The California regulator overlooking carbon offsets reported an issuance of 611,400 units over the last two weeks without direct environmental benefits (DEBs) to the state, a slump in issuances following the year-to-date (YtD) records set at the beginning of the month.

Verra has released its provisional allocated deforestation risk map for Colombia, allowing project developers to assess the feasibility of registering forest protection projects under its new REDD+ methodology and Avoided Unplanned Deforestation (AUD) module, the standard operator announced on Wednesday.

Still shutdown –  The Trump administration has urged a federal court to temporarily halt a lawsuit from environmental groups over a DOE report sceptical of climate science and its economic impacts, E&E News reported. On Monday, the Department of Justice said that the government shutdown prevents its attorneys from working, following a request from plaintiff Environmental Defense Fund to set a schedule for the case. The controversial report is expected to advance the EPA’s repeal of the endangerment finding, which requires that the agency regulates GHGs.

Acquired – Technology company Diligent has taken an equity position in Persefoni and transitioned its carbon accounting clients to the latter’s platform, the companies announced Wednesday. The partnership will allow Diligent's clients to benefit from Persefoni’s carbon footprint management solutions, including Scope 3 supply chain efforts.

The UK needs to shift its focus to securing cheaper power by 2030, rather than nearly 100% clean power, which includes suspending some carbon taxes on gas, and rolling back support for carbon capture and storage (CCS), the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) for Global Change said on Thursday.

Off the blocks – An Australian company has submitted the first application for an offshore oil and gas exploration licence in New Zealand since the ban was repealed in July, Newsroom reported on Tuesday. Adelaide-based EnZed Energy has applied for a permit covering 546 square kilometres off the south coast of Taranaki and, if granted, would be the country’s third-largest drilling area, Newsroom said. Notably, it includes the area of the former Kaheru permit, which was abandoned in 2017 as the grant holders said drilling at the site was uneconomic. The application was accepted Oct. 16, launching a three-month window for other parties to express interest in any of the area covered. Data released in June showed a faster-than-expected drop in New Zealand's known gas reserves, partly due to some of the volume being reclassified as contingent, ie harder to access than previously thought.

An aggregated smallholder improved forest management (IFM) project is being developed to higher additionality standards to ensure credibility, while making data requirements more accessible for landowners, panellists said on a webinar Wednesday.

Indigenous at COP30 – Brazil’s deputies discussed Indigenous participation in COP30 during a meeting of its Commission on Environment and Sustainable Development on Tuesday. Indigenous Peoples Minister Sonia Guajajara outlined initiatives led by her ministry to strengthen participation at the summit, which includes the Circle of Peoples, aimed at amplifying the voices and contributions of Indigenous peoples, traditional communities and Afro-descendants in dialogue with the COP30 Presidency. Through the COParent Cycle initiative, the Ministry for Indigenous Peoples (MIP) has held 15 meetings across Brazil and selected 360 Indigenous representatives to join the Brazilian delegation in the Blue Zone of the climate conference. The Kuntari Katu Programme, an inter-ministerial effort, trains young Indigenous leaders in global governance, preparing them to take part in COP30 debates. The MIP is also organising the COP30 Village at a school inside the Federal University of Para (UFPA), expected to host about 3,000 Indigenous leaders from Brazil and abroad. COP30 will take place from Nov. 10-21 in Belem, Para.

A US-based carbon project developer is closing in on supplying the first credits sourced by applying compost to degraded rangelands at scale – a type of carbon farming – under Verra’s Improved Agricultural Land Management (ALM) protocol.

Money for science – The Brazilian government will invest R$60 mln ($11.1 mln) in selected universities and technological centres to produce advanced scientific and technological knowledge on low-carbon hydrogen. The resources will come from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT). The Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation (Embrapii) opened a public call on Wednesday for institutions to join the Embrapii Competence Centre for Low-Carbon Hydrogen. The first stage of the process will accept submissions until Nov. 24, and will allow for the structuring of start-ups and partnerships with foreign institutions. The Competence Centre will focus on five main research areas: low-emission hydrogen production from sustainable sources, storage, transportation, safety, and industrial applications – including the steelmaking, cement production, fertiliser, transport, and power generation sectors.

Vape escape - British American Tobacco (BAT) has asked a California federal court to dismiss false-advertising claims in a class-action suit over “carbon-neutral” Vuse vape products, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction. In its 22-page motion filed on Monday, BAT said it is a London-based investment holding company with no US operations, employees or sales and does not design, manufacture, or market any products. The filing contends plaintiffs improperly seek to impute the actions of indirect subsidiaries – R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., and Reynolds American Inc. – to BAT despite each maintaining separate boards and corporate formalities. A hearing is set for Feb. 3, 2026.

