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TOP STORY
EXCLUSIVE: European emitters boost shareholder payouts while receiving free EU carbon permits, data shows
Big European steel and petrochemical firms benefiting from free EU carbon allowances have channelled billions of euros into share buybacks since 2022 while scaling back green investments, according to data compiled for Carbon Pulse ahead of a crunch summit this week.
DAILY NEWS TICKER
CP Daily News Ticker: 17 June 2026
The CP Daily News Ticker is a running list of all our news updated in real-time throughout the day. This is also the home to our ‘Bite-sized updates from around the world’, which previously featured in our CP Daily newsletter.
SB64 UN CLIMATE TALKS
BRIEFING: PACM influence on carbon markets extends far beyond Article 6.4, experts say
The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), a UN-regulated carbon market grounded in Article 6.4 rules, is guiding national frameworks, voluntary market (VCM) standards, and even other UN schemes, experts and country delegates said on the sidelines of climate talks in Bonn.
FEATURE: SIDS say mitigation finance, Article 6 must move from ambition to implementation at Bonn
Small island developing states (SIDS) want the Bonn climate talks to move mitigation finance and Article 6 support beyond discussions and towards practical access to concessional capital, project preparation support, and implementation pathways needed to meet finance-dependent climate targets, experts told Carbon Pulse.
INTERVIEW: Brazil’s new climate and trade forum sees encouraging signs in first meeting, diplomat says
The first meeting of a new Brazil-spearheaded “floating” forum on climate-related trade issues saw surprisingly positive engagement amid the backdrop of wider tensions around unilateral trade measures, a diplomat from the country told Carbon Pulse on the sidelines of annual mid-year UN climate talks.
Middle East war prevented parties from attending Bonn talks
Several countries sent reduced delegations to the SB64 UN climate talks in Bonn due to the effects of US- and Israel-led war in the Middle East, or were completely absent, according to parties and observers.
EMEA
International finance lobby group urges EU to broaden recognition of carbon credits under CBAM
A major international financial markets lobby group has urged the European Commission to ensure that carbon prices paid in third countries under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) encompass all recognised compliance instruments, including domestic and international credits, warning that proposed restrictions could undermine the bloc’s objective of preventing double carbon pricing.
PREVIEW: EU summit to vent “discontent” over carbon market overhaul
European Union leaders are expected to air ongoing “discontent” at a summit on Thursday over the European Commission’s handling of a major overhaul of the bloc’s carbon market, after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused Brussels of ignoring political guidance agreed at a March summit, an EU diplomat said.
UK, Belgium ink landmark deal to open cross-border CO2 storage route
Belgium and the UK have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under the London Protocol to enable the cross-border transport and permanent storage of Belgian industrial CO2 in UK offshore storage sites, in what industry body CCSA hailed as a major step toward a Europe‑wide carbon storage market.
INTERVIEW: Chemicals, construction the biggest winners from EU ETS free allocation benchmarks decision
Chemicals and construction companies are the biggest winners from the latest changes to benchmarks used to determine the number of free EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances handed to industries, according to an analyst from a carbon investment consultancy.
European power sector urges predictable EU carbon price ahead of post-2030 ETS review
The EU should avoid ad hoc interventions in its emissions trading system (ETS), strengthen price-stability tools, and direct carbon market revenues into industrial decarbonisation as it prepares for the post-2030 period, the European power sector association said on Thursday.
Euro Markets: EUAs flat as energy markets struggle to digest potential Strait of Hormuz reopening
EUAs ended the day flat as energy markets seesawed amid a tentative reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with participants pointing to rising European equities as offering an increasingly bullish signal.
Industry, NGOs unite in urging Brussels to exclude carbon credits from EU CBAM
NGOs and European industry associations are pushing back against the European Commission’s plan to allow international carbon credits to be deducted from importers’ Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) fees, in a statement released on Wednesday.
EU carbon capture, storage infrastructure lagging behind mandated target for 2030 -analysis
The EU is falling short of its legally mandated goal to boost carbon capture and storage capacity within the decade – even if every planned project makes it to development, according to new analysis, commissioned by large oil and gas companies.
