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TOP STORY
Indonesia launches push for Asia-Pacific biodiversity credit initiative
The Indonesian government has proposed establishing an initiative in the Asia-Pacific to build and scale up biodiversity credits in the region.
INTERNATIONAL
INTERVIEW: New standard body EE looks to revive REDD market with fresh approach
Few markets have faced as severe a reputational battering as the REDD+ avoided deforestation sector in the last couple of years, but new standard body Equitable Earth (EE) plans to restore faith in saving tropical forestry with a fresh approach that is already set to protect an area the size of Portugal, the chief executive told Carbon Pulse this week.
DATA DIVE: Overall SBTi demand may top 1 bln in 2035, but questions remain over near term CDR prospects
Demand for both removals and reduction credits from companies taking part in a corporate target setting scheme could top 1 billion in 2035, according to forecasts based on a recent update to the programme’s rules.
Financial institutions endorse TFFF ahead of COP17
Twelve investors and one supporter have endorsed the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), sharing a joint statement at London Climate Action Week (LCAW) and calling for more signatories ahead of the UN’s upcoming biodiversity talks in October.
Group of countries seeks stronger business role in Cali Fund as contributions lag
A group of eight countries plus the EU has called for increased cooperation between governments and the private sector to unlock contributions to the Cali Fund, more than a year after its launch.
SBTN reveals corporations preparing to set updated freshwater targets
Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) revealed on Thursday the names of eight corporations around the world that are piloting the second version of its freshwater targets.
Funding for community land rights doubles since forest pledge -report
Annual funding for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples to secure collective land rights has more than doubled following a 2021 forest pact, indicating significant progress in advancing tenure rights, a report said on Wednesday.
International organisation updates guidelines for ecological restoration
A US-based network of specialists published its revised guide for ecological restoration after seven years, updating definitions, monitoring frameworks, financing approaches, and the integration of Indigenous Knowledge.
Voluntary carbon coalition rebrands and launches fellowship
A coalition of academic institutions, non-profits, and private businesses has rebranded itself and launched a new fellowship programme to help scale high-integrity carbon markets, the group announced Tuesday.
Israeli ag tech company issues first verified carbon credit
An Israel-based agricultural technology company has issued its first verified carbon removal (CDR) credits, with plans to “disrupt the global CDR market”, according to its CEO.
Voluntary agricultural standards can support nature positive outcomes -report
Voluntary agricultural standards can support nature positive outcomes, though they differ in how comprehensively they address biodiversity conservation, according to a new International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessment.
Global business leaders look to sustainability for competitiveness, call for policy certainty across economies -report
The majority of senior leaders across more than 500 global businesses expect sustainability to be a source of competitive advantage over the next five-10 years, according a CEO-led, global business group.
Foreign entities capture key CDR project roles in Africa, Latin America -study
Organisations positioned to capture value from carbon removal (CDR) projects are often located outside the regions hosting those activities, according to a new analysis focusing on projects across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Global mangrove loss seen tapering over four decades, study says
Mangrove forests, coastal habitats that support fisheries and store carbon, have shown signs of recovery after years of global decline, according to a satellite analysis.
Wealthiest consumers’ environmental damage costs up to $5.7 trillion a year -study
The annual damages to climate and biodiversity caused by consumption of the wealthiest 10% of consumers worldwide is between $1.7 and $5.7 trillion, a study has estimated.
EMEA
FEATURE: Nature rises higher on climate week agenda as UK temperatures soar
The nature agenda has come into its own at London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2026 with numerous events spotlighting biodiversity credits and nature finance taking place across the capital as UK temperatures reach record June highs.
INTERVIEW: French pilot offers credits spanning biodiversity, carbon, water, and soil
A French project developer is offering voluntary credits across biodiversity, carbon, water, and soil from regenerative agriculture and forestry initiatives, an executive told Carbon Pulse.
Coalition managing €5.5 trillion in assets urges EU to stay course on anti-deforestation law
A coalition managing over €5.5 trillion in assets under management has urged the European Commission to implement the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on schedule and avoid reopening the legislation, it was announced this week.
Wales pours £10 mln into nature fund amid fresh restoration plans
The Welsh government has allocated £10 million to a fund aimed at advancing nature restoration, as part of broader plans to boost climate mitigation and biodiversity recovery across the country.
New mechanism to mitigate very long-term project risk launching this year
Mitigating reversal risk in carbon markets beyond the standard project life horizon will be possible with a new market-wide ‘Permanence Trust’ mechanism to be piloted later this year, said experts at London Climate Action Week
Ministers look to scale forest financing ahead of COP31
Government officials set out their priority actions for scaling forest finance ahead of November’s COP31, with a minister from Ghana sharing ambitions to ramp up forest financing “from millions to billions” during a London Climate Action Week event on Tuesday.
