Let's get digital - Verra has released its carbon capture and storage (CCS) methodology, VM0049 Carbon Capture and Storage v1.0, in digital form on the Verra Project Hub, along with four related modules (VMD0056-59). The move is part of Verra’s ongoing digitalisation initiative aimed at streamlining project registration under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Programme. By enabling digital submissions, Verra expects to simplify credit generation for CCS projects, enhance resource efficiency, and channel finance towards CO2 removals, emissions reductions, and related socio-environmental benefits. With this addition, Verra now has 23 digitalised methodologies across its programmes, with more under testing, including those for fuel switching, gas leak detection, and building weatherisation.

Party for lower power bills – Detroit’s east side was festive last Sunday as environmental advocates, community leaders, and members of the Michigan legislature gathered for food and festivities while demanding accountability from the state’s largest energy providers. According to the News From the States, the groups offered information about the ratepayer bill of rights, a slate of bills aiming to address affordability issues and political spending related to energy providers.

Another plant hits pause - The Danish technology manufacturer Topsoe has halted work on its $400 mln electrolyser factory in Virginia, citing the One Big Beautiful Bill’s (OBBBA) treatment of the 45V tax credit for clean hydrogen. The company has paused work on the plant ahead of reaching a final investment decision, the company’s spokesperson told Latitude Media. The company will evaluate market conditions before deciding if or when to move forward. The OBBBA dealt the clean hydrogen industry a blow when it diminished the 45V tax credits, which were designed to award up to $3 per kilogram of hydrogen produced via electrolysis.

Net zero nowhere - A new report published Monday from the Trottier energy institute at Polytechnique Montreal found that Canada is far from meeting its net zero GHG targets, projecting only an 18% reduction by 2030 and 20% by 2035 – well below official goals of 40% and 50%, respectively. Drawing on findings from Environment and Climate Change Canada, the report highlights that even with additional “advanced measures,” emissions cuts would reach only 30% by 2030. The analysis pointed to weak policy implementation, political uncertainty, and the federal government’s poor record of forecasting emissions, noting that Canada’s progress lags behind many OECD countries that have achieved sustained declines since 1990.

Trump wind whisperers - International offshore wind developers are calling in help from lobbyists who might have US President Donald Trump’s ear, according to E&E News. The outlet reported Norwegian oil giant, Equinor, and Danish wind developer, Orsted, have tapped lobbyists tied to Trump amidst his crusade against the industry.

Gas-guzzling gumption - Car makers Ford and General Motors are set to ramp up manufacturing of gas-powered pickups and SUVs, E&E News reported. The outlet reported both auto majors are expecting big profits from their EV backslide amid the Trump administration’s vehicle pollution standards rollback as the gas guzzlers are the most profitable vehicles they sell.

RGGI Allowance (RGA) futures jumped nearly 7% last week to extend past the $24 threshold on sharply higher volumes, reaching a year-to-date (YtD) trading high above $25 on Friday before retreating Monday.

Four young people are taking Canada’s largest pension fund to court for allegedly failing to protect their investments from climate-related risks.

Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) standards will not make or break the voluntary carbon market (VCM), but sabotaging the commoditisation of carbon credits could, according to the co-founder of a PACM-accredited validation and verification body (VVB).

A new UN report found advances in bioeconomy sectors, spanning carbon capture and bioenergy systems to sustainable agriculture and low-carbon materials, are gaining momentum worldwide, even as high costs, uneven regulation, and patchy funding slow growth.

Geothermal gains – Geothermal energy is winning rare bipartisan backing in Washington as lawmakers eye it as a reliable, clean alternative to wind and solar, E&E News reported. Advances in enhanced geothermal systems, which enable deeper drilling to tap heat from rock, have expanded its potential beyond the western US, spurring new legislation and investment. Republicans, drawn by geothermal’s baseload reliability and overlap with oil and gas drilling expertise, have joined Democrats in pushing bills to streamline permitting and boost development. Industry groups say geothermal’s inclusion in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and rising lobbying activity mark a turning point, with advocates framing it as a bridge between fossil fuel and renewable energy camps.

