Suriname is undertaking EU-supported analyses to examine the possibility of instituting carbon taxation, an EU policy officer told a conference in Colombia on Tuesday.

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) has opened its first overseas office in Singapore to strengthen its focus on the Asia-Pacific region, it said Thursday.

A coalition of industry groups, NGOs, and research bodies has submitted a compromise proposal to the European Commission aimed at resolving technical and political disputes over how biochar should be treated under the EU’s Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation.

Harvard high five - Harvard University has reduced its campus GHGs by 32% - compared to a 2006 baseline – despite a 14% expansion in its campus footprint over the same period, ESG News reported. The university recently released its 2024–2025 Annual Sustainability Report detailing broad progress toward its long-term goal of becoming fossil fuel-free by 2050.

Carbon capture freight – Pacific Harbor Line (PHL), a subsidiary of Anacostia Rail Holdings, has entered into a development agreement with Michigan-based climate technology startup Remora on mobile carbon capture for freight rail and trucking. PHL provides rail transportation, maintenance, and dispatching services to both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. Remora's solution captures CO2 emitted by trains and trucks, converts it to liquid, and sells it to industries such as farming, food production, and manufacturing, sharing the revenue with its transportation partners.

Para J-REDD+ progress – Para has taken another step in its jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme. On Oct. 8, the Steering Committee of the State System on Climate Change (Coges Clima) approved the documentation to be submitted to ART TREES for registration. The package includes the results of 14 consultations with more than 500 extractivists and quilombola community representatives. According to the State Secretariat for Environment, Climate, and Sustainability (Semas), the certification of carbon credits will start based on Para’s reduction in deforestation in 2023. Data from the National Institute for Space Research’s (INPE) Prodes system show that deforestation in the state fell by 21% in both 2022 and 2023, and by 27% in 2024.

CO2 MoU - The Mexican state of Tamaulipas, Houston-based Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, and non-profit BCarbon last month signed a MoU recognising their collaboration on carbon sequestration. Since then, and in accordance with the agreement, the partners' team has been in Mexico meeting with stakeholders in an attempt to facilitate a national carbon market that benefits communities.

Calyx carries on - Carbon credit ratings agency Calyx announced in a Wednesday LinkedIn post that it is resuming providing its service for projects under Climate Action Reserve's (CAR) Mexico Forest Protocol. The company said it halted rating these projects in June 2024 due to "high uncertainty" in early-year removals. However, Calyx said it has now resumed ratings, as several projects are now in their second verifications, while updates to the protocol are being implemented that the agency said were likely to reduce the risk of over-crediting.

A climate think tank has unveiled a new EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) simulator, finding that expected costs for affected countries are some 56% lower than most current estimates.

Partners in SAF - Phillips 66 has partnered with climate-tech firm Chooose to digitalise and streamline its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) operations, integrating Chooose’s platform into the company’s internal systems to improve delivery accuracy, documentation, and collaboration with airlines. The agreement allows for automated creation and sharing of product transfer documents, real-time tracking of SAF deliveries, and more efficient transfer of environmental attributes from producer to customer. Airlines already using Chooose will gain direct access to Phillips 66’s SAF data, reducing manual work and improving the management of Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions attributes. The collaboration supports Phillips 66’s broader SAF expansion efforts, including its conversion of the Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex in California to full renewable fuel production and supply agreements with airlines.

A meeting of representatives from 67 countries this week in Brasilia highlighted the amount of work outstanding ahead of next month’s UN climate negotiations – but reaffirmed their commitment to the multilateral process.

Natural H2 – A major source of natural hydrogen was discovered across the northern section of Ontario’s Témiscamingue Graben formation, two Canadian companies announced Tuesday. Of 456 soil-gas samples analysed, 209 contained hydrogen exceeding 500 ppm with multiple readings surpassing 2,000 ppm, DiagnaMed Holdings Corp and Quebec Innovative Materials Corp said in a press release. The findings indicate an active natural hydrogen system extending west from Quebec into Ontario.

