California Carbon Allowances (CCAs) continued to trade flat around around $29 as the market awaits developments on planned programme updates, while Washington Carbon Allowances (WCA) fell to five-month lows after the state published guidance on proposed changes around Allowance Price Containment Reserve (APCR) and auction supply.

A new Canadian organisation has launched to support research, governance, and development of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) and other ocean-based carbon removal (CDR) approaches.

Discussion input – The business organisation ICC Brasil and the climate consultancy WayCarbon on Wednesday released a joint technical report to support the Brazilian government in structuring its emissions trading system (SBCE), focusing on methodology accreditation and integrity criteria for offsets in the compliance market. Drawing on a review of 10 voluntary carbon standards in Brazil, the report outlines minimum requirements — including additionality, baselines, and emissions quantification — and assesses 25 methodologies against these benchmarks, as well as Article 6.4 rules and ICVCM Core Carbon Principles, to inform future regulatory discussions.

FPIC in focus – Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) convened the 10th meeting of the CONAREDD+ safeguards technical working group on April 28-29, bringing together government, civil society, academia, states, traditional communities, and the International Labour Organization to examine how Free, Prior, and Informed Consultation (FPIC) is applied in REDD+ initiatives under ILO Convention 169. Discussions focused on differing interpretations and implementation challenges across contexts. As a next step, the CONAREDD+ Executive Secretariat will compile the inputs and case studies presented, which may inform the development of a resolution or other guidance on FPIC application in REDD+ programmes and projects nationwide.

Brazil carbon standard – The Brazilian carbon credit certifier backed by Brazil’s development bank BNDES has opened a public consultation on the development of its technical standard and certification methodology. The process has technical support from Texas-based Aecom and will remain open until May 23 on Ecora’s website. The certifier was presented during COP30 in Belem, with support from Bradesco and the Ecogreen Fund.

Coolant crackdown – Kroger, a US grocery retailer, will spend $100 mln to upgrade refrigeration systems under a proposed settlement from the federal Department of Justice (DOJ), after authorities alleged nearly a decade of leaks of ozone-depleting refrigerant. In the Wednesday announcement, the DOJ said the company failed to promptly repair leaks of R-22, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon phased out under the Montreal Protocol, between 2014 and 2023. The firm would replace or upgrade equipment at 600 stores under the proposed settlement. The proposed consent decree has been filed with a US district court and remains subject to a 30-day public consultation period before approval.

Clean kickstart – British Columbia funder NorthX Climate Tech has invested C$3 mln in four early-stage Canadian companies developing decarbonisation technologies, it was announced Wednesday. The funding will support ShiftX Technologies, Kinitics Automation, CURA, and Hydron Energy in advancing solutions spanning hydrogen production, methane abatement, low-carbon lime, and direct-air-capture (DAC). The funding aims to accelerate pilot deployments, de-risk early-stage technologies, and support their progression to commercial scale across energy, heavy industry, and resource-based sectors.

Senate stalls - US Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a Democratic effort to reinstate a Colorado air pollution control plan after the US EPA under President Donald Trump rejected it, with a Congressional Review Act resolution led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D) failing 46-52 along party lines, E&E News reported. The measure sought to overturn the EPA’s decision to deny the state’s regional haze plan, which aims to improve visibility by requiring emissions cuts from power plants and industrial facilities under the Clean Air Act.

Grid go-ahead – North American clean energy project developer PowerBank Corporation announced Thursday it has executed a grid interconnection and operating agreement for its 2.43 MW Sydney community solar project in Nova Scotia. The company said signing the agreement enables the project to proceed to environmental permitting, with ground preparation targeted for fall 2026, subject to final approvals and financing. The facility is expected to deliver approximately $1.79 mln in lifetime savings to the local community in Cape Breton, alongside emissions reductions and economic benefits. The project is one of four community solar contracts awarded in the province to date.

A surge in data centre-driven electricity demand is exposing gaps in US grid planning, with experts warning on Thursday that flawed load forecasting risks higher costs, delayed clean energy connections, and reliability shortfalls.

A climate-focused non-profit opened a public comment period for its carbon crediting standard focused on emissions reductions within the electric power sector, according to a Thursday announcement.

European carbon made a modest advance on Thursday amid wild swings in energy prices as EUAs held on to their negative correlation with oil and gas.

RGGI Allowance (RGA) futures skyrocketed more than 15% higher Thursday from the previous day's close, reaching fresh all-time highs around $47 after the programme late on Wednesday confirmed Virginia's plans for re-entering the market this summer.

A European Commission presentation containing draft benchmark values that determine how many free allowances industries receive under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) retains steep reductions for the ‘fallback’ categories, while outlining a new approach expected to deliver around €4 billion more in free allocations.

