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TOP STORIES
DATA DIVE: How could Microsoft’s credit buying ‘pause’ impact different engineered CDR sectors?
Reports from earlier this month that Microsoft may be easing away from new investments in the carbon removal (CDR) sector caused alarm for developers, though some pathways stand to be relatively more exposed to a drop-off in forward buying from the tech giant.
FEATURE: Microsoft “a partner, not just a buyer” for nature-based CDR, as possible investment pause stokes confusion
On the back of reports that major carbon removals (CDR) buyer Microsoft may be temporarily halting its CDR purchases, nature-based CDR developers have highlighted the significance of its ‘partnership’ model of project investment.
DAILY NEWS TICKER
CP Daily News Ticker: 22 April 2026
The CP Daily News Ticker is a running list of all our news updated in real-time throughout the day. This is also the home to our ‘Bite-sized updates from around the world’, which previously featured in our CP Daily newsletter.
EMEA
Italy urges EU to freeze ETS free carbon allowance benchmarks amid industry concerns
Italy has called on the European Commission to temporarily freeze key benchmarks in the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) that determine free carbon permit handouts, warning that planned changes could harm industrial competitiveness and create regulatory uncertainty.
Polish business group wants to delay EU ETS2 “by several years”
Business & Science Poland (BSP) has urged EU policymakers to delay the launch of the bloc’s new Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport (ETS2) “by several years”, while also calling for more “flexibilities” in the EU’s wider climate policy architecture.
Euro Markets: EUAs weaken for third day, easing back into recent range as trade activity dwindles
EU carbon allowances extended their decline for a third session in light trading, as participants appeared to step back from the market ahead of the options expiry and while awaiting more news on peace talks in Iran, while energy markets rose sharply later in the day as tensions appeared to be increasing in the Strait of Hormuz.
Brussels unveils AccelerateEU plan to shield consumers from energy shock
The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled its “AccelerateEU” plan, pitching a toolbox of measures to shield households and industry from surging fossil-fuel costs caused by the Middle East war while channelling EU carbon market revenues into clean energy and electrification.
Germany floats dates for gas fleet auctions, moves forward trio of new energy laws
The German government intends to hold auctions for state support for new gas-fired power plants in September and December, as it moves ahead with a power plant strategy, and new grid and renewables legislation, German media reported on Tuesday.
EU regulation spurring a wave of green alternative cement producers, analysis shows
Europe is racing ahead in low-carbon cement ahead of the twin impact of planned changes to the EU ETS and the full rollout of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a survey has found.
INTERVIEW: Turkish COP champion hopes to connect carbon markets, emission cuts, with daily lives
Turkiye’s COP31 high-level champion is hoping to help translate the carbon market “architecture” established in recent years into “real-world delivery”, primarily through harmonisation, during this year’s UN climate summit.
UK’s carbon capture investments need strong, reliable carbon pricing, stakeholders tell govt
Consistent carbon pricing, especially through the UK’s ETS, is crucial to ensuring investor confidence in the development of a carbon capture and storage network, stakeholders have told the government.
AMERICAS
US court blocks parts of Trump-led wind, solar restrictions in early-stage ruling
A federal judge in Massachusetts granted a preliminary injunction against several Trump-era agency actions that had slowed or constrained wind and solar project permitting, siding in part with renewable energy groups challenging the measures.
US SAF market relies on three-party model to support growth without compliance driving demand -panel
Finding partners to share the cost of decarbonising jet fuel is critical to airlines scaling up their conversion to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the US, panellists said during an event for San Francisco Climate Week on Wednesday.
US non-profit launches phytoplankton CDR research programme to assess risks, viability
A US environmental non-profit said Wednesday it will launch a new research programme to assess whether phytoplankton stimulation can remove atmospheric carbon and what impacts it may have on ecosystems and communities.
California issues 140k non-DEBs offsets, totals remain nearly 70% lower YoY
California issued more than 140,000 compliance-grade offsets over the last two weeks to mine methane capture (MMC) and livestock projects, as total issuances remained nearly 70% lower year-on-year (YoY), according to data published on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
ANALYSIS: Indonesia carbon market reopening may yield slower-than-expected supply
Indonesia’s reopening of its forestry carbon market is unlikely to deliver an immediate surge in credit supply, with analysts saying that projects will still need to clear multiple hurdles before units can reach buyers.
BRIEFING: Australian low emissions technology investment reaches A$35.2 bln -report
Australian investment in low emissions technologies has grown to A$35.2 billion ($25.2 bln) over the last five years, according to a report, however some Safeguard facilities say they are constrained to invest in cleaner production practices due to a range of factors.
DATA DIVE: ACCU holdings shrink following Safeguard surrender deadline
Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) holdings fell by 4.2 million units in the March quarter following the surrender deadline of the Safeguard Mechanism, according to regulator data published Wednesday.
