ANALYSIS: How big oil seeks shortcuts in climate target ‘arms race’
Oil majors’ climate targets are littered with loopholes but still fall short of Paris Agreement goals, according to assessors struggling to make sense of the piecemeal efforts of one of the most significant sectors for the low-carbon transition.
Read MoreANALYSIS: The carbon market’s uneasy relationship with crypto
The sudden emergence of Klima DAO and increasing interest in the carbon market from the crypto community has created some excitement over the opportunities for climate finance, but is also generating concern over legal and environmental integrity issues.
Read MoreANALYSIS: Switzerland touts model for international emissions trade, voluntary market
Switzerland sealed its fifth and sixth bilateral crediting agreements on the sidelines of the Glasgow UN climate talks this month, touting the deals as a model of Paris Agreement-era emissions trade for countries as well as for companies in the voluntary carbon market.
Read MoreANALYSIS: REDD faces longer road to Paris era crediting after Glasgow talks setback
Efforts to develop REDD+ forest protection carbon credits in the Paris Agreement era risk a long road ahead, as divisive views marked the Glasgow COP26 climate summit.
Read MoreANALYSIS: Glasgow could be a ‘game-changer’ for fossil fuel subsidies
Language on fossil fuel subsidy reform in the decision of the COP26 UN climate conference was dismissed by some as another empty promise, but others believe it could pave the way for drastic cuts in government support for oil, gas, and coal.
Read MoreANALYSIS: South Korea faces offset issuance gap after Glasgow, while Japan gets clarity on market plans
South Korea’s carbon market will go several years with minimal access to foreign offsets while some projects risk financial ruin after this weekend’s UN climate deal, which provided Japan with certainty should it decide to tap into the voluntary carbon market.
Read MoreANALYSIS: Shipping blueprint highlights need for R&D spend to kickstart industry decarbonisation
A recent warning from a shipping industry group that lack of investment in green technologies presents the biggest hurdle to the industry’s decarbonisation targets has sharpened focus on the technical and financial challenges facing the sector, whose emissions are seen as hard to abate, if it is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Read MoreANALYSIS: Pre-COP jitters spark doubt over South Korea’s CDM investments in Africa
The fate of the CDM is again on the agenda for negotiators headed to Glasgow for COP26 UN climate talks next month, and the uncertain outcome is creating angst among Korean investors that have spent big developing offset projects while some make back-up plans to switch to the voluntary carbon market.
Read MoreANALYSIS: Surge in “carbon neutral” LNG prompts moves for clearer emissions counting
The acceleration in “carbon neutral” LNG cargoes is leading to louder calls for clear reporting on emissions and offset quality, as some companies use methods that cover barely a fifth of the fuel’s climate impact while avoiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in offsetting costs.
Read MoreANALYSIS: Experts expect Japan to restrict voluntary offset access as it beefs up domestic mechanisms
Japan is likely to impose restrictions on the use of voluntary carbon credits from abroad as it wishes to steer offset demand towards domestic units that will help it meet its Paris Agreement obligations, according to observers.
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