Power pressure - US energy regulators and grid executives warned that surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centres is straining the nation’s power system and heightening blackout risks, E&E News reported. Speaking at a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conference, North American Electric Reliability Corp. CEO Jim Robb said small-scale outages and near misses signal a “five-alarm fire” for grid reliability. Experts cited steep power requirements from AI operations – which use about 10 times more electricity per query than traditional searches – as a key driver behind a projected 25% increase in US demand by 2030, a pace that would require doubling current generation growth.

The Brazilian Forestry Service (SFB) published Wednesday procedural guidelines and revenue sharing requirements for carbon projects operating on public forest concessions.

Verra continues to push reforms aimed at boosting integrity, efficiency, and transparency in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) in updates presented during its final 2025 stakeholder webinar Wednesday.

Andale! – California business groups are asking voters to adopt new rules that expedite environmental reviews for housing and infrastructure, according to the Los Angeles Times. The California Chamber of Commerce introduced a ballot initiative that would overhaul the state’s environmental review laws with new deadlines. For instance, the proposal would impose a 365-day limit on reviews for projects deemed essential, such as affordable housing, clean energy projects, and wildfire resilience projects. The initiative could reach voters in the Nov. 2026 election.

The US risks falling behind in industrial decarbonisation unless stronger public policy coordination and investment help scale emerging clean technologies, speakers agreed at a Wednesday online webinar hosted by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI).

A biochar company with carbon removal (CDR) projects in Southeast Asia has named a new CEO as it seeks to scale its efforts, according to a Wednesday announcement.

The European Parliament on Wednesday overturned a committee decision to skip a full Parliament vote on simplified corporate climate and environment reporting rules, a move that could lead to further delays and changes to a file already mired in political turmoil.

Brazil expects more countries will announce contributions to the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) at its launch on Nov. 6, a government advisor said on Wednesday.

European carbon prices fell sharply on Wednesday afternoon as bulls appeared to run out of upside conviction after prices had tested a key psychological level for several days without being able to make a break higher and energy markets fell sharply, and after weekly Commitment of Traders data showed investment funds increased their net long exposure to the most since May 2021.

African governments need to prepare for the rise of border carbon fees by thinking about introducing their own carbon pricing schemes, according to an African Union Development Agency official.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is set to become cheaper, cementing its position as the world's most cost-competitive power generation source through 2025, according to a new report.

Slowly and steadily - Following the postponement to the adoption of the International Maritime Organisation's Net-Zero Framework, the government of Greece has taken a cautious stance on the proposed carbon tax. Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, Vasilis Kikilias, said that shipping needs global, fair rules accepted by all member states, and not punitive mechanisms that will endanger the stability of global trade. He said the country will play a key role in negotiating the final IMO framework, and called for improvements such as more realistic timetables, fair treatment of transitional fuels, and smarter use of reward mechanisms. He called out the lack of availability of net-zero fuels and the importance of LNG as a transition fuel, adding that Greek shipowners remain wary of regulatory measures that could disrupt business models. (Shipping Telegraph)

Paris-aligned fund - Fidelity International has launched an equity fund that invests in global equities and aims to deliver income and capital growth, while restricting portfolio carbon exposure in line with the Paris Agreement’s objectives. The fund also aligns with the Solactive ISS ESG Screened Paris Aligned Developed Markets USD Index NTR and is classified as an Article 9 fund under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The fund is called the Fidelity Global Equity Research Enhanced PAB Ucits ETF, and is listed on Germany’s Deutsche bourse Xetra.

Investment in marine carbon removal (CDR) projects is down by 80% this year, analysis from a market data analytics firm has found.

An alliance of European industrial companies has called for the EU to keep allocating free carbon allowances under its Emissions Trading System (ETS) beyond the current 2034 phaseout date, in a joint letter to the Commission published this week. 

Nigeria hopes to unveil a final, long-awaited, carbon market policy at next month’s COP30 summit, after delaying the process in response to feedback from its consultation, including on its benefit-sharing plan, a government official said on Wednesday. 

Getting carbon removal (CDR) deals over the dotted line is a "case of who can battle through" the current market risk and secure strong offtakes to ultimately achieve project bankability, said a developer at a London conference, who recently signed a large deal with a tech company.

A Brussels-based think tank has said that international carbon credits tied to the early retirement of coal-fired power plants could provide a fresh route to climate cooperation for the EU if designed carefully.

