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The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Friday began publishing delayed Commitments of Traders reports following a cyber attack on the agency’s third-party data provider several weeks ago, showing that compliance entities in the WCI and RGGI markets saw their net long positions unwind as the January contract went to delivery.

A summary of legislative, regulatory, and policy action on carbon, clean fuel standard, and clean energy markets at the US federal and subnational levels this week, including planned legislation to eliminate RGGI in Pennsylvania and committee passage of a clean transportation fuel standard bill in New Mexico.

Emissions resulting from the EU's scramble to burn wood to heat homes last year are set to remain outside the scope of the bloc's carbon pricing system, with residential biomass burn poised to retain its definition as a green activity despite ongoing discussions around its sustainability. 

The ongoing need to evaluate and refine accounting methods, incorporating new data and new understanding, is not a fatal flaw in the AFOLU market, rather it is a natural and essential process so that market-based finance can be delivered more efficiently and urgently to fight climate change and conserve forests around the world, write David Shoch, Scott Settelmyer, and Rebecca Dickson, of TerraCarbon LLC.

Poor demand rather than concern about the quality of supply has undermined attempts to introduce standardised products in the voluntary carbon market (VCM), a senior executive at the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) told Carbon Pulse ahead of the bourse’s first auction of offsets.

Scientists studying the Permian-Triassic mass extinction find ecosystems can suddenly tip over

The steady destruction of wildlife can suddenly tip over into total ecosystem collapse, scientists studying the greatest mass extinction in Earth’s history have found.

Many scientists think the huge current losses of biodiversity are the start of a new mass extinction. But the new research shows total ecosystem collapse is “inevitable”, if the losses are not reversed, the scientists said.

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Researchers found PFAS chemicals – used to make products resistant to heat and water – in all samples of 12 species of fish

All fish caught in Michigan rivers and tested for toxic PFAS contained the chemicals – and at levels that present a health risk for anyone eating them, according to a new study.

Researchers checked 100 fish samples that represented 12 species in the Huron and Rouge rivers.

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The Communications & Marketing Director is an integral part of the CFD team. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who is passionate about conservation issues to help develop and oversee a proactive, effective, and inspiring communications and media plan that engages key audiences in innovative and compelling ways.

European carbon climbed back towards their recent record high on Friday morning as traders reacted to a stronger-than-usual auction result, defying what several participants said were unsupportive fundamentals, while energy markets rallied amid a second day of strong gains for coal.

One of the world's largest industrial firms will substantially reduce its ammonia production capacity in Europe, citing in full-year results on Friday the soaring cost of energy and weakening regional "competitiveness".

The UK will face significant challenges to fund its biodiversity and net gain plans with ministers expected to face "tough choices", according to a senior civil servant speaking at an event Friday.

Trading volumes in China’s compliance and voluntary carbon market both dropped over the past week despite an uptick in prices, as sentiment remains negative due to the lack of policy clarity.

Parts of Texas, Arkansas, Ohio and Maryland, along with New York, are all recording their earliest spring conditions on record

Blooming daffodils in New York City. Leaves sprouting from red maples in North Carolina. Cherry blossoms about to bud in Washington. Record winter warmth across much of the eastern US has caused spring-like conditions to arrive earlier than ever previously recorded in several places, provoking delight over the mild weather and despair over the unfolding climate crisis.

In New York, one of several US cities to experience its warmest January on record, spring conditions have arrived 32 days before the long-term normal, which is its earliest onset of biological spring in 40 years of charting seasonal trends by the National Phenology Network.

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Australia swelters while in Brazil there have been record downpours

Southern Australia has recorded significant heat over the past week with maximum temperatures widely reaching in excess of 35C (95F), as well as more than 10C above the climatological average. Many stations in the south, across Western Australia and South Australia, recorded temperatures in excess of 40C with Eucla and Red Rock Points recording their highest February temperature of 46.8C on 22 February. Two large blocking high pressure systems south and west of Australia have allowed heat to stall across western and southern parts. This will be pushed further eastwards through this week, although lessening in severity.

In addition to this, many parts of the west coast have had high sea surface temperature anomalies throughout February, about 1-2C above normal. Because of this there is a chance that further cyclogenesis off the north-west coast may take place in the coming weeks – bringing further tropical storms.

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It is the first known human transmission of bird flu in the South East Asian nation since 2014.

Rwanda will in April outline its plans for involvement in international carbon markets including those under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement following consultations and studies that are currently under way, its minister of environment was reported as saying by a domestic media source.

The best of this week’s wildlife pictures, including a rescued alligator, a curious seal and the ‘Snettisham Spectacular’

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Australian crediting developer GreenCollar Group expects the inaugural issuance of its world-first NaturePlus biodiversity credit at the end of next month, as the Australian government extends the consultation period on its nature repair market.

Guardian investigation reveals ‘extremely high levels’ of toxic effluent in Lancashire river

• ‘Forever chemicals’ mean England’s waters will miss pollution targets for decades

Toxic substances from the site of a chemicals company have been found polluting a protected river in Lancashire at “extremely high levels”, in what has been described as a “huge concern”, an investigation by the Guardian and Watershed Investigations has uncovered.

More than 700 types of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in effluent coming from the site of AGC Chemicals’ plant at Thornton Cleveleys, near Blackpool, into the River Wyre which flows into Morecambe Bay.

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Oil companies plan to pump crude oil from Lake Albert, Uganda to the coast of neighbouring Tanzania, with the goal of producing 1.4bn barrels over the next two decades. But the pipeline project has created a human tragedy for those living in its 900-mile path

• Photographs by Sadak Souici. Words by Théophile Simon for La Chronique d’Amnesty International France

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