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- Sun 23:01Modern geothermal could replace up to 42% of the EU's coal and gas-fired generation, according to analysis released on Monday by an energy think tank.
- Sun 09:18Egypt’s trade ministry this week decreed that exporters operating in several sectors covered by the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) must submit copies of CO2 emissions reports for official review and analysis, to support global market access.
- Sat 10:20The European Commission wants to harness the bloc's nascent carbon removal certification scheme – an extension of the voluntary carbon market – to help EU member states achieve their climate targets at national level, officials have said.
- Sat 01:35Emitters cut down their net length in California Carbon Allowances (CCAs), but the group also reduced their net short in RGGI Allowances (RGAs), according to weekly data from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
- Fri 23:05Maryland CDR proposal - Democrats in the Maryland legislature introduced this week two companion bills (HB 817 and SB 625) that would require the state's Department of the Environment to adopt regulations governing the permitting of certain CO2 removal (CDR) technology and practices. It would also requiring each state agency to use available funding sources to fund projects that utilise CDR that is certified by an internationally recognised third-party certification body.
- Fri 22:33Hydrogen horizons – A new aviation white paper from California’s Alliance for Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) described how clean hydrogen could be integrated into the state’s aviation sector over the next two decades, alongside sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electrification. According to Air Cargo Weekly, it identified four main aviation use cases for hydrogen: airport ground support equipment and vehicle fleets, hydrogen-powered aircraft, hydrogen used to produce synthetic SAF, and power generation at airports. Early applications will likely be concentrated in commuter and regional aircraft, entering service sometime between 2027 and 2035.
- Fri 22:33Right to RGGI? - A group of Pennsylvania lawyers are demanding action on a petition they first submitted in 2018 that argues the state is obliged under its Environmental Rights Amendment (ERA) to reduce GHG pollution, Inside Climate News reported. The petition proposes an economy-wide cap-and-trade programme called Stability and Affordability Via Emissions Reductions (SAVER), modelled on California's market, which would be intended to reduce emissions in Pennsylvania by 40% by 2030 with the goal of reaching carbon neutrality in 2052. Governor Josh Shapiro (D) agreed to exit RGGI in November in a budget deal with Republicans, but has previously proposed a separate state cap-and-invest programme.
- Fri 22:21
Back in the (RGG)initiative - Virginia's Senate engrossed Senate Bill 802 (SB 802) on Friday. The proposal directs the state to rejoin US regional power sector cap-and-trade scheme RGGI, while a similar companion measure passed the House of Delegates earlier this week without significant differences. House Bill 397 (HB 397), which passed 63-35 on Feb. 3, is currently at the Senate's Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources.
- Fri 22:19Moo-ving carbon - California regulator ARB will receive comments until Mar. 30 on methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations regulation, marking the state's first step towards mandatory requirements after years of voluntary programmes, Inside Climate News reported. The request stems from SB 1383, which requires a 40% reduction in methane emissions from 2013 levels by 2030. Dairy and livestock produce over half of California's methane emissions but were exempted from regulation until 2024. Current programmes would achieve roughly 5 Mt of annual CO2e reductions by 2030, about half the 9 Mt needed to meet that year targets, according to a 2022 ARB report.
- Catalonia climate credits – The Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia has launched a temporary programme to advance the implementation of its Climate Credits System, a voluntary domestic scheme created in Dec. 2023 focused on nature-based solutions. The three-year programme will sit within the Directorate General for Climate Change and Environmental Quality and will recruit three technical specialists to develop methodologies, align the system with EU and national regulation, and integrate updated scientific knowledge, Europa Press reported. Funding will come from Catalonia’s Climate Fund, financed by revenues from regional environmental taxes, including levies on vehicle CO2 emissions and polluting installations.