Climate council clash – Representatives, led by Juan Vargas (D-CA) and Sean Casten (D-IL), urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as chair of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, to reinstate its climate-risk committees, warning their disbandment weakens oversight of financial threats from climate change. In their Oct. 24 letter, they cited mounting disaster losses – $746.7 bln since 2020 and $250 bln from the January Los Angeles wildfires – and referenced the Council’s own 2021 finding that climate change poses systemic risk. The lawmakers asked the Council to continue analysing and reporting on such risks, maintain interagency data sharing, and expand tools like scenario analysis.

Jamaica has formally launched a five-year initiative aimed at integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) into urban development, supported by funding from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

Litigation limit – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced the Fair Air Enforcement Act in an effort to repeal Section 304 of the Clean Air Act, which allows citizens to sue companies or the US EPA over alleged violations, E&E News reported. Lee, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the measure would stop “climate extremists” from using the courts against small businesses. Environmental groups have condemned the proposal, warning it would dismantle a core enforcement tool by transferring all authority to state and federal agencies.

California’s landmark corporate climate disclosure laws are not an attack on free speech, but a necessary step to protect investors, consumers, and markets from climate-related risks, two leading advocacy groups have told a federal appeals court.

A Washington DC federal judge declined on Friday to halt construction of a major offshore wind project off the New York and New Jersey coasts, ruling that local opposition groups failed to prove the wind farm would injure migratory bottlenose dolphins.

With COP30 right around the corner, Brazil is rushing to prove that the $125 billion global fund it proposes to reward the conservation of tropical forests is financially viable and attractive, and to respond to criticism about its complexity and risk-sharing model.

European carbon prices fell for a fifth day in a row on Monday, reaching their lowest in eight sessions amid a steady pulse of selling pressure before rallying towards the close, as energy markets reacted to weak weather fundamentals and shook off the positive impact from the weekend's news that the US and China had reached agreement on trade issues.

A Helsinki-based think tank has predicted that coal power emissions in China, India, and Indonesia will peak by 2030, driven by rapid expansion of renewable energy.

Credits sold from a now deactivated REDD methodology re-opened concerns about integrity last week, at a time when the EU is debating whether to allow the use of international credits under the Paris Agreement into the ETS, and delegates are preparing for UN climate talks in Brazil.

Scaling up the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector to the multi-million-tonne level will require sustained innovation to cut costs and improve performance, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) urging governments to play a catalytic role in supporting the industry.

Mozambican credit trickle - Mozambique has only issued 3 mln carbon credits, out of a potential 100 mln, a climate change specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries said recently, according to Club of Mozambique. The country has the potential to generate credits from areas like renewable energy, mangroves restoration, and forestry, Luis Nhamucho was quoted as saying. Of the 3 mln credits, 2.4 mln are on Gold Standard's platform.

A coming surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity is expected to reshape world energy markets and raise new challenges for global decarbonisation efforts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its annual Gas 2025 report.

Global methane emissions from onshore oil and gas operations rose in late 2024 and early 2025, reversing a steady downward trend observed since 2020, according to a report published Monday.

Bhutan is taking the "costly" and "moral" decision to remain carbon-negative over the next decade, and intends to advance international carbon trading to finance both emissions reductions and adaptation to climate change, according to its updated Paris Agreement commitment.

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) will develop its own carbon credit ratings agency, starting with the creation of a regulatory and technical framework, a senior official said Friday.

Solar struggles - More than a million old solar panels have been broken up, burnt, or buried in Zambia, found new research from the University of Reading, highlighting the urgent need for careful lifecycle management of renewable technologies. The researchers found over 1 mln devices sold between 2018 and 2022 have already stopped working, and though over 90% could be repaired, rural areas lack such services. The panels potentially contain toxic materials and to make matters worse, counterfeit products have been found to flood the market and accelerate the problem. Genuine devices tend to last 6-10 years, while counterfeits have been known to fail within 2-3 months. The researchers called on Zambia to develop policies to manage solar waste in order to avoid replacing one environmental problem with another. 

Thailand’s upcoming Climate Change Act could drive up to 98% demand for the Southeast Asian country’s carbon credits as compliance mechanisms such as an emissions trading system (ETS) and carbon tax are brought into force, according to a recent report by the market regulator.

