Will Indonesia’s new carbon market be a climate solution or a game for big players?
As palm oil and timber companies gear up to profit from carbon trading, the government must ensure transparency and a fair deal for Indigenous communities
Carbon markets
See all
Most cookstove carbon credits ruled out of quality scheme in integrity push
The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market has rejected widely used rulebooks for cleaner cooking, which will require projects to switch to more rigorous methods
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
Shell dodges paying compensation for sham carbon credits in China
The energy giant exited the failed projects after Verra asked for redress, but a legal expert says Shell should be held responsible
How Shell greenwashed gas with sham Chinese carbon credits
Exclusive: Shell used rice-farming offsets for “carbon neutral” LNG campaign – but farmers and local authorities said no project activities took place
Experts quit carbon market watchdog in row over quality label for forest credits
Two ICVCM expert advisors have resigned from their positions over what they called a “problematic precedent” set with the REDD+ decision
New UN carbon market standards are a step change in protecting people and planet
Rules finalised at COP29 will make sure carbon credits enable more ambitious climate goals while delivering benefits to local communities
Peru and Switzerland sign ‘world first’ carbon offset deal under Paris Agreement
In an agreement that took two years to negotiate, Peru will get finance for sustainable development projects while Switzerland takes credit for the emissions cuts
Fate of UN-led carbon market to be decided behind closed doors
The executive board is considering an extension of the Clean Development Mechanism beyond 2020, under industry pressure but with no political mandate
Despite socialist scepticism, Cuba shows interest in carbon trading
In its national climate plan, Cuba indicated it would like to sell carbon credits on an international market, a concept previously opposed by socialist allies
‘Final blow’ to aviation climate plan as EU agrees to weaken rules
EU member states will back an industry proposal to reduce airlines’ climate obligations in response to the coronavirus pandemic, at the UN aviation forum
Delay to climate talks deepens uncertainty over future of carbon markets
Project developers in poor countries are struggling to attract finance, as deadlock on international carbon trading rules cannot be resolved before November 2021
Airlines could get free pass on climate for five years under industry proposal
The industry is lobbying to rewrite the rules of a UN aviation pact, in a move researchers say would remove pressure to invest in clean flying technology
Airlines urge UN body to ease climate goals for 2020s as traffic collapses
Airlines’ trade association says current plans to offset greenhouse gas emissions from a 2019-2020 baseline would put an ‘inappropriate economic burden on the sector’
Putting the brakes on – Climate Weekly
Sign up to get our weekly newsletter straight to your inbox, plus breaking news, investigations and extra bulletins from key events
Coronavirus may toughen airlines’ goals for curbing emissions in 2020s
Coronavirus likely to lower a key 2019-20 baseline for average aviation emissions that will force more carbon offsets if flights rebound in 2020s
Australia’s carbon accounting plan for Paris goals criticised as ‘legally baseless’
Legal experts wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison warning the use of old carbon credits to meet the country’s 2030 goals would set a ‘dangerous precedent’
Cop25: What was achieved and where to next?
After two weeks of talks, many issues remain unresolved. Here we break down the major fights and minor breakthroughs of the UN conference in Madrid
Australia and Brazil carbon credits will put 1.5C out of reach, 31 countries say
Group led by Costa Rica publishes ‘minimum’ standards for carbon markets that rule out double counting and use of Kyoto-era credits
Push for carbon loopholes sends climate talks into overtime
Australia, US and Brazil threatening ‘spirit’ of the Paris Agreement, says Costa Rican minister, as fractious talks could drag into the weekend
Carbon markets will not help stop climate change
Trading carbon is widely said to make emissions cuts cheaper. But for whom? And why is it dominating climate diplomacy in Madrid?
Australia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia blocking climate talks, says Green MEP
Efforts to bring together different strands of the financing of climate action are being hampered at Cop25, says Bas Eickhout, while elsewhere steps forward are being made
Carbon offsets have patchy human rights record. Now UN talks erode safeguards
A new global carbon market could unleash finance for projects around the world. But protections for local communities were weakened in draft rules at Cop25
What is Article 6? The issue climate negotiators cannot agree
It has proven the hardest part of the Paris Agreement to create rules for, with warnings a weak decision could undermine the accord. Now it will dominate UN talks in Madrid
IEA World Energy Outlook outlines 1.5C scenario
Observers warn the IEA’s projection is inconsistent with the world’s long-term sustainable development needs
Australia admits it is on its own using cringe carbon loophole
Governments need to agree the rules over how to use carbon markets to cut emissions, but they shouldn’t take their eyes off Australia’s brash side hustle
In Tanzania, ownership of the forest offers new prospects for old loggers
In one of Africa’s fastest deforesting nations, community control over the land offers villages new income, infrastructure and dignity
Brazil fights attempt to cancel its old carbon credits
Credits from an old regime could undermine the Paris climate agreement, but negotiations ended in stalemate after the biggest holders dug in their heels
European Central Bank should ‘gradually eliminate’ carbon assets: Lagarde
Nominee to lead the bank told MEPs it could adopt new measures to prefer green investments if she is confirmed
UK carbon price to plummet under no-deal Brexit
A proposed UK tax on heavy polluters would come in at nearly half the EU carbon market price, reducing the incentive to cut emissions
How von der Leyen could make a carbon border tax work
The next European Commission chief must tread carefully if she is to meet her promise to make polluting importers pay