Biofuel bonding - Brazil is working with Japan and Italy to win support for a global pledge to quadruple sustainable fuel production by 2035, Bloomberg reported. A draft declaration seen by the outlet, dubbed the Belem 4X Pledge on Sustainable Fuels, commits to expand the fuels’ use worldwide by at least a factor of four compared to 2024 base levels, “taking into consideration different starting points and national circumstances". Signatories would pledge to take “comprehensive” domestic actions to meet the target. The initiative aims to support the Global Stocktake (GST) achieved at COP28 in Dubai which called for a "transition away" from fossil fuels.

The US must replace its outdated carbon accounting rules with a real-time, "E-ledger" system if it wants to stay competitive under emerging global carbon trade regimes like the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), according to a new report published Wednesday.

Climate collaboration – The CARICOM Secretariat this week met with a high-level Argentine government delegation on the sidelines of the 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in St. Kitts and Nevis to explore potential collaboration on food security, climate change, and agricultural technology. Led by Wendell Samuel, CARICOM’s acting Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Integration, Innovation and Development, the discussions highlighted opportunities for deeper trade and technological exchange between the Caribbean and Latin America. Samuel emphasised the region’s interest in a balanced partnership with Argentina that supports mutual trade and leverages Argentina’s agricultural and technological expertise to strengthen regional productivity and resilience.

Sustainable synergy – Siemens, a Germany-based technology and infrastructure company, has partnered with Airbus, the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturer, to decarbonise four major industrial sites in the US and UK. The initiative aims to cut energy consumption by 20% and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 85% by 2030, compared to 2015 levels. Supported by Capgemini, Siemens will use digital “Energy System Twins” to design decarbonisation roadmaps featuring renewable energy integration, low-carbon heat systems, and smart energy management. The programme is expected to abate 80 kt of CO2e annually from 2030, according to the companies.

A Zurich-based carbon removal (CDR) financier has secured an additional 120,000 credits from verified biochar-based facilities in West Africa.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has provided a $15-million guarantee to a forest project developer that won a public tender in Brazil, triggering a payout if government negligence hurts carbon revenues, in a first for the development financier.

The Trump administration’s mass termination of US DOE grants is causing carbon removal (CDR) VC investors to shift their attention to technologies and companies that don't rely as much on policy support, especially those that can create revenue streams beyond carbon credit sales.

A Canadian hydrogen developer is looking to get a stalled C$1.5 billion ($1.1 bln) biomethanol plant in Quebec up and running - aiming to capture 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year as it produces Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO)-compliant fuel.

Members of the coalition behind the Carbon Data Open Protocol (CDOP) expect the new open-source data standard to simplify carbon market reporting and cut costs across the value chain, with the biggest gains seen for project developers, speakers said at a Sylvera-hosted webinar on Wednesday.

The US is seeking to derail talks on adopting the shipping sector’s first global net zero framework at the UN’s shipping headquarters this week by proposing a procedural amendment that could delay the measure’s entry into force by years.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) issued a temporary moratorium Wednesday on new applications for Class VI CO2 injection wells, ordering state regulators to prioritise existing submissions before reviewing new ones.

Grid gaps - New York’s grid operator has identified reliability shortfalls across several regions over the next five years, according to its latest quarterly assessment, E&E news reported. The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) found violations beginning in New York City next year, followed by Long Island in 2027 and the Hudson Valley in 2030. The findings trigger a process to address the projected supply gaps as electricity demand continues to rise. A NYISO spokesperson said the results reflect the system’s ability to identify issues early but warned that growing demand remains a concern.

