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ANALYSIS: EU carbon prices surge as Brussels swerves “worst case” scenarios for ETS reform, but market in the dark on details
Benchmark EU carbon futures jumped nearly 10% on Friday morning after the European Commission confirmed it would imminently propose several changes to help ease prices in the near term, as well as planned medium-term reform measures including a €30 billion ‘investment booster’ for decarbonisation, as participants said they now consider fundamental changes to the Emissions Trading System, or possible suspension of the market, to be off the table.
EU leaders urge swift conclusion of ETS reform by end-2027
EU heads of state and government have urged the European Commission to present a review of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) “by July 2026 at the latest” and to finalise the legislative process by the end of 2027 – a year marked by the high-stakes French presidential election.
EU’s new ETS-backed ‘investment booster’ to focus on lower-income countries, draw from “existing reserves”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the forthcoming launch of a €30 billion industry decarbonisation “investment booster” at an EU summit in the early hours of Friday morning, which will draw on 400 million allowances from “existing reserves” in the bloc’s Emissions Trading System (ETS).
EU carbon prices could fall 13% by 2027 under MSR intake tweak, find analysts
A 12% EU ETS Market Stability Reserve (MSR) intake rate could add nearly 100 million EUAs to the market by 2027 and lower carbon prices by around 13% over the period, according to analysis published this week.
DAILY NEWS TICKER
CP Daily News Ticker: 20-22 March 2026
The CP Daily News Ticker is a running list of all our news updated in real-time throughout the day. This is also the home to our ‘Bite-sized updates from around the world’, which previously featured in our CP Daily newsletter.
ASIA PACIFIC
Carbon market ‘safety valves’ on agenda for India as it builds ETS -official
India’s upcoming compliance-based carbon market will have built-in “stability mechanisms” to manage both credit shortages and oversupply, a senior government official said on Saturday.
India can supply up to 30% of global carbon removals by 2050, but needs policy push, analysis finds
India could emerge as a major global supplier of durable carbon removals (CDR), but it must first address policy gaps, weak demand, and high costs to scale the sector, a policy brief published this week said.
India launches carbon market portal
India on Saturday formally launched its long-awaited carbon market portal, taking a step in rolling out the country’s domestic carbon credit trading scheme.
India ramps up verifier pool ahead of ETS launch to avert bottlenecks
India is fast-tracking the process of accrediting verifiers and upgrading a pool of nearly 20,000 energy auditors to ensure compliance with the upcoming emissions trading system, a senior official said Saturday, dispelling concerns about verification bottlenecks.
South Korea can exceed its 2035 emission targets with stronger policy package, research says
South Korea is considered capable of largely exceeding its 2035 climate target through the adoption of more ambitious policies, including an accelerated coal phase-out and rapid deployment of wind power, according to a new paper.
Hormuz energy crisis pressure on Asia should spur faster renewable energy rollout, says IEA chief
Asia is at the forefront of what International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol on Monday described as two major oil crises and a gas crisis rolled into one, but said he hoped it would galvanise countries to ramp up their efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
Dairy giant Fonterra hints at emissions increase
Emissions at New Zealand-headquartered Fonterra are set to increase in the 2026 financial year, it suggested on Monday, amid an increase in production.
Australia, NZ groups publish forest valuation, carbon standard
Australian and New Zealand forestry industry bodies on Friday published a valuation standard to provide guidelines for the physical and financial description and valuation of commercial plantation and natural forests.
Australia proposes to broaden emissions certification scheme to biogas, biomethane, and iron ore
The Australian government has put forward an exposure draft to expand its Guarantee of Origin Scheme to cover biogas, biomethane, and iron ore production.
Japan looking beyond J-Blue voluntary credits to explore compliance -webinar
Japan is interested in developing blue compliance credits in addition to its government-backed J-Blue scheme, the Japan Blue Economy Association (JBE) said on Friday.
EMEA
Euro Markets: EUAs jump most in nearly two years as ETS reform talks avoid worst-case scenario
European carbon prices jumped by 6.3% on Friday, the biggest one-day rise since May 2024 and wiping out much of the week’s losses after prices set an 11-month low on Thursday, as traders reacted with relief to the outcome of the EU summit, at which leaders called on the European Commission to hasten proposals for reform of the carbon market and in particular the Market Stability Reserve, and brushed aside calls to suspend the market.