EU keen to establish a nature credit ‘group of friends’
The European Commission is aiming to set up an informal “group of friends” focused on nature credits, a member of the EU delegation to the UK told an event at London Climate Action Week (LCAW) on Wednesday.
Campaigners call for national CDR goals, despite EU ‘target fatigue’
Climate NGO Carbon Gap has urged EU governments to set binding national targets for permanent carbon removal (CDR) under the bloc’s 2040 climate framework, warning that a single, EU‑wide net emissions goal will not deliver the volumes needed to reach net zero.
Nearly 1,700 active or unplugged oil and gas wells inside UK marine protected areas, report says
There are 1,685 oil and gas wells within the UK’s marine protected areas (MPAs), including 825 that are either under construction or currently drilled, according to a report published by a UK charity on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Borneo project targets August listing for biodiversity, carbon tokens
A project developer has said it will list biodiversity and carbon tokens by August from a project spanning 8.7 million hectares in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo.
Indonesia’s new carbon registry coming in two weeks -minister
Indonesia is set to launch its carbon credit registry in two weeks, as part of the country’s push to drive finance towards the protection of its vast forests, the country’s forestry minister confirmed during London Climate Action Week on Wednesday.
AMERICAS
Chile receives $15 mln from World Bank’s forest carbon programme
Chile has received a $15 million results-based payment from the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) after verifying more than 3 mln tonnes of emissions reductions from native forests under its REDD+ programme.
Brazilian Amazon’s protected areas avoided deforestation of 29 mln ha over 40 years -study
Protected areas (PAs) in the Brazilian Amazon prevented the deforestation of more than 29 million hectares between 1985-2024, playing a critical role in biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation, according to a pre-print study.
Seagrass recovery carbon projects could deliver more than $2 trillion longterm -study
Restoring seagrass in coastal habitats could lead to trillions of dollars in carbon credits, US-based researchers said
US improved grazing project achieves ‘A’ rating
An American improved grazing project developer announced its second independent verification in June, furthering the success of this first-of-its-kind project in the US.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
INTERNATIONAL
AI energy use – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on AI companies to publicly disclose their carbon emissions, water use, and land impacts associated with their operations through the proposal of an AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, while speaking at London Climate Action Week. Citing the energy demands required to power AI data centres, Guterres urged companies to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels to power the growing number of data centres, and increase their transparency in ecological impacts.
EU-China – The EU and China reaffirmed on Tuesday their environmental cooperation during the 11th EU-China Environment Policy Dialogue held in Brussels, saying they intend to jointly address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Among other things, the parties discussed ongoing work on nature credits and innovative financial mechanisms as a complement to public biodiversity funding. The commitment was announced ahead of major international events such as the COP17 UN biodiversity summit in Armenia and the new round of negotiations on a global plastics treaty.
EMEA
Bottom trawling – Non-profit Environmental Action Germany (DUH) has announced legal action against bottom trawling in the German Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, supported by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). DUH and EJF are calling for a ban on the environmentally damaging practice in the national park and for the marine protected area to be properly safeguarded, arguing that the state government is failing to meet its obligations under EU nature conservation law. The move follows a complaint filed by DUH and EJF with the European Commission last year.
Bioregulators – Italy’s Senate has given the green light to a controversial reform of the country’s hunting legislation, Euractiv reported. The draft law describes hunting as potentially useful for biodiversity conservation and introduces the concept of hunters as “bioregulators”. The bill, which is now awaiting approval from the Chamber of Deputies, has also drawn criticism for weakening the role of ISPRA, Italy’s national institute for environmental protection and research. Under the proposed changes, ISPRA’s scientific assessments would no longer be binding, but only advisory, reducing their legal weight in wildlife management decisions.
New commitments – Conservation organisations in Kenya have called for stronger efforts to protect biodiversity, during a donor roundtable in Nairobi focused on bankable biodiversity projects, Citizen Digital reported. As Kenya’s economy is heavily dependent on natural resources, the groups urged swift action to address environmental challenges, including greater involvement of local communities. Some initiatives, such as the Advancing Bioeconomy Development in Kenya project and BIODEV2030, are underway to integrate biodiversity into the economy.
ASIA PACIFIC
Water – A water access initiative has been launched in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan by UNDP and The Coca-Cola Foundation. The project seeks to enhance the resilience of remote communities in the regions around the Aral Sea. Actions include developing a new water station and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, benefiting over 700 households, said UNDP. The project is the latest development in a partnership between the organisations that has been ongoing since 2011.
