Cutting intensity - GeoPark, Colombia’s second-largest crude oil producer, has cut its carbon intensity by 35% over 2020-25, reducing emissions from 14.3 to 9.3 kg CO2e per barrel of oil equivalent, the company said in a Tuesday statement. The company also slashed methane emissions by 86% over the period, with independent verification confirming no significant leaks across its Colombian assets, it added. Measures including electrification, a 10 MW solar plant, and methane leak detection drove the reductions, while delivering around $70 mln in savings and improving power reliability to over 99% in 2025. GeoPark also committed funds to a large-scale sustainable grazing carbon project in its area of operations in Colombia's eastern savannas.

SAF partnership - Cielo Waste Solutions, a Canadian clean fuels infrastructure and project development company, has entered into a non-binding agreement with Tano T'enneh Enterprises (TTE), the economic and business development arm of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, to advance its previously-announced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility, Project Nexus. Under the non-binding framework, the pair agree to evaluate and advance the project and work towards a definitive agreement, while Cielo retains its right to pursue the project outside of Lheidli territory if the partners don't proceed together. Under the contemplated terms, Project Nexus would move forward as a limited partnership, with TTE holding 51% and Cielo the rest. Governance terms would be set out in a permanent agreement. The project may seek British Columbia Low Carbon Fuel Standard (BC LCFS) incentives, Canadian Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR) funding, or investment tax credits.

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) released a report from its Continuous Improvement Work Program (CIWP) on Tuesday focused on scaling carbon markets, calling for stronger infrastructure to support market trust and efficiency.

TIER C$120 – Canadian think tank Fraser Institute reported early discussions for the Canada-Alberta MoU suggested the oil-producing province's carbon price would first rise to C$120 ($87.64). The think tank said there are reports the tax could add roughly C$20 to the cost of producing a barrel of oil, though others have said it would cost much less. It said few major oil-producing countries pair high carbon prices with ambitious decarbonisation requirements at levels comparable to Canada and the country risks pushing investment elsewhere.

Tapped – Australia's Woodside Energy has appointed Elizabeth Westcott as CEO and managing director, following a comprehensive selection process, the company announced. Westcott brings over 30 years of global energy industry experience, including senior roles at EnergyAustralia and ExxonMobil, and has led Woodside’s Australian operations since joining in 2023, the company told the ASX. Her remuneration package includes a fixed annual reward of A$2.3 mln ($1.6 mln) plus substantial short- and long-term incentives, according to the announcement. Westcott has served as Woodside's acting CEO since December following the departure of Meg O'Neill who moved to lead BP.

The majority of clean energy capacity in the US sits in Republican backyards, making their districts the most at risk in the Trump administration’s climate clawback, according to a Tuesday report.  

Data centres built near renewable energy sites in California could use otherwise wasted electricity and ease pressure on the grid, a recently-published report found.

Carbon that rocks – US-based developer Terradot has generated its first carbon removal credits for Project Carcara, developed in southern Brazil. Almost 205 carbon credits were issued by Isometric under an enhanced rock weathering (ERW) methodology. Excluding the buffer, the credits will be delivered to Frontier buyers and Rubicon Carbon. Terradot is backed by major tech companies, including Google and Microsoft.

Uncertainty over how companies can use and communicate carbon credits is a bigger barrier to demand than price levels, speakers said during a webinar on Tuesday. 

Indigenous consultation – The Brazilian Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI) took part in an assembly of the Council of Indigenous Peoples of Jutai (COPIJU) to provide clarification on private carbon projects involving different Indigenous groups, the agency reported on Tuesday. The meeting took place on the 5th in Bugaio Village, located in the Estrela da Paz Indigenous Land, in the municipality of Jutai, Amazonas. Officials from the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai) were also present.

Eight environment and climate NGOs have urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to strengthen the country's industrial carbon pricing framework before the federal government's Apr. 1 deadline to finalise a federal-provincial memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alberta.

