A US-based climate research group would see lifecycle refrigerant management (LRM) first scaled in Southeast Asia as it charts a path to policy intervention of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), including acceleration of carbon markets.  

Global carbon capture and storage (CCS) capacity is set to reach only a fraction of the levels needed to meet the Paris Agreement's 2C target, according to a study published Monday.

Malaysia will likely delay plans to introduce a carbon tax, as the government reassesses the timing amid the energy disruptions in Southeast Asia from the Middle East crisis, the natural resources minister said on Tuesday according to local media.

Australia's carbon market recorded a surge in issuances in March, driven by a handful of large industrial and vegetation projects.

Fears of buyer concentration in durable CDR are overstated: beneath the headlines, a more diverse corporate base is emerging, and with the right financial infrastructure, institutional capital can unlock the scale the market needs.

Provisionally digital – The Global Carbon Council (GCC) has provisionally approved its first digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (dMRV) provider, the Qatar-based standard announced this week. GCC granted Next Green Tech Ltd provisional approval under Track-02 for dMRV Sectoral Scope #01 — Energy (Generation, Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Efficiency), and aligned with GCC GHG sectoral scopes #1, #2, and #3. Next Green Tech Ltd is owned by climate tech company NGX Global. The provisional approval is GCC's first step toward creating a system to integrate dMRV solutions into carbon crediting activities, the standard said. GCC is targeting 18 mln credit issuances in 2026, up from almost 4.5 mln in 2025.

The UK is implementing measures to break the link between spiking gas prices and renewable energy that has left industry paying the highest price for electricity in the developed world.

South Korea's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a law amendment to legalise the country's market stability reserve (K-MSR) under the national emissions trading scheme, with more policy details to be finalised by August.

Malaysia has launched its National Carbon Market Policy (DPKK), setting out a framework to develop a domestic market and tap international finance under the Paris Agreement to help deliver on conditional emissions reduction targets.

Funding call - The Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) has issued a call for business proposals to subsidise emissions reduction projects under the Japan-led Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). Projects that aim to introduce advanced decarbonization technologies or create synergies will be considered. A budget of around JPY 180 mln ($1.13 mln) will be allocated for the funding programme during FY2026-27. The application deadline is set for June 1, GEC said.

Stay cool - Tokyo-based Linkhola announced Tuesday a new methodology for AI-powered energy saving under its carbon credit platform, Earthstory. It is the first of its kind in Japan to be specifically tailored to AI-powered air conditioning control in buildings. Lixil Group, a leader in Japan's housing and building materials sector, participated in the development process and is considering future applications based on the methodology.

Scaling carbon credit financing and insurance remains a challenge as the market continues to grapple with legal and accounting uncertainties, according to a position paper published Tuesday.

International climate talks need to shift focus onto action, away from negotiations, to fend off the "twin reapers" of global warming and high fossil fuel costs, the UN's climate chief said in a speech kicking off the annual Petersberg Dialogue on Tuesday.

Australia’s climate minister has defended the use of carbon credits under the Safeguard Mechanism as it faces fresh criticism in the wake of newly released compliance data.

Scuppered - Plans for a major green hydrogen project in Townsville, Queensland by Edify Energy have been scrapped after the company failed to secure any customers for the hydrogen it intended to produce, RenewEconomy reported. The project, proposed for the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, had been positioned as a significant early hydrogen development but ultimately proved unviable without confirmed demand. The decision highlights broader challenges facing Australia’s hydrogen sector, particularly the difficulty of locking in buyers and commercialising large-scale projects.

Vietnam has launched a new initiative in partnership with South Korea to fund climate technology startups, as the country seeks to nurture a pipeline of investable low-carbon solutions.

Shelved again - A new report by the Changing Markets Foundation and Mighty Earth evaluated methane performance across 20 major food retailers in six countries. Despite their combined $2 trillion revenue - comparable to Brazil’s GDP - retailers are failing to address methane emissions, a major component of their Scope 3 footprint driven largely by meat and dairy supply chains, according to the study. No retailer currently discloses methane emissions or sets reduction targets, showing no progress since last year. While Tesco, Lidl, and Ahold Delhaize rank highest, their efforts remain insufficient for meaningful methane action. Performance shifts include Asda losing the most points and Germany’s Edeka-Verbund improving significantly. US retailers lag behind European peers, with several scoring extremely low or zero. Although top performers have made some progress on broader greenhouse gas reporting and plant-based targets, the report concluded that decisive and rapid action on methane is still lacking across the sector.

An Australian biochar project developer has signed an agreement with a data centre subsidiary to explore the possibility of securing a long-term offtake agreement of carbon removal credits. 

An Australian carbon project developer has announced a leadership restructure by moving from a shared co-CEO structure to having just single chief leading the outfit. 

Bucks for batteries - The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (AREN) has announced over A$4 mln ($3.1 mln) in funding for the first two projects under its Battery Breakthrough Initiative, aimed at advancing next-generation battery technologies. The funding supports PowerPlus Energy to expand and automate battery pack production in Victoria, and Firebird Metals to develop a facility in Perth to process manganese into battery cathode materials. The initiative is designed to strengthen Australia’s battery manufacturing capability, reduce costs and emissions, and build a more resilient domestic supply chain as part of the clean energy transition.

The Indian and South Korean governments on Monday announced they have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.