Carbon markets
China launches world’s largest carbon market for power sector
China’s national emissions trading scheme could become a significant lever for climate action, but experts warn that it will do little to curb emissions in the short term
UN-led carbon market suspends formal project registration after 2020
Countries are under mounting pressure to resolve carbon trading rules at Cop26, as the future of the Clean Development Mechanism hangs in the balance
Brazil sets ‘indicative’ goal of carbon neutrality by 2060
Brazil is seeking to join the net zero club, but campaigners denounced its pledge as meaningless while deforestation rises under President Bolsonaro
Mark Carney oversees blueprint for scaling up carbon market as offset demand soars
With more and more businesses setting net zero emissions targets, the voluntary carbon market needs stronger quality control to scale up, says UN special envoy
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
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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