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- Mon 23:54BESS bet - The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)'s Energy Storage Energy Market Outlook for Q1 2026 found US battery energy stationary storage (BESS) installations increased 29% YoY in 2025, surpassing 57 GWh/28 GW. SEIA said the utility-scale market underpinned growth with just under 50 GWh/16 GW installed, with California, Texas, and Arizona accounting for 74% of installed capacity. US BESS deployments are set to increase to 70 GWh/35 GW in 2026, with the utility-scale market accounting for 62.4 GWh/20.2 GW. By 2030, the market is set to exceed annual installations of 110 GWh/47 GW. By 2030, cumulative installed utility-scale BESS is set to reach just under 500 GWh.
- Mon 23:53SCOTUS nod - The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) agreed on Monday to hear a bid by ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy to dismiss a lawsuit from Boulder County, Colorado that seeks to hold the energy companies liable for the effects of climate change, Reuters reported. SCOTUS took up an appeal by the companies of a lower court's ruling that let the litigation move forward. The appeal is backed by the Trump administration, and the lawsuit is is one of dozens of climate-related lawsuits filed by US jurisdictions against companies that extract, produce, distribute or sell fossil fuels. In a client note, consultancy Washington DC-based ClearView Energy Partners said Monday's decision is the first instance in which a climate liability case has reached SCOTUS for review based on energy companies’ argument that federal preemption applies in state tort litigation. The consultancy added that the court could hear oral argument early in its next term, beginning in October, with a decision following by year-end or early 2027, while a ruling would influence similar suits.
- Mon 23:48Contracts that commit the government to buy a fixed share of future peatland carbon credits offer the most viable route to scaling restoration and crowding in private capital, while biodiversity credits remain too nascent to materially improve project economics, a Scottish government-commissioned study has found.
- Mon 23:14
Spin doctors - Offshore wind developers in the US whose projects were paused by the Trump administration in December have yet to receive details of the Department of Defense reports used to justify the pause on national security grounds, according to two lobbyists familiar with the situation, even as federal judges have since allowed construction to resume, Politico reported. Developers have sought briefings with lawyers holding security clearances to understand and potentially mitigate the concerns, according to court filings. Wind supporters said they aim to build backing for the projects by focusing on energy affordability, an issue that has gained traction among voters, as a counter to the administration's opposition.
- Mon 23:07RGGI Allowance (RGAs) rose last week ahead of the upcoming expiration of the February contract settlement and Q1 auction, while a new winter storm also boosted prices, traders said.
- Mon 23:01The majority of companies operating in the Netherlands are failing to align their climate efforts with the 1.5C global warming limit, and only a few plan to neutralise residual emissions to reach net zero, according to new research.
- Mon 22:48Super greenwashing complaint – Australian NGO Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) has filed a greenwashing complaint regarding UniSuper’s Global Environmental Opportunities fund with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), it said in an email. The fund initially used to require companies or assets it invested in to derive at least 40% of their revenue from environmental themes, but lowered that threshold to 20% last year, the Guardian reported. EDO claimed that this gives super members a false impression of the sustainability of their investments. In Feb. 2023, ASIC launched civil proceedings against Mercer Superannuation over alleged greenwashing, with a court in Dec. 2025 ordering the pension fund to pay an $A11.3 mln ($8 mln) penalty.
- Mon 22:46Farm fresh politics - Quebec Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) leadership candidate Bernard Drainville pledged a "full and permanent rebate" of the carbon tax for agricultural businesses, saying producers pay too much and face excessive regulation, Montreal City News reported. Drainville also proposed easing environmental authorisations for watercourse cleanup, water withdrawals, and farm expansion projects. Quebec does not levy a carbon tax but instead participates in a cap-and-trade system linked with California, and soon Washington state.
- Mon 22:46Blend deadline – US federal lawmakers are racing to reach a deal to allow year-round sales of E15 gasoline ahead of a Wednesday deadline, as negotiations over lifting seasonal restrictions remain unresolved, E&E News reports. House Republicans are weighing a compromise that would expand 15% ethanol blends in exchange for curbs on refinery hardship exemptions. Proposed changes would address how refinery hardship exemptions are handled under federal biofuel blending mandates. Initially, recommendations had been expected by February 15, with proposed legislation to follow 10 days later.
