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TOP STORY
ANALYSIS: Microsoft’s ‘pause’ in CDR buying is a stark wake-up call for nascent sector
A reported pause to Microsoft’s carbon removal (CDR) purchasing programme exposes a major demand challenge for the nascent technology-based market, but also represents a “bittersweet” opportunity for the sector to mature, project developers and experts told Carbon Pulse.
DAILY NEWS TICKER
CP Daily News Ticker: 13 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.
EMEA
EU Commission chief says ETS free permit allocation benchmarks will come “shortly”
The benchmarks determining how many free allowances industries receive under the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) is coming “shortly”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated in a speech on Monday, following a meeting with other commissioners on the impact of the Middle East war.
Irish govt pushes back planned carbon tax increase, reduces fuel duties
The government of Ireland will defer the planned carbon tax increase on non-ETS sectors, and reduce duties on petrol and diesel under a new package of measures agreed Sunday to alleviate pressure on the transport, farming, and fisheries sectors.
Danish CCUS initiative announces first project awards across four carbon removal pathways
A Danish public-private partnership on carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) last week announced the first batch of projects under its latest funding rounds, with a combined budget of roughly DKK 45.9 million (€6.1 mln) across four initiatives, as part of a broader rollout of 12 projects to be confirmed this month.
Eight firms apply for biogenic CO2 capture aid under €90 mln Finnish scheme
Eight companies have applied for investment aid to develop biogenic carbon capture projects under a Finnish government scheme with a €90 million budget aimed at scaling early-stage carbon capture capacity.
UK govt seeks to make it easier to pass legislation for dynamic alignment with EU -media
The UK government is poised to introduce legislation next month that would allow it to align the country with new EU regulations, including for the bloc’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), without going through a parliamentary vote, according to The Times newspaper.
Euro Markets: EUAs give up 0.3% while energy swings as Iran talks seen failing, Hormuz still blocked
Europe’s carbon market ended Monday marginally lower as EUAs moved mostly in direct opposition to shifts in energy prices, after the US said it would impose its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after weekend peace talks with Iran failed to reach an agreement.
UK trims 2026 free carbon permit allocations further
The UK ETS Authority has reduced the total number of free UKA permit handouts for industrial emissions in both 2025 and 2026 by just over 2% since previous figures were published, trimming allocations for this year by around 500,000 tonnes, though keeping the year-on-year cut at 5%.
UK launches £2.5 mln tender to procure carbon credits for new govt building
The UK government has launched a procurement process to purchase carbon credits to offset around 5,165 tonnes of emissions from the construction of a new headquarters for a European weather agency, with a budget of up to £2.5 million.
Madagascar clean cookstove project achieves CORSIA labelling, set to boost market supply by 2.7 mln
An Australian clean cookstove project developer has successfully secured final approval to label credits from its series of projects in Madagascar as CORSIA-eligible (Phase 1), with plans to raise overall market supply by some 2.7 million units.
Industrial pilot converts lower-grade ores for green steel in world first
The first industrial-scale pilot to convert lower-grade iron ore into direct-reduced iron using hydrogen has been completed in Namibia, paving the way for a green steel value chain connecting Australia, Namibia, and Germany.
AMERICAS
California to release 15-day notice on Tuesday for updates on ETS rulemaking
California regulator ARB announced it will publish on Tuesday modified texts and additional documents related to its planned update of the state’s Cap-and-Invest Program for a 15-day comment period.
Virginia publishes proposed RGGI regulation as it gears up for re-entry
Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has published draft regulatory text for its planned re-entry into regional power sector ETS RGGI, including proposed base CO2 allowance budgets.
RGGI Market: RGAs recede from record high above $30
RGGI Allowance (RGA) futures set a record high settlement before speculator-driven selling brought prices back down on the week, traders said.
Alberta seeks comment on vent gas protocol
Alberta has opened the public comment period for the second version of its vent gas reduction protocol, in line with a target to finalise the protocol this summer.
LATAM Roundup: Govts back big reductions while ‘Microsoft pause’ shakes voluntary CDR
Latin American governments are backing large-scale CO2 reduction activities as a sustainable development strategy, scoring several high-profile wins last week, while the voluntary market (VCM) for CO2 removals (CDR) reeled from the announcement of mega CDR buyer Microsoft halting purchases.
Procurement platform secures exclusive access to credits from US BiCRS+RNG project
A biomass carbon removal and storage plus renewable natural gas (BiCRS+RNG) project in the US has secured a route to market via a procurement platform, it was announced on Monday.
