Chipping away – The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed a €146-mln loan to Kronospan, to help the wood-panel manufacturer decarbonise its operations. Specifically, the cash will be used to install solar panels and battery storage at Kronospan’s Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia sites, the EIB said in a press release Wednesday. It will also enable the roll-out of EVs, the bank added. The overall project is estimated to cost €196 mln, according to project documentation on the bank’s website. Kronospan is subject to the EU ETS.

Sue thy neighbour – A Republican candidate for Nevada attorney general demanded that incumbent Aaron Ford (D) immediately sue California and Governor Gavin Newsom (D) to halt regulations she said are accelerating refinery closures and inflating fuel prices for Nevadans. Adriana Guzman Fralick (R) said Nevada sources most of its refined products from California, and that Governor Joe Lombardo's (R) repeated letters to Newsom regarding his concerns on California regulator ARB's proposed update to the state’s cap-and-invest programme had gone unanswered.

Garden State stores more - The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved incentives for 355MW of battery storage and opened a solicitation for a further 645MW, fulfilling half the state's goal of 2GW of grid-tied storage by 2030, Utility Dive reported. The three approved projects are expected to save ratepayers more than $169 mln over the programme's life. The state also announced a 3GW expansion of its community solar programme, including 300MW on landfills, which it said would make New Jersey one of the top US states for community solar deployment.

Trump's coal ghost - The Trump administration issued a second 90-day emergency order extending the operation of TransAlta's Centralia coal plant in Washington state past its Dec. 2025 retirement date. The US DOE has cited grid reliability as justification, but hydropower met 70% of state electricity demand through early March without the facility generating any power, according to an Environmental Defense Fund analysis. Legal challenges from Washington state and environmental groups against the first order are pending in court.

Unplug EVs - Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged his Quebec and British Columbia counterparts to scrap their electric vehicle sales mandates, the Canadian Press reported. Ford argued that maintaining such rules in only certain parts of Canada would fragment the auto market, pushing investment and jobs to the US. Quebec requires 90% of new vehicle sales to be hybrid or electric by 2035, while British Columbia scrapped its mandate but pledged new legislation on the matter this year.

Canada’s declining GHG emissions will level off around 2035 without improved climate action, according to a new report by a federal regulator.

Windy woes - The US is weighing a nearly $1 bln wind farm settlement for oil major TotalEnergies, according to a New York Times report. The outlet said US officials are drafting agreements to pay the compensatory package for cancellation of leases for wind farms in federal waters off the coast of New York and North Carolina.

US EV sales plummet - A report by Cox Automotive showed new EV sales in the US were down 26.8% YoY in February, but up 5.8% MoM. Sales totalled 68,951 units, with Tesla the clear volume leader at 38,500 units. Used EV sales totalled 39,879 units in February, up 28.8% YoY and 4.2% MoM.

A new study found just 28% of biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) protocols assessed had a satisfactory integrity grade, as authors warned the emerging sector must learn from the challenges that have affected forestry credits.

Ratepayer relief - Maryland Democrats are backing the "Utility Relief Act" (HB 1532), aiming to save residential ratepayers some $150 on annually by cutting energy efficiency spending, redirecting some renewable energy funding to ratepayers, and lowering annual electricity savings requirements for utilities. The legislation passed the House on Tuesday night on a bipartisan vote of 108-25, sending it to the Senate. The Maryland General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn by Apr. 13.

Wind woes – The US Interior Department’s renewed movement on solar projects has not revived wind energy on federal lands, where most projects from the Biden-era pipeline have stalled or been cancelled, E&E News reported. Only one project, Wyoming’s Two Rivers Wind, remains viable but is awaiting final approval more than a year after initial sign-off. Industry groups said stricter permitting requirements under the Trump administration have halted new applications and slowed existing projects, leaving onshore wind development largely at a standstill.

The number of participants in Washington's cap-and-invest programme edged up in Q1 to surpass the 200 mark, while compliance instrument holdings decreased during the quarter, according to a report published Wednesday.

Hot core, cold feet - New York state Senator Kevin Parker (D), chair of the Senate Energy Committee, plans to introduce a two-year moratorium on new nuclear power, setting up a clash with Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) push to expand the technology as part of the state’s long-term energy strategy, E&E News reported. Parker said he supports the bill because of concerns about safety, community health, and cost, while anti-nuclear environmental advocates have also questioned the administration’s assumptions. Hochul has directed the New York Power Authority to build 1 GW of new nuclear capacity and assigned the state’s utility regulator responsibility for 4 GW more, framing nuclear as a reliable source of baseload electricity. However, critics said key details remain unresolved, including how new reactors would be financed and what size or type of technology would be used.