- Fri 22:18Cost shift – California lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would allow the state to pursue oil and gas companies for insurance-related losses linked to climate-driven disasters, Program Business reports. Senate Bill 982 (SB 982), the Affordable Insurance Recovery Act, would authorise state's attorney general to sue fossil fuel producers to recover costs associated with climate impacts. The move follows sharp premium increases after recent wildfires, with Jan. 2025 blazes expected to generate up to $45 bln in insured losses. Industry groups have opposed the proposal, warning of higher fuel prices and expanded litigation risk.
- Fri 22:18Scorecards and superbills - Two New York environmental groups that have previously disagreed on key policy details are reviving a joint “superbill” priority list to influence lawmakers during the current legislative session, offering extra weight on their environmental scorecards for support of designated measures, E&E News reported. The New York League of Conservation Voters and Environmental Advocates NY said the revived designation will apply to bills including a packaging reduction proposal that faces strong industry opposition, as the groups seek to cut through competing election-year priorities. By aligning their scorecards – the only two that formally rank state lawmakers on environmental issues – the organisations aim to increase pressure on legislators.
- Fri 22:17Cash in court - A US federal appeals panel signalled it may send a lower-court judge back to revise an order that halted the Trump administration’s freeze of climate and infrastructure grants, after questioning whether the ruling can still apply nationwide following a recent Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision, E&E News reported. During arguments at the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals, judges said SCOTUS’ ruling in Trump v. CASA narrowed district courts’ authority to issue nationwide injunctions, casting doubt on an April order requiring immediate release of funds awarded under the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law. Lawyers for non-profits challenging the freeze argued the case falls under the Administrative Procedure Act, which they said still permits courts to set aside unlawful agency actions.
- Fri 22:16Wood works – Humboldt County company Mad River Mass Timber has begun commercial production of dowel-laminated timber (DLT), becoming California’s first producer of the mass timber product, it said this week. UC Berkeley noted that buildings account for around 40% of global CO2 emissions from construction and operation, underlining the climate relevance of material choices. Studies published in Building and Environment found mass timber buildings reduced global warming potential by 39-51% versus reinforced concrete and 28-34% versus structural steel, although one study showed their average embodied energy was 23% higher than concrete alternatives.
- Fri 22:16Caribbean clean currents - As part of efforts to advance net zero goals, Danish wave energy developer Wavepiston announced it has signed a MoU with Export Barbados to progress a commercial pilot wave energy project in Barbados, following a six-month pre-feasibility study completed in 2024 under the Wave Energy in Barbados initiative. The company said the agreement supports Barbados' renewable energy aspirations and plans for a potential 50-MW commercial deployment.
- Fri 22:16Missing the mark – Nevada is set to miss its 2030 GHG emissions target by a wide margin, with state data showing carbon output largely flat through the end of the decade despite statutory reduction goals, a local outlet reports. The Nevada Department of Environmental Protection projects emissions will fall just 20.7% below 2005 levels by 2030, around 24% short of the 45% cut mandated under Senate Bill 254 (SB 254). The law, passed in 2019, set interim and long-term targets but included no enforcement mechanism for missing the targets.
- Fri 22:12The clean energy sector faced a “year of loss” in 2025, with cancelled projects in the US far outpacing new investments, according to a monthly analysis from a think tank.
- Fri 21:37Brazil’s top court for federal law has suspended temporary court orders that challenged the country’s decarbonisation framework for fuel distributors under RenovaBio.
- Fri 20:16The Brazilian government is entering the final phase of negotiations to establish a national roadmap for energy transition, ministries have said.
- Fri 19:44Climate ready payroll - Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) released the Climate Ready Workforce Action Plan projecting climate mitigation and resilience strategies will keep approximately 67,000 people employed annually through 2050, with 10% representing net new jobs across 45 occupations. The plan, researched by Northeastern University's Dukakis Center, indicates just over 50% of positions will be in building trades, with roughly 2,700 green industry workers retiring annually requiring replacements. The Boston Climate Jobs Alliance, funded by a $9.8 mln NOAA Climate Ready Workforce Grant, aims to train 645 people and place 484 in 1,200 jobs by July 2028, having already trained over 100 workers.
