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TOP STORY
Vietnam makes major changes to planned ETS, analysts find
The latest draft regulations for Vietnam’s planned emissions trading scheme include a number of significant changes that will have a big impact on the market, according to analysts who have seen the unpublished document.
INTERNATIONAL
Qatar organisation announces Article 6 carbon credit auctions for early 2025
A Qatar-based organisation has announced it will hold two auctions early next year for international carbon credits eligible for Article 6 trade.
Strategic enrolment, anticipatory behaviour in JREDD risk undermining fight against mass deforestation, study warns
A new study has raised concerns about the effectiveness of jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD) programmes, revealing how strategic enrolment decisions and anticipatory behaviour risk undermining efforts to curb deforestation and reduce carbon emissions.
VOLUNTARY
Value of retired voluntary carbon credits in 2024 set to jump year-on-year, finds analysis
The value of credits retired in the voluntary carbon market jumped to around $900 million in the first 11 months of the year, as the market recalibrated around quality and impact, according to research published by a marketplace.
Ratings agency integrates safeguards scoring in voluntary carbon project risk assessments
A voluntary carbon market (VCM) ratings agency has introduced environment and social safeguards as part of a project’s risk assessment criteria, it announced Tuesday.
Major carbon credit buyers club inks $80 mln offtake deal for removals from paper mills, wastewater facilities
A carbon credit buyers club has reached offtake agreements with two carbon removal startups totalling $80 million that are expected to remove nearly 300,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2030, according to a Tuesday announcement.
Professional services multinational teams up with developer to build large-scale ocean carbon removal facility
A multinational professional services firm has joined forces with an ocean-based carbon removal developer to help build a large-scale facility.
Carbon credit buying does not help companies decarbonise quicker, claims paper
Academics have contradicted claims that companies buying carbon credits decarbonise faster than others, although their paper is still not peer reviewed.
CDR industry faces inflection point amid funding slowdowns and delivery gaps -report
The carbon removal (CDR) sector is facing an inflection point, with rising delivery delays, funding slowdowns, and a hyper-concentrated buyer market, according to new research.
EMEA
Renewable or low-carbon? France, Sweden clash with EU over 2040 energy target
Pro-nuclear countries say it is “premature” to consider a renewable energy target as part of talks over the EU’s climate goal for 2040, with Paris and Stockholm instead pushing for a low-carbon objective that also brings nuclear power into the picture.
Some EU countries push for separate carbon removals target for 2040
EU member states are considering the possibility of setting a specific target for carbon removals in the EU’s new emissions reduction target for 2040, which is due to be negotiated over the course of next year
Carbon removals could lead to EU ETS oversupply before 2040 -report
Including carbon removals in the EU Emissions Trading System before 2040 risks exacerbating oversupply that has plagued the market, a think tank warned on Tuesday, urging the European Commission not to include any such units before then.
EU states hesitant on ETS2 amid worries about auto sector’s future
Several EU nations worry the implementation of a new Emissions Trading System (ETS) for transport and heating fuels, as well as a looming ban on CO2-emitting cars, may harm the bloc’s automotive sector, with more and more hesitations emerging from Tuesday’s Environment Council.
UK govt projects bigger emissions reductions by 2050, policies ramp up
The UK is on track to meet its two domestic emissions reduction targets covering 2023-32, with energy demand and greenhouse gases set to fall by nearly a quarter out to 2050, according to government data published Tuesday evening.
UK hydrogen programme moving ‘at pace’ as government lays out agenda for next year
The UK hydrogen strategy is moving “at pace”, with a number of key milestones reached in 2024, according to a strategy update released on Thursday, which also laid out what policy developments are expected in 2025.
Italy gets EU green light for aid to build 18 GW of new renewables
Italy has received the green light on Tuesday for a €9.7-billion scheme to support the construction of new renewable power capacity that could increase the country’s installed total by nearly a third compared to 2023.
Poland can teach the rest of the bloc how to become a cleantech powerhouse -think tank
Poland can use its Council of the EU presidency next year to help the EU become a global clean tech hub, applying lessons learned from its own success story, a think tank said on Wednesday.
Swiss company invests in ‘carbon negative’ hydrogen-biochar startup
A Swiss energy firm has acquired a minority stake in a hydrogen-biochar startup, the two companies announced Monday.
