Projects mitigating super pollutant emissions are capable of scaling up widely across a number of sectors, offering a ready supply for corporate buyers, according to conference attendees at North American Carbon World 2026.

A Calgary-based startup secured up to $10 million in asset-backed financing to advance its first commercial cement project and support scale-up of low-carbon materials, according to its Thursday announcement.

Stable forest carbon stocks and above-ground biomass may conceal underlying degradation as biomass shifts away from dense forest, weakening long-term sequestration potential, a new study said.

A Brazilian developer well known for its reforestation projects has generated its first carbon credits for enhanced rock weathering (ERW) in agriculture, marking a step in diversifying its carbon removal (CDR) portfolio.

A new carbon removal (CDR) portfolio launched on Thursday aims to simplify how companies source credits for 2030 net zero targets by combining multiple high-durability pathways into a single offering.

Net zero hero - A US district court has upheld Maryland’s building codes requiring certain new commercial and residential buildings to achieve net zero energy use by 2040, ruling that the standards do not conflict with federal law, E&E News reported. Judge Deborah Boardman found the state’s Building Energy Performance Standards are consistent with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), rejecting arguments from opponents that the federal statute preempts state and local rules that could limit new gas appliance hookups. The decision is the third in roughly a week in which federal judges have ruled that EPCA does not override building decarbonisation policies, reinforcing states’ authority to regulate building emissions, a major source of GHGs.

Renewables reverse - US electric utility PacifiCorp plans to scale back renewable energy investments and shift toward coal following the repeal of federal tax credits for wind and solar, according to an updated 2025 integrated resource plan filed Tuesday, E&E News reported. The Berkshire Hathaway-owned utility said the policy change has made renewables more expensive, with coal now appearing “a relatively more cost-effective resource,” while rising electricity demand driven partly by data centre growth is also shaping its outlook. The revised long-term plan, which runs through 2045, cuts expected new utility-scale solar capacity from 4,765 MW to 2,477 MW and includes no new wind or solar development in four of the six Western states it serves, signalling a significant pullback from earlier clean energy ambitions.

Back to backtracking - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is considering adding a 2040 interim emissions reduction target as part of proposed changes to the state’s climate law, amid delays in implementing regulations required to meet its 2030 goals, E&E News reported. The administration has already missed statutory deadlines to issue those rules, prompting legal challenges from environmental justice groups. Hochul’s proposal, which has not yet been detailed to lawmakers, has drawn criticism from advocates who argued it would weaken the state’s climate commitments by shifting focus to a later, potentially non-binding target.

Emissions from food loss and waste (FLW) are primarily driven by consumer behaviour and structural overproduction rather than supply-chain inefficiencies, according to new research, with developing regions projected to account for the bulk of future growth.

Reintroduced beaver populations across Europe are materially reshaping carbon dynamics in river systems, with new research finding that dam-building activity can convert headwater stream corridors into significant and durable carbon sinks.

SF vs NF - Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, with 1 kg having a warming effect over 100 years equivalent to about 24 tonnes of CO2. New measurements in Germany, conducted by Goethe University Frankfurt for the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), show that SF6 emissions are unevenly distributed across regions, challenging previous assumptions. Using the first nationwide, consistent dataset combining measurements from multiple monitoring stations and the European ICOS network, researchers found that while total German emissions broadly match reported figures submitted to the UN, their regional distribution differs significantly. In particular, a hotspot in southwest Germany was estimated to emit around 30 tonnes of SF6 annually between 2021 and 2023, which does not align with officially reported sources that suggested a more even spread. This indicates some sources may have been misattributed or overestimated over time. The project also marks the first continuous measurements of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) in Germany, beginning in Feb. 2023. NF3 is another highly potent and long-lived GHG. Initial results show a moderate global increase in concentrations, but few local emission events in Germany, suggesting limited domestic sources at present. Overall, the study highlights the importance of continuous atmospheric monitoring to better understand real-world emission patterns, improve reporting accuracy, identify previously unknown sources, and support targeted mitigation efforts. Both SF6 and NF3 are far more climate-damaging than CO2 - by factors of around 24,300 and 17,400, respectively. While SF6 is already regulated in some applications, NF3 remains relatively overlooked despite growing use in the semiconductor industry.

Direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) is unlikely to reach gigatonne-scale deployment by mid-century without sustained, high public subsidies and stronger climate policy, a recently published preprint found.

Target trimmed – British Columbia said it will cut its 2035 zero-emission vehicle sales mandate from 100% to 75% to better align with federal policy and reflect slower-than-expected uptake, CBC News reported this week. The government said the changes would provide greater flexibility for consumers and automakers while maintaining interim compliance targets, including a 26% requirement for 2026-27. The government also announced funding for 75 public EV charging projects, while signalling that targets for 2028-30 will be guided by forthcoming federal plans. The Pembina Institute was "encouraged" to see BC maintain a 75% target under current market conditions, while the New Car Dealers Association of BC said this was "a helpful step toward a more balanced and adaptable approach to zero-emission vehicle policy".

A leaked draft of benchmark values that determine how many free allowances industries receive under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) suggests softer cuts for certain sectors, such as some chemicals and refinery products, but retains a steep reduction for the ‘fallback’ benchmarks, which analysts say could be bullish for EUA prices.

Coal comeback - Political voices in the Netherlands are calling for coal-fired power plants to be kept open longer in response to high gas prices driven by the Iran war. By law the plants must close down by 2030, but Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) leader Henri Bontenbal has suggested keeping the three plants open longer. These plants supply about 15% of the country's electricity. Several parties in the Netherlands, such as the PVV, JA21, and Forum for Democracy have no objection to coal-fired power, but the fact CDA has again raised the subject is sensitive for coalition partner D66. There is also strong resistance to the CDA's proposal within GroenLinks-PvdA (soon to be Pro), the largest opposition party, which has instead called for investing in domestic green energy. (Nos)

Where is the friction? - Removals database CDR.fyi is launching the first survey to understand how carbon removal market actors experience the contracting process, from signing term sheets to completing deals, in order to identify where friction exists and where shared infrastructure can support. The survey will also gauge how the Open Standard Carbon Removal Agreement (OSCAR) developed by CDR.fyi can best support suppliers in the contracting process. Stakeholders can take the survey here.

The WWF this week sent recommendations to the COP30 presidency on its roadmap for tackling deforestation and forest degradation, calling for greater effort to counter clearance for commodity production.

As the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) enters a sensitive revision phase, researchers have modelled how speculative price swings on the bloc’s carbon market are closely tied to wider policy sentiment and political declarations.

The global carbon removal (CDR) market closed the first quarter of 2026 with a sharp uptick in activity, as March saw significant growth across offtake agreements, credit issuance, and retirements, according to new data.

African governments are coalescing around the idea of a continent-wide “mother registry” to link national carbon markets, but friction is emerging with major independent standards who ultimately control the countries' carbon credits and market infrastructure.

Exit fossil fuels - Accelerating the energy transition sector-wide in Germany is the best bet for achieving greater resilience and energy independence, according to a paper by the Deutscher Naturschutzring (DNR), an umbrella organisation representing environmental groups. It sets out an  11-point plan to boost resilience, including further expanding renewables and a speedier transition to renewable heating systems and building efficiency. It also urges the EU to reject a recent LNG trade deal with the US, as well as new long-term fossil fuel import deals with other countries, and adds the country should avoid building new gas power plants without a roadmap committing to green hydrogen. Germany is especially reliance on volatile fossil fuel imports, and the effects of the Iran war pushing up energy prices have therefore revived debate about its shift to renewables. The group also says the country should avoid over-reliance on biomass, and calls for an adoption of the circular economy, as well as enforcement of the polluter-pays principle. (Clean Energy Wire)

The UK Conservative party has pledged to kill the country's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) if it comes to power, in a campaign launched on Thursday.

A Swiss sensor manufacturer has partnered with a carbon removal (CDR) procurement platform to secure a portfolio of durable credits across three pathways, the companies announced Thursday.

