Zero then cooler - A new study published in Nature Climate Change found that maintaining net zero GHG emissions would likely cool the planet by at least 0.6C over several centuries. The cooling would occur because warming from shorter-lived gases such as methane would fade, while CO2 removal would continue to offset residual emissions. However, the authors cautioned that sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and regional extremes could still worsen after achieving net zero.

Don't freeze the mix - A study, published in Nature Communications by researchers at Tsinghua University, found that climate change alone raises the cost of renewable generation only slightly, as long as countries keep adjusting their solar-to-wind mix to match it. The real cost risk comes from freezing that mix at today's levels. Researchers held each country's 2015-22 average solar-wind ratio fixed, then ran simulations under 2061-2100 climate and demand conditions, obtaining sharp power costs. Under the lower-emissions pathway, keeping today's ratio would raise costs by 80% in Brazil, 33% in Germany, 29% in India, and 23% in Algeria. The failure to adapt deployment to future weather patterns, not the shifting climate itself, drives the increase.

The Methodological Expert Panel (MEP) for the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) has agreed a long-awaited draft mechanism methodology for clean cooking.

The European Commission's proposed overhaul of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) could make the bloc an even tougher market for Indian steel exporters unless carbon pricing and trade rules are better aligned, a global steel standards body warned on Friday.

Progress is being made to advance global climate action in the leadup to COP31 in Turkiye as governments and the private sector engage on the key themes of electrification, nature stewardship, agricultural transformation, urban resilience, and social development, report the UN's Climate High-Level Champions.

India’s mangrove plantation programmes should be evaluated by long-term ecological outcomes rather than sapling counts, a study suggested.

Bill comes due - Elevated oil and gas prices since the start of the Iran war have cost Japan an additional $18.75 bln, with losses potentially exceeding $43 bln by year-end if the Hormuz crisis escalates, climate campaign group 350.org said. Even under a rapid normalisation scenario, Japan could face additional costs of $27-30 bln, according to analysis based on IMF and Goldman Sachs price scenarios and Japanese energy consumption data. The estimates exclude effects of higher food and fertiliser prices, inflation, and reduced economic output, meaning total costs could be higher. To limit further economic and climate damage, the organisation urged Japan to scrap plans to revive coal and cancel multi-mln dollar investments in US oil and gas.

Risky business - Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC is preparing its investment portfolio for worsening physical climate risks, warning that the global transition to net zero is moving too slowly to avoid significant climate impacts, Bloomberg reported. GIC said in its latest annual report that it is using scenario analysis and third-party data to assess risks from wildfires, hurricanes, rising temperatures and sea levels, alongside exposure to carbon pricing and regulation. The fund estimated climate adaptation and resilience investment opportunities across public and private markets could grow to $9 trillion by 2050, from $2 trillion last year.

A Vietnamese conglomerate has built the measurement infrastructure for carbon credit generation from its electric vehicle and charging network projects, which could collectively generate up to 4.5 million units, with room for exports under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.

Australia's Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has approved the stacking of credits generated through water quality improvement activities with the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme.

Shareholder pressure on Australian investment bank Macquarie Group over its fossil fuel financing weakened at its annual meeting this week after several large domestic pension funds withdrew support for a push seeking greater scrutiny.

Prices in China's national emissions market continued to climb over the past week despite the absence of the allocation plan for power plants, while the government is weighing options to further engage in the international carbon market. 

The Philippine National Irrigation Administration and a climate tech company have jointly launched a pilot project to generate carbon credits from rice paddies through alternate wetting and drying (AWD).

Methodology in the making - Tokyo-based startup Spatial Pleasure on Friday said its research project for developing an offset methodology for the transportation sector has been selected as a feasibility study under Japan's transport ministry. Transportation accounts for around 20% of Japan's CO₂ emissions, mostly from road traffic. The company will partner with Kyushu University to identify promising solutions, such as those for congestion and traffic demand management.

Steel under CBAM heat - The Indian government has said that the domestic steel industry must look to diversify, seek new markets, and boost decarbonisation to stay globally competitive, as reported by Deccan Chronicle. Ashwini Kumar, economic advisor to the Ministry of Steel, said. Kumar noted that under CBAM, market access in high-value destinations will also depend on the carbon intensity of the production process, along with the quality and price of the steel. With Indian steel marked as high carbon intensity, exports to the EU will face difficulties, he added.  

The Australian government has announced it is shuttering its Climate Active certification programme, saying the voluntary scheme is no longer needed.

Testing pact - DEKRA Korea has signed a cooperation agreement with Korea Testing Laboratory to support Korean automotive suppliers in meeting European Union requirements under Euro 7 and carbon regulations. Building on KTL’s brake wear particle testing facility, the collaboration is designed to strengthen certification frameworks and align Korean manufacturers with European standards.

Data centre NIMBYism - Eight civil society organisations have called on the Malaysian government to ban the development of data centres near residential areas, prompted by recent outcries from residents against proposed developments in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, and Johor. The organisations, including RimbaWatch, Greenpeace Malaysia, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, and Klima Action Malaysia, also called for an amendment to the Environmental Quality Act of 1974 to require data centres to perform Schedule 2 Environmental Impact Assessments, in an emailed press release. Until the amendments are enforced, the coalition demanded a moratorium on the approval of all new data centres and a stop-work order on any underway construction.

Aspiring Article 6 project developers should independently calculate how many credits national regulators are likely to authorise for international transfer in their sector before developing large projects or pre-committing to credit sales, an Africa-based consultant and developer said this week.