Funding finalists – Metha8, a Singapore start-up developing methanol-to-power systems, and French carbon capture firm YAMA each won S$1 mln ($780,000) at The Liveability Challenge 2026, an Asia-based climate tech competition run by Eco-Business and backed by Temasek Foundation. According to YAMA, its technology can capture emissions from gas turbines at low CO2 concentrations and cut costs by up to 50%, while Metha8 said its system converts methanol into electricity at 60% efficiency. Organisers awarded up to S$4.3 mln in total funding across the competition.

Bans banned – Louisiana lawmakers rejected five bills that would have allowed parish-level bans on carbon capture and sequestration projects in Rapides, Allen, Vernon, Beauregard, and St. Helena parishes, after industry and state officials argued the measures would fragment the state’s permitting regime and threaten investment. The House Natural Resources Committee voted 10-7 and 9-7 to kill the measures, which Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson (R-Pineville) said were meant to give local residents a vote over CO2 pipelines and Class VI injection wells. Louisiana Chemical Association President David Cresson said parish-by-parish restrictions would create uncertainty for companies, while Louisiana Department of Energy and Conservation Secretary Dustin Davidson warned the bills could trigger legal costs, undermine the state’s Class VI primacy secured in 2024, and push developers to other states. (KTBS)

Global greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies have nearly doubled over the past six decades, driven primarily by expansion in cultivated area and intensified crop residue incorporation, with methane remaining by far the dominant source of warming, according to a new study.

Emitters and financial players appear on opposite sides of the fence following the latest US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reference period, with each shortening and lengthening their positions, respectively for overall net holdings in California Carbon Allowances (CCAs) and RGGI Allowances (RGAs), data showed.

An ocean carbon removal research initiative has awarded funding to two scientific projects examining how ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) could affect commercially and culturally important marine species, amid growing scrutiny over the ecological risks of marine CO2 removal techniques.

California emissions from gasoline consumption slightly decreased in February year-on-year while diesel emissions increased over the same period, according to state data.

A major ratings agency has released principles for high-integrity High Forest, Low Deforestation (HFLD) credits under jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD+) programmes, following concerns raised by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) over the ART TREES v2.0 HFLD methodology.

The European Union and Mexico have sealed a modernised trade pact that for the first time anchors their commercial relationship in legally binding climate obligations and a sizeable clean-transition investment agenda, positioning Mexico as a “privileged partner” for the EU’s green and digital transitions.

Carbon capture in Brazil – Vallourec, a French industrial company that produces seamless tubular solutions announced on Friday the signing of a MoU with Syngular Solutions, a Brazilian engineering and consulting firm specialised in BECCS and CCUS projects. The agreement establishes a partnership to collaborate on carbon capture and geological storage initiatives in Brazil, allowing both companies to work together from the early stages of project development, share technical expertise, and strengthen their presence in the carbon management and decarbonisation market.

Meeting materials - Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) posted on Thursday materials for the May 28 meeting on rulemaking for emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) industrial facilities under its Climate Protection Program (CPP). Documents include a policy memo, glossary, and work plan. Other meetings are also scheduled for July 29, Sep. 15, and Oct. 21.

Regulatory consideration - In its May meeting, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) agreed to move forward with a rulemaking hearing in September for proposed updates under the state's Regulation 7 for oil and gas operators intended to reduce methane emissions. Proposed changes include enhancing emissions control requirements for combustion devices, collection systems, and storage vessels to ensure they are more effective at preventing pollution, and requiring wells that produce associated gas with high methane content to capture it for beneficial use instead of being able to burn it off, except during specific safety and maintenance events. The state also announced Friday it approved an updated fee structure for emissions reporting under Regulation 7.

EUAs looked to be heading for yet another day of tightly rangebound trading, until aggressive buying in the afternoon took prices above technical resistance and set off a bullish end to the week, even though traders continued to bemoan a market that many said has lost direction.

A UK-based conservation charity is investigating the feasibility of creating a carbon code for species-rich grassland habitats, similar to the UK’s existing woodland and peatland programmes.

