Carbon Market News

A Bloomberg investigation has raised concerns over several carbon credit projects in China’s Changqing oilfield that were approved by European authorities and used by companies across at least nine European countries. According to project documents, the projects were expected to avoid nearly 120,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions through gas recovery systems. However, Bloomberg reporters, supported by BloombergNEF’s satellite and drone analysis, found that some project locations appeared undeveloped and lacked the emissions-capture equipment described in registration documents. The investigation also highlighted potential governance weaknesses in project verification and approval processes. Bloomberg noted that geographic verification in China is complicated by restrictions on mapping data and the use of the country’s “Mars Coordinate” system, which can affect location accuracy.
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#CarbonCredits #MarketIntegrity #CarbonProjectQuality #CarbonVerification #ChangqingOilfield #BloombergGreen

Carbon Gap and Carbon Management Europe have published a new paper examining how an EU CDR Buyers’ Club could help scale carbon dioxide removal projects across Europe by aggregating corporate demand. The report argues that the main barrier facing European CDR projects is not a lack of capital, but insufficient long-term purchasing commitments needed to secure private financing. The paper explores potential design options for the Buyers’ Club, including regulatory frameworks, procurement models, geographic scope, and buyer commitments. It identifies the EU’s Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) as the most credible foundation for the initiative. The proposed Buyers’ Club would function as a coordination platform supporting market development rather than replacing existing project developers or financial institutions.
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#CDR #CarbonRemoval #CRCF #EU #BuyersClub

A joint study by Senken and Sylvera found significant transparency gaps in how Germany’s DAX40 companies disclose their use of carbon credits. While many firms have announced net-zero and carbon neutrality targets, the report found limited disclosure regarding credit types, project sources, integrity standards, and the role of offsets within broader decarbonization strategies. Researchers noted that many companies do not clearly state whether credits meet frameworks such as ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles, VCMI Claims Code, or SBTi-related guidance. The findings highlight growing scrutiny around corporate carbon credit use, greenwashing risks, and climate claim credibility. Market participants expect stronger demand for high-integrity credits, removals, and more standardized disclosure practices as transparency expectations continue to rise.
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#Sylvera #Senken #DAX40 #ICVCM #CCP #SBTi #VCMI #HighIntegrityCredits #Greenwashing

ACR has released Version 2.0 of its carbon capture and storage methodology, expanding eligibility for carbon credits across carbon capture, direct air capture, and geologic storage projects in the United States and Canada. The revised framework allows CO2 storage in saline reservoirs and depleted oil and gas fields, while also extending eligibility to biogenic carbon sources and carbon removal technologies such as DAC and BECCS. The methodology retains crediting provisions for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects while introducing expanded emissions accounting requirements covering oil and gas production, transportation, refining, and end use. ACR said the framework aligns with U.S. EPA Class VI geologic sequestration standards and strengthens monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements for long-term CO2 storage.
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#ACR #CCS #CarbonCapture #DAC #BECCS #CarbonRemoval #EPA #Section45Q #EnhancedOilRecovery

A recent study on forest protection carbon credit projects found that while some projects may have overstated their climate impact, many still delivered meaningful environmental benefits. Researchers noted that 36 out of 44 projects successfully reduced deforestation compared to expected trends, with several projects in Madagascar and Peru even outperforming their own targets. The study emphasized that “bad credits” do not necessarily mean “bad projects,” highlighting that the main challenge lies in measurement methodologies rather than the absence of real-world impact. The findings suggest that stronger monitoring frameworks and higher-quality standards are needed, alongside higher carbon credit prices that can better support long-term forest conservation and sustainable project development.
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#REDD+ #Forest #VCM #Additionality # Baseline #Integrity