Australia’s voluntary ACCU demand falls in September

Spanish Market: Emissions
13/10/25

Voluntary demand for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) halved on the month in September to reach the lowest for that month since 2018, while bringing third quarter cancellations to a four-year low.

A total of 40,533 ACCUs were cancelled for voluntary purposes in the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) in September, down from 82,197 units in August, according to the latest voluntary cancellation register data from Australia's Clean Energy Regulator (CER).

Cancellations last month were the lowest for September since 2018, while combined voluntary demand over January-September totalled 832,542 ACCUs, the lowest since 2021 (see table).

The September cancellations put voluntary demand in the third quarter of 2025 at 164,059 ACCUs, also the lowest for a third quarter since 2021 at 132,698 units, according to CER data. The volume is also the second lowest for any quarter, only above 154,731 ACCUs in the first quarter of 2025.

This is contrast with the second quarter of 2025, when voluntary demand reached 507,457 ACCUs, the second highest for any quarter, only below the fourth quarter of 2023 at 793,113 units, according to separate quarterly CER data.

The CER expects voluntary ACCU demand to reach 1.3mn-1.5mn units in 2025, which would compare with 1.33mn recorded in 2024.

Cancellations of certified emissions reductions (CERs) in September, meanwhile, reached only 6,854 units. The market for those carbon units has been "uncertain", despite a large inventory of 10mn units in the local registry, the regulator said in September.

The weaker voluntary demand overall came as several companies exited the federal government-backed voluntary certification programme Climate Active in recent months on the back of negative academic and media coverage and increasing climate litigation risks.

The number of certified brands under Climate Active is currently at 489, down from almost 590 at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, the number of brands that stopped using the certification increased to 293 from around 180 over the same period.

By Juan Weik

Australia's voluntary carbon unit cancellations
	ACCUs		CERs

Year	September	Jan-Sep	September	Jan-Sep
2025	40,533	832,542	6,854	1,053,818
2024	136,845	1,000,495	360,458	3,448,696
2023	229,180	932,761	7,099,924	11,469,073
2022	346,974	1,201,007	778,864	6,912,499
2021	114,755	621,894	1,470,919	8,666,091
2020	114,138	525,433	16,643	4,075,585
2019	81,325	269,413	295,529	2,451,034
2018	9,241	363,152	64,709	624,699
— Clean Energy Regulator

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18/11/25

Thai aviation authority, airlines to collaborate on SAF

Singapore, 18 November (Argus) — The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and eight Thai airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 17 November to promote sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use in the country. The airlines are Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, K-Mile Air, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Vietjet Air. The Thai energy ministry's Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (Dede) has set a target of minimum 1pc SAF use by 2026, to rise to 1-2pc over 2027-29, 3-5pc over 2030-32, and 5-8pc over 2033-37. These targets are still in place, Dede confirmed to Argus today. Airlines can decide whether to supply SAF to domestic and/or international flights. SAF produced via the hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) pathway will likely fulfil targets over 2026-29, while a mix of HEFA SAF and SAF produced via the alcohol-to-jet pathway is expected to fulfil targets from 2030 onwards, Dede added. The MoU signing also emphasised the Thai aviation sector's commitment to supporting key measures from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), including the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia), which Thailand participates in. The MoU will support ICAO's long-term global aspirational goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in international aviation by 2050. But CAAT recognises the challenges posed by high SAF prices, and is considering a "voluntary cost-segregation approach for international routes", expected to begin in 2026. More details were not provided, but the approach will demonstrate costs associated with reducing and offsetting carbon emissions in the country's aviation sector. CAAT will also "monitor transparency and ensure compliance with international regulations", it said. The MoU signing was also witnessed by other agencies including Dede, the Department of Energy Business, Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, Airports of Thailand, and Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services. Thai refiner PTT and SAF producer Bangchak were also present. By Sarah Giam Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Delegates aim for text on off-agenda items: Update

17/11/25

Cop: Delegates aim for text on off-agenda items: Update

Adds detail on negotiations Belem, 17 November (Argus) — Delegates at the UN Cop 30 climate summit are discussing a text that would address the four items left off the summit's main agenda, Cop 30 president Andre Correa do Lago said. The possibility was presented right after the first plenary on Monday, he told reporters today. The text could include themes key to Cop 30, such as adaptation and a just energy transition, as they are closely linked to the issues left to be discussed outside of the agenda. "We are going to try our hardest to bring forward the results of Cop 30 as much as possible in two packages", he said. The first would deal with the items left off the agenda — unilateral trade measures, climate finance and countries' climate plans and emissions reporting. This would probably come by "the middle of the week", while the second will be left for Friday, he added. Negotiators were "impressively behind" the idea, he said. But the presidency stressed that the packages were just a suggestion. The four items are often points of contention among the nearly 200 countries attending Cop 30. Parties will work overnight to try and progress decisions on ongoing work streams in the agenda, as well as the four topics under the informal presidency consultancy. The latter were discussed during a closed-door 'mutirao' — meaning collective mobilisation — meeting today. The presidency said that these four topics are strongly linked to the workstreams on the official agenda, and suggested that having separate talks could push parties to a decision on these long-standing, often controversial, issues. Cop 30 chief executive Ana Toni made it clear that the text on the four 'off-agenda' items will not be a cover decision. "Usually, cover decisions encompass several topics," she said. "In this case, it would be a decision related to those four topics... only." A first draft is expected on Tuesday 18 November, she said. Delegations have reached the second week of the climate talks in Belem, Brazil. Discussions are moving from the technical stage to the political phase, as countries' ministers join the conference. By Lucas Parolin and Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Brazil consults on industry decarbonization

