Carbon market rules designed to ensure environmental integrity could inadvertently exclude Indigenous land stewards from participating in nature-based carbon schemes, according to a new academic commentary.

Large-scale soil carbon sampling using automated analysis systems could make measuring climate impacts from land management practices economically feasible, researchers said during a webinar on Tuesday.

Big in Japan - Tokyo ​and the White House are working to include a nuclear power project in the second ‌round of deals under Japan's $550-billion investment package in the US, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. The nuclear power project, which the sources say will involve Westinghouse, is designed to strengthen both countries' energy supply chains as war in ​the Middle East renews concerns about energy security.The plan for a nuclear power project, as well as a copper refining facility, is being discussed and could be talked into details later this month when Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is due to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House this month, according to Reuters’ anonymous sources.  Last year, as part of the US-Japan trade agreement, Japan pledged to buy $8 bln worth of American products per year. The Government of Japan has also agreed to invest $550 bln in the United States, the White House said.

End-user demand across the voluntary carbon market (VCM) was strong in February, with over 25 million credits retired, a level not seen for a year, while prices for those eligible to be used under the CORSIA international aviation offsetting scheme took a tumble as analysts noted that a steady stream of supply may finally be on the cards.

Seagrass lab launch – Indonesia-based carbon project developer CarbonEthics and state-owned shipping company PELNI have announced last week the launch of the Seagrass Greenhouse Lab in Bintan, Kepulauan Riau, aimed at supporting seagrass restoration and blue carbon ecosystems. The facility cultivates seagrass in a controlled environment before transplanting seedlings into the ocean to improve survival rates, CarbonEthics said. The first phase has produced around 1,000 seedlings and involved 25 local community beneficiaries, alongside training in cultivation practices, greenhouse nursery development, and monitoring. The initiative is intended to strengthen coastal ecosystems that store carbon beneath the seabed while supporting fisheries and other local livelihoods.

Internal carbon pricing (ICP) can help companies manage transition risks, guide capital allocation, and strengthen financial resilience as carbon costs grow increasingly material, according to a report published Wednesday.

A standard has secured a local partners to establish what it claims to be India’s first digital carbon marketplace for household and livelihood-based clean energy projects.

China's Shenzhen city has decided to cut free allocations under its regional Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), while setting a range to ensure market stability.

Sage wisdom  Australia Legal firm King & Mallesons said it advised climate-focused investor Wollemi Capital on a blended finance facility involving Transition Accelerator and philanthropic funds to support the development of the Wilyun Pools carbon farming project in southern Western Australia, including partnerships with the Wirlomin First Nations group and Gondwana Link . The firm guided Wollemi through the full transaction lifecycle, leveraging its expertise in project finance and Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). KWM highlighted the deal as a market-leading example of blended finance advancing carbon farming and strengthening community and climate impact collaboration.

Community guidelines - The Western Australian government has published community benefit guidelines to create a framework for benefit arrangements between communities and grid-connected renewable energy projects in the South West Interconnected System. The guidelines are designed so that local government authorities, renewable energy developers, and community groups can ensure that benefit arrangements are fair, transparent, and consistent, the government said. Governing body PoweringWA will work with an independent organisation to lead a pilot of the community benefits program this year.

Australia may soon need to consider the use of Article 6 credits in order to meet its emissions reduction targets, according to analysis shared exclusively with Carbon Pulse.

Microplastics accumulating in terrestrial soils could significantly alter how carbon is stored and released from land ecosystems, with implications for climate mitigation strategies and carbon accounting, according to new research.

Bond for melt – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has issued a $100-mln, five-year bond to raise awareness of glacier melt, it announced on Wednesday. Listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange, the proceeds will be used in accordance with the bank’s Green and Blue Bond Framework, which includes projects that strengthen climate resilience or water security, among other things. Around 2 bln people in Asia depend on glacier- and snow-fed basins for water security, the bank said, which are under threat from climate change. The ADB said it has raised $15 bln in green bonds since 2015 to support mitigation and adaptation projects across Asia.

This year's COP31 will play a crucial role in establishing a framework for the second Global Stocktake (GST2) in 2028, as well maintain momentum on climate action in a fracturing geopolitical landscape, a think tank said in a briefing published Tuesday. 

Council planning – Australia's Alpine Shire Council, in Victoria, is seeking input on appropriate carbon methodologies to use for offsetting purposes in its Climate Action Plan 2025-29, it announced. The Council has achieved net zero status since 2023 through installing solar PV, upgrading street lights, and using EVs, while offsetting residual emissions. However, Mayor Sarah Nicholas said the council wanted to develop an offsetting policy that is informed by its community to ensure its actions are reflective of their wants. Community members are encouraged to fill out a survey which will inform the development of a draft Carbon Offset Policy that will be presented for feedback later this year.

Funds for Fiji – The World Bank has granted Fiji $1.2 mln to boost renewables, the government said in a social media post. An implementation agreement with Energy Fiji is aimed at strengthening the power grid to enable more renewable energy to be integrated. World Bank Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific Region Carlos Felipe Jaramillo said at the signing that the agreement will help Fiji pursue its goal to source close to 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, as set out in its NDC.