Netherlands pledges $500mn to Brazil's TFFF

Spanish Market: Biomass, Emissions
27/10/26

The Netherlands will allocate up to $500mn over a 10-year period to Brazil's Tropical Forest Forever Facility to help finance the fund in its mission to preserve tropical forests.

"Forest conservation is essential for combating climate change and preserving biodiversity," the Dutch government said. "However, without a financial reward for maintaining tropical forests, it quickly becomes more attractive to cut down trees than to preserve them".

TFFF — launched at the UN Cop 30 climate summit in 2025 — aims to preserve tropical global forests and help pay around 80 developing countries $4/hectare (ha) for preserved tropical forests. The goal is to raise $125bn to protect 1bn ha (10mn km²) of tropical forests globally.

The fund can protect 800mn-900mn ha, the Dutch government said.

Mature tropical forests are key natural carbon sinks, as well as crucial for biodiversity and regulating regional and local climate. Tropical forest loss fell in 2025, albeit from a record high level in 2024.

The fund drew financial commitments from several countries at Cop 30. Germany pledged €1bn ($1.2bn), Brazil and Indonesia $1bn each, France €500mn and Colombia $250mn. Norway pledged up to 30bn Norwegian kroner ($3.2bn) over 10 years, based on several conditions. Portugal and the Netherlands made smaller contributions, of €1mn and €5mn, respectively, to cover the fund's operational costs, and Luxembourg earlier this year committed €50mn. The UK also plans to loan £400mn ($533.1mn) to the fund.

Brazil's deforestation figures, including in the Amazon, hit record lows from August 2025 to July 2026, according to data from national space institute INPE. Deforestation has fallen in the last four years during the administration of president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who reversed policies set forth by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula on 25 October defeated challenger Flavio Bolsonaro — Jair Balsonaro's son — in a runoff to secure re-election. He will continue pushing for lower deforestation, according to his government plan.

By Lucas Parolin

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27/10/26

Atmospheric GHG levels reached new highs in 2025: WMO

London, 27 October (Argus) — Levels of major greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere rose to "unprecedented highs" in 2025, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said today. The WMO data refer to measured GHG concentrations, or the GHGs that accumulate, rather than new annual emissions. The high levels are "locking in more long-term temperature increase for the planet", the WMO said. Data from individual monitoring stations suggest that CO2 levels continue to rise this year, the organisation added. The global average surface concentration of CO2 in 2025 was 426.8 parts per million (ppm), or 153pc of the 1750 pre-industrial baseline, the WMO found. The average methane concentration in 2025 was 1,948 parts per billion (ppb) and for nitrous oxide it was 339.1 ppb — 267pc and 126pc above 1750 levels, the WMO said. Of long-lived GHGs, CO2 made the biggest contribution to the increase in global radiative forcing — the warming effect on the world's climate — from the pre-industrial era to 2025, at 66pc, WMO data show. Methane accounted for 16pc and nitrous oxide 6pc. Growth rates in CO2 have trebled since the 1960s, increasing from an annual average rise of 0.8 ppm to 2.4 ppm in the decade from 2011-2020, the WMO said. The global average concentration of CO2 went up by 2.8 ppm in 2024-25, it added. This is a "more modest" growth rate compared to the "exceptional surge" from 2023-24, the WMO said. It "reflects recovery of the land carbon sinks and reduced fire carbon emissions in 2025 after the strong 2023/2024 El Nino", WMO senior scientific officer Oksana Tarasova said. Tarasova expects a further increase in CO2 concentrations in 2026, owed to "fossil fuel burning and the development of a powerful El Nino which will impact land carbon sinks", she said. Of the CO2 emitted each year, around half remains in the atmosphere, while the rest is "absorbed by land ecosystems and oceans", the WMO said. The Paris climate agreement seeks to curb the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels — using an 1850-1900 baseline — and pursues a 1.5°C limit. Climate action is typically centred around mitigation, or cutting emissions, to avoid a further increase in temperature. The global increase in temperature since the pre-industrial era is 1.4°C, WMO data show, while an "overshoot" of the 1.5°C goal is likely in the next few years, the UN said in September . By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Fossils fuel firm climate levy difficult: EU commission