Continued collaboration - Guyana and Singapore are looking to expand cooperation on carbon credits and climate-related initiatives, building on an existing partnership between the two countries, President Irfaan Ali said on Wednesday following talks with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Georgetown. Ali said Guyana was seeking to further develop that foundation while also looking for Singapore to join the Global Biodiversity Alliance, as part of wider efforts to strengthen climate and biodiversity cooperation. The discussions come as Guyana seeks to leverage international partnerships while managing rapid oil-based economic growth and advancing its Low Carbon Development Strategy. (Guyana Chronicle)

The European Commission is pivoting towards voluntary carbon farming and nature credits in its post-2030 climate agenda, while a long-discussed agriculture emissions trading system (ETS), informally dubbed ETS3 or AgETS, has effectively been shelved.

The Council of the EU's member states has agreed to suspend customs duties for one year on key nitrogen-based fertilisers, including ammonia and urea, in a move aimed at easing cost pressures on farmers.

Deadline extended - The Greenhouse Gas Protocol has extended the deadline for submissions to the Actions and Market Instruments (AMI) Request for Information (RFI) from May 31, to June 15 at 11:59 Pacific Time, said a press release Friday. The AMI seeks to address how companies should account for the real-world impacts of their climate actions – especially those that sit outside existing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions inventories. The aim is to help companies capture their investment in mitigation beyond their direct operations through reporting frameworks. The extension of the RFI deadline is to give stakeholders more time to review the materials, consult internally where needed, and prepare considered feedback. Feedback can be submitted via the RFI survey form.

Italy’s emissions rose in 2025 compared to 2024 due to an increase in gas-fired electricity generation, according to a national research body. 

A European energy major has secured over £500 mln of new financing from 13 international lenders to support its Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) subsidiary in the north of England.

EV rebate - California officials are targeting a $3,500 incentive for new electric vehicle purchases under a proposed rebate programme that California regulator ARB hopes to launch on July 1, with the state and participating manufacturers each covering $1,750, agency staff told auto companies and environmental groups Wednesday. The programme, proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), would also offer a $1,750 incentive for used vehicles, while manufacturers have been asked to indicate by June 1 whether they are interested in participating. (E&E News)

Geothermal group - Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico have formed the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium to coordinate state efforts to accelerate geothermal energy development, with officials citing the region’s potential for hundreds of gigawatts of always-on clean power. Announced Wednesday by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) after a Western Governors’ Association workshop, the group is expected to help states share resources, develop financing tools, clarify regulations, and work together on federal support. Cox said geothermal could help meet power needs from large projects such as the proposed Stratos data centre in Box Elder County, where officials have linked the development to a 9-GW energy plant supplied by the Ruby natural gas pipeline, though Cox said only about 1 GW of natural gas would be used in the first phase and that he would not support a 9-GW gas buildout.

Clean heat cut - The Vermont Senate voted 17-13 to repeal the state’s Clean Heat Standard, moving to unwind a programme created under the 2023 Affordable Heat Act to help cut thermal-sector GHG emissions under the Global Warming Solutions Act, WAMC reported. The repeal, included in a Greenhouse Gas Reporting bill, drew disappointment from climate advocates who said the standard had already stalled, while fuel dealers called the vote largely symbolic and raised concerns that a proposed fuel registry could lay the groundwork for broader limits on fossil fuel sales. The bill would create a registry to track fuel purchases and use in Vermont, with supporters saying the data is needed to help reduce energy costs and emissions, while opponents argue similar data is already available through the state Tax Department. The House Energy Committee is reviewing the measure, though it is unclear whether the full chamber will take it up before adjournment.

A carbon marketplace and exchange has launched its first digital carbon credit auction for 75,000 CORSIA-labelled carbon credits.

The European Commission has selected 65 projects under the Innovation Fund Heat Auction to receive a total of €400 million to accelerate the rollout of innovative clean heat technologies across European industry, funded by revenue from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Czechia, Greece, Poland, and Romania have called for additional free carbon allowances to be granted to energy-intensive industries on the condition that companies invest in reducing their emissions, while also urging that current levels of free allocation be maintained. 

