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TOP STORY
EU aims to launch blue carbon credits in 2030
The European Commission is developing a new blue carbon credit certification system that aims to reward the expansion and creation of marine ecosystems for their role in absorbing CO2, a senior official said, while presenting the EU’s new island and coastal strategy.
AMERICAS
INTERVIEW: Mexican developer bets on high-rated, Indigenous-led IFM projects within crowded VCM
A Mexican carbon project developer is betting that premium ratings, biodiversity credentials, and Indigenous community partnerships can help its forest credits stand out in an increasingly crowded voluntary carbon market (VCM), even as domestic demand remains limited and uncertainty around the country’s emissions trading system (ETS) persists.
BRIEFING: Canadian CDR signal strong despite climate policy rollback
Canada’s pullback on climate policies in pursuit of energy and economic security doesn’t have to be at odds with its signal to ramp up its carbon removal (CDR) sector, industry players said at a recent event.
BRIEFING: California CCUS, CDR rulemaking split over scope, liability, and market role
California’s proposed carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) and removal (CDR) regulations have drawn competing calls for broader project eligibility, tighter definitions, stronger community safeguards, and lighter-touch treatment of federally regulated geologic storage, according to public comments submitted to state regulator ARB.
Peru adds WWF-backed green microcredits programme to growing portfolio of biodiversity finance tools
Peru continues to expand its biodiversity finance toolkit after WWF-Peru and a local association of microfinance institutions launched a partnership aimed at developing green microcredit products and integrating biodiversity considerations into lending decisions.
US CDR advocates, Indigenous non-profits launch guides to steward partnership alongside scale
An initiative aimed at supporting Tribal Nations in the US navigate the growing carbon removal (CDR) landscape launched on Tuesday three guides for ensuring decision-making around the sector reflects Tribal priorities and goals.
Oceans-based decarbonisation NGO publishes roadmap to seaweed-based GHG reduction pathways
A non-profit focused on ocean-based decarbonisation published a resource on the responsible development and scale-up of seaweed-based products that could reduce GHG emissions across multiple sectors.
EMEA
INTERVIEW: Italian water resilience project for fashion sector expects €10 mln by 2029, eyes biodiversity credits
An Italian nature-based solutions (NbS) project aimed at improving water resilience for the fashion sector, while also seeking to generate biodiversity credits, expects to raise at least €10 million by 2029, Carbon Pulse has learned.
BRIEFING: Nature credit projects face credibility test amid monitoring, additionality concerns
Many voluntary nature credit projects fail to meet the minimum due diligence standards, with the biggest issues regarding baselining, permanence, and additionality, experts told a webinar on Wednesday.
INTERVIEW: Swiss nature finance initiative eyes startup network, biodiversity pilot as first projects
A Swiss initiative being spun out into an independent foundation to help build a domestic nature market is developing a biodiversity finance pilot, nature tech networking initiatives, and a training programme as part of its first wave of activities, representatives told Carbon Pulse.
Finnish organisation to set up buyers’ club for nature credits
A Finnish landowners’ association has announced plans to set up a buyers’ club for nature credits as part of its efforts to support market uptake in the country.
Senegal mangrove project credits overstated, watchdog alleges
An environmental watchdog publication alleges that carbon credits from Senegal’s flagship mangrove restoration project were overstated, with researchers describing much of the claimed storage as “ghost carbon”.
Nature investment key to European competitiveness -commissioner
Investing in ecosystem restoration is essential to Europe’s long-term competitiveness, resilience, and economic security, according to a senior European Commission official.
WWF Zimbabwe pushes for cleaner mining sector, aims for $20 mln
In Zimbabwe, WWF aims to mobilise more than $20 million by 2030 under a plan published this week that seeks to align the country’s growing mining sector with biodiversity protection, climate resilience, and sustainable development goals.
Tech giant opens carbon credit service to qualified UK companies seeking to cut climate impact
Tech giant expands access to its carbon credit service to qualified companies in the UK, offering businesses a new way to invest in ‘high-quality’ offsets as part of their broader decarbonisation strategies.
EU Nature Restoration Law needs dedicated funding to succeed, report says
The EU member states will struggle to enforce the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) unless the European Commission allocates dedicated funding in the bloc’s upcoming long-term budget, according to a new report.
