When countries put in place macroeconomically damaging climate and nature policies, carbon revenues may not be high enough to calm credit rating agencies, so sovereign nations must either plan alternate sources of revenue or strike deals with investors, Carbon Pulse has heard.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is set to release a record volume of emergency oil stocks in response to disruptions in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, following unanimous agreement among its member countries. 

A Colombia-based international carbon standard on Wednesday published a new REDD+ methodology meant to align project baselines with UNFCCC reporting, including voluntary market (VCM) and Article 6.2 aims.

Malaysia’s planned carbon tax could cut profits for companies even at a modest starting price, according to an investment bank.

South Korea's latest CO2 allowance auction again went oversubscribed, as emitters seek to secure allowances at relatively low prices amid expectations of tightening permit supply.

The voluntary carbon market is not the solution to global climate change, but it is a valuable instrument that can help mobilise finance, support sustainable development, and contribute to mitigation – when properly understood and managed.

Boosted - Shares of Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) jumped about 4% on Wednesday, CNBC TV18 reported, after India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) notified a regulatory framework for trading Carbon Credit Certificates (CCCs) last week. The power exchanges will serve as the primary marketplace for CCC trading, creating separate compliance and offset segments for obligated and non-obligated entities

Climate cooperation - South Korea and Ghana have agreed to strengthen cooperation on climate change following summit talks between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama in Seoul on Wednesday. During the meeting, the two countries signed an MoU on climate change cooperation aimed at establishing a legal framework for collaboration under their respective national climate action plans in line with the Paris Agreement. The agreement forms part of broader bilateral efforts to expand ties across sectors such as trade, maritime security, and agriculture during Mahama’s five-day visit to South Korea. (Yonhap News Agency)

Big target - Fuel supply arm of Indonesia’s state power utility, PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (EPI), is targeting biomass exports of around 1 mln tonnes by 2026, as domestic demand from coal plant co-firing programmes remains limited, Petromindo reported. Biomass director Hokkop Situngkir said the firm has already secured contracts for about 200,000 tonnes, leaving roughly 800,000 tonnes still to be pursued. Indonesia exported around 10-12 Mt of biomass in 2025, far exceeding PLN EPI’s co-firing demand of about 2.4 Mt. The company is focusing on palm kernel shells and wood pellets, with buyers in Poland and potential partners in Japan, while domestic biomass use for co-firing is expected to rise to 3.65 Mt in 2026.

Voluntary cancellations of Kyoto-era carbon credits rose in Australia in February, with intermediaries relying predominantly on certified emission reductions (CER).

Big spender - Rio Tinto has secured $1.17 bln in financing from four international lenders to support its Rincon lithium project in Argentina's Salta Province, it announced. The funding comprises loans from the International Finance Corporation, Export Finance Australia, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The cash will be used to develop the $2.5 bln lithium project, which is targeting around 60 bln tonnes of annual battery grade lithium carbonate capacity. First production is slated in 2028, with a three-year ramp up to full capacity. Jerome Pecresse, Rio Tinto's chief executive of aluminium and lithium said the project was underpinned by the attractive long-term outlook driven by the energy transition.

An Australian chemicals company fresh off the back of fundraising is exploring voluntary carbon market opportunities to value stack its zero emissions chemical reactors, its CEO told Carbon Pulse. 

Energy affordability – The Western Australian state government has launched a A$150-153 mln ($107-109 mln) Made in WA Energy Affordability Investment Program to help manufacturers reduce energy costs and boost competitiveness, it announced. The programme will offer low-interest loans of up to A$15 mln for businesses to invest in energy-efficient equipment, renewable energy systems such as solar and industrial batteries, and advanced manufacturing technologies. The initiative aims to support decarbonisation, strengthen local manufacturing – especially in clean energy and critical minerals – and create jobs while making WA-made products more competitive.

DAC attack - Berkeley-based direct air capture (DAC) developer Airmyne has announced an investment from Japan's largest energy company, ENEOS. The unspecified investment - made through investment arm ENEOS Innovation Partners Godo Kaisha - establishes a framework for long-term collaboration between the pair, aimed at advancing technology development and evaluating future pathways toward commercialisation. AirMyne is developing a liquid solvent-based DAC technology it says is designed for industrial scale, with low energy consumption, supply-chain security, and operational simplicity.

Call for projects – The EU-funded Forestry-Climate Change-Biodiversity Programme in Papua New Guinea has opened up a call for project proposals to be eligible to receive €6 mln, it announced. The recipient is expected to allocate sub-grants to community-based organisations and NGOs that will create economic opportunities for PNG traditional landowners through "deforestation-free" sustainable livelihoods. This includes commodities pipelined for conservation accreditation or branding, by forming partnerships with ESG focused companies, and capacity building in conservation, forest management, benefit sharing, and community governance. The application deadline is Mar. 19.

More gas, less grid – Saputo Dairy Australia has gone live with its purpose-built biogas to energy solution in Allansford, Victoria, it announced. The custom solution converts biogas waste into renewable power and heat, reducing the site's reliance on the grid, generating up to 25% of the facility's total electricity usage and removing 14,000 tCO2 per year. The project was supported with a A$1-mln ($713,000) grant from the Victorian government's Waste to Energy - Bioenergy Fund via Sustainability Victoria.

Future Fijian farms – Fiji is introducing climate-resilient crops and innovative farm tech as it seeks to bolster its agriculture sector to a changed climate, FBC News reported on Tuesday. Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna said that researchers are currently trialling saline-tolerant rice varieties, in order to identify which crops can withstand saltwater intrusion, the outlet wrote. Work is also underway on integrated rice and tilapia farming systems, the minister said, while new cassava, taro, and yam varieties have been introduced.

Doing whale? – The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has opened a call for research proposals into how offshore renewable energy projects are impacting migratory whales, supported by the Australian government. Studies are to explore underwater noise, effects from construction, the influence of renewable energy developments on whale behaviour and movement, and how to mitigate these impacts. The deadline for submissions is Mar. 27.