Skyscraper shift - Most New York City building owners are complying with Local Law 97, the city’s landmark emissions-cap regulation targeting large buildings, according to new data from the Department of Buildings, E&E News reported. About 94% of properties have either submitted required reports, requested extensions, or are working with officials to determine next steps. The city is easing compliance deadlines as part of efforts to help owners meet the law’s emissions limits, which apply to buildings over 25,000 sq. ft. and aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Buildings account for more than two-thirds of New York’s GHG output, and roughly 23,000 structures fall under the law’s requirements.

Green public procurement (GPP) rules have become a major lever for decarbonising the EU’s economy and advancing its climate goals, but inconsistent application across the 27 member states hinders its full potential, the European Commission said in an evaluation published on Wednesday.

Compliance demand for carbon credits is starting to have a real impact on retirement levels, analysts tracking developments across the VCM said Wednesday in a lookback over the last quarter.

A global sustainability advisory company has named a new director in a move to strengthen leadership and accelerate climate and nature strategy across the APAC region.

EU carbon prices made a late surge higher on Wednesday amid improving macroeconomic sentiment, after prices had shown a low-key response to weekly Commitment of Traders data showing investment funds had again increased their bullish positioning last week.

More meetings - The Article 6.4 Methodological Expert Panel (MEP) held its ninth meeting on Oct. 13-14 to progress technical rules for the new PACM. Key outcomes included the recommendation of a new Investment Analysis Tool, designed to clarify how projects demonstrate financial additionality - ensuring carbon credits only reward activities that are not otherwise financially viable. The tool will be updated annually to reflect market data on the cost of equity and could later include country- and sector-specific return expectations. The MEP also recommended four new methodologies and tools - covering landfill gas use, emissions from waste disposal and flaring, and greenhouse gas mass flow - in a bid to modernise CDM approaches for the Article 6.4 framework. Market stakeholders may now propose new methodologies and tools before Dec. 1, ahead of the next MEP meeting in Bonn. The meeting follows on from a key Supervisory Meeting of the PACM last week during which experts deferred judgment on key parts of a controversial new permanence standard.

Electrification is the way – Electrification could be the linchpin for slashing fossil fuel use and boosting energy efficiency, according to a new briefing from the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), published on Wednesday. For instance, electric vehicles are up to three times more efficient than petrol cars, while heat pumps deliver three to four times more heat per unit of energy than gas boilers. The ETC called for urgent government action to speed electrification and efficiency as “twin engines driving a competitive future”. With a greater electrification rate, global GDP could more than double by 2050 while reducing final energy demand by 24%, the briefing said.

Best of both worlds - A Cambridge University-led study has argued that locking CO2 in trees and soils can help stabilise the climate for centuries — but only if these solutions are also paired with permanent, underground storage. Nature-based approaches like afforestation, restoration, and biochar are cheaper and more accessible today but carry the risk of reversal (e.g. fires, land-use change), the researchers said. To manage that risk, carbon removal portfolios must include a buffer, such as extra stored CO2, and transition toward durable geological storage. The research provides a risk-management framework to design portfolios that combine short-term natural solutions with long-term, technology-based permanence. The findings, published in the journal Joule, show how nature-based and technology-based storage solutions must work together through the transition to net zero, challenging the notion that only permanent tech-based geological storage can effectively tackle climate change.

New CDR portfolio - New York-based climate consultancy Agendi has launched a CDR portfolio verified by UK registry Isometric, it announced on Tuesday. The portfolio offers credits from DAC, ERW, and biochar projects and includes removals from Sirona Technologies, InPlanet, and Carboneers. It is among the first publicly available groupings of Isometric-certified durable credits. The collaboration combines Agendi’s corporate advisory experience with Isometric’s scientific verification framework to simplify procurement of high-integrity carbon removals. Current pricing and delivery options apply until Nov. 1, the company said.

Around two-thirds of finance ministries in a major international coalition are advancing carbon market mechanisms and green finance tools such as bonds and blended instruments, according to new data released Wednesday.

