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TOP STORY
INTERVIEW: Biodiversity credits are closest ecosystem service to commercial viability
Biodiversity credits are the ecosystem services market closest to becoming commercially viable as a funding source in their own right, but for now most nature value is still being priced indirectly, the head of a nature-based solutions financier has said.
POLICY
FEATURE: Bipartisan US reforestation bill could strengthen pipeline for carbon, nature projects -experts
A bipartisan US proposal to expand reforestation infrastructure support could ease long-standing supply bottlenecks constraining nature and carbon projects, observers told Carbon Pulse.
Vietnam clears way for first forest carbon credit issuance with new decree
Vietnam has finalised rules governing forest carbon credit trading, paving the way for the Southeast Asian country’s first issuances later this year.
Colombia launches programme to foster nature resilience with biodiversity credits, innovative finance
Colombia has launched a new initiative which aims to reduce risks from extreme droughts in key ecosystems through ecological restoration, wildfire prevention, and nature-based solutions (NbS) by increasing capacity in biodiversity credits, habitat banks, and payments for ecosystem services.
Brazil unlocks R$13.2 bln in Amazon-focused investments, launches new round for innovative startups
The Brazilian government on Monday announced the results of the fourth auction under its Eco Invest programme, aimed at leveraging investment for the bioeconomy, infrastructure, and sustainable tourism in the Amazon rainforest.
UK govt launches £30 mln fund for English biodiverse habitats
The UK government has ring-fenced £30 million for creating and restoring biodiverse habitats in England over the next three years, it announced on Monday.
South Africa looks to finance community-led conservation in national plan
South Africa has taken steps towards completing its overdue biodiversity strategy, with officials calling for more conservation funding pathways for local projects during a conference in the Gauteng province.
Australia can grow carbon removals, biodiversity, and farming in tandem, says report
Australia can generate up to 127 million tonnes of annual carbon removals from land-sector activities by 2050, according to a report published Monday which argued sequestration and biodiversity restoration can occur simultaneously with expanding agricultural production.
Indonesia, UNEP expand REDD+ cooperation, back forestry climate goals
Indonesia’s forestry ministry and the UN Environment Programme have signed an agreement to boost cooperation on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).
Japan changes seabed drilling permit rules for CCS under conservation law revision
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.
Brunei moves to generate forest carbon credits
Brunei Darussalam is set to tap its vast forest resources for international carbon markets, media reported.
South Korea kickstarts tech development project for soil carbon sequestration
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.
Taiwan evaluates new offset methodology for building chiller efficiency projects
Taiwan has begun evaluating a new voluntary offset methodology that optimises building chiller efficiency by adjusting operations to match weather forecasts.
NATURE-BASED CARBON
FEATURE: Data centre developers unlikely to back CDR without stronger market pull
Data centre developers are unlikely to integrate carbon removal (CDR) into projects at scale unless hyperscale tenants, policy incentives, and long-term offtake agreements make it part of the commercial structure, according to legal and industry experts.
BRIEFING: Financiers single out ‘delivery risk’ as biggest obstacle for European carbon removal projects
The risk that a developer goes bankrupt or fails to deliver is the biggest obstacle to funding carbon removal (CDR) projects, financiers told a European Commission event on the EU’s Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) scheme last week.
Indonesia’s forest carbon market restart faces friction over export rules, taxes
Indonesia’s development of its forest carbon market is running into concerns over export levies, taxation, regulatory uncertainty, and technical bottlenecks, according to experts and stakeholders.
Major ratings agency outlines principles for high-integrity HFLD credits
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.
German airline customers offset nearly 1 MtCO2 in 2025 via climate contribution programme
A Germany-based airline has announced that its customers contributed to climate protection projects covering more than 710,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2025, an increase of around one-fifth year-on-year.
First transaction under EU’s CRCF scheme to deliver credits in 2029
The first EU-backed transaction registered under the bloc’s Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) scheme will deliver its initial credits in 2029, according to the partners involved in the project.
Carbon removal registry certifies module for mobile biochar production
A removals registry has certified a new module for biochar produced in mobile reactors, supporting projects that transport reactors between sites.
Carbon removals financier taps authentication platform to bolster scientific oversight across project portfolio
A carbon removals financier has partnered with a London-based biochar and biocarbon project authentication platform to apply independent scientific analysis and authentication services across its global CDR portfolio, in a move aimed at bolstering transparency, permanence assurance, and operational performance in the fast-growing sector.
Gulf countries could adopt dual buyer, seller role to optimise Article 6 strategy -report
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.
Non-profit weighs UK carbon code for species-rich grasslands
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.