The EU's financial markets regulator said it "has not identified any significant issue in the integrity or transparency" of the EU ETS in its second annual report on the functioning of the bloc's carbon market, but repeated its call for better identification of market participants.

South Africa’s forestry department will soon release its draft framework for advancing carbon markets and plan for using carbon credit revenue, in a bid to raise finance from nature-based projects while ensuring market integrity, the minister said in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

One of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds has told companies in its portfolio that setting a net zero 2050 target is a matter of urgency.

US exporters should not expect the Trump administration to save them from incurring costs through the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), viewers of a webinar by a Toronto-based markets consultancy firm heard Tuesday.

Almost 90% of reports of major methane emissions leaks receive no response from companies or nations despite a 1,200% increase in action taken to mitigate these events over the last year, data from the UN Environment Programme shows. 

Verra’s plan to fix over-crediting at Zimbabwe’s Kariba REDD+ project exposes deep structural flaws in the world’s largest voluntary carbon registry and raises broader questions over the credibility of its offset guarantees, according to a new commentary by a non-profit research group.

China's years-long reforms for its power industry have seen some initial progress, but it remains crucial to define the government’s role in the increasingly market-driven sector, a recent study has said.

Analysts have said the European Commission’s proposed reforms to the EU’s Emissions Trading System for road transport and heating fuels (ETS2) will significantly reshape the carbon market’s early trajectory, easing price pressures and boosting supply flexibility.

Some 85 countries out of 100 analysed have begun developing authorisation or tracking systems to participate in carbon trading, while 13 have both systems fully in place, according to a new report measuring Article 6 implementation.

Thinking ahead - Developing countries are drawing up and implementing their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), marking a shift from planning to action, according to a new report by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. As of Sep. 30, some 144 countries have initiated the NAP process, and 67 developing countries — including 23 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and 14 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — have formally submitted their plans to the UNFCCC. These act as roadmaps for building climate resilience and integration adaptation into national development. MRV systems are also being established to track progress. Through the Green Climate Fund (GCF), 121 developing countries have received support for NAP formulation and implementation, and as of September, some $6.9 bln had been approved for adaptation and cross-cutting projects aligned with NAP priorities.

Saving Europe’s car and steel industries – Europe’s steel and automotive industries issued a joint statement Wednesday urging EU leaders to ensure a “realistic and pragmatic pathway” for industrial transformation while keeping investments in Europe. Ahead of an EU summit on Thursday, trade associations ACEA and Eurofer emphasised that steel and autos are deeply interconnected, and form the backbone of Europe’s economy, together supporting over 15 million jobs. “You cannot build a competitive European car without competitive European steel”, ACEA’s Ola Kallenius said. The two groups called on EU leaders to “set the right framework for a fair and feasible industrial transformation” that safeguards jobs, competitiveness, and delivers on Europe’s climate goals at the same time.

Norway's green cement – Cement producer Heidelberg Materials has begun delivering what it calls the world's first near-zero carbon captured cement to customers across Europe, the company said in a statement released on Oct. 17. The cement is being produced at the firm's Brevik plant in Norway, which is fitted with CCS technology and began operating in June 2025. The site is designed to capture 400,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, equivalent to around 50% of the plant's total emissions. One of the first shipments will be to support the construction of Oslo's new Skoyen Station.

Data driven - Carbon-negative electricity provider Spiritus has signed a strategic partnership with Prometheus Hyperscale and Casper Carbon Capture to develop a carbon-negative digital infrastructure campus in Wyoming. The company, whose platform pairs natural gas generation with carbon capture, has stated the project will require initial investment of at least $500 mln and deliver up to 1.5 GW of IT-ready capacity - making it one of the largest AI-centred infrastructure developments in the region. The development is projected to create hundreds of construction jobs and dozens of long-term technical positions once operating.        

Countries should provide clearer demand signals, standardise project rules, and strengthen domestic frameworks to attract private investment into carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, according to a report released on Oct. 17.

