Another one bites the dust – US carbon removal developer Alkali Earth is closing down, the company announced on LinkedIn Tuesday. The developer was focused on decarbonising steel mill operations via mineralisation and received federal funding to advance on its approach, but struggled to commercialise. Alkali Earth will publish its findings openly over the coming months, it said.

The US EPA aims to issue CO2 injection well permits within two years, but is not on track to meet that target despite additional resources available to increase expertise and capacity, an independent agency watchdog said Tuesday.

RGGI’s smallest participating state could miss its legally-binding emissions targets as early as next year if it stalls on policy intervention, new data by the state’s climate arm has revealed.

Overruled – The North Carolina legislature on Tuesday overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s (D) veto of an energy bill that eliminated the state’s 2030 climate goal. North Carolina’s 2021 climate law mandated a 70% reduction in emissions from power companies by 2030. The rule's repeal will also allow Duke Energy, the state’s largest electric provider, to charge customers in advance for costs related to new gas and nuclear plants before they come online. While the 2030 target is eliminated, the 2050 net zero mandate remains in place, according to WRAL News.

SusPicious composting – The Canadian environmental and renewables company SusGlobal Energy announced Tuesday that it has sold 4,600 verified emission reductions and removals units (VERRs) from its composting offset project in Ontario. The sale brings the total number of VERRs sold to-date from the project to 64,402. The Belleville Composting Offset Project is listed on the GHG CleanProjects Registry from CSA Group. The company’s announcement did not identify the buyer nor disclose any financial details.

The US DOE issued an emergency order Monday to allow a RGGI-regulated Maryland power plant to operate beyond its environmental run-hour limitations until October.

Powering ahead – BC Hydro, the provincial corporation responsible for generating and delivering electricity in British Columbia, has launched its 2025 call for power to secure up to 5,000 GWh of clean or renewable energy annually. The process targets projects of at least 40 MW with a minimum 25% First Nations ownership, with contracts expected to be awarded in early 2026 and projects operational by 2033. The call follows a 2024 round that secured 10 projects worth up to C$6 bln ($4.4 bln) and is part of BC Hydro’s long-term plan to expand grid capacity and meet provincial clean-energy targets.

Stop the slowdown – A New York Supreme Court judge signalled last week that he is likely to rule the state is violating its climate law by failing to issue required emissions-cutting regulations, according to local media. Justice Julian Schreibman questioned state lawyers defending Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to pause a planned “cap and invest” programme, which was intended to meet the law’s 2024 regulatory deadline. Four climate groups sued the state in March, alleging non-compliance with the 2019 law, which mandates steep GHG reductions this decade. Schreibman indicated he may side with the plaintiffs but is unlikely to order an expedited timeline for new rules, leaving the case potentially unresolved until 2027 if the state appeals.

Manage what you measure – The City of Vancouver has begun to phase in carbon reporting requirements for large buildings, prompting a retrofit rush, Business in Vancouver reported last week. Commercial buildings above 50,000 sq ft were required to begin reporting emissions on June 1, while requirements for multi-family buildings over 100,000 sq ft kick in Sep. 1. Future caps and fees follow for 2026.

Florida’s attorney general (AG) launched an investigation this week into two climate reporting organisations, examining whether their activities could breach state consumer protection or antitrust laws.

A Swiss developer of forestry projects and a China-based manufacturer of biomass pyrolysis technology on Tuesday announced a partnership to develop durable carbon removal (CDR) projects in Paraguay.

US EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin travelled to a truck dealership in Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon to announce the long-anticipated repeal of the endangerment finding, setting up the final blow to a 16-year-old rule that has served as the foundation of national GHG standards.

Stump Trump request - Hawaii has asked a federal judge to throw out the Trump administration’s effort to block the state’s climate change lawsuit against big oil, Law360 has reported. The US DOJ has filed a clutch of suits against Hawaii, Michigan, Vermont, and New York in an attempt to their seeking climate damages against fossil fuel companies. Michigan has also asked for a dismissal.  