NATURE & BIODIVERSITY MARKET
Biodiversity credits could become the future of carbon markets, exec says
Biodiversity credits could become the next premium layer of carbon markets, rewarding projects that protect nature as well as store carbon, the head of a climate finance company has said in a paper.
New Zealand govt warned against replacing conservation funding with biodiversity credits -paper
New Zealand’s government should treat voluntary biodiversity credit markets cautiously, as private finance should not replace public conservation funding, according to a paper published on Monday.
CORPORATE
Pioneer ocean carbon capture developer faces bankruptcy without imminent fundraise
A direct ocean carbon capture developer has issued an urgent call for investment or said it will file for bankruptcy this week.
Japanese developer secures partnership for JCM afforestation project in Laos
A Japanese carbon project developer has secured a partnership to expand its presence in Laos, where it will pursue the creation of credits under the bilateral Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) through afforestation activities.
UK-based registry first to apply for recognition under EU’s CRCF scheme
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.
Two project developers awarded Singapore EDB grant for expansion
Two carbon project developers have been awarded support from Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) through its Carbon Project Development Grant, they announced separately.
Romanian forest carbon project pays for full assessment after buyers snub credits due to low ‘estimated’ rating
Europe’s only Verra-certified improved forest management (IFM) project has paid to have the activity fully assessed by a ratings agency after finding out earlier ‘estimated’ quality scores were too low to attract buyers, its developer told Carbon Pulse.
SCIENCE & TECH
Deforestation engagement tool launches for the financial sector
A coalition of 23 NGOs launched a tool this week, aimed at helping financial institutions engage with corporates on deforestation.
Deforestation risks turning Congo Basin from carbon sink to emitter -study
The Congo Basin needs a boost of investment, strengthened governance, and coordinated action in order ward off mounting pressure on its resources and remain a vital carbon sink, including through more forestry carbon crediting projects, a UN-backed panel of scientists warned on Tuesday.
Ocean CDR initiative funds studies into alkalinity enhancement impacts on fisheries, marine species
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.
Marine carbon removal projects may gain from persistent sargassum blooms -report
Marine carbon removal (mCDR) projects looking to use sargassum could benefit from more predictable and persistent blooms in the Atlantic, as floating seaweed mats have increasingly begun to sustain their own growth, according to a recent study.
Methane emissions from global rice paddies surge as soil carbon sink weakens -study
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.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
POLICY
Monitoring the Med – Greece and France have agreed to establish a marine protection group aimed at strengthening bilateral collaboration on the monitoring and conservation of the Mediterranean. The group will sit within the framework of the Councils of Ministers of the EU, according to a statement shared by the Greek environment and energy ministry late last week. Greece and France also emphasised they will work together under the EU’s OceanEye observation initiative, announced earlier this year. The EU has said it will dedicate €50 mln from Horizon Europe to OceanEye observation over 2026-27.
Meadow management – Ireland announced €3 mln in funding for nature under its Local Biodiversity Action Fund last week. Some 209 local authority-led projects have been selected for support through the money under the fund, which is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Initiatives including surveying species of birds in decline, managing meadows to enhance wildflowers, and restoring sand dunes, said the government.
Peat practice – Scotland has launched a consultation on a draft Peatland Standard focused on the restoration of damaged ecosystems in the country. The standard will provide shared technical guidance for everyone involved in managing peatland, including principles and good practice requirements. The consultation runs until Aug. 28, in advance of the final standard in December. The nation has 2 mln ha of peatland, representing almost a quarter of its land surface.
Malaysian forests – The Malaysian state of Sabah, on the island of Borneo, is drafting a 25-year forest plan seeing to balance socioeconomic development with environmental conservation, reported The Star. The Forest Master Plan will ensure that all ecologically sensitive areas remain protected, with Sabah reaffirming its commitment to maintaining at least 50% forest cover, said the state government. The strategy will align with other infrastructure and green development plans, it added.
Bioregional – The Australian state of Queensland has launched a consultation on guidance plans for regional environmental impact assessments for developers. The drafts focus on priority development in ecological zones, in particular wind farms in the Collinsville area, and minerals mining in the Julia Creek and Richmond areas. The ‘bioregional planning’ looks at how development, nature, and communities affect each other across a region. The consultation will close on July 17.
Nature’s custodians – Guidance published on Friday outlined the importance of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) from the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples. The publication explains all 23 GBF targets, highlighting opportunities and risks linked to each. It stressed that Indigenous Peoples steward some of the world’s most biodiverse territories and continue to play a major role in slowing biodiversity loss through traditional knowledge. The guide furthermore warned that despite stronger recognition of Indigenous rights, risks remain in how governments, businesses, and other actors implement the pact.