- Mon 22:32A US federal judge has ordered the dismissal of a class action lawsuit claiming tech giant Apple misled consumers by marketing its smartwatch as carbon neutral.
- Mon 22:30A new roadmap has called for integrating abiotic marine carbon removal (mCDR) into US coastal resilience infrastructure to deliver dual adaptation and mitigation benefits.
- Mon 21:00An environmental watchdog has lodged a formal complaint with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) alleging that a major listed bank may have misled investors over its exposure to coal power through financing of an Indonesian nickel producer reliant on captive coal-fired generation.
- Carbon mandate dispute – Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) will rule by mid-May on the constitutionality of a law requiring insurance companies to purchase a minimum percentage of carbon credits, Valor Economico has reported. Three justices have so far voted to strike down the requirement as unconstitutional. The virtual STF plenary session was suspended at the request of Justice Cristiano Zanin, who now has 90 days to return the case to the agenda.
- Mon 19:16A "dramatic" shift in the European political landscape over the past 12 to 24 months has raised the likelihood that policy makers may weaken the bloc's climate targets and water down the ambition of the EU ETS, according to bank analysts.
- Mon 18:26A US federal judge has granted in part and denied in part a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging carbon neutral marketing claims for consumer products, dismissing several counts while allowing the case to continue.
- The CORSIA curve was steady over the past week, reflecting growing consensus in prices around $15 per tonne, while voluntary players continued to vent frustration at the slow process and risk when obtaining Letters of Authorisation (LoAs) from host countries for trade in the market.
- Mon 17:26European carbon prices slumped on Monday morning before stabilising in a quiet afternoon, after the second-weakest auction since the EU ETS began triggered a sell-off that appeared to confirm bearish sentiment following US President Donald Trump's decision to ramp up tariffs against all trading partners and the bloc's decision to pause approval of its trade deal with Washington, as well as continuing tensions in the Persian Gulf.
- Mon 17:25The Secretariat of the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) has accepted a new document submitted by the government of Guyana for its national jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme, it announced on Monday.
- Mon 17:24“Motorist” appointed in Czechia – Czech President Petr Pavel on Monday appointed the populist Motorists’ party lawmaker Igor Cerveny as environment minister, ending nearly two months of deadlock over the final seat in the new cabinet. Pavel urged Cerveny to base policy “primarily with data and not with emotions” and to focus on air, water and soil protection beyond debates on emission allowances and EU climate rules. Cerveny inherits the carbon allowance-funded New Green Savings subsidy scheme, which faces budget pressure after permit revenues fell sharply below projections. He said future support must reflect “economic reality”. (Radio Prague International)
- Mon 17:21Electrifying low- and medium-temperature industrial heat could deliver deep emission cuts while lowering energy use and strengthening Europe’s energy security, according to research published on Monday.
- Mon 16:46UNDP tender - The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has last week launched a tender to hire a service provider to draft a document on carbon markets for social forestry in Indonesia, as part of efforts to support climate and land-use policy development. The request for proposals was issued on Feb. 20 with a deadline of Mar. 5, targeting organisations with expertise in environmental markets, forestry, and climate policy. The consultancy will focus on developing a framework document linked to social forestry schemes, though budget details were not disclosed.
- DAC MoU - Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu has signed an MoU with Switzerland-based Climeworks to study the development of a direct air capture (DAC) carbon removal project in Jubail Industrial City, regional media outlet Zawya reported, citing a post by the Saudi Ministry of Energy on X. The agreement will see both parties assess the feasibility of a large-scale DAC facility, including technical and infrastructure requirements, and outline a potential partnership framework to support implementation, under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy.
- Ready or not? - The UK Environment Agency consulted on Standard Rules Permit No. 32 to implement legal decarbonisation readiness (DR) requirements for certain combustion power plants and to simplify permitting for carbon capture at anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities, publishing the findings on Monday. Most respondents supported the proposals but requested clearer guidance and proportionate reporting. The regulator confirmed that DR obligations already exist in law, so permits must require operators to demonstrate a credible pathway to future decarbonisation, such as carbon capture or fuel switching. Applications cannot be approved if this requirement is not met. The final rules clarify reporting expectations, allow the agency to request either a full report or summary review, and require operators to notify changes in decarbonisation strategy. The rules apply to new or substantially refurbished generators, defined as refurbishment exceeding 50% of replacement cost. The consultation also enabled AD plants to capture and store biogenic CO2 under standard permits, increased storage limits to 250 tonnes, and removed an outdated biogas combustion rule, reducing administrative burden while maintaining environmental safeguards.
