World’s largest carbon projects unlikely to deliver emissions cuts despite reforms
So far, carbon markets have not led to a promised decrease in planet-heating emissions – and efforts to tighten standards have yet to prove their worth
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Pará’s Amazon forest carbon deal in doubt as prosecutors move to block it
The Brazilian state’s contract with foreign governments and companies has run into trouble over concerns it was premature and agreed without consulting Indigenous communities
EU Commission proposes allowing carbon offsets to help meet 2040 climate goal
Campaigners accuse the European Commission of adding “loopholes” and “distractions” to the 90% emissions reduction target
A credible UN carbon market needs rules that count – we’ve just set them
The broad standards for a more ambitious market are now in place. But without a steady flow of investment, this progress will remain largely on paper
Indigenous land disputes cloud Kenya’s carbon market ambitions
Two of Kenya’s biggest carbon credit projects are mired in controversy, clouding the country’s hopes of raising climate finance from the offset market
First carbon credit scheme for early coal plant closures unveiled
Proponents hope carbon markets can offer new funding for costly transition from coal to renewables. But concerns have been raised over the risk of low-integrity credits
Carbon credit auditors suspended for failures in sham rice-farming offsets
Verra has taken unprecedented action against four certification bodies that overlooked integrity problems with the projects. But the worthless credits still need to be compensated
Fossil fuel firms seek UN carbon market cash for old gas plants
Fossil fuel companies that built gas power plants more than a decade ago are hoping for rewards from a new carbon credit market
“Shameful”: Shell uses carbon credits under investigation to meet climate targets
The oil and gas giant offset part of its emissions with over a million credits from Chinese projects suspended because of integrity concerns
Junk offset sellers push to enter new UN carbon market
Renewable energy schemes make up four-fifths of Kyoto-era projects hoping to keep selling offsets under Article 6, sparking concerns over the credibility of the new market.
First ever Paris Agreement offsets face integrity questions
As Switzerland buys the first ever bilateral offsets, civil society’s analysis suggests the claimed emissions reductions from Thai buses would have happened anyway
Ten climate questions for 2024
The US election and negotiations on a new global finance target are the most important things for the climate in 2024
Countries go ahead with carbon deals despite Cop28 standoff
The US and EU couldn’t agree on common rules for bilateral carbon trades in Dubai, leaving a vacuum for voluntary certifiers
Four questions for Cop28 to settle about a global carbon market
As carbon credits face intense scrutiny, negotiators will wrangle over how to ensure the integrity of a new global carbon market
Meet the Italian fugitive advising Emirati start-up Blue Carbon
Samuele Landi has been convicted for bankruptcy fraud in Italy. That was no problem for the UAE firm doing forest carbon credit deals across Africa.
Slow start for Indonesia’s much-hyped carbon market
Since President Widodo launched Indonesia’s exchange two months ago, there’s been barely any trading of carbon credits
The EU is about to revive a failed climate solution
The EU once led the world in combatting flawed forest offset schemes. Now it’s looking to give them a new lease of life.
Exposed: carbon offsets linked to high forest loss still on sale
Project owners in Cambodia and Brazil are selling carbon offsets to Uber, Marathon and ArcelorMittal despite an uptick in deforestation
EU uses pollution tax funds to back Romanian gas pipeline
The European Union is using taxes on pollution to fund a gas pipeline in Romania, claiming it will reduce emissions compared to coal
A wolf in sheep’s clothing: why Africa should shun carbon markets
Turning Africa into a source of carbon credits will benefit polluters and middlemen, not most Africans and not the planet
UAE pitches itself as Africa’s carbon credits leader
An Emirati coalition has announced a $450 million commitment to buy carbon credits generated in Africa but critics called offsets a “risky diversion”
Cooking the books: cookstove offsets produce millions of fake emission cuts
Projects in India linked to Enking, the self-proclaimed world’s largest carbon credits producer, have vastly overestimated climate benefits
As Guyana shows, carbon offsets will not save the Amazon rainforest
With all their flaws, carbon offsets are not the solution to deforestation of the Amazon rainforest – leaders should acknowledge that
Carbon credits touted as saviour of coal-to-clean energy deals
The scheme aims to fund the coal-to-clean energy transition in emerging economies like Indonesia but experts warn the fine print is key
World Bank set to take on risk of insuring carbon credits amid market upheaval
As a growing number of developing countries tighten control over carbon markets, MIGA plans to step in to provide political risk insurance and facilitate investments.
UN advises against offsets for carbon removal technologies
Billions of dollars are pouring into tech-based solutions to suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but the UNFCCC says they are unproven and pose unknown risks.
Verra boss steps down after criticism of its carbon credits
The carbon credit certifier has both grown rapidly and faced mounting integrity accusations during outgoing CEO’s tenure.
Verra’s revamped forest offset programme comes under fire
Verra picked a controversial carbon credit verifier to review its new forest offset rules and critics say the changes don’t fix the problem
Mitsubishi bets on carbon removal while keeping coal plants
Japanese engineering giant Mitsubishi has announced a major investment in carbon removal technology, despite continuing to run fossil fuel power plants.
Carbon discredits – Climate Weekly
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Carbon credit industry resists vulnerable nations’ call to fund adaptation
New carbon credit guidelines do not recommend a mandatory levy to fund adaptation despite calls from vulnerable countries and experts