A European Commission proposal to tweak the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) – widely seen as a minimalist, targeted amendment – could expose a broader governance problem with the supply‑balancing tool, experts say, as pressure builds ahead of a scheduled review of the bloc’s compliance carbon market in July.

Biogenic emissions from sources such as farming and deforestation emit more than nine times what temporary removals currently store, according to a new report, which noted the EU policy gap in addressing the issue.

Liquidity in China's national emissions market continued to fall over the past week despite the planned injection of new permits into the market, as traders remain hesitant in the absence of policy updates.

Brazil has adopted a regulation requiring financial institutions to use deforestation data to screen rural loan applicants before granting credit.

Jet fuel disruption - The CEO of Ryanair has warned that jet fuel supplies could be disrupted by 10-25% from May if the war in Iran continues, though if the conflict ends and the Strait of Hormuz is opened by mid or end April, then there's no risk to supply. Ireland’s Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has said the issue of jet fuel supply disruption was discussed at a meeting of EU energy ministers, and stressed the importance of aviation to Ireland. (the Independent)

Vietnam this week issued a decree setting out detailed rules for carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, setting caps on exports and clarifying government oversight.

A European exchange has published its first quarterly reference price for certificates used in the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Green transition - Indonesia plans to roll out 100 GW of solar-plus-battery capacity, starting with 13 GW to replace costly diesel generation across remote islands, according to an analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The shift aims to cut reliance on imported fuel, which currently costs over $2 bln annually and exposes the country to now volatile global oil markets. Solar-plus-storage could deliver power at $0.08-0.20/kWh, well below diesel generation costs, potentially saving up to $2 bln in fuel imports and $1.5-2 bln in subsidies each year, IEEFA said. However, progress has been slow due to regulatory uncertainty, lack of clear tariffs, financing constraints, and land acquisition challenges, IEEFA added.

The clean cookstove sector is rapidly transforming from a voluntary model to a high-integrity, data-driven carbon market that will satisfy the compliance stipulations for international trade in UN markets, experts and industry participants have said.

Thailand and Switzerland have completed new issuances of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) from an electric bus programme in Bangkok, the organisation mandated to procure Article 6 credits for the country announced Thursday.

EU carbon prices ended the holiday-shortened week unchanged after a 4% drop in Thursday driven by selling after the market failed to conclusively breach a technical resistance level, as well as traders offloading risk ahead of a long weekend with energy markets climbing as the US president vowed to hit Iran "very hard" in the coming two weeks.

EV transition - EV insurance quote requests in Australia surged 42% in March and 81% year on year, according to NRMA Insurance, as higher crude prices and fuel supply concerns drive motorists towards electric vehicles. The spike followed early-March disruptions in the Middle East, with the strongest demand seen in New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. NRMA said the shift signals changing consumer behaviour, with oil price shocks historically acting as catalysts for longer-term transitions. Improved model availability, a growing second-hand market, and better charging infrastructure are also easing earlier concerns over cost, range, and charging.

UK greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to have slipped by 2% year-on-year in 2025 – due largely to industrial reductions – and reached less than half the level in 1990, according to government statistics published on Thursday.

Deliveries of CORSIA credits ticked higher in March, the ICE exchange said, ahead of launching new contracts for hedging exposure to the market later this month.

Taiwan's environment ministry has approved the island's first carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, as part of a broader national climate strategy.

New board members - Verra has appointed three new members to its board of directors: Derek Walker, El Hadji Mbaye Diagne, and Jennifer Park. Derek Walker joined on Jan. 1 and brings with him over 25 years of experience in climate and energy. He is currently senior advisor at the Health Effects Institute and chair of the board of the Institute for Sustainable Communities, and previously held senior leadership roles at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and served as executive director of the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society at Dartmouth College. El Hadji Mbaye Diagne joined on Apr. 1, and is a carbon and international climate policy expert, with more than two decades of experience supporting governments under the UNFCCC. He currently serves as director general of Afrique–Énergie–Environnement (AEE) in Senegal and has been a member of Senegal’s official UNFCCC negotiation delegation since 2000, among other roles. Jennifer Park also joined on Apr. 1, and is a climate finance and diplomacy expert, currently serving as partner at ALTÉRRA Management Limited in Abu Dhabi, and previously as a senior adviser in the executive office of the UN Secretary-General. The new leaders are expected to help guide the standards body in advancing its integrity and impact in carbon markets.

