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TOP STORY
BRIEFING: Central banks urged to consider tighter rules to address nature-related financial risks
Central banks should step up their role in addressing nature-related financial risks, as biodiversity loss may eventually justify the use of hard tools such as higher capital requirements, according to experts.
NATURE & BIODIVERSITY MARKET
Voluntary biodiversity credit sales could approach $3.5 mln in 2026 -report
Sales in the voluntary biodiversity market could reach nearly $3.5 million this year if current growth trends continue, according to a new market projection.
Pacific island nation explores payment for ecosystem services in national plan
The Pacific island nation of Tuvalu is developing payment for ecosystem services pilots as part of an exploration of innovative financing tools, it said in its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
NATURE-BASED CARBON
ANALYSIS: Tough EU CORSIA carbon credit criteria could dramatically shift market
The European Commission’s provisional approach to CORSIA credit eligibility for its operators has provoked a strong reaction across the carbon market, with participants warning that the tight criteria under consideration would dramatically tighten supply for European airlines and create a bifurcated market.
EU’s draft carbon farming certification is weaker than Paris Agreement’s Article 6.4 -NGO
The European Commission’s draft rules for certifying carbon farming work are weaker than the “already imperfect” requirements set in the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.4, making them insufficient to show real benefits for climate change, according to an NGO.
New ‘high-integrity’ REDD+ carbon crediting may be shutting out smallholders, study warns
Moves to boost integrity in REDD+ crediting in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) may be unintentionally locking smallholders and traditional communities out of climate finance, according to a new study applying a vulnerability-based avoided deforestation methodology in Brazil’s Amazon region.
Verra opens consultation on enhanced forest carbon sequestration methodology with dynamic baselines
Voluntary carbon market (VCM) standard body Verra has launched a month-long consultation on a proposed forestry methodology designed to improve measurement of sequestration gains through experimental controls.
Verra partners with data providers on deforestation risk maps for REDD carbon projects
Voluntary carbon standard Verra has selected three data service providers to create deforestation risk maps for projects applying its REDD+ methodology and the associated module, it announced Thursday.
Corporate carbon farming projects rely on scale over intensity in India -study
India’s agrarian carbon market is currently dominated by corporate-led, low-carbon intensity projects like regenerative agriculture that rely on enrolling vast numbers of farmers, while smaller, high-intensity initiatives like agroforestry remain niche, according to a study.
Integrity of new carbon credit issuances slips in April, driven by wave of ‘low-quality’ forestry units -rating agency
The quality of issued credits in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) has continued to weaken in the second quarter of 2026, with both issuance and retirement integrity declining sharply, according to indices provided by a rating agency.
Market shifts to slow US Southeast forest carbon gains despite continued sink, researchers warn
A new modelling study projecting the evolution of the Southeastern US forest sector to 2070 warns of a gradual decline in the region’s carbon sink, with potential implications for the offset market.
Over-reliance on SAF under CORSIA could significantly hurt LAC air traffic, report says
Latin America and the Caribbean’s (LAC) aviation sector could face steep traffic losses if net zero targets and compliance with the UN’s CORSIA decarbonisation scheme rely too heavily on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), even as SAF production looks promising for the region, according to a recent industry-backed study.
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NATURE ECONOMY JOBS
Hiring in natural capital and biodiversity is still harder than it should be. Nature Economy Jobs is currently speaking with candidates across forestry, carbon markets, BNG, and nature finance, particularly those who combine technical expertise with delivery or commercial experience. Nature Economy Jobs, which has 170+ subscribers, is a focused network across biodiversity, natural capital, and sustainability. If you’re hiring or struggling to find the right profiles, or if you’re exploring roles in the space, feel free to get in touch or subscribe here.
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CORPORATE
UK fintech firm targets $1 bln for nature conservation with payments-linked tool
A UK fintech company has launched a tool to enable consumers to contribute to nature conservation efforts, with a target of channelling up to $1 billion towards environmental projects by 2030.
WWF urges financial sector to treat global water crisis as systemic threat
WWF on Thursday launched a new guide calling on central banks, financial regulators, and supervisors to recognise the global water crisis as a systemic risk to economic and price stability.
Five companies in investor review have critical deforestation scores, study says
Five out of 14 companies assessed for a Norway-based investor have ‘critical’ deforestation exposure scores, requiring potential exclusion, a study has said.
POLICY
EUDR traceability push risks shutting out small farmers, experts warn
Mandatory traceability requirements under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are accelerating digitalisation across agricultural supply chains, but fragmented systems and poor interoperability risk adding complexity and compliance burdens, panellists said at a webinar on Tuesday.
