19th Week CCM 2026. EU-Brazil-China Coalition; Article 6 Morocco-Norway, Singapore-Philippines; LCAF, SAF and aviation; USP and solar CO₂; nuclear Canada; UNEP FI scenarios; jobs IPCC, WRI, Gov.Br etc
- Art Dam
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Monday, 11 May 2026.
19th Week Carbon Credit Markets in 2026.
If you like - listening to “Dryland Trails” or others at your choice.
But before that, it's worth remembering that, a week after the pioneering conference on energy transition in Santa Marta, Colombia, we revisited two articles from 2022 that directly relate to this moment—and help us understand how we got here. And where we're headed. It's worth revisiting them.
With that historic dive concluded, we now return to what marked the 19th week of Carbon Credit Markets.
Carbon credits. The European Union, Brazil, and China have formalized the Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets, consolidating the movement initiated at COP30, when several initiatives were announced outside the formal UN process to increase the integrity, transparency, and interoperability of the markets. In parallel, bilateral agreements under Article 6 are progressing, such as the Morocco-Norway cooperation on renewable energies and the Singapore-Philippines pact for the generation and transfer of high-integrity credits, reinforcing the global acceleration beyond official negotiations.
Other highlights. Aviation is accelerating the search for immediate emission reductions, with Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF) emerging as a short-term alternative to SAF, but still hampered by a lack of certification and traceability. In the field of innovation, USP researchers have developed a system that converts CO₂ into renewable fuels and electricity using only sunlight.
Shorts & Opportunities. A busy week brought new developments in climate and energy, as well as a robust set of professional opportunities in the sector. Canada launched its new national nuclear energy strategy, while UNEP FI published the Climate Pathways Navigator and the European Commission confirmed a further drop in emissions. In the field of opportunities, the IPCC opened applications for reviewers of its special report, WRI Brazil is seeking consultancy to support SBCE, and there are strategic vacancies in carbon markets: the Brazilian Ministry of Finance is selecting a professional for emissions management, the OECD is offering an internship in carbon pricing in Paris, and FS Fueling Sustainability has opened a position for a CCS monitoring specialist.
And a long list of unmissable events. Let’s see.
Carbon Credits
European Union, Brazil, and China Formalize Coalition to Strengthen Carbon Markets.
COP30 was accompanied by the pre-launch of a set of new international carbon market coalitions — Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets, Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets, Article 6 Ambition Alliance and Article 6 Observatory — as we anticipated at the end of 2025. All emerged outside the formal UN process, but have the potential to shape the global architecture of markets, especially with regard to the integrity, transparency, and effectiveness of domestic systems. In common, they offer cooperation platforms in carbon pricing, MRV, emissions accounting, and the use of high-integrity credits.
The official launch of the Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets took place on May 7, 2026, in Florence, Italy, with authorities from the European Union, China, and Brazil. The coalition—open to countries with national carbon systems—already includes other members. Brazil will preside over the first two years and will advance the creation of a secretariat and a work plan to be adopted at the Carbon Market Conference on September 15, 2026, in Wuhan, China. The objective is to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement and raise global standards in a scenario that already has approximately 80 pricing schemes in operation in 50 countries.
Interoperability among carbon markets has been discussed by blocs of countries for some time, as our readers have been following. Here, we revisit a post from May 2025 on the topic—a good point of reference for understanding the evolution of this debate.
Morocco and Norway advance climate cooperation under Article 6.2 with a focus on renewable energy.
On May 5, 2026, the Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition announced the signing of a Bilateral Agreement with Norway to operationalize Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, establishing a framework for cooperation in carbon market mechanisms aimed at accelerating climate action and supporting sustainable development. According to the official Moroccan statement, the agreement reinforces the partnership between the two countries in the development of renewable energy projects and in strengthening climate cooperation, highlighting the joint commitment to advancing market mechanisms and promoting the energy transition in a way that aligns with international climate goals. It is also worth following the progress of the Norwegian Global Emission Reduction (NOGER) Initiative.
Singapore and the Philippines sign agreement for carbon credits under Article 6.
The official statement from the MTI confirms that Singapore and the Philippines signed, on April 30, 2026, during ASEAN Climate Week, the first Philippine Implementation Agreement for cooperation on carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, establishing a binding legal framework for the generation, international transfer and corresponding adjustments of high-integrity credits; the agreement provides that these credits may offset up to 5% of taxable emissions from companies in Singapore, allocates 5% of the resources for climate adaptation in the Philippines and determines the cancellation of 2% of the authorized credits to ensure net global emission reductions, in addition to highlighting benefits such as climate finance, job creation, energy security and pollution reduction. More information will be available soon.
Others Highlights
Aviation races against time: LCAF emerges as a more immediate solution than SAF, but certification hinders global progress.
