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- Tue 00:46Climate change is accelerating a wave of emerging risks that threaten to reshape the insurance industry, Swiss Re said in its latest SONAR report published last week, highlighting rising claims exposure from extreme heat, resilient fungi, and environmental litigation tied to plastics.
- Tue 00:34ETS vs dairy – Prices in the New Zealand ETS have distorted land prices in favour of carbon forestry to the extent that even dairy farming can't compete, said Federated Farmers’ meat and wool chairperson Toby Williams to Farmers Weekly. Williams said that a 1000-hectare farm bought for NZ$15,000/ha ($9,090/ha) and forested for NZ ETS purposes would be paid off after 16 years, based on a carbon price of NZ$60. His comments were in response to a report published last week which found that the volume of overseas investment in forestry rose in 2023 and 2024 and warned that proposed rules to limit farm-to-forest conversions appear to be loose and open to interpretation.
- Mon 23:38Field trip - Taiwan will send a 45-member delegation to Germany on this month to study the EU’s carbon market mechanisms, Taiwan's Ministry of Environment has announced. The group includes officials from Taiwan’s Climate Change Administration, members of the recently formed Green Growth Alliance, and technical advisors involved in shaping the island’s carbon trading system. The visit builds on a memorandum of understanding with the German Emissions Trading Authority and aims to inform the design of Taiwan’s dual-track carbon pricing system, which will combine emissions trading with carbon fees. Taiwan plans to finalise implementation guidelines by the end of 2026 and launch the full system by 2027. Climate officials said the hybrid model will help industrial emitters reduce emissions more effectively and align Taiwan’s climate policies with global market standards. The Green Growth Alliance - launched in April and backed by multiple ministries - will play a central role in advancing corporate sustainability initiatives. (TVBS)
- Mon 23:27Rising prices for credits generated under the US EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) reached their highest peak in the last two years last month, which could spark production increases for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across the US, according to a recent market analysis.
- Mon 23:08Oregon regulators announced on Friday a one-year pause from pursuing enforcement of proposed clean car rules in the state based on uncertainty from the federal level.
- Mon 22:51Massachusetts’ power sector Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) auction last week for current vintages cleared at its highest level in over two years, while advanced vintages settled at a record price, according to results published Monday.
- Mon 22:38A multi-pollutant permit model offers a more “holistic approach” to air quality management for policymakers and incentivises decarbonisation, according to a new brief published Monday.
- Mon 22:36RGGI Allowance (RGA) prices rose just under 5% last week amid anticipation of stronger demand driven by summer weather forecasts as well as tight supply, traders said.
- Mon 22:27
Unsuitable sustainability - The Sierra Club, a US environmental advocacy non-profit organisation, released a white paper arguing that institutional investors should address climate change as a systemic financial risk rather than focusing solely on firm-level exposure. It outlined four key strategies, namely: capital allocation; corporate stewardship; policy advocacy; and service-provider accountability. According to the paper, these combined actions are necessary to reduce emissions and protect long-term portfolio value.
Teamwork in Tocantins - The Brazilian state of Tocantins is working with state agencies to develop an investment plan for revenue from the sale of jurisdictional carbon credits, which is expected to be deposited in the state’s Climate Fund. On June 13, the Secretariat of Environment and Water Resources (Semarh) held a virtual meeting with the Military Police of Tocantins (PMTO) to discuss their participation in the Institutional Strengthening Subprogram of the state’s J-REDD+ programme. The session included an overview of the REDD+ programme’s objectives and funding priorities, with officials highlighting the potential role of security forces in supporting environmental enforcement. The proposal will be reviewed by PMTO leadership before moving to the next phase of planning.
- Mon 21:53The European Commission has dismissed calls from EU energy ministers to revisit new rules aimed at curbing methane emissions from fossil fuels produced and imported in the bloc.
- The rise and fall of Canada’s carbon charge and rebate to households provides lessons learned for EU policymakers in advance of a similar carbon market for heating and transport fuels, policy experts tell Carbon Pulse.