- Mon 16:09Cleaner heating - Germany's coalition govt is planning to lay out key points of a law reform to phase out fossil fuel-powered boilers later this week, Parliamentary group leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), Matthias Miersch, told public broadcaster ARD. The changes are eagerly awaited by homeowners and the heating industry after the originally contested 'heating law' was watered down, and the govt missed its self-imposed deadline to relaunch it. A key point of debate is requirement that new heating systems run on at least 65% renewable energy, and details on subsidies and switching to greener alternatives may also be changed.
- Mon 15:48New onshore wind projects in England are set to materialise in the next six to nine months, provided that blockers such as aviation, civil, and military restrictions don't get in the way, experts have said.
- Mon 15:45UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has found that scientific models differ widely in their estimations of how much carbon oceans absorb, suggesting uncertainties to be serious enough that they could impact governmental adaptation and mitigation plans.
- The concept of 'clean-up certificates' – allowing companies to keep emitting CO2 as long as they have the obligation to remove it later – could greatly strengthen the climate fight without placing extra burden on the economy, researchers say.
- Mon 15:05Six Congo Basin countries have outlined plans to scale participation in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as part of new roadmaps unveiled Monday and developed with support from the World Bank.
- Mon 14:56Corporate EV targets – A proposed EU law to electrify large corporate vehicle fleets could deliver up to 57% of the electric vehicle (EV) sales needed for carmakers to meet their 2030 CO2 targets, according to analysis published Monday by Transport & Environment (T&E). The non-profit assessed the European Commission’s planned company car and fleets initiative, which currently sets an average 45% target for electrifying new cars registered by large firms, and found that increasing the target to 69% and excluding plug-in hybrids could generate around 2 mln additional EV sales by 2030, compared to just 37% of required sales under the existing proposal. The analysis also pointed to tax policy as a key driver of uptake, noting that EVs reached 54% of corporate registrations in Belgium in 2025 following fiscal reforms, versus 19% in Germany where no such measures were introduced. More ambitious fleet targets could support European manufacturing, with up to 1.9 mln additional EU-made EVs sold by 2030, while 74% of corporate EVs registered in 2025 were already produced in Europe, the analysis said.
- Mon 14:52Using international credits to cover the final 5% of the European Union's 2040 emissions reduction goal would be cheaper than relying on domestic action, based on Carbon Pulse cost assumptions fed into a new online calculator developed by a non-profit.
- Two of the Congo Basin’s largest lakes have been found by researchers to be releasing millennial-aged peat carbon into the atmosphere, raising fresh questions about how offset projects in the region account for natural greenhouse gas losses and long-term storage risks.
- Mon 14:21A carbon advisory and a technology platform have joined forces to scale carbon and nature-based solutions (NbS) projects, with an initial focus on Brazil and Kenya, the chief executives at the two London-based firms told Carbon Pulse.
- Mon 14:17Cost burden - Energy price rises driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine have cost Scotland's economy £11 bln in total, according to the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). The amount is for direct additional costs faced by companies, households, and other energy consumers from 2021-24 as a result of the energy crisis. The results expose Scotland's deep vulnerability to international oil and gas markets, said ECIU, urging the government to move faster on the energy transition to protect the country from another energy crisis. (the Independent)
- Mon 14:14Dutch subsidies to bring down electricity prices for industry, support offshore wind, and reduce livestock numbers will help to cut GHG and nitrogen emissions, though not enough to meet longer term goals, an official analysis of the new government's plans concluded.
- BAT climate update – British American Tobacco (BAT) reported a 46.6% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions against a 2020 baseline and a 30.4% cut in waste versus 2017, while targeting a 50% reduction in operational emissions by 2030, according to its 2025 annual and sustainability report. Carbon credits are not included in the group’s GHG emissions calculations and do not form part of its low-carbon transition plan, though some were purchased and retired in 2025 to support site-level certifications, the company said.