FEATURE: Italy’s attack on carbon costs undermines cleaner, cheaper energy options
Italy’s push to suspend EU carbon costs may sound like a quick fix for spiking power prices – but it will come at the expense of low-carbon technologies that bring greater energy independence, and help industries cut emissions, experts warned.
Brussels kicks off reform of EU renewables and energy efficiency laws
The European Commission has launched twin consultations to redesign the EU’s post‑2030 renewables and energy efficiency laws, in a move intended to align the bloc’s energy legislation with its new 2040 climate target.
Major EU lignite producer reports 16% drop in ETS-covered output in 2025
A large lignite-fired power producer has reported a heavy fall year-on-year in its power generation covered by the EU ETS in 2025.
Europe’s “largest” industrial carbon capture plant set for Q3 2026 launch -report
Europe’s largest industrial carbon capture facility is expected to come online by Q3 2026 with capacity to permanently store up to 12 million tonnes of CO2 over 15 years, according to the developer.
UK refineries warn of further closures after govt rejects CBAM inclusion
The UK government’s decision not to extend its planned carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) to cover refined oil products has triggered warnings from industry that the country’s remaining refineries face an increased risk of closure, potentially accelerating reliance on imported fuels.
EU’s third ETS-backed hydrogen funding auction massively oversubscribed
Green hydrogen producers rushed to apply for the EU’s latest Innovation Fund auctions before the war in Iran drove up gas prices, the European Commission said on Friday.
Europe’s corporate climate leaders cut emissions much faster than peers -report
Just 16% of European companies are pulling ahead on addressing environmental issues, according to a new report, which found they cut emissions about 60% faster than peers in the last year.
UK aviation body launches carbon removal purchase signal, as taskforce warns of supply shortfall
A sustainable aviation trade body in the UK has committed to support the purchase of more than £2 million worth of carbon removals to help close the sector’s net zero gap, as an industry taskforce urged for policy intervention to avoid a looming supply shortfall.
Switzerland warns against widespread farm use of biochar despite carbon removal potential
Switzerland’s environment and agriculture authorities have advised caution over the large-scale use of biochar in farming, citing uncertain long-term impacts on soils and limited climate mitigation potential, according to an updated government factsheet.
Austrian CO2 mineralisation startup raises €3 mln to scale pilots
A Vienna-based climate tech startup has raised €3 million in seed funding to scale its CO2 mineralisation technology from laboratory development to pre-industrial pilots and early commercial deployment.
English tree planting scheme needs funding certainty, govt watchdog says
A tree planting and peatland restoration programme in England has achieved successes, but its long-term goals won’t be met without future funding certainty, a government spending watchdog said this week.
AMERICAS
Peru authorises first ITMO deal under Article 6.2
Peru has authorised its first bilateral deal for selling carbon credits internationally under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement after striking a deal with Switzerland.
Allowances on offer fall almost 9% at Q2 WCI auction
The Q2 California-Quebec joint WCI auction will offer just under 9% less allowances than the previous quarter, according to a Friday notice.
New York mulls softer climate rules as cost concerns mount
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed sweeping changes to the state’s landmark climate law that would ease compliance requirements and delay key regulatory timelines, citing mounting cost pressures and shifting economic conditions.
Colorado eyes additional methane rules for oil, gas operations
Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment (CDHPE)’s Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) published a series of rulemaking concepts on Friday aimed at reducing methane emissions under the state’s regulation for oil and gas operations.
CFTC: Producers add CCAs, RGAs following quarterly auction results
Emitters extended their net long position in California Carbon Allowances (CCAs) and expanded their net short in RGGI Allowances (RGAs), while investors did the opposite, and both groups reduced their net short in Washington Carbon Allowances (WCAs) after weaker-than-expected Q1 auction results, the latest US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data showed.
Peatlands in British Columbia are an overlooked carbon powerhouse -study
Peatlands in British Columbia store far more carbon per hectare than surrounding forests yet remain poorly mapped, with their carbon stocks largely unquantified, according to a new study.
VOLUNTARY
Carbon removal market is ‘running ahead’ of policy as weak demand threatens expansion -report
Government policy has failed to keep pace with the growing complexity emerging in the carbon removal (CDR) market, making it difficult for the sector to attract the private capital needed to scale, according to a new study.
Carbon removals platform launches buyer’s guide
A data platform for carbon removals has launched a buyer’s guide for high integrity removals in order to scale the market.
Carbon registry opens consultation on synthetic gas methodology
A London-based carbon removals registry has published a draft protocol for managing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS), inviting comments until mid-April.