FEATURE: CSRD to spell end of companies cherry-picking how they disclose climate risk
The requirement for many large companies to start disclosing under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) from next year will improve the quality and consistency of reporting on ESG issues, bringing it up to investor-grade quality on par with other financial disclosures, experts have said.
Investor to offset full-scope emissions via Canadian voluntary carbon project developer
A German investment firm will offset its Scopes 1-3 emissions through a partnership with Canadian voluntary carbon project developer, it announced Monday.
Euro Markets: EUAs slump late in the day on resumption of sustained selling pressure
The December 2025 EUA future started its run as the benchmark carbon contract trading in a relatively narrow range on Tuesday morning, before prices slumped late in the day to post a 1.5% fall, triggered by a brief period of substantial selling that sources said reflected both positioning changes and technicals.
AMERICAS
Canada weakens final clean electricity regulations
Canada’s environment ministry has weakened its clean electricity regulations (CER) in a final version published Tuesday, opting for a less stringent emissions standard for power generators compared to prior drafts.
Quebec to ban sale of new internal combustion engine cars in 2035
Quebec will ban the sale and lease of combustion engine-powered light-duty vehicles in 2035, according to regulations approved by the provincial cabinet in December.
US DOE estimates LNG exports raising global emissions 0.05% over 30 years
US DOE released a highly anticipated study listing environment and community effects of its LNG exports estimated at increasing global emissions by 0.05% from 2020-50, without an explicit recommendation to extend the temporary pause of pending and future project approvals.
US startup secures $2.3 mln to scale food waste-based carbon credits
A Boston-headquartered startup has raised $2.3 million to generate carbon offsets from methane emissions avoided by diverting edible food from landfills, the company announced on Monday.
California biochar facility secures approval amid broader forest biomass management goals
A proposed biochar production facility in northern California has received unanimous approval from local regulators, marking a significant step in the state’s ongoing efforts to address wildfire risks and advance forest biomass utilisation.
ASIA PACIFIC
Australian oversight body bars new beef herd management project applications over method integrity concerns
Australia’s Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) on Tuesday ordered applications for new projects under the beef herd management method be suspended amid integrity issues.
New Zealand confirms new ETS forestry charge
The New Zealand government confirmed Tuesday it will set the annual charge for forest owners in the country’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) to NZ$14.90 ($8.60) per hectare.
Free NZU allocation to New Zealand’s largest gas user distorting the market, report says
The free allocation of New Zealand Units (NZUs) to methanol producer Methanex could be keeping its facility afloat, but is distorting the dynamics of the country’s emissions trading scheme, a report said Tuesday.
ID Market: Indonesian oil company signs agreement to sell geothermal carbon credits
Indonesia’s state-owned oil and gas company has signed a deal to sell a third tranche of carbon credits on the nation’s domestic carbon exchange, it announced Tuesday.
Start date for Australian low-emissions smelter pushed back by a year
The start date for what is to be Australia’s largest electric smelter furnace to make clean iron has been pushed back by a year and will initially use natural gas for power rather than renewable energy as originally intended.
Japanese exchange to list J-Blue credits
A Tokyo-based firm will soon list J-Blue credits on its carbon credit exchange in a bid to provide high quality credits to the market, it announced Tuesday.
BIODIVERSITY (FREE TO READ)
All our nature and biodiversity articles remain free to read (no subscription required). However, we now require that all readers have a Carbon Pulse login to access this content in full. To get a login, sign up for a free trial of our news. If you’ve already had a trial, then you already have a login.
Major asset managers lead opposition to biodiversity resolutions, NGO finds
Shareholders submitted a record number of biodiversity-related resolutions this year, though most of them have been blocked due to the opposition of some of the world’s biggest asset managers, an NGO has said.
IPBES reveals massive unaccounted cost of environmental crises
Current decision-making has largely failed to consider the interlinkages between the ongoing crises in biodiversity, climate change, water, food, and health, with unaccounted-for costs estimated at up to $25 trillion per year, according to a landmark report released Tuesday by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
FEATURE: Why Trump’s return might not derail the global nature agenda
US President-elect Donald Trump’s influence on the global nature agenda may be limited, with policy leaders in areas such as Europe continuing to strengthen action on biodiversity risks unabated, according to experts.