The race for nuclear fusion gathered pace this week with the UK and Japan both announcing their own plans to crack the technology commercially by the end of the next decade.

European lawmakers warned on Tuesday that the use of European Commission powers to suspend the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for entire industries could weaken incentives for companies to invest in decarbonisation.

Reducing the pace at which free emissions allowances are phased out will be essential for the European chemicals industry to survive over the short-term, according to the head of the sector’s trade body.

A senior European Commission climate official has said they would like to see a carbon removal (CDR) ‘Buyers’ Club’ prototype emerge from a European Carbon Farming Summit taking place in Italy this week.

Colorado clash - UCAR, a non-profit consortium of North American universities, filed a lawsuit on Monday against multiple US federal agencies, alleging they carried out a coordinated campaign of retaliation against Colorado by cutting research funding, moving to transfer control of key facilities, imposing new reporting burdens, and restricting public communications. The complaint argued these actions lack legitimate justification, were politically motivated, and risk undermining critical national capabilities in weather forecasting and atmospheric research. UCAR is seeking court intervention to halt the measures and restore its funding and operational authority.

Amid sweeping economic, political, and ideological shifts following a historic leadership change, carbon markets have emerged as a central topic of debate in Bolivia as it grapples with a deep crisis and lacks institutional capacity for climate finance.

The tech major said on Tuesday it has signed a multi-year agreement to purchase carbon removal (CDR) credits from a waste processing project that converts municipal waste into biochar, targeting 200,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2030 while accelerating new pathways for cutting methane emissions.

Italy, backed by four other EU nations, has called for extra flexibilities beyond 2035 for cars running on carbon-neutral fuels, as part of talks on revising the EU's CO2 standards for cars and vans.

European carbon allowance prices extended the previous afternoon's decline for much of Tuesday, falling to a new 11-month low amid sustained selling pressure before rallying in the last quarter of the day, as traders continued to react to the European Commission's plan to propose early amendments to the market's supply regulation mechanism and anticipate Wednesday's expiry of March options.

Solar switch-on – US renewable subsidiary Idemitsu Renewables announced on Monday that its Azalea Solar and Storage project in California reached commercial operation at the end of 2025, marking the start-up of a co-located solar and battery facility supplying the state’s grid. The company added that the Kern County project, financed by Mizuho Bank, Commerzbank, and US Bank and under a long-term power purchase agreement with Sonoma Clean Power, combines 60 MWAC of solar with 38 MWAC/152 MWh of battery storage to shift generation into peak demand periods. It said the project can power around 20,000 homes annually and avoid roughly 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

A pathway combining phased fossil fuel mitigation, including pricing, with limited carbon removals (CDR) would meet international climate targets while delivering the highest long-term GDP per capita, according to new modelling of COP28-aligned scenarios.

The EU could better target free emissions allowances to sectors most at risk of global competition, according to new analysis published Tuesday.

Down to business - The Carbon Business Council has launched the Direct Storage of Biomass (DSB) Coalition, a new industry working group aimed at advancing the understanding, credibility, and responsible deployment of direct biomass storage as a CDR pathway. The DSB involves the durable storage of organic materials such as waste wood, agricultural residues, biochar, and other biological matter, effectively locking away carbon that was previously absorbed by plants. These materials can be buried or stored underground in sealed environments, offering a method of long-term carbon removal that builds on existing forestry and agricultural systems. The coalition brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including project developers, technology providers, and policy experts, to collaborate on best practices and improve clarity around the pathway. Chaired by Keith Driver of Leading Carbon/Clear Sky Limited, the group includes companies such as Graphyte, Isometric, Puro.Earth, Vaulted Deep, and Living Carbon, among others. Its core aim is to support better-informed decision-making by carbon credit buyers, policymakers, and other market participants. Key priorities for the coalition include publishing a detailed issue brief on how the DSB works and its role in climate and land-use policy, as well as engaging with buyers and stakeholders on its scalability, durability, and potential co-benefits. The group also plans to explore frameworks for responsible biomass sourcing and long-term stewardship, particularly in relation to forestry, agriculture, and land management practices. Industry participants emphasise that DSB has the potential to scale relatively quickly because it leverages existing biomass supply chains. However, they also stress that scaling must be accompanied by robust standards, transparency, and collaboration across the sector. The coalition is intended to shift focus from individual projects to broader industry outcomes, addressing shared challenges such as monitoring, reporting, verification, and policy alignment.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), one of the world’s largest Coca-Cola bottlers operating across Europe and Asia Pacific, has reduced its absolute GHG emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 by 18.9% since 2019, it said in its annual report.

