Caribbean and small island representatives on Wednesday said that outcomes from COP30 remain insufficient to match the scale and speed of climate impacts already hitting vulnerable economies, arguing that finance access continues to lag despite new global pledges.

Final negotiations on the EU’s 2040 climate target are likely to be “swift”, but the quantity, quality and potential EU ETS use of international credits is unlikely to be further clarified as part of these, according to a new analyst briefing on Wednesday.

A Singapore-based exchange is entering the race to benchmark the first phase of the international aviation offsetting scheme CORSIA, with the launch of a new spot contract next week.

Hopes the world will soon hit peak oil demand have been dented after COP30 ended without a direct reference to fossil fuels in the final decision text, but the world’s crude dependence still faces many twists and turns.

Kazakhstan has strengthened its 2035 climate target and laid out an extensive roadmap for entering international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as well as overhaul its emissions trading system, according to the country’s latest climate plans.

There's a growing narrative in the voluntary carbon market that supply is converging around higher and clearer quality standards, regulated schemes, and more focused demand signals - but in reality, with a rising number of crediting bodies, and buyers still reluctant to dive into purchases, the sector may still be fragmenting, according to experts.

Ahead of the game - Ethiopia has appointed its Minister for Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos as the COP32 President-Designate. Timothewos is a 47-year old lawyer and shall preside over the UN climate summit when it comes to Addis Ababa in 2027. Ethiopia will host COP32 talks, it was confirmed at COP30 in Brazil recently. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has recently referred to the successful COP bid as "Africa speaking with one voice", and flagged Ethiopia's strong climate credentials with its Green Legacy reforestation program and renewable energy - 90% of which comes from hydro.

Reaffirmation - Japan in a statement published Thursday reiterated its commitment to facilitating cooperative approaches under the Paris Agreement through partnerships under its Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), saying it will focus on securing long-term investment and streamlining rules and procedures for broader participation. The statement was first announced by Japan's Environment Minister, Hirotaka Ishihara, at a JCM meeting during COP30. Japan, aiming to secure 100 mln JCM units by FY2030, has formed JCM partnerships with 31 countries since the launch of the scheme in 2013, supporting around 280 international emissions reduction projects.

The information and communications technology (ICT) arm of Japan's leading telecommunications group is seeking to deepen its involvement in the Article 6 carbon market through a newly built partnership.

The UK is preparing to enshrine its new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) into law, taking effect from 2027, the government announced on Wednesday evening. 

Several countries are looking to issue Letters of Authorisation (LoAs) that would allow projects to supply carbon credits to the international aviation offsetting scheme CORSIA, but many say they prefer to have their Article 6 infrastructure fully operational before moving ahead.

Relationship renewal – Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha has renewed its partnership with BHP to explore the decarbonisation in the shipping industry, it said in a press release Tuesday. The updated MoU specifies the two will continue to collaborate on research for ammonia-fuelled ships, biofuel trials, and other measures to lower the sector’s emissions.

Twenty-five new green shipping corridors were launched in 2025, bringing the total to 84 globally, despite the delay to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Net-Zero Framework, with China, India, and Brazil looking to capture opportunities amidst the regulatory uncertainty, said a new report.