Paraguay has unveiled the implementation plan for its Article 6 partnership with Taiwan, prioritising electric mobility and reforestation as the backbone of a joint carbon credit pilot, local media reported.

Climate analysts considered the extent to which climate policy and carbon markets have had an impact on emission curves versus economic trends during a Thursday panel discussion, with all agreeing that it’s virtually impossible to objectively know for sure.

The Council of EU member states and the European Parliament struck a political deal on Thursday to delay and simplify implementation of the bloc’s regulation on deforestation-free products, pushing back core obligations by a year to give companies and national authorities more time to prepare.

Scope 3 farming guidance - Guidance published by South Pole and WBCSD has called on companies to adopt more consistent approaches to engaging farmers in agricultural supply chain decarbonisation, with recommendations to ensure fair benefit-sharing, flexible financing, capacity building, and long-term investment. The document outlined strategies for different farm types and stressed the importance of tracking social outcomes such as livelihoods and food security alongside carbon metrics.

Joining forces - The UK and the Philippines are teaming up to accelerate the clean energy transition, by way of the Philippines-UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme, launched on Dec. 2 in Manila. The initiave aligns with the Philippines' target to cut GHG emissions 75% by 2030, and to reach 50% renewable energy in the power generation mix by 2040. PACT will fund interventions including on offshore wind, electric power system cost simulation, and speeding up microgrid deployment.

Zimbabwe has opened negotiations with several countries to develop bilateral agreements for carbon credit trade under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, including Singapore, Switzerland, and Malaysia, a government official said Thursday.

Tokyo-based Japan Impact Investment Network (J-IIN) is considering how companies and investors can boost biodiversity – as well as carbon sequestration – while restoring forests, a webinar heard Thursday.

A study published Thursday has highlighted structural price inequalities at the heart of the voluntary carbon market (VCM), showing that carbon credits generated in advanced economies command nearly 30% higher prices than otherwise similar projects in emerging and developing countries.

Climate policy ambition is accelerating in Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, with carbon markets growing and policy ambition sometimes overtaking that of the EU, UK, and North America, found a new report.

High-integrity natural climate solutions (NCS) carbon credits are essential to effective, efficient and equitable climate policy, including under Paris Article 6.4, write eleven scientists and researchers in response to a recent Nature comment.

A roadmap for financial institutions to develop mangrove-positive lending approaches has been launched by a financing initiative focused on these coastal trees.

Digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (dMRV) could significantly accelerate investment in industrial CO2 capture and removal projects, researchers have found, with measurement estimated to account for up to 15% of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and 13% direct air capture and storage (DACCS) project costs.

An annual global asset owner survey, published Thursday, has revealed that sustainable investment continues to hold a central place in institutional strategies, as concerns about climate risk and regulatory complexity grow.

Decades of forest loss and mining expansion worsened the deadly floods and landslides that hit parts of Indonesia and killed hundreds of people late last month, according to the government and environmental groups.

A UK-backed climate programme will help Indonesia develop carbon market infrastructure via a 15-month technical assistance contract as the country seeks to close a $473 bln climate finance gap by 2035.

Carbon credits of a low quality saw their prices rise last month, moving close to an average $6 per tonne, according to updated analysts indices.

A startup risk management company is investing in electric cookstoves in Sub-Saharan Africa to ward off integrity concerns that is sees as undermining Article 6 trading, an executive told Carbon Pulse.

Nuclear power is set for a revival global because it will be a cheaper option for countries seeking to decarbonize their electricity grid compared to just relying on renewable energy, a study claims.  

Australia’s carbon market integrity body has released a draft version of its improved native forest management (INFM) method ahead of the formal consultation period kicking off next month.

A global advisory and project developer have signed an agreement with an intergovernmental group to drive growth in nature-based carbon projects in Southeast Asia, they announced Thursday.

A state-backed Saudi company spearheading the development of the domestic voluntary carbon market on Thursday announced a partnership with a Singapore-based developer, seeking advice on project origination.

A global food company this week partnered with an Indian developer on a five-year regenerative agriculture project aimed at cutting emissions across its corn supply chain and improving outcomes for farmers.

Price tag - At least $20 bln is the cost of the latest series of deadly floods across South and Southeast Asia last month, Bloomberg reported, citing government and analyst estimates. A string of cyclones combined with the northeast monsoon unleashed record rainfall in the region, killing more than 1,300 people. The news report said analysts warn that the region’s exposure to “compound disasters” is rising, with populations in high-risk flood zones increasing. In light of this, Indonesia this week started fast-tracking its forest and land rehabilitation after the floods across Sumatra exposed extensive degradation.

Emissions in the New Zealand ETS will sit below the cap for the next decade, officials told the government in advice released on Thursday, creating a buffer for dry years.

The Chinese government has given the greenlight to three new methodologies for its domestic offset programme, all nature-based solutions (NbS).

Partnership forged – Australian miner Fortescue is teaming up with Taiyuan Iron and Steel (TISCO), a subsidiary of China Baowu, on technology to decarbonise the steel industry, it said in a press release Thursday. Specifically, they are going to collaborate on an industrial trial of hydrogen-based plasma-enhanced metallurgy, which removes the need for sintering, pelletising and coking, Fortescue said – adding that this could be a possible use-case for its Pilbara ores. The two partners will build and operate a pilot indutrail line, with a production capacity of 5,000 t of molten iron per year. The Australian company is providing the finance for the project, and will form a technical committee with TISCO and partners to advance its implementation.

The New Zealand government has formally rejected the Climate Change Commission’s (CCC) advice to tighten its emissions targets across all sectors, almost two weeks after the deadline.

China's clean power expansion is on track to keep the country’s CO2 emissions flat this year, but vague targets could mean an emissions rebound after two years, according to a report released Thursday.

Another one - Canadian project developer Deep Sky announced a strategic partnership with Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation to build a robust DAC and carbon removal market in Japan. The pair will develop commercial pathways for DAC offtakes in Japan, financing structures, and policy frameworks.

Electrifying – Accelerating the buildout of renewable generation, transmission, and battery storage is essential to keep residential electricity prices affordable over the next decade, according to a report published Thursday by the Australian Energy Market Commission. The report projected residential electricity per unit prices (not bills) will fall by 5% over the next five years, supported by renewable generation growth. However, it warned those prices could rise by 13% from 2030-35 unless new renewable generation, battery, and transmission projects are delivered more quickly than currently forecast. It found delays to wind and transmission projects could increase annual household electricity prices as much as 20%, while prolonging the life of existing coal plants to meet future demand growth could pose significant price risks. Australia's largest coal-fired plant, Eraring in NSW, is slated to close in 2027, however a separate report published this week by the Australian Energy Market Operator said there were energy security risks with shuttering in that timeframe due to the need for new synchronous condensers.

A group of major glass, packaging, mining, and automotive companies on Thursday announced the launch of a global certification programme to cut emissions and raise sustainability standards across the glass supply chain.