Taskforce triumph – Washington State lawmakers on Monday passed Senate Bill 6355, which would create the Washington Electric Transmission Authority, with a remit to plan, site, and finance transmission infrastructure to ease grid congestion and support clean energy deployment, according to global non-profit Clean Air Task Force (CATF). The group said the measure is intended to help address long-standing interconnection and capacity constraints, noting that although hundreds of projects have sought grid connection since 2015, only one has been approved. CATF said the new authority would function similarly to transmission authorities in New Mexico and Colorado by identifying priority projects, partnering with developers, and upgrading existing infrastructure, with the broader goal of improving reliability, affordability, and access to low-cost clean energy as electricity demand rises.

A forestry fund in Paraguay that aims to expand an ARR carbon pilot to 120,000 hectares has received a $15-million commitment in direct and blended finance from a multilateral development bank.

Ag partners – Ireland and New Zealand have agreed to advance their collaboration on research to cut agriculture emissions, the Beehive said on Wednesday. This follows a NZ$34.5 mln ($20 mln) Joint Research Initiative (JRI) pilot, launched in 2022 to bolster climate change research. The second phase of the JRI will identify projects to advance, building on the 11 under the pilot. The two countries also launched the 2026-30 strategic plan for the Global Research Alliance (GRA) on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, which has flagged advancing scientific research, strengthening capacity and knowledge sharing, building effective collaboration and partnerships, and leveraging financial and other resources as its priorities. The GRA supports research on cutting emissions from livestock, cropping, and paddy rice.

Uganda will aggregate clean cooking projects into a national Programme of Activities (PoA), aiming to generate some 50 million carbon credits to be sold into the voluntary market (VCM), the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), and the CORSIA aviation offsetting scheme.

A US energy company on Wednesday decided to progress with a Montana-based carbon hub, aiming to generate revenues from helium production and CO2 management starting in 2027.

Voyage volatility – A multi-year study has found that hydrogen-fuelled ships need a design-based safety approach, as the fuel poses distinct hazards compared with other marine fuel alternatives. DNV, in a report commissioned by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), recommended secondary enclosures across all hydrogen-carrying components and additional technical barriers to manage leakage and explosion risks. The study also flagged occupational safety risks for crews, saying seafarers will need specialised training, clear procedures, and safety management systems to handle hydrogen-specific hazards.

Let us know - New York-based oneshot.earth, the climate tech firm behind the One Carbon Protocol, has opened its Carbon Containment Lab methodology, “Recovery and Destruction of Hydrofluorocarbons in Article 5 Countries”, for public comment, it announced on Wednesday. The methodology revises existing ozone depleting substances (ODS) methodologies to include certain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), as well as other changes aimed at: strict outlining of the additionality case for HFC recovery and destruction in Article 5 countries; adjustment of project boundaries to account for non-zero refrigerant recovery levels, aiming to enable a potential eventual transition from carbon finance to regulatory enforcement; and clarification of documentation requirements. Public commentary will be open until Apr. 3 before a final round of expert review and voting.

Deforestation fall by around 30% in areas of the Brazilian Amazon covered by a conservation-linked cash transfer programme for vulnerable families, according to a study.

CFTC climate cancellation - The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has withdrawn its request for information (RFI) published in June 2022 for information on climate-related financial risk. President Donald Trump (R) repealed the Biden-era executive order the RFI was based on in Jan. 2025 in his first day in office of his second term, the CFTC said in the notice of its withdrawal in the Federal Register. CFTC regulations "provide a uniform regulatory framework that addresses financial risks", the agency added in explaining its move.

Aromatics unlocked – California-based Universal Fuel Technologies and Washington State University announced on Tuesday that testing had validated a process to convert HEFA-derived naphtha into aromatic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) components that can help produce a fully synthetic drop-in jet fuel. The companies said the process upgrades the byproduct into synthetic aromatic kerosene that, when blended with paraffinic SAF, meets key jet fuel performance parameters. The results suggest HEFA producers could upgrade naphtha streams that account for up to 20% of output into required aromatic components, potentially reducing reliance on fossil jet blending.

