significant expansion of its sustainability strategy, committing to facilitate a cumulative €900 billion in transition finance by the end of 2030 as part of a new plan published Monday.

Nearly three-quarters of carbon removal (CDR) project developers surveyed by analytics firm CDR.fyi said they were seeking funding within the next six months, with more than 40% aiming to raise capital within three months.

The global cement and concrete industry has cut CO2 intensity 25% since 1990, but policy gaps risk stalling progress, according to an industry report published Monday. 

An initiative that seeks to permanently conserve land at scale across four countries by raising $375 million has been announced, backed by organisations including the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

South Korea has for the first time announced its commitment to stop building new unabated coal power plants and phase out existing assets, amid growing interest at COP30 around establishing a global roadmap to move the world away from fossil fuels.

A string of new countries have joined the Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition, which is linked to an initiative to implement new global levies on the rich and high-emitting sectors, in a bid to boost "solidarity" for those most affected by climate change.

The European Investment Bank Group’s development arm, EIB Global, has launched a climate fund with Germany and Luxembourg as initial donors, which will finance a programme to advise central banks and financial institutions on green investments.

Oil and gas majors are expected to maintain a disciplined investment approach over the next decade, with transition bets such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) remaining selective. In contrast, utilities face a more robust investment climate, fuelled by surging electrification and data centre demand, according to a new report.

A British utilities firm specialising in renewable energy will stop using international carbon credits and invest instead in domestic carbon removals projects, according to a statement made last week. 

The European Union is preparing to turn down India’s push for an exemption from the bloc’s incoming carbon border levy next year, which could complicate efforts to conclude a free-trade agreement between the two economies.

Ministers will begin COP30 negotiations on Monday working off a Brazilian summary that lays out broad boundaries for an agreement on the four biggest issues – but with little clarity on what an agreement would look like, and old tensions likely to resurface.

Japan JCM expansion – Japan’s environment ministry has selected a new project under its Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) facility, approving a geothermal upgrade initiative in the Philippines in the second round of funding. The project will rehabilitate the power generation system at the Palinpinon geothermal plant on Negros Island by replacing two ageing 37.5 MW steam turbines with higher-efficiency 42 MW units, delivering an estimated 37,180 tCO2 of annual emission reductions. The ministry said it will continue advancing the overseas deployment of low-carbon technologies through the JCM in line with Japan’s plans for decarbonisation.

Pakistan GGGI pact – The state of Punjab in Pakistan has signed an agreement with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) during COP30 in Belem, Brazil, in a step to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity in global carbon markets, promote green financing projects, and convert provincial climate initiatives into international carbon credits. The collaboration will support green growth initiatives including water and sanitation, e-mobility, smog mitigation, and afforestation under the “Plant for Pakistan” programme.

A Berlin-based software firm and carbon credit marketplace are joining forces to connect carbon projects with corporate buyers, aiming to expand market access and streamline deals.

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have released a 'playbook' aimed at mobilising large-scale private investment into ecosystem protection, setting out a model to treat natural systems as infrastructure assets while using biodiversity credits.

An African funding programme has invested €2 million to expand clean cooking solutions in Zambia, it announced last week.

ERW credits – Isometric has issued Alt Carbon's first verified carbon removal credits for enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to be delivered to shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. The 221 credits were generated by the developer's Darjeeling Revival: Alt x MOL project in West Bengal, India. They were certified under the removal registry's Enhanced Weathering in Agriculture Protocol, it said on its website Monday.

The EU’s upcoming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is pushing Eastern European countries to decarbonise and adopt their own CO2 border fees. However, CBAM also poses a barrier to linking their power markets with that of the EU unless they meet exemption conditions, an expert said.

Rice methane reduction in Argentina – US carbon solutions provider AgriCapture has partnered with Latin America-based sustainability firm Upchar to expand its rice methane reduction project to Argentina, joining a network of regional partners supporting sustainable rice production across Latin America. The project, which already includes Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, implements Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), reducing methane emissions by up to 70% and conserving 300,000 gallons of water per carbon credit generated. Through this partnership, farmers gain access to global carbon markets and financial incentives for adopting regenerative practices, AgriCapture said in a press release.

Soil organic carbon verification – Bureau Veritas has independently reviewed Canadian agtech ChrysaLabs’ approach to soil organic carbon (SOC) measurement, confirming its compliance with VM0042 v2.1 for Improved Agricultural Land Management, including technology-based SOC methods. This marks the first third-party validation of the scientific accuracy and repeatability of proximal sensing soil carbon measurement in the field, ChrysaLabs said on its website. As a result, project developers can confidently incorporate ChrysaLabs’ data into VM0042-aligned carbon projects.

India clean energy investment deal – ReNew Energy will invest around INR 820 bln ($9.3 bln) in India’s state of Andhra Pradesh to expand its clean energy footprint, and has signed four MoUs with the state government to support projects, it announced. The company plans to establish a 6 GW ingot-wafer photovoltaic plant, a 2 GW pumped hydro project, a green ammonia facility, and a hybrid wind-solar and solar-plus-BESS projects in the state. ReNew’s latest commitment builds on an investment of $2.5 bln made earlier this year for a hybrid renewables-storage project in Andhra Pradesh.

The European Commission will release guidance “early next year” for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), an EU official has said.

Things are hotting up at the summit as ministers now arrive to push forward on key talks, which come after a rumoured 40,000+ people took to the streets on Saturday to march for climate justice.

EU set for final 2040 talks – The European Parliament and the Council of EU member states will hold their first negotiation round on the bloc’s 2040 climate target on Dec. 9, 2025, according to a spokesperson for the Danish EU Council Presidency. The Parliament adopted its position on Nov. 13, one week after the Council agreed its stance following an all-night session in Brussels at the beginning of November. Both institutions must now agree on an identical text for the EU’s 2040 target to be formally approved and incorporated into the European Climate Law. The Danish Presidency aims to conclude negotiations before the end of the year.

India's green H2 – India is positioning itself to capture around 10% of the global green hydrogen market by 2030, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy & Power Shripad Y Naik said during a conference in New Delhi. The minister noted that the nation’s non-fossil fuel power capacity has reached nearly 260 GW, which has allowed India to transition towards the ‘Green Hydrogen Revolution’ – converting renewable strength into ‘clean molecules’ that can decarbonise industries, fuel transport, and enable global trade. He added that India’s green hydrogen sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 20-40% over the next decade, and urged state governments and investors to scale up electrolyser manufacturing and commercialise green hydrogen production.

Nepal forest pay – Nepal has received $9.4 mln from the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) after reducing around 1.88 MtCO2e in its Terai Arc Landscape REDD+ programme, marking the country’s first payment under its Emission Reductions Payment Agreement. The World Bank said the funds will be distributed through Nepal’s benefit sharing plan, developed with local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

An Australian mining giant has signed a joint development agreement with an environmental technology company to support the construction of a demonstration zero-emissions steel plant, it said on Monday, ringfencing at least A$35 million ($22.8 mln) for the project.

Australian and Turkish leaders will seek to resolve their stalemate to host COP31 by the end of this week, otherwise the UNFCCC process will move into uncharted territory, according to observers.

The Liberal-National opposition coalition in Australia has set out its new energy policy, featuring proposals to expand gas exploration, lift the moratorium on nuclear power, and replace the Safeguard Mechanism with a different baseline-and-credit scheme.

A new Article 6 text concerning the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) would see countries back decisions on permanence, baselines, and additionality made by technical experts earlier this year.

A new analysis released Monday warned that the Congo Basin rainforest has reached a critical moment, with researchers calling for a major scale-up of international public and private finance to secure the region’s carbon stores.