Oregon’s forests are set to become a net carbon source from 2029 through the end of the century, with measures such as restoration and improved land management cutting emissions by up to 45% but not reversing the broader trend, an analysis released this month found.

The High Integrity Forest Investment Initiative (HIFOR) has announced updates to both its methodology and its guide and standard, including changes to align with high-integrity principles for biodiversity credit markets.

The European Commission’s December reforms to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) represent a significant step in bringing the EU’s flagship carbon border policy into full operation, but major design questions remain unresolved, according to a new analysis.

A Californian developer turning waste carbon into fibres, polymers, and chemicals has raised $7.5 million in a new funding round, and also announced multi-year offtake deals worth over $60 mln with fashion brands and manufacturers.

Agricultural practices that reduce farms’ exposure to climate shocks will not only strengthen EU food security and support ecosystems but also provide better income stability for farmers, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said in a policy briefing on Tuesday.

The European Parliament’s environment committee on Tuesday voted down a resolution that sought to reject the European Commission’s proposal on permanent carbon removal activities under the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) certification framework.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on proposed revisions to the criteria underpinning the EU Taxonomy, the bloc’s classification system for sustainable economic activities, in a bid to simplify the framework and make it easier for businesses and investors to use.

Sweden has launched a funding call of around SEK 15 million (€1.4 mln) to support carbon removal (CDR) research, covering projects involving the capture, transport, and geological storage of biogenic CO2 or CO2 removed from the atmosphere.

Pricey petrol - The surge in oil prices is expected to drive the cost of fuelling a petrol car in Europe up to five times more than for charging an electric vehicle, the NGO T&E found. With international oil prices rising above $100/bbl, the cost of fuelling a petrol car is estimated to go up by €3.80 per 100 km, to €14.20. The average cost of charging an EV, on the other hand, goes up by €0.70 to €6.50/ 100 km, as higher gas prices push up the cost of electricity. This can result in an extra €89 per month for every petrol car in a company's fleet, since company cars drive longer. EV company cars, instead, would cost an extra €16 per month.

A US soil carbon project developer has launched a new sensing technology that aims to improve the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of soil carbon across grasslands and grazing lands, it announced Tuesday.

Warsaw has proposed slowing the pace of annual emissions cuts in the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) by reducing the Linear Reduction Factor (LRF), so that the volume of allowances in the bloc’s carbon market would fall to zero by 2050, instead of around 2040.

e-SAF mandate challenge - European airlines are preparing to oppose EU rules requiring the use of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2030 and plan to call for a delay or repeal of the mandate due to concerns about high costs and insufficient supply, sources told Reuters. The announcement is expected at an industry event hosted by trade group Airlines for Europe (A4E) and details are still being finalised. Non-profit Transport & Environment has said A4E wishes to postpone the eSAF mandate until enough production is online, but another source said airlines were also considering calls for the mandate to be scrapped altogether. Synthetic SAF projects with ⁠firm investment are expected to only produce 0.7% of volumes needed to meet EU targets in 2030 - leading passengers to pay billions of euros in penalties, pushed onto airlines by fuel suppliers, according to A4E. Airlines say that planned e-SAF production facilities are unlikely to come online in time to meet the mandate.