Oh no, EVs won’t go - New data by EV-charging consultancy Paren has found EV chargers in the US are growing, dodging a federal funding freeze by the Trump administration with private investment, E&E News reported. The outlet said America’s rapid EV chargers are getting bigger, faster, and appearing more often, according to the study.

Incompatible trade - The centrepiece of the new EU-US trade deal - the EU's €700 bln pledge to buy US fossil fuels and nuclear energy over the next three years – is "fundamentally incompatible" with the bloc's 2030 climate targets, the NGO network European Environmental Bureau (EEB) said on Tuesday. The EEB poked holes in the claim that the US volumes will substitute Russian imports, noting EU energy imports last year were valued at €370 bln last year, which means it will take a big increase to reach the target in the deal. The group called on EU parliamentarians and states to scrutinise and reject parts of the deal that undermine climate goals, energy sovereignty, or international credibility.

EU carbon prices finished up nearly 3.5% on Monday, hitting a five-week high after strong days for the power and gas markets pulled carbon from a summer lull.

A Danish public utility has signed a deal with a US-based carbon removals (CDR) company to look at the potential for developing a large-scale bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facility in Copenhagen, the companies announced this week. 

DAC for data - Avnos, a US-based direct air capture (DAC) technology company, is promoting its hybrid DAC (HDAC) system as a way to reduce the environmental impact of data centres amid rising demand from artificial intelligence. The company says its system can use waste heat from data centres to capture CO2 emissions, generate water for cooling needs, and lower overall energy use. According to the company, data centres are projected to emit 2.5 bln tCO2 by 2030 and consume millions of gallons of water daily, raising concerns over emissions and water scarcity. Avnos claims its modular HDAC technology can help operators cut emissions and water use without affecting performance.

Last week's decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), reframing climate action as a legal obligation, means the EU's push to water down climate policies may breach both EU and international law, according to a new legal analysis.

Cordoba province has launched a subnational carbon credit standard for methane emissions reductions, underpinned by local demand from an infrastructure compensation programme, which is part of a regional 58% GHG reduction target by 2030.

A US-based company has secured its first methane monitoring contract worth approximately $800,000 under a federal emissions reduction programme, it announced this week.

A carbon trading startup, headquartered in the UK and specialising in blockchain technology and removal projects, will cease operations due to insolvency.

The European Civil Society Observatory on Methane (CSO-M) has launched a tracker to monitor national implementation of the EU’s landmark Methane Regulation, one year after the rules entered into force.

Germany plans to cut energy costs for businesses and consumers by €42 billion in 2026-29, and provide €111 million in support for carbon removals (CDR), according to a draft federal budget seen by Reuters.

A UK workplace pension scheme has committed £330 million to clean energy infrastructure through two private market funds, the firm announced Tuesday.

Australia's climate change minister on Tuesday rejected calls for a carbon tax to cut the nation’s emissions, denting the hopes of a growing number of experts who have recently been calling for a tax on CO2.

Two European companies announced their merger on Tuesday, creating a single forest carbon project developer with more than 80,000 hectares of forest under contract.

Danish SAF – The European Commission announced on Tuesday the approval of a €36 million (DKK 268 mln) Danish state aid scheme aimed at encouraging the use of sustainable aviation fuel (‘SAF') for domestic flights. In a statement, the Commission said it was the first time it had approved a national aid scheme to promote the use of SAF. The scheme’s goal is to support at least one domestic air route using 40% SAF in Denmark. This is very close to the current technical limit of 50%, and exceeds the minimum set by the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which requires fuel suppliers to achieve a minimum share of 2% during the period of the Danish scheme, which runs until Dec. 31, 2027.

Mark the dates - The Tokyo Stock Exchange is seeking public comments to change the settlement schedule for GX Credits on its carbon trading platform, according to a notice. The exchange has been entrusted with GX credit trading by government-commissioned Nomura Research Institute. It plans to change the settlement date to the 10th trading day, counting from the day when the trade is executed, from the previously sixth trading day.

Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) export plants are becoming more popular on the global LNG market, boasting speed, flexibility, and cost efficiency, and with capacity expected to triple by 2030, analysts predict.