Five governments have urged the European Commission to loosen the bloc’s strict green hydrogen production rules, warning that the current framework is stalling investment and undermines wider climate and industrial goals.

A carbon market insurer has teamed up with a modeller to strengthen how physical climate risk is incorporated into its underwriting, it announced Thursday.

Singapore has launched a S$250 million ($194 mln) programme to speed up the deployment of low-carbon technologies in its power and industrial sectors, it announced this week.

The war in the Middle East and the subsequent energy crisis could be used as an excuse by Safeguard facilities to push for more lenient treatment, however it is too early to say how this would play out, according to experts.

Ethiopia has established a legal framework for forest carbon trading, laying out rules for the generation, verification, and transfer of credits from conservation and reforestation activities, according to local media reports.

A new academic proposal to overhaul how carbon markets value non-CO2 emissions could materially increase credit issuance for methane projects while sharpening incentives for near-term abatement, according to a study.

Helping hand - Japan’s JICA has signed a JPY 50 bln ($330 mln) loan agreement with Vietnam to support its climate adaptation efforts, Netzero Vietnam reported. The funding will be aligned with Vietnam’s national climate targets, officials said. The programme will support development of institutional frameworks, including incentives for green investment and policies to implement the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The loan is expected to be fully disbursed by the end of 2026.

Joining forces - Oil major TotalEnergies and UAE state-backed renewable energy developer Masdar have signed a binding agreement to form a $2.2 bln  joint venture for the development of onshore renewable energy projects across nine Asian countries, the companies said on Thursday. The 50/50 venture will combine assets with 3 GW of operational capacity and 6 GW under advanced development, targeting operations by 2030. The JV will focus on solar, wind, and battery storage projects, positioning both firms to capture rising electricity demand in Asia. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals.

As the shortfall of oil and gas due to the war in the Middle East continues to push up fuel prices globally, a decision by New Zealand’s government in February to pursue the construction of a new LNG import terminal is coming under growing pressure.

Bonded – ASX-listed ammonia developer NH3 Clean Energy has selected Linde as its partner for front-end engineering design work on its Western Australia project, it announced on Thursday. As well, the two will collaborate to develop potential build-own-operate elements of the WAH2 project, and explore opportunities for Linde to offer operations and maintenance services for other aspects, NH3 CEO Stephen Hall said on an investors call. Chairman Charles Whitfield added that the company sees a clear path to a final investment decision, which is pretty close.

Indonesia has agreed to deepen cooperation on energy sectors with Japan and South Korea, respectively, during the president's visits to East Asia this week.

Blown away – New Zealand’s largest wind farm to date has been approved via the controversial fast-track process, the government announced on Thursday. Proposed by Contact Energy, the Southland Windfarm would have an installed capacity of up to 380 MW – split across up to 55 turbines with a capacity of 7 MW each, according to the project’s documentation. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop noted that the development had previously been declined, due to concerns about the landscape and effects on the rural surrounds. The revised project took five months to pass through the fast-track system once an expert panel was appointed, he added. As well as the turbines, the development will also see the construction of transmission lines to connect the project to the national grid.

POTUS speaks – US President Donald Trump pledged on Wednesday to complete military objectives in two to three weeks. The White House billed the president’s address as an operational update about US military strikes in Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, which market service providers said is likely to disrupt CORSIA prices and projects in the region.

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.

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.

Save the date – This year’s pre-COP gathering in Fiji will be held from Oct. 5-8, the government said last month at the Pacific Climate Change Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. The Pacific Island nation was in February selected as host for the pre-COP, with a leaders component to be held in Tuvalu, ahead of November’s COP31 summit in Turkiye, with Australia serving as president of the negotiations. (FBC News)

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.

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.

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.