Low-quality carbon credits have been given the green light for compliance in the first phase of the international aviation offsetting scheme CORSIA, warned a rating agency.

For the small - An Indian small-cap chemicals maker AVI Polymers said it has launched a subsidiary, AVI Waste Management, to develop AI-based carbon accounting and sustainability systems for small and medium-sized enterprises. The platform aims to offer tools such as carbon footprint estimation engines, emissions dashboards, automated environmental reporting, and carbon-reduction tracking. AVI said the subsidiary will focus on helping SMEs build emissions data records and prepare for participation in carbon credit and sustainability-finance ecosystems.

Reform's rally - Reform UK has pledged to scrap VAT and green levies on household energy bills in the UK if it wins power, claiming doing so would save the average household £200 a year. The Right-wing party that's been leading in recent polls has said it would remove the Renewables Obligation levy, which helps fund renewable energy projects and was estimated to add £117 to the average household energy bill in 2025/26, in addition to the Carbon Price Support that Reform says would save the average household £15 a year. These policies would eventually be cost neutral, it claims, as the party plans to terminate and unwind subsidies for renewables. Reform's pledge coincides with increased focus on rising UK energy bills due to the impact of the war in the Middle East, with the UK govt committing to bolster renewables to improve energy security in response, and pledging £53 mln to support households reliant on heating oil. (BBC)

European Parliament members have backed new rules introducing a single methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions from all types of passenger and freight transport, rubber-stamping a deal with member states. 

A Tokyo-headquartered climate tech company on Tuesday announced its acquisition of a carbon credit data platform to expand its consulting business, weeks ahead of the mandatory phase of Japan's national emissions trading scheme.

A Swedish carbon analytics company has launched an enterprise platform to help companies manage and retire EU emissions allowances (EUAs) as voluntary climate action, it announced Tuesday.

Two carbon market veterans are developing new market infrastructure to improve trading and help buyers source credits, aiming to provide comparable infrastructure to more mature financial markets.

Gas gone wild - Satellite data has shown that Turkmenistan was home to the majority of the world’s largest methane “mega-leaks” in 2025, according to research by the UCLA’s Stop Methane Project. The study, using data from Carbon Mapper satellites, identified 4,400 methane plumes emitting more than 100 kg per hour, with many of the worst leaks linked to oil and gas infrastructure in the Central Asian country. Each of the biggest plumes has a warming impact comparable to a coal-fired power station, according to the Guardian. Super-polluting leaks were also detected in the United States, Venezuela, and Iran, with the largest US plume recorded in Texas at about 5.5 tonnes of methane per hour.

A Canada-based carbon removal developer has partnered with a digital monitoring provider to deploy measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems at a planned bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facility in Alberta, the companies said Tuesday.

A Mexico-based agtech company has raised $53 million to launch an initiative aimed at agricultural smallholders, it announced on Tuesday.

EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra has indicated that the European Commission will present its planned reform of the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) in the coming months and before a wider scheduled review of the bloc's Emissions Trading System (ETS), which could now come as early as the end of the second quarter.

India’s northern state of Himachal Pradesh is seeking a developer to help generate and sell carbon credits from its electric bus fleet, as the Himalayan state steps up efforts to tap into carbon markets.

Pacific convention - Pacific leaders and partners met in Brisbane for a regional dialogue to better understand how climate change is increasingly driving security risks across the Pacific, affecting social, economic, environmental, and governance systems, according to a Pacific Island Forum announcement. The meeting brought together governments, regional organisations, and experts to strengthen coordination, share knowledge, and identify practical responses and partnerships to address climate-related security challenges. Outcomes from the dialogue will help shape regional priorities and inform a broader Pacific peace and security action plan aligned with existing frameworks like the Boe Declaration and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific.