- Fri 19:40
Diesel out - California Senator Sasha Renee Perez (D) introduced SB 978 on Tuesday banning diesel backup generators at data centres, creating a separate electricity rate class for facilities operating above 75 MW, and mandating upfront payment for transmission upgrades, Pasadena Now reported. The legislation directs the California Energy Commission (CEC) to assess hyperscale data centres' climate impacts after UC Riverside and Next 10 research found California data centre electricity use increased 95% from 2019-23, with demand projected to rise 356% above 2019 levels by 2028.
- Fri 19:35A Canadian forest intelligence software platform has acquired a Brazil-headquartered forest management platform, expanding its global reach.
- Fri 19:06ANALYSIS: Headline-driven volatility set to persist in EU carbon market amid lingering policy nervesMedia reports this week suggesting the European Commission plans to relax the planned phaseout of free carbon permit allocation to industry sent benchmark EUAs plunging at their lowest level for four months, but analysts have cautioned that the selling has been highly speculative and the market is likely to remain fundamentally tight in 2026.
- Fri 18:48A bipartisan pair of US senators introduced legislation on Thursday that would expand the federal carbon sequestration tax credit to cover carbon captured in solid or liquid form that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere through natural processes.
- Fri 18:07Tweaking the system - Verra has opened a public consultation on a proposed revision to a CDM methodology for methane avoidance from manure and wastewater treatment systems. The consultation focuses on updating AMS-III.Y to improve its application under the Verified Carbon Standard, the US-based registry said. Key changes include allowing separated solids to be reused as animal bedding under specific safeguards, introducing guidance for projects using biofiltration systems such as vermicomposting, and requiring the use of the VT0008 Additionality Assessment Tool. The aim is to strengthen environmental integrity and project credibility, Verra said. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback until Mar. 9.
- Fri 18:00European carbon prices recovered from a drop to their lowest in four months on Friday morning to end the day modestly higher, after early selling had driven the market down by nearly 19% from its late January highs, with a resurgence in offering triggered by analysis that suggested the transfer of EUA supply from a special reserve into the market could depress prices.
- Carbon credits incoming? - The state of Mendoza in Argentina has signed an energy agreement with the Federal Investment Council (CFI) and the municipality of Guaymallen that aims to advance the deployment of clean energy sources, among other goals. In a second phase, the agreement envisions the development of the Guaymallen Solar Park, for which the CFI will provide specific technical assistance related to the design of possible carbon credits, as well potential green financing strategies and the issuance of social and sustainable bonds, according to a press release.
- Low-carbon steel plans - Rio de Janeiro-headquartered power utility Axia Energia, formerly known as Electrobras, has partnered with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) to build Brazil's first green hydrogen plant dedicated to the production of low-carbon steel, reported Estadao Conteudo. With an expected capacity of up to 10 MW, the unit will transform solar, wind, or hydroelectric energy into hydrogen destined for a partner plant, aiming to drastically reducing emissions compared to a traditional blast furnace fueled by coke or natural gas. The plan is to prove economic viability on a commercial scale, structure certification methodologies, and train professionals, strengthening the entire green hydrogen and low-carbon steel supply chain. The project is part of the develoPPP programme, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
- Fri 17:15Getting found out - Italy’s foundry industry is close to a production shutdown due to rising costs linked to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Steel Orbis reports. Industry association Assofond has argued that CBAM penalises European foundries that rely on imported raw materials such as pig iron and ferroalloys, which are subject to carbon charges. At the same time, non-EU competitors can export finished products to Europe with fewer costs, creating unfair competition, the lobby said. With weak demand and shrinking margins, many foundries risk closure, it added. The sector is now urging policymakers to revise CBAM rules and extend transition measures to avoid deindustrialisation.