27/10/26

Fossils fuel firm climate levy difficult: EU commission

Brussels, 27 October (Argus) — Requiring fossil fuel companies to contribute to climate resilience measures is a "hugely complicated" conversation, EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said today, when presenting a climate resilience law that would require member states to draw up adaptation plans and assess climate risks by 31 December 2030. Hoekstra said there was a "clear case" for fossil fuel companies to contribute to the cost of climate resilience measures. "At the same time, it is complicated to then just, off the cuff, add something on top of the ETS," he said. The European Commission pointed to estimated economic losses from climate damage of €200bn ($220.5bn) over 2022-25, or around €50bn/yr. Officials estimate the cost of adapting Europe's infrastructure and economy to future climate conditions at about €70bn/yr. "The estimated return on investments in climate adaptation can reach more than 10 times their value in avoided loss and damage," the commission said. Loss and damage refers to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The commission pointed at "prolonged heatwaves and droughts" over the summer which drove some of Europe's biggest rivers to historically low water levels. This action is central for the EU's energy security because it will help authorities manage risks and safeguard energy supplies, EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said today. "We need to prepare our energy systems for climate impacts, ranging from low river levels that disrupt fuel transport and the functioning of power plants, to heatwaves that strain our electricity grids," he said. Low Rhine water levels have left fuel terminals in Germany short of diesel and HVO as barges cannot use the key waterway. Low Danube water levels also impaired shipments of commodities such as oil products , fertilizers or wheat and disrupted nuclear power generation capacity . Under the draft law, the commission would also have to present a strategic plan on climate resilience by 30 September 2028. The proposal is based on the assumption that existing global climate commitments will result in around 2°C of warming by 2050 and 3°C by 2100. Officials expect Europe to warm by 4-5°C over the same period. Hoekstra said that the 1.5°C Paris agreement temperature limit remains the EU's goal, but he added that it would be unwise not to prepare for other scenarios. The Paris accord seeks to curb the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursues a 1.5°C limit. The Commission said it will "soon" present a European heatwave plan, a climate insurance alliance and a new European water initiative. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

International fossil fuel finance down under Cop pledge

27/10/26

International fossil fuel finance down under Cop pledge

Edinburgh, 27 October (Argus) — International fossil fuel project finance from countries in the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) dropped by 72-80pc to $3.3bn last year compared with a 2019-21 baseline, but Italy, Germany and Switzerland are still not meeting the goal, according to a report by think-tank the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Under the CETP, signed in 2021 on the sidelines of the UN Cop 26 climate summit in Glasgow, 40 countries and jurisdictions pledged to end international public finance for fossil fuels by the end of 2022. The signatories include Canada, Norway, the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. The US left the alliance in February 2025. The commitment covers public finance provided through development finance institutions, export credit agencies and multilateral development banks. "The CETP is an example of how international agreements with time-bound commitments, combined with ongoing monitoring and accountability efforts, can shift international energy finance away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy, although scaling clean energy financing has been slow," IISD said. But clean energy finance from the CETP countries in the same period only rose by 28pc to $5.6bn and only 42pc of the funding removed from fossil fuel investments has been going towards clean energy, according to IISD. Some countries have yet to meet their Cop 26 pledge. Italy has provided $6bn in international fossil fuel finance since the end of 2022, when countries were due to meet their CETP target, while Germany and Switzerland provided $2.5bn and $1.6bn, respectively. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Climate plans improve but off track for 1.5°C goal: UN