- Mon 14:07
SAF milestone – The SAFc Registry, launched by RMI and Environmental Defense Fund in collaboration with the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance and Energy Web, has surpassed 500k tonnes of CO2e emissions abated as of Feb. 2026, RMI said in a press release. The platform has issued certificates linked to more than 164,000 tonnes of SAF and is used by corporate buyers, airlines, and logistics firms to track and claim emissions reductions across multiple countries. The system, launched in 2023, aims to improve transparency and credibility in SAF markets, with registry data verified and publicly auditable, RMI said.
- Mon 14:06New UN capacity-building initiative – UN Climate Change has launched a new capacity-building initiative for climate negotiators, aimed at supporting delegates, particularly from developing countries and youth, to participate more effectively in UNFCCC negotiations. The programme will provide training on negotiation procedures, legal frameworks, and techniques, and will be rolled out globally through regional centres following a pilot phase in 2025, the organisation said last week. The initiative was introduced during an online event attended by nearly 400 participants and responds to a mandate from Parties to support negotiators’ engagement in the process.
- Mon 14:06The Netherlands' newly sworn-in minister for climate and green growth is a progressive voice with civil society experience, but will lead from within the renamed Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, headed up by the centre-right.
- Mon 13:21The Philippine government has rolled out a policy framework designed to overhaul how forests are managed by allowing local partners to use them for sustainable activities.
- Mon 13:15Italy's new push to reimburse gas-fired power producers for their carbon costs would make the plants artificially competitive and lead to more gas-fired generation, while also reducing the incentive to invest in renewables, according to experts.
- Mon 12:43Medical credits - Korea Gas Corporation has partnered with Changwon Fatima Hospital on a GHG reduction project focused on replacing old boilers with high-efficiency gas units that are expected to cut about 120 tonnes of CO2 over 10 years, it announced. Under the agreement, the initiative will be registered with South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment and go through official procedures to secure offset credits for the reductions achieved. If approved, the project will be the first of its kind in the domestic medical industry to apply the ministry’s methodology for calculating GHG savings and generate tradable emissions allowances as part of efforts to support national decarbonisation goals, the statement said.
- Mon 11:46Smart hybrid heating systems that combine electric heat pumps with gas boilers could offer a fast, low‑cost way to decarbonise Europe’s buildings while relieving pressure on overstretched electricity grids, according to the head of Germany’s distribution gas grid association H2vorOrt.
- The UN body responsible for launching the global carbon market under the Paris Agreement has adopted an "accelerated" 2026 work plan and appointed new leadership, as it seeks to move from negotiations to implementation of the new Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM).
- Mon 10:58New value - Grid expansion, energy storage, transmission, and critical materials supply chains will be the primary sources of durable returns in sustainable investing going forwards as opposed to adding renewable energy generation, argues Barclays in a new white paper. It says that the real value will be in the "pipes, not the power" and will be about unlocking permitting, financing, and systems integration to avoid renewables getting curtailed. Last year, Barclays mobilised a record $98.5 bln in sustainable finance for climate tech and generated about $0.6 bln in related revenues. “We are seeing clients move from ambition to implementation, focusing on energy access, affordability, and resilience rather than just decarbonisation metrics," said Daniel Hanna, global head of sustainable finance at Barclays. The bank also called for the UK to publish a green taxonomy. (edie.net)
- Koko buyers sought – PwC is now seeking buyers for the assets of Koko Networks, the Kenyan clean cooking company, as the auditor issued a formal request inviting investors to submit bids for the company’s nationwide fuel distribution infrastructure, intellectual property, and motor vehicle fleet, The Standard reported. The move to put Koko’s assets on the market follows the company’s collapse into insolvency after years of rapid expansion across East Africa, and aims to recover value for creditors while preserving the business’s operational potential. Potential buyers will have the opportunity to leverage Koko’s existing footprint and pursue further growth in the clean energy and carbon market space.