Got it all mapped out - Carbon Mapper has unveiled plans to expand its methane-detection capabilities with new monitoring technology aimed at reducing one of the most powerful greenhouse gases. The initiative focuses on a new Advanced Emissions Monitoring Imaging Spectrometer (AEMIS), developed with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It will be deployed on aircraft and future satellites to improve the detection, measurement, and attribution of methane emissions. The technology is designed to identify both large 'super-emitters' and more diffuse sources across sectors such as fossil fuels, agriculture, and waste. The system will enhance monitoring frequency and broaden coverage, potentially including additional pollutants relevant to climate and air quality, according to a press release. A new Tanager satellite equipped with this technology is expected to launch as early as 2028, offering improved sensitivity and wider global reach, it added. By combining satellite and airborne data, Carbon Mapper aims to deliver more precise and actionable emissions information, supporting faster mitigation efforts and greater transparency.

Penalty for Cyprus - The European Commission has issued a final warning to Cyprus for failing to implement updated EU aviation climate rules, advancing infringement proceedings, KNews has reported. The issue relates to Directive 2023/958, which reforms the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for aviation. The Directive aims to gradually eliminate free carbon allowances for airlines, requiring them to pay more for emissions and pushing the sector toward decarbonisation. Cyprus missed the end-of-2023 deadline to transpose the Directive into national law. The Commission has now given authorities two months to comply or risk referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union and possible financial penalties. The new rules are expected to increase airlines’ operating costs, which may be passed on to passengers through higher ticket prices. For Cyprus, heavily reliant on tourism, this could affect travel demand and economic activity. The case underscores ongoing tensions between EU climate enforcement and delays at the national level.

Monitoring biodiversity in REDD+ – Carbon credit trader Karbon-X has partnered with Fundacion BioHerencia to support the integration of field-based ecological data into the measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of its Sur del Meta REDD+ project in Colombia, it announced Thursday. The partnership establishes a technical and operational framework to include community-based monitoring and support the project's goal of preserving biodiversity. BioHerencia holds the land of one of the sites where REDD+ is being developed.

A large-scale financing deal will support tree planting on degraded land and scale carbon removal (CDR) efforts in North America, according to a Thursday announcement.

Aligning finance with forest conservation and restoration requires a shift away from short-term, return-driven investment approaches toward frameworks guided by public objectives, a paper has said.

The global transition away from fossil fuels must address deep issues like fiscal reliance, constrained energy access, price distortions, poorly aligned domestic policies, and limited multilateral architecture, the Santa Marta conference in Colombia heard this past week.

The European Commission released on Thursday the third version of the Non-CO2 Aviation Effects Tracking System (NEATS), introducing a new platform for monitoring the sector's wider climate impact under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

An independent power producer has struck bilateral deals with Italian steel and iron companies, agreeing to supply renewable electricity that will help to avoid some 528,000 tonnes of CO2, it announced on Thursday.

The Dutch national research institute for biodiversity has pre-purchased €50,000 worth of nature-based carbon removal credits generated through a rewilding project in the UK.

An investment fund focused on European forests announced its first transaction on Thursday, acquiring a Finnish forest portfolio spanning approximately 6,500 hectares.

Macao International Carbon Emission Exchange (MEX) has formed a partnership with a carbon registry infrastructure provider to expand market connectivity.

A Swiss carbon removal (CDR) supplier has struck its first portfolio agreement to sell carbon credits to a major AI infrastructure company, it announced Thursday.

A Canadian carbon removal company has struck a deal with a French multinational electric utility company covering carbon credit procurement, joint research, and market development.

The absence of fresh policy drivers has cooled expectations for China's national emissions market, with permit prices staying below the RMB 80 mark over the week and analysts revising price forecasts downward.

Choppy seas - Despite the divergent views expressed by countries about the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) for global shipping, the chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), Harry Conway, said he was confident that members will ultimately agree to a global measure during his summary of talks so far at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) HQ in London. Delegates now await the terms of reference for future intersessional meetings, which will define the content to be discussed. The IMO secretary general, Arsenio Dominguez, said that the secretariat will remain neutral in drafting these terms, with the sole aim of continuing to make progress towards building consensus on the framework. He urged member states be supportive and flexible when negotiating, and to consider how industry is waiting on an agreement to make investment decisions and progress shipping decarbonisation.  

Solar surge - UK households are embracing solar power in record numbers as the govt accelerates its clean power mission to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets exacerbated by the Iran war. Some 27,000 solar installations were completed in March - the highest monthly deployment of solar in over a decade, and with the surge mainly driven by rooftop solar. The growth means that total solar capacity across the UK has now surpassed 2 million installations – across solar farms and rooftops - for the first time ever. Solar capacity has increased by 11.7% over the past year, adding 2.3 GW of clean, homegrown electricity to Britain’s energy mix and helping reduce the country's exposure to gas price shocks. The govt also recently consented Springwell Solar Farm, the largest power-producing solar farm in UK history, and is moving forward with allowing for 'plug-in solar' panels to be installed at homes.

