Click on the coloured labels below to filter by region or topic
- Sun 22:49Guyana has sharply revised its national forest reference levels following a UN technical assessment that prompted extensive methodological corrections, reducing the country’s headline figures by more than half and significantly altering the treatment of both emissions and removals across multiple REDD+ activities.
- Sun 20:27EV subsidies – The UK government is expected to announce a £1.3 bln boost to the UK’s Electric Car Grant scheme in next week’s Budget, up from an initial £650 mln, the BBC reported. A further £200 mln is also expected for expanding public chargepoints, aimed at improving access for households without off-street parking. The grant provides up to £3,750 per vehicle, though early research suggested it has yet to draw in new EV buyers or expand EVs’ share of new registrations. Ministers are also considering long-term road-tax options as fuel-duty revenue declines, including a potential per-mile charge.
- Sun 18:14China pressed the EU in a tense pre-dawn standoff at COP30 on Saturday, offering to support tougher language on ambition and adaptation in the final outcome text in exchange for Brussels agreeing to kill its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), according to sources.
- Sun 00:01Red tape bureaucracy should be cut in the UK to speed up nuclear power expansion, according to an independent taskforce commissioned by the government.
- Sat 22:58Countries and civil society welcomed the Brazilian presidency's pledge to establish two roadmaps on transitioning away from fossil fuels and ending deforestation, even as several have described it only as a consolation prize after a reference to the two issues failed to make it into the main COP30 decisions.
- Brazil's international coalition could be uniquely positioned to facilitate mutual recognition of credits and knowledge exchange between countries amid a global explosion of carbon pricing systems - if certain steps are taken, experts said during COP30 in Belem.
- Sat 20:40As the world lags behind 2030 restoration targets, nine governments announced a new coalition which will coordinate planting 1 billion native trees on World Environment Day.
- Sat 18:12Negotiators at COP30 in Belem on Saturday accepted a final decision concerning the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), distilling the list of indicators, nixing any new funding commitments, and reiterating the GGA’s non-prescriptive nature.
- Sat 18:11Boiling - India's average temperature rose by 0.9C in the last decade, PTI reported, citing a study. The South Asian country, which is among the most vulnerable to effects of climate change, also saw the temperature of its hottest day in the year rise by 1.5-2C, according to the paper which synthesised observational data and climate models. It added that glacier melt accelerated, Gangetic plains saw higher heat stress, and rainfall decreased in monsoon months.
- Sat 18:08Brazil is heading into a record expansion of offshore oil output as COP30 enters its final stretch with a draft outcome text that contains no mention of a fossil fuel phase-out or roadmap, a new analysis shows.
- Sat 17:53As the Brazilian presidency on Saturday gavelled through a Mutirao text and several negotiated decisions, officials and civil society offered mixed reactions – generally supporting COP30 policy advances and the spirit of multilateralism, while alternately welcoming or decrying efforts to secure climate finance.
- Sat 17:50Countries failed to strengthen international efforts to drive an energy transition after two fraught weeks of COP30 negotiations, beyond doubling down on an existing 2023 pledge, agreeing to speed up decarbonisation targets, and reaffirming last year's goal to boost climate finance.
- Sat 14:47As Canada’s environment minister championed carbon markets and climate finance through the halls of the UN climate summit, Prime Minister Mark Carney committed to producing more liquefied natural gas (LNG) back home.
- Sat 14:28Standard approved – Ratings agency Calyx Global has added the BioCarbon Standard to its list of screened carbon crediting programmes, confirming it meets the platform’s minimum quality threshold, it announced via LinkedIn on Friday. The assessment followed a three-step process developed by Calyx’s GHG integrity panel, covering 31 criteria across governance, transparency, stakeholder engagement, auditing, and operational procedures. Of the 19 programmes evaluated to date, 15 have passed screening.
- Sat 14:27
A sticky status quo - PJM Interconnection members voted 67-31 against a proposal that would have incentivised data centres to provide their own power instead of relying on the utility grid, a move that could have lowered energy costs for 67 million customers across Maryland, Virginia, DC, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and other states, FOX 5 reported. The vote means the status quo continues as data centre development drives up electricity bills for nearby residents. PJM's independent board can still act on the issue and will announce its decision within weeks.
