39th Week Carbon Credit Markets 2025. 🇨🇳 gears up to lead the carbon market; ICVCM brings carbon credits closer to the 🇪🇺 ETS; CCS in 🇧🇷; new Arctic maritime route; COP30 and NDCs; railways
- Art Dam
- Oct 5
- 7 min read
Monday, 06 October 2025.
Highlights from the 39th Carbon Credit Markets 2025 week.
- Carbon Credits. China accelerates its transition with the launch of the Progress Report on its national carbon market and a strategic conference in Shanghai, while new carbon removal methodologies approved by ICVCM pave the way for high-integrity carbon credits to enter the European market — and open the door to increased climate finance.
- Other Highlights. Brazil launches a geological carbon capture project, and China inaugurates an Arctic shipping route that cuts emissions and shortens global trade paths — while, on the eve of COP30, dozens of countries rush to update their climate targets and others remain silent on their NDCs.
- Mind Sparks (we’ve renamed this section — hope you like it!). São Paulo launches a restoration program backed by environmental credits; Sylvera and VCMI reveal trends and pathways to scale markets with integrity; TNFD shows how nature is entering global finance; Europe updates its clean hydrogen outlook; Gold Standard advances regulation of maritime emissions; and Nature proposes a new vision for railways as impactful climate technology.
- Events. Carbon Intensity Metrics IFCMA - OECD, SAE Congress Brazil 2025, Chile Carbon Forum, WRI Tracking New NDCs and Their Impact, Webinar Gold Standard on soil organic carbon, the Forest Sciences Symposium, MSCI 3Q 2025 Global Carbon Credit Market in Review, Singapore Carbon Market & Investor Forum, Carbon Markets Africa Summit, IFRS Sustainability Symposium.
CARBON CREDITS
🇨🇳Conference on China’s Carbon Market and launch of the Progress Report of China’s National Carbon Market
The China National Carbon Market Conference 2025, held in Shanghai on September 24, marked a strategic milestone in consolidating the country’s emissions trading system. With the presence of key authorities, the event officially launched the Progress Report of China’s National Carbon Market (2025)《全国碳市场发展报告（2025）》, highlighting sectoral expansion, increased coverage of national emissions, and improvements in digital infrastructure. China’s carbon market now covers over 60% of the country’s CO₂ emissions, and the government reaffirmed its commitment to ambitious climate goals — peaking emissions before 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.
Beyond technical progress, the conference emphasized the importance of integrating green finance, technological innovation, and international cooperation. Initiatives were announced to strengthen national carbon trading and finance hubs, promote sustainable financial products, and support low-carbon supply chains. China also underscored its role in global climate governance, aiming for alignment with international standards and the export of green solutions — positioning the carbon market as a central tool for ecological transition and for China’s emergence as an environmental powerhouse.
Click here for the original press releases in Chinese, covering both the conference and the publication, which you can also download below in English.
🌍 ICVCM Approves New Methodologies for Carbon Removal Credits, with Potential Acceptance in the EU ETS
The ICVCM has approved six new carbon dioxide removal methodologies — developed by Isometric and Gold Standard — expanding the range of high-integrity carbon credits 🌱.
Including DAC and BECCS, these are relatively new methodologies, with a total issuance of approximately 30,000 credits to date. However, there are 24 projects registered under Isometric methodologies, with an expected annual issuance of over 3.2 million credits, and 15 projects under Gold Standard, projected to issue more than 9,000 credits per year in the coming years.
As previously reported — “European Union Considers Direct Purchase of Permanent Carbon Removal Credits” — that group of countries, along with the United Kingdom, is considering integrating carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits into their Emissions Trading Systems within the next five years. Meanwhile, CDR projects show strong potential to channel climate finance to the Global South, with data indicating that three of the five largest durable CDR suppliers are located in that region.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
🌱 Petrobras approves pilot project to capture and store 100,000 tons of carbon per year
Petrobras has announced the construction of the São Tomé CCS Pilot Project in Macaé (RJ) — the first in Brazil to integrate capture, transport, and geological storage of CO₂ in a saline reservoir. The initiative aims to capture up to 100,000 tons of carbon annually starting in 2028, contributing to the company’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The project will be monitored by regulatory agencies such as ANP and INEA, and will serve as a learning platform for future CCS hubs in the country. It will also enable testing of new technologies and exploration of alternative uses for CO₂, such as the production of synthetic fuels. 🔗 Source: Agência Petrobras
🚢 China inaugurates express Arctic route, shortening the path to Europe and cutting emissions
China has launched the first express maritime route between Asia and Europe via the Arctic, called “中欧北极快航” or the China-Europe Arctic Express Route. The vessel Istanbul Bridge departed from the Ningbo-Zhoushan port bound for the UK, crossing the Arctic Circle in just 18 days. This new route shortens travel time by up to 22 days compared to traditional paths through the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope. With icebreaking capacity of 1.2 meters, the ship carries everything from clothing and industrial parts to batteries and energy equipment, meeting seasonal European demand with greater speed and lower cost.
The initiative marks a strategic leap for China in global logistics and polar cooperation. The Northeast Arctic route now connects the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans, making Ningbo-Zhoushan the only port to cover all navigable oceans. In addition to cutting carbon emissions by up to 50%, the new route strengthens China’s role in global governance and offers businesses a faster, more cost-effective, and resilient alternative amid growing trade uncertainties.
