EU delivered €32.3bn in public climate finance in 2025

: Emissions
26/10/29

The EU contributed €32.2bn ($35.9bn) in public climate finance to developing nations in 2025, up by 1.8pc on the year, the European Council said today.

The bloc mobilised a further €9.3bn in private finance in 2025, down by 15.5pc on the year. The public climate finance included €4.3bn from the EU budget, and €2.7bn from the European Investment Bank, which is owned by EU member states.

Of the public finance, 48pc was for adaptation — adjusting to the effects of climate change where possible — or to action involving adaptation and mitigation, or cutting emissions. Grant-based finance made up 41pc of the contribution, the EU said.

Many countries have called for climate finance to be made available either as grants or at concessional rates — finance at below market rate — to avoid increasing the debt burden on developing nations.

Separately, the UN Green Climate Fund (GCF) this week approved $1.97bn in new climate finance, taking its 2026 approvals to $3.3bn. The projects it approved at this week's meeting include industrial decarbonisation and climate-resilient agriculture. The GCF operates under the financial mechanism of UN climate body the UNFCCC, and is mandated to invest half of its resources in mitigation and half in adaptation. It is the world's largest climate fund.

Finance, to support action to tackle climate change or enable countries' energy transitions, is typically a central theme at UN Cop climate summits. Developed countries agreed to deliver $100bn/yr in climate finance to developing nations in 2020-25 — a goal they reached for the first time in 2022. Almost 200 countries agreed at Cop 29 in 2024 on the next iteration of this target — that developed countries would deliver $300bn/yr in climate finance to developing nations by 2035.

By Georgia Gratton

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26/10/29

Salesforce buys 500,000 rice methane reduction credits

London, 29 October (Argus) — Tech giant Salesforce is to buy 500,000 rice methane reduction credits from India's Mitti Labs over five years, the companies said on Wednesday. The credits are generated through activities that encourage rice farmers to let fields dry out during safe windows in the growing cycle, therefore growing more rice while using less water. The practice reduces methane emissions by allowing oxygen back into the soil, limiting the growth of methane-producing microbes. "We know that superpollutant reduction is one of the best ways to slow near-term warming, and we are committed to directing capital toward high-impact mitigation efforts," Salesforce's director of climate and energy, Jamila Yamani, said. Mitti is aiming to issue 2mn credits annually by 2028 from its projects in India and southeast Asia. The firm uses its GeoAI platform developed with support from NASA to provide transparent verification data using high-resolution satellite radar and field-collected ground evidence. Mitti Labs signed a deal for 1mn credits with Google in September. Salesforce and Google are among the founding members of the Superpollutant Action Initiative, a $100mn fund to accelerate the reduction of superpollutants. "Having Salesforce join Google in backing rice methane reductions shows that high-integrity, data-verified agricultural credits are becoming a core part of serious climate offsetting strategies," Mitti Labs co-founder Xavier Laguarta said. By Alexandra Luca Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Mali authorises carbon projects for Article 6