- Fri 17:11Helping hand - The UK government has published an agreement whereby it will support EP Lynemouth Ltd, operator of former coal and now biomass Lynemouth Power Station, from 2027 to 2031. It establishes a time-limited contract for difference subsidy that guarantees a fixed electricity price. The deal also includes caps on generation, mechanisms to reclaim excess profits, and stricter sustainability standards for biomass and emissions. Its aim is to maintain reliable, low-carbon backup power, protect public finances, support local employment, and give time to plan the site’s long-term future after subsidy support ends, according to the government statement.
- A San Francisco-headquartered enhanced rock weathering (ERW) developer has acquired a neighbouring US firm, positioning itself as a consolidator of the carbon removal (CDR) pathway.
- Fri 17:00Biochar commissioning - Australian pyrolysis firm Rainbow Bee Eater (RBE) has begun hot commissioning activities at its Katunga Fresh site in Victoria, the company said on its website. The facility uses six ECHO2 Mark IV reactors to convert cereal straw into high-carbon biochar and syngas, with January marking the start of first production. The syngas will be used to heat Katunga Fresh’s 21-hectare glasshouses, while biochar and wood vinegar are intended for use on regional farms.
- Fri 16:46Methane plea - US Democratic lawmakers have penned a letter urging the EU to maintain "robust and consistent implementation" of its methane regulation (EUMR). The administration of President Donald Trump and US oil and gas groups have also called for adjustments to the regulation. The Democratic lawmakers said the EUMR is a critical measure for incentivising the capture of GHGs, and clear, consistent rules would be important for minimising trade barriers for lower-methane energy sources between the US and EU, as well as alleviating the bloc's reliance on Russian natural gas.
- Fri 16:36Speculation on the UK carbon market is driving up allowance prices, inflating electricity costs for consumers and the country's manufacturing sector, the Chemical Industry Association (CIA) said on Friday.
- Fri 15:22A paper by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies has argued that current carbon accounting models fail to adequately recognise carbon emissions which are prevented from entering the atmosphere, rendering some corporate emissions avoidance activities invisible.
- Fri 15:21
Flying again - Gold Standard has launched a second round of public consultation for its 'Contrail prevention to reduce aviation’s non-CO2 climate impacts methodology'. Following the first round of feedback, it has been amended to improve its clarity, technical robustness, and practical applicability, the standard said Friday. The feedback period runs Feb. 6-21.
- Fri 15:18An EU expert group held extensive discussions Wednesday on an upcoming certification scheme for emissions reductions from livestock farming, without finding consensus on the scope of the methodology, or how to measure and track progress.
- Fri 14:17Japan's planned price corridor for the next phase of the national emissions trading scheme has sent a strong signal to the market, but the proposed range may not be enough to drive decarbonisation investments or lift market sentiment, experts told Carbon Pulse.
- Fri 14:17The European Commission has greenlit plans to store CO2 in the Prinos reservoir of Greece, with full capacity expected to reach 3 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
- Private clean energy funds have raised $178 billion since 2021 – over three times the total for fossil and broader energy portfolios combined, according to a report released Thursday.
- Fri 12:56Trees outside China’s forests store billions of tonnes of carbon and account for up to a third of the country’s above-ground carbon stock, estimated a new nationwide satellite-based study.
- Fri 11:33Orsted update - Orsted has reported fourth-quarter profit before EBITDA, excluding new partnerships and cancellation fees, slightly below estimates - rising to DKK 8.10 bln (€1.08 bln) from DKK 7.55 bln a year earlier. This is slightly below an average forecast of DKK 8.24 bln in a company poll. The company expects core profit this year above DK 28 bln, matching a target shared in January. Its focus is on offshore wind in Europe and select Asia Pacific markets, it said. Also this week Orsted agreed to sell its European portfolio of 825 MW of onshore wind, solar, and batteries to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners in a €1.44 bln transaction, expected to close in the second quarter. (Reuters)
- Fri 11:02Climate finance cuts - The UK govt plans to cut aid to poor countries hit by the climate crisis by more than a fifth - from £11.6 bln over the past five years to £9 bln in the next five, the Guardian reported. Accounting for inflation, this would represent a reduction of about 40% in spending power since 2021 when the £11.6 bln budget was agreed. The £9 bln climate spending pledge will likely equate to £2 bln a year over the next three years, then £1.5 bln a year in 2029-30 and 2030-31, which is beyond the current parliament. Experts have complained that UK climate finance lacks transparency over spending, made worse since Brexit as the country no longer follows EU reporting standards. Some civil servants are reportedly relabelling projects focused on other social issues under the climate finance umbrella.
