California’s power sector year-to-date (YtD) emissions through March jumped nearly 5% year-on-year (YoY), the first such annual increase since 2021, data from the state's largest grid operator showed Monday.

Louisiana liability - Louisiana Rep. Robby Carter (D) has introduced House Bill 79 (HB 79) aimed at reshaping how the state handles liability for carbon capture incidents, according to the Daily Advertiser. The outlet wrote the bill would remove the current $250,000 cap on damages related to carbon release incidents, on par with other sectors operating in the state.

Clean manufacturing risks - Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy released a new report showing clean energy manufacturing cancellations and job losses continued in Q1 2026 following federal rollbacks targeting clean energy incentives. The report found the US lost a net 5,600 clean energy manufacturing jobs in the year’s first quarter alongside $1.4 bln in cancelled investments. Companies announced $2.5 bln in new investments across 21 projects in 14 states, but cancellations and cutbacks reduced net investment to $1.1 bln, they said.

A new modelling study projecting the evolution of the Southeastern US forest sector to 2070 warns of a gradual decline in the region’s carbon sink, with potential implications for the offset market.

The EU ETS is delivering emissions cuts well beyond its borders without triggering widespread carbon leakage, according to new research that points to global policy and market spillovers from higher EU carbon prices.

Morocco and Norway on Tuesday signed a bilateral agreement under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement to support deployment of renewable energy in the North African country.

Turbines to Texas - GE Vernova, an electric turbine manufacturer, and nuclear startup Blue Energy plan to develop a 2.5GW hybrid power station in Texas that would use natural gas-fired generation before adding nuclear power, aiming to supply electricity for AI data centres more quickly than a standalone nuclear project, E&E News reported. Blue Energy CEO Jake Jurewicz said the gas-to-nuclear approach is intended to bring power online at least two years earlier, support financing for a first-of-its-kind nuclear project, and lower capital costs, as developers face growing doubts over whether new reactors can be built fast enough to meet large data centre demand.

Wind reviews waver - The Trump administration is blocking more than 150 onshore wind projects across the US by delaying Pentagon reviews that were previously considered routine, according to the American Clean Power Association, in the latest escalation of federal efforts to limit wind development. The stalled projects would together represent about 30 GW of generating capacity if built, while at least 35 wind farms that have negotiated mitigation agreements with the Pentagon remain unable to proceed because they have not received final sign-off from the assistant secretary of defence for energy, installations, and environment. The Pentagon said it is evaluating land-based wind projects to ensure they do not impair national security or military operations, citing complex interagency coordination, while industry representatives said reviews have ground to a halt, meetings have been cancelled, and developers have been told no projects can move forward for now. (The New York Times)

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) approved legislation limiting civil and criminal liability for alleged climate harms linked GHG emissions, creating a new statutory defence for agricultural, petroleum, and renewable fuel sources in the state.

The largest political groups in the European Parliament, including the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), back removing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism’s (CBAM) temporary suspension clause from the European Commission’s December proposal to extend the scheme.

Carbon credit registry ACR has updated its carbon capture and storage (CCS) methodology to include a wider range of carbon removal (CDR) projects eligible to generate credits, including direct air capture (DAC), bioenergy with CCS (BECCS), biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS), and certain CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects.

Latin America and the Caribbean’s (LAC) aviation sector could face steep traffic losses if net zero targets and compliance with the UN's CORSIA decarbonisation scheme rely too heavily on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), even as SAF production looks promising for the region, according to a recent industry-backed study.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is refocusing its work on mid-range pathways that imply around 3-3.5C global warming by 2100, media outlets have reported.

Mind the gap - A new study found a persistent gap between the willingness of tourists to offset emissions and their actual behaviour. Voluntary carbon offsetting schemes can improve environmental awareness, but their voluntary nature and credibility concerns significantly limit their impact, according to the systematic review that analysed 27 empirical studies involving 147,087 participants. Therefore, relying on offsetting schemes alone is insufficient to achieve substantial emissions reductions, the review concluded. Complementary policy measures, such as carbon levies and default opt-in mechanisms, could help bridge the gap between environmental goals and behaviour, it said.

European carbon prices surged strongly after the holiday weekend as traders appeared to react to leaked proposals showing that free allocation benchmarks would not change significantly from the previous trajectory, supporting the bullish narrative that had driven prices up by around 50% from a year ago, as well as to the market's failure to break below €73.00 in previous sessions.

Two US Rocky Mountain states will coordinate on carbon storage efforts under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

CORSIA prices dropped last week amid the global jet fuel crisis, although the latest leaked memo from Brussels about tightening carbon credit restrictions for the international aviation offsetting scheme has also played a role, analysts said.

