A Gold Standard-certified project in Telangana is helping 35,000 farmers cut methane emissions from paddy fields, save water, and earn carbon credits—creating a new revenue stream through sustainable agriculture.

A new UN standard on “suppressed demand” allows climate projects in underserved communities to earn carbon credits for meeting basic needs, even if emissions rise as a result. This ensures climate finance can support both emissions reduction and essential service access, creating fairer opportunities for development-focused projects under the Paris Agreement.

The EU’s plan to allow limited international carbon credits from 2036 could reshape global markets, making it a top buyer while influencing project standards, benefit-sharing, and Paris Agreement alignment worldwide.

On May 23, 2025, the European Parliament approved reforms to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) aimed at reducing emissions while easing compliance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).