Caribbean climate collaboration - Seven Caribbean nations have committed to the newly launched Regional Platform for Catalyzing Resilience and Climate Action, aimed at mobilising public and private finance to support climate resilience across the region. The platform will focus on developing strategic, country-specific investment opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, transport, and food and water security, while also supporting regional cooperation and innovation. The platform is expected to be coordinated by a Regional Steering Committee and supported by a Secretariat at the Caribbean Development Bank. The Green Climate Fund (GCF), the world's largest climate fund, is backing the initiative through its Readiness Programme.
The Best plan yet - At the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 55th Annual Meeting in Brasilia on June 11, CDB President Daniel Best announced that the bank is developing a 10-year Strategic Plan focused on climate resilience, fiscal policy, social inclusion, and private sector engagement. Best also highlighted recent initiatives, including the launch of the $58.5 mln SuRGE Programme – a just energy transition initiative supported by Canada – an increase in CDB’s Green Climate Fund accreditation to $250 mln from $50 mln, and an Exposure Exchange Agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).
- Mon 19:17Climate negotiations have yet to formally begin in Bonn, after talks on the first day were held up by an agenda fight that hinged on unilateral border carbon fees, observers told Carbon Pulse on Monday evening.
- Mon 18:27Investment in UN-backed carbon markets is held up by current national climate targets, which often only go to 2030 and lack the detail needed to mobilise private sector participation, according to experts speaking at the international Bonn climate summit.
- Mon 17:55Voluntary carbon credit prices generally bounced back last week to recover losses over May and early June, and a large volume of cookstoves retirements boosted levels.
- Under the microscope - Gold Standard has opened a consultation on a new microbial carbon mineralisation methodology. The crediting programme will be applicable to project activities that remove and durably store CO2 via the application of a microbial inoculant to existing cropland. This approach leverages the mutualistic relationship of beneficial soil bacteria and plant roots to capture CO₂ and convert it into soil inorganic carbon, the standard said.. The methodology outlines the requirements and procedures for quantifying and monitoring the associated carbon removals. The consultation is open until July 10.
- Mon 17:44US nuclear 'renaissance’ - Nuclear power appears to be gaining traction from Phoenix to Austin to Indianapolis, according to E&E News. The outlet reported more than 200 nuclear-related bills have been filed in the US so far this year, with a dozen waiting on signatures from state governors. Nuclear is one of the few electricity generation technologies that’s bipartisan backed and resurging amid the AI data centre electricity crunch. (E&E News)
- Mon 17:41Sparse NDCs - Just seven of the 22 new NDCs submitted thus far say the countries have implemented, or plan to implement, carbon pricing systems and cap-and-trade policies to incentivise the phaseout of fossil fuels and help reach targets, according to research by E3G. Updated NDCs are due to the UNFCCC by September, covering 2025-35. The UK, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and New Zealand have set up pricing systems or taxes, while Moldova says it will develop a scheme as part of its integration into the EU. Ten countries reaffirmed their commitments or referred to the need to phase down coal power or transition away from fossil fuels, but most did not give explicit commitments. Three countries - Canada, the Marshall Islands, and Singapore - either said they do not have fossil fuel subsidies, or clearly committed to phasing them out.
- Mon 17:41Canadian green ammonia - Stantec, an environmental and engineering consultancy, has partnered with Canadian tech company FuelPositive to get its green ammonia demonstration plant off the ground. The FP300, located in Sperling, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, would produce 100 tonnes of green ammonia per year, the two companies said.
- Mon 17:41'Use every lever' - Reform UK’s gains in the May 2025 local elections could jeopardise up to 6 GW of new clean energy capacity, according to new analysis by Carbon Brief. The right-wing populist party, which secured control of 10 English councils in the recent elections, has vowed to use every lever to block the development of wind, solar, and battery storage projects. Carbon Brief’s review of industry data shows that these councils oversee areas where projects totaling 5 GW of battery storage, 0.8 GW of solar, and less than 0.1 GW of wind are proposed. Although Reform UK has also called for a ban on battery systems, decisions on such projects typically lie with local planning authorities rather than directly with councils, the analysis highlighted. Still, the party may exert influence over local planning processes, experts told Carbon Brief. One planning lawyer noted that this influence is likely to be more of a nuisance than a major obstacle, with only a limited effect on the government’s overall clean energy targets.