Japan set out permitting standards for seabed drilling in environmental conservation areas on Friday, for purposes including offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, in changes to a conservation law.

French fuel aid – The European Commission on Friday cleared a €13 mln French state aid scheme to help fishing companies cope with a sharp spike in fuel prices linked to the Middle East crisis. The measure, running until Dec. 31 this year, and the first approved under the new Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF), will provide direct grants of €0.20 per litre of marine fuel bought in April and €0.35 per litre in May 2026. The Commission found the scheme appropriate, arguing it protects the sector’s role in EU food security while limiting distortions of competition. Marine fuel prices rose by more than 75% between late February and April.

Prices in the Chinese emissions market drifted toward the RMB 80 ($11.15) mark last week despite stable trading volumes, leaving traders to question whether policy optimism will continue to support current levels.

A UK carbon removal registry has applied to become an authorised certification body under the EU’s Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) regulation, becoming the first to publicly seek recognition under the EU scheme, it announced on Thursday.

Countries need to stop looking at carbon pricing in silos when it comes to long-term climate planning and instead embed it into national strategies from the outset, the World Bank said in two complementary reports.

The marketing partner of a cookstove project in Zimbabwe that has suddenly found its credits taken off the Gold Standard (GS) registry will continue to pin hopes on the country’s national carbon registry being approved for CORSIA, its chief executive told Carbon Pulse this week.

Trade- and service-oriented members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) may benefit in the near term from a mixed buyer and seller strategy under Article 6 to achieve lowest-cost mitigation, according to a new report from a Riyadh-based think tank.

Carbon markets risk failing to reach their true potential because governments and industry groups have overloaded them with ideological and regulatory demands, said experts on Friday, warning that “mission creep” was undermining efforts to mobilise climate finance.

South Korea has kicked off a national technology development project for soil carbon sequestration, with an initial focus on biochar and enhanced rock weathering (ERW) solutions.

The EU should consider tying the distribution of free allowances in the bloc's Emissions Trading System (ETS) to industrial decarbonisation investment in Europe, according to the former top climate official at the European Commission.

Emerging emissions trading systems (ETSs) in Asia should not be judged too harshly if they struggle with low prices, weak liquidity, or technical glitches in their early years, according to an expert, who argued that even the world’s most established carbon markets evolved through repeated policy mistakes and reforms.

A helping hand - The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has launched a new initiative to support carbon credit creation, specifically targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). According to an official notice, the government will help cover consulting and third-party review fees for project registration and credit certification. The application window is open until Mar. 31, 2027, or until the allocated budget is reached.

Two carbon project developers have been awarded support from Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) through its Carbon Project Development Grant, they announced separately.

Verified emissions reported under US Northeast and Mid-Atlantic power sector cap-and-trade scheme RGGI skyrocketed 16% year-on-year (YoY) in Q1, according to recently updated programme data. 

Myanmar is designing its first carbon tax, focusing on the energy, agriculture, and steel sectors, and is looking to submit its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by year-end, a Yangon-based VCM platform told Carbon Pulse.

Indonesia’s financial regulator has unveiled plans to revise the country’s carbon exchange regulations to boost market growth and transparency with plans to adopt blockchain-based technology and integrating further with the national carbon registry system.

Milestone - Santos’ Moomba CCS initiative, Australia’s largest onshore carbon capture and storage project, has recorded two mln tonnes of CO2e stored in just over 18 months of operation, according to a company statement released this week. At two MtCO2e stored, Moomba CCS has sequestered the emissions equivalent of taking some 826,000 cars off South Australian roads, it said. To date, the Moomba CCS project has received more than 1.19 mln Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Accountability demanded - Activist investors are pressing major technology firms including Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet to explain how they plan to meet climate targets as AI-driven electricity demand surges, Bloomberg reported. Shareholder resolutions filed ahead of annual meetings seek greater disclosure on the emissions impact of expanding AI infrastructure and data centres, amid concerns that rising power needs could drive new fossil fuel development. The proposals, backed by groups including As You Sow and Trillium Asset Management, urge firms to ensure additional energy demand is met through clean power rather than fossil fuels.