A working group under Japan's trade ministry (METI) has proposed an initial decision-making framework to set up benchmarks for the manufacturing sector under the country's emissions trading scheme.

Russian offsets – Center-Invest Bank, the leading private bank in southern Russia, has purchased 300 carbon offset credits from EL5-Energo, an energy generating company, according to a statement by the Russian carbon registry, published on July 28. The statement did not provide details of the transaction, such as the price paid by Center-Invest Bank. The offsets were verified and result from the construction of a new wind farm, called Azovskaya WES, the statement said.

Indonesian clean energy - Indonesia’s Pertamina New & Renewable Energy and France’s Verso Energy signed an MoU Tuesday to co-develop clean energy projects, including synthetic fuels based on green hydrogen and biogenic CO2, the companies said in a press release. The deal includes a cross-investment scheme and aims to boost technology transfer and decarbonisation efforts in both countries.

Malaysian partnership - The Malaysia Carbon Market Association and the Malaysian Photovoltaic and Sustainable Energy Industry Association signed an MoU to support the country’s net zero goals, deepening cooperation in carbon market participation, renewable energy uptake and capacity building. The Malaysian government is expected to introduce its National Climate Change Bill to parliament in the coming weeks, which will include provisions for carbon market mechanisms aimed at reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions and incentivise emissions trading.

A growing need for decarbonised data centres is fueling demand for gas-fired power plants coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), and hyperscalers are possibly the only ones willing to pay the cost premium even though the plants are far from economic, experts say.

The world’s richest economies are failing to deliver on steel decarbonisation, despite improved policy frameworks, with project cancellations, high energy costs and geopolitical tensions threatening progress, according to a scorecard published Tuesday.

The EU’s 2040 climate target proposal has left lingering uncertainties surrounding the role of international carbon credits, with potential massive consequences for the Union’s finances and carbon market, says Michal Bloss, a Green lawmaker in the European Parliament.

The nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of the G20 countries will be the most influential in ensuring the earth’s temperature returns to a liveable warming trajectory, an international NGO has said.

Data centre deal - Iberdrola and Echelon are creating a joint venture to develop data centres in Spain - marking the largest agreement of its kind in Europe. The Spanish utility will hold 20% of the company and will contribute land with grid connection and supply 24/7 electricity to the centres. Whilst data centre operator Echelon will hold the remaining 80% and will manage permits, design, marketing and day-to-day operations of the JV. The partnership's first project will be a data centre with 144 MW of processing capacity and a secured power connection of 230 MW.

The administration of Japan's domestic J-Credit scheme has approved 51 projects capable of creating around 1.5 million units over their lifetimes, according to a recent notice.

Australia must narrow its green hydrogen focus and zoom in on value-add projects if the government is serious on developing a clean new industry and lowering emissions, a note from a think tank said Tuesday.

New funds - Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Capital has made an additional investment in climate startup Archeda through a fund it manages, the company announced Tuesday. Archeda develops solutions for carbon offset projects using satellite data, particularly forests, rice paddies, and mangroves. The exact investment amount was not disclosed in the statement.

Malaysia’s planned carbon tax, due to take effect in 2026, could generate nearly RM 1 billion ($213 million) annually for government coffers while placing added pressure on emissions-heavy sectors, a research note by BIMB Securities said Tuesday.

The New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Australia launched a consultation Tuesday on new requirements and guidance for industry to cut GHG emissions, starting with coal mines.

Coming soon - South Korea's Hyundai Steel aims to begin mass production of low-carbon steel in early 2026, as part of its strategy to secure new customers and enhance global competitiveness, according to a recent company statement. It has previously set a target of having an annual production capacity of 5 mln tonnes of low-carbon steel products by 2030. The steelmaker, which supplies products to Korean car brands like Hyundai Motor and Kia, recently also announced a $5.8 bln investment to establish an electric arc furnace-based integrated steel mill in Louisiana.

