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TOP STORY
ANALYSIS: EU carbon strengthens as minimalist MSR revision proposal offers “no nasty surprises”
Benchmark EU carbon prices gained nearly €2 in the space of a few minutes on Wednesday morning, immediately after the European Commission confirmed that its proposal to reform the Market Stability Reserve would only scrap a clause that invalidates excess permits in the supply-balancing mechanism.
DAILY NEWS TICKER
CP Daily News Ticker: 1 April 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.
NACW26
Global energy crisis, US trade talks barriers for Mexican ETS rollout -industry rep
Regulations for Mexico’s long-delayed ETS could be put on the back burner until the recent global energy crisis subsides and a trade agreement review with the US is concluded, a national carbon industry representative said this week during North American Carbon World (NACW).
VCM caught in ‘midlife crisis’, slow to accelerate amid new integrity standards
The voluntary carbon market (VCM) is unlikely to get over its “midlife crisis” in the short-term, stakeholders said at the North American Carbon World 2026 conference Wednesday.
BRIEFING – AI cutting carbon project development costs, but not necessarily integrity risks
Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how voluntary carbon markets function – from project design and monitoring to certification and pricing – but its growing role is exposing both new efficiencies and new integrity risks.
Soil organic carbon gaining traction as measurement, methodologies emerge -panellists
Market confidence in soil organic carbon (SOC) is building as standards agencies get behind the project type, accelerating carbon removal approach into a new era of trust and growth, credit managers and developers said Tuesday.
California CCUS draft anticipated in coming weeks
California air regulator ARB is poised to publish draft language on carbon capture, utilisation, and sequestration in the state, the North American Carbon World 2026 conference heard on Wednesday.
Forest carbon removals don’t trump emissions reductions, preservation of standing stock -panellists
It’s time for the voluntary carbon market (VCM) to return to forest emission reduction credits alongside removals, attendees of the North American Carbon World (NACW) 2026 conference heard Wednesday.
EMEA
EU Commission unveils limited reform proposal of ETS Market Stability Reserve
The European Commission put forward a proposal on Wednesday to revise the Market Stability Reserve (MSR), a key instrument guiding the supply of permits in the bloc’s flagship Emissions Trading System (ETS), opting only to scrap an invalidation clause that permanently removes excess allowances from the market’s buffer pool.
Euro Markets: EUAs jump to 7-week high as market sees no immediate negative impact from MSR reforms
European carbon market prices jumped to a seven-week high on Wednesday as traders reacted to the European Commission’s confirmation that it would propose only minimal amendments to the market’s supply management tool that the market felt would not have a short-term price impact, while energy markets weakened after the US president said the war in Iran may be over in as little as two weeks.
Delays mean EU ETS free allocation benchmarks now to be published “shortly after Easter”
The European Commission will now publish long-awaited benchmarks that determine how many free permit allocations industries receive under the bloc’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) shortly after Easter, a senior EU official said, after a delay to their release, which had been expected on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland flagged as a potential EU CBAM loophole
Northern Ireland could serve as a loophole for companies seeking to avoid paying the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) fees, due to the absence of controls on goods crossing from there into the bloc via Ireland, experts have warned.
France to fast-track electrification push amid fossil fuel price spike
The French government will next week unveil a wide-ranging electrification plan aimed at cutting the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels to 40% by 2030 from 60% currently, amid surging energy prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
Solar has shaved a third off the EU’s fossil fuel import bill since Iran war began, says trade body
Without solar power, the EU’s additional fossil fuel import bill since the Iran war began would have been 32% higher – almost €2 billion more – according to analysis by an industry body.
EU warned against ‘electrification-only’ road to clean mobility
Electrification remains the cornerstone of EU road transport decarbonisation, but sidelining sustainable fuels risks slowing the transition, according to the European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition (ERCST).
EU ETS expansion to non-CO2 aviation impacts feasible but faces complex flight path -analysis
Aviation’s non-CO2 climate effects could be priced under the EU’s carbon market, but doing so will require a fundamental rethink of how emissions are measured, verified, and translated into compliance obligations, according to new research.
Southern African nations launch regional carbon markets alliance
Eight southern African countries have formally launched a regional alliance aimed at strengthening coordination on carbon markets and climate finance, as interest in Article 6 cooperation continues to grow across the continent.
World Bank announces first tranche of $1 bln forest programme in Africa to reduce 17.6 MtCO2e annually
The first tranche of cash under the World Bank’s $1-billion forest programme in Central Africa has been approved, to support efforts leading to a 17.6 million tonnes of CO2e reduction in GHG emissions each year, the funder announced Tuesday.
AMERICAS
First domestic ALM project registered in Argentina
Argentina has registered its first domestically-focused agricultural land management (ALM) carbon project under Verra, marking a further expansion of land-based crediting activities in the country’s growing voluntary carbon market.
Canadian project financier reports break-even earnings in year-end financial results
A carbon project developer reported $0.2 mln in net income for 2025, while advancing credit issuance across its portfolio, with initial CORSIA-linked sales were completed by a project partner in early 2026.
Cuba’s forest emissions baseline rises after UN review, gaps remain on degradation
Cuba’s proposed benchmark for forest-sector emissions has been revised upward following a UN technical assessment, with reviewers commending improvements to transparency and scope but flagging data gaps that could affect the country’s eligibility for results-based payments under REDD+.
Carbon removal standard issues first ever Colombian biochar credits amid regional push
Colombia has debuted its first biochar-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits, as the issuer expands beyond its traditional stronghold in neighbouring Bolivia.
