Carbon Pulse

Prices on both coasts increased moderately this week and trading activity picked up in the as participants returned to their desks after the NACW industry conference.

The Hawaii state senate on Tuesday approved two bills that would create a voluntary carbon offset programme and make permanent a task force designed to bolster carbon sequestration efforts in line with the state’s climate goals.

California regulator ARB this week released Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits for electric forklift charging in 2017, while monthly data showed that prices sank as volume picked up in both the California and Oregon clean fuels standards in March.

Governments at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) agreed to a provisional deal on Thursday for an initial strategy to address international shipping emissions, including a 50% long-term emission cut target, with the resolution due to be signed-off officially on Friday.

EU carbon prices fell back on Thursday after a weak auction result triggered bearish sentiment already fuelled by analyst projections of a near-term correction.

A Chinese environmental NGO is suing the country's State Grid Corp., claiming 310 million yuan ($49 mln) in damages for the company’s failure to comply with a 2006 law obligating it to purchase all the renewable energy generated within its area of operation.

New Zealand’s government on Thursday moved to burnish its environmental credentials by announcing a ban on all new offshore oil and gas exploration permits in a bid to reduce carbon emissions.

European carbon prices are expected to retreat somewhat by mid-year as the market corrects following the massive 60% rally posted in Q1, according to a poll of analysts.

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California regulator ARB did not hand out any California Carbon Offsets (CCOs) on Wednesday, the first issuance round since June 2015 where no new offsets were distributed.

Finland’s government has opted to ban coal in energy production from 2029, a move that the power sector branded "cosmetic" for reducing a tiny amount of residual emissions for €100 per tonne of CO2.

Several US senators expressed their concerns that a new bill to support the development of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies could undermine environmental regulations during a committee hearing on Tuesday.

EUAs hit a one-week high on Wednesday as a stronger auction prolonged bullish momentum while traders played down prospects of a near-term correction.

Australia’s Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg wants the final rules of the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) agreed by August and legislated by the end of the year, he said Wednesday, showing little interest in compromising on issues that critics have identified as shortcomings of the scheme.

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With all eyes on the political uncertainty stemming from Ontario's upcoming election, experts say many WCI market participants are overlooking other risks to the programme.

Ontario is beginning to experience beneficial effects from its cap-and-trade programme, both on the economy and GHG emissions, that are expected to continue over the next several years, according to two related studies released on Monday.

EU lawmakers urged countries to agree to a more ambitious deal to curb global shipping emissions, warning on Tuesday that the bloc will otherwise go further on its own.

European carbon prices dipped back from a four-day peak towards €13 on Tuesday as the market struggled to absorb units from a bigger-than-normal auction.  

South Korean carbon allowances have edged down to their lowest levels since Jan. 29 this week as available supply is slowly emerging.