Amazon to buy 685k carbon credits from Indian rice farmers
US tech giant Amazon has agreed to buy 685,000 carbon credits from smallholder rice farmers in India, backing a large methane reduction programme led by a German multinational.
Court dismisses Greenpeace greenwashing case against Woodside Energy
The Federal Court of Australia has dismissed a climate-related lawsuit brought by Greenpeace against Woodside Energy.
VOLUNTARY
Gold Standard sets out 2026 workplan on Paris alignment, approvals, methodologies
The voluntary carbon market (VCM) standard on Wednesday set out plans to revise its rules, align with the Paris Agreement, and update methodologies in 2026.
Microsoft CDR purchasing pause “naturally alarming” but can “ultimately prove constructive” -whitepaper
The global tech giant’s reported pause on the procurement of carbon removal (CDR) credits represents a wakeup call for the nascent market, but one that could ultimately help it mature, according to a whitepaper published by a US-based project developer.
ERW developer defends quantification of CO2 removal that achieved 8.3 tonnes per hectare
A US developer in enhanced rock weathering (ERW) has defended the carbon quantification behind its first issuance of credits that raised eyebrows for being too good to be true.
Carbon offset provider reports expanded net loss in latest quarterly filing despite recent revenue rise
A North American carbon offset provider said in filings Tuesday that its net losses expanded in the latest quarter to over $5 million despite a ramp up in revenues over the first nine months of the fiscal year.
Disappearing REDD leaves fresh issuance of credits lowest since 2019
Issuance and retirement levels of voluntary credits both dropped in the first quarter of the year, as well as investment in carbon projects – although carbon credit prices climbed higher, a webinar heard Wednesday.
Standard publishes methodology for credits linking coastal ecosystems to reduced property damage risk
An international carbon standard has released a methodology to value blue carbon ecosystems’ impact on avoided flooding damages and trade climate-risk reduction assets.
INTERNATIONAL
INTERVIEW: Investment treaty expansion to offer carbon investors greater legal protection, lawyer says
Investors will enjoy a new avenue for legal recourse against host countries’ interventions into carbon credit projects as certain business-oriented states pursue expansions in their international investment treaties, a Singapore-based lawyer told Carbon Pulse.
Clean energy, security at forefront of Berlin climate talks
Energy security took centre-stage at annual international climate talks in Berlin this week, with a number of leaders highlighting their work in support of a clean energy transition – against the backdrop of the global fossil fuel price spike.
AVIATION/SHIPPING
Aviation is “problem child” of 2026 EU ETS review, experts say
The EU’s upcoming decision on whether to extend its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to cover international flights is emerging as a defining test of the bloc’s climate resolve, as green groups warn aviation remains the “problem child” of climate policy.
COMMENT
Solving the integrity paradox – Accessibility for all ARR project sizes
On Earth Day 2026, a new Gold Standard methodology challenges the “one-size-fits-all” approach to ARR projects, proposing a flexible framework that reconciles integrity with accessibility to unlock carbon finance.
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WEBINAR
How do you choose between nature-based and technology-based carbon removals – and do you even need to choose? Join UPS, Kearney and Climate Impact Partners for a practical, discussion-led webinar on building a defensible removals portfolio that fits your goals, reputation, budget and evolving guidance. Hear real-world perspectives from Jessica Garcia, Sustainability Manager, UPS and Pei Yun Teng, Senior Director, Impact & Sustainability, Kearney. Tuesday 28 April 2026 | 8am PDT | 11am EDT | 4pm BST | 5pm CEST. Learn key trade-offs, what “quality” means in practice, and how to justify decisions internally and leave with a clear next-step framework. Register to watch live or on-demand.
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EVENTS
ClimateGlobal 2026: May. 12, Vancouver – bringing together 300+ founders, investors, and operators from the Canadian and international climate tech ecosystem to explore what comes next and how to actually get there. This second edition will focus on two themes: “The Canadian Opportunity” and “Going Global from Canada”. Confirmed attendees include trade missions from ASIA and LATAM, North American and EU investors as well as global corporations and startups. If you are raising, selling, or expanding internationally make sure to be in the room. Register here.
Carbon Removal Investment Summit 2026: May 13, London – The Carbon Removal Investment Summit returns to London on May 13, 2026. cCarbon’s flagship, data- and modelling-driven dialogue brings together 200+ attendees from 160+ organisations, including investors, financiers, buyers, policymakers, developers, and market leaders shaping the carbon removals market. The summit features 40+ expert speakers across 10 curated sessions, along with a private investor conclave for deeper discussions among leading capital providers. The agenda explores where capital is moving, how investment and offtake structures are evolving, and what it will take to move from early momentum to meaningful scale. Register here.
Power Summit: June 3-4, Helsinki – Join Eurelectric’s annual summit, where policymakers, industry leaders and innovators will explore how electrification can power Europe’s secure, competitive and climate-neutral future. This year’s edition will focus on accelerating electrification, strengthening energy security and mobilising investment for the energy transition. Register now.
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