Case dismissed - A court in Kenya has dismissed a case filed by Green Planet Initiative 2050 Foundation against Earthbanc over a contractual dispute linked to the Regeneration Kenya Project. The High Court in Eldoret ruled in favour of Earthbanc and its subsidiary Earthtree Company Limited, rejecting all claims and reliefs sought by the plaintiff and ordering it to pay legal costs. The judgement stated that the case lacked merit and legal basis, adding that a party that fails to meet its contractual obligations cannot enforce the agreement. The dispute came to light after the contractor's engagement in the project was terminated in Apr. 2025 following concerns about compliance and performance standards. (AllAfrica)

A New York-headquartered market infrastructure provider and a Texas-based energy data platform have expanded their partnership to deliver consolidated exchange and over the counter (OTC) price and transaction information for environmental commodities, they announced on Tuesday.

Downstream impact - The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) could cost farmers €39 bln over seven years because it would increase the cost of imported fertiliser, according to industry body Copa Cogeca. Around 30% of nitrogen fertilisers used in the EU are imported. This year alone, fertiliser prices are expected to increase by around 15% on average, which would total about €12 bln over the next seven years, and if considering the price alignment that EU-based fertiliser producers could operate, Copa Cogeca estimates that total cost for farmers could reach up to €39 bln over the period. The group has called for CBAM to be suspended and long-term measures to be introduced to offset related costs for farmers, as well as full clarity on how CBAM revenues will be redistributed. (Agriland)

The EU must channel far more EU carbon market revenue into clean investment, while building a “credible” new Competitiveness Fund, the European Commission's Stephane Sejourne told European Parliament members on Tuesday.

Political pressure on the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS), which is being blamed for declining industrial competitiveness and rising energy costs, is more a "smoke screen" distracting from inaction on real issues across national governments across the bloc, a new policy brief has argued.

mCDR money – Research Nova Scotia (RNS), a Canadian provincial research funding agency, said last week it will invest C$2.1 mln to support eight projects under its first Ear to the Ground (E2G) competition, including three targeting marine carbon removal (mCDR). RNS CEO Stefan Leslie will attend a Carbon to Sea Initiative convening to discuss their development. The agency said that the remaining five span clean energy, life sciences, and marine transport.

Colombian initiatives to reform carbon market infrastructure stepped into the spotlight last week, with regulations, private partnerships, and project methodology updates all finding purchase in the REDD+ powerhouse, the same month as general elections.

A project developer in Brazil has raised R$75 million ($15.1 mln) and attracted new partners for the expansion of its agroforestry business, it announced on Tuesday.

Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict have highlighted a convergence between the climate and security agendas in Europe, while exposing new risks linked to dependence on imported clean tech and jet fuel, a NATO official has said.

First injection - Octavia Carbon has achieved their first injection of CO2 underground captured by a direct air capture (DAC) plant, making them the world's fourth DAC company to do so. Octavia Carbon has so far captured around 0.5 tonnes of CO2 in Kenya, which is "just the start" and signals what's possible for the technology in emerging markets, said Catalyst Fund on LinkedIn, an investor in Octavia Carbon. The injection was done in partnership with Cella Mineral Storage, which borrows established practices from enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to mineralise pure‑phase CO2 in basalt rocks while reducing water requirements.

Think tanks, NGOs, and scientific bodies have warned the EU over the planned use of international carbon credits in its climate policy framework, while a large number of companies endorsed their inclusion, also in the bloc's carbon market, in response to a public consultation.

The UN Environment Programme has expanded its global methane detection system to cover coal mines and waste facilities for the first time, in a move aimed at turning satellite data into faster emissions cuts.

Off track - Norway's $2.2 trillion sovereign wealth fund is failing to actively engage on climate change at its investee companies despite its stated goal for all companies it invests in (~7,200) to reach net zero by 2050, according to green group Framtiden i Vaare ​Hender (Future in our Hands). Its report analysed Norges Bank Investment Management's (NBIM) voting record last year on 23 priority votes at 12 ​upstream oil and gas developers such as BP and Shell, and found the fund to only signal management disapproval in three instances by voting against the re-election of directors at Petrobras, ExxonMobil, and Chevron. The green group also flags the fund's actions at the BP AGM in April as showing a lack of active management on climate risks when NBIM chose to protect the BP board's position rather than join others demanding better disclosure and oversight of their fossil fuel strategy. NBIM said that voting is one of several tools it uses to address climate risk, alongside direct engagement with companies. (Reuters)

Fingers in many pies - The European Commission's spend on climate and energy consultants increased 433% to €127 mln in the 10 years up to 2024 as it vastly expanded its legislative work under the 2019 Green Deal. Yet the growth has also drawn criticism about potential conflicts of interest as advisory firms worked both on EU policy and lobby for industry on the same topics. Climate campaigners are especially concerned that Brussels' work on hydrogen policy will embed gas industry interests and drive money away from electrification. Advisory firm Guidehouse has worked for the Commission on hydrogen policy while simultaneously setting up lobby group Gas for Climate, and working as secretariat for lobby group European Hydrogen Backbone. The Commission said that it maintained “strict conflict-of-interest checks at all stages of the procedure” and that “external contractors are never responsible for policymaking”. (FT)

Gold Standard has announced updates to four major methodologies covering clean cooking and thermal energy projects, in a move aimed at aligning its carbon crediting rules with the Paris Agreement.

