Carbon Pulse

Members of the European Parliament are experiencing what they called 'fatigue' in a week stacked full of green policy scrutiny across several cross-party committees, as borne out in an interim Wednesday ballot that saw lawmakers weaken text for a bill designed to curb industrial air pollution. 

US-based Boom Supersonic, which is developing faster-than-sound passenger aircraft, has signed an agreement with Dimensional Energy to purchase up to 5 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually during its flight test programme.

California electricity sector CO2 output sagged over the last two months of the first quarter as hydroelectric generation ramped up following an end to much of the state’s historic drought, recent data showed.

California and Quebec on Wednesday said they will hold a joint workshop next month to discuss potential amendments to strengthen the jurisdictions’ linked cap-and-trade systems.

A global fintech company on Wednesday announced its latest contribution of $2.35 million towards climate change solutions, with the money collected from an internal carbon tax that it prefers over an offsetting model for its voluntary climate action.

Campaigners slammed Chevron’s use of “junk” carbon credits and “unviable” technologies in a report published on Wednesday, honing in on the oil major's heavy use of units stemming from large hydropower dams while piggybacking on others' criticism. 

A five-year ocean expedition set sail on Wednesday under National Geographic Pristine Seas that will see a team of international experts promote ocean protection in the tropical Pacific, providing video links to underwater landscapes and supporting local conservation efforts.

Using carbon markets to fund the global transition away from coal-fired power generation will require a carbon credit price of at least $10-20, but likely much higher, a conference heard on Wednesday.

Large investment funds have consistently voted against measures to protect biodiversity at shareholder meetings, a report has found, with proposals supporting nature receiving support of less than 40% of votes cast since 2010 across those analysed.

The introduction of carbon pricing may be about to rapidly expand across developing countries a conference heard Wednesday, as more and more low-and middle-income economies are now actively implementing or considering taxes and emissions trading schemes.

Participants in emissions trading mechanisms worldwide have moderated their price expectations compared to a year ago but are optimistic that reforms will drive compliance carbon values higher in the future, according to an annual survey published on Wednesday, while voluntary carbon market (VCM) stakeholders are confident that the sector will grow to meet increasing demand.

European carbon prices drifted for a third day on Wednesday, falling below a key technical level as traders awaited exchange data showing market positioning, while natural gas prices declined to near their recent 17-month lows in thin trading.

Most carbon credits and results-based payments hinge on individual emissions mitigation projects, but methodologies exist to extend this model to government-run climate policies, where payments linked to the latter would help accelerate these types of broad-reaching climate actions.

The environment minister of an African nation told an event Wednesday that the best way to utilise carbon markets to save rainforests would be to establish an "integrity index" overseen by a global ratings agency, which could address both sovereign and voluntary carbon needs.

A law to restore 20% of the EU’s nature is at risk of being blocked in the European Parliament by a coalition of centre-right political groups, as a vote in favour of felling the bill passed by a slim majority in an interim committee ballot on Wednesday.

The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) on Wednesday launched methods for companies to set targets for ecosystem protection and restoration, freshwater use, and freshwater pollution, with 17 global firms to pilot the methods ahead of a general launch next year.

Indonesia’s regulations on taking a portion of carbon projects’ credits is creating uncertainty for proponents, given the slim investment rates of return on projects that could be upended by the rule, a developer has told Carbon Pulse.

The G20 should act to catalyse funding for the blue economy transition through targeted financial instruments like debt-for-nature swaps, blue bonds, and outcome-based payments, according to an engagement group set up under India’s G20 presidency.

Australia could split biodiversity certificates into separate offsetting and non-offsetting methodologies in its nature repair market (NRM), to give buyers and landholders broader choice and confidence in how they engage with the scheme, according to a government official.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.