BeZero cites legal backing for EU ESG ratings compliance as July launch nears
Carbon ratings agency BeZero Carbon said independent legal reviews have concluded its activities fall within the scope of the EU’s new ESG Ratings Regulation, as the company prepares to seek recognition under the regime ahead of its July implementation.
Swiss climate non-profit sees income, operating profit fall further in 2025
A Swiss climate organisation reported lower income and lower spending on climate protection projects in 2025, while its initiatives generated 2.93 million tonnes in certified CO2 emission reductions.
INTERNATIONAL
Societe Generale invests €100 mln in nature-based solutions fund
France-headquartered multinational bank Societe Generale has pledged €100 million to a fund aimed at supporting nature-based solutions (NbS) projects worldwide.
BirdLife secures £7.5 mln to scale up conservation along one of the world’s great flyways
BirdLife International has secured a £7.5 million grant to expand conservation and restoration efforts along one of the world’s largest migratory bird corridors, the organisation announced on Tuesday.
Verra launches development of next round of methodologies, eyes super pollutants from refrigeration
Verra launched development of several new or revised standards, including a new methodology for avoiding super pollutant emissions from refrigeration systems.
Carbon investor makes large-scale ‘staggered spot’ nature-based removals purchase
A UK-based voluntary carbon offset provider will buy nature-based removals from an afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) project under a “staggered spot” agreement covering both issued and in-verification credits, it announced on Thursday.
Ocean advocates, scientists press COP31 hosts to make next climate summit a “Blue COP”
More than 150 scientists, policymakers and public figures have urged the incoming COP31 presidencies of Turkiye and Australia to make next year’s UN climate summit a “Blue COP”, calling for ocean issues to be written into the formal negotiations and backed by finance outcomes.
SBTi unveils new Corporate Net-Zero Standard, recognising companies that address their ongoing emissions
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has published its long-awaited Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0, which recognises companies that address their ongoing climate impact, including through the additional buying of high-quality reduction or removal credits, and plans to mandate such action from 2035, but stops short of permitting any offsetting to account for in-chain emissions.
GHG Protocol standards board member resigns over forest carbon accounting
A member of the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Independent Standards Board tendered their resignation earlier this week based on deliberations over forest carbon accounting.
Standard-setter finalises methodology for methane reductions from rice paddies
A standard-setting body has approved its methodology for cutting methane emissions from rice cultivation, saying it will expand the possibilities for high-integrity reductions from sustainable agriculture.
Carbon removals sector shifts from hype to delivery amid growing supply constraints -report
A CO2 removal market that only a few years ago was dominated by climate-tech experimentation and future promises is entering a more mature, execution-focused phase, with investors, buyers, and policymakers increasingly prioritising delivery, financability, and infrastructure over ambitious announcements, according to a new report.
Colombia signs deforestation-free cattle law ahead of EUDR, aims to tackle main emissions source
Colombia has enacted a landmark law requiring traceability and due diligence across its cattle supply chain, a move designed to curb deforestation-linked beef production while helping exporters comply with the EU’s upcoming anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR).
Market mediators shaping soil carbon markets raise concerns over governance, farmer autonomy -researchers
A diverse group of market actors are playing a decisive role in shaping soil carbon markets, but their growing influence is raising concerns over farmer autonomy, governance, and the effectiveness of carbon farming as a climate solution, according to a new analysis.
ASIA PACIFIC
Australia’s revised environmental offsets standard still fails to stack up, conservation body says
Australia’s second attempt at drafting its National Environmental Standard for Environmental Offsets still has glaring integrity issues that have yet to be resolved, according to a conservation body.
Malaysia needs to tighten safeguards as oil, gas overlap reefs, protected waters -study
Malaysia needs to tighten safeguards as its offshore oil and gas industry overlaps extensively with ecologically sensitive marine environments, leaving coral reefs and protected areas exposed to pollution and industrial activity, a study found.
India carbon credit startups struggle for capital despite growing ambitions
India’s carbon credit startup ecosystem remains dwarfed by other climate technology sectors, attracting just a fraction of the investment flowing into electric vehicles, renewable energy, and battery storage, new data showed.
COMMENTS
Carbon Markets Cannot Claim Integrity While Excluding Women
As carbon markets undergo an integrity reset, treating women’s inclusion as a co-benefit is no longer enough – inclusive finance can help make their contributions measurable, verifiable, and central to the credibility of carbon projects.