New Zealand proposes overhauling conservation laws
The New Zealand government proposed significant changes to its conservation legislation on Thursday in a bid to support economic growth, with plans that have been slammed by the Green party.
Alberta TIER fund body carves out space for CDR in annual funding challenge
Alberta has launched a C$50 million ($36.68 mln) call for emissions reduction technologies, specifying eligibility for carbon removal (CDR) for the first time.
Connecticut releases draft plan to expand NbS in state climate programmes
Connecticut’s environmental regulator released a draft review of state nature-based solutions (NbS) programmes for public comment on Tuesday, laying out options to advance the work through resilience financing, municipal funding tools, and improved carbon sequestration accounting.
Germany grants €5.5 mln to Asian Development Bank’s nature hub
Germany has granted €5.5 million to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Nature Solutions Finance Hub to help it scale biodiversity-linked initiatives across Asia and the Pacific.
SCIENCE & TECH
Global nickel rush for clean energy puts biodiversity at risk, study warns
Future nickel supply for infrastructure and batteries will force difficult choices between mining expansion and biodiversity protection, according to a global study led by the University of Queensland’s School of the Environment and published on Wednesday.
Researchers outline reforms for global protected area effectiveness reporting
Researchers have outlined upgrades to a global biodiversity reporting system aimed at improving how countries monitor the effectiveness of protected and conserved areas (PCAs) under global conservation targets.
Deforestation could turn the Amazon into degraded forest at less than 2C warming -study
If deforestation in the Amazon rainforest increases, around two-thirds of the biome could shift into degraded forests or savannah-like ecosystems, a new study published on Wednesday showed.
Impacts of deep-sea mining depend on seafloor habitat type, study shows
Deep-sea mining may have different impacts on biodiversity depending on the type of environment affected, with some ecosystems showing signs of partial recovery over time while others face greater uncertainty, according to a new study.
Integrated planning model could boost urban uptake of nature-based solutions -researchers
Cities risk missing out on the benefits of nature-based solutions (NBS) due to a lack of practical tools to guide investment decisions, but a new study proposes an integrated framework combining spatial analysis and economic evaluation to help prioritise projects and allocate scarce public funds more efficiently.
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EVENTS
Ecology Calling returns on May 20 with a 1-day event titled ‘Investing in Nature’ at venue Firesyde, near the border of Surrey and Sussex, about an hour’s transport from London Waterloo. Speakers include representatives from HSBC, Rebalance Earth, RePlanet, Environment Bank, Pensions for Purpose, Crowther Lab, Gresham House, and the University of Oxford. Use the code ‘Pulse15’ to get 15% off tickets.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKETS
Regen ag – UK-Brazilian developer NaturAll Carbon has partnered with Nova Piratininga Farm – said to be the largest farm in Latin America – for a new carbon project, the companies announced on Tuesday. Located in the states of Goias and Tocantins, Brazil, the farm will host a carbon project applying regenerative agriculture practices across an initial area of 12,300 ha. The partners estimate a potential issuance of 30,000 carbon credits, according to the press release. They did not disclose the financial terms of deal.
CCP rules – The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has opened a public consultation on the proposed rule architecture for how the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and the CCP Assessment Framework are interpreted and applied over time. Feedback is sought on the design of the proposed architecture, including the overall structure, guiding principles, and transition measures. Responses are welcome from across the carbon market, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders. The consultation is open from May 5 to June 7. Respond here.
Open letter – Think tank The Green Finance Observatory has published an open letter to Indonesia’s biodiversity credits technical team, raising concerns about the development of the market. The group argued that credits are unlikely to resolve the biodiversity crisis, citing doubts over their ability to generate stable, additional revenue for conservation due to regulatory risks, price volatility, and potential political instrumentalisation. The letter also said Indonesia should first pass legislation on Indigenous rights to guarantee free, prior, and informed consent and support Indigenous participation in biodiversity conservation. Earlier this year, the country announced plans to develop market-based mechanisms in partnership with IAPB to help finance its biodiversity strategy following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the country’s environment ministry and the UK’s DEFRA.
CORPORATE
FSC certification – PepsiCo has invested $100,000 in a pilot initiative aimed at accelerating responsible forest management in the US. Led by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and WWF, the Responsible Forestry Accelerator aims to support the forest management certification of just over 20,000 ha across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi by the end of 2026. The pilot will engage landowners and assess climate-related benefits of FSC certification. The initiative targets 400,000 ha of certified forestland throughout the country by 2028.