Kiwi mining – New Zealand’s green party has sparked debate over mining in the country’s conserved areas after its bill was drawn from a parliamentary ballot this week. The greens would like to see mining, exploration, and prospecting banned from 8.5 mln ha of public conservation areas, RNZ reported. Lan Pham, the party’s environment spokesperson who introduced the bill, said the proposed ban would close down part of New Zealand’s Crown Minerals Act currently allowing mining activities on conserved lands. The Aggregate and Quarry Association raised concerns over the proposal, calling for clarity on how the legislation might define mining.
Indigenous conservation – Six First Nations declared the establishment of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) on the central coast of British Columbia late last week. Leaders from the Wuikinuxv, Nuxalk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Heiltsuk, Gitxaala, and Gitga’at Nations signed an agreement with the governments of Canada and British Columbia to also create a National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in the same location, according to an official statement. Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon falls under Canada’s Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence initiative, which is aimed at supporting Indigenous-led land stewardship.
EU permitting – The European Commission has published guidance for the mining sector permitting under its landmark Water Framework Directive (WFD). The bloc’s executive committed to sharing guidance for implementing EU environmental permitting laws, including in relation to mining, under the RESource EU Action Plan. It is aimed at making implementation of the WFD simpler, as well as speeding up the permitting process, the guidance said. While the Commission does intend to revise the WFD this year, this latest release does not amend the water legislation. The European Environmental Bureau, a network of NGOs, has suggested the upcoming revision could weaken the 25-year-old environmental protections.
Taiwanese OECM – Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council has named Taiwan Cement’s Heping Industrial Port as one of the country’s first certified Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), Taiwan News reported. The certification is part of a United Nations-backed conservation initiative aimed at expanding biodiversity protection beyond traditional nature reserves.
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)
CORPORATE
Coffee for Caribou – Nespresso Canada has invested an inaugural C$200,000 ($144,650) into Tree Canada’s Biodiversity Restoration Initiative (BRI). The investment puts the BRI into action through two landmark projects in Skeena, British Columbia, and Pessamit, Quebec – both responding to the urgent decline of the Woodland Caribou, an at-risk species whose survival depends on the health of Canada’s boreal and mountain forests. Together, these two projects span over 1,300 ha of critical Canadian wilderness.
Nature comms – Canadian telecommunications company Telus has launched its first biodiversity roadmap. The plan outlined five pillars designed to deliver lasting benefits: impact management, ecosystem restoration, Indigenous partnerships, tech innovation, and transparent disclosures. The corporation recognised that nature loss and climate change are interconnected challenges that threaten species extinction, food security, and ecosystem degradation.
Africa-Europe partnership – Finnfund has invested $15 mln in the $450 mln nature bond recently issued by the Togolese bank Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI). The bond will mobilise resources to finance sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and water infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaysia forest partnership – Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia, the Malaysian arm of the global Danish beer company Carlsberg Group, has partnered with the Malaysia Forest Fund (MFF), to finance forest biodiversity projects nationwide. MMF is a government agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. Through the initiative, Carlsberg Malaysia will create a RM600,000 ($151,200) fund to support non-governmental organisations working on conservation efforts aimed at protecting forest carbon stocks, water catchment areas and biodiversity, while also helping local communities that rely on these ecosystems. (The Edge Malaysia)
CEEZER graduates – Carbon credit procurement platform CEEZER announced last week that five nature-based project developers have completed the fourth edition of its Carbon Coalition accelerator, after being selected from more than 50 applicants across 27 countries. The cohort includes Medius Earth, working on community-owned restoration projects in India; Wild + Pine, developing an afforestation project in Canada; Offset8 Capital, developing a land restoration project in Malawi; and Global Decarbonization Solutions, which works with stakeholders to finance carbon projects in the Global South. Together, the projects represent more than 4 mln tonnes of credit volume visible on CEEZER’s platform through 2040, with one project nearing issuance under Isometric’s new reforestation protocol.
Biochar boost – The Climate Trust (TCT) said it is exploring biochar carbon projects to help dry inland forest managers in the western US reduce wildfire risk while generating revenue from fuel reduction treatments. The Oregon-based non-profit said biochar production could turn small-diameter wood, deadwood, and other forest debris from pre-commercial thinning into a soil amendment that stores carbon, improves water retention, and reduces fertiliser needs, while cutting the cost of forest management through carbon credit and biochar sales.
SCIENCE & TECH
Baselining troublemakers – Scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) have updated the baseline data for 21 species classed as invasive and of substantial concern to the EU. Their results will act as the EU-wide reference point for populations of invasive species as member states seek to take coordinated efforts to limit their spread. The 21 species baselined in the study are from a list of 26 problematic flora and fauna added to the EU’s invasive list in July last year. This list covers species deemed damaging enough to warrant bloc-wide management efforts.
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