- Mon 10:13Gas-guzzling hybrids – Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) use three times as much fuel on the road than their manufacturers claim, according to a study of a million vehicles by the Fraunhofer Institute, which evaluated wireless data transmitted by PHEVs produced between 2021 and 2023 while on the road. Manufacturers typically claim that most PHEVs use around one or two litres of fuel per 100 km, but the study determined those vehicles surveyed used around six litres per 100 km – around three times as much. The higher consumption arises from the combustion engine being triggered to turn on much more than previously thought, with German vehicles calculated to have the highest fuel consumption on average. The Institute has urged EU regulators to base all regulations on real-world fuel consumption measurements for PHEV. (edie.net)
- Mon 09:52Metals magnet – Trafigura has signed a $1.1 bln five-year loan agreement to support the supply of critical minerals into Germany, supporting the country's efforts to back up its industrial, energy, and tech sectors. The loan is guaranteed by the govt of the Federal Republic of Germany, acting through the German Export Credit Agency, the commodities firm said in a press release Monday. It's been arranged by Commerzbank AG and financed by a pool of eight lenders. The agreement marks Trafigura’s third guaranteed facility with Euler Hermes, following a $800 mln five-year loan signed in 2022 to supply refined non-ferrous metals, and a $3 bln four-year loan signed in 2022 to secure German gas supply.
- Mon 09:32The UK government has launched a consultation on its strategy to shield its remaining oil refineries from ETS carbon permit costs after two facilities recently shut down.
- Canadian HQ - Climeworks has established its Canadian HQ in Calgary, Alberta, owing to the city and province’s expertise in carbon management, established infrastructure, and supportive regulation. The base will be at Calgary's ETC, a hub for energy innovation, and a mobile test facility of the direct air capture (DAC) developer is expected to start operating this autumn. This plant will start gathering performance data ahead of building a larger-scale commercial DAC plant.
- Mon 09:08Greening industries - The state government of Goa in India has announced plans to develop Goa Green MSME Index (GGMI) and the Goa Green Credits (GGC) framework for industrial estates in the state to promote environmentally sustainable and low-carbon industrial growth, the Times of India reported. The proposed index will assess estates on criteria such as waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, and pollution control, with the aim of incentivising cleaner practices and boosting competitiveness through recognitions or benefits tied to performance. The initiative will align with broader environmental goals and could help attract investment into estates that demonstrate strong green credentials, according to the outlet.
- Mon 08:09Australia's carbon market has started the year seeing some 1.3 million credits issued in January, as observers noted a current trading lull in the market.
- Mon 06:40An Australian shareholder activist group was unable to provide sufficient evidence that oil and gas firm Santos used misleading or deceptive language in its net zero transition material, according to the judgment published Monday.
- Mon 02:40Light the way - Australia energy developer Aula Energy has purchased a 1 GW renewable energy portfolio from Lightsource BP, the former announced. Aula Energy, backed by Macquarie, aims to develop around 4 GW of renewable energy projects across Australia and New Zealand. Lightsource BP, the renewables arm of the British oil major, said the transaction represents its first sale of utility-scale solar projects in Australia. The company said it continues to progress a 9.5 GW pipeline of solar, wind, and battery storage across the Asia Pacific region. The financial details of the sale were not disclosed.
- Mon 01:43Reasonable price - Jizoku, which develops projects under Japan-led Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), has teamed up with Tokyo-based Hitotsubashi University for a joint research project to determine the appropriate price level for carbon credits created from the agricultural sector. A portion of the profits from the sale of carbon credits is usually distributed to local households that engage in emissions reduction activities, but Jizoku said this could have a negative impact on the mutual aid systems that have traditionally been maintained in rural areas of developing countries, depending on the amount and method of distribution. The developer said it will take these impacts into account when estimating the appropriate credit price range.
- Mon 01:32State funding - The New Zealand government will buy a NZ$200 mln ($119 mln) stake in in Genesis Energy, saying the funding will support and advance its goals for secure and affordable energy, it announced. The purchase is part of the company's broader NZ$400 mln capital raise and will give the government a 51% stake in the company, the Beehive said. Finance Minister Nicola Willis said Genesis's proposed investment, including renewables, batteries, and thermal backup, will contribute to enhancing New Zealand's energy security and enable it to bring on more flexibility capacity to market to address dry years.