Keystone law – The climate arm of France-based insurer Axa has advocated for legal approach focused on keystone species as well as their habitats. In an evaluation of France and its overseas territories, it found 43% of the species assessed as threatened were protected by law, while some non-threatened species are nevertheless protected, said Axa Climate in a paper. Although higher-risk species were marginally better covered, the law has a broad structural issue due to its slow pace in comparison with fast-evolving scientific knowledge.
Case dismissed – A court in Kenya has dismissed a case filed by Green Planet Initiative 2050 Foundation against Earthbanc over a contractual dispute linked to the Regeneration Kenya Project. The High Court in Eldoret ruled in favour of Earthbanc and its subsidiary Earthtree Company Limited, rejecting all claims and reliefs sought by the plaintiff and ordering it to pay legal costs. The judgement stated that the case lacked merit and legal basis, adding that a party that fails to meet its contractual obligations cannot enforce the agreement. The dispute came to light after the contractor’s engagement in the project was terminated in Apr. 2025 following concerns about compliance and performance standards. (AllAfrica)
Nature positive commitments – At this year’s International Sustainability Summit, industry and conservation organisation members said they are advancing biodiversity and ecosystem targets as the next stage of corporate sustainability. According to Reccessary, Delta and Cathay Financial were among the companies leading the shift toward a nature positive approach during the meeting held in Taipei on May 6.
POLICY
Agri boost – A €500,000 grant for climate-resilient agricultural systems has been announced by the German environmental ministry (BMUKN). The money will go to the Agricultural Commodity Transformation Fund, a blended finance vehicle established by the UN-affiliated Common Fund for Commodities. The funding will aim to accelerate the transition to agricultural systems that work with nature, while implementing nature-based solutions, across countries eligible for government economic aid. The three-year programme will target smaller businesses and their network of farmers.
Cali Fund – The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) published a guide for the private sector on how to support the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic data while contributing to biodiversity conservation. The CBD also answered questions regarding the Cali Fund, announced at COP16 in Colombia in 2024.
Public financing – Peru’s Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) held a series of workshops to advance the implementation of the Financing Plan for the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030. The events took place from April 22 to May 4, in partnership with UNDP. During the meetings, participants analysed financial instruments, mechanisms, policies, and actions. As a result, a prioritised list of financial solutions was developed, and progress was made on implementation actions across various thematic working groups: public financing and conservation, sustainable production, green finance and private investment, and territorial and non-state actors.
Afforestation target – The South Korean government is promoting a nationwide afforestation plan as a measure to achieve its 2035 NDC targets. The Korea Forest Service (KFS) plans to plant a total of 36 mln trees across 18,000 ha this year through collaborations with ministries. In the second half of 2026, KFS said it will focus on strengthening the carbon absorption function of forests by actively identifying idle land under the jurisdiction of central government ministries and converting it into new carbon sinks.
Landscapes leap – The World Bank Group on Wednesday unveiled the Livable Landscapes Academy during the Global Landscapes Forum Africa in Nairobi, saying the initiative aims to help double conservation and land management outcomes to 240 mln ha by 2035 through expanded knowledge sharing and investment mobilisation. China Daily reported that officials said the platform could help scale restoration efforts globally, while also sharing China’s experience in ecological protection. They added that the Global Ecosystem and Transformation Center – a technical support centre established by China and the World Bank Group – is one of the key cooperative platforms of the Livable Landscapes Academy.
Cambodian commitment – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reaffirmed a commitment to support Cambodia in promoting natural resource management, conservation, and pollution prevention this week. The commitment, which aims to support the fight against climate change, was made at the ministry of environment office on May 6 in in Phnom Penh. The ministry noted how UNEP had supported it in air quality management and climate resilience action plans.
SCIENCE & TECH
Fresh tool – Biodiversity monitoring company NatureMetrics has launched a tool for scoring the ecological condition of rivers in Great Britain using environmental DNA (eDNA). The Freshwater Ecosystem Condition Index, one of the first commercially available tools of its kind in the country, scores one litre of freshwater from 0-100, said NatureMetrics on Wednesday. The tool should be able to cover other regions as more data is gathered, it said.
At risk – Climate-related impacts pose a risk to New Zealand’s forests and their ability to store carbon, in turn threatening emissions reduction targets, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said on Thursday in its 2026 national climate change risk assessment. The CCC called for adaptation planning to be embedded in forestry so that decision-making factors in climate risks such as wildfires and extreme weather events.
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