RGGI compliance confirmation - Market administrator RGGI Inc. released on Tuesday its 2025 interim compliance report, which confirmed that every compliance entity under the US Northeast and Mid-Atlantic power sector cap-and-trade scheme complied with its annual interim obligations in line with the Mar. 2 deadline. The interim compliance deadline was the second for the programme's Sixth Control Period, which runs from 2024-26. Compliance entities were required to surrender allowances equating to 50% of their 2025 obligations. While obligated CO2 output under RGGI in 2025 was up about 5.3% YoY, according to updated CO2 Allowance Tracking System (COATS) data, compliance entities held enough allowances to meet compliance obligations at the end of Q4 2025, a report from market monitor Potomac Economics released last week showed. Regulated RGGI entities will face a true-up compliance deadline on Mar. 1, 2027 for the remainder of obligations in the Sixth Control Period.

For the first time, sales of new electric vehicles in 2025 surpassed sales of petrol cars in Europe, highlighting a structural shift in the car market despite pushback from Germany, which recently voiced opposition against an EU proposal to electrify corporate fleets.

Washington and carbon market partners California and Quebec released a draft agreement to link their emissions trading systems (ETSs) on Tuesday for public comment.

Federal transportation officials lost their bid to terminate New York’s congestion pricing programme on Tuesday after a US district court granted summary judgment to state transit agencies and ruled that the government’s attempted rescission was unlawful.

Remediated – The US EPA will consider fully or partially paring back eight Superfund sites across six states, releasing a draft notice of intent on Tuesday. E&E News reported that the Trump administration aims to expedite Superfund site remediation and repurpose some sites for data centres. The official proposal will be published on Wednesday, kicking off a 30-day comment period. EPA has consulted with its state counterparts in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, and New York, which, according to the notice, agreed with the federal assessment about the deletions.

A Calgary-based low-carbon materials developer is continuing its C-suite revamp, adding a new chief financial officer to its executive branch.

A US-based manufacturer of construction equipment announced a partnership focused on developing clean solutions utilising carbon capture and storage (CCS) to power data centres.

Colombia has for a decade been planning a cap-and-trade system (Spanish: PNCTE) and is months from publishing the final regulation – but the country must first consider its pre-existing CO2 pricing landscape, according to experts.

Providing a long-term, state-backed funding profile would help unlock carbon capture and storage (CCS) at scale in the UK, as would higher carbon prices, executives told a conference Tuesday.

New blood - Edwina Johnson, formerly of GTM. Investor, has joined CUR8 as as COO. Having worked for several venture capital firms in recent years, Johnson welcomed being back in early-stage building mode, she said on social media. Acario Innovation, the corporate venture arm of Tokyo Gas, the largest city gas provider in Japan and a diversified electric utility, announced this week a strategic investment into London-headquartered CUR8.

Human-free verification - Texas-based Waste Energy’s patent-pending carbon credit automation system would seek to remove human error from the reporting chain and create blockchain-backed carbon credits. The company said in an update that its system would use on-site video monitoring and sensor data to capture the conversion process in real time. That data is then run through a carbon credit algorithm when a match is confirmed, a credit is created automatically, minted as an NFT, and deposited directly into a digital wallet. It said the result is a verifiable, immutable record of exactly how and when the credit was generated amid credibility concerns. The company’s first project in the Texas Permian Basin would process 10,000 tonnes of waste tires annually, and could offset 12,800 t/CO2e per year at full capacity – though the company has yet to validate its process through a third-party validation and registry methodology.

Pathways promise untested - Prime Minister Mark Carney included the C$16.5 bln ($12.1 bln) Pathways CCS project in the Canada-Alberta pipeline deal with limited details on the project, including few engineering studies and cost-estimates based on limited information, according to a report by Desmog. The outlet obtained a briefing note by the Department of Finance ahead of a Sep. 2025 roundtable meeting in Edmonton.

Canadian carbon convening - Canadian CDR and carbon pricing advocates have met with government stakeholders in recent weeks. Melissa Hillier, associate director of policy for the Carbon Business Council, wrote in a post it convened its Canada Working Group in-person in Ottawa. She said companies representing a breadth of CDR pathways, buyers, and ecosystem partners met with decision-makers across government to share a unified vision for the sector’s emergence in Canada. Representatives from the think tank Canadian Climate Institute also posted to LinkedIn about meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney over climate policy, energy transition, and competitiveness.

A direct air capture (DAC) project developer has secured an offtake agreement aimed at scaling carbon removals (CDR) in Kenya, the company announced this week.

Canadian biochar cash - Carbon Lock Tech has received grant funding from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) to develop an assessment of Manitoba’s mining industry and the role that biochar can play in optimising operations, reducing costs, supporting soil remediation and/or enhancing tailings effluent management.