Data centre warning – A cable for a planned new data centre near Invercargill, New Zealand could potentially disturb marine wildlife and conflict with Maori values, RNZ reported Environment Southland independent commissioner Hugh Leersnyder having said in a report. The new centre – which was granted resource consent last week – is set to become New Zealand’s second-largest power consumer, with a capacity of 280 MW, and will serve AI technology. Electricity generation is covered under the NZ ETS, although the country’s grid is dominated by renewables.

Solar hedge - Pakistan’s rapid expansion of rooftop solar over the past few years has cut fossil fuel use and emissions while shielding the country from energy shocks linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, according to analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The surge in distributed solar has displaced LNG and diesel use, helping Pakistan avoid more than $12 bln in oil and gas imports between 2021 and Feb. 2026, with a further $6.3 bln in savings possible this year if prices stay high. Rooftop installations across homes, farms, and factories have reduced demand for imported fuel. Pakistan’s fossil fuel imports fell about 40% between 2022-24 as cheap solar panels, largely from China, drove one of the world’s fastest consumer-led solar expansions.

Japan's Mitsubishi Electric and the Institute of Science Tokyo have developed what they claimed to be the world's first hybrid blockchain technology to ensure the reliability of environmental value trading.

Superannuation funds have a growing opportunity to incorporate corporate climate transition plans into their decision-making processes, with some now asking portfolio companies for more detailed information and non-climate risks such as nature, a think tank said on Tuesday.

NH3 deal – India’s largest conglomerate, Reliance Industries, has signed a binding 15-year agreement worth more than $3 bln to supply green ammonia to South Korea’s Samsung C&T, part of the Samsung Group. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of FY2029, Reuters reported, citing a company filing. The deal is among the largest long-term green ammonia offtake agreements globally and supports Reliance’s push into renewable energy and hydrogen.

New partner - Japan's Hitachi Systems has teamed up with a forestry cooperative in Hiroshima prefecture to pursue the creation and sale of carbon credits from forestry projects. The company will analyse CO₂ absorption using aerial laser survey data and other methods, targeting forests managed by the Sera County Forestry Cooperative. Hitachi did not elaborate on the potential target area of the collaboration, but said it aims to utilise its network of around 300 locations nationwide to expand this initiative.

A method that credits Australian Indigenous landholders for maintaining intact ecosystems would need to carefully balance demonstrating avoided degradation risks without opening the door to gaming, an expert told Carbon Pulse.

Motoring for security – Replacing 1 million petrol cars with electric vehicles in Australia could cut fuel imports by over 1 billion litres a year, improving energy security by shifting reliance from imported oil to domestically produced electricity, The Guardian reported. Experts said EV adoption would also reduce exposure to global oil price shocks – highlighted by the current war in Iran pushing petrol prices higher – while helping to lower emissions and strengthen national resilience. However, EV uptake remains low (about 2% of vehicles), and analysts warned that stronger policy support and incentives are needed to accelerate adoption and realise these economic and environmental benefits.

RGGI Allowance (RGA) prices continued to climb on Monday, after prices skyrocketed last week following stronger-than-expected Q1 auction results, as traders were split on how prices would move in the new post-sale landscape.

Paraguay hydrogen - IDB Invest, the private sector branch of the Inter-American Development Bank, has concluded the coordination of a $420 mln debt financing package to support Project Villeta, Paraguay’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen-based fertiliser plant, led by Atome, it announced last week. The roughly $650 mln project will use Paraguay’s hydroelectric power to produce green hydrogen and convert it into fertilisers for export. Around 90% of its estimated annual output of 262,000 tonnes of fertiliser will go to regional markets.

Blue carbon pilot - The Dominican Republic’s environment ministry and the airport operator Aerodom have signed a letter of intent to explore a blue carbon pilot project aimed at protecting coastal and marine ecosystems while generating credits for voluntary carbon markets inked to aviation decarbonisation, they announced on Friday. Authorities said the effort could also support the country’s emerging carbon governance framework, including a planned National Registry of Environmental and Biodiversity Benefits intended to ensure traceability and integrity for mitigation projects and climate finance.