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Panel of nearly 100 countries to draw up guidelines for industries that mine raw materials used in low-carbon technology

A UN-led panel of nearly 100 countries is to draw up new guidelines to prevent some of the environmental damage and human rights abuses associated with mining for “critical minerals”.

Mining for some of the key raw materials used in low-carbon technology, such as solar panels and electric vehicles, has been associated with human rights abuses, child labour and violence, as well as grave environmental damage.

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The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published guidance aimed at helping financial firms comply with a forthcoming anti-greenwashing rule aimed at building trust in sustainable investments, including to help companies decarbonise. 

The production of green hydrogen during periods of high renewable energy supply could help save the UK hundreds of millions of pounds each year in curtailment costs, according to a report by an engineering company.

Carbon standard Social Carbon plans to release a methodology for 'nature stewardship credits' during the third quarter of this year at the latest, with the first pilots expected to launch in 2025, the company has told Carbon Pulse.

The French government will authorise the construction of its first carbon storage facilities, signing contracts with some of the largest emitters in the country as part of its efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050, Industry and Energy Minister Delegate Roland Lescure announced on Friday.

These cafes are determined to steer customer habits back away from single-use cups

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Almost everyone has a reusable cup (or three) in their kitchen cupboard, but the convenience of disposable cups often triumphs on the morning coffee run.

In Australia, an estimated 1.8bn single use coffee cups go to waste each year, and the number exceeds 500bn globally.

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The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) will drive up prices of aluminium, as it fails to address a loophole for process scrap that could lead to vast amounts of carbon emissions being imported into the bloc, a report by a consulting firm and a panel of industry and NGO experts warned this week.

A soil database for small farmers would help financial institutions scale up the nascent biodiversity credits market, an expert at French investor Mirova has said.

A German-based climate finance company and a startup focusing on MRV solutions for durable carbon removal have teamed up to advance biochar projects and verify their climate impact.

A plastic offsetting project backed by a food and drink multinational has been suspended on Verra’s plastic credit registry following complaints by the local community that the recycling facility was built illegally close to their land and without proper consultation, leading to withdrawal of involvement by the multinational.

Large voluntary carbon project developer and investor South Pole has secured fresh financing from its largest shareholders, setting the company up for the next phase of development following recent changes in senior leadership, it announced this week.

Japan has decided to officially introduce a market maker mechanism to boost liquidity in its exchange-traded domestic carbon market.

European carbon permit prices were headed for a second weekly loss in succession on Friday as prices retreated in concert with TTF natural gas, with sources reporting some profit-taking ahead of the weekend.

Some companies, including international ones, are already trying to hedge their CBAM certificate exposure by buying EUAs on the forward market, but this additional demand will not impact EUA prices, according to market observers.

Nature conservation actions implemented to date have led to gains in biodiversity or contributed to slowing its decline in two-thirds of cases, according to a study claiming to be the first of its kind.

Group banned plants ‘removed from habitat’ from its shows – causing uproar from enthusiasts

A furious row has blown up in the UK’s leading succulent society over the practice of taking desirable specimens from the wild, with the chair resigning in protest over the behaviour of his fellow enthusiasts.

Succulents have risen in popularity in recent years: they are attractive and hardy.

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Global warming and international trade offering increasingly hospitable environment

Some are small and jumpy; others are large and intimidating – if you’re a humble housefly. Exotic spiders are flourishing in Britain as international trade offers ample opportunities for spider travel and global heating provides an increasingly hospitable climate.

A jumping spider new to science has been identified living on the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus in Cornwall. The nearest known relative of the 3-4mm-long Anasaitis milesae is found in the Caribbean, making it highly likely that this tiny species – alongside 17 other non-native jumping spider species – found its way to Britain from distant climes.

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Fiftysix multinationals are responsible for more than half of the world's branded plastic pollution, with six companies producing a quarter of that, a study has unveiled.

China’s national carbon market saw allowance prices extend recent gains over the past week, climbing above the 100 yuan ($13.80) level and rising for the seventh straight session, amid continued optimism among participants.

The world’s long-term supply of LNG may well outstrip demand and markets may tip into oversupply in just two years, according to a report published this week, adding to concerns over the fossil fuel industry's ability to reduce carbon emissions in line with global targets.