Crop credits – Gevo subsidiary Verity Holdings and Minnesota-based tech company CIBO Technologies have partnered to deliver an end-to-end data and verification solution for biofuel producers targeting US 45Z compliance, they announced Tuesday. The system will link farm-level practices with fuel production to generate verified carbon intensity scores and audit-ready documentation required to access clean fuel credits. The companies said the platform will help producers meet traceability demands across multiple schemes, including US tax credits, Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations, and state-level low-carbon fuel standards.

SAF stake – France's Technip Energies has taken a minority equity stake in a French synthetic aviation fuel project, advancing plans for industrial-scale eSAF production backed by EU and national funding, it announced Wednesday. Technip will support Verso Energy's DEZiR project in Rouen using its carbon capture technology to supply biogenic CO2, while its joint venture Rely with Belgian company John Cockerill is delivering FEED work. The plant is expected to produce around 80,000 tonnes of eSAF annually by 2030, with partners aiming to standardise and replicate the model across a broader portfolio of seven sites in Europe and the US.

Colorado would gain control over permitting for underground CO2 storage wells after federal regulators proposed approving the state's application. 

Coal closure challenge – Public interest groups on Tuesday filed a challenge in the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, seeking to overturn US DOE emergency orders that required two Indiana coal-fired power plants – the RM Schahfer plant and one unit at the FB Culley generating station – to keep operating past their planned retirement dates, arguing the orders are unlawful, unnecessary for grid reliability, and likely to raise electricity costs and pollution. The groups said the initial 90-day orders, issued in Dec. 2025, could cost ratepayers more than $20 mln for operations alone, with utilities now seeking to spread repair and operating costs across the 11-state MISO grid. They also said continued operations would worsen air, water, and coal ash pollution near affected communities, while forcing customers to pay more despite prior decisions by utilities, regulators, and grid operators to retire the ageing units.

A UK-based provider of nature and climate intelligence has secured funding to expand its platform that translates environmental risks into financial insights, amid growing demand from large corporates to integrate natural changes and dependencies in decision-making.

Linear disturbances linked to oil and gas exploration and resource mining could be significantly increasing methane emissions from boreal peatlands, according to new research.

A bipartisan bill introduced in the US Senate this week aims to accelerate next-generation geothermal technologies and deliver affordable clean electricity.

Global investment in clean energy technologies reached a record $1.96 trillion in 2025, but a sharp drop in manufacturing spending, driven largely by China, points to a market correction after years of rapid expansion, according to a report published Wednesday.

Dispute de-escalates - Plaintiffs suing New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) administration over inaction on the state’s 2019 climate law said they are open to settlement talks, arguing the state can comply with its emissions-reduction requirements without raising energy bills, E&E News reported. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs said they have contacted the Attorney General’s office to signal interest in discussions, while criticising Hochul’s efforts to reopen parts of the law during budget negotiations. The dispute comes as Hochul has for years floated rolling back provisions of the 2019 statute, which set ambitious GHG reduction targets, and plaintiffs accused the governor of misrepresenting the case and creating a false crisis in an election year.

Midterm move - US House Democrats are set to introduce sweeping clean energy legislation aimed at lowering consumer energy costs and reversing Republican rollbacks of tax incentives, as part of a broader midterm election messaging strategy, E&E News reported. The Energy Bills Relief Act, led by Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL) and Mike Levin (D-CA), would reinstate clean energy tax credits eliminated under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and promote new renewable development, including by directing federal agencies to expand permitting for wind, solar, and geothermal projects on public lands. While the bill is unlikely to advance under President Donald Trump’s (R) administration, it has secured at least 118 Democratic co-sponsors.

The EU Court of Justice has upheld rules allowing forest bioenergy projects to qualify as “sustainable” under the bloc’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, dealing a blow to NGOs that sought to overturn the regulation.

The UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre has launched an updated version of its Article 6 Pipeline, with more data about progress in Article 6.2 cooperative approaches, and the Article 6.4 Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) now available.

Eye on EOI - Carbon Done Right Developments has announced that its afforestation and reforestation project in Sierra Leone is seeking additional investment to expand beyond the 2,500 hectares already planted under a 2023 pre-purchase agreement. The RML project has been validated under Verra’s VM0047 restoration methodology and has received a pre-issuance rating from Sylvera. The initiative involves restoring degraded land with native tree species, supported by local communities through a Free, Prior and Informed Consent process overseen by an independent NGO. While 5,000 hectares have been mapped, the project could scale to at least 25,000 hectares, Carbon Done Right said. The company highlighted strong market demand for tropical forest restoration credits and is inviting potential investors to express interest, with a process that may close quickly depending on demand.

