A non-profit reported that online disclosures of flight emissions in the US has increased sensitivity around the consumers’ willingness to pay for reductions.

CARB concepts – The California Air Resources Board (ARB) will hold a public workshop on June 23 to discuss concepts for regulations establishing a carbon capture, removal, utilisation, and storage programme authorised under Senate Bill 905. The regulator will present its anticipated timeline, outline concepts released for consultation in May, and summarise feedback received to date. The event will also serve as a scoping meeting under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), seeking input on the environmental impact analysis for the proposed programme.

Not my oil money - Most Albertans support industrial carbon pricing (60%) and don’t want to fund a new oil pipeline with taxpayer money (61%), as Canada and Alberta look to expand oil exports, according to a new poll commissioned by Canadian think tank Pembina Institute. More (67%) said they think the province’s economy is too dependent on the oil and gas sector.

Not so Tropical - The Norwegian government is facing opposition from political opponents to the agreement to provide loans up to $3 bln (NOK 30 bln) over 10 years to Brazil’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF). The deal, which was announced at last year’s COP in Belem, still needs parliamentary approval. The minority government faced resistance from all opposition parties, temporarily freezing the pledge made by Prime Minister Stor, according to Development Today.

Carbon accounting firm Absolute Climate has opened a month-long public consultation on an updated version of its Absolute Carbon Standard (ACS), introducing revisions to its framework for certifying removal activities and low-carbon products amid growing scrutiny of market integrity.

Solar has surpassed coal-fired power generation in the US for the first time and leads additions to the power grid, despite US President Donald Trump’s efforts to bolster the fossil fuel and pull back from renewables.

Chile has contracted a Sri Lanka-based technology provider to develop the country's awaited unified national carbon registry to track domestic compliance units, carbon tax offsets, and Paris Agreement Article 6 credits.

A German shipbuilder, a sustainable technologies provider, and a Californian direct air capture (DAC) developer are pairing up to advance clean tech in Canada.

Here he comes - NOAA has officially declared the start of an El Nino event after sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific rose above the threshold used to define the climate pattern. Forecasts suggest it could become a very strong or even "super" El Nino, potentially ranking among the strongest since records began in 1950. Scientists are particularly concerned because the event is developing on top of an already warmer climate. A strong El Nino typically adds around 0.2C to global temperatures, raising the likelihood of record-breaking heat in 2027 and potentially pushing global warming above 1.5C for another year. El Nino, which occurs naturally every two to seven years, can have major global impacts, including flooding in parts of South America, East Africa, and the southern US, while increasing drought and wildfire risks in Australia, Indonesia, and northern South America. It can also disrupt agriculture, food supplies, and economies worldwide.

Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) produced inconsistent responses across indicators linked to soil sponge function, according to a review of published research.

Not writing home about it - Attendance by journalists at the UN intersessional climate talks in Bonn has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic, Climate Home reports, reflecting a broader decline in climate journalism globally. Only 135 journalists are registered for this year's SB64 talks, with major outlets sending fewer reporters than in previous years, or none at all. Press conferences at the talks have often been sparsely attended, with campaigners and researchers sometimes outnumbering journalists. Climate coverage globally is also falling. Analysis from the Media and Climate Change Observatory (MECCO) found climate reporting in the first five months of 2026 was 35% lower than the same period a year earlier and 41% below 2021 levels. Media analysts attribute the trend to newsroom cuts, competition from major news events such as the Iran conflict and World Cup, rising travel costs, and logistical barriers for reporters, including a more complex UN media registration process. Industry changes have also reduced specialist coverage, including the closure of Thomson Reuters Foundation's Context platform and the integration of E&E News into Politico's broader energy coverage. Climate advocates and journalists warn that reduced media scrutiny risks leaving important negotiations on climate finance, fossil fuel transition, and emissions policy less visible to the public. Carbon Pulse is attending though, and you can read our coverage of SB64 here.

Microsoft has agreed to purchase up to 36,920 tonnes of CO2 removal credits from Indian enhanced rock weathering (ERW) developer Alt Carbon under a multi-year deal that marks the technology giant's first ERW procurement agreement in Asia.

Brussels must strike a balance between scale and integrity when it designs its international carbon credit purchasing framework, market stakeholders said this week, as the Commission digests the results of its recent consultation on the matter.