- Fri 09:10The UK has joined the Global Green Growth Institute’s (GGGI) Carbon Transaction Facility (CTF) in an effort to back international carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and strengthen global cooperation on mitigation outcomes.
- Carbon credits will continue to be perceived as exotic assets for banks and investors unless the market develops homogenising criteria, a financial analyst said on Thursday.
- Fri 09:05Liquidity in China's national emissions market almost evaporated over the past week, but the permit price remained stable amid sustained optimism about the market outlook.
- Fri 08:00The administrative burden and implementation costs of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) are “relatively limited”, though there is room for improvement, a new government-commissioned study in the Netherlands has concluded.
- Fri 07:34The US and Indian space agencies have begun releasing data from a “next-generation” Earth observation satellite launched last year, which scientists said will be a step-change in how the world tracks forests, biomass, and land-use change, with implications on measurement and verification for carbon markets.
- Fri 06:33Governance arrangements- Australia will review the governance arrangements of the country's Electricity Market Operator (AEMO) to ensure it remains fit for purpose. The review is being led by public servant Nigel Ray, with the terms of reference noting the AEMO's rapidly evolving role on both the demand and supply sides of the system as the energy transition unfolds. A final report will be provided to the Energy and Climate Ministerial Council in May.
- Fri 06:24Now complete - Indonesia’s financial regulator has released the third version of its Indonesian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, marking the completion of sustainability classification standards across all nationally determined contribution-related sectors. Launched this week at the annual financial services industry meeting, the update expands screening to agriculture, forestry and fisheries, manufacturing, and water and waste management, while adding enabling sectors such as information and professional services. The framework, aligned with the ASEAN taxonomy and global standards, also introduces sunsetting and grandfathering provisions, as well as entity- and portfolio-level assessments.
- Fri 06:00Global power consumption is set to increase by 3.6% annually between 2026 and 2030, outpacing GDP growth and putting mounting pressure on grids, prices, and decarbonisation efforts, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
- Fri 02:24CCA prices broke below $30 and remained pinned below that level over the last week, as futures volumes increased amid heavy Auction Clearing Price (ACP) activity ahead of the Q1 auction later this month.
- Fri 01:52Energy partnership - Australia asset manager HMC Capital has announced a partnership with investment firm KKR which will commit A$600 mln ($415 mln) into its Energy Transition Platform. HMC Capital said in a ASX announcement the KKR's investment will see it become a strategic partner in the platform's existing 652 MW of operational assets and 5.7 GW of battery energy storage system and wind power pipeline. HMC expects to generate and equity investor rate of return on its invested capital above its 20% return on equity target. It said the investment will support the platform's continued expansion, including the development of new BESS and wind projects.
- Fri 01:13Quebec's economy minister introduced legislation Thursday to regulate underground carbon storage and mandate long-term state monitoring of storage sites.
- Fri 00:10On time - ASX-listed Provaris has successfully completed and delivered the first phase of the front-end engineering and design (FEED) work for its large-scale low-pressure liquid CO₂ (LCO₂) tank project on time and within budget, as part of its joint development agreement with Yinson Production, it announced. The Phase 2 FEED work is underway and scheduled to finish by June 2026, focusing on detailed engineering, structural testing, production process validation, and integration with Yinson’s floating storage injection unit (FSIU). The large-capacity LCO₂ tank design aims to support commercial CO₂ storage and transport solutions, improving scalability and reducing costs for future CO₂ supply chains.