INTERVIEW: Biodiversity credits could help African smallholders access global markets
Biodiversity credit markets have the potential to finance African smallholders’ transition towards sustainable practices and help them meet new regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the vice president of a Nairobi-headquartered organisation told Carbon Pulse.
Restoration project in England sells second batch of biodiversity credits
A Newcastle-headquartered software consultancy and a London-based property investment company have purchased the second batch of voluntary biodiversity credits generated through a nature restoration project in England.
Biodiversity Pulse: Tuesday December 17, 2024
A twice-weekly summary of our biodiversity news plus bite-sized updates from around the world. All articles in this edition are free to read (no subscription required).
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EVENTS
Carbon Forward Middle East – Jan. 16-17, Abu Dhabi – Announcing Carbon Forward Middle East in Abu Dhabi, a great new event to explore carbon markets in the MENA region. We’ll be releasing more details about this conference soon. For now, put Jan. 16-17 in your calendar and email info@carbon-forward.com to express interest in attending, speaking, or sponsoring.
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Premium job listings this week
- Event Coordinator, Carbon Forward – Remote (UK)
- Asia-Pacific Environmental Markets Correspondent, Carbon Pulse – Remote
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SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
INTERNATIONAL
NbS jobs – Investing in nature-based solutions (NbS) could create up to 32 million new jobs by 2030, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Currently, over 60 mln people work globally in activities categorized as NbS, but through targeted investments, those numbers could rise with the greatest gains in Africa, Latin America and the Arab States, where the number of people working in NbS could go from the current level of 2.5 mln to over 13 mln by 2030. The share of global NbS employment in these regions would increase from around 5% currently to over 40%, it said. There is untapped potential for more “green-grey” infrastructure, which integrates both the built and nature-based infrastructure (NbI), the report found. Key recommendations from the report include strengthening policy frameworks, investing in skills development, and enhancing worker productivity.
EMEA
Deforestation law – The European Parliament voted to endorse the one-year delay to the application of the new EU legislation that will ban from the European market products such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper coming from deforested lands. Today, the Parliament gave its green light to the provisional political agreement, with 546 votes to 97 and 7 abstentions. Read Carbon Pulse’s coverage.
A boost for biogas – The European Commission has given the green light to an estimated €1.7 bln to a Danish scheme to support the production of renewable gas to be injected into the grid. The scheme will support the construction of new plants, as well as the extension of existing plants. The biogas must comply with the sustainability and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions saving criteria set out in the delegated acts on renewable hydrogen.
Integrate CDR – A united call for integrating carbon removals into the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal has been issued by the Negative Emissions Platform together with 44 organisations. They addressed an open letter to President von der Leyen, Executive Vice-Presidents Ribera and Sejourne, and Commissioner Hoekstra, calling on the European Commission to ensure the Clean Industrial Deal supports investment, innovation, and deployment in CDR. Key asks in the letter are to streamline permitting processes to accelerate CDR deployment, establish an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for CDR to foster cross-border coordination, introduce competitive financial incentives to attract and retain CDR companies, and invest in developing the CDR workforce. Read the full letter
Slovakia speaks up – At an EU Environment Council meeting, Slovak Environment Minister Tomas Taraba took aim at the EU ETS2, echoing calls from countries like Poland and Czechia to shelve it. The Visegrad Group’s environment ministers agreed on reopening discussions about the EU’s plan to extend emissions trading to transport and buildings from 2027, which Slovakia has refused to fully implement. Separately, Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladik reiterated his country’s call to postpone the EU ETS2 by one year to 2028. He emphasised the need to assess its impact on low-income households and improve mechanisms to stabilise permit prices, preventing sudden increases that could burden citizens. The proposal is understood to have received positive responses from several Central and Western European countries. Taraba stressed the importance of protecting European industry and citizens’ living standards, rejecting the additional financial burdens presented by emissions permits. Regarding the EU Commission’s proposed 2040 climate goals, Slovakia believes such changes should not be decided primarily by ministers but unanimously by heads of government. Other topics discussed at the meeting included the recycling of plastics in the automotive sector, handling of plastic granules, recycling targets, and the management of end-of-life vehicles. Slovakia advocated reducing the mandatory share of recycled plastics from 25% to 15% to enhance the sector’s international competitiveness. (TASR)
Flashing yellow light – The EU’s climate policies risk causing a Yellow Vest-style social backlash, the EU’s former crisis management commissioner told Politico. In an interview, Janez Lenarcic said the EU’s climate policies relied too heavily on imposing carbon pricing regulations that hike the price of fuels rather than supporting industry and households in the transition. “This is not a good way to do things in politics, to rely too much on the stick,” he warned. “I think the ‘gilets jaunes’ showed that you can’t punish people. You have to make the alternatives attractive.” The answer is not to slow down the transition, Lenarcic argued however, but to invest in making green choices affordable and attractive. “We could have done it and we didn’t. … I think we’ve failed here.”