EU carbon prices are on course to end year around their current price level, with speculators maintaining a bullish view of where the market is trending despite "unprecedented" policy risk from the upcoming ETS review, an analyst at an energy consultancy said on Thursday.

European carbon lost ground on Thursday, reversing Wednesday's tentative rebound, as participants noted little upside with the Strait of Hormuz closure continuing to weigh on economic fundamentals, even as energy markets ticked downwards.

Energy-intensive industries and several European governments are still urging the EU to suspend a planned tightening of benchmarks that determine how many free allowances installations receive under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), including steep cuts to key “fallback” values, while NGOs and think tanks push for more transparency in how the new rules are set.

Company split – Global environmental disclosure platform CDP will become two separate organisations under a planned restructuring backed by global investment firm Permira, it announced Thursday. The new structure will split CDP into a commercial entity providing environmental data and disclosure services to companies, and CDP Foundation, a non-profit charitable organisation focused on developing science-led disclosure principles. CDP Foundation will remain a shareholder in CDP with board representation, while CDP’s products, services, and 2026 disclosure cycle will continue as planned during the transition. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals, including from the Charity Commission, and is expected to complete within six months.

Biochar collab – Singapore-based carbon project developer Alcom has partnered with Swiss CDR aggregator Altitude to help assess and support the latter’s existing biochar partner portfolio, aiming to ensure projects meet high standards and can scale, Alcom said in a LinkedIn post. The initiative will be led by Alcom’s director of carbon projects, Siddharth Kaul, with support from its carbon team.

Russia rating update – Russia has updated its national ECG business reputation rating to allow companies to receive additional points for implementing climate projects from June 2026, according to the country’s carbon registry. The updated standard, which enters into force on June 13, assesses companies based on environmental, workforce, and governance-related criteria, with proof of climate project activity or carbon credit issuance able to be provided through extracts from Russia’s carbon unit registry. The rating covers around 98% of Russia’s commercial organisations, or about 7.7 mln entities, with non-profit organisations also included from 2026.

Sierra Leone is preparing its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) under the Paris Agreement as it seeks to strengthen the institutional foundations underpinning its participation in international carbon markets, according to insurer Oka following a recent visit to the West African country.

Colombia is demanding institutional support for a global transition away from fossil fuels (TAFF) in Bonn, building upon momentum from April’s Santa Marta conference – and exposing divides among parties in the G77-plus-China negotiating bloc.

Seaweed credits - Carbonwave expects to be issued its first sargassum carbon credit vintages in 2027, following the advancing of a methodology under Gold Standard and ongoing project-specific verification activities, it said in an annual report released in June. The anticipated issuance would represent a significant milestone for both the company and the wider blue carbon market, the developer claimed. If successful, these credits are expected to be among the first commercially issued carbon credits linked to methane emissions avoidance from sargassum seaweed. Carbonwave said it believes the development could help demonstrate the viability of innovative ocean-based climate solutions and contribute to the growth of blue carbon markets by creating a new pathway for verified emissions reductions.

Share selling - Singapore-based carbon exchange ACX has sold its shareholding in UK carbon ratings agency BeZero, according to a financial filing published this week on the UK’s Companies House website. According to the document, ACX offloaded its 150,585 shares in June 2025. No other details were disclosed.

The Science-Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) long-awaited new Corporate Net-Zero Standard was widely welcomed for recognising companies that address their ongoing emissions, including with voluntary 'high-integrity' credit buying – but stakeholders critiqued its lack of mandate on near-term action, which they said will significantly dampen the immediate market signal.

Dozens of governments are running late with submitting their first round of biennial climate reports to the UN, raising concerns among Article 6 stakeholders who note that the UN carbon trading process hinges on their timeliness and accuracy.

A carbon removal (CDR) standards body has teamed up with an established London firm in a bid to expand its pool of insurers eligible to underwrite risks associated with supplying the CORSIA aviation offsetting scheme, it announced on Thursday.

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.

Europe’s power grids risk becoming a major bottleneck for electric vehicles within the next four to five years, even as high oil prices and new EU carbon rules are set to turbocharge demand for battery-powered cars, senior industry executives have warned.

Electrification must become the backbone of Europe’s energy security strategy, rather than a search for new gas suppliers – and weakening the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) would only make the bloc’s climate and industrial balancing act harder, experts warned on Thursday.

The European Commission needs to confirm it will bring carbon removals (CDR) into the EU ETS when it proposes market reforms next month – providing a much-needed policy push to a global public good, a former UK government official has said.