UN review raises issues with Zimbabwe’s carbon market rules and registry
A UN technical review has flagged inconsistencies and lacking transparency in Zimbabwe’s carbon market infrastructure, including its national carbon registry, rules for collecting revenues, and the country’s first Article 6 project – although the government did clarify many of the issues.
Cameroon plans to mobilise Article 6 to help meet new 41% emission reduction target
Cameroon is positioning carbon markets as a key pillar of its climate strategy, with an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that boosts its emissions reduction ambitions, citing the economic value of its vast forests and clean energy potential as possible Article 6 revenue streams.
Congo Basin industrial logging emits 87.5 Mt of CO2 annually, satellite analysis finds
A new satellite-based assessment has found that industrial logging concessions across Africa’s Congo Basin emit around 87.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually, while widespread adoption of reduced-impact logging practices could cut those emissions by up to 58% and unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon finance.
Emissions from EU-based oil majors estimated to cause €1.5 trillion in climate damages worldwide, says non-profit
The emissions from oil and gas produced by EU-based companies since the 2015 Paris Agreement are set to cause an estimated €1.5 trillion in climate damages worldwide, with three oil majors alone responsible for over two-thirds of that total, according to analysis by an environmental campaign group.
AMERICAS
Trump administration asks court to dismiss lawsuit over AI power supply dispute
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked a federal court to intervene in and dismiss a Clean Air Act (CAA) citizen suit against xAI, arguing that the case threatens AI, energy, and national security interests and that federal enforcers can block private actions they choose not to pursue.
US carbon border proposals expose trade-off between aluminium supply risk and decarbonisation -report
Proposed US carbon border mechanisms for aluminium expose a trade-off between rapid protection from high-carbon imports and a slower, more stable route to industrial decarbonisation, according to a new analysis.
Washington cap-and-invest accounts, holdings steady in Q2
The number of participants and holdings in Washington’s cap-and-invest programme increased in Q2, according to a report published Wednesday.
Nodal posts first trade of California offsets with DEBs
Nodal Exchange posted the first trade in California Carbon Offsets 8 (CCO-8) with direct environmental benefits (DEBs) to the state on Tuesday, after launching the futures contract the previous day.
New programme to allocate C$100 mln to accelerate climate tech, agriculture projects
A Canadian venture capital company has launched a new C$100 million ($71 mln) fellowship programme to fund early-stage climate technology projects.
Colombia launches first zero-emissions cargo corridor, targets 1k electric trucks by 2032
The Colombian Ministry of Transportation, in partnership with several private and international organisations, has launched the country’s first zero-emissions freight corridor, aiming to tackle one of the country’s main sources of GHGs.
ASIA PACIFIC
New Zealand promotes APAC carbon market cooperation, remains silent on looming ITMO obligation
New Zealand’s climate minister has promoted the government’s efforts to build capacity and cooperation on carbon markets in the Asia Pacific, but said nothing regarding its likely need to purchase millions of overseas credits to meet its 2030 international climate target.
Sub-national governments seen crucial to advance India’s Article 6.2 partnerships
Engaging India’s sub-national governments is crucial for navigating the practical realities of Article 6.2 partnerships in the country, a conference heard Wednesday.
South Korea, Malaysia ink biogas pact, eye Article 6 carbon projects
Malaysia and South Korea have agreed to cooperate on biogas development and carbon market initiatives, including potential Article 6 projects under the Paris Agreement, they announced this week.
Venture builder launches $100-mln fund to scale Southeast Asian climate startups
A Singapore-based venture builder announced the launch of its second fund on Wednesday, with a target of $100 million to go towards climate startups.
India wasting renewable power as coal cannot ramp down further -report
India is wasting some of its renewable electricity because coal-fired power plants cannot wind down any further during periods of peak solar generation during daytime, making battery storage a necessity, according to a report published Wednesday.