Atmospheric levels of the three most potent types of greenhouse gases soared to record highs last year, fuelled by the combination of human activities and an upsurge in wildfires that destroyed carbon sinks, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Wednesday.

Brazil will work with a climate non-profit to integrate corporate emissions data into national climate platforms, in order to strengthen its Paris Agreement commitments, they announced on Wednesday.

A green steel developer has launched a new financing round to support the completion of a project in Sweden that is set to become the world's largest clean production facility.

With just two weeks until the country's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is expected to be published, Argentina’s government appears to be warming to the idea of participating in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, an expert told an industry conference this week.

A large European fossil fuel company resubmitted its application on Wednesday to develop the Rosebank field, triggering a 30-day public consultation that will determine the fate of the UK's largest undeveloped oil reserve.

Responsibility for Colombia’s long-delayed, intermittently operational carbon registry will likely pass next year from the environment ministry (MADS) back to a state research institute in hopes of launching it for good, a technical partner told a conference in Bogota on Tuesday.

Indonesia’s president last week issued a new regulation reopening international carbon trade after a four year pause, building on recent steps taken by the government to help provide wider access to local projects.

The cumulative impact of scrapped climate policies and weakened targets is harming New Zealand’s international reputation, slowing down local action, and leaves the country open to legal challenges, policy experts told Carbon Pulse.

A major UK telecoms company has signed a new long-term power purchase agreement, which it says will support its aim to reach net zero carbon across its operations, products, and supply chain by 2040. 

Malaysia may delay its Climate Change Bill and carbon tax to allow for more comprehensive consultations with business entities and associations, a minister told reporters Tuesday.

A group of forestry companies held a meeting ahead of the upcoming UN COP30 climate meeting summit to advance efforts towards a natural capital reporting framework for the industry.

South Korea's latest monthly CO2 permit auction was again oversubscribed, but allowance prices continued to hover around the level of KRW 10,000 ($7.03) in the absence of eagerly awaited policy updates.

Fresh capital - Japanese project developer Bywill has reached the final close of its Series B round, bringing the cumulative total raised to JPY 3 bln ($20 mln), it announced Wednesday. Its investors include the venture capital arm of MS&AD Insurance Group, Joyo Bank, and Shikoku Bank. Bywill said it will use the new funds to expand its business scope, including target areas and offset methodologies.      

Skip down to state level - The EU plans to strengthen climate and clean energy cooperation with US states, businesses, and think tanks rather than the Trump administration, which has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and expanded fossil fuel subsidies, the Financial Times reports. A draft European Commission paper, due to be published Thursday, is said to outline efforts to advance global clean energy diplomacy, including supporting carbon markets and funding major renewable projects in developing countries. The move comes amid US pressure on the EU to weaken green policies, such as its deforestation and corporate due diligence laws. Despite tensions, several US state delegations have engaged Brussels to sustain climate action at the subnational level.

The biggest challenge facing biochar project developers is finding buyers for the carbon-rich product, according to several removals registries. 

Bucharest plans to develop two carbon storage sites by 2030 with a combined annual capacity of 2-3 million tonnes of CO2 – well below the country’s 10.25 Mt target, which is “a little bit unrealistic”, an official has said.

Europe's largest home energy network - Prague-based energy tech company Delta Green says it is emerging a frontrunner in the race to unlock household energy flexibility, after it secured €2 mln in fresh funding to accelerate its expansion, it announced on Wednesday. The startup's platform connects homes to a virtual power battery, allowing households to shift consumption, discharge batteries, and export rooftop solar at time of peak demand. This helps to lower bills, support renewables, and reduce fossil fuel reliance, it said. The funding comes from Credo Ventures, Tilia Impact Ventures, and Purple Ventures.

Big renewables connections - The independent power producer Conrad Energy has chosen independent distribution network operator Aurora Utilities as its preferred network operator to connect a portfolio of 1.2 GW of solar and battery energy projects in the UK, Aurora announced on Wednesday. Aurora will adopt and operate the electrical infrastructure for the projects, which are expected to be delivered in the next three to five years.