European carbon prices weakened modestly on Wednesday after a largely unsurprising Commitment of Traders report and the expiry of March options, with sustained bidding during the afternoon providing a floor for the market as traders awaited new from Brussels, where EU leaders are set to meet to discuss energy costs and potential reforms to the EU ETS.

A Canadian biochar project developer has locked in a new partnership to deliver pyrolysis technology in Western Canada.

Welsh renewables - The Renewable Energy Sector Deal has been launched as a strategic partnership between the govt of Wales and industry, focused on unlocking the country's clean energy potential. Renewable electricity generation in Wales in 2024 equated to 54% of its power consumption. By 2030, the goal is for renewable electricity to meet 70% of its consumption and 100% by 2035, whilst also delivering at least 1.5 GW of locally owned renewables capacity by the latter date. The sector deal aims to deliver on these targets by speeding delivery across wind, solar, marine, and hydro, stated the press release Wednesday.

Oil prices spiking to $140/bbl for two months alongside a large rise in natural gas prices would send the world into recession, according to analysts.

Better together - MSCI Carbon Markets is partnering with BlueLayer to deliver greater transparency and data consistency in carbon markets. Connecting BlueLayer's project delivery system with MSCI's analytics and pricing intelligence is expected to  support more efficient and informed carbon transactions.

Long-term, patient investors and larger economies are likely to drive a bigger share of global climate spending, according to a new paper from think tank Bruegel.

The war in the Middle East has exposed the world's fossil fuel dependency, which will stoke a "resource nationalism" where countries recognise the value of domestic renewables and improve circularity for better energy security, a webinar heard.

A new AI-powered platform aims to help carbon project developers identify compliance gaps early, potentially shortening certification timelines which often stretch for months or even years, its co-founder and CEO told Carbon Pulse in an exclusive interview ahead of the Wednesday launch.

Ten EU countries have called on the European Commission to bring forward its planned review of the EU ETS to the end of May "at the latest", urging a package that also lowers carbon costs for industry in the near term.

Joining the call - Almost 50 large industrials, clean-tech scaleups, and investors have also backed a letter last week by the Business for CBAM Coalition calling on EU leaders to maintain a robust EU ETS, bringing the total number of signatories to 148 in total. The signatories urge EU leaders to keep a meaningful carbon price signal to guide industrial low-carbon investments, to use ETS revenues more effectively to support affordable industrial decarbonisation, and to stop blaming the scheme for the bloc's structural competitiveness issues. New signatories include Moeve, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Unilever, and NorgesGruppen. They warn that diluting the ETS risks penalising early movers and that investors need policy certainty to deploy capital.

A London-based company which specialises in supplying low-carbon materials used in concrete manufacturing has raised $15 million in Series A funding, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

A carbon removal marketplace has opened for submissions for a new procurement initiative aimed at securing long-term offtakes on behalf of buyers.

Shipping traffic through the Straits of Hormuz will remain slim though to early April, with LNG production in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates gradually returning to full capacity by the second half of May, according to an analyst groups' base case scenario forecast.

Officials working on the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) have launched a public consultation on a draft methodology for grid-connected renewable electricity, which aims to bring in a new era of stringent carbon credit generation for clean energy projects.

More than 30 companies have committed 0.1% of their annual revenue to a new platform mobilising private finance for clean energy in emerging markets.

Burkina Faso has strengthened its proposed benchmark for calculating forestry emissions under REDD+, although there are still inconsistencies with its wider greenhouse gas emissions inventory, leaving a risk of double counting, according to a UNFCCC review.

Compliance carbon markets are expected to become the primary source of revenue for carbon removal (CDR) projects around 2030, according to a report published this month.

Low-carbon cement - CURA Climate and ocean carbon capture firm Captura have partnered to test bipolar membranes (BPMs) in CURA’s electrochemical cement process, which aims to cut emissions by up to 85% by extracting CO2 from limestone before it enters a kiln. Testing at CURA’s facilities showed Captura’s BPMs operate at the lowest voltages of any commercially tested membranes evaluated in the system to date, reducing energy consumption and operating costs. Captura originally developed the membranes for ocean-based carbon removal but is now manufacturing them for industrial applications including cement, lithium extraction, and desalination. Cement production accounts for roughly 8% of global CO2 emissions, with most stemming from limestone calcination.

Extending emissions trading systems to cover more sectors and types of greenhouse gases comes with significant benefits beyond emission reductions, as long as policymakers tackle challenges such as where to set the cap on pollution permits early on, according to a report. 