- Sat 14:27
Boring material saves planet - The American Petroleum Institute (API) released Bulletin 5100 endorsing ordinary Portland cement as an effective barrier material for carbon capture, utilisation and storage wells, Inspenet reported. The technical document compiles laboratory data and field experience demonstrating OPC's chemical and mechanical stability under conditions typical of EPA-regulated Class VI wells, which require materials that can withstand prolonged CO2 exposure without degrading. Portland cement has been the standard in well construction for decades. The bulletin provides engineers, operators and regulators with guidance as demand grows for Class VI permits.
- Day 12 at COP30 in Belem. The final day, as most expect, with Brazil frantically organising huddles throughout the night to push forward on the Belem Package deal. Meanwhile, possible 'quorum', whereby not enough parties are present to seal a deal, was also looming over negotiations, leaving the presidency to scramble to achieve consensus with time fast running out.
- Sat 08:51Forest surface fuel biochar offers a cost-effective wildfire mitigation alternative that can deliver substantial carbon sequestration, soil-health improvements, and pollution-control benefits, according to new research.
- Sat 03:41Both emitters and investors cut V25 California Carbon Allowance (CCA) net length in the futures and options market and added significant holdings in V26 CCAs through the Sep.24 - Oct.7 period, US Commodity Trading Futures Commission (CFTC) data published this week showed, the first since the agency's resume of full operations.
- Sat 02:32Australia and Turkiye have drafted a partnership arrangement that would see them share various roles of the presidency at COP31 next year in Antalya.
- Sat 00:32Draft text for an international plan to forge a just transition towards a low-carbon future includes words to "develop" a transition mechanism, much to the delight of civil society, however observers are concerned that the language remains weak and lacks a reference to shifting away from fossil fuels.
- Sat 00:03Ethiopia is finalising its first memorandum of understanding (MoU) under Article 6.2 with Singapore, while also beginning discussions with a group of priority buyer countries and finishing its national carbon market regulation, a senior official told Carbon Pulse.
- A recent analysis by the energy research and intelligence firm Rystad Energy finds that, contrary to popular belief, oil and gas majors’ low carbon spending does not correlate to lower shareholder return.
- Governments attending high-level G20 meetings this week placed renewed attention on clean cooking and energy access as central issues, reflecting ongoing efforts to close a major infrastructure and public health gap across Africa.
- Fri 21:28Qatar has strengthened its Paris Agreement pledge with a new climate plan that abandons a relative, business-as-usual (BAU) emissions target in favour of quantifiable, project-based cuts totalling 42 million tonnes of CO2e by 2040, while expanding the scope of measures across its gas-heavy economy.
- Fri 21:14Inflation over the next 10 years could erode a huge share of the $300 billion that rich countries have pledged to mobilise for developing countries each year by 2035, Carbon Pulse analysis of projected inflation rates indicates.Â
- Fri 20:54Switzerland and Zambia signed a bilateral cooperation agreement under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement this week at COP30 in Belem.
- Fri 20:52A winning XPRIZE team is using its award funding to launch a new financial vehicle aimed at shifting conservation leadership into the hands of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).
- Fri 20:34African countries face a strategic choice between exporting low-cost carbon credits to foreign buyers or prioritising domestic climate targets through sovereign carbon markets, according to an analysis by a think tank.
- Fri 20:24The European Commission has adopted the first piece of secondary legislation under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) regulation, marking the initial step toward putting the EU’s new voluntary framework for certifying carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products into operation.
- Fri 19:42Freebies for rate payers - The Washington Department of Ecology published an update on adjustments to the no-cost allowance allocation for electric utilities under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), specifically for the 2024 calendar year. With the exception of administrative costs, the state won't initiate large-scale retroactive adjustments or demand the return of vintage 2023 or 2024 allowances from utilities.
- Fri 19:41
Garbage without the stink - California regulator ARB has strengthened its Landfill Methane Regulation to curb emissions from the state's second-largest source of methane. Approved updates enable quicker detection and repair of leaks at 188 landfills, improved MRV, and increased public data transparency. The new rules mandate advanced technologies, including satellite imaging, and require faster action for recurring issues. CARB Chair Lauren Sanchez said this will help California to press ahead on its climate measures regardless of federal action.