Most G20 members assessed in a new report must accelerate emissions cuts to meet their 2030 climate targets, with several major economies needing to more than double recent rates of progress.

India's budding carbon market needs additional legal clarity before trading begins later this year, according to a legal expert who said current regulations have created ambiguity on whether compliance entities can use credits generated in the voluntary market.

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”.

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.

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.

The UK government is set to sign off on a deal to extend the life of country's biggest operational nuclear power plant, Sizewell B, by two decades, according to media reports on Thursday.

Electricity is the most penalised energy carrier in Italy, where it faces taxes and carbon-related costs that are up to four times higher than those applied to gas in the household sector and more than 20 times higher in parts of industry, according to a study published Thursday by the climate think tank ECCO.

A Japanese biochar solution provider is seeking to expand its business in Indonesia, with a planned feasibility study to explore the potential of credit-generating biochar project.

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.

As creditworthy offtakers with significant energy requirements, data centres can be a key driver of the clean energy transition, especially as tech companies seek to curb their environmental impact, say experts.

The Polish government is urging the EU to dial back a planned tightening of its carbon market after 2030, warning that an “artificial scarcity” of allowances could undermine investments in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology needed to decarbonise the country’s cement industry.

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.

While China's new offset methodology provides a path for livestock methane reduction projects, its dairy industry has yet to establish mature cases and continues to face significant implementation challenges, according to a recent report.

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.

Organisers of the 2026 Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa have announced the postponement of the high-profile event, which was originally scheduled to take place in Nairobi on July 9-10.

The first batch of carbon credits issued under the Paris Agreement's Article 6.4 mechanism are linked to institutions controlled by Myanmar's military junta and may have been verified under conditions that made independent oversight impossible, a report claimed on Thursday.

The European Union’s legislators reached a provisional agreement early Thursday morning to strengthen the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) of the bloc’s new carbon market for buildings and road transport, in a move aimed at reducing the risk of price shocks ahead of the system’s launch.

New investment - Japan's Chubu Electric Power has entered into agreements to invest around JPY 23 bln ($144 mln) in Continuum Green Energy, a wind and solar power generation company in India. Continuum supplies electricity to India's commercial and industrial sector through power purchase agreements. Chubu Electric Power said it is eyeing the growing demand in the market, as India aims to install 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

First deal - Sompo Japan Insurance, a member of the Natural Capital Credit Consortium (NCCC), has completed the first-ever purchase of credits issued under the NCCC Carbon Standard, the consortium announced Thursday. The credits were generated from the Akaiwa grassland project implemented by Tsujita Construction Machinery, which used a patented construction technique to prevent soil erosion and strengthen the ground during construction.  

Greater demand for near-zero-emissions steel could as much as triple demand for supply, using existing best practices for buying, according to a report released on Thursday.

The majority of signatories to a maritime decarbonisation initiative reduced their emissions intensity last year, while overall alignment with the International Maritime Organization's climate goals has stabilised year-on-year, according to a new report.

Carbon capture and storage risks turning into a political liability in Europe because most people – including many politicians – have never seen it in action, Danish lawmaker Niels Flemming Hansen has warned, urging reforms to the EU carbon market to better support industrial decarbonisation and carbon dioxide removals (CDR).

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.  

Generational change - The Western Australian government has committed nearly A$10 mln ($7 mln) into Generation Steel, formerly Green Steel of WA, to progress its low emissions steel mill in Collie, it announced. The funding will be allocated from the A$230 mln Collie Industrial Transition Fund, will be matched by the company and will support pre-development activities before final investment decision, expected later this year. The project aims to use an electric arc furnace and use 100% recycled scrap steel feedstock to produce up to 450,000 t/year of steel, with a 75% lower emissions footprint compared to conventional steel making processes.

Lifecycle tracking - BHP has signed an agreement with Chinese conveyor company Wuxi Boton Technology to jointly develop lower-carbon conveyor systems for mining operations worldwide, they announced. Part of the agreement will see the companies explore a supply-chain carbon tracking programme covering the full lifecycle of conveyor systems, from raw materials and manufacturing through to operation and recycling, with the aim of reducing emissions and improving circularity through conveyor belt recycling initiatives, according to the agreement. The work will also focus on deploying advanced technologies, such as AI, robotics, and X-rays, building on work already underway at BHP's Escondida copper mine in Chile.

