Building together - Canadian officials and entrepreneurs representing the province of Alberta met with their counterparts in the Chinese province of Hubei earlier in April, as part of a three-day visit focused on sustainable industries and carbon governance. China Daily reported that the Canadian delegation, led by Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack, discussed carbon capture, green fuels, and low-carbon industrial transformation, visiting a cement plant in Tianjin. Tianjin, an industrial city, has accelerated its transition for low-carbon growth and green manufacturing, while Edmonton has advanced its clean energy and carbon capture sectors. The visit is a continuation of the trade and energy cooperation between Canada and China.

Net zero ban - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed legislation on Wednesday to block carbon taxes in the state. The bill (HB 1217) aims to protect taxpayers against any taxes, fees, or penalties tied to carbon emissions, preventing local governments from adopting or enforcing GHG emissions policies.

Standard body Verra has released a revised methodology for grid-connected renewable electricity generation under its Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), marking a significant overhaul of the legacy Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) approach.

Solar soars - The Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act (SB S6570A) was passed by the New York State Senate on Tuesday, setting a target to deploy 20 GW of distributed solar capacity by 2035 as part of efforts to expand clean energy access and reduce electricity costs. The legislation directs state agencies to accelerate permitting, interconnection, and procurement processes for rooftop and community solar projects, while prioritising deployment in disadvantaged communities. It also includes provisions to streamline grid integration and support workforce development in the solar sector. Lawmakers said the measure is intended to address rising power demand and affordability concerns by scaling local renewable generation, though implementation will depend on regulatory follow-through and coordination with utilities.

Climate pick under fire - Environmental groups in Quebec have raised concerns about the appointment of new Environment Minister Pascale Dery, citing past writings linked to her role at the Montreal Economic Institute that questioned carbon markets, supported fossil fuel infrastructure, and criticised protections for endangered species. Representatives from Greenpeace Canada and Equiterre pointed to publications between 2016-19, including opposition to the Energy East pipeline and arguments that carbon trading would have minimal impact on emissions, as well as a 2016 column in the Journal de Montreal questioning the use of species-at-risk protections to halt development projects. Critics said these positions raise uncertainty about whether Dery will prioritise electrification, decarbonisation, and biodiversity protection in office, while also expressing interest in engaging with her directly to clarify her policy direction. (CTV News)

Canada’s emissions trajectory under a proposed federal-provincial memorandum of understanding (MoU) could diverge sharply depending on how industrial carbon pricing is structured, with outcomes varying by more than 80 million tonnes of CO2e by 2050, according to analysis released on Wednesday.

Carbon markets are essential to improving the financial viability of natural climate solutions (NCS) in Canada, with new analysis finding they can also catalyse the development of biodiversity and other ecosystem credit markets.

South Korea’s finance ministry, alongside the UNFCCC and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), launched on Wednesday a carbon market initiative aimed at aligning voluntary markets globally with the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM).

Current net zero pledges could bring global warming closer to a well-below 2C pathway but leave a persistent emissions gap, while limiting temperature rise to 1.5C without overshoot is “increasingly unlikely”, according to a study published Tuesday.

Listen to me - A letter from Canadian think tank Pembina Institute on Thursday urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to resolve delays in the Canada-Alberta climate MoU after missing an Apr. 1 deadline, warning the impasse is holding back policy and investment. The group called for a C$130 ($95) TIER carbon price by 2030 – which the think tank claimed would unlock tens of billions of dollars in projects – alongside expanded renewables and stronger methane rules aligned with federal standards, arguing delays risk higher emissions and lost economic opportunities.

Budget cuts - A US Republican-led House spending proposal for FY2027 would cut funding for State Department and foreign aid programmes while blocking support for international climate and energy initiatives, including prohibiting funding to implement any carbon tax, E&E News reported. The $47.3 bln State-Foreign Operations bill represents a $2.69 bln (6%) reduction from current levels but exceeds the White House request, and reflects continued efforts by congressional Republicans and the Trump administration to scale back multilateral environmental engagement. The measure is set for subcommittee markup Thursday, with broader debate and amendments expected during a full committee session next week.

One of the largest banks in Canada announced on Thursday the purchase of 5,000 carbon credits over a two-year period from an agriculture project supporting methane reduction in US rice production.

RGGI Allowance (RGA) futures jumped more than 7% on Thursday as traders said the market was showing no signs of slowing down in its recent rally to historic highs.

