Indonesia has signed two new agreements to advance its voluntary carbon market and deepen climate cooperation with the UK, while simultaneously stepping up efforts to attract international buyers for the more than 90 million credits it plans to showcase during COP30.

Solar seeking – The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) on Monday announced it would invest up to A$45 mln ($29.2 mln) in miner Fortescue’s Solar Innovation Hub in Pilbara, Western Australia, in a bid to levelise the cost of utility-scale solar power. The money will support the Hub, which is serving as a testing ground for 500 MW of emerging technology, the agency said in a press release, trialling a portfolio of 10 different projects under one agreement in a bid to cut costs.

Switzerland announced Sunday at COP30 a donation of R$33 million ($6.2 mln) to Brazil's Amazon Fund, doubling the country's financial support to the initiative.

The Symbiosis Coalition has added two new members and has formally selected its first project, which deals with the reforestation of degraded pasturelands in the Brazilian Amazon.

A large European bank has been mandated by the governments of Honduras and Suriname to exclusively arrange a potential sale of the two nations' sovereign carbon credits.

EPP seeks three-year ETS2 delay – European Parliament lawmakers are pushing to postpone the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme for buildings and transport fuels (ETS2) by at least three years, Bloomberg reports. Members of the European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in Parliament, want to delay ETS2 until 2030, citing concerns about consumer costs. The programme is currently scheduled to start in 2027, but EU countries decided earlier this week to delay the scheme by one year, citing social and economic concerns. Andrzej Halicki, vice-chair of the EPP group, is pushing the additional delay, saying: “consumers cannot bear the costs of the transformation". The parliament will hold a plenary vote on the 2040 climate target on Nov. 13. (Bloomberg)

EU-India CBAM talks – The Indian government called for greater predictability in the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) during trade talks that wrapped up on Friday. EU negotiators travelled to New Delhi for talks over Nov. 3-7, aimed at progressing the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement. During negotiations, India’s commerce secretary, Rajesh Agrawal, raised industry concerns over CBAM and called for more clarity over its implementation, KNN reported. Remaining rules for the EU's CBAM’s implementation will be put forward in early December, the European Commission has said. (KNN)

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has for the first time authorised carbon capture and storage (CCS) and engineered removal methodologies for use under its CORSIA international aviation offsetting scheme, with a number of voluntary carbon standards also receiving eligibility approval for the current and next trading periods.

The four main political groups in the European Parliament have joined forces behind a set of compromise amendments on the EU’s proposed 2040 climate target, paving the way for its smooth adoption during a plenary vote next week.

COP concerns – Survival International has reiterated its concerns over nature-based solutions and Article 6 ahead of the start of COP30 negotiations in Belem this week. The London-based charity said carbon offsetting threatens the human rights Indigenous People, particularly uncontacted groups who cannot give Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) for projects to proceed on their lands. The charity called for Indigenous rights to be given greater prominence in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to be clarified under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement at COP30.

Big conservation calls – Conservation International has called for a shift in the way nature and climate are financed ahead of the start of COP30 negotiations next week. The global non-profit urged those working on standards for trading carbon credits under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement to make sure nature-based climate solutions remain eligible for crediting and trading. Conservation International also shared its support for the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) conservation mechanism which has received ​​contributions totalling over $5 bln, with Norway and Indonesia confirming commitments in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday. Under the TFFF, Indigenous People must receive equitable payments for their conservation work, the organisation said.

Data centre dreams – ExxonMobil has ambitions to capture carbon from natural gas power plants supplying data centres, Data Centre Dynamics reported Friday. The fossil fuel giant has already engaged with data centre operators to advance these plans, according to comments from CEO Darren Woods during ExxonMobil’s Q3 earnings call. The company is aiming to capture up to 90% of CO2 emissions from its gas power plants serving the data centre sector, Woods said. This would not be the company’s first foray into CCS, as ExxonMobil received three permits in October to inject CO2 into old oil test wells in Texas.

A Canada-based offset seller has expanded its nature-based operations to create a blue carbon project in Guinea.

The EU, China, the UK, and eight other countries in Europe, Latin America, and Africa have endorsed Brazil's proposal for a coalition to collaborate on global compliance carbon markets and pricing mechanisms.

