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30th week CCM 2026. Cities and climate. Carbon credits, Kenya and California; Europe, extreme heat and restrictions on fossil fuels; wind damages turbines; WMO and urban adaptation
- Art Dam
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
Monday, 27 July 2026.
30th Week Carbon Credit Markets in 2026.
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Carbon credits, Kenya plans to launch a national exchange in 2027 to trade credits tracked by the National Carbon Registry - aiming for up to $5 billion in investment and African leadership - while the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has postponed the corporate emissions reporting deadline to November 2026 and adjusted rules for large companies.
Other highlights, Europe is facing extreme heat alongside protests in Italy - where activists melted ice sculptures to draw attention to the risks of heatwaves - while an open letter in Portugal calls for urgent climate adaptation in cities; meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) has begun implementing rules that reduce the weighting of bonds from companies heavily reliant on fossil fuels, limiting the extent to which banks can use these securities as collateral and protecting the financial system against climate transition risks.
Briefs and Opportunities, the WMO released new climate projections for 2026–2035, indicating further warming and rising risks; in the United States, an extreme storm with gusts of 211 km/h damaged over 20 wind turbines, demonstrating how current events are already surpassing historical norms; and reports from IGES and Arup underscore the urgent need to adapt to extreme heat while presenting solutions for cities striving for a low-emission, more resilient future.
In addition to a list of relevant events.
Carbon Credits
Kenya aims for African leadership with plans to launch a national carbon credit exchange in 2027
On July 15, 2026, the Nairobi International Financial Centre (NIFC) announced Kenya's intention to launch a carbon credit exchange in 2027 - an initiative expected to attract up to US$5 billion in investment by 2028 and establish the country as a continental hub for carbon markets. According to the NIFC, the future exchange will provide a regulated marketplace for trading carbon credits generated by projects such as reforestation and renewable energy; it will leverage the National Carbon Registry - launched in February 2026 - which tracks credits produced within the country. The NIFC chairman stated that the organization is collaborating with the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to structure the new platform's rules and governance. The exchange is expected to enhance transparency, boost investor confidence, and drive the strategy to transform Nairobi into a regional financial center—a move supported by growing corporate interest, with 15 companies already certified and another 14 in the process of joining.
California Air Resources Board Postpones Deadline and Adjusts Rules for Corporate Emissions Reporting
On June 24, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that it will postpone by 3 months, from August 10 to November 10, 2026, the deadline for companies to report their Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions, offering more time after the possible approval of the Initial Regulation by the Office of Administrative Law (official statement). The agency will also make specific adjustments to clarify requirements, which will be made available in a 15-day comment period before the new rule submission. The program, created by SB 253, requires companies with revenues above US$1 billion operating in California to disclose their emissions annually, including Scope 3 starting in 2027.
Others Highlights
Europe faces extreme heat: protests in Rome and an urgent call for adaptation in Portugal
In Rome, activists from Greenpeace Italy and the CGIL trade union melted ice statues representing workers exposed to the heat to highlight the risks of heatwaves and demand an end to fossil fuels. Watch this Euronews video. Meanwhile, an open letter from twelve Portuguese environmental and sustainability organizations warns that extreme heat is already causing hundreds of deaths - disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations - and calls for the immediate acceleration of measures such as climate shelters, increased green spaces, building adaptations, and the effective implementation of municipal climate action plans. This initiative is part of the European #citiesnotsaunas campaign, promoted by Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe), and aims primarily to demand cities capable of withstanding heatwaves.
European Central Bank creates mechanism to shield its balance sheet from climate risks
The European Central Bank (ECB) has begun incorporating climate factors into its collateral framework, reducing the value assigned to corporate bonds from companies most exposed to transition shocks as the economy moves toward low emissions. These new criteria complement traditional haircuts, adding a forward-looking layer of protection against uncertainties not captured in historical data. The method employs an uncertainty score based on three components - sectoral stressor, firm exposure, and asset vulnerability - which is then converted into a "climate factor," lowering the amount banks can obtain when using these securities as collateral. Sectors such as utilities, materials, and transportation tend to receive lower factors, whereas areas less dependent on fossil fuels - such as software and consumer services - are less affected. The ECB states that these climate factors will be reviewed regularly to keep pace with regulatory developments, new data, and improvements in risk assessment capabilities.
Briefs & Opportunities
WMO Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update 2026-2035 - a scientific overview revealing how the planet's climate is expected to evolve over the coming decade, highlighting warming trends, extreme events, and growing risks to societies and ecosystems. Published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the report provides essential data for governments, businesses, and citizens needing to prepare for an increasingly challenging climate future.
On June 29, 2026, a severe storm struck Highmore, South Dakota (USA), producing a 131 mph (211 km/h) gust that bent towers and snapped blades on more than 20 turbines at ENGIE’s North America Triple H and North Bend wind farms. These turbines - designed to withstand extreme gusts of up to 112 mph (180 km/h) - were overwhelmed by an event so extreme that it highlights how risk models based on historical weather data no longer keep pace with current realities; the YouTube video footage is striking.
The report “Paris at 50 degrees Celsius: How can Paris adapt to heatwaves?”, published by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) - an international research institute based in Japan - warns of extreme heat risks and the urgent need to strengthen climate adaptation in the face of a future where severe heatwaves are becoming increasingly likely.
Champions of Change: How Cities and Regions are Designing for a Low Carbon, Climate Resilient Future is a new report by Arup, supported by the Earthshot Prize, that presents 11 transformative, public sector-led solutions and demonstrates how cities and regions can act simultaneously as drivers and implementers of climate innovation. Bogotá (approx. 8 million inhabitants, Colombia), Durban (approx. 3.9 million, South Africa), Oslo (approx. 700,000, Norway), and the Gujarat region (approx. 70 million, India) are among the highlights.
Events
July
August
🇧🇷 6, World Climate Summit, as part of São Paulo Climate Week. MASP, São Paulo. By the World Climate Foundation.
🇧🇷 27 - 28, Brazilian Climate and Carbon Conference, Brazil NBS Alliance.
September
🇨🇭8, Taking Responsibility. Navigating the New Era of Ongoing Emissions. Gold Standard.
🇨🇳15, Carbon Market Conference. Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Market, in Wuhan, China.
October
🇦🇿🇺🇳 5 - 9, UNFCCC Climate Week 2, Baku, Azerbaijan.
📅 October 07 & 08, Congress SAE BRASIL 2026, Pavilhão da Bienal – Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo, Brazil
🇦🇺 October 20-21, Australasian Emission Reduction Summit, Adelaide, Australia
📅 October 28, Verra’s October 2026 Stakeholder Update Webinar
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