Airlines are yet to deliver meaningful demand for CORSIA-eligible credits, despite repeated assurances of commitment, leaving a growing pipeline of eligible carbon credits in search of buyers and raising concerns among project developers, insurers, and analysts about the pace of investment.

Hydrogen highway – Elemental Trucks Inc. (ETI) launched what it said is North America’s first commercially available hydrogen fuel cell 63.5-tonne truck at Truck World 2026 on Wednesday. The Canadian manufacturer said the vehicle offers a one-to-one replacement for diesel and compressed natural gas trucks, delivering up to 140,000 lbs payload capacity and long-range performance without the weight and range trade-offs of battery-electric alternatives. ETI added that the truck is built on a Quebec-manufactured chassis with a hydrogen powertrain integrated in Ontario using mostly domestic components, positioning the platform as part of a broader push for Canadian industrial resilience and energy security.

A London-based think tank analysed 30 oil and gas companies, finding their emission reduction targets remain generally incompatible with the Paris Agreement despite some improvements on methane.

A carbon crediting programme is partnering with an Indigenous-led non-profit to develop a certification framework for co-benefits linked to carbon projects on Tribal and First Nations lands in the US and Canada, the groups announced Monday.

EU carbon prices rose slightly on Thursday morning as a low-key market traded around a key technical level, while energy markets strengthened as the stand-off between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz continued.

UK oil major BP suffered a heavy shareholder defeat at its annual general meeting on Thursday that could set back its plans to pivot back to fossil fuels.

Nigeria has boosted Phase 1 CORSIA supply by almost 4 four million credits, a developer said Thursday.

Governance challenges are emerging as the main barriers to scaling investment in conservation projects, with market participants warning that financial risks increasingly stem from social and institutional factors rather than carbon accounting.

Restoring degraded soils could help rebuild natural water cycles that play a major role in regulating the planet’s temperature, according to experts highlighting the potential of nature-based solutions (NbS) beyond emissions cuts and carbon sequestration.

Ecuador's Ministry of Environment and Energy is allowing carbon projects and guiding proponents on how to handle the country's current legal conditions, Carbon Pulse heard from a well-placed environmental consultant.

Paris intends to oppose the inclusion of municipal waste incinerators in the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS), in an outline of its initial views on the market's upcoming revision, due in July.

The European Commission is racing to put the final pieces of the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) in place, as around 10 permanent carbon removal schemes prepare to seek recognition, but experts consulted on Thursday still expressed puzzlement over the programme.

Stakeholders have urged the UN to allow for new nitric acid plants to generate carbon credits under a draft Article 6.4 methodology, as excluding greenfield facilities could undermine incentives to cut N2O emissions.

Disadvantaged isles - EU island states such as Malta, Cyprus, and Ireland are at a specific disadvantage due to the imposition of the EU ETS on aviation and shipping, given that their geographical realities mean they are especially reliant on these industries for trade, argues George Mangion, senior partner at audit and tax firm PKF Malta. In a piece for the Malta Business Weekly, he points to estimates by the Central Bank of Malta that suggest including aviation in the EU ETS results in flights to/from Malta costing an extra €88 mln annually. Meanwhile, emissions-related costs are increasing the cost of importing and exporting goods, leading to higher costs for consumers. There is also the risk of trade bypassing Malta in favour of hubs in North Africa to avoid ETS charges. The ETS is needed to address climate change impacts, but it undermines Malta's position and Europe's broader maritime competitiveness, Mangion states.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group has approved €10 billion in new financing, with nearly €2 bln earmarked to accelerate Europe’s transition to clean energy and strengthen energy independence amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Costs under India’s intensity-based emissions trading system (ETS) are likely to remain “manageable” in the first year of compliance, but could turn into a “material financial risk” for cement and aluminium producers if decarbonisation efforts lag, according to an analysis.

Climate change will not feature on the agenda of a meeting of G7 nations, in order to avoid tensions with the US, a French news outlet reported Thursday.

The European Commission has agreed to accelerate the verification of emissions embedded in Ukrainian exports subject to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to relieve pressure caused by the country's war with Russia, a minister said this week.

A US-based forestry carbon project developer has doubled its afforestation footprint in its last planting season, it announced Thursday.

A carbon removal financier has agreed to purchase more than 425,000 carbon credits from biochar facilities in southern India, it announced Tuesday.