The original article, published in Chinese, appeared on September 24, 2025, on the official website of Ningbo Customs (宁波海关).
🚨Has your country updated its NDC? Just days left until COP30.Twelve new climate commitments — Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — have been updated in recent days. But many are still missing:
Major emitters: European Union (cautious amid global uncertainty), China (despite announcements, not yet listed in the NDC Registry), India, Indonesia, Iran, and Mexico.
Major fossil fuel producers and exporters: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Algeria (oil, natural gas); Venezuela, Iraq, and Kuwait (oil); Kazakhstan (oil, coal).
Countries facing severe climate impacts: South Africa (wildfires), Philippines (typhoons, coastal erosion), South Sudan (extreme droughts, food insecurity), Mozambique (tropical cyclones, floods), Chad (desertification, water scarcity), Myanmar (cyclones, landslides, social instability), Togo (sea level rise, fragile agriculture), Senegal (coastal erosion, drought), Syria (water stress, conflict), and Sudan (water scarcity, desertification).
Island nations: Haiti, Madagascar, Bahrain, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Comoros, Cape Verde, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Timor-Leste.
Here is the list of countries that have updated their NDCs (as of October 2, 2025):
2025 – Q4
Kyrgyzstan (Oct 2)
2025 – Q3
Seychelles, Lebanon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Iceland, Morocco, Panama, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Sep 30), Bolivia, Mauritius, Bangladesh, and Russian Federation (Sep 29), Tuvalu and Ethiopia (Sep 26), Sri Lanka, Colombia, and Iceland (Sep 25), Mongolia, Vanuatu, Micronesia, Pakistan, and Liberia (Sep 24), Chile and Tonga (Sep 23), Jamaica, Eswatini, Honduras, Tunisia, Nigeria, and Jordan (Sep 22), Nicaragua (Sep 19), Australia (Sep 18), Vatican (Sep 16), Angola (Sep 13), Serbia and Iceland (Sep 12), Liechtenstein (Sep 10), Somalia (Sep 8), Barbados (Aug 30), Solomon Islands (Aug 13), Cambodia (Aug 8), Niue (Jul 17), Monaco (Jul 16)
2025 – Q2
Norway (Jun 26), Somalia (Jun 19), Belize (Jun 14), Nepal (May 19), Moldova (May 6), Kenya (Apr 30)
2025 – Q1
Zambia (Mar 10), Cuba and Maldives (Feb 27), Montenegro (Feb 21), Japan (Feb 18), Canada (Feb 12), Zimbabwe, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (Feb 10), Saint Lucia and Ecuador (Feb 6), Lesotho and Andorra (Feb 5), New Zealand (Jan 31), United Kingdom (Jan 30)
2024
Uruguay (Dec 30), Botswana (Dec 24), United States (Dec 19), Switzerland (Nov 14), Brazil (Nov 13), United Arab Emirates (Nov 6)
MIND SPARKS
🌱 Sylvera Q3 2025 Carbon Market Snapshot. See how the carbon market is evolving in terms of volume, integrity, trust, and value.
📘 In the report “Catalyzing Carbon Markets”, VCMI (Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative) shows how financial institutions can drive carbon markets with integrity and scale — read the full report here.
🌿The Report TNFD Status Report 2025 shows progress in integrating nature into finance: over 620 organizations across 50 countries, managing US$ 20 trillion in assets, have already adopted the recommendations. Most companies are combining climate and biodiversity data, and investors are calling for greater standardization. Worth the read.
💧Clean Hydrogen Monitor 2025. Annual report on the state of the hydrogen sector in Europe — an essential tool for analysts, journalists, and stakeholders to understand current trends and realities.
🌿 São Paulo launches the State Program for Ecological Restoration and Conservation — an initiative that combines environmental preservation with economic innovation. The program aims to accelerate the recovery of degraded areas through the allocation of carbon credits and other environmental assets, turning conservation into opportunity and strengthening the green economy. The proposal is open for public consultation until October 25.
🚢 ⚡️Gold Standard methodology for carbon credits from maritime emissions. And a 1-minute video from Vattenfall on offshore wind energy.
EVENTS
🖥️📍October 6, Towards interoperable carbon intensity metrics. Webinar by Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA) from OECD.
🇧🇷📍October 7 and 8, SAE Brazil 2025 Congress. In São Paulo.
🇨🇱📍October 7 and 8, Chile Carbon Forum. Facultad de Economía y Negocios de la Universidad de Chile.
🖥️📍October 9, Tracking New NDCs and Their Impact. WRI World Resources Institute.
🖥️📍October 14, Gold Standard Webinar on Soil Organic Carbon. Focused on the new guidelines for the organic carbon model, with experts in nature-based solutions, agricultural consulting, and data innovation discussing the model’s advancements and practical applications.
🇧🇷🌳 October 14-16, Carbon Market: The Benefits for the Forestry Sector - 5th Symposium on Forest Sciences of Espírito Santo, Brazil. By the Federal University of Espírito Santo.
🇸🇬📍October 16-17, Singapore Carbon Market & Investor Forum. By the Carbon Market Institute.
🇿🇦📍October 21-23, Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS). Johannesburg, South Africa.
🇬🇧🖥️📍October 30, IFRS Sustainability Symposium ‘Pathways to adoption’. Online or in person at Convene Sancroft, St. Paul’s, London.
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China Developments as of September 2025