Are Your Forest Carbon Projects Leaking?
Recently published research shows how estimates of leakage for forest carbon projects can be significantly improved, which is necessary for addressing an important integrity issue and building confidence in carbon markets as a tool for climate action.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
INTERNATIONAL
Market standards – The International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB) has announced it is developing market design standards for nature credits, aiming to present them at this year’s UN biodiversity summit in Armenia. A first draft will likely be finalised later this month and discussed at a roundtable due to take place in London on June 22.
Migration milestone – A spokesperson for Winrock International confirmed to Carbon Pulse on Tuesday that the migration of both the ACR and Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) to ICE GreenTrace has been completed, transferring approximately 437.8 mln serialised carbon credits and more than 40,000 documents from 1,162 projects and programmes to 857 Registry Account Holders from issuance to retirement. The transition moved over 25 years of emissions reduction and removals data across 857 registry account holders in what was described as one of the most complex registry migrations undertaken in the carbon market.
EMEA
Conservation expansion – France has expanded its protected forest network, announcing nine designations spanning about 157,000 ha. A total 156,290 ha will be within a nature reserve in Guiana, while smaller areas will be established in French regions including the Vosges, Herault, and Meuse. Forests will either be left to naturally regenerate or placed under active management aimed at conserving at-risk species, according to a statement from the country’s minister of ecology this week.
Zoo time – The Frankfurt Conservation Center opened on Wednesday with the aim of strengthening the connection between science, conservation, politics, and the economy. Its goal is to develop collaboration for more effective biodiversity conservation through an international network, said partner the Institute for Social-Ecological Research. The centre will eventually be housed in its own building on the grounds of Frankfurt Zoo.
Grey partridge – The value of nature at a 617-ha biodiversity net gain (BNG) project in Lincolnshire, England has increased by 108% since 2023, according to an impact report by project developer Nattergal. The Boothby Wildland area noted recovery of species including the grey partridge and skylark. Formerly an arable farm, it was the first project to receive funding under the government’s Landscape Recovery Scheme – resulting in the support of grassland, wetland, and woodland.
Pest management – Uganda has launched a roadmap for biodiversity-friendly farming in partnership with IUCN and WWF France’s BIODEV2030 initiative. The Agriculture Production Policy Brief aims to balance feeding its population with protecting its natural environment, following years of technical engagement, field evidence, and stakeholder collaboration. It recommended promoting farming techniques including agroforestry, integrated pest management, and soil conservation practices.
REDD+ rating – French nature-based carbon standard Equitable Earth’s M002 REDD+ methodology has been rated low risk by UK-headquartered ratings agency Sylvera, the former announced on Tuesday. The methodology’s 3/10 score is one of Sylvera’s highest ever for a REDD+ methodology, Equitable Earth said.
ASIA PACIFIC
First issued credits – China’s Guangzhou has successfully issued the first batch of carbon credits from a mangrove project, developed based on a local methodology, Guangzhou Daily reported. A total of 1,251 credits were issued, including 554 from mangrove afforestation and 697 from restoration initiatives in Nansha Wetland. This issuance follows the city’s release of a methodology last year to quantify local mangrove carbon sequestration.
Forestry in focus – Indonesia announced a forestry crime reporting platform on Wednesday, aimed at allowing the public to report suspected instances of ecosystem degradation. The Ministry of Forestry launched the platform in Jakarta, alongside a broader initiative called Leverage intended to legally enforce wildlife resilience. The programme is supported by the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), according to the ministry’s statement.
Nature-dependent finance – More than half of Malaysia’s commercial lending portfolio is exposed to sectors highly dependent on ecosystem services, highlighting growing nature-related financial risks, according to a report released this week by UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative, World Bank, and Bank Negara Malaysia. Palm oil and construction were identified as major sources of exposure. Nature-related risk management and disclosure practices remain at an early stage, with significant gaps in data, methodologies, and implementation capacity. The report recommended wider adoption of frameworks.
AMERICAS
Farm to Washington’s table – US Senator Edward Markey reintroduced the Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act on Tuesday, to include natural climate solutions as a high-priority research and extension initiative for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). It would ensure that research and grants made by the USDA extend to natural climate solutions like wetland restoration, reforestation, cover crop planting, and rotational grazing.
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