Clean air repeal - The US EPA last Friday sent Congress four additional California Clean Air Act waivers, opening the door for Republicans to use the Congressional Review Act to repeal federal approvals for state vehicle and equipment emissions rules dating back to the Obama administration, E&E News reported. The waivers include California’s first GHG waiver for light-duty vehicles, later Advanced Clean Cars standards through model year 2025, the Biden administration’s reinstatement of those rules, and a separate rule requiring small off-road engines such as lawn equipment and golf carts to shift to zero-emission options. Repeal would remove a remaining pathway for California and more than a dozen aligned states to enforce tailpipe climate standards after the EPA revoked federal limits earlier this year, escalating an ongoing legal and political fight over whether Congress can use the CRA to unwind years-old waiver decisions.

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. 

Nodal Exchange launched several new environmental futures and options contracts, including for CORSIA.

Rolling SMR - UK-based Rolls Royce has clinched a contract to build three small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) in Sweden. The  engineering group was selected by the Swedish development company Videberg Kraft, a project company majority owned by Vattenfall. Rolls Royce has already won a contract with the UK-government backed Great British Energy to build an SMR plant in Wales. The global SMR market is expected to reach nearly £500 bln by 2050, according to a government release.

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.

From Mexico to Brazil, state support and regulations appear to be influencing the scale and bonus attributes that carbon project developers plan for in their initiatives.

Zimbabwean officials met Friday in Bonn with members of CORSIA’s Technical Advisory Body (TAB) to understand the TAB’s limits on involving national registries in the scheme, a country representative told Carbon Pulse, citing high stakes for standards and host countries alike.

European carbon prices surged early on Monday as markets reacted to the announcement that a peace memorandum between Iran and the United States will be signed later this week, and edged up further in the afternoon to cross the psychological €80 level after EU representatives voted to approve proposed benchmarks adjustments for free allocation.

Europe risks undermining its energy security by pressing ahead with a wave of new gas-fired power plants in Germany, Poland, and Romania that could add 28 billion cubic metres (bcm) to annual gas demand and lock the EU into decades of fossil fuel dependence, a new analysis has warned.

A US federal court has vacated 11 DOE grant termination notices after the Trump administration stipulated that a primary reason the awards were selected for cancellation was whether the grantee was located in a “Blue State”.

Fresh finance - The World Bank has approved €400 mln in extra financing to scale up Turkiye's market for distributed renewable energy, including wind energy and commercial-scale battery storage. The funding is made up of two €200 mln IBRD loans to the Development and Investment Bank of Turkiye (TKYB) and the Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye (TSKB), guaranteed by the Republic of Turkiye. Funds will be disbursed after pre-agreed targets are achieved and independently verified. Turkiye is aiming to reach 120 GW of combined wind and solar power by 2035, alongside a big expansion of battery storage. But long-term financing for wind and storage remains constrained, with domestic funding challenges. The expanded programme aims to address this, with development banks bridging the maturity gap, catalysing private sector entry. It expects to enable 1,579 MW of renewables, and to support 392 MWh of battery storage. (Mirage News)

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.

EU member states approved on Monday the updated benchmarks used to determine the number of free ETS allowances handed to industries for the next five years, while Brussels also committed to put forward a new proposal with more specific 'fallback' values in July.

The European Central Bank (ECB) saw a further decline in emissions linked to its sovereign and corporate bond portfolios last year, although most of the cuts stem from balance sheet run-off rather than decarbonisation of issuers, according to its latest climate-related financial disclosure.

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).

Latest exit - Shell is preparing to launch a sale of its offshore wind farms, which could fetch over $1 bln, according to people familiar, as reported by Bloomberg. The oil major has appointed advisors for Rothschild & Co. and PJT Partners to lead the sale, with the process to kick off as soon as the end of the year and a likely sale to take place in 2027. Since taking charge in 2023, CEO Wael Sawan has sought to cut costs and offload low-returning assets in a bid to deliver better shareholder returns. The offshore wind sale plans marks a further departure from Shell's previous strategy to diversify into renewables.

The UK may be poised to water down its target for scaling electric vehicles (EVs), with the government now discussing with industry on the plans, according to British media reports, in a move that could undermine its longer term carbon commitments.

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.

Construction transition – At least 4 mln construction workers are needed to meet European green transition goals, according to a new study by consulting firm Ecorys focusing on ten European countries: Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, Czechia, Denmark, and Ireland. While demand for low-carbon construction skills is set to rise, 35-45% of the renovation workforce will require climate and circularity training, the report found. Labour shortages are also expected to intensify as decarbonisation-driven hiring coincides with millions of retirements. The study highlights persistent risks around subcontracting, safety, and access to training, particularly for migrant, female, and older workers, while noting that steel and cement could face job losses as timber and energy-efficient glass industries expand.