Racing to remove - The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team will imminently announce a new carbon removal deal for a total of more than 18,600 tonnes from seven projects, the Economist Sustainability Week heard in London on Tuesday. These projects include ones developed by biochar developer Carboneers and Brazil-based enhanced rock weathering (ERW) developer InPlanet, said Alice Ashpitel, the company's head of sustainability, on a panel about carbon credits. The purchase will contribute to the company's net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 goal, and the projects were chosen to reflect geographic diversity and innovative technology - to reflect the team's need to travel internationally for races and investment in its own R&D, said Ashpitel. Framing carbon removal as aligned with the company's core values was key to getting approval by the CFO, she said.

European carbon prices posted strong gains on Tuesday as buyers entered the market after the daily auction, with utilities thought to be buying carbon to cover increasing coal-fired generation amid a near-doubling of the cost of natural gas.

Hydrogen Act, please - Germany's main trade association for energy and water industries (BDEW) is calling for a national 'Hydrogen Act' that provides a full legislative framework for all aspects of a hydrogen economy. It should combine regulations, incentives, and subsidies, and target a similar impact to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) - currently under review - that enabled the roll-out of renewables, the group says. It adds that lessons should be learned from the EEG, especially with regard to the duration and amount of public funding. The BDEW argues that only with hydrogen will Germany succeed in decarbonising its energy-intensive industries and remain internationally competitive. "Hydrogen is the natural partner of renewables." Progress on hydrogen has stalled in many places. A Hydrogen Acceleration Act passed by the Bundestag last week was welcomed by the BDEW, although the group highlighted that it mainly benefited hydrogen production, less so other elements of the value chain. (BDEW press release and position paper)

European Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has ruled out suspending the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for fertilisers, saying the bloc will instead address potential price increases through a dedicated sectoral action plan.

Emission charges including CORSIA, the UN’s cap-and-trade market for international flights, has started to bite airlines after a major European airline group reported an almost 400% rise in costs year-on-year.

Experts charged with implementing the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) have a tricky year ahead as they aim to fast-track implementation of the new Article 6 market, while ensuring standards are kept high, observers have said.

A de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) benchmarks soaring, raising questions about whether a drawn out conflict could impact coal switching, carbon prices, and higher emissions across the region, analysts said Tuesday.

Deforestation tied to Indonesia’s industrial palm oil sector remained steady last year, even as new plantation expansion slowed, according to new data.

A Latin American biochar company has reached a significant milestone in credit issuance for the carbon removals (CDR) market, it said on Tuesday.

Cheap CO2 mineralisation – A new monitoring approach could cut costs and complexity for large‑scale underground CO2 storage, a study from the University of Edinburgh has shown. The study found that captured CO2 injected into volcanic rocks in Iceland was successfully locked away as solid minerals, as shown by its natural chemical “fingerprints”. The approach reduces the need to add artificial tracers and could make it simpler and cheaper to prove that CO2 is stored safely and permanently underground. This mineralisation method locks away CO2 permanently, so its carbon removal credits are expected to command higher prices than many nature-based projects, which may only store carbon for 100 years or less.

A swathe of NGOs and charities are urging the UK Prime Minister not to cut international climate finance (ICF) after plans were leaked that the government intends to slash aid to poor countries stricken by the climate crisis by more than a fifth.

Notified - India’s power market regulator has notified regulations to operationalise the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023, taking a step towards market implementation. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, in a notification dated Feb. 27, 2026, said Carbon Credit Certificates will be traded through power exchanges, with the Grid Controller of India designated as registry and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency as administrator. The Indian emissions trading system is estimated to become the third largest in the world after China and the EU, but complexity in design and a dearth of accredited verifiers may hamper early implementation.

Ferries account for 15 to over 100 times more air pollution than all cars in major European port cities such as Barcelona, Dublin, and Naples, according to a new study, which views the sector as ripe for electrification.

Locked in - Isometric has introduced locked protocol requirements across all carbon removal pathways, it announced Tuesday. This means that the project requirements in place at the start of registration are the same used for credit issuance throughout the project's crediting period, and means suppliers can plan with certainty, the registry said. Protocols won’t be updated more frequently than once every six months, and will continue to evolve based on scientific advances, tech developments, and real-world rollouts. New projects must use the most recent certified protocol version available, and when Isometric releases updated protocol versions, existing projects can voluntarily adopt them. Read more.

Campaigners have rejected industry claims opposing the inclusion of waste incineration in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), arguing that increased recycling would reduce the burning of fossil-based plastics, and help cut emissions.

Recent revisions to South Korea's renewable energy regulations should help unlock the potential of solar projects in the country, a non-profit said Tuesday.

SMR collaboration - Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) have signed an MoU on the development of small modular reactors (SMRs), according to South Korea's trade and industry ministry. Based on the MoU, the two parties will work on feasibility studies and share information and best industry practices. KHNP aims for the commercialisation of its SMR solutions by the mid-2030s. The move also comes after the Singaporean government last year allocated around $4.5 bln to address growing energy demand and transition challenges.