A new fund seeking to unlock large-scale commercial investment in deforestation and sustainable agriculture officially kicked off on Saturday, targeting raising $1 billion by 2028 and $2 bln by 2030.

Brazil’s nature-based investment sector is expanding faster than expected, with total capital allocations projected to more than triple and surpass $10 billion by 2027, according to new market analysis.

At the Leaders’ Summit in Belem ahead of next week’s COP30, global leaders announced agreements on protecting forests and advancing the global energy transition, while outlining their goals and expectations for the upcoming conference.

Market intelligence provider MSCI is preparing to officially launch a credit rating system for Paris Agreement Article 6 transactions, as momentum builds to bring greater consistency to a global carbon market that remains voluntary and “uncapped” by design, an executive told Carbon Pulse.

Plug the dates – Climate Action Reserve (CAR) is aiming to finalise its proposed protocol for oil and gas well plugging in the US by Mar. 2026, the standard operator said in a press release on Friday setting out the timeline for its development. It will hold a webinar on Nov. 25, at 1000 PST/1300 EST, to outline the protocol concept and key considerations for its development. CAR is also seeking expressions of interest from parties wanting to join its workgroup for the protocol, and is accepting applications until Nov. 28.

Don’t stop us now – A coalition of 334 non-state actors have signed the Japan Climate Action Summit 2025 Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to decarbonisation aligned with a 1.5C temperature goal. In a press release from the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) on Friday, the group called for the acceleration of renewable energy development and energy efficiency improvements. Endorsers include electrical company Ricoh, Sony Group, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Tokyo Steel Manufacturing.

Money for energy transition – Brazil will create a fund to finance the country’s energy transition using resources from fossil fuel exploration, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Friday. During the Leaders’ Summit that precedes COP30 in Belem, Lula did not mention the state-owned oil company Petrobras’s interest in exploring oil and gas in the Amazon region, Folha de S. Paulo reported.

Biofuels are most likely to play durable roles in a narrow set of transport uses, but deployment is being held back by high costs, infrastructure gaps, and uncertain policy signals, panelists said during a Friday webinar. 

Senior financiers and development experts are calling for a radical rethink of how global capital is mobilised for climate action, urging reforms that make finance simpler, faster, and more locally driven while integrating adaptation, resilience, and natural capital into mainstream investment strategies.

The Ontario government will look to gut climate change legislation and require the province to set and update emissions reductions targets, according to a Thursday report. 

G20 pledges for carbon removals (CDR) are "limited and lacking credibility," with only a handful of member nations providing transparent and credible plans to scale up the technology, a report has found.

West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey, who is leading a fight against New York’s climate superfund law, said Friday that the case will determine the future of all superfund laws cropping up in other states.

Australian carbon project developer GreenCollar has launched a A$100 million ($64.9 mln) fund to develop environmental plantings projects, media reported.

Solar slowdown – A new campaign by the Solar Energy Industries Association warns that political opposition to solar and energy storage projects could jeopardise half of all planned US power generation through 2030. According to the group, more than 500 projects totalling 116 GW of capacity are stalled or at risk due to federal permitting delays, regulatory uncertainty, and shifting energy standards. The campaign claimed 18 states could lose over half their planned capacity, threatening supply for 16 mln homes and driving up electricity costs as demand from artificial intelligence, data centres, and manufacturing grows. It argued that solar and storage account for 71% of new planned capacity and are the fastest, most affordable ways to expand the grid, warning that continued inaction could raise prices and weaken US competitiveness with China.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released updated guidelines to help cities generate reliable and comparable information on GHG emissions.

A group of representatives from investment institutions identified carbon pricing as the most effective incentive to channel capital into climate solutions at an event this week.

An US developer has signed a long-term agreement to supply a major APAC industrial client with approximately 1 million tonnes of low-carbon methanol per year from its facility located at a Pacific port.

The US EPA announced on Friday its decision to grant full or partial exemptions to petitions from eight small refineries regarding their compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) between 2021-24.

A pledge to quadruple the use of sustainable fuels by 2035, co-sponsored by Brazil, Italy, Japan, and India, has been endorsed by 15 more countries, it was announced Friday during the pre-COP Leaders’ Summit.