Seaweed CDR limitations - Iron scarcity could drastically limit the effectiveness of seaweed-based carbon removal (CDR), according to a recent study by US- and France-based scientists published on CDRXIV,a repository for preprint articles and datasets on CDR. The nutrient competition with phytoplankton and iron limitations could reduce ocean afforestation potential by up to three times, turning seaweed cultivation into a net carbon emitter in certain regions, according to the research. The findings underscore the need to include iron dynamics in carbon removal projections to avoid overestimating the role of seaweed in climate mitigation efforts, the authors said. Failure to address these limitations may undermine the potential of seaweed-based CDR as a viable solution for combating climate change, the study added.
- Fund the future - Nasdaq has launched the Nasdaq Carbon Academy, a free educational platform designed to help individuals develop the skills needed to incorporate carbon removal credits into corporate emissions reduction strategies, writes ESG Today. Nasdaq said the new academy offers a collection of free, self-paced courses, along with expert insights and real-world case studies, aimed at providing users with the knowledge and tools to incorporate carbon removal into their emissions and carbon management strategies. While tailored for business leaders, the academy is also suited for environmental professionals looking to expand their understanding of carbon removal credits, as well as investors interested in exploring the dynamics of carbon markets.
- Mon 17:28A plastic recovery organisation has teamed up with a Europe-based circular economy verifier and carbon blockchain specialist to issue carbon credits from 100,000 tonnes of recovered plastic.
- Mon 17:18EU carbon prices were slow to match the gains in other energy markets on Monday morning, as early selling interest drove prices lower even as natural gas advanced nearly 3%, before EUAs moved back into positive territory late in the session, with some participants describing carbon as "tired" and the weakest component of the energy complex.
- Mon 17:10Saudi Arabia’s state-backed voluntary carbon market company has announced a deal with an energy and water provider in the country to facilitate the delivery of over 30 million credits by 2030.
- Mon 16:56Carbon markets have a growing role to play in ensuring the financial viability of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) projects, according to a new report.
- Mon 16:40A London-based financial services provider will distribute 32,000 blue carbon credits backed by the French state for the protection of Mediterranean seagrass, it was announced at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC).
- Mon 15:28A carbon removal registry has issued the first independently verified ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) credits, it said Monday.
- Mon 15:24If you build it... - The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the International Code Council have launched a second public review for proposed Standard 240P, which provides a unified methodology for quantifying both embodied and operational GHG emissions across the life cycle of buildings and their sites. The public comment period runs from June 6 to July 21. Updates from the first draft include clearer definitions, an updated life-cycle figure, a revised default metric (shifting from GWP-20 to GWP-100), and more detailed guidance on embodied emissions. The standard aims to support professionals, regulators, and investors with consistent tools for transparent GHG reporting. The draft is available at osr.ashrae.org. ASHRAE is an international society of more than 50,000 heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning professionals from over 132 nations.
- A France-based developer has claimed to have registered a new clean cooking project with Gold Standard that is Core Carbon Principles (CCP)-aligned, with the first issuances set for next year.
- Mon 14:01A London-based firm has launched a non-fungible token (NFT)-based carbon credit exchange in the Isle of Man, it announced Monday.
- Mon 13:59A Perth-headquartered carbon project developer on Monday announced the launch of a nature credit scheme tailored to the protection of endangered species in the Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia.
- Mon 13:19Sweden struck its fourth Article 6 emissions trading agreement on Monday with Kenya, as the EU country says it is carefully scrutinising national Paris Agreement commitments from developing countries to ensure that such deals result in strong additional emission reductions.
- Mon 13:03The European Commission has closed infringement proceedings against five EU member states for failing to transpose the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme for road transport and heating fuels (ETS2) into national legislation.
- A California-based carbon credit management firm is locking in a Canadian direct air capture (DAC) developer to supply the first DAC credits to its platform.
- Mon 12:55An African and an Asian nation each anticipate key milestones by year-end regarding national carbon market regulations, ultimately supporting their on-ramp to participation under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6, country officials told Carbon Pulse on Monday.
- Mon 12:44An Indian company that uses microbes to capture CO2 is positioning itself for expansion in the carbon capture market, aiming to scale its daily capacity to 200 tonnes within two years as the country prepares to launch a compliance scheme targeting emissions reductions in heavy industries.