A Paris-based carbon investment platform has raised €3.6 million to expand its offering beyond EU carbon emission allowances (EUAs) and into a broader range of energy transition-linked assets, it announced Wednesday.

The UNFCCC has validated Indonesia’s reported forest-sector emissions reductions under its latest submission, supporting the Southeast Asian nation in unlocking results-based climate finance, while also highlighting areas for further improvement in data transparency and consistency.

France has moved to clarify its position on reforming the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), arguing that the bloc’s annual emissions cap should be softened “so it does not reach zero in 2039”, but leaves around 200-300 million allowances in the system by then.

Rainforest rehab - The Sabah ranforest rehabilitation project in Malaysia has begun issuing carbon credits, with nearly 1 mln tonnes of carbon removals now available. Developed by Face the Future in partnership with Yayasan Sabah, the project has restored more than 25,000 ha of logged‑over dipterocarp rainforest. It's been awarded an A pre overall rating and an AA score for permanence by BeZero, which places it among the highest-rated Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects globally.    

German worries - Germany's net zero transition is slowing down, new government data showed this week - but that slowdown is actually more pronounced than the figures suggest, said NGO Climate Action Tracker (CAT) on Wednesday. Over the past year, the German government has mainly adopted measures that slow down the energy transition, it explained, yet these measures have not been factored into the projections. The Federal Environment Agency's latest GHG projections include information up to Nov. 2025. CAT noted that they do not factor in measures like a loosening of EU car CO2 standards for 2035 (supported by Germany), a new buildings proposal that allows for more fossil fuel heating than before, greater uncertainty around renewables buildout (e.g. solar subsidies are to be scaled back), more support for gas than electricity (e.g. to reduce gas prices, a new gas fleet, etc.), opening the EU's door to international carbon credits, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz's suggestion - quickly reversed - of deep reform or even a "postponement" of the EU ETS. According to CAT, the only planned policy with the potential to reduce GHG emissions in Germany right now is the planned reinstatement of electric car subsidies. The German government is due to unveil a new climate policy package on Mar. 25. (Climate Action Tracker)

A US-based clean cement developer has laid off around two-thirds of its workforce and halted construction of a commercial-scale plant after the withdrawal of federal support, media reported.

Permission to blow - The UK government has opened a public consultation on its proposals for permitted development rights for onshore wind in England, DESNZ announced on Wednesday. The consultation, open until June 10, sets out a new permitted development right that would allow small-scale, non-domestic wind turbines to be installed without the need for a planning application, subject to certain constraints. These could be used by businesses, farms, and public sector organisations to help reduce energy bills, improve energy independence, and decarbonise operations.

Resilient renewables - Europe's wind and solar plants are helping the continent weather the turmoil caused by the war in the Middle East, with German and French power prices falling last week despite a surge in oil. Even as gas prices rise in response to geopolitical tensions, Europe's growing renewable capacity is helping to cushion the blow, especially as solar starts its seasonal ramp-up after winter. Without renewables, plus the seasonal drop in demand, European power prices would already be around a third higher, according to Rabobank. Still, evening prices - when solar output fades and demand stays high - have risen to around three times their usual levels in some countries. EU leaders are meeting on Thursday to discuss the energy market and how to shield industry from higher prices, with possible moves including allowing lower grid fees and energy taxes, as well as a targeted adjustment of allowances in the EU ETS, and possibly capping gas prices. (Bloomberg)

A chemical recycling method can convert nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) waste into materials capable of capturing CO2, according to research published Wednesday.

Australia's carbon market saw its smallest issuance in 12 months, as a conservation alliance pushed the government to "urgently" develop a national restoration plan, saying lack of coordination was putting the country's climate targets in peril.

Thermal power generation in China increased in the first two months of 2026 from a year ago, while energy produced from renewable sources posted stronger growth, according to the latest government data.

Biochar scale-up – Singapore-based developer Alcom has partnered with ARKA Climate and Greenerth to develop and scale industrial-grade biochar projects in India, aiming to upgrade existing artisanal operations into larger, commercially viable systems. Under the collaboration, traditional kon-tiki kilns will be converted into advanced pyrolysis units, with Alcom supplying technology through its partnership with Tapi Healthcare. The initiative is part of Alcom’s broader strategy to expand biochar production across Asia by integrating co-products and maximising value across supply chains. The company said it is targeting the development of more than 15 plants and the generation of up to 1 MtCO2e removal in the coming years through its scale-up plans.