Hornbill – Indonesian mining company PT Hengjaya Mineralindo has opened a 197-ha conservation area on the island of Sulawesi in an effort to support biodiversity around its operations. The site, in Morowali District, includes primary forest ecosystems that provide habitats for protected species such as the Sulawesi hornbill, reported Antara. It is expected to serve as a platform for scientific research, biodiversity monitoring, and environmental education, in collaboration with local communities.
Controversial clause – New Zealand will remove a proposed provision from the Conservation Amendment Bill that would have expanded the area of conservation land eligible for sale, RNZ reported this week. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the government had listened to feedback and would withdraw the clause after concerns it would allow more conservation land to be sold. The change reverses a proposal that would have made an additional 2.8 mln ha eligible for sale, on top of 2.4 mln ha of stewardship land already eligible.
It’s a deal – Japanese energy company Eneos will purchase credits from Tokushima Forest Bank’s domestic forest projects through a long-term sales agreement. Those J-Credits will be generated through sustainable forest management activities, Eneos said in a statement, without disclosing more details. The energy major also plans to source carbon credits from agricultural projects under the J-Credit programme.
AMERICAS
Mangrove move – Ecuador’s shrimp sector has launched a mangrove partnership targeting restoring 250 ha by 2030, Acquafeed reported this week. The initiative involves the National Chamber of Aquaculture, Sustainable Shrimp Partnership, and Conservation International Ecuador, with work planned under the Mangroves for Climate initiative. The partners estimate the project could reduce 112,870 tonnes of CO2 emissions and support certified production practices across 20,000 ha of shrimp farms.
Land rights – Brazil and Peru both committed to supporting land tenure rights during London Climate Action Week (LCAW). Peru on Wednesday became the 16th country to join the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment (ILTC), a policy statement launched at COP30 to recognise the land of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants, and local communities. Meanwhile Brazil, already part of the ILTC, announced it would designate 3 mln ha of federal public lands to Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian people. The two countries are leaders of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership which coordinates the ILTC.
Brazil restoration project – Brazilian forest project developer Re.green and pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced an alliance to establish a 500-ha restoration project in the Amazon, according to a Tuesday social media post. The project aims to generate 100,000 carbon removal credits aligned with the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) over 20 years. Activities include natural regeneration, planting of native species, and timber management in the Paragominas forest in the northern Brazilian state of Para.
First rating – An afforestation and restoration project in Colombia has received a pre-issuance A rating from carbon credit ratings agency Sylvera, developers announced this week in a social media post. The Yopo Restoration Project, being developed by Adryada in partnership with BaumInvest AG, aims to restore around 18,000 ha in the eastern department of Vichada using native tree species. The project is expected to generate 8.5 mln carbon credits over a 40-year crediting period under the Gold Standard’s A/R methodology, with issuances beginning in 2030.
Nature bank – Antigua News reported this week that the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) expects to soon launch the Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity, known as the Nature Bank. OECS Director General Didacus Jules said the institution would strengthen the sub-region’s capacity to mobilise nature-based finance. Antigua and Barbuda sponsored the launch of the project at the SIDS4 conference in 2024. The Nature Bank was first proposed in 2023 as a mechanism to strengthen the collective voice of small island developing states in mobilising financing for resilient infrastructure.
Compliant – The government of British Columbia has announced the creation of a Compliance and Enforcement Agency that will take effect on July 1. The agency will consolidate several existing compliance and enforcement functions across natural resources to improve coordination, accountability, and consistency, enhance environmental protections, and support a more just business environment. The agency will operate within the Ministry of Environment and Parks. It will consolidate the Conservation Officer Service, Natural Resource Officer Service, environmental enforcement branches, and related support services into a single organisation.
Lithium stewardship – US-based lithium mining company HiTech Minerals has signed an agreement with non-profit Resolve to explore the creation of a voluntary ecological stewardship area in the western US, reported Citybiz. The corporation – a subsidiary of Australian firm Jindalee Lithium – has established a framework to work with stakeholders including Tribal Nations on identifying conservation, restoration, and land stewardship opportunities around lithium developments on the border of Oregon and Nevada states.
Shrinking stewards – The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), a union of more than 80,000 public service professionals, is sending up flares that federal budget cuts to Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) are cutting the experts responsible for delivering species recovery and marine conservation efforts it pledged to strengthen. PIPSC said a further C$100 mln ($70.4 mln) in planned DFO cuts target experts behind conservation efforts, habitat restoration programmes, fisheries management systems, and public oversight for ocean protection.
Datacentre water decline – Microsoft, which has pledged to become water positive by 2030, replenishing more water than it uses, announced it has increased its water use effectiveness in its data centres to 0.27 litres per kWh in 2025, down from 2.3 l/kWh in the early 2000s. As of 2025, the tech giant said it had reduced its water use intensity by 25%, reflecting strong progress towards water-efficient cooling technologies, operational improvements, and responsible water management practices, it said.
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