27/10/26

Climate plans improve but off track for 1.5°C goal: UN

Edinburgh, 27 October (Argus) — Countries' nationally determined contributions — climate plans — have improved in quality and scope, but progress in lowering emissions remains "substantially off track" to limit temperature rises to 1.5°C and keep a temporary overshoot short, according to a report from UN climate body the UNFCCC released today. The report took into account 127 new nationally determined contributions — climate plans — released between 1 January 2024 and 31 August 2026, representing 154 out of 194 parties to the Paris agreement. The 154 parties account for around 71pc of total greenhouse emissions, according to the report. The report does not include the US — the world's second-biggest emitter — since the country officially left the Paris accord last year. The UNFCCC found that GHG emission reductions — including land use, land-use change and forestry — stemming from the implementation of NDCs are projected to peak and decline by 2035, reaching 6pc below 2019 levels on average. The cuts would imply "best-estimate warming of 1.7-2.3°C by the end of the century", the report said, adding that "returning warming to 1.5°C would require substantial additional GHG emission reductions in the coming years". The NDCs "show improvement, compared with the previous NDCs, in the quality and depth of information provided, as well as broader thematic coverage", the UNFCCC said. The organisation found that energy transition is a common theme in the NDCs and that electrification plays "an increasingly important role in reducing emissions while strengthening energy security". "Against the backdrop of recent energy crises, almost two thirds of parties highlighted the contribution of mitigation measures to energy security, particularly through renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements," the report said. The report showed that 27pc of countries referred "to transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner" as per the call made at Cop 28 in Dubai and that 10pc reported targets for cutting fossil fuel fired power generation by 2035, representing a 258TWh reduction. Around 6pc of the parties included fossil fuel phase-out targets, according to the report. The report found that parties in their NDCs increased their focus on creating enabling conditions for renewable energy deployment, efficiency improvements and electrification, with around 70pc reporting measures to improve electricity grids. It also showed that 92pc of the parties included methane in their NDCs and, of those, 29pc pointed to renewable energy generation as a key supply-side driver of energy security by replacing imported fuels with domestic energy sources. A total of 94pc of parties mentioned in their NDCs that they plan to use — or may use — voluntary co-operation under Article 6 of the Paris agreement and 81pc referred to the use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes — when countries exchange emissions savings bilaterally to be counted towards their NDCs. The UN Cop 31 climate summit due to take place in Turkey next month "can help address some of the key gaps highlighted in this year's reports with its focus on practical measures to support greater implementation, UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell said. By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Germany’s IKI prepares large grants climate fund launch

26/10/26

Germany’s IKI prepares large grants climate fund launch

Berlin, 26 October (Argus) — Germany's environment ministry is preparing to launch a new annual "large grants" funding call through the ministry's international climate initiative IKI at the UN Cop 31 summit in Antalya, Turkey, next month. The IKI large grants will provide funding of €7mn-15mn per project over a period of up to eight years. The call will close on 9 February and is open to organisations and/or companies forming a consortium, the ministry said. The new call will have nine priority areas — seven thematic and two country-specific — four of which the ministry has disclosed in advance. They are mobilising the private sector for climate adaptation measures, providing legal certainty and tackling illegal deforestation by exposing environmental crime, promoting integrated measures for biodiversity and climate action through co-ordinated governance and financing, and protecting and restoring marine natural carbon sinks. IKI's annual "medium grants" funding call, which launched in 2020, provides funding of €300,000-800,000 per project over a period of 2-3 years. This targets mainly non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The 2025 IKI medium grants funding call saw 10 successful bidders receive a total of €7.4bn. The 2026 call was announced on 13 October and closes on 12 January. IKI's four basic funding areas are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate change adaptation, preserving natural carbon sinks and protecting biodiversity. IKI-supported projects can to an extent also make use of the UN's Paris agreement crediting mechanism (Pacm). IKI funds can be used for initial preparatory work on a Pacm project, such as drawing up documentation or feasibility studies. And IKI can provide some start-up funding for pilot projects introducing expensive technologies, on the condition that the resulting emissions savings are counted towards the host country's climate plan under the Paris climate agreement, known as a nationally determined contribution (NDC). The same limitations apply to blended finance approaches which combine IKI funds with private funds. Emissions savings corresponding to IKI's share of the total financing must be counted towards the host country's NDC. Under revolving funds, emissions savings achieved through IKI support may be traded as internationally transferred mitigation outcomes under Article 6 of the Paris agreement, but only if the proceeds are channelled back into the fund and fully reinvested in new projects. And for IKI funds to count as international climate finance, the corresponding emissions savings must be credited to the host country's NDC. Germany's environment ministry views Pacm as the crediting benchmark not just for the Article 6.2 framework, which allows bilateral trading of emissions reductions between countries, but also for the voluntary carbon market. IKI also supports the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) programme for developing countries Colombia, Pakistan, Thailand and Zambia, which runs over June 2022-August 2027. By Chloe Jardine Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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