A wide range of developing country negotiating blocs – from middle-income and fossil fuel-rich, to the poorest and smallest – voiced concerns and opposition to unilateral trade measures, like border carbon fees, in one of the UN's first dialogues on climate-related trade issues. 

The landmark Santa Marta process on transitioning away from fossil fuels can help overcome the “deadlock” in UNFCCC talks, a Colombian official said during mid-year talks in Bonn on Monday.

CORSIA futures were little changed last week, with benchmark contracts on ICE slipping below $10/tonne mark after stabilising in recent weeks following a prolonged decline.

The introduction of specific price anchors for companies choosing to set an internal carbon price under the newly released Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) Corporate Net-Zero Standard, will help to 'avoid race-to-the-bottom dynamics' and provide viable financial support to many carbon projects, according to experts.

Governments around the world have urged the EU to simplify what they describe as overly prescriptive and complex requirements for complying with its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Hopes that G7 countries will help to spur a shift from fossil fuels are dimmer this year, with the term 'climate change' omitted from the agenda – but campaigners are still hoping to see advancements through the prism of 'energy security'.

Track submissions of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and interest in biodiversity credits ahead of COP17 through the Biodiversity Portal.

Calling out - Non-profit Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) on Monday said it has filed a formal complaint under OECD guidelines to call out major Japanese financial institutions for failing to address severe human rights risks linked to the Mozambique LNG project. SMBC Group, MUFG, Mizuho Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) are named for their roles in financing and insuring the project. Led by TotalEnergies, the LNG initiative has been linked to serious human rights abuses in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.

Nvidia's Scope 3 emissions have nearly tripled since 2024, according to its latest sustainability report, fueling concerns that the tech giant is offloading carbon burden on its manufacturing hubs in Taiwan and South Korea.

Digital afforestation – The government of Bangladesh announced it would digitally monitor its afforestation programme, the Financial Express reported on Monday. The country has set aside finance within its 2026-27 national budget to develop a tree tracking app and create a data bank on afforested areas using GPS and GIS. It also shared plans to manage 50% of its coastal mangroves for carbon trading and kick off a further 11 Article 6-aligned carbon crediting initiatives.

Big proposal - An Australian coal mine extension that has been referred to the New South Wales' Independent Planning Commission (IPC) would emit some 800 MtCO2e over its life time, according to NGO the Climate Council. Glencore and Yancoal's Hunter Valley Operations Continuation Project would extend open-cut coal mining until 2045 and expand the mine, adding an additional 200 Mt of coal production. Broken down, this would see 15.1 Mt of Scope 1 emissions, and 793.7 MtCO2e of Scope 3, according to the council's analysis. The group urged the IPC to reject the proposal on climate grounds.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said it has drafted amendments to the Law on Environmental Protection, introducing stricter emissions controls, mandatory pollution inventories, and decentralised responsibilities for local authorities.

Every bit counts - Seoul Energy Corporation has signed a MoU with climate fintech firm Hooxi Partners to help citizens monetise their GHG reductions, starting with rooftop solar installations, they announced Monday. The government has been promoting citizen-led carbon reduction projects, though these contributions are often underutilised due to complex certification procedures, the companies said. Hooxi Partners plans to use its AI platform to streamline the process, allowing participants to earn profits simply by inputting their facility data.

Mark your calendar- South Korea's environment ministry has announced a revision to its 2026 government-held carbon auction plan. While the total annual volume of 24 mln permits remains unchanged, the ministry has adjusted the types of emission allowances available. Under the updated schedule, the allowances for the July and Aug. auctions have been changed from KAU-26 to KAU-25. It means KAU-25 will be offered through Aug., followed by KAU-26 for the rest of the year. Upcoming auctions are scheduled for July 8, Aug. 12, Sep. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9, the notice showed.

A Seoul-headquartered procurement platform for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and carbon credits has acquired a Singapore-based consultancy, it announced Monday.

Margin threat - Asia-Pacific airlines entered 2026 with strong demand and improving profitability, but remain vulnerable to prolonged fuel price volatility and geopolitical disruption, aviation consultancy IBA said on Monday in a press release. IBA estimated that elevated fuel prices sustained for three months could reduce APAC airline margins by 3.6%, rising to 7.2% if higher prices persist for six months. China was among the strongest performers, benefiting from continued access to Russian airspace, while Vietnam posted the region's fastest capacity growth. India, however, saw capacity shrink 2.6% after disruptions to Middle East operations hit network connectivity.  

Indonesia is looking to launch an international sale of forestry carbon credits next month, offering more than 30 million tonnes of emission reductions to global buyers, according to officials.

Coal expansion - China's top coal-producing region, Inner Mongolia, plans to expand production of coal-derived oil, gas, and chemicals as Beijing seeks to bolster energy security and reduce reliance on imports, amid heightened concerns following the Iran conflict, Reuters reported, citing officials speaking at a press conference. The region aims to build the country's largest coal-to-petrochemicals base, despite the sector's significant carbon footprint and potential conflict with China's climate goals. Officials said the strategy will be balanced with renewable energy development, which now accounts for 53% of Inner Mongolia's installed power capacity.

Carbon standard Verra has reinstated four additional Chinese forestry and grassland carbon projects following a review of their government authorisations, according to a developer.

ASX-listed digital infrastructure company NoviqTech on Monday annouced a CEO shakeup and the complete divestment of its supply chain traceability platforms in a move to pivot the company’s focus to its carbon removal (CDR) business.

Businesses across 18 markets increasingly view clean electrification as a way to reduce exposure to fossil fuel volatility, lower long-term costs, and strengthen competitiveness, according to a polling report released Monday.

Art of the deal - Prices of benchmark crude oil fell as much as 4% on Monday to touch $80/bbl after US Predisent Donald Trump announced a deal to end the conflict with Iran will be signed this Friday. It comes after weeks of negotiations and ceasefire violations between the two countries. Trump added that the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of global energy supplies and crucial processed commodities like jet fuel oil passed before the conflict began, will also reopen indefinitely and without tolls on Friday. Under the preleminary deal, more thorny issues like Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief will be discussed over the next 60 days.

Global biochar production has nearly tripled in the past two years and is projected to reach more than 9 million tonnes annually by the end of the decade, as the carbon removal technology moves from an emerging industry into large-scale commercial deployment, according to a new market report.

Negotiators and observers are questioning how the UN’s process of assessing Article 6.2 initial reports could become more iterative and better at isolating major concerns, as common reporting pitfalls have led UN teams to declare inconsistencies in every review to date.

Electrifying - Australian road freight company New Energy Transport (NET) has secured A$5 mln ($3.5 mln) to fast track deployment of its electric trucks by the end of 2026, ESD News reported. The plan will see NET invest in twenty new electric prime movers supported by six mobile ultra-fast charging units strategically placed on heavy road freight corridors throughout NSW. NET said the cash came via an equity raise backed by institutional investors Jekara Group and facilitated by advisory Pollination. The company is also developing a heavy electric trucking depot at Wilton in NSW that is expected to be operational by 2027.

Binding concrete - ASX-listed Hazer Group announced it has signed a binding MoU with construction materials company Hallet Group to work together on product development and potential graphite offtake discussions in South Australia. Graphite is a by-product of Hazer's low emissions hydrogen production process, with the MoU using Hallet's R&D capabilities to integrate the graphite into concrete and other potential applications. The deal sees Hallet having exclusive rights to Hazer's graphite in the South Australian concrete market until Jan. 1, 2027. Hallet is currently working on a A$200 mln ($141 mln) green cement project in Port August as part of its broader decarbonisation strategy.