Better together - The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and NH Investment & Securities (NHIS) have agreed to partner on boosting cooperation on climate technopreneurship. The programme was approved by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board in July 2024 and aims to create an incubation and scaling platform that supports and enhances local ecosystems for climate tech in emerging economies. Through the MoU, the two organisations will collaborate to connect local entreprenuers with global tech providers and investors, and foster a robust climate innovation ecosystem. It aims to combine GGGI's policy expertise with NHIS's financial networks and investment capabilities.

Europe faces a stark gap between its vast potential for industrial electrification and the readiness of politicians to deliver the necessary policies to realise it, a new academic study has warned.

Malaysia's upcoming national carbon tax, announced last year and due in 2026, could launch at a starting rate of RM 10 ($2.36) per tonne of CO2e, potentially raising RM 2 billion a year in new revenue while supporting its climate and fiscal goals, according to recently published research.

A major US-based registry has issued corrections and clarifications to its soil enrichment methodology, tightening eligibility and accounting rules for agricultural carbon projects.

Indonesia on Monday submitted a new climate plan that opts for absolute emissions caps for the first time, setting a 2030 peak, but with a hefty price tag that Jakarta hopes to pay for by using Article 6 carbon trading and foreign finance.

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has agreed with a standard-setting body to collaborate on strengthening the integrity and effectiveness of global carbon markets, using joint certification tools and methodologies, they announced on Monday.

Extreme droughts could turn peatlands from long-term carbon sinks into sources of greenhouse gas emissions, according to research by US, Swiss and Australian scientists published last week.

Grant to Burundi - The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved an additional $8.6 mln grant in additional finance to support the rollout of the first phase of the Water Sector and Climate Resilience Building Support Programme (PASEREC) in Burundi. The grant adds to the initial $13.3 mln approved by the bank in 2023 for the programme, allowing it to be extended for another year. The programme will help provide access to safe and reliable drinking water for half a million people in five rural provinces, whilst improving santitation and creating new green jobs. It will fund the build of 17 solar-powered water systems, eco-friendly sanitation facilities, and irrigation systems, and shall empower  local communities and cooperatives to manage water services sustainably, as well as supporting agro-pastoral cooperatives. The programme is co-financed by the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) and the government of Burundi.

An African government has become the first to sign up for an AI-powered, blockchain-based platform designed to track implementation of the Paris Agreement, in a move it says will help to put the country's national carbon registry system in motion.

'Social massacre' - Slovakia's Voice-Social Democracy party is calling for EU ETS2 to be completely scrapped or postponed due to the potential social impact. The introduction of EU ETS2 for heating and transport fuels from 2027 will mean an average yearly burden of €3,000 for every Slovak household, warned Voice-SD Matus Sutaj Estok at a press conference on Friday, calling the system a "social massacre". A government including Voice-SD will never support such a measure, he said, adding that Parliament on Friday will discuss a resolution authorising the Slovak government to request a revision of ETS2 at EU level. The party believes the new system will not only affect household direct energy expenditures, but also the overall price level in Slovakia's economy. Opposition MP Karol Galek from the Freedom and Solidarity party said the EU ETS2 should be accompanied by some form of compensation, such as reduced tax burdens. The Commission plans to propose measures to smooth the entry into force of EU ETS2.

Just 0.6% of all aviation fuel supplied to EU airports last year came from sustainable sources – avoiding around 714,000 tonnes of CO2, according to a new report by an EU agency.

First BECCS listing - Supercritical has added BioCirc - a Danish bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project - to its carbon removal marketplace, it stated Monday in a release. BioCirc aims to permanently remove almost 1 mln tonnes of CO2 over its project lifetime and is the first such project to pass Supercritical's internal due diligence process. The project will use amine-based and membrane separation systems to capture CO2, which will then be liquefied and transported offshore to store around 1.8 km below the seabed via Project Greensand. The BioCirc project is expected to generate around 125,000 tonnes of high-integrity (1,000 years+) carbon removals annually across five commercial biogas plants. BECCS now accounts for nearly 70% of all contracted durable carbon removal globally, with scrutiny growing over its additionality, delivery, and data transparency.

Member countries of the Japan-led Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) reasserted their commitment to addressing climate change while ensuring economic growth.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed a €40 million loan to a Swedish company developing modular gasification systems that convert biomass residues into renewable industrial biogas, with biochar produced as a by-product.