- Mon 12:28Governments should ramp up efforts to strengthen coordination between climate and biodiversity plans, as failing to do so risks undermining the achievement of national environmental targets, a report has said.
- Mon 12:22Printing clean - The Carbon Trust and TransitionZero have announced a new partnership, Greenprint, which is designed to help governments in developing economies and emerging markets deliver secure, affordable, and fully decarbonised power systems by 2050. Greenprint has four stages: power sector systems and scenario development, economic modelling and insights, policy and regulatory assessments and recommendations, and capacity building and planning. This systems-led approach is designed to set out routes to clean energy that are technically sound, economically feasible and socially inclusive, supporting just transition principles and local job creation, the organisations said. In parallel to engaging with prospective pilot countries ready to address the challenges they face in transitioning to net zero, the Carbon Trust said it is also in discussion with potential financial and philanthropic organisations interested in funding the work.
- Mon 12:18The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is encouraging businesses to take part in a pilot programme to trial the proposed draft revisions to its Corporate Net-Zero Standard, the standard setter announced Monday.
- Mon 11:57COP and coal - Australian foreign policy think tank the Lowy Institute released its annual poll Monday which found that Australians still support an ETS and carbon tax with 56% in favour. This, however, represents a drop of 8 points over 2022. Over three-quarters of respondents support renewable energy development but not insignificant numbers also see a place for gas and coal in 2050 in the nation’s power mix. Support for renewable energy tech subsidies dropped to 82% this year from 91% in 2021, and fell every year in between. Meanwhile, 70% of Australians would like to see an Australia-Pacific COP next year, but 65% also want to see more gas used now to generate electricity. Fewer Australians want to ban new coal mines now, at 54% compared to prior years, when over 60% of respondents were in favour of a ban.
- Mon 11:04Grangemouth hope – The UK’s energy minister Michael Shanks said he was hopeful that the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland will find new investors soon, the BBC reported. According to Shanks, more than 80 potential investors have come forward since the UK Government pledged £200 million for the site, and public authorities are now looking for another £600 mln from private investors. Speaking to the BBC, Shanks said he hoped the government will have “some really positive announcements to say soon”. (BBC)
- Mon 11:01Regional efforts - Japanese oil major Eneos has signed a collaboration agreement with the government of Hokkaido's Okushiri town to promote the development of blue carbon in the region, it announced Monday. Under the partnership, Eneos will conduct research and demonstration tests on blue carbon, and the local government will be responsible for engaging fishermen and other stakeholders. The oil company said it has been working to obtain J-Blue Credits from its seaweed bed restoration project. Meanwhile, sustainability solution provider Asuene has teamed up with Shikoku Bank to support small- and medium-sized companies in the Shikoku region. The alliance said they will help corporate clients visualise, calculate, and reduce their CO2 emissions.
- Mon 11:00Utility hedging of EUA exposure is recovering to near-normal levels after 2022’s period of high energy price volatility, while airlines are starting to take a more active role in managing their compliance risk, but industrials are still showing a mixed response to the onset of reduced free allocation, according to new analysis.
- Mon 10:49EU losing its eSAF mojo – The European Union risks losing its lead on developing a market for e-kerosene, according to a new report by Transport and Environment (T&E), a green campaign group. Europe’s early lead in the e-kerosene market has been driven by the EU’s law on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), ReFuelEU, which set specific targets for using e-fuels in aviation. If all the announced projects were built, the EU could meet these targets – but none of the large-scale plants identified by T&E are even under construction. Only four are at an advanced stage, and none have reached a final investment decision (FID). According to T&E, this slow progress is due to an array of challenges, with financing posing the biggest barrier, and traditional fuel suppliers being notably absent from the conversation.
- Mon 10:47Blue Carbon Collective - Malaysian oil major Petronas and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team have announced a partnership to launch the Blue Carbon Collective, to advance research and knowledge exchange on carbon capture and storage in mangrove ecosystems. The five-year collaboration aims to build on the existing cooperation between the University of Sao Paulo and Universiti Putra Malaysia to apply established methodologies from Brazil, including carbon stock assessment and monitoring of soil quality and ecosystem health in the Sungai Santi Forest Reserve in Johor, Malaysia. The collective also supports Petronas’ One Million Trees Programme, an initiative to plant 100,000 mangrove seedlings in the same forest reserve to rehabilitate degraded areas. To date, 20,000 mangrove seedlings have been planted by the local communities, the oil company said.