Companies often retire offsets from the same countries where they operate, even though carbon is globally fungible, according to new academic research that questions how effectively voluntary carbon markets allocate climate finance.

Tax gas profits - The ongoing war in the Middle East has exposed how Australia fails to capture the financial benefits of its own energy exports due to weak taxation and policy settings, think tank The Superpower Institute argued Wednesday. It estimates Australia could have brought in around A$18.6 bln ($13.2 bln) or more in additional revenue from windfall profits if stronger resource taxes that it has previously proposed were in place, but instead much of this value goes to largely foreign-owned gas companies. As a result, Australians face higher energy costs during global crises while missing out on significant public revenue that could strengthen the budget and economy, it argued.

Green steel - Tata Steel has signed an MoU with University of Science and Technology Beijing to collaborate on the development of low-carbon steelmaking technologies, the company said. Under the collaboration, teams from both sides will jointly undertake research across four broad themes addressing low-carbon steelmaking: scrap-based steelmaking, steel waste valorisation, end-product performance, and carbon capture and utilisation technologies. The collaboration will focus on jointly developing and testing new technologies that can be scaled from pilot stages to industrial application.

Green steel greenlit – New Zealand’s first steel recycling plant has been approved via the country’s fast-track process, the Beehive announced on Wednesday. Based in Hampton Downs in the Waikato region, National Green Steel’s solar-powered plant will process around 200,000 tonnes of recycled steel annually and will use an electric arc furnace (EAF) to produce high-quality structural steel, the government said. At present, New Zealand exports scrap metal and imports structural steel; the project will avoid around 83,000 tCO2e per year of emissions associated with the shipping for these exports and imports, according to the project’s emissions plan. NZ Steel is also installing an EAF to recycle steel, partly funded by the now-defunct Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund, which redirected NZ ETS proceeds to projects to cut industrial emissions. It is expected to be commissioned this year.

Forward forests – The Vanuatu government, in conjunction with the Seoul-based Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), have refined four investment proposals for the Pacific Island’s forestry sector, to support its NDC. The four proposals focus on: afforestation and reforestation, restoration, agroforestry, and the establishment of a national forest-data system, GGGI said in a Tuesday press release. The initiative is aiming to mobilise climate finance and accelerate implementation of Vanuatu’s NDC, by strengthening investment planning for the forestry sector, said Regional Pacific NDC Hub Vanuatu Focal Point and Acting Director for the Department of Climate Change Nelson Kalo. Check out Carbon Pulse’s NDC Portal for more information on Vanuatu’s NDC 3.0.  

Quantum leap – Scientists in Australia have built the world's first proof-of-concept quantum battery, the country’s science agency CSIRO said on Wednesday. unlike conventional batteries, which rely on chemical reactions, quantum batteries leverage superposition and entanglement. The prototype had a multi-layered organic microcavity, which traps and manipulates light, and was charged via a laser. It was found to be able to store energy for six orders of magnitude longer than it took to charge. The next step is to extend the storage time, which – if overcome – makes a commercially viable battery closer, said lead scientist James Quach.

A nature-based project developer and an ecotourism operator have joined up to form a new venture focussing on carbon projects in Indonesia, Malaysia, and broader Southeast Asia, they announced.

The New Zealand government has confirmed its 2040 goal to double the use of geothermal energy, with the release of a detailed strategy plan on Tuesday alongside the announcement of a further NZ$ 50 million ($29.3 mln) in funding via a regional development facility.

Appeal appealing – Activist shareholder group the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) has appealed the Federal Court decision in its greenwashing case against oil and gas company Santos last month, it announced. The court dismissed ACCR's allegations that Santos had deceived or misled shareholders in its 2020 annual report over its climate targets. However, ACCR Co-CEO Brynn O'Brien said in a statement Wednesday that the judgment sets the bar for corporate communication about climate commitments well below market and investor expectations, and that it increases the burden on investors to interrogate the full context in which claims are being are made. They said businesses need clear guidance on the standards governing climate disclosures. The group has engaged the specialist corporate and consumer law team at Webb Henderson on appeal.

New Zealand allowances were trading up slightly on Wednesday following a substantial futures block trade the day before, as traders mull the impacts of the ongoing war in the Middle East on the ETS.

A UK sustainability-focused bank has delivered a £3.3-million loan to a Scotland-based natural capital developer to scale biodiversity recovery projects across the country.