More than markets - Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in a letter published Friday that, without a global carbon tax, which he said was "politically unachievable", market forces alone won't be sufficiently incentivise emissions reductions to combat climate change. Only by replacing all emitting activities with cheaper alternatives would stopping temperature increases be achieved, according to Gates. He also emphasised the importance of adaptation, which he discussed previously in a controversial pre-COP30 climate memo.

The world's richest 1% surpassed their fair share of carbon emissions in line with a 1.5C temperature limit in the first 10 days of the year, according to analysis released on Saturday.

Improved management of existing forests has delivered significantly higher carbon gains per dollar invested than afforestation in China over the past two decades, according to new research quantifying the drivers of changes in the country’s land carbon sink.

Across voluntary and compliance markets, regulators in the ASEAN countries are racing to put frameworks in place, though the gap between policy and practice remains wide and the success of these markets will mostly hinge on building integrity, MRV, and regional trust, according to experts.

A Tainan-based non-profit approved and launched the first carbon crediting methodologies under its nature-focused quality framework this week, targeting wetlands and seagrasses, agriculture, and soils.

Permits in China's national emissions market remained well above the level of RMB 70 ($10) amid a rosier outlook, but trading volumes plunged with the passing of the year-end compliance deadline.

Costs of purchasing carbon credits under India’s upcoming compliance mechanism are expected to rise sharply as the price of decarbonisation continues to fall, benefitting early movers that invest in abatement technology, according to a major accounting firm.

Feedback is welcome - Japan's environment ministry is seeking public comments on proposed revisions to offset methodologies under the country's national J-Credit scheme. The government is set to update methodologies for lightning equipment installations, the use of bypass amino acids in cattle feeds, and special feed additives for cattle. It is also looking to improve the guidelines for programme-type projects. The deadline for submitting feedback is Jan. 24, according to a notice published Friday.

We've got your back - Japan's environment ministry has decided to subsidise one international emissions reduction project under the bilateral Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). The project, proposed by Otsuka Holdings, aims to introduce a 3.6 MW solar power generation system equipped with a 15 MWh storage battery in Indonesia. It has the potential to reduce emissions by around 3,000 tonnes per year. The Japanese government has selected five other projects for JCM subsidies for this fiscal year.

One of Japan's largest shipping companies has teamed up with a major trading company to decarbonise the transportation sector through the use of Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs), it announced Friday.

Japan's shipping majors are facing growing financial and environmental risks, as they continue expanding their fleets of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, a new report has argued.

Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) started 2026 inching upwards, with a flurry of activity pushing prices slightly higher despite the quiet holiday period.

Funding row - Climate Action Network (CAN) said it was concerned by the arrest of climate activist Harjeet Singh by India's financial investigation agency, and rejected allegations that the NGO is a “foreign entity” funding campaigns against domestic interests. Authorities alleged that Bonn-based CAN, where Singh served on the board and as head of global political strategy between July 2022 and Jan. 2024, sent his organisation $290,000 illegally by routing the money “in the guise of consultancy charges” and “to allegedly run narratives to influence the government policies in the energy sector”, including advocacy linked to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. CAN welcomed Singh's subsequent release after authorities reviewed the merits of the case.

Materials risk - Cambodia's rapidly expanding building and construction sector and its associated emissions threaten the country's climate targets, according to a report by the Global Green Growth Institute. The sector accounts for 9-10% of the Southeast Asian nation's GDP, and around 52% of the its final energy consumption - a figure that's expected to more than double by 2040. The report called on the government to develop incentive mechanisms to encourage builders to use low-carbon materials and expand green finance options. Policy regulation and capacity building measures were also recommended by the South Korean institute.

No entry please - Environmental watchdog RimbaWatch has raised concerns over the expansion of oil and gas activities into Sabah’s Tun Mustapha Marine Park in Malaysia, warning that a recently awarded production sharing contract for the Bambazon Cluster could encroach on the protected area. Geospatial analysis shows that part of the Bambazon Cluster lies entirely within the marine park, an IUCN Category VI protected area intended to balance conservation with small-scale, low-impact activities, it said. RimbaWatch argued that industrial oil and gas development is incompatible with the park’s zoning plans and poses significant risks to biodiversity, including coral reefs, marine mammals, and endangered species. The group also cited Malaysia’s climate obligations and a 2025 International Court of Justice advisory opinion on states’ duties to prevent environmental harm, urging authorities to strengthen legal protections for marine parks and prevent fossil fuel activities within or near protected areas.

Contracts awarded - ASX-listed engineering firm Monadelphous has secured a four-year contract with BW Offshore Australia Management to provide maintenance services at Santos' Barossa project's Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FSPO) facility 300km offshore Darwin, it told the market. Work at Santos' facility, which will be covered under the Safeguard Mechanism, is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026. Additionally, Monadelphous' renewable energy joint venture, Zeniviron, has secured a contract with Flow Power to deliver the 100/223 MWh Bennets Creek battery energy storage system in Latrobe Valley, Victoria, which is expect to be completed in late 2027, the company said.

Speculator holdings of New Zealand allowances fell significantly in the December quarter, as the overall stockpile remained flat, according to data released by the country’s EPA Friday.

Solar saviour - Rooftop solar in Australia has played a pivotal role in helping the National Electricity Market meet record daytime electricity demand without major supply issues, the ABC reports. Southern Australia is going through a major heatwave, with solar providing more than 60% of demand at the peak of high temperatures on Wednesday, around two-thirds of that coming from rooftop systems. Renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and hydro met some 76.6% of daily electricity generation, the report said, citing market data, marking a turning point in how the grid handles summer peak loads. Experts said challenges still remain for meeting evening and winter demand, however, when solar output is low.