Dark doldrums – A sudden electricity price spike in Germany on Dec. 12, during a period of very low wind and solar power output, has prompted the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) to investigate possible market manipulation. Fossil fuel backup plants, intended to support during such “Dunkelflaute” (dark doldrums) events, were not deployed at scale, contributing to prices briefly exceeding €900/MWh. While power supply security was not at risk, the BNetzA noted that backup plants were not activated even when prices exceeded €300/MWh. The agency will assess whether collusion played a role and stressed the need for steerable capacity to avoid similar events. Most consumers were shielded from the spike due to fixed contracts, but industrial users with flexible agreements were affected. The BNetzA warned of potential further price hikes in the coming weeks, despite reduced demand over Christmas. In Sweden, power prices also spiked, leading Energy Minister Ebba Busch to blame Germany’s energy policy and its nuclear phaseout for higher prices in Sweden and across the EU. Busch argued that Germany’s reliance on imports raised demand and costs in Sweden. Germany’s economy ministry defended the EU’s energy market, emphasising mutual benefits from electricity trading. It also noted Sweden’s pricing is largely influenced by domestic factors, including limited infrastructure and plant capacity in the relevant region. An analysis by the BNetzA showed that power prices generally differ between Germany and neighbouring countries, with Nordic nations often having lower prices while eastern and southern neighbours face higher levels. (Clean Energy Wire)
Saudi char – US-based Strategic Environmental & Energy Resources (SEER) and Saudi firm Eco Tadweer, have announced the completion of a joint biochar study in Riyadh Green city park, with the results showing improved water retention, enhanced nutrient retention, water conservation, and improved soil structure by the use of biochar in enhancing tree growth in the region. The study included measuring, evaluating, and assessing the impact of biochar – Saudi char – on indigenous plants and on cultivation in natural desert sites. It also included creating soil mixes for an experimental garden in the Green Riyadh programme to identify and quantify specific benefits of the Biochar Now (BCN) Saudi char in the region.
Opposition to EV mandate – Fuel producers have written to the European Commission to voice their opposition to legally binding targets to electrify corporate vehicle fleets – including trucks and buses. “We are concerned to learn that the ‘Greening of Corporate Fleet’ initiative will now take the form of a legislative proposal,” says the letter signed by 16 trade associations involved in the production of biofuels and petroleum products, as well as car leasing and road haulage companies. “There is no clearly identified market failure, nor a proven case that regulation will accelerate greening,” they write, warning that mandates will implicitly limit corporate purchases to EVs and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, in contradiction with the principle of technology neutrality. EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said he supported the idea of a legislative plan to transition company cars to electric, a move also backed by EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra and a coalition of electromobility groups.
EV pushback – Italy’s Lamborghini plans to launch its first electric model in 2029, saying the time is not right for full electrification in the sports car market segment, CEO Stephan Winkelmann said on Monday. The Volkswagen unit had previously said its first EV was due in 2028. Italian rival Ferrari will launch its first EV model in the final quarter of next year. (Reuters)
Charging shortage – The Scottish government has revealed plans for 24,000 electric vehicle charge points by 2030, up from around 6,000 charge points today. The target was set following research commissioned by the Scottish Government and undertaken by KPMG suggesting that by 2030, Scotland will need between 22,000 and 30,000 public charge points depending on vehicle technology, levels of car use, and the impact of regulation on the speed of EV adoption. Scotland experienced a 49% growth in public EV charging between June 2023 (4,023 public charge points) and Oct. 2024 (6,007 public charge points), according to ZapMap. This rapid growth was largely driven by private sector investment. However, delivering approximately 24,000 additional public charge points by 2030 will necessitate an 8-fold increase in the level of private sector investment over the next five years.