Saving German industry – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged support for the nation’s energy-intensive sectors – including chemicals, mining, and energy – in their shift toward climate neutrality. Speaking at a conference from the Industrial Union of Mining, Chemistry and Energy (IGBCE), Merz emphasised Germany must “remain an industrial nation”. He called for more time and less cost burden for these industries as they adapt, citing the need to refine the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) before its 2026 rollout. Merz also reiterated calls to continue free emissions allowances on the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) until CBAM is fully operational, to avoid jeopardising industry investments in green technologies. (Clean Energy Wire)

Green metro - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a tender for consulting services to support the decarbonisation of the Baku Metropolitan as part of its “Decarbonising Baku Metro for a Smart and Sustainable Urban Transit Future” project. The 12-month assignment, budgeted at $400,000, aims to help Baku Metro integrate clean-energy solutions such as solar power and battery storage, enhance energy efficiency, digitalise operations, as well as reduce CO2 emissions, electricity losses, and dependency on subsidies. The bid deadline is set for Oct. 25, with work expected to begin on Dec. 1.

Curbing methanol emissions - Global methanol production, responsible for around 10% of the chemical industry’s CO2 output, is under growing scrutiny as demand doubles and emissions rise sharply. Data from Appleyard Lees shows that patent filings for sustainable methanol technologies have surged 250% since 2018, reflecting accelerating efforts to cut the sector’s carbon footprint through CO2 reuse, green hydrogen integration, and more efficient reactors and catalysts.

The launch of Indonesia’s carbon exchange in 2023 helped improve corporate transparency and emissions efficiency among its listed companies, a new study has found.

The global steel sector continues to exhibit significant variations in energy and CO2 intensity among countries, with China and India identified as the most carbon‑intensive producers, according to a new report.

Western Australia’s large industrial facilities would decarbonise faster if limits were placed on offsets use under the Safeguard Mechanism, according to a report published Wednesday.

Grease to green -  Indonesia’s bioenergy programme has helped the country cut up to 28 MtCO2e this year, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said in a press release. The B40 initiative, which blends 40% palm oil biodiesel with conventional diesel, delivered 10.57 mln kilolitres of fuel through September. The programme also saved millions in foreign exchange, he added. Under a revised energy policy, the Southeast Asian country aims to raise the share of renewables in its energy mix to between 19-23% by 2030. A recent report, however, claimed that biofuels emit 16% more CO2 than the fossil fuels they replace once the effects of deforestation, soil degradation, and land-use change are accounted for.

The European Union on Wednesday adopted its official negotiating stance for the upcoming COP30 international climate summit in Brazil, calling for urgent global action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and keep the 1.5C goal within reach while falling short of submitting its own contribution.

The New Zealand government unveiled its long-awaited wood energy strategy on Wednesday, flagging that the resource could displace around 40% of fossil fuel-derived process heat by 2050 – reducing demand for units in the NZ ETS.

Every indicator assessed during a stocktake of sector-specific climate action is off track for 2030 targets, but rising private finance payments offer a glimmer of hope, according to a report released Wednesday.

Battery buzz – The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded A$25 mln ($16.2 mln) to Melbourne-based Relectrify to fast track the rollout of its world-first battery energy storage system (BESS), it announced. Relectrify's AC1 BESS does not require an inverter, unlike traditional systems, ARENA said, and instead uses a unique management system that controls each battery cell to directly produce AC power, reducing degradation and delivering 20% more energy over its lifetime. The company previously received early-stage funding from ARENA and is now backed by venture capital, with the cash to go toward deploying up to 100 MWh of AC1 demonstration systems.

Adaptation advances – Countries are making real progress with their national adaptation plans, but climate finance is still needed, said UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell in a speech Tuesday at the launch of the National Adaptation Plans Progress Report. The report found that 58 of the 67 developing countries which had submitted a NAP had received $6.9 bln of finance from the Green Climate Fund as of Sep. 30 for adaptation measures. Governments must respond to the report at COP30, Stiell said, including on how to close the finance gap as the world works towards the goal to mobilise $1.3 trillion in climate finance.

Pacific push – The government of Solomon Islands has committed $1 mln to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), the first Pacific-led, owned, designed fund to tackle climate change impacts. The contribution brings the current pledges to $167 mln, the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat said in a press release last week. The PRF is seeking to raise $500 mln in pledges by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, the Republic of the Marshall Islands has become the third PIF member to ratify the treaty establishing the PRF, following Nauru and Tonga.

An NGO and a multilateral development bank have launched new guidance to help countries mobilise finance for subnational climate action, they announced Tuesday.

Funds for Fiji – The Climate Investment Fund’s (CIF) board has approved Fiji’s Nature, People, and Climate (NPC) investment plan, valued at $27 mln, it said in a press release on Monday. Aiming to boost biodiversity and climate resilience, the CIF funding will help with the conservation of 30% of land and marine areas, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. A separate $4 mln grant will go to Fiji’s Indigenous Peoples and local communities, for activities that reflect traditional practices, said the CIF.