Hurry up - Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung called for fast issuance of a decree on forest carbon services to remove legal bottlenecks and unlock the country’s carbon market, state media reported this week. The regulation would establish a framework for carbon absorption and storage services, decentralise credit issuance to local authorities, and enable trading of emission reductions. Authorities aim to begin issuing credits for 2021-22 by second quarter of this year, with more volumes to follow, alongside negotiations for an emissions reduction deal under the LEAF Coalition. A draft of the decree was published last year.

Next payouts from NextGenerationEU - The European Commission has announced new disbursements under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), an instrument that provides grants and loans to member states. It is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU, originally set up to help the EU recover from Covid. On Tuesday, the EU executive paid out €4.6 bln to Germany and €1.25 bln to Slovakia for investments to accelerate Europe's energy independence, the green and digital transitions, and long-term resilience and competitiveness. In practice, this includes investments in electric vehicles, energy-efficient buildings, renewables and the grid, and hydrogen research. It brings the total RRF funds disbursed across the EU to a "landmark figure" of over €400 bln. The RFF is set to wind down at the end of 2026.

Germany will allocate up to €5 billion this year to help heavy industries to cut CO2 emissions via a competitive bidding process, the economy ministry confirmed on Tuesday as it launched the auction.

EU-China - The European Commission intends to halt subsidies for energy projects using Chinese inverters, multiple media outlets have reported. Inverters are key to renewables, since they convert the direct current (DC) of solar panels, wind turbines, or batteries into the alternating current (AC) typically used on the grid, and in households and industry. But inverters represent one of "the most pressing threats" to EU critical infrastructure, the Financial Times reported the Commission as saying. In future, they should come from countries like South Korea or Japan, or Europe itself (Russia, Iran, and North Korea are also on the blacklist, Le Monde reported), though the Commission will not require companies to replace existing inverters, Tagesspiegel Background Energie & Klima clarified. Brussels has told European partner banks to stop financing renewable projects using Chinese, Iranian or Russian grid equipment from Nov. 1, said Euractiv. The decision, which dates back to April, was first reported by South China Morning Post, the outlet noted, and concerns primarily the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, but also national banks like Germany’s state-lender KfW.

Methane blind spot - About one-third of the methane emissions reports required under the EU Methane Regulation were completely missing for 2024-25, while others were incomplete or incorrect, found an analysis by NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) of 800 German oil and gas companies. The NGO found that many companies either failed to report emissions adequately or relied on outdated, estimated values rather than direct measurements, undermining the credibility of disclosures. Only a small share of companies provided sufficiently robust data aligned with best-practice standards. Moreover, in 10 of Germany's 16 federal states, there is still no responsible oversight authority, DUH added. The NGO warned that weak reporting could mask the true scale of methane emissions and delay mitigation efforts, despite the availability of cost-effective abatement technologies. According to the International Energy Agency, the actual methane emissions from fossil fuel companies remain 80% higher than officially reported, the group noted. (DUH)

Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism is failing to limit diesel use in coal mining, with carbon costs being undercut by fuel subsidies, according to an analysis.

CO2 storage - Shell has received a CO2 storage permit from the Dutch government for the Aramis project in the North Sea, reported newspaper De Telegraaf on Tuesday. Aramis aims to store up to 22 million tonnes of CO2 per year from 2030 in two empty gas fields, from carbon capture and storage (CCS) at industrial sites. Aramis follows in the footsteps Porthos, which is targeting 2.5 Mt CO2 storage per year. Porthos recently announced a delay of almost a year: Shell, ExxonMobil, Air Liquide, and Air Products will not start storing CO2 in Porthos from the end of 2026, but only from H2 2027.  In total, they expect to store 37 Mt over the next 15 years, versus a total capacity of 400 Mt for Aramis. The two projects share some key infrastructure, like CO2 pipelines and a compressor station. (Change Inc.)

A Dutch carbon removal developer has launched a €20 million equity raise to fund what it says will be the country’s first 'made-in-the-Netherlands' negative emissions energy plant.

The European Commission has approved Austrian and Spanish support schemes designed to shield energy-intensive industries from higher electricity prices linked to the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS) and preventing production relocation outside Europe.