Croatian fuel aid – The European Commission has approved an €8 mln Croatian scheme for fishing companies facing increased fuel prices due to the war in Iran. The aid will take the form of direct grants that can cover up to 70% of the additional fuel costs or be capped at €50,000 per company, depending on the type of fishing vessel. Running until the end of the year, the initiative is part of the Middle East crisis temporary state aid framework (METSAF) aimed at shielding citizens from the energy crisis (read more).

Germany is set to miss its 2030, 2040, and 2045 climate targets under current policies, according to a government-commissioned projection report released last week.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has launched a fresh attack on the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) ahead of this week’s EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, accusing officials of using technical interpretations to overturn political agreements reached by member states.

A carbon markets investment firm has hired a new client solutions director from an enhanced rock weathering (ERW) developer, it was announced Monday.

Long-duration electricity storage – The business case for innovative long-duration electricity storage (LDES) is rapidly strengthening across several European markets, according to a new analysis by consultancy AFRY for industry association Eurelectric. The study, released Monday, finds each gigawatt of LDES could deliver €150-250 mln in annual variable operating cost savings at system level, by cutting renewable curtailment, easing grid congestion and providing long-term flexibility. Technologies such as iron-air, compressed-air and liquid-air storage could become commercially viable after 2040 in wind-rich markets like Germany and Great Britain, with 8-12 hour systems faring best in solar-heavy Spain and Portugal. However, high upfront costs and limited revenue streams still weigh on investment, the study found.

Egypt power grid upgrade – Brussels and Cairo unveiled a €690 mln project on Monday aimed at modernising Egypt's national electricity grid, and integrating 22 GW of renewables by 2030. Backed by a €600 mln European Investment Bank loan and up to €90 mln in European Commission grants, the project is expected to mobilise €1.6 bln in total investment. Upgrades to substations and transmission lines in the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez will cut losses and improve reliability, with construction starting in 2027 and first flows in 2028, officials said.

Guyana’s jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme is blowing past prior annual revenue figures, bringing in some $196 million this year, according to Carbon Pulse calculations based on statements made by the government.

Europe must slash permitting times and embrace onshore CO2 storage if it wants to deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) at scale in cement and other hard to abate sectors at an affordable cost, according to EU officials, industry, and policy experts.

First steps - E.ON has awarded Capsol Technologies the right to conduct a feasibility study of its carbon capture solutions at E.ON's biomass and waste-to-energy operations in Norrköping, Sweden. The study will evaluate deploying Capsol's carbon capture technology at a facility with a potential capture capacity of up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. It was secured through a competitive tender process and will be carried out together with a strategic engineering partner, drawing on experience from similar projects. (Bioenergy-news)

The Norwegian state energy agency, Enova, is looking to launch an auction scheme for carbon capture and storage, open to a wide variety of technology types and with a budget ceiling of €1.7 billion for carbon removal, the agency announced on Monday.

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.

Envoy for oceans - The COP31 Presidency has appointed three Pacific climate envoys to elevate regional voices at the talks in November, the Australian government announced. They will work with key stakeholders to shape outcomes at COP31 and beyond, including governments, regional institutions, and international partners, it said. The Marshall Island's Tina Stege has been appointed regional envoy for Oceania, Papua New Guinea's Ruel Yamuna has been appointed envoy for access to climate finance, and Fijian MP Inia Seruiratu will be envoy for the ocean.

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.

A coalition of environmental NGOs has triggered an internal review of the European Commission’s newly adopted methodologies for biogenic carbon removals, arguing they breach the EU’s Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation and could end up increasing emissions rather than cutting them.

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.

Flight path – California-based chemical technology company Twelve, along with Alaska Airlines, and Microsoft, on Wednesday marked the opening of AirPlant One in Washington state, which the companies said is the first commercial-scale US facility producing E-Jet fuel – a type of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). They said the E-Jet fuel produced at AirpPlant One meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for commercial aviation use, as well as E-naphtha. The company added that the facility marks the start of commercial-scale production and sets the stage for US commercial flights powered by jet fuel made from air.

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.

Target trouble – The Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources has urged the federal government to strengthen emissions reduction measures, warning that Canada is not on track to meet its legislated 2030 GHG emissions target. In a statement released Friday, the committee cited projections in the government's 2025 Progress Report on the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, showing Canada will miss the goal despite progress in reducing emissions. The committee noted that emissions reductions can also support investment and economic competitiveness when businesses have clear policy direction for the low-carbon transition.