Green growth - Demand for green equipment finance in Australia is up 32% in six months, according to National Australia Bank, which said businesses are rapidly shifting away from diesel. The bank in a statement said uptake of green equipment finance in Mar. 2026 is more than double that of the same time last year, thanks to high fuel prices sparked by ongoing fighting in the Middle East.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged Sri Lanka to operationalise and regulate its policy position on carbon trading, warning that private capital will only flow into markets offering predictability, credibility, and clear institutional structures, local media reported.

Volatility returns - As the US and Iran resumed exchanging strikes this week, challenging the fragile April ceasefire, consultancy Rystad Energy warned oil prices could surge towards $150/bbl if fighting intensifies further. Rystad added that it was too early to determine whether the flare-up would lead to a full resumption of hostilities, but noted that the likelihood of a near-term diplomatic agreement had fallen from about 40% just weeks ago. Still, the impact on crude markets could be moderated by record releases from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, weaker Chinese crude imports, and continued flows of around 5 mln bpd of Saudi oil that bypass the Strait of Hormuz via the Yanbu pipeline into the Red Sea. Brent crude prices touched $92/bbl on Thursday.

Airlines are focusing more on soaring jet fuel costs and operational pressures than carbon credit purchases as prices for CORSIA-eligible offsets continue to weaken ahead of the scheme’s upcoming mandatory phase in 2027, according to a member of ICAO’s Technical Advisory Body (TAB).

Strung together - The Queensland state government has committed A$3.2 bln ($2.2 bln) to the state's CopperString electricity transmission project, with A$420 mln coming from its latest budget, it announced. The funding will support construction activities for the Eastern Link as well as enabling works for the Western Link, including through the North West Energy Fund. The first stage of the project is expected to be complete by 2032, connecting north and northwest Queensland to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

When governments provide short-term relief for energy crises, they tend to go in the wrong direction, whereas prioritising structural responses can create much greater resilience in the long run, according to new research.

Free gas – Genesis Energy has agreed to shut unit five of its Huntly power station from July 1 until the end of the year to free up gas for commercial and industrial users, the New Zealand gentailer said on Wednesday. The 400 MW unit was closed for three months last year for a similar reason, the company added, noting that this year’s arrangement is supported by an established coal stockpile at the site, good availability of hydropower, and its broader generation and fuel portfolio. Genesis has been signing agreements to procure torrefied wood pellets for use at Huntly, estimating that it will need 300,000 t of biomass annually by FY2028. New Zealand’s electricity system is dominated by renewables – with clean energy accounting for over 90% of electricity supplied over the past six months – but it currently relies on fossil fuels to fill the gap in dispatchable energy, such as in dry years. Power generation is covered by the NZ ETS, boosting the economic case for biomass.

An Indigenous carbon group has said the staged consent process outlined by the Australian government's carbon market reforms needs to be tightened up, while project developers warned expanding consent rights to Native Title claimants could impact the viability of some carbon projects.

Solar shine – A 50% increase in solar capacity year-on-year helped lift New Zealand’s renewable energy supply to 94.5% in Q1 2026, government data on Thursday showed – the second consecutive quarter where renewables accounted for over 90% of electricity. The latest Energy Quarterly reported record solar output, of 373 GWh, for the three months ending Mar. 31, with hydro and wind power also up around 20%, compared with Q1 2025, to 5,900 GWh and 877 GWh, respectively. Surging renewable energy meant that coal and gas-fired generation dropped, down 65.6% and 67.4% YoY respectively. Emissions from power generation, covered by the NZ ETS, also fell by around 63% YoY, to 420,000 tCO2e.

Philling up – The government of the Philippines has made the first Global South contribution to the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the intergovernmental organisation said in a press release this week. It came as GGGI signed an MoU with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, which underpins a formal operational framework to accelerate the latter’s sustainable aviation fuel roadmap.

New Zealand could face a bill of up to NZ$6.6 billion ($3.8 bln) to meet its Paris Agreement targets out to 2035, government modelling released Thursday showed.

Chile has redefined its landmark baseline-and-credit schemes as emissions trading systems (ETSs) and is now evaluating articulation with the energy sector pilot, an official told Carbon Pulse, while seeing potential in Article 6 to channel investment into hard-to-abate sectors and leverage GHG reductions towards national targets.

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.