UN officials are considering whether to repurpose an existing voluntary carbon credit cancellation platform to support the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.4 mechanism, as the current system under the Kyoto Protocol approaches closure at the end of 2026.

Environmental NGOs and carbon market advocates remain divided over how far the EU should rely on carbon removals, international credits, and other market-based flexibilities for the next phase of its climate policy, according to submissions to a European Commission consultation on post-2030 national targets.

Experts working to operationalise the UN's Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) have published a new draft registry procedure that will be considered at an upcoming crunch meeting of the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body.

EU member states will on Tuesday discuss a significant simplification of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), specifically its default emissions values for downstream goods, as concerns mount that the current system is too complex to apply effectively to manufactured goods with fragmented supply chains.

The government of an Australian state is preparing to drop formal emissions reduction targets, replacing them with alternative measures like green exports, carbon capture, and renewable energy.

CBAM service - Organic Recycling Systems (ORSL), an India‑based waste management and sustainability solutions firm, has entered a business development and service collaboration with General Carbon Advisory Services to strengthen its carbon management offerings, the companies said in a joint statement reported by Energetica India. The partnership will focus on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) advisory and compliance support. ORSL will utilise its industrial relationships and market presence to help organisations with carbon reporting, emissions data management, and related compliance. General Carbon Advisory Services will provide specialised technical advisory, assessments, reporting frameworks, and verification support as part of the service offering.

Market volatility, changing regulation, and lack of harmonised standards are dulling investor and developer interest in carbon markets, according to legal firm polling.

Shortlisted - An industry consortium led by mining giant BHP said it has identified five potential CCUS hubs across Asia-Pacific after screening more than 3,000 sites, with locations spanning India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia, after a feasibility study. The group, which includes major steelmakers and energy firms, will now move into a second phase focused on detailed engineering, commercial models, and regulatory assessments. The study also added new partners to deepen expertise across shipping, steelmaking, and low-emissions technologies.

Kiwa rollout - Forty five climate resilience projects rolled out across 17 countries and territories under the Kiwa Initiative are set to benefit more than 127,000 Pacific islanders, The Fiji Times reported. The Kiwa Initiative is a donor‑funded programme managed by Agence Francaise de Developpement that supports Pacific climate resilience through nature‑based solutions. The programme was announced in Suva, Fiji on Apr. 27. The regional scheme, funded by France, the EU, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, has mobilised €79.5 mln ($92.9 mln) since 2020.  

Little steps - Singapore will launch the fourth edition of its Go Green SG campaign from May 11 to June 28, with around 500 partners delivering over 1,000 sustainability initiatives, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment said in a press release. The campaign aims to strengthen adaptation against rising temperatures and extreme weather. Activities span public education, biodiversity tours, recycling workshops, and youth engagement programmes designed to encourage climate-conscious behaviour.

COP31 appointment- Turkiye has appointed Australia’s nominee Sally Higgins as COP31 Presidency Youth Climate Champion, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said on Tuesday. COP31 will be held in Antalya in Nov. 2026. This comes after Turkiye won the race to host the summit in the resort city, beating Australia, and after both agreed to share the presidency in November last year. Turkiye will host the Leader’s Summit and lead the Action Agenda, while Australia will lead negotiations and partner with Pacific nations on pre‑COP meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu. Higgins, a Queensland farmer and Nuffield scholar, will ensure youth perspectives are represented in decision‑making and elevate youth‑led climate solutions at COP31.

Charging down - The Australian government has announced plans to wind back elements of its tax exemptions for EVs, the ABC reported. The tax discount exempting electric vehicles from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) will be wound back next year, saving the government A$1.7 bln ($1.2 bln) over four years. From Apr. 2027, the exemption will still apply to EVs costing less than A$75,000, but those above that threshold will be taxed at 75% of the usual rate of FBT. From Apr. 2029, all EVs will be taxed at the 75% payable FBT rate. Climate minister Chris Bowen said they staggered the wound back given they did not want to disincentivise EV uptake, which has been rising substantially in Australia in response to high fuel prices. The savings measure will be included in the upcoming federal budget on May 12.

Status symbol - ASX-listed NH3 Clean Energy has been granted Federal Major Project Status for its WAH2 Clean Ammonia Project, recognising its national significance in supporting economic growth, regional development, and Australia’s decarbonisation goals, the company announced. The status provides coordinated government support to streamline approvals and builds on recent findings that the project will deliver substantial public and economic benefits, while targeting a final investment decision by the end of 2026 and first production by 2029. The WAH2 Project aims to produce low-emissions ammonia for export to Asia-Pacific markets such as Japan and South Korea, as well as for use as a cleaner shipping fuel, positioning it to meet growing demand from the region’s energy transition.