Rapid electrification - Renewable electricity generation grew by 9.8% in 2024, compared to a 1.4% increase by non-renewables over the same period, according to the Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report said renewables would need to increase their share of global electricity 2.5 times to reach the 35% global electrification target announced last month by incoming the COP31 Presidency of Turkiye.

Corporate carbon credit buyers are applying more detailed quality and risk criteria to their purchases, but many remain reluctant to move beyond spot transactions into long-term offtakes that carry delivery, counterparty, and balance-sheet exposure, experts said during a Tuesday panel.

Demand across the voluntary carbon market (VCM) remained steady in the first half of 2026 after a large retirement from a US oil and gas company helped to keep pace with 2025's record level, according to data from an analytics firm.

The European Commission is set to drop proposals to impose strict additional eligibility criteria for carbon credits used by EU airlines for Phase 1 of the UN's CORSIA international aviation offsetting scheme, according to a recent presentation from the EU's executive.

Expanding the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to cover a greater share of aviation emissions would not have led to a significant displacement of emissions outside the bloc, and could have boosted revenues by an estimated €14.3 billion a year, a study by an independent transport research organisation found.

Investments into battery-electric ferries and wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) can outperform conventional fossil-fuelled vessels due to rising carbon compliance costs, according to a study from the European Commission.

The prime ministers of Sweden and Finland are urging the European Commission to keep the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) at the core of the EU’s new 2040 climate regime, in a major review it's due to present on Friday, warning against shifting extra burden onto member states’ national targets, forest sinks, or international offsets.

Aviation conglomerate Norwegian Group saw its financial results dip in Q2, after taking a hit from a court ruling forcing the company to pay outstanding EU ETS charges and a penalty, as well as higher fuel prices. 

Carbon credit issuances across major registries in the voluntary market fell 31% year-on-year between January and June as retirements dropped 2%, while prices generally remained stable or gained strength.

Authorisation analytics - The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has issued a tender to procure the development of a methodological approach and off-the-shelf tool that can help host countries estimate the volume of mitigation outcomes to authorise without compromising the achievement of NDCs. The organisation is seeking support to research current approaches to transferring ITMO headroom, develop a methodology and dynamic Excel-based estimation and tracking tool for host countries, and provide guidance and capacity-building materials to support implementation. The workstream falls under GGGI’s Carbon Transaction Facility’s knowledge and learning arm, the Strategic Hub for Article 6 Readiness Exchange (SHARE) project. Applications are due by Aug. 7.

Singapore has updated its guidance for carbon tax liable entities who wish to use International Carbon Credits (ICCs) to meet their obligations, expanding the list of documents acceptable as proof of the host country’s approval of ICC issuance.

Exploring carbon pricing, including cap-and-trade systems, was flagged as a priority activity in a new climate finance strategy for the Pacific Islands – with a goal to initiate carbon pricing pilots in the next four years.

Pre-COP goals – Fiji’s climate minister, Lynda Tabuya, has set out the Pacific region’s four priorities for the Pre-COP31 summit – which the country is hosting Oct. 5-8 – including keeping the 1.5C goal alive, improving access to climate finance, enhancing focus on the climate-oceans nexus, and amplifying Pacific leadership and voices. She also stressed the importance of the private sector in driving investment and innovation for resilience measures, and in supporting Fiji’s climate change mitigation and adaptation plans, and called for a whole-of-society approach to prepare for the October meeting. As part of the COP31 hosting agreement between Australia and Turkiye, it was agreed that the Pacific would host the Pre-COP, with Fiji selected in February as the host and a dedicated leaders gathering in Tuvalu. As well, the November talks in Antalya will feature a session to raise pledges for the Pacific Reslience Facility, the first Pacific-owned and -led climate finance vehicle.

An environmental package proposed in Kazakhstan is poised to implement the country’s carbon offset mechanisms and Article 6 provisions, provided that the country’s reformed parliamentary body advances it.