Livestock methane pricing – Denmark is pushing for EU-wide pricing on methane emissions from livestock, mirroring its national tax set to start in 2030, according to Johannes Flatz, of Danish think tank Concito. At a webinar last week, Flatz said the Danish government has “a mandate” to push for a similar solution at EU level and create a level playing field for Danish farmers compared to their European peers who don’t have similar obligations. Proposals include extending the EU Emissions Trading System to agriculture, or an agri-food emissions trading scheme to incentivise reductions. (Agriland)

BMW's biofuels push – BMW Group has launched a demonstration fleet to showcase the use of diesel replacement fuels based on renewable raw materials. The company is promoting the use of HVO100, a hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel it said can cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil diesel, and is urging EU regulators to recognise HVO100-only vehicles under fleet legislation. All BMW diesels produced in Germany since Jan. 2025 have been filled with HVO100 before delivery, while pilot projects with major fleet operators in Germany and Italy are underway to trace fuel use and collect performance data.

Indonesia’s forest carbon projects have failed to deliver lasting improvements in rural household incomes and may even have reduced earnings from agriculture, a study looking at some of the country’s flagship Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) schemes has found.

European Union countries may review their 2040 climate target every two years under a new compromise proposal, according to a draft document seen by Reuters, part of efforts to forge a deal before the COP30 international climate summit next month.

Record installations - Australia has now seen 100,000 batteries installed in households and businesses through the government's Cheaper Home Batteries scheme, it announced Sunday. The programme achieved the milestone in just four months, totalling 2 GWh of storage capacity according to the government, increasing Australia's home battery capacity by more than 50%. A report in August said electricity emissions could be slashed by some 21 MtCO2e by 2035 if installation rates were maintained at current levels.

An Australian landfill gas operator has raised A$51.2 million ($33 mln) to go towards projects that it says will boost its generation of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

New focus - IRENA chief Francesco La Camera said COP30 in Brazil will likely feature new global targets for sustainable biofuels, Reuters reported. He suggested the summit could include a pledge to quadruple biofuel production by 2035 or set a share target for sustainable aviation fuel. But an analysis earlier this month showed that biofuels emit 16% more CO2 than the fossil fuels they replace once the effects of deforestation, soil degradation, and land-use change are accounted for.

Cement methodology - KCCI Carbon Standard (KCS), run by South Korean business lobby KCCI, is seeking feedback on a new proposed methodology that encourages the use of low-carbon concrete products, according to a recent notice. The proposal, submitted by Daewoo E&C, requires developers to use early-strength slag cement concrete to replace Portland cement, a greenhouse gas-emitting raw material used in conventional concrete production. There are around 30 eligible methodologies under the KCS programme.    

The biggest Japanese automaker’s retreat on battery electric vehicle (BEV) targets could derail global decarbonisation efforts and lock Asia into a high-emissions future, a report released Monday has warned.

Agri pilots - Vietnam will pilot at least 15 carbon credit farming models between 2025 and 2035, targeting key crops such as rice, coffee, cassava, sugarcane, and bananas, Net Zero VN reported, citing a government official. The scheme aims to cut agricultural emissions by 15% from 2020 levels by 2035 and develop low-emission certification for major crops. It will start with pilot projects in 34 provinces, focusing on rice-based and crop rotation systems.

Climate warning - Asian civil society groups have urged Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to stop backing fossil fuels and align with regional climate goals at the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Summit in Kuala Lumpur. In a joint statement signed by 36 organisations, campaigners said AZEC must become a genuine platform for accelerating the region’s energy transition, not a vehicle to prolong fossil fuels. They criticised Japan’s support for ammonia co-firing, hydrogen blending, and carbon capture, warning such projects delay renewables and lock Asia into high-carbon dependence. The groups called on Japan to redirect finance toward community-based clean energy and help unlock Southeast Asia’s 99% untapped renewable potential. Launched in 2023 by Japan, AZEC is a platform for cooperation towards net zero emissions in Asia, however, experts warn its gas-heavy focus risks locking Southeast Asian nations into costly and volatile fossil fuel pathways.

Deep potential - The New Zealand government has appointed an international review panel for the country's supercritical geothermal exploration project, it announced. The project, the site of which was announced last month, aims to prove the viability of supercritical geothermal energy. Geothermal expert professor Roland Horne will chair the panel, according to the government, which will assist in developing the well. Supercritical geothermal is theoretically designed to tap energy sources some 1-3 km underground while managing high pressures and temperatures than current conventional geothermal energy projects.