Asian miners lag on ESG implementation, report says
Miners across Asia have broadly adopted environmental, social, and governance policies, but many are struggling to implement those commitments, according to a report published on Wednesday.
VOLUNTARY
Frontier launches more than $900 mln in new CDR funding, adds major AI participant
Carbon removal (CDR) buyers club Frontier launched more than $900 million in a new advance market commitment (AMC) while onboarding two major AI and technology buyers.
Forest carbon standard issues over 1 mln credits to Costa Rica, first removal units
A major certification body for jurisdictional carbon programmes issued just under 1.1 million credits to Costa Rica, a share of which are the first removals certified by the standard, it announced Wednesday.
INTERVIEW: Brazil project developer aims to set benchmark for REDD+
A project developer operating in Brazil hopes that a new rating will help its Amazon project set a benchmark to restore the credibility of REDD+, a representative told Carbon Pulse.
INTERVIEW: The hard part of biochar isn’t making it, but building the market, says climate tech firm
After more than a decade teaching smallholder farmers how to turn crop waste into biochar, the leaders of a climate tech firm said that beyond making the biochar itself, the real complexity lies in building the relationships and infrastructure needed to sell high‑durability carbon removal credits.
Activists challenge Ukraine carbon projects, despite no registry approval to date
Environmental activists are demanding answers about several agricultural carbon credit projects in Ukraine, arguing that insufficient transparency surrounding the initiatives raises concerns about the integrity of future carbon credits that could be generated under the voluntary carbon market.
Verra to launch ‘next-generation’ carbon registry in July
Verra and S&P Global Energy have announced that their “next-generation” environmental registry platform will officially go live on July 27, which they say marks a major upgrade for global carbon market infrastructure.
ISO opens consultation on global net zero transition planning standard
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) opened a public consultation on Wednesday on a draft international standard for net zero transition planning.
Voluntary carbon credit retirements holding up, removals market showing signs of strain -report
Retirements across the voluntary carbon market (VCM) were strong across the first five months of 2026 with volumes no longer concentrated at lower price points, according to new analysis, but removals purchases were down by 50% over the same period with questions over whether recent demand boosts will be enough to keep developers heads above water.
Ocean CDR initiative to launch $5 mln RFP to fund expansion of global network for alkalinity enhancement research
An ocean carbon removal research initiative on Wednesday unveiled plans to launch a $5 million funding round aimed at expanding a global research network for ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), as interest grows in marine CDR technologies but questions remain over their scalability, environmental impacts, and monitoring requirements.
INTERNATIONAL
INTERVIEW: Paris 1.5C goal could give climate litigants new tool against weak domestic policies, scholar says
A new legal interpretation of the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C temperature goal could give climate litigants a fresh basis to challenge weak domestic climate policies and high-emitting projects, by treating states as having a due diligence obligation not to defeat the treaty’s object and purpose, a legal scholar told Carbon Pulse.
Every dollar a company invests in emissions reduction generates up to $7 in return -report
Every dollar that a company invests in emissions reduction generates an average of $2.40 in return, and in some cases up to $7 over its lifetime, according to the latest report by an environmental disclosure non-profit.
Nearly 60% of top financial institutions still lack deforestation policies -report
Nearly 60% of top financial institutions still lack any meaningful policy to combat deforestation, which could have consequences for the world’s efforts to meet global biodiversity targets, according to a new report.
Study maps global emissions to asset owners, finds sharp carbon inequality
Emissions linked to privately owned assets are highly concentrated among the world’s wealthiest individuals, found an analysis published this week, highlighting what researchers described as a blind spot in climate policy.
AVIATION
Carbon broker, energy trader launch second auction for CORSIA-labelled credits
An environmental commodities broker and an energy trader have launched a second carbon auction, offering 100,000 Article 6- and CORSIA-labelled credits.
CORSIA supply and demand still cloudy, rating agency says
Supply and demand hangs in the air for Phase 1 Corsia with the unknown of credit quantity rubbing against regulatory uncertainty, a webinar heard Wednesday.
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