- Fri 19:40Proving Colorado concepts - Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade has announced proof-of-concept and early-stage capital and retention grants for 17 state-based companies and eight researchers. Researchers are receiving around $300,000 for a zero-carbon hydrogen turbine concept and a CO2 capture and conversion concept. Aquarry, which converts closed open-pit mines into carbon sinks, will also receive $152,000. The CDR company is targeting 2027 for a pilot in Newfoundland.
- Fri 19:39Canadian clean tech boost - Non-profit clean tech investor NorthX has announced C$2 mln ($1.42 mln) in funding to accelerate tech in British Columbia. The funding includes C$1.5 mln for Mangrove Lithium, which aims to enable low-carbon, scalable lithium refining at battery-quality to decarbonise critical supply chains in the clean economy, and C$500,000 in seed investment for five ventures from BC universities and post-secondary institutions. Carbonyx, CURA, Green Manganese, Narval Energy, and Phyco. Each company will receive C$100,000 to accelerate their early-stage development.
- Fri 19:38RGGI meeting set - The RGGI Board of Directors has scheduled its next and final meeting of the year for Monday, Dec. 15. A meeting agenda has not yet been posted. However, a notice sent Friday said the primary agenda items will be to approve the 2026 budget, hold executive committee elections, and provide an update on RGGI milestones. During the final meeting of 2024, RGGI's board unanimously elected Elizabeth Mahony to serve as the board chair.
- Fri 19:37Energy overhaul - Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) ordered state agencies on Wednesday to streamline permitting, boost efficiency measures, and advance electrification as part of a new executive order aimed at accelerating clean energy deployment and lowering costs, E&E News reported. The directives, which implement the state’s recently released energy strategy, are intended to move Oregon toward its 2040 net zero electricity target while operating under what Kotek described as a federal administration hostile to climate policy.
- Fri 19:36Lone lawmaker - Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the only federal elected official to attend COP30 in Belem, said global negotiators signalled they would continue climate action without the US, citing China’s prominent role at the summit and President Donald Trump’s opposition to international agreements, E&E news reported. Whitehouse, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s ranking Democrat, said his message to delegates was that the president does not speak for the country on climate, noting that planned US House and Senate trips were cancelled due to the recent government shutdown.
- Fri 19:36UK electricity exempted from EU CBAM? – The EU is considering reducing the costs of its upcoming carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) for UK electricity producers, following industry concerns that the levy could threaten the viability of power interconnectors and drive up emissions, the FT reports. Brussels is reportedly working with London to factor in the UK ETS as part of a broader review due on Dec. 10. That would include allowing importers of electricity from the UK to apply default values that take into account the carbon price paid by British electricity operators, as well as the amount of renewable energy they produce, according to sources cited by the paper.
- Fri 19:35Green roadmap – Green Impact Exchange (GIX) has unveiled a 2026 product roadmap that includes a planned SAFE Trust, a digital market-access gateway, a US Green Economy Index, and a GIX Alpha voluntary listing tier, all pending SEC approval. The exchange said the tools will sit alongside its planned mid-2026 launch and are intended to improve capital formation and oversight across sustainability markets, including fragmented environmental and carbon credit segments that currently lack unified regulatory infrastructure. CEO Daniel Labovitz said allocating an estimated $30 trillion in climate-aligned investment requires exchanges that prioritise access to capital over trading speed.
- Fri 19:31Recycling gains – A multi-country lifecycle analysis finds that recycled concrete aggregates can reduce global warming impacts by up to 97% compared with natural aggregate production in regions with mature construction-waste recycling systems. The study, covering Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Mainland China, and Spain, shows that these benefits drop sharply in less-developed markets where long transport distances or inefficient processing offset advantages, underscoring that the sustainability value of construction and demolition waste recycling remains highly context-dependent and that establishing uniform global guidelines is challenging due to regional disparities
- Fri 19:30National governments from across the globe have launched Friday at COP30 a coalition led by Switzerland, meant to push forward voluntary mitigation efforts under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
- Fri 19:30Landfill gas - Verra on Friday launched a new landfill-gas methodology, VMR0016, to replace CDM approaches ACM0001 and AMS-III.G from Dec. 2026. The update introduces new Verra tools, a positive list for automatic additionality, and transition guidance for existing projects. Developers will be required to register or renew under the old CDM methods by end of Nov. 2026, after which all renewals must use VMR0016. The methodology, aligned with ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles, will be submitted for formal assessment, the standard said.