26/10/28

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26/10/28

Mali authorises carbon projects for Article 6

London, 28 October (Argus) — The government of Mali has authorised 11 mostly small-scale carbon mitigation projects under Article 6 of the Paris agreement, for which it is identifying buyers. The projects could ensure greenhouse gas reductions or avoidance of over 10mn to of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), Argus calculations show (see table) . A third of the projects involve clean cooking activities and have lifespans ranging between 2014 and 2041. Most are authorised under Article 6.2, while some will use the more regulated approach under the UN's centralised Paris agreement carbon mechanism under Article 6.4. Mali acts as both host and transferring party until an acquiring party is defined, the government said in its initial report on the authorisations submitted to the UN climate arm UNFCCC published this week. A rural electrification programme running between 2016-26 will generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings of 46,000 t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) a year. A solar energy project "for rural development", running during 2026-30, will save 10,239 t CO2e a year. A small pilot project aiming to develop hydropower in combination with distributing clean cooking equipment, and using the Article 6.4 approach, will run between 2026-31 and generate annual savings of 1,352 t CO2e. A sustainable energy programme will run from 2024-27 and generate annual emissions reductions of 179,008 t CO2e. Four clean cooking projects with different focuses have also been authorised. A project supporting the promotion and dissemination of clean cooking equipment, and using the Article 6.4 approach, will run during 2026-30 and to generate annual emissions reductions of 210,000 t CO2e. A second clean cooking project focuses on the production and distribution of clean cooking equipment. This project will also use the Article 6.4, approach and start in 2026, but has an unlimited lifespan. The project is expected to generate reductions of 150,000 t CO2e a year. Two clean cooking projects will support the production and dissemination of Banco cookstoves manufactured by women in rural areas. The first Banco project uses the Article 6.2 approach and runs from 2014-35. The project aims to cut annual emissions by 101,700 t CO2e. The second Banco project, to run under the Article 6.4 approach from 2026-41, is expected to generate annual savings of 179,008 t CO2e. None of the clean cooking projects authorised under the Article 6.4 approach aim for any non-permanence provisions, as would be expected under the stricter rules of Article 6.4, the initial report shows. Three projects focus on land use. A forestry and land-use project running from 2026-30, and using the Article 6.4 approach, aims to restore degraded land and undertake reforestation, to generate 406,684 t CO2e a year. A forestry programme focused on developing and utilising non-timber forest products will run from 2026-30 and aims to achieve annual savings of 60,769 t CO2e. The project seeks to manage forest resources and strengthen carbon sinks in Mali. An environmental programme aimed at restoring mining sites for biodiversity conservation will run under the Article 6.4 approach, between 2026-31. The programme is expected to generate annual emissions savings of 50,769 t CO2e. By Chloe Jardine Projects in Mali authorised under Article 6 Project type Start date End date Savings (t CO2e/yr) Credit generation years Estimated total savings Rural electrification 2016 2026 46,000 11 506,000 Solar energy for rural development 2026 2030 10,239 5 51,195 Hydropower and clean cooking pilot 2026 2031 1,352 6 8,112 Sustainable energy programme 2024 2027 179,008 4 716,032 Clean cooking promotion and dissemination 2026 2030 210,000 5 1,050,000 Clean cooking production and distribution 2026 na 150,000 na na Banco cookstoves — first project 2014 2035 101,700 22 2,237,400 Banco cookstoves — second project 2026 2041 179,008 16 2,864,128 Land restoration and reforestation 2026 2030 406,684 5 2,033,420 Non-timber forest products 2026 2030 60,769 5 303,845 Mining-site restoration for biodiversity 2026 2031 50,769 6 304,614 Total savings* 10,074,746 *Estimated total savings excluding the clean cooking production and dsitribution project which does not have a defined end date. Source: Mali government Initial Report, Argus calculations Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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US pushing further cuts to methane regulations

26/10/28

News

26/10/28

US pushing further cuts to methane regulations

Washington, 28 October (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration has unveiled a proposal to roll back methane regulations on the oil and gas industry, ahead of a subsequent initiative that could end further federal regulation of the potent greenhouse gas. The proposal — released on Tuesday — is meant to provide "near-term relief" on oil and gas methane rules that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said were unachievable, unreasonable or lacked clarity. The administration said the existing methane rules, which were issued under former president Joe Biden, will result in 100,000-200,000 low-producing wells closing by 2030 because of the costs of coming into compliance. "I'm officially terminating Biden's expensive and unnecessary methane regulations to save consumers and energy producers $45bn in costs," Trump said at an event in Texas on Tuesday. The proposal rollback, which will be open to comment through 16 December, would dismantle key parts of Biden-era regulations that were expected to cut the industry's methane emissions by nearly 80pc below baseline levels. EPA plans to eliminate a program to monitor for massive methane leaks called "super emitter" events it said was unnecessary, while ending a ban on flaring of associated gas at oil wells it said was infeasible in some locations. Another major cut to the rules would cut methane detection at the estimated 1mn "marginal" wells in the US that produce less than 15 b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d) but account for roughly half of the industry's methane emissions. EPA said weakening those rules will mean only about 25,000 wells will be decommissioned in 2029, rather than nearly 200,000 wells if the rules stayed intact. Those and other changes will result in 55,000 boe/d more oil and gas production by 2030 compared to a baseline scenario, the agency expects. EPA began dismantling the methane rules soon after Trump started his second term. The agency already cut back on mandatory flare testing and delayed some compliance deadlines by 18 months or longer. In the latest proposal, EPA said it will decide whether to eliminate the methane rules entirely once it finalizes a rule where it claims to have no authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. "EPA's proposal sets the stage for the complete deregulation of methane under the Clean Air Act even after a decade of widely supported standards and multiple congressional actions mandating that EPA regulate methane," Clean Air Task Force methane regulatory director Darin Schroeder said. Oil and gas groups lauded EPA for its proposal to cut back on methane regulations. The regulations as initially finalized under Biden would have "threatened the continued operation of hundreds of thousands of marginal wells nationwide", Independent Petroleum Association of America chief executive Edith Naegele said. EPA expects the rule will result in 54mn-80mn metric tonnes of additional methane emissions through 2050, which at the high end would produce the same annual greenhouse gas emissions of 24 coal-fired power plants. Another effect of the rollback will be increased ozone emissions and smog, particularly in oil-producing states such as Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, EPA found. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Atmospheric GHG levels reached new highs in 2025: WMO

26/10/27

News

26/10/27

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.

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Fossils fuel firm climate levy difficult: EU commission

26/10/27

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26/10/27

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.

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