Spilling over - Satellite images have shown a rise in oil slicks across the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, raising fears of an environmental disaster, Bloomberg reported. It cited experts saying the spills likely stem from attacks on tankers and energy infrastructure, as well as disruptions during fuel loading operations, with some slicks traced to Iran’s Kharg Island export terminal. Satellite firm Orbital estimated two Kharg Island spills released between several hundred and several thousand barrels of oil, while another slick reached Iran’s Shidvar nature reserve, home to bird species and coral ecosystems.

A growing standoff between major emerging economies and the UN aviation offsetting mechanism CORSIA could slash the scheme’s effectiveness by almost a quarter during its upcoming ‘mandatory’ phase, according to a new academic paper that warns equity concerns are threatening the future of the market.

A proposed hybrid artificial intelligence and stochastic modelling framework could significantly improve carbon price forecasting and risk management in Egypt’s fledgling voluntary carbon market, according to a new academic study that argues the country’s emerging carbon-finance ecosystem faces substantial uncertainty due to limited historical data, weak liquidity, and evolving regulation.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) futures continued to creep higher over the last week, hitting four-month highs above $30 in the lead-up to Wednesday's Q2 auction and next week's vote on planned programme updates.

Poland’s Senate on Thursday rejected a proposal by President Karol Nawrocki to hold a referendum on EU climate policies, including the bloc’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), dealing an early blow to the conservative leader’s efforts to challenge Brussels-backed decarbonisation measures that he says are driving up energy prices and hurting competitiveness.

Waste not – Verra registered the first project under its food loss and waste methodology, VM0046, on Thursday. The US-based project keeps edible surplus food out of landfills by working with non-profit food rescue organisations to redistribute the goods. Verra noted that the US is the third-largest generator of food waste in the world. The project, developed by Brightly Ventures, is expected to generate some 115,100 tCO2e in emissions reductions through avoided methane emissions over 2020-27 by rescuing approximately 167 mln pounds (75.7 mln kg) of food.

(A)new office - Anew Climate – a Texas-based climate solutions provider with operations in carbon markets and low-carbon fuels – has opened a Singapore office to serve as its Asia-Pacific hub. The office will support work on environmental compliance programmes, Article 6 mechanisms, CORSIA development, and cross-border low-carbon fuel and carbon market activity linking Asia, North America, and Europe. Andy Brosnan, president of Anew’s Global Low Carbon Fuels group, will relocate to Singapore to launch the office and lead regional growth, including carbon project development aligned with Singapore’s credit-generation standards and cross-regional offtake opportunities for low-carbon fuels. CEO Angela Schwarz said Singapore’s climate finance, policy, and trade position made it a base to deepen partnerships, deploy capital, and connect projects with global markets.

Pipeline pivot - The US Department of Justice has moved its legal fight over the restart of Sable Offshore’s Santa Ynez pipeline system to federal court after a California Superior Court judge declined to dissolve an injunction blocking the pipeline’s operation, E&E News reported. Sable Offshore joined the federal government in the removal notice, as the company seeks to revive oil production near the Santa Barbara Channel a decade after a 2015 oil spill shut down the Santa Ynez Unit. Energy Secretary Chris Wright had previously issued an order under the Defense Production Act requiring the pipeline’s restart, and Sable began operating the pipeline shortly after that March order.

Symbolic victory – Richmond on Tuesday became the first California city to formally oppose a proposed CO2 pipeline network that would transport the gas compound from Bay Area industrial facilities for underground storage in Solano County, a local outlet reported. The city council voted 5-0, with two abstentions, to support a symbolic resolution - since no project has come before the body - urging regulators to reject the Montezuma NorCal Carbon Sequestration Hub, a project that would link refineries, hydrogen plants, and power facilities via an underwater pipeline to an injection site. Opponents cited safety and environmental concerns, while supporters of carbon capture argue the infrastructure is needed for California to meet its target of capturing 13-20 MtCO2 annually by 2030.