Catastrophic costs – Insurers are consistently seeing insured losses in excess of $100 bln annually due to natural catastrophes, said insurance company Willis on Monday. In the latest installment of its biannual Natural Catastrophe Review, the firm said this is putting a strain on global insurance markets and that events in 2025 so far indicate that this year will again see losses exceed $100 bln – with the Los Angeles fires in February alone accounting for an estimated $40 bln. Amid a changing climate, risk managers need to reassess things and integrate climate forecasts into their plans, and ensure their risk frameworks are set up for evolving threats, the firm said.

Acquisition - New York-based Green Project Technologies has acquired the software platform of Emitwise in the UK to add automated product carbon footprint tracking and supplier tools to its existing services in a bid to strengthen its Scope 3 carbon accounting, it said in a press release Monday. Emitwise co-founders Ben Peddie and Eduardo Gomez, along with several team members, will join Green Project. The deal follows Green Project’s 2023 acquisition by ACT Group. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The legal clarity on countries’ climate obligations stemming from last week’s advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) can change how Pacific Island nations engage with other states, and could potentially open the door to lawsuits being filed against countries with weak climate targets, according to experts.

Mango pilot – India's largest development bank has begun a pilot project in the southern state of Karnataka to generate carbon credits from mango plantations that are less than five years old, the Times of India reported on Monday. The pilot involves 3,500 mango farmers, and will use biomass management. The earning potential for farmers lies between INR 20,000-40,000 ($230-430) per ha, the officials said, citing a similar project in a neighbouring state. According to the newspaper, farmers in the region don't understand the concept of carbon credits and one farmer activist said the project is exploiting farmers' vulnerability as mango prices have crashed.

Heating up – NGO Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity is accepting applications for grant funding for its Australian Industry Renewable Heat Accelerator, it announced Tuesday. Up to A$270,000 ($176,105) has been made available, with individual grants up to A$20,000 on offer. The accelerator seeks to support a broad range of mass market industries, including food and beverage, agriculture, and textiles, shift from gas to renewable energy process heat. Funding will be allocated under two streams: industry bodies, and manufacturers, producers, and processors. The accelerator is accepting funding applications until Oct. 3.

Boomitra has made its first steps into biomass carbon removal with a project in Botswana, with an initiative that goes beyond soil credits. 

Making progress – Queensland's Kestrel Coal Resources has made progress on its fugitive emissions capture project at its coal mine covered under the Safeguard Mechanism, it announced last week. Kestrel received state government funding for the project last year, and since then has selected low-carbon energy solutions provider Enernet Global to develop, construct, own, and operate a 30 MW power station that will be powered by the captured methane. Enernet has engaged GHD to secure a grid connection approval, and have been working with state grid authorities, with the connection application process expected to be completed by spring. Once complete, the project, registered with the Clean Energy Regulator to generate ACCUs, is expected to reduce emissions by 1 MtCO2e.

Energy tender – The New South Wales state government is seeking bids for a tender for 500 MW of firming capacity as a way to address potential shortfalls in the summer of 2027-28, it announced on Tuesday. The tender is for firming infrastructure such as batteries, gas generation, and virtual power plants that can rapidly supply electricity to the grid or reduce the use of electricity at short notice, the government said in a statement. ASL will conduct the tender later this year, and priority will be given to projects that can supply the Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong areas, where the shortfalls are forecast during times of peak period, it said. The announcement comes on the same day as the federal government announced an 8 GW expansion of its Capacity Investment Scheme.

Repeated findings – For the seventh year in a row, Australia's peak science body, the CSIRO, has found renewables remain the lowest-cost option for new low-emission electricity generation. Its GenCost 2024-25 report found large-scale solar PV remains the strongest performer, falling 8% for the second year in a row. However, battery costs saw the biggest annual reduction, down 20%, while gas turbine costs increased the most. The CSIRO collaborates with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to update the costs of electricity generation, energy storage, and hydrogen production, describing the GenCost report as the most comprehensive electricity generation cost projection report. YoY change in current capital costs of selected technologies in the past 3 years (in real terms). Source: CSIRO

The Australian government will boost the number of renewable energy and storage projects it underwrites through its Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) in a bid to reach its clean energy targets, local media reported Tuesday.