BRIEFING: Chile approves $1-bln trio of renewables projects as investment tops climate priorities
The new, far-right government of Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast has approved renewable energy projects worth just over $1 billion in investment – even as it rescinds other mitigation measures, subject to further review.
ASIA PACIFIC
Pakistan signs first Article 6 deal with Norway
Pakistan and Norway have signed a bilateral agreement under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, aimed at scaling up carbon market cooperation and supporting emissions reduction efforts.
Singapore carbon tax revenues seen stalling on industry relief measures
Singapore’s carbon tax receipts are set to remain broadly flat in FY2026, according to budget documents, showing how transitional allowances and policy design features to protect local industry are capping revenues.
Pacific Island VCM project expands with new Indigenous group
An Indigenous tribe has had its forest protection project certified, enabling it to join a voluntary carbon market (VCM) project located on a vulnerable small island developing state, the project coordinator announced on Wednesday.
ACCU Scheme sees seven methods officially expire
Seven methods that generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) sunset on Wednesday, as the government has prioritised two more to be remade.
Australia needs to build CDR awareness to help attract industry workforce, science agency says
Australia needs to raise awareness of carbon removal in the country in order to meet labour requirements to meet its 2050 net zero target, the country’s peak science body said in a report.
DATA DIVE: NZ ETS applications fall further in March, govt data shows
The number of applications to submit land to New Zealand’s ETS slipped to single digits in March, according to government data published this week.
Startup pushed for regulatory changes to enable mCDR in New Zealand -media
An Israeli-founded startup has lobbied the New Zealand government for changes to local regulations so it can proceed with marine carbon removals (mCDR) in the country’s waters, local media reported on Wednesday.
South Korean university selected to conduct ecosystem restoration research for carbon sink development
Researchers at South Korea’s Kookmin University (KMU) have launched a government-backed project to develop ecosystem restoration solutions with the use of new technology, in order to increase carbon sinks.
World’s largest EV producer sees sales continue to slide
The world’s largest electric vehicle producer has reported a significant slump in monthly sales for the third time this year, as a cooling Chinese market hits demand.
VOLUNTARY
Old UN carbon credits trading as low as $0.20 amid rush to exit before CDM closes
Old UN certified credits under the soon to close Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) are changing hands in large volumes for as little as $0.20, an exchange has revealed.
Up to 500k ‘first-of-their-kind’ food waste carbon credits soon up for sale
A large volume of food waste carbon credits that have been certified by Verra are soon to be sold on the CBL platform.
Prediction market launches contract on next carbon offset scandal
A major prediction market operator has launched a suite of contracts on which voluntary carbon standard will face the next integrity controversy, with sub-markets created to bet on the affected project category, country, and reversal type.
Nature removals buyers’ club launches second RFP with rolling process, pre-purchase pilot
A coalition of buyers has launched a second procurement round for nature-based (NbS) carbon removals, introducing a rolling application process and piloting a pre-purchase mechanism, it announced Tuesday.
New methodology aims to standardise DAC assessment, support investment -report
A new framework to assess the environmental performance and costs of direct air capture (DAC) projects could improve comparability and support investment decisions, a recent report found.
Existing carbon project requirements may create perverse incentives for biodiversity conservation, research says
Existing approaches to ensuring additionality, leakage, and permanence in nature-based carbon projects may fail to support biodiversity conservation, a new study argued.
Market veteran launches new company to bridge carbon markets
A new climate advisory firm has launched with a focus on integrating fragmented carbon market systems, targeting growing demand for coordination across voluntary and compliance frameworks, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Financing bottlenecks holding back carbon removal, finds new paper
Efforts to scale technologies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere are being held back by financing issues, a paper released this week has found.
INTERNATIONAL
Carbon revenues could help cover early-stage CCUS project capex costs -panel
Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) projects could alleviate some capex costs, which generally rise with scale, by selling carbon credits, according to a panel Wednesday at the virtual Carbon Capture MENA Summit.
Renewable power capacity surged by almost 16% last year, which also saw sharp rebound in non-renewables
Renewable power capacity increased by 15.5% last year to reach more than 5,000 GW globally, led by solar PV, but 2025 also saw a sharp rebound in non-renewables additions, which nearly doubled compared to 2024, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Drought amplifies warming-driven soil carbon losses, study finds
Warming-driven soil carbon losses could be significantly amplified under drought conditions, while wetter climates may instead see gains, according to new research that highlights a key but underrepresented driver of land-based emissions in climate models.
AVIATION
Middle East war to disrupt local CORSIA pipeline, but with minor impact, experts say
Military strikes in the Middle East are putting CORSIA aspirations increasingly out of reach for local carbon project developers, but the disruption is likely to be short lived and small in absolute terms, according to market service providers.
Russian airlines eyeing up domestic CORSIA credits following standard’s Phase 2 application
Russian carriers should be able to purchase carbon units for CORSIA use from domestic projects, a government minister said Wednesday, following the recent application of a national carbon standard for approval to supply Phase 2 of the international offsetting scheme.
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EVENTS
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
Carbon Removal Investment Summit 2026: May 13, London – The Carbon Removal Investment Summit returns to London on May 13, 2026. cCarbon’s flagship, data- and modelling-driven dialogue brings together 200+ attendees from 160+ organisations, including investors, financiers, buyers, policymakers, developers, and market leaders shaping the carbon removals market. The summit features 40+ expert speakers across 10 curated sessions, along with a private investor conclave for deeper discussions among leading capital providers. The agenda explores where capital is moving, how investment and offtake structures are evolving, and what it will take to move from early momentum to meaningful scale. Early bird rates end Mar. 31 – Register here.
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