Germany lightly pushes TFFF – After high expectations that Germany would announce an investment in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) on Friday, the Brazilian-led initiative to reward countries for conserving their forests, Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for the fund but did not disclose any figures. The country still needs to make final internal decisions, but it will contribute a considerable amount of money, Merz said during a conference in Belem at the Leaders’ Summit for COP30.

Pipeline pushback – Residents, local officials, and environmental advocates voiced strong opposition this week to Air Products’ plan to store up to 138 mln tCO2 beneath Lake Maurepas as part of its $4.5 bln blue hydrogen and ammonia project in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. At a packed US Army Corps of Engineers hearing in LaPlace, speakers cited fears over potential pipeline leaks, wetland destruction, and long-term ecological damage, while lawmakers from both parties urged the agency to conduct a full environmental impact statement. Air Products maintained the project would safely capture 95% of its emissions, create 2,000 construction jobs, and generate $1.3 bln in local tax revenue. The proposal, already delayed until at least 2028, faces new uncertainty after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) imposed a statewide moratorium on new carbon-storage permits amid growing backlash.

A recently-created carbon accounting initiative has drawn strong praise from major industrial and financial players, with executives calling it a “critical step” to unlock credible markets for low-carbon products and investments.

The German government is expected to revisit its national ETS to avoid EU carbon market prices being applied to its heating and transport emissions in 2027, to fill the gap left by a one-year ETS2 delay to 2028 agreed by EU member states this week.

Natural CO2 uptake by ocean biology cannot deliver credible carbon credits, a group of scientists said in a commentary published this week.

The Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) has partnered with agencies from Northern European countries looking to unlock $800 million in guarantees for programmes focused on supporting sustainable development in the Amazon and Central America regions, they announced on Friday.

The Bundestag has passed a new law to advance carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) in Germany, though scepticism about deploying the technology at gas-fired power plants is likely to force further negotiations.

The founder of a US-based methane well-plugging company has called for leadership changes, alleging that poor governance, mismanagement, and conflicts of interest by current executives and board members have eroded shareholder value.

Paraguay has reaffirmed its climate action commitments and embedded new provisions for international carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, as part of a revised national strategy that broadens sectoral coverage and extends its implementation horizon to 2035.

EU carbon allowances extended their losing streak to three days on Friday but held on to post a 1.2% week-on-week gain, as prices gave technical support levels a thorough test in the morning before breaking lower amid falling gas, power and equity markets on both sides of the Atlantic.

Experts have predicted that EU demand for Article 6 credits could reach as high as 709 million by 2040, in light of a recent EU Council agreement to allow the bloc to meet up to 5% of its new flagship target with international carbon units.

Taxing private jets - Plans to tax commercial flights and private jets were outlined Friday by Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, ahead of COP30 in Brazil starting on Monday. Countries are working together on the initiative to ensure those who pollute more, pay their fair share, said Sachez. A declaration is expected at COP30 to increase levies on the priciest forms of air travel, with a portion of proceeds directed to climate-vulnerable countries. (Bloomberg)

The durable carbon removal market saw quarterly contracted volumes reach their second-highest ever level, with only Q2 2025 ahead, after the Q3 volume surpassed the total annual figure for 2024, according to analysts.

Companies across the food, timber, rubber, and agricultural sectors this week called on the EU to proceed with the deforestation regulation’s current timeline while allowing a limited grace period to ensure smooth implementation.

Ahead of COP30, a multi-stakeholder group has issued several policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in global climate action.

€358 mln for EU’s green transition – The European Commission on Friday announced more than €358 mln in funding for 132 new green projects across Europe. The grants, covering over half of the projects' total investment needs, will support nature and biodiversity restoration, circular economy initiatives, climate resilience, and clean energy projects. Highlights include habitat restoration in Sweden, river projects in Poland, and support for renewable energy training in France. The investments aim to have a “lasting impact” on the environment, economy, and well-being of Europeans as the bloc moves toward climate neutrality by 2050, the Commission said.

Greek CCS – Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy has launched a public consultation on a draft law aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for carbon capture, transport, and storage (CCS). The bill seeks to align national legislation with EU commitments to reduce emissions, enhance environmental protection, and support sustainable investments. It includes provisions for a clear licensing framework, defining the responsibilities of involved authorities, regulating access to CCS infrastructure, and ensuring the sustainability of related investments through potential state aid. The consultation will run until Nov. 19, 2025. (ERT News)

Twenty-one European airlines have committed to revise their environmental marketing practices following talks with the European Commission and national consumer protection authorities, the EU executive announced on Thursday.

The one-year postponement of the EU’s new Emissions Trading System for road transport and heating fuels (ETS2), agreed by member states this week in exchange for their backing of the EU’s 2040 climate target, rests on shaky legal grounds and could face court challenges, experts told Carbon Pulse.

More than 5,300 fossil fuel lobbyists have attended UN Climate Summits over the last four years, a non-profit said on Friday, calling on the UN climate body to establish better accountability rules to root out industry interference.

Fiji has reaffirmed its commitment to hit net zero by 2050, revised its energy sector targets, and signalled interest in voluntary carbon markets in its latest contribution to the Paris Agreement.

The latest draft of the Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) Corporate Net-Zero Standard (Version 2) takes a step forward on climate finance transparency, and makes an effort to clearly recognise companies that buy quality carbon credits, but will fail to help drive near-term investment towards removals, according to market stakeholders.

The renewable race - Deloitte’s 2026 Renewable Energy Industry Outlook, released Oct. 29, projects that renewable deployment could surge next year despite recent political headwinds. The consultancy says that industry executives may focus on near-term deployment in order to capture tax credits under the safe-harbour rule before it phases out. In August, the US Treasury and IRS released new guidance for renewable tax credits. The guidance eliminated the “safe harbour” provision, which allows projects to claim tax credits so long as they pay down at least 5% of project costs by the tax credit deadline. According to Deloitte, only 35% of the project pipeline is under construction, meaning projects are expected to accelerate through 2026 despite supply chain pressures.

Over in their backyard - Texas-based energy company PowerTransitions is looking to develop a large-scale battery energy storage system in the RGGI state of Vermont, local media Vermont Public reported last week. Vermont Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson has requested a meeting with the company to get more details on its proposal. The company has reportedly been in discussion with local officials and has an agreement in place with the owner of the property in question, NorthStar Group Services.

Baby it’s cold outside - PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for 13 states including the RGGI state of New Jersey, said that it and its members have sufficient resources to serve the 67 mln people in its service area this winter under expected conditions. It is expecting record peak electricity demand of approximately 145,700 MW, outpacing the addition of generating resources. (ROI-NJ)

Grants greenlit - A federal judge has ordered the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to restart payments for climate-focused grants that were halted during the government shutdown, E&E News reported. US District Judge Mary McElroy ruled that the agency must comply with a previous court order requiring the disbursement of funds under the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, siding with non-profits that accused HUD of stalling. McElroy said that legally authorised activities, including enforcing court orders, can continue during a lapse in government funding.

Decoupling drive - Over the past three decades, the US has managed to reduce its GHG emissions even as its economy more than doubled and its population grew by nearly 30%, according to a new analysis by Georgia Institute of Technology professor Valerie Thomas. While the country remains one of the world’s highest per capita emitters, total emissions have dropped about 15% in the past decade, driven largely by cleaner electricity generation. Power-sector emissions have fallen nearly 30% since 1995 as utilities replaced coal with more efficient natural gas and expanded renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydro, which have tripled over the same period. Falling costs for renewables and batteries, along with energy efficiency gains, have further curbed emissions. Transportation emissions have remained steady as vehicle fuel efficiency improved, though electric vehicle adoption in the US continues to lag behind other major markets. Thomas noted that new challenges are emerging from rising electricity demand linked to electrification and the rapid growth of data centers, which could complicate future emissions reductions. (The Conversation)

Gulf gains - PlanetWest, a Los Angeles-based environmental technology company, announced the launch of its Mobile Intelligent Direct Air Capture (MIDAC) system, designed to address severe air pollution and rising temperatures in the megacities of the Gulf States. The system, which can integrate with vehicle radiator systems, captures particulate matter such as black carbon – a pollutant with a warming effect up to 1,500 times stronger than CO2 by mass – and stores it for disposal or recycling. PlanetWest said the technology offers faster climate and health benefits by targeting concentrated pollution in urban hotspots rather than diffuse GHGs. The company plans for local manufacturing of MIDAC units in the Gulf region to support economic development alongside environmental improvement.

Add to your calendar - The Colorado State Land Board scheduled its next regular public meeting for Nov. 13, where it will consider proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Management for Manufacturing (GEMM) rules, among other topics. However, the agenda is subject to change.

European shipping emissions increased by 13% last year despite a fall in trade, a non-profit said on Friday.

The Bahamas has pledged to cut emissions 30% by 2035, but said meeting its climate ambitions will be dependent on the availability of financing and support from richer, higher emitting countries in its latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Chinese carbon allowance prices saw a modest recovery over the past week amid emerging compliance demand, though analysts said the room for further improvement could be limited in the coming weeks.

Most corporates are turning a blind eye to the threat of climate change, failing to implement robust measures to support the Paris Agreement goal, although more and more of them are using carbon credits, according to a new report.

Brazil could achieve a net increase in forest cover of 8 million hectares by 2035 without interfering with land needed for food production, according to a paper.

Major EU utility RWE has reported a 17% rise in ETS-covered gas-fired generation over the first nine months of the year, compared to the 2024 period, while its lignite output slipped 3%.

The European Commission on Thursday launched a call for evidence ahead of its forthcoming strategy on small modular reactors (SMRs), viewed as a potentially key technology to help decarbonise Europe’s energy mix alongside renewables.

Aviation emissions covered by the EU ETS last year rose over 30% compared to 2013 levels, data from an independent agency showed.

The ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label is fast emerging as a credibility benchmark in the carbon removal market, drawing a clear line between high- and low-quality credits, according to the head of a US-based firm that became the first to secure the quality stamp for its issuances under a subsurface biomass storage protocol.

Regulators in China should carefully consider the country's overall emissions reduction targets and market stabilisation measures when drafting policies for the next phase of the national emissions market, analysts told a webinar this week.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) on Friday appointed three carbon rating service providers to help assess the integrity of units issued under its International Carbon Credit (ICC) framework.

Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) prices have steadied this week, as October traded volumes were down month on month, according to a survey.

A Chinese company has shared plans to invest in a project in Laos that aims to distribute improved cookstoves to around 170,000 households between 2026-27, generating millions of carbon credits.

Trading on Indonesia’s carbon exchange fell again in October as negotiated deals dried up and activity remained thin across other segments, showcasing the market’s struggle amid limited demand.

Australia has comparative advantages to scale novel carbon removal (CDR) technologies, but coordinated efforts to rapidly deploy them will be needed if they are going to meaningfully contribute to the country’s climate efforts, the country's peak industry science body said in a roadmap presented on Friday.

He's a free man - CarbonPlan’s co-founder Jeremy Freeman has stepped down as executive director after nearly six years, announcing he will remain involved as president and chair of the board while pursuing a new opportunity in another field. In a letter to supporters, Freeman reflected on the think tank’s evolution since its founding, praising the cross-disciplinary team of scientists, policy experts, ecologists, designers, and developers for their growing influence in carbon removal, offsets, and climate-impact research. He said the leadership transition had been planned for some time, with Deputy Director Tracy Aquino Anderson now assuming the role of interim executive director. Freeman added that he would continue to support the team during the transition, including through fundraising, reviewing research drafts, and contributing to project design. CarbonPlan’s board will soon begin a search for a permanent executive director. Freeman expressed confidence in the team’s ability to continue its mission and said he looked forward to helping guide the organisation in his ongoing role as board chair.

Relying on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon removal (CDR) to offset fossil fuel use could undermine global climate goals, a new study warned Friday, urging governments and companies to aim for “real zero” instead.

California Carbon Allowances (CCAs) fell over 5% week-on-week (WoW) as futures volumes jumped and options activity surged, with call options on both vintages more than doubling.

Federal investments in carbon capture projects risk locking in fossil fuel dependence and shifting financial burdens from polluters to taxpayers, a government minister said in a report to Parliament on Thursday.