Aviation is racing against time to reduce emissions, and Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF) emerges as an immediate alternative while Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has not yet scaled globally. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), LCAF can deliver reductions of at least 10% in lifecycle emissions, but its progress is hampered by the absence of CORSIA-approved certification schemes, which prevents fuels already produced—and potentially eligible—from being officially accounted for. The lack of robust traceability, essential to avoid double counting in a product physically identical to fossil fuel, adds another layer of complexity, requiring book-and-claim systems such as the CADO Registry. Even so, regions with advanced infrastructure and lower carbon intensity in extraction can lead the supply, contributing to an estimated potential of 14 million tons of LCAF by 2030, equivalent to 6 million tons of CO₂ avoided. In the context of the Fly Net Zero 2050 commitment, LCAF appears as a strategic transition solution — it does not replace SAF, but it reduces emissions that currently remain "on the table" due to a lack of regulations, not a lack of technology.
University of São Paulo develops technology that transforms CO₂ into clean energy using sunlight.
Published by the USP Journal on April 20, 2026 (updated on May 4, 2026), the article reports that Brazilian researchers have created a system inspired by photosynthesis capable of converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into renewable fuels — such as ethanol and methanol — and also generating electricity, using only sunlight; the technology, described in the journal Applied Energy Materials, functions as a "smart solar power plant," operates in ambient conditions, dispenses with membranes, and integrates, in a single device, the chemical conversion of CO₂ and energy production, representing a significant advance for the energy transition, according to the researchers.
This is not a new topic here. In 2022, for example, we published the article ‘New Artificial Photosynthesis Now Ten Times More Efficient: Alternative to Fossil Fuels?’ about research at the University of Chicago, which is worth rereading.
Shorts & Opportunities
The Government of Canada announced in April 2026 a new national strategy for nuclear energy, reinforcing the technology's role in the climate transition and energy security — read the official statement here.
The new Climate Pathways Navigator tool, published on April 1, 2026 by UNEP FI, aims to support financial decisions by making complex climate scenario data accessible, clear, and immediately usable by institutions seeking to align their portfolios with the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The European Commission revealed that emissions covered by EU ETS fell by -1.3% in 2025, consolidating a trajectory that has already halved emissions since 2005 — a milestone worth reading in full.
Are you an expert or government representative with experience in climate change and/or urban issues? The IPCC has opened applications for the review of the Second Order Draft of its Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, with a comment period from May 8 to July 3, 2026 — access the application form , learn about the review process and see the role of Expert Reviewers.
WRI Brazil has opened a call for specialized consulting services — applications are open until June 10th — to provide technical support on the carbon market agenda and to strengthen the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE). This is a strategic opportunity for those who wish to work at the heart of Brazil's climate transition.
Many cool job opportunities in the carbon markets. See below:
(1) 🇧🇷 Brazil's Ministry of Finance has opened a selection process for the FCE 1.10 position – Emissions Management in the Carbon Market Secretariat, with applications open until May 13, 2026 — a unique opportunity to work in the SBCE and the national MRV system.
(2) 🇫🇷 OECD has opened an internship position in Carbon Pricing and Markets in Paris, with an ideal start date in August 2026 and applications open until May 15, 2026 — a unique opportunity for those seeking international experience in carbon markets and climate policy; see the details of the position in the file below.
(3) 🇧🇷 FS Fueling Sustainability has an open position for a CCS Monitoring Specialist in Lucas do Rio Verde, MS, Brazil, a strategic role involving geological monitoring, well integrity, and MRV in CCS/BECCS projects — see the job details.
Events
🇨🇭May 12, Building Credible Strategies for Carbon Dioxide Removals. Gold Standard.
🇺🇳 May 13, 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟲.𝟰 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆. UNFCCC.
🇧🇷 May 13 - 14, Fórum CCS Brasil. British Consulate-General São Paulo, Brazil.
🇺🇳 May 14, 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟲.𝟮 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 & 𝗔𝗥𝗦. UNFCCC.
🇧🇷 May 18 - 19, Carbon Matters: Voluntary Market and Regulated Market. AMCHAM Brazil's Decarbonization Hub and Netword.
🇺🇸 May 20, Updated Article 6 and CORSIA Label Guidance. Verra webinar.
🇧🇪 May 20-21, Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming “CRCF” Days. European Union Directorate‑General for Climate Action, Brussels.
🇦🇺 May 20 - 21, Carbon Farming Industry Forum 2026. Freemantle, Australia.
🇸🇬 May 20 – 22, Innovate4Climate (I4C) 2026. In Singapore.
🇪🇸 May 21 - 22, 13th Meeting of the Roundtable on Financing Water. OECD, Bank of Spain (Banco de España), CDP and the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS)
🇵🇪 May 27 - 28, Peru Carbon Forum 2026, 3ra edición, ESAN, Lima, Peru.
🇧🇷 July 24, 2nd Brazilian Conference on Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Curitiba, Brazil.
🇧🇷 August 27 - 28, Brazilian Climate and Carbon Conference, Brazil NBS Alliance.
🇨🇳September 15, Carbon Market Conference. Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Market, in Wuhan, China.
🇦🇿🇺🇳 October 5 - 9, UNFCCC Climate Week 2, Baku, Azerbaijan.
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