Pay up - Singapore’s parliament this week passed a bill setting an SAF levy to help decarbonise its aviation sector. The levy, payable by aircraft operators, will fund a centralised SAF procurement system managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. Starting in 2026, the scheme targets a 1% SAF blend, rising to 3-5% by 2030. Economy passengers will pay roughly $2-12 per flight depending on distance, while transit and transfer passengers will be exempt to safeguard Changi Airport’s competitiveness. Additionally, the SAF procured will be required to meet ICAO’s CORSIA standards.

Price tag - India will need $217 bln in investment to reach its goal of installing 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, Bloomberg reported, citing a power ministry report. Domestic pressurised heavy water reactors are expected to account for about 46% of the total capacity, with large foreign reactors contributing 39%, according to the report. It added that additional funding would be required to build local equipment manufacturing plants.

Southeast Asian nations are moving to align their voluntary carbon market frameworks and develop regional pilot projects under the ASEAN Common Carbon Framework (ACCF), with new methodologies expected to be launched during COP30 in Belem next month, even as the industry groups work to attract credible buyers.

Extraordinary stuff - Green Earth Group will hold an extraordinary general meeting on Dec. 11, 2025 in Lelystad, the Netherlands at which shareholders will vote on proposals to strengthen the board and enhance corporate governance, including the appointment of new directors. These changes advance Green Earth’s shift from an entrepreneurial to an institutional governance model, emphasising transparency, accountability, and sustainable growth, according to a release Wednesday. The group has also expanded its finance team and reinforced compliance and internal controls in line with recommendations from its Public Interest Entity auditor, supporting disciplined growth and alignment with governance and reporting best practices.

Japan has committed as much as $5.2 billion to its policy model for emerging carbon capture technologies, which could turn neighbouring countries into "carbon dumps", a recent report found.

A large direct-air capture (DAC) developer expects to deliver over 5,000 tonnes of carbon removals to customers in 2025 and more than 40,000 tonnes in 2026, it told Carbon Pulse Wednesday.

Gold Standard has approved two new insurance policies for use by project developers seeking to supply carbon credits under the first phase of CORSIA.

Two research groups published a report detailing extensive environmental damage across Gaza which further endangers the Palestinian people, after the Israeli government and Hamas reached a tenuous ceasefire deal on Monday.

Ammonia money – Clean ammonia producer NH3 Clean Energy has raised A$4 mln ($2.6 mln) via a private placement of ordinary shares to institutional investors, it said in a stock exchange notice on Wednesday. The capital will primarily be used for the front-end engineering design for its Western Australia clean ammonia project, which began in August, ahead of a final investment decision. This follows a $0.7 mln capital raising in June.

Future changes flagged – Changes will be made over the next five years to the NZ ETS to the industrial allocation settings, the government said on Wednesday in its response to the Climate Change Commission’s (CCC) July emissions monitoring report. It agreed with the CCC that the current industrial allocation settings risk disincentivising investment in decarbonisation and it will explore changes in the second emissions reduction period, spanning 2026-30. It also acknowledged the CCC’s warnings that it takes action before 2030 in order to stay on a trajectory to net zero by 2050 – except for biogenic methane emissions, which account for around half of New Zealand’s emissions profile – but said that the timing of action needs to be carefully managed and that it is confident its current ‘adaptive management’ approach will provide flexibility to meet its emissions budgets. Earlier this week, the government lowered the biogenic methane target, to 14-24% below 2017 levels by 2050 and also released emissions projections showing it may exceed its third emissions budget (2031-35).

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) struck down a bill that aimed to create a $50 million grant for carbon removal (CDR) projects, noting a lack of funding in the state budget.

A regional development bank will next month publish a technical note to advise interested Amazon countries in establishing compliance carbon markets, and will offer implementation support to member states.