- Fri 19:28
Clean fuels debate - New Mexico's Environmental Improvement Board concluded a multi-week hearing on the state's proposed Clean Transportation Fuel Program, with a decision expected in early Jan. 2026, Santa Fe New Mexican reported. The hearing, which began Sep. 22 and ran through Nov. 21, covered rules to incentivise lower-carbon transportation fuels. The programme, mandated by 2024 legislation, aims to reduce transportation fuel carbon intensity by 20% by 2030 and 30% by 2040. The board will now deliberate on the proposal.
- Fri 19:26
Fuel rules updated - Washington's updated Clean Fuel Standard regulations have taken effect, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation fuels with focus on hard-to-decarbonise sectors like aviation and heavy-duty trucking. Major changes include a third-party verification programme and amended crediting procedures for electricity and renewable natural gas. The rules were first adopted on Oct. 23.
- Fri 19:23
Volcano-powered Netflix - Mazama Energy is building America's hottest geothermal plant on Oregon's Newberry Volcano, to tap "superhot rock" for electricity generation, Washington Post reports. The project aims to become the first commercial superhot rock facility, with power sales starting next year. Superhot geothermal could theoretically generate 150 times more electricity than global consumption and boost geothermal's share from under 1% to 8% of world electricity by 2050, according to the IEA.
- Fri 18:54The Federal Council approved a new law to advance carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) on Friday, despite scepticism about deploying the technology at gas-fired power plants.
- Fri 18:28COP30: FEATURE – Tropical forest fund can complement carbon markets but may jeopardise additionalityThe Brazilian-led tropical forest fund should support carbon markets by reducing regulatory risk to attract private capital, and providing more funds to forest preservation, observers have said, though there is also risk that carbon project additionality gets undermined.
- Fri 17:30European carbon allowances recorded their first weekly decline in a month after prices dropped back to test a major support level amid a wave of macro-related selling across the entire energy complex, while forecasts for milder weather and speculation around a new peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine conflict added to the weight on prices.
- Fri 17:11A major transmission project bringing Canadian hydropower into New England received its final regulatory approval this week, paving the way for operations that could cut emissions in the region by up to 15%.
- Fri 16:56Some 24 countries have signed the Belem Declaration to Transition Away from Fossil Fuels on Friday, spearheaded by Colombia and the Netherlands, with a date set for the first international conference on the subject to be held next year.
- Fri 16:54Europe has ramped up its efforts to support clean energy in Africa, announcing more than €15.1 billion in combined pledges from the EU and its 27 member states as part of a year-long campaign led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
- Fri 16:18Prices in China's national emissions market remained well above the RMB 60 ($8.44) level over the past week amid growing compliance demand, while the country's undersupplied voluntary market saw the release of three methodologies as the government seeks to expand offset pipelines.
- Parties in Belem agreed not to significantly change existing decisions made on Article 6 and to channel nearly $30 million to the new Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) from the Kyoto Protocol-era Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as part of decisions made at COP30 on Friday.
- Fri 14:34Dutch aviation emissions are projected to exceed the sector’s 2030 target, according to research published Friday.
- Fri 14:33European fuel producers and automotive industry groups have urged EU policymakers to recognise renewable fuels in the bloc’s forthcoming revision of CO2 emission standards for passenger cars, due next month.
- Fri 14:27Bio-based building materials – Russia’s carbon unit registry administrator, Kontur, has opened a public consultation on a draft methodology for crediting the climate benefits of bio-based building materials. Stakeholders have one month, until Dec. 22, to submit comments, which will be published once included in Kontur’s database, the registry operator said. Interested stakeholders may submit comments on the methodology via an online form.