US Alien Tort Statute could support claims over harms linked to carbon projects abroad -analysis
Foreign plaintiffs could use a long-standing US human rights statute to bring claims against companies involved in harmful carbon offset projects, despite recent court rulings narrowing its scope, a recently-published legal analysis argued.
ASIA PACIFIC
INTERVIEW: Australian govt determined to pass ACCU Scheme reforms by year end, minister says
Long-awaited legislative reforms to Australia’s carbon market will not be interrupted by the ongoing energy crisis, as the government looks to better integrate the scheme with other policies, according to Assistant Minister Josh Wilson.
Australian LNG faces long-term oversupply risk despite recent crisis -report
Australia’s LNG projects risk losing out in an increasingly oversupplied market – even as disruptions from the Middle East conflict have tightened global gas volumes – as long-term export contracts begin to expire, a new report warned on Tuesday.
Chinese energy major to develop country’s first offshore CCUS project for gas recovery
One of China’s major energy companies has started construction of a carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) project, the country’s first demonstration applying offshore carbon injection technology to enhance natural gas production.
Carbon ratings agency launches operations in Japan
A carbon ratings company has established a new entity in Japan and is already serving local corporates and market participants, it announced Tuesday.
NZ Market: NZU prices climbs to two-month high off the back of buying pressure
Pressure from buyers caught sellers by surprise last week, sending New Zealand allowance prices to a two-month high.
Consulting firm purchases 18k ACCUs from koala-focussed carbon project
A big-four consultation firm has been the first to agree to purchase carbon credits from a novel group of Australian environmental plantings projects seeking to help restore koala populations in New South Wales.
South Korea considers changes in free allowance allocation criteria
South Korea is seeking public input on a proposal that will likely enable allocation of additional free allowances to some of those regulated by the national emissions trading scheme.
VOLUNTARY
While dwarfed by Microsoft buying, small CDR buyers continue to grow since 2022 -report
Advanced market commitment in carbon removal (CDR) has doubled nearly every year since 2022 from buyers other than Microsoft or the carbon buyers group Frontier, a market platform reported on Monday.
VCM Report: News of pause to Microsoft’s carbon removal buying programme shakes up market
News of Microsoft possibly pausing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) buying sent shockwaves through the nascent market late last week.
Carbon project developer reports Q1 2026 surge in forward sales as pipeline reaches 16 mln credits
A Dutch carbon project developer saw forward sales more than double in Q1 2026, reaching around €4.5 million after signing nearly €2.5 mln in new contracts, according to its latest quarterly update.
CORSIA’s credit supply may be rising, but more insurance needed to meet demand -analysis
The volume of carbon credits for the aviation offsetting scheme CORISA may have doubled in the past year – but the market’s true supply will remain constrained without the spread of insurance, according to analysis published on Monday.
INTERNATIONAL
FEATURE: Efforts ramp up globally to include Indigenous Peoples in carbon, clean energy projects
Indigenous Peoples globally are increasingly acting to have an active stake in carbon and clean energy projects on their lands, however ongoing structural barriers persist that need to be addressed if they are to reap the full benefit, according to experts and local leaders.
Finance ministries urged to lead low-carbon transition with clear policy packages
Finance departments across the world must take a central role in driving the global shift to low-carbon economies by deploying coordinated policy packages rather than relying on carbon pricing alone, according to new analysis from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.
SHIPPING
Shipping companies avoided extra $4.3 bln in annual taxes by paying half global average rate
Ten of the world’s largest public reporting shipping companies avoided paying $4.3 billion in additional taxes in 2024 due to the sector’s privileged tax regime – enough to cover more than 30% of the annual carbon pricing proposed for the sector, according to a non-profit.
Shipping’s carbon costs could outweigh its fuel burden by late 2030s, says report
The cost of complying with climate regulations for European shipping could exceed that of fuel and reach $200-600 per tonne of CO2 by 2035-40, according to an industry body.
Ship companies urge IMO to ditch carbon pricing framework -media
An open letter signed by almost 30 companies led by Greek shipowner Angelicoussis calls on member states of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to pursue alternatives to a global carbon pricing framework for shipping, a trade journal reported.
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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. Register here.
Power Summit: June 3-4, Helsinki – Join Eurelectric’s annual summit, where policymakers, industry leaders and innovators will explore how electrification can power Europe’s secure, competitive and climate-neutral future. This year’s edition will focus on accelerating electrification, strengthening energy security and mobilising investment for the energy transition. Register now.
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- *Asia-Pacific Environmental Markets Correspondent, Carbon Pulse – Remote
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