Estonian aid – The EU Commission has approved a €36 mln state aid scheme to cut electricity levies for energy-intensive industries in Estonia, aiming to prevent carbon leakage, the EU executive announced on Thursday. Eligible sectors under the 2022 Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (CEEAG) will receive levy reductions of 75-85%, with a minimum rate of €0.5/MWh. In return, companies must adopt energy efficiency measures, use renewables, or invest in emissions-cutting projects. The scheme runs through 31 December 2029.

The UK government should seize the opportunity to unlock billions of investment and thousands of jobs by championing the country's carbon market through better inter-governmental alignment, said industry bodies in a new report.

The CORSIA futures curve now has shape out to the end of the decade after a single lot on the Dec-30 contract was bought on the ICE exchange.

Germany-based carbon market participants on Thursday called for stronger political recognition and clearer rules for the use of carbon credits, saying uncertainty is creating hesitation among buyers in the voluntary carbon market (VCM).

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has teamed up with the country's main exchange to establish infrastructure for the development of carbon futures.

Near-term uncertainty about robust carbon pricing is strengthening the business case to capture CO2 for re-use in applications like sustainable aviation fuel and microbial oils to displace fossil-based feedstocks, said a stakeholder in an EU-funded project for a circular CO2 economy.

Carbon project developer South Pole has appointed Leila Toplic as Chief Product & Go To Market (GtM) Officer, the Swiss company announced Thursday.

China has issued guidance on how to advance the country's energy conservation and carbon reduction efforts, pledging to curb "unreasonable growth of energy consumption".

The upcoming revision of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) cannot stop at the cap trajectory and other technical adjustments, according to a Brussels think tank, which calls for deeper fixes to address Europe’s flagging economic competitiveness.

Green mining push - Indonesia’s state utility PT PLN has signed power supply deals with multiple coal miners to support “green mining” through electrification of operations, the company announced. The agreements include infrastructure partnerships to build substations and high-voltage installations. Electrifying heavy equipment, particularly hauling, could cut emissions and save up to IDR 2 bln ($115,000) annually per unit versus diesel, the utility added.

The New Zealand government is seeking ways to identify and scale innovative carbon removal solutions to meet the country’s long-term climate goals.

Pilot to profit - PepsiCo on Thursday launched the 2026 edition of its APAC Greenhouse Programme, moving from pilot projects to integrating startup solutions directly into its supply chain, the company said. The company said it will now focus on scaling proven technologies, with five startups selected for a seven-month programme aimed at securing commercial agreements and operational deployment. Selected startups span logistics optimisation, waste recycling, electric farm machinery, biochar production, and soil analytics, with potential emissions and efficiency gains.

Carbon cash - US developer Boomitra on Thursday said ranchers in its Northern Mexico grassland restoration project are receiving carbon-linked payments following the issuance of 3.03 mln credits by Verra in Feb. 2026, creating a new income stream tied to soil carbon gains. The project spans around 4 mln acres across the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, working with 158 ranching families using regenerative practices such as rotational grazing. At least 75% of carbon revenue is distributed to ranchers and local partners, Boomitra added. It is supported by buyers including Deloitte and the Ethereum Climate Platform.

Hand over - New Zealand's Climate Change Commission (CCC) has delivered its 2026 ETS price controls and settings advice to the government on Thursday, it announced on a LinkedIn post. The advice will be published on the the commission's website once it has been formally tabled in Parliament, along with technical annexes, modelling, and data that underpins the report, it said. The NZU price has risen in recent days as the market anticipates the commission will call for tighter settings to align the scheme with New Zealand's climate targets.

Empowering up - The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing A$11 mln ($7.8 mln) to support two First Nations-led microgrid projects in remote Northern Territory communities, aimed at improving energy reliability, affordability and security, it announced. The projects in Borroloola and Ltyentye Apurte will use solar and battery systems to reduce reliance on diesel, deliver cleaner electricity, and enable communities to design and lead their own energy solutions, the agency said. If successful, they are expected to create local economic opportunities and serve as scalable models for other remote communities seeking community-led renewable microgrids.

 

An Australian biochar project developer has signed a research partnership with a university to advance biochar applications in low-carbon concrete use in data centres, it announced Thursday.

Finding partners to share the cost of decarbonising jet fuel is critical to airlines scaling up their conversion to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the US, panellists said during an event for San Francisco Climate Week on Wednesday.