Debate around the role of international credits to meet the EU’s upcoming 2040 climate target can be a catalyst for the UN to strengthen oversight, and quality of projects delivered under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, according to a German researcher.

The European Commission said it intends to withdraw its proposal for a Green Claims Directive on Friday, in answer to a question by Carbon Pulse at its daily press briefing.

There are rising concerns around the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists at UN climate conferences, such as the ongoing intersessional talks in Bonn, Germany, according to a report.

Fake news - Widespread climate misinformation is escalating the crisis into a full-blown catastrophe, warn the authors of a new report from the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE). The study found that efforts to tackle climate change are being blocked and delayed by misleading narratives originating from fossil fuel interests, political figures, and certain governments. The report analysed 300 studies in its systematic review, noting that climate denial has shifted focus - from rejecting climate science outright to undermining proposed solutions. According to the report, online bots and trolls are key players in spreading these falsehoods, significantly amplifying misinformation. The researchers also observed that political leaders, public officials, and regulatory bodies are increasingly being targeted in campaigns aimed at stalling climate policy. (Guardian)

It's all Greek to me - Greece’s ambition to install over 5 GW of battery energy storage systems by 2030 is at risk of delays due to regulatory hurdles and a lack of clarity in market rules, said Sympower, a large flexibility aggregator in the country. According to Montel reporting, the unclear rules are threatening the country's end-of-decade goals.

CCUS for coal - Jera and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed an MoU for a joint study to build a CCUS value chain at the Yokosuka coal-fired power plant using the latter’s carbon capture kit. This will be the first test of CO2 capture at a coal plant on Tokyo Bay, the partners said. Jera owns and operates the plant, which went online in 2023 and replaced gas and light oil with coal as fuel. It is classified as an ‘ultra-supercritical’ plant, or of much higher efficiency than older coal plants. Jera plans to use ammonia over coal at its plants by financial 2030, using a mix at its less efficient plants and 100% at its high efficiency ones. Kawasaki’s tech uses a solid sorbent to absorb the CO2 from the post-combustion gas stream and then capture with 60C steam made from waste heat. Capturing post-combustion CO2 from energy and industrial processes is higher cost and higher energy than pre-combustion from natural gas wells.

Singapore on Friday released a draft guide for companies on voluntary use of carbon credits, recommending alignment with international “meta-standards” such as the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles (CCPs).

The Shanghai government has finalised the 2025 allowance allocation plan for its municipal emissions trading market, which covers around 400 emitters, local media reported.

Power shift into gear - Africa could save between $3 trillion and $5 trillion by transitioning to a fully renewable energy system by 2050, according to new analysis by Power Shift Africa. The transition would not only offer the lowest-cost energy option but also create millions of jobs, boost economic development, and greatly expand access to electricity, according to the think tank. The report also outlined a continent-wide 100% renewable energy pathway, demonstrating that such a system would be far more cost-effective than continuing to rely on fossil fuels.

It's all about the Moneypoint - Starting Friday, Ireland's Electricity Supply Board (ESB) has officially ceased coal-fired operations at its Moneypoint Power Station in County Clare. Originally commissioned in the mid-1980s, Moneypoint has burned coal continuously since then. As recently as 2000, the plant produced around one-third of Ireland's power. Under the ESB’s 2019 Climate Action Plan, coal use at the station was scheduled to end by 2025, with Moneypoint set to shift to alternative fuels and prepare for integration into Ireland’s future renewable energy infrastructure. The plant, however, will now burn oil to generate power until the end of the decade, if called upon for security supply reasons. (RTE)

Australia’s leading scientific research agency has developed what it called a breakthrough in ways to make green hydrogen that will lower costs.

EU citizens energy package – The European Commission on Thursday launched a call for evidence for an initiative, called the Citizens Energy Package, aimed at “protecting and empowering consumers in the just transition”. The initiative will seek to tackle the disproportionate impact of the transition on some population groups, such as regions with high economic dependence on fossil fuels, and the “lack of citizen and consumer engagement in the energy market”, which according to the Commission, hinders the uptake of innovative energy efficiency services and renewable energy options. A communication on the matter is expected in Q4 2025.

EU ETS aviation update – The European Commission on Thursday published its final updated rules for the verification of emissions data submitted by airlines under the EU ETS, as well as for the accreditation of verifiers to perform the checks. The rules provide details for airlines to submit reports detailing progress towards their climate-neutrality plans, as reported earlier. Verifiers are then required check the conformity of these measures with the climate-neutrality plan, focusing on milestones, and investments. The rules also cover reporting and verification of non-CO2 effects of aviation (e.g., contrails, nitrogen oxides), as well as for the emissions attribution of alternative aviation fuels, and their verification. The draft implementing regulation is now being submitted to a climate change committee composed of EU member state representatives, which will vote to accept or reject it. If approved, it will then return to the Commission for final adoption and publication in the EU’s Official Journal.

Caspian subsea power cable - Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are partnering to export clean energy to Europe by building a high-voltage subsea transmission line across the Caspian Sea, which will connect the two countries’ power grids and feed into the larger Black Sea Submarine Cable project, Qazaq Green reported. Through this initiative, the partners will be able to export solar and wind power from Central Asia to the EU market, supporting the EU’s climate goals. The project aims to boost regional energy integration, requiring huge funding from international institutions and public-private partnerships. Efforts are underway to establish a unified electricity market across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, including other countries such as Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. (Qazaq Green)

One step back - The government of Quebec published an annual report on Thursday scaling back projections from the province's emissions reduction actions due to the Trump administration. Last year, the province estimated its efforts would reduce GHG emissions 67% to its 2030 target. The most recent report updated their impact calculations, saying the province's actions account for only 65% of the necessary reductions due to US tariffs being imposed on Canada, which are ultimately slowing investment in decarbonisation. The change is also impacted by the Canadian government's decision to scrap the nationwide consumer carbon price, impacting the competitiveness of Quebec's businesses. (The Canadian Press)