17/11/25

Cop: Brazil consults on industry decarbonization

Belem, 17 November (Argus) — Brazil's vice-president and trade minister Geraldo Alckmin launched a public consultation on the country's national industry decarbonization strategy (Endi) during the UN Cop 30 climate summit in Belem. Endi's goal is to align industry decarbonization with sustainable economic development through four pillars: training workers and promoting technological innovation; replacing fossil-based feedstocks energy sources with sustainable alternatives; driving demand for low-carbon products; and creating credit tools, tax incentives and trade defense mechanisms. Brazil's industry association CNI signed a letter of intent during the launch aimed at supporting Brazil in reaching its goals of achieving net-zero by 2050. Its nationally determined contribution envisions a 67pc cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared with 2005 levels. The public call will run through 17 January. Participants can make comments here . By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Commitments fall short of methane cuts needed

17/11/25

Cop: Commitments fall short of methane cuts needed

London, 17 November (Argus) — Commitments made by countries would lead to an 8pc cut in emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by 2030, falling well short of a 30pc reduction target, but current legislation would see methane emissions continue to rise, according to a report from the UN environment programme (UNEP). The global methane pledge (GMP), established in 2021 at the UN Cop 26 summit, commits its 159 signatory countries to cut methane emissions by 30pc from 2020 levels by 2030. Methane emissions have contributed to 30pc of the increase in global temperatures since the industrial revolution, according to energy watchdog the IEA. But pledges made by governments in their nationally determined contribution (NDC) or methane action plan (MAP) roadmaps — documents outlining their efforts to reduce emissions in the context of international climate efforts — would lead to a fall in methane emissions to 310mn t in 2030, down by 8pc from 352mn t in 2020. But this refers only to pledges or plans, rather than actual legislation in force. Under current legislation, methane emissions are set to continue rising, reaching 369mn t in 2030, 5pc above 2020. But this is a fall from expected growth to 383mn/t in 2030 when the GMP was established. Some countries have identified emissions-reducing actions in their NDCs. But specific policies or timelines are often missing, UNEP said. And only "a handful" of countries have adopted comprehensive targets in line with the 2030 GMP goal, UNEP said. That said, the number of countries which included policies targeting methane in their NDC submissions had reached 127 as of June 2025, or 65pc of participants in the UN Cop climate summits, up from 92 countries in the previous round of NDCs in 2020. The fossil fuel sector offers potential for rapid emissions cuts, with 72pc of cuts expected from current legislation out to 2030 concentrated in the sector. And innovative voluntary methane abatement initiatives have proliferated since the establishment of the GMP, UNEP said. But policy development, country participation and implementation all fall short. Delivering the GMP pledge would require a nine-fold increase in financing over 2022 levels, UNEP said. But access to capital is not always the main barrier. Inadequate policy incentives, data availability, and institutional capacity must often be tackled at the same time. The [gap in ambition](https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/27492940 between NDCs and the efforts needed to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement, is one of the themes of the Cop 30 summit currently underway in Belem, Brazil. By Rhys Talbot Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Delegates aim for text on off-agenda items

17/11/25

Cop: Delegates aim for text on off-agenda items

Belem, 17 November (Argus) — Delegates at the UN Cop 30 climate summit are discussing a text that would address the four items left off the summit's main agenda, Cop 30 president Andre Correa do Lago said. The possibility was presented right after the first plenary on Monday, he told reporters today. The text would include themes key to Cop 30, such as adaptation and the just energy transition, he said. "We are going to try our hardest to bring forward the results of Cop 30 as much as possible in two packages", he said. The first would deal with the items left off the agenda — unilateral trade measures, climate finance and countries' climate plans and emissions reporting. This would probably come by "the middle of the week", while the second will be left for Friday, he added. Negotiators were "impressively behind" the idea, he said. The four items are often points of contention among the nearly 200 countries attending Cop 30. Cop 30 chief executive Ana Toni made it clear that the text on the four 'off-agenda' items will not be a cover decision. "Usually, cover decisions encompass several topics," she said. "In this case, it would be a decision related to those four topics... only." A first draft is expected on Tuesday, she said. Delegations have reached the second week of the climate talks in Belem, Brazil. Discussions are moving from the technical stage to the political phase, as countries' ministers join the conference. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Australia’s voluntary ACCU demand falls in September

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