A Kenya-based cookstoves developer has received an Article 6 Letter of Authorisation (LoA) from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), prefacing intent to sell state-sanctioned carbon credits under the UN’s CORSIA aviation offsetting scheme.

The need for clean electrification and cookstoves are set to be top priorities for November's COP31 summit, against the backdrop of a widening international oil crisis, leaders said at a meeting in Paris on Thursday. 

Singapore and the Philippines on Thursday signed a bilateral implementation agreement under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, marking Manila’s first such deal to transfer carbon credits and further expanding the city-state’s growing portfolio.

Deeper ties - South Korea and Australia have agreed to ensure a stable supply of diesel and other energy commodities, including LNG, ahead of a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers, according to Yonhap. Australia is South Korea's primary LNG supplier and a leading source of condensate and critical minerals, while South Korea is a major provider of diesel and refined petroleum products to Australia.

Warning - Japanese gas giant Inpex has resubmitted plans for its Bonaparte carbon capture and storage (CCS) project to the Australian government, a move that has sparked concern from environmental groups. Calling it a "carbon pollution dumping experiment", the Australian Marine Conservation Society in an emailed statement warned that the CCS project requires dangerous seismic blasting that kills marine life, yet Inpex has not disclosed the scale or environmental impacts of the blasting.  

Validated - Japanese tyre maker Yokohama's 2035 greenhouse gas reduction targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, confirming alignment with the Paris Agreement, it announced Thursday. The company aims to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63% and Scope 3 emissions by 37.5% from 2024 levels. The targets cover both operational emissions and key supply chain categories, including purchased goods and energy-related activities. Yokohama Rubber said it has been promoting the use of solar power generation and electricity derived from renewable energy at its plants around the world to cut CO2 emissions.

GO is go - Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has approved certificates under the government’s Guarantee of Origin (GO) Scheme for the first time, it announced Thursday. The CER GO registry showed environmental consulting firm Ecovantage had been issued seven Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) certificates, in relation to a solar project in NSW. Australia's GO Scheme was launched in November after years of development which allows companies to trace and certify emissions renewable electricity throughout their supply chains. The programme is designed to foster development and international trade of low emissions products.  

Revisions - Indonesia's financial regulator is planning to revise its carbon trading regulation and roll out a supporting registry system by June of this year, Ecobiz Asia reported, citing OJK's chief commissioner. The move aims to strengthen governance, transparency, and integration of Indonesia’s carbon market framework and comes after recent presidential and forestry regulations. The regulator said it is coordinating with the Indonesia Stock Exchange and other stakeholders to operationalise the system.

The Australian government has published a raft of draft amendments to update the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme, including new powers that could see methods with integrity issues barred from being credited.  

Granular gridlock – Major companies, industry groups, NGOs, and energy developers including Amazon, Apple, and General Motors have urged proposed revisions to corporate emissions accounting rules to avoid mandating stricter procurement requirements in a public statement published last week. The signatories called on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to make hourly and strict deliverability matching under its Scope 2 market-based method optional rather than mandatory. They argued the current guidance has enabled more than 250 GW of clean energy deployment since 2015, warning that mandatory hourly and deliverability matching could deliver limited accounting benefits while raising costs and potentially discouraging voluntary clean energy procurement.

Crop collaboration – German chemicals major BASF and Canadian fertiliser company Nutrien said on Tuesday they have launched a collaboration to help farmers gain more value from existing sustainable practices and prepare them for future low-carbon biofuel markets. The companies said Nutrien’s agronomists will work directly with growers to optimise yields using on-farm sustainability practices, while BASF will provide digital tools to connect growers with biorefineries and track crop carbon intensity. The system is designed to support participation in low-carbon biofuel programmes, including the US Clean Fuel Production Credit (Section 45Z).

Fuelled forward – DSV, United Airlines, Microsoft, and Phillips 66 announced this month that they have agreed to a deal to supply up to 11 mln gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). United Airlines will use the physical fuel, while DSV and Microsoft participate via a book-and-claim system that allocates verified emissions reductions independently of fuel use, enabling transparent attribution. Press materials said The SAF deployment is expected to cut lifecycle emissions by around 100,000 tonnes of CO2e compared to conventional jet fuel, equivalent to roughly one freighter flight per day over a year.

An Australian biogas developer has raised A$2.2 million ($1.5 mln), with one of the country’s largest landfill gas project operators signing on, as part of a broader capital raising effort.

Emissions in Australia’s largest electricity grid fell to a new quarterly low thanks to increasing penetration of renewables battery storage, according a report by the operator Thursday.