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.

European carbon prices edged lower on Friday, extending Thursday's €3.00 day-long decline as speculative traders took remaining profit after the market's 10% jump early in the week, and participants reduced exposure ahead of a tense weekend in the Middle East.

Germany's Federal Environment Agency has assessed four policy options to support exporters in sectors covered by the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), but concluded that no single measure is preferable and that a sequenced combination may work best.

The former lead Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) advisor for a London-based carbon market intelligence firm has taken on the role of director in the same area for one of the big four global consulting groups.

Inland water vessels emit almost a quarter of global shipping CO2 emissions despite operating on less than 1% of the world's navigable waters, according to a major new study landing just as Germany eyes river transport for its low-carbon industrial strategy.

Delay the takeoff - The CEO of EasyJet Kenton Jarvis has called on UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to relax requirements under the UK's sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate, expressing particular concern that sufficient quantities of e-SAF will be available. His plea comes after Miatta Fahnbulleh replaced Ed Miliband as the UK's Energy Secretary, who has a climate action background though may decide to approve production at two new UK oil and gas fields. Only one out of 600 refineries worldwide currently produces e-SAF, with UK airlines facing fines if they can't access sufficient fuel to meet the mandate, the Telegraph reported. EasyJet's pre-tax profits fell to £85 mln in the three months to the end of June, down from £286 mln a year earlier, driven by a rise in jet fuel costs and weaker demand from flyers.

The Swedish state secretary for climate and environment, Daniel Westlen, clashed with his German and Polish counterparts on Friday, pushing back against European Commission proposals to slow the pace of CO2 cuts in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

Gabon biochar plan - French mining group Eramet and the Gabonese government have signed a MoU covering expanded domestic manganese processing, biochar production, and an industrial seed fund, as part of a wider roadmap that could see up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore processed locally each year by 2031, French outlet RFI reported Wednesday. Eramet will now assess three possible processing projects, while Gabon has pledged to provide the energy and other conditions needed to make the investments viable.

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.

Polish climate referendum - Polish President Karol Nawrocki has submitted a revised proposal to parliament for a national referendum on Sep. 27 on whether Poland should continue implementing EU climate policy, after the Senate rejected his first bid in May. The new question simply asks: “Are you in favour of Poland implementing the EU’s climate policy?” Nawrocki argues the bloc’s climate measures, including the EU ETS, impose excessive costs on Poland, despite recently proposed reforms. However, the more progressive government-backed Senate, the upper house of parliament, is again expected to reject the proposal. Government officials say Poland cannot unilaterally opt out of the ETS without incurring big fines or leaving the bloc. (Notes from Poland)

Scrapped support - Wakefield Council in northern England has agreed to scrap its target to become a carbon-neutral authority by 2030 and reduced its climate change budget by £170,000, after the council's administration changed in its political leadership from the Labour party to right-leaning Reform. Previously under Labour, the council had pledged to become a carbon-neutral authority by 2030, but now, Cabinet members of the Reform-led administration have voted in favour of overturning climate change and biodiversity declarations made in 2019. The council is now expected to withdraw from the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission's climate action pledge, a public commitment for businesses and organisations to act on change change. (BBC)

A new record - Kenya will strive to break the Guinness world record for collective mangrove planting this weekend by mobilising 5,000 volunteers in Mombasa to jointly plant seedlings. Scheduled for Sunday, the initiative is being organised by the Kenya Scouts Association (KSA) in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), with strict verification to ensure seedlings are planted correctly and participants are doing so simultaneously. The mangrove drive fits into Kenyan President William Ruto’s national directive to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, aiming to push Kenya’s total tree cover to 30%. While the mangroves themselves will help buffer the Kenyan coastline from rising seas and provide essential breeding grounds for fish stocks. (Streamline)

The European Central Bank (ECB) is widening its climate-related collateral discount beyond bonds to cover certain bank loans, or credit claims, where the borrower is a non-financial corporation, it said on Friday.

The EU on Friday blocked a request from Russia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a dispute panel to examine the bloc's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

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.

The share of renewables in the EU's gross final energy consumption last year exceeded a quarter, while almost half of the bloc's electricity came from renewable sources, according to the latest official data.

Beko looks to COP31 - Europe's largest white goods manufacturer reported that low-carbon products accounted for nearly three-quarters (72.6%) of its turnover last year, and renewable electricity use approached two-thirds (63.5%) across its manufacturing operations. The Turkish company, with €10.7 bln in turnover in 2025, also listed numerous other climate achievements in a letter to stakeholders on Friday announcing its 2025 Integrated Report. It secured its first sustainability-linked loan with the International Finance Corporation; it received the highest score in its sector for the seventh consecutive year in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment; and it remained on the CDP's Global A List for Climate Change and Water Security for the second consecutive year. Beko has a net zero target for 2050 validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). It sees COP31 in Antalya as an opportunity to build on progress to date, and bring its sustainability experience to other markets. (Beko sustainability reports)

Battery electric cars surged to a fifth of all new car registrations in the EU in the first half of the year, as oil prices spiked on the back of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

Germany’s environment and climate minister, Carsten Schneider, said the European Commission’s proposed overhaul of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) closely reflects German priorities, backing a package that would slow the pace of emissions cuts in the next decade while tightening conditionality for the distribution of free allowances to industry.

A hypothetical economy-wide EU-wide carbon price would deliver the bloc's 2030 climate target at the lowest average cost per household, but place a greater burden on poorer member states and households than the current national-plan-based approach, according to a study published Thursday.

International carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement should only be integrated into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) through a centrally managed purchasing mechanism rather than allowing companies to buy offsets directly for compliance, according to a discussion paper published by the German Environment Agency (UBA).

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.