Carbon savings and a social cause – Social Decarb UK (SDUK) has announced a £750,000 security token offering to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate the fuel poverty crisis across rented homes in the UK, aiming to curb emissions by 4.5 mln tonnes. The SDUK equity investment will increase at a projected value of up to 20% per year, for three years, achieved by delivering energy efficient technology to 1.5 mln private rented homes in the country, Morningstar reported. The minimum equity investment is £250-£10,000 per client. It will launch in Jan. 2025.
ASIA PACIFIC
Indonesia adds to green fuel – Pertamina, Indonesia’s national oil company, has signed a feedstock agreement for a local green refinery to develop more green fuels, it said Tuesday. It will process used cooking oil to produce 6000 barrels a day of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The former can be used as ‘renewable’ diesel and can reduce emissions over fossil fuels. The latter is used in place of traditional jet fuel, and is seen as a valuable commodity to decarbonise the aviation industry, which cannot easily electrify.
More J-credits – Japanese Seibu Shinkin Bank has signed a customer referral agreement with Tokyo-headquartered ByWill to support the bank’s clients promote decarbonisation through the creation of sale of J-credits, according to a press statement. Through the collaboration the entities will aim to support the creation of environmental value by small- and medium-sized enterprises, mainly in Tokyo, and connect to consumers, thereby circulating environmental and economic value in the region, it added.
Extending partnerships – Thai blockchain solutions provider Ascend Bit has partnered with Carbonmark to integrate carbon offset features into TrueMoney Wallet. The announcement comes a week after TrueMoney partnered with Carbonmark to introduce a carbon credit trading feature on its app. Through the initiative, around 20 million monthly users of TrueMoney will be able to purchase and retire carbon credits by purchasing packages that cost as little as 6 baht ($0.18). The recent collaboration provides users with flexible options for achieving carbon neutrality through access to blockchain-verified carbon credits.
ARENA funds SAF – Australia will fund two new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects with a total of A$14.1 million ($8.9 mln) via the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). A joint statement from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said this would help reduce emissions and also make Australia’s fuel supply more secure. It has struggled for years with a lack of adequate liquid fuel stocks, and is far below the 90-day supply mandated by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to member nations. Fuel refiner and retailer Ampol takes A$8 mln for the A$30.2 mln Brisbane Renewable Fuels Pre-FEED study, which will look at using its Lytton refinery to produce SAF and other renewable liquid fuels, and A$6.1 mln to GrainCorp for A$19.8 mln SAF Oilseed Crushing Facility. “Domestic aviation is responsible for around 2% of Australia’s carbon pollution, with most emissions coming from medium to long-haul flights,” the government said. “With this new funding, ARENA has now committed a total of A$23 mln across three projects worth almost A$87 mln.”
Boost for batteries – The Australian government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has invested A$100 mln ($63 mln) across a portfolio of French renewable energy project developer Neoen, as part of its efforts to accelerate the energy transition. The funding commitment will support the construction of 611 MW/1,903 MWh of battery storage capacity and 440 MW of solar generation. CEFC capital is now backing more than 2.3 GW in new battery capacity across nine projects Australia-wide and more than 6.2 GW of clean energy generation, according to a statement. Its commitment is part of a A$1.4 bin capital raise alongside financiers from Australia, Asia and Europe and includes international banks KfW IPEX-Bank, Mizuho, MUFG, SMBC, Societe Generale, Bank of China, The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, ING, as well as ANZ and Westpac. Neoen is the largest renewable energy company in Australia with 4.3 GW of assets currently in operation or under construction.
AMERICAS
Corporate disclosure – The California ARB opened a 60-day public solicitation for feedback on Monday, to inform implementation of two climate-related disclosure requirement bills. Senate Bills 253 and 261 authorise ARB to develop a corporate GHG reporting programme and a climate-related financial risk disclosure rules, respectively. SB 253 requires large corporations with annual revenues exceeding $1 bln to disclose Scope 1, 2, and eventually Scope 3 GHG emissions, promoting greater transparency in corporate carbon footprints. SB 261 mandates public and private companies earning over $500 mln annually to biennially report climate-related financial risks, aiming to enhance accountability and resilience against environmental impacts.