A growing pipeline of fossil fuel developments could emit over 11 times the world’s remaining carbon budget for 1.5C, according to data published Monday by a group of non-profit researchers.

Hydro pertners - Indonesia’s state utility PLN signed last week an MoU with Brazilian conglomerate J&F SA to study the development of up to 11.7 GW of hydroelectric power plants in the country, according to a press release. The deal came among a flurry of other MoUs across as energy and mining during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to the Southeast Asian country. The deal aligns with Indonesia’s 2025–2034 electricity plan which seeks to develop over 40 GW of renewable energy capacity.

Forest surge - India has climbed to 9th place globally in total forest area and retained its 3rd-rank for annual forest area gain, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 report. The report highlighted India’s progress in expanding forest cover over the past decade, contributing to global reforestation efforts. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the findings reaffirm India’s commitment to its NDC under the Paris Agreement, including a pledge to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 bln tonnes of CO2e through forest and tree cover by 2030. (Mint)

Green grid - Singapore's renewable energy firm Sembcorp on Monday said it will build two major clean energy projects on Jurong Island, including the city-state's largest ground-mounted solar farm and an expanded energy storage system. Separately, Singapore's Economic Development Board said it will allocate more land Jurong Island for renewable energy facilities and a data centre park. About 300 ha of land, roughly 10% of Jurong's total area, will be reserved for renewable power projects and low-carbon fuel production, Reuters reported, citing the agency.

Battery on rails - Australian freight rail operator Aurizon has signed an agreement with Alcoa to conduct a battery electric tender trial on one of its routes in Western Australia, it announced. The tender sees a battery-powered unit coupled with a modified locomotive. The tender is designed to operate as a hybrid system, using both diesel and battery-electric power sources, as a way to reduce emissions. It follows Aurizon receiving funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to support its tender project. The tender is expected to be on track in the second half of 2026, Aurizon said.

Starting up - ASX-listed renewable energy developer Delorean Corporation announced the start up of operations at its Lilydale Bioenergy Facility in Victoria. The project takes 55,000 tonnes of food waste annually and generates 39,000 KWh of renewable electricity per day, resulting in an emissions reduction of 24,700 tCO2 per year. Delorean is operating the project under a two-and-a-half year contract valued at around A$8 mln ($5.2 mln). It is the fourth commercial-scale bioenergy project completed by Delorean in Australia and New Zealand.

First close - Astarte Capital Partners and Toesca Asset Management have reached a first close of $100 mln for their new regenerative agriculture fund, which will invest primarily in permanent crops through a mix of greenfield and operating assets. The vehicle, which was launched in Q4 2024, was seeding with $45 mln from both firms.  With an overall $350 mln fundraising target and an IRR goal of 17%, Toesca Permanent Crops II aims to promote sustainable land use and soil health by owning and managing farmland under regenerative practices, with around 70% of capital expected to go toward developing new projects and 30% into existing operations. The firms said they are looking into the contribution soil carbon credits can make to the fund's financial returns, but this has not been factored into the strategy's target returns. The fund has attracted institutional investors from Europe, North America, Australia, and Chile, reflecting growing global appetite for farmland and nature-based investments that align financial returns with environmental outcomes. Roughly 80% of the fund will be deployed in Chile, with Peru accounting for 20%. (Agri Investor)

ExxonMobil has filed a lawsuit against California seeking to block enforcement of two landmark state laws requiring large companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks, arguing the measures unlawfully compel speech and intrude on federal authority.

A Tokyo-based climate tech has acquired a new subsidiary to accelerate its growth in North American markets, eyeing rising demand for emissions monitoring solutions. 

Swap trial - Rio Tinto and China's State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) have launched a trail to use battery electric haul trucks at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, it announced. The trial aims to test how the trucks having their batteries swapped out affect operations. Rio and SPIC have delivered and installed eight, 91-tonne Tonly trucks together with 13, 800 KWh batteries, as well as a battery swapping station and charger. The companies said the technology allows electric mining trucks to replace their batteries in less than seven minutes, without the need to charge the vehicle, minimising downtime. The trial will run until the end of 2026 to identify opportunities for wider rollout.

Finance through Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) is starting to flow, according to a draft progress report, as the programme shifts its focus to electrification and energy efficiency projects.