INTERNATIONAL
BRIEFING: CDR potential high across Global South but regulatory gaps, financing constraints limit scale-up
Brazil, India, and Kenya have the geology, renewable energy and industrial base to support large-scale carbon removal (CDR), but a lack of regulation, financing, and workforce capacity is holding back deployment, researchers and industry experts said on Thursday.
IEA urges demand cuts as oil shock drives prices above $100
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called on governments, businesses, and households to take immediate action to curb oil demand, as the supply disruption linked to the war in the Middle East has tightened global markets and pushed crude prices above $100 per barrel.
Benefits of sovereign control of credit supply may drive up Article 6 activity
As governments tighten their grip on carbon credit supply to align developers with national climate strategies, analysts say this shift will drive a surge in Article 6 activity under the Paris Agreement.
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CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI) Call for Proposals: Scaling Investable Solutions for Water and Ocean Resilience. Due Mar. 23, 2026.
SIFI, founded by the Swiss Government and supported by Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea, and major philanthropic foundations, is inviting applications for its fourth Call for Proposals under the Investment Window. The call targets commercially viable impact funds scaling investable solutions in climate adaptation and water and ocean resilience across developing markets, including sustainable aquaculture, coastal livelihoods, nature-based protection, and climate risk finance. Selected funds will receive first-loss equity to catalyse private capital. Target fund size: minimum USD 20 million, submit your proposal here.
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WEBINAR
How to Balance Your Carbon Credit Portfolio Webinar: Mar. 24, Online – Join this interactive webinar to explore how climate-leading organisations design carbon credit portfolios that deliver value for both business and the planet, combining near-term action with long-term climate ambition. The session will examine how companies can move beyond ad-hoc credit purchases to build balanced portfolios, using practical frameworks to compare credit types while managing impact, credibility, cost, and risk. Real-world examples will illustrate different portfolio strategies and how organisations are integrating carbon markets into broader climate strategies. Register to attend live or watch on demand here.
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EVENTS
Carbon Forward Asia: Mar. 24-25, Singapore – As compliance carbon schemes scale and converge with voluntary markets, Article 6 operationalises, and investor scrutiny intensifies, this year’s Carbon Forward Asia agenda unpacks these forces shaping carbon market growth – and also looks at ASEAN interoperability, CORSIA, pricing convergence, standards integrity, CBAM exposure, and shifting buyer demand. Over two days, policymakers, negotiators, investors, exchanges, developers, corporates and ratings agencies will examine the key levers behind market growth and what will define Asia’s carbon markets by 2030. Register
North American Carbon World (NACW): Mar. 31-Apr. 2, San Diego – For more than 20 years, NACW has been the must-attend event for market participants looking to gain actionable insights into policy shifts and market trends, network with climate policy and business leaders, and grow and strengthen carbon markets with integrity and ambition. Hosted by the Climate Action Reserve, the 2026 conference will offer a critical forum for meaningful collaboration and timely discussions exploring market innovations in technology, the evolution of standards, the growing role of finance, and foundational topics such as permanence. Register
Carbon Capture MENA Summit: Apr. 1-2, Dubai – The Carbon Capture MENA Summit 2026 (#CCMS2026), taking place in Dubai on 1–2 April 2026, is MENA’s leading CCUS event. Bringing together 500+ industry leaders and 80+ visionary speakers, the summit will focus on fit-for-purpose CCUS policies, decarbonisation applications, breakthrough innovations, carbon markets, and infrastructure development. Together, we’ll accelerate MENA’s leadership in scaling CCUS solutions and shaping a sustainable energy future. Join us to drive the next chapter of CCUS innovation and impact. Find out more
European Climate Summit 2026: Apr. 14-16, Barcelona – To kick off its annual regional Climate Summit series, IETA looks forward to welcoming delegates to the flagship European Climate Summit (ECS) 2026, taking place at Casa Llotja de Mar in Barcelona, Spain. ECS takes place amid a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, even as carbon markets continue to mature and expand. A new political cycle for EU climate action has begun, and the task of preparing carbon markets for their next stage presents both new challenges and opportunities. In this dynamic context, competitiveness, integrity, and innovation will be at the heart of the discussion. ECS provides an excellent opportunity to engage with policymakers, business leaders, and climate market pioneers who are shaping the future of carbon markets. Organised by IETA, ECS is an in-person event. Register
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