Scrapped the rule – US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday granted a motion filed by Texas, along with its environmental quality and public utility commissions as well as industry members, to vacate EPA’s Federal Implementation Plan for Regional Haze. The EPA itself sought to vacate the rule because some of the key documents related to the regulation were missing, and the agency could no longer present required information for its judicial review, read the order. Given the absence of crucial records, the final rule was deemed arbitrary and capricious, and hence vacated, said the court.
Museum experiments with heat pumps – A science museum in Colorado has received a $250,000 grant from the state’s energy department to explore adding geothermal heating and cooling systems, according to a Tuesday announcement. The museum will work with the Swedish heat pump company Qvantum to develop “spatially coordinated engineering designs” for a feasibility study. Qvantum Director Michael Moggeridge said that the plan is to create a low-temperature grid that combines small and large heat pumps to reduce the museum’s reliance on natural gas-fired steam boilers. During hot summer months, the heat pumps will be designed to store excess heat underground to be utilised again during the winter.
Scientists union weighs in on insurance – The Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit science advocacy organisation, is urging policymakers to take more oversight over how climate risks are affecting insurance markets in order to keep insurance affordable and available. Insurance rates across the board have been rising due to climate-related natural disasters. Data from the global reinsurance company Swiss Re shows that insurance losses will exceed $135 bln in 2024, with two-third of that stemming from two US hurricanes – Helene and Milton. US insurance companies will likely hike rates next year as global reinsurers reset their rates to reflect the growing cost of disasters, the science union said. Therefore, policymakers should require insurance companies to provide information as to why they are increasing rates, allow greater access to parametric insurance and microinsurance programmes, and include means-tested subsidies in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Climate targets – Quebec’s GHG emissions fell 4.1% in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 79.3 MtCO2e, according to the Canadian province’s annual update published on Tuesday. The change was driven largely by Quebec’s reliance on hydroelectric power and reductions across key sectors, including transportation. While the province remains a leader in per capita emissions, critics argue that reliance on California carbon credits undermines its ability to achieve its 2030 target of a 37.5% reduction from 1990 levels without further local action.
VOLUNTARY
Open to apply – The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is accepting applications for technical working groups until Jan. 15, 2025. Interested parties can apply here and all applicants not selected are invited to provide feedback on the draft standards via its public consultation process.
VVB approval – SustainCERT has been approved as a validation and verification body by Cercarbono following a thorough review process by the Colombian-based standard, SustainCERT announced. The organisation will provide validation and verification services for Cercarbono projects spanning energy, transport, and construction. Successful VVC will allow developers to issue carbon credits.
AVIATION
Solar fuel – Zurich Airport has signed a long-term offtake agreement for renewable diesel with Synhelion, a Swiss cleantech company that converts agricultural waste into syngas using solar energy. From 2027, Zurich Airport will purchase 30,000 litres of solar diesel from Synhelion every year, a release said Tuesday. In a first step, this renewable diesel will be used to power the passenger buses on the airport premises, while later, special vehicles without electric drivetrains will be powered by solar diesel.
SHIPPING
AI for efficient shipping – Five international shipping companies have committed to deploying Orca AI’s automated situational-awareness platform on selected vessels, following a strategic partnership made earlier this year with marine insurer NorthStandard. The collaboration between Orca AI and NorthStandard aims to enhance safety and operational efficiency, to reduce navigational risks and safeguard vessels, crew, and cargo. US-based Liberty Maritime and Curtin Maritime, Greece-based SeaTraders along with Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping and MMSL, are the first NorthStandard members to adopt the technology.
AND FINALLY…
Titanium’s turn – Researchers from Oregon State University have developed titanium-based compounds that efficiently absorb large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Their work, published in Chemistry of Materials, builds on prior research with vanadium peroxides and contributes to a federal initiative focused on direct air capture of CO2, a key strategy for mitigating climate change. The team synthesised tetraperoxo titanate structures, particularly potassium tetraperoxo titanate, which demonstrated exceptional carbon capture capacity – 8.5 mmol per gram, nearly double that of vanadium peroxide. Titanium was chosen for its cost-effectiveness, abundance, and environmental benefits. The structures’ reactivity stems from peroxide bonds and hydrogen peroxide within their composition. While direct air capture remains energy-intensive and costly, the researchers said titanium-based solutions offer a promising, scalable alternative. The study highlights titanium’s potential in carbon capture technology, catalysis, and environmental applications. (AZoCleantech)
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