- Mon 10:43China's thermal power generation rose in May, the first time in 2025 that happens, while energy produced from renewable sources grew at a slower pace, according to government data published Monday.
- Mon 10:22The Netherlands has expressed doubts about using international credits delivered under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to meet the EU’s climate goals, saying the bloc’s upcoming 2040 target should be met domestically.
- Mon 09:41Bonn chance - The UN's dwindling budget, the global roadmap to $1.3 trillion per year of climate finance, the international work programme for mitigating climate, and the Global Goal on Adaptation are at the top of the agenda for climate negotiators meeting in Bonn over the next 10 days, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said on Monday morning, opening the intersessional, SB62. The UNFCCC has found "significant cost savings and efficiencies" in its budget to deliver on its growing mandates, but it's not a sustainable approach, Stiell said, urging countries to address them during the Bonn negotiations. The meeting should also deep-dive into the Baku to Belem Roadmap to $1.3 Trillion, making it a how-to-guide with clear next steps, he said.
- Mon 09:33The Queensland state government in Australia has released a methodology for calculating co-benefits from carbon farming projects for use under its Land Restoration Fund (LRF).
- Mon 09:00Have fun - A karaoke contest that aims to capture the CO2 emitted from breathing out while singing was held during Expo 2025 in Osaka over the weekend, according to the event sponsor Xing Inc. The project builds upon the application of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), a material with an exceptionally high surface area and various functions such as gas adsorption and separation. A wristband with the CO2 capture device was provided for karaoke participants to collect CO2, and the captured CO2 was then dissolved in a foot bath, the company said.
- Mon 08:45Some 32 billion tonnes of CO2e would be kept in the ground if just four countries abandon their oil and gas expansion plans for the next decade, according to an analysis published Monday.
- Mon 08:18Switzerland and Norway are to formally sign a CO2 storage agreement early this week, as both countries seek to strengthen their positions as among the first-movers in scaling cross-border carbon finance deals.
- Mon 05:18We can help - A carbon map system supported by South Korea's land ministry, which visualises data on emissions from buildings and transport infrastructure, will be used in the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) urban planning pilot project in Uzbekistan, Yonhap reported. Sundosoft, the developer of the geographic information system, is set to sign a contract with ADB, the report said. This marks the first case of South Korea's emissions mapping and carbon-neutral urban planning technologies being exported through an international organisation, according to the land ministry.
- Mon 05:17Shaking the tin - Australian junior clean-tech firm Hazer has raised A$8 mln ($5.17 mln) from sophisticated and institutional investors, including A$1 mln from its own board and directors as well as from the investment vehicle of one of the directors and has launched a A$2 mln share purchase plan to its retail arm. The Perth-headquartered hydrogen startup has been working for several years to develop its patented methane-splitting method that uses waste gas and sequesters the resulting carbon in synthetic graphite. It has previously signed MoUs with large industrial groups like South Korea’s Posco.
- Mon 03:42Ad-Tos? - Abu Dhabi’s national oil company ADNOC has made a A$30 bln ($19.45 bln) takeover bid for Australia’s second-largest oil and gas company Santos, offering a 28% premium to the current share price that works out at A$8.80 per share. The Australian company advised the local bourse Monday morning it planned to recommend the offer. ADNOC has promised to retain the Adelaide head office and keep the company and its Australia-heavy assets largely as-is to avoid questions from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). If successful, ADNOC will take a large LNG portfolio but also some serious decommissioning liabilities and a series of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects at different stages of development, as well as Santos’ carbon farming ventures, which include projects in PNG.
- Mon 01:15Some marine CO2 removal (mCDR) methods could significantly exacerbate oxygen loss in the world’s oceans, a new study has warned.
- Mon 01:00A total of 63 oil and gas fields in development worldwide could emit over 2 million tonnes of methane annually from their production activities before 2030, resulting in a far greater impact than initially thought, new analysis shows.