- Zefiro quarterly earnings – Canadian methane abatement firm Zefiro reported record quarterly revenue of $12.1 mln for the fiscal quarter that ended on Sept. 30, 2025 (Q1 2026), a 21% increase from the previous year. The company also achieved a record EBITDA of $2.6 mln and reduced operating expenses by approximately $1.3 mln. Zefiro's ongoing projects, including a federally funded initiative in Ohio to plug 37 orphan wells and its first carbon credit sale in Aug. 2025 to Mercuria, contributed to its continued growth, the firm said on its website. The company reported a net income of $665,401 for the quarter, compared to a net loss of $1.67 mln in Q1 2025. Zefiro is focused on reducing debt and enhancing its financial flexibility as it enters Q2 2026.
- Fri 14:11Millions of UK households will see a small increase in energy bills this winter to cover policy changes and operating costs linked to the energy transition, including funding for a new nuclear power station, the UK energy regulator said on Friday.
- Fri 13:57The European Commission launched formal infringement proceedings on Friday against Estonia, Italy, and Hungary for failing to stop financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone fossil fuel boilers, in a move aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of Europe’s building sector.
- Day 11 in Belem, and the last scheduled day of negotiations. Less than 12 hours after COP30 talks were suspended, and the venue evacuated, after a fire erupted in the pavilion area, the Brazilian presidency dropped its Belem Package of texts.
- Fri 13:48Tech for supply security - The UK government has published its response to its annual open letter that invited views on new generating technologies that could contribute to security of supply by way of the capacity market auctions. The responses identified new innovations in hydrogen to power (H2P) through thermal plasma electrolysis (TPE) as more efficient than other methods, whilst demand side response (DSR) or consumer-led flexibility also featured in several responses. A new technology class of flexible compute capacity (FCC) was proposed, which is a form of DSR whose response uses existing cryptocurrency mining infrastructure, turning that off at times of system stress. The potential for offshore hybrid assets - including multi-purpose interconnectors and non-standard interconnectors combined with offshore wind - was also flagged by participants, who asked for greater clarity on how they could participate in the capacity market. The govt said it will continue to evaluate these emerging technologies with the National Electricity System Operator (NESO), and explore how best to address concerns around technical feasibility and appropriate regulatory changes. The next annual letter will be published in Autumn 2026.
- Fri 12:36Climate pledges are increasingly placing emphasis on biodiversity, but they will remain ineffective unless they incorporate spatial data, an expert has told Carbon Pulse.
- Fri 12:05The call to kickstart a roadmap away from fossil fuels has dropped out of the latest COP30 negotiating text, quickly triggering pushback from over two dozen developed and developing countries who said they wouldn't accept it.
- Fri 11:10At COP30 in Belem, negotiators have again been asked to shape the planet’s future using climate science that does not reflect latest high-quality research. The problem is not the evidence itself. It is the way we organise it for global climate diplomacy.
- Fri 09:12Southeast Asia risks slowing its clean energy transition despite rising investor interest and growing corporate demand, experts have warned, even as governments across the region continue to set higher renewable energy targets.
- Fri 09:06The European Commission on Thursday published new rules detailing the competence and independence requirements for verifiers under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), setting standards for how CBAM auditors and their teams are accredited to check emissions reports for imported goods.
- Fri 08:09One of Australia’s states on Friday unveiled its Renewable Fuels strategy, backed with A$170 million ($109.6 mln) to scale supply.
- Fri 04:04The New Zealand government has yet to formally reply to the Climate Change Commission (CCC) about advice on the 2050 targets, due by Friday, despite slipping its decision into a release last month.
- Fri 00:33Only 10% of industrial decarbonisation investment announced in the US has actually been spent, according to a report by an independent energy and climate research company. Â
- Fri 00:11Capping car-bon costs – Changes to New Zealand’s Clean Vehicle Standard passed their third reading in parliament on Thursday, cutting the carbon cost imposed on imported vehicles. As of Jan. 1, 2026, the top rate for new car imports will be NZ$15 ($8.38) per gram of CO2 for the next two years, down 78% from NZ$67.50, while the levy on used cars has been slashed a similar amount, to NZ$7.50/g from NZ$33.75. Transport Minister Chris Bishop claimed that this will save consumers from an estimated NZ$264 mln of pass-through costs, however, official advice said that would be offset by an extra NZ$115 mln of fuel costs, Newsroom reported this week. The outlet also noted that the government in 2024 slowed the rate of decline, while demand for EVs also collapsed following the scrapping of the Clean Car Discount at the end of 2023.
