The federal Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded five projects a share of A$13 million ($9.2 mln) to commit to cutting-edge technology to ramp up decarbonisation, lower energy costs, and support low- carbon supply chains.

A model that aggregates buyer demand through a centralised request for proposal (RFP) process for sourcing carbon removals (CDR) can reduce transaction costs and improve access to vetted supply, panellists said during a Thursday webinar.

Companies must use a final accounting standard for land-based emissions and removals from 2027 under updated guidance that revises timelines and tightens no-deforestation rules.

A German-headquartered carbon offset platform has selected six early-stage nature-based project developers for the fourth cohort of its accelerator, marking the programme’s first edition dedicated to land-based CDR activities.

A wide range of sub-national rates have been proposed by an expert UN panel that will be used to calculate how many units a cookstove project can generate under Article 6.4 carbon crediting.

Indonesia is exploring the role of carbon trading as a form of funding to bolster state finances for management of the archpelagic country’s vast national parks.

Missile attacks on the world’s largest gas field in Qatar has fundamentally changed the outlook for liquefied natural gas (LNG) globally, leaving Asia under pressure to reduce demand, and Europe cutting down on spring storage plans while prolonging coal-fired generation, analysts said Thursday.

Permits in China's national emissions market traded lower over the past week but seeing sustained trading volumes, with some expecting the planned allowance carryover schedule may help support liquidity in the coming weeks.

Proposed revisions to how companies calculate their Scope 2 emissions under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol could result in higher market-based emissions, even without changes in the underlying electricity consumption, analysts said on Wednesday.

India will continue to depend heavily on coal to ensure grid reliability over the next decade, even as it scales up renewable energy and storage, according to a government planning document.

A justice described the New Zealand government’s consultation-after-the-fact on its climate plan as “fundamentally flawed” in Wellington High Court this week during a three-day hearing into a legal challenge to the plan.

Busting bills – The Australian Energy Regulator has released its draft 2026-27 Default Market Offer (DMO), proposing electricity price decreases for households and small businesses across New South Wales, South East Queensland, and South Australia, reflecting lower wholesale costs driven by more renewable energy, it announced on Thursday. It also introduced reforms to strengthen consumer protections, including new tariff caps and a “Solar Sharer” option that offers free electricity during midday solar peaks, while maintaining the DMO’s role as both a price cap and comparison benchmark. The draft is open for consultation before a final determination in May 2026, with changes set to take effect from July 1, 2026. The regulator said it remains cautious about global events, particularly in the Middle East, and how they can influence energy markets in the lead up to the final decision.

Bond success – Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank (NDB) has raised LKR16 bln ($51.3 mln) via the country’s largest Basel III-Compliant thematic bond, it said in a press release this week. Supported by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), issuance of the inaugural Tier II Rated Unsecured Subordinated Redeemable GSS+ Bonds opened on Mar. 10 and was oversubscribed, the Seoul-based intergovernmental organisation said in its own release. NDB said the issuance strengthens its commitment to advancing its ESG agenda and supporting Sri Lanka’s climate and development initiatives, noting that the bank has funded around 20% of the South Asian island country’s renewable generation capacity since 2004. The bond’s proceeds will be directed to eligible green (including blue, ie marine-based), social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked projects, which support environmentally responsible, socially impactful, and sustainable economic development, NDB said.

Oil exposure – Current volatility in the global oil market has highlighted how exposed New Zealand is to fuel shocks and why it needs to rethink how it powers its transport sector, said the University of Auckland. Noting that only 3.5% of the country’s light passenger vehicles are electric – versus more than 30% in Norway, which is a similar size to New Zealand – energy systems professor Nirmal Nair said the government needs to make intentional choices if it wants to boost EV uptake. However, he added, the electricity market will need to adapt to accommodate this and address infrastructure gaps, such as access to chargers and battery lifecycle management. The current National-led coalition government scrapped the Clean Car Discount, which provided rebates for EV purchases, shortly after assuming office in late 2023.

Tailored and attainable provincial targets are needed for China to better regulate emissions intensity and absolute emissions, considering their diverse regional contexts, a report has suggested.

Offtake outcome – Australian hydrogen and graphite producer Hazer Group has signed a non-binding MoU and offtake agreement to provide 85,000 tonnes of graphite over a 10-year period to Green Steel of WA, it announced. Hazer's patented low emissions hydrogen production technology creates graphite as a by-product. The proposed offtake letter of intent would see Hazer's graphite provided to Green Steel of WA's proposed electric arc furnace as a recarburiser replacing anthracite in the steelmaking process. Green Steel of WA's project is Australia's first low emissions steel mill and is expected to be operational by 2028, with graphite supply expected in 2030, according to the ASX announcement. Hazer's share price rose 5% off the back of the news.