Fairness first - The UK's Environmental Audit Committee has called for clearer policy direction on net zero, which should improve affordability, health outcomes, and local environments to ensure public backing. On Tuesday, the cross-party Committee published its assessment of the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC’s) advice on building the Seventh Carbon Budget, covering 2038-42. Published last summer, the advice stated that the UK risks delivering less than two-thirds of the emissions reductions legally required by 2030, largely due to high electricity costs discouraging electrification. To increase fairness within the country's net zero goal, the Committee has urged the govt ro remove certain policy costs from electricity bills to redress the imbalance between power and gas prices, and also requested an assessment of groups most at risk of unfairly negative impacts of the energy transition. It also called for ministers to lay out how the budget will prevent offshoring of emissions and support domestic decarbonisation. The govt is required to finalise and set the Seventh Carbon Budget in law by end-June. (edie.net)

India’s struggle to build a pipeline of forest carbon projects has less to do with international methodologies and more to do with who owns the land, according to developers of the only community-based REDD+ project in the South Asian country.

A global consultancy has launched to provide integrated advisory services remotely across carbon market policy, science, and communications, its founders announced on Wednesday.

Can do better - South Korea's Hyundai Motor, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, should address board oversight gaps in its climate governance framework, non-profit Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) said in a new report. According to the report, climate risk has not been consistently addressed as a standalone strategic agenda item for the carmaker, and the Board currently lacks independent directors with dedicated climate expertise. Also, Hyundai Motor's key affiliate and primary steel supplier has set a 2050 carbon neutrality target. That might create potential misalignment in transition investment and low-carbon procurement strategies, SFOC warned.

Have your say – The Australian government is seeking public feedback on the third national guidebook that covers the regulatory guidance for the operation of hydrogen pipelines in the country. The guidebook will provide industry participants with relevant knowledge, including an overview of hydrogen pipelines, hazards and associated mitigations. The consultation will be open until mid-April, according to a notice published by the climate change department.

Building block – Independent testing has confirmed that ASX-listed Hazer Group’s graphite meets Australian infrastructure specifications and international standards, for use as an additive in concrete and asphalt, the clean tech developer announced on Tuesday. This removes a key barrier for these sectors to adopt Hazer’s product, the Perth-based company added. The graphite is a by-product of Hazer’s hydrogen process. Last year, Hazer signed an MoU with mover of metallurgical coal M Resources to use its novel methane-pyrolysis process to try and turn the Whyalla steel operation into a commercially viable, low-emissions hub. This followed other deals with South Korea’s POSCO, French utility Veolia, and First Graphene in Perth.

Clean vehicle rulemaking - Washington's Department of Ecology (ECY) released on Monday updated draft rule language for its Clean Vehicle Program, which increases zero emission vehicle sales of passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles to 100% starting in 2035, as well as requiring cleaner burning engines in medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The ECY said the narrower scope of rulemaking in the update is intended to ensure the programme remains consistent with federal and state law. Specifically, the agency said it has put on hold updates intended to align with California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Omnibus standards, while also leaving out a proposed Utility Service Vehicle (USV) exemption after an ECY legal review found it could not be included in the rulemaking under the federal Clean Air Act. The ECY said the narrowed scope allows it to stay on its current timeline and focus on fleet reporting requirements and necessary emergency amendments while awaiting more certainty regarding national and California standards. The informal comment period for the rulemaking is open until Mar. 30.

RGGI Carbon Allowances (RGAs) muddled in the mid-$23s last week, dipping lower on the week as traders noted a lack of clear drivers ahead of next week's Q1 auction.

A US-based fund focused on nature-based solutions (NbS) has issued a request for proposals, with funding of up to $1.3 million available in 2026.

Removal on the map – RMI and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability have launched an interactive online tracker to monitor global progress in carbon removal (CDR) and direct air capture (DAC), covering 10 technology approaches and assessing their commercial status. The tracker builds on RMI's Applied Innovation Roadmap for CDR, published in 2023, which examined 32 CDR approaches and their path to deployment. A second phase, expected in summer 2026, will expand coverage to 13 additional CDR types and include a review of global academic activity in each approach. The project was funded by Cornell Atkinson.

A-rating – Colombia-based developer Biofix's 2-mln ha Ilha do Bananal+ project in Brazil has secured an ‘A’ rating from MSCI under its Carbon Project Ratings framework, it announced Monday on LinkedIn. Certified under Cercarbono, the project is located in the Amazon-Cerrado transition zone in the state of Tocantins. It includes both REDD+ and non-REDD+ activities in forest and wetland ecosystems. The project has already received 3.8 mln credits from Cercarbono. The rating signals alignment with institutional expectations on additionality, permanence risk mitigation, buffer design, and governance, executives from Biofix and MSCI said in a separate press release.

A California carbon management developer announced that its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project successfully captured CO2 from a gas processing plant during a call with financial analysts on Monday.

A Swiss-based insurer aims to replace buffer pools with regulated in-kind and